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} +li { + margin-top: 0; + text-indent: -2em; + padding-left: 2em; +} + +ul.index { list-style-type: none; } +li.ifrst { + margin-top: 1em; + text-indent: -2em; + padding-left: 1em; +} +li.indx { + margin-top: .5em; + text-indent: -2em; + padding-left: 1em; +} + </style> + </head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76882 ***</div> + +<div class="divcenterimg60"> + <a id="frontis"></a> <br> + <img src="images/frontis.jpg" + alt="John Wesley"> + </div><!--end figcenter--> + +<p class="center">JOHN WESLEY, <abbr title="Master of Arts">M.A.</abbr><br> +AGED 85.<br> +From a Painting by Romney.<br> +(see <a href="#Page_565">page 565.</a>)<br> +Engraved by J. Cochran<br> +New York. Harper & Brothers.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_i">[Pg i]</span> + +<h1><span class="muchsmaller">THE</span><br> + +LIFE AND TIMES<br> + +<span class="muchsmaller">OF THE</span><br> + +<span class="muchlarger"><span class="smcap"><abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr></span> + JOHN WESLEY, <abbr title="Master of Arts">M.A.</abbr>,</span></h1> + +<p class="center"><b>Founder of the Methodists.</b></p> + +<p class="p2 center allsmcap">BY THE</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap"><abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr></span> L. TYERMAN,</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="allsmcap">AUTHOR OF “THE LIFE AND TIMES OF</span> + <abbr title="Reverend"><span class="allsmcap">REV.</span></abbr> <span class="allsmcap">S. WESLEY</span>, <abbr title="Master of Arts"><span class="allsmcap">M.A.</span></abbr>,”<br> +(<span class="smaller"><i>Father of the <abbr title="Reverends John and Charles">Revds. J. and C.</abbr> Wesley</i></span>).</p> + +<p class="p2 center tall"><span class="smcap">With an Appendix by Abel Stevens</span>, + <abbr title="Doctor of Laws">LL.D.</abbr>,<br> + +<span class="allsmcap small">AUTHOR OF “THE HISTORY OF METHODISM.”</span></p> + +<p class="p2 center larger tall"><span class="allsmcap">IN THREE VOLUMES</span>.<br> + +<abbr title="Volume Three">VOL. III.</abbr></p> + +<div class="figcenter20"> + <img src="images/colophon.jpg" + alt="colophon"> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<p class="p2 center tall"><span class="ls">NEW YORK:<br> +HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS,</span><br> +<span class="allsmcap">FRANKLIN SQUARE.</span></p> + +<p class="center">1872.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +</div><!--end title page--> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_iii">[Pg iii]</span> +<h2 style="display: none; visibility: hidden;">General Contents</h2> +</div><!--end chapter header--> + +<table> +<!--<colgroup> + <col style="width: 85%;"> + <col style="width: 15%;"> +</colgroup>--> +<tr><td class="tdc muchlarger">GENERAL CONTENTS.</td> + <td></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdc"><span class="larger"><br><abbr title="Volume Three">VOL. III.</abbr></span></td> + <td></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdc"><hr class="medium"></td> + <td></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdc pad3">1768.</td> + <td class="tdr xxs pad3 vlb">PAGE</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdh">Whitefield—​Berridge—​Countess of + Buchan—​Conversation—​Original +Letter by Fletcher—​Yearly Collection—​Wesley’s first Visit to +Chatham—​Methodist Jottings—​Methodism in Congleton, etc.—Wesley’s +Credulity—​Christian Perfection—​Skirmishes before the +Battle—​Wesley’s Will—<abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Thomas + Adam—​Fletcher of Madeley—​Singing—​Illness +of Wesley’s Wife—​Preaching and Trading—​How +to revive Religion—​Witness of the Spirit—​Spitalfields Chapel—​Laurence +Coughlan—​Methodism at Taunton, Frome, and Oxford—​Chapel +Debts—​Remarks on Books—​Expulsion of Oxford Students—​College +at Trevecca—​Wesley’s Publications—​John Wilkes</td> + <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#1768">1-38</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdc pad3">1769.</td> + <td></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdh">Political Excitement—​Whitefield—​Female + Preaching—​Wesley in +Ireland—​Hugh Saunderson—​Conference of 1769—Methodism in +America—​Scheme to perpetuate Methodism—​Anniversary of Trevecca +College—“Shepherd of Salisbury Plain”—Calvinian Controversy—​Wesley’s +Publications</td> + <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#1769">39-57</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdc pad3">1770.</td> + <td></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdh">Remarks on Books—​Christian + Perfection—​Whitefield’s College in +Georgia—​Riding on Horseback—​Lady Glenorchy—​Methodism in +Sweden—​Methodism at Yeadon and Loughborough—​Conference +of 1770—Doctrinal Minutes—​Calvinian Controversy—​Death of +Whitefield—​Original Letters—​Wesley’s Publications—​Toplady</td> + <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#1770">58-83</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdc pad3">1771.</td> + <td></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdh"><abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Richard De + Courcy—​Sounds of coming Battle—​Wesley and the +<i>Gospel Magazine</i>—Letter to Lady Huntingdon—​Shirley’s Circular—​Original +Letter by Fletcher—​Calvinian Controversy—​Methodist +Discipline—​Female Preaching—​Wesley’s Publications</td> + <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#1771">84-113</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdc pad3">1772.</td> + <td></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdh">Slavery—​Methodism at Poplar—​Correspondence + with Mr. Sparrow—​Methodism +at Leek and Nantwich—​David Hume—​Ministerial +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_iv">[Pg iv]</span> +Responsibility—​Medical Examination—​Revivals in Everton and +Weardale—​Conference of 1772—Cornelius Winter—​Ceaseless +Labours—​National Distress and its Remedies—​The Christian +Community—​Calvinian Controversy—​Wesley’s Publications</td> + <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#1772">114-146</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdc pad3">1773.</td> + <td></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdh">American Rebellion—​Wesley’s proposed + Successor—​Methodism in +America and Antigua—​Itinerancy—​Chapel Debts—​Wesley and his +Carriage—​Wesley’s Book Property—​Conference of 1773—Feast +and Fast Days—​Communion of Saints—​Calvinian Controversy—​Wesley’s +Publications</td> + <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#1773">147-162</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdc pad3">1774.</td> + <td></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdh">Wesley’s Health—<abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> David + Simpson—​Methodism at Bury—​Wesley +in Scotland—​A Marvellous Escape—​Ghosts and Witches—“The +Fool of Quality”—Wesley and an Artist—​Methodism in America +and Newfoundland—​Conference of 1774—Norwich Methodism—​An +Adventure—​Calvinian Controversy—​Wesley’s Publications—​Slavery</td> + <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#1774">163-184</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdc pad3">1775.</td> + <td></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdh">National Excitement—​American War of + Independence—​Death of +Peter Bohler—​Wesley dangerously Ill in Ireland—​Congratulations—​Giving +Advice—​Conference of 1775—Calvinian Controversy—​William +Pine—​Wesley’s Publications</td> + <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#1775">185-211</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdc pad3">1776.</td> + <td></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdh">Fletcher travelling with Wesley—​Dr. + Coke—​Enforcing Discipline—​Methodism +in London—​City Road Chapel—​Plan of London +Circuit in 1792—London Circuit Book—​Methodism at + Chesterfield—​Conference +of 1776—Cantankerous Methodists—​Methodism in +the Isle of Man—​Quarrelling Schoolboys—​Wesley’s Wife—​Wesley’s +Publications—​Wesley’s Loyalty</td> + <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#1776">212-235</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdc pad3">1777.</td> + <td></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdh">American Rebellion—​Dr. Dodd—​City + Road Chapel—<abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Edward +Smyth—​Catastrophe at Colne—“A Snug Circuit”—“Are the +Methodists a fallen People?”—John Hilton—​Fletcher at the +Conference of 1777—Methodism in America—​Francis Asbury—<i>Arminian +Magazine</i>—Bishop Lowth—“Strangers’ Friend Society”—Rowland +Hill attacks Wesley—<i>Gospel Magazine</i>—Calvinian +Controversy—​Wesley’s Publications</td> + <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#1777">236-260</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdc pad3">1778.</td> + <td></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdh">Thomas Maxfield—​Infamous Publications—​Death + of Toplady—​National +Alarm—<abbr title="September">Sep.</abbr>ration from the Church—​Conference of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</span> +1778—Stationing Preachers—​Mission to Africa proposed—​Duncan +McAllum—​John Baxter embarks for Antigua—​Opening of City +Road Chapel—<abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> James + Creighton—​Discipline—​Dissenters—​Silas +Told—​Proposals for <cite>Arminian Magazine</cite>—Errata</td> + <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#1778">261-285</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdc pad3">1779.</td> + <td></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdh">National Alarm—​Prayer and Fasting—​Death + of Voltaire—​William +Shent in trouble—​Methodism at Oldham and Padiham—​The +Angel at Halifax—​Methodism at Inverness—​James Boswell—​Methodism +at Hinckley and Coventry—​Thomas Maxfield—​Jealousies—​Charles +Wesley and the London Preachers—​Conference +of 1779—Alexander McNab and <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Edward Smyth + at Bath—​Wesley’s +right to Rule—​Charles Wesley and McNab—​Calvinian +Controversy—“Naval and Military Bible Society”—Wesley’s +Publications—​Popery</td> + <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#1779">286-317</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdc pad3">1780.</td> + <td></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdh">The Protestant Association—​Wesley’s Letters + on Popery—<abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> +Arthur O’Leary—​Wesley visits Lord George Gordon—​Methodism +at Delph—​Wesley asks a Favour—​Methodism at Pateley, Ripon, +Newark, etc.—Conference of 1780—Separation from the Church—​Methodism +in America—​Letter to Bishop Lowth—​Heresy of Dr. +Watts—<abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Brian Bury Collins—​Original + Letters—​Oldham Street +Chapel, Manchester—​Sir Harry Trelawney—​Jacob Behmen—“The +Fool of Quality”—Wesley’s Publications</td> + <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#1780">318-344</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdc pad3">1781.</td> + <td></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdh">Wesley’s Nephews, Charles and Samuel—​Wesley + writing Sermons—​Samuel +Bardsley and Sheffield Chapel—​Methodism at Manchester +and Bolton—​Molly Charlton—​Methodism at Preston—​Fair +weather Preachers—<abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> William + Dodwell—​Sleep—​Letters to +Wesley’s Niece—​Wesley’s Nephews—​Conference of 1781—William +Hey—​Death of Wesley’s Wife—​Letter to a Statesman—​Wesley’s +Publications</td> + <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#1781">345-368</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdc pad3">1782.</td> + <td></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdh">Methodist Tract Society—​Lovefeast at + Macclesfield—​Sir Walter +Scott—​Conference of 1782—Birstal Chapel Case—<abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Thomas +Davenport—<abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Thompson—​John + Trembath—​Adam Clarke—“The +Dairyman’s Daughter”—Wesley’s Publications—​Jacob +Behmen</td> + <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#1782">369-389</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdc pad3">1783.</td> + <td></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdh">Preachers forbidden to be Classleaders—​Wesley ill—​Trip + to Holland—​Kingswood +School—​William Black and Nova Scotia—​A +Rejected Candidate—​Methodism at Stafford—​Wesley and the +Poor—​Wesley’s Publications</td> + <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#1783">390-407</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdc pad3">1784.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_vi">[Pg vi]</span></td> + <td></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdh">A Seven Months’ Journey—​Morning + Preaching—​Itinerancy—​Children +at Stockton—​Methodism at Burnley—​Sunday Schools—​Conference +of 1784—Deed of Declaration—​Ordination of Preachers +for America—​Two Clergymen become Dissenters—​Ordination of +Preachers for Scotland, etc.—Letters on Wesley’s Ordinations—​Wesley +a Dissenter—​Methodism at Shrewsbury—​Dancing—​Letter +to <abbr title="Honorable">Hon.</abbr> William Pitt—​Wesley’s + Publications—​First Race of +Methodist Preachers</td> + <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#1784">408-457</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdc pad3">1785.</td> + <td></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdh">William Moore—​Wesley in Ireland—​Spread + of Methodism—​Death +of Perronet and Fletcher—​Conference of 1785—The oldest +Methodist now living—​Thomas Wride and his Colleagues at +Norwich—​Separation from the Church—​Wesley’s Publications—​Dress</td> + <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#1785">458-470</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdc pad3">1786.</td> + <td></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdh">Wesley on the Wing—​Scotch Methodists a distinct + Church—​Methodism +at Barnsley—​Wesley at Sheffield and Wentworth +House—​Methodism at Ilkestone—​Conference of 1786—Separation +from the Church—​First Methodist Missionary Report—​Proposed +Missions to India—​Wesley’s “Studying Hours”—Dr. Leifchild—​Wesley’s +Publications</td> + <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#1786">471-489</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><td class="tdc pad3">1787.</td> + <td></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdh">Separation from the Church—​Begging for + the Poor—​Revival at +Burslem—​Wesley in Ireland—​A Methodist Shoemaker—​Howard, +the Philanthropist—​Conference of 1787—Separation from the +Church—​Sir Robert Peel—​Sunday Schools—​Singing—​A + Coachload +of Methodist Preachers—​Visit to the Channel Islands—​Jonathan +Crowther—​Antislavery Society—​Joseph Entwisle and +Richard Reece—​Simeon catechizing Wesley—​Licensing Chapels +and Preachers—​Separation from the Church—​Wesley’s + Popularity—​Wesley’s +Publications—​Dress—​Diversions—​Riches</td> + <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#1787">490-520</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><td class="tdc pad3">1788.</td> + <td></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdh">Wesley on his Style—​Sunday Schools—​Prayer + Meetings—​Death of +Charles Wesley—​Consecration of Burial Grounds—​Incidents at +Bristol—​Chapel at Dumfries—​Methodist Membership—​A Northern +Fanatic—​An Early Breakfast—​Demoniacs—​A Young + Poetess—​Separation +from the Church—​End of the World—​Conference of 1788—Methodist +Prayer Book—​Preachers stripped of their Gown and +Bands—​Dewsbury Chapel Case—​John Atlay and William + Eels—​Itinerancy—​Wesley +without a Sermon—​Wesley’s Publications</td> + <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#1788">521-564</a></td></tr> + + + +<tr><td class="tdc pad3">1789.</td> + <td><span class="pagenum" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdh">Romney’s Portrait of Wesley—​Anecdotes + of Wesley—​Commotion +at Dublin—​Separation from the Church—​Rebellions—​Thomas +Hanby—​An Irish Dinner Party—​Walter Churchey—​A Session of +Methodist “Elders”—Conference of 1789—A Conference Sermon—​Gwennap +Pit—“The lovely Family at Balham”—Mount Pleasant +Chapel, Liverpool—​Methodism at Bideford—​Wesley’s +Publications—​Wesley warning rich Methodists</td> + <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#1789">565-596</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><td class="tdc pad3">1790.</td> + <td></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdh">French Revolution—​A Five Months’ + Journey—<abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Joseph Easterbrook—​A +Three Months’ Preaching Plan—​Methodism at Stourport—​Sunday +Schools—​Death of a Mocker—​A Backslider Healed—​Adam +Clarke—​A Yorkshire Cavalcade—​Separation from the +Church—​Wesley’s Benefactions—​Wesley’s Last Will—​Conference +of 1790—Progress of Methodism—​Ruffled Shirts—​A Dublin +Revival—​Christian Perfection—​Wesley’s last Out-door Sermon—​A +Shoemaker and a Sheep Stealer—​Henry Crabb Robinson—​Crabbe, +the Poet—​A Large Circuit—​Wesley’s Publications—​Separation +from the Church—​Rich Methodists Warned—​Wesley’s last +Words to the Methodists</td> + <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#1790">597-642</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdc pad3">1791.</td> + <td></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdh">Letters—​Female Preaching—​Wesley’s + last Letters—​Wesley’s last +Week of Public Labour—​Wesley’s last Letter—​Wesley’s last +Song on Earth—​Wesley’s Death—​The Funeral—​Proposed + Monument +in Westminster Abbey—​Wesley’s Personal Appearance, +Scholarship, Knowledge, Writings, Preaching, Companionship, +Piety, and Industry</td> + <td class="tdr vlb pad1"><a href="#1791">643-660</a></td></tr> +</table> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</span> +<p class="center larger">THE LIFE AND TIMES</p> + +<p class="center muchsmaller">OF</p> + +<p class="center muchlarger">THE <abbr title="Reverend">REV.</abbr> + JOHN WESLEY, <abbr title="Master of Arts">M.A.</abbr></p> + +<hr class="short"> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="1768">1768.</h2> +<hr class="short"> +<p class="center">Age 65</p> +</div><!--end chapter header--> + +<p class="drop-cap p2"><span class="smcap">During</span> the year 1768, + Charles Wesley, with his +brother’s full concurrence, removed his family from +Bristol to London, which henceforth was his place of residence.⁠<a id="FNanchor_1_1" href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> +Whitefield spent the first half of the year in the +metropolis. In July, he set out for Scotland; but, about a +month after, returned to London to inter his wife, who died on +August 9. His health was somewhat feeble; but he continued +to itinerate and preach to the utmost of his power. +His orphan house in America, and Lady Huntingdon’s college +at Trevecca, demanded his attention, and had it. He and +Wesley were still warm hearted friends; and yet there seems +to have been a shade of coldness come over them. Hence +the following, written when the year was closing.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Tabernacle</span>, <i>December 28, 1768</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Reverend and very dear Sir</span>,—Pray have you or I committed the +unpardonable sin, because we differ in particular cases, and act according +to our consciences? I imagine the common salvation is not promoted +by keeping at such a distance. Enemies rejoice. Halfway friends especially +are pleased.</p> + +<p>“You will be glad to hear, that the time for completing the orphan +house affair seems to be come. Do you know of a good, judicious, +spiritual tutor? Will you, without delay, make the first present of your +works to the library? I hope we shall have a nursery for true Christian +ministers. I know you will say Amen. Yesterday I was fifty-four years +old. God be merciful to me a sinner! Though you are older, I trust you +will not get the start of me, by going to heaven, before, reverend and very +dear sir, less than the least of all,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">George Whitefield</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_2_2" href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</span> +Another letter, of the same kind, was addressed to Wesley, +on New Year’s day, by his old friend at Everton.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Everton</span>, <i>January 1, 1768</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>,—I see no reason why we should keep + at a distance, whilst +we continue servants of the same Master, and especially when Lot’s herdsmen +are so ready to lay their staves on our shoulders. Though my hand +has been mute, my heart is kindly affected towards you. I trust we agree +in essentials; and, therefore, should leave each other at rest with his +circumstantials. I am weary of all disputes, and desire to know nothing +but Jesus; to love Him, trust Him, and serve Him; to choose and find +Him my only portion. I would have Him my meat, my drink, my clothing, +my sun, my shield, my Lord, my God, my all. Amen.</p> + +<p>“When I saw you in town, I gave you an invitation to Everton; and I +now repeat it, offering you very kindly the use of my house and church. +The Lord accompany you in all your journeys! Kind love to your +brother. Adieu!</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Berridge.</span>”<a id="FNanchor_3_3" href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>At the close of the year 1767, the Earl of Buchan died +triumphing in the faith of Christ. He had been in the +habit of hearing Whitefield, the Wesleys, and others, at Bath, +and had felt their ministry a blessing. His last words were, +“Happy, happy, happy!” The inscription upon his coffin +run thus: “His life was honourable, his death blessed; he +sought earnestly peace with God,—he found it with unspeakable +joy, alone in the merits of Christ Jesus, witnessed by the +Holy Spirit to his soul.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_4_4" href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> His countess dowager was a +woman of deep piety, of elegant taste, and of great genius. +She was the mother of a numerous family, and appointed +Venn, Berridge, and Wesley her domestic chaplains. This was +done through the intervention of Lady Huntingdon,⁠<a id="FNanchor_5_5" href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> to whom +Wesley addressed the following letter.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>January 4, 1768</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Lady</span>,—I am obliged to your ladyship, + and to Lady +Buchan, for such a mark of your regard as I did not at all expect. I +purpose to return her ladyship thanks by this post.</p> + +<p>“That remark is very striking, as well as just;—If it is the Holy Spirit +that bears witness, then all speaking against that Witness is one species +of blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. And when this is done by those +who profess to honour Him, it must in a peculiar manner grieve that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</span> +blessed Spirit. Yet, I have been surprised to observe how many, who +affirm salvation by faith, have lately run into this; running full into +Mr. Sandeman’s notion, that faith is merely an assent to the Bible; and +not only undervaluing, but even ridiculing, the whole experience of the +children of God. I rejoice, that your ladyship is still preserved from +that spreading contagion, and also enabled plainly and openly to avow the +plain, old, simple, unfashionable gospel.</p> + +<p>“Wishing your ladyship many happy years, I remain, my dear lady, +your very affectionate servant,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_6_6" href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>A few months after this, Wesley went to Scotland, where +the Countess of Buchan resided, and there wrote, and +probably preached, his remarkable sermon, “The Good +Steward,” in which, with great emphasis, he lays down the +doctrine, that we hold <em>in trust</em> our souls, our bodies, our goods, +and all our other talents; and, for the <em>use</em> of them, must +render an account at the judgment seat of Christ. This was +dealing faithfully with his noble patroness, as well as with +others; for the sermon was immediately published in 12mo, +24 pages, with the title, “The Good Steward. A Sermon, by +John Wesley, Chaplain to the Right Honourable the Countess +Dowager of Buchan.”</p> + +<p>Wesley was not the man to be elated by being noticed by +the rich, the noble, and the great. He was thankful for their +help; but far from being proud of their approbation. Many +of his most trusted friends were poor and mean in reference to +this world’s goods; but, at the same time, were possessed of +riches incomparably superior to all the gold existing. The +following letter, addressed to Fletcher of Madeley, though a +month or two out of its chronological order, refers to these +and to other matters.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Birmingham</span>, <i>March 20, 1768</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>,—Mr. Eastbrook told me yesterday, + that you are sick +of the conversation even of them who profess religion,—that you find it +quite unprofitable, if not hurtful, to converse with them, three or four hours +together, and are sometimes almost determined to shut yourself up, as the +less evil of the two.</p> + +<p>“I do not wonder at it at all, especially considering with whom you +have chiefly conversed for some time past, namely, the hearers of Mr. +Madan, or Mr. Bourian, perhaps I might add, of Mr. Whitefield. The +conversing with these I have rarely found to be profitable to my soul. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</span> +Rather it has damped my desires; it has cooled my resolutions, and I +have commonly left them with a dry, dissipated spirit.</p> + +<p>“And how can you expect it to be otherwise? For do we not naturally +catch their spirit with whom we converse? And what spirit can we expect +them to be of, considering the preaching they sit under? Some +happy exceptions I allow; but, in general, do men gather grapes of +thorns? Do they gather constant, universal self denial, the patience of +hope, the labour of love, inward and outward self devotion, from the +doctrine of absolute decrees, of irresistible grace, of infallible perseverance? +Do they gather these fruits from antinomian doctrine? Or from any +that borders upon it? Do they gather them from that <em>amorous way</em> of +praying to Christ? or that <em>luscious</em> way of preaching His righteousness? +I never found it so. On the contrary, I have found, that even the +precious doctrine of salvation by faith has need to be guarded with the +utmost care, or those who hear it will slight both inward and outward +holiness.</p> + +<p>“I will go a step farther: I seldom find it profitable for <em>me</em> to converse +with any who are not athirst for perfection, and who are not big with +earnest expectation of receiving it every moment. Now you find none +of these among those we are speaking of; but many, on the contrary, who +are in various ways, directly and indirectly, opposing the whole work of +God,—that work, I mean, which God is carrying on, throughout this kingdom, +by unlearned and plain men; in consequence of which His influence +must, in some measure, be withdrawn from them. Again: you have, for +some time, conversed a good deal with the genteel Methodists. Now it +matters not a straw what doctrine they hear,—whether they frequent the +Lock or West Street. They are, almost all, salt which has lost its +savour, if ever they had any. They are thoroughly conformed to the +maxims, the spirit, the fashions, and customs of the world. Certainly +then, ‘<i lang="la">Nunquam ad eos homines ibis quin minor homo redibis</i>.’</p> + +<p>“But were these or those of ever so excellent a spirit, you conversed +with them too long. One had need to be an angel, not a man, to converse +three or four hours at once, to any purpose. In the latter part of +such conversation, we shall doubtless lose all the profit we had gained +before.</p> + +<p>“But have you not a remedy for all this in your hands? In order to <a id="chg1"></a>have +truly profitable conversation, may you not select persons clear both of +Calvinism and antinomianism? not fond of that luscious way of talking, +but standing in awe of Him they love; who are vigorously working out +their salvation, and are athirst for full redemption, and every moment +expecting it, if not already enjoying it? It is true, these will generally be +poor and mean, seldom possessed of either riches or learning, unless there +be now and then a <i lang="la">rara avis in terris</i>: a Miss March, or Betty Johnson. +If you converse with these, humbly and simply, an hour at a time, with +prayer before and prayer after, you will not complain of the unprofitableness +of conversation, or find any need of turning hermit.</p> + +<p>“As to the conference, at Worcester, on lay preaching, do not you +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</span> +observe almost all the lay preachers—(1) Are connected with me? +and—(2) Are maintainers of universal redemption? <i lang="la">Hinc illæ lacrymæ!</i> +These gentlemen do not love <em>me</em>, and do love particular redemption. +If these laymen were connected with them, or if they were Calvinists, all +would be well. Therefore, I should apprehend you will have two things +to do:—1. Urge the argument, the strength of which I believe is in the +Second Appeal, and, above all, in the Letter to a Clergyman. 2. Apply +to the conscience, ‘You do not love Mr. Wesley enough: you love your +opinions too much; otherwise this debate would never have arisen: for it +is undeniable, these quacks cure whom we cannot cure, they save +sinners all over the nation. God is with them, and works by them, and +has done so for near these thirty years. Therefore, the opposing them +is neither better nor worse than fighting against God.’</p> + +<p>“I am your ever affectionate brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_7_7" href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>One more letter may be introduced, before we turn to +Wesley’s journal. At the beginning of 1768, a third son +was born to Charles Wesley, and it was naturally the wish of +such a father, that one of his three sons might become a +minister of Christ,—a wish, however, that was not realised. +Wesley alludes to this, and to the yearly collections and +other things, in the following to his brother, showing that +Charles either seldom attended conference, or, if he did +attend, took little interest in its financial matters.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>January 15, 1768</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Brother</span>,—Six or seven hundred pounds is brought to a +conference: of which five hundred at least pays the debt.⁠<a id="FNanchor_8_8" href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> + Then extraordinary +demands are answered. How much remains for law? I am now +near £300 out of pocket, which I borrowed to pay Mr. Pardon. When I +receive some more from Newcastle, I will send it to Bristol; probably +very soon.</p> + +<p>“It is highly probable, one of the three will stand before the Lord. But, +so far as I can learn, such a thing has scarce been for these thousand +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</span> +years, as a son, father, grandfather, <i lang="la">atavus</i>, + <i lang="la">tritavus</i>, preaching the +gospel, nay, and the genuine gospel, in a line. You know, Mr. White, +sometime chairman of the Assembly of Divines, was my grandmother’s +father.</p> + +<p>“Look upon our little ones at Kingswood as often as you can. A word +from you will be a quickening to them. Oh how many talents are we entrusted +with. We have need to gird up the loins of our mind, and run +faster the small remainder of our race. ‘One thing!’—let us mind one +thing only; and nothing great or small, but as it ministers to it! Peace +be with you and yours! Adieu!</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span>”<a id="FNanchor_9_9" href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley’s first journey from London, in 1768, was on the +18th of February, to Chatham. Methodism of some sort had +existed here for a considerable time. As early as 1751, the +<cite>Gentleman’s Magazine</cite> relates, that a man and his wife at +Chatham, both of them being Methodists, had hanged themselves; +and that, in order to prove the man a lunatic, his +friends produced, to the coroner’s jury, the New Testament, +on a roll of paper, which the man had written with his +blood.⁠<a id="FNanchor_10_10" href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a></p> + +<p>Wesley writes: “Thursday, February 18—Having been +importunately pressed thereto, I rode through a keen east +wind to Chatham. About six in the evening, I preached at +the barracks, in what they call the church. It is a large +room, in which the chaplain reads prayers, and preaches now +and then. It was soon as hot as an oven, through the +multitude of people; some hundreds of whom were soldiers; +and they were ‘all ear,’ as Mr. Boston says, scarcely allowing +themselves to breathe. Even between five and six the next +morning, the room was warm enough. I suppose upwards of +two hundred soldiers were a part of the audience. Many of +these are already warring a good warfare.”</p> + +<p>This was Wesley’s first visit to Chatham; but not his last. +From the beginning, he had loved soldiers, and, to the end, it +was always a pleasure to preach to them.</p> + +<p>On March 6, he set out on his long northern journey, +which occupied the next five months. A few jottings respecting +it may be acceptable.</p> + +<p>At Gloucester, a “noisy and mischievous mob” had been +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</span> +“taken in hand and tamed by an honest magistrate.” Cheltenham +was “a quiet, comfortable place,” despite the “rector and +the anabaptist minister.” At Worcester, the difficulty was, +where to preach, no room being large enough to contain the +people, and it being too cold for them to stand in the open air. +At length, a friend offered the use of his barn, which “was +larger than many churches.” “Nothing,” says Wesley, “is +wanting here but a commodious house.” Such a house was +built four years afterwards,⁠<a id="FNanchor_11_11" href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> and lasted till 1812, when good +old James M‘Kee Byron and the Worcester Methodists were +mad enough to build another costing upwards of £8000, the +great bulk of which was left to be paid by their successors.⁠<a id="FNanchor_12_12" href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a></p> + +<p>At Evesham, Wesley preached in the parish church; and +was announced, by the vicar, to do the same at Pebworth; +but “the squire of the parish” interposed an interdict, and +therefore he preached in the open air.</p> + +<p>At Birmingham, the tumults, of so many years’ continuance, +were “now wholly suppressed by a resolute magistrate.” Here +Wesley met “with a venerable monument of antiquity, +George Bridgins, in the one hundred and seventh year of his +age, still able to walk to preaching, and retaining his senses +and understanding tolerably well.”</p> + +<p>On Sunday, March 20, Wesley preached at West Bromwich, +where a small society of about twenty persons had +been kept together by Francis Asbury, a native of a neighbouring +parish, but afterwards the Methodist bishop of the +United States.</p> + +<p>Five years before, at Wolverhampton, the mob had levelled +the Methodist meeting-house to the ground, and four young +fellows concerned in the outrage had been sent to prison;⁠<a id="FNanchor_13_13" href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> +but now, says Wesley “all was quiet: only those who could +not get into the house made a little noise for a time; and +some hundreds attended me to my lodging; but it was with +no other intent than to stare.”</p> + +<p>Wesley pronounces Newcastle under Lyme “one of the +prettiest towns in England.” Though it was extremely cold, +the largeness of the congregation constrained him to preach in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</span> +the open air; “a more attentive or better behaved congregation” +he “scarce ever saw.” Sixteen years later, Newcastle +had a society of one hundred and nine members, the leaders +of whom were John Glynn, William Bayley, Robert Keeling, +and Thomas Bamfield.⁠<a id="FNanchor_14_14" href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a></p> + +<p>At Burslem, on March 25, he opened the new chapel; and, +at Congleton, had “an elegant, yet earnestly attentive congregation,” +the behaviour of the society having won the approbation +of all the people in the town, except “the curate, +who still refused to give the sacrament to any who would not +promise to hear the Methodist preachers no more.”</p> + +<p>For nine years past, the Methodists had been wont to meet +in a room provided by Dr. Troutbeck, behind his own residence; +and here they had been subjected to the same sort +of outrages that most towns in the kingdom thought it their +duty to commit upon the Methodists. Drums were beaten to +disturb their services; dogs were let loose in their congregations; +and rotten eggs and filth were often hurled at them in +plentiful profusion; but, by their godly behaviour, they had +outlived all this, and now had a galleried chapel, capable +of containing about four hundred persons.</p> + +<p>Wesley spent Sunday, March 27, at Macclesfield, where he +preached to “thousands upon thousands.” A few years +before, George Pearson and Elizabeth Clulow had opened a +preaching house, which would hold forty people, and which, to +prevent ejectment, they secured to themselves for forty years. +“Ah, George!” said Mrs. Clulow, when they first went into +it, “we shall never be able to fill the place; why, it will hold +forty folk;” to which Mr. Pearson replied, “I’ll warrant you; +hold up your heart.” The result was as George predicted. +In a month the room was crammed, and a hole was cut +through the chamber floor, so that the preacher might, at the +same time, address those above as well as those below. Soon +after this, Mr. Ryles gave ground and materials for a chapel, +on condition that Mrs. Clulow would pay the workmen their +wages for building it. This was done in 1764, and now, in +1768, Methodism in Macclesfield was fairly started.⁠<a id="FNanchor_15_15" href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</span> +From Macclesfield, Wesley proceeded to Stockport, Manchester, +and New Mills. He writes: “Wednesday, March 30—I +rode to a little town called New Mills, and preached in +their large new chapel, which has a casement in every window, +three inches square! That is the custom of the country!” +This well ventilated chapel was built principally by Mr. and +Mrs. Beard, the parents of the wife of the late T. Holy, <abbr title="Esquire">Esq.</abbr>, +of Sheffield.⁠<a id="FNanchor_16_16" href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a></p> + +<p>Coming to Liverpool, on April 6, Wesley says: “We had a +huge congregation at Liverpool; but some pretty, gay, +fluttering things did not behave with so much good manners +as the mob at Wigan. The congregations in general were +quite well behaved, as well as large, both morning and evening; +and I found the society both more numerous and more +lively than ever it was before.”</p> + +<p>One of these “huge congregations,” after a sermon by +Wesley, on Sunday, April 10, were munificent enough to +make a collection amounting to <abbr title="1 pound">£1</abbr> + 4<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 9<abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr>; and the society, +which was more numerous and lively than ever, aided by the +general congregations, managed to contribute, in their classes +and at public collections, from September 1, 1768, to January +16, 1769, the sum of <abbr title="10 pounds">£10</abbr> + 17<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 5<abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr> + for the support of the work +of God among them.⁠<a id="FNanchor_17_17" href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> + Such was Liverpool Methodism a +hundred years ago!</p> + +<p>On April 19, Wesley arrived in Glasgow, and says: +“We have few societies in Scotland like this. The greater +part of the members not only have found peace with God, but +continue to walk in the light of His countenance. That wise +and good man, Mr. Gillies, has been of great service to them, +encouraging them to abide in the grace of God.” Three +years before this, Thomas Taylor had been sent to Glasgow, +and, after travelling several hundreds of miles to his appointment, +had, as his first congregation, two bakers’ boys and two +old women, which congregation, however, kept increasing till +it reached about two hundred. Taylor tells us, that for want +of means he never kept so many fast days as he did in +Glasgow; and, though he ultimately obtained a preaching +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</span> +room, and formed a society, and engaged to pay a precentor +fourpence for each service at which he led off the psalms, he +found it so difficult to raise the money that he dismissed the +psalms and the psalm singer all together. He left behind +him, however, a society of seventy members.</p> + +<p>One of these was Robert Mackie, who, for thirty years, acted +as a faithful classleader; and another was a poor old woman, +concerning whom John Pawson, in an unpublished letter, tells +the following story. Meeting in the street the minister of +the kirk she had been accustomed to attend, she was thus +accosted: “Oh, Janet, where have ye been, woman? I have no +seen ye at the kirk for long.” “I go,” said Janet, “among the +Methodists.” “Among the Methodists!” quoth the minister; +“why what gude get ye there, woman?” “Glory to God!” +replied Janet, “I do get gude; for God, for Christ’s sake, has +forgiven me aw my sins!” “Ah, Janet,” said the minister, +“be not highminded, but fear; the devil is a cunning adversary.” +“I dunna care a button for the deevil,” answered +Janet, “I’ve gotten him under my feet. I ken the deevil can +do muckle deal, but there is ane thing he canna do.” “What +is that, Janet?” “He canna shed abroad the love of God +in my heart; and I am sure I’ve got it there!” “Weel, +weel!” replied the good tempered man, “if ye have got +there, Janet, hold it fast, and never let it go!”</p> + +<p>Wesley’s information was sometimes incorrect. From what +he had heard, he expected to find a numerous and lively +society at Perth; but, instead of that, he “found not above +two believers, and scarce five awakened persons in it.”</p> + +<p>At Aberdeen, the society was knit together in peace and +love, and the congregations large and deeply attentive; but, +among them, were “many rude, stupid creatures, who knew +as little of reason as of religion,” and one of whom threw a +potato at Wesley.</p> + +<p>Having spent a month in Scotland, Wesley reached Berwick +on the 18th of May, and proceeded to Newcastle, in the +neighbourhood of which he employed the next ten days.</p> + +<p>At Sunderland, he had an interview with Elizabeth Hobson, +a young woman of twenty-four years of age; and took down, +from her own lips, what he properly designates “one of the +strangest accounts that he ever read.” The substance of it is +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</span> +to illustrate her assertion, that, from her childhood, when any +of her neighbours died, she used to see them, either just at +the time of their decease, or a little previous. He says: +“The well known character of Elizabeth Hobson excludes all +suspicion of fraud, and the nature of the circumstances themselves +excludes the possibility of delusion. The reader may +believe the narrative if he pleases; or may disbelieve it, without +any offence to me. Meantime, let him not be offended if +I believe it, till I see better reason to the contrary.” After +this follow Elizabeth Hobson’s bewildering statements.</p> + +<p>Wesley has been censured and ridiculed for this credulity. +Southey says, “he invalidated his own authority by listening +to the most absurd tales and recording them as authenticated +facts.” Did Wesley deserve this? The reader +must not forget the undeniable, though mysterious, supernatural +noises in the Epworth rectory. He must also bear +in mind, that one of the most striking features in Wesley’s +religious character was his deep rooted, intense, powerful, and +impelling conviction of the dread realities of an unseen world. +This great conviction took possession of the man; he loved +it, cherished it, tried to instil it into all his helpers and all his +people; and, without it, he would never have undertaken the +Herculean labour, and endured the almost unparalleled opprobrium, +that he did. Besides, his own justification of himself +is more easily sneered at than answered. He writes:⁠—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“With my latest breath, will I bear my testimony against giving up to +infidels one great proof of the invisible world; I mean, that of witchcraft +and apparitions, confirmed by the testimony of all ages. The English, in +general, and, indeed, most of the men of learning in Europe, have given +up all accounts of witches and apparitions, as mere old wives’ fables. I +am sorry for it; and I willingly take this opportunity of entering my +solemn protest against this violent compliment, which so many that believe +the Bible pay to those who do not believe it. I owe them no such service. +I take knowledge, these are at the bottom of the outcry which has been +raised, and with such insolence spread throughout the nation, in direct +opposition not only to the Bible, but to the suffrage of the wisest and +best of men in all ages and nations. They well know (whether Christians +know it, or not) that the giving up witchcraft is, in effect, giving up the +Bible; and they know, on the other hand, that if but one account of the +intercourse of men with separate spirits be admitted, their whole castle in +the air—​deism, atheism, materialism—​falls to the ground. I know no +reason, therefore, why we should suffer even this weapon to be wrested +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</span> +out of our hands. Indeed, there are numerous arguments besides this, +which abundantly confute their vain imaginations. But we need not be +hooted out of one; neither reason nor religion requires this. One of the +capital objections to all these accounts is, ‘Did you ever see an apparition +yourself?’ No, nor did I ever see a murder; yet I believe there is +such a thing. The testimony of unexceptionable witnesses fully convinces +me both of the one and the other.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_18_18" href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>At the same time, it is only fair to add that, though Wesley +was a firm believer in witches and apparitions, he was not the +fanatic which some had been before him; hence, in 1769, he +writes: “I read Mr. Glanvill’s ‘Sadducismus Triumphatus;’ +but some of his relations I cannot receive, and much less his +way of accounting for them. All his talk of ‘aerial and +astral spirits,’ I take to be stark nonsense. Indeed, supposing +the facts true, I wonder a man of sense should attempt to +account for them at all. For who can explain the things +of the invisible world, but the inhabitants of it?”</p> + +<p>Before proceeding further in Wesley’s history, extracts +from two or three of his letters, belonging to this period, may +be inserted here.</p> + +<p>Separation from the Church, and the doctrine of Christian +perfection, were points still far from being settled. Hence +the following to his brother.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Edinburgh</span>, <i>May 14, 1768</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Brother</span>,—I am at my wits’ end with regard to two things—​the +Church, and Christian perfection. Unless both you and I stand in the +gap in good earnest, the Methodists will drop them both. Talking will +not avail. We must <i>do</i>, or be borne away. Will you set shoulder to +shoulder? If so, think deeply upon the matter, and tell me what can be +done. ‘<i lang="la">Age, vir esto! nervos intendas tuos.</i>’ Peace be with you and +yours! Adieu!</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span>”<a id="FNanchor_19_19" href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>A month later, Wesley recurs to the same subject, and +congratulates his brother on the results of his removing to +London.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>June 14, 1768.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Brother</span>,—I rejoice to hear, from + various persons, so good an +account of the work of God in London. You did not come thither without +the Lord, and you find your labour is not in vain. I doubt not but +you will see more and more fruit, while you converse chiefly with them +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</span> +that are athirst for God. I find a wonderful difference in myself when I +am among these, and when I am among fashionable Methodists. On +this account, the north of England suits me best, where so many are +groaning after full redemption.</p> + +<p>“But what shall we do? I think it is high time, that you and I, at +least, should come to a point. Shall we go on in asserting perfection +against all the world? Or shall we quietly let it drop? We really must +do one or the other; and, I apprehend, the sooner the better. What +shall we jointly and explicitly maintain, and recommend to all our preachers, +concerning the nature, the time (now or by-and-by), and the manner +of it? instantaneous or not? I am weary of intestine war; of preachers +quoting one of us against the other. At length, let us fix something for +good and all, either the same as formerly, or different from it.—Ερρωσο.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span>”<a id="FNanchor_20_20" href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Dr. Erskine’s attack on Wesley has been already mentioned +(see <abbr title="Volume Two, page">Vol. II., p.</abbr> 530). During + Wesley’s visit to Scotland, he +sought an interview with his opponent, and refers to their +points of difference in the following interesting letter to the +<abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Plendelieth, of Edinburgh.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>May 23, 1768.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Reverend and dear Sir</span>,—Some years ago, + it was reported that +I recommended the use of a crucifix, to a man under sentence of death. +I traced this up to its author, Dr. Stennett, an anabaptist teacher. He +was charged with it. He answered, ‘Why I saw a crucifix in his cell (a +picture of Christ on the cross), and I knew Mr. Wesley used to visit him, +so I <em>supposed</em> he had brought it.’ This is the whole of the matter. Dr. +Stennett himself I never saw; nor did I ever see such a picture in the +cell; and I believe the whole tale is pure invention.</p> + +<p>“I had, for some time, given up the thought of an interview with Mr. +Erskine, when I fell into the company of Dr. Oswald. He said, ‘Sir, +you do not know Mr. Erskine. I know him perfectly well. Send and +desire an hour’s conversation with him, and I am sure he will understand +you better.’ I am glad I did send. I have done <em>my</em> part, and am now +entirely satisfied. I am likewise glad, that Mr. Erskine has spoken his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span> +mind. I will answer with all simplicity, in full confidence of satisfying +<i>you</i>, and all impartial men.</p> + +<p>“He objects, (1) That I attack predestination as subversive of all +religion, and yet suffer my followers, in <em>Scotland</em>, to remain in that +opinion.</p> + +<p>“Much of this is true. I did attack predestination eight-and-twenty +years ago; and I do not believe now any predestination which implies +irrespective reprobation. But I do not believe, it is <em>necessarily subversive</em> +of all religion. I think hot disputes are much more so. Therefore, +I never willingly dispute with any one about it; and I advise all my +friends, not in Scotland only, but all over England and Ireland, to avoid +all contention on the head, and let every man remain in his own opinion. +Can any man of candour blame me for this? Is there anything <em>unfair</em> or +<em>disingenuous</em> about it?</p> + +<p>“He objects, (2) That I ‘assert the attainment of sinless perfection by +all that are born of God.’ I am sorry, that Mr. Erskine should affirm this +again. I need give no other answer than I gave before, in the seventh +page of the little tract I sent him two years ago. I do not maintain this. +I do not believe it. I believe Christian perfection is not attained by any +of the children of God, till they are what the apostle John terms <i>fathers</i>; +and this I expressly declare in that sermon which Mr. Erskine so largely +quotes.</p> + +<p>“He objects, (3) That I ‘deny the imputation of Christ’s active +obedience.’ Since I believed justification by faith, which I have done +upwards of thirty years, I have constantly maintained, that we are pardoned +and accepted wholly for the sake of what Christ hath both <em>done and +suffered</em> for us. Two or three years ago, Mr. Madan’s sister showed him +what she had wrote down of a sermon which I had preached on this subject. +He entreated me to write down the whole and print it, saying, it +would satisfy all my opponents. I was not so sanguine as to expect this: +I understood mankind too well. However, I complied with his request; a +few were satisfied; the rest continued just as they were before.</p> + +<p>“As long as Mr. Erskine continues in the mind expressed in his +Theological Essays, there is no danger, that he and I should agree, any +more than light and darkness. I love and reverence him; but not his +doctrine. I dread every approach to antinomianism. I have seen the +fruit of it, over the three kingdoms. I never said, that Mr. Erskine and +I were agreed. I will make our disagreement as public as ever he pleases: +only I must withal specify the particulars. If he <em>will</em> fight with me, it +must be on this ground; and then let him do what he will, and what he +can.</p> + +<p>“Retaining a due sense of your friendly offices, and praying for a blessing +on all your labours, I remain, reverend and dear sir, your affectionate +brother and servant,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_21_21" href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span> +These were mutterings before the storm,—skirmishes before +the battle,—a prelude to the great Calvinian controversy of +1770 and onwards.</p> + +<p>We abruptly turn to another matter. Wesley was a man +who believed in the importance of making preparations for +dying, in more respects than one. He writes on the last day +of the year 1786: “From these words, ‘Set thy house in +order,’ I strongly exhorted all who had not done it already, +to settle their temporal affairs without delay. It is a strange +madness which still possesses many, that are in other respects +men of understanding, who put this off from day to day, till +death comes in an hour when they looked not for it.”</p> + +<p>Wesley acted upon his own advice. He was without +money; but he had books, etc.: and to prevent quarrels after +he was dead, he made more wills than one respecting their +disposal. One executed in 1768 was, of course, different from +his last, executed in 1789; and, as something more than a +curiosity, we subjoin a verbatim copy, made from the original +in Wesley’s own handwriting.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“In the name of God. Amen! I, John Wesley, Clerk, revoking all +other, appoint this to be my last Will and Testament.</p> + +<p>“I bequeath to my brother Charles Wesley, (but in case of his demise +to the School in Kingswood,) my Hebrew, Greek, Latin, French, and +German books (except those, in any language, in the study at Kingswood +School, which I bequeath to the said School; and those in my +studies at Bristol, Newcastle upon Tyne, and Dublin, which I desire may +remain there for the use of the Travelling Preachers); and all my gowns, +cassocks, and bands. To James Morgan, I bequeath my watch; to my +faithful Housekeeper, Ann Smith, Mrs. Lefevre’s ring; to Mr. Peter Jaco, +my bureau at London; to him, to the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> William Ley, and to each +Travelling Preacher, who has them not already, a set of my Sermons, +Appeals, Journals, the Notes on the New Testament, and the book on +Original Sin; to the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. James Roquet, + all my manuscripts; to my +dear friend, Mary Bosanquet, the set of my Works; to my dear daughter, +Jane Smith, the ‘Christian Library,’ now in my study at London.</p> + +<p>“I bequeath all my Books, which are for sale, with the sole right of reprinting +them, (after paying my brother’s Rent Charge upon them,) to +Mr. Melchias Teulon, Hatter, Mr. John Horton, Silkdyer, and Mr. John +Collinson, Hatter, in Trust, the one moiety for the keeping the Children +of Travelling Preachers at the School (to be chosen by the Assistants at +the Yearly Conference), the other moiety for the continual relief of the +Poor of the United Society in London. Only I bequeath to Christiana +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span> +Simpson, at Aberdeen, the Books which shall remain with her, at the +time of my decease.</p> + +<p>“Lastly, I bequeath the residue of my Books and Goods to my wife, +Mary Wesley. And I appoint the said Melchias Teulon, John Horton, +and John Collinson, Executors of this my last Will and Testament.</p> + +<p>“Witness my hand and seal,⁠<a id="FNanchor_22_22" href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a> this 27th day of April, 1768,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>. +</p> + +<p>“Witnesses:<br> +<span class="ss" style="width:3em"> </span>“<span class="smcap">William Smith.</span><br> +<span class="ss" style="width:3em"> </span>“<span class="smcap">Thomas Simpson.</span>” +</p> +</div> + +<p>A man’s will is a document in which he generally makes +mention of his best beloved friends. On this ground, a few +notes appended to Wesley’s will of 1768 may be useful.</p> + +<p>1. Wesley’s principal bequest, in 1768, was to Kingswood +school, and to the poor of the society in London. In 1789, +this bequest was made to “the general fund of the Methodist +conference, in carrying on the work of God by itinerant +preachers.”</p> + +<p>2. James Roquet was made the trustee of Wesley’s manuscripts +in 1768; but, having died during the interim, Dr. Coke, +Dr. Whitehead, and Henry Moore were appointed in 1789 to +take his place.</p> + +<p>3. In 1768, he bequeathed all his gowns, cassocks, and +bands to his brother; in 1789, to the clergymen preaching in +City Road chapel, London.</p> + +<p>4. In 1768, James Morgan was to have his watch; but, in +1789, James Morgan was dead, and Joseph Bradford got it.</p> + +<p>5. In 1768, Mrs. Martha Hall had no bequest, for her bad +husband was then living; in 1789, he was dead, and hence her +legacy of <abbr title="40 pounds">£40</abbr>.</p> + +<p>6. In 1768, there was a legacy for his wife; in 1789, his +wife was in her grave.</p> + +<p>7. Wesley makes mention of his “dear daughter, Jane +Smith.” This lady was really his wife’s daughter, who was +now married to Mr. William Smith, of Newcastle upon Tyne, +one of the witnesses.</p> + +<p>8. James Roquet, to whom Wesley bequeathed his manuscripts, +was the son of a French Protestant refugee, was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span> +educated in the Merchant Taylors’ school in London, was +converted under Whitefield’s ministry, graduated at <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> John’s +college, Oxford, became master in Wesley’s school at Kingswood, +obtained episcopal ordination, and was now curate of +<abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Werburgh, Bristol.</p> + +<p>9. The <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> William Ley, to whom Wesley bequeathed a +set of his publications, was, from the year 1760 to 1763, an +itinerant preacher. He was then episcopally ordained, and +was now the curate of Lakenheath, but likely to be dismissed +by the vicar, to whom his Methodistic preaching and procedure +were offensive.⁠<a id="FNanchor_23_23" href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a></p> + +<p>10. Of one of the executors of Wesley’s will, John Collinson, +we can give no particulars.</p> + +<p>11. The second, Mr. Teulon, was born at Bromley, in 1734; +and was sent to school at Nottingham. At fourteen, he was +put apprentice to his uncle, Mr. Wagner, of Pall Mall, hatter +to King George <abbr title="Two">II.</abbr> He was converted under the ministry of +Romaine, joined the Methodists, and, in 1761, married Miss +Mecham, the daughter of one of the earliest Methodists in +London. For four years, he was Wesley’s London steward, +and was leader of a class. He was a man of some literary +taste, and had read most of the best English authors. He +died in 1806, respected and beloved by all who knew him.⁠<a id="FNanchor_24_24" href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a></p> + +<p>12. The third executor, John Horton, was a member of the +common council of London, sensible, well read, serious without +gloom, cheerful without levity, and polite without ceremony. +The unhappy differences after Wesley’s death induced +him to leave the Methodists, and he went to reside at Bristol.⁠<a id="FNanchor_25_25" href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a> +He retained his warm attachment, however, to “the <i>old ship</i>,” +as he was accustomed to designate Wesley’s system; again +attended the Methodist preaching, and, only a few months +before his death, when his son was preparing for the university, +declared to Henry Moore, that he would “rather see his son +a Methodist preacher, than archbishop of Canterbury.” He +died in peace about the year 1802.⁠<a id="FNanchor_26_26" href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a></p> + +<p>We left Wesley at Newcastle. On the 31st of May, he set +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span> +out for Weardale, Teesdale, and Swaledale, where he spent +the next four days. At Richmond, he preached in the +market place, the Yorkshire militia forming a considerable +part of his congregation,—“a rude rabble rout, without +sense, decency, or good manners.” At Barnardcastle, the +Durham militia was a perfect contrast, officers and soldiers +all behaving well. Wesley’s visit to the “dales” circuit +was a pleasant one. He writes: “I have not found so deep +and lively a work in any other part of the kingdom as runs +through the whole circuit, particularly in the vales that wind +between these horrid mountains.”</p> + +<p>Returning to Newcastle, Wesley visited South Shields, and +preached to more than could hear him. Here the poor +Methodists were often beaten, rolled in the mud and in the +snow, and sometimes narrowly escaped with life: but, continuing +faithful, God honoured them; a cockpit was turned +into a Methodist chapel,⁠<a id="FNanchor_27_27" href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a> and Methodism was firmly anchored.</p> + +<p>On the 13th of June, Wesley left Newcastle for the south, +and spent the next six weeks in visiting his societies in Yorkshire +and Lincolnshire.</p> + +<p>The <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Thomas Adam, rector of Wintringham, one of +the evangelical clergymen of the period, has been already +mentioned. Like some others, this unquestionably pious man +had become a determined opponent of the Methodists, and +hence the following letter, addressed to him by Wesley.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Swinfleet</span>, <i>July 19, 1768</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Reverend and dear Sir</span>,—One of Wintringham informed me +yesterday, that you said no sensible and well meaning man could hear, +and much less join, the Methodists; because they all <em>acted under a lie</em>, +professing themselves members of the Church of England, while they +licensed themselves as Dissenters. You are a little misinformed. The +greater part of the Methodist preachers are not licensed at all; and +several of them that are, are not licensed as Dissenters.</p> + +<p>“We are, in truth, so far from being enemies to the Church, rather +bigots to it. I dare not, like Mr. Venn, leave the parish church where I +am, to go to an Independent meeting. I dare not advise others to go +thither, rather than to church. I advise all, over whom I have any influence, +steadily to keep to the Church. Meantime, I advise them to see, +that the kingdom of God is within them; that their hearts be full of love +to God and man; and to look upon all, of whatever opinion, who are +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span> +like minded, as their ‘brother, and sister, and mother.’ O sir! what art +of men or devils is this, which makes you so studiously stand aloof from +those who are thus minded? I cannot but say to you, as I did to Mr. +Walker, ‘The Methodists do not want you; but you want them.’ You +want the life, the spirit, the power, which they have; not of themselves, +but by the free grace of God; else how could it be, that so good a man, +and so good a preacher, should have so little fruit of his labour, his unwearied +labour, for so many years? Have your parishioners the life of +religion in their souls? Have they so much as the form of it? Are the +people of Wintringham, in general, any better than those of Winterton, +or Horton? Alas! sir, what is it that hinders your reaping the fruit of +so much pains and so many prayers?</p> + +<p>“Is it not possible this may be the very thing, your setting yourself +against those whom God owns, by the continual conviction and conversion +of sinners? I fear, as long as you in anywise oppose these, your rod will +not blossom, neither will you see the desire of your soul, in the prosperity +of the souls committed to your charge.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear sir, your affectionate brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_28_28" href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>In his journey southwards, Wesley visited, for the second +time, his friend Fletcher, at Madeley,—a man, in many +respects, the opposite of Mr. Adam of Wintringham, and +especially in his feelings towards the Methodists. So far +from shunning them, or being ashamed of them, he, as far as +possible, identified himself with them; and, at the very last +conference before he died, entreated Wesley to make Madeley +a circuit town, and to put John Fletcher down as a supernumerary +preacher there. He made his kitchen a Methodist +chapel, in which Wesley’s itinerants and his own curate regularly +preached; while his study was the place in which were +penned the ablest defences of Wesley’s doctrines that were +ever committed to the public press.</p> + +<p>From Madeley, Wesley went to Shrewsbury, where, as +early as 1744, there was a poor woman, who had been converted +in London under the preaching of the Methodists, and +who now obtained a living, by mending her neighbours’ +stockings. While thus employed, at their respective houses, +she would relate to them her religious experience, read to +them a sermon, and then engage in prayer. By this means, she +had already formed a society of sixteen or eighteen persons; +and the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Job Orton, the well known author, a native +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span> +of Shrewsbury, and at this time its presbyterian minister, +declared that this poor stocking-mending Methodist was not +only of “an excellent and serious spirit,” but had had more +success in converting sinners than he had had by all his +preaching.⁠<a id="FNanchor_29_29" href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a></p> + +<p>Leaving Shrewsbury, Wesley rode right through Wales to +Pembroke, where he “read prayers, preached, and administered +the sacrament to a serious congregation at <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Daniels;” and so +tried to remove some misunderstandings among the Methodists, +that he “left the people full of good desires, and in tolerable +good humour with each other.” Here Methodism had +been begun seven years before, when Thomas Taylor traversed +mountains, forded rivers, and plunged through bogs, +with an empty purse and an empty stomach, seeking to save +sinners with a zeal and a spirit of self denial worthy of the +noblest missionary that ever lived.⁠<a id="FNanchor_30_30" href="#Footnote_30_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a></p> + +<p>At Neath, where the minister of the parish was just dead, +the churchwardens announced, that Wesley would preach in +the parish church. He did so, but says: “I was greatly +disgusted at the manner of singing. 1. Twelve or fourteen +persons kept it to themselves, and quite shut out the congregation. +2. These repeated the same words, contrary to all +sense and reason, six, or eight, or ten times over. 3. According +to the shocking custom of modern music, different persons +sung different words at one and the same moment; an intolerable +insult on common sense, and utterly incompatible +with any devotion.”</p> + +<p>After more than five months of laborious travelling, Wesley +came to Bristol on Saturday the 13th of August, between eleven +and twelve o’clock at night. His conference had to open two +days afterwards; but the first news he heard was, that his +wife was dangerously ill in London. He had about forty-eight +hours before he must meet his preachers, twenty-four of +which were sabbatical. The distance to London and back +again was two hundred and twenty-eight miles; the roads +not the best; and the mode of travelling a perfect contrast +to what exists at present. Wesley was an aged man, of more +than sixty-five; for nearly six months he had been travelling +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span> +and preaching incessantly, and might now fairly wish for a +few hours’ rest. But no sooner did he hear of his wife’s +affliction, than, notwithstanding her unloving heart and life, he +started off to London, which, by travelling most of the sabbath +day, he reached at one o’clock on Monday morning; when, +finding that the fever was abated and the danger gone, he set +out again within an hour, and, by hard driving, arrived in +Bristol on Monday afternoon. Next morning he opened his +annual conference, and closed it the following Friday, exclaiming, +“Oh! what can we do for more labourers? We can +only cry to the Lord of the harvest.”</p> + +<p>One of the chief points discussed at the present conference +was, whether the itinerant preachers should be allowed to +engage in trade. This was a question at once delicate and +difficult. In the first place, many of them had wives and +children, the provision for whose maintenance was of the most +slender kind. Secondly, the men were not ordained, and had +no clerical status whatever. So far there seemed to be no +difficulty. But, in the third place, though not ordained, the +preachers were regarded by Wesley as occupying, to all +practical intents and purposes, the same position as the +regular ministers of the Church of England; and, hence, +he considered it as unseemly and as improper for his itinerants +to be engaged in trade as it would be for the clergy +of the Established Church. “God,” says he, “has called us to +supply their lack of service to the sheep that are without +shepherds, and to spend and be spent therein. Every travelling +preacher solemnly professes to have nothing else to do; +and receives his little allowance for this very end, that he may +not need to do anything else,—that he may not be entangled +in the things of this life, but may give himself wholly to +these things.”</p> + +<p>The result was, the few preachers who had resorted to some +kind of trade, for the purpose of eking out the insufficient +maintenance for their families were <i>advised</i> to give up their +business as soon as possible, and especially <i>hawking drops</i> +(which their wives might sell at home), for it had “a bad +appearance, and did not suit the dignity of their calling.”</p> + +<p>The increase of members during the year was 430. Wesley +was not satisfied with this. Hence the question:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span> +“In many places the work of God seems to stand still. What can be +done to revive and enlarge it?”</p> + +<p>“Answer—1. Much good has been done by the books which have been +published; and more would be, if they were spread more effectually.</p> + +<p>“2. Let there be more field preaching; without this, the work of God +will hardly increase in any place.</p> + +<p>“3. Let the preaching at five in the morning be constantly kept up, +wherever you can have twenty hearers. This is the glory of the +Methodists! Whenever this is dropped, they will dwindle away into +nothing. Rising early is equally good for soul and body. It helps the +nerves better than a thousand medicines; and, in particular, preserves the +sight, and prevents lowness of spirits, more than can be well imagined.</p> + +<p>“4. As soon as there are four men or women believers in any place, put +them into a <i>band</i>. In every place where there are bands, meet them constantly, +and encourage them to speak without reserve.</p> + +<p>“5. Be conscientiously exact in the whole Methodist discipline. One +part of our discipline has been generally neglected, namely, the changing +of the stewards. This has been attended with many ill consequences; +many stewards have been ready to ride over the preachers head. Let +every assistant, at the next quarterly meeting, change one steward at +least, in every society, if there be therein any other man that can keep an +account.</p> + +<p>“6. Beware of <em>formality</em> in singing, or it will creep in upon us unawares. +Is it not creeping in already, by those complex tunes which it is scarce +possible to sing with devotion? Such is, ‘Praise the Lord, ye blessed +ones!’ Such the long quavering Hallelujah, annexed to the Morning +Song tune, which I defy any man living to sing devoutly. The repeating +the same word so often, especially while another repeats different words, +shocks all common sense, brings in dead formality, and has no more of +religion in it than a Lancashire hornpipe. Do not suffer the people to +sing too slow. This naturally tends to formality, and is brought in by +those who have very strong or very weak voices. Why should not the +assistant see, that they be taught to sing in every large society?</p> + +<p>“7. Let a quarterly fast be observed in all our societies.</p> + +<p>“8. Which of us ‘fasts every Friday in the year’? Which of us fasts +at all? Does not this show the present temper of our minds soft and unnerved? +How then can we advance the work of God, though we may preach +<em>loud</em> and <em>long</em> enough? Here is the root of the evil. Hence, the work +of God droops; few are convinced, few justified, few of our brethren +sanctified! Hence, more and more doubt if we are to be sanctified at all +till death. That we may all speak the same thing, I ask once for all, +‘Shall we defend this perfection or give it up’? You all agree to defend +it, meaning thereby, as we did from the beginning, salvation from all sin, +by the love of God and our neighbour filling our heart. You are all +agreed, we may be saved from all sin <em>before death</em>. The substance then is +settled. But as to the circumstance, is the change instantaneous or +gradual? It is both one and the other. But should we in preaching +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span> +insist upon both one and the other? Certainly. But how far from entire +sanctification are we still! The religion of the Methodists, in general, +is not internal: at least, not deep, universal, uniform: but superficial, +partial, uneven. And what pains do we take to make it otherwise? Do +we visit from house to house, according to the plan laid down in the +minutes? Only spend half the time in <em>this visiting</em>, which you spend in +talking uselessly, and you will have time enough. Do this, particularly in +confirming and building up believers. Then, and not till then, the work +of the Lord will prosper in your hands. Unless, also, we can take care of +the <em>rising generation</em>, the present revival of religion will be <i lang="la">res unius +ætatis</i>, it will last only the age of a man. Spend an hour a week with +the children, in every large town, whether you like it or not. Talk with +them every time you see any at home. Pray in earnest for them. Diligently +instruct and vehemently exhort all parents at their own houses. +Read carefully the life of Mr. Brainerd. Let us be followers of him, as he +was of Christ; in absolute self devotion, in total deadness to the world, +and in fervent love to God and man. We want nothing but this. Then +the world and the devil must fall under our feet. Lastly, let us keep to +the Church. They that leave the Church leave the Methodists. The +clergy cannot separate us from our brethren; the Dissenting ministers +can and do. Therefore, carefully avoid whatever has a tendency to +separate men from the Church. In particular, preaching at any hour +which hinders them from going to it. Let every assistant look to this. +Let all the servants in our preaching houses go to church on Sunday +morning at least. Let every preacher likewise go always on Sunday +morning, and, when he can, in the afternoon. God will bless those who +go on week days too, as often as they have opportunity.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley’s means, then, to promote a revival of the work of +God, were a diffusion of Methodist literature, field and morning +preaching, the enforcement of Methodist discipline, good +singing, quarterly fasts, the preaching of the doctrine of +Christian perfection, house to house visitation, attention to +the young, continued union with the Established Church, and, +above all and more than all, more inward and outward religion +among the preachers.</p> + +<p>Before leaving the conference of 1768, we insert a letter, +which, so far as we are aware, has not before been published, +except in the “Methodist Pocket Book” for 1799. It was addressed +to James Morgan, one of Wesley’s itinerant preachers, +well read, and popular, but who had sunk into a state of +nervousness, and had settled down in the city of Dublin.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap"><abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Just, near the Land’s End</span>, <i>September 3, 1768</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Jemmy</span>,—I have been thinking much of <em>you</em>; and why should +I not tell you all I think, and all I fear, concerning you?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span> +“I think all that you said at the conference upon the subject of the late +debates was right. And it amounted to no more than this: ‘the general +rule is, they who are in the favour of God know they are so. But there +may be some exceptions. Some may fear and love God, and yet not be +clearly conscious of His favour; at least, they may not dare to affirm that +their sins are forgiven.’ If you put the case thus, I think no man in his +senses will be tempted to contradict you; for none can doubt, but whoever +loves God is in the favour of God. But is not this a little misstating +the case? I do not conceive the question turned here; but you said, or +was imagined to say, ‘all penitents are in God’s favour’; or, ‘all who +mourn after God are in the favour of God.’ And this was what many disliked; +because they thought it was unscriptural and unsafe, as well as contrary +to what <i>we</i> had always taught. That this <em>is</em> contrary to what <i>we</i> had +always taught, is certain; as all our hymns, as well as other writings, testify: +so that (whether it be true or not), it is, without any question, a <em>new</em> +doctrine among the Methodists. We have always taught, that a <em>penitent +mourned</em>, or was pained, on this very account, because he felt he was not +in the favour of God, but had the wrath of God abiding on him. Hence +we supposed the language of his heart to be, ‘Lost and undone for aid I +cry’; and we believed he was really ‘lost and undone,’ till God did</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0a">‘Peace, righteousness, and joy impart,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">And speak Himself into his heart.’</div> +</div></div> + +<p>“And I still apprehend this to be the scriptural doctrine, confirmed, not +by a few detached texts, but by the whole tenor of Scripture, and, more +particularly, of the Epistle to the Romans. But if so, the contrary to it +must be unsafe, for that general reason, because it is unscriptural; to +which one may add the particular reason, that it naturally tends to lull +mourners to sleep; to make them say, ‘Peace, peace’ to their souls, when +there is no peace.</p> + +<p>“But it may be asked, ‘Will not this discourage mourners?’ Yes, it +will discourage them from stopping where they are; it will discourage +them from resting, before they have the witness in themselves, before +Christ is revealed in them. But it will <em>encourage</em> them to seek in the +gospel way; to ask till they receive pardon and peace. And we are +to encourage them, not by telling them they are in the favour of God, +though they do not know it; (such a word as this we would never utter in +a congregation, at the peril of our souls;) but by assuring them, ‘Every +one that seeketh findeth, every one that asketh receiveth.’</p> + +<p>“I am afraid you have not been sufficiently wary in this; but have +given occasion to them that sought occasion. But this is not all. I doubt +you did not ‘see God’s hand in Shimei’s tongue.’ ‘Unto you it <em>was given</em> +to suffer’ a little of what you extremely wanted,—obloquy and evil report. +But you did not acknowledge either the gift or the Giver. You saw only +T. Olivers, not God. O Jemmy, you do not know yourself. You cannot +bear to be continually steeped in the esteem and praise of men. Therefore, +I tremble at your stay at Dublin; it is the most dangerous place for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span> +<em>you</em> under heaven! All I can say is, God <em>can</em> preserve you in the fiery +furnace, and I hope He will.</p> + +<p> +“I am, dear Jemmy, yours affectionately, +</p> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>A letter has been already inserted in which Wesley congratulates +his brother on the reports he had received respecting +the success of his ministry in London. This was somewhat +premature, for, in reality, instead of there being an +increase in the London circuit, there was a decrease of seventy +members; and there was a serious intention to abandon the +chapel in Spitalfields. Hence the following letter “to the +stewards of the Foundery.”</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Pembroke</span>, <i>August 6, 1768</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brethren</span>,—The thing you mention is of no small concern, +and ought not to be determined hastily. Indeed, it would be easy to +answer, if we considered only how to save money; but we are to consider +also how to save souls. Now, I doubt whether we should act wisely in +this respect were we to give up the chapel in Spitalfields. We have no +other preaching place in or near that populous quarter of the town; and a +quarter which, upon one account, I prefer before almost any other; +namely, that the people in general are more simple, and less confused by +any other preachers. I think, therefore, it would not be well to give up +this, if we could gain a thousand pounds thereby. I should look upon it +as selling the souls of men for money; which God will give us in due time +without this. That many who live near the Foundery would be glad of it +I allow, because it would save them trouble. But neither can I put the +saving of trouble in competition with the saving of souls.</p> + +<p>“I am, my dear brethren, your affectionate brother,</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_31_31" href="#Footnote_31_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Poor Spitalfields! Noble Wesley! Let the fashionable +Methodists of the present generation ponder such sentiments +as these, and hesitate before they abandon their old chapels, +because surrounded by none but the abject and the poor, and +because keeping them open involves expense and trouble.</p> + +<p>It is a remarkable fact, that almost in the very year in +which Methodism was founded in America, it was instituted +in Newfoundland. For nine years, Laurence Coughlan was +one of Wesley’s itinerants. In 1764, he was ordained by +Erasmus, the Greek bishop, and was put away from the +Methodist connexion. In 1766,⁠<a id="FNanchor_32_32" href="#Footnote_32_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a> he was reordained by the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span> +Bishop of London, and was sent to Newfoundland by the +Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. It +is true, he went as a clergyman of the Church of England, but +he took his Methodism with him, and established classes, in +which the present Methodism of Newfoundland had its origin. +In a letter to Wesley, he writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“I am, and do confess myself, a Methodist. The name I love, and hope +I ever shall. The plan which you first taught me, as to doctrine and discipline, +I have followed. We have the sacrament once a month, and +have about two hundred communicants. This is more than all the other +missionaries in the land have: nor do I know of any who attend our +sacrament, who have not the fear of God; and some are happy in His love. +There are some also whose mouths the Lord hath opened to give a word +of exhortation; and I hope He will raise up many more.”</p> +</div> + +<p>It would be a pleasant task to trace the steps of Mr. +Coughlan in Newfoundland; but suffice it to remark that he +returned to England, and shortly after, while conversing with +Wesley in his study, was seized with paralysis, and suddenly +removed to his rest in heaven.⁠<a id="FNanchor_33_33" href="#Footnote_33_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a></p> + +<p>Coughlan was one of those in London, who professed to +receive the blessing of Christian perfection; but, like many +others, imbibed fantastic notions respecting it. Soon after the +conference of 1768, Wesley wrote to him as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Laurence</span>,—By a various train of providences you have been +led to the very place where God intended you should be; and you have +reason to praise Him, that He has not suffered your labour there to be +in vain. In a short time, how little will it signify, whether we had lived +in the Summer Islands, or beneath</p> + +<p class="center"> +‘The rage of Arctos and eternal frost!’ +</p> + +<p>“How soon will this dream of life be at an end! And when we are +once landed in eternity, it will be all one, whether we spent our time on +earth in a palace, or had not where to lay our head.</p> + +<p>“You never learned, either from my conversation, or preaching, or +writings, that ‘holiness consisted in a glow of joy.’ I constantly told you +quite the contrary: I told you it was the love of God and our neighbour; +the image of God stamped on the heart; the life of God in the soul of +man; the mind that was in Christ, enabling us to walk as Christ also +walked. If Mr. Maxfield, or you, took it to be anything else, it was your +own fault, not mine; and, whenever you waked out of that dream, +you ought not to have laid the blame of it upon me. Perhaps you thought +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span> +you had received what you had not. But pray do not measure all men +by yourself; do not imagine you are the universal standard. If you +deceived yourself, you should not infer that all others do. Many think +they are justified, and are not; but we cannot infer, that none are justified. +So neither, if many think they are ‘perfected in love,’ and are not, will +it follow that none are so. Blessed be God, though we set a hundred +enthusiasts aside, we are still ‘encompassed with a cloud of witnesses,’ +who have testified, and do testify, in life and in death, that perfection +which I have taught these forty years! This perfection cannot be a +delusion, unless the Bible be a delusion too; I mean, loving God with all +our hearts, and our neighbour as ourselves. I pin down all its opposers +to this definition of it. No evasion! No shifting the question! Where is +the delusion of this? Either you received this love, or you did not. If +you did, dare you call it a delusion? If you received anything else, it +does not at all affect the question. O Laurence, if sister Coughlan and +you ever did enjoy this, humble yourselves before God for casting it +away; if you did not, God grant you may!</p> + +<p class="center">“Yours, etc.,</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_34_34" href="#Footnote_34_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley had been incessantly travelling for nearly the last +six months; but no sooner were the sessions of the Bristol +conference ended, than he started off to Cornwall, where he +spent the interval between August 26 and September 18. +On his way, he preached to a serious congregation at Taunton, +and asks, “Shall we have fruit here also?” Wesley might +well ask this. For many a long year, he had been accustomed +to preach at Taunton, and had been received either +with stupid indifference or active contempt. As early as +1744, he attempted to preach in the yard of the Three Cups +inn; but had no sooner named his text, than the mayor came, +in all his full blown dignity, and ordered the proclamation to +be read, and silenced the preacher.⁠<a id="FNanchor_35_35" href="#Footnote_35_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a> Almost a quarter of a +century had elapsed since then; and now there was a small +society, of which one of the members was Thomas Dingle, who +for sixty-three years was a chief supporter of the Taunton +society, and one of its brightest ornaments.</p> + +<p>Wesley’s labours in Cornwall were Herculean. Though +now in the sixty-sixth year of his age, for eight days together +he preached, “mostly in the open air, three or four times a +day,” and says, “I hardly felt any weariness, first or last.” +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span> +He was also not without adventures. At Polperro, his bedroom +was filled with pilchards and conger eels, which made +him glad to accept the offer of another. At Plymouth, on +his return, a “silly man talked without ceasing” during the +sermon, till Wesley desired the people “to open to the right +and left, and let him look his garrulous disturber fairly in the +face,” upon which the noisy prater “pulled off his hat, and +quietly went away.” Between Charlton and Lympsham, the +rivers were so swollen, that Wesley’s horse had to swim, and +Wesley himself had to be taken to his lodgings on an “honest +man’s shoulders.”</p> + +<p>Reaching Bristol on September 24, Wesley spent the next +few days in visiting the neighbouring towns and villages. At +Frome, he found the liveliest society that there was in the +Wiltshire circuit: a fact which greatly surprised him, because +the town was made up of a strange medley “of men of all +opinions,—anabaptists, quakers, presbyterians, Arians, antinomians, +Moravians, and what not.” He adds: “if any hold +to the truth, in the midst of all these, surely the power must +be of God.”</p> + +<p>The Frome Methodists, however, were not untrained recruits, +but veteran soldiers, who had stood the brunt of many +a furious and fiery fight. Twenty-two years before this, +Methodism had been started in their town, by a poor Bristol +pedlar, who dealt in rags and small ware, singing to the people +Wesley’s hymns. Since then, a vagabond barber——​a tool in +the hands of the parish priest——​had dragged two Methodist +women to prison. Mrs. Seagram had been fined <abbr title="20 pounds">£20</abbr> for +permitting her house to be used as a preaching place; and, +not being able to pay the fine, had had all her stock in trade +and her household goods sold by public auction, while she +and her two fatherless children were turned penniless out of +doors. In one instance, the mob rushed into the preaching +room, seized the benches, and made a bonfire of them. Methodism +in Frome had outlived all this; and, despite the sectarianism +of the town, it was destined still to live and prosper.</p> + +<p>On October 24, Wesley set out for London, and employed +the first week in November in a preaching tour through the +three counties of Hertford, Bedford, and Northampton. At +Hertford, a chapel had been built by Mr. Andrews, who afterwards, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span> +in 1777, gave to Wesley’s new chapel in City Road +the pulpit which has been used in Methodism’s cathedral +from that time to this.⁠<a id="FNanchor_36_36" href="#Footnote_36_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a></p> + +<p>The second week in November was spent in a similar +visitation of the societies in Oxfordshire. He writes: “I was +desired to preach at Oxford. The room was throughly +filled, and not with curious, but deeply serious hearers. Many +of these desired, that our travelling preachers would take them +in their turn; with which I willingly complied.” Oxford had +been Methodism’s cradle, but the infant had long been absent. +Henceforth, Methodism was one of Oxford’s institutions; +though, for long, long years, it was a thing of feebleness and +of small dimensions. The “Oxfordshire” circuit extended +over the greater part of Berkshire, Wiltshire, and Buckinghamshire; +and, even as late as 1787, there were throughout +the circuit only four Methodist chapels, namely, at Oxford, +Wycombe, Wallingford, and Witney. At Aylesbury, the +Methodists preached in the baptists’ chapel; at Newbury, in +an ironfounder’s shop; and at all the other places, in private +houses. The small chapel in Oxford was in New-Inn-Hall +Lane;⁠<a id="FNanchor_37_37" href="#Footnote_37_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a> and the Oxford home of the two unmarried preachers, +Joseph Entwisle and Richard Reece, was a garret in the house +of a journeyman shoemaker, for which the society paid sixpence +a week as rent; and which had to serve them as dining +room, sitting room, bedroom, and study,⁠<a id="FNanchor_38_38" href="#Footnote_38_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a> all in one.</p> + +<p>The third week in November was occupied in meeting the +London classes; and the fourth in a tour in Kent. The rest +of the year was chiefly spent in town.</p> + +<p>Wesley was fervent, but not fanatical; he loved earnestness +in religious worship, but not disorder. Hence the following +letter to Mr. Merryweather, of Yarm.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Lewisham</span>, <i>December 10, 1768</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—The matter is short: all things in Divine worship +must ‘be done decently and in order.’ Two must never pray at the +same time, nor one interrupt another. Either Alice Brammah must take +advice, or the society must be warned to keep away from her. These +are the very things which were the beginning of poor George Bell’s fall.</p> + +<p>“I am, your affectionate brother,</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_39_39" href="#Footnote_39_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span> +We have already seen that, by an enormous effort, in the +month of August, Wesley hurried from Bristol to London to +visit his afflicted wife. On his return he wrote her as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“<span class="smcap">My Love</span>,—I can make allowance for faintness, and weakness, and +pain. I remember when it was my own case, at this very place, and when +you spared no pains in nursing and waiting upon me, till it pleased God +to make you the chief instrument in restoring my strength. I am glad you +have the advice of a skilful physician; but you must not be surprised or +discouraged if you do not recover your strength so soon as one might +wish, especially at this time of the year. What is chiefly to be desired is, +that God may sanctify all His dispensations to you, and that all may be +the means of your being more entirely devoted to Him, whose favour is +better than strength, or health, or life itself.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Molly, your ever affectionate husband,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>No sooner was Wesley’s wife convalescent, than, instead of +waiting to welcome him to his home in London, she, in one of +her insane piques, took her departure to Newcastle. The +following letter to his brother refers to this, and also to his +preparing an edition of Young’s “Night Thoughts,” and to +other matters.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>December 17, 1768</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Brother</span>,—I thank you for your reproof. There is reason in +what you say. If there was not evil, there was the appearance of evil.</p> + +<p>“Matters have not been well carried on at Liverpool; but ‘what cannot +be cured must be endured.’</p> + +<p>“Why, you simpleton, you are cutting me out a month’s work. Nay, +but I have no leisure nor inclination to write a book. I intend only: (1) +to leave out what I most dislike; (2) to mark what I most approve of; +(3) to prefix a short preface. And I shall run the hazard of printing it at +Bristol. There you yourself can read the proof sheets.</p> + +<p>“You do well with regard to my sister Emily. What farther is wanting +I will supply. I hear nothing from our friend at Newcastle. I am now +a mere fellow of a college again. Adieu!</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span>”<a id="FNanchor_40_40" href="#Footnote_40_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley was still troubled on account of the chapel debts. +Nearly <abbr title="6000 pounds">£6000</abbr> had been contributed; but there was still a +debt of <abbr title="7728 pounds">£7728</abbr> upon the chapels in the United Kingdom +undefrayed.⁠<a id="FNanchor_41_41" href="#Footnote_41_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a> This gave rise to the following letter.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>December, 1768</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—Last year, Mr. H⁠—— was much persuaded +that, by means of the yearly subscription, our whole debt of above <abbr title="11 pound">£11</abbr>,000 +would be paid within two years. Many of our brethren were more sanguine +still. They were persuaded that, by generously exerting themselves, +and giving a large sum at once, it would be paid in one year. I did not +expect this; but I would not contradict, because I would not discourage +them. The event was as I foresaw. By the noble effort which many of +our brethren made, most of the pressing debts are already discharged, +amounting in the whole to near <abbr title="7000 pounds">£7000</abbr>. But a debt of about <abbr title="7000 pounds">£7000</abbr> remains +upon us still. What can be done with regard to this? I will tell you +what occurs to my mind. Many of our brethren chose to subscribe +yearly ten, five, three, two guineas, or less. I doubt not but these will +cheerfully pay the residue of their subscription, and perhaps some of them +will add a little thereto, as they see the great occasion there is for it. A few +delayed subscribing, because they wanted to see the event; supposing the +design to be impracticable, and that ‘nothing good would come out of it,’ +As it now appears that great good has come out of it, that many burdens +are already removed, I cannot but earnestly exhort all these now to set +their shoulders to the work. Now, at least, let them exert themselves, for +my sake, for the gospel’s sake, and for the sake of their still afflicted brethren, +who groan under a load which they cannot well bear, and yet cannot +remove without our assistance. Several generously contributed at once, +in hope of paying the whole debt. Of them nothing more can be +required, but their prayers that others may be as openhearted as themselves. +Nevertheless, if of their own free goodwill they see good to add +a little to their former benefactions—​this, as well as the former, is lent +unto the Lord, and what they lay out shall be paid them again. Ought I not +to add, that there were some of our brethren who did not answer my expectation? +I knew they were able to assist largely; and I flattered myself +they were not less willing than able, as they owed me their own souls also, +and this was the first favour of the kind which I had requested of them. +Let me be excused from saying any more of what is past. Let them now +drop all excuses and objections, and show they love me and their brethren, +and the work of God, not in word only, but in deed and in truth. Let me +have joy over you, my brethren, in particular. You have a measure of +this world’s goods, and you see your brother hath need. I have need of +your help, inasmuch as the burdens of my brethren are my own. Do not +pass by on the other side; but come and help as God has enabled you. +Do all you can to lighten the labour, and strengthen the hands, of your +affectionate brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_42_42" href="#Footnote_42_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley was a great reader, as well as a great writer; and, +during the year 1768, his journal is enriched with an unusual +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span> +number of his critical remarks. A few may be given as +specimens of others.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“January 11.—This week I spent my scraps of time in reading Mr. +Wodrow’s ‘History of the Sufferings of the Church of Scotland.’ It would +transcend belief, but that the vouchers are too authentic to admit of any +exception. O what a blessed governor was that goodnatured man, so +called, King Charles the Second! Bloody Queen Mary was a lamb, a +mere dove, in comparison of him!”</p> + +<p>“April 29.—I read over an extremely sensible book, but one that surprised +me much: ‘An Inquiry into the Proofs of the Charges commonly +advanced against Mary Queen of Scotland.’ By means of original papers, +the author has made it clear: (1) That she was altogether innocent of the +murder of Lord Darnley, and no way privy to it. (2) That she married +Lord Bothwell (then near seventy years old, herself but four-and-twenty), +from the pressing instance of the nobility in a body, who, at the same +time, assured her he was innocent of the king’s murder. (3) That Murray, +Morton, and Lethington, themselves contrived that murder, in order to +charge it upon her; as well as forged those vile letters and sonnets which +they palmed upon the world for hers. ‘But how then can we account for +the quite contrary story, which has been almost universally received?’ +Most easily. It was penned and published in French, English, and Latin, +(by Queen Elizabeth’s order,) by George Buchanan, who was secretary to +Lord Murray and in Queen Elizabeth’s pay; so he was sure to throw +dirt enough. Nor was she at liberty to answer for herself. ‘But what +then was Queen Elizabeth?’ As just and merciful as Nero, and as good +a Christian as Mahomet.”</p> + +<p>“May 20.—I went on reading that fine book, Bishop Butler’s +‘Analogy.’ But I doubt it is too hard for most of those for whom it is +chiefly intended. Freethinkers, so called, are seldom close thinkers. +They will not be at the pains of reading such a book as this. One that +would profit them must dilute his sense, or they will neither swallow +nor digest it.”</p> + +<p>“November 19.—I read Dr. Nowell’s answer to Mr. Hill, concerning +the expulsion of the students at Oxford. He has said all that could be +said for that stretch of power; and he says quite enough, to clear the +Church of England from the charge of predestination: a doctrine which +he proves to be utterly inconsistent with the Common Prayer, the +Communion Service, the Office of Baptism, the articles, the homilies, +and the other writings of those that compiled them.”</p> +</div> + +<p>The last extract refers to a matter too nearly allied to +Methodism to be passed without further notice.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“On the 12th of March, 1768, six students belonging to Edmund hall, +Oxford, were expelled the university, for holding Methodistical tenets, and +taking upon them to pray, read or expound the Scriptures, and sing +hymns in private houses. The principal of the hall, Dr. Dixon, defended +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span> +their doctrines from the thirty-nine articles of the Established Church, +and spoke in the highest terms of their piety and the exemplariness of +their lives; but sentence was pronounced against them. Dr. Nowell, +one of the heads of houses present, observed, that as these six gentlemen +were expelled for having too much religion, it would be very proper to +inquire into the conduct of some who had too little.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_43_43" href="#Footnote_43_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>The expelled students were Benjamin Kay, Thomas Jones, +Thomas Grove, Erasmus Middleton, Joseph Shipman, and +James Mathews. The junta of expellers were Drs. Durell, +Randolph, Fothergill, Nowell, and Atterbury.⁠<a id="FNanchor_44_44" href="#Footnote_44_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a> The charges +brought against the young culprits were: 1. That they had +held or frequented illicit conventicles, where some of them, +though not in orders, had preached and prayed extempore, +particularly in the house of a staymaker, a woman who herself +officiated and taught. 2. That some of them had been bred +up to the lowest trades and occupations, for one had been a +weaver and kept a taphouse, a second had been a barber, a +third a draper; and further all were wholly illiterate, and incapable +of performing the statutable exercises of the university; +and were maintained at the charge of persons suspected +of enthusiasm. 3. That they were attached to the sect called +Methodists, and held their doctrines, namely, “that faith +without works is sufficient for salvation; that there is no +necessity for good works; that the immediate impulse of the +Spirit is to be waited for; that once a child of God always a +child of God; and the like.” 4. That one of them, before his +entrance into the university, had preached, and, in defiance of +his father’s authority, had connected himself with the Methodists. +5. That some of them had behaved very irreverently +and disrespectfully to their tutor, and had industriously sought +to cavil with and to vex him.⁠<a id="FNanchor_45_45" href="#Footnote_45_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a></p> + +<p>It is right to add, that none of these young men had been +connected with Wesley. Mr. Jones, the barber, had, for some +time resided, with the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> John Newton, and, under his instruction, +had made considerable progress in the Greek and +Hebrew languages. Mr. Kay was of a respectable family, and +an excellent scholar, and had an exhibition paid by the Ironmongers’ +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span> +Company. Mr. Mathews had been instructed by +Fletcher of Madeley. Mr. Middleton had been under the +tutelage of the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Thomas Haweis. Of Mr. Grove and Mr. +Shipman we know nothing, except that the latter, after his +expulsion, was admitted to the college of the Countess of +Huntingdon, at Trevecca.</p> + +<p>This act of Oxford tyranny, as might be expected, created +great commotion; and numbers of tracts and pamphlets, <i lang="la">pro</i> +and <i lang="la">con</i>, were published. Among others, Whitefield rushed +into the battle, in a “Letter to the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Dr. Durell,” <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, 50 +pages, and defended the expelled with great vigour and effect; +as also did Dr. Horne, afterwards bishop of Norwich. Macgowan +published his “Shaver,” in which he shaved the collegiate +rulers with no gentle hand, and, in the process, must have +made them smart. Sir Richard Hill, a young man of thirty-six, +who for some time past had been using his utmost endeavours +to improve Oxford morality, issued his “Pietas Oxoniensis,” +<abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, 85 pages, in which he belaboured the junta with unsparing +severity. Several replies were written in justification of the +Oxford bull; and, after an immense expenditure of time, and +not a little display of angry temper, this execrable act of the +Oxford authorities was allowed to repose in silence. It is +a fact, however, far too serious to be forgotten, that while +Oxford university, in past days, has tolerated in its students +the most notorious wickedness, and while, at the present day, +it tolerates German scepticism and Romish heresy, it once, in +one of its paroxysms of pious zeal, ignominiously expelled six +young men, whose only crimes were, that some of them had +been ignobly bred, and all had sung, and prayed, and read the +Scriptures in private houses.</p> + +<p>The Countess of Huntingdon was accused of maintaining +some or all of these young students at the Oxford university; +and perhaps there was a modicum of truth in this. Be that +as it may, she soon made her young preachers independent of +Oxford help. Trevecca House, in the parish of Talgarth, in +Wales, was an ancient structure, supposed to have been +erected about the year 1176. This building the countess +opened as a college, five months after the expulsions just +mentioned,—on the 24th of August, 1768, the anniversary of +her ladyship’s birthday. Whitefield preached at the opening; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span> +Fletcher was made the president; and, for a few months, +Mr. Easterbrook the head master; when Joseph Benson was +appointed his successor. Of course, Fletcher was not expected +to relinquish his charge at Madeley; but he was to attend +the college at Trevecca as often as he conveniently could; to +give advice, with regard to the appointment of masters, and +the admission or exclusion of students; to oversee their studies +and conduct; to assist their piety; and to judge of their +qualifications for the ministry.⁠<a id="FNanchor_46_46" href="#Footnote_46_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a> As is well known, both +Fletcher and Benson soon retired, because of the doctrinal +differences that sprang up; but Trevecca was still used as a +seminary for the training of Calvinistic ministers, till 1792, +when the institution was removed to Cheshunt, in Hertfordshire. +Wesley from the beginning was in doubt of it, though, +perhaps, without reason. In a letter to his brother, dated +“May 19, 1768,” he writes: “I am glad Mr. Fletcher has +been with you. But if the tutor fails, what will become of +our college at Trevecca? Did you ever see anything more +queer than their plan of institution? Pray who penned it, +man or woman? I am afraid the visitor too will fail.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_47_47" href="#Footnote_47_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a> Was +there a tinge of jealousy in this? We know not. Troubles, +it is true, soon sprung up; but the countess made Trevecca +her principal place of residence; and within its walls were +trained a noble band of earnest, laborious, and useful ministers. +The old building is now the residence of a Celtic farmer.⁠<a id="FNanchor_48_48" href="#Footnote_48_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a> +<i lang="la">O tempora! O mores!</i></p> + +<p>Excepting the hubbub arising out of the Oxford expulsions, +there was not much, in 1768, that was antagonistic +to the Methodist movement. A small, paltry pamphlet +was published, with the title, “Enthusiasm Reprehended. +Three Letters to Mr. John Wesley. With Strictures on +his Character, the Reception he met with at Perth, and his +Conduct on that occasion.” A <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr> volume, of 212 +pages, was also issued, entitled “Sermons to Asses”; and +was dedicated to Whitefield, Wesley, Romaine, and Madan. +Besides these, an eighteenpenny poem was published, +entitled “The Hypocrite: a comedy;” in which the writer +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span> +tries to turn Cibber’s satire on disloyalty into a castigation +of enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>Wesley’s publications also were fewer than usual, and +hardly any of them original. The following belong to this +period.</p> + +<p>1. “A Letter to the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Dr. Rutherforth.” This has been +already noticed in a previous chapter.</p> + +<p>2. “A Caution to False Prophets: a Sermon on Matthew +<abbr title="seven">vii.</abbr> 15–20. Particularly recommended to the people called +Methodists.” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 12 pages. In this sermon, Wesley discusses +a point which he confesses had puzzled him for many years, +namely, whether it is right to hear a minister who is either +immoral, or who preaches false doctrine. He still hesitates +to pronounce an opinion, and recommends those who were in +doubt to “wait upon God in prayer, and then act according +to the best light they had.”</p> + +<p>3. “Instructions for Members of Religious Societies. Translated +from the French.” Under the date of February 26, +1768, Wesley writes: “I translated from the French one of +the most useful tracts I ever saw, for those who desire to be +‘fervent in spirit.’ How little does God regard men’s opinions! +What a multitude of wrong opinions are embraced by all the +members of the Church of Rome! Yet how highly favoured +have many of them been!”</p> + +<p>4. “An Extract from the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Law’s Later Works.” +Two <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 251 and 204 pages. About a quarter of a +century before this, Wesley had published an extract from +Law’s “Christian Perfection”; an extract from his “Serious +Call”; and an extract from his “Serious Answer to Dr. +Trapp.” He now published similar extracts from Law’s +answer to “Christianity as old as Creation,” his “Spirit of +Prayer,” his “Spirit of Love,” his “Letters,” and his “Address +to the Clergy.”</p> + +<p>5. “An Extract of the Life of the late <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> David Brainerd.” +<abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 274 pages. Just at the time when Methodism was extending +its mission to America and Newfoundland, Wesley +issued his life of one of the most devoted missionaries that +ever lived: a young man who died before he arrived at the +age of thirty; but whose piety, for depth and fervour, has +seldom been excelled; and whose four years’ mission among +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span> +the Delaware and other Indians, from 1743 to 1747, would +warm the heart and improve the character of all candidates +for missionary work.</p> + +<p>Besides the above, another publication belongs to the year +1768,—“Free Thoughts on the Present State of Public Affairs,” +<abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 47 pages. This, strictly speaking, was Wesley’s first +political pamphlet. At the general election of 1768, John +Wilkes, at the time an outlaw, was returned to parliament by +the county of Middlesex; and, shortly after, was arrested +and committed to the King’s Bench prison. For nearly a +fortnight, crowds collected outside the prison walls, and soldiers +were sent to protect the place. A riot followed; the +soldiers fired; six of the rioters were killed, and fourteen +badly wounded; and the exploit got the name of the “Massacre +of <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> George’s Fields.” For months, Wilkes’s business +occupied the attention of court and cabinet; when the wretched +demagogue was sentenced to pay a fine of <abbr title="1000 pounds">£1000</abbr>, to be +imprisoned for two-and-twenty months, and afterwards to +find security for good behaviour for seven years. While in +prison, he was at the zenith of his fame; subscriptions were +opened for the payment of his debts; and his likenesses were +so multiplied, that portraits of him squinted from the signboards +of half the public houses in the kingdom.</p> + +<p>It was in the midst of such a state of things, that Wesley +wrote the pamphlet already mentioned. He admits that, though +“cobblers, tinkers, porters, and hackney coachmen” think themselves +wise enough “to instruct both the king and his council,” +he himself is “not so deeply learned. Politics were beyond +his province; but he would use the privilege of an Englishman +to speak his naked thoughts.” “I have,” he writes, “no bias, +one way or the other. I have no interest depending. I want +no man’s favour, having no hopes, no fears, from any man.” +He then proceeds to defend the character of the king; and +maintains that, as an outlaw, Wilkes was incapacitated to +take a seat in the House of Commons. “Encumbered with +no religion, and disappointed in his application for place and +power, Wilkes had set up for patriot, vehemently inveighed +against evil counsellors and grievances, and was paid in +French <i lang="fr">louis d’or</i> for his agitative services.” Wesley then +expresses the opinion that, “supposing things to take their +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span> +natural course, they must go from bad to worse; the land +will become a field of blood; and many thousands of poor +Englishmen will sheathe their swords in each other’s bowels, +for the diversion of their good neighbours. Then, either a +commonwealth will ensue, or else a second Cromwell. One +must be; but it cannot be determined which,—King Wilkes, +or King Mob.”</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_1_1" href="#FNanchor_1_1" class="label">[1]</a> C. Wesley’s Life, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 242.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_2_2" href="#FNanchor_2_2" class="label">[2]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1783, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 684.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_3_3" href="#FNanchor_3_3" class="label">[3]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1857, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 616.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_4_4" href="#FNanchor_4_4" class="label">[4]</a> “Life and Times of Countess of Huntingdon,” <abbr title="volume one">vol. i.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 17.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_5_5" href="#FNanchor_5_5" class="label">[5]</a> Ibid. <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 427.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_6_6" href="#FNanchor_6_6" class="label">[6]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1857, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 693.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_7_7" href="#FNanchor_7_7" class="label">[7]</a> Manuscript letter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_8_8" href="#FNanchor_8_8" class="label">[8]</a> The meaning of this is, that, at least, <abbr title="500 pounds">£500</abbr> of what the Methodists +have always technically designated “The Yearly Collection,” was, at this +period, employed in paying chapel debts. Except that for Kingswood +school, this was the only connexional collection that Wesley had; and +he strongly insisted that <em>every</em> Methodist should render it support. In +an <em>unpublished</em> letter, addressed to Matthew Lowes, and dated March 11, +1762, Wesley writes: “In the enclosed papers, (which you may read in +every society, just before you meet the classes,) you will see the design of +the general yearly collection, to which <em>every</em> Methodist in England is to +contribute something. If there is any who cannot give a halfpenny a +year, another will give it for him.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_9_9" href="#FNanchor_9_9" class="label">[9]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 126.</p></div> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_10_10" href="#FNanchor_10_10" class="label">[10]</a> <cite>Gentleman’s Magazine</cite>, 1751, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 179.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_11_11" href="#FNanchor_11_11" class="label">[11]</a> Myles’s History.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_12_12" href="#FNanchor_12_12" class="label">[12]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1825, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 122; and 1829, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 585.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_13_13" href="#FNanchor_13_13" class="label">[13]</a> <cite>Gentleman’s Magazine</cite>, 1763, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 463.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_14_14" href="#FNanchor_14_14" class="label">[14]</a> Burslem old circuit book.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_15_15" href="#FNanchor_15_15" class="label">[15]</a> Manuscript.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_16_16" href="#FNanchor_16_16" class="label">[16]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1812, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 534; and 1843, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 89.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_17_17" href="#FNanchor_17_17" class="label">[17]</a> Liverpool old society book.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_18_18" href="#FNanchor_18_18" class="label">[18]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume fourteen">vol. xiv.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 276.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_19_19" href="#FNanchor_19_19" class="label">[19]</a> Ibid. <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 126.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_20_20" href="#FNanchor_20_20" class="label">[20]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 126. All this confusion arose chiefly out of +the half insane ravings of Bell and his friends in 1762. In a long, unpublished +letter, dated September 29, 1764, Wesley writes: “I never staggered +at all at the reveries of George Bell. I saw instantly, at the beginning +and from the beginning, what was right and what was wrong; but I +saw withal, ‘I have many things to speak, but you cannot bear them now.’ +Hence, many imagined I was <em>imposed</em> upon; and applauded themselves +in their greater perspicacity; as they do at this day. ‘But if you knew +it,’ says his friend to Gregory Lopez, ‘why did you not tell me?’ I answer +with him, ‘I do not speak all I know, but what I judge needful.’ Still, I +am persuaded, there is no state under heaven from which it is not possible +to fall.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_21_21" href="#FNanchor_21_21" class="label">[21]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1783, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 681.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_22_22" href="#FNanchor_22_22" class="label">[22]</a> Wesley’s seal is a dove, having in its mouth an olive branch, and +surrounded with the words <span lang="la">“Nuncia Pacis.”</span></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_23_23" href="#FNanchor_23_23" class="label">[23]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1805, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 277.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_24_24" href="#FNanchor_24_24" class="label">[24]</a> Ibid. 1808, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 297.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_25_25" href="#FNanchor_25_25" class="label">[25]</a> <cite>Theological Magazine</cite>, 1802, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 39.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_26_26" href="#FNanchor_26_26" class="label">[26]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1803, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 215.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_27_27" href="#FNanchor_27_27" class="label">[27]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1813, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 441.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_28_28" href="#FNanchor_28_28" class="label">[28]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume three">vol. iii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 320.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_29_29" href="#FNanchor_29_29" class="label">[29]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1815, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 459.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_30_30" href="#FNanchor_30_30" class="label">[30]</a> Taylor’s “Redeeming Grace.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_31_31" href="#FNanchor_31_31" class="label">[31]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 359.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_32_32" href="#FNanchor_32_32" class="label">[32]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1785, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 491.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_33_33" href="#FNanchor_33_33" class="label">[33]</a> Atmore’s “Memorial”; and <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1851, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 869.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_34_34" href="#FNanchor_34_34" class="label">[34]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume three">vol. iii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 324.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_35_35" href="#FNanchor_35_35" class="label">[35]</a> <cite>Gentleman’s Magazine</cite>, 1744, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 51.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_36_36" href="#FNanchor_36_36" class="label">[36]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1825, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 454.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_37_37" href="#FNanchor_37_37" class="label">[37]</a> <cite>Wesleyan Times</cite>, June 19, 1849.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_38_38" href="#FNanchor_38_38" class="label">[38]</a> Entwisle’s Memoir, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 31.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_39_39" href="#FNanchor_39_39" class="label">[39]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1826, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 464.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_40_40" href="#FNanchor_40_40" class="label">[40]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 127.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_41_41" href="#FNanchor_41_41" class="label">[41]</a> Minutes of Conference.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_42_42" href="#FNanchor_42_42" class="label">[42]</a> A manuscript circular, signed by Wesley himself.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_43_43" href="#FNanchor_43_43" class="label">[43]</a> <cite>London Magazine</cite>, 1768, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 125.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_44_44" href="#FNanchor_44_44" class="label">[44]</a> Philip’s Life of Whitefield, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 492.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_45_45" href="#FNanchor_45_45" class="label">[45]</a> <cite>London Magazine</cite>, 1768, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 214.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_46_46" href="#FNanchor_46_46" class="label">[46]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 281.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_47_47" href="#FNanchor_47_47" class="label">[47]</a> Ibid. <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 126.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_48_48" href="#FNanchor_48_48" class="label">[48]</a> “Life and Times of Howel Harris,” <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 246.</p></div></div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="1769">1769.</h2> +<hr class="short"> +<p class="center">Age 66</p> +</div> + +<p class="p2 drop-cap"><span class="smcap">Terrible</span> was the political excitement at the commencement +of 1769. It was now, that the first of the celebrated +letters of “Junius” appeared in the columns of the +<cite>Public Advertiser</cite>. These withering invectives became, to a great +extent, the political textbook of the nation. For years past, +Ireland also had been turbulent, split into factions, and overrun +by hordes of Levellers and Whiteboys, Oakboys and Hearts +of Steel, all bound together by secret oaths, and a detestation +of paying tithes. The kingdom was full of wicked wits and +scoffers; and jokes, repartees, <i lang="fr">bonmots</i>, and sarcasms, none of +them distinguished for their loyalty, began to spice a large +number of the newspapers, periodicals, and pamphlets of the +period. Never was Methodism more greatly needed than +now.</p> + +<p>Whitefield’s work in England was nearly ended. He and +Wesley were still united in bonds of ardent friendship. The +latter writes: “January 9, 1769—I spent a comfortable and +profitable hour with Mr. Whitefield, in calling to mind the +former times, and the manner wherein God prepared us for a +work which it had not then entered into our hearts to conceive.” +On the day following, Wesley preached in the house of the +Countess of Huntingdon, in Portland Row, and Whitefield +administered the sacrament.⁠<a id="FNanchor_49_49" href="#Footnote_49_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a> And seven weeks later, Wesley +wrote again: “February 27—I had one more agreeable conversation +with my old friend and fellow labourer, George +Whitefield. His soul appeared to be vigorous still, but +his body was sinking apace; and, unless God interposes +with His mighty hand, he must soon finish his labours.” +For six months more, Whitefield rambled over England, +preaching three or four times every week, and exclaiming, as +though his youthful zest was unabated, “Field preaching, +field preaching for ever.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_50_50" href="#Footnote_50_50" class="fnanchor">[50]</a> At the beginning of September, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span> +he embarked for Georgia, and addressed to Wesley the +following farewell letter.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">The Downs, on board the</span> <i>Friendship</i>, Captain Ball,<br> +<i>September 12, 1769</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Reverend and very dear Sir</span>,—What hath God wrought <em>for</em> us, <em>in</em> +us, <em>by</em> us! I sailed out of these Downs almost thirty-three years ago! Oh +the height, the depth, the length, the breadth of Thy love, O God! Surely +it passeth knowledge. Help, help, O heavenly Father, to adore what we +cannot fully comprehend! I am glad to hear, that you had such a +pentecost season at the college; one would hope, that these are earnests +of good things to come, and that our Lord will not yet remove His candlestick +from among us. Duty is ours. Future things belong to Him, who +always did, and always will order all things well.</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent2a">‘Leave to His sovereign sway,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">To choose and to command;</div> +<div class="verse indent0">So shall we wondering own His way,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">How wise, how strong His hand.’</div> +</div></div> + +<p>“Mutual Christian love will not permit you, and those in connection +with you, to forget a willing pilgrim, going now across the Atlantic for +the thirteenth time. At present, I am kept from staggering; being fully +persuaded, that the voyage will be for the Redeemer’s glory, and the welfare +of precious and immortal souls. Oh to be kept from flagging in the +latter stages of our road! <i lang="la">Ipse, Deo volente, sequar, etsi non passibus +æquis.</i> Cordial love and respect await your brother, and all that are so +kind as to inquire after, and be concerned for,</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 4.5em;">“Reverend and very dear sir,</span><br> +<span style="margin-right: 2.5em;">“Less than the least of all,</span><br><br> +“<span class="smcap">George Whitefield</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_51_51" href="#Footnote_51_51" class="fnanchor">[51]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Thus the old friends parted, not to meet again, till they met +in heaven. Twelve months afterwards, the great orator was +dead.</p> + +<p>Wesley spent the month of January in meeting the London +classes, and in a visit to Sheerness and Chatham. In +February, he made a tour to Norfolk; and, on the 6th of +March, set out for Ireland, and arrived in Dublin on the <abbr title="twenty-second">22nd</abbr>. +Here we pause, to insert two of his letters to two of his +female correspondents. The first was addressed to Lady +Maxwell, and refers to a subject of some interest, though one +on which opinions will differ.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>March 3, 1769</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Lady</span>,—I have heard my mother say, ‘I have frequently +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span> +been as fully assured, that my father’s spirit was with me, as if I had seen +him with my eyes.’ But she did not explain herself any further. I have +myself many times found, on a sudden, so lively an apprehension of a +deceased friend, that I have sometimes turned about to look; at the +same time, I have felt an uncommon affection for them. But I never had +anything of this kind with regard to any but those that died in faith. In +dreams, I have had exceeding lively conversations with them; and I +doubt not but they were then very near.</p> + +<p>“I am, my dear lady, your ever affectionate servant,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_52_52" href="#Footnote_52_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>The next was addressed to Sarah Crosby, the female +preacher.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Chester</span>, <i>March 18, 1769</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Sister</span>,—The westerly winds detain me here. When I am +in Ireland, you have only to direct to Dublin, and the letter will find +me.</p> + +<p>“I advise you, as I did Grace Walton formerly—1. Pray in private or +public as much as you can. 2. Even in public, you may properly +enough intermix short exhortations with prayer; but keep as far from +what is called preaching as you can; therefore, never take a text; never +speak in a continued discourse, without some break, above four or five +minutes. Tell the people, ‘We shall have another prayermeeting at +such a time and place.’ If Hannah Harrison had followed these few +directions, she might have been as useful now as ever.</p> + +<p>“As soon as you have time, write more particularly and circumstantially; +and let sister Bosanquet do the same. There is now no +hindrance in the way; nothing to hinder you speaking as freely as you +please to, dear Sally, your affectionate brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_53_53" href="#Footnote_53_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Trouble awaited Wesley in Dublin. James Morgan and +Thomas Olivers had quarrelled,⁠<a id="FNanchor_54_54" href="#Footnote_54_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a> and the society had suffered +loss. Besides this, says Wesley, “I was summoned, by a poor +creature who fed my horse three or four times while I was on +board. For this service he demanded ten shillings. I gave +him half-a-crown. When I informed the court of this, he was +sharply reproved. Let all beware of these land sharks on our +sea coasts!”</p> + +<p>On the 3rd of April, Wesley left Dublin for the provinces. +At Armagh, for the first time in his life, he preached in a +stable. At Kinnard, he met an old acquaintance, Archdeacon +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span> +<span class="lock">C——e</span>, and, at his request, opened a new church, which had +just been built. At Londonderry, he had, what he calls, “a +brilliant congregation,” but says: “Such a sight gives me no +great pleasure; as I have very little hope of doing them good: +only ‘with God all things are possible.’ In no other place in +Ireland has more pains been taken by the most able of our +preachers. And to how little purpose! Bands they have +none: four-and-forty persons in society! The greater part of +these heartless and cold. The audience in general dead as +stones.” At Manorhamilton, “all behaved well,” says he, +“but one young gentlewoman, who laughed almost incessantly. +She knew there was nothing to laugh at; but she thought she +laughed prettily.” At Cork, the society had been gradually +decreasing for seven years, until now the number of members +was reduced from 400 to 190. At Portarlington, the +society once had a hundred and thirty members; now it had +only twenty-four.</p> + +<p>Fourteen weeks were spent in traversing all parts of Ireland. +In some places, there was declension and great discouragement; +in many, Wesley’s ministry was accompanied with +amazing power; in none, did he meet with brutal persecution. +Occasionally a giddy girl would laugh, or an empty headed man +would sneer; but the days of sticks and stones were over. +Wesley returned to Dublin on the 15th of July; met his Irish +preachers in conference; and then, on July 24, embarked +for England; having to open his English conference at Leeds +on August 1. Before reviewing its proceedings, some further +extracts must be given from his correspondence.</p> + +<p>The first letter is remarkable. We have scarcely met with +another like it. The fastidious may object to some of its +expressions; but it must be remembered that, though Wesley +always employed plainness of speech, he rarely employed +coarseness. Besides, desperate cases require desperate remedies. +In this instance, ordinary language, in all likelihood, +would have been useless. The Irish Methodists were far from +faultless; and Hugh Saunderson, to whom the letter was +addressed, and who had just commenced his itinerancy in the +Armagh circuit, was far from being a model of perfection. +More than once had Wesley to remonstrate with him for his +irregularities; and, in 1777, had to expel him. On one occasion, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span> +in 1774, Wesley himself was actually arrested on account +of Saunderson’s peccant conduct. The charge was, that the +man had robbed his wife “of <abbr title="100 pounds">£100</abbr> in money, and upwards of +<abbr title="30 pounds">£30</abbr> in goods; and had, beside that, terrified her into madness; +so that, through want of her help, and the loss of +business,” the prosecutor, George Sutherland, “was damaged +<abbr title="500 pounds">£500</abbr>.” It was farther alleged, that Saunderson was one of +Wesley’s preachers, and that the two, to evade Mrs. Saunderson’s +pursuit, were preparing to fly the country. On such a +pretext Wesley was actually arrested, and taken to the Edinburgh +Tolbooth, where he had to wait till his friends gave bail +for his appearance. This was done; the case was tried; and +Mr. Sutherland, the prosecutor, was fined <abbr title="1000 pounds">£1000</abbr>. Of Saunderson’s +guilt we know nothing; but, three years afterwards, +Wesley expelled him from his connexion; and the man first +set up at Edinburgh, and then divided the society at +Exeter, where he “pitched his standard and declared open +war.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_55_55" href="#Footnote_55_55" class="fnanchor">[55]</a> Such was the culprit to whom Wesley sent the +letter following.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>April 24, 1769.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Brother</span>,—I shall now tell you the things which have been +more or less upon my mind, ever since I have been in the north of Ireland. +If you forget them, you will be a sufferer, and so will the people; if you +observe them, it will be for the good of both.</p> + +<p>“1. To begin with little things. If you regard your health, touch no +supper, but a little milk or water gruel. This will entirely, by the blessing +of God, secure you from nervous disorders; especially, if you rise early +every morning, whether you preach or no.</p> + +<p>“2. Be steadily serious. There is no country upon earth where this is +more necessary than Ireland; as you generally are encompassed with +those who, with a little encouragement, would laugh or trifle from morning +to night.</p> + +<p>“3. In every town, visit all you can from house to house. I say all you +can; for there will be some whom you cannot visit; and if you examine, +instruct, reprove, exhort, as need requires, you will have no time hanging +on your hands. It is by this means, that the societies are increased wherever +T. R. goes; he is preaching from morning to night, warning every +one, that he may present every one perfect in Christ Jesus.</p> + +<p>“4. But on this, and every other occasion, avoid all familiarity with +women. This is a deadly poison, both to <i>them</i> and <i>you</i>. You cannot be +too wary in this respect. Therefore begin from this hour.</p> + +<p>“5. The chief matter of your conversation, as well as your preaching, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span> +should doubtless be the weightier matters of the law. Yet, there are +several comparatively little things, which you should earnestly inculcate +from time to time; for ‘he that despiseth small things shall fall by little +and little.’ Such are⁠—</p> + +<p>“(1) Be active, be diligent; avoid all laziness, sloth, indolence. Fly +from every degree, every appearance of it; else you will never be more +than half a Christian.</p> + +<p>“(2) Be cleanly. In this let the Methodists take pattern by the +Quakers. Avoid all nastiness, dirt, slovenliness, both in your person, +clothes, house, all about you. Do not stink above ground. This is a bad +fruit of laziness. Use all diligence to be clean.</p> + +<p>“(3) Whatever clothes you wear let them be whole: no rents, no +tatters, no rags. These are a scandal to either man or woman; being +another fruit of vile laziness. Mend your clothes, or I shall never expect +you to mend your lives. Let none ever see a ragged Methodist.</p> + +<p>“(4) Clean yourselves of lice. These are a proof both of uncleanness +and laziness. Take pains in this. Do not cut off your hair, but clean it, +and keep it clean.</p> + +<p>“(5) Cure yourselves and your family of the itch. A spoonful of brimstone +will cure you. To let this run from year to year, proves both sloth +and uncleanness. Away with it at once. Let not the north be any longer +a proverb of reproach to all the nation.</p> + +<p>“(6) Use no tobacco unless prescribed by a physician. It is an +uncleanly and unwholesome self indulgence; and the more customary it +is, the more resolutely should you break off from every degree of that vile +custom.</p> + +<p>“(7) Use no snuff unless prescribed by a physician. I suppose no other +nation in Europe is in such vile bondage to this silly, nasty, dirty custom, +as the Irish are; but let the Christians be in this bondage no longer. +Assert your liberty, and that all at once; nothing will be done by degrees. +But just now you may break loose, through Christ strengthening you.</p> + +<p>“(8) Touch no dram. It is liquid fire. It is a sure, though slow poison. +It saps the very springs of life. In Ireland, above all countries in the +world, I would sacredly abstain from this, because the evil is so general. +To this, and snuff, and smoky cabins, I impute the blindness which is so +exceeding common throughout the nation.</p> + +<p>“I might have inserted under the second article, what I particularly +desire, wherever you have preaching, namely, that there may be a little +house. Let this be got without delay. Wherever it is not, let none expect +to see me.</p> + +<p>“I am, your affectionate brother,</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_56_56" href="#Footnote_56_56" class="fnanchor">[56]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>No apology is needed for the publication of this letter; for +Wesley himself published it in his <cite>Arminian Magazine</cite>. Its +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span> +picture of the Irish and of the Irish Methodists is far from +being fragrant and pleasant; but it was doubtless true, and +shows that Wesley was a great reformer in more respects +than one. All the Irish Methodists, however, must not be +included in the company above alluded to. The exceptions +were not few, but many, and some of them distinguished. +One of these was Mrs. Elizabeth Bennis, the first Methodist +in Limerick, in 1749, a lady of respectability and intelligence, +long the correspondent of Wesley, and who continued +one of his devoted followers till her death in 1802.⁠<a id="FNanchor_57_57" href="#Footnote_57_57" class="fnanchor">[57]</a> The following +letter was addressed to her during Wesley’s present +visit to the sister island, and refers to an unfounded opinion +which Wesley had now renounced.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Cork</span>, <i>May 30, 1769</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Sister</span>,—Some years since, I was inclined to think that none, +who had once enjoyed and then lost the pure love of God, must ever look +to enjoy it again till they were just stepping into eternity. But experience +has taught us better things. We have, at present, numerous instances of +those who have cast away that unspeakable blessing, and now enjoy it in +a larger measure than ever. And should not this be your case? Because +you are unworthy? So were they. Because you have been an unfaithful +steward? So had they been also; yet, God healed them freely; and so +He will you, only do not reason against Him. Forget yourself. Worthy is +the Lamb: you shall not die, but live, live all the life of heaven on earth. +You need nothing, in order to this, but faith; and who gives this? He +that standeth at the door.</p> + +<p>“Let there never more be any reserve between you and your truly affectionate +brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_58_58" href="#Footnote_58_58" class="fnanchor">[58]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley arrived in Leeds on Saturday, July 29, and on +Sunday, the 30th, preached, for the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Henry Crook, in +Hunslet church, morning and afternoon. Mr. Crook was an +old friend of the two Wesleys. As early as 1756, Charles +Wesley preached in his church at Hunslet, and speaks of +hundreds of communicants, most of whom had been awakened +under Mr. Crook’s faithful ministry.⁠<a id="FNanchor_59_59" href="#Footnote_59_59" class="fnanchor">[59]</a></p> + +<p>The conference, at Leeds, opened on the 1st of August, +and “a more loving one,” says Wesley, “we never had.” +The <cite>Intelligencer</cite> newspaper, of August 8, tells the public, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span> +that, “for a week past, Wesley had held a kind of visitation, +but what they call a conference, with several hundreds of his +preachers, from most parts of Great Britain and Ireland, where +he settled their several routes for the succeeding year.” It +further states, that “a large sum of money” was collected for +the purpose of “sending missionaries to America.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_60_60" href="#Footnote_60_60" class="fnanchor">[60]</a></p> + +<p>This was the “tall talk” of a newspaper. “Wesley’s itinerant +preachers” throughout the entire kingdom were only one +hundred and eleven in number; and the “large sum” collected +for sending missionaries to America was <abbr title="70 pounds">£70</abbr>, of which <abbr title="50 pounds">£50</abbr> +was to be appropriated to the payment of the debt on the +chapel in New York.</p> + +<p>Above two days of the time of the conference were spent in +the arrangement of temporal matters,—a thing which annoyed +Wesley, who therefore directed that, in future, as much of +such business as possible should be done by the secretaries +before the conference met.</p> + +<p>The two topics of most interest were Methodist missions, +and the perpetuation of the Methodist system after Wesley’s +death.</p> + +<p>It is a fact worth remembering, that already, for years past, +Methodism had been planted in the West Indian islands, by +means of Nathaniel Gilbert and his co-workers. Laurence +Coughlan had recently taken it to Newfoundland; and a few +soldiers had established it at Gibraltar, where there were thirty-two +members, fifteen of whom were rejoicing in the consciousness +of personal pardon.⁠<a id="FNanchor_61_61" href="#Footnote_61_61" class="fnanchor">[61]</a> They had preaching every night +and every morning, their preachers being “Brother Morton,” +Henry Ince, of the 2nd Regiment, and Henry Hall, of the +Royal Scots; six classmeetings were held every week, and +the work was prospering.⁠<a id="FNanchor_62_62" href="#Footnote_62_62" class="fnanchor">[62]</a> Lord Cornwallis, the commanding +officer, issued a garrison order on June 9, 1769, as +follows:—“Whereas divers soldiers and inhabitants assemble +themselves every evening to prayer, it is the governor’s positive +order, that no person whatever presume to molest them, +nor go into their meeting to behave indecently there.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_63_63" href="#Footnote_63_63" class="fnanchor">[63]</a> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span> +Wesley was acquainted with this; but not a word is found +in the conference minutes concerning it. The truth is, while +Methodism was now really planted in the West Indies, Newfoundland, +Gibraltar, and America, none needed help except +America, and, hence, none else are mentioned.</p> + +<p>Wesley, his brother, Ingham, and Whitefield had all been +in America; and Whitefield was about to go again. The +work was begun in Georgia by the Wesleys. At the same +time, occurred the revival in New England, under Mr. Edwards +and others. Whitefield came, and not only preached in +both, but likewise all the way between, a distance of many +hundred miles. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, were converted +by his ministry; but, for want of organisation and discipline, +the greater part of them had backslidden.⁠<a id="FNanchor_64_64" href="#Footnote_64_64" class="fnanchor">[64]</a> Such was the +state of things in 1769.</p> + +<p>Four years before this, a small number of Methodist emigrants +from Ireland had landed in New York, one of them +being Philip Embury. In 1766, another Methodist family +followed, of the name of Heck. Mrs. Barbara Heck was distressed +to find that her predecessors had greatly declined in +godliness. At her request, Philip Embury began to preach; +just at that juncture, Captain Webb, the barrackmaster at +Albany, joined him; a chapel was built; a society formed; +and help was asked from England.⁠<a id="FNanchor_65_65" href="#Footnote_65_65" class="fnanchor">[65]</a> Hence the thirteenth +question at the conference of 1769: “We have a pressing call +from our brethren at New York, who have built a preaching +house, to come over and help them. Who is willing to +go?” Answer: “Richard Boardman and Joseph Pilmoor.” +<i>Q.</i> “What can we do further in token of our brotherly love?” +<i>A.</i> “Let us now make a collection among ourselves. This +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span> +was immediately done; and, out of it, <abbr title="50 pounds">£50</abbr> were allotted towards +the payment of their debt, and about <abbr title="20 pounds">£20</abbr> given to our +brethren for their passage.”</p> + +<p>It is doubtful, however, whether this was, as is generally +supposed, the first collection which the Methodists made on +behalf of their American mission. Six months before this, +Wesley had permitted Robert Costerdine, who was then the +assistant in the Sheffield circuit, to “<cite>read publicly, on any +Sunday</cite>” he liked, the letter which had been received from +New York, and to “receive what the hearers were willing to +give.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_66_66" href="#Footnote_66_66" class="fnanchor">[66]</a> It is more than possible, that this was done; but, be +that as it may, Boardman and Pilmoor set sail, and, after a +nine weeks’ passage, entered upon their work: Pilmoor at +Philadelphia, and Boardman at New York. At Philadelphia, +they found Captain Webb and a society of about a hundred +members, to whom, and to thousands more, Pilmoor commenced +preaching from the grand stand erected on the racecourse. +At New York, Boardman says, the chapel would +contain about 1700 hearers; and that about a third part of +the congregations got in, and the other two thirds were glad +to hear without.⁠<a id="FNanchor_67_67" href="#Footnote_67_67" class="fnanchor">[67]</a></p> + +<p>Space forbids further details, except to add that, two years +afterwards, the number of Methodists in America was +reported in the minutes of conference as 316; and that even +a thing so innocent as sending preachers to America was too +important for the wicked to pass without a sneer. Hence, in +a squib, the public were informed, that the following promotions +in the Church were about to be declared: “<abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> G. +Whitefield, Archbishop of Boston; <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> W. Romaine, Bishop +of New York; <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> J. Wesley, Bishop of Pennsylvania; <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> +M. Madan, Bishop of the Carolinas; <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> W. Shirley, Bishop +of Virginia; and <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> C. Wesley, Bishop of Nova Scotia.” It +was added, that as his majesty would soon have the livings of +these gentlemen at his disposal, he intended to provide for +Dr. Dodd, and other court celebrities,⁠<a id="FNanchor_68_68" href="#Footnote_68_68" class="fnanchor">[68]</a> anxious to fill important +places.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span> +The other important matter brought before the conference +of 1769 was the perpetuation of Methodism after Wesley’s +death; and, on Friday, August 4, Wesley read the following +paper.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brethren</span>,—1. It has long been my desire, that all those +<i>ministers</i> of our Church, who believe and preach salvation by faith, might +cordially agree between themselves, and not hinder but help one another. +After occasionally pressing this, in private conversation, wherever I had +opportunity, I wrote down my thoughts upon the head, and sent them to +each in a letter. Out of fifty or sixty, to whom I wrote, only three vouchsafed +me an answer. So I give this up. I can do no more. They are a +rope of sand, and such they will continue.</p> + +<p>“2. But it is otherwise with the <em>travelling preachers</em> in our connexion. +You are at present one body. You act in concert with each other, +and by united counsels. And now is the time to consider what can be +done, in order to continue this union. Indeed, as long as I live, there +will be no great difficulty. I am, under God, a centre of union to all our +travelling, as well as local preachers. They all know me and my communication. +They all love me for my works’ sake; and, therefore, +were it only out of regard to me, they will continue connected with each +other. But by what means may this connection be preserved, when God +removes me from you?</p> + +<p>“3. I take it for granted, it cannot be preserved, by any means, between +those who have not a single eye. Those who aim at anything but the +glory of God, and the salvation of men; who desire or seek any earthly +thing, whether honour, profit, or ease, will not, cannot continue in the +connexion; it will not answer their design. Some of them, perhaps a +fourth of the whole number, will procure preferment in the Church. +Others will turn Independents, and get separate congregations, like John +Edwards and Charles Skelton. Lay your accounts with this, and be not +surprised if some, you do not suspect, be of this number.</p> + +<p>“4. But what method can be taken, to preserve a firm union between +those who choose to remain together? Perhaps you might take some +such steps as these. On notice of my death, let all the preachers, in +England and Ireland, repair to London within six weeks. Let them seek +God by solemn fasting and prayer. Let them draw up articles of agreement, +to be signed by those who choose to act in concert. Let those be +dismissed, who do not choose it, in the most friendly manner possible. +Let them choose by votes a <i>committee</i> of three, five, or seven, each of +whom is to be <i>moderator</i> in his turn. Let the committee do what I do +now; propose preachers to be tried, admitted, or excluded; fix the place +of each preacher for the ensuing year, and the time of next conference.</p> + +<p>“5. Can anything be done now, in order to lay a foundation for this +future union? Would it not be well, for any that are willing, to sign some +articles of agreement before God calls me hence? Suppose something +like these:⁠—</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</span> +“‘We, whose names are underwritten, being thoroughly convinced of +the necessity of a close union between those whom God is pleased to use +as instruments in this glorious work, in order to preserve this union between +ourselves, are resolved, God being our helper: (1) <em>To devote ourselves +entirely to God</em>; denying ourselves, taking up our cross daily, +steadily aiming at one thing, to save our own souls, and them that hear +us. (2) To preach the <em>old Methodist doctrines</em>, and no other, contained +in the minutes of the conferences. (3) To observe and enforce the whole +<em>Methodist discipline</em>, laid down in the said minutes.’”</p> +</div> + +<p>Such was Wesley’s propounded scheme. The preachers +wisely requested Wesley to extract the most material part of +the minutes, and to send a copy to each itinerant, to be +seriously considered,—a request with which Wesley complied +during the following year, by the publication of a pamphlet of +sixty pages, entitled, “Minutes of several Conversations between +the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Messrs. John and Charles Wesley and others.”</p> + +<p>This concluded the business of the conference; and “at the +conclusion,” says Wesley, “all the preachers were melted +down, while they were singing those lines for me,⁠—</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0a">‘Thou, who so long hast saved me here,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">A little longer save;</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Till freed from sin, and freed from fear,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">I sink into a grave:</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Till glad I lay my body down,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">Thy servant’s steps attend;</div> +<div class="verse indent0">And O! my life of mercies crown</div> +<div class="verse indent2">With a triumphant end.’ ”<a id="FNanchor_69_69" href="#Footnote_69_69" class="fnanchor">[69]</a></div> +</div></div> + +<p>This was a beautiful finish to one of the most important +conferences Wesley ever held. The next day, he again started +on his itinerancy of mercy, and hastened to join in the anniversary +services of the Countess of Huntingdon’s college at +Trevecca. These services really extended from August 18 to +August 24, though Wesley himself was there only on the two +concluding days. The gathering was a glorious one. Fletcher, +the president, was there, with his seraphic soul lighting up an +almost unearthly face; Daniel Rowlands also, the rector of +Llangeitto and chaplain to the Duke of Leinster; Howel Harris, +one of the bravest veterans in the group; the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Walter +Shirley, from Ireland, and others; making eight clergymen +altogether; to whom must be added the Countess of Huntingdon, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span> +the Countess of Buchan, Lady Anne Erskine, and +several of their relatives and friends. There were a number +of Welsh exhorters; and, of course, the students; and likewise +an immense concourse of communicants and spectators. +For seven days, there was preaching twice a day; the sacrament +was repeatedly administered; a lovefeast was held; +baskets of bread and meat were distributed in the courtyard +among the country people; and the whole season was what +Whitefield called a pentecost.⁠<a id="FNanchor_70_70" href="#Footnote_70_70" class="fnanchor">[70]</a> Wesley preached twice, gave +an exhortation, and administered the Lord’s supper to the +countess’s family, and so ended his service in connection with +what he designates “the anniversary of her ladyship’s <em>school</em>.” +This was his first and last visit.</p> + +<p>At this time, Joseph Benson, now in the twenty-first +year of his age, was classical master of Wesley’s school at +Kingswood, and had, with Wesley’s sanction, entered himself +at <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Edmund’s hall, Oxford, where he regularly kept his +terms. But now an effort was made to obtain his services as +head master at Trevecca. Wesley, for more reasons than one, +was loth to lose him. Hence the letters following.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Cork</span>, <i>May 27, 1769</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Joseph</span>,—You have now—​what you never had before—​a clear +providential call to Oxford. If you keep a single eye, and have courage +and steadiness, you may be an instrument of much good. But you will +tread on slippery ground; and the serious persons you mention may do +you more hurt than many others. When I was at Oxford, I never was +afraid of any but the almost Christians. If you give way to them and +their prudence a hair’s breadth, you will be removed from the hope of the +gospel. If you are not moved, if you tread in the same steps which my +brother and I did, you may be the means, under God, of raising another +set of real Bible Christians. How long the world will suffer them is in +God’s hand.</p> + +<p>“With regard to Kingswood school, I have one string more; if that +breaks, I shall let it drop. I have borne the burden one-and-twenty +years; I have done what I could; now, let some one else do more.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Joseph, your affectionate brother,</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_71_71" href="#Footnote_71_71" class="fnanchor">[71]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Again.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>December 26, 1769</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Joseph</span>,—Every man of sense, who reads the rules of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span> +school, may easily conclude that a school so conducted by men of piety +and understanding will exceed any other school or academy in Great +Britain or Ireland. In this sentiment, you can never be altered. And if +it was not so conducted since you were there, why was it not? You had +power enough. You have all the power which I have. You may do what +you please.</p> + +<p>“‘<i lang="la">Dirue et ædifica; muta quadrata rotundis</i>;’ and I will second you to +the uttermost.</p> + +<p>“Trevecca is much more to —— than Kingswood is to me. <em>I</em> mixes +with everything. It is <em>my</em> college, <em>my</em> masters, <em>my</em> students. I do not +speak so of this school. It is not mine, but the Lord’s. I look for no +more honour than money from it.</p> + +<p>“I am glad you defer your journey; and am, dear Joseph, your affectionate +brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_72_72" href="#Footnote_72_72" class="fnanchor">[72]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley was evidently sore about Benson leaving him; but, +a few weeks afterwards, the exchange was made; and then, +after nine months of faithful service at Trevecca, the young +head master was unceremoniously dismissed, because of his +defending the doctrines of his friend Wesley.</p> + +<p>From Trevecca, Wesley made his way to Bristol, which he +reached on August 26; and, from there, set off to Cornwall, +where he employed a week in visiting as many of his societies +as he could in so short a period. On getting back to Bristol, +he inquired into the state of Kingswood school, and writes: +“The grievance now is the number of children. Instead of +thirty, as I desired, we have near fifty; whereby our masters +are burdened. And it is scarce possible to keep them in +so exact order as we might do a smaller number. However, +this still comes nearer a Christian school than any I know in +the kingdom.”</p> + +<p>The next month was spent in the neighbourhood of Bristol, +and was not without adventures. At Bradford, he was surrounded +by a noisy rabble; “and one,” says he, “called a +gentleman, had filled his pocket with rotten eggs; but a +young man smashed them all at once; and, in an instant, he +was perfume all over, though it was not so sweet as balsam.”</p> + +<p>At Salisbury, the scene of so many of his sister Patty’s +sorrows, Wesley writes: “I was as in a new world. The +congregation was alive, and much more the society. How +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span> +pleasing would it be, to be always with such! But this is not +our calling.” Wesley had seen dark days here; but now the +sun was shining. After the desolation caused by Westley +Hall’s disgraceful conduct, the few remaining Methodists took +possession of a shop in Greencroft Street, and then, in 1759, +built themselves a chapel.⁠<a id="FNanchor_73_73" href="#Footnote_73_73" class="fnanchor">[73]</a> Barbara Hunt was one of their +chief members,—a brave young woman, now thirty-three years +old, but who lived long enough to be a Methodist threescore +years and three, and died exclaiming, “O how glad should I +be to clap my glad wings and tower away!”⁠<a id="FNanchor_74_74" href="#Footnote_74_74" class="fnanchor">[74]</a> Another was +David Saunders, the hero of Mrs. Hannah More’s “Shepherd +of Salisbury Plain.” “His coat,” says the fair authoress, +perhaps mixing a little fiction with fact,—“his coat had +been, in a long course of years, so often patched with different +sorts of cloth, that it was now become hard to say which had +been the original colour; his stockings were covered with +darns of different coloured worsted, but had not a hole in +them; his shirt, though nearly as coarse as the sails of a ship, +was as white as the drifted snow; his open honest countenance +bore strong marks of health and cheerfulness.” His good +wife was cleanly, thrifty, and a hard worker; and a happier +man than the “shepherd of Salisbury plain” did not exist. +David Saunders was a shepherd in more respects than one. +While he tended his sheep, he also, as a faithful classleader, +watched over the souls committed to his care. He died in +peace, in 1796, at the age of eighty.⁠<a id="FNanchor_75_75" href="#Footnote_75_75" class="fnanchor">[75]</a></p> + +<p>Wesley got back to London on October 14, but two days +afterwards set out for Oxfordshire, and spent the week in +preaching at Henley, Wallingford, Oxford, Witney, Broadmarston, +and Wycombe. The last week in October he employed +at Towcester, Northampton, Weedon, Bedford, and +other intervening towns, preaching, during his five days’ tour, +not fewer than seventeen times in widely distant places.</p> + +<p>At the beginning of November he went to Norfolk; at +the end, he visited his old friend Perronet, at Shoreham, and +preached twice in his parish church. Even here, in the vicar’s +kitchen, there was Methodist preaching every Friday night, +and also a Methodist society, embracing Mr. Kingswood, Mr. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span> +Sharp, old Mrs. Lightfoot and her servant maid, poor dame +Cacket, and bold, masculine minded Miss D. Perronet at the +head of them.⁠<a id="FNanchor_76_76" href="#Footnote_76_76" class="fnanchor">[76]</a></p> + +<p>Except short tours to Kent and Sussex, the remainder of +the year was employed in London, where he received letters +from Boardman and Pilmoor in America, and which he read +to the London society. He was importuned to visit America +himself; and, though such a visit was utterly impracticable, +yet he was far from hasty in declining it. Hence the following, +addressed to his friend, the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Walter Sellon.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>December 30, 1769</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—It is not yet determined whether I should go +to America or not. I have been importuned some time; but <i lang="la">nil sat firmi +video</i>. I must have a clear call before I am at liberty to leave Europe.</p> + +<p>“You should heat your milk, but never let it boil; boiling robs it of +the most nutritious particles. Do not make too much haste in dealing +with Elisha Coles; I am afraid the treatise will be too short. And pray +add a word to that lively coxcomb, Mr. Toplady, not only with regard to +Zanchius, but his slander on the Church of England. You would do +well to give a reading to both his tracts. He does certainly believe +himself to be the greatest genius in England. Pray take care, or <i lang="la">natis sit +pro suis virtutibus</i>.</p> + +<p>“I am, your affectionate brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_77_77" href="#Footnote_77_77" class="fnanchor">[77]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Mr. Toplady’s two tracts, referred to in this epistle, were +his (1) “Church of England Vindicated from the Charge of +Arminianism, in a Letter to the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Dr. Nowell; occasioned +by some passages in that gentleman’s answer to the Author +of ‘Pietas Oxoniensis,’” <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, 136 pages: and (2) “The +Doctrine of Absolute Predestination Stated and Asserted. +Translated, in great measure, from the Latin of Jerom +Zanchius, with some Account of his Life prefixed,” <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, +134 pages. Both these pamphlets were published in 1769.</p> + +<p>All this, and a great deal more, really arose out of the +expulsion of the Oxford students in 1768. Sir Richard Hill, +in defending them, had warmly defended the Calvinistic +doctrine of predestination. Dr. Nowell, in his Answer, had +clearly shown, that this was not the doctrine of the Church of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span> +England; and now impetuous Augustus Toplady hastened +to the rescue, and administered two allopathic doses of +Calvinism’s most drastic tincture, to cure the Church of +Arminian disease and fever. Toplady’s style is trenchant; +his doctrines are as near an approach to the doctrine of fate, +as held by Plato, Seneca, and other heathen writers, as it is +possible to conceive. A more impious piece, in the garb of +piety, was never published than his Zanchius; while his +“Church of England Vindicated” is rank with the most +dogmatic and violent abuse of Dr. Nowell and the Arminian +clergy. It would be easy, but not pleasant, to give extracts; +and we can hardly recommend the reader to peruse the pamphlets +for himself. Augustus Toplady, a stripling twenty-nine +years of age, is a pope infallible; and all who hold opinions +different to his are reprobate knaves, or fools.</p> + +<p>Wesley was sick of controversial writing; and, besides, he +had no time for it. Walter Sellon had leisure at his command, +and had already this year published his able treatise, +entitled, “The Doctrine of General Redemption considered,” +<abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 178 pages. He was also now engaged in refuting a +book hardly less horrible than the Zanchius of Augustus +Toplady, namely, “A Practical Discourse of God’s Sovereignty,” +<abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 347 pages, by Elisha Coles, a clerk to the +East India Company, who died in 1688. Sellon’s book was +soon issued, with the title, “A Defence of God’s Sovereignty, +against the impious and horrible Aspersions cast upon it by +Elisha Coles, in his practical treatise on that subject.” In +his preface, he tells his readers, he “did intend to have exposed +the errors and blasphemy” of Toplady’s Zanchius, but +when he “found it would enlarge his work too much, and +especially when he understood that Toplady had vilely +slandered the Church of England,” he chose “to make it the +subject of another book, which the reader might expect +unless it should be done by some abler hand.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_78_78" href="#Footnote_78_78" class="fnanchor">[78]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span> +Controversial war was now begun in earnest, and a severer +battle was never fought. Sir Richard Hill, Augustus Toplady, +and Walter Sellon were fairly in the lists, and others +soon after followed.</p> + +<p>In the midst of all this, Wesley was savagely attacked in +two letters, published in the <cite>Gospel Magazine</cite> for 1769, +entitled, “Observations on Mr. J. Wesley’s view of ‘The +Scripture Doctrines of Predestination, Election, and Reprobation.’” +He is accused of “inexcusable vanity”; of “impertinent +quibbling”; of “jesuitical sophistry”; of holding +“a scheme unscriptural and dangerous, absurd and impious”; +and of “finespun reasoning worse than nothing.” The +author complacently tells his readers, in conclusion, that, +though he had felt himself “very resentful,” yet being +“called to imitate the lovely pattern of the lowly Jesus, he +had answered Wesley not with asperity, but with the meekness +of wisdom.”</p> + +<p>Attacks upon Wesley were made from other quarters. It +was a busy year with young Toplady; for, besides the books +already noticed, he published a sixpenny pamphlet, with the +title, “Many made Righteous by the Obedience of One. Two +Sermons on Romans v. 19, preached at Bideford, in 1743, by +the late <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> James Hervey, with a Preface by Augustus +Toplady.” Some one else issued another, entitled, “The +Jesuit Detected,” in which the zealous advocate of Mr. +Hervey arrays Wesley in the garb of the Babylonian woman, +and then abuses him for looking so like her. Booth Brathwaite, +unknown to fame, published another sixpennyworth, +called “Methodism a Popish Idol; or, the Danger and +Harmony of Enthusiasm and Separation.” Poor Booth, a +bigot to church establishments, raves against sectaries with +abundant zeal, little knowledge, and less charity. And to +all these must be added, “The Pretences of Enthusiasts, +considered and confuted: A Sermon preached before the +university of Oxford, at <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Mary’s, on Sunday, June 26, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span> +1768. By William Hawkins, <abbr title="Master of Arts">M.A.</abbr>, Prebendary of Wells, +late Poetry Professor, and Fellow of Pembroke College, +in Oxford. Published by desire.” <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, 27 pages.</p> + +<p>Wesley’s own publications in 1769 were not many.</p> + +<p>1. “An Extract of the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. John Wesley’s Journal, +from October 20, 1762, to May 25, 1765.” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 124 pages.</p> + +<p>2. “An Extract from the Journal of Elizabeth Harper.” +<abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 47 pages.</p> + +<p>3. “An Extract of Letters on Religious Subjects, by Mrs. +Lefevre.” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 106 pages.</p> + +<p>4. “The Witness of the Spirit. A Sermon on Romans +viii. 16.” Dublin: <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 16 pages. This important sermon +was written at Newry, in 1767. Wesley declares that his +sentiments on the witness of the Spirit were the same as +they had been from the beginning. “The testimony of the +Spirit,” says he, “is an inward impression on the soul of +believers, whereby the Spirit of God directly testifies to their +spirit, that they are the children of God.” Having established +his doctrine, and answered the objections to it, he concludes +with two pungent inferences: “1. Let none ever presume to +rest in any supposed testimony of the Spirit, which is separate +from the fruit of it. 2. Let none rest in any supposed fruit +of the Spirit without the witness.”</p> + +<p>5. “Advices with respect to Health. Extracted from a +late Author.” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 218 pages. The late author was Dr. +Tissot; the book itself shows Wesley’s intense anxiety to be +of use to the bodies as well as souls of his fellow creatures. +He strongly commends Tissot’s descriptions of diseases, the +fewness and cheapness of his medicines, and his regimen; but +protests against his fondness for bleeding, and for glysters; +against his ointment for the itch, and his vehement recommendation +of Peruvian bark.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_49_49" href="#FNanchor_49_49" class="label">[49]</a> “Life and Times of Countess of Huntingdon,” <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 126.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_50_50" href="#FNanchor_50_50" class="label">[50]</a> Whitefield’s Works, <abbr title="volume three">vol. iii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 387.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_51_51" href="#FNanchor_51_51" class="label">[51]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1783, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 273.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_52_52" href="#FNanchor_52_52" class="label">[52]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 321.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_53_53" href="#FNanchor_53_53" class="label">[53]</a> Ibid. <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 331.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_54_54" href="#FNanchor_54_54" class="label">[54]</a> Taylor’s “Redeeming Grace,” <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 49; and Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume three">vol. iii.</abbr>, +<abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 350.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_55_55" href="#FNanchor_55_55" class="label">[55]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume four">vol. iv.</abbr>, <abbr title="pages">pp.</abbr> 16, 173, 222.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_56_56" href="#FNanchor_56_56" class="label">[56]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1784, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 165.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_57_57" href="#FNanchor_57_57" class="label">[57]</a> <cite>Irish Evangelist</cite>, May, 1862.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_58_58" href="#FNanchor_58_58" class="label">[58]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 362.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_59_59" href="#FNanchor_59_59" class="label">[59]</a> C. Wesley’s Journal, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 117.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_60_60" href="#FNanchor_60_60" class="label">[60]</a> Smith’s History of Methodism, <abbr title="volume one">vol. i.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 380.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_61_61" href="#FNanchor_61_61" class="label">[61]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1784, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 112.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_62_62" href="#FNanchor_62_62" class="label">[62]</a> Smith’s History of Methodism, <abbr title="volume one">vol. i.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 387.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_63_63" href="#FNanchor_63_63" class="label">[63]</a> Rule’s “Memoir of a Mission to Gibraltar,” <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 5.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_64_64" href="#FNanchor_64_64" class="label">[64]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume seven">vol. vii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 392.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_65_65" href="#FNanchor_65_65" class="label">[65]</a> About the same time, Thomas Bell, at Charlestown, wrote as follows: +“Mr. Wesley says, the first message of the preachers is to the lost sheep +of England. And are there none in America? They have strayed from +England into the wild woods here, and they are running wild after this +world. They are drinking their wine in bowls, and are jumping and +dancing, and serving the devil, in the groves and under the green trees. +And are not these lost sheep? And will none of the preachers come +here? Where is Mr. Brownfield? Where is John Pawson? Where is +Nicholas Manners? Are they living, and will they not come?”—(“The +Centenary of Methodism,” published by the Primitive Methodists in +Ireland, in 1839, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 189.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_66_66" href="#FNanchor_66_66" class="label">[66]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1845, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 578.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_67_67" href="#FNanchor_67_67" class="label">[67]</a> Ibid. 1783, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 276; and 1784, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 163.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_68_68" href="#FNanchor_68_68" class="label">[68]</a> <cite>Lloyd’s Evening Post</cite>, May 26, 1769.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_69_69" href="#FNanchor_69_69" class="label">[69]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1799, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 253.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_70_70" href="#FNanchor_70_70" class="label">[70]</a> “Life and Times of Countess of Huntingdon,” <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 99.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_71_71" href="#FNanchor_71_71" class="label">[71]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 383.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_72_72" href="#FNanchor_72_72" class="label">[72]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 384.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_73_73" href="#FNanchor_73_73" class="label">[73]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1836, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 52.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_74_74" href="#FNanchor_74_74" class="label">[74]</a> Ibid. 1815, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 46.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_75_75" href="#FNanchor_75_75" class="label">[75]</a> “Methodism in Frome,” by Tuck, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 42.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_76_76" href="#FNanchor_76_76" class="label">[76]</a> Miss Perronet’s manuscript letters; and <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1811, +<abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 234.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_77_77" href="#FNanchor_77_77" class="label">[77]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 42; and manuscript letter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_78_78" href="#FNanchor_78_78" class="label">[78]</a> Sellon’s book was not published till 1770, and seems to have been +revised by Wesley, who also approved of his dealing with Toplady in a +separate pamphlet. Hence the following, addressed to Sellon.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Lewisham</span>, <i>February 21, 1770</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—Do not make too much haste. Give everything +the last touch. It will be enough, if the papers meet me at Manchester, +before the end of March. I believe it will be the best way to +bestow a distinct pamphlet on that exquisite coxcomb. Surely wisdom +will die with him! I believe we can easily get his other tract, which it +would be well to sift to the very foundation, in order to stop the mouth of +that vain boaster. I am, etc., <span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”—(Manuscript letter.)</p> +</div></div> +</div> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"><h2 class="nobreak" id="1770">1770.</h2> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span> +<hr class="short"> +<p class="center"> +Age 67</p> +</div> + +<p class="p2 drop-cap"><span class="smcap">Wesley</span> began the year 1770 with a covenant service +in London, at which eighteen hundred Methodists +were present,—a sight worth seeing.</p> + +<p>In his leisure moments, he employed himself in reading; +and, as usual, makes racy remarks on men and books. +Having finished Dr. Burnet’s “Theory of the Earth,” he +writes: “He is doubtless one of the firstrate writers, both as +to sense and style; his language is remarkably clear, unaffected, +nervous, and elegant; and none can deny, that his +theory is ingenious, and consistent with itself.” He read +Rousseau upon education, and says: “But how was I disappointed! +Sure a more consummate coxcomb never saw +the sun! How amazingly full of himself! Whatever he +speaks, he pronounces as an oracle. But many of his oracles +are as palpably false as that ‘young children never love old +people.’ But I object to his temper more than to his judgment: +he is a mere misanthrope, a cynic all over. So indeed +is his brother infidel, Voltaire; and well-nigh as great a +coxcomb. But he hides both his doggedness and vanity a +little better; whereas, here it stares us in the face continually. +As to his book, it is whimsical to the last degree; grounded +neither upon reason nor experience. The advices, which are +good, are trite and common, only disguised under new expressions; +and those which are new, which are really his own, +are lighter than vanity itself. Such discoveries I always expect +from those who are too wise to believe their Bibles.”</p> + +<p>Baron Emanuel Swedenborg, after rendering great service to +science, and thereby winning the esteem of Charles <abbr title="Twelve">XII.</abbr>, and +receiving the honour of being enrolled among the members +of the academies of Upsal, Stockholm, and Petersburgh, +came to London in 1743, attended the Moravian chapel +in Fetter Lane, went mad,⁠<a id="FNanchor_79_79" href="#Footnote_79_79" class="fnanchor">[79]</a> and began to write and publish +the visionary books, containing the creed of the Swedenborgians. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span> +Wesley writes: “I sat down to read and seriously +consider some of the writings of Baron Swedenborg. I began +with huge prejudice in his favour, knowing him to be a pious +man, one of a strong understanding, of much learning, and +one who thoroughly believed himself. But I could not hold +out long. Any one of his visions puts his real character out +of doubt. He is one of the most ingenious, lively, entertaining +madmen, that ever set pen to paper. But his waking +dreams are so wild, so far remote both from Scripture and +common sense, that one might as easily swallow the stories of +‘Tom Thumb,’ or ‘Jack the Giant Killer.’” The baron died +two years after this, and was buried in the Swedish church in +Wellclose Square, London.</p> + +<p>In the month of February, Wesley, for the last time, took +part in a religious service, and administered the sacrament, in +the mansion of the Countess of Huntingdon, in Portland Row. +Thomas Maxfield was present, and though a few years before +he had been one of the strongest sticklers in favour of the +wild doctrines propounded by George Bell and other sanctified +ones in London, he now, in Wesley’s own presence, spoke +strongly against his doctrine of Christian perfection.⁠<a id="FNanchor_80_80" href="#Footnote_80_80" class="fnanchor">[80]</a> This +might be gratifying to her ladyship and her Calvinistic +friends; but it would have been in better taste for Maxfield, +at least, to have maintained, on such a subject, a respectful +silence. No doubt, foolish ideas had been circulated; but +Wesley can hardly be held accountable for these. His own +doctrines on the subject were based upon Scripture, and these +he was ready to defend, and resolved to propagate. It is +true, that his anticipations respecting the great work, which +was professedly wrought in London and elsewhere, had not +been realised. Even Miss Bosanquet had lost the blessing of +Christian perfection;⁠<a id="FNanchor_81_81" href="#Footnote_81_81" class="fnanchor">[81]</a> and Wesley, in a letter dated March +15, 1770, confesses that, of those who professed to obtain it, +hardly one in thirty retained it. “Many hundreds in London,” +says he, “were made partakers of it, within sixteen or +eighteen months; but I doubt whether twenty of them are +now as holy and as happy as they were.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_82_82" href="#Footnote_82_82" class="fnanchor">[82]</a> This was a humiliating +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span> +fact, and gave to Wesley’s opponents a great advantage; +but, in itself, it was no disproof of Wesley’s doctrine; +and can scarcely be considered a satisfactory excuse for +Thomas Maxfield, of all men living, attacking his friend in +the house of his Calvinistic foes.</p> + +<p>Wesley’s friend Whitefield was in America, preaching with +as much zest as ever; and, just at this juncture, Wesley addressed +what proved to be his last letter to his old and always +faithful coadjutor; but the letter contains not a single +syllable respecting the slight which had been cast upon him +by a man whom gratitude ought to have taught better +manners.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Lewisham</span>, <i>February 21, 1770</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—Mr. Keen informed me some time since of +your safe arrival in Carolina; of which, indeed, I could not doubt for a +moment, notwithstanding the idle report of your being cast away, which +was so current in London. I trust our Lord has more work for you to do +in Europe, as well as in America. And who knows but before your return, +to England, I may pay another visit to the new world? I have been +strongly solicited by several of our friends in New York and Philadelphia. +They urge many reasons, some of which appear to be of considerable +weight; and my age is no objection at all; for I bless God my health is +not barely as good, but abundantly better in several respects, than when +I was five-and-twenty. But there are so many reasons on the other side, +that, as yet, I can determine nothing; so I must wait for further light. +Here I am: let the Lord do with me as seemeth Him good. For the +present, I must beg of you to supply my lack of service, by encouraging our +preachers, as you judge best (who are as yet comparatively young and inexperienced); +by giving them such advices as you think proper; and, above +all, by exhorting them, not only to love one another, but, if it be possible, +as much as lies in them, to live peaceably with all men.</p> + +<p>“Some time ago, since you went hence, I heard a circumstance, which +gave me a good deal of concern; namely, that the college or academy in +Georgia had swallowed up the orphan house. Shall I give my judgment +without being asked? Methinks, friendship requires I should. Are there +not then two points which come in view? a point of mercy, and a point +of justice? With respect to the former, may it not be inquired, Can anything +on earth be a greater charity than to bring up orphans? What is +a college or an academy compared to this? unless you could have such +a college as perhaps is not upon earth. I know the value of learning, +and am more in danger of prizing it too much than too little; but, still, I +cannot place the giving it to five hundred students on a level with saving +the bodies, if not the souls too, of five hundred orphans. But let us pass +from the point of mercy to that of justice. You had land given, and collected +money, for an orphan house. Are you at liberty to apply this to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span> +any other purpose? at least, while there are any orphans in Georgia left? +I just touch upon this, though it is an important point, and leave it to your +own consideration, whether part of it, at least, might not properly be +applied to carry on the original design? In speaking thus freely, on so +tender a subject, I have given you a fresh proof of the sincerity with +which I am your ever affectionate friend and brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_83_83" href="#Footnote_83_83" class="fnanchor">[83]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>The college business above mentioned was simply this. +Six years before, Whitefield had informed the council of +Georgia, that he had already expended <abbr title="12 pounds">£12</abbr>,000 upon his +Orphan House; that he was now anxious to attach to it a +college, to which the respectable inhabitants of Georgia, Virginia, +and the West Indies might send their sons to be +educated; that, in order to accomplish his purpose, he was +prepared to lay out a considerable sum of money “<em>in purchasing +a large number of negroes</em>” for the cultivation of the +lands, and for the “future support of a president, professors, +and tutors;” and that he now asked the council to grant him, +in trust, for the purposes aforesaid, two thousand acres of +land, on the north fork of Turtle River. The council yielded +his request at once, and with the greatest pleasure. Whitefield +then memorialised the king to grant a charter for the +founding of the college, stating that, if this were done, he was +“ready to give up his present trust, and make a free gift of all +lands, negroes, goods, and chattels, which he now possessed +in Georgia, for the support of the proposed institution, to be +called by the name of Bethesda college, in Georgia.” A long +official correspondence followed. The government were not +unwilling to grant a charter, but they insisted that the president +of the college should be a minister of the Church of +England, and that there should be a daily use of the Church +liturgy. These were conditions which Whitefield respectfully +declined; and hence the charter asked for was refused. The +result was, Whitefield added to his Georgian orphan house +a public academy, by the erection of two additional wings, +one hundred and fifty feet each in length; and, a month +before Wesley wrote his letter, opened the new building, by +preaching before his excellency the governor, and before the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span> +Georgian council and assembly, from, “The hands of Zerubbabel +have laid the foundations of this house, His hands shall +also finish it; and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts +hath sent me unto you; for who hath despised the day of +small things?” Thus Whitefield left behind him, in America, +a complex orphanage and college, for the support of which +he had obtained grants of land to the extent of 3800 acres, +and had bought seventy-five male and female negroes for the +purpose of cultivating his extensive farm, and making it +productive.⁠<a id="FNanchor_84_84" href="#Footnote_84_84" class="fnanchor">[84]</a></p> + +<p>We have already seen that Wesley was not only urged, but +was more than willing, to visit his newly instituted societies +in America. Pilmoor was working hard at New York, and +Boardman at Philadelphia; a number of negroes had been +converted; the work was growing; and the young evangelists—​Boardman +of seven, and Pilmoor of five years’ standing—​wished +for advice and help.⁠<a id="FNanchor_85_85" href="#Footnote_85_85" class="fnanchor">[85]</a> Wesley had nearly arrived at +the age of threescore years and ten; but, if his way had +opened, he would have bounded off across the Atlantic with +as little anxiety as he was accustomed to trot to the hospitable +Perronet home at Shoreham. The obstacles however +were insurmountable. There was no one, during his absence, +to take his place as superintendent general of the societies +in England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland; and to this must +be added the strong objections of the people to let him go. +“If I go to America,” said he, “I must do a thing which I +hate as bad as I hate the devil.” “What is that?” asked his +friend. “I must keep a <i>secret</i>,” he answered; meaning, that +he must conceal his purpose, otherwise his societies would interfere, +and effectually prevent his going.⁠<a id="FNanchor_86_86" href="#Footnote_86_86" class="fnanchor">[86]</a></p> + +<p>On the 5th of March, Wesley set out on his journey to the +north, which occupied the next five months. Coming to +Newbury, he writes: “I had been much importuned to +preach here. But where? The Dissenters would not permit +me to preach in their meetinghouse. Some were then +desirous to hire the old playhouse; but the good mayor +would not suffer it to be so profaned! So I made use of a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span> +workshop,—a large, commodious place. But it would, by no +means, contain the congregation. All that could hear behaved +well.”</p> + +<p>From Newbury, Wesley proceeded to Bristol, Gloucester, +Birmingham, and Wednesbury. He then made his way, +through Staffordshire and Cheshire, to Manchester, where he +arrived at the end of March, and made the following characteristic +entry in his journal: “In this journey, as well as in +many others, I observed a mistake that almost universally +prevails. Near thirty years ago, I was thinking, ‘How is it +that no horse ever stumbles while I am reading?’ (History, +poetry, and philosophy, I commonly read on horseback, +having other employment at other times.) No account can +possibly be given but this: because, then I throw the reins on +his neck. I then set myself to observe; and I aver, that, in +riding above a hundred thousand miles, I scarce ever remember +any horse (except two that would fall head over heels any +way), to fall, or make a considerable stumble, while I rode +with a slack rein. To fancy, therefore, that a tight rein +prevents stumbling is a capital blunder. I have repeated the +trial more frequently than most men in the kingdom can do. +A slack rein will prevent stumbling if anything will. But in +some horses nothing can.”</p> + +<p>From Manchester, Wesley proceeded to Liverpool, Whitehaven, +and Carlisle, preaching there, and at intermediate +places. He writes: “At Carlisle, it was the day of small +things; the society consisting but of fifteen members.” +Methodism had been founded in this border city by Robert +Bell, an exciseman; and its place of worship was a shed for +sheltering carts. At almost every meeting the mob attended; +stones and brickbats were often thrown, and the Methodists +hissed at and otherwise abused.⁠<a id="FNanchor_87_87" href="#Footnote_87_87" class="fnanchor">[87]</a></p> + +<p>Leaving Carlisle, Wesley made his way to Edinburgh, +which he reached on April 20, and says: “I endeavoured to +confirm those whom many had strove to turn out of the way. +What pity is it, that the children of God should so zealously +do the devil’s work! How is it, that they are still ignorant +of Satan’s devices? Lord, what is man?” “The congregations +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span> +were nearly as usual; but the society which, when I +was here before, consisted of above one hundred and sixty +members, was now shrunk to about fifty. Such is the fruit +of a single preacher’s staying a whole year in one place, +together with the labours of good Mr. Townshend!”</p> + +<p>It was at this time that Wesley had his first interview with +Lady Glenorchy.⁠<a id="FNanchor_88_88" href="#Footnote_88_88" class="fnanchor">[88]</a> She writes: “The <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Dr. Webster⁠<a id="FNanchor_89_89" href="#Footnote_89_89" class="fnanchor">[89]</a> and +Mr. Wesley met at my house, and agreed on all doctrines on +which they spoke, except those of God’s decrees, predestination, +and the saints’ perseverance. I must, according to the +light I now have, agree with Dr. Webster. Nevertheless, I +hope Mr. Wesley is a child of God. He has been an instrument +of saving souls; as such, I honour him, and will +countenance his preachers. I have heard him preach thrice; +and should have been better pleased had he preached more +of Christ, and less of himself.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_90_90" href="#Footnote_90_90" class="fnanchor">[90]</a></p> + +<p>Lady Glenorchy had recently opened <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Mary’s chapel, in +which service was performed by presbyterians, episcopalians, +and Methodists; but her ladyship now wished to have a +schoolmaster and a minister of her own; and, notwithstanding +her disparaging remarks on Wesley, she employed him to +obtain them for her. A few weeks later she wrote to him as +follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Edinburgh</span>, <i>May 29, 1770</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Reverend Sir</span>,—When I consider how much you have to do, and +how very precious your time is, I feel unwilling to give you the trouble of +reading a letter from me; yet I know not how to delay returning you my +best thanks for the pains you have taken to procure me a Christian +innkeeper and schoolmaster. And, though you have not as yet been +successful, I hope you may find some before you reach London, who are +willing to leave their native country and friends for the sake of promoting +the interest of Christ’s kingdom. If Mr. Eggleston’s objections relate +only to temporal things, perhaps it may be in my power to remove them. +I am exceedingly obliged to you, dear and honoured sir, for your good +advice; it is agreeable to that small glimmering of light the Lord has +been pleased to give me for five years past. Let me entreat you to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span> +remember me at the throne of grace. I am, reverend sir, with esteem +and respect, your obliged servant,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Willielma Glenorchy</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_91_91" href="#Footnote_91_91" class="fnanchor">[91]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Within a week after this, Wesley obtained her ladyship a +schoolmaster; and, at the beginning of the year following, +sent her a minister, the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Richard De Courcy, who had +been a Methodist in Ireland,⁠<a id="FNanchor_92_92" href="#Footnote_92_92" class="fnanchor">[92]</a> had been educated at Trinity +college, Dublin, had obtained deacon’s orders, and had +officiated as curate to Walter Shirley.⁠<a id="FNanchor_93_93" href="#Footnote_93_93" class="fnanchor">[93]</a> Lady Glenorchy +writes: “Mr. De Courcy is quite the person Mr. Wesley +represented him,—of a sweet disposition, and wishes only to +preach Christ to poor sinners wherever he finds an open +door.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_94_94" href="#Footnote_94_94" class="fnanchor">[94]</a> This was in February, 1771, and yet, within six +months afterwards, on June 28, her ladyship writes again: +“Before I left Edinburgh, I dismissed Mr. Wesley’s preachers +from my chapel; first, because they deny the doctrines of +imputed righteousness, election, and the saints’ perseverance; +secondly, because I found none of our gospel ministers would +preach in the chapel, if they continued to have the use of the +pulpit; thirdly, because I found my own soul had been hurt +by hearing them, and I judged that others might be hurt by +them also.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_95_95" href="#Footnote_95_95" class="fnanchor">[95]</a></p> + +<p>Thus, after Wesley had served her ladyship to the utmost +of his power, he and his preachers were ignominiously expelled +from the sacred precincts of <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Mary’s, and her chapel +was left in the sole possession of Mr. De Courcy and his Calvinistic +friends. It is right to add that, notwithstanding her +Calvinism, Lady Glenorchy maintained, to the end of life, a +warm friendship with her Methodist friend, Lady Maxwell, +whom, at her death, she appointed her sole executrix, and +the principal manager of her chapels, both in England and +across the border.⁠<a id="FNanchor_96_96" href="#Footnote_96_96" class="fnanchor">[96]</a></p> + +<p>To return to Wesley. From Edinburgh, he went to Perth, +Dunkeld, and Inverness, at which last mentioned place +Benjamin and William Chappel had been three months +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span> +waiting for a vessel to return to London, and had employed +the time in meeting the people every night to sing and pray +together. Benjamin Chappel, who thus begun Methodism +in Inverness, was a wheelwright, and, in after years, had the +honour of being the first Methodist in Prince Edward’s +Island.⁠<a id="FNanchor_97_97" href="#Footnote_97_97" class="fnanchor">[97]</a></p> + +<p>At Aberdeen, as at Inverness and Nairn, Wesley preached +in the kirk. At Arbroath, the society, though of but nine +months’ standing, was the largest in Scotland, with the +exception of that at Aberdeen. At Dunbar he preached in +the new chapel, “the cheerfulest in the kingdom”; and, on +May 21, reached Newcastle on Tyne; but here we pause to +insert a letter of considerable interest.</p> + +<p>Within the last two years, Wesley had met at Bristol with +a clergyman, who was one of the king of Sweden’s chaplains, +but who had recently spent several years in Pennsylvania. +This gentleman, Dr. Wrangel, had strongly requested that +Wesley would send preachers to America, nearly twelve +months before Boardman and Pilmoor were appointed; and, +further, to show his friendly feeling towards Methodism he +had preached in the Bristol chapel to a crowd of Methodists, +and “gave,” says Wesley, “general satisfaction by the simplicity +and life which accompanied his sound doctrine.” Dr. +Wrangel had now returned to Sweden, and wrote the following +to Wesley.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Stockholm</span>, <i>May 5, 1770</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear and much beloved Brother in Christ Jesus</span>,—I hope my +heart will ever be impressed with the warmest gratitude for the comfort I +enjoyed in your society. Though absent in body, I have often been amongst +you. When I left England, I arrived first at Gothenburg, and lodged +at the right reverend bishop, Dr. Lamberg’s, who was fellow chaplain +with me at court. I found him to be a great friend of yours. He had +heard you preach while on his travels in England. I sent him your books, +and he was well pleased with what he read, and desired me to remember +him to you.</p> + +<p>“I have now been upwards of a year in Stockholm, and have officiated +as chaplain to the king, and at the same time preached in most of the +churches here, and I must say, with uncommon success. Whenever I +have preached the churches have been crowded. The king, on his deathbed, +made me a privy councillor. When I spoke to him of the way of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span> +salvation, he received the word with gladness, and departed in the Lord, +to the great edification and comfort of the whole family. His queen also, +who is of English descent, is eminent in piety. This, I hope, will be attended +with good consequences in favour of religion.</p> + +<p>“Last parliament session several clergymen, and amongst them four +bishops, agreed to my proposals concerning a society for propagating +practical religion. We intend, as soon as the plan is rightly fixed, to +enter into correspondence with several parts of the world; and we expect +the honour of your correspondence also.</p> + +<p>“Providence is about to settle me in a station of great importance. I +am about to be named the almoner of his majesty. This office is of importance +to religion in general. Finally, my dear brother, let me be included +in all your prayers, and let me hear from you. I am, with the +greatest sincerity of affection, dear and reverend brother, your most +humble and affectionate brother and servant,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">C. M. Wrangel</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_98_98" href="#Footnote_98_98" class="fnanchor">[98]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Further correspondence followed, from which we learn that +Dr. Wrangel himself, like Wesley, had been an open air +preacher; but was now, not only the king of Sweden’s +almoner, but “president of the consistory at court, and +chaplain to all the royal orders.” He writes to Wesley in +1771: “Pray, dear sir, desire your society to intercede for me. +I send you enclosed the letter of admission to our society. The +rules, not yet being printed in English, we send in German. +I sincerely thank you for the kind present of your sermons +and books. I presented a copy of your sermon to +the society, which was very acceptable. The society will +have the life of Mr. Whitefield inserted in their Pastoral +Collections, or account of the work of God abroad. I beg of +you, sir, to remember me kindly to all your friends, not forgetting +dear Kingswood. I have been greatly blessed in my +labour amongst the great, and shall soon give a particular +account of it.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_99_99" href="#Footnote_99_99" class="fnanchor">[99]</a></p> + +<p>Thus, as England had its Wesleys, America its Whitefield, +and Wales its Howel Harris, Sweden also had its great reformer,—Dr. +Wrangel, once a field preacher, but now a +founder of a <i lang="la">quasi</i> missionary society, and, as a faithful +minister of Christ, bearing his testimony before kings and +princes. Through Dr. Wrangel’s friendship with Wesley, +Methodism had already, fifty-six years before its appointment +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span> +of the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Joseph Rayner Stephens to Stockholm, indirectly +extended its influences to the Swedish capital, and had begun +that wondrous work, which, fostered by the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Dr. Scott, +has issued in some of the most remarkable results recorded in +mission history.</p> + +<p>Wesley left Newcastle for London on the 11th of June, +and, on his journey, preached for the most part thrice a day. +At Whitby, one of his itinerants, of six years’ standing, +“had set up for himself; his reasons for leaving the Methodists +being—(1) that they went to church; (2) that they +held perfection.” It is a remarkable fact, that sixty-five of +the Whitby Methodists professed to be entirely sanctified. +From Whitby, Wesley proceeded along the east coast to +Robinhood’s Bay, Scarborough, Bridlington, and Hull.</p> + +<p>From Hull, he made his way to Beverley, York, Tadcaster, +Pateley, Otley, Yeadon, Heptonstall, Colne, Haworth, and +Keighley. The Keighley, or Haworth, circuit, at this period, +extended from Otley to Whitehaven, a distance of one hundred +and twenty miles.⁠<a id="FNanchor_100_100" href="#Footnote_100_100" class="fnanchor">[100]</a> Yeadon has just been mentioned. Here +James Rhodes began to hold Methodist prayer-meetings as +early as 1747; and here his brother Joseph preached the first +Methodist sermon in Yeadon, in the house of Judith Jackson. +Here Thomas Mitchell, one of Wesley’s bravest itinerants, was +trained; and here William Darney, while preaching, was +attacked by a mob, led on by Reynolds, curate of Guiseley, +had eggs thrown at his face, was dragged out of doors, and +then stamped upon. Here Jonathan Maskew, by the same +godless gang, had his clothes torn off his back, and, in a state +of nakedness, was trailed over the rough stone pavement, till +he was a mass of bruises. The bush burned, but it was not +consumed. In 1766, the first chapel was erected; and now, +in 1770, it had to be enlarged.</p> + +<p>At the beginning of July, Wesley spent about a week at +Leeds, and in the surrounding towns and villages. He visited +the orphanage of Miss Bosanquet, who had removed to Cross +Hall, Morley. Her friend Sarah Crosby, in a letter dated +July 13, 1770, remarks: “Mr. Wesley left Leeds yesterday. +I never heard him preach better, if so well. In every sermon +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span> +he set forth ‘Christian perfection’ in the most beautiful light. +Mr. Rankin, who travels with him, is a blessed man, and +seems to fear no one’s face. I believe there has not been +such a time at Leeds for many years.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_101_101" href="#Footnote_101_101" class="fnanchor">[101]</a></p> + +<p>From Leeds, Wesley proceeded to Doncaster, Epworth, +Horncastle, Louth, and other places; and then, turning round, +came back to Doncaster, and, from there, went to Rotherham, +Sheffield, Derby, and Nottingham, preaching, not only there, +but in many of the intervening villages and towns. He +writes: “I preached at Bingham, and really admired the +exquisite stupidity of the people. They gaped and stared, +while I was speaking of death and judgment, as if they had +never heard of such things before. And they were not helped +by two surly, ill mannered clergymen, who seemed to be just +as wise as themselves.”</p> + +<p>In Loughborough market place, he preached to a congregation +of some thousands, all of them still as night. This +was his first sermon here; but, four years previous to this, +some of his preachers had visited the town, and, among others, +converted by their ministry, was Thomas Cook, who in humility, +penitence, and self denial, was, even among the first +Methodists, almost without an equal. For three months together, +he would live on barley bread and water, often fasting, +from even nourishment like that, for whole days together, and +praying the whole night through. He invariably wore clothing +of the coarsest material, and when urged to use an overcoat +answered: “When you can assure me, that there is not a poor +man destitute of <em>one</em> coat, I may then perhaps wear <i>two</i>.” +For ten years, he prayed for all with whom he happened to +converse; and as he lived, so he died,—humble, holy, loving, +and devout,—saying in answer to a question, and with his +characteristic self abasement, “Oh no! no funeral sermon for +<em>me</em>!”⁠<a id="FNanchor_102_102" href="#Footnote_102_102" class="fnanchor">[102]</a></p> + +<p>On Thursday, August 2, after a five months’ absence, +Wesley got back to London; and, on August 7, met his conference; +in reference to which, the following unpublished +letter, addressed to Mr. Merryweather, at Yarm, is not +without interest.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</span> +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—I have the credit of stationing the preachers; +but many of them go where they <em>will</em> go, for all me. For instance, I have +marked down James Oddie and John Nelson for Yarm circuit the ensuing +year; yet, I am not certain that either of them will come. They can +give twenty reasons for going elsewhere. Mr. Murlin says, he must be in +London. ’Tis certain he has a mind to be there; therefore, so it must +be; for you know a man of fortune is master of his own motions.</p> + +<p>“I am your affectionate brother,</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>The difficulties of conference, in stationing preachers, are +not novel.</p> + +<p>There were now fifty Methodist circuits, one of which was +America! There were a hundred and twenty itinerant +preachers, and 29,406 members of society. Nearly <abbr title="2 pounds">£2</abbr>,000 +had been subscribed, during the year, towards defraying the +chapel debts; and yet, in consequence of new erections, the +aggregate debt was about the same. His chapels were becoming +Wesley’s greatest burdens.⁠<a id="FNanchor_103_103" href="#Footnote_103_103" class="fnanchor">[103]</a> It was resolved, that, +during the coming year, no new chapel should be built, nor +any old one altered, unless the entire expenditure were raised; +and a proposal was made to vest all the chapels in a general +trust, consisting of persons chosen from among the Methodists +throughout the kingdom. This would have been a disastrous +mistake. Fortunately it was not adopted.</p> + +<p>Kingswood school, as usual, was a trouble. It had been +opened two-and-twenty years, and had had, during that period, +eight classical masters, five of whom had obtained episcopal +ordination, and now a sixth, Joseph Benson, had not only +entered himself a graduate at Oxford, but had exchanged +Kingswood for Trevecca. No wonder that Wesley, at the +conference of 1770, asked, “How can we secure our +masters?” The answer was, “Ask each, before he is received, +Do you design to stay here? have you any thoughts +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span> +of being ordained? have you any design to preach?” It is +a fact worth noting, that, during the remainder of Wesley’s +lifetime, there was only one more classical master who +became an ordained clergyman, and that was Mr. Benson’s +immediate successor, Isaac Twicross.⁠<a id="FNanchor_104_104" href="#Footnote_104_104" class="fnanchor">[104]</a></p> + +<p>Wesley found, that some of his preachers were still engaged +in trade; and, hence, it was now agreed, that those +who would not relinquish trading in cloth, hardware, pills, +drops, and balsams, should be excluded from the brotherhood; +but that, if any of them, like Thomas Hanby, John +Oliver, and James Oddie, had a share in ships, there would +be no objection to that.⁠<a id="FNanchor_105_105" href="#Footnote_105_105" class="fnanchor">[105]</a></p> + +<p>The conference of 1770, however, will always be memorable +chiefly, if not entirely, for its doctrinal minutes. +From the first, Whitefield, Howel Harris, and their friends, +had been Calvinists; and so were many of the evangelical +clergy, patronised by the Countess of Huntingdon, as +Romaine, Newton, Venn, Berridge, Shirley, and others. At +an early period of their history, the two Wesleys agreed, +with the Methodist Calvinistic leaders, to avoid preaching +on Calvinistic topics to the utmost extent possible. Charles +Wesley afterwards endorsed the document with the words +“Vain Agreement.” So indeed it was: in fact it could hardly +be otherwise. Wesley, more than once, tried to meet his +friends at a sort of halfway house; but the attempt was +dangerous, it exposed Wesley to suspicion, and it issued in +a failure. We have already seen that, in 1743, Wesley, for +the purpose of terminating their disputes, made concessions +to Whitefield, respecting unconditional election, irresistible +grace, and final perseverance, which it was impossible to +defend. Accordingly, at the conference held a few months +afterwards, he honestly confessed, that he had “unawares +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span> +leaned too much towards Calvinism;”⁠<a id="FNanchor_106_106" href="#Footnote_106_106" class="fnanchor">[106]</a> and proceeded to propound +doctrines, which, in substance, were the same as those +he now embodied in the theses of 1770. Twenty-six years +had elapsed since then; but there was a striking resemblance +between the two periods; and, substantially, the same cause +for outspokenness. To say nothing more concerning Whitefield’s +doctrines, it is important to bear in mind, that, in 1744, +Moravianism, or rather Zinzendorfism, had turned the doctrine +of justification by faith only into an antinomian channel; and +now, in 1770, the same thing was practically being done by +not a few who, at all events, were <em>called</em> Methodists. Mr. +Fletcher’s description of the antinomianism of the period is +a frightful picture; and though not so applicable to the followers +of Wesley as to those of the Countess of Huntingdon’s +connexion, yet the former were not so free from the antinomian +poison as they should have been. Hence the publication +of Wesley’s theological theses; substantially the same +as he had enunciated in 1744; but not so guardedly expressed. +As they led to the longest and bitterest controversy in +Wesley’s history, we subjoin them in their entirety.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“We said, in 1744, ‘We have leaned too much toward Calvinism.’ +Wherein?</p> + +<p>“1. With regard to <em>man’s faithfulness</em>. Our Lord himself taught us to +use the expression; and we ought never to be ashamed of it. We ought +steadily to assert, on His authority, that, if a man is not ‘faithful in the +unrighteous mammon,’ God will not give <em>him the true riches</em>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</span> +“2. With regard to <em>working for life</em>. This also our Lord has expressly +commanded us: ‘Labour,’ εργαζεσθε, literally ‘Work’ ‘for the meat that +endureth to everlasting life.’ And, in fact, every believer, till he comes to +glory, works for as well as <em>from</em> life.</p> + +<p>“3. We have received it as a maxim, that ‘a man is to do nothing in +order to justification,’ Nothing can be more false. Whoever desires to +find favour with God should ‘cease from evil, and learn to do well,’ +Whoever repents should do ‘works meet for repentance,’ And if this is +not <em>in order</em> to find favour, what does he do them for?</p> + +<p>“Review the whole affair: 1. Who of us is <em>now</em> accepted of God? +He that now believes in Christ with a loving and obedient heart.</p> + +<p>“2. But who among those that never heard of Christ? He that feareth +God and worketh righteousness, according to the light he has.</p> + +<p>“3. Is this the same with ‘he that is sincere’? Nearly, if not quite.</p> + +<p>“4. Is not this ‘salvation by works’? Not by the <em>merit</em> of works, but +by works as a <em>condition</em>.</p> + +<p>“5. What have we been disputing about for these thirty years? I am +afraid, <em>about words</em>.</p> + +<p>“6. As to <em>merit</em> itself, of which we have been so dreadfully afraid; we +are rewarded ‘according to our works,’ yea, ‘because of our works.’ How +does this differ from, <em>for the sake of our works</em>? And how differs this +from <i lang="la">secundum merita operum</i>? as our works <em>deserve</em>? Can you split +this hair? I doubt I cannot.</p> + +<p>“7. The grand objection to one of the preceding propositions is drawn +from matter of fact. God does in fact justify those, who, by their own +confession, neither feared God nor wrought righteousness. Is this an +exception to the general rule? It is a doubt, God makes any exception at +all. But how are we sure, that the person in question never did fear God +and work righteousness? His own saying so is not proof; for we +know, how all that are convinced of sin undervalue themselves in every +respect.</p> + +<p>“8. Does not talking of a justified or a sanctified <em>state</em> tend to mislead +men? almost naturally leading them to trust in what was done in one +moment? Whereas we are every hour and every moment pleasing or +displeasing to God, ‘according to our works’;—according to the whole of +our inward tempers, and our outward behaviour.”</p> +</div> + +<p>What was the result of these loosely worded propositions? +The answer to this will extend over several years; but suffice +it to say at present that the publication gave huge offence to +the whole host of Calvinistic Methodists; and Lady Huntingdon +declared, that whoever did not wholly disavow the theses +should quit her college. Mr. Benson, her classical master, so +far from disavowing, defended them, and hence sprung up a +correspondence between Wesley and himself, from which the +following are extracts.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</span> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Bristol</span>, <i>October 5, 1770</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Joseph</span>,—I am glad you had the courage to speak your mind +on so critical an occasion. At all hazards, do so still; only with all +possible tenderness and respect. She is much devoted to God, and has a +thousand valuable and amiable qualities. There is no great fear that I +should be prejudiced against one whom I have intimately known for these +thirty years. And I know what is in man; therefore, I make large +allowance for human weaknesses. But what you say is exactly the state +of the case. They are ‘jealous of their authority.’ Truly, there is no +cause: <i lang="la">Longe mea discrepat illi et vox et ratio</i>. I fear and shun, not +desire, authority of any kind. Only when God lays that burden upon me, +I bear it, for His and the people’s sake. ‘Child,’ said my father to me +when I was young, ‘you think to carry everything by dint of argument; +but you will find, by-and-by, how very little is ever done in the world by +clear reason.’ Very little indeed! Passion and prejudice govern the +world; only under the name of reason. It is our part, by religion and +reason, to counteract them all we can. It is yours, in particular, to do all +that in you lies to soften the prejudices of those that are round about you, +and to calm the passions from which they spring. Blessed are the peacemakers! +Whatever I say, it will be all one. They will find fault, because +I say it. There is implicit envy at my power (so called), and a jealousy +rising therefrom. Hence prejudice in a thousand forms; hence objections +springing up like mushrooms. And while these causes remain, they will +spring up, whatever I can do or say. However, keep thyself pure; and +then there need be no strangeness between you and, dear Joseph, your +affectionate brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_107_107" href="#Footnote_107_107" class="fnanchor">[107]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>November 30, 1770</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Joseph</span>,—For several years, I have been convinced that I had +not done my duty with regard to that valuable woman; that I had not +told her what, I was thoroughly assured, no one else would dare to do, and +what I knew she would bear from no other person, but possibly might bear +from me. But, being unwilling to give her pain, I put it off from time to +time. At length, I did not dare to delay any longer, lest death should +call one of us hence. So I, at once, delivered my own soul, by telling her +all that was in my heart. It was my business, my proper business, so to +do; as none else either could or would do it. Neither did I at all take too +much upon me: I know the office of a Christian minister. If she is not +profited, it is her own fault, not mine: I have done my duty, and I do not +know there is one charge in that letter which was either unjust, unimportant, +or aggravated; any more than that against the doggerel hymns, +which are equally an insult upon poetry and common sense.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Joseph, your affectionate brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_108_108" href="#Footnote_108_108" class="fnanchor">[108]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</span> +The above refers to a letter which Wesley had addressed +to Lady Huntingdon; but which has never yet been published. +Evidently it was faithful, and also unpalatable. It +seems to have strengthened prejudices against him, instead of +removing them. His position also was not improved by +anti-Calvinian publications over which he had no control. +Mr. William Mason, who had been one of Wesley’s classleaders, +but had left him, and was now a magistrate of the +county of Surrey, and resided at Rotherhithe Wall,⁠<a id="FNanchor_109_109" href="#Footnote_109_109" class="fnanchor">[109]</a> issued his +“Axe laid to the Root of Antinomian Licentiousness; extracted +from the works of Mr. Flavel.” 1770: <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, 36 pages. +Another writer, signing himself “Academicus,” gave to the +public a small octavo volume of 124 pages, entitled “The +Church of England Vindicated from the Rigid Notions of +Calvinism”; in which Sir Richard Hill is severely, perhaps +abusively, flagellated for his virulent attack on Dr. Adams +of Shrewsbury, and the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> William Romaine is charged +with preaching a sermon which “shocked every serious and +rational Christian that heard it.” All these incidents had to +do with the lamentable anger and bitterness of the memorable +Calvinian controversy which will soon demand attention.</p> + +<p>The sessions of the conference of 1770 being ended, +Wesley set out for Cornwall, where he spent the next three +weeks. Returning to Bristol, he and his brother, at the +beginning of October, agreed, at the request of the society, +to administer to them the Lord’s supper every other Sunday; +which arrangement, of course, rendered it necessary, that +an ordained clergyman should reside at Bristol, or in its +neighbourhood.</p> + +<p>The rest of the year was occupied with his usual journeys to +Oxfordshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire, +Norfolk, and Kent. Poor Whitefield was dead; and Wesley, +if the way was opened, was quite ready to take his place, by +including America within the bounds of his vast Methodist +circuit. Hence the following to Mrs. Marston, of Worcester.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>December 14, 1770.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Sister</span>,—If I live till spring, and should have a clear, +pressing call, I am as ready to embark for America, as for Ireland. All +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</span> +places are alike to me: I am attached to none in particular. Wherever +the work of our Lord is to be carried on, <em>that</em> is my place for <em>to-day</em>. +And we live only for to-day: it is not our part to take thought for +to-morrow.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Molly, your affectionate brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_110_110" href="#Footnote_110_110" class="fnanchor">[110]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>On Saturday, September 29, while on his way to Boston, +in New England, Whitefield, at the importunity of the people, +preached at Exeter, in the open air, a sermon nearly two +hours long. At six o’clock next morning he was dead. A +friend, addressing him just before he commenced his last +sermon, said, “Sir, you are more fit to go to bed than to +preach.” “True,” replied the dying evangelist; and then turning +aside, he clasped his hands, and, looking up, said: “Lord Jesus, +I am weary <em>in</em> Thy work, but not <em>of</em> Thy work.” Whitefield +was buried, where he died, at Newburyport. Every mark of +respect was shown to his remains. All the bells in the town +tolled, and the ships in the harbour fired mourning guns, and +hung their flags half-mast high. In Georgia, all the black +cloth in the stores was bought up, and the church was hung +with mourning; the governor and council met at the statehouse +in habiliments of sorrow, and went in procession to +hear a funeral sermon.</p> + +<p>Whitefield intended to be interred in Tottenham Court +chapel, and had told the congregation, that he should like +the Wesley brothers to be interred beside him. “We will,” +said he, “all lie together. You refuse them entrance here +while living: they can do you no harm when they are dead.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_111_111" href="#Footnote_111_111" class="fnanchor">[111]</a> +Whitefield’s wish was not realised; but, at length, Wesley +was admitted to Whitefield’s pulpit.</p> + +<p>The <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Joss announced in Tottenham Court chapel +on November 11, that, on the sabbath following, Wesley +would preach a sermon there on Whitefield’s death, as it had +long ago been agreed between the two, that whichever survived +the other should preach the deceased’s funeral discourse.⁠<a id="FNanchor_112_112" href="#Footnote_112_112" class="fnanchor">[112]</a> +An immense multitude assembled. “It was,” says Wesley, +“an awful season; all were as still as night.” On the same +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</span> +day, he preached again in Whitefield’s tabernacle in Moorfields. +The hour appointed was half-past five; but the place +was filled at three, and Wesley began at four. His text was +the same at both places: “Let me die the death of the +righteous, and let my last end be like his!” Whitefield’s +characteristics were described as consisting of “unparalleled +zeal, indefatigable activity, tender heartedness to the afflicted, +and charitableness toward the poor, the most generous friendship, +nice and unblemished modesty, frankness and openness +of conversation, unflinching courage, and steadiness in whatever +he undertook for his Master’s sake.” Wesley then +sketched the doctrines Whitefield preached, and concluded +thus.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“These are the fundamental doctrines which he everywhere insisted +on; and may they not be summed up in two words,—the new birth, and +justification by faith? These let us insist upon with all boldness, at all +times, and in all places. Keep close to these good, old, unfashionable +doctrines, how many soever contradict and blaspheme. Go on, my brethren, +in the name of the Lord, and in the power of His might. Let brother +no more lift up sword against brother; rather put ye on, as the elect of +God, bowels of mercies, humbleness of mind, brotherly kindness, gentleness, +longsuffering, forbearing one another in love. Let the time past +suffice for strife, envy, contention; for biting and devouring one another. +O God, with Thee no word is impossible! O that Thou wouldest +cause the mantle of Thy prophet, whom Thou hast taken up, now to fall +on us that remain! Take away from us all anger and wrath, and +bitterness; all clamour and evil speaking! Let Thy Spirit so rest +upon us, that from this hour we may be kind to each other, tender +hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven +us!”</p> +</div> + +<p>Well did such sentiments harmonise with the spirit and the +life of Wesley’s old and faithful friend; and mournful is the +fact, that they were so soon utterly ignored by the party of +which Whitefield had been the chief. No sooner was Wesley’s +sermon preached and published, than it was attacked, because +he had omitted to mention the election and final perseverance +of the saints. His doctrines of “the new birth and justification +by faith” were a defective, precarious scheme, and abortive as +to saving purposes; because, according to his tenets, a man +may be justified by faith, and be born again, and yet never +enjoy eternal life, unless he does more for himself, to make +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</span> +his salvation effectual, than has been done for him by the +blood and righteousness of Christ.⁠<a id="FNanchor_113_113" href="#Footnote_113_113" class="fnanchor">[113]</a></p> + +<p>Whitefield bequeathed his orphan house estate in Georgia, +with all its “buildings, lands, and negroes,” “to that elect lady, +that mother in Israel, that mirror of true and undefiled religion, +the Right Honourable Selina, Countess Dowager of Huntingdon.” +His two chapels in London, with his books and furniture +in the Tabernacle house, were left to his “worthy, trusty, +tried friends, Messrs. Daniel West and Robert Keen.” Within +the last three years, he had become possessed, by legacies, of +about <abbr title="1700 pounds">£1700</abbr>, including <abbr title="700 pounds">£700</abbr> accruing to him at his wife’s +decease; and this amount he bequeathed to a whole host of +friends, the largest share falling to the Countess of Huntingdon; +while, in an addendum to his will, he says: “I also leave +a mourning ring to my honoured and dear friends and disinterested +fellow labourers, the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Messrs. John and Charles +Wesley, in token of my indissoluble union with them, in +heart and Christian affection, notwithstanding our differences +in judgment about some particular points of doctrine. Grace +be with all them, of whatever denomination, that love our +Lord Jesus, our common Lord, in sincerity.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_114_114" href="#Footnote_114_114" class="fnanchor">[114]</a></p> + +<p>Thus died one of the greatest Christian orators that ever +lived,—a man who, though often heavily afflicted, preached, in +four-and-thirty years, upwards of eighteen thousand sermons,⁠<a id="FNanchor_115_115" href="#Footnote_115_115" class="fnanchor">[115]</a> +many of them in the open air, and often to enormous crowds, +and in the teeth of brutal persecution.⁠<a id="FNanchor_116_116" href="#Footnote_116_116" class="fnanchor">[116]</a></p> + +<p>Space forbids enlargement; but, perhaps, two unpublished +letters, belonging to this period, may be welcome. The first +was addressed to Matthew Lowes, and the second to Miss +Foard, who afterwards became Mrs. Thornton, of 86, Blackman +Street, Southwark.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>October 13, 1770</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—Health you shall have, if health be best; if +not, sickness will be a greater blessing. I am glad you have Dr. Wilson +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</span> +near. A more skilful man, I suppose, is not in England. If you should +continue weak, (as I did from November to March,) good is the will of +the Lord. You are not a superannuated preacher: but you are a supernumerary. +I believe one of your boys is rejoicing in the love of God.</p> + +<p>“I am, with love to sister Lowes, dear Matthew, your affectionate +brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">J. Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>December 29, 1770.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Sister</span>,—When we had an opportunity of spending a day +or two together, you convinced me that you fear and love God, and desire +to enjoy all His promises. And I found you less prejudiced, than I expected, +against the doctrine of Christian perfection. I only want you to experience +this: to be ‘all faith, all gentleness, all love.’ Labour to be wise, +and yet simple! To steer between the extremes of neglecting to cultivate +your understanding, which is right; and <em>leaning</em> to it, which is +fatally wrong. And be free and open with, my dear Nancy, your affectionate +brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">J. Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>Little more, in reference to 1770, remains to be related. +To a great extent, mob violence was ended; but Wesley was +still the target at which literary malice shot its shafts. The aid +of the Muses was again invoked, and some unknown poetaster +issued an octavo pamphlet of 39 pages, entitled, “The +Perfections of God,—a standing Rule to try all Doctrines and +Experience. A Poem humbly offered to the consideration of +Mr. John Wesley and his followers.” This was evidently the +production of one of his Calvinistic friends. Hence the following⁠—</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0b">“Shall Wesley sow his hurtful tares,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">And scatter round a thousand snares,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Telling how God from wrath may turn,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">And love the soul He thought to burn,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">And how again His mind may move,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">To hate, where He has vowed to love,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">How all mankind He fain would save,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Yet longs for what He cannot have,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Industrious thus to sound abroad</div> +<div class="verse indent0">A disappointed, changing God?”</div> +</div></div> + +<p>Again, in reference to the “Hymn on God’s Everlasting +Love,” we have the following choice <i>morceau</i>.</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0b">“Blush Wesley, blush, be filled with shame,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Doom thy vile poem to the flame;</div> +<div class="verse indent0">What tongue thy horrid crime can tell?</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Put saints to sing the song of hell!</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="verse indent0">Haste hence to Rome, thy proper place; + <span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span></div> +<div class="verse indent0">Why should we share in thy disgrace?</div> +<div class="verse indent0">We need no greater proof to see,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Thy blasphemies with hers agree.”</div></div> +</div></div> + +<p>In addition to the above, there was published a sermon +of 32 pages, <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, entitled “Methodistical Deceit: a Sermon +preached in the parish church of <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Matthew, Bethnal Green, +by Haddon Smith, curate of the said church.”</p> + +<p>It is right to say that Mr. Smith’s discourse is levelled +against the Calvinistic Methodists, of whom, however, he +unfortunately speaks as though they were all the Methodists +that existed. Remembering the recent origin of the Methodist +movement, and the unparalleled opposition it had been +its lot to encounter, it is somewhat amusing to find the +Bethnal Green curate describing the Methodists as “the +<em>overbearing</em> sect”; perhaps it was a <i lang="la">lapsus linguæ</i>; or perhaps +the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Smith began to see, that crushing the system +with the iron heel of persecution only diffused its fragrance +wider; and that, after all, Methodism, instead of dying, was +every year more vigorous than ever. Mr. Smith was severely +handled in a pamphlet of 40 pages, with the title, “Letters to +the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Haddon Smith, occasioned by his <em>Curious</em> +Sermon entitled Methodistical Deceit; by Philalethes.”</p> + +<p>Wesley’s own publications, in 1770, were as follows.</p> + +<p>1. “An Extract from Dr. Young’s Night Thoughts, on +Life, Death, and Immortality.” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 241 pages. Wesley +professed to have left out all the lines in Young, which he +“apprehended to be either childish, or flat, or turgid, or +obscure”; and appended brief explanations of the words and +phrases, which he thought would be scarcely understood by +unlearned readers.</p> + +<p>2. “Minutes of several Conversations between the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> +Messrs. John and Charles Wesley and others.” <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, 60 +pages. This was a new and enlarged edition of the minutes +published in 1763, embracing minutes of all the conferences +held from that period to the year 1770.</p> + +<p>3. “A Sermon on the Death of the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. George +Whitefield.” <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, 32 pages.</p> + +<p>4. “Free Thoughts on the Present State of Public Affairs.” +<abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, 47 pages. This was published in the midst of the terrible +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span> +national confusion, produced by the dissolute and unprincipled +anarchist,—the infamous John Wilkes. The pamphlet has +been already noticed in a previous chapter.⁠<a id="FNanchor_117_117" href="#Footnote_117_117" class="fnanchor">[117]</a></p> + +<p>5. It was Wesley’s purpose to leave Augustus Toplady in +the hands of Walter Sellon. He did this, in one respect, but +not in another. For instance, he published a small <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr> +tract of eight pages, with the title, “What is an Arminian?” +He writes: “To say, ‘this man is an Arminian,’ has the same +effect on many hearers as to say, ‘this is a mad dog.’ It +puts them into a fright at once; they run away from him with +all speed and diligence; and will hardly stop, unless it be to +throw a stone at the dreadful and mischievous animal.” He +then proceeds to show, that the differences between an Arminian +and a Calvinist may all be reduced to a single sentence,—the +Calvinist believes that God has eternally and absolutely +decreed to save such and such persons, and no others; that +these cannot resist the saving grace that He imparts; and +that they cannot finally fall from that grace, which they are +not able to resist. An Arminian holds doctrines just the +opposite of these. Wesley concludes his tract by advising +both Arminian and Calvinist preachers never to use, either in +public or private, the word “Calvinist,” or “Arminian,” as a +term of reproach, seeing this was neither better nor worse than +calling names,—a practice as inconsistent with good sense and +good manners as it is with Christianity itself.</p> + +<p>6. Besides this, Wesley issued another tract, entitled, “The +Doctrine of Absolute Predestination Stated and Asserted. By +the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. <span class="lock">A.——</span> <span class="lock">T——.”</span> <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 12 pages. This was a +faithful abridgment of Toplady’s translation of Zanchius, without +note or comment, except a short advertisement at the +beginning, and a paragraph at the end, both of which we +give verbatim.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Advertisement.—It is granted, that the ensuing tract is, in good measure, +a translation. Nevertheless, considering the unparalleled modesty +and self diffidence of the young translator, and the tenderness wherewith he +treats his opponents, it may well pass for an original.”</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</span> +This was stinging; especially when compared with the concluding +paragraph⁠—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“The sum of all is this: One in twenty (suppose) of mankind are +elected; nineteen in twenty are reprobated. The elect shall be saved, +do what they will; the reprobate shall be damned, do what they can. +Reader, believe this, or be damned. Witness my hand.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“A—— T——.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>This was the whole of Wesley’s offending. His tract, we +again affirm, was an honest, faithful abridgment of Toplady’s +pretended translation; but the truth is, by divesting the work +of Toplady of its cloudy verbiage, the Calvinistic theory was +presented in a form enough to horrify every man of reason and +religion. What was the result? Wesley’s Abridgment was +issued in the month of March, 1770. Poor Toplady seems to +have become insane with anger; and, before the same month +expired, had completed his answer, which was published +forthwith, under the title of “A Letter to the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. John +Wesley: relative to his pretended Abridgment of Zanchius on +Predestination.” <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, 30 pages. The most charitable excuse +for this angry writer is, that he had, in a paroxysm of mortified +vanity, lost his balance, and was now <i lang="la">non compos mentis</i>. +Wesley had honestly abridged his work; and had written the +two brief paragraphs already quoted. That was all: and, for +this, the irate young man of thirty, who in former years had +written to Wesley in terms of the most filial respect, now tells +him that, “for more than thirty years past he has been endeavouring +to palm on his credulous followers his pernicious +doctrines, with all the sophistry of a jesuit, and the dictatorial +authority of a pope.” Wesley is charged with acting “the +ignoble part of a lurking, sly assassin.” He is exhorted to +“renounce the low, serpentine cunning, which puts him on +falsifying what he finds himself unable to refute; to dismiss +those dirty subterfuges (the last resources of mean, malicious +impotence), which degrade the man of parts into a lying +sophister, and sink a divine into the level of an oyster woman.” +Wesley is told, “that it once depended on the toss of a +shilling whether he should be a Calvinist or an Arminian. +Tails fell uppermost, and he resolved to be an universalist.” +The elect Toplady continues: “possessed of more than serpentine +elability, <em>you</em> cast <em>your</em> slough, not once a year, but, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</span> +almost, once an hour. Hence, your innumerable <em>inconsistencies</em>, +and flagrant <em>self contradictions</em>; the <em>jarring</em> of your principles, +and the <em>incoherence</em> of your religious system. Somewhat like +the necromantic soup in the tragedy of ‘Macbeth,’ your doctrines +may be stirred into a chaotic jumble, but witchcraft +itself would strive in vain to bring them into coalition.” The +gentlemanly polemic then informs Wesley, that he shall not +hold himself obliged to again enter the lists with him, if he +“descends to his customary recourse of false quotations, +despicable invective, and unsupported dogmatisms. An opponent,” +continues this model of polite behaviour, “an opponent, +who thinks to add weight to his arguments by scurrility and +abuse, resembles the insane person who rolled himself in the +mud, in order to make himself fine. I would no more enter +into a formal controversy with such a scribbler, than I would +contend, for the wall, with a chimney sweeper.”</p> + +<p>Is it surprising that, after this, Calvinism was discussed at +the conference of 1770; and that, just before it commenced +its sittings, Wesley wrote the following unpublished letter to +his friend, Mr. Merryweather, at Yarm?</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">York</span>, <i>June 24, 1770</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—Mr. Augustus Toplady I know well; but I +do not fight with chimney sweepers. He is too dirty a writer for me to +meddle with; I should only foul my fingers. I read his title page, and +troubled myself no farther. I leave him to Mr. Sellon. He cannot be in +better hands.</p> + +<p>“As long as you are seeking and expecting to love God with all your +heart, so long your soul will live.</p> + +<p>“I am your affectionate brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_79_79" href="#FNanchor_79_79" class="label">[79]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1781, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 46.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_80_80" href="#FNanchor_80_80" class="label">[80]</a> “Life and Times of Countess of Huntingdon,” <abbr title="volume one">vol. i.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 387.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_81_81" href="#FNanchor_81_81" class="label">[81]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 375.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_82_82" href="#FNanchor_82_82" class="label">[82]</a> Ibid. <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 350.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_83_83" href="#FNanchor_83_83" class="label">[83]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 148.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_84_84" href="#FNanchor_84_84" class="label">[84]</a> Whitefield’s Works, <abbr title="volume three">vol. iii.</abbr></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_85_85" href="#FNanchor_85_85" class="label">[85]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1784, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 224.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_86_86" href="#FNanchor_86_86" class="label">[86]</a> Whitehead’s Life of Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 345.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_87_87" href="#FNanchor_87_87" class="label">[87]</a> Thomas Dixon’s manuscript journal.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_88_88" href="#FNanchor_88_88" class="label">[88]</a> “Life of Lady Glenorchy,” <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 155.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_89_89" href="#FNanchor_89_89" class="label">[89]</a> One of the ministers of the Tolbooth church,—a man of great +abilities and of polished manners, but an avowed Calvinist of the highest +order.—(Lady Glenorchy’s Life, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 132.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_90_90" href="#FNanchor_90_90" class="label">[90]</a> “Life of Lady Glenorchy,” <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 156.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_91_91" href="#FNanchor_91_91" class="label">[91]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1784, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 279.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_92_92" href="#FNanchor_92_92" class="label">[92]</a> “Life of Lady Glenorchy,” <abbr title="pages">pp.</abbr> 163, 226.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_93_93" href="#FNanchor_93_93" class="label">[93]</a> “Life and Times of Lady Huntingdon,” <abbr title="volume one">vol. i.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 157.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_94_94" href="#FNanchor_94_94" class="label">[94]</a> Lady Glenorchy’s Life, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 223.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_95_95" href="#FNanchor_95_95" class="label">[95]</a> Ibid. <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 239.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_96_96" href="#FNanchor_96_96" class="label">[96]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1816, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 730.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_97_97" href="#FNanchor_97_97" class="label">[97]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1851, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 837.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_98_98" href="#FNanchor_98_98" class="label">[98]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1784, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 330.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_99_99" href="#FNanchor_99_99" class="label">[99]</a> Ibid. 1784, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 614.</p></div> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_100_100" href="#FNanchor_100_100" class="label">[100]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1814, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 166.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_101_101" href="#FNanchor_101_101" class="label">[101]</a> Manuscript.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_102_102" href="#FNanchor_102_102" class="label">[102]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1807, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 242.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_103_103" href="#FNanchor_103_103" class="label">[103]</a> The following hitherto unpublished letter was addressed to Matthew +Lowes, and refers both to circuit, and connexional chapel, debts.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>March 2, 1770</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Matthew</span>,—The way you propose for clearing the circuit is, I +think, the very best which can be devised. Only let your fellow labourers +second <em>you heartily</em>, and the thing will be done.</p> + +<p>“Four or five circuits exerted themselves nobly. Had all the rest done +the same our burden would have been quite removed. Well, <em>we</em> will +fight till we die.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“I am, etc., <span class="smcap">J. Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> +<p></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_104_104" href="#FNanchor_104_104" class="label">[104]</a> Myles’s History.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_105_105" href="#FNanchor_105_105" class="label">[105]</a> This had become a matter of grave importance. Matthew Lowes, +one of Wesley’s most useful itinerants, states, in his unpublished Autobiography, +that though the trading of the preachers, in cloth, groceries, +hardware, etc., was of considerable benefit to themselves and their +families, it was strongly objected to by the people: (1) because it interfered +with the businesses of Methodists in the places which the preachers +visited; and (2) because it was deemed inconsistent for a minister of the +word of God to be engaged in any kind of trade whatever. Lowes’ trading +was chiefly confined to the sale of a valuable balsam, of which he +himself was the sole maker and vendor; and which, while of great use to +the afflicted, and a source of income to the poor itinerant, did not in the +least interfere with the business of others; but even Lowes was obliged to +give up the itinerancy, when, for the sake of the suffering, and, for the +benefit of his numerous family, he refused to give up his balsam. In +1771, he was compelled to retire from the itinerant work, partly for the +reason just mentioned, and partly on the ground of health, and, for about +a quarter of a century afterwards, acted as a local preacher at Newcastle +on Tyne, and supported himself, his wife, and his children, chiefly by the +sale of his useful medicine. Three months after his retirement, Wesley +wrote to him the following, now for the first time published.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Norwich</span>, <i>November 10, 1771</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Matthew</span>,—You should do all you can; otherwise want of +exercise will not lessen, but increase your disorder. Certainly there is no +objection to your making balsam, while you are not considered as a +travelling preacher. I am, with love to sister Lowes, your affectionate +brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">J. Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> +<p></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_106_106" href="#FNanchor_106_106" class="label">[106]</a> Minutes, 1744.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_107_107" href="#FNanchor_107_107" class="label">[107]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 385.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_108_108" href="#FNanchor_108_108" class="label">[108]</a> Ibid. <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 387.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_109_109" href="#FNanchor_109_109" class="label">[109]</a> “Life and Times of Countess of Huntingdon,” <abbr title="volume one">vol. i.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 364.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_110_110" href="#FNanchor_110_110" class="label">[110]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1826, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 752.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_111_111" href="#FNanchor_111_111" class="label">[111]</a> J. Pawson’s manuscripts.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_112_112" href="#FNanchor_112_112" class="label">[112]</a> <cite>Lloyd’s Evening Post</cite>, <abbr title="November">Nov.</abbr> 16, 1770.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_113_113" href="#FNanchor_113_113" class="label">[113]</a> <cite>Gospel Magazine</cite>, 1771, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 39.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_114_114" href="#FNanchor_114_114" class="label">[114]</a> <cite>Lloyd’s Evening Post</cite>, 1771, <abbr title="pages">pp.</abbr> 127, 139.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_115_115" href="#FNanchor_115_115" class="label">[115]</a> <cite>Gospel Magazine</cite>, 1776, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 443.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_116_116" href="#FNanchor_116_116" class="label">[116]</a> Poor Whitefield was pelted even after he was dead. In the <cite>Annual +Register</cite>, for 1770, it is wickedly stated, that his last visit to America was +owing “to an attachment to a woman, by whom he had a child while his +wife was living;” and it is added, that “this child was the first infant +ever entered into his orphan house in Georgia”!</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_117_117" href="#FNanchor_117_117" class="label">[117]</a> Wesley’s “Free Thoughts” were sharply criticised by an able writer, +in 1771, in an octavo pamphlet of 58 pages, with the title of “A Letter to +the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. John Wesley; in answer to his late pamphlet, entitled +‘Free Thoughts on the Present State of Public Affairs.’”</p></div></div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</span></p> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="1771">1771.</h2> +<hr class="short"> +<p class="center"> +Age 68</p></div> + + +<p class="p2 drop-cap"><span class="smcap">The</span> year 1771 was one of unceasing conflict. The first +two months, as usual, were spent in London, during +which Wesley’s wife, in one of her insane piques, and without +assigning the slightest reason, unceremoniously left his house +in London, and started for her own in Pilgrim Street, Newcastle. +It was on this occasion that Wesley wrote the words +so often quoted: “<i lang="la">Non eam reliqui; non dimisi; non revocabo</i>.”</p> + +<p>On the 3rd of March, Wesley set out for Ireland, where he +laboured for the next few months.</p> + +<p>Affairs in Scotland were a source of increasing anxiety. +Hence the following letter to Lady Maxwell, in reference to +Alexander McNab, one of his itinerants, and the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Richard +De Courcy, who was about to become minister in Lady +Glenorchy’s chapel, Edinburgh.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>January 24, 1771</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Lady</span>,—Although Mr. McNab is quite clear as to justification +by faith, and is, in general, a sound and good preacher, yet, I fear, +he is not clear of blame in this. He is too warm and impatient of contradiction, +otherwise he must be lost to all common sense, to preach against +final perseverance in Scotland. From the first hour that I entered the +kingdom, it was a sacred rule with me never to preach on any controverted +point,—at least, <em>not in a controversial way</em>. Any one may see that this +is only to put a sword into our enemies’ hands. It is the direct way to +increase all their prejudices, and to make all our labours fruitless.</p> + +<p>“You will shortly have a trial of another kind. Mr. De Courcy purposes +to set out for Edinburgh in a few days. He was from a child a member +of our societies in the south of Ireland. There he received remission of +sins, and was, for some time, groaning for full redemption. But when he +came to Dublin the Philistines were upon him, and soon prevailed over +him. Quickly, he was convinced that ‘there is no perfection,’ and that +‘all things depend on <em>absolute and unchangeable decrees</em>.’ At first, he was +exceedingly warm upon these heads; now, he is far more calm. His +natural temper, I think, is good; he is open, friendly, and generous. He +has also a good understanding, and is not unacquainted with learning, +though not deeply versed therein. He has no disagreeable person, a +pleasing address, and is a lively as well as sensible preacher. Now, when +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</span> +you add to this that he is quite new, and very young, you may judge how +he will be admired and caressed. How will a raw, inexperienced youth +be able to encounter this? If there be not the greatest of miracles to +preserve him, will it not turn his brain? And may he not then do far +more hurt than either Mr. <span class="lock">W——</span> or Mr. <span class="lock">T——</span> did? Will he not prevent +your friend from going on to perfection? Nay, may he not shake you +also? At present, indeed, he is in an exceedingly loving spirit. But will +that continue long? There will be danger on the one hand if it does; +there will be danger on the other if it does not.</p> + +<p>“It does not appear, that any great change has been wrought in our +neighbours by Mr. Whitefield’s death. He had fixed the prejudice so +deep, that even he himself was not able to remove it; yet, our congregations +have increased exceedingly, and the work of God increases on every +side. I am glad you use more exercise. It is good for both body and +soul. As soon as Mr. De Courcy is come, I shall be glad to hear how the +prospect opens. You will then need a larger share of the wisdom from +above; and I trust you will write with all openness to, my dear lady, your +ever affectionate servant,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_118_118" href="#Footnote_118_118" class="fnanchor">[118]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>It was Wesley who obtained Mr. De Courcy’s services for +Lady Glenorchy. He knew the man, and thought highly of +him, but also saw his danger; and hence the warning to Lady +Maxwell. It would be a pleasant task to sketch the subsequent +career of this devoted Irishman; but, at present, we +must confine ourselves to Edinburgh. De Courcy set out for +the northern metropolis, as Wesley had said he would; and, +immediately on his arrival at Newcastle, addressed to Wesley +the following.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>February 9, 1771.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Reverend and dear Sir</span>,—Yesterday evening, after a very tedious +journey, the Lord brought me safe to Newcastle. When I reflect on the +fatigue and dangers which attend travelling, I should be astonished above +measure that you have so indefatigably persevered in all the labours of an +itinerant life for so many years, were I not well assured that you have been +supernaturally assisted in body and mind for that extensive work to which +God has eminently chosen you.</p> + +<p>“I write this in Mr. McNab’s chamber, with whom, and Mr. Hanby, I +find great fellowship of spirit. I have accepted your kind invitation, and +purpose taking up my abode with them till Monday, when I set out for +Edinburgh. I would stay longer with your dear people here, but that I +find Lady Glenorchy is particularly anxious for my speedy arrival in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</span> +Edinburgh. As my situation there will expose me to diversified trials, do +dear sir, pray that I may be kept</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0a">‘Humble, teachable, and mild,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Patient as a little child,’</div> +</div></div> + +<p>“I remain, reverend and dear sir, your most affectionate, but unworthy +brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Richard De Courcy</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_119_119" href="#Footnote_119_119" class="fnanchor">[119]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>A few days after De Courcy’s arrival, Wesley wrote a second +time to Lady Maxwell, as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>February 26, 1771.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Lady</span>,—I cannot but think the chief reason of the little +good done by our preachers in Edinburgh is the opposition which has +been made by the ministers of Edinburgh, as well as by the false brethren +from England. These steeled the hearts of the people against all the good +impressions which might otherwise have been made; so that the same +preachers, by whom God has constantly wrought, not only in various +parts of England, but likewise in the northern parts of Scotland, were in +Edinburgh only not useless. They felt a damp upon their spirits; they +had not their usual liberty of speech; and the word they spoke seemed to +rebound upon them, and not to sink into the hearts of the hearers. At my +first coming, I usually find something of this myself; but the second or +third time of preaching, it is gone.</p> + +<p>“I think it will not be easy for any one to show us, either, that Christ +did not die for all, or, that He is not willing as well as able to cleanse +from all sin, even in the present world. If your steady adherence to these +great truths be termed bigotry, yet you have no need to be ashamed. +You are reproached for Christ’s sake, and the spirit of glory and of Christ +shall rest upon you. Perhaps our Lord may use you to soften some +of the harsh spirits, and to preserve Lady Glenorchy, or Mr. De Courcy, +from being hurt by them.</p> + +<p>“I am, my dear lady, your very affectionate servant,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_120_120" href="#Footnote_120_120" class="fnanchor">[120]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>From these letters, it is painfully apparent that the Calvinistic +controversy was not confined to England. Edinburgh +rang with discordant notes; and, in five months after Mr. +De Courcy’s coming, Lady Glenorchy dismissed Wesley’s +preachers from her chapel, assigning, as her reason, that they +were not Calvinists.⁠<a id="FNanchor_121_121" href="#Footnote_121_121" class="fnanchor">[121]</a></p> + +<p>South of the Tweed there were sounds of the coming +battle; hence the following extract from a letter to Miss +Bishop.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</span> +<p class="right"> +“<i>February 16, 1771.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Sister</span>,—... Legality, with most that use that term, +really means tenderness of conscience. There is no propriety in the word, if +one would take it for seeking justification by works. Considering, therefore, +how hard it is to fix the meaning of that odd term, and how dreadfully +it has been abused, I think it highly advisable for all the Methodists +to lay it quite aside.</p> + +<p>“If Mr. Shirley could find any other doctrine, which he thought was +peculiarly mine, he would be as angry at it as he is at Christian perfection. +But it is all well: we are to go forward, whoever goes back or turns aside. +Perhaps we may see a new accomplishment of Solomon’s words, ‘He +that reproveth a man shall afterward find more favour than he who +flattereth with his tongue.’ But, be that as it may, I have done my duty: +I could no otherwise have delivered my own soul; and no offence at all +would have been given thereby, had not pride stifled both religion and +generosity. But my letter⁠<a id="FNanchor_122_122" href="#Footnote_122_122" class="fnanchor">[122]</a> is now out of date: it is mentioned no more; +there is a more plausible occasion found, namely, those eight terrible propositions +which conclude the minutes of our conference. At the instance +of some who were sadly frightened thereby, I have revised them over and +over; I have considered them in every point of view; and truly, the more +I consider them, the more I like them. The more fully I am convinced, +not only that they are true,—agreeable both to Scripture and sound +experience,—but, that they contain truths of the deepest importance, and +such as ought to be continually inculcated by those who would be pure +from the blood of all men.</p> + +<p>“Your affectionate brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_123_123" href="#Footnote_123_123" class="fnanchor">[123]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Benson had been dismissed from Trevecca, in the month of +January, for defending Wesley’s minutes; and now Fletcher, +the president of the college, informed the Countess of Huntingdon, +that, if all Arminians were to be expelled, he must be +expelled. This was a serious matter. Fletcher, at Trevecca, had +been, according to Benson, “almost an angel in human flesh.” +“Prayer, praise, love, and zeal were the element in which he +lived. His one employment was to call, entreat, and urge +others to ascend with him to the glorious Source of being and +blessedness. He had leisure comparatively for nothing else. +Languages, arts, sciences, grammar, rhetoric, logic, even +divinity itself, were all laid aside, when he appeared in the +schoolroom among the students. His full heart would not +suffer him to be silent; and the students were readier to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</span> +hearken to him than to attend to Sallust, Virgil, or Cicero. +Soon, they were all in tears; and then he would say, ‘As +many of you as are athirst for the fulness of the Spirit, follow +me into my room.’” Away they trooped after him, and +would continue praying, one after another, for hours together, +till they could bear to kneel no longer; Fletcher, in the midst, +so filled with the love of God, that, more than once, he cried, +“O my God, withhold Thy hand, or the vessel will burst!”⁠<a id="FNanchor_124_124" href="#Footnote_124_124" class="fnanchor">[124]</a> +Such a man in such a place was invaluable; but he was not +the man to truckle in the presence of arbitrary power. Hence +the following to Wesley.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Madeley</span>, <i>February 20, 1771</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Reverend and dear Sir</span>,—I fear we are going, or are already gone, +from our plan of catholicism at the college. Mr. Benson’s affair has made +me tell my mind to our Deborah, about bigotry, partiality, prejudice, and +everything that seemed to me contrary to the Christian spirit in some late +transactions. The answer was, that if one half of the things objected to +by me was true, there would be room for the cruelty of my charges; but +facts and words have been grossly misrepresented. Therefore, my mouth +is shut so far.</p> + +<p>“This, however, I have insisted, and do insist, upon, if every Arminian +must quit the college, I am discharged for one; for I cannot give up the +possibility of the salvation of all any more than I can give up the truth +and love of God.</p> + +<p>“Secondly, I will be no party man, nor give up my connections with any +that fear God, much less with Mr. Wesley, who shall be always welcome +to my pulpit, and I make no doubt will welcome me to his.</p> + +<p>“Thirdly, nobody shall prevent my following after an entire devotedness +of heart to God, by baiting my Christian hopes and privileges under +the name of perfection.</p> + +<p>“To this, I have received no particular answer; but, as I set out for the +college to-day, I may get one <i lang="la">viva voce</i>.</p> + +<p>“Though no letter writer, I am and shall always remain, reverend +and dear sir, your ready though unprofitable servant,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Fletcher</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_125_125" href="#Footnote_125_125" class="fnanchor">[125]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>The result of Fletcher’s visit to the college is given in the +subjoined extracts from letters sent to Benson.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>March 22, 1771.</i> +</p> + +<p>“On my arrival at the college, I found all very quiet, I fear, through +the enemy’s keeping his goods in peace. While I preached, I found +myself as much shackled as ever I was in my life; and, after private +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</span> +prayer, I concluded I was not in my place. The same day I resigned my +office to my lady, and on Wednesday to the students and the Lord. Last +Friday I left them all in peace, the servant, but no more the president, of +the college.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_126_126" href="#Footnote_126_126" class="fnanchor">[126]</a></p> + +<p>“Mr. Shirley has sent my lady a copy of part of the minutes of the +last conference, namely, of the year 1770. They were called <em>horrible</em> and +<em>abominable</em>. My lady told me, <em>she must turn against them; and that +whoever did not fully disavow them must quit the college</em>. She accordingly +ordered the master and all the students to write their sentiments +upon them without reserve. I did so; explained them according to Mr. +Wesley’s sentiments; and approved the doctrine, though not cautiously +worded. I concluded by observing, that, as after such a step on my part, +and such a declaration on my lady’s, I could no longer, as an honest man, +stay in the college, I took my leave of it; wishing my lady might find a +minister to preside over it less insufficient than</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Fletcher</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_127_127" href="#Footnote_127_127" class="fnanchor">[127]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>So much respecting Trevecca. Returning to Wesley, we +find him defending himself in the following long letter, published +in <cite>Lloyd’s Evening Post</cite> for March 1, 1771.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>February 26, 1771.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—The editor of a monthly publication, pompously called <cite>The +Gospel Magazine</cite>, has violently fallen upon one and another, who did +not knowingly give him any provocation. And whereas, in other magazines, +the accused has liberty to answer for himself, it is not so here. +This gentleman will publish only the charge; but not the defence. What +can a person, thus injuriously treated, do? To publish pamphlets, on +every head, would not answer the end, for the answer would not come into +near so many hands as the objection. Is there then a better way than to +appeal to candid men, in one of the public papers, by which means the +antidote will operate both as widely and as speedily as the poison? This +method, therefore, I take at last, after delaying as long as I could with +innocence.</p> + +<p>“In that magazine for last month, there is a warm attack upon my sermon +on the death of Mr. Whitefield. The first charge is against the +text, ‘Let me die the death of the righteous.’ ‘How improper,’ says +Mr. R.,⁠<a id="FNanchor_128_128" href="#Footnote_128_128" class="fnanchor">[128]</a> ‘to apply the words of a mad prophet to so holy a man as +Mr. Whitefield.’</p> + +<p>“Improper! See how doctors differ! I conceive nothing can possibly +be more proper. If Mr. R. did indeed tell his congregation, some of +whom disliked his attacking my poor text before, ‘Let who will be vexed, +I do not care; I will not justify Balaam while I live’; yet, others +imagine nothing would be more suitable than for Balaam junior to use +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</span> +the words of his forefather; especially, as he did not apply them to Mr. +Whitefield, but to himself. Surely a poor reprobate may, without offence, +<em>wish</em> to die like one of the elect! And I dare say, every one understood +me to mean this, the moment he heard the text. If not, the very hymn +I sung showed to whom I applied the words⁠—</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0a">‘Oh that, without a lingering groan,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">I might the welcome word receive!</div> +<div class="verse indent0">My body with my charge lay down,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">And cease at once to work and live!’</div> +</div></div> + +<p>“But the main attack is on the sermon itself; in which I am charged +with asserting a gross falsehood, in the face of God and the congregation, +and that knowing it to be such, namely, that ‘the grand fundamental doctrines +which Mr. Whitefield everywhere preached, were those of the new +birth and justification by faith.’ No, says Mr. R., not at all: the grand +fundamental doctrines, which he everywhere preached, were the everlasting +covenant between the Father and the Son, and absolute predestination +flowing therefrom.</p> + +<p>“I join issue on this head. Whether the doctrines of the eternal +covenant, and of absolute predestination, are the grand fundamental +doctrines of Christianity, or not, I affirm again—(1) that Mr. Whitefield +did not everywhere preach these; (2) that he did everywhere preach the +new birth, and justification by faith.</p> + +<p>“1. He did not everywhere preach the eternal covenant, and absolute +predestination. In all the times I myself heard him preach, I +never heard him utter a sentence either on one or the other. Yea, all the +times he preached in West Street chapel, and in our other chapels +throughout England, he did not preach these doctrines at all, no, not in a +single paragraph; which, by the bye, is a demonstration that he did not +think them the fundamental doctrines of Christianity.</p> + +<p>“2. Both in West Street chapel, and all our other chapels throughout +England, he did preach the necessity of the new birth, and justification +by faith, as clearly as he has done in his two volumes of printed sermons. +Therefore, all that I have asserted is true, and provable by ten thousand +witnesses.</p> + +<p>“Nay, says Mr. R., ‘Mr. Whitefield everywhere insisted on other fundamental +doctrines, from the foundation of which the new birth and +justification by faith take their rise, and with which they are inseparably +connected. These are the everlasting covenant, which was entered into +by the Holy Trinity, and God the Father’s everlasting, unchangeable +election of sinners’ (in virtue of which a fiftieth part of mankind shall +be saved, do what they will; and the other forty-nine parts shall be +damned, do what they can). ‘These doctrines are not of a less essential +nature than either regeneration or justification. No, by no means; they +are to the full equally essential to the glory of God. Yea, there is an +inseparable connection between them. This is <em>a most essential, a most +fundamental point</em>.’ (<cite>Magazine</cite>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 41.)</p> + +<p>“If so, then every one who does not hold it must perish everlastingly. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</span> +If, as you here assert, he cannot be justified, then he cannot be saved. +If, as you say, he cannot be born again, <em>he cannot see the kingdom of God</em>.</p> + +<p>“After asserting this, can Mr. R. ever take the name of <em>catholic love</em> +into his mouth? Is not this the very opposite to it? the height and +depth of <em>bigotry</em>? Does this spirit do honour to his opinion? Can we +conceive anything more horrid? Is it not enough to make a person of +humanity shudder? Yea, to make his blood run cold?</p> + +<p>“I do not here enter into the merits of the cause. I need not. It is +done to my hands. The whole doctrine of predestination is thoroughly +discussed in those three tracts lately printed: ‘An Answer to the Eleven +Letters commonly ascribed to Mr. Hervey’; ‘Arguments against General +Redemption Considered’; and ‘An Answer to Elisha Coles.’ Till these +are seriously and solidly refuted, I have no more to say on that head. +But I must aver, that the excluding all from salvation who do not believe +the horrible decree is a most shocking insult on all mankind, on common +sense, and common humanity.</p> + +<p class="center">“I am, etc.,</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>Of course, this was too pungent to pass without notice. +Accordingly, in the <cite>Gospel Magazine</cite> for the month following, +there appeared an incisive review of Sellon’s Answer to Elisha +Coles, which is described as “a mite of reprobate silver, cast +into the <em>Foundery</em>, and coming out thence, with the impress of +that pride, self righteousness, and self sufficiency, natural to +men in their fallen, unrenewed state.” Sellon is accused of +“trifling effrontery,” and is said “to have sunk far below the +gentleman, and to have lost all appearance of the Christian”; +and is further designated “the Cardinal Bellarmine of the +day; the obsequious servant and faithful labourer to his +holiness.”</p> + +<p>In a subsequent number of the same periodical, published +in the month of May, Wesley’s minutes are attacked; the +writer, “A Real Protestant,” indignantly asking, “Are not +these the very doctrines of popery, yea, of popery unmasked? +Is it not awful that 29,406 souls, who are in Mr. Wesley’s +societies, should be so dreadfully seduced from the protestant +doctrines, and deluded into a belief of the doctrines of the +mother of harlots, the whore of Babylon, the Church of +Rome?”</p> + +<p>Thus the bitter controversy proceeded. Comment would +be easy; but we prefer to let the chief actors speak; and, not +to interrupt this painful scene, proceed to give other letters +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</span> +bearing upon the subject, so that the reader may have before +him as full a view of the spirit and behaviour of both parties +as it is possible to furnish.</p> + +<p>While on his way to Ireland, Wesley wrote the following to +Fletcher.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“I always did, for between these thirty and forty years, clearly assert +the total fall of man, and his utter inability to do any good of himself; +the absolute necessity of the grace and Spirit of God to raise even a good +thought or desire in our hearts; the Lord’s rewarding no work, and +accepting of none, but so far as they proceed from His preventing, convincing, +and converting grace through the Beloved; the blood and +righteousness of Christ being the sole meritorious cause of our salvation. +Who is there in England, that has asserted these things more strongly and +steadily than I have done?”⁠<a id="FNanchor_129_129" href="#Footnote_129_129" class="fnanchor">[129]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>The next letter, addressed to Lady Huntingdon, was occasioned +by one which her ladyship had sent to Wesley’s brother +on the subject of his minutes,⁠<a id="FNanchor_130_130" href="#Footnote_130_130" class="fnanchor">[130]</a> and was dated “Bath, June 8, +1771.” The countess brands the minutes as “popery unmasked”; +and declares that “all ought to be deemed papists +who do not disown them.” She thus concludes: “as you +have no part in this matter, I find it difficult to blame your +brother to you; while as an honest man I must pity you, as +you must suffer equal disgrace, and universal distrust, from the +supposed union with him.” Charles Wesley endorsed this +unworthy letter with the words: “Lady Huntingdon’s last; +unanswered by John Wesley’s brother.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_131_131" href="#Footnote_131_131" class="fnanchor">[131]</a></p> + +<p>Charles Wesley doubtless communicated the contents to +his brother, who was now in Ireland; in fact, her ladyship +requested him to do this: and hence the following.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>June 19, 1771.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Lady</span>,—Many years since, I saw that ‘without holiness +no man shall see the Lord.’ I began following after it, and inciting all +with whom I had any intercourse to do the same. Ten years after, God +gave me a clearer view than I had before of the way how to attain this, +namely, by faith in the Son of God; and, immediately, I declared to all, +‘We are saved from sin, we are made holy, by faith.’ This I testified in +private, in public, in print; and God confirmed it by a thousand witnesses. +I have continued to declare this, for above thirty years; and God has continued +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</span> +to confirm the word of His grace. But, during this time, well-nigh +all the religious world have set themselves in array against me, and, +among the rest, many of my own children, following the example of one +of my eldest sons, Mr. Whitefield. Their general cry has been, ‘He is +unsound in the faith; he preaches another gospel!’ I answer, Whether +it be the same which they preach or not, it is the same which I have +preached for above thirty years. This may easily appear from what I +have published during that whole term. I instance only in three sermons; +that on ‘Salvation by Faith,’ printed in the year 1738; that on ‘The Lord +our Righteousness,’ printed a few years since; and that on Mr. Whitefield’s +funeral, printed only some months ago.</p> + +<p>“But it is said, ‘Oh but you printed ten lines in August last, which contradict +all your other writings.’ Be not so sure of this. It is probable, at +least, that I understand my own meaning as well as you do; and that meaning +I have yet again declared in the sermon last referred to. By that, interpret +those ten lines, and you will understand them better; although I should +think that any one might see, even without this help, that the lines in +question do not refer to the condition of obtaining, but of continuing in +the favour of God. But whether the sentiment contained in these lines +be right or wrong, and whether it be well or ill expressed, the gospel which +I now preach God does still confirm by new witnesses in every place; +perhaps never so much in this kingdom as within these last three months. +Now, I argue from glaring, undeniable fact: God cannot bear witness to a +lie; the gospel, therefore, which He confirms must be true in substance. +There may be opinions maintained at the same time which are not exactly +true; and who can be secure from these? Perhaps, I thought myself so +once. When I was much younger than I am now, I thought myself almost +infallible; but, I bless God, I know myself better now.</p> + +<p>“To be short. Such as I am, I love you well. You have one of the +first places in my esteem and affection; and you once had some regard for +me. But it cannot continue if it depends upon my seeing with your eyes, +or on my being in no mistake. What if I was in as many as Mr. Law +himself? If you were, I should love you still, provided your heart was still +right with God. My dear friend, you seem not to have well learned yet +the meaning of those words, which I desire to have continually written +upon my heart, ‘Whosoever doth the will of My Father which is in +heaven, the same is My brother, and sister, and mother.’</p> + +<p>“I am, my dear lady, your affectionate</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_132_132" href="#Footnote_132_132" class="fnanchor">[132]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Contemporaneously with the above letter, the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Walter +Shirley and Lady Huntingdon sent the following circular to +Wesley, as well as to a large number of their Calvinian friends.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“<span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—Whereas Mr. Wesley’s conference is to be held at Bristol, on +Tuesday, the 6th of August next, it is proposed, by Lady Huntingdon, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</span> +many other Christian friends, (real protestants,) to have a meeting at +Bristol at the same time, of such principal persons, both clergy and laity, +who disapprove of the underwritten minutes⁠<a id="FNanchor_133_133" href="#Footnote_133_133" class="fnanchor">[133]</a>; and as the same are +thought injurious to the very <em>fundamental</em><a href="#Footnote_134_134" class="fnanchor">[134]</a> principles of Christianity, it is +further proposed, that they go in a body to the said conference, and insist +upon a formal recantation of the said minutes; and, in case of a refusal, +that they sign and publish their protest against them. Your presence, +sir, on this occasion is particularly requested; but, if it should not suit +your convenience to be there, it is desired that you will transmit your +sentiments on the subject to such person as you think proper to produce +them. It is submitted to you, whether it would not be right, in the opposition +to be made to such a <em>dreadful heresy</em>,⁠<a id="FNanchor_134_134" href="#Footnote_134_134" class="fnanchor">[134]</a> + to recommend it to as many +of your Christian friends, as well of the Dissenters as of the Established +Church, as you can prevail on to be there, the cause being of so public +a nature.</p> + +<p>“I am, sir, your obedient servant,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Walter Shirley</span>. +</p> + +<p>“P.S.—Your answer is desired, directed to the Countess of Huntingdon; +or the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Shirley; or John Lloyd, <abbr title="Esquire">Esq.</abbr>, in Bath; or Mr. James +Ireland, merchant, Bristol; or to Thomas Powis, <abbr title="Esquire">Esq.</abbr>, at Berwick, near +Shrewsbury; or to Richard Hill, <abbr title="Esquire">Esq.</abbr>, at Hawkstone, near Whitchurch, +Shropshire. Lodgings will be provided. Inquire at Mr. Ireland’s, +Bristol.”</p> +</div> + +<p>A fine confederacy of elected saints, armed with self invested +papal power to <em>insist</em> upon the recantation of poor Wesley and +his heretical preachers!</p> + +<p>The modest and self diffident countess and her executive +chaplain apologise for this high handed interference on the +ground that they “were warmly interested in the revival of +<em>spiritual</em> religion and the doctrines of the <em>Reformation</em>;” that +they “apprehended that the doctrines contained in the minutes +had the most fatal tendency; and, in the strongest and most +explicit terms, maintained <em>salvation by works</em>”; and that +Wesley was not an ordinary personage, but stood “at the head +of near thirty thousand people,—a veteran in the cause of +the gospel,—one of the chiefs in the late reformation.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_135_135" href="#Footnote_135_135" class="fnanchor">[135]</a></p> + +<p>One would have thought that, at least, the last mentioned +reason would have led them to adopt a less offensive and more +respectful method of correcting his “dreadful heresy,” than +that of marching upon him and his conference <i lang="fr">en masse</i>; and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</span> +imperiously <em>insisting</em> upon his recantation. Surely, it would +not have been too great a condescension for them and their +friends, first of all, to have respectfully solicited of such “a +veteran and chief” an explanation of what he meant; and, if +they still found him to be in error, to ask for an opportunity +to reason the matter with him and to set him right. But, no; +this was far too troublesome for the elect of God, who, of +course, were right, and all others wrong; and, hence, the only +action, which would not impinge upon their sacred dignity, was +to march, in solemn phalanx, to the assembly of Wesley and +his poor itinerants, and there “<em>insist upon a formal recantation</em>”; +and then, in case the heretics should refuse to yield, +and because the valiant defenders of the truth were without +power to imprison, to banish, or to burn, it was piously proposed +that, for want of something more effectual, they should +content themselves with a <em>public protest</em> against the pestilential +minutes.</p> + +<p>One of Shirley’s circulars was handed to Fletcher, the ex-president +of Trevecca, who wrote to Wesley the following +letter, hitherto unpublished.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Madeley</span>, <i>June 24, 1771</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>,—When I left Wales, where I had stood in the gap for +peace, I thought my poor endeavours were not altogether vain. Lady +Huntingdon said she would write civilly to you, and desire you to explain +yourself about your minutes. I suppose you have not heard from her, for +she wrote me word since that she believed she must not meddle in the +affair. At least, that is what I made of her letter. Upon receiving yours +from Chester, I cut off that part of it where you expressed your belief of +what is eminently called by us the doctrine of free grace; and sent it to +the college, with a desire it might be sent to Lady Huntingdon. She has +returned it to me, with a letter, in which she expresses the greatest disapprobation +of it. The purport of her letter is, to charge you with tergiversation, +and me with being the dupe of your impositions. She has also +wrote in stronger terms to her college.</p> + +<p>“Things, I hoped, would have remained there; but how am I surprised +and grieved to see zeal borrowing the horn of discord, and sounding an +alarm throughout the religious world against you. Mr. Hutton called +upon me last night, and showed me a printed circular, which I suppose is, +or will be, sent to the serious clergy and laity throughout the land. I +have received none, as I have lost, I suppose, my reputation of being +a ‘<em>real protestant</em>,’ by what I wrote upon your minutes in Wales.</p> + +<p>“This is an exact copy of the printed letter.</p> + +<p>[Here follows Shirley’s circular as above.]</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</span> +“I think it my duty, dear sir, to give you the earliest intelligence of this +bold onset, and to assure you that upon the evangelical principles, mentioned +in your last letter to me, I, for one, shall be glad to stand by you +and your doctrine to the last, hoping that you will gladly remove stumbling +blocks out of the way of the weak, and alter such expressions as may +create prejudice in the hearts of those who are inclined to admit it.</p> + +<p>“I write to Mr. Shirley to expostulate with him, and to request him to +call in his circular letter. He is the last man that should attack you. +His sermons contain propositions much more heretical and anti-Calvinistical +than your minutes. If my letters have not the desired effect, I +shall probably, if you approve of them and correct them, make them +public for your justification.</p> + +<p>“I find Mr. Ireland is to write to make you <em>tamely recant</em> without +measuring swords, or breaking a pike with our <em>real protestants</em>. I wrote +to him also.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear sir, your unworthy servant in the gospel,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Fletcher</span>. +</p> + +<p>“To the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. John Wesley, at his Preaching</p> +<p class="p0 indent5">House in Dublin, Ireland.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>There was chivalry in this,—the real, genuine chivalry of +a noble mind and generous heart. The Swiss mountaineer +was not the man to see a friend <em>bullied</em> without rushing to his +rescue.</p> + +<p>Wesley was not without sympathy. A few days later, his +faithful friend, Vincent Perronet, the vicar of Shoreham, who +was also of Swiss extraction, wrote to him as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Shoreham</span>, <i>July 9, 1771</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My very dear Brother</span>,—I am truly concerned, that so laborious +a servant of Christ should be attacked in so violent a manner. Insulted +by some, without the least decency, or regard to common decorum; and +threatened by others with a synodical sentence.</p> + +<p>“Had I been honoured with an invitation from a great personage, for +whom I have a very high esteem, I should have told her ladyship, that I +have no greater veneration for synods than the most excellent Bishop +Nazianzen had formerly, whose great learning and Christian virtues could +not screen him from the usual violence of those assemblies, and who +therefore desired to see no more of them.</p> + +<p>“However, with regard to the <em>merit</em> of good works, I should frankly +have declared my abhorrence of the very sound of the word; since I could +not conceive how an unprofitable servant could merit anything from a +holy God. But then, on the other hand, I should have added, that whoever +should speak contemptuously of the diligent exercise of good works, +as if they derogated from the honour of Christ, I should tell such a +divine, that, whether he found his divinity either in Luther, or Calvin, or +the Synod of Dort, it was no divinity of the gospel of Christ; since +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</span> +Christ came to purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good +works. And as the Holy Spirit has assured us, over and over, that ‘we +shall be judged according to our works,’ it is, therefore, no wonder that +<abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Paul should pray that his converts might be ‘established in every good +word and work.’ Besides, I might have observed that the zealot who +decries good works was acting a most ridiculous part with regard to faith; +for if his faith did not bring forth good works, his faith was good for +nothing.</p> + +<p>“However, though such good works were the fruits of faith, and consequently +the fruit of the Spirit of Christ, and, for that reason, must be +acceptable to God, yet, I must have added, so far as they were our works, +so far they wanted the blood of Christ to wash away their defilements, and +to atone for their deficiencies; and, therefore, even our best works can +have no merit in them.</p> + +<p>“I should, then, have remonstrated to that worthy lady to the following +purpose,—that if one, who had laboured in the vineyard, I believed, full +as much as any person since the days of the apostles, was not thought +worthy of the mantle of love, for any mistake he might have made, yet +surely he had a right to expect, that notice would have been given him to +explain his meaning, before his judge pronounced sentence. This is a +privilege granted to every supposed criminal in our courts of law, and +where this is denied that court is no better than a court of inquisition.</p> + +<p>“But now, my dear brother, what effect such a letter might have had, +I pretend not to say. It would, at the least, have testified to that friendship, +which I have constantly had for you these twenty-five years. May +God direct us both, and may our worst enemies be all brought to Him! +You have my leave to make what use you please of this long letter.</p> + +<p>“I am, my very dear brother, yours most affectionately,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Vincent Perronet</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_136_136" href="#Footnote_136_136" class="fnanchor">[136]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Just at this juncture, Wesley drew up and printed, at +Dublin, under date “July 10, 1771,” a clear and logical exposition +of the doctrines set forth in the minutes, which +he doubtless circulated among his preachers and friends. +At the top of the first page of one of the copies, he +requested Miss Bishop, of Bath, not to “show it before +conference,” adding, “if the Calvinists do not, or will not +understand me, I understand myself; and I do not contradict +anything I have written these thirty years. Poor Mr. Shirley’s +triumph will be short.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_137_137" href="#Footnote_137_137" class="fnanchor">[137]</a></p> + +<p>Wesley’s views were the same as Perronet’s. What were +Charles Wesley’s, and what part was taken by him in this +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</span> +momentous controversy? The biographer of the Countess of +Huntingdon would have his readers to believe, that Charles +disapproved of his brother’s letter to her ladyship; that he +would reprove him for it; and, that he preferred peace above +all things.⁠<a id="FNanchor_138_138" href="#Footnote_138_138" class="fnanchor">[138]</a> It might be so; we have no means of gainsaying +it. It is doubtful whether he attended the conference in +Bristol; in fact, almost certain that he did not. Hence the +following, addressed to him only three days before the commencement +of its sittings.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Kingswood</span>, <i>August 3, 1771</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Brother</span>,—I will not throw away Thomas Rankin on the +people of London. He shall go where they know the value of him.</p> + +<p>“We cannot put out what we never put in. I do not use the word +‘merit.’ I never did, neither do I now, contend for the use of it. But I +ask you, or any other, a plain question: and do not cry, Murder; but +give me an answer. What is the difference between ‘<i lang="la">mereri</i>,’ and ‘to +deserve’? or between ‘deserving,’ and ‘<i lang="la">meritum</i>’? I say still, I cannot +tell. Can you? Can Mr. Shirley, or any man living? In asking this +question, I neither plead for merit, nor against it. I have nothing to do +with it. I have declared a thousand times, there is no goodness in man +till he is justified; no merit, either before or after; that is, taking the +word in its proper sense: for in a loose sense ‘meritorious’ means no +more than ‘rewardable.’</p> + +<p>“As to reprobation, seeing they have drawn the sword, I throw away +the scabbard. I send you a specimen. Let fifteen hundred of them be +printed as soon as you please.⁠<a id="FNanchor_139_139" href="#Footnote_139_139" class="fnanchor">[139]</a></p> + +<p>“Nothing was ever yet expended out of the yearly collection, without +being immediately set down by the secretary. I never took a shilling from +that fund yet.</p> + +<p>“What you advise with regard to our behaviour toward our opposers +exactly agrees with my sentiments. I am full of business, as you may +suppose. So adieu!</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span>”<a id="FNanchor_140_140" href="#Footnote_140_140" class="fnanchor">[140]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>On the evening before Wesley’s conference assembled, two +letters were put into his hand, one written by Lady Huntingdon, +the other by the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Walter Shirley. The purport of +her ladyship’s letter was, that, having learned that the proposed +method of visiting his conference appeared to him and +to his friends “as an arbitrary way of proceeding, she and +her allies wished to inform him, that they intended no personal +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</span> +disrespect, but a degree of zeal against the principles +established in the minutes, which were repugnant to the +whole plan of man’s salvation under the new covenant of +grace, and also to the clear meaning of the Established +Church, as well as to all other protestant churches, to whose +foundations the highest honour and respect are due.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_141_141" href="#Footnote_141_141" class="fnanchor">[141]</a></p> + +<p>Shirley’s letter apologises for that part of his circular which +seemed to assume, that he and his friends had a “civil right +to go in a body to Wesley’s conference, and insist on a +formal recantation of the minutes.” All he meant was, to +send Wesley a “respectful message importing their design, and +requesting him to appoint a day and hour for the conference +to receive them.” The reason why he had inserted “the +offensive expression, ‘insist upon a formal recantation,’” +(for which he now apologised,) was, because “it was supposed +by some, that, instead of giving satisfaction on the points in +question, such a forced construction would be put on the +meaning of the minutes, as might elude the intended opposition, +and yet leave the doctrines therein contained entire and +unrepealed.” Shirley concludes by stating, that the doctrines +of the minutes appear to him “evidently subversive of the +<em>fundamentals</em> of Christianity.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_142_142" href="#Footnote_142_142" class="fnanchor">[142]</a></p> + +<p>Remembering that Wesley was not under the slightest obligation +to either the Countess of Huntingdon, Mr. Shirley, or +any of their Calvinistic friends, he might, without any want +of courtesy, have treated with contempt a letter casting upon +him the slur of trickishness, and have declined to see its +author; but, instead of that, he appointed Thursday, August +8, for the momentous interview. Accordingly, on that day, +Shirley, and two other ministers of the Countess of Huntingdon’s +chapels, together with Messrs. Lloyd, Ireland, and +Winter, and two students (!) from Trevecca college, went to +Wesley’s conference. Shirley’s circular, summoning a synod, +had been sent to all his sympathisers, clerical and laical, +throughout the three kingdoms; and the result was a grand +convocation of less than half a score, and even these included +two laics belonging to Bath and Bristol, and at least two +young men, still merely preparing for the ministry. The +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</span> +thing was a ridiculous failure; but not even on that account +did Wesley refuse to see the self elected deputies. First of all, +Wesley engaged in prayer. Then Shirley desired to know if +the letters of himself and Lady Huntingdon had been read to +the conference. Being answered in the negative, he asked +leave to read them, which was granted. A lengthened conversation +followed; and then Shirley produced a written declaration +which he wished the conference to sign. Wesley +read it, and made some alterations, which Shirley says were +“not very material,” and then he and fifty-three of his +preachers appended to it their signatures.⁠<a id="FNanchor_143_143" href="#Footnote_143_143" class="fnanchor">[143]</a> The declaration +thus signed was as follows:⁠—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Whereas the doctrinal points in the Minutes of a Conference, held in +London, August 7, 1770, have been understood to favour Justification by +Works: now the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> John Wesley, and others assembled in Conference, +do declare, that we had no such meaning; and that we abhor the doctrine +of Justification by Works as a most perilous and abominable +doctrine; and as the said Minutes are not sufficiently guarded in the +way they are expressed, we hereby solemnly declare, in the sight of God, +that we have no trust or confidence but in the alone merits of our +Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, for Justification or Salvation either in life, +death or the day of judgment; and though no one is a real Christian +believer, (and consequently cannot be saved) who doth not good works, +where there is time and opportunity, yet our works have no part in +meriting or purchasing our salvation⁠<a id="FNanchor_144_144" href="#Footnote_144_144" class="fnanchor">[144]</a> from first to last, either in whole +or in part.”</p> +</div> + +<p>After the declaration had been agreed to, Shirley was requested +“to make some public acknowledgment, that he had +mistaken the meaning of the minutes.” Shirley hesitated, +but at last consented, and wrote a certificate to that effect.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, Wesley had received from Fletcher the +manuscript copy of his “Vindication of the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Wesley’s +Last Minutes: occasioned by a circular, printed letter, inviting +principal persons, both clergy and laity, as well of the +Dissenters as of the Established Church, who disapprove of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</span> +those Minutes, to oppose them in a body, as a dreadful +heresy: in Five Letters to the <abbr title="Honorable"><abbr title="Honorable">Hon.</abbr></abbr> and <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Author of the +circular letter.”</p> + +<p>Wesley at once gave the manuscript to William Pine to +print and publish. Shirley, hearing of this, waited upon +Wesley the day after he and his friends had been to conference, +and requested that the manuscript should not be +printed, urging as their reason, that Fletcher himself wished +for this, “if matters should end peaceably.” Wesley, however, +persisted, and the work was published without delay, in a <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr> +pamphlet of 98 pages. Whilst the manuscript was being printed, +Wesley took the opportunity to reply to the letter of Lady +Huntingdon, which had been put into his hands the night before +his conference commenced. Nine days had elapsed since then, +and now Wesley, on August 14, addresses her ladyship in the +following unflinching terms, his letter also showing that the +publication of Fletcher’s “Vindication” was no after thought, +but was proceeding even while the conference was sitting.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Lady</span>,—The principles established in the minutes I apprehend +to be no way contrary to that great truth, justification by faith, or +that consistent plan of doctrine, which was once delivered to the saints. +I believe whoever calmly considers Mr. Fletcher’s Letters will be convinced +of this. I fear, therefore, that ‘zeal against those principles’ is no less +than zeal against the truth, and against the <em>honour</em> of our Lord. The +preservation of <em>His</em> honour appears so sacred to me, and has done for +above these forty years, that I have counted, and do count, all things loss +in comparison of it. But till Mr. Fletcher’s Letters are answered, I must +think everything spoken against these <em>minutes</em> is totally destructive of +<em>His honour</em>, and a palpable affront to Him; both as our Prophet and +Priest, but more especially as the King of His people. Those Letters, +therefore, which could not be suppressed without betraying the honour of +our Lord, largely prove that the <em>minutes</em> lay no other foundation than +that which is laid in Scripture, and which I have been laying, and teaching +others to lay, for between thirty and forty years. Indeed, it would be +amazing that God should at this day prosper my labours as much if not +more than ever, by convincing as well as converting sinners, if I was +establishing another foundation, repugnant to the whole plan of man’s +‘salvation under the covenant of grace, as well as the clear meaning of our +<em>Established</em> Church, and all other <em>protestant</em> churches.’ This is a charge +indeed! But I plead not guilty: and till it is proved upon me, I must +subscribe myself, my dear lady, your ladyship’s affectionate but much +injured servant,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_145_145" href="#Footnote_145_145" class="fnanchor">[145]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</span>Wesley had told his brother, that as “they had drawn the +sword,” he himself should “throw away the scabbard,” and +now this was done. Shirley found the tables turned, and, +instead of attacking others, had to defend himself; and +hence, in September, he issued his “Narrative of the Principal +Circumstances relative to the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Wesley’s late Conference, +held in Bristol, August 6, 1771.” <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, 24 pages.</p> + +<p>Space prohibits any lengthened outline of Fletcher’s “Vindication.” +He gives (1) a general view of Wesley’s doctrine; +(2) an account of the commendable design of his minutes; +(3) a vindication of their propositions. It is in this production, +that he furnishes his fearful description of the antinomianism +which was then so prevalent, and which really rendered some +utterance on the subject of good works a solemn necessity. +He also makes extracts from Shirley’s published sermons, +teaching the very doctrines which Wesley’s minutes teach; to +which quotations Shirley’s reply was, that “they were wrote +many years ago when he had more zeal than light,” and +that he had “frequently wished that they were burnt.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_146_146" href="#Footnote_146_146" class="fnanchor">[146]</a></p> + +<p>Fletcher concludes thus:⁠—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“O sir, have we not fightings enough without, to employ all our time +and strength? Must we also declare war and promote fightings within? +Must we catch at every opportunity to stab one another? What can be +more cutting to an old minister of Christ than to be traduced as a dreadful +heretic, in printed letters sent to the best men of the land, through all +England and Scotland, and signed by a person of your rank and piety? +While he is gone to a neighbouring kingdom, to preach Jesus Christ, +to have his friends prejudiced, his foes elevated, and the fruit of his +extensive ministry at the point of being blasted? Of the two greatest +and most useful ministers I ever knew, one is no more. The other, +after amazing labours, flies still, with unwearied diligence, through the +three kingdoms, calling sinners to repentance. Though oppressed with +the weight of near seventy years, and the cares of near thirty thousand +souls, he shames still, by his unabated zeal and immense labours, all the +young ministers in England, perhaps in Christendom. He has generally +blown the gospel trumpet, and rode twenty miles, before most of the +professors, who despise his labours, have left their downy pillows. As +he begins the day, the week, the year, so he concludes them, still intent +upon extensive services for the glory of the Redeemer, and the good of +souls. And shall we lightly lift up our pens, our tongues, our hands +against him? No; let them rather forget their cunning. If we <em>will</em> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</span> +quarrel, can we find nobody to fall out with, but the minister upon whom +God puts the greatest honour?”</p> +</div> + +<p>Shirley’s “Narrative” was published in September, in which +he gives great prominence to one of Fletcher’s letters requesting +his “Vindication” to be suppressed. He furnishes an extract +from one addressed to Mr. Ireland, dated August 15, to the +following effect: “I feel for poor dear Mr. Shirley, whom I +have, (considering the present circumstances,) treated too +severely in my vindication of the minutes. My dear sir, +what must be done? I am ready to defray, by selling to my +last shirt, the expense of the printing of my Vindication, and +suppress it.”</p> + +<p>This was characteristic of Fletcher’s large heartedness; but +the extract from his letter was a garbled one, and rendered +it necessary that he should again enter the field of battle, +and defend himself as well as others. This was done at +once, and, before the year was ended, another production +of his facile pen was published, namely, “A Second Check +to Antinomianism: occasioned by a late narrative, in three +letters, to the <abbr title="Honorable">Hon.</abbr> and <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Author. By the Vindicator +of the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Wesley’s Minutes.” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 109 pages.</p> + +<p>He tells Shirley, that, though it was perfectly true that he +had written to Mr. Ireland, requesting his letters to be suppressed, +he had also stated to the same gentleman, that “the +minutes <em>must</em> be vindicated,—that Mr. Wesley owed this to the +Church, to the ‘real protestants,’ to all his societies, and to his +own aspersed character.” He states: “I was going to preach +when I had the news of your happy accommodation, and was +no sooner out of church, than I wrote to beg my Vindication +might not appear in the dress in which I had put it. I did +not then, nor do I yet, repent having written upon the minutes; +but, as matters are now, I am very sorry I did not write +in a general manner, without taking notice of the circular +letter, and mentioning your dear name.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_147_147" href="#Footnote_147_147" class="fnanchor">[147]</a> He adds, that when +he gave the manuscript to Wesley, he begged him to correct +it, and to expunge whatever might be “unkind or too sharp.” +Wesley had assured him, that “he <em>had</em> expunged every tart +expression”; and, if so, (for Fletcher had not yet seen it in a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</span> +printed form,) he was “<em>reconciled</em> to its publication.” Fletcher +further adds, that he had just received a letter (September 11, +1771) from Bristol, stating that when Thomas Olivers, who was +now acting as Wesley’s editor, heard of Fletcher’s wish to suppress +his “Vindication,” he had already announced to the Bristol +congregation, that the work was in the press, and would soon be +ready. “Besides,” continues Fletcher, in reference to Thomas +Olivers being the only preacher who refused to sign the declaration +at the conference,—“Besides, Mr. Olivers would have +pleaded, with smartness, that he never approved of a patched +up peace,—that he bore his testimony against it at the time +it was made,—had a personal right to produce <em>my</em> arguments, +since both parties refused to hear <em>his</em> at the conference.”</p> + +<p>These facts are of great consequence, inasmuch as Shirley +magnifies Wesley’s publication of Fletcher’s Vindication into a +heinous fault; and others after him have endeavoured to brand +Wesley’s character, not only for perpetuating the war, but +for publishing Fletcher’s manuscript contrary to Fletcher’s +wish. This is utterly unjust. The war was begun, not by +Wesley, but by the Calvinists; and surely the attacked was +not presumptuous, or wanton, in endeavouring to defend himself. +It is true, that, in doing that, he uses the sword of his +friend Fletcher; but what of that? The sword was given +him to use, on July 27, when on his return from Ireland; +and, though Fletcher subsequently hesitated as to the propriety +of the step he had taken, it was not until the sword +was brandished, by Fletcher’s manuscript being committed to +the press and actually announced for sale. Besides, Fletcher’s +hesitancy had reference, not to the thing done, but to the +manner of its being done. A vindication he considered to be +imperatively required: but he was afraid that his own was too +personal. Shirley was aggrieved, because he pretends to have +thought that the signing of the declaration would have ended +the matter; but Shirley conveniently forgets: (1) that he himself +had blackened Wesley’s character throughout the three +kingdoms; (2) that Wesley and his preachers had conceded +nothing to their adversaries, except that the minutes of 1770 +were “not sufficiently guarded in the way in which they are +expressed”; (3) that, as Fletcher abundantly demonstrates, +there was a terrible necessity for an enforcement of the doctrine +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</span> +of the minutes at this momentous period, both the +pulpits and pews of churches being infected with the deadly +antinomianism of the late Dr. Crisp; and (4) that, after all, +the doctrine of the minutes was only one part of the controversy +which the Calvinists had raised, and that there were +other attacks on Wesley, made by men like Augustus Toplady, +and the editor of the <cite>Gospel Magazine</cite>, which it was +impossible, and, in fact, would have been criminally disastrous, +to have passed without rebuke.</p> + +<p>That Fletcher did not regret the publishing of his Vindication +is evident from the alacrity he showed in the preparation +and publishing of his “Second Check;” the chief object +of which was to establish “the doctrine of justification by +works in the day of judgment”; and to reprove Walter +Shirley for insinuating, in his “Narrative,” that this was a +doctrine which Wesley and his fifty-three itinerant preachers +had given up.</p> + +<p>Shirley retired from the field of battle; but others took up +the gauntlet. The <cite>Gospel Magazine</cite>, faithful to its character, +was as furious as ever. In its August number, it published a +review of the “Church of England vindicated from the Charge +of Absolute Predestination,” declaring that Wesley was its +author’s “dictator and employer.” The work is pronounced +“a composition of low scurrility and illiberal abuse.” The +writer is charged with having “horribly blasphemed, and +daringly given the lie to the God of truth, by asserting that +any justified soul may at last perish in hell.” “Arminianism +is a hodgepodge of human systems, made up of grace and +works, so blended together as to destroy the true meaning of +both.”</p> + +<p>In the same number was published Cleon’s poem on +“Wesley’s apostasy from the genuine faith of the gospel, an +awful proof that evil men and seducers wax worse and worse.” +One verse must serve as a specimen. After describing the +doctrine of Wesley’s minutes, Cleon writes:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0b">“In vain for worse may Wesley search the globe,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">A viper hatched beneath the harlot’s robe;</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Rome, in her glory, has no greater boast,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Than Wesley aims—​to all conviction lost.”</div> +</div></div> + +<p>In the September number, “Simplex, from the neighbourhood +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</span> +of the Foundery,” expresses his astonishment, that +Shirley and his friends should have been satisfied with the +declaration, signed at conference, inasmuch as “it denies not +one tittle clearly asserted in the minutes.” Wesley is credited +with possessing “the unfathomable policy of a dubious divine.” +He is a “fox,” who “has had sagacity enough to elude his +hunters;” and “evidently shows that he never meant to +recant what he had declared in the minutes, when he signed +the declaration.”</p> + +<p>In a subsequent number, “Simplex” reappears, and tells +his readers that he is “sorry to see the name of a Christian +minister prefixed to such foul and futile productions as those +of Mr. Sellon. Mr. Fletcher’s pen is more cleanly, but every +whit as unfair. He is like a madman flinging abroad firebrands, +arrows, and death, amongst those who differ from him. +Master Thomas Olivers has shocked common decency in his +letter to Mr. Toplady. And Mr. Wesley must be more explicit +than he has been accustomed to be, before he can give a +satisfactory answer to Simplex’s querulous epistle.” These +are moderate specimens of the tone and language of the +<cite>Gospel Magazine</cite>.</p> + +<p>Another brace of antagonists must be mentioned, Richard +and Rowland Hill, the sons of Sir Rowland Hill, the former +born in 1732, and the latter in 1745. Richard had been +educated at Westminster, and had spent four or five years at +Magdalen college, Oxford. Rowland had been sent to Eton, +and then to Cambridge university. Both the brothers had +turned preachers, though, as yet, neither of them had been +ordained. They were young, proud, and irascible; and, with +greater zeal than prudence, entered into the Calvinian conflict.</p> + +<p>Richard Hill published⁠<a id="FNanchor_148_148" href="#Footnote_148_148" class="fnanchor">[148]</a> a sixpenny pamphlet, <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, of 31 +pages, entitled “A Conversation between Richard Hill, <abbr title="Esquire">Esq.</abbr>, +the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Madan, and Father Walsh, superior of a convent +of English Benedictine monks at Paris, held at the said +convent, July 13, 1771, relative to some doctrinal Minutes, +advanced by the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. John Wesley and others, at a conference +in London, August 7, 1770. To which are added some +Remarks by the Editor; as also Mr. Wesley’s own Declaration +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</span> +concerning his Minutes, versified by another Hand.” A +prodigiously long title of a supremely silly tract, whose object +is to show that Wesley’s doctrine was a great deal worse than +popery; in fact, that “popery is about midway between protestantism +and Mr. J. Wesley.” We content ourselves with +Sir Richard’s poetical version of Wesley’s declaration:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0b">“Whereas, the religion and fate of three nations</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Depend on the importance of our conversations;</div> +<div class="verse indent0">And as some objections are thrown in our way,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Our words have been construed to mean what they say;</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Be’t known from henceforth, to each friend and each brother,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Whene’er we <em>say</em> one thing, we <em>mean</em> quite <em>another</em>.”</div> +</div></div> + +<p>Sir Richard was not content with this. He issued a penny +<abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr> tract of 12 pages, with the title, “An Answer to some +capital Errors contained in the Minutes,” etc., which finishes +by reproducing the doggerel calumny just given, as though +it were far too precious to be entombed in the more costly +pamphlet with which he had enriched the Christian church.</p> + +<p>His third publication,—by far the best,—was an octavo +pamphlet of 40 pages, entitled, “Five Letters to the Reverend +Mr. Fletcher, relative to his Vindication of the Minutes of the +Reverend Mr. John Wesley.” Apart from its theology, of +which we say nothing, this was worthy of a scholar, a Christian, +and a gentleman. The spirit of the piece is most loving, and +the style unexceptionable.</p> + +<p>The publications, on the other side, in addition to those of +Fletcher, were three in number.</p> + +<p>First, Wesley’s tract of 12 pages, entitled, “The Consequence +Proved”; without either the author’s or the printer’s +name. Its object is to substantiate his former assertion, that +the gist of Toplady’s Zanchius is to teach that “one in twenty +(suppose) of mankind are elected, and nineteen in twenty are +reprobate: that the elect shall be saved, do what they will; +and the reprobate shall be damned, do what they can.” +Wesley says: “I have not leisure to consider the matter at +large. I can only make a few strictures, and leave the young +man (Toplady) to be farther corrected by one that is full his +match, Mr. Thomas Olivers.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_149_149" href="#Footnote_149_149" class="fnanchor">[149]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</span> +To be handed over to Thomas Olivers was one of the +bitterest pills that Toplady had to swallow. Olivers was a man +of great intellectual power; but he had the misfortune to commence +life as a Welsh mechanic of not the highest order. He +was left an orphan when only four years old, and had now +attained the age of forty-six. His publication, <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 60 pages, +was entitled, “A Letter to the Reverend Mr. Toplady, occasioned +by his late Letter to the Reverend Mr. Wesley.” In +invective and tart rebuke, Toplady met a match in the intrepid +and fiery Welshman who, on behalf of Wesley, undertook to +fight the furious predestinarian with the not too respectable +weapons of his own choosing. It certainly is difficult to decide +which is the more proficient in the use of strong language. +It was a fisticuff encounter between a pugilistic pair, whose +thumping blows may be considered of equal force.</p> + +<p>The third publication, alluded to above, was “The Church +of England Vindicated from the Charge of Predestination, as +it is stated and asserted by the Translator of Jerome Zanchius, +in his Letter to the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Dr. Nowell; together with some +Animadversions on his Translation of Zanchius, his Letter to +the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. John Wesley, and his Sermon on 1 Timothy <abbr title="one">i.</abbr> 10.” +<abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 129 pages. The author was the redoubtable Walter +Sellon, who, for outspokenness, was only second to Toplady +and Olivers themselves. At the same time, however, Sellon’s +book evinces great ability and research, and thoroughly demolishes +the unfounded theories of an opponent, whose pen was +guided by bigotry rather than by Christian discretion. The +castigation was severe, but it was merited. The lash of a +scorpion whip is far from pleasant; but the man who uses it +has no reason to complain of another using it in self defence. +Toplady had a right to wince and writhe; but, under the circumstances, +he had no right to foam, as, in succeeding +chapters, we shall find he did.</p> + +<p>Here, for the present, we shall leave this embittered conflict, +and trace the steps of the illustrious man whose high +position seemed to engender the envy which led to the attack +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</span> +upon him; but who, excepting a short skirmish now and then, +pursued his high and holy mission with as much serenity as if +the conflict had not existed.</p> + +<p>He landed in Ireland on March 24, and re-embarked for +England on July <abbr title="twenty-second">22nd</abbr> following.</p> + +<p>At Dublin, the society had been jangling for years, and, as a +consequence, had suffered loss. Though not expressly stated, +it is clear that the cause of their quarreling was a dispute +respecting the authority of the preachers and of the leaders +respectively. Wesley, as the fountain of Methodistic law, +now laid it down that classleaders had no authority to restrain +the assistant, if they thought he acted improperly; but +might mildly speak to him, and then refer the matter to Wesley +to be decided. They had no “authority to hinder a person +from preaching, or to displace a particular leader, or to expel +a particular member, or to regulate the temporal and spiritual +affairs of the society, or to make any public collection, or to +receive the yearly subscription.” All this was the work of the +assistant, with one exception, namely, that the temporal +affairs of the society were regulated by the society steward. +The power of a classleader simply consisted in authority to +meet his class, to receive their contributions, and to visit his +sick members; and the power of all classleaders united was +“authority to show their classpapers to the assistant, and to +deliver the money they had received to the stewards, and to +bring in the names of the sick.”</p> + +<p>Rightly or wrongly, such was Methodist discipline in 1771. +“In the Methodist discipline,” writes Wesley, “the wheels +regularly stand thus: the assistant, the preachers, the stewards, +the leaders, the people. But here the leaders, who are the +lowest wheel but one, were quite got out of their place. They +were got at the top of all, above the stewards, the preachers, +yea, and above the assistant himself. To this chiefly, I impute +the gradual decay of the work of God in Dublin.” “Nothing,” +says he, at Londonderry, where two years before he had +organised a band of singers, which through the preacher’s +neglect was now dispersed, “Nothing will stand in the Methodist +plan unless the preacher has his heart and his hand in it. +Every preacher, therefore, should consider it is not his business +to mind this or that thing only, but everything.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</span> +More than three months of Wesley’s time were spent, not +in Dublin, but in itinerating the Irish provinces. In many instances, +he was gladdened with the prosperity of the work of +God; in others, as Dublin, Athlone, Tullamore, Waterford, +Cork, and Augher, the aspect of things was far from promising.</p> + +<p>While on this lengthened journey, Wesley made the following +entry in his journal: “1771. June 28—This day I +entered the sixty-ninth year of my age. I am still a wonder +to myself. My voice and strength are the same as at nine-and-twenty. +This also hath God wrought.”</p> + +<p>Wesley remained in Ireland until he was obliged to leave in +order to meet his conference at Bristol. Much space has +been already occupied with an account of its important proceedings; +but it may be added that, notwithstanding the +Calvinian disturbances, there was reported an increase of +1934 members. Among others, Joseph Benson was received +on trial as an itinerant preacher; and Francis Asbury and +Richard Wright were sent as a reinforcement to America. +Nearly <abbr title="1700 pounds">£1700</abbr> were contributed to extinguish the chapel +debts; and, to accomplish the thing at once, it was recommended +that, upon an average, every Methodist, in the three +kingdoms, should give, for one year, a penny a week. “If +this is done,” says Wesley, “it will both pay our whole debt, +and supply all contingencies.”</p> + +<p>No sooner was the conference over than Wesley set out for +Wales, where he laboured nearly the next three weeks. One +of the Sundays was spent in Pembroke, where he preached in +two of the churches. He writes: “Many of the congregation +were gay, genteel people; so I spake on the first elements of +the gospel. But I was still out of their depth. Oh how +hard it is to be shallow enough for a polite audience!”</p> + +<p>Returning to Bristol on August 31, he employed the next +month in visiting the societies surrounding that city. Twelve +months before, he had rejoiced over an apparently great +religious revival in Kingswood school; but now, says he, “it +is gone! It is lost! It is vanished away! There is scarce +any trace of it remaining! Then we must begin again; and, +in due time, we shall reap if we faint not.”</p> + +<p>Just at this period, Dr. William Cadogan’s book on the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</span> +gout and all chronic diseases was attracting great attention. +Dr. Johnson called it “a good book in general, but a +foolish one in particulars.” Wesley read the book, and agrees +with Cadogan, that “very few of the chronic distempers are +properly hereditary; and that most of them spring either +from indolence, or intemperance, or irregular passions. But,” +he adds, and here he comes in conflict with modern teetotallers, +“but why should Dr. Cadogan condemn wine <i lang="la">toto genere</i>, +which is one of the noblest cordials in nature? Yet stranger, +why should he condemn bread? Great whims belong to +great men!”</p> + +<p>After an absence of seven months, Wesley got back to +London on Saturday, October 5; and, on the Monday following, +set out on his usual tour through the counties of Bedford +and Northampton. This occupied a week, as did a similar +visit to the societies in Oxfordshire. For many years, Wesley +was accustomed to spend the last two or three months in each +year in weekly journeys from London as a pastoral centre. +The Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire journey was one; +the Oxfordshire another; Chatham and Sheerness a third; +Staplehurst, Rye, Winchelsea, and other places a fourth; and +Norfolk a fifth, which generally occupied a longer time.</p> + +<p>Wesley concludes the year with this entry: “December 30—At +my brother’s request, I sat again for my picture. This +melancholy employment always reminds me of that natural +reflection,⁠—</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0a">‘Behold, what frailty we in man may see!</div> +<div class="verse indent0">His shadow is less given to change than he.’”</div> +</div></div> + +<p>Little more remains to be related respecting the year 1771, +except the points following.</p> + +<p>It is a curious fact, that, in the year when Fletcher began +to render Wesley important service by the publication of his +“Checks,” Fletcher’s future wife, Miss Bosanquet, applied to +Wesley for advice on the subject of female preaching. Our +space prevents the possibility of discussing such a topic at +the length which it deserves; but Wesley’s letter, hitherto +unpublished, will be acceptable, as showing that, however +much importance he was disposed to attach to church order, +he was not the man to make all things bend to it.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</span><p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Londonderry</span>, <i>June 13, 1771</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Sister</span>,—I think the strength of the cause rests there,—on +your having an <em>extraordinary</em> call. So, I am persuaded, has every one of +our lay preachers; otherwise, I could not countenance his preaching at +all. It is plain to me, that the whole work of God termed Methodism is +an extraordinary dispensation of His providence. Therefore, I do not +wonder if several things occur therein, which do not fall under the +ordinary rules of discipline. <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Paul’s ordinary rule was, ‘I permit not +a woman to speak in the congregation.’ Yet, in extraordinary cases, +he made a few exceptions; at Corinth in particular.</p> + +<p>“I am, my dear sister, your affectionate brother,</p> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_150_150" href="#Footnote_150_150" class="fnanchor">[150]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>In 1771, Wesley began a revision and republication of all +the works which he had published during the last five-and-thirty +years, with the exception of his Notes on the Old and +New Testament, his “Christian Library,” his “Natural Philosophy,” +and his books for Kingswood school. It was during +this year that he issued a careful reprint of the four volumes +of sermons published in 1746, 48, 50, and 60, with the addition +of ten sermons, most of which had been published separately.</p> + +<p>Besides these, he published five <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr> volumes of his +collected works, embracing the sermons just mentioned; and +making together about 1800 printed pages, in which he not +only corrected the errors of the press, but his own mistakes, +and did, what has not been done in any subsequent edition of +his works,—placed an asterisk before the passages and paragraphs +which he judged were most worthy of the reader’s +notice.</p> + +<p>He likewise published the fourteenth “Extract” from his +journal, extending from May 27, 1765, to May 5, 1768. +<abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 128 pages.⁠<a id="FNanchor_151_151" href="#Footnote_151_151" class="fnanchor">[151]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</span> +His only other publications were his “Consequence Proved,” +and his “Defence” of his minutes, already mentioned; and +finally, “A Letter to the Reverend Mr. Fleury,” of Waterford, +in Ireland. Mr. Fleury was a young parson, who, both +in 1769, and now again in 1771, had taken the opportunity of +Wesley’s visits to Waterford to preach against him. Wesley +writes: “1771, May 28—At eleven, and again in the afternoon, +I went to the cathedral, where a young gentleman most +valiantly encountered the ‘grievous wolves,’ as he termed +the Methodists. I never heard a man strike more wide of +the mark. However, the shallow discourse did good; for it +sent abundance of people, rich and poor, to hear and judge +for themselves.” The “young gentleman’s” two sermons, +which were published, were made up of the stale objections +and invectives that had been used, by his superiors and +seniors, times without number. Wesley’s letter is a characteristic +reply to them.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_118_118" href="#FNanchor_118_118" class="label">[118]</a> Lady Maxwell’s Life, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 72.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_119_119" href="#FNanchor_119_119" class="label">[119]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1784, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 388.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_120_120" href="#FNanchor_120_120" class="label">[120]</a> Lady Maxwell’s Life, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 22.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_121_121" href="#FNanchor_121_121" class="label">[121]</a> Ibid.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_122_122" href="#FNanchor_122_122" class="label">[122]</a> Doubtless his letter to Lady Huntingdon.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_123_123" href="#FNanchor_123_123" class="label">[123]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1805, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 279.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_124_124" href="#FNanchor_124_124" class="label">[124]</a> Wesley’s Life of Fletcher.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_125_125" href="#FNanchor_125_125" class="label">[125]</a> Manuscript letter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_126_126" href="#FNanchor_126_126" class="label">[126]</a> Benson’s Life, by Treffry.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_127_127" href="#FNanchor_127_127" class="label">[127]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume eleven">vol. xi.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 285.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_128_128" href="#FNanchor_128_128" class="label">[128]</a> Probably Mr. Romaine.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_129_129" href="#FNanchor_129_129" class="label">[129]</a> Fletcher’s Vindication, 1st <abbr title="Edition">Edit.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 21.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_130_130" href="#FNanchor_130_130" class="label">[130]</a> “Life and Times of Countess of Huntingdon,” <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 240.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_131_131" href="#FNanchor_131_131" class="label">[131]</a> Jackson’s Life of C. Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 256.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_132_132" href="#FNanchor_132_132" class="label">[132]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1797, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 563.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_133_133" href="#FNanchor_133_133" class="label">[133]</a> The minutes of the conference of 1770.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_134_134" href="#FNanchor_134_134" class="label">[134]</a> The <i>italic</i> words are emphasized in the original.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_135_135" href="#FNanchor_135_135" class="label">[135]</a> Shirley’s “Narrative,” <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 5.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_136_136" href="#FNanchor_136_136" class="label">[136]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1797, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 253.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_137_137" href="#FNanchor_137_137" class="label">[137]</a> Smith’s History of Methodism, <abbr title="volume one">vol. i.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 394.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_138_138" href="#FNanchor_138_138" class="label">[138]</a> “Life and Times of Countess of Huntingdon,” <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 237.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_139_139" href="#FNanchor_139_139" class="label">[139]</a> This was probably “The Consequence Proved,” to be noticed shortly.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_140_140" href="#FNanchor_140_140" class="label">[140]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 127.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_141_141" href="#FNanchor_141_141" class="label">[141]</a> Shirley’s “Narrative,” <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 8.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_142_142" href="#FNanchor_142_142" class="label">[142]</a> Ibid. <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 10.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_143_143" href="#FNanchor_143_143" class="label">[143]</a> Charles Wesley’s name is not in the list: a further proof that, +strangely enough, he was not at this most important conference.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_144_144" href="#FNanchor_144_144" class="label">[144]</a> This is the word in Shirley’s “Narrative”; but in the <cite>Gospel Magazine</cite> +for August, 1771, the word “justification” is used instead; and there +can be little doubt, that this was the reading of the original declaration. +The difference at first seems slight, but, in reality, it is of great +importance, as the readers of Fletcher’s “Checks” will easily perceive.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_145_145" href="#FNanchor_145_145" class="label">[145]</a> Whitehead’s Life of Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 349.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_146_146" href="#FNanchor_146_146" class="label">[146]</a> Shirley’s “Narrative.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_147_147" href="#FNanchor_147_147" class="label">[147]</a> “Second Check,” 1st <abbr title="Edition">Edit.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 40.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_148_148" href="#FNanchor_148_148" class="label">[148]</a> See Sir Richard Hill’s Life, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 191.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_149_149" href="#FNanchor_149_149" class="label">[149]</a> There was also published, at this period, a smartly written rebuke of +Toplady, and a defence of Wesley, entitled, “A Letter to the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. +Augustus Toplady, written in great part by himself, relative to part of +his printed Letter to the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. John Wesley.” <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, 21 pages.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_150_150" href="#FNanchor_150_150" class="label">[150]</a> Manuscript letter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_151_151" href="#FNanchor_151_151" class="label">[151]</a> As a curiosity, and as tending to show that, in this season of excitement, +all men were not Wesley’s enemies, we give an extract from a review of this +section of Wesley’s Journal, published in <cite>Lloyd’s Evening Post</cite>, for January +20, 1772:—“In this interval, between May 27, 1765, and May 5, 1768, this +zealous and truly laborious missionary of the Methodists, who seems to consider +the three kingdoms as his parochial cure, twice traverses the greater +part of Ireland and Scotland, from Londonderry to Cork, from Aberdeen to +Dumfries, visiting and confirming the churches, besides making a progress, +chiefly on horseback (in many places more than once), through great +part of Wales, and almost all the counties in England, from Newcastle to +Southampton, from Dover to Penzance. Those who expect to find in +this Journal only the peculiar tenets of Methodism will be agreeably disappointed, +as they are intermixed with such occasional reflections on men +and manners, on polite literature, and even on polite places, as prove +that the writer is endued with a taste well cultivated both by reading +and observation; and above all with such a benevolence and sweetness +of temper, such an enlarged, liberal, and truly protestant way of +thinking towards those who differ from him, as clearly show that <em>his heart</em>, +at least, is right, and justly entitle him to that candour and forbearance, +which, for the honour of our common religion, we are glad to find he now +generally receives.”</p></div></div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="1772">1772.</h2> +<hr class="short"> +<p class="center"> +Age 69</p></div> + +<p class="p2 drop-cap"><span class="smcap">Wesley’s</span> first journey from London, in 1772, was on +the 16th of January, when he came to Luton, and +preached in the parish church. The friendly clergyman, who +gave him this permission, was the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Copleston, whose +son afterwards became a Methodist local preacher, and was +driven from Luton by the iron hand of persecution, and then, +after preaching for a while at <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Albans, introduced Methodism +into Leighton Buzzard, where he died, in 1835, at the age +of seventy, having been an earnest Methodist more than fifty +years.⁠<a id="FNanchor_152_152" href="#Footnote_152_152" class="fnanchor">[152]</a></p> + +<p>In a visit to Dorking, Wesley read Sterne’s “Sentimental +Journey,” and writes, “<em>Sentimental!</em> What is that? It is not +English; he might as well say <em>continental</em>. It is not sense. +It conveys no determinate idea; yet one fool makes many, +and this nonsensical word (who would believe it?) is become +a fashionable one! However, the book agrees full well with +the title; for one is as queer as the other. For oddity, +uncouthness, and unlikeness to all the world beside, I suppose +the writer is without a rival.” This was a bold criticism on +Laurence Sterne, and his recently published book, which was +now immensely popular. On his return from Dorking, on +February 12, Wesley writes: “I read a very different book, +published by an honest quaker, on that execrable sum of all +villanies, commonly called the slave trade. I read of nothing +like it in the heathen world, whether ancient or modern; +and it infinitely exceeds, in every instance of barbarity, whatever +Christian slaves suffer in Mahommedan countries.”</p> + +<p>This is a remarkable utterance. It was in this very year +that Granville Sharpe, the first of the English antislavery +advocates, began to take up the subject; and it was not until +fifteen years after this, that the “Society for the Suppression +of the Slave Trade” was founded, of which, besides Sharpe, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</span> +two of the chief members were Thomas Clarkson, a young +graduate of Cambridge, and William Wilberforce, who was +then <abbr title="Member of Parliament">M.P.</abbr> for the county of York. The book which Wesley +read was probably written by Anthony Benezet, a French +protestant, who, after being educated in England, became a +quaker in Philadelphia; and, in 1762, published the work +which first attracted the attention of this country⁠<a id="FNanchor_153_153" href="#Footnote_153_153" class="fnanchor">[153]</a> to the inhuman +traffic, which Wesley so justly designates “that execrable +sum of all villanies.” Let it be noted that, besides all +his other honours, John Wesley, the poor, persecuted Methodist, +was one of the first advocates on behalf of the enthralled +African that England had, and that, sixty years before slavery +was abolished in the dominions of Great Britain, he denounced +the thing in the strongest terms it was possible to employ.</p> + +<p>Before we accompany Wesley on his long northern tour, +three other facts, belonging to this period, may be briefly +mentioned.</p> + +<p>Ten years ago, Thomas Maxfield had dishonourably forsaken +his old friend, and had set up a rival church in the +neighbourhood of Moorfields. For some reason, he now seemed +to desire a reunion. Wesley was not the man to repel an +overture even from one whose behaviour had been ungrateful +and treacherous. He met Maxfield; but writes: “He only +<em>seemed</em> to desire a reunion; for when we explained upon the +head, I found he meant just nothing.”</p> + +<p>Wesley was now close upon the age of threescore years and +ten. His life had been a scene of unparalleled activity; and, +though still possessed of amazing vigour, he had not the energy +he had been wont to have. His friends in London saw this; +and hence the following entry in his journal. “1772. <abbr title="February">Feb.</abbr> +21.—I met several of my friends, who had begun a subscription +to prevent my riding on horseback, which I cannot do quite +so well, since a hurt which I got some months ago. If they +continue it, well; if not, I shall have strength according to my +need.”</p> + +<p>Wesley’s last act before leaving London was to open a new +chapel at Poplar. He writes: “1772. <abbr title="February">Feb.</abbr> 28—I opened +the new preaching house in Poplar: one might say, consecrated +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</span> +it; for the English law (notwithstanding the vulgar +error) does not require, nay, does not allow, any other consecration +of churches than by performing public service therein.”</p> + +<p>Up to this period, the preaching at Poplar had been in +private dwellings, and in the workhouse, the mistress of which +was a Methodist. Now a wooden building was erected in +High Street, which was long called, out of derision, “the pantile +shop.” One of the first members was Benjamin King, who +previous to this attended Gravel Lane chapel, Wapping, one of +the oldest Methodist meeting-houses in London, but which was +long since demolished for the making of the London Docks. +For many a year, Methodism at Poplar had a struggle for +existence, and often was Wesley importuned to give up the +preaching there; but his constant answer was, “Does the old +woman” (Mrs. Clippendale) “who sits in the corner of the long +pew, still attend?” “O yes,” was the reply; “she never +misses.” “Then for her sake keep going,” was Wesley’s +rejoinder. The venerable woman, who was thus the means of +perpetuating Methodist preaching at Poplar, was a native of +Swalwell, near Newcastle, and, at twelve years of age, received +her first society ticket, in 1745, from the hands of +Wesley. Four years later, she came to London, and continued +a faithful Methodist for above seventy years.⁠<a id="FNanchor_154_154" href="#Footnote_154_154" class="fnanchor">[154]</a></p> + +<p>Strangely enough, it was now currently reported that +Wesley was about to leave England for America. The following +refers to this.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">New York</span>, <i>April 1, 1772</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Reverend Sir</span>,—By a letter from Mr. Lloyd, of London, we are +informed that you incline to visit America. Mr. Whitefield’s preaching +was of unspeakable use to many; but he preached mostly in the seaport +towns, and the most populous parts of the provinces, where the gospel +was known, though not preached in power. In the back parts, which are +now grown populous, the inhabitants are still in a state of deplorable +ignorance. If some zealous and able teachers would engage heartily in +the work of their conversion, how soon might rivers spring forth in the +desert, and these owls and dragons of the wilderness give honour to God. +No doubt, many in England and elsewhere, who abound in wealth, would +contribute towards erecting schools to teach the children, and also towards +the support of preachers, if such an undertaking was properly set on foot. +But who is qualified for this work? I know none except yourself.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</span> +“But, dear sir, what concerns me more than all is the unhappy condition +of our negroes, who are kept in worse than Egyptian bondage. The food +we eat, the clothes we wear, and all the superfluities we possess, are the +produce of their labours; and what do they receive in return? Nothing +equivalent; on the contrary, we keep from them the key of knowledge; +so that their bodies and souls perish together in our service! If, therefore, +you are not too advanced in years, I say to you, in the name of God, +come over and help us; in doing which you will greatly oblige many +thousands, and, among the rest, your friend and brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Jonathan Bryan</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_155_155" href="#Footnote_155_155" class="fnanchor">[155]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Did Wesley seriously think of this? We are not sure; but +the following characteristic letter to Walter Sellon will be +read with interest.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>February 1, 1772.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Walter</span>,—You do not understand your information right. +Observe, ‘I am going to America to turn bishop.’ You are to understand +it <i>in sensu composito</i>. I am not to be a bishop till I am in America. +While I am in Europe, therefore, you have nothing to fear. But as soon +as ever you hear of my being landed in Philadelphia, it will be time for +your apprehensions to revive. It is true, some of our preachers would +not have me stay, so long; but I keep my old rule, <i>Festina lente</i>.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Walter, your affectionate brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_156_156" href="#Footnote_156_156" class="fnanchor">[156]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Previous to his leaving London, Wesley commenced a long +correspondence, which extended over the next two years, with +Samuel Sparrow, <abbr title="Esquire">Esq.</abbr>, a gentleman in the neighbourhood of +Sheffield, who had published a volume, entitled “Family +Prayers and Moral Essays,” a copy of which was presented +to Wesley by the author. The writer has before him the +correspondence that ensued; and perhaps the following extracts, +from some of Wesley’s letters, will be acceptable.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“To the questions which you propose I answer: (1) I think that if a +hundred, or a hundred thousand, sincere, honest, humble, modest, self +diffident men were, with attention and care, to read the New Testament, +uninfluenced by any but the Holy Spirit, nine in ten of them, at +least, if not every one, would discover that the Son of God was ‘adorable,’ +and one God with the Father; and would be immediately led to +‘honour Him even as they honoured the Father.’</p> + +<p>“(2) Give a fair, impartial reading to that account of mankind in their +present state, which is contained in the book on original sin. It is no +play of imagination, but plain, clear fact. We see it with our eyes, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</span> +and hear it with our ears daily. Heathens, Turks, Jews, Christians of +every nation, are such men as are there described. Such are the tempers, +such the manners, of lords, gentlemen, clergymen in England, as well as +of tradesmen and the low vulgar. No man in his senses can deny it: +and none can account for it, but upon the supposition of original sin.</p> + +<p>“On Scripture and common sense I build all my principles; and just +so far as it agrees with these, I regard human authority.</p> + +<p>“There is too ‘just ground for charging the preachers both at Blackfriars +church, the chapel at the Lock,⁠<a id="FNanchor_157_157" href="#Footnote_157_157" class="fnanchor">[157]</a> and the Tabernacle, with grievous +want of charity; for most of them flatly maintain, ‘all who do not believe +as they believe, are in a state of damnation;’ all who do not believe the +absolute decree of election, which necessarily infers absolute reprobation. +My brother and I set out on two principles: (1) None go to heaven without +holiness of heart and life; (2) Whoever follows after this, whatever his +opinions be, is my brother; and we have not swerved a hair’s breadth +from either the one or the other to this day.”</p> +</div> + +<p>On the 1st of March Wesley set out on his northern visitation, +and did not return to London until seven months afterwards. +It was now that he preached his first sermon in the +town of Leek, where Thomas Hanby, eighteen years before, +had formed a society at the peril of his life. “Kill him, kill +him,” bawled the mob, as they pelted him with showers of +stones; but the young evangelist, then only in the twenty-first +year of his age, mercifully escaped; and the rabble, +headed by a lawyer, had to content themselves with merely +burning him in effigy.⁠<a id="FNanchor_158_158" href="#Footnote_158_158" class="fnanchor">[158]</a></p> + +<p>Wesley writes: “March 27, 1772.—While I was dining at +Leek, some gentlemen of the town sent to desire I would give +them a sermon. As it seemed to be a providential call, I did +not think it right to refuse. A large congregation quickly +ran together, and were deeply attentive.”</p> + +<p>A society had recently been gathered at Nantwich, of which +Mr. Salmon, an eccentric Christian gentleman, and some of +his sisters, were members; and hence Nantwich was now +added to the places which Wesley had to visit. This was +probably the Mr. Salmon who was to have gone with the +Wesleys to Georgia, but who was forcibly detained in his +Cheshire home by his father and mother, who were distracted +at the thought of their son leaving them. Joseph Whittingham +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</span> +Salmon had a good heart, but muddy head. Soon after this, +he began to preach,⁠<a id="FNanchor_159_159" href="#Footnote_159_159" class="fnanchor">[159]</a> + and, at the death of his wife, in 1785, +published a long rigmarole funeral sermon, <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, 39 pages, +which he preached in Barker Street chapel, Nantwich, and +which is strongly spiced with the mystical delusion into +which he had fallen. It is scarcely too much to say, that the +weak mind of this well meaning man henceforth lost its +balance, and that mystic pride and <i lang="la">cacoethes scribendi</i> were +the chief features that distinguished the close of a lengthened +but lustreless life. His wife, however, and several of the +Misses Salmon were intelligent and earnest Methodists, and +were among the earliest friends of Hester Ann Roe, afterwards +Mrs. Rogers.⁠<a id="FNanchor_160_160" href="#Footnote_160_160" class="fnanchor">[160]</a></p> + +<p>There was another gentleman of note, near Nantwich, Sir +Thomas Broughton, of Doddington Hall, who had a chapel in +his park, and who, though not a Methodist, himself read or +preached to the congregation the whole of Wesley’s sermons +from first to last.⁠<a id="FNanchor_161_161" href="#Footnote_161_161" class="fnanchor">[161]</a> Salmon tells us, that this “reverend +baronet,” as he calls him, at the death of his lady, called +together his eleven children and his thirty servants, at eleven +o’clock at night, and then, as they stood round the corpse, +amid midnight silence and the dim radiance of lighted tapers, +engaged in prayer, previous to the interment, the whole forming +a scene not easily forgotten.</p> + +<p>These were Methodism’s auxiliaries in the town of Nantwich; +but, for long years, it had to struggle with adversity, its +members worshipping in an old hired baptist chapel until +the year 1808, when, chiefly through the help of Mr. Withinshaw, +a new chapel was erected, and Nantwich was made a +circuit town.⁠<a id="FNanchor_162_162" href="#Footnote_162_162" class="fnanchor">[162]</a></p> + +<p>On the 5th of April, Wesley reached Bolton and Manchester. +In reference to the former town he writes: “How wonderfully +has God wrought in this place! John Bennet, some years +ago, reduced this society from sevenscore to twelve; and +they are now risen to a hundred and seventy.” At Manchester, +Wesley “drank tea at Am. O.;” probably Adam +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</span> +Oldham’s, and remarks: “But how was I shocked! The +children that used to cling about me, and drink in every word, +had been at a boarding school. There they had unlearned +all religion, and even seriousness; and had learned pride, +vanity, affectation, and whatever could guard them against the +knowledge and love of God. Methodist parents, who would +send your girls headlong to hell, send them to a fashionable +boarding school!”</p> + +<p>Proceeding by way of Whitehaven and Carlisle, Wesley +came to Glasgow on April 18, and, a week later, arrived at +Perth, where he was the provost’s guest, and received an +honour which fell to him only once again in his long lifetime. +He shall tell his own story.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“1772. April 28, Tuesday. We walked through the Duke of Athol’s +gardens, in which was one thing I never saw before,—a summerhouse in +the middle of a greenhouse, by means of which one might, in the depth +of winter, enjoy the warmth of May, and sit surrounded with greens and +flowers on every side.</p> + +<p>“In the evening I preached once more at Perth, to a large and serious +congregation. Afterwards they did me an honour I never thought of,—presented +me with the freedom of the city. The diploma ran thus:⁠—</p> + +<p>“‘<i lang="la">Magistratuum illustris ordo et honorandus senatorum cætus inclytæ +civitatis Perthensis, in debiti amoris et affectuum tesseram erga Johannem +Wesley, immunitatibus præfatæ civitatis, societatis etiam et fraternitatis +ædilitiæ privilegiis donarunt. Aprilis die 28, anno Sal. 1772.</i>’</p> + +<p>“I question whether any diploma from the city of London be more +pompous, or expressed in better Latin.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Eight days afterwards, the magistrates of Arbroath conferred +on Wesley a similar mark of their respect.</p> + +<p>While in this part of Scotland, Wesley read two Scotch +authors, upon whom his criticisms are too racy to be omitted. +He writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“In my way to Perth, I read over the first volume of Dr. Robertson’s +‘History of Charles the Fifth.’ I know not when I have been so disappointed. +It might as well be called the History of Alexander the Great. +Here is a quarto volume of eight or ten shillings’ price, containing dry +verbose dissertations on feudal government, the substance of all which +might be comprised in half a sheet of paper! But ‘Charles the Fifth!’ +Where is Charles the Fifth?</p> + +<p class="center"> +‘Leave off thy reflections, and give us thy tale!’” +</p> + +<p>“May 5. I read over, in my journey to Arbroath, Dr. Beattie’s ingenious +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</span> +‘Inquiry after Truth.’ He is a writer quite equal to his subject, +and far above the match of all the minute philosophers, David Hume in +particular, the most insolent despiser of truth and virtue that ever appeared +in the world. And, yet, it seems some complain of this doctor’s using +him with too great severity! I cannot understand how that can be, +unless he treated him with rudeness (which he does not), since he is an +avowed enemy to God and man, and to all that is sacred and valuable on +earth.”</p> +</div> + +<p>On the 9th of May, Wesley reached Edinburgh, where his +state of health was made the subject of an important medical +examination. It has been already stated that, before he left +London, his friends there, perceiving signs of age and debility, +had contributed to provide him a carriage in which to pursue +his extensive and laborious journeys. Since then, in less than +ten weeks, he had travelled, in his chaise and on horseback, +from London to Bristol, and thence to Birmingham, Nottingham, +Macclesfield, Chester, Liverpool, Manchester, Whitehaven, +Carlisle, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Edinburgh, preaching +there, and at a great number of intervening towns and +villages, sometimes as many as four sermons in a day. He +had had to encounter winter storms, to wade mid-leg deep in +snow, and to travel roads so execrably bad, that sometimes he +was literally bogged. Not unfrequently he preached in the +midst of piercing winds in the open air; and yet, there is not +a single entry in his journal indicative of failing health. +Never, in his life, was he more intent upon the prosecution +of his great work than now. Writing to his brother from +Congleton, and again from Perth, he says:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“I find almost all our preachers, in every circuit, have done with +Christian perfection. They say, they believe it; but they never preach +it, or not once in a quarter. What is to be done? Shall we let it drop, +or make a point of it? Oh what a thing it is to have <i lang="la">curam animarum</i>! +You and I are called to this; to save souls from death; to watch over +them as those that must give account! If our office implied no more than +preaching a few times in a week, I could play with it; so might you. But +how small a part of our duty (yours as well as mine) is this! God says to +you, as well as me, ‘Do all thou canst, be it more or less, to save the +souls for whom My Son has died.’ Let this voice be ever sounding in our +ears; then shall we give up our account with joy. <i lang="la">Eia age, rumpe moras!</i> +I am ashamed of my indolence and inactivity. Your business, as well as +mine, is to save souls. When we took priests’ orders we undertook to +make it our one business. I think every day lost, which is not (mainly at +least) employed in this thing. <i lang="la">Sum totus in illo.</i></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</span> +“I am glad you are to be at Bristol soon. To whom shall I leave my +letters and papers? I am quite at a loss. I think Mr. Fletcher is the +best that occurs now. Adieu!”⁠<a id="FNanchor_163_163" href="#Footnote_163_163" class="fnanchor">[163]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley was too busy to think of being ill. He was not +alarmed; but his friends were. Hence, the following addressed +to Charles Wesley.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Shoreham</span>, <i>April 18, 1772</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My very dear Brother</span>,—I doubt not, but we both join in constant +petitions, at the throne of grace, for the life and health of our dear +absent friend, thy brother. By all accounts, his valuable health is in a +precarious state; and unless God provides (as I doubt not but He will), for +His people, they will have abundant reason to mourn. May God give +thee a double portion of His Spirit, that thou mayest stand in the gap, +and prevent the flock being led by any who have not true gospel light +in the head, and great integrity in the heart! My love to thy dear +brother; the same attends thee and my dear sister, and all thy family. +The Divine blessing be with all of us!</p> + +<p>“Thine, most affectionately,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Vincent Perronet</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_164_164" href="#Footnote_164_164" class="fnanchor">[164]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Probably it was the request of his friends, rather than his +own anxiety, which induced Wesley, at Edinburgh, to submit +to a medical examination.</p> + +<p>At this period, Dr. James Hamilton was a young man of +about two-and-thirty, and was practising medicine in his +native town of Dunbar, where he also had joined the +Methodists. Afterwards he removed to Leeds, and then to +London, where he was elected physician to the London +Dispensary, and rose to eminence in the medical profession. +He died in Finsbury Square, April 21, 1827, at the age of +eighty-seven, having been a Methodist upwards of sixty +years, and nearly as long a highly acceptable and useful local +preacher.</p> + +<p>Dr. Alexander Monro was a few years older. Such was +his ability, that, at the age of twenty-two, he was appointed +professor of anatomy and surgery to the University of Edinburgh; +and is said, by the excellence of his lectures, to have +materially assisted in raising it to the highest celebrity as a +school of medicine.</p> + +<p>Dr. James Gregory was now a young man in his twentieth +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</span> +year; but, two years later, was appointed professor of the +theory of physic, and rose to such eminence in his profession +as to draw pupils from all parts of the world.</p> + +<p>These were the three physicians who attended Wesley. He +writes: “May 18—Dr. Hamilton brought with him Dr. Monro +and Dr. Gregory. They satisfied me what my disorder was; +and told me there was but one method of cure. Perhaps but +one natural one; but I think God has more than one method +of healing either the soul or the body.”</p> + +<p>Wesley’s disease was hydrocele.⁠<a id="FNanchor_165_165" href="#Footnote_165_165" class="fnanchor">[165]</a> A few months later, he +writes: “I am almost a disabled soldier. I am forbid to ride, +and am obliged to travel mostly in a carriage.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_166_166" href="#Footnote_166_166" class="fnanchor">[166]</a></p> + +<p>That Wesley’s health was seriously affected there cannot be +doubt. <cite>Lloyd’s Evening Post</cite>, for June 15, remarks: “By +accounts from Scotland, we learn that the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Wesley +has had a dangerous fit of illness, in which he was attended +by three of the most eminent of the faculty there, who gave +him over; but some younger gentlemen in practice have been +luckily assistant to him, and they have now hopes that he +may continue his ministry many years longer.”</p> + +<p>Wesley doubtless was amused with this. During his ten +days’ stay in Edinburgh, he preached at least about half-a-dozen +times; and, on the very day when the medical men +met, he opened a new chapel at Leith, and two days later +started for Newcastle, preaching on his way at Dunbar, +Alnwick, and Morpeth.</p> + +<p>Reaching Newcastle on May 25, he spent the remainder of +the week in the town and neighbourhood, preaching, on the +Sunday, three times out of doors, to immense and attentive +congregations.</p> + +<p>The first four days in the month of June were occupied with +what he calls “a little tour through the dales”; and, in this +brief period, besides travelling scores of miles over “the +horrid mountains,” and examining societies, he preached at +least eight sermons. He writes: “from the top of an enormous +mountain we had a view of Weardale. It is a lovely +prospect. The green, gently rising meadows and fields, on +both sides of the little river, clear as crystal, were sprinkled +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</span> +over with innumerable little houses; three in four of which, if +not nine in ten, are sprung up since the Methodists came +hither. Since that time, the beasts are turned into men, and +the wilderness into a fruitful field.”</p> + +<p>Six months before this, Weardale had been blessed with a +remarkable religious revival, the penitent prayer-meetings +often continuing till ten or eleven o’clock at night, and sometimes +till four in the morning. On one occasion, four young +men, seeking pardon, remained on their knees for five hours +together. Among others who found mercy was an old woman, +who, twenty-three years before, was the first in Weardale to +receive the Methodists into her house. Sometimes as many +as half-a-dozen “lay on the ground together, roaring for the +disquietude of their hearts.” Chiefly through the instrumentality +of Jane Salkeld, a schoolmistress, thirty children +were converted, including Phœbe Featherstone, Hannah Watson, +and others whom Wesley mentions.</p> + +<p>Not only does Wesley give, at great length, the details of +this revival; but he compares it with that at Everton thirteen +years before. His remarks are worth quoting.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“It resembled the work at Everton in many respects, but not in all.</p> + +<p>“It resembled that work—(1) In its unexpected beginning; no such +work had ever been seen before either at Everton or in Weardale. (2) In the +swiftness of its progress, I mean in the persons affected; many of whom +were in one day, or even two or three hours, both convinced of sin (without +any previous awakening), and converted to God. (3) In the number +of persons both convinced and converted, which was greater in a few +months than it had been in Weardale from the first preaching there, or in +Everton for a century. (4) In the outward symptoms which have attended +it: in both, the sudden and violent emotions of mind affected the whole +bodily frame; insomuch that many trembled exceedingly, many fell to +the ground, many were violently convulsed, and many seemed to be in the +agonies of death. (5) In most of the instruments whom God employed: +these were plain, artless men, simple of heart, but without any remarkable +gifts; men who, almost literally, knew ‘nothing save Jesus Christ and +Him crucified.’</p> + +<p>“In these respects, the work of God in Weardale nearly resembled that +at Everton; but, in other respects, they were widely different. For—(1) That +was the first work of God, of the kind, which had ever been in those parts +in the memory of man; this was only a revival of a work, which had continued +for many years. Now these circumstances are common at the +dawn of a work, but afterwards very uncommon. I do not remember to +have seen the like anywhere in the three kingdoms, unless at the beginning +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</span> +of a work. (2) Although the former work was swift, the latter was far +swifter. In general, persons were both awakened and justified in a far +shorter time. (3) A far greater number were converted to God in Weardale +than about Everton, although the number of hearers about Everton +was abundantly greater than in Weardale. (4) Although the outward +symptoms were the same, yet in Weardale there were none of the dreams, +visions, and revelations which abounded at Everton; and which, though +at first they undoubtedly were from God, yet were afterwards fatally +counterfeited by the devil. (5) There was a great difference in the instruments +whom God employed. Not one of those in or near Everton had any +experience in the guiding of souls. None of them were more than ‘babes +in Christ,’ if any of them so much. Whereas, in Weardale, not only the +three preachers were, I believe, renewed in love, but most of the leaders +were deeply experienced in the work of God. Hence, (6) we may easily +account for the grand difference, namely, that the one work was so +shallow, and the other so deep. Many children here have had far deeper +experience, and more constant fellowship with God, than the oldest man +or woman at Everton which I have seen or heard of.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Such were Wesley’s moralisings on the Weardale revival, in +1772, in which less than a hundred people were converted, and +concerning which he says: “upon the whole, we may affirm, +such a work of God as this has not been seen before in the +three kingdoms.” If this was so, who will say that the former +times were better than these? How many thousands of aged +Methodists can easily call to mind far more remarkable revivals +of the work of God than even that in Weardale! And, +further, how was it that, at Wesley’s visit two years after, the +results of this revival were almost reduced to nothing, except +that, in consequence of the backslidings, “the preachers were +discouraged; and jealousies, heart burnings, and evil surmisings, +were multiplied more and more”?</p> + +<p>Wesley returned from Weardale to Newcastle on the 5th +of June, and here, and in the immediate neighbourhood, he +spent the next ten days. In the Newcastle society, there were +fewer members than he had found two years before. “This,” +says he, “I can impute to nothing but the want of visiting +from house to house; without which the people will hardly +increase, either in number or grace.” This was a sharp thrust +at some of the most distinguished preachers of the day, +namely, Peter Jaco, Joseph Cownley, Thomas Hanby, Matthew +Lowes, Thomas Tennant, William Thompson, and Thomas +Simpson, all of them appointed to Newcastle at this period.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</span> +On June 15, Wesley left Newcastle, and spent the next +week in preaching at Durham, Stockton, Yarm, Thirsk, +Osmotherley, Hutton Rudby, Stokesley, Castleton, Whitby, +Robinhood’s Bay, and Scarborough. This was pretty well, +for a man afflicted as Wesley was, and at the age of seventy.</p> + +<p>Eighteen months before this, his termagant wife had abruptly +left him, and gone to her house at Newcastle. Now that his +health was so endangered, she was returning with him, +whether to his comfort or otherwise we are not informed; +but, at all events, she had in Wesley’s chaise the undeserved +luxury of a summer’s ride through the most beautiful scenes +of Yorkshire.⁠<a id="FNanchor_167_167" href="#Footnote_167_167" class="fnanchor">[167]</a></p> + +<p>From Scarborough he proceeded to Bridlington, Driffield, +Beverley, Hull, York, Tadcaster, Pateley Bridge, Otley, Heptonstall, +Keighley, Haworth, Bingley, Bradford, Halifax, +Huddersfield, Morley, Birstal, Doncaster, Sheffield, Epworth, +Brigg, Horncastle, Louth, Grimsby, Pontefract, Horbury, +Wakefield, and other places, preaching at all of them, until, +on August 2, he got to Leeds, for the purpose of holding +his annual conference. This was enormous labour for any +man, and especially for an old man, suffering from a severe and +painful malady. To all this must be added, cottage accommodation, +hard beds, and often hard living; and, though +brutal persecution had considerably abated, Wesley was not +entirely exempt from this; for, at Halifax, on July 8, a ruffian +struck him most violently on the face, when, with tears starting +from his eyes, the venerable saint acted upon the precept of +his Master: “Whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, +turn to him the other also”; a display of heroic meekness +which cowed the brutal coward, and made him slink away into +the ignoble crowd.⁠<a id="FNanchor_168_168" href="#Footnote_168_168" class="fnanchor">[168]</a> Yet, in the midst of all this, there is not +a single syllable, in his journal, concerning either persecution, +hardship, debility, or disease.</p> + +<p>He writes: “On Tuesday, August 4, our conference began. +Generally, during the time of conference, as I was talking from +morning to night, I had used to desire one of our brethren to +preach in the morning; but, having many things to say, I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</span> +resolved, with God’s help, to preach mornings as well +as evenings. And I found no difference at all; I was no +more tired than with my usual labour; that is, no more +than if I had been sitting still in my study from morning to +night.”</p> + +<p>One of Wesley’s sermons, preached to an immense congregation, +in a field behind the chapel, was from Isaiah <abbr title="sixty-six">lxvi.</abbr> 8, 9: +“Who hath heard such a thing?” etc.; in which he dwelt +upon the great work which God had wrought among the +Methodists, discoursing on its rapidity, depth, extensiveness, +and its growing character. “It was,” says good old Thomas +Rutherford, “marrow and fatness to my soul.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_169_169" href="#Footnote_169_169" class="fnanchor">[169]</a></p> + +<p>Wesley, in needful cases, was a brave defender of his +preachers. The following, addressed to Mr. Alexander Clark, +of Dublin, and written at this period, will be read with +interest.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Sheffield</span>, <i>August 10, 1772</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—Now the hurry of conference is over, I get a +little time to write. When I chose you to be steward in Dublin, you both +loved and esteemed your preachers; but I find you have now drunk in the +whole spirit of <abbr title="Patrick">Pat.</abbr> Geoghegan. O beware! You are exceedingly +deceived. By this time, I should be some judge of man; and if I am, all +England and Ireland cannot afford such a body of men, number for +number, for sense and true experience, both of men and things, as the body +of Methodist preachers. Our leaders in London, Bristol, and Dublin are +by no means weak men. I would not be ashamed to compare them with +a like number of tradesmen in every part of the three kingdoms. But I +assure you, they are no more than children compared to the preachers +in conference, as you would be thoroughly convinced, could you but have +the opportunity of spending one day among them. Mr. Jaco will make a +fair trial whether he can supply Dublin alone; if he cannot, he shall have +another to help, for he must not kill himself to save charges. But I dare +not stint him to <abbr title="20 pounds">£20</abbr> a year. He will waste nothing; but he must want +nothing. You will make his stay among you, in every respect, as comfortable +as you can.</p> + +<p>“I am your affectionate brother,</p> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_170_170" href="#Footnote_170_170" class="fnanchor">[170]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>No sooner was the conference ended, than Wesley again +started on his itinerancy of mercy. On his way to Burslem, +his chaise broke down; but, notwithstanding his disease, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</span> +rather than disappoint the people, he mounted a horse and +rode two-and-twenty miles, arriving just in time for preaching.</p> + +<p>On reaching Trevecca, on August 14, he met his old friend, +Howel Harris, who, while almost all others of his class had +imbibed the most bitter feelings, still remained faithful. “I +have borne,” said the honest Welshman, “with these pert, +ignorant young men, vulgarly called students, till I cannot, in +conscience, bear any longer. They preach barefaced reprobation, +and so broad antinomianism, that I have been constrained +to oppose them to the face, even in the public +congregation.” This was no great compliment to the students +of the Countess of Huntingdon, especially as coming from a +Calvinist. Wesley, almost as an apology, adds to this: “It is +no wonder that they should preach thus. What better can be +expected from raw lads, of little understanding, little learning, +and no experience?”</p> + +<p>It is pleasing to add, that Howel Harris was not the only +one of Whitefield’s friends who still stood true to Wesley, +though differing from his views. Hence the following, addressed +to him by Cornelius Winter.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Brecon</span>, <i>August 10, 1772</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Reverend and dear Sir</span>,—Do you ask what I have been about? I +answer, preaching Christ wherever a door has been opened to me. Sometimes +I have cast a handful of seed on your ground; and should it ever +come to a harvest you are welcome to it: it will become Jesus’s property +at last. What melancholy consequences from late productions! They +forbid me to be any longer an idle hearer or a careless reader. I have +been obliged, from conscience, to make a stand against dear Mr. Fletcher’s +groundless arguments and most bitter invectives.⁠<a id="FNanchor_171_171" href="#Footnote_171_171" class="fnanchor">[171]</a> Many things, he has +said, are a proper antidote applied wrong, and to improper objects, and +thereby become poison, whereas they might have been a healing medicine. +But I must say no more on this subject; I am writing to one who will +give it little attention.</p> + +<p>“Dr. Owen’s ‘Death of Death’ has been my favourite study of late; +and, in consequence of embracing the doctrine therein contained, I must +agree to disagree with Mr. Fletcher’s thoughts, and dear Mr. Wesley’s +<em>friendly pen</em>. Excuse my frank acknowledgments, and give me leave to +differ and love. God bless you to your latest period, and make your last +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</span> +days your best! So prays, reverend and dear sir, yours most respectfully +and affectionately, in our dear Lord Jesus,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Cornelius Winter</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_172_172" href="#Footnote_172_172" class="fnanchor">[172]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>From Trevecca, Wesley proceeded to Bristol, and here, +and in the neighbourhood, he employed the next seven weeks. +In Bristol itself, he “visited the whole society from house to +house, taking them from west to east.” He not unfrequently +preached in the open air, and strikingly remarks: “to this +day field preaching is a cross to me; but I know my commission, +and see no other way of preaching the gospel to +every creature.” The children at Kingswood, and at Miss +Owen’s school at Publow, were almost all converted. He +writes: “I suppose such a visitation of children has not been +known in England these hundred years!”⁠<a id="FNanchor_173_173" href="#Footnote_173_173" class="fnanchor">[173]</a> “Publow is now +what Leytonstone was once. Here is a family indeed. Such +mistresses, and such a company of children, as I believe all +England cannot parallel!”</p> + +<p>Leaving Bristol on October 5, and preaching on his way +at Shaftesbury, Salisbury, Winchester, and Portsmouth, he +came to London on October 10. He had been seven months +from home, if indeed he had a home! and yet, after spending +only one day in London, he again set out on his usual +preaching tour in the counties of Bedford and Northampton. +Returning to London, where he spent another day, he started +on his visitation in Oxfordshire. Returning again to London, +and again spending a single day, he went off, on October 26, +to Norfolk, where he employed a fortnight. Except making +a journey into Kent, and another to Hertfordshire, the remainder +of the year was passed in the metropolis.</p> + +<p>Here he again began expounding, chiefly in the mornings, +“that compendium of all the Holy Scriptures, the first epistle +of <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> John.” Now, for the first time in his life, he saw the +chapel at Snowsfields full. He opened a new chapel at +Dorking, and another in the parish of Bromley. He visited +the sick Methodists in London, and “was surprised that they +were so few.” And on December 31 he wrote: “Being +greatly embarrassed by the necessities of the poor, we spread +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</span> +all our wants before God in solemn prayer; believing that He +would sooner ‘make windows in heaven’ than suffer His +truth to fail.”</p> + +<p>This reference to the poor requires further notice. The long +continued war, a succession of inferior harvests, and other +unfavourable events, had raised the price of provisions to such +an extent, that the distress of the nation had become alarming. +In the month of November, the court of common council of +London agreed to petition parliament to open the ports of the +kingdom for the free importation of all kinds of grain; and +one of the members proposed that, in order to prevent the +unnecessary consumption of flour, the making of starch should +be prohibited. Long letters on the starved condition of the +country were published in the newspapers and magazines. +Some of them entered into elaborate calculations, showing +that, in London only, during the six winter months, twenty +thousand sheep and two thousand oxen were used in making +soup for taverns, and the tables of the great. When the +king opened parliament, on November 26, he referred in his +speech to the dearness of corn, and recommended “my lords +and gentlemen” to consider a scheme “for alleviating the +distresses of the poor.” This was done, and bills were passed, +which substantially permitted the importation of foreign +grown grain duty free.</p> + +<p>In the midst of all this, Wesley was far from being an indifferent +spectator; and, among the many letters which +appeared in the periodicals of the day, one written by himself +was not the least important. This letter, published, either +by himself or others, in <cite>Lloyd’s Evening Post</cite>, for December +21, and in the <cite>Leeds Mercury</cite> for December 29, and in other +newspapers and magazines, is altogether too curious and characteristic +to be omitted or abridged. It is as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center"> +“<i>To the Editor of ‘Lloyd’s Evening Post.</i>’ +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—Many excellent things have been lately published concerning +the <em>present scarcity of provisions</em>. And many causes have been assigned +for it; but is not something wanting in most of those publications? +One writer assigns one cause, another one or two more, and strongly +insists upon them. But who has assigned all the causes that manifestly +concur to produce this melancholy effect? at the same time pointing +out, how each particular cause affects the price of each particular sort +of provision?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</span> +“I would willingly offer to candid and benevolent men a few hints on +this important subject, proposing a few questions, and adding to each +what seems to be the plain and direct answer.</p> + +<p>“<abbr title="One">I.</abbr> 1. I ask first, Why are thousands of people starving, perishing for +want, in every part of England? The fact I know: I have seen it with +my eyes, in every corner of the land. I have known those who could only +afford to eat a little coarse food every other day. I have known one +picking up stinking sprats from a dunghill, and carrying them home for +herself and her children. I have known another gathering the bones +which the dogs had left in the streets, and making broth of them, to prolong +a wretched life. Such is the case, at this day, of multitudes of +people, in a land flowing, as it were, with milk and honey; abounding +with all the necessaries, the conveniences, the superfluities of life!</p> + +<p>“Now why is this? Why have all these nothing to eat? Because they +have nothing to do. They have no meat, because they have no work.</p> + +<p>“2. But why have they no work? Why are so many thousand people in +London, in Bristol, in Norwich, in every county from one end of England +to the other, utterly destitute of employment?</p> + +<p>“Because the persons who used to employ them cannot afford to do it +any longer. Many, who employed fifty men, now scarce employ ten. +Those, who employed twenty, now employ one, or none at all. They +cannot, as they have no vent for their goods; food now bearing so high +a price, that the generality of people are hardly able to buy anything +else.</p> + +<p>“3. But to descend from generals to particulars. Why is breadcorn so +dear? Because such immense quantities of it are continually consumed +by <em>distilling</em>. Indeed, an eminent distiller, near London, hearing this, +warmly replied: ‘Nay, my partner and I generally distil <em>but a thousand +quarters</em> of corn a week.’ Perhaps so. Suppose five-and-twenty distillers, +in and near the town, consume each only the same quantity. Here are +five-and-twenty thousand quarters a week, that is, above twelve hundred +and fifty thousand quarters a year, consumed in and about London! Add +the distillers throughout England, and have we not reason to believe that +half of the wheat produced in the kingdom is every year consumed, not +by so harmless a way as throwing it into the sea; but by converting it +into deadly poison—​poison that naturally destroys, not only the strength +and life, but also the morals of our countrymen!</p> + +<p>“‘Well, but this brings in a large revenue to the king.’ Is this an +equivalent for the lives of his subjects? Would his majesty sell a +hundred thousand of his subjects yearly to Algiers for four hundred +thousand pounds? Surely no. Will he then sell them for that sum, to be +butchered by their own countrymen?—‘But otherwise the swine for the +navy cannot be fed.’ Not unless they are fed with human flesh? not +unless they are fatted with human blood? O tell it not in Constantinople, +that the English raise the royal revenue by selling the blood +and flesh of their countrymen!</p> + +<p>“4. But why are oats so dear? Because there are four times the horses +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</span> +kept (to speak within compass), for coaches and chaises in particular, +than were some years ago. Unless, therefore, four times the oats grew +now as grew then, they cannot be at the same price. If only twice as +much is produced, (which perhaps is near the truth,) the price will naturally +be double to what it was.</p> + +<p>“As the dearness of grain of one kind will always raise the price of +another, so whatever causes the dearness of wheat and oats must raise +the price of barley too. To account therefore for the dearness of this, we +need only remember what has been observed above, although some particular +causes may concur in producing the same effect.</p> + +<p>“5. Why are beef and mutton so dear? Because most of the considerable +farmers, particularly in the northern counties, who used to +breed large numbers of sheep or horned cattle, and frequently both, no +longer trouble themselves with either sheep, or cows, or oxen; as they +can turn their land to far better account, by breeding horses alone. Such +is the demand, not only for coach and chaise horses, which are bought +and destroyed in incredible numbers; but much more for bred horses, +which are yearly exported by hundreds, yea thousands, to France.</p> + +<p>“6. But why are pork, poultry, and eggs so dear? Because of the monopolising +of farms, as mischievous a monopoly as was ever yet introduced +into these kingdoms. The land which was formerly divided among ten +or twenty little farmers, and enabled them comfortably to provide for +their families, is now generally engrossed by one great farmer. One man +farms an estate of a thousand a year, which formerly maintained ten or +twenty. Every one of these little farmers kept a few swine, with some +quantity of poultry; and, having little money, was glad to send his bacon, +or pork, or fowls and eggs, to market continually. Hence, the markets +were plentifully served, and plenty created cheapness; but, at present, the +great, the gentlemen farmers, are above attending to these little things. +They breed no poultry or swine, unless for their own use; consequently +they send none to market. Hence, it is not strange, if two or three of +these living near a market town occasion such a scarcity of these things, +by preventing the former supply, that the price of them will be double or +treble to what it was before. Hence, (to instance in a small article,) in the +same town where, within my memory, eggs were sold eight or ten a +penny, they are now sold six or eight a groat.</p> + +<p>Another cause why beef, mutton, pork, and all kind of victuals are so +dear, is <em>luxury</em>. What can stand against this? Will it not waste and +destroy all that nature and art can produce? If a person of quality will +boil down three dozen of neat’s tongues, to make two or three quarts of +soup (and so proportionably in other things), what wonder if provisions +fail? Only look into the kitchens of the great, the nobility, and gentry, +almost without exception (considering withal that the toe of the peasant +treads upon the heel of the courtier), and when you have observed the +amazing waste which is made there, you will no longer wonder at the +scarcity, and consequently dearness, of the things which they use so much +art to destroy.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</span> +“7. But why is land so dear? Because, on all these accounts, gentlemen +cannot live as they have been accustomed to do, without increasing their +income, which most of them cannot do but by raising their rents. The +farmer, paying a higher rent for his land, must have a higher price for +the produce of it. This again tends to raise the price of land. And so +the wheel runs round.</p> + +<p>“8. But why is it, that not only provisions and land, but well-nigh +everything else is so dear? Because of the enormous taxes which are laid +on almost everything that can be named. Not only abundant taxes are +raised from earth, and fire, and water; but, in England, the ingenious +statesmen have found a way to tax the very light! Only one element +remains, and surely some man of honour will, ere long, contrive to tax +this also. For how long shall the saucy air blow in the face of a gentleman, +nay, a lord, without paying for it?</p> + +<p>“9. But why are the taxes so high? Because of the national debt. +They must be, while this continues. I have heard that the national +expense, in the time of peace, was, sixty years ago, three millions a year. +Now the bare interest of the public debt amounts to above four millions. +To raise which, with the other expenses of government, those taxes are +absolutely necessary.</p> + +<p>“<abbr title="Two">II.</abbr> Here is the evil. But where is the remedy? Perhaps it exceeds +all the wisdom of man to tell. But it may not be amiss to offer a few +hints, even on this delicate subject.</p> + +<p>“1. What remedy is there for this sore evil? Many thousand poor +people are starving. Find them work, and you will find them meat. They +will then earn and eat their own bread.</p> + +<p>“2. But how shall their masters give them work, without ruining themselves? +Procure vent for it, and it will not hurt their masters to give +them as much work as they can do; and this will be done by sinking the +price of provisions; for then people will have money to buy other things +too.</p> + +<p>“3. But how can the price of <em>wheat</em> be reduced? By prohibiting for +ever that bane of health, that destroyer of strength, of life, and of virtue, +<em>distilling</em>. Perhaps this alone will answer the whole design. If anything +more be needful, may not all starch be made of rice, and the importation +of this, as well as of wheat, be encouraged?</p> + +<p>“4. How can the price of <em>oats</em> be reduced? By reducing the number +of horses. And may not this be effectually done—(1) by laying a tax of +ten pounds on every horse exported to France; (2) by laying an additional +tax on gentlemen’s carriages. Not so much for every wheel, (barefaced, +shameless partiality!) but ten pounds yearly for every horse. And +these two taxes alone would nearly supply as much as is now given for +leave to poison his majesty’s liege subjects.</p> + +<p>“5. How can the price of <em>beef</em> and <em>mutton</em> be reduced? By increasing +the breed of sheep and horned cattle. And this would be increased sevenfold, +if the price of horses was reduced; which it surely would be half in +half, by the method above mentioned.</p> + +<p>“6. How can the price of <em>pork</em> and <em>poultry</em> be reduced? First, by +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</span> +letting no farms of above a hundred pounds a year. Secondly, by repressing +luxury, either by example, by laws, or both.</p> + +<p>“7. How may the price of <em>land</em> be reduced? By all the methods +above named, all which tend to lessen the expense of housekeeping; but +especially the last, restraining luxury, which is the grand source of +poverty.</p> + +<p>“8. How may the <em>taxes</em> be reduced? By discharging half the national +debt, and so saving at least two millions a year.</p> + +<p>“How this can be done the wisdom of the great council of the land +can best determine.</p> + +<p>“I am, sir, your humble servant,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dover</span>, <i>December 9, 1772</i>.”</p> +</div> + +<p>This was not the only thing that Wesley and the Methodists +did, to contribute to the happiness of the starving poor. It +was now that there was organised a band of pious Methodists, +who made it their duty and their pleasure to visit the inmates +of London workhouses, and, by prayer, and reading, and exhortation, +to lead them to Him who is alone the great Comforter. +That organisation has uninterruptedly existed down +to the present time; and though, for the last twenty years, it +has ceased to be a purely Methodist society, its chief workers +bear the Methodistic name.⁠<a id="FNanchor_174_174" href="#Footnote_174_174" class="fnanchor">[174]</a> From the ninety-fifth annual +report of what is now called “The Christian Community,” +we learn that this society was “established under the patronage +of the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> John Wesley, in 1772;” and that its +agents, all labouring gratuitously, are regularly visiting the +workhouses of Shoreditch, <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Luke’s, Clerkenwell, <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> +George’s in the East, and Bethnal Green, in eighty-eight +halls and wards of which they hold religious services every +week; and that, besides this, they have three services weekly +in Cambridge Heath female refuge; visit between twenty +and thirty low lodging houses, in Spitalfields, every Sunday +night; and, during the year, hold about 463 services in the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</span> +open air, deliver nearly 1400 addresses,⁠<a id="FNanchor_175_175" href="#Footnote_175_175" class="fnanchor">[175]</a> and distribute almost +a quarter of a million of religious tracts. Not fewer than +124 visitors and exhorters are employed, nearly the whole of +whom have appointments every week.</p> + +<p>Into such a society has been developed the small band of +godly Methodists, sent forth by Wesley, in 1772, to visit +London paupers and London vagabonds. Its work is little +known, and its agents scarcely recognised; but here, in the +very heart of London, are 124 home missionaries, toiling to +convert the lowest of the low to the faith of Christ, receiving +not a farthing for their services, and carrying on their extensive +machinery of tract distribution, tent preaching, and a +circulating library, at the small expense of about <abbr title="200 pounds">£200</abbr> a +year. Success to this unpretending and almost unknown +society. May the God of heaven prosper it, in its great +work, more and more! “It is a shame,” wrote Wesley to +Joseph Benson, on December 11, 1772, “It is a shame for +any Methodist preacher to confine himself to one place. We +are debtors to all the world. We are called to warn every +one, to exhort every one, if by any means we may save +some. I love prayer-meetings, and wish they were set up in +every corner of the town.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_176_176" href="#Footnote_176_176" class="fnanchor">[176]</a></p> + +<p>Such is a bird’s eye view of the work done, in 1772, by an +old man, acutely suffering from the disease already mentioned. +Writing to his brother in November, and again in +December, Wesley says:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“I have just made my tour through Oxfordshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, +Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex; but Kent, Sussex, and Hertfordshire +still remain to be visited; only the visitation of the London +classes, a fortnight’s work, must come between.</p> + +<p>“If we only join faith and works in all our preaching, we shall not fail +of a blessing. But of all preaching, what is usually called gospel preaching +is the most useless, if not the most mischievous: a dull, yea, or lively +harangue on the sufferings of Christ, or salvation by faith, without strongly +inculcating holiness. I see, more and more, that this naturally tends to +drive holiness out of the world.”</p> + +<p>“I have scarce had a day yet” (December 15) “in London, except Sundays, +and the time of visiting the classes. Dr. Ford has never come near +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</span> +me. I am afraid, <i lang="la">evasit</i>, <i lang="la">erupit</i>. I have wrote to Mr. Fletcher to-day. As +Mr. Hill is to fall upon me next, Mr. Fletcher will have a little time to +breathe; and probably a little more while Mr. Hill is digesting my reply; +for whom I think we shall, between us, find work for some time.</p> + +<p>“You will not set shoulder to shoulder, or you could say something +about the Church. Two are better than one. If we live till August, stand +by me, and we will put the matter home.</p> + +<p>“I often cry out, <i lang="la">Vitæ me redde priori</i>! Let me be again an Oxford +Methodist. I am often in doubt whether it would not be best for me to +resume all my Oxford rules, great and small. I did then walk closely +with God, and redeem the time. But what have I been doing these thirty +years? My love to all. Adieu!—<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span>”⁠<a id="FNanchor_177_177" href="#Footnote_177_177" class="fnanchor">[177]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>The concluding sentences of these extracts sound strangely. +Did afflicted Wesley, amid the London fog of a dark December +day, really think, that the last thirty years had been comparatively +wasted, and that he was more pious when almost a +cloistered monk within the walls of Oxford, than he was now, +a veteran evangelist, flying through the three kingdoms, and +preaching the gospel of God his Saviour? His medical +adviser came not near him; Sir Richard Hill was wantonly +assailing him; his brother, except as a localised pastor in +London and in Bristol, was of no use to him; his wife,—bah! +Is it surprising, that even Wesley had seasons of depression; +and that, like others, he was sometimes “in heaviness through +manifold temptations”?</p> + +<p>But it is time to turn to the Calvinian controversy, which +we left raging in 1771. Wesley rarely mentions it, either in +his journal or in his letters, and yet it continued with undiminished +fury.</p> + +<p>Fletcher, of Madeley, again entered the field of battle, by +publishing “A Third Check to Antinomianism,” in a letter +to Sir Richard Hill, <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 114 pages. This was not only a +defence of Wesley, but a triumphant answer to the “Five +Letters” of the baronet, and is written in a style exceedingly +beautiful and Christian. Before the year was out, it reached a +second edition.</p> + +<p>Fletcher’s other publication, in 1772, was <span lang="la">“Logica Genevensis</span>; +or, a Fourth Check to Antinomianism: in which <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> +James’s pure religion is defended against the charges, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</span> +established upon the concessions, of Mr. Richard and Mr. +Rowland Hill. In a Series of Letters to those Gentlemen.” +<abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 237 pages.⁠<a id="FNanchor_178_178" href="#Footnote_178_178" class="fnanchor">[178]</a></p> + +<p>It is no part of our present plan to give even the briefest +analysis of these masterly productions. Suffice it to say, that, +for sound scriptural argument, able exposition, lively imagination, +elegance of style, polished irony, and Christian +temper, they have no superiors. The two brothers, notwithstanding +their goodness, their learning, their genius, and their +pluck, were but pigmies in the grasp of a Goliath.</p> + +<p>Rowland Hill, a young man of twenty-seven, had experienced +the mortification of being refused ordination by not +fewer than six bishops, and was a roving evangelist, preaching +with great success in Whitefield’s London Tabernacle, in +Bristol, Bath, and all over the west of England. At the commencement +of the controversy, Berridge wrote to him thus: +“The late contest at Bristol seems to turn upon this hinge, +whether it shall be <em>Pope John</em> or <em>Pope Joan</em>. My dear friend, +keep out of all controversy, and wage no war but with the +devil.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_179_179" href="#Footnote_179_179" class="fnanchor">[179]</a> Unfortunately for himself, the young preacher did +not follow the counsel of the vicar of Everton, but, in 1772, +issued an octavo pamphlet of 71 pages, entitled “Friendly +Remarks occasioned by the Spirit and Doctrines contained in +the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Fletcher’s Vindication, and more particularly in +his Second Check to Antinomianism, to which is added a +Postscript, occasioned by his Third Check.” The production is +what might be expected from <span class="allsmcap">YOUNG</span> Rowland Hill. Fletcher +is accused of using “tartness of style,” “banter,” “contempt,” +“numberless sneers, taunts, and sarcasms;” “infernal terms of +darkness,” “bravado,” “slander,” “high flown metaphors,” +“frothy declamation,” “odious appellations,” “glaring inconsistencies,” +“palpable mistakes.” He says, “Wesley has +been a proverb for his contradictions for above thirty years.” +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</span> +The “Hymns on God’s Everlasting Love,” “formerly sent +forth from the Foundery,” are stigmatised as “certain godly +lampoons of famous memory.” This was pretty strong to +come from a stripling not yet ordained.</p> + +<p>His brother also was not a laggard. Without loss of time, he +published an octavo volume of 151 pages, with the following +gigantic title: “A Review of all the Doctrines taught by the +<abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. John Wesley; containing a full and particular +Answer to a Book entitled ‘A Second Check to Antinomianism.’ +In six Letters to the Author of that Book; wherein +the Doctrines of a twofold Justification, Free Will, Man’s +Merit, Sinless Perfection, Finished Salvation, and Real Antinomianism +are particularly discussed, and the Puritan Divines +vindicated from the Charges brought against them of holding +Mr. Wesley’s Doctrines. To which is added, a Farrago of Hot +and Cold Medicines. By the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. John Wesley, Author +of the ‘Preservative against Unsettled Notions in Religion.’ +Extracted from his own Publications.”</p> + +<p>Richard Hill’s scurrility is quite equal to his brother’s. He +writes: “O my dear sir, I never could have supposed that +sneer, banter, and sarcasm, yea, notorious falsehoods, calumny, +and gross perversions, would have appeared under the +sanction of your venerable name.” He tells Fletcher that he +“dips his pen in gall,” and “maintains his cause by artful +insinuations.” “In your first letter,” says he, “I really cannot +find many lines together free from gross misrepresentations +and perversions, and hardly one single paragraph exempt +from cutting sneers and low sarcasms.” “Your pages,” +he adds, “are as totally void of solid Scripture argument as +they are replete with calumny, gross perversions and equivocations.” +Wesley is treated with the same bitterness as +Fletcher. “His opinions” are said to be “a mixture of Pelagianism, +semi-Pelagianism, Arminianism, popery, mysticism, +and quakerism.” Such quotations might be multiplied <i lang="la">ad +nauseam</i>; but the reader has had enough. Suffice it to add, +that, before the year 1772 was ended, the public was blessed +with “a second, corrected and enlarged edition” of this loving +effusion of the Salopian baronet.</p> + +<p>Besides all this, Sir Richard published, in 1772, another +octavo pamphlet of 16 pages, with the title, “Some Remarks +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</span> +on a Pamphlet entitled A Third Check to Antinomianism,” +a production brief, but, like the rest, far too rancorous. +Scurrility is almost a sure sign of feeble arguments and a +defenceless cause.</p> + +<p>The two Hills were not Wesley’s only antagonists. Toplady +issued his “More Work for Mr. John Wesley; or, a Vindication +of the Decrees and Providence of God from the Defamations +of a late printed paper, entitled ‘The Consequence Proved.’” +<abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, 104 pages: 1772.⁠<a id="FNanchor_180_180" href="#Footnote_180_180" class="fnanchor">[180]</a></p> + +<p>In his advertisement, Toplady tells his readers, that he bears +not the least ill will to Wesley; and that his manuscript had +lain by him for several weeks, “merely with a view of striking +out, from time to time, whatever might savour of undue +asperity and intemperate warmth.” The following extracts +will show how far Toplady succeeded in his pious and loving +wish.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Wesley has as much of the <em>insidious</em> in his composition, +as he has of the <em>acid</em>; and it would be difficult to say +which predominates.” “He is for adding the lion to the fox. +He wishes not only to wheedle, but to <em>thunder</em> the Church out +of her Calvinism. He is, like Mahommed, for propagating his +religion by the sword. Peals of anathemas are issued, and +torrents of the lowest calumny are thrown out, against all who +abide by the thirty-nine articles. Pope John’s authority may +have some weight with such men as Messrs. Walter Sellon, +Haddon Smith, and Thomas Olivers; but not an inch beyond +the purlieus of ignorance, prejudice, and superstition will his +dictatorship extend.” “His mode of phraseology is as pregnant +with craft as his conduct is destitute of honour. He first +<em>hatches</em> blasphemy, and then <em>fathers</em> it on others.” “His forehead +must be <em>petrified</em>, and quite impervious to a blush.” “He +sits down, and deliberately <em>writes</em> a known, wilful, palpable lie +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</span> +to the public.” “He is a pitiful nibbler at the file he cannot +bite.” “Thomas Olivers, a <em>journeyman shoemaker</em>, retained +by Mr. Wesley as a lay preacher at the rate of <abbr title="10 pounds">£10</abbr> per +annum, is his bully in chief. <em>In chief</em>, did I say? I had forgot +the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Walter Sellon; prunella claims precedency of +leather; <em>Thomas</em> is only <em>second</em> in commission. Mr. Wesley +skulks for shelter under a cobbler’s apron.” “Has Tom, the +shoemaker, more <em>learning</em>, or more <em>integrity</em>, than John the +priest?” “Without the least heat or emotion, I plainly say, +Mr. Wesley <em>lies</em>.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_181_181" href="#Footnote_181_181" class="fnanchor">[181]</a></p> + +<p>The following is part of Mr. Toplady’s concluding paragraph.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“One word to Mr. Wesley himself, and I have done. Time, sir, has +already whitened your locks; and the hour must shortly come, which +will transmit you to the tribunal of that God, on whose sovereignty a +great part of your life has been one continued assault. At that bar <em>I</em> +too must hold up <em>my</em> hand. Omniscience only can tell, <em>which</em> of us shall +first appear before the Judge of all. I shortly <em>may</em>, you shortly <em>must</em>. +The part you have been permitted to act in the religious world will, sooner +or later, sit heavy on your mind. Depend upon it, a period will arrive +when the Father’s <em>electing</em> mercy and the Messiah’s adorable <em>righteousness</em>, +will appear in <em>your</em> eyes, even in yours, to be the only safe anchorage +for a dying sinner. I mean, unless you are actually given over to final +obduration; which, I trust, you are not; and to which, I most ardently +beseech God, you never may.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Poor young Augustus Toplady, now thirty-one years of +age, after doing his utmost to purge his pamphlet from +offensive expressions, thus, by the electing grace of God, +speaks of a man approaching seventy. Little did he +think, that within seven years he himself would stand +before that bar with which he threatened Wesley; and +that the hoary headed man, who he thought might be “given +over to final obduration,” would be his survivor nearly +thirteen years.</p> + +<p>Besides all this public annoyance, Wesley and Fletcher had +sent to them anonymous letters of the vilest description. Two +may suffice as specimens. Both have Birmingham post +mark, and both were addressed to Fletcher. Both are in +the same handwriting; the orthography of one is correct, but +of the other <em>purposely</em> otherwise. In the first are ink sketches +of Wesley and Fletcher in two pulpits, and pelting each +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</span> +other with Bibles. In the other, Wesley is represented as +being hanged, and Fletcher is shooting him after he is dead. +Take an extract from the first, which, though bad enough, +is not the worst that it contains.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“<span class="smcap">I have</span> sent you a short poem upon parson Wesley.</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0a">‘There wos a man, Hold Wesley by name,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">I rother think yo’ll bee thee same,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">From every porsun he gets tuppence a week⁠—</div> +<div class="verse indent0">I wish hee was hear, and I’d give him a kick.</div> +<div class="verse indent0">He open’d a meeting Inn this town,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">And all the benchees dyd fall doun,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">I was in the meeting at the same tyme,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">But O I cannot find a rheime.</div> +<div class="verse indent0">You preach’d a Charrity sermun wonce,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">And sat in the pulpit like old Punch.’”</div> +</div></div> +</div> + +<p>What had Wesley done to deserve all this? Literally +nothing, except publishing the brief and imperfect minutes +of a conversation he had with his itinerant preachers in 1770, +on the subject of Calvinism; and, further, three small tracts, +one an abridgment of Toplady’s Zanchius; another an answer +to the question, “What is an Arminian?” and the third, “The +Consequence Proved.” This was absolutely the sum total of +his offence so far as the public was concerned. The minutes fill +little more than an octavo page, and contain not the slightest +reflection upon any one under heaven. The description of +an Arminian occupies only eight pages <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, and merely +states, in the most temperate terms, the difference between +the Arminian and Calvinistic creeds. From first to last, the +name of no living man is mentioned, except the name of +Wesley himself. The abridgment of Toplady’s Zanchius +fills only twelve pages <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, and is honestly and fairly made. +The only thing in it, that can, with any degree of fairness, be +considered personal, is the summing up of the principles of +Zanchius, which occupy half-a-dozen lines, and to which Wesley +appended the words, characteristic enough of the young +predestinarian whose translation he was abridging, “Reader, +believe this, or be damned. Witness my hand, <span class="lock">A——</span> <span class="lock">T——.</span>” +Then, in reference to the third tract, “The Consequence +Proved,” the printed matter fills just eight pages <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, and +there is absolutely nothing in it but what is fair argument, +except that Wesley calls Toplady “a young, bold man,” and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</span> +says he will leave him “to be farther corrected by one that is +full his match, Mr. Thomas Olivers.” This is all, literally all; +the first and last; the substance and the details of Wesley’s +offending. The two Hills, one of them not yet forty, and the +other not yet thirty years of age, are never mentioned, or in +the least alluded to, in any of Wesley’s publications just +named. And yet, because an old man, who, for more than +thirty years, had been incessantly traversing the three kingdoms +to preach the gospel of God his Saviour, happens to +express, in the most temperate language, an opinion contrary +to the Calvinian creed, he becomes the butt of the disgraceful +abuse, specimens of which have been given in the previous +pages. For many a long year, Wesley was lampooned in newspapers +and magazines, and in tracts and pamphlets written +by two different classes of literary men—​Samuel Foote, the +comedian, the representative of one, and George Lavington, the +merryandrew bishop, the representative of the other: but now +these were silent; and, in their stead, we have another set of +opponents, far more angry than the former ones, animated by +a spirit quite as bitter, and using opprobrious epithets almost +more offensive; men believing themselves to be among God’s +elect, called, and converted; loud religious professors, and +adepts in the art of railing; profound admirers of the dead +Whitefield, but perfect haters of Whitefield’s surviving friend, +Wesley. In turn, Wesley had encountered mobs and men +of letters, drunken parsons, furious papists, honest infidels, +and others; but, of all his enemies, his last were his bitterest +and worst, Calvinistic Christians!!</p> + +<p>Some will blame the writer for furnishing modern readers +with specimens of the foul mouthed language used, respecting +Wesley, by some of the most flaming professors of Christ’s religion +a hundred years ago. His answer is, the task is far from +pleasant; but without a knowledge of Wesley’s unmerited +and unparalleled persecutions, who can have a just conception +of Wesley’s character? The result of such exposures, +it is true, is not only to enhance the fame of +Wesley, but to blot the history of his opponents. This no +one regrets more deeply than the present writer; but he +cannot help it. Besides, it is a fact, which cannot be denied, +that there are some sins which, even though repented of, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</span> +pardoned, are, in the present world, always punished. A +man rails, and God forgives him; but even forgiveness cannot +prevent his railing injuring his character. Injured fame, in +such a case, is a penalty unavoidable, reasonable, and right.</p> + +<p>We have furnished specimens of the foolish and disgraceful +ravings of Richard and Rowland Hill. What was Wesley’s +reply? There is a quiet irony in one of the entries in his +journal, which is worth quoting: “1772. July. 11—I was +presented with Mr. Hill’s Review, a curiosity in its kind. +But it has nothing to do either with good nature or good +manners; for he is writing to an Arminian. I almost wonder +at his passionate desire to measure swords with me. This is +the third time he has fallen upon me without fear or wit. +<i lang="la">Tandem extorquebis ut vapules.</i>”</p> + +<p>Accordingly, Wesley prepared and published “Some Remarks +on Mr. Hill’s ‘Review of all the Doctrines taught by +Mr. John Wesley.’” This is the tartest of Wesley’s publications, +and not without reason. He writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Mr. Fletcher imagined that his opponents would have received his +words in the same spirit wherein they were spoken; but they turn them +all into poison. He not only loses his sweet words, but they are turned +into bitterness, are interpreted as mere sneer and sarcasm! A good +lesson for me! I had designed to have transcribed Mr. Fletcher’s +character of Mr. Hill,⁠<a id="FNanchor_182_182" href="#Footnote_182_182" class="fnanchor">[182]</a> and to have added a little thereto, in hope of +softening his spirit; but I see it is in vain; as well might one hope +to soften</p> + +<p class="center"> +‘Inexorable Pluto, king of shades!’ +</p> + +<p>“Since he is capable of putting such a construction, even upon Mr. +Fletcher’s gentleness and mildness, what will he not ascribe to me? I +have done, therefore, with humbling myself to these men,—to Mr. Hill +and his associates; I have humbled myself to them for these thirty years, +but will do it no more. I have done with attempting to soften their +spirits; it is all lost labour. Upon men of an ingenuous temper I have +been able to fix an obligation. Bishop Gibson, Dr. Church, and even Dr. +Taylor, were obliged to me for not pushing my advantage. But it is not +so with these; whatever mercy you show, you are to expect no mercy +from them. ‘Mercy,’ did I say? Alas! I expect no justice; no more +than I have found already. As they have wrested and distorted my +words from the beginning, so I expect they will do to the end. Mr. Hill’s +performance is a specimen. Such mercy, such justice, I am to expect! +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</span> +For forty or fifty years, I have been a little acquainted with controversial +writers; some of the Romish persuasion, some of our own Church, some +Dissenters of various denominations; and I have found many among them +as angry as he; but one so bitter I have not found. As a writer, his name +is Wormwood.”</p> +</div> + +<p>This was unsheathing the sword, and casting away the +scabbard.</p> + +<p>Wesley proceeds, in most trenchant style, to defend himself +against Hill’s grand objection, self inconsistency. Our space +renders it impossible to give an outline of Wesley’s answers to +the charges, so recklessly brought against him. The following +is a part of his conclusion:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“I now look back on a train of incidents that have occurred for many +months last past, and adore a wise and gracious Providence, ordering all +things well! When the circular letter was first dispersed throughout +Great Britain and Ireland, I did not conceive the immense good which +God was about to bring out of that evil. But no sooner did Mr. Fletcher’s +first Letters appear than the scene began to open; and the design of +Providence opened more and more, when Mr. Shirley’s Narrative, and +Mr. Hill’s Letters, constrained him to write his Second and Third Checks +to Antinomianism. It was then indisputably clear, that neither my +brother nor I had borne a sufficient testimony to the truth. For many +years, from a well meant, but ill judged, tenderness, we had suffered the +reprobation preachers (vulgarly called ‘gospel preachers’) to spread +their poison, almost without opposition. But, at length, they have +awakened us out of sleep: Mr. Hill has answered for all his brethren, +roundly declaring, that ‘any agreement with election doubters is a covenant +with death.’ It is well: we are now forewarned and forearmed. We +look for neither peace nor truce with any who do not openly and expressly +renounce this diabolical sentiment. But since God is on our side, we +will not fear what man can do unto us. We never before saw our way +clear, to do any more than act on the defensive. But since the circular +letter has sounded the alarm, has called forth all their hosts to war; and +since Mr. Hill has answered the call, drawing the sword, and throwing +away the scabbard; what remains, but to own the hand of God, and make +a virtue of necessity? I will no more desire any Arminian, so called, to +remain only on the defensive. Rather chase the fiend, reprobation, to his +own hell, and every doctrine connected with it. Let none pity or spare +one limb of either speculative or practical antinomianism, or of any +doctrine that naturally tends thereto; only remembering that, however +we are treated by men, who have a dispensation from the vulgar rules of +justice and mercy, we are not to fight them at their own weapons, to return +railing for railing. Those who plead the cause of the God of love are +to imitate Him they serve; and, however provoked, to use no other +weapons than those of truth and love, of Scripture and reason.”</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</span> +Thus did Wesley accept the challenge; and it is not hazarding +too much to make the assertion, that Fletcher’s almost +inimitable polemical productions, and Wesley’s own sermons, +together with his <cite>Arminian Magazine</cite>, started six years afterwards, +did what Wesley wished, namely drove the fiendish +doctrine of reprobation to its “own hell,” and gave a blow to +the Calvinian theory, which has been felt from that time to +this.</p> + +<p>Wesley’s other publications, in 1772, were the following.</p> + +<p>1. A revised and enlarged edition of the minutes of his +conferences.</p> + +<p>2. The issue of eleven volumes of his revised and collected +works, making a little more than 3900 printed <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr> pages.</p> + +<p>3. Two political tracts: one entitled, “Thoughts upon +Liberty”; the other, “Thoughts concerning the Origin of +Power.” The disturbed state of the nation, at this period, has +been already sketched. Junius and John Wilkes were the +arch agitators of the day, and well-nigh drove the nation into +rebellion. Hampson states that, when the Letters of Junius +appeared, Wesley offered his services to the government, and +proposed to answer them, saying, “I will show the difference +between rhetoric and logic.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_183_183" href="#Footnote_183_183" class="fnanchor">[183]</a> We have no means of either +substantiating or contradicting this; but Wesley’s “Thoughts +upon Liberty” fully show that Wilkes, the demagogue, was +no favourite of his, and that King George had no truer or +more loyal subject than the leader of the Methodists.</p> + +<p>In his second tract, Wesley combats the theory, that the +people of a nation are the “origin of power.” He shows that, if +this were true, every man, woman, and child ought to possess +the electoral franchise, and to be allowed to take a part in +constituting parliaments and governmental cabinets. He +taunts, with withering sarcasm, the advocates of such a theory, +on the ground, that they themselves resist the facts their +theory implies, because they allowed none to vote except freeholders +of forty shillings yearly value, and not even them unless +they had arrived at the age of twenty one. “Worse and +worse,” he writes: “after depriving half the human species +of their natural rights for want of a beard; after depriving +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</span> +myriads more for want of a stiff beard, for not having lived one-and-twenty +years; you rob others of their birthright for want +of money! Yet not altogether on this account either; for +here is an Englishman who has money enough to buy the +estates of fifty freeholders, and yet he must not be numbered +among the people because he has not two or three acres of +land.”</p> + +<p>Having shown the absurdities which, as he thinks, the +theory involves, he then concludes: “Common sense brings us +back to the grand truth, ‘There is no power but of God.’”</p> + +<p>Wesley’s tract is little known; but the radical politicians of +the present age would be none the worse for studying the +principles to which it summarily adverts.⁠<a id="FNanchor_184_184" href="#Footnote_184_184" class="fnanchor">[184]</a></p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_152_152" href="#FNanchor_152_152" class="label">[152]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1835, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 804.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_153_153" href="#FNanchor_153_153" class="label">[153]</a> “Encyclopædia Britannica,” article “Slavery.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_154_154" href="#FNanchor_154_154" class="label">[154]</a> Manuscript; and <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1835, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 494.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_155_155" href="#FNanchor_155_155" class="label">[155]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1785, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 167.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_156_156" href="#FNanchor_156_156" class="label">[156]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 43.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_157_157" href="#FNanchor_157_157" class="label">[157]</a> Messrs. Romaine and Madan.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_158_158" href="#FNanchor_158_158" class="label">[158]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1780, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 546.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_159_159" href="#FNanchor_159_159" class="label">[159]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1788, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 217.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_160_160" href="#FNanchor_160_160" class="label">[160]</a> Mrs. Rogers’ manuscript journal.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_161_161" href="#FNanchor_161_161" class="label">[161]</a> Manuscript.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_162_162" href="#FNanchor_162_162" class="label">[162]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1842, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 728.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_163_163" href="#FNanchor_163_163" class="label">[163]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 129.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_164_164" href="#FNanchor_164_164" class="label">[164]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1785, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 169.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_165_165" href="#FNanchor_165_165" class="label">[165]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume three">vol. iii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 449.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_166_166" href="#FNanchor_166_166" class="label">[166]</a> Ibid. <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 369.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_167_167" href="#FNanchor_167_167" class="label">[167]</a> “Memoir of Mrs. Mortimer,” <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 37; and Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume three">vol. iii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 449.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_168_168" href="#FNanchor_168_168" class="label">[168]</a> “Methodism in Halifax,” <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 121.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_169_169" href="#FNanchor_169_169" class="label">[169]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1808, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 482.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_170_170" href="#FNanchor_170_170" class="label">[170]</a> <cite>Irish Evangelist</cite>, April, 1864.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_171_171" href="#FNanchor_171_171" class="label">[171]</a> Wesley justly appends a note to this: “Let the unbiased reader judge, +whether Mr. Fletcher has made use of groundless arguments or bitter +invectives.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_172_172" href="#FNanchor_172_172" class="label">[172]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1785, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 336.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_173_173" href="#FNanchor_173_173" class="label">[173]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 357.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_174_174" href="#FNanchor_174_174" class="label">[174]</a> Mr. George Mackie has the credit of founding this society. He died +in 1821, after being a member of the Methodist society more than fifty +years, and a zealous and respected local preacher for forty.—(<i>Methodist +Magazine</i>, 1821, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 939.) The rules of the Christian Community, published +in 1811, required, that, “in order to admission, every candidate +must have been a member of the late <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> John Wesley’s society twelve +months; a man of strict piety and irreproachable character; and having +a gift for prayer and exhortation.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_175_175" href="#FNanchor_175_175" class="label">[175]</a> The number of services held, indoors and out, during the year 1867, +was 6558, and the number of addresses given 7524.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_176_176" href="#FNanchor_176_176" class="label">[176]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume seven">vol. vii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 390.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_177_177" href="#FNanchor_177_177" class="label">[177]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="pages">pp.</abbr> 130, 131.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_178_178" href="#FNanchor_178_178" class="label">[178]</a> Toplady writes, November 27, 1772: “I am informed, that inveterate +troubler in Israel, Mr. John Wesley, has lately published a fourth squib +against Mr. Hill. What a mercy it is, that the enemies of the gospel, +amidst all their plenitude of malice, have little skill and less power! Mr. +Wesley, considered as a reasoner, is one of the most contemptible writers +that ever set pen to paper!” (Toplady’s Posthumous Works, <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, 1780, +<abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 330.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_179_179" href="#FNanchor_179_179" class="label">[179]</a> Rowland Hill’s Life, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 428.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_180_180" href="#FNanchor_180_180" class="label">[180]</a> Besides the above, there were also published, at this period, the two +following pamphlets, by Jonathan Warne, of Southwark: “Arminianism, +the Back Door to Popery:” price one shilling. And “The Downfall of +Arminianism; or Arminians tried and cast, before the Right Honourable +the Lord Chief Justice Truth, for holding and propagating false opinions +concerning the five following points, viz.: (1) Absolute election; (2) Particular +redemption; (3) The efficacy of God’s grace in conversion; (4) The +impotency of man’s will in conversion; (5) The final perseverance of the +regenerate.” <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, 145 pages.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_181_181" href="#FNanchor_181_181" class="label">[181]</a> The <i>italic</i> words are emphasized in the original.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_182_182" href="#FNanchor_182_182" class="label">[182]</a> Sir Richard Hill did not obtain his title till the death of his father, +in 1783.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_183_183" href="#FNanchor_183_183" class="label">[183]</a> Life of Wesley, <abbr title="volume three">vol. iii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 160.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_184_184" href="#FNanchor_184_184" class="label">[184]</a> To understand some of the allusions, in these two political tracts, it is +necessary to remember that, in 1772, a petition was presented to parliament, +signed by about 250 of the clergy, and a considerable number of +the members of the professions of civil law and physic, praying to be +relieved from the necessity of subscribing to the thirty-nine articles of +the Established Church; and that a bill was passed, in the House of Commons, +annulling that part of the Act of Toleration which authorised the +infliction of heavy penalties upon the ministers, schoolmasters, and +private tutors of Dissenters, unless they subscribed to all the <em>doctrinal</em> +parts of the thirty-nine articles. The bill passed the Commons triumphantly; +the Lords, by a <em>large majority</em>, rejected it!</p></div></div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="1773">1773.</h2> +<hr class="short"> +<p class="center"> +Age 70</p></div> + +<p class="p2 drop-cap"><span class="smcap">The</span> year 1773 will always be memorable in English +annals. It was now that the embryo rebellion in the +American colonies broke out into overt acts. Insults were +offered to the British flag; a British ship of war was boarded +and burnt; and the cargoes of tea, which Lord North had +allowed to be exported from England, duty free, were seized +by rioters and sham Indians, and were discharged into the +ocean with the utmost jubilation. Endless debates took place +in the English parliament; and fearful fights were fought on +the coasts, and in the wilds and prairies of America. George +Washington was made commander in chief; and “The Congress +of the Thirteen United Colonies” was organised. For +long years, the one great absorbing care of the British parliament +was the war in the western world.</p> + +<p>Wesley’s health was still seriously affected; and, hence, he +spent his leisure hours, in the beginning of 1773, in examining +his letters and other manuscripts, so as to determine what he +should leave behind him. He writes: “I made an end of +revising my letters; and could not but make one remark,—that, +for above these forty years, of all the friends who were +once the most closely united, and afterwards separated from +me, every one had separated himself! He left me, not I +him. And from both mine and their own letters, the steps +whereby they did this are clear and undeniable.”</p> + +<p>We have already seen, that Wesley thought of making +Fletcher of Madeley his literary executor; but he now did more +than this. Hence the following letter, sent to Fletcher in January +1773, and written at Shoreham, doubtless at the venerable +Perronet’s, with whom Wesley had gone to take counsel.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>,—What an amazing work has God wrought in these kingdoms, +in less than forty years! And it not only continues, but increases, +throughout England, Scotland, and Ireland; nay, it has lately spread into +New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, and Carolina. But the wise +men of the world say, ‘When Mr. Wesley drops, then all this is at an end!’ +And so surely it will, unless, before God calls him hence, one is found to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</span> +stand in his place. For <span lang="el">Ουκ αγαθον πολυκοιρανια. Εις κοιρανος εστω.</span> I see, +more and more, unless there be one <span lang="el">προεστως</span>, the work can never be carried +on. The body of the preachers are not united; nor will any part of them +submit to the rest; so that, either there must be one to preside over all, or +the work will indeed come to an end.</p> + +<p>“But who is sufficient for these things? qualified to preside both over +the preachers and people? He must be a man of faith and love, and one +that has a single eye to the advancement of the kingdom of God. He +must have a clear understanding; a knowledge of men and things, particularly +of the Methodist doctrine and discipline; a ready utterance; +diligence and activity, with a tolerable share of health. There must be +added to these, favour with the people, with the Methodists in general. +For unless God turn their eyes and their hearts toward him, he will be +quite incapable of the work. He must, likewise, have some degree of +learning; because there are many adversaries, learned as well as unlearned, +whose mouths must be stopped. But this cannot be done, unless he be +able to meet them on their own ground.</p> + +<p>“But has God provided one so qualified? Who is he? <em>Thou art the +man!</em> God has given you a measure of loving faith; and a single eye to +His glory. He has given you some knowledge of men and things; particularly +of the whole plan of Methodism. You are blessed with some +health, activity, and diligence; together with a degree of learning. And +to all these He has lately added, by a way none could have foreseen, +favour both with the preachers and the whole people. Come out, then, +in the name of God! Come to the help of the Lord against the mighty! +Come while I am alive and capable of labour! Come, while I am able, God +assisting, to build you up in faith, to ripen your gifts, and to introduce you +to the people! <i lang="la">Nil tanti.</i> What possible employment can you have, +which is of so great importance?</p> + +<p>“But you will naturally say, ‘I am not equal to the task; I have neither +grace nor gifts for such an employment.’ You say true; it is certain you +have not. And who has? But do you not know <em>Him</em> who is able to give +them? Perhaps not at once, but rather day by day; as each is, so shall +your strength be.</p> + +<p>“‘But this implies,’ you may say, ‘a thousand crosses, such as I feel I +am not able to bear.’ You are not able to bear them <em>now</em>; and they are +not <em>now</em> come. Whenever they do come, will <em>He</em> not send them in due +number, weight and measure? And will they not all be for your profit, +that you may be a partaker of His holiness?</p> + +<p>“Without conferring, therefore, with flesh and blood, come and strengthen +the hands, comfort the heart, and share the labour of your affectionate +friend and brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_185_185" href="#Footnote_185_185" class="fnanchor">[185]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>This was a momentous proposal. Why was it not made to +Wesley’s brother? We cannot tell; but the following is +Fletcher’s answer.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</span> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Madeley</span>, <i>February 6, 1773</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Reverend and dear Sir</span>,—I hope the Lord, who has so wonderfully +stood by you hitherto, will preserve you to see many of your sheep, +and me among the rest, enter into rest. Should Providence call you <em>first</em>, +I shall do my best, by the Lord’s assistance, to help <em>your brother</em> to gather +the wreck, and keep together those who are not absolutely bent upon +throwing away the Methodist doctrine or discipline. Every little help +will then be necessary; and, I hope, I shall not be backward to throw in +my mite.</p> + +<p>“In the meantime, you stand sometimes in need of an assistant to serve +tables, and occasionally to fill up a gap. Providence visibly appointed +me to that office many years ago; and, though it no less evidently called +me here, yet I have not been without doubt, especially for some years +past, whether it would not be expedient that I should resume my place as +your deacon; not with any view of presiding over the Methodists after +you, (God knows!) but to save you a little in your old age, and be in the +way of receiving, and perhaps of doing, more good. I have sometimes +considered how shameful it was that no clergyman should join you, to keep +in the Church the work which the Lord had enabled you to carry on therein; +and, as the little estate I have in my native country is sufficient for my +maintenance, I have thought I would, one day or other, offer you and the +Methodists my <em>free</em> services.</p> + +<p>“While my love of retirement, and my dread of appearing upon a higher +stage than that I stand upon here, made me linger, I was providentially +called to do something in Lady Huntingdon’s plan; but, being shut out +there, it appears to me, I am again called to my first work.</p> + +<p>“Nevertheless, I would not leave this place, without a <em>fuller</em> persuasion +that the time is quite come. Not that God uses me much <em>now</em> among +my parishioners, but because I have not sufficiently cleared my conscience +from the blood of all men, especially with regard to ferreting out the poor, +and expostulating with the rich, who make it their business to fly from me. +In the meantime, it shall be my employment to beg the Lord to give me +light, and make me willing to go anywhere or nowhere, to be anything or +nothing.</p> + +<p>“I have laid my pen aside for some time; nevertheless, I resumed it +last week, at your brother’s request, to go on with my treatise on +Christian perfection. I have made some alterations in the sheets you +have seen, and hope to have a few more ready for your correction, against +the time you come this way. How deep is the subject! What need have +I of the Spirit, to search the deep things of God! Help me by your +prayers, till you can help me by word of mouth.</p> + +<p>“I am, reverend and dear sir, your willing, though unprofitable, servant +in the gospel,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Fletcher</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_186_186" href="#Footnote_186_186" class="fnanchor">[186]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>At the beginning of July, Wesley had an interview with +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</span> +Fletcher at Madeley, and, on reaching London, sent him the +following hitherto unpublished letter.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Lewisham</span>, <i>July 21, 1773</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>,—It was a great satisfaction to me, that I had the opportunity, +which I so long desired, of spending a little time with you. And I +really think it would answer many gracious designs of Providence were +we to spend a little more time together. It might be of great advantage +both to ourselves and the people, who may otherwise soon be as sheep +without a shepherd. You say indeed, ‘whenever it pleases God to call +me away, you will do all you can to help them.’ But will it not then be +too late? You may then expect grievous wolves to break in on every +side; and many to arise from among themselves, speaking perverse things. +Both the one and the other stand in awe of me, and do not care to encounter +me; so that I am able, whether they will or no, to deliver the flock +into your hands. But no one else is. And it seems, this is the very time +when it may be done with the least difficulty. Just now the minds of the +people in general are, on account of the Checks, greatly prejudiced in your +favour. Should we not discern the providential time? Should we stay +till the impression is worn away? Just now, we have an opportunity of +breaking the ice, of making a little trial. Mr. Richardson is desirous of +making an exchange with you, and spending two or three weeks at +Madeley. This might be done either now, or in October, when I hope to +return from Bristol. And till something of this kind is done, you will not +have that <span lang="el">στοργη</span> for the people which alone can make your labour light in +spending and being spent for them. Methinks ’tis pity we should lose +any time; for what a vapour is life!</p> + +<p>“I am, dear sir, your affectionate friend and brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>So the matter ended, though Wesley was far from satisfied. +He writes: “I can never believe it was the will of God, that +such a burning and shining light should be hid under a bushel. +No; instead of being confined to a country village, it ought to +have shone in every corner of our land. He was full as much +called to sound an alarm through all the nation as Mr. Whitefield +himself; nay, abundantly more so; seeing he was far +better qualified for that important work. He had a far more +striking person; equal good breeding; an equally winning +address; together with a richer flow of fancy; a stronger +understanding; a far greater treasure of learning, both in +languages, philosophy, philology, and divinity; and, above all, +a more deep and constant communion with the Father, and +with the Son Jesus Christ.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_187_187" href="#Footnote_187_187" class="fnanchor">[187]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</span> +No wonder that Wesley was anxious for a suitable successor +to take his place. The work of which, in the hand of God, +he was the principal supporter, had not only spread throughout +the three kingdoms, but was rapidly extending beyond the +Atlantic. Already he had four of his itinerants in America; +and, aged and feeble in health though he was, he still entertained +the thought of visiting that distant continent.⁠<a id="FNanchor_188_188" href="#Footnote_188_188" class="fnanchor">[188]</a> Among +others, the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Jarratt wrote him, from Virginia, telling +him that they had ninety-five parishes in the colony, all, excepting +one, supplied with clergymen, but that ninety-three out +of the ninety-four ministers appeared to be without “the power +and spirit of vital religion.” He thanks him for sending his +preachers to America, two of whom, Messrs. Pilmoor and +Williams, were now labouring in Virginia; but asks, “What +can two or three preachers do in such an extended country as +this? Cannot you do something more for us? Cannot you +send us a minister of the Church of England, to be stationed +in the vacant parish? I wish you could see how matters are +among us. This would serve instead of a thousand arguments, +to induce you to exert yourself in this affair.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_189_189" href="#Footnote_189_189" class="fnanchor">[189]</a></p> + +<p>Even this was not all. During the year, Francis Gilbert +wrote to him from Antigua, telling him that “almost the +whole island seemed to be stirred up to seek the Lord.” +There were large congregations and constant preaching in his +brother’s house; and they had, at <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> John’s, a society of twenty +whites and forty blacks. “Here,” says Mr. Gilbert, “is work +enough for three preachers; as almost the entire island seems +ripe for the gospel; yet, I cannot desire you to send them yet, +seeing the people are not at present able to bear the expenses; +for the fire, the hurricane, and the severe droughts have, I +suppose, ruined two thirds of the inhabitants.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_190_190" href="#Footnote_190_190" class="fnanchor">[190]</a></p> + +<p>Affairs in Scotland were scarcely to Wesley’s mind. Writing +to John Bredin, at Aberdeen, he says:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—Observe and enforce all our rules exactly as if +you were in England, or Ireland. By foolish complaisance our preachers, +in Scotland, have often done harm. Be all a Methodist; and strongly +insist on <em>full salvation</em> to be received <em>now</em> by simple <em>faith</em>.</p> + +<p>“I am yours affectionately,</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_191_191" href="#Footnote_191_191" class="fnanchor">[191]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</span> +Joseph Benson had been urged to go to America; but +Wesley deemed it desirable to send him across the Tweed to +put things right in the northern part of the kingdom. “God,” +says he, “has made practical divinity necessary, and the devil +controversial. Sometimes we must write and preach controversially; +but the less the better. I think we have few, if any, +of our travelling preachers, that love controversy; but there +will always be men whose mouth it is necessary to stop; antinomians +and Calvinists in particular. By our long silence, we +have done much hurt, both to them and the cause of God. +The more you preach abroad, the better; keep to the plain, +old Methodist doctrine, laid down in the minutes of the conference. +At Trevecca, you were a little warped from this; +but it was a right hand error. You will be buried in Scotland, +if you sell your mare and sit still. Keep her, and ride continually. +Sit not still, at the peril of your soul and body! +Billy Thompson never satisfied me on this head, not in the +least degree. I say still, we will have travelling preachers in +Scotland, or none. Our preachers shall either travel there, as +in England, or else stay in England.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_192_192" href="#Footnote_192_192" class="fnanchor">[192]</a></p> + +<p>Such were some of the difficulties which this veteran evangelist +had to meet. No wonder that he wished for help.</p> + +<p>Chapel debts, also, still pressed heavily upon him. Hence +the following to Mr. Hopper.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>February 6, 1773.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—I agreed last year, though contrary to my judgment, +that we would have no more weekly subscriptions. I purposed, likewise, +in my own mind, to concern myself with the debt no more. But, +upon reflection, it seemed to me, there was one way still, namely, not to +apply to the poor at all, (though I would not reject any that offered,) but +to take the burden on myself, and try my personal interest with the rich. +I began at London, where about <abbr title="500 pounds">£500</abbr> are subscribed. Afterwards, I +wrote to many in the country. Liverpool circuit has subscribed about +<abbr title="100 pounds">£100</abbr>; Bradford circuit <abbr title="130 pounds">£130</abbr>. It must be now or never. I do not know +that I shall concern myself with this matter any more. Till now we never +had a rational prospect of clearing the whole debt in one year. Now it +may be done. It certainly will, if our brethren, in other circuits, do as +these above mentioned have done. What I desire of you is to second the +letters I have wrote, encouraging each man of property in your circuit to +exert himself; at least, to send me an answer: this, you know, is but +common civility. Now do what you can; and show that you, my old +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</span> +friend, are not the last and least in love towards your affectionate friend +and brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_193_193" href="#Footnote_193_193" class="fnanchor">[193]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>It is now time to trace Wesley’s wanderings in 1773.</p> + +<p>On Sunday evening, March 7, he set out from London +to Ireland, taking, for the first time, his carriage with +him, which, however, he was deprived of the opportunity of +using. He writes: “March 30—I was a little surprised to +find the commissioners of the customs would not permit +my chaise to be landed, because, they said, the captain +of a packet boat had no right to bring over goods. Poor +pretence! However, I was more obliged to them than I then +knew; for had it come on shore, it would have been utterly +spoiled.”</p> + +<p>The result was, that Wesley had to hire a chaise instead +of riding in his own; a vehicle which at Ballibac ferry +went overboard, and, with difficulty, was recovered; and +which, on another occasion, it took five hours to drag +less than a dozen miles; which, in a third instance, was disabled +by the breaking of the hinder axletree; and which, +more than once, was in danger of being dashed to pieces by +furious mobs.</p> + +<p>Everywhere his congregations were large. In many instances, +he had whole troops of soldiers to hear him; and +nowhere did he meet with any serious disturbance, except at +Waterford, where the papists created a riot, in which heavy +blows were given; and at Enniskillen, where a mob again and +again fell upon the unfortunate carriage, cut it with stones in +several places, smashed its windows, and well-nigh covered it +with sludge.</p> + +<p>Three months were spent in itinerating the sister +kingdom. Scores of towns and villages, between Dublin +and Galway, Belfast and Cork, were favoured with his +ministry; and diversified were the incidents with which he +met. At Eyrecourt, the crowd gave him a loud huzza as +he passed into the market place to preach. At Clare, for +want of other accommodation, he was glad to accept a bed +in the soldiers’ barracks. At Castlebar, on finding the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</span> +“Charter school a picture of slothfulness, nastiness, and +desolation; and all the children, not only dirty, but with +their stockings hanging about their heels, and in a most +disreputable plight, he reported the facts to the trustees at +Dublin, with the hope of effecting a reformation.” At +Limerick, William Myles, a youth in the seventeenth year +of his age, was one of Wesley’s hearers, began to meet in +class, and, five years afterwards, became an itinerant +preacher.⁠<a id="FNanchor_194_194" href="#Footnote_194_194" class="fnanchor">[194]</a> At Armagh, he wrote his invaluable sermon “On +Predestination,” preached it at Londonderry, and, at the +request of several of the clergy, published it.⁠<a id="FNanchor_195_195" href="#Footnote_195_195" class="fnanchor">[195]</a> At Armagh, +also, he heard what he had not heard for fifty years,—an +anthem in a church. At Lisburn, all his spare time was +taken up by poor patients, who came to him for physic. He +writes: “What has fashion to do with physic? Why, in +Ireland almost as much as with headdress. Blisters, for anything +or nothing, were all the fashion when I was in Ireland +last. Now the grand fashionable medicine, for twenty +diseases, is mercury sublimate! Why is it not a halter, or a +pistol? They would cure a little more speedily.”</p> + +<p>On the 5th of July, Wesley started for England, having to +hold his annual conference in London. He says: “About +eleven we crossed Dublin bar, and were at Hoylake the next +afternoon. This was the first night I ever lay awake in my +life, though I was at ease in body and mind. I believe few +can say this: in seventy years I never lost one night’s +sleep.”</p> + +<p>Wesley reached the metropolis on the 17th of July; and, +on the 21st, made the following entry in his journal: “We +had our quarterly meeting at London; at which I was surprised +to find, that our income does not yet meet our expense. +We were again near <abbr title="200 pounds">£200</abbr> bad. My private account I find +still worse. I have laboured as much as many writers; and +all my labour has gained me, in seventy years, a debt of five +or six hundred pounds.”</p> + +<p>There is some obscurity in this, as will appear from the +following correspondence.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</span> +“To Messrs. <span class="smcap">Thomas Ball</span> and <span class="smcap">Alexander Mather</span>.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Lewisham</span>, <i>February 27, 1772</i>.<a id="FNanchor_196_196" href="#Footnote_196_196" class="fnanchor">[196]</a> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">The</span> thing which I desire you to do is this, to see that an exact account +be kept of all the books in Great Britain and Ireland, printed and +sold on my account. You comprehend how many particulars are contained +under this general. To do this accurately will require much +thought. But you will bear that burden for God’s sake, and for the sake +of your affectionate brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> + +<p class="center">(Reply.)</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Reverend and dear Sir</span>,—I beg to lay before you Mr. Mather’s account, +sent me by letter of the 18th past, of the gross value of your books, +taken in February and March, 1773; viz.:⁠—</p> + +<table class="smaller"> +<tr><td></td> + <td class="tdc"> <abbr title="pounds">£</abbr></td> + <td class="tdc"> <abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr></td> + <td class="tdc"> <abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">“In London, etc.</td> + <td class="tdr">3754</td> + <td class="tdr">4</td> + <td class="tdr">0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Bristol</td> + <td class="tdr">4253</td> + <td class="tdr">4</td> + <td class="tdr">8</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Country</td> + <td class="tdr">2716</td> + <td class="tdr">1</td> + <td class="tdr">8</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Cash</td> + <td class="tdr">183</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">1</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Debts</td> + <td class="tdr">23</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">1</td></tr> +<tr><td></td> + <td colspan="3"><hr></td> +<tr><td></td> + <td class="tdr pad1">10929</td> + <td class="tdr pad1">15</td> + <td class="tdr pad1">4</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Stock in February, 1772</td> + <td class="tdr">8833</td> + <td class="tdr">0</td> + <td class="tdr">7</td></tr> +<tr><td></td> + <td colspan="3"><hr></td> +<tr><td></td> + <td class="tdr"><abbr title="2096 pounds">£2096</abbr></td> + <td class="tdr">14</td> + <td class="tdr">9</td></tr> +<tr><td></td> + <td colspan="3"><hr></td> +</table> + +<p class="unindent">“Supposed to be owing in March last to printers, binders, etc., <abbr title="500 pounds">£500</abbr>.</p> + +<p class="unindent">“I am, reverend sir, your most obedient and dutiful servant,</p> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Thomas Ball</span>.</p> + +<p class="unindent"> +“Examined 21st September, 1773:—<span class="smcap">Thomas Marriott</span>,<br> +<span style="margin-left: 15em;"><span class="smcap">Richard Kemp</span>.”</span><a id="FNanchor_197_197" href="#Footnote_197_197" class="fnanchor">[197]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>According to the above statement, Wesley was in debt to +printers and binders to the amount of <abbr title="500 pounds">£500</abbr>; but, at the same +time, he was possessed of books whose gross value was nearly +<abbr title="11 pound">£11</abbr>,000. How to reconcile the discrepancy we hardly know. +The facts are furnished as we find them. One thing is certain, +there was something wrong. Some have supposed that +Wesley’s wife had, by means of false keys, obtained access to +the book steward’s cash, and helped herself;⁠<a id="FNanchor_198_198" href="#Footnote_198_198" class="fnanchor">[198]</a> + but of that there +is no conclusive proof; and it is certainly neither generous nor +just to assert the thing without proving it. All that we know +further is, that poor Samuel Franks, the book steward, a man +of great uprightness and earnest piety,⁠<a id="FNanchor_199_199" href="#Footnote_199_199" class="fnanchor">[199]</a> but naturally of a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</span> +sensitive disposition, within a fortnight, fell into a fit of insanity, +and hanged himself.⁠<a id="FNanchor_200_200" href="#Footnote_200_200" class="fnanchor">[200]</a> Without mentioning this, +Wesley writes: “October 6—The rest of the week I made +what inquiry I could into the state of my accounts. Some +confusion had arisen from the sudden death of my bookkeeper; +but it was less than might have been expected.”</p> + +<p>Here we must leave the matter. On the supposition that +Wesley considered his stock of books not his own, but merely +held in trust for the general good, it was quite correct, that, +as the result of his literary labours, he was in debt to the +amount, as he himself says, “of five or six hundred pounds.” +In one respect, he was the possessor of a large amount of +property; in another, he was actually in debt.</p> + +<p>Wesley’s conference began in London on August 3. He +writes: “August 3—Our conference began. I preached +mornings as well as evenings; and it was all one. I found +myself just as strong as if I had preached but once a day.” +Good old simple hearted Samuel Bardsley, then an itinerant +of five years’ standing, writes, in a manuscript letter now +before us: “I never was at a more comfortable conference. +We had a deal of love among us. Dear Mr. Wesley laboured +hard. I had the pleasure of hearing him preach twelve times. +He said, he had not preached so much at a conference these +twenty years, and never was more assisted.”</p> + +<p>It was now that Joseph Bradford was received on trial; +and that Thomas Olivers was appointed to be Wesley’s +travelling companion; honest Bradford taking the place of +Olivers a year afterwards, and retaining it for the next eight +years. Wesley’s effort to extinguish the chapel debts had +resulted in a subscription amounting to <abbr title="2237 pounds">£2237</abbr>. Forty-seven +preachers were present, and, “in order to lay a foundation for +future union,” signed the following agreement.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“<span class="smcap">We</span> whose names are underwritten, being thoroughly convinced of the +necessity of a close union between those whom God is pleased to use as +instruments in this glorious work, in order to preserve this union between +ourselves, are resolved, God being our helper,⁠—</p> + +<p>“<abbr title="One">I.</abbr> To devote ourselves entirely to God: denying ourselves, taking up +our cross daily, steadily aiming at one thing, to save our own souls, and +them that hear us.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</span> +“<abbr title="Two">II.</abbr> To preach the old Methodist doctrines, and no other, contained in +the minutes of the conferences.</p> + +<p>“<abbr title="Three">III.</abbr> To observe and enforce the whole Methodist discipline, laid down +in the said minutes.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley had failed in obtaining the consent of Fletcher to +be his successor; and, hence, the drawing up and signing of +this conferential compact.</p> + +<p>On the first Sunday night, after the conference concluded, +Wesley set out, by coach, on his accustomed tour to Cornwall, +which occupied the next three weeks.</p> + +<p>In returning, he spent a month at Bristol, and among the +societies round about. On October 6, he started in his chaise, +at two o’clock in the morning, and, in the evening, arrived in +London; thus, in one winter’s day, driving in his own conveyance +a distance of one hundred and fourteen miles. The +rest of October, except the Sundays, was spent in what he +calls his “little tours,” through the five counties of Bedford, +Northampton, Oxford, Buckingham, and Kent.</p> + +<p>Ten days, in November, were spent in Norfolk; then he +met the London classes; and afterwards went off to Sussex, +and then to Kent. The last entry in his year’s itinerary is: +“London: December 25, and on the following days, we had +many happy opportunities of celebrating the solemn feast +days, according to the design of their institution. We concluded +the year with a fast day, closed with a solemn watchnight.” +Thus, in observing feast and fast days, ended the +year 1773. One of these, of course, was Christmas day, +another <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Stephen’s, a third <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> John’s, and a fourth the +Innocents’ day. To some it may seem strange, that Wesley, +the Methodist, should observe such festivals as these; but, in +such matters, Wesley was still the Churchman. Besides, +throughout life, it was one of his most sacred delights to think, +not only of the living, but likewise of the dead. On the 12th +of June, in this very year of 1773, he wrote a letter, an extract +from which is worth preserving.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“It has, in all ages, been allowed, that the communion of saints extends +to those in paradise, as well as those on earth, as they are all one body, +united under one Head; and</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0a">‘Can death’s interposing tide</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Spirits one in Christ divide?’</div> +</div></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</span> +“But it is difficult to say, either what kind, or what degree of union, may +be between them. It is not improbable, their fellowship with us is far +more sensible than ours with them. Suppose any of them are present, +they are hid from our eyes, but we are not hid from their sight. They, no +doubt, clearly discern all our words and actions, if not all our thoughts too. +For it is hard to think these walls of flesh and blood can intercept the +view of an angelic being. But we have, in general, only a faint and indistinct +perception of their presence, unless in some peculiar instances, where +it may answer some gracious ends of Divine Providence. Then it may +please God to permit, that they should be perceptible, either by some of +our outward senses, or by an internal sense, for which human language +has not a name. But I suppose this is not a common blessing. I have +known but few instances of it. To keep up constant and close communion +with God is the most likely mean to obtain this also.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_201_201" href="#Footnote_201_201" class="fnanchor">[201]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>Up to the present, nothing has been said concerning the +progress, in 1773, of the Calvinian controversy. Fletcher’s pen +was not idle, but the only works he published were: first, “An +Appeal to Matter of Fact and Common Sense; or, a Rational +Demonstration of Man’s Corrupt and Lost Estate,” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 296 +pages; and, secondly, “A Dreadful Phenomenon Described +and Improved, being a Particular Account of the Earthquake +at Madeley, on May 27, 1773:” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 104 pages. Neither +of these, however, had any immediate bearing on the matters +in dispute.</p> + +<p>On the other side, good old Berridge, of Everton, brought +out his “Christian World Unmasked”; which, if full of faults, +is, at all events, free from dulness; a book, like its author, +often odd, sometimes coarse, but always pious; full of genius, +and full of goodness; seasoned with Calvinism’s highest +flavour, but entirely free from the personal scurrility so characteristic +of others.</p> + +<p>Toplady sent nothing to the press; but his private letters +were as full of bitterness as ever. “I am told,” he writes, +“that Mr. Fletcher has it in contemplation to make an attack +on me. He is welcome. I am ready for him. Tenderness +has no effect on Mr. Wesley and his pretended <em>family of love</em>. +For my own part, I shall never attempt to hew such millstones +with a feather. They must be served as nettles; press them +close, and they cannot sting. Cobbler <em>Tom</em> laments publicly, +from his preaching tub (misnamed a pulpit), that such an +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</span> +antinomian as myself should have such crowded auditories, +while the preachers of the <em>pure gospel</em> (by which he means +<em>free will</em>, <em>merit</em>, and <em>perfection</em>) are so thinly attended. The +envy, malice, and fury of Wesley’s party are inconceivable. +But, as violently as they hate <em>me</em>, I dare not, I cannot hate +<em>them</em> in return. I have not so learned Christ. Your idea of +Mr. John Wesley and his associates exactly tallies with mine. +Abstracted from all warmth, and from all prejudice, I believe +him to be the most rancorous hater of the gospel system that +ever appeared in England. I except not Pelagius himself. +The latter had some remains of modesty, and preserved some +appearances of decency; but the former has outlived all +pretentions to both.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_202_202" href="#Footnote_202_202" class="fnanchor">[202]</a></p> + +<p>Could this impulsive reviler be actually sincere, when he +said he durst not, and could not, hate Wesley and his party?</p> + +<p>Toplady, so far as printing was concerned, was silent; but +Richard Hill begun the year as vigorously as ever, by publishing +his “Finishing Stroke; containing some Strictures on the +<abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Fletcher’s pamphlet, entitled, ‘<span lang="la">Logica Genevensis</span>, +or a Fourth Check to Antinomianism:’” <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, 57 pages. This +characteristic piece is dated January 2, 1773. The author +confesses, that he had formed a resolution to be silent; but +<span lang="la">“Logica Genevensis”</span> was too provoking to be passed in +silence. This, however, was to be the real “finishing stroke.” +Sir Richard writes: “the unfair quotations you have made, +and the shocking misrepresentations and calumnies you have +been guilty of, will, for the future, prevent me from looking +into any of your books, if you should write a thousand +volumes. So here the controversy must end; at least, it shall +end for me.”</p> + +<p>Poor Sir Richard! Such was his resolve; and yet, almost +before the printer’s ink was dry, his godly impetuosity sent +forth another octavo pamphlet, of the same size as the former +one, entitled “<span lang="la">Logica Wesleiensis</span>; or the Farrago Double Distilled. +With an heroic Poem in Praise of Mr. John Wesley:” +63 pages. Hill, as usual, is angry and vindictive. He tells +his readers, that he had never seen Wesley “above four or five +times in his life; once in the pulpit at West Street chapel; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</span> +once at a friend’s house; and once or twice at his own +lodgings in Vine Street.” He writes: “I find it just as easy to +catch an eel by the tail, as to lay hold of Mr. Wesley for one +single moment. Oh, what quirks, quibbles, and evasions does +this gentleman descend to, in order to shift off his own inconsistencies!” +As a specimen of the writer’s “heroic poem,” +we give the following.</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0">“A choice <em>Preservative</em> I have,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">The like was never known;</div> +<div class="verse indent0">With potions, juleps, drops, and pukes,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">Peculiarly my own.</div> + +<div class="stanza"><div class="verse indent0">Help <em>Cobbler</em> Tom, and thou Swiss friend,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">To lay John Calvin’s ghost;</div> +<div class="verse indent0">For what with <em>cynics</em>, <em>bigots</em>, <em>bears</em>,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">I fear the day is lost.</div></div> + +<div class="stanza"><div class="verse indent0">We three shall incantations raise,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">With <em>thunderings</em>, lightnings, hail;</div> +<div class="verse indent0">And if the hobgoblin won’t avaunt,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">I’ll bring my comet’s tail.”</div></div> +</div></div> + +<p>Sir Richard was not content with this. During the year, +he published another octavo pamphlet, of 30 pages, with +the wordy title, “Three Letters written by Richard Hill, +<abbr title="Esquire">Esq.</abbr>, to the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> J. Fletcher, vicar of Madeley, setting forth +Mr. Hill’s Reasons for declining any further Controversy +relative to Mr. Wesley’s Principles.”</p> + +<p>He states, that he has heard that Fletcher “wishes to have +done with controversy;” and upon the strength of this, he +has written to his London bookseller to stop the sale of his +own publications. He begs pardon for “whatever may have +savoured too much of his own spirit”; and says, restraint +should be put upon several of Wesley’s preachers, “particularly +upon one Perronet, of whose superlatively abusive and +insolent little piece Charles Wesley had testified his abhorrence +from the pulpit.” He wishes Wesley to be made +acquainted with the action he has taken, and says: “If I stop +the sale of my books, I hope that of the Four Checks will be +stopped also.” He adds, that his mother’s death had recently +taken place; and then, at the end of his pamphlet, gives +“a proposed title” to Fletcher’s works, and also “A Creed +for Arminians and Perfectionists”; the latter signed by +“J. F., J. W., and W. S.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</span> +Such is the substance of the three letters, which, in the +first instance, were sent to Fletcher privately, and were not +intended for publication. By some means, however, the fact +of the letters having been written became bruited abroad, +and certain hasty logicians deduced the unauthorised inference, +that Sir Richard had recanted his Calvinian doctrines. +This was too bitter a pill to be swallowed; and, +hence, the writer, who was weary of the war, gave his private +letters to the public, and attached to them a preface which +had better not been penned.</p> + +<p>For instance, he speaks of Thomas Olivers as “a journeyman +cordwainer, who had written a pamphlet against him, +which, though in itself <em>black of the grain</em>, was afterwards +<em>lacquered up</em>, <em>new soled</em>, and <em>heel tapped</em> by his master, before +it was exposed to sale.” He adds: “I shall not take the +least notice of him, or read a line of his composition, any +more than, if I was travelling, I would stop to lash, or even +order my footman to lash, every impertinent little quadruped +in a village, that should come out and bark at me; but would +willingly let the contemptible animal have the satisfaction of +thinking he had driven me out of sight.”</p> + +<p>He then proceeds to accuse Fletcher of “misrepresenting +facts,” and of using “artifices, false glosses, pious frauds, +declamation, chicanery, and evasion, to throw dust into the +eyes of his readers;” and concludes, by saying, that though +he cannot read any more of the productions of Fletcher’s pen, +and, therefore, cannot write replies to them, yet, notwithstanding +all in his letters to the contrary, he shall still keep +on sale his “Paris Conversation”; his “Five Letters”; his +“Review of Wesley’s Doctrines”; his “Logica Wesleiensis”; +and his “Finishing Stroke.”</p> + +<p>Such was the position of Sir Richard Hill in 1773. He +wished for peace. Why? Because he was vanquished.</p> + +<p>What action did Wesley take? On the 1st of April was +published, “Some Remarks on Mr. Hill’s Farrago Double +Distilled. By John Wesley.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_203_203" href="#Footnote_203_203" class="fnanchor">[203]</a> <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 44 pages.</p> + +<p>Wesley’s “Remarks” are characterised by his wonted keenness, +courtesy, wit, and brevity. In conclusion, he writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</span> +<p>“I beg leave, in my turn, to give you a few advices. 1. Be calm. Do +not venture into the field again till you are master of your temper. 2. Be +good natured. Passion is not commendable; but ill nature still less. +3. Be courteous. Show good manners, as well as good nature, to your +opponent, of whatever kind. 4. Be merciful. When you have gained +an advantage over your opponent, do not press it to the uttermost. +Remember the honest quaker’s advice to his friend a few years ago: +‘Art thou not content to lay John Wesley upon his back, but thou wilt +tread his guts out?’ 5. In writing, do not consider yourself as a man of +fortune, or take any liberty with others on that account. Men of sense +simply consider what is written; not whether the writer be a lord or a +cobbler. 6. Lastly, Remember, ‘for every idle word men shall speak, +they shall give an account in the day of judgment.’ Remember, ‘by thy +words shalt thou be justified; or by thy words shalt thou be condemned.’”</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley’s other publications, in 1773, were nine <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr> +volumes of his collected works, making together 3439 pages. +In these were included five small works, now first published: +namely,—1. “An Extract of Two Discourses on the Conflagration +and Renovation of the World: written by James +Knight, <abbr title="Doctor of Divinity">D.D.</abbr>, late Vicar of <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Sepulchre, London;” in +which, by the way, a theory is propounded antagonistic to +the millenarian theory, which Wesley countenanced some +years before. 2. “An Extract from a Treatise concerning +Religious Affections: by the late <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Jonathan Edwards.” +3. “A Short Account of John Dillon.” 4. “Instructions +for Members of Religious Societies.” 5. “Christian Reflections. +Translated from the French.” These “Reflections” +are three hundred and thirty-six in number. We give one +as a specimen of the rest. “The three greatest punishments +which God can inflict on sinners, in this world, are: 1. To +let loose their own desires upon them. 2. To let them +succeed in all they wish for. And, 3. To suffer them to +continue many years in the quiet enjoyment thereof.”</p> + +<p>Besides the above, Wesley also published “A Short +Roman History.” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 155 pages.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_185_185" href="#FNanchor_185_185" class="label">[185]</a> Whitehead’s Life of Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 355.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_186_186" href="#FNanchor_186_186" class="label">[186]</a> Moore’s Life of Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 259.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_187_187" href="#FNanchor_187_187" class="label">[187]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume eleven">vol. xi.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 288.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_188_188" href="#FNanchor_188_188" class="label">[188]</a> Asbury’s Journal, <abbr title="volume one">vol. i.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 72.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_189_189" href="#FNanchor_189_189" class="label">[189]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1786, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 397.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_190_190" href="#FNanchor_190_190" class="label">[190]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1786, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 567.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_191_191" href="#FNanchor_191_191" class="label">[191]</a> <cite>Wesleyan Times</cite>, May 13, 1861.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_192_192" href="#FNanchor_192_192" class="label">[192]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="pages">pp.</abbr> 391, 392.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_193_193" href="#FNanchor_193_193" class="label">[193]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 291.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_194_194" href="#FNanchor_194_194" class="label">[194]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1831, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 290.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_195_195" href="#FNanchor_195_195" class="label">[195]</a> Ibid. 1782, <abbr title="pages">pp.</abbr> 505, 565.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_196_196" href="#FNanchor_196_196" class="label">[196]</a> Query: ought not this to be 1773?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_197_197" href="#FNanchor_197_197" class="label">[197]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1842, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 1013.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_198_198" href="#FNanchor_198_198" class="label">[198]</a> Manuscript.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_199_199" href="#FNanchor_199_199" class="label">[199]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1842, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 1012.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_200_200" href="#FNanchor_200_200" class="label">[200]</a> Manuscript.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_201_201" href="#FNanchor_201_201" class="label">[201]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1805, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 520.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_202_202" href="#FNanchor_202_202" class="label">[202]</a> Toplady’s Posthumous Works, 1780, <abbr title="pages">pp.</abbr> 343\–346.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_203_203" href="#FNanchor_203_203" class="label">[203]</a> <cite>Lloyd’s Evening Post</cite>, April 2, 1773.</p></div></div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="1774">1774.</h2> +<hr class="short"> +<p class="center"> +Age 71</p></div> + +<p class="p2 drop-cap"><span class="smcap">References</span> have been made to the state of Wesley’s +health. His labours had been undiminished, and yet +many of his friends had been anxious and alarmed. John +Pawson, in an unpublished letter, dated Bristol, October 14, +1773, remarks: “Mr. Wesley has been with us for some +time. He seems to be declining very fast; and I think +there is great reason to fear that he will not be with us +long.” There was sufficient cause for solicitude. Wesley’s +pain, during the last three years, must have been acute; +and it is perfectly marvellous how he managed, without a +murmur, and without abatement, to do the whole of his +accustomed work. At the beginning of 1774, the matter +reached its crisis. He writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“January 4—Three or four years ago, a stumbling horse threw me +forward on the pommel of the saddle. I felt a good deal of pain; but it +soon went off, and I thought of it no more. Some months after, I +observed <i lang="la">testiculum alterum altero duplo majorem esse</i>. I consulted a +physician; he told me it was a common case, and did not imply any +disease at all. In May twelvemonth, it was grown near as large as a +hen’s egg. Being then at Edinburgh, Dr. Hamilton insisted on my +having the advice of Drs. Gregory and Munro. They immediately saw +it was a hydrocele, and advised me, as soon as I came to London, to aim +at a radical cure, which they judged might be effected in about sixteen +days. When I came to London, I consulted Mr. Wathen. He advised +me—(1) Not to think of a radical cure, which could not be hoped for, +without my lying in one posture fifteen or sixteen days; and he did not +know whether this might not give a wound to my constitution, which I +should never recover. (2) To do nothing while I continued easy. And +this advice I was determined to take. Last month, the swelling was often +painful. So on this day Mr. Wathen performed the operation, and drew +off something more than half a pint of a thin, yellow, transparent water. +With this came out, to his no small surprise, a pearl of the size of a small +shot; which he supposed might be one cause of the disorder, by occasioning +a conflux of humours to the part.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Such is Wesley’s own simple statement. The disease was +unquestionably a serious one; and, yet, it is a surprising fact, +that, only a week after the surgical operation, he was again +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</span> +in harness, and as actively employed as ever. Hence the +following: “Tuesday, January 11—I began, at the east end +of the town, to visit the society from house to house. I +know no branch of the pastoral office which is of greater +importance than this. But it is so grievous to flesh and +blood, that I can prevail on few, even of our preachers, to +undertake it.”</p> + +<p>Wesley’s zeal for the extension of his Saviour’s kingdom +would hardly let him rest when rest was requisite. His long +life was an unbroken scene of gigantic action. He worked +as though nothing could be done without his working; and +yet no man more practically acknowledged, that all his +work, without God’s blessing, would amount to nothing. +Hence, not only his own ceaseless prayers for the help and +co-operation of his great Master, but also his appointment +of fast days to be observed by the thousands of his followers. +Many of these are mentioned in his journals, but many were +observed without being mentioned. One of these occurred +at the time of which we are now writing. “Yesterday,” +says Samuel Bardsley, on January 25, 1774, “yesterday I +got a letter from Mr. Wesley, informing me that the 28th +instant is to be observed as a day of fasting and prayer for +the prosperity of the gospel.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_204_204" href="#Footnote_204_204" class="fnanchor">[204]</a> Numbers of such days were +appointed. No wonder Wesley prospered.</p> + +<p>The first two months of 1774 were chiefly spent in +London; and, on March 6, Wesley set out on his northern +visitation, which, as usual, occupied his time till the conference +was held in August. This journey has been so often +traversed, that we shall no longer follow Wesley step by step; +but merely advert to its chief incidents.</p> + +<p>At Wolverhampton he was met by his friend Fletcher, of +Madeley, and says: “March 22—At five in the morning I +explained that important truth, that God trieth us every +moment, weighs all our thoughts, words, and actions, and is +pleased or displeased with us, according to our works. I see +more and more clearly, that there is a great gulf fixed +between us and all those, who, by denying this, sap the +very foundation both of inward and outward holiness.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</span> +When he had travelled as far as Congleton, he received +intelligence which compelled him to retrace his steps, and go +back to Bristol. The entry in the journal of this old man of +more than seventy is a curiosity. “Wednesday, March 30—I +went on to Congleton, where I received letters, informing me +that my presence was necessary at Bristol. So, about one, I +took chaise, and reached Bristol about half an hour after one +the next day. Having done my business in about two hours, +on Friday in the afternoon I reached Congleton again, about +a hundred and forty miles from Bristol, no more tired (blessed +be God!) than when I left it.” This is marvellous. Here we +have a septuagenarian, in feeble health, travelling, not by +railway, nor yet by coach, but in his own private chaise, in a +wintry month, and on roads not macadamised, a distance of +two hundred and eighty miles in about eight-and-forty hours, +and then quietly sitting down and, without bombast, but with +profound gratitude, recording the fact in the language above +given. Can biography furnish a parallel to this? We doubt it.</p> + +<p>On Easter day, April 3, Wesley writes: “I went on to +Macclesfield, and came just in time (so is the scene changed +here) to walk to the old church, with the mayor and the two +ministers.”</p> + +<p>Here we pause, to notice a man, who afterwards, not only +distinguished himself by his pen and ministerial labours, but +became one of Wesley’s sincerest and warmest friends.</p> + +<p>One of the “two ministers,” referred to in this extract, was +David Simpson, now a young man of twenty-eight. Born at +Ingleby Arncliffe, in Yorkshire, and educated at Northallerton, +and at Scorton, he, in 1766, entered <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> John’s college, Cambridge, +where he became acquainted with Rowland Hill, and +a select society of devout collegians, and was converted. On +leaving college, he was ordained, and accepted the curacy of +Ramsden in Essex. He then removed to Buckingham, where, +by his extempore preaching of justification by faith, and the +nature and necessity of the new birth, he provoked alike the +hostility of the surrounding clergy and the sneers of unconverted +laics. About the year 1772, he accepted the invitation +of Charles Roe, <abbr title="Esquire">Esq.</abbr>, to his residence at Macclesfield, and +soon became curate of what Wesley calls “the old church,” +but which, at that period, was the only church that Macclesfield +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</span> +possessed. Here he married Miss Waldy, of Yarm, a +young lady of distinguished excellence and piety, who died +within six months after Wesley’s visit, leaving to her young +husband the care of an infant daughter. Mr. Simpson’s +faithful ministry was as much disliked at Macclesfield as it +had been at Buckingham. Complaints of his Methodism +were made to his diocesan, and twice he was suspended for +preaching doctrines, to which, as a clergyman of the Church +of England, he had solemnly subscribed. Expelled from the +pulpit of the church, he began to preach in the adjacent towns +and villages. Just at this juncture, the prime curacy of the +church became vacant, and, the nomination being an appendage +to the office of the mayor for the time being, Mr. Gould made +him the offer, and had the pleasure of seeing it accepted. To +prevent Simpson’s induction, a petition, with seventeen articles +of accusation, was transmitted to the bishop of Chester, all of +which might be reduced to one, namely, that he was a Methodist. +In reply, he says, in a letter to his lordship: “This is +true. My method is to preach the great truths of the gospel, +in as plain, and earnest, and affectionate a manner as I am +able. Some, hereby, have become seriously concerned about +their salvation. The change is soon discovered; they meet +with one or another, who invite them to attend the meetings of +the Methodists, by which their number” (the Methodists) “is +increased to a considerable degree. This is the truth. I own +the fact. I confess myself unequal to the difficulty. What +would your lordship advise?” Such was the conflict. Before +it came to an issue, Mr. Roe, at his own expense, erected a +church, of which Mr. Simpson became incumbent in 1775, +relinquishing, at the same time, the curacy which had been a +bone of contention. Here he continued to exercise his successful +ministry until 1799, when he peacefully expired.</p> + +<p>Among many others, who were benefited by Simpson’s +preaching, was a young female, eighteen years of age, who, +on the very day of Wesley’s visit, above recorded, found peace +with God, at Simpson’s sacramental service, and afterwards +became the Hester Ann Rogers, whose journals and letters +have been read by myriads.</p> + +<p>On leaving Macclesfield, Wesley proceeded to Manchester +and other places. At Bury, Methodism had been cradled in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</span> +a storm. On some occasions, the people were besmeared with +the most offensive filth; and on others were disturbed in their +devotions by a huntsman blowing the hunter’s horn. Again and +again the vicar frustrated their attempts to erect a chapel; +but, at length, land at Pitts o’ th’ Moor was bought; the poor +Methodists dug the clay and burnt the bricks; some worked +by day, and others watched by night; and now, in 1774, the +building was completed, and, on the 15th of April, Wesley +preached in it.</p> + +<p>Leaving Lancashire for Yorkshire, Wesley had, for him, +the unusual honour of preaching on April 17 and 18, in three +different churches, at Halifax, Huddersfield, and Heptonstall; +and, on the Sunday following, he occupied the same position +in the church at Haworth. A few days later, we find him in +Scotland, preaching “to a people, the greatest part of whom,” +says he, “hear much, know everything, and feel nothing.” +Here, he tells us, he heard sermons, which unfortunately are +too common at the present day,—sermons full of truth, “but no +more likely to awaken souls than an Italian opera;” and, hence, +he himself began to thunder about death, and judgment, and +eternity. At Glasgow, Methodist matters were not at all to +his satisfaction. “How is it,” he asks, “that there is no increase +in the society here? It is exceeding easy to answer. +One preacher stays here two or three months at a time, +preaching on Sunday mornings, and three or four evenings in +a week. Can a Methodist preacher preserve either bodily +health, or spiritual life, with this exercise? And if he is but +half alive, what will the people be?”</p> + +<p>At Greenock, he found the same fault; and, at Edinburgh, +writes: “Here, likewise, the morning preaching had been +given up; consequently the people were few, dead, and cold. +Things must be remedied, or we must quit the ground.”</p> + +<p>Wesley attended a Scotch funeral, with which he was disgusted. +“O what a difference,” says he, “is there between +the English and Scotch method of burial! The English does +honour to human nature; and even to the poor remains, that +were once the temple of the Holy Ghost! But when I see in +Scotland a coffin put into the earth, and covered up without +a word, it reminds me of what was spoken of Jehoiakim, ‘He +shall be buried with the burial of an ass!’”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</span> +At Perth, he says, the generality of the people were so wise, +that they needed no more knowledge, and so good, that they +needed no more religion; and, hence, he gave them three +thundering sermons, two of them on hell and the day of +judgment.</p> + +<p>Wesley’s great difficulty in Scotland was the objection to +itinerancy. “I have written,” says he, in a letter dated October +16, 1774, “to Dr. Hamilton, that Edinburgh and Dunbar +must be supplied by one preacher. While I live, itinerant +preachers shall be itinerants: I mean, if they choose to remain +in connection with me. The society at Greenock are entirely +at their own disposal: they may either have a preacher between +them and Glasgow, or none at all. But more than one +between them they cannot have. I have too much regard +both for the bodies and souls of our preachers, to let them +be confined to one place any more. I have weighed the +matter, and will serve the Scots as we do the English, or leave +them.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_205_205" href="#Footnote_205_205" class="fnanchor">[205]</a></p> + +<p>The above was addressed to Joseph Benson, at this time +stationed in Scotland, and who has left a memento of Wesley’s +visit which is worth quoting. “I was,” says he, “constantly +with him for a week. I had an opportunity of examining narrowly +his spirit and conduct; and, I assure you, I am more +than ever persuaded, he is a <em>none such</em>. I know not his fellow, +first, for abilities, natural and acquired; and, secondly, for +his incomparable diligence in the application of those abilities +to the best of employments. His lively fancy, tenacious +memory, clear understanding, ready elocution, manly courage, +indefatigable industry, really amaze me. I admire, but wish +in vain to imitate, his diligent improvement of every moment +of time; his wonderful exactness even in little things; the +order and regularity wherewith he does and treats everything +he takes in hand; together with his quick dispatch of business, +and calm, cheerful serenity of soul. I ought not to omit +to mention, what is very manifest to all who know him, his +resolution, which no shocks of opposition can shake; his +patience, which no length of trials can weary; his zeal for the +glory of God and the good of man, which no waters of persecution +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</span> +or tribulation have yet been able to quench. Happy +man! Long hast thou borne the burden and heat of the day, +amidst the insults of foes, and the base treachery of seeming +friends; but thou shalt rest from thy labours, and thy works +shall follow thee!”⁠<a id="FNanchor_206_206" href="#Footnote_206_206" class="fnanchor">[206]</a></p> + +<p>On the 10th of June, Wesley reached Newcastle, and, on +the day after, set out for Wolsingham and the dales. Returning +to Newcastle, he and his wife’s daughter, and two grandchildren, +had a marvellous escape from danger and death, in +which Wesley believed that angels, both good and bad, took +part. The narrative cannot be given in fewer or better words +than in his own. We merely premise, that Horsley is a +village a few miles west of Newcastle; and that Mr. Smith +had married Mrs. Wesley’s daughter. Wesley writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Monday, June 20—About nine, I set out for Horsley, with Mr. +Hopper and Mr. Smith. I took Mrs. Smith, and her two little girls, in +the chaise with me. About two miles from the town, just on the brow of +the hill, on a sudden both the horses set out, without any visible cause, +and flew down the hill, like an arrow. In a minute, John fell off the +coach box. The horses then went on full speed, sometimes to the edge +of the ditch on the right, sometimes on the left. A cart came up against +them; they avoided it as exactly as if the man had been on the box. A +narrow bridge was at the foot of the hill. They went directly over the +middle of it. They ran up the next hill with the same speed; many +persons meeting us, but getting out of the way. Near the top of the hill +was a gate, which led into a farmer’s yard. It stood open. They turned +short, and run through it, without touching the gate on one side, or the +post on the other. I thought, ‘The gate which is on the other side of the +yard, and is shut, will stop them’; but they rushed through it, as if it had +been a cobweb, and galloped on through the cornfield. The little girls +cried out, ‘Grandpapa, save us!’ I told them, ‘Nothing will hurt you: +do not be afraid’; feeling no more fear or care than if I had been sitting +in my study. The horses ran on, till they came to the edge of a steep +precipice. Just then Mr. Smith, who could not overtake us before, +galloped in between. They stopped in a moment. Had they gone on +ever so little, he and we must have gone down together!”</p> +</div> + +<p>This was one of the narrowest escapes from death that +Wesley ever had; and his remarks upon it are worth adding.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“I am persuaded, that both evil and good angels had a large share in +this transaction: how large we do not know now; but we shall know +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</span> +hereafter. I think some of the most remarkable circumstances were: +(1) Both the horses, which were tame and quiet as could be, starting out +in a moment, just at the top of the hill, and running down full speed. +(2) The coachman’s being thrown on his head with such violence, +and yet not hurt at all. (3) The chaise running again and again to the +edge of each ditch, and yet not into it. (4) The avoiding the cart. (5) The +keeping just the middle of the bridge. (6) The turning short through the +first gate, in a manner that no coachman in England could have turned +them, when in full gallop. (7) The going through the second gate as if it +had been but smoke, without slackening their pace at all. This would +have been impossible, had not the end of the chariot pole struck exactly +on the centre of the gate; whence the whole, by the sudden impetuous +shock, was broke into small pieces. Lastly, that Mr. Smith struck in +just then: in a minute more we had been down the precipice. ‘Let those +give thanks whom the Lord hath redeemed, and delivered from the hand +of the enemy!’”</p> +</div> + +<p>Newcastle was one of Wesley’s favourite haunts. However +cruelly his wife treated him, her daughter and her son in law, +Mr. and Mrs. Smith, always seem to have shown him kindness; +and, hence, he always appeared to quit Newcastle with +reluctance. He writes: “June 27—I took my leave of this +lovely place and people.” The next day was his birthday, +which he celebrated as follows: “This being the first day +of my seventy-second year, I was considering, How is this, +that I find just the same strength as I did thirty years ago? +that my sight is considerably better now, and my nerves +firmer, than they were then? that I have none of the infirmities +of old age, and have lost several I had in my +youth? The grand cause is, the good pleasure of God, +who doeth whatsoever pleaseth Him. The chief means are: +(1) My constantly rising at four, for about fifty years. (2) My +generally preaching at five in the morning; one of the most +healthy exercises in the world. (3) My never travelling +less, by sea or land, than four thousand five hundred miles +a year.”</p> + +<p>Some will smile at this; but those who think, will hardly +doubt, that the three things mentioned, so far from injuring +health and shortening life, were among the likeliest of all +likely things to be the means of preserving the one, and extending +the other.</p> + +<p>It is scarcely necessary to follow Wesley, in his wanderings +through Durham, through the three ridings of the county +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</span> +of York, and through Lincolnshire; and then right away +through Madeley, Worcester, and Cheltenham, to Bristol, +where he arrived on August 6. The reader can easily +find all this in his journal; we here prefer to give a few +extracts from his letters.</p> + +<p>Reference has just been made to Wesley’s vigour. We +incline to think that, on his birthday, in the bright month +of June, he was sometimes more jubilant than facts warranted. +At all events, the following extract from a letter to +his brother, written within two months before his birthday +came, is scarcely in harmony with what was written then.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Whitehaven</span>, <i>May 6, 1774</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Brother</span>,—Duty is all I consider. Trouble and reproach +I value not. And I am by no means clear, that I can, with a good +conscience, throw away what I think the providence of God has put into +my hands. Were it not for the chancery suit, I should not hesitate a +moment.</p> + +<p>“My complaint increases by slow degrees, much the same as before. +It seems, I am likely to need a surgeon every nine or ten weeks. Mr. +Hey, of Leeds, vehemently advises me, never to attempt what they call a +radical cure.</p> + +<p>“I never said a word of ‘publishing it after my death.’⁠<a id="FNanchor_207_207" href="#Footnote_207_207" class="fnanchor">[207]</a> I judged it +my duty to publish it now; and I have as good a right to believe one +way as any man has to believe another. I was glad of an opportunity +of declaring myself on the head. I beg Hugh Bold to let me think as +well as himself; and to believe my judgment will go as far as his. I +have no doubt of the substance, both of Glanvil’s and Cotton Mather’s +narratives.⁠<a id="FNanchor_208_208" href="#Footnote_208_208" class="fnanchor">[208]</a> Therefore, in this point, you that are otherwise minded, +bear with me. <i lang="la">Veniam petimusque damusque vicissim.</i> Remember, I +am, upon full consideration, and seventy years’ experience, just as +obstinate in my opinion as you in yours. Do not you think, the disturbances +in my father’s house were a Cock Lane story? Peace be with +you and yours!</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span>”<a id="FNanchor_209_209" href="#Footnote_209_209" class="fnanchor">[209]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Such was Wesley’s reply to his brother’s remonstrance +against the publication of his opinions on witchcraft and +apparitions. The next letter, addressed to a lady in Ireland, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</span> +refers to two important matters,—the Calvinian controversy, +and Wesley’s method of dealing with contumacious +Methodists.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Leeds</span>, <i>May 2, 1774</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Sister</span>,—Until Mr. Hill and his associates puzzled the +cause, it was as plain as plain could be. The Methodists always held, and +have declared a thousand times, the death of Christ is the meritorious +cause of our salvation; that is, of pardon, holiness, and glory: loving, +obedient faith is the condition of glory. This Mr. Fletcher has so +illustrated and confirmed, as, I think, scarcely any one has done before +since the apostles.</p> + +<p>“When Mr. W. wrote me a vehement letter concerning the abuse +he had received from the young men in Limerick, and his determination +to put them all out of society, if they did not acknowledge their fault, +I much wondered what could be the matter, and only wrote him word, +‘I never put any out of our society for anything they say of me.’</p> + +<p>“Your ever affectionate</p> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_210_210" href="#Footnote_210_210" class="fnanchor">[210]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>The ensuing letters have relation to a book, an abridgment +of which Wesley afterwards published, and concerning +which some of his admirers have felt puzzled, and others +pained. This is not the place for a disquisition on novels and +novel reading; but it is a curious fact, that Wesley, the +earnest and untiring evangelist, found time, not only to read +a novel, but to print it.</p> + +<p>Henry Brooke, <abbr title="Esquire">Esq.</abbr>, an Irish barrister, was the son of +an Irish rector; and, besides a number of plays and poems, +in four volumes, <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, was the author of two novels, “The +Fool of Quality,” and “Juliet Grenville.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_211_211" href="#Footnote_211_211" class="fnanchor">[211]</a> His nephew, +Henry, was a devoted Methodist, a friend of Fletcher, and +one of Wesley’s correspondents. “The Fool of Quality” was +first published, in five <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, in 1766, and was thus criticised +in the <cite>Monthly Review</cite> of that period. “A performance enriched +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</span> +by genius, enlivened by fancy, bewildered with enthusiasm, +and overrun with the visionary jargon of fanaticism. +We wish the author would give us an abridgment, cleared +from the sanctimonious rubbish by which its beauties are so +much obscured. In its present state, it will be a favourite only +with Behmenites, Herrnhutters, Methodists, Hutchinsonians, +and some of the Roman Catholics.”</p> + +<p>This was the book which Wesley read, and concerning +which he wrote to Henry Brooke, the author’s nephew.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Hull</span>, <i>July 8, 1774</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Harry</span>,—When I read over, in Ireland, ‘The Fool of Quality,’ +I could not but observe the design of it, to promote the religion of the +heart, and that it was well calculated to answer that design; the same +thing I observed, a week or two ago, concerning ‘Juliet Grenville.’ Yet, +there seemed to me to be a few passages, both in the one and the other, +which might be altered for the better; I do not mean, so much with +regard to the sentiments, which are generally very just, as with regard to +the structure of the story, which seemed here and there to be not quite +clear. I had, at first, a thought of writing to Mr. Brooke himself, but I +did not know whether I might take the liberty. Few authors will thank +you, for imagining you are able to correct their works. But, if he could +bear it, and thinks it would be of any use, I would give another reading +to both these works, and send him my thoughts without reserve, just as +they occur. I am, etc.,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_212_212" href="#Footnote_212_212" class="fnanchor">[212]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>The answer to this was as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Dublin</span>, <i>August 6, 1774</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Reverend Sir</span>,—My uncle’s health is greatly impaired.⁠<a id="FNanchor_213_213" href="#Footnote_213_213" class="fnanchor">[213]</a> + A kind of +vertigo continues not only to enfeeble his limbs, but to interrupt his study +and writing. However, I trust, as his outward man decays, his inward +man is renewed daily.</p> + +<p>“He is deeply sensible of your very kind offer, and most cordially embraces +it. He has desired me to express the warmth of his gratitude in +the strongest terms, and says he most cheerfully yields the volumes you +mention, to your superior judgment, to prune, erase, and alter as you +please. He only wishes, they could have had your eye before they +appeared in public. But it is not yet too late. A second edition will +appear with great advantage, when they have undergone so kind a revisal. +But he is apprehensive, your time is so precious, that it may be too great +an intrusion upon it, unless made a work of leisure and opportunity. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</span> +Yet, as you have proffered it, he will not give up the privilege; but hopes +leisure may be found for so friendly and generous a work.</p> + +<p>“I am, reverend sir, your most affectionate friend and brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">H. Brooke</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_214_214" href="#Footnote_214_214" class="fnanchor">[214]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Perhaps there have been published as many portraits of +Wesley as of any man that ever lived. The year 1774 was, +in this respect, remarkable. At its commencement, Wesley +writes: “I was desired by Mrs. Wright, of New York, to let +her take my effigy in waxwork. She has that of Mr. Whitefield +and many others; but none of them, I think, comes up +to a well drawn picture.” Query, what has become of this +waxwork effigy? Besides the waxwork figure, there were +others. From the manuscript letters of Samuel Bardsley, we +learn that, already, the potters of Staffordshire had printed +his likeness on their crockery; and Mr. Voyes of Corbridge +had had it engraved on the seals he sold.</p> + +<p>These are little facts; but they indicate Wesley’s growing +popularity. The people ask for the portraits of public men +only. A man must be notorious before the masses wish to +see him. Thus it was in the case of Wesley. For five-and-thirty +years, he had been before the public. No man had +been more bitterly persecuted by his enemies; and no man +was more ardently beloved by his friends. His fame had +spread throughout the three kingdoms; and all sorts of +artists began to use him for their own advantage.</p> + +<p>Wesley was not fond of sitting for his portrait, though this +was often done. On one occasion, while dining with a friend, +in the neighbourhood of Blackfriars, an eminent artist offered +him ten guineas as a bribe, to induce him to allow a cast of +his face to be taken. “No,” said Wesley, “keep your money, +and urge me no further.” “Sir,” said the artist, “I will not +detain you more than three minutes.” Wesley consented; the +cast was taken; and so also was the money: but no sooner +was Wesley out of doors, than he saw an agitated crowd, surrounding +an auctioneer, who was about to sell, not only the +furniture of a poor debtor, but the bed upon which he was +actually dying. In an instant, Wesley rushed into the throng, +seized the arm of the auctioneer, and cried, “What’s the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</span> +debt?” “Ten guineas,” was the answer. “Take it,” said +Wesley, “and let the poor man have his furniture again;” +and, then turning to John Broadbent, who was with him, he +quietly observed, “Brother Broadbent, I see why God sent +me these ten guineas.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_215_215" href="#Footnote_215_215" class="fnanchor">[215]</a></p> + +<p>Methodism in America has been mentioned. The work +there was now greatly growing. Twelve months before, +Wesley had sent out one of his favourite preachers, Thomas +Rankin, to act as a sort of generalissimo. Perhaps a wiser +selection might have been made. At all events, Rankin’s +honest hearted brusqueness sometimes gave offence. Boardman +and Pilmoor, and Asbury, were all predecessors in point +of time; but they and four other itinerants had now to recognise +Rankin as their chief. In age and ministerial standing, +they were nearly equal; but Rankin, by Wesley’s favour, had +the preeminence. Asbury winced, but was too good a man +to raise rebellion. He writes: “1774, May 25—Our conference +began at Philadelphia. The overbearing spirit of a certain +person had excited my fears. My judgment was stubbornly +opposed for a while, and, at last, submitted to. But it is my +duty to bear all things with a meek and patient spirit. Our +conference was attended with great power, and all acquiesced +in the future stations of the preachers. If I were not deeply +conscious of the truth and goodness of the cause in which I +am engaged, I should, by no means, stay here. Lord, what a +world is this! yea, what a religious world!”⁠<a id="FNanchor_216_216" href="#Footnote_216_216" class="fnanchor">[216]</a></p> + +<p>Within two years, the entire band were scattered by the +colonial rebellion, and apostolic Asbury was the only one +remaining. Meanwhile, Rankin sent to Wesley an account of +the first Methodist conference in America, and Wesley replied +to him as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Epworth</span>, <i>July 21, 1774</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Tommy</span>,—In yours of May the 30th, you give me an agreeable +account of your little conference in Philadelphia. I think G. Shadford +and you desire no novelties, but love good old Methodist discipline and +doctrine. I have been lately thinking a good deal on one point, wherein, +perhaps, we have all been wanting. We have not made it a rule, as soon +as ever persons were justified, to remind them of going on to perfection. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</span> +Whereas, this is the very time preferable to all others. They have then +the simplicity of little children; and they are fervent in spirit, ready to +cut off the right hand, or to pluck out the right eye. But, if we once suffer +this fervour to subside, we shall find it hard enough to bring them again +to this point.</p> + +<p class="center">“I am, etc.,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_217_217" href="#Footnote_217_217" class="fnanchor">[217]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Before passing from America, it is worth recording, that it +was in the year 1774 that Methodism was introduced into +another part of Newfoundland. In the month of March in +that year, John Hoskins, a London Methodist, and his son, a +lad of about sixteen years of age, embarked at Poole in Dorsetshire, +and landed in Newfoundland five weeks afterwards. +The intention of Hoskins was to work there till he had +obtained money enough to take him to New England, where +he wished to begin a school. He landed at Trinity penniless, +and utterly unknown, and found himself in a “rocky, desolate +country,” and surrounded by a “few, low, mean huts, +built of wood.” He entered one to make inquiries as to how +he might obtain subsistence; the good woman of the hut +gave him some seal and bread to eat; and the minister of the +place advised him to open a school at Old Perlican, where +about fifty families resided. Away he went, a distance of +one-and-twenty miles; the people received him gladly; and +his school was opened. Here there was literally no religious +worship whatever; but the schoolmaster began to read the +Church prayers, and Wesley’s sermons; the people standing at +a distance and looking at him as if he had been a monster. +He then proceeded to give extempore exhortations; a +few began to be serious; some helped him to sing; sixteen +became penitent, and were formed into a class; and two or +three soon found peace with God. Just at this juncture, Mr. +Arthur Thomy, an Irish merchant, visited the place on business, +and preached twice or thrice, confirming what Hoskins +had said, and the society increased to forty members, and the +<em>believers</em> to eight.</p> + +<p>Thus was Methodism begun at Old Perlican. It soon +spread. Island Cove had a society of thirty, and was the +first to build a chapel. At Harbourgrace and Carbonear, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</span> +where Mr. Coughlan had laboured, Calvinism and antinomianism +were rampant, and Methodism had dwindled to +almost nothing. The movement at Old Perlican was a new +beginning; and Hoskins, the schoolmaster, and Thomy, the +Irish merchant, were the chief actors. Thomy often travelled +as far as fifty miles to preach; and sometimes met with brutal +treatment. The Irish were his bitterest enemies, and, on one +occasion, came with their shillalahs to kill him. Hoskins, +also, had his share of persecution. Once he was daubed all +over with tar, and was further threatened to be stuck with +feathers. The work, however, prospered; and, in 1785, <i>Newfoundland</i> +became one of the <em>circuits</em> in Wesley’s minutes.</p> + +<p>The conference, at Bristol, was opened on August 9. Wesley +writes: “The conference, which begun and ended in love, +fully employed me on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday; +and we observed Friday, 12th, as a day of fasting and prayer +for the success of the gospel.”</p> + +<p>Thomas Taylor, who was present, says: “August 9—Most of +the day was taken up in temporal matters, which is dry business. +August 10—This morning our characters were examined, +and that closely. The afternoon was chiefly spent in +taking in new preachers. In the evening, Mr. Wesley gave us +but an indifferent sermon. August 11—We spent this day +pretty profitably in considering some things of importance; +especially how to prevent levity, idleness, and evil speaking. +At night, Mr. Wesley gave us a profitable discourse on brotherly +love.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_218_218" href="#Footnote_218_218" class="fnanchor">[218]</a></p> + +<p>Miss March, in an unpublished letter, dated August 23, +1774, observes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Our conference is now ended. I promised myself a jubilee, a time of +holy rejoicing, but found it rather a season of hurry and dissipation. Mr. +Wesley opened the conference with a plan of great and necessary business. +His preaching was chiefly to the preachers,—of the searching, reproving +kind. The preachers said there was much concord amongst them, and +one observed, Mr. Wesley seemed to do all the business himself. Friday +was the best time, and the evening sermon, from Matthew vii. 24, was the +prettiest and most simple discourse I ever heard on that text. Mr. Wesley +left us on Monday for Wales. When he first came he looked worn down +with care and sorrow; but he left us well and lively.”</p> +</div> + +<p>It was at this conference that Samuel Bradburn and James +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</span> +Rogers were admitted on trial; and that Joseph Pilmoor, for +some reason, deserted Thomas Rankin in America, and +desisted from travelling.</p> + +<p>No sooner was the conference over, than Wesley again set +out on his evangelistic travels. The next twelve days were +spent in Wales. He returned to Bristol for the Sunday services +on August 28; and, on the day following, started off to +Cornwall. He came back to Bristol on September 9, and +employed the next month in the city and its neighbourhood. +Being the time of a parliamentary election, he met the Bristol +society, and advised those of them who had votes:—“1. To +vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged most +worthy. 2. To speak no evil of the person they voted against. +3. To take care their spirits were not sharpened against those +that voted on the other side.”</p> + +<p>Wesley came to London on October 15, and spent the +remainder of the year in his usual winter journeys.</p> + +<p>Norwich was again a trouble. He writes: “Never was a +poor society so neglected as this has been for the year past. +The morning preaching was at an end; the bands suffered all +to fall in pieces; and no care at all taken of the classes, so +that, whether they met or not, it was all one; going to church +and sacrament were forgotten; and the people rambled hither +and thither as they listed. I met the society, and told them +plain, I was resolved to have a regular society or none. I +then read the rules, and desired every one to consider whether +he was willing to walk by these rules or no. Those, in particular, +of meeting their class every week, unless hindered by +distance or sickness; and being constant at church and sacrament. +I desired those who were so minded to meet me the +next night, and the rest to stay away. The next night we +had far the greater part. I spoke to every leader, concerning +every one under his care, and put out every person whom they +could not recommend to me. After this was done, out of 204 +members, 174 remained. And these points shall be carried, +if only fifty remain in society.”</p> + +<p>On his return to London, he visited Ely and <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Ives, +and met with an adventure which was strange, even in +his experience. Approaching Ely, Mr. Dancer met him with +a chaise. For a mile and a half, the road was inundated. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</span> +“How must foot people come to Ely?” he asked. “Why,” +replied simple Mr. Dancer, “they must wade.” The +farther he went, the more difficult and dangerous was the +way. Between Ely and <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Ives, snow fell in great abundance, +and, at considerable peril, Wesley’s borrowed chaise was +piloted by Mr. Tubbs, who trudged along, at the horse’s head, +and, up to his knees in mud and water, naively said, “We fen +men don’t mind a little dirt.” For four miles, Wesley was +dragged through this “slough of despond,” when further progress, +for the vehicle, became impossible. He tried to proceed +on horseback; but this also was soon impracticable, the whole +district being one wide waste of water. “Here, therefore,” +says he, “I procured a boat, full twice as large as a kneading +trough. I was at one end, and a boy at the other, who +paddled me safe to Erith; where Miss <span class="lock">L——</span> waited for me +with another chaise, which brought me safe to <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Ives.”</p> + +<p>Wesley concluded the year’s itinerary thus: “December +25—During the twelve festival days, we had the Lord’s supper +daily; a little emblem of the primitive church.”</p> + +<p>Was this a lingering remnant of Wesley’s high churchism? +What would be said of the Methodists of the present day, +were they to imitate the example of their founder?</p> + +<p>The Calvinian controversy still proceeded. The <cite>Gospel +Magazine</cite> told its readers, that Arminianism “is a system +founded in ignorance, supported by pride, and will end in +delusion.” The <abbr title="Honorable">Hon.</abbr> and <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> W. B. Cadogan, a young man +of twenty-three, and, though not yet ordained, already presented +to the living of <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Giles, Reading, burned Wesley’s +works in his kitchen, saying “he was determined to form his +opinions from the Bible alone.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_219_219" href="#Footnote_219_219" class="fnanchor">[219]</a> The two Hills were silent, +with the exception of Mr. Richard’s “Lash at Enthusiasm, in a +Dialogue founded upon real Facts.” The principal Calvinistic +work, published at this period, was Toplady’s “Historic Proof +of the Doctrinal Calvinism of the Church of England,” in two +volumes, <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, with an Introduction, most lamentably virulent. +The subject is repulsive; but, rightly to understand Wesley’s +provocations and patience, it is necessary to give extracts from +this scandalous production of a conceited but clever man, who +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</span> +acted as though the Almighty had elected him to revile his +neighbours, without either sense or reason.</p> + +<p>“Mr. John Wesley and Mr. Walter Sellon are a pair of +insignificant adversaries, who have arraigned, tried, and condemned +the Church of England. In general, they are so +excessively scurrilous and abusive, that contending with them +resembles fighting with chimney sweepers, or bathing in a +mud pool.” “Mr. Walter Sellon is Mr. John Wesley’s +retainer general and whitewasher in ordinary. Arminianism is +their mutual Dulcinea del Toboso. High mounted on Pine’s +Rosinante, forth sallies Mr. John from Wine Street, Bristol, +brandishing his reed, and vowing vengeance against all, who +will not fall down and worship the Dutch image which he has +set up. With an almost equal plenitude of zeal and prowess, +forth trots Mr. Walter from Ave Maria Lane, low mounted on +Cabe’s halting dapple. The knight and the squire having +met at the rendezvous appointed, the former prances foremost, +and, with as much haste as his limping steed will +permit, doth trusty Walter amble after his master.” Sellon +is Wesley’s “understrapper”; the “junto are Parthians aiming +their arrows at the sun; and wolves exhausting their strength +by howling at the moon.” Sellon “dips his pen in the +common sewer”; and Wesley “scatters firebrands.” “The +world has long seen, that unmixed politeness can no more +soften Mr. Wesley’s rugged rudeness, than the melody of +David’s harp could lay the north wind.” Sellon was “a +small body of Pelagian divinity, bound in calf, neither gilt +nor lettered”; “the meanest, and most rancorous Arminian +priest that ever disgraced a surplice.” “We would advise his +Arminian holiness of Rome to cashier the image of <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Austin +from serving any longer as a support to his easy chair; and +to procure an effigy of Mr. Walter Sellon, to serve—​not, +indeed, upon due recollection, as a stay to his holiness’s +throne—​nor even as a prop to his footstool; but as a leg to a +certain convenience (a <i lang="la">sella perforata</i>, + though not the <i lang="la">sella +porphyretica</i>), whereon, I presume, his holiness deigns, +occasionally, to sit.” Wesley’s Notes on the New Testament +are “a wretched bundle of plagiarisms”; and he himself +“drives a larger traffic in blunders and blasphemies than any +other blunder merchant this island has produced.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</span> +Such are a few of the mild and merciful oracular utterances +of the elect Augustus Toplady; who says he blamed himself +“for handling Wesley too gently, and for only giving him the +whip when he deserved a scorpion.”</p> + +<p>Fletcher, during 1774, published:—(1) “The Fictitious and +the Genuine Creed; being ‘A Creed for Arminians,’ composed +by Richard Hill, <abbr title="Esquire">Esq.</abbr>; to which is opposed a Creed for those +who believe that Christ tasted death for every man.” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, +52 pages. (2) “Logica Genevensis continued; or, the first +part of the Fifth Check to Antinomianism, containing an +Answer to ‘The Finishing Stroke’ of Richard Hill, <abbr title="Esquire">Esq.</abbr>; in +which some remarks upon Mr. Fulsome’s Antinomian Creed, +published by the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Berridge, are occasionally introduced.” +<abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 48 pages. (3) “Logica Genevensis continued; +or, the second part of the Fifth Check to Antinomianism, +containing a Defence of ‘Jack o’ Lanthorn,’ and ‘The Paper +Kite,’ <i>i. e.</i> sincere obedience; and of the ‘Cobweb,’ <i>i. e.</i> the +evangelical law of liberty; and of the ‘Valiant Sergeant, J. F.,’ +<i>i. e.</i> the conditionality of perseverance, attacked by the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> +Mr. Berridge, in his book called ‘The Christian World Unmasked.’” +<abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 44 pages. (4) “The First Part of an Equal +Check to Pharisaism and Antinomianism.” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 264 pages. +(5) “Zelotes and Honestus reconciled; or, an Equal Check to +Pharisaism and Antinomianism continued: being the first +part of the Scripture Scales to weigh the Gold of Gospel +Truth. With a Preface containing some Strictures upon the +Three Letters of Richard Hill, <abbr title="Esquire">Esq.</abbr>, which have been lately +published.” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 175 pages.</p> + +<p>The whole of these publications, extending to nearly 600 +pages, are full of the greatest truths, and, like all Fletcher’s +writings, are entirely free from personal abuse, and are worthy +of a gentleman, a scholar, and a Christian.</p> + +<p>We can hardly say as much of another work, published in +1774: “A Scourge to Calumny, in two parts, inscribed to +Richard Hill, <abbr title="Esquire">Esq.</abbr> Part the First, demonstrating the +Absurdity of that Gentleman’s Farrago. Part the Second, +containing a full Answer to all that is material in his Farrago +Double Distilled. By Thomas Olivers.” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 168 pages. +Richard Hill deserved all he got; but Fletcher would have +hesitated before charging him, as is done by Olivers, “<em>with</em> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</span> +<em>wilful untruth</em>.” At the same time, it is impossible not to +have a feeling of admiration for the sturdy Welshman, when +he says to the wealthy squire, who had rudely called him <i>Tom +the cobbler</i>: “Permit me to tell you, sir, that <em>my name</em> is as +sacred to <em>me</em>, as <em>yours is to you</em>. If <em>you</em> were the greatest peer +of the realm, and <em>I</em> the poorest peasant, the laws of God and +of my country would authorise me to call you to an account, +for every insult offered to my character, either as a fellow +creature, or as an Englishman. You have no more authority, +either from reason or religion, to call me <em>Tom</em>, than I have +to call you <em>Dick</em>.”</p> + +<p>Having hurled a lance in his own defence, he then proceeds +to defend Wesley, telling Mr. Hill, that the man he had +maligned was one who had published a hundred volumes, +who travelled yearly about five thousand miles, preached +yearly about a thousand sermons, visited as many sick beds +as he preached sermons, and wrote twice as many letters; and +who, though now between seventy and eighty years of age, +“absolutely refused to abate, in the smallest degree, these +mighty labours; but might be seen, at this very time, with his +silver locks about his ears, and with a meagre, worn out, +skeleton body, <em>smiling</em> at storms and tempests, at such labours +and fatigues, at such difficulties and dangers, as, I believe,” +says Olivers, “would be absolutely intolerable to <em>you</em>, sir, in +conjunction with any four of <em>your most flaming</em> ministers.”</p> + +<p>Wesley’s own publications, in 1774, were not many.</p> + +<p>First of all, there was the fifteenth number of his Journal, +already mentioned: <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 112 pages. Then there was “An +Extract from Dr. Cadogan’s Dissertations on the Gout, and all +Chronic Diseases,” already referred to on page 111. <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 49 +pages. This was a bold stroke. Dr. Cadogan’s work had not +been more than ten years published; it had been extremely +popular, and had run through several editions; the doctor +himself was now at the zenith of his fame, and did not die for +three-and-twenty years afterwards; and, yet, Wesley takes +upon himself, not to publish the work itself, but an extract from +it, and to write a preface to it, in which he objects to the +doctor’s wholesale condemnation of “smoked and salted meats, +of pickles, of wine, and of flesh, thoroughly roasted or boiled.” +Wesley says: “I recommend the book as the most masterly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</span> +piece upon the subject, which has yet appeared in the English +language.”</p> + +<p>Another of Wesley’s publications was “Thoughts upon +Necessity,” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 33 pages. This was one of his most +thoughtful and able tracts. Its purport may be gathered +from a sentence in his preface,—“I cannot believe the noblest +creature in the visible world to be only a fine piece of clockwork.”</p> + +<p>To the above must be added his “Thoughts on Slavery,” +<abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, 53 pages. It ought never to be forgotten, that John +Wesley was one of the very first of England’s philanthropists +to denounce the infamous evil of slavery. Statues, +and other honours, declarative of a nation’s homage, have +been justly awarded to Wilberforce; but Wesley’s record is +on high; and the day has yet to come when the influence of +his advanced views will be duly and gratefully recognised. +Even some of Wesley’s friends were strangely blinded to a +system that he boldly denounced as the “execrable sum of all +villanies”; and Whitefield himself, only four years before, had +died the possessor of a large number of human beings, +who, in his will, were classed among his goods and chattels, +and whom he unceremoniously bequeathed to “that elect +lady, the Right Honourable Selina, Countess Dowager of +Huntingdon.” Wesley’s pamphlet was no sooner issued +than it brought upon him vindictive opposition, in a two +shilling book, entitled “A Supplement to Mr. Wesley’s +‘Thoughts upon Slavery’”; in which the writer does his +utmost to make the leader of the Methodists ridiculous. +Wesley had counted the cost, and expected this. In America +it was otherwise. There, at Philadelphia, Mr. Anthony +Benezet republished Wesley’s tract at his own expense, and +sent to him a friendly salutation, by William Dillwyn, “my +old pupil,” says Benezet, “a valuable, religiously minded +person, who is going a voyage to your country”;⁠<a id="FNanchor_220_220" href="#Footnote_220_220" class="fnanchor">[220]</a> and who, +thirteen years afterwards, in 1787, became one of the founders +of the Society for the Suppression of Slavery.</p> + +<p>Wesley still continued the publication of his collected +works; and, in 1774, seven additional volumes were issued, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</span> +making the entire number thirty-two. The last seven, with +the exception of three small tracts, consisted exclusively of +his journals, coming down to September 1, 1770.</p> + +<p>Perhaps there ought to be added another publication, which, +though not printed by Wesley, was his production: “A Sermon +preached at the opening of the new Meeting-house at +Wakefield, on the 28th of April, 1774, by the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> John +Wesley: taken down in shorthand, at the time of delivery, by +Mr. Williamson, a teacher of that art, and published at the +request of many of the hearers. Leeds: 1774. Sold by all +Booksellers, price threepence.” <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, 12 pages. The text is +1 Corinthians <abbr title="one">i.</abbr> 23, 24. The sermon, perhaps properly, has +never been published in any edition of Wesley’s works. +Though it contains nothing remarkable, it would enrich the +<cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, and would be gratefully welcomed by +thousands of readers, who, without a reissue, will never see it.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_204_204" href="#FNanchor_204_204" class="label">[204]</a> Manuscript letter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_205_205" href="#FNanchor_205_205" class="label">[205]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 395.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_206_206" href="#FNanchor_206_206" class="label">[206]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1825, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 386.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_207_207" href="#FNanchor_207_207" class="label">[207]</a> The following probably refers to the ghost stories, in Wesley’s +Journal, under date May 25, 1768. The fifteenth number of his journal, +containing these accounts, was published in this same year, 1774.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_208_208" href="#FNanchor_208_208" class="label">[208]</a> Glanvil, the author of “Some Considerations touching the being +of Witches and Witchcraft”; and Mather, the author of “The Wonders +of the Invisible World, or the Trials of Witches.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_209_209" href="#FNanchor_209_209" class="label">[209]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 131.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_210_210" href="#FNanchor_210_210" class="label">[210]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 373.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_211_211" href="#FNanchor_211_211" class="label">[211]</a> Mr. Brooke was three years the junior of Wesley, and, about the time +when Methodism had its birth, was the honoured friend of many of the +most distinguished personages in London society. Swift prophesied wonders +of him; Pope received him with open arms; Pitt paid him marked +attention; and the Prince of Wales presented him with valuable tokens +of his friendship. The publication however of his tragedy, “Gustavus +Vasa,” offended the government, and he retired to Ireland, and devoted +his fine genius wholly to the muses. He was a man of rare ability, and +an earnest Christian.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_212_212" href="#FNanchor_212_212" class="label">[212]</a> Life of Mr. Henry Brooke, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 90.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_213_213" href="#FNanchor_213_213" class="label">[213]</a> He died in 1783, three years after Wesley published his revised and +abridged edition in two <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_214_214" href="#FNanchor_214_214" class="label">[214]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1787, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 160.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_215_215" href="#FNanchor_215_215" class="label">[215]</a> <cite>Christian Miscellany</cite>, 1846, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 93.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_216_216" href="#FNanchor_216_216" class="label">[216]</a> Asbury’s Journal, <abbr title="volume one">vol. i.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 112.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_217_217" href="#FNanchor_217_217" class="label">[217]</a> Palmer’s “Four Years in the Old World,” <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 260.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_218_218" href="#FNanchor_218_218" class="label">[218]</a> Taylor’s manuscript journal.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_219_219" href="#FNanchor_219_219" class="label">[219]</a> Memoirs of Cadogan, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 37.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_220_220" href="#FNanchor_220_220" class="label">[220]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1787, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 44.</p></div></div> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</span></p> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="1775">1775.</h2> +<hr class="short"> +<p class="center">Age 72</p> +</div> + +<p class="p2 drop-cap"><span class="smcap">According</span> to his custom, Wesley spent the first two +months of 1775 in London, and in short preaching excursions +to Northamptonshire and other places.</p> + +<p>The nation, at this period, was in a state of the highest +excitement. On February 9, the two houses of parliament +presented an address to King George <abbr title="Three">III.</abbr>, stating that the +British colonists in America had risen in rebellion, and +begging his majesty to “take the most effectual measures to +enforce obedience to the laws and authority of the supreme +legislature.” His majesty’s reply was affirmative; and parliament +was requested to increase both the naval and military +forces.</p> + +<p>Wesley was not the man to be silent in great emergencies. +He writes: “Sunday, January 29—Finding many were +dejected by the threatening posture of public affairs, I strongly +enforced our Lord’s words, ‘Why are ye fearful, O ye of +little faith?’” Three weeks later, he preached at the Foundery, +what the <cite>Westminster Journal</cite> described as, “an awful sermon, +on the horrid effects of a civil war”; observing “that, of all +scourges from God, war was the most to be deprecated, because +it often swept away all traces of religion, and even of +humanity.” The text was Daniel <abbr title="four">iv.</abbr> 27: “Let my counsel be +acceptable to thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, +and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may +be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.”</p> + +<p>Both England and America were terribly excited; but space +prevents our entering into details. Suffice it to say, that the +alleged grievance of the American colonists was their being +taxed, without their consent, by the English parliament. Dr. +Johnson was known to be a great hater as well as a great genius. +“Sir,” said he, concerning the miscellaneous and mongrel +colonists across the Atlantic, “Sir, they are a race of convicts, +and ought to be thankful for anything we allow them short of +hanging.” No wonder that the English government, already at +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</span> +their wits’ end, applied to Johnson to assist them with his +powerful pen. He did so, by the publication, in 1775, of his +famous pamphlet, entitled, “Taxation no Tyranny; an Answer +to the Resolutions and Address of the American Congress.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_221_221" href="#Footnote_221_221" class="fnanchor">[221]</a> +No sooner was it issued, than, with or without leave, Wesley +abridged it, and, without the least reference to its origin, +published it as his own, in a quarto sheet of four pages, with +the title, “A Calm Address to our American Colonies. By +the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. John Wesley, <abbr title="Master of Arts">M.A.</abbr> Price one penny.”</p> + +<p>This was an injudicious and unwarrantable act, except on +the supposition that there was some secret understanding +between him and Johnson; and even then the thing had too +much the aspect of plagiarism to be wise. Johnson greatly +reverenced Patty Hall, Wesley’s unfortunate sister, and always +treated her as one of his confidential friends. For Wesley +himself he also entertained great respect, and was only vexed +that he was not able to secure more of his company. “John +Wesley’s conversation,” said he, “is good, but he is never +at leisure. He is always obliged to go at a certain hour. +This is very disagreeable to a man who loves to fold his +legs and have out his talk, as I do.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_222_222" href="#Footnote_222_222" class="fnanchor">[222]</a> There was unquestionably +a friendship between the two; and it is possible +that Wesley had Johnson’s consent to his publication of the +abridgment of Johnson’s pamphlet. In a letter to Wesley, +dated February 6, 1776, Johnson wrote: “I have thanks to +return for the addition of your important suffrage to my +argument on the American question. To have gained such +a mind as yours may justly confirm me in my own opinion. +What effect my paper has had upon the public I know not; +but I have no reason to be discouraged. The lecturer was +surely in the right who, though he saw his audience slinking +away, refused to quit the chair while Plato stayed.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_223_223" href="#Footnote_223_223" class="fnanchor">[223]</a> This +certainly gives some countenance to the supposition we have +ventured to suggest. Still, there can be no doubt that Wesley +fairly exposed himself to acrimonious attack by publishing +the <i lang="fr">brochure</i> as his own.</p> + +<p>Wesley was now one of the most conspicuous men in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</span> +England; and, perhaps, no ecclesiastical personage of the +realm swayed a wider influence over the masses, on questions +involving religious interests. Hence, the publication of +his “Calm Address” produced an unparalleled sensation; +and this was the greater, because it was known that, up to +this period, Wesley had sympathised with the colonists rather +than otherwise. Indeed, he had declared five years before, in +his “Free Thoughts on Public Affairs”: “I do not defend +the measures which have been taken with regard to America; +I doubt whether any man can defend them, either on the +foot of law, equity, or prudence.” Of course, Wesley had a +perfect right to change his opinions, which he says he did on +reading Johnson’s “Taxation no Tyranny”; but when a +public man like Wesley does that, he can hardly escape +criticism of an unfriendly nature. The world dislikes changelings, +and hesitates to trust them. Wesley, in the teeth of +former sentiments, now made Johnson’s sentiments his +own, contending not only that the English parliament had +power to tax the American colonies, but also that it was +a reasonable thing for the colonists to reimburse the mother +country for some part of the large expense that had been +incurred in defending the colonial rights, and that the whole of +the present agitation was promoted by a few men in England, +who were determined enemies to monarchy, and who wished +to establish a republican form of government, which, of all +others, was the most despotic. The result was, Wesley +was at once pounced upon as a plagiarist and a renegade of +the worst description. Countless pamphlets were published, +only a few of which can be noticed here.</p> + +<p>One of his principal antagonists was the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Caleb +Evans, then a baptist minister at Broadmead, Bristol, and in +the thirty-seventh year of his age,—a man of good sense, +a diligent student, a faithful pastor, and extensively useful; +but a rampant advocate of what was called liberty, and, +therefore, a well wisher to the republican rebellion across the +Atlantic.</p> + +<p>Evans’s first publication was “A Letter to the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. +John Wesley, occasioned by his ‘Calm Address’”: <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 24 +pages. He taunts Wesley with having so suddenly changed +his opinions; with having, at the late election, advised the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</span> +Bristol Methodists to vote for the “<em>American candidate</em>”; and +with having, at no remote period, recommended a book entitled, +“An Argument in Defence of the exclusive right +claimed by the Colonies to tax themselves.”</p> + +<p>Wesley’s reply to this was the republication of his “Calm +Address,” with a preface prefixed, in which he acknowledges +that the “Address” was an extract “of the chief arguments +from ‘Taxation no Tyranny,’” with “an application” of his +own “to those whom it most concerned.” In a page and a +half he answers Evans’s objections, and says that all “the +arguments in his tract may be contained in a nutshell.”</p> + +<p>Another attack on Wesley, which, before the year was out, +reached a second edition, was “A Cool Reply to a Calm +Address, lately published by Mr. John Wesley. By T. S.” +<abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 33 pages. What this production lacked in argument +it made up in scurrilous innuendo. Wesley is told that his +“religious principles are a species of popery,” and that he is +in quest of “a mitre”; though he “ought to sit in sackcloth +and pour dust upon his head.”</p> + +<p>Evans also, before the expiration of 1775, issued a new +edition of his letter, <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 32 pages, in the preface to which +he waxes angry, in exposing what he calls “the shameful +versatility and disingenuity of this artful man;” and does +his utmost to fasten upon Wesley a deliberate falsehood, because +Wesley had denied that he had ever seen the book +which Evans had accused him of recommending, though both +William Pine, his own printer, and the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> James Roquet, +his friend, were both prepared to attest on oath that he had +recommended the book to them.</p> + +<p>Here then was a direct personal issue between them. +Thomas Olivers, in his “Full Defence of the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> John +Wesley,” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 24 pages, published in 1776, gives the explanation. +Wesley’s denial was not owing to untruthfulness, but +forgetfulness. “Mr. Wesley,” says Olivers, “is now an old +man, and yet has such a variety and multiplicity of business +as few men could manage, even in the prime of life. There +are few weeks in which he does not travel two or three hundred +miles; preach and exhort in public between twenty and +thirty times, and often more; answer thirty or forty letters; +speak with as many persons in private, concerning things of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</span> +deep importance; and prepare, either in whole or in part, +something for the press. Add to all this, that often, in that +short space of time, a variety of tracts on different subjects +pass through his hands, particularly as he travels, and that if +any tract does not immediately relate to his office as a divine, +though he may give it a cursory reading, yet he does not +think it necessary to charge his memory with its contents: I +say, when all these things are considered, no one will think it +strange that his memory should often fail.”</p> + +<p>This was a reasonable explanation of an awkward discrepancy; +but Wesley, who was incapable of falsehood, hardly +needed the defence of his ingenious friend Olivers. He had +already written the following to Mr. Roquet himself.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>November 12, 1775.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear James</span>,—I will now simply tell you the thing as it is. As I was +returning from the Leeds conference, one gave me the tract which you +refer to, part of which I read on my journey. The spirit of it I observed +to be admirably good; and I <em>then</em> thought the arguments conclusive. In +consequence of which, I suppose, (though I do not remember it,) I recommended +it both to you and others; but I had so entirely forgotten it, +that even when it was brought to me the other day, I could not recollect +that I had seen it.</p> + +<p class="center">“I am, etc.,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_224_224" href="#Footnote_224_224" class="fnanchor">[224]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Besides the pamphlets already mentioned, there were published, +in 1775: “A Second Answer to Mr. John Wesley. By +W. D.” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 22 pages. Also, “A Wolf in Sheep’s Cloathing; +or an Old Jesuit Unmasked. Containing an account of +the wonderful apparition of Father Petre’s Ghost, in the form +of the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> John Wesley. By Patrick Bull, <abbr title="Esquire">Esq.</abbr>” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 24 +pages: a vile production in which Wesley is branded as “a +chaplain in ordinary to the Furies, or minister extraordinary +to Bellona, goddess of war;” and is said to have “solicited to +be made bishop of Quebec;” but who, for “the jacobitical +doctrines contained in his ‘Calm Address,’ deserves to be +presented, not with <em>lawn sleeves</em>, but with a <em>hempen neckcloth</em>; +and, instead of a mitre, ought to have his head adorned with +a white nightcap drawn over his eyes.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</span> +Toplady was not likely to allow such an opportunity to pass +without embracing it to vent his venom. Hence the publication +of his <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr> tract of 24 pages, entitled, “An Old Fox +Tarr’d and Feather’d”; with a fox’s head, in canonicals, for a +frontispiece. The opening sentence is characteristic of the +whole effusion. “Whereunto shall I liken Mr. John Wesley? +and with what shall I compare him? I will liken him unto <em>a +low and puny tadpole in divinity</em>, which proudly seeks to disembowel +<em>a high and mighty whale in politics</em>.” He then +proceeds to say, that, “both as to matter and expression +Wesley’s ‘Calm Address’ is a bundle of Lilliputian shafts, +picked and <em>stolen</em> out of Dr. Johnson’s pincushion. If Mr. +Wesley had the least spark of shame remaining, the simple +detection of such enormous literary theft would be more +terrible to his feelings than an English <em>pumping</em> or an +American <em>tarring and feathering</em>.”</p> + +<p>Another pamphlet, issued in the same year, was “A Constitutional +Answer to the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. John Wesley’s ‘Calm Address +to the American Colonies’”: <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 23 pages. The last +sentence is as follows: “As I have formerly seen you, with +pleasure, in the character of a <em>Christian minister</em>, doing some +good in the moral world; so it is with regret I now see you in +the character of a <em>court sycophant</em>, doing much more mischief +in the political world; injuring, perhaps irreparably injuring, +your <em>country</em>.”</p> + +<p>“Americus,” also, in the <cite>Gentleman’s Magazine</cite>,⁠<a id="FNanchor_225_225" href="#Footnote_225_225" class="fnanchor">[225]</a> had his +fling against the poor Methodist. One sentence from his +polished quiver must suffice, as a specimen of others: “And +now, Mr. Wesley, I take my leave of you. You have forgot +the precept of your Master, that God and mammon cannot +be served together. You have one eye upon a pension, and +the other upon heaven,—one hand stretched out to the king, +and the other raised up to God. I pray that the first may +reward you, and the last forgive you!”</p> + +<p>These extracts might be multiplied almost <i lang="la">ad infinitum</i>. +We only add, that Fletcher, as well as Olivers, came to the +defence of Wesley. The former published his “Vindication +of the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Wesley’s ‘Calm Address’: in some Letters to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</span> +Mr. Caleb Evans.” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 70 pages. This evoked from Evans +an unworthy acrimonious “Reply,” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 103 pages, in which +the angry baptist not only rakes up the whole story respecting +Wesley, Roquet, and Pine, but finishes by telling the +loving and accomplished Fletcher, that he is “the most verbose, +and most unmeaning and unfair disputant, that ever +took up the polemical gauntlet.”</p> + +<p>Hampson and Whitehead censure Wesley for turning a +politician. This is a point upon which opinions will differ. +Certain it is, however, that the political part which Wesley +took made him as many enemies as his caveat against Calvinism +had done. Within three weeks, forty thousand copies of +his “Calm Address” were printed and put into circulation; +and excited so much anger among the English friends of the +revolted colonists, that they would willingly have burnt both +him and his Address together. To accuse him of mercenary +motives was an unfounded, base, malignant fabrication. It is +true, that the government were so pleased with his little tract +that copies were ordered to be distributed at the doors of +all the metropolitan churches; and it is said that one of the +highest officers of state waited upon him, asking whether +government could in any way be of service to either himself or +his people. Wesley replied that he “looked for no favours, and +only desired the continuance of civil and religious privileges.” +The nobleman pressed the question, but again received the +same answer. In retiring, he observed: “In all probability, +sir, you have some charities which are dear to you; by accepting +<abbr title="50 pounds">£50</abbr> from the privy purse, to appropriate as you may +deem proper, you will give great pleasure to those for whom I +act.” This was accepted; but “Mr. Wesley,” says Dr. Clarke, +who related the story, “expressed himself to me as sorry that +he had not requested to be made a royal missionary, and to +have the privilege of preaching in every church.⁠<a id="FNanchor_226_226" href="#Footnote_226_226" class="fnanchor">[226]</a>”</p> + +<p>This might be true; but, in conclusion, we must add to it +Wesley’s own account, as published at the time, in <cite>Lloyd’s +Evening Post</cite>.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“<span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—I have been seriously asked,—From what motive did you +publish your ‘Calm Address to the American Colonies’?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</span> +“I seriously answer, Not to get money. Had that been my motive, I +should have swelled it into a shilling pamphlet, and have entered it at +Stationers’ Hall.</p> + +<p>“Not to get preferment for myself, or my brother’s children. I am a +little too old to gape after it myself; and if my brother or I sought it +for them, we have only to show them to the world.</p> + +<p>“Not to please any man living, high or low. I know mankind too +well. I know they that love you for political service, love you less than +their dinner; and they that hate you, hate you worse than the devil.</p> + +<p>“Least of all, did I write with a view to inflame any; just the contrary. +I contributed my mite toward putting out the flame which rages all over +the land. This I have more opportunity of observing than any other man +in England. I see with pain to what a height this already rises, in every +part of the nation. And I see many pouring oil into the flame, by +crying out, ‘How unjustly, how cruelly, the king is using the poor Americans; +who are only contending for their liberty, and for their legal +privileges!’</p> + +<p>“Now there is no possible way to put out this flame, or hinder its +rising higher and higher, but to show that the Americans are not +used either cruelly or unjustly; that they are not injured at all, seeing +they are not contending for liberty,—this they had even in its full extent, +both civil and religious; neither for any legal privileges, for they enjoy all +that their charters grant. But what they contend for is the illegal privilege +of being exempt from parliamentary taxation,—a privilege this which +no charter ever gave to any American colony yet; which no charter can +give, unless it be confirmed both by king, lords, and commons; which, +in fact, our colonies never had; which they never claimed till the present +reign; and probably they would not have claimed it now, had they not +been incited thereto by letters from England.</p> + +<p>“This being the real state of the question, without any colouring or +aggravation, what impartial man can either blame the king, or commend +the Americans?</p> + +<p>“With this view, to quench the fire, by laying the blame where it was +due, the ‘Calm Address’ was written.</p> + +<p>“As to reviewers, newswriters, <cite>London Magazines</cite>, and all that kind +of gentlemen, they behave just as I expected they would. And let them +lick up Mr. Toplady’s spittle still; a champion worthy of their cause.</p> + +<p>“Sir, I am your humble servant,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>Thus things proceeded. England was flooded with political +pamphlets; the houses of parliament echoed with the sonorous +periods of senatorial oratory; and the hill sides and river +banks of America rang with sharp and dissonant peals of +musketry. Blood had been shed at Lexington; and, at the +bungling battle at Bunker Hill, the English had lost 1050 +men, in killed and wounded. In the month of November, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</span> +Wesley says: “I was desired to preach, in Bethnal Green +church, a charity sermon for the widows and orphans of the +soldiers that were killed in America. Knowing how many +would seek occasion of offence, I wrote down my sermon.” +The discourse was immediately published, with the title, “A +Sermon preached at <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Matthew’s, Bethnal Green, on Sunday, +November 12, 1775. By John Wesley, <abbr title="Master of Arts">M.A.</abbr> For the benefit +of the widows and orphans of the soldiers who lately fell near +Boston, in New England.” <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, 33 pages. Wesley speaks +of the terrible distress from which the nation was suffering. +Thousands were totally unemployed. He had seen not a few +of them “standing in the streets, with pale looks, hollow eyes, +and meagre limbs.” He says, he had “known families, who, +a few years ago, lived in an easy, genteel manner,” driven to +the necessity of repairing to the fields “to pick up the turnips +which the cattle had left: and which they boiled, if they could +get a few sticks for that purpose, or otherwise ate them raw.” +Thousands had “screamed for liberty till they were utterly +distracted, and their intellects quite confounded.” “In every +town, men, who were once of a calm, mild, friendly temper, +were now mad with party zeal, foaming with rage against +their quiet neighbours, ready to tear out one another’s throats, +and to plunge their swords into each other’s bowels.” He +then proceeds to descant, in withering terms, on the sins of +the nation,—money getting, lying, gluttony, idleness, and +profanity. The sermon altogether, considering the time and +circumstances of its delivery, was one of the boldest he ever +preached; and, of course, added to the rage that his “Calm +Address” had kindled. The <cite>Gospel Magazine</cite>, in reviewing it, +remarks: “So many barrels of <em>tar</em> have of late been lavished +on Mr. Wesley, and so many bags of <em>feathers</em> have been +shaken over him, on account of his new political apostasy, +that it might seem unmerciful in us, should we add to the +<em>anointings</em> and to the <em>powderings</em>, which he has already so +plentifully, though not undeservedly, received. We shall +therefore, from a principle of compassion, touch his sermon +with the tenderer hand, and let the sermoniser himself very +lightly off, the enormity of his demerits considered.” And +then the tender reviewer, in his unmerited compassion, proceeds +to describe “the sermon as being as dry as an old piece +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</span> +of leather that has been tanned five thousand times over”; +and the preacher as “a tip-top <em>perfectionist</em> in the art of +lying.” All this revives a recollection of “The Old Fox tarred +and feathered,”—and of its polite author, the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Augustus +Toplady, who had just now become the courteous editor of +the misnamed <cite>Gospel Magazine</cite>.</p> + +<p>At the conference of 1774, Wesley had 2204 members of +society in America, and seven itinerant preachers, Messrs. +Rankin, Asbury, Shadford, Williams, King, Dempster, and +Rodda; and to direct these, in the midst of a great rebellion, +required more than ordinary wisdom. A few extracts from +his letters to Thomas Rankin will not be without interest.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>March 1, 1775</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Tommy</span>,—As soon as possible, you must come to a full and +clear explanation, both with brother Asbury, and with Jemmy Dempster. +But I advise brother Asbury to return to England the first opportunity.</p> + +<p>“There is now a probability that God will hear prayer, and turn the +counsels of Ahithophel into foolishness. It is not unlikely that peace will +be reestablished between England and the colonies. But, certainly, the +present doubtful situation of affairs may be improved to the benefit of +many. They may be strongly incited now ‘to break off their sins by +repentance, if it may be a lengthening of their tranquillity,’</p> + +<p>“I add a line to all the preachers:⁠—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“<i>My Dear Brethren</i>,—You were never in your lives in so critical a +situation as you are at this time. It is your part to be peacemakers; to +be loving and tender to all; but to addict yourselves to no party. In +spite of all solicitations, of rough or smooth words, say not one word +against one or the other side. Keep yourselves pure: do all you can to +help and soften all; but beware how you adopt another’s jar. See that +you act in full union with each other; this is of the utmost consequence. +Not only let there be no bitterness or anger, but no shyness or coldness, +between you. Mark all those who would set one of you against the other. +Some such will never be wanting. But give them no countenance; rather +ferret them out, and drag them into open day. The conduct of T. +Rankin has been suitable to the Methodist plan. I hope all of you tread +in his steps. Let your eye be single. Be in peace with each other, and +the God of peace will be with you.”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p>Under the same date, Charles Wesley wrote to Rankin as +follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—As to public affairs, I wish you to be like-minded +with me. I am of neither side, and yet of both; on the side of +New England, and of Old. Private Christians are excused, exempted, +privileged, to take no part in civil troubles. We love all, and pray for all, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</span> +with a sincere and impartial love. Faults there may be on both sides; +but such as neither you nor I can remedy: therefore, let us, and all our +children, give ourselves unto prayer, and so stand still and see the salvation +of God.”</p> +</div> + +<p>The war was not the only thing that gave Wesley +trouble. Thomas Rankin and Francis Asbury were not +able to agree; and Miss Gilbert had actually written to +Asbury, stating that Mr. Gilbert was about to leave Antigua; +and wishing him to come, and to take charge of +the three hundred Methodists in that island. Asbury was +inclined to accept of this invitation; but was deterred by +his want of ordination, and therefore, as he thought, want +of authority to administer the sacraments of the Christian +church. Wesley wished him to return to England. What +a disaster, if he had!⁠<a id="FNanchor_227_227" href="#Footnote_227_227" class="fnanchor">[227]</a> These facts will cast light on the +following letters.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Portarlington</span>, <i>April 21, 1775</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Tommy</span>,—Brother Asbury has sent me a few lines, and I thank +him for them. But I do not advise him to go to Antigua. Let him come +home without delay. If one or two stout, healthy young men would +willingly offer themselves to that service, I should have no objection; but +none should go, unless he was fully persuaded in his own mind. I am +afraid, you will soon find a day of trial: the clouds are black both over +England and America. It is well if this summer passes over without +some showers of blood. And if the storm once begins in America, it will +soon spread to Great Britain.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Tommy, etc.,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Ballinrobe</span>, <i>May 19, 1775</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Tommy</span>,—I doubt not but brother Asbury and you will part +friends; I hope I shall see him at the conference. He is quite an upright +man. I apprehend he will go through his work more cheerfully when he +is a little distance from me.</p> + +<p>“We must speak the plain truth, wherever we are, whether men will +hear, or whether they will forbear. And among our societies we must +enforce our rules, with all mildness and steadiness.</p> + +<p>“Never was there a time, when it was more necessary for all that fear +God, both in England and in America, to wrestle with God in mighty +prayer. In all the other judgments of God, the inhabitants of the earth +learn righteousness; but wherever war breaks out, God is forgotten, if +He be not set at open defiance. What a glorious work of God was at +Cambuslang and Kilsyth, from 1740 to 1744! But the war that followed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</span> +tore it all up by the roots, and left scarce any trace of it behind; insomuch +that, when I diligently inquired a few years after, I could not find +one that retained the life of God!”</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Clarmain</span>, <i>June 13, 1775</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Tommy</span>,—I am afraid our correspondence, for the time to come, +will be more uncertain than ever, since the sword is drawn; and it is +well if they have not, on both sides, thrown away the scabbard. What will +the end of these things be, either in Europe or America? It seems, huge +confusion and distress, such as neither we nor our fathers had known!⁠<a id="FNanchor_228_228" href="#Footnote_228_228" class="fnanchor">[228]</a> +But it is enough, if all issues in glory to God, and peace and goodwill +among men. Never had America such a call to repentance; for, unless +general reformation prevent general destruction, what a scene will +soon be opened! Ruin and desolation must soon overspread the land; +and fair houses be turned into ruinous heaps. But what are those +strange phenomena which you speak of? Send me an account of just +so much as you can depend on. Should you not appoint in America, +as we do in England and Ireland, one or more general days of fasting +and prayer?”</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Near Leeds</span>, <i>July 28, 1775</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Tommy</span>,—I rejoice to hear that the work of our Lord still +prospers in your hands. If the temple is built even in troublous times, it +is not by the power of man. I rejoice too over honest Francis Asbury, +and hope he will no more enter into temptation. I know no reason why +you should not print the names of the American preachers. You may +print an edition of the ‘Christian Pattern,’ and apply the profits of it to +the payment of the debt. The societies should pay the passage of the +preachers. But you must not imagine, that any more of them will come +to America till these troubles are at an end.</p> + +<p>“Certainly, this is the point which we should insist upon, in season +and out of season. The universal corruption of all orders and degrees +of men loudly calls for the vengeance of God; and, inasmuch as all +other nations are equally corrupt, it seems God will punish us by one +another. What can prevent this, but a universal, or, at least, a general +repentance?”</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>August 13, 1775</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Tommy</span>,—I am not sorry that brother Asbury stays with you +another year. In that time, it will be seen what God will do with North +America; and you will easily judge whether our preachers are called to +remain any longer therein. If they are, God will make their way plain, +and give them favour even with the men that delight in war. The clouds +do indeed gather more and more; and it seems a heavy storm will +follow; certainly it will, unless the prayers of the faithful obtain a +longer reprieve.”</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</span> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>October 20, 1775</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Tommy</span>,—I am glad you are going into North Carolina; and +why not into South Carolina too? I apprehend, those provinces would +bear much fruit, as most parts of them are fresh, unbroken ground. And +as the people are further removed from the din of war, they may be more +susceptible of the gospel of peace.</p> + +<p>“A paper was sent to me lately, occasioned by the troubles in America; +but it would not do good. It is abundantly too tart; and nothing of that +kind will be of service now. All parties are already too much sharpened +against each other; we must pour water, not oil, into the flame. I had +written a little tract⁠<a id="FNanchor_229_229" href="#Footnote_229_229" class="fnanchor">[229]</a> upon the subject before I knew the American ports +were shut up. I think there is not one sharp word therein; I did not +design there should. However, many are excessively angry; and would +willingly burn me and it together. Indeed it is provoking; I suppose +above forty thousand of them have been printed in three weeks, and still +the demand for them is as great as ever.</p> + +<p>“I am entirely of your mind. I am persuaded, love and tender +measures will do far more than violence. And if I should have an +interview with a great man, which seems to be not unlikely, I will tell +him so, without any circumlocution.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Tommy, your affectionate friend and brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_230_230" href="#Footnote_230_230" class="fnanchor">[230]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>The “great man” referred to was probably Lord North, +the prime minister of the English cabinet, to whom, and to the +Earl of Dartmouth, Wesley had, four months before, addressed +most important letters, in which he strongly endeavoured to +convince the government of the exceedingly critical condition +of public matters. No man in the kingdom had suffered +more from the violation of English law than Wesley had; +and yet now, in England’s extremity, no man evinced a more +loyal spirit than was evinced by him. Indeed, his loyalty +became, in the eyes of his enemies, a crime, and brought him, +not reward, but ruffianly reproach. An extract from the +letters to the two ministers of state may fitly, for the present, +close these American reminiscences.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Armagh</span>, <i>June 15, 1775</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My Lord</span>,—Whether my writing do any good or no, it need do no +harm; for it rests with your lordship whether any eye but your own shall +see it.</p> + +<p>“I do not enter upon the question, whether the Americans are in the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</span> +right or in the wrong. Here all my prejudices are against the Americans; +for I am a high churchman,⁠<a id="FNanchor_231_231" href="#Footnote_231_231" class="fnanchor">[231]</a> the son of a high churchman, bred up, +from my childhood, in the highest notions of passive obedience and non-resistance; +and yet, in spite of all my long rooted prejudices, I cannot +avoid thinking, if I think at all, that an oppressed people asked for nothing +more than their legal rights, and that in the most modest and +inoffensive manner that the nature of the thing would allow.⁠<a id="FNanchor_232_232" href="#Footnote_232_232" class="fnanchor">[232]</a> But waiving +all considerations of right and wrong, I ask, is it common sense to use +force towards the Americans? These men will not be frightened; and it +seems, they will not be conquered so easily as was at first imagined. They +will probably dispute every inch of ground; and, if they die, die sword in +hand. Indeed, some of our valiant officers say, ‘Two thousand men +will clear America of these rebels.’ No, nor twenty thousand, be they +rebels or not, nor perhaps treble that number. They are as strong men +as you; they are as valiant as you, if not abundantly more valiant, for +they are one and all enthusiasts,—enthusiasts for liberty. They are calm, +deliberate enthusiasts; and we know how this principle ‘breathes into +softer souls stern love of war, and thirst of vengeance, and contempt of +death.’ We know men, animated with this spirit, will leap into a fire, or +rush into a cannon’s mouth.</p> + +<p>“‘But they have no experience in war.’ And how much more have our +troops? Very few of them ever saw a battle. ‘But they have no discipline.’ +That is an entire mistake. Already they have near as much as +our army, and they will learn more of it every day; so that, in a +short time, if the fatal occasion continue, they will understand it as well +as their assailants.⁠<a id="FNanchor_233_233" href="#Footnote_233_233" class="fnanchor">[233]</a> ‘But they are divided amongst themselves.’ No, my +lord, they are terribly united; not in the province of New England only, +but down as low as the Jerseys and Pennsylvania. The bulk of the people +are so united, that to speak a word in favour of the present English +measures would almost endanger a man’s life. Those who informed me +of this are no sycophants; they say nothing to curry favour; they have +nothing to gain or lose by me. But they speak with sorrow of heart what +they have seen with their own eyes, and heard with their own ears.</p> + +<p>“These men think, one and all, be it right or wrong, that they are contending +<i lang="la">pro aris et focis</i>; for their wives, children, and liberty. What an +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</span> +advantage have they herein over many that fight only for pay! none of +whom care a straw for the cause wherein they are engaged; most of +whom strongly disapprove of it. Have they not another considerable +advantage? Is there occasion to recruit troops? Their supplies are at +hand, and all round about them. Ours are three thousand miles off. +Are we then able to conquer the Americans, suppose they are left +to themselves, suppose all our neighbours should stand stock still, and +leave us and them to fight it out? But we are not sure of this. Nor +are we sure that all our neighbours will stand stock still. I doubt they +have not promised it; and, if they had, could we rely upon those promises? +‘Yet, it is not probable they will send ships or men to +America.’ Is there not a shorter way? Do they not know where +England and Ireland lie? And have they not troops, as well as +ships, in readiness? All Europe is well apprised of this; only the +English know nothing of the matter! What if they find means to land +but two thousand men? Where are the troops in England or Ireland +to oppose them? Why, cutting the throats of their brethren in America! +Poor England, in the meantime!</p> + +<p>“‘But we have our militia—​our valiant, disciplined militia. These will +effectually oppose them.’ Give me leave, my lord, to relate a little circumstance, +of which I was informed by a clergyman who knew the fact. In +1716, a large body of militia were marching towards Preston against the +rebels. In a wood, which they were passing by, a boy happened to +discharge his fowling piece. The soldiers gave up all for lost, and, by +common consent, threw down their arms, and ran for life. So much +dependence is to be placed on our valorous militia.</p> + +<p>“But, my lord, this is not all. We have thousands of enemies, perhaps +more dangerous than French or Spaniards. As I travel four or five thousand +miles every year, I have an opportunity of conversing freely with more +persons of every denomination than any one else in the three kingdoms. +I cannot but know the general disposition of the people,—English, Scots, +and Irish; and I know a large majority of them are exasperated almost +to madness. Exactly so they were throughout England and Scotland +about the year 1640, and, in a great measure, by the same means; by +inflammatory papers, which were spread, as they are now, with the utmost +diligence, in every corner of the land. Hereby the bulk of the population +were effectually cured of all love and reverence for the king. So that, +first despising, then hating him, they were just ripe for open rebellion. +And, I assure your lordship, so they are now. They want nothing but a +leader.</p> + +<p>“Two circumstances more are deserving to be considered: the one, +that there was, at that time, a decay of general trade almost throughout +the kingdom; the other, there was a common dearness of provisions. +The case is the same, in both respects, at this day. So that, even now, +there are multitudes of people that, having nothing to do, and nothing to +eat, are ready for the first bidder; and that, without inquiring into the +merits of the case, would flock to any that would give them bread.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</span> +“Upon the whole, I am really sometimes afraid that this evil is from +the Lord. When I consider the astonishing luxury of the rich, and the +shocking impiety of rich and poor, I doubt whether general dissoluteness +of manners does not demand a general visitation. Perhaps the decree +is already gone forth from the Governor of the world. Perhaps even +now:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0a">‘As he that buys, surveys a ground,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">So the destroying angel measures it around.</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Calm he surveys the perishing nation;</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Ruin behind him stalks, and empty desolation.’</div> +</div></div> + +<p>“But we Englishmen are too wise to acknowledge that God has anything +to do in the world! Otherwise should we not seek Him by fasting +and prayer, before He lets the lifted thunder drop? O my lord, if your +lordship can do anything, let it not be wanting! For God’s sake, for the +sake of the king, of the nation, of your lovely family, remember Rehoboam! +Remember Philip the Second! Remember King Charles the +First!</p> + +<p>“I am, with true regard, my lord, your lordship’s obedient servant,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_234_234" href="#Footnote_234_234" class="fnanchor">[234]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Whatever may be thought of the principle advocated in +Wesley’s “Calm Address to the American Colonies,” namely, +that taxation without representation is no tyranny, there can +be no doubt that his letters to the premier and to the colonial +secretary are full of warnings and foresight which were terribly +fulfilled; and, for fidelity, fulness, terseness, in short, for +<i lang="la">multum in parvo</i>, were perhaps without a parallel in the correspondence +of these ministers of state.</p> + +<p>Much space has been occupied with these American affairs. +If an apology were needed, the reader might be courteously +reminded (1) that John Wesley’s “Calm Address” threw, not +Methodism only, but the nation, into a fever of excitement, +and, directly and indirectly, gave birth to scores of pamphlets +on the same subject; (2) that the American rebellion is one of +the greatest events in English history; and (3) that, in consequence +of the great majority of the clergy of the English +Church fleeing from the colonies, when the colonies most +needed them, Methodism, under the sagacious management of +the apostolic Asbury, took the place which had hitherto been +occupied by Anglican episcopacy; and, henceforth, literally +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</span> +became the predominant religion of what is likely to be the +greatest and most prosperous country in the world.</p> + +<p>We must now return to Wesley in a more private capacity.</p> + +<p>The reader has long lost sight of Peter Bohler. In 1739, +after the conversion of the two Wesleys, Bohler went to +Georgia, and his life, since then, had been spent in unwearied +Christian work, partly in America and partly in Europe. His +labours now were nearly ended; and, on April 27, 1775, he +peacefully expired, in London, at the age of sixty-three. For +years past, correspondence seems to have ceased between +Wesley and his early Moravian friend. Within three months +of Bohler’s death, it was renewed. Wesley wrote to him on the +5th of February, and Bohler, in a beautifully Christian letter, +responded. A few days later, Wesley wrote again, as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>February 18, 1775.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—When I say, ‘I hope I shall never be constrained +to speak otherwise of them’ (the Moravians), I do not mean, that +I have any expectation this will ever happen. Probably it never will. I +never did speak but when I believed it was my duty so to do. And, if they +would calmly consider what I have spoken from March 10, 1736, and +were open to conviction, they might be such Christians as are hardly in +the world besides. I have not lost sight of you yet. Indeed, I cannot, if +you are ‘a city set upon a hill.’</p> + +<p>“Perhaps no one living is a greater lover of peace, or has laboured more +for it, than I; particularly, among the children of God.⁠<a id="FNanchor_235_235" href="#Footnote_235_235" class="fnanchor">[235]</a> I set out, near +fifty years ago, with this principle, ‘Whosoever doeth the will of my Father +who is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.’ But +there is no one living that has been more abused for his pains, even to this +day. But it is all well. By the grace of God, I shall go on, following +peace with all men, and loving your Brethren beyond any body of men +upon earth, except the Methodists.</p> + +<p>“Wishing you every gospel blessing, I remain your very affectionate +brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_236_236" href="#Footnote_236_236" class="fnanchor">[236]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Thus ended Wesley’s intercourse with Bohler, till it was +renewed in heaven.</p> + +<p>Eleven days after the above was written, Wesley left +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</span> +London for Ireland, proceeding, as usual, by way of Bristol +and the midland counties. Nothing remarkable occurred +in his journey to Liverpool. Of course, he was preaching +continually, and, winter though it was, sometimes out of +doors. While doing so, at Newcastle under Lyne, “a buffoon,” +he says, “laboured to interrupt him; but, as he was +bawling, with his mouth wide open, some arch boys gave +him such a mouthful of dirt as quite satisfied him.”</p> + +<p>At Dublin, at the request of “the good old dean,” he +assisted in administering the Lord’s supper in <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Patrick’s. +At Maryborough, he complied with the wish of the clergyman, +and preached in the parish church. The Methodist +chapel at Waterford he describes as “a foul, horrid, miserable +hole.” For the first time, he preached at Clones, using, +as his church, an old Danish fort. Here Methodism had been +introduced about the year 1768. The papists were furious, +and magistrates refused to interfere; but, just when the +place was about to be given up, a military pensioner, an +old presbyterian, took his stand in the centre of the market, +and, shouldering his musket, declared that he would shoot +the first man that attempted to disturb the preacher. The +rioters were frightened; and the rough old soldier mounted +guard every sabbath afternoon, until opposition ceased.⁠<a id="FNanchor_237_237" href="#Footnote_237_237" class="fnanchor">[237]</a></p> + +<p>At Londonderry, Wesley accepted the bishop’s invitation +to dinner; the prelate remarking, “I know you do not love +our hours, and will therefore order dinner to be on the table +between two and three o’clock.” “We had,” says Wesley, +“a piece of boiled beef, and an English pudding. This is +true good breeding.”</p> + +<p>At Castle Caulfield, writes Wesley, with the utmost <i lang="fr">sang +froid</i>, “the rain came plentifully, through the thatch, into +my lodging room; but I found no present inconvenience, +and was not careful for the morrow.”</p> + +<p>Six days afterwards, Wesley was seized with illness, which +nearly proved fatal; but for three days more, though in a +burning fever, he continued travelling and preaching almost +as usual. He had now reached the town of Lurgan, where, +four years previously, a society had been formed, one of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</span> +first members being Isaac Bullock, an old soldier, who had +been at the capture of several islands in the West Indies, +and was one of sixty, called “the forlorn hope,” who, in +1762, first entered the breach at the storming of Havannah, +only six of the sixty escaping with their lives. +The house of this sturdy veteran was the preaching place +of the Lurgan Methodists.⁠<a id="FNanchor_238_238" href="#Footnote_238_238" class="fnanchor">[238]</a> Here Wesley was obliged to +succumb to fever. He sent for a physician, who told him +he must rest. Wesley replied, he could not, as he “had +appointed to preach at several places, and must preach as +long as he could speak.” The doctor gave him medicine, +and off he went to Tanderagee, and then to a gentleman’s +seat, three miles beyond Lisburn, where nature sank, and +the conquered evangelist was compelled to take his bed. +Strength, memory, and mind entirely failed. For three +days, he lay more dead than alive. His tongue was black +and swollen. He was violently convulsed. For some time +his pulse was not discernible. Hope was almost gone; when +Joseph Bradford, his travelling companion, came with a cup, +and said, “Sir, you must take this.” Wesley writes: “I +thought, ‘I will, if I can swallow, to please him; for it +will do me neither harm nor good.’ Immediately it set +me a vomiting; my heart began to beat, and my pulse +to play again; and, from that hour, the extremity of the +symptoms abated.” Six days afterwards, to the astonishment +of his friends, and, as he says, “trusting in God,” he +set out for Dublin, where, within a week, he was preaching +as usual.</p> + +<p>This was a memorable epoch, even in Wesley’s eventful +life. The house in which he lay so dangerously ill was the +hospitable dwelling of Mr. Gayer, of Derryaghey,⁠<a id="FNanchor_239_239" href="#Footnote_239_239" class="fnanchor">[239]</a> a devoted +Methodist of great respectability, who had built a chapel in +the village, and, for the accommodation of the preachers, +a room, which went by the name of “the prophet’s chamber.” +His daughter, afterwards Mrs. Wolfenden, was now a converted +girl, sixteen years of age, and, with her mother, was +Wesley’s nurse. Great anxiety was felt for Wesley’s life, +and, while a few select friends were praying that, as in the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</span> +case of Hezekiah, God would add to his days fifteen years, +Mrs. Gayer suddenly rose from her knees, and cried, “The +prayer is granted!” Marvellously enough, Wesley’s recovery +immediately commenced, and he survived, from June 1775 +to March 1791, a period of just fifteen years, and a few +months over.</p> + +<p>But even this was not all the wonder. Alexander Mather, +at the time, was at Sheerness, in Kent, where he read, in +the newspapers, that Wesley was actually dead. Mather +says, he was not able to give credence to this; and, before +he went to preach, he opened his Bible on the words, +“Behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years” (<abbr title="Isaiah 38">Isa. +xxxviii.</abbr> 5); and away he went to the chapel, and began +to pray that the promise, made to Hezekiah, might be +fulfilled in the case of Wesley.⁠<a id="FNanchor_240_240" href="#Footnote_240_240" class="fnanchor">[240]</a> These are striking facts. +We give them as we find them. The sceptic will sneer; +but the Christian will exercise an unfaltering faith in the +glorious text, which, in the history of the church, has been +confirmed in instances without number: “The effectual +fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”</p> + +<p>The news of Wesley’s dangerous illness created the +utmost consternation among his friends. The following is +a letter, hitherto unpublished, addressed by Charles Wesley +to Joseph Bradford, Wesley’s faithful companion.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Bristol</span>, <i>June 29, 1775</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Joseph</span>,—Be of good cheer. The Lord liveth, and all live +to Him. Your last is just arrived, and has cut off all hope of my +brother’s recovery. If he could hold out till now, that is, ten days +longer, he might recover; but I dare not allow myself to hope it, till I +hear from you again. The people here, and in London, and every place, +are swallowed up in sorrow. But sorrow and death will soon be +swallowed up in life everlasting. You will be careful of my brother’s +papers, etc., till you see his executors. God shall reward your fidelity +and love. I seem scarce separated from him whom I shall so very soon +overtake. We were united in our lives, and in our death not divided. +Brethren, pray a very little longer for your loving servant—<span class="smcap">Charles +Wesley</span>.</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>Thursday Evening.</i> +</p> + +<p>“Yours of the 20th, I have this moment received. It only confirms +my fears. My brother, soon after you wrote, in all probability, entered +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</span> +into the joy of his Lord. Yet write again, and send me the particulars. +I have not, and never more shall have, strength for such a +journey. The Lord prepare us for a speedy removal to our heavenly +country!</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Charles Wesley.</span>” +</p> +</div> + +<p>The tidings of Wesley’s recovery produced corresponding +joy. His old friend and former itinerant, now the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Dr. +John Jones, of Harwich, wrote to him as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Harwich</span>, <i>July 29, 1775</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Reverend and dear Sir</span>,—I cannot express what I felt when I was +informed that you were both senseless and speechless. It was like life +from the dead when I heard you were out of danger and able to sit up. +It gave me some hope, that God has not yet given up these sinful nations, +and that He will strive with us a little longer. Time was when you would +have taken my advice, at least, in some things. Let me entreat, let me +beseech you, to preach less frequently, and that only at the principal +places. You must be satisfied with directing others, and doing less yourself. +You yourself do not know of how great importance your life is. +Far be it from me to desire you not to travel; I only beg you not to go +beyond your strength.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Jones.</span>”<a id="FNanchor_241_241" href="#Footnote_241_241" class="fnanchor">[241]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Another friend, in London, wrote the following.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>July 8, 1775</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Reverend Sir</span>,—God, who comforteth those who are cast down, +hath comforted us by graciously restoring you to us again. The prayer +of faith has saved the sick. The voice of joy and gladness is now found +in the dwellings of the righteous; where eight days past there were mourning, +lamentation, and woe. Every social repast was embittered, and we +literally mingled our drink with our tears. Could you, from the bed of +sickness, have cast your eyes on the congregation, the first sabbath in the +month, and beheld distress in every face, keen anguish in every heart, +your generous soul would have been willing to have tarried awhile, absent +from your Lord, to return to comfort those mourners in Sion. The tidings +of your recovery was received with melting gratitude and joyous tears. +O sir, what a week of suspense and anguish! You will not surely blame +us, that our prayers helped to detain you in the vale below. Forgive +your weeping friends if they have brought you back from the skies: +surely, in the end, you will be amply recompensed! O yes! being longer +employed in the work of faith, and labour of love, your crown will be +the brighter.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_242_242" href="#Footnote_242_242" class="fnanchor">[242]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>These are specimens of the loving congratulations of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</span> +Wesley’s friends.⁠<a id="FNanchor_243_243" href="#Footnote_243_243" class="fnanchor">[243]</a> His illness was sharp, though short. The +only lasting effect was, it stripped him, at all events for +months afterwards, of his beautiful head of hair.⁠<a id="FNanchor_244_244" href="#Footnote_244_244" class="fnanchor">[244]</a></p> + +<p>Having spent three weeks in Dublin, and regained his +strength, he, on July 23, embarked for England, having in the +morning of that day again assisted in administering the Lord’s +supper in <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Patrick’s cathedral. Landing at Parkgate, he +proceeded to Leeds to meet his conference, preaching, as he +travelled, with as much zest as ever; except that he spent a +day or two at Miss Bosanquet’s, making conference preparations. +Notwithstanding the warnings and entreaties of his +friends, his labours were unabated. Referring to his illness +and recovery, he wrote, in 1781: “From this time” (1775) “I +have, by the grace of God, gone on in the same track, travelling +between four and five thousand miles a year, and, +once in two years, going through Great Britain and Ireland; +which, by the blessing of God, I am as well able to do now +as I was twenty or thirty years ago. About a hundred and +thirty of my fellow labourers are continually employed in the +same thing. We all aim at one point, not at profit, any more +than at ease, or pleasure, or the praise of men; but to spread +true religion through London, Dublin, Edinburgh, and, as we +are able, through the three kingdoms. This is our point. +We leave every man to enjoy his own opinion, and to use his +own mode of worship, desiring only, that the love of God and +his neighbour be the ruling principle in his heart, and show +itself in his life by a uniform practice of justice, mercy, and +truth. And, accordingly, we give the right hand of fellowship +to every lover of God and man, whatever his opinion or +mode of worship be, of which he is to give an account to God +only.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_245_245" href="#Footnote_245_245" class="fnanchor">[245]</a></p> + +<p>Dr. Jones’s advice to Wesley was lost labour. Wesley’s life +was a perpetual motion. Work seemed to be essential to its +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</span> +continuance. There are but few who can sincerely sing the +lines, which he, from his inmost heart, sang so often:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0b">“Oh that, without a lingering groan,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">I may the welcome word receive,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">My body with my charge lay down,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">And cease <em>at once to work and live</em>!”</div> +</div></div> + +<p>Wesley, however, could give advice, though it was not +always that he took it. The following extract from a letter +to his brother, written at this period, contains an example of +this, besides referring to his publishing affairs and the movements +of his miserable wife.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Londonderry</span>, <i>June 2, 1775</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Brother</span>,—I thought it strange, that poor Samuel Franks +should leave me <abbr title="900 pounds">£900</abbr> in debt. But it is stranger still, that John Atlay +should have paid <abbr title="1600 pounds">£1600</abbr> out of nine; and that I am <abbr title="160 pounds">£160</abbr> in debt +notwithstanding!</p> + +<p>“Mr. Walthen’s method of radical cure I shall hardly try.⁠<a id="FNanchor_246_246" href="#Footnote_246_246" class="fnanchor">[246]</a> I am very +easy, and that is enough.</p> + +<p>“Has my friend taken a house at Bristol? Is Noah with her? What +are they doing?</p> + +<p>“Preach as much as you can, and no more than you can. You never +will be much stronger till you add change of air to exercise; riding two +or three hundred miles point blank forward. Now you have an opportunity. +Meet me at Leeds with honest John Murlin. When you are +tired you may change places with him. You would return a stout, healthy +man.</p> + +<p>“Peace be with you and yours! Adieu!</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span>”<a id="FNanchor_247_247" href="#Footnote_247_247" class="fnanchor">[247]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Another instance of advice giving is too racy to be omitted. +The letter was addressed to John King, one of his preachers +in America.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Near Leeds</span>, <i>July 28, 1775</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—Always take advice or reproof as a favour: +it is the surest mark of love.</p> + +<p>“I advised you once, and you took it as an affront; nevertheless I will +do it once more.</p> + +<p>“Scream no more, at the peril of your soul. God now warns you by +me, whom He has set over you. Speak as earnestly as you can; but do +not scream. Speak with all your heart; but with a moderate voice. It +was said of our Lord, ‘He shall not <em>cry</em>’: the word properly means, He +shall not <em>scream</em>. Herein, be a follower of me, as I am of Christ. I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</span> +often speak loud, often vehemently; but I never scream; I never strain +myself. I dare not: I know it would be a sin against God and my own +soul. Perhaps one reason why that good man, Thomas Walsh, yea, and +John Manners too, were in such grievous darkness before they died, was, +because they shortened their own lives.</p> + +<p>“O John, pray for an advisable and teachable temper! By nature you +are very far from it: you are stubborn and headstrong. Your last letter +was written in a very wrong spirit. If you cannot take advice from +others, surely you might take it from your affectionate brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_248_248" href="#Footnote_248_248" class="fnanchor">[248]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>The above characteristic letter was written at Miss Bosanquet’s, +Cross Hall, Morley, where Wesley had arranged to have +if possible, a few days’ retirement, before he met his conference, +at Leeds. In a letter to that lady, dated May 29, 1775, +and therefore previous to his illness, he writes: “The last +day of June, I hope to be in Dublin, and the end of July in +England. If I have a ready passage, probably I may have +an opportunity of hiding myself a day or two with you; but +I do not desire any of the preachers to come to me till I send +for them. If they do, I shall run away; I will not be in a +crowd.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_249_249" href="#Footnote_249_249" class="fnanchor">[249]</a></p> + +<p>One or two days’ retirement was not much for an old man +to wish; but it was more than he could get. The preachers +would not be prevented seeing him; and who can blame +them? If the magnet attracts the needle, the magnet has no +right to censure the needle for yielding to its own attractive +influence. An extract from an unpublished letter, written, at +this period, by simple hearted, loving Samuel Bardsley, will +illustrate what we mean. “I never was at a better conference. +The Lord was with us of a truth. Had you seen us, +and our dear, aged father and friend in the midst of us, +and beheld the freedom and harmony there were among us, +you would have blessed God on our behalf. We seemed to +be determined to live and preach the gospel more than ever. +On the Thursday before the conference began, Mr. Oliver and +I had the pleasure of drinking tea and supping with dear Mr. +Wesley, at Miss Bosanquet’s, where we stopped all night. We +were there when he arrived from Ireland, and I need not tell +you with what joy and thankfulness we received the man +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</span> +of God, and especially as he appeared with his usual cheerfulness, +and as well as we had seen him for some years. I had +the pleasure of being with him alone, and desired him not to +send me far from home. If he had proposed Worcester to +me, I would have gone; but, as he did not, I thought it best +to leave it to him where to send me; so he fixed me in this +circuit (Haworth), which I shall love, if I have health, and +live near to God.”</p> + +<p>The conference at Leeds opened on August 1, and concluded, +its sittings two days afterwards. It was the largest +that had assembled for many years, and was unexampled for +its free discussion.⁠<a id="FNanchor_250_250" href="#Footnote_250_250" class="fnanchor">[250]</a> Wesley writes: “Having received several +letters, intimating that many of the preachers were utterly +unqualified for the work, having neither grace nor gifts +sufficient for it, I determined to examine the weighty charge +with all possible exactness. In order to this, I read those +letters to all the conference; and begged, that every one +would freely propose and enforce whatever objection he had +to any one. The objections proposed were considered at +large; in two or three difficult cases, committees were appointed +for that purpose. In consequence of this, we were all +fully convinced, that the charge advanced was without foundation; +that God has really sent those labourers into His +vineyard, and has qualified them for the work; and we were +all more closely united together than we had been for many +years.”</p> + +<p>The very day after the conference concluded, Wesley again +set out on his blessed wanderings, and preached at Bradford +and Great Horton. He then took coach to London; spent +five days there; and then went off to Wales, Bristol, and +Cornwall; and got back to London on October 6. The +remainder of the year was spent, partly in the metropolis, +and partly in his usual tours through Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, +Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Norfolk, Kent, +and Surrey.</p> + +<p>The nation was too much excited, in 1775, to take much +interest in the Calvinian controversy; which, however, still +proceeded. Fletcher published “The Second Part of the +Scripture Scales”: <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 237 pages. Also, “The Last Check +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</span> +1775 to Antinomianism. A Polemical Essay on the Twin Doctrines +of Christian Imperfection and a Death Purgatory.” +<abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 327 pages. Toplady, likewise, issued “The Scheme of +Christian and Philosophical Necessity Asserted; in opposition +to Mr. John Wesley’s Tract on that Subject.”</p> + +<p>As usual, Toplady excelled in abusiveness. He tells his +readers, that the chief ingredients in Wesley’s tract are “an +equal portion of gross heathenism, Pelagianism, Mahometism, +popery, Manicheanism, ranterism, and antinomianism, culled, +dried, and pulverized, <i lang="la">secundum artem</i>; and, above all, mingled +with as much palpable atheism as could be possibly scraped +together.” Wesley is taunted as a “poor gentleman, who is +necessarily an universal meddler; and, as necessarily, an +universal miscarrier.” “He paddles in metaphysics, knows a +little, presumes a great deal, and so jumps to conclusions.” +His “Thoughts on Necessity” are “as crude and dark as +chaos.”</p> + +<p>This scurrility was a thing to which Wesley had been long +accustomed. It was cast upon him by writers of all descriptions. +In this same year, 1775, an octavo pamphlet of 35 +pages was published, with the title, “A Letter to a Friend +on the Subject of Methodism;” in which the anonymous +writer, among a multitude of other calumnies, declares that the +tendency of Wesley’s system is “to fill parishes with whores, +rogues, and bastards”; and defines Methodist preaching as +“a ridiculous effusion, delivered with an enthusiastic air, a +distorted countenance, a whining, snivelling accent, and a +soporific, nasal twang.” Wesley had too much of a gentleman’s +self respect to even notice vulgarities like these; and +yet they were far from being pleasant, and tend to show that +Methodism struggled into its mighty manhood amid the +incessant peltings of every kind of pitiless persecution. The +storm, during Wesley’s lifetime, from one quarter or another, +was perpetual; but, powerless to destroy, it simply made the +roots of the tree strike deeper.</p> + +<p>Two of Wesley’s publications, in 1775, have been already +noticed. The others were:</p> + +<p>1. “A Sermon on 1 John <abbr title="five">v.</abbr> 7.” Dublin: <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 31 pages.</p> + +<p>2. “The Important Question. A Sermon, preached in +Taunton, on September 12, 1775. Published at the Request +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</span> +of many of the Hearers, for the Benefit of a Public Charity.” +<abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 33 pages. This sermon was delivered in the presbyterian +chapel, and was made the means of converting Mrs. +Stone, in whose house Dr. Coke, shortly after, met Wesley’s +preachers, to confer with them about his religious scruples; +and where he preached his first sermon outside the precincts +of a parish church.⁠<a id="FNanchor_251_251" href="#Footnote_251_251" class="fnanchor">[251]</a></p> + +<p>3. “A Concise History of England, from the earliest times +to the death of George <abbr title="Two">II.</abbr>” + <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 4 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr> Price, to subscribers, +half a guinea. Wesley says, his “volumes contain +the substance of the English history, extracted chiefly from +Dr. Goldsmith, Rapin, and Smollett; only with various +corrections and additions.” Wesley made a profit of <abbr title="200 pounds">£200</abbr> by +this publication; but gave it all away the week he got it.⁠<a id="FNanchor_252_252" href="#Footnote_252_252" class="fnanchor">[252]</a></p> + +<p>For many years, William Pine of Bristol had been Wesley’s +chief printer and publisher, and had recently brought out a +revised edition of Wesley’s collected works, in thirty-two +<abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr> volumes. Henceforth, the connection ceased. Pine +became a red hot partisan of the rebellious colonists. Wesley +disliked this, and wrote as follows to his brother Charles.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Leeds</span>, <i>July 31, 1775</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Brother</span>,—I must not delay answering your important +question, ‘What can be done with William Pine?’ If he still, after my +earnest warning, ‘every week publishes barefaced treason,’ I beg you +would once more warn him, in my name and in your own; and if he +slights or forgets this warning, then give him his choice, either to leave us +quietly, or to be publicly disowned. At such a time as this, when our +foreign enemies are hovering over us, and our own nation is all in a +ferment, it is particularly improper to say one word which tends to inflame +the minds of the people.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_253_253" href="#Footnote_253_253" class="fnanchor">[253]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>Thus Wesley’s loyalty to King George severed his connection +with William Pine, the weekly publisher of the once +popular <cite>Felix Farley’s Journal</cite>. Mr. Pine died in + 1803.⁠<a id="FNanchor_254_254" href="#Footnote_254_254" class="fnanchor">[254]</a></p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_221_221" href="#FNanchor_221_221" class="label">[221]</a> Boswell’s Life of Johnson.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_222_222" href="#FNanchor_222_222" class="label">[222]</a> Ibid.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_223_223" href="#FNanchor_223_223" class="label">[223]</a> <cite>Gentleman’s Magazine</cite>, 1797, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 455.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_224_224" href="#FNanchor_224_224" class="label">[224]</a> Olivers’ “Defence,” <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 19.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_225_225" href="#FNanchor_225_225" class="label">[225]</a> <abbr title="Volume">Vol.</abbr> for 1775, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 561.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_226_226" href="#FNanchor_226_226" class="label">[226]</a> Everett’s Life of Dr. A. Clarke.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_227_227" href="#FNanchor_227_227" class="label">[227]</a> Asbury’s Journal.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_228_228" href="#FNanchor_228_228" class="label">[228]</a> Words fearfully realised, first in America, next in France, and then +throughout all Europe.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_229_229" href="#FNanchor_229_229" class="label">[229]</a> His “Calm Address.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_230_230" href="#FNanchor_230_230" class="label">[230]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="pages">pp.</abbr> 302–308.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_231_231" href="#FNanchor_231_231" class="label">[231]</a> Did Wesley mean this? That is, did he use it in any sense except +that which immediately follows?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_232_232" href="#FNanchor_232_232" class="label">[232]</a> This may seem to clash with the tenor of Wesley’s “Calm Address”; +but the reader must recollect, that it was not until after the date of this +letter that the “Calm Address” was written; and that Wesley’s change +of opinions did not occur until after the Leeds conference of 1775. +Wesley’s foresight, throughout the whole of this fearful war, was most +remarkable.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_233_233" href="#FNanchor_233_233" class="label">[233]</a> It is a remarkable fact, that this letter was written within forty-eight +hours before the disgraceful and disastrous battle at Bunker Hill, where +Wesley’s warnings to the premier and colonial secretary of England were +too amply verified. With his itinerants in America, Wesley knew quite +as much of American affairs as Lord North, and perhaps a little more.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_234_234" href="#FNanchor_234_234" class="label">[234]</a> Smith’s History of Methodism, <abbr title="volume one">vol. i.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 726; and <cite>Macmillan’s +Magazine</cite> for December, 1870.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_235_235" href="#FNanchor_235_235" class="label">[235]</a> These were not empty words, though Wesley was almost perpetually +in war. In an unpublished letter, to Matthew Lowes, dated March 6, +1759, he writes: “What would one not do, except sin, that brotherly +love may continue!”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_236_236" href="#FNanchor_236_236" class="label">[236]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1854, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 691.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_237_237" href="#FNanchor_237_237" class="label">[237]</a> Life of Henry Moore.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_238_238" href="#FNanchor_238_238" class="label">[238]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1827, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 800.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_239_239" href="#FNanchor_239_239" class="label">[239]</a> Ibid. 1834, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 413.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_240_240" href="#FNanchor_240_240" class="label">[240]</a> York society book.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_241_241" href="#FNanchor_241_241" class="label">[241]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1787, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 444.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_242_242" href="#FNanchor_242_242" class="label">[242]</a> Ibid. 1787, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 552.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_243_243" href="#FNanchor_243_243" class="label">[243]</a> A curious <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr> tract, of four pages, was published, with the following +title: “Some Verses, occasioned by the severe Illness, much feared Dissolution, +and almost miraculous Restoration, of the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. John Wesley, at +Lisburne, in Ireland, July 2, 1775. London: printed for W. Kent, No. +116, High Holborn: 1775.” These verses were directed to be <em>sung</em> “to +the tune of ‘Oliver’s.’”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_244_244" href="#FNanchor_244_244" class="label">[244]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 469.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_245_245" href="#FNanchor_245_245" class="label">[245]</a> Ibid. <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 359.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_246_246" href="#FNanchor_246_246" class="label">[246]</a> The cure of his hydrocele.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_247_247" href="#FNanchor_247_247" class="label">[247]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 132.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_248_248" href="#FNanchor_248_248" class="label">[248]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 309.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_249_249" href="#FNanchor_249_249" class="label">[249]</a> Ibid. <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 378.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_250_250" href="#FNanchor_250_250" class="label">[250]</a> Manuscript letter by Thomas Hanby.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_251_251" href="#FNanchor_251_251" class="label">[251]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1824, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 568.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_252_252" href="#FNanchor_252_252" class="label">[252]</a> Ibid. 1845, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 1168.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_253_253" href="#FNanchor_253_253" class="label">[253]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 133.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_254_254" href="#FNanchor_254_254" class="label">[254]</a> J. Pawson’s manuscript letter.</p></div></div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="1776">1776.</h2> +<hr class="short"> +<p class="center"> +Age 73</p></div> + +<p class="p2 drop-cap"><span class="smcap">Wesley’s</span> first act, in 1776, was to join with eighteen +hundred London Methodists in renewing his covenant +with God. His next was to go to Bristol, partly to bury his +brother-in-law, poor Westley Hall; and partly to restrain some +of the Bristol Methodists, who were in danger of turning +republicans.</p> + +<p>The health of Fletcher of Madeley being seriously affected +by a violent cough, accompanied by spitting of blood, Wesley +believed nothing was so likely to restore his health as a +long journey. “I therefore,” says he, “proposed his taking +a journey of some months with me, through various parts of +England and Scotland; telling him, ‘when you are tired, or +like it best, you may come into my carriage; but remember +that riding on horseback is the best of all exercises for you, +so far as your strength will permit.’”⁠<a id="FNanchor_255_255" href="#Footnote_255_255" class="fnanchor">[255]</a></p> + +<p>Wesley proposed not only this, but more than this, as is +evident from Fletcher’s answer, hitherto unpublished.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Madeley</span>, <i>January 9, 1776</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Reverend and dear Sir</span>,—I received last night the favour of yours +from Bristol. My grand desire is to be just what the Lord would have me +be. I could, if you wanted a travelling assistant, accompany you, as my +little strength would admit, in some of your excursions; but your recommending +me to the societies, as one who might succeed you, (should the +Lord call you hence before me,) is a step to which I could by no means +consent. It would make me take my horse and gallop away. Besides, +such a step would, at this juncture, be, I think, peculiarly improper, and +would cast upon my vindication of your minutes such an odium as the +Calvinists have endeavoured to cast upon your ‘Address.’ It would make +people suspect, that what I have done for truth and conscience sake, I have +done with a view of being, what Mr. Toplady calls, ‘the bishop of Moorfields.’ +We ought to give as little hold to the evil surmising and rash +judgments of our opponents as may be. If, nevertheless, Providence +throws in your way a clergyman willing to assist us, it would be well to fall +in with that circumstance.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</span> +“I sent to you in London, by the last post, a manuscript entitled, +‘A Second Check to Civil Antinomianism,’ being an extract from the +‘Homily against Rebellion,’ which I think might be spread at this time +to shame Mr. Roquet, and to calm the people’s mind. Whether it is +worth publishing you will see. I suppose it will make a threepenny tract.</p> + +<p>“What has made me glut our friends with my books is not my love to +such publications; but a desire to make an end of the controversy. It is +possible, however, that my design has miscarried, and that I have disgusted, +rather than convinced, the people. I agree with you, sir, that now is the +time to pray,—both for ourselves and our king,—for the Church of England +and that part of it which is called the Methodists. I cast my mite +of supplication into the general treasure. The Lord guide, support, and +strengthen you more and more unto the end!</p> + +<p>“I am, reverend and dear sir, your affectionate son and servant in the +gospel,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Fletcher</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_256_256" href="#Footnote_256_256" class="fnanchor">[256]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Fletcher had overtaxed nature. His day of activity was +comparatively over. True, he lived nine years longer; but, for +two years, he lived in retirement with his friends, Mr. Greenwood +at Newington, and Mr. Ireland of Bristol, with the +exception of the time he spent in travelling with Wesley in +quest of health; and upwards of three years more were spent +in Switzerland; when, returning to England, he was married, +on November 12, 1781, to Miss Bosanquet, and died on August +14, 1785.</p> + +<p>Wesley writes: “He looked upon my proposal as a call +from Providence, and willingly accepted it. He set out, (as I +am accustomed to do,) early in the spring of 1776, and travelled, +by moderate journeys, suited to his strength, which +gradually increased, eleven or twelve hundred miles. When +we returned to London, in the latter end of the year, he was +considerably better. And, I verily believe, if he had travelled +with me, partly in the chaise and partly on horseback, only a +few months longer, he would quite have recovered his health. +But this those about him would not permit; so, being detained +in London by his kind, but injudicious, friends, while I pursued +my journeys, his spitting of blood, with all the other symptoms, +returned, and rapidly increased, till the physician pronounced +him to be far advanced in pulmonary consumption.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_257_257" href="#Footnote_257_257" class="fnanchor">[257]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</span> +No doubt, Wesley wished to have Fletcher as his coadjutor +and successor; but Providence determined otherwise. Fletcher +had a great work to do, and did it; but it was not ordained +that Fletcher should take Wesley’s place.</p> + +<p>It is a remarkable coincidence, that, in the very year when +the health of Fletcher failed, Wesley formed an acquaintance +with Thomas Coke. Born and educated at Brecon, Coke was +now twenty-nine years of age. He had taken his degrees +at Oxford, had received episcopal ordination, and, at present, +was curate at South Petherton. Mr. Brown, a clergyman near +Taunton, lent him the sermons and journals of Wesley, and +the “Checks” of Fletcher. In the month of August, 1776, +Wesley was Mr. Brown’s guest at Kingston, and Coke went +to see him. Wesley writes: “1776, August 13—I preached +at Taunton, and afterwards went with Mr. Brown to Kingston. +Here I found a clergyman, Dr. Coke, late a gentleman commoner +of Jesus college, Oxford, who came twenty miles on +purpose to meet me. I had much conversation with him; and +a union then began, which, I trust, shall never end.” The +doctor expressed his doubts respecting the propriety of confining +himself to one congregation. Wesley clasped his hands, +and, in a manner peculiarly his own, said: “Brother, go out, +go out, and preach the gospel to all the world!”⁠<a id="FNanchor_258_258" href="#Footnote_258_258" class="fnanchor">[258]</a> Coke rode +back to Petherton pensive, and yet consoled. The tone of his +ministry was now more decided than ever. The parish was +remodelled, so to speak, into a circuit. On Sundays, after the +second lesson, he would read a paper of his appointments for +the ensuing week, with the place and time of service. His +innovations, in preaching in cottages and barns, took a sort of +Methodistic form, by being systematically arranged. The +disgust of his opponents in the parish became intense; and, +to prevent his having the opportunity of preaching a farewell +sermon, his rector, without any previous notice, at the close +of a public service, and in the presence of a listening congregation, +abruptly announced that Coke was now dismissed. +The die was cast. Coke attended Wesley’s conference +in Bristol, and, on August 19, 1777, Wesley writes: “I +went to Taunton with Dr. Coke, who, being dismissed from +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</span> +his curacy, has bid adieu to his honourable name, and +determined to cast in his lot with us.” Henceforth, Thomas +Coke was a Methodist itinerant preacher, and became the +great organiser of Methodist missions in other lands.</p> + +<p>When Wesley enacted rules, he meant them to be +observed. Laxity in the enforcement of discipline was to +him a thing intolerable. He was a thorough disciplinarian +himself, and insisted that his preachers should copy his +example. Good as were the first Methodists, they were +not perfect. Then, as now, some were defective in their +attendance at the weekly class. In certain instances, as we +have already seen, some were guilty of the crime of smuggling. +Others, in moderation, were addicted to taking drams, +and others opium; and it often happened that the oldest +societies were the worst offenders. In 1776, both London +and Newcastle were thus tainted; and Wesley was determined, +with a strong hand, to purge them. Hence the +following extracts from letters, addressed, at this period, to +Joseph Benson, stationed at Newcastle.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“We must threaten no longer, but perform. In November last, I +told the London society, ‘Our rule is, to meet a class once a week; not +once in two or three. I now give you warning: I will give tickets to +none in February, but those that have done this.’ I have stood to my +word. Go you and do likewise, wherever you visit the classes. Begin, +if need be, at Newcastle, and go on at Sunderland. Promises to meet +are now out of date. Those, that have not met seven times in the +quarter, exclude. Read their names in the society; and inform them +all, you will the next quarter exclude all that have not met twelve times; +that is, unless they were hindered by distance, sickness, or by some +unavoidable business. And I pray, without fear or favour, remove +the leaders, whether of classes or bands, who do not watch over the souls +committed to their care ‘as those that must give account.’”</p> +</div> + +<p>What would become of Methodist societies if these +imperative directions of Methodism’s founder were enforced +now?</p> + +<p>Benson had expelled a smuggler, and Wesley wrote:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“You did right in excluding from our society so notorious an offender. +You have now a providential call to stand in the gap between the living +and the dead. Fear nothing. Begin in the name of God, and go through +with it. If only six will promise you to sin no more, leave only six in +society. But my belief is, a hundred and fifty are now clear of blame; +and, if you are steady, a hundred more will amend. You must, at all +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</span> +events, tear up this evil by the roots. The ‘Word to a Smuggler’ should +be read and dispersed. And secure your fellow labourers, that you may +all speak one thing. Go on, for God is with you! Not only the assistant, +but every preacher, is concerned to see all our rules observed. +I desire brother Rhodes will give no tickets, either to those who have +not constantly met their classes, or to any that do not solemnly promise +to deal in stolen goods no more. He and you together may put a stop +to this crying sin. If any leader oppose, you see your remedy; put +another in his place. Nay, if he does not join heart and hand; for ‘he +that gathereth not with you scattereth.’ The ‘Word to a Smuggler’ is +plain and home, and has done much good in Kent. Taking opium is +full as bad as taking drams. It equally hurts the understanding, and is, +if possible, more pernicious to the health, than even rum or brandy. +None should touch it, if they have the least regard either for their souls +or bodies.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_259_259" href="#Footnote_259_259" class="fnanchor">[259]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>The year 1776 was a period of great national distress; +and, yet, it was now that Wesley started his scheme for +the erection of Methodism’s cathedral, the chapel in City +Road. Who will write a history of London Methodism? +or, which would be more popular, who will give the +Methodists a monograph of the memories of Wesley’s “new +chapel” in City Road? Much might be said of the episcopal +chapel in West Street, Seven Dials, of which Wesley +obtained a lease, and which he opened on the 29th of +May, 1743, as a Methodist meeting-house, and which was so +occupied until 1798, when it was superseded by the purchase +of another episcopal chapel, which then stood on part of the +site of the present Methodist chapel in Great Queen Street.⁠<a id="FNanchor_260_260" href="#Footnote_260_260" class="fnanchor">[260]</a> +Then there was the venerable chapel in Spitalfields, erected +by the French protestants, and used by Wesley long before +that in City Road was built, but which, <i lang="la">horresco referens!</i> has +given place to the brewery of Truman, Hanbury & Co.; and +there is likewise its successor, also originally a French protestant +church, and still used for Methodist services, a chapel +which has recently had dark days of adversity, but which is +rich in religious memories, and has witnessed many a marvellous +revival of the work of God. There is Chelsea, whose +first Methodist meeting place was an upper room in the house +of an elderly woman, Mrs. Day, who resided in Royal Hospital +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</span> +Row; and its next, one of the dancing rooms in the celebrated +Ranelagh Gardens, for which a rent was paid of ten guineas per +annum; and in which Wesley preached only about two months +previous to his death, taking as his text words which his long +life had illustrated: “The king’s business requires haste.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_261_261" href="#Footnote_261_261" class="fnanchor">[261]</a> +There is Lambeth, where, in 1772, good old John Edwards +opened his house for preaching; and then converted an adjoining +building into a decent chapel; a man of vigorous mind, +retentive memory, and fluent speech; for almost forty +years an effective local preacher, and who, while on a +preaching expedition, died at Irchester, in the county of +Northampton, in 1803.⁠<a id="FNanchor_262_262" href="#Footnote_262_262" class="fnanchor">[262]</a> In London East, there was the +old chapel in Gravel Lane, which, in 1811, was required +for the London Docks; and its successor in Back Road, +required by the Black wall railway company.⁠<a id="FNanchor_263_263" href="#Footnote_263_263" class="fnanchor">[263]</a> There was +the schoolroom near Mill Pond Bridge, Rotherhithe, succeeded +by the purchased chapel in Albion Street.⁠<a id="FNanchor_264_264" href="#Footnote_264_264" class="fnanchor">[264]</a> There +was Hoxton chapel, which originally belonged to the Dissenters; +and there were the venerable meeting-houses at +Wapping, Snowsfields, Peckham, and other places. All +these have a history well worth writing, to say nothing of +the parent of them all, the old pantile Foundery, Methodism’s +honoured cradle; and of which the Methodists retained +possession, at least as late as the year 1785, when they received +for it, in the shape of rent, <abbr title="14 pounds">£14</abbr> per year.⁠<a id="FNanchor_265_265" href="#Footnote_265_265" class="fnanchor">[265]</a></p> + +<p>Then how rich the mine of London Methodist biography! +Confining ourselves to Wesley’s days, there is—​Mary +Cheesebrook, originally a kept mistress, converted in West +Street chapel, never absent from the Foundery preaching, +though, to be in time, she often had to run the distance, and +who, every Saturday, after paying her little debts, gave away +all the money she had left, leaving the morrow to take thought +for the things of itself:—Mrs. Witham, a mother in Israel, +an eminent pattern of calm boldness for the truth, of simplicity +and godly sincerity, of unwearied constancy in +attending all the ordinances of God, of zeal for God and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</span> +for all good works, and of self denial in every kind:—Elizabeth +Langdon, whose trials were severe, and her death +tranquil:—Hannah Lee, a model of industry, meekness, and +patience:—Mary Naylor, distinguished for her Christian +courage, and plainness of speech and of apparel:—Thomas +Salmon, a good and useful man:—Joseph Norbury, a faithful +witness of Jesus Christ:—William Hurd, a son of affliction, +whose end was peace:—John Matthews, who, for some +months before his death, was wont to say, “I have no more +doubt of being in heaven, than if I was there already”; and +of whom Wesley writes: “A man of so faultless a behaviour I +have hardly ever been acquainted with. During twenty years, +I do not remember his doing or saying anything which I +would wish to have been unsaid or undone”:—Ann Wheeler, +who, twenty-five years before her death, while attending +preaching in Moorfields, was struck in the forehead with a +stone, the mark of which her unborn daughter bore to her +dying day:—Rebecca Mills, always firm and unmoved, resting +on the Rock of ages, and in life and death uniformly +praising the God of her salvation:—Elizabeth Duchesne, for +near forty years zealous of good works, and who shortened +her days by labouring for the poor beyond her strength:—William +Osgood, a good man, who began life in poverty, +but increased more and more till he was worth several +thousand pounds:—Michael Hayes, who lived above a +hundred and four years, mostly in vigorous health, and +as he lived, so died, praising God:—Mrs. Kiteley, a perfect +pattern of true womanhood, a good wife, a good parent, a +good mistress, who, after many years of active benevolence, +redeemed a poor friendless youth from prison, took the +jail distemper, and died:—Heller Tanner, diligent, patient, +loving to every man, and zealous of good works:—Bilhah +Aspernell, who, for six-and-thirty years, without intermission, +walked in the light of God’s countenance, was always in pain, +yet always rejoicing, and going about doing good; who +on Sunday evening met her class as usual, and the next day +sent for her old fellow traveller, Sarah Clay, and said to her, +“Sally, I am going.” “Where are you going?” She cheerfully +answered, “To my Jesus, to be sure!” and spoke no +more:—Thomas Vokins, a man of a sorrowful spirit, who +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</span> +always hung down his head like a bulrush, but who died +triumphing over pain and death, and rejoicing with joy full +of glory:—Mr. Bespham, many years master of a man of war, +whose faith was full of mercy and good fruits:—George +Parsons, a flame of fire wherever he went, losing no occasion +of speaking or working for God; so zealously, so humbly, +so unreservedly devoted to God, that few like him were left +behind him:—Eleanor Lee, who lived in the enjoyment of +perfect love for sixteen years, and of whom Wesley testified, +“I never saw her do any action, little or great, nor heard +her speak any word, which I could reprove”:—Ann Thwayte, +a woman of faith and prayer, for whom Wesley preached +a funeral sermon:—Merchant West, a pattern of diligence +in all things, spiritual and temporal:—Charles Greenwood, +a melancholy man, full of doubts and fears, but who, two +days before he died, was made so unspeakably happy +that he exclaimed, “God has revealed to me things which +it is impossible for man to utter”:—George Hufflet, for +many years a burning and shining light:—Ann Sharland, +whose cancer in her breast caused her continual pain, but +who triumphed gloriously through Christ;—and Robert +Windsor, prudent, serious, diligent, full of mercy and good +fruits.</p> + +<p>All these died during Wesley’s lifetime. The temptation +to add to them is great. We should like to tell of William +Palmer, Wesley’s first classleader in London; and of his son, +who was blind from infancy, was one of the first to form the +Community, or body of workhouse visitors, often made +preaching excursions into different parts of the country, with +Wesley’s sanction, and died in 1822, after being sixty-two +years a Methodist.⁠<a id="FNanchor_266_266" href="#Footnote_266_266" class="fnanchor">[266]</a> Old Thomas Gibbs of Lambeth, also, +deserves a place in Methodism’s gallery,—a patriarch, who +lived to the age of one hundred and four years, eighty-three +of which he had been a member of Wesley’s society; and +who, at his death, in 1827, was probably the oldest Methodist +in the world.⁠<a id="FNanchor_267_267" href="#Footnote_267_267" class="fnanchor">[267]</a> There is Isaac Andrews, one of the original +subscribers to City Road chapel, a man of unimpeachable +Christian character, a Methodist of sixty years’ standing, who +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</span> +died at the age of eighty-two, in 1832.⁠<a id="FNanchor_268_268" href="#Footnote_268_268" class="fnanchor">[268]</a> There is Mrs. +Maddan, whose mother, Mrs. Varin, was the eighth person +whom Wesley received into church fellowship, when forming +his infant society in Fetter Lane. There are Mrs. Mortimer +and Mrs. Bruce, of whom the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Richard Watson used to +say, “they were the two finest specimens of primitive Methodism +that he knew;” the latter being the daughter of parents +who were among the eighteen persons who first joined +Wesley in Christian fellowship, in 1739.⁠<a id="FNanchor_269_269" href="#Footnote_269_269" class="fnanchor">[269]</a> We cannot find +room for more.</p> + +<p>For five-and-thirty years, Wesley and his friends had worshipped +in “the old Foundery.” Here hundreds, perhaps +thousands, had been converted; but, as the building was only +held on lease, they were now in danger of losing it. On +October 19, 1775, Wesley, writing to his brother, says: “on +Friday I hope to be in London, and to talk with the committee +about building a new Foundery.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_270_270" href="#Footnote_270_270" class="fnanchor">[270]</a> A few months later, +he wrote again: “1776, March 1—As we cannot depend on +having the Foundery long, we met to consult about building +a new chapel. Our petition to the city for a piece of ground +lies before their committee; but when we shall get any further, +I know not: so I determined to begin my circuit as +usual; but promised to return whenever I should receive +notice that our petition was granted.” Exactly five months +after this, Wesley started the first subscription, and, at three +meetings, raised upwards of <abbr title="1000 pounds">£1000</abbr>. In November following, +building plans were agreed upon; in April 1777, Wesley laid +the foundation stone; and on Sunday, November 1, 1778, he +opened his new sanctuary, by preaching, in the morning, on +part of Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the temple; +and in the afternoon, on the hundred, forty and four thousand +standing with the Lamb on mount Zion. He writes: “It is +perfectly neat, but not fine; and contains far more people +than the Foundery: I believe, together with the morning +chapel, as many as the Tabernacle.”</p> + +<p>The chapel in City Road will always stand as a thanksgiving +monument, raised, not by the London Methodists +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</span> +merely, but by Methodists throughout the three kingdoms. +No sooner was it resolved to build, than Wesley issued the following +circular, an original copy of which now lies before us.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>October 18, 1776.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—The society at <em>London</em> have given assistance +to their brethren in various parts of England. They have done this for +upwards of thirty years: they have done it cheerfully and liberally. +The first year of the subscription for the <em>general debt</em>, they subscribed +above <em>nine hundred pounds</em>; the next, above <em>three hundred</em>; and not +much less every one of the ensuing years.</p> + +<p>“They now stand in need of assistance themselves. They are under a +necessity of building; as the <i>Foundery</i>, with all the adjoining houses, is +shortly to be pulled down. And the city of London has granted ground +to build on; but on condition of covering it, and with large houses in +front, which, together with the new chapel, will, at a very moderate computation, +cost upwards of <em>six thousand pounds</em>. I must, therefore, beg +the assistance of all our brethren. <em>Now</em> help the <i>parent</i> society, which +has helped others, for so many years, so willingly and so largely. <i>Now</i> +help <i>me</i>, who account this as a kindness done to myself; perhaps, the +last of this sort which I shall ask of you. Subscribe what you conveniently +can, to be paid either now, or at Christmas, or at Ladyday next.</p> + +<p>“I am, your affectionate brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>. +</p> + +<table> +<tr><td class="tdl" rowspan="7">“The Trustees are </td> + <td class="tdr">⎧</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">John Duplex</span>,</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">⎪</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Charles Greenwood</span>,</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">⎪</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Richard Kemp</span>,</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">⎨</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Samuel Chancellor</span>,</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">⎪</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Charles Wheeler</span>,</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">⎪</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">William Cowland</span>,</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr">⎩</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">John Folgham</span>.”</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p>We are afraid to enter into details, respecting the New +Chapel, in City Road. John Pawson, who was appointed to the +office of assistant in the London circuit, within two years after +the chapel was opened, tells us, in an unpublished manuscript, +that the plan proposed was to build an elegant chapel, such +as even the lord mayor might attend, without any diminishing +of his official dignity; and that it should be <em>wholly</em> supplied by +ordained clergymen of the Established Church on Sundays, +when the liturgy should be constantly read at both morning +and evening service; and this, for a considerable time after the +chapel was opened, was regularly done. No layman, so +called,—that is, no itinerant preacher not episcopally ordained, +was allowed to officiate within its walls, except on +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</span> +week days. Charles Wesley, Thomas Coke, and John +Richardson were City Road’s only sabbatic priests: Pawson, +Jaco, Rankin, Tennent, Olivers, and others, though better +preachers than any of the trio, were not admitted; because +their heads had not been touched by a bishop’s fingers. +Pawson says, that Richardson and Coke disapproved of this +arrangement; but Charles Wesley persisted, until the congregations +so fell off, and the society was thrown into such confusion, +that the trustees of the chapel met, and waited on +Charles Wesley with a request, that he would not preach so +often at City Road, but would go sometimes to West Street +on Sundays, and allow the itinerants to take his place on the +hitherto forbidden ground. Charles reluctantly submitted; +but wrote to his brother, casting all the blame upon the poor, +tabooed itinerants, and stating that it was wholly owing to +their deep rooted prejudices against the clergy of the Established +Church, that these events had happened.</p> + +<p>For many years, the men sat on one side the chapel, and +the women on the other; and, besides this, there was another +usage, which would not be popular at the present day: all the +pews and seats were open. Large numbers paid for seats; +but no one was allowed to call a seat, or a pew, his own. In +1788, the trustees endeavoured to make an alteration in both +the respects just mentioned; “thus overthrowing,” says +Wesley, “at one blow, the discipline which I have been +establishing for fifty years!” He continues, however: “we +had another meeting of the committee; who, after a calm and +loving consultation, judged it best—(1) that the men and +women should sit separate still; and (2) that none should +claim any pew as his own, either in the new chapel, or in +West Street.”</p> + +<p>The days of the old Foundery have long been ended; the +“New Chapel” in City Road still stands, and we trust will +ever stand, by far the most sacred and attractive edifice in +the Methodistic world. Not for a hundred pretentious gothic +structures would Methodists of the olden type give up this. +Though its ceiling may be somewhat low, yet, taken as a +whole, its architecture, for neatness, and commodiousness, +and solidity, has been but rarely equalled, by the more +pretentious Methodist buildings of the present day. We +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</span> +are weary of gothic gaudiness, sacrificing the interests of the +church of God to the pride of showy architects, and the +mediæval whims of Methodists in danger of relapsing into +mediæval darkness. Let the present race of Methodists have +wisdom and modesty enough to build their chapels according +to the plan adopted by a man, in all respects, their +superior—​Methodism’s founder. Hail to old City Road! +When we think of the ministers who have occupied its +pulpit, of the families who have filled its pews, of the +dead resting in graves round about its walls, and of the +interesting events which make up its story,—we feel that +of all the Methodist meeting-houses in existence, gothic +or otherwise, marble or mudden, there is not one to equal +this.</p> + +<p>For many a long year, the chapel in City Road was the +head of London Methodism; and, though there are now more +than twenty heads, all owe a respectful obeisance to this. Its +circuit plan, from June 17 to September 23, 1792, eighteen +inches broad and fifteen deep, is simply headed, “A Plan for +the Preachers in London;” the word Methodist, or Methodism, +not being printed in any part of it. The preaching +places, and hours of preaching, are as follows:—New Chapel, +9 a.m. and 5 p.m.; West Street, 9, 3 and 7; Spitalfields, +10 and 3; Wapping, 10 and 5; Snowsfields, 10 and 5; +Lambeth, 6; Westminster, 5; Peckham, 3; Rotherhithe, +10 and 5; Deptford, 7, 10, and 5; Chelsea, 6; Brentford, 10, 2, +and 6; Dorking, 11, 2, and 5; Raynham, 10 and 5; Purfleet, 9 +and 5; Woolwich, 2 and 6; Wandsworth, 6; Mitcham, 2 and +6; Croydon, 2 and 6; Bromley, 3; Barnet, 2 and 5; Poplar, +11 and 5; Bow, 5; Stratford, 11 and 5; Barking, 5; Leyton, +5; Grosvenor Market, 6; Ratcliff Cross, 2; Christ Church, 5; +Clerkenwell, 6; Kentish Town, 6; and Seven Dials without +an hour. Such was London circuit at the time when Wesley +died.</p> + +<p>Interesting citations might be made from the old City Road +society book, extending from August 23, 1784, to July 9, 1800. +We learn, that sacramental collections were, upon an average, a +little more than <abbr title="3 pounds">£3</abbr> each; and monthly collections, for “the +furtherance of the gospel,” about <abbr title="6 pounds">£6</abbr> 10<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> The sacrament was +administered once a week; and what is now known among +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</span> +the Methodists as a <em>quarterly</em> collection was then made once a +month as just referred to. The entire circuit income, for 1786, +was <abbr title="862 pounds">£862</abbr> 16<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 5<abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr>, which included sacramental collections and +payments for graves, all of which were then appropriated to +circuit purposes. Strangely enough, there is no entry of class +moneys till 1788, from which time such entries were regularly +made. Had the practice of collecting pence weekly in the +classes been superseded by collections made at the weekly +sacraments? This is not improbable; for, from the time when +class moneys are entered as a part of the circuit income, the +entries of sacramental collections, and collections for the +furtherance of the gospel, cease. For the year 1787, including +all sources of income, the average contribution per member per +year was in this great London circuit 3<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 10½<abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr>, or less than +a shilling per member per quarter. How far was this from the +requirement of Wesley’s rules? Who will say that the former +days were better than these? Besides, all that was contributed +was not current coin; for in the same year there is a +charge deducted of not less than <abbr title="10 pounds">£10</abbr> 14<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 9½<abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr> for bad money +given at collections.</p> + +<p>Many are the curious items in the list of circuit payments +and allowances. The yearly salary paid to Wesley was <abbr title="30 pounds">£30</abbr>; +to his brother <abbr title="60 pounds">£60</abbr>; to Creighton, <abbr title="61 pound">£61</abbr>; to Dickenson, <abbr title="50 pounds">£50</abbr>; +to Coke, <abbr title="30 pounds">£30</abbr>; while the quarterage to the itinerants, and to +their wives respectively, was <abbr title="3 pounds">£3</abbr> each. With a few more +extracts we conclude this lengthened notice of London +Methodism, during the last seven years of Wesley’s life. +“1784: November 7, a new pail, half a crown; December 6, +chain for dog, two shillings. 1785: January 4, shaving the +preachers, <abbr title="2 pounds">£2</abbr> 10<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 6<abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr>; February 18, “news pappers,” 13<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr>; +May 18, lamplighter, four weeks, 6<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr>; August 8, Mr. Tennant, +to pay his debts, and to send him to Leeds, <abbr title="9 pounds">£9</abbr> 9<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr>; August 13, +letters, four weeks, <abbr title="2 pounds">£2</abbr> 15<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 8½<abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr> August 19, for shaving the +preachers at conference, <abbr title="7 pounds">£7</abbr> 5<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 3<abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr> 1787: February 2, two trees +for front of dwelling house, 3<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 6<abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr>; December 17, for curtain +over the altar, <abbr title="5 pounds">£5</abbr> 1<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 9<abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr> 1789: March 28, paid expenses of +a hogshead of cider, from Guernsey, a present to Mr. Wesley, +<abbr title="1 pound">£1</abbr> 9<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr>; July 7, paid the man servant a quarter’s wages, +<abbr title="1 pound">£1</abbr> 1<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr>; December 29, paid Mr. Moore for cold bath, +<abbr title="1 pound">£1</abbr> 1<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 1790: July 1, the hairdresser’s bill, <abbr title="1 pound">£1</abbr> 1<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr>, for one +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</span> +quarter. 1791: February 22, paid the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Wesley’s +salary (the last he received) <abbr title="15 pounds">£15</abbr>; April 20, paid for +<abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Wesley’s horses standing at livery after his +decease, <abbr title="1 pound">£1</abbr> 11<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 9<abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr>; December 3, paid Mr. Judd’s bill +for hanging the New Chapel with black superfine cloth, +<abbr title="41 pound">£41</abbr> 16<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr>”⁠<a id="FNanchor_271_271" href="#Footnote_271_271" class="fnanchor">[271]</a></p> + +<p>These may seem little things to introduce into a work like +this; but little things often indicate greater, and, sometimes, +it is only by knowing minute matters that men can form a +correct opinion of a great general system.</p> + +<p>After this long, but we hope not uninteresting digression, +we must return to Wesley in 1776.</p> + +<p>On Sunday evening, March 3, he set out from London +to Bristol, and thence to his societies in the north. The +tour was not completed until the 19th of July following, when +he got back to London. Its incidents were much the same +as previous ones, except that he was permitted to preach +in a larger number of churches than usual,—namely, at +Pebworth, Chowbent, Heptonstall, Bingley, Haworth, Colne, +and at Banff in Scotland,⁠<a id="FNanchor_272_272" href="#Footnote_272_272" class="fnanchor">[272]</a> a proof that clerical prejudice was +subsiding, and that the poor branded outcast was beginning to +be regarded with a more favourable eye. The churches that +he occupied in Yorkshire were crowded. Thomas Taylor, at +that time in the Haworth circuit, writes, in his unpublished +diary: “Saturday, April 27—Mr. Wesley preached at +Bradford, at 5 a.m. At 10½, to the surprise of many, he +preached in Bingley church, from Acts <abbr title="twenty-four">xxiv.</abbr> 25. I never saw +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</span> +him weep while preaching before now. He spoke awfully, +and the congregation heard attentively. The next day +(Sunday) I heard him at Keighley in the morning, and then +at Haworth church. Afterwards, the sacrament was administered, +but in too great a hurry. Several hundreds communicated +in less than an hour. We then dined, in haste +and confusion, and drove off to Colne. I rode fast, and got +thither before Mr. Wesley. The street was filled with people +waiting to welcome him; but, when about two miles from +Colne, his chaise broke down, which somewhat delayed his +coming. He mounted a horse, however, and so arrived in +safety. The crowd was so great that it was with difficulty we +got into the church. The sexton led us to the reading desk, +and thereby I got a seat. Mr. Wesley’s text was Revelation +<abbr title="twenty">xx.</abbr> 12. At the beginning he was rather flat; but, at the +end, he spake many awful things.”</p> + +<p>Wesley’s journey to the north was always one continued +panorama of toil and travel, preaching and praying, conferring +with his preachers and visiting the sick. Hardly one in a +thousand could have borne the burden of its labours without +bending; and yet Wesley, an old man, was always, in the +midst of gigantic toils, blithe and happy; and never went +northwards without making his large circuit larger. Besides +other places, he now, for the first, time, preached at Chesterfield. +Three years before, Jeremiah Cocker had gone from +Sheffield, and stood on a table, in the midst of the market +place, and begun to preach. A man, hired for the purpose, +pulled him down. Jerry again mounted his rostrum, and was +again pulled down. A third time he ascended, and a third +time his assailant brought him to the ground. The old +Adam now began to stir in the athletic preacher, and, +seizing the man, he gave him a shake hardly gentle. “That +is not the spirit of Christ,” shouted the mob, which, all at +once, had become pious. “I acknowledge it,” said Jerry; +and again he jumped upon his table, and finished his discourse.⁠<a id="FNanchor_273_273" href="#Footnote_273_273" class="fnanchor">[273]</a></p> + +<p>Wesley opened the conference of 1776, in London, on +August 6, and concluded it three days afterwards. He +writes: “In several conferences we have had great love and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</span> +unity; but in this there was, over and above, such a general +seriousness and solemnity of spirit as we scarcely ever had +before.” “Everything,” says Thomas Taylor, “was conducted +in great order. A very strict scrutiny was made into every +one’s character; and I am glad so few were found culpable.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_274_274" href="#Footnote_274_274" class="fnanchor">[274]</a></p> + +<p>The truth is, objections to the preachers had become so +rife, that Wesley felt it to be his duty to interfere. He +writes: “It is objected, that some of our preachers are utterly +unqualified for the work, and that others do it negligently, as +if they imagined they had nothing to do but to preach once +or twice a day. In order to silence this objection for ever, +which has been repeated ten times over, the preachers were +examined at large, especially those concerning whom there +was the least doubt. The result was, that one was excluded +for inefficiency, and two for misbehaviour. And we were +thoroughly satisfied, that all the rest had both grace and gifts +for the work wherein they are engaged. I hope, therefore, we +shall hear of this objection no more.”</p> + +<p>Even in 1776, as now, there were crabbed, cantankerous +Methodists, to whom discipline was a blessing. Those in +Ireland refused to contribute to the yearly collection, saying, +it “was nothing to <em>them</em>; they would only bear their own +expenses.” This was worse than foolish; it was disloyal and +unjust. In their own fashion, they were willing to feed and +clothe the preachers sent to them; but they expected some +one else to pay their expenses for travelling, and for the +sickness of themselves and their families; or, perhaps, these +Irish Methodists had dreamt that itinerants travelled without +expense, and, so far as sickness was concerned and +the need of medicine, were entirely exempted from the +dire effects of Adam’s curse. Wesley says, with honest indignation: +“These are properly <em>their</em> expenses; nor will +we pay any part of them for the time to come, unless their +yearly contribution enable us so to do.” If the Irish stopped +supplies on one side of the channel, Wesley could stop +supplies on the other side as well. This probably was a +dilemma which the simple Hibernians had not studied.</p> + +<p>There was another unpleasantness at the conference of 1776. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</span> +Circuit stewards complained, that some of the preachers’ +wives were sluts, and spoiled their houses; and the preachers, +on the other hand, complained that their houses were hardly +homes, for the people, without ceremony, crowded into them +as into coffee houses. Wesley dealt with both complaints in +his own laconic way; directing that no “known slut” should +have a house to spoil; and that no person, either on Sundays +or week days, should go into the preacher’s house except to +ask a question.</p> + +<p>The conference pronounced the opinion, that Calvinism had +been the grand hindrance of the work of God; and, hence, to +stop its progress, all the preachers were requested—(1) To read, +with carefulness, the tracts published by Wesley, Fletcher, +and Sellon. (2) To preach universal redemption frequently, +explicitly, and lovingly. (3) Not to imitate the Calvinist +preachers in screaming, allegorising, and boasting; but to +visit as diligently as they did, to answer all their objections, +to advise the Methodists not to hear them, to pray constantly +and earnestly that God would stop the plague.</p> + +<p>Was it wise to publish this? We doubt it; and so did +Toplady, for he immediately, without note or comment, republished +it in his <cite>Gospel Magazine</cite>, with the heading “Authentic +Extract of what passed at a certain Confabulation, held at +London, August 6, 1776.”</p> + +<p>The Isle of Man now began to attract attention. John +Crook was the son of a Lancashire physician, who squandered +his own and his wife’s fortunes, and then died a miserable and +untimely death at sea. John was put apprentice to learn a +laborious trade, and then enlisted to be a soldier; when he +was sent to Limerick, where, at the age of twenty-eight, he +was converted, in the Methodist chapel, in the year 1770. +Having purchased his discharge from the army, he returned +to Liverpool, where he became a classleader, and a local +preacher. At the beginning of 1775, he went, uncommissioned +except by God Himself, to the Isle of Man, and began to +preach, and had the lieutenant governor, and his lady, and all +the family, and the chief people in Castletown, to hear him. +Numbers had been converted; and persecution had begun to +rage. On July 16, 1776, the following episcopal bull was +issued.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</span> +<p>“<i>To the several Rectors, Vicars, Chaplains, Curates, within the Isle +and Diocese of Man.</i></p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Reverend Brethren</span>,—Whereas, we have been informed, that +several unordained, unauthorised, and unqualified persons from other +countries have presumed, for some time past, to preach and teach publicly, +and hold and maintain conventicles, and have caused several weak persons +to combine themselves together in a new society, and have private +meetings, assemblies, and congregations, contrary to the doctrine, government, +rites and ceremonies of the Established Church, and the civil and +ecclesiastical laws of this island⁠—</p> + +<p>“We do, therefore, for the prevention of schism, and the establishment +of uniformity of religious worship, which so long hitherto has subsisted +among us, hereby desire and require each and every one of you, to be +vigilant and use your utmost endeavours to dissuade your respective +flocks from following, or being led and misguided by, such incompetent +teachers, and to exhort, incite, and invite them devoutly to read the holy +Scripture, to attend reverently the blessed sacraments of their parish +church, and the ghostly advice of their own ministers, by which they will +be better and more comfortably instructed in the meaning of grace and +salvation, than by the crude and pragmatical and inconsistent, if not +profane and blasphemous, extempore effusions of these pretenders to the +true religion; and, if afterwards they regard not the truth, but obstinately +persist in error, then to know and find out the names of such persons, +within your respective parishes and chapelries, as attend the public +instructions of the said disorderly and unqualified teachers, or frequent +the said conventicles, meetings, assemblies, and congregations; and if, +upon due inquiry and certain information, you discover, or, consistently +with your own knowledge, know any licensed schoolmaster, mistress, +parish clerk, or any other person, who holds any office or employment by +licence from us or our predecessors, that you signify and make known to +us in writing the names, within one month after the receipt hereof, as also +unto our reverend vicars general or any one of them, of the persons +who attend the instructions of the said teachers, or frequent the said +conventicles.</p> + +<p>“And we, likewise, further desire and require each and every one of +you, in case any of the above mentioned unordained, unauthorised, and +unqualified teachers shall, at any time hereafter, offer to partake of the +holy communion in any of your respective churches or chapels, that you +repel him or them so offering, and the minister so repelling them or any +of them to give an account of the same unto us within fourteen days, at +the farthest, as is directed in the rubric in that behalf.</p> + +<p>“Given at Peeltown, July 16, 1776.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">R. Sodor and Man.</span> +</p> + +<p>“P.S.—Let these be forwarded, in the usual manner, and the time of +receiving and forwarding be noted by each of you. You will also take a +copy thereof, and publish it, in English and Manx, at the usual time, in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</span> +your respective churches and chapels the Sunday next after the receipt +thereof.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_275_275" href="#Footnote_275_275" class="fnanchor">[275]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>Such was the <i lang="la">fulmen brutum</i> discharged at the poor +Methodists from the episcopal battery of the Isle of Man. +Twelve days later, John Crook wrote as follows to a friend +at Liverpool.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Castletown, Isle of Man</span>, <i>July 28, 1776</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—I am now in hot war. The devil has stirred +up the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Moor, of Douglas, and made a firebrand of him, to set +all the island on fire. This gentleman has set his schoolboys to work, to +write chosen texts of Scripture against <em>false prophets, dreamers of dreams, +running and not being sent</em>, etc. He has also picked up a ballad, +written, I fancy, by the late Dr. Bowden, and has dispersed manuscript +copies of it, and of the texts, among the populace, and put them into a +most violent flame. The effect on us, as a society, is, we are hooted at, +slutched, and stoned, whenever we go to worship God. Mr. Moor’s +scholars, in particular, and the rabble of the town in general, gather round +our place of meeting, and first sing the blasphemous ballad, and then +proceed to throw dirt and stones at the windows and door. As for +myself, when I come out they plentifully salute me with channel dirt, with +which they have often plastered me pretty well. When the scholars meet +me at mid day, they curse me most horribly, and throw at me chips, hard +pieces of mortar, potatoes, stones, or whatever comes to hand. But if +this were all, we might do well enough; but this <em>brand</em> has communicated +the infectious blaze to the bishop, who has issued a bull, dated, not Rome, +but Peeltown, which was published in the churches last sabbath. I have +petitioned the governor for liberty of conscience, but he and the bishop +are so unanimous, that, he says, he will not interfere in the case, but +wishes me to write a memorial setting forth my suit. I am not willing to +do this, but have given Mr. Wesley an account of the matter, and hope +he will direct me how to act.</p> + +<p>“I am, your willing servant in the gospel,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Crook</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_276_276" href="#Footnote_276_276" class="fnanchor">[276]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley replied to Mr. Crook as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>August 10, 1776</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—By all means, stay in the island till the storm +be ended: in your patience possess your soul. Beware of despising your +opponents! Beware of anger and resentment! Return not evil for evil, +or railing for railing. I advise you to keep, with a few serious people, +a day of fasting and prayer. God has the hearts of all men in His +hands. Neither Dr. Moor, nor the bishop himself, is out of His reach. Be +fervent in prayer, that God would arise and maintain His own cause. +Assuredly, He will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</span> +bear. Violent methods of redress are not to be used, till all other +methods fail. I know pretty well the mind of Lord Mansfield, and of one +that is greater than he; but, if I appealed to them, it would bring much +expense and inconvenience on Dr. Moor and others. I would not willingly +do this; I love my neighbour as myself. Possibly, they may think +better, and allow that liberty of conscience which belongs to every partaker +of human nature, and more especially to every one of his majesty’s +subjects in his British dominions. To live peaceably with all men is the +earnest desire of your affectionate brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_277_277" href="#Footnote_277_277" class="fnanchor">[277]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Three years after this, the Isle of Man was a flourishing +Methodist circuit, with 1051 members of society.</p> + +<p>No sooner was the conference in London ended, than +Wesley set out, on Sunday afternoon, August 11, for Cornwall. +On his return, he spent, as usual, about a month at +Bristol and in its vicinity. He began what, he says, he had +long intended, visiting the Bristol society from house to house, +setting apart at least two hours a day for that purpose. He +preached in the church at Midsomer Norton, the rector making +one of his congregation. Here an incident occurred which was +characteristic of the man, and is worth relating. Wesley was +entertained at the house of Mr. Bush, a local preacher, who +kept a boarding school. While there, two of the boys +quarrelled, and cuffed and kicked each other most vigorously. +Mrs. Bush brought the pugilists to Wesley. He talked to them, +and repeated the lines:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0b">“Birds in their little nests agree,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">And ’tis a shameful sight,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">When children of one family</div> +<div class="verse indent2">Fall out, and chide, and fight.”</div> +</div></div> + +<p>“You must be reconciled,” said he; “go and shake hands +with each other.” They did so. “Now,” he continued, “put +your arms round each other’s neck, and kiss each other.” This +was also done. “Now,” said he, “come to me”; and, taking +two pieces of bread and butter, he folded them together, and +desired each to take a part. “Now,” he added, “you have +broken bread together.” He then put his hands upon their +heads, and blessed them. The two tigers were turned into +loving lambs; they never forgot the old man’s blessing; and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</span> +one of them became a magistrate in Berks, and related the +occurrence with intense interest in after days.⁠<a id="FNanchor_278_278" href="#Footnote_278_278" class="fnanchor">[278]</a></p> + +<p>Having returned to London, Wesley set out, on November +13, accompanied by his invalid friend, Fletcher, to Norwich. +He says: “I took coach at twelve, slept till six, and then +spent the time very agreeably in conversation, singing, and +reading. I read Mr. Bolt’s account of the affairs in the East +Indies. What a scene is here opened! What consummate +villains, what devils incarnate, were the managers there! +What utter strangers to justice, mercy, and truth; to every +sentiment of humanity! I believe no heathen history contains +a parallel. I remember none in all the annals of +antiquity; not even the divine Cato, or the virtuous Brutus, +plundered the provinces committed to their charge with such +merciless cruelty as the English have plundered the desolated +provinces of Hindostan.”</p> + +<p>The two friends returned to London on November 21; and, +a few days later, Wesley started on his accustomed visitation +to Bedfordshire, etc.; and, on the way, read the poetical works +of Gray, whom he pencils as “sharp, sensible, and ingenious; +but proud, morose, envious, passionate, and resentful.”</p> + +<p>After this, he made a tour through Kent; and then writes: +“December 31—We concluded the year with solemn praise +to God, for continuing His great work in our land. It has +never been intermitted one year, or one month, since the year +1738; in which my brother and I began to preach that strange +doctrine of salvation by faith.”</p> + +<p>The Calvinistic controversy was now in its last agonies; +but, on the part of the elect, was as acrimonious as ever. +Some one published a twopenny pamphlet, entitled, “A +necessary Alarm and most earnest Caveto against Tabernacle +Principles and Tabernacle Connections; containing the substance +of an extraordinary Harangue and Exhortation, delivered +at Penzance, in August, 1774; on an extraordinary occasion. +By J. W., Master of very extraordinary Arts.” In this +infamous burlesque, Wesley is treated with as much ridicule as +the anonymous author could command; and Toplady, in +reviewing it, in his <cite>Gospel Magazine</cite>, of course commends it, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</span> +as “a delicate satire on Wesley,” and hopes that “the cream +of tartar, so ably administered by the anonymous physician, +will prove a sweetener of the patient’s crudities, and conduce +to carry off some portion of his self sufficiency.” Wesley, +however, had been so “severely peppered and salted of late +years,” that the considerate editor of the <cite>Gospel Magazine</cite> +benevolently intimates that he shall, on that account, refrain +from adding to the pepper and salt seasonings, which “must +often have made Wesley smart and wince like an eel dispossessed +of its skin.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_279_279" href="#Footnote_279_279" class="fnanchor">[279]</a></p> + +<p>This was bad enough; but there were other things even +worse. Wesley’s wife, (originally a not too respectable servant +girl,) stole a number of Wesley’s letters, and interpolated words, +and misinterpreted spiritual expressions, so as to make the +letters bear a bad construction. She read them to an elect +party of Calvinists, and agreed to send them to the <cite>Morning +Post</cite> for publication. Two masked assassins, who assumed +the not inappropriate names of <i>Scorpion</i> and <i>Snapdragon</i>, +furiously assailed him, in the London newspaper, professing +to ground their charges against him upon his own private +papers, which the woman, who was legally his wife, had put +into their hands. A more infamous episode does not occur in +Wesley’s history. The charges were cruel insinuations, +founded upon interpolated letters, stolen by a faithless woman, +who, in order to defame a husband of whom she was utterly +unworthy, not only committed theft but forgery, and then put +herself into the hands of a set of holy Calvinists, who employed +her perfidy and meanness in injuring the man whom, +at the altar of the Most High God, she had sworn to love, +honour, and obey. This is strong language; but the writer, +knowing more than he chooses to make public, uses it +with deliberate design. Charles Wesley, finding the use that +was being made of his brother’s papers, was in the utmost +consternation, and went off in haste, wishing him to postpone +a journey, and to stay in town to defend himself against his +enemies. Wesley was as calm as his loving and faithful +brother was excited. “I shall never forget,” said Miss +Wesley, “the manner in which my father accosted my +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</span> +mother on his return home. ‘My brother,’ said he, ‘is indeed +an extraordinary man. I placed before him the importance +of the character of a minister; and the evil consequences +which might result from his indifference to it; and urged him, +by every relative and public motive, to answer for himself, +and stop the publication. His reply was, ‘<cite>Brother, when I +devoted to God my ease, my time, my life, did I except my +reputation? No, Tell Sally I will take her to Canterbury +to-morrow.</cite>’”⁠<a id="FNanchor_280_280" href="#Footnote_280_280" class="fnanchor">[280]</a></p> + +<p>On the Arminian side of the controversy, the chief, if not +the only, publication issued in 1776, was Fletcher’s masterly +“Answer to the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Toplady’s ‘Vindication of the +Decrees,’ etc.” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 128 pages. Never was a bravo shaved +with so sharp a razor, and by so adept a hand.</p> + +<p>Except “An Extract of the Life of Madame Guion,” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, +230 pages, Wesley’s only publications, in 1776, were the two +political tracts following. 1. “Some Observations on Liberty, +occasioned by a late Tract”: <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 36 pages. And, 2. “A +Seasonable Address to the more Serious Part of the Inhabitants +of Great Britain, respecting the Unhappy Contest +between us and our American Brethren; with an occasional +Word interspersed to those of a different complexion”: <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, +18 pages.</p> + +<p>The former was an answer to Dr. Price, a Unitarian +minister far more famed for politics than for preaching, who +had recently published his “Observations on the Nature of +Civil Liberty, the Principles of Government, and the Justice +and Policy of the War with America.” This was considered +the ablest work, in exposition of the injurious policy pursued +by England toward America, that had yet been issued. +Within less than two years, eight editions were printed; and, +in testimony of their approbation of it, the common council +of London presented to the author the freedom of the city in +a golden box. Thus, in fighting with Dr. Price, Wesley +was far from fighting with a shadow.</p> + +<p>Both of Wesley’s tracts display, not only his wonted ability, +but his profound loyalty to the government of King George, +his benevolence of heart, and his intense interest in the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</span> +fratricidal war which was then raging. A more loyal subject +than Wesley, England never had; perhaps, indeed, his loving +loyalty sometimes made him somewhat blind to the faultiness +of ruling powers. No man was more obedient to law; and no +man more cheerfully paid his taxes. The last mentioned +might not amount to much; but they were never tendered +with a niggard’s hand. Some imagined that he, the bishop +of 40,000 Methodists, was sure to have an enormous income, +and a silver chest well stocked with plate; and that, therefore, +his assessments ought to be higher than they were. So, for +instance, thought the commissioners of his majesty’s excise, +in 1776. Hence the following circular:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“<span class="smcap">Reverend Sir</span>,—As the commissioners cannot doubt but you have +plate for which you have hitherto neglected to make entry, they have +directed me to inform you, that they expect you forthwith to make due +entry of all your plate, such entry to bear date from the commencement +of the plate duty, or from such time as you have owned, used, had, or +kept any quantity of silver plate, chargeable by the act of parliament; as, +in default hereof, the board will be obliged to signify your refusal to their +lordships. An immediate answer is desired.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Think of John Wesley, always on the wing, having a hoard +of silver plate to adorn his sumptuous table when feasting his +Epicurean coadjutors and his dinner loving friends. The idea +was almost too silly to be ridiculous. Wesley seems to have +thought it so; and his answer (with which we close the +present year) was as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“<span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—I have <em>two</em> silver teaspoons at <em>London</em>, and <em>two</em> at <em>Bristol</em>. +This is all the plate which I have at present; and I shall not buy any +more, while so many round me want bread.</p> + +<p>“I am, sir, your most humble servant,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_255_255" href="#FNanchor_255_255" class="label">[255]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume eleven">vol. xi.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 290.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_256_256" href="#FNanchor_256_256" class="label">[256]</a> Manuscript letter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_257_257" href="#FNanchor_257_257" class="label">[257]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume eleven">vol. xi.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 290.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_258_258" href="#FNanchor_258_258" class="label">[258]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1824, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 568.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_259_259" href="#FNanchor_259_259" class="label">[259]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="pages">pp.</abbr> 395–397.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_260_260" href="#FNanchor_260_260" class="label">[260]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1845, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 522.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_261_261" href="#FNanchor_261_261" class="label">[261]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1830, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 310.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_262_262" href="#FNanchor_262_262" class="label">[262]</a> Ibid. 1803, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 289.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_263_263" href="#FNanchor_263_263" class="label">[263]</a> Ibid. 1847, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 102.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_264_264" href="#FNanchor_264_264" class="label">[264]</a> Ibid. 1816, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 446.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_265_265" href="#FNanchor_265_265" class="label">[265]</a> City Road society book.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_266_266" href="#FNanchor_266_266" class="label">[266]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1823, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 202.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_267_267" href="#FNanchor_267_267" class="label">[267]</a> Ibid. 1827, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 430.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_268_268" href="#FNanchor_268_268" class="label">[268]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1832, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 466.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_269_269" href="#FNanchor_269_269" class="label">[269]</a> Ibid. 1837, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 399.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_270_270" href="#FNanchor_270_270" class="label">[270]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 134.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_271_271" href="#FNanchor_271_271" class="label">[271]</a> It is a disgraceful fact that Charles Wesley was buried, not at the +expense of the London circuit, but by private subscription. Nineteen +London Methodists subscribed <abbr title="10 pounds">£10</abbr> 13<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 6<abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr>, and William Marriott made +up the deficiency of <abbr title="3 pounds">£3</abbr> 3<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> The pages in the old society book, on which +this account is written, were wafered together by four large wafers, doubtless +for the purpose of hiding the shame of the old Methodists of 1788.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_272_272" href="#FNanchor_272_272" class="label">[272]</a> The following was written to Robert Dall, one of Wesley’s itinerants.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Banff</span>, <i>January 1, 1777</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Father in the Lord</span>,—The society has been stationary ever +since you left us. We are often neglected. Lately we had only one visit +in eight weeks. Mr. Wesley was here on the 20th of May last, and +preached on the Parade from 2 Corinthians <abbr title="eight">viii.</abbr> 9. He supped at Lord +Banff’s, and next night at Admiral Gordon’s lady’s house, with a great +number of great ones; and, at their request, he preached in the English +chapel to an elegant and crowded congregation. We are, etc., <span class="smcap">William +and Isabel McPherson</span>.” (Manuscript letter.)</p> +</div> +<p></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_273_273" href="#FNanchor_273_273" class="label">[273]</a> Manuscript.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_274_274" href="#FNanchor_274_274" class="label">[274]</a> Taylor’s manuscript journals.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_275_275" href="#FNanchor_275_275" class="label">[275]</a> John Crook’s original copy.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_276_276" href="#FNanchor_276_276" class="label">[276]</a> Manuscript letter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_277_277" href="#FNanchor_277_277" class="label">[277]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1808, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 103.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_278_278" href="#FNanchor_278_278" class="label">[278]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1842, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 136.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_279_279" href="#FNanchor_279_279" class="label">[279]</a> <cite>Gospel Magazine</cite>, 1776, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 475.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_280_280" href="#FNanchor_280_280" class="label">[280]</a> Jackson’s Life of C. Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 283.</p></div></div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="1777">1777.</h2> +<hr class="short"> +<p class="center">Age 74</p> +</div> + +<p class="p2 drop-cap"><span class="smcap">Wesley</span> was always full of work. He began the year +1777 with a course of lectures on the book of Ecclesiastes, +and says: “I never before had so clear a sight either +of the meaning or the beauties of it; neither did I imagine, +that the several parts of it were, in so exquisite a manner, +connected together; all tending to prove that grand truth, +that there is no happiness out of God.”</p> + +<p>He also spent an hour every morning with his London +preachers, Messrs. Jaco, Hindmarsh, Murlin, Pilmoor, Atlay, +Bradford, and Olivers, in instructing them as he used to +instruct his Oxford pupils, and in promoting their piety.</p> + +<p>He likewise begun visiting the society, many of whom he +found in the deepest poverty, and writes: “O why do not all +the rich that fear God constantly visit the poor? Can they +spend part of their spare time better? Certainly not: so +they will find in that day, when ‘every man shall receive his +own reward according to his own labour.’”</p> + +<p>To his surprise, he once more preached in a London +church—​Allhallows; and says: “I found great liberty of +spirit; and the congregation seemed to be much affected. +How is this? Do I yet please men? Is the offence of +the cross ceased? It seems, after being scandalous near +fifty years, I am at length growing into an honourable +man.”</p> + +<p>At the beginning of the month of February, he hurried off +to Bristol, to quiet some of the society, who were in danger +of becoming disaffected towards government; and preached +from, “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and +powers.” Finding that there had been repeated attempts to +fire the city, he preached again, taking as his text, “Is there +any evil in the city, and the Lord hath not done it?” He +also wrote and published, “A Calm Address to the Inhabitants +of England”: <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 23 pages. He states, that a year +and a half ago, from fifty to a hundred thousand copies of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</span> +his “Calm Address to the American Colonies” had been dispersed, +and the effect had exceeded his most sanguine hopes. +This encouraged him now to address “the inhabitants of <em>Old +England</em>.” He then gives an account of the rise and progress +of the American rebellion, tracing it back as far as the year +1737. He proceeds to state that, after bawling for liberty, +no liberty was left in the confederate provinces of America; +the liberty of the press, religious liberty, and civil liberty +were nonentities. The lords of the congress were as +absolute as the emperor of Morocco; whereas, in England, +the fullest liberty was enjoyed, “both as to religion, life, body, +and goods.” He tells the Methodists that, though many, +who go under that name, hate the king and all his ministers, +only less than they hate an Arminian, he would no more +continue in fellowship with those that were connected with +him, if they did this, than he would continue in fellowship +“with whoremongers, or sabbath breakers, or thieves, or +drunkards, or common swearers.”</p> + +<p>The whole tract is written in his most pungent style; and, +whatever may be thought of the wisdom of Wesley’s politics, +all must admire his devoted loyalty. Of course, like his +“Calm Address to the American Colonies,” it stirred a nest +of hornets. Almost immediately, there was published, in the +<cite>Gospel Magazine</cite>, a poem reviling him in unmeasured terms. +He is represented as “spitting venom, spite, and rage”; +“Father Johnny” is accused of telling “barefaced lies,” and +is thus admonished in the last two lines:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0b">“O think of this, thou grey haired sinner,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Ere Satan pick thy bones for dinner.”</div> +</div></div> + +<p>Wesley returned to London on February 8, and, a week +later, fulfilled a painful duty. For more than twenty years, +Dr. Dodd had been one of the most popular preachers in the +metropolis. When at the zenith of his fame, he, in 1774, sent +an anonymous letter to Lady Apsley, offering <abbr title="3000 pounds">£3000</abbr> if +she would prevail with her husband, the lord chancellor, to +appoint him to the valuable rectory of <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> George’s, Hanover +Square, which was then vacant. The writer was detected, and, +as a consequence, was struck out of the list of royal chaplains, +was assailed with bitter invectives by the press, and was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</span> +severely ridiculed by Foote, in a farce, entitled “The Cozeners.” +Withdrawing from England, where he had now become an +object of contempt, he, for a time, found an asylum at +Geneva, with his former pupil, Lord Chesterfield. On his +return to this country, he became editor of a newspaper, and +then a bankrupt. In 1776, he visited France, and, with little +regard to decency, appeared in a phaeton at the races on the +plains of Sablons, dressed in all the foppery of the country in +which he then resided. Strange to say, he was still popular, as +a preacher, at the Magdalen, in London, where he delivered +his last discourse on February 2, 1777, from the ominous text: +“And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither +shall the sole of thy foot have rest; but the Lord shall give +thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of +mind; and thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou +shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of +thy life.”</p> + +<p>Only two days afterwards, he forged the name of Lord +Chesterfield to a bond for <abbr title="4200 pounds">£4200</abbr>, on the security of which +he obtained a considerable loan. Detection speedily ensued; +and, before the month was ended, he was arrested, tried at +the Old Bailey, and was convicted. The crime was forgery; +the penalty was death. For four months, the unhappy culprit +was kept in prison. His friends were indefatigable, in their +endeavours, to obtain a commutation of his punishment. +Even the city of London, in its corporate capacity, earnestly +solicited that his sentence might not be carried into effect. +Dr. Johnson, with his weighty pen, tried to arouse popular +feeling in his favour, alleging that petitions for clemency had +been signed by above thirty thousand people, and that justice +might reasonably be satisfied with his imprisonment, infamy, +exile, penury, and ruin. All was of no avail; and on June +26 the great preacher died a felon’s death by the hands of +the common hangman.</p> + +<p>In the days of his prosperity, Dodd had been in the ranks +of Wesley’s enemies; and, more than once, had reviled him, +his people, and his creed; and, yet, strange to tell, no sooner +was he incarcerated for his crime, than he sent for Wesley to +visit him. The latter writes: “1777, February 15—At the +third message, I took up my cross, and went to see Dr. Dodd, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</span> +in the Compter. I was greatly surprised. He seemed, though +deeply affected, yet thoroughly resigned to the will of God. +Mrs. Dodd, likewise, behaved with the utmost propriety. I +doubt not, God will bring good out of this evil.” “February +18— I visited him again, and found him still in a desirable +state of mind; calmly giving himself up to whatsoever God +should determine concerning him.”</p> + +<p>Both Wesley and his brother had always evinced an almost +unequalled interest in the welfare of imprisoned convicts; +but, remembering past treatment from this popular, but now +incarcerated, preacher, and also remembering the terrible +scandal which he had brought upon Christ’s religion, no +wonder that Wesley felt it a <em>cross</em> to visit him. Wesley, +however, was not the man to shun a duty because it +happened to be painful; and there can be no doubt that, +if his itinerant engagements had not taken him away from +London, the gloom of the convict’s cell would often have +been relieved, during the next four months, by Wesley’s +presence.</p> + +<p>Wesley had never even seen Dr. Dodd, either in +public or in private, until he saw him in Wood Street +compter, a few days before his removal to Newgate to +take his trial. “Sir,” said the prisoner, “I have long +desired to see you; but I little thought, that our first interview +would be in such a place as this.” “We conversed,” +says Wesley, “about an hour; he spoke of nothing but +his soul, and appeared to regard nothing in comparison of +it.” At the second interview, Wesley spent half an hour +with the poor wretched man. “Sir,” said he, “do not you +find it difficult to preserve your recollection, amidst all +these lawyers and witnesses?” Dodd answered: “It is +difficult; but I have one sure hold: ‘Lord, not as I will, +but as Thou wilt.’” The third visit was after his sentence +had been passed. Wesley writes: “He conversed about +an hour; but had not one word about any but spiritual +things. I found his mind still quiet and composed; sorrowing, +but not without hope.” Two days before the execution, +Wesley went again. “Sir,” said he, “I think you do not +ask enough, or expect enough, from God your Saviour. +The <em>present</em> blessing, you may expect from Him, is to be +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</span> +filled with all joy, as well as peace in believing.” “O sir,” +replied the doctor, “it is not for such a sinner as I am to +expect any joy in this world. The utmost I can desire is +peace; and, through the mercy of God, that I have.” +Wesley adds: “We then spent a little time in prayer, and +I solemnly commended him to God. He was exactly in +such a temper as I wished. He never, at any time, expressed +the least murmuring or resentment at any one; but +entirely and calmly gave himself up to the will of God. +Such a prisoner I scarce ever saw before; much less, such +a condemned malefactor.”</p> + +<p>This was Wesley’s last interview. Two days later, the +once famous Dr. Dodd was hanged, Wesley expressing the +firm belief, that angels took him from the gallows to the +paradise of God.⁠<a id="FNanchor_281_281" href="#Footnote_281_281" class="fnanchor">[281]</a></p> + +<p>Perhaps more space has been devoted to Dr. Dodd than +some may think fitting; but, remembering the positions +occupied respectively by Dodd and Wesley,—the one the +most popular and fashionable preacher that London had, +and the other an outcast clergyman, who, for eight-and-thirty +years, had been reviled in every form that malice +and ingenuity could devise,—it was no slight fact, that, as +soon as Dodd was face to face with death, the man he sent +for was, not one of his old associates, lay or clerical, but +the man who had been, and still was, the butt of national +persecution, and whom he himself in the days of his +prosperity had treated disrespectfully. Dr. Dodd, when he +most needed them, had more faith in Wesley’s counsels and +Wesley’s prayers than he had in the counsels and prayers of +those whom he had been accustomed to call his friends. His +confidence was not misplaced. Wesley did his best; Wesley’s +brother poured forth the feelings of his heart in “A Prayer +for Dr. Dodd under Condemnation”; and Miss Bosanquet +wrote to the poor prisoner not a few of her Christian letters. +The result was, Dodd, on the very day of Wesley’s final visit, +thus addressed his lady correspondent: “My dear Friend,—On +Friday morning I am to be made immortal! I die with +a heart truly contrite, and broken under a sense of its great +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</span> +and manifold offences, but comforted and sustained by a firm +faith in the pardoning love of Jesus Christ.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_282_282" href="#Footnote_282_282" class="fnanchor">[282]</a></p> + +<p>On the 10th of March, Wesley left London on a seventeen +days’ preaching tour to Bristol and back again. This was +the year for his pastoral visitation in the north; but, he +writes, “I cannot be long absent” from London, “while +the new chapel is building.” In fact, Wesley became so +interested in his great building scheme, that he was tempted +to turn architect himself. “It seems,” says he in a letter +to Miss Ball, of Wycombe, dated March 13, 1777, “it seems, +the time is come, that you are to have a more commodious +preaching house at High Wycombe. I will give you a plan +of the building myself; and employ whom you please to +build.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_283_283" href="#Footnote_283_283" class="fnanchor">[283]</a> After all, the Methodists at Wycombe might have +had a worse architect than Wesley.</p> + +<p>Ten days were spent in London, and, it being Easter time, +Wesley writes: “During the octave, I administered the +Lord’s supper every morning, after the example of the +primitive church.” On Sunday, April 6, he set out on his +northern journey, making collections, as he went, for his +London chapel. When he had got only as far as Lancashire, +he was obliged to return to London to lay the foundation +stone on April 21. A week later, he took coach for Newcastle +upon Tyne. Here he spent four days, and then again turned +his face southward; and, preaching all the way, reached +the metropolis on the 17th of May.</p> + +<p>Having met the building committee, which was his chief +business in London, and having, with his brother, visited +Dr. Dodd, he, a third time, started north on Sunday, +May 25. He now hurried on to Whitehaven, and paid his +first visit to the Isle of Man, where he spent the first three +days in the month of June, and says: “A more loving, +simple hearted people than this I never saw; and no +wonder; for they have but six papists, and no Dissenters, +in the island.”</p> + +<p>Here he met with the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> E. and Mrs. Smyth, the +former a clergyman from Ireland, and the latter a young +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</span> +wife of twenty-two. Mr. Smyth had been ejected from his +curacy for preaching the doctrines of the Methodists, and +especially for daring to reprove “the great man of the +parish” for living the life of an adulterer. Expelled from +the Established Church, he began to preach wherever he had +a chance, and became more extensively useful than ever. +Though the nephew of an archbishop, his home was a +thatched cabin, and his trials not a few. Hearing that +Wesley was about to visit the Isle of Man, Mr. Smyth and +his wife came to meet him. Wesley received them with his +customary kindness, and, during their stay, met with a misadventure, +which is worth relating. He writes: “I set out for +Douglas in the one-horse chaise, Mrs. Smyth riding with me. +In about an hour, in spite of all I could do, the headstrong +horse ran the wheel against a large stone: the chaise overset +in a moment; but we fell so gently on the smooth grass, that +neither of us was hurt at all.”</p> + +<p>Such is Wesley’s account; Mrs. Smyth’s reflects on Wesley’s +charioteering capabilities. “He told me,” she writes, “when +we got into the carriage, that he could drive a chaise forty +years ago; but, poor dear man! his hand seemed out of +practice, as I thought we should be overturned several times. +At last, one of the wheels being mounted on one side of a +ditch, we were both pitched out on a green plain, as the Lord +in mercy ordered it; for had we been overset in some parts +of the road, it is more than probable we should have been +killed on the spot. I found no bad effects from the fall at +the time; but the next morning I was scarce able to stir, and +felt so sore and bruised that I thought it likely I should lay +my bones in the churchyard at Douglas.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_284_284" href="#Footnote_284_284" class="fnanchor">[284]</a></p> + +<p>We shall meet with Mr. and Mrs. Smyth again; suffice it +to add, that, immediately after preaching at Douglas, Wesley +set sail for England; and, a few days after, his newly acquired +friends went back to Ireland, while he himself went on his +way to London. In his progress, he, for the first time, +preached at Settle, where Methodism had recently been +introduced by John Read, a poor clogger, and where one +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</span> +of the first members was Edward Slater, who became +Wesley’s coachman.⁠<a id="FNanchor_285_285" href="#Footnote_285_285" class="fnanchor">[285]</a></p> + +<p>Wesley proceeded to Otley, where Miss Ritchie, apparently, +was dying; to Bradford, where William Brammah, one of +Wesley’s weakest preachers, had been amazingly useful; to +Birstal and Huddersfield, where thousands upon thousands +assembled to hear him; and to Colne, where, as soon as he +entered the pulpit, the left hand gallery of the chapel fell, with +nearly two hundred persons in it.</p> + +<p>William Sagar, a young man not then in business for +himself, had been the principal promoter of this erection, and +had made himself responsible for the payment of the cost. +When the walls were half way up, the workmen became +clamorous for their wages; and Mr. Sagar unfortunately was +without funds; but, two or three days afterwards, a gentleman, +unsolicited, offered to lend him the money needed. One +trouble was got over, but another was yet to come. When +the ill fated chapel was ready for the roof, a gale of wind +blew down the western gable, and shook the entire edifice to +its foundations. And now, to crown the whole, through the +malevolence of a carpenter who had purposely cut the timbers +too short, down fell the left hand gallery; and, though no +lives were lost, yet not a few of the people had their limbs +broken, and were otherwise severely injured.⁠<a id="FNanchor_286_286" href="#Footnote_286_286" class="fnanchor">[286]</a></p> + +<p>It was at this period that Colne was made the head of what +Thomas Taylor called “a snug circuit”; though the circuit +embraced the entire region constituting the Todmorden, +Bacup, Haslingden, Blackburn, Burnley, Preston, Garstang, +Lancaster, Clitheroe, and Padiham circuits of the present +day. Taylor was the assistant of the circuit before it was +made so <em>snug</em>, and was Wesley’s companion at the time of the +Colne catastrophe. In his voluminous unpublished diary, he +tells us, that at Otley, Wesley not only preached, but made a +collection for his London chapel; at Bingley, he preached in +the parish church; at Keighley, after preaching, Wesley stood +on one side of the path and Taylor on the other, and, with +their hats in their hands, collected upwards of <abbr title="7 pounds">£7</abbr> for the new +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</span> +chapel in City Road; at Colne, Taylor was with Wesley in +the pulpit when the gallery fell. He writes: “Oh, what a +scene ensued. The dismal shrieks of those whose limbs were +broken, or who were otherwise injured, and the cries of the +women for their children, were terrible. Happily no lives +were lost, and much less damage done than might have been +expected. As soon as the confusion was abated, Mr. Wesley +preached out of doors; but the catastrophe prevented many +from hearing.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_287_287" href="#Footnote_287_287" class="fnanchor">[287]</a></p> + +<p>Wesley proceeded to Derby, where, strangely enough, +another accident occurred, which might have been as serious +as that at Colne. An hour before the congregation assembled +in the chapel, part of the roof fell in; the people, however, +rushed to hear, despite the doubtful state of the flimsy +edifice; and, among others permanently benefited by Wesley’s +ministry, was Catherine Spencer, who, for sixty-four years, +adorned her religious profession by “a meek and quiet spirit,” +and who died at the age of eighty-six, in 1843.⁠<a id="FNanchor_288_288" href="#Footnote_288_288" class="fnanchor">[288]</a></p> + +<p>Wesley got back to London on June 21, and, a week later, +wrote: “June 28—I have now completed my seventy-fourth +year, and, by the peculiar favour of God, I find my health and +strength, and all my faculties of body and mind, just the same +as they were at four-and-twenty.”</p> + +<p>A man, on his birthday, frequently reviews the past, sifts +the present, and reflects upon the future. At this period +Wesley wrote as follows to his legal friend, Walter Churchey, +of Brecon, the birthplace of Thomas Coke.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—At present, I am very safe; for I am a good +many pounds, if not scores of pounds, worse than nothing. In my will, I +bequeath no money but what may happen to be in my pocket when I die.</p> + +<p>“Dr. Coke promises fair, and gives us reason to hope, that he will, bring +forth, not only blossoms, but fruit. He has hitherto behaved exceeding +well, and seems to be aware of his grand enemy—​applause. He will +likewise be in danger from offence. If you are acquainted with him, a +friendly letter might be of use, and would be taken kindly. He now +stands on slippery ground, and is in need of every help.</p> + +<p>“I am your affectionate brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_289_289" href="#Footnote_289_289" class="fnanchor">[289]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</span> +Having spent nine days in London, Wesley set out, on +June 30, on a preaching tour which occupied the whole of the +ensuing month. Proceeding by way of Buckingham, he +visited Oxford, Witney, Stroud, Gloucester, Tewkesbury, +Worcester, Malvern; and then passed through Wales to +Bristol, which he reached on July 28.</p> + +<p>Here, on August 5, he opened his annual conference, and +writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“As the report had been spread far and wide, I now particularly +inquired of every assistant, ‘Have you reason to believe, from your own +observation, that the Methodists are a fallen people? Is there a decay or +an increase in the work of God where you have been? Are the societies +in general more dead, or more alive to God, than they were some years +ago?’ The almost universal answer was: ‘If we must know them by +their fruits, there is no decay in the work of God among the people in +general. The societies are not dead to God: they are as much alive as +they have been for many years. And we look on this report as a mere +device of Satan, to make our hands hang down.’</p> + +<p>“‘But how can this question be decided?’ You can judge no further +than you see. You cannot judge of one part by another; and none but +myself has an opportunity of seeing the Methodists throughout the three +kingdoms.</p> + +<p>“But to come to a short issue. In most places, the Methodists are still +a poor, despised people, labouring under reproach, and many inconveniences; +therefore, wherever the power of God is not, they decrease. By +this then, you may form a sure judgment. Do the Methodists in general +decrease in number? Then they decrease in grace; they are a fallen, or, +at least, a falling people. But they do not decrease in number; they continually +increase; therefore, they are not a fallen people.”</p> +</div> + +<p>These are weighty words. They show Wesley’s deep +anxiety to maintain the genuine character of the work in +which he was engaged; and the test which he instituted was, +unquestionably, under existing circumstances, logical and +conclusive.</p> + +<p>The principal propagator of the report, that the Methodists +were a fallen people, was John Hilton, who, for thirteen +years, had been an itinerant preacher. Dr. Stevens calls him +“an honest but weak headed man.” This is scarcely correct. +Leaving his honesty an open question, John Hilton, judged +by his publications, was far from being “weak headed.” +Wesley says: “He told us he must withdraw from our connexion. +Some would have reasoned with him, but it was lost +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</span> +labour; so we let him go in peace.” Hilton was no sooner +gone, than he turned author, and, in 1778, besides an octavo +pamphlet of 32 pages, entitled, “The Deplorable State of +Man,” he issued “Reasons for Quitting the Methodist +Society; being a Defence of Barclay’s Apology;” <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, 66 +pages. Dated, “Melksham, 3rd month, 28th day, 1778.” He +tells his readers, that, “a year ago, Barclay’s Apology converted +him to the principles of the quakers;” and a broadbrimmed +quaker John Hilton henceforwards was. Both his pamphlets +are written in a plain, good, nervous style, and show, that, in +point of education and mental power, he was much superior +to the mass of Wesley’s itinerants.⁠<a id="FNanchor_290_290" href="#Footnote_290_290" class="fnanchor">[290]</a> Hilton was not without +talent; but like most who think themselves more religious +than their neighbours, he was sour and censorious. “What I +have lamented in him, for some years,” wrote Wesley, in a +letter, dated October 22, 1777, “is an aptness to condemn and +despise his brethren. There is no failing more infectious than +this; and it is much if you did not catch a little of it from +him; otherwise you would hardly say, ‘the body of Methodists +are degenerated.’ You cannot possibly judge whether +they are or not. Perhaps you converse with one or two hundred +of them. Now allowing two thirds of these to be +degenerated, can you infer the same concerning thirty or +forty thousand? Yet this I will allow, two thirds of those +who are grown rich are greatly degenerated. They do not, +will not, save all they can, in order to give all they can; and, +without doing this, they <em>cannot grow in grace</em>, nay, they constantly +grieve the Holy Spirit of God.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_291_291" href="#Footnote_291_291" class="fnanchor">[291]</a></p> + +<p>Thomas Taylor was at the conference of 1777, and tells us +that, on the conference Sunday, the morning service, in the +Broadmead chapel, lasted from half-past nine till nearly one +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</span> +o’clock; that, at five in the afternoon, Wesley preached to a +large and serious crowd out of doors, and afterwards, in a full +society meeting, “expatiated upon the rules, and said many +useful things.” He preached again in the evening of the first +day of conference, but not longer than twenty minutes. On +August 7, Taylor writes: “that great and good man Mr. +Fletcher came into conference. My eyes flowed with tears +at the sight of him. He spoke to us in a very respectful +manner, and took a solemn farewell. Dear, good man! I +never saw so many tears shed in all my life.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_292_292" href="#Footnote_292_292" class="fnanchor">[292]</a></p> + +<p>Fletcher had sought health at Stoke Newington; but +was now the guest of Mr. Ireland, of Bristol. Benson, his +fellow sufferer in the Trevecca troubles, writes: “We have +had an edifying conference. Mr. Fletcher’s visits have been +attended with a blessing. His appearance, his exhortations, +and his prayers, broke most of our hearts, and filled us with +shame and self abasement for our little improvement.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_293_293" href="#Footnote_293_293" class="fnanchor">[293]</a></p> + +<p>This was a memorable scene. Fletcher, emaciated, feeble, +and ghostlike, entered the conference leaning on the arm of +his host, Mr. Ireland. In an instant, the whole assembly +stood up, and Wesley advanced to meet his almost seraphic +friend. The apparently dying man began to address the +brave itinerants, and, before he had uttered a dozen sentences, +one and all were bathed in tears. Wesley, fearing that +Fletcher was speaking too much, abruptly knelt at his side +and began to pray. Down fell the whole of Wesley’s +preachers, and joined in the devotion of their great leader. +The burden of Wesley’s supplication was, that his friend +might be spared to labour a little longer; and this petition +was urged with such fervency and faith, that, at last, Wesley +closed by exclaiming with a confidence and an emphasis +which seemed to thrill every heart: “He shall not die, but +live, and declare the works of the Lord.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_294_294" href="#Footnote_294_294" class="fnanchor">[294]</a></p> + +<p>The event verified Wesley’s words; for though the pilgrim +was already walking on the margin of the river of death, and +had heaven’s own sunshine shining on him, it was not until +eight years after that he passed the gates of the celestial city.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</span> +At the conference of 1776, it was reported, that there were +3148 Methodists in America; in the minutes of 1777, America +is not mentioned. Still, American Methodism was not dead. +“I have just received two letters from New York,” writes +Wesley on January 11, 1777. “They inform me, that all the +Methodists there are firm for the government, and, on that +account, persecuted by the rebels, only not to the death; that +the preachers are still threatened, but not stopped; and, that +the work of God increases much in Maryland and Virginia.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_295_295" href="#Footnote_295_295" class="fnanchor">[295]</a></p> + +<p>The war was raging with terrific violence; and some of the +preachers, as Mr. Rodda, were not so wise, politically speaking, +as seemed desirable: but, despite all this, Methodism actually +spread and prospered. Thomas Rankin, George Shadford, and +others thought of fleeing from the field of conflict; and it was +only by Asbury’s solicitation, that they were induced to stay +awhile longer. The baptists too became a hindrance. “Like +ghosts,” says Asbury, “they haunt us from place to place.” +Wesley’s political tracts also were a serious stumbling block.⁠<a id="FNanchor_296_296" href="#Footnote_296_296" class="fnanchor">[296]</a> +A Methodist backslider enlisted three hundred men for the +British army, was arrested, and hanged as a rebel against the +government of his country.⁠<a id="FNanchor_297_297" href="#Footnote_297_297" class="fnanchor">[297]</a> Even peaceful, prudent, and +loyal Francis Asbury was fined <abbr title="5 pounds">£5</abbr> for preaching at Nathan +Perrig’s; and, in October 1777, Rankin and Rodda returned +to England, and Shadford soon after, leaving poor, persecuted, +but faithful Asbury the only one of Wesley’s itinerants that +now remained at the post of duty, and preaching peace to the +people by Jesus Christ.</p> + +<p>And here let us pause to say, that a grander specimen of +a Christian apostle than Francis Asbury the world has never +had. Much as we revere the memory of Wesley, we regard +Asbury with an almost equal veneration. Among the self +denying, laborious, Christian ministers of the past eighteen +hundred years, we believe, that Francis Asbury has no +superiors, and but few that can be considered equals. And +yet, how little does the church catholic, indeed, how little does +the Methodist section of it, know concerning this great and +grand, because good, old man!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</span> +The son of peasant parents, Asbury began to preach in +Staffordshire, while yet a boy seventeen years of age; and, in +1771, came to Bristol to embark for America, without a single +penny in his pocket. His first text in America was in perfect +harmony with the forty-five years he spent in wandering +through its woods and prairies: “I determined not to know +anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” +As early as 1776, he made it a rule, besides travelling and +preaching, to read a hundred pages daily, and to spend three +hours out of every twenty-four in private prayer. Cabins of +the most miserable description were, in thousands of instances, +his happy homes; and often, when his horse cast a shoe in the +wide wilderness, in the absence of a blacksmith’s shop, this grand +old bishop of the American Methodists would make a piece +of a bull’s hide, bound about his horse’s foot, serve in the place +of iron. His daily rides were often from thirty to fifty miles, +over mountains and swamps, through bridgeless rivers and +pathless woods, his horse frequently weary and lame, and he +himself wet, cold, and hungry. For forty-five years, when +steamboats, stage coaches, railways, and almost roads, were +utterly unknown, Asbury made a tour of the American states, +travelling never less than five thousand, and often more than +six thousand, miles a year, and this generally on horseback; +climbing mountains; creeping down declivities; winding along +valleys, whose only inhabitants were birds, wild beasts, and +Indians; crossing extended prairies without a companion and +without a guide; fording foaming rivers; and wading through +the most dangerous swamps, where one false step might +have engulfed him in a boggy grave. Usually, he preached +at least once every week day, and thrice every Sunday; +delivering, during his ministry in America, more than twenty +thousand sermons. His custom was to pray with every +family on whom he called in his wide journeyings; and if, as +sometimes happened, he spent more days than one in some +hospitable dwelling, he was wont to have household prayer as +often as there were household meals, and to allow no visitor +to come or go, without asking, on his knees, that God would +bless him. Besides an unknown number of camp meetings +and quarterly meetings, this venerable man attended and +presided over seven conferences, widely separate, every year; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</span> +and, during the same space of time, wrote to his preachers and +his friends, upon an average, about a thousand letters. For this +enormous service, his episcopal salary was sixty-four dollars +yearly and his travelling expenses. Early educational advantages +he had none. Most of his life was spent on horseback, +in extemporised pulpits, or in log cabins crowded with talking +men and noisy women, bawling children, and barking dogs,—cabins +which he was obliged to make his offices and studies, and +where, with benumbed fingers, frozen ink, impracticable pens, +and rumpled paper, he had to write his sermons, his journals, +and his letters. Not unfrequently did he, like others, suffer +from the malaria of a new, uncultivated country; and had +headaches, toothaches, chills, fevers, and sore throats, for his +travelling companions. And yet, despite all this, Francis +Asbury was by no means an unlettered man. He became +proficient in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew; read the Scriptures +in the tongues in which they were originally written; was +acquainted with several branches of polite literature; kept +abreast with the history of his times; and, although not an +orator, was a dignified, eloquent, and impressive preacher. +Thin, tall, and remarkably clean and neat,—in a plain drab +frock coat, waistcoat, and breeches, a neat stock, and a broad +brimmed, low crowned hat,—this first and greatest Methodist +American bishop rode on horseback till he could ride no +longer; and then might be seen often hopping on crutches, +and helped in and out of his light spring wagon as he still +pursued his wide episcopal wanderings. Thus lived Francis +Asbury, until, in 1816, at the age of threescore years and +ten, he died, and was followed to his grave in Baltimore by +about twenty-five thousand of his friends. Before his death, +he solemnly enjoined that no life of him should be published; +and that injunction, to the present, has been substantially +observed; but, if the reader wishes to see his monument, we +invite him to step within the living walls of the present +Methodist Episcopal Church of America, and there, while +surveying the grand edifice of spiritual order and beauty, we +ask him, as the inquirer in <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Paul’s cathedral is asked, to +“Look around!”</p> + +<p>This was the only one of Wesley’s English itinerants left +in America in 1777; but, though forsaken by his English +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</span> +colleagues, he was not alone. At this very time, there were +fifteen widely spread circuits; thirty-four itinerant preachers, +who had been raised up by Providence on the spot; and not +fewer than 6968 full and accredited members of society. In +other words, though it was only eight years since Wesley’s +conference had sent out Boardman and Pilmoor, there were +already more than one sixth as many Methodists in America +as there were, at the end of thirty-eight years, throughout the +whole of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.⁠<a id="FNanchor_298_298" href="#Footnote_298_298" class="fnanchor">[298]</a></p> + +<p>To return to Wesley. After the Bristol conference, he +spent a week in London, during which he drew up proposals +for the <cite>Arminian Magazine</cite>, and met the committee appointed +to superintend the building of the new chapel, which was now +ready for the roof.</p> + +<p>He then, on August 18, hurried off to Cornwall; and then +to Ireland, where, at Dublin, John Hampson and Samuel +Bradburn had expelled thirty-four members of society, who +were so dissatisfied with this act of imprudent zeal, that +Wesley was obliged to go and give the contending parties a +two days’ hearing. On Saturday, October 18, he got back to +London.</p> + +<p>The week after, he spent in Oxfordshire. At High +Wycombe he meant to preach, “but good Mr. James had +procured a drummer to beat his drum at the window of the +chapel,” and thus, instead of preaching, Wesley could only +pray and sing by turns, during the time allotted for the service.</p> + +<p>The next week was occupied in a preaching tour in Northamptonshire; +and the fortnight afterwards in meeting the +classes in and around London.</p> + +<p>On November 17, he went on a flying visit to Norfolk; and, +on the 23rd, preached in Lewisham church for the benefit of +the Humane Society, which had been established only three +years before, by Dr. Cogan and Dr. Hawes. Here, of course, +he was the welcome guest of his old friend, Mr. Blackwell; +and, during his visit, he dined with the celebrated Dr. Lowth, +bishop of London, whose brother had married into Mr. Blackwell’s +family. “His whole behaviour,” writes Wesley, “was +worthy of a Christian bishop; easy, affable, and courteous; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</span> +and, yet, all his conversation spoke the dignity which was +suitable to his character.” There is one incident, however, +which Wesley, in his modesty, has not related. On proceeding +to dinner, the bishop refused to sit above Wesley at the table, +saying with considerable emotion, “Mr. Wesley, may I be +found at your feet in another world!” Wesley objected to +take the seat of precedence, when the learned prelate obviated +the difficulty, by requesting, as a favour, that Wesley would +sit above him, because his hearing was defective, and he +desired not to lose a sentence of Wesley’s conversation.⁠<a id="FNanchor_299_299" href="#Footnote_299_299" class="fnanchor">[299]</a></p> + +<p>The remaining five weeks of the year 1777 were spent, +partly in the three counties of Bedford, Huntingdon, and +Hertford; partly at Bath, where he laid the foundation +stone of a new chapel; and partly in London, where he parted +with Fletcher on his way to Switzerland. He says: “We +concluded the old year, and began the new, with prayer and +thanksgiving. Four or five of the local preachers assisted me. +I was agreeably surprised; their manner of praying being +so artless and unlaboured, and yet rational and scriptural, +both as to sense and expression.”</p> + +<p>Such was Wesley’s watchnight service at the expiration +of 1777; no preaching, no exhortatory platitudes, but simply +prayer and thanksgiving, offered by himself and a selection +of his London local preachers. Wesley’s successors have not +improved on this.</p> + +<p>It was during this memorable year, that a society was +instituted, which was ultimately superseded by benevolent +societies that yet exist. Six friends in London met, at each +other’s house in rotation, every Sunday afternoon, for the +purpose of singing and prayer only. They were soon entreated +to visit the surrounding sick, and, finding many of +them in deep poverty, began to relieve their wants. To do +this, they found it desirable to provide a fund, by contributing +themselves, and asking contributions of their friends; +and shortly a society was formed, sometimes called “The +Willow Walk Society, near Moorfields”; but more generally +and properly, “The united Society for Visiting and Relieving +the Sick.” A few years later, the “Strangers’ Friend Society” +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</span> +was started. John Gardner, a retired soldier, in his London +visits, met a man in a miserable garret, dying of fistula. He +lay on the floor, covered only with a sack, without shirt, cap, +or sheet. The old soldier felt, as every one must feel, that to +visit such cases, without relieving them, was not worthy of a +Christian; and, returning home, he got fifteen of his Methodist +friends to join in a penny a week subscription for such a +purpose. His classleader, jealous of his class-pence moneys, +instead of helping, opposed the scheme. Gardner, with a +soldier’s pluck, was not to be silenced by a subordinate, but +wrote at once to Wesley.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“<span class="smcap">Reverend and dear Sir</span>,—A few of us are subscribing a penny +a week each, which is to be carried on the sabbath by one of ourselves, +who read and pray with the afflicted, who, according to the rules enclosed, +must be poor strangers, having no parish, or friend at hand to help +them. Our benevolent plan is opposed by my classleader; therefore, +we are constrained to seek your approbation before we proceed. We +are very poor, and our whole stock is not yet twenty shillings: will thank +you, therefore, for any assistance you may please to afford your very +humble servant,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Gardner</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley was the last man to stifle a project like this; +and, hence, his answer “to Mr. John Gardner, No. 14, in Long +Lane, Smithfield,” was as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Highbury Place</span>, <i>December 21, 1785</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—I like the design and rules of your society, +and hope you will do good to many. I will subscribe threepence a +week, and will give a guinea in advance, if any one will call on me on +Saturday morning.</p> + +<p>“I am your affectionate brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>The scheme was now fairly launched; “Strangers’ Friend +societies” sprung up in Bristol and other places; Wesley +drew up their rules in 1790; and wrote thus in his journal: +“Sunday, March 14—In the morning, I met the strangers’ +society, instituted wholly for the relief, not of our society, +but for poor, sick, friendless strangers. I do not know, that +I ever heard or read of such an institution till within a few +years ago. So this also is one of the fruits of Methodism.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_300_300" href="#Footnote_300_300" class="fnanchor">[300]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</span> +Such then was the origin of the present “Strangers’ Friend +Society,” which, until lately, was patronised by royalty, +and which employed, in 1868, three hundred and fifty-two +voluntary, unpaid agents in its work of Christian benevolence; +these good Samaritans, during the same year, paying +32,460 visits, relieving 6577 cases of distress, and, besides +blankets, flannels, and cast off garments, distributing <abbr title="1926 pounds">£1926</abbr> +14<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> in ameliorating the miseries of “the destitute sick +poor, without distinction of sect or country, at their own +habitations.”</p> + +<p>Considering Wesley’s wide wanderings, his daily preaching, +his supervision of societies, and his multifarious correspondence, +to say nothing of his publication of tracts and books, +the reader wonders how an old man managed to keep the +thousand wheels of his vast machinery in motion; and, yet, +in the midst of what to others would have been an unceasing +and worrying bustle, he was almost as tranquil as a hermit. +The following extract from a letter, dated December 10, 1777, +is racy and unique.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“You do not understand my manner of life. Though I am always in +haste, I am never in a hurry; because I never undertake any more +work than I can go through with perfect calmness of spirit. It is true, +I travel four or five thousand miles in a year; but I generally travel alone +in my carriage, and, consequently, am as retired ten hours in a day as if +I was in a wilderness. On other days, I never spend less than three hours, +frequently ten or twelve in the day, alone. So there are few persons in +the kingdom who spend so many hours secluded from all company. +Yet I find time to visit the sick and the poor; and I must do it, if I +believe the Bible, if I believe these are the marks whereby the Shepherd +of Israel will know and judge His sheep at the great day. Therefore, +when there are time and opportunity for it, who can doubt, but this is a +matter of absolute duty? When I was at Oxford, and lived almost like a +hermit, I saw not how any busy man could be saved. I scarce thought it +possible for a man to retain the Christian spirit, amidst the noise and +bustle of the world. God taught me better by my own experience. I had +ten times more business in America (that is, at intervals) than ever I had +in my life; but it was no hindrance to silence of spirit.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_301_301" href="#Footnote_301_301" class="fnanchor">[301]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley’s incessant labours were not the only thing likely +to perturb a human spirit. As usual, he was still the subject +of acrimonious persecution. In his sermon at the laying of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</span> +the foundation stone of the chapel in City Road, he gave a +history of the rise and progress of Methodism, in which he +stated, that Whitefield, by conversing with Dissenters, contracted +strong prejudices against the Church, and that this +led him to separate himself from Wesley and his brother. +He also noticed the secession of Ingham from the Church; +and the setting up of the college at Trevecca, which was +really a school for training Dissenting ministers. His object, +in all this, was to show that, though large numbers of reputed +Methodists had left the Church, he and his societies still +remained faithful, and were not deserving of the taunt of +having formed a distinct party. “We do not,” says he, “we +will not, form any separate sect, but, from principle, remain, +what we always have been, true members of the Church of +England.”</p> + +<p>Whether Wesley was strictly correct in this will admit of +doubt; but, unquestionably, he believed it to be the truth; and, +as might be expected, it aroused the anger of his quondam +friends. Rowland Hill worked himself into a rage, and published, +in 1777, an octavo pamphlet of 40 pages, with the +title, “Imposture Detected, and the Dead Vindicated; in a +Letter to a Friend: containing some gentle Strictures on the +false and libellous Harangue, lately delivered by Mr. John +Wesley, upon his laying the first stone of his new Dissenting +meeting-house, near the City Road.” Wesley’s sermon is +designated “a wretched harangue, from which the blessed name +of Jesus is almost totally excluded.” Mr. Hill remarks: “by +only erasing about half-a-dozen lines from the whole, I might +defy the shrewdest of his readers to discover whether the +<em>lying apostle</em> of the Foundery be a Jew, a papist, a pagan, or +a Turk.” He speaks of “the late ever memorable Mr. Whitefield +being scratched out of his grave, by the claws of a +designing wolf,” meaning, of course, Wesley. He brands +Wesley as “a libeller,” “a dealer in stolen wares,” and “as +being as unprincipled as a rook, and as silly as a jackdaw, +first pilfering his neighbour’s plumage, and then going proudly +forth, displaying his borrowed tail to the eyes of a laughing +world.” Hill continues: “persons that are toad eaters to +Mr. John Wesley stand in need of very wide throats, and that +which he wishes them to swallow is enough to choke an +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</span> +elephant.” “He is for ever going about, raising Dissenting +congregations, and building Dissenting meeting-houses the +kingdom over.” “Venom distils from his graceless pen.” +“Mr. Whitefield is blackened by the venomous quill of this +grey headed enemy to all righteousness.” “Wesley is a +crafty slanderer, an unfeeling reviler, a liar of the most +gigantic magnitude, a Solomon in a cassock, a wretch, a +disappointed Orlando Furioso, a miscreant apostate, whose +perfection consists in his perfect hatred of all goodness and +good men.” “You cannot love the Church,” continues this +meek and elegant evangelist, “unless you go to Wesley’s +meeting-house; nor be a friend to the established bishops, +priests, and deacons, unless you admire Wesley’s ragged +legion of preaching barbers, cobblers, tinkers, scavengers, +draymen, and chimney sweepers.”</p> + +<p>Has the reader had enough from the “gentle strictures” of +this young divine, not yet thirty-two years of age? Let him +turn to the <cite>Gospel Magazine</cite>. In reviewing Wesley’s sermon +at City Road, the <cite>Gospel</cite> editor describes Wesley’s Methodism +as a “jumble of heresies, truly and properly called Wesleyism”; +and nothing “uttered by Satan himself can be more +<em>impudent</em> and more glaringly untrue” than when Wesley calls +it “the old religion of the Bible, of the primitive church, and +of the Church of England.” For him to say, that Lady +Huntingdon “labours to form independent congregations, is +as gross a falsehood as was ever coined at the Foundery +itself. Mr. Wesley’s apostasy from the Church is a chief +reason why her ladyship has justly discarded him; and her +disavowal of him, of his Dissenting principles, and of his +sectarian conduct, is the true reason, why he has the insolence +to spit his venom against one of the most respectable characters +that ever existed.” “With a baseness hardly to be +paralleled, Mr. Wesley rakes into the ashes of a man, whose +name will descend with lustre to the latest posterity; while +that of the Foundery wolf will moulder with his pilfered +writings, or only be remembered with contempt and execration. +O Wesley, Wesley, hide thy diminutive head! nor let +the most pestilent <em>Dissenter</em> in the kingdom arraign the +spotless memory of a <em>Churchman</em>, whose fervour and steadiness +of attachment to his ecclesiastical mother have scarcely +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</span> +been equalled in the present age, and never exceeded in any. +The truth is, Mr. Whitefield was <em>too much</em> a Churchman for +Mr. Wesley’s fanaticism to digest. O ye deluded followers of +this horrid man, God open your eyes, and pluck your feet out +of the net! lest ye sink into the threefold ditch of antichristian +error, of foul antinomianism, and of eternal misery +at last.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_302_302" href="#Footnote_302_302" class="fnanchor">[302]</a></p> + +<p>This was tolerably strong; but it was not enough. The +same periodical, in its review of Rowland Hill’s polite +pamphlet, begins thus: “Hob in the well again; or pope +John once more in the suds! Seldom has literary punishment +been administered with greater keenness and spirit, +than in this pamphlet; and, surely, never was a punishment +administered on a juster occasion, nor to a more deserving +delinquent. When you take Old Nick by the nose, it must +be with a pair of red hot tongs.” The red hot reviewer +reiterates the slander, that Charles Wesley offered the Greek +bishop, Erasmus, forty guineas, upon condition that he would +give his brother episcopal ordination; and continues: “Mr. +Wesley’s vile ingratitude to the name and memory of Mr. +Whitefield deserves the abhorrence and execration of all +good men.” Wesley is “an unfeeling and unprincipled +slanderer, a vile traducer,” and, in fact, guilty of “an extreme +of malignity and baseness, for which language has no +name.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_303_303" href="#Footnote_303_303" class="fnanchor">[303]</a></p> + +<p>Such scurrility as this, heaped upon an old man, seventy-four +years of age, who had spent his long life in unparalleled +labours to honour God, and to benefit his fellow men, is +almost incredible. But even this was not the worst that the +immaculate <cite>Gospel Magazine</cite> provided for its readers. In +the same number, from which the above abuse is extracted, +there is a long poem, entitled, “The Serpent and the Fox; +or, an interview between old Nick and old John”; which +strongly reminds us of a series of most infamous rhymed +effusions which will have to be noticed in the ensuing year, +and in which Wesley is always represented as a fox. The +poem now published was not only foul, but, in the highest +degree, profane. It would be a crime to reproduce it. Suffice +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</span> +it to say, that, as if to aggravate its infernal features, it +immediately follows a really beautiful hymn of six stanzas +“To God the Holy Ghost.” As a contrast, and to furnish a +specimen of the medley often found in this Calvinistic +periodical, we furnish the reader with the last verse of the +thoroughly good hymn, and the first verse of the thoroughly +bad poem. Addressing the Divine Spirit, John Stocker +writes:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0b">“Thou my dross and sin consume;</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Let Thy inward kingdom come;</div> +<div class="verse indent0">All my prayer and praise suggest;</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Dwell and reign within my breast.”</div> +</div></div> + +<p>We shrink from the task of so closely annexing to such a +stanza, the first, and by far the least objectionable, lines of the +ribald poem of “The Serpent and the Fox”; but historical +fidelity compels us.</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0b">“There’s a Fox who resideth hard by,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">The most perfect, and holy, and sly,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">That e’er turned a coat, or could pilfer and lie;</div> +<div class="verse indent0">As this reverend Reynard, one day,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Sat thinking what game next to play,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Old Nick came a seasonable visit to pay.”</div> +</div></div> + +<p>Then follows a conversation, in which Wesley proposes to +burn the Calvinists in Smithfield, as Bonner once burnt the +protestants, and the devil promises, that, while Wesley shall +be exalted “with state” to heaven’s “third storey,” all the +Whitefields and Hills shall be “turned back from the gate.”</p> + +<p><i lang="la">Quantum sufficit!</i> of Rowland Hill, both in prose and +verse. What had Wesley to say to all this? In his journal +he writes: “1777, June 26—I read the truly wonderful +performance of Mr. Rowland Hill. I stood amazed! Compared +to him, Mr. Toplady himself is a very civil, fair spoken +gentleman! June 27—I wrote an answer to it; ‘not +rendering railing for railing’ (I have not so learned Christ); +but ‘speaking the truth in love.’”</p> + +<p>Wesley’s reply was a penny tract of 12 pages, <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, with +the title, “An Answer to Mr. Rowland Hill’s Tract, entitled, +‘Imposture Detected.’” He begins as follows: “In the tract +just published by Mr. Rowland Hill, there are several <em>assertions</em> +which are <em>not true</em>. And the whole pamphlet is wrote +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</span> +in an <em>unchristian</em> and <em>ungentlemanly manner</em>. I shall first +set down the <em>assertions</em> in order, and then proceed to the +<em>manner</em>.” This is the strongest language Wesley uses. +Indeed, he writes as though Hill’s pamphlet amused him +rather than otherwise. Some of his friends, however, were +not so lenient. Thomas Olivers rushed to the rescue, with +his characteristic fire, and unmercifully put into the hands +of the public a sixpenny “Rod for the Reviler”; and +Matthew Goodenough, a mechanic, of Bishopsgate Street, +published “A Letter to Mr. Rowland Hill,” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 21 pages, +in which he tells “the reviler” that he had used a vindictive +style of which a chimney sweep might properly be ashamed; +and, from his malign spirit and rude manner of attacking +Mr. Wesley, he might be mistaken for the chief of Billingsgate. +Hill, as a preacher, is taunted with ranting, and roaring, +and squealing, and bawling, and twisting, and twirling himself +about like a merryandrew; and is told that, though +“a Pelagian Methodist stinks,” it was a comfort that the +name of Rowland Hill was “an odoriferous perfume, a charming +nosegay, diffusing its fragrance wherever it appears, and +sweetly and effectually extinguishing the fœtid exhalations +of Pelagian ordure!”</p> + +<p>Not only in the Welsh cobbler, but in the Bishopsgate +mechanic, Rowland met with an Oliver; but, like a beaten +bull dog, was not satisfied. He at once issued another octavo +pamphlet of 45 pages, entitled, “A Full Answer to the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> +J. Wesley’s Remarks,” etc., in which he humbly apologises +for using too strong language in his former pamphlet; and +yet, with a strange inconsistency, commits the same fault +in this. Wesley is again accused of “pompous falsehood,” +“barefaced untruth,” “ungodly craft,” “of calumniating the +living, and traducing the dead.” “For full thirty years, +Wesley had been travelling towards <i>Trent</i>, and was now +got to his journey’s end”; while Fletcher—​poor Fletcher, +apparently dying of consumption—​had “published, at the +end of his third volume, a most horrible manifesto, in +language almost blasphemous, and had forged my brother’s +name” (Sir Richard Hill), “and mine, at the conclusion +of it.”</p> + +<p>But here we must leave this doughty warrior, to whom +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</span> +the very name of Wesley was what a scarlet cloak is to +an infuriated bull. Some will object to the reviving of +these disgraceful reminiscences. Our reiterated answer is, +that, without them, it is impossible for the reader rightly +to estimate the character of Wesley. If they reflect dishonour +on Rowland Hill, we cannot help it. Rowland Hill +was a public man, and, like all other public men, he must +be content to pay a public penalty for his public crimes. +Unfortunately, this is not the last we shall hear of him.</p> + +<p>Besides those already mentioned, Wesley published, in +1777⁠—</p> + +<p>1. The sermon he preached, on April 21, at the laying +of the foundation stone of City Road chapel. <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 47 +pages.</p> + +<p>2. An Extract from his Journal, from September 2, 1770, +to September 12, 1773. <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 119 pages.</p> + +<p>3. “A Short Account of the Death of Elizabeth Hindmarsh,” +a native of Alnwick, “who died September 6, +1777, in the twenty-first year of her age.” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 12 pages.</p> + +<p>4. “Thoughts upon God’s Sovereignty.” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 11 pages.</p> + +<p>5. “A Sermon, preached November 23, 1777, in Lewisham +Church, before the Humane Society.” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 24 pages.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_281_281" href="#FNanchor_281_281" class="label">[281]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1783, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 358.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_282_282" href="#FNanchor_282_282" class="label">[282]</a> Life of C. Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 311.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_283_283" href="#FNanchor_283_283" class="label">[283]</a> Memoir of Ball, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 137.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_284_284" href="#FNanchor_284_284" class="label">[284]</a> Life of Mrs. Smyth, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 33.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_285_285" href="#FNanchor_285_285" class="label">[285]</a> Bardsley’s manuscript letters.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_286_286" href="#FNanchor_286_286" class="label">[286]</a> Manuscript memoir of Mr. Sagar.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_287_287" href="#FNanchor_287_287" class="label">[287]</a> Taylor’s manuscript diary.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_288_288" href="#FNanchor_288_288" class="label">[288]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1844, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 70.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_289_289" href="#FNanchor_289_289" class="label">[289]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 406.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_290_290" href="#FNanchor_290_290" class="label">[290]</a> Mr. Moore says: “this good man was possessed of eminent ministerial +gifts, but he fell into the mystic delusion. He then became high +minded and censorious; and Mr. Charles Wesley, in his hours of depression, +used too much to listen to him. The quakers were jealous of him, +and kept him silent a long time, to his great mortification. But it was the +very thing he needed, it was good medicine to heal his sickness. In +one of his last conversations with me, he said: ‘I would not have thy +people to think of changing; they may be disappointed,’ He was then +in a sweet and humble spirit, very different from that in which he left us.” +(Moore’s Life of Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="pages">pp.</abbr> 273, 274.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_291_291" href="#FNanchor_291_291" class="label">[291]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1807, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 328.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_292_292" href="#FNanchor_292_292" class="label">[292]</a> Taylor’s manuscript diary.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_293_293" href="#FNanchor_293_293" class="label">[293]</a> Treffry’s Life of Benson.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_294_294" href="#FNanchor_294_294" class="label">[294]</a> “Anecdotes of the Wesleys,” <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 272.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_295_295" href="#FNanchor_295_295" class="label">[295]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 398.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_296_296" href="#FNanchor_296_296" class="label">[296]</a> Asbury’s Journal, <abbr title="volume one">vol. i.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 177.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_297_297" href="#FNanchor_297_297" class="label">[297]</a> Smith’s History of Methodism, <abbr title="volume one">vol. i.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 440.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_298_298" href="#FNanchor_298_298" class="label">[298]</a> Minutes of Methodist Conferences in America, 1795.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_299_299" href="#FNanchor_299_299" class="label">[299]</a> Jackson’s “Centenary of Methodism,” <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 201.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_300_300" href="#FNanchor_300_300" class="label">[300]</a> See <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1845, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 661.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_301_301" href="#FNanchor_301_301" class="label">[301]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1799, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 564.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_302_302" href="#FNanchor_302_302" class="label">[302]</a> <cite>Gospel Magazine</cite>, 1777, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 182.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_303_303" href="#FNanchor_303_303" class="label">[303]</a> Ibid. <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 337.</p></div></div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="1778">1778.</h2> +<hr class="short"> +<p class="center"> +Age 75</p></div> + +<p class="p2 drop-cap"><span class="smcap">Never</span> in his life was Wesley the subject of a more +infamous press persecution than in 1778.</p> + +<p>First of all, there was a pamphlet published, in which +Thomas Maxfield was pitiably preeminent. This mendacious +publication asserted that, when Whitefield went +to America, in 1741, he handed over to the two Wesleys +thirty thousand people, whose hearts the Wesleys so turned +against him, that, when he returned to England, not three +hundred would come to hear him. It further alleged, that +“vile contentions” followed, in which the Wesleys “raked +the filthiest ashes, to find some black story against their +fellow preachers;” and that what had been published, on +both sides, by the friends of Whitefield and Wesley, within +the last six years, was a disgrace to all concerned.</p> + +<p>Wesley replied to this, in “A Letter to the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. +Thomas Maxfield, occasioned by a late Publication”: <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, +11 pages. He states, with perfect truth, that, at the time +referred to, there were not five thousand Methodists in the +world; that his own societies contained not more than +fourteen or fifteen hundred members, and Whitefield’s not +so many. He declares that, so far from receiving thirty +thousand people from Whitefield in solemn trust, the latter +never delivered up to him one thousand, nor one hundred. +He admits, that division followed; but affirms that Whitefield +himself occasioned it. Whitefield first published a treatise +against him by name; but he made no reply to it. Wesley +asserts that Whitefield constantly preached against him and his +brother, both in Moorfields, and in other public places. Even +in the very Foundery, while Charles Wesley sat beside him, +he preached the absolute decrees, in the most peremptory and +offensive manner; but, instead of returning railing for railing, +they always and everywhere spoke of him in respectful terms. +And then, with respect to the publications of the last six +years, Wesley states that, though the two Hills, and Toplady, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</span> +had poured upon him, in great abundance, bitterness and +wrath, yea, low, base, and virulent invective, he himself had +published only three tracts during the entire controversy, +and in none of them had he spoken one bitter, passionate, +or disrespectful word. “Where,” he asks, “have I, in one +single sentence, returned them railing for railing? I have +not so learned Christ. I dare not rail, either at them or +you. I return not cursing but blessing. That the God +of love may bless them and you, is the prayer of your injured, +yet still affectionate brother, <span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”</p> + +<p>Wesley’s letter was worthy of himself. True, his statements, +respecting his old friend Whitefield, are scarcely to +Whitefield’s honour; but it must be borne in mind, that they +are not opinions, but facts; and facts not volunteered, but +extorted by the falsehoods of Maxfield and those with whom +Maxfield now associated.</p> + +<p>Wesley replied to Maxfield; but the publications which +must be next noticed were properly treated with the silent +contempt they merited. We reluctantly advert to these vile +productions; and yet, for the reason already repeatedly +assigned, we must. Our notices shall be brief: first, for want +of space; and secondly, because we can hardly make quotations +without fouling our pages. The publications were +seven in number, all, except one, printed by a man of the +name of Bew, in Paternoster Row, on the best of paper, and +in the best of type.</p> + +<p>1. “The Gospel Shop. A comedy in five acts: with a new +prologue and epilogue, intended for public representation, but +suppressed at the particular desire of some eminent divines. +By R. Hill, <abbr title="Esquire">Esq.</abbr>, of Cambridge.” <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, 88 pages. The chief +<i lang="la">dramatis personæ</i> are Dr. Scapegoat, Parson Prolix, Mr. +Rackett, and Simon Sycophant; and an idea of the whole of +this infamous production may be obtained from two lines +taken from the motto on the title page.</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0b">“Beware! these dire illusions! strange to tell,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">A gospel shop’s the very spawn of hell!”</div> +</div></div> + +<p>2. “The Saints: a satire.” <abbr title="quarto">4to</abbr>, 30 pages; with a frontispiece +made up of two scrolls, labelled respectively, “Inspiration,” +and “Election,” a bottle inscribed with the word “Gin,” and a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</span> +satyr’s head inscribed “Perfection.” A Methodist is described +as a mixture of ignorance and folly, piety and hypocrisy. +The whole tribe are “downright scoundrels,” “religious +mountebanks,” “wretches who make a trade of religion,” and +“show an uncommon concern for the next world, only to +raise their fortunes with greater security in this.” Two lines +must suffice as a specimen, and, for the sake of decency, two +of the words must be given in a skeletonised form. Of +Wesley it is said, he</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0b">“Makes piety a b——d to aid his work,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Outlies Sam Johnson, and o—​twh——s a Turk.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_304_304" href="#Footnote_304_304" class="fnanchor">[304]</a></div> +</div></div> + +<p>3. “Perfection; a poetical epistle, calmly addressed to the +greatest hypocrite in England.” <abbr title="quarto">4to</abbr>, price two shillings. Of +course, Wesley was the hypocrite; and the work is ornamented +with an emblematical frontispiece in accordance with +its foul and calumnious falsehoods.</p> + +<p>4. “The Temple of Imposture. A poem by the author of +‘The Saints,’ ‘Perfection,’ etc.” <abbr title="quarto">4to</abbr>, 35 pages. This, like all +the others, has a characteristic frontispiece, in which Wesley +is represented as a huge serpent, labelled “The subtlest beast +of the field.” The serpent forms a circle, inside of which, +among other things, there are four books respectively inscribed, +“Koran,” “Bedlam’s Hymns,” “Druid Hymns,” and +“Ignat. Loyola Monita Secreta”; also a gridiron, called +“Mahommed’s Gridiron”; a sword, inscribed “A Calm Address”; +a bottle, with a burning candle in its neck, and labelled +“Gin”; and two scrolls, one with the words “Old Light +at Mecca,” and the other, “New Light in Moorfields.” The +professed object of the work is to show, that, in tyranny, lust, +avarice, persecution, and imposture, Wesley is a successor of +Mahommed; and, in a bad sense, an improved edition of Ignatius +Loyola. Wesley is accused of long seeking to be made a +bishop. “Of all impostors since the flood,” he is denounced +as the very worst; while his preachers are “mechanic +missionaries,—bawling, crafty, illiterate wretches, sent out by +their priestly masters, to sow seeds of false doctrine and fanaticism, +which spring up, throughout the country, in plentiful +crops of idleness, beggary, madness, and sometimes suicide.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</span> +5. “The Lovefeast. A poem by the author of the +‘Saints: a satire,’ etc.” <abbr title="quarto">4to</abbr>, 47 pages. Here the frontispiece +is a sort of chapel scene, in which Wesley, as a fox, +dressed in canonicals, is having a mitre placed upon his head +by the goddess Murcia, while a parson behind waves his wig +and shouts “Hurrah,” and another hurries away with an air +of disappointment and disgust. Wesley’s Foundery is described +as “a spiritual slop shop,” where he equips his “preaching +lubbers” with all the necessary paraphernalia for playing +their several parts; while the preachers themselves are designated +“the worst of scum,” “smugglers of Scripture phrases,” +“learning’s sworn foes,” “Jack Cade’s apostles,” and “mere +conduit pipes of rhapsody and cant.” The following are the +last lines of the piece, and are used concerning Wesley +himself.</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0b">“<em>Feasts</em> he may institute, raise <em>holy</em> piles,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Degrade his <em>God</em> to win a <em>monarch’s</em> smiles;</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Permit <em>corruption</em> his <em>false heart</em> to taint,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Live by <em>imposture</em>, and yet die a <em>saint</em>;</div> +<div class="verse indent0">But never while this hand can hold a pen,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Shall he escape the <em>scorn of honest men</em>.</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Nor North, nor Mansfield shall the <em>wizard</em> save,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">But <em>ridicule</em> shall scourge him to the <em>grave</em>—</div> +<div class="verse indent0">There let him <em>rot</em>, (so Becket did before,)</div> +<div class="verse indent0"><em>Proud</em> as a <em>pope</em>, and faithless as a wh—​re.”</div> +</div></div> + +<p>6. “Sketches for Tabernacle Frames.” <abbr title="quarto">4to</abbr>, 36 pages. In +this, the frontispiece consists of Wesley, again represented as +a fox in canonicals, with the crosier of a mock bishop behind +him, and round about a library of books, which he is supposed +to sell, the shelves being labelled “Primitive Physic,” “Political +Pamphlets,” and “Prayers, Sermons, and Hymns.” +Before him kneels a mechanic, with an ass’s head, holding, in +one hand, a bottle inscribed with the words “Primitive +Physic,” and, in the other, a pamphlet called “A Calm Address,” +while the poor asinine wretch himself is having his +mouth opened by Wesley, who is about to indulge in the +agreeable recreation of extracting his teeth. At the top of +the picture are two portraits, one of James <abbr title="Two">II.</abbr>, indicative +of Wesley being a Jacobite; and the other of Lucy +Cooper, indicating him to be something worse. The poem is +dedicated to the “<abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Evans, Mr. Hill, and Mr. Hawes, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</span> +in acknowledgment of their services to the public.” After +describing Wesley by such epithets as “a nostrum monger,” +“a preacher, pamphleteer, and quack,” than whom “few can +whistle off rank nonsense better,” the work concludes with +the two lines following:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0b">“His odious name should stink beyond the grave,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">And truth proclaim him a recorded knave.”</div> +</div></div> + +<p>The reader has had more than enough of these dunghill +rakings; but, in order to be saved from the hateful task of +returning to this series of abominable poems, we add another +published in the year following.</p> + +<p>7. “Fanatical Conversion, or Methodism Displayed. Illustrated +and verified from J. Wesley’s fanatical journals.” 1779: +<abbr title="quarto">4to</abbr>, 55 pages. In two different copies we find two different +frontispieces. One is an ass, on its hind legs, preaching. +The other is much more elaborate, and is too obscene to +be fully described. Leaving out the parts referred to, +Wesley, as a clerical fox, is represented as preaching in a +barn, his right hand in the coat pocket of a man called “Old +Cloaths,” and his left taking a penny from a boy, a tapster, +who has just been broaching a hogshead of “Culvert’s Gin.” +One man approaches the preacher, with a cudgel, crying, +“Give me my money!” Another, in the form of a donkey, +is making a most hideous noise, and is called “Brother Bray.” +A third is vomiting a black monster, and represented as saying, +“He’s gone, he’s gone!” A fourth is standing on his +head, and shouting, “Sure I am in heaven.” Two others +are hurling a squib at Wesley’s head, and flourishing a scroll, +“For the benefit of Trick upon Trick, or Methodism Displayed.” +At Wesley’s feet is the favourite bottle, labelled +“Primitive Physic”; and in the centre is, what may be taken +as the artist’s name, “Rowland Hill, 1778.” The following +four lines, selected almost hap-hazard, are a very moderate +specimen of all the rest. Of course, they are spoken concerning +Wesley.</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0b">“Reynard, you’re right! Heaven loves such pious frauds;</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Hence, half your saints <em>unmasked</em> are who——​s and b——​ds:</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Nay, <em>mock apostles</em> are but little less</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Than devils lurking in <em>fanatic</em> dress.”</div> +</div></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</span> +We gladly leave these disgusting publications. Like dishonoured +children, they are without an acknowledged father. +Who was their infamous author? We neither know, nor care +to know; but there are three facts concerning them which +must be noticed. First, in almost the whole of them there +is a most virulent attack on Wesley’s “Calm Address to the +American Colonies.” Secondly, though irreligious to a +supreme degree, they are levelled, not against religion in +general, but against that particular form of it espoused by +Wesley. Thirdly, throughout, the Calvinists are either passed +<i lang="la">sub silentio</i>, or with words of commendation; and, in footnotes +and other places, Rowland Hill is evidently in the +writer’s good graces. We have read hundreds of tracts and +pamphlets published against Wesley; but nothing which, for +profanity, pollution, and violent abuse, equals these. They +display talent; but talent prostituted to the most infernal purposes. +In style, they resemble,—shall we say it? the style +of one of Wesley’s most calumnious Calvinian opposers; but +we charitably, though feebly, hope, that no man professing, +much less teaching, the Christian religion, had to do with +their production.</p> + +<p>What had Wesley done to merit all this? Nothing, absolutely +nothing. He was an old man whose life had been spent +in one great act of Christian beneficence. These wretched +poems, issued in the best style of the art of printing, by J. Bew, +of Paternoster Row, were the foul sputterings of a muse, not +naturally ignoble, but envious of Wesley’s majestic goodness, +and animated with a feeling almost as malignant as the heart +of Apollyon. So far from answering them, Wesley never +even condescended to mention them, in any journal or letter +yet made public.</p> + +<p>Before we trace Wesley’s wanderings in 1778, there are two +or three other facts which must be noticed. On Tuesday, +August 11, 1778, in the thirty-eighth year of his age, occurred +the death of the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Augustus Toplady. In more respects +than one, this was a memorable event to Wesley and his +friends. In the death of Toplady, Wesley lost one of his +bitterest opponents; and Calvinism lost its ablest champion.</p> + +<p>Soon after, the report was circulated, that Wesley had +stated, to some of his friends, that Toplady died in despair +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</span> +and uttering blasphemy. Sir Richard Hill rushed into print, +by sending an anonymous letter to the <cite>General Advertiser</cite>, +requesting Wesley either to deny the accusation, or to produce +his authority, otherwise his character would suffer, “for having +vented a most gross, malicious falsehood.” Not content with +this, he published a pamphlet, in the form of a “Letter to the +<abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. John Wesley,” in which, as usual, he made use of +the most intemperate language, telling Wesley that, unless he +cleared himself from the charge alleged against him, he would +be branded “as the raiser and fabricator of a most nefarious +report,” and would be guilty of a sin little less “than the unpardonable +sin against the Holy Ghost.” The whole of this +mare’s nest was simply this: Mr. Gawkrodger, of Bridlington, +<em>told</em> Sir Richard Hill, that Mr. Thomas Robinson <em>told</em> him, +that Wesley <em>told</em> him, that Toplady “died in black despair +and blasphemy.” If Sir Richard Hill had <em>courteously</em> asked +for an explanation, Wesley, like a gentleman and a Christian, +would have given one; but, having demanded it in the most +offensive terms, telling him that he had been “vilifying the +ashes and traducing the memory” of Toplady; and that +“his grand design in all his publications, whether sermons, +journals, appeals, preservatives, or Arminian magazines, +was that of trumpeting forth his own praises”; and that he +was “a man of cunning and subtlety, and artifices, and foul +aspersions, and quibbles, and evasions,”⁠<a id="FNanchor_305_305" href="#Footnote_305_305" class="fnanchor">[305]</a>—we say, that +Sir Richard Hill having used such terms as these, in the +very letters in which he requested the explanation, deserved, +not an answer, but, the silent contempt with which Wesley +wisely treated him.</p> + +<p>In 1778, England was in great excitement. Panic was +general; and the country was thought to be on the brink of +ruin. It was this state of things which led Wesley to publish +the two political pamphlets following:</p> + +<p>First, “A Serious Address to the People of England, with +regard to the state of the nation:” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 28 pages; the +object of which was to show, that England, notwithstanding +the war, was in prosperity. Its cattle and vegetable productions +were undiminished. Its inhabitants had increased a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</span> +million within the last twenty years; and, during the same +period, hundreds of thousands of acres of unprofitable land +had been put under tillage. England might have lost eight +hundred of its ships since the beginning of the war; but it +had also taken more than it had lost. The trade with Ireland +had prodigiously increased; and, <em>comparatively speaking</em>, the +national debt was not so great as in 1759. “Friends and +countrymen!” writes Wesley, “let none deceive you with vain +words! Let none, by subtle reasonings, or by artful, elaborate +harangues, persuade you out of your senses. Let no +sweet tongued orator, by his smooth periods, steal away your +understanding; no thundering talker fill you with vain fears, +of evils that have no being. You are encompassed with +liberty, peace, and plenty. Know the public, as well as +private, blessings which you enjoy; and be thankful to God +and man.”</p> + +<p>The second, and shorter tract, was published, with the title, +“A Compassionate Address to the Inhabitants of Ireland”: +<abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 12 pages. Wesley laughs to scorn the report, that +General Washington had an army of 65,000 men; and +says, that “the French will as soon swallow up the sea,” as +swallow up old England; that the Spanish have not yet +forgotten Havannah; and that the Portuguese were “not +such arrant fools” as to join in a confederacy with England’s +enemies.</p> + +<p>These were odd topics for Wesley to take up; but the war +excitement was now at its highest point. Liverpool, Manchester, +Glasgow, and Edinburgh raised regiments at their +own expense. The Whig opposition considered this to be +highly reprehensible, and accused Lord North and the other +members of the government with employing soldiers without +consent of parliament, and of entertaining designs +dangerous to the liberties of the country. Fox moved, in +the House of Commons, that no more troops should be sent +out of the kingdom; alleging that a war with France and +Spain was imminent; and that the navy was inefficient, and +the militia contemptible. Burke, in a speech of three hours +and a half duration,—said to be the greatest triumph of +eloquence within the memory of man,—endeavoured to +weaken the hands of government, by dwelling on the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</span> +ferocities and horrors committed by their savage auxiliaries +in America, the red Indians. Lord George Gordon, who +was not yet quite so mad as he became a year or two later, +expressed his earnest wish, that Lord North “would call off his +butchers from America, retire with all the rest of his majesty’s +evil advisers, and turn from his wickedness and live.” John +Wilkes, the ex-lord mayor of London, who had not yet +attained to the post of city chamberlain, but who was +engaged in constant manœuvres to escape out of the purgatory +of duns, or to draw more money from the purses of private +friends, was as lavish with his sarcasms, ribaldry, and drollery +as ever, and told the minister, that nothing but a cessation of +hostilities would save General Howe from the fate of +Burgoyne. France was exerting itself to the utmost, to +induce, not only Spain, but also Austria, Prussia, Russia, +and the other despotisms, to become the allies and protectors +of the young and free republic. The king and his +ministers were involved in the greatest difficulties; and +John Wesley, like a loyal man, at the head of forty +thousand Methodists, felt it to be a duty to assist them as +he best could, not only in private and in the pulpit, but also +with his pen.</p> + +<p>Having spent the first two months of 1778 in London and +its vicinity, Wesley started, at the commencement of March, +for Ireland, where he employed his time and energies till +towards the end of July following; but there was nothing in +the tour so <em>unusually</em> remarkable as to demand attention. +The days of mob persecution were over; and everywhere +Wesley was received with respect, and, in many places, with +affection. At Tullamore, where he preached in the riding-house, +the commanding officer ordered all the soldiers to be +present, and attended himself, with the rest of the officers. +At Cork, two companies of volunteers were present in the +chapel, while Wesley preached; the side gallery being filled +with the men in scarlet, and the front with the men in blue. +In one instance, this old evangelist actually, we had almost +said cruelly, drove a pair of horses sixty-eight miles in a +single day. In another instance, coming to a slough near +Sligo, a sturdy Irishman took Wesley over on his shoulders; +and others took his chaise. At Dublin, his little conference +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</span> +of twenty preachers debated the duty of leaving the Established +Church; “but, after a full discussion of the point,” says +Wesley, “we all remained firm in our judgment,—that it is +not our duty to leave the Church, wherein God has blessed us, +and does bless us still.”</p> + +<p>This discussion was brought about principally by the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> +Edward Smyth, already mentioned as a clergyman who had +been expelled from his curacy for his fidelity to the truth. +At present, he was in connection with the Methodists; and +was now eager to persuade Wesley and his preachers to +separate from the Church; but without effect. Myles, in his +Chronological History, says, that the minute adopted was the +following:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Is it not our duty to separate from the Church, considering the wickedness +both of the clergy and the people? Answer. We conceive not. +1. Because both the priests and the people were full as wicked in the Jewish +church, and yet God never commanded the holy Israelites to separate from +them. 2. Neither did our Lord command His disciples to separate from +them; He rather commanded the contrary. 3. Hence, it is clear, <i>that</i> +could not be the meaning of <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Paul’s words, ‘Come out from among +them, and be ye separate.’”</p> +</div> + +<p>This was an important action. Twenty years before, +Wesley had wavered in his attachment to the Church; now +and henceforth, in language at least, he was more decided. +This is a question which will repeatedly present itself in +succeeding years.</p> + +<p>On July 19, Wesley left Dublin to attend his English +conference in Leeds, preaching on his way at Liverpool, +Bolton, Bury, Rochdale, Halifax, Bradford, and Birstal, at +which last mentioned place his congregation was supposed +to number twelve or fourteen thousand persons.</p> + +<p>Wesley’s notice of the Leeds conference is brief. He +writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“1778. Tuesday, August 4.—Our conference began: so large a +number of preachers never met at a conference before. I preached +morning and evening, till Thursday night; then my voice began to fail; +so I desired two of our preachers to supply my place the next day. On +Saturday the conference ended.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Mr. Benson writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Our conference is just ended, the best I was ever at. Mr. Wesley has +been in a sweet spirit, has preached some excellent sermons, has had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</span> +extraordinary congregations, and has dealt closely and plainly with the +preachers, setting two aside for misdemeanours.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_306_306" href="#Footnote_306_306" class="fnanchor">[306]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>Thomas Taylor, in his manuscript diary, remarks:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“August 5.—To-day, we permitted all sorts to come into the conference, +so that we had a large company. The forenoon was occupied in speaking +upon preaching houses. In the afternoon, the sending of missionaries to +Africa was considered. The call seems doubtful. Afterwards, the committee +met, and we were an hour and a half in speaking what might have +been done in five minutes. We are vastly tedious, and have many long +speeches to little purpose.”</p> + +<p>“August 6.—This day has been employed chiefly in stationing the +preachers.</p> + +<p>“August 7.—We were engaged in conference till after one o’clock; and +then the sacrament began, at which, I think, two thousand were present.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Three things are noticeable here. 1. Others, beside itinerant +preachers, were admitted to Wesley’s conference in +1778. 2. Long and tedious conferential speeches are not a +novelty; but were inflicted upon impatient and unwilling +listeners in former days as they are sometimes inflicted now. +3. The conference had an immense sacrament such as +Methodist conferences and Methodist congregations now never +witness.</p> + +<p>Stationing preachers was then a difficulty as it is at present, +one of the four days being chiefly occupied with this. Some +modern Methodists seem to think, that Wesley, in this, acted +as he pleased; but that is hardly true. The people then, to +say nothing about the preachers, liked to have a voice in their +appointments; and then, as now, not unfrequently made +worse selections than others would have made for them. In +the spring of the present year, Wesley significantly wrote, +while at Bristol: “March 9—On this and the following days +I visited the society, and found a good increase. This year, +I myself (<em>which I have seldom done</em>) chose the preachers for +Bristol; and these were <em>plain</em> men, and likely to do more +good than had been done in one year, for these twenty +years.”</p> + +<p>It is a curious fact, that, as this was the first conference in +whose minutes the name of Thomas Coke appeared, so also +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</span> +it was a conference remarkable for its discussion of the great +question of Christian missions, to which Coke, soon after, +devoted his unwearied life. The mission to Africa has been +mentioned. Mr. Benson writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“The proposal was made in consequence of two young princes from +Calabar, in Guinea, who desired that missionaries might be sent to +instruct them in the English language, and the great principles of +Christianity. These young princes had been cruelly torn away from +their own country, and sold as slaves in America, where they remained +upwards of seven years. An English master of a ship, to whom they told +their story, pitied them, and advised them to run away from their master, +which they did, and were brought by him to England. Their case was +examined, and brought before Lord Mansfield; and they were set at +liberty. They made some stay at Bristol, and were instructed by some +of our people, but especially by Miss Johnson. After they had returned +to their own country, at their request, two persons, who were Germans, +but members of our society at Bristol, were sent out to Guinea; but they +both died either before, or soon after, they landed on that coast. The +young princes sent over petitions for others to go. Two good young +men offered themselves for the difficult and dangerous service. But, +after the matter was seriously considered, it was concluded that the +time had not arrived for sending missionaries to Africa.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_307_307" href="#Footnote_307_307" class="fnanchor">[307]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>One of the strangers, who were present at the conference +of 1778, was Thomas Thompson, <abbr title="Esquire">Esq.</abbr>, afterwards member +of parliament for the town of Hull, and who, at the first +missionary meeting, held at Leeds, stated that the discussion +respecting this African mission lasted several hours, +and was marked by deep piety, sound sense, and powerful +eloquence. Mr. Thompson continued: “The deepest impression, +however, seemed to be made, on the minds of all persons +present, by the short speech of a young man, who appeared +to be far gone in a consumption, but who promptly offered +himself as a missionary, and, in unaffected language, declared +his readiness to go to Africa, or to any other part of the +world, to which it might please God and his brethren to send +him.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_308_308" href="#Footnote_308_308" class="fnanchor">[308]</a></p> + +<p>Who was this young man? Though not absolutely certain, +we believe it was Duncan McAllum. At all events, the +following information, hitherto unpublished, will be acceptable. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</span> +The two African princes escaped from slavery, about the +year 1775, after the breaking out of the American rebellion. +One of them was baptized at Bristol; and the other was +seriously disposed. The two Germans, who went out, were +brothers of the name of Syndrum, and were treated by the uncle +of the princes with all possible attention. When the intelligence +of their death arrived in England, Dr. Coke addressed +a circular to all the young itinerant preachers in the connexion, +asking for volunteers for this African mission, and +stating that they would be supported by a legacy of <abbr title="500 pounds">£500</abbr>, +left, for that purpose, by Miss Johnson, of Bristol.⁠<a id="FNanchor_309_309" href="#Footnote_309_309" class="fnanchor">[309]</a> Duncan +McAllum was now in the third year of his itinerancy, and +was stationed at Dundee. With a brave heart, he offered his +services, even before the conference; but, without assigning +reasons, Wesley declined accepting them. Hence the following +hitherto unpublished letter.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Dublin</span>, <i>July 14, 1778</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Duncan</span>,—I would have you change once in two months, and +will help you as to the expenses. Dwell in the land, and be doing good, +and surely thou shalt be fed. You have nothing to do at present in Africa. +Convert the heathen in Scotland.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Duncan, yours affectionately,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>So the matter ended. Help for Africa was deferred; but it +is a blessed fact that Africans were being saved. The successful +efforts of Mr. Gilbert in Antigua have been already noticed; +and it is a remarkable coincidence, that, in this very year, +when Coke first found a place in the conference minutes, and +when, for the first time, missions to the heathen were discussed +at the conference sittings, John Baxter, a Methodist shipwright +at Chatham, felt himself constrained to leave his +friends, and to embark for Antigua, principally, as he himself +expresses it, that he “might have an opportunity of speaking +for God.” He landed on April 2, and, a fortnight after, wrote +to Wesley, telling him that the work, begun by the late +Mr. Gilbert, still remained. He says: “The black people have +been kept together by two black women, who have continued +praying and meeting with those who attended every night. I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</span> +preached to about thirty on Saturday night. On Sunday +morning, to the same number; and, in the afternoon, to +about four or five hundred. The old standers desire I would +let you know that you have had many children in Antigua +whom you never saw. I hope, sir, we shall have an interest +in your prayers. Dear sir, give me your advice. Provisions +are very scarce; but I have all things richly to enjoy; as I +have four shillings a day, besides the king’s provisions. I am +going to have a house built for me, with as much ground as is +needful. I think God has sent me here for good to the poor +souls, who are glad to hear, but unable to maintain, a +preacher.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_310_310" href="#Footnote_310_310" class="fnanchor">[310]</a></p> + +<p>Little more remains to be said respecting the conference of +1778, except that it was resolved “to receive no more married +preachers, because,” says Wesley, “we cannot keep them”;⁠<a id="FNanchor_311_311" href="#Footnote_311_311" class="fnanchor">[311]</a> +and, further, that two most characteristic minutes were +adopted in reference to preachers who were nervous. It was +asked:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Why do so many of our preachers fall into nervous disorders?</p> + +<p>“Answer. Because they do not sufficiently observe Dr. Cadogan’s rules—​to +avoid indolence and intemperance.</p> + +<p>“They do indeed use exercise; but many of them do not use enough,—not +near so much as they did before they were preachers. And sometimes +they sit still a whole day. This can never consist with health.</p> + +<p>“They are not intemperate in the vulgar sense; they are neither +drunkards nor gluttons; but they take more food than nature requires, +particularly in the evening.</p> + +<p>“What advice would you give to those that are <em>nervous</em>?</p> + +<p>“Answer. Advice is made for them that will take it; but who are they? +one in ten, or twenty?</p> + +<p>“Then I advise: (1) Touch no dram, tea, tobacco, or snuff; (2) eat very +light, if any, supper; (3) breakfast on nettle or orange peel tea; (4) lie +down before ten, rise before six; (5) every day use as much exercise as +you can bear; or (6) murder yourself by inches.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley acted upon his own advice. Whatever might be +said of others, he was not the man to be made nervous for +want of exercise. Many Methodist preachers claim and +enjoy a holiday after conference. With Wesley it was otherwise. +The conference of 1778 closed on Saturday, August 8; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</span> +the next day, Wesley preached to a congregation of some +thousands in the market place at Dewsbury. He then hurried +off to London; and thence to Cornwall, where he preached, +in Gwennap amphitheatre, it was believed, to four-and-twenty +thousand people. During this lengthened journey, he made +the following curious entry in his journal.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“September 1—I went to Tiverton. I was musing here on what I +heard a good man say long since: ‘Once in seven years I burn all my +sermons; for it is a shame if I cannot write better sermons now than I +could seven years ago.’ Whatever others can do, I really cannot. I +cannot write a better sermon on the Good Steward, than I did seven +years ago; I cannot write a better on the Great Assize, than I did twenty +years ago; I cannot write a better on the Use of Money, than I did near +thirty years ago; nay, I know not that I can write a better on the +Circumcision of the Heart, than I did five-and-forty years ago. Perhaps, +indeed, I may have read five or six hundred books more than I had then, +and may know a little more history, or natural philosophy, than I did; +but I am not sensible that this has made any essential addition to my +knowledge in divinity. Forty years ago, I knew and preached every +Christian doctrine which I preach now.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Let the reader ponder this entry for a threefold purpose. +(1) To form an estimate of the extent of Wesley’s reading. +(2) To ascertain which sermons Wesley thought his best. +(3) To find an answer to the charge that Wesley changed his +doctrines.</p> + +<p>Wesley, on his return from Cornwall, arrived on September +4 in Bristol, in the neighbourhood of which he spent the +ensuing month.</p> + +<p>The remainder of the year was occupied in London, and +in his usual tours through the counties of Buckingham, +Oxford, Bedford, Northampton, Hertford, and Kent; and it +may be mentioned, as an evidence that the Church of England +began at last to appreciate its ejected minister, that, during +this interval, he preached, by request, to crowded congregations, +in not fewer than four of the London churches.</p> + +<p>It was at this time, also, that he opened, as already noticed, +the new chapel in City Road. On the day of opening, he +wrote as follows to Mrs. Penelope Cousins.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>November 1, 1778</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Sister</span>,—It is just as it should be. I have formerly said +‘I wonder how Mr. Whitefield can go on! For he has honour, and +comparatively, no dishonour. And this is test for human frailty too +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</span> +severe.’ Now I have not that insupportable burden. I have honour +enough in all reason; but it is properly balanced with dishonour. I have +good report, and (what is absolutely necessary) evil report too. To-day +I am to open our new chapel. Hence also will arise both honour and +dishonour. Yet a little while, and all these things, that seem considerable +now, will pass away like a dream.</p> + +<p>“I am, my dear Penny, yours affectionately,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_312_312" href="#Footnote_312_312" class="fnanchor">[312]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>The opening of City Road chapel rendered it necessary, +that Wesley should have clerical coadjutors; and he now +received a letter from one who, in after years, rendered +faithful and valuable service. The <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> James Creighton +was born in Ireland, in 1739; and, for fourteen years, had +been an ordained clergyman; but it was only within the last +two years that he had found peace with God, through faith in +Jesus Christ, and that principally by reading the works of +Wesley. He now began to preach in a barn, about four +miles from his parish church; and, then, when the barn was +no longer available, in a chapel which was erected for him, +and in which he officiated for some time, though the windows +were unglazed, and the mudden floor was such that his feet +often sunk two inches deep during the performance of service. +His parish was sixteen miles in length, and most of it mountainous +and boggy; but he frequently walked, as well as rode, +through all parts of it, in all kinds of weather.⁠<a id="FNanchor_313_313" href="#Footnote_313_313" class="fnanchor">[313]</a> While here, +he wrote the following to Wesley.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Belterbelt</span>, <i>October 26, 1778</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Sir</span>,—I stand much in need of a judicious friend. I am +quite alone; there are none of the Methodists near me; nor are there +any yet thoroughly awakened within my cure. The fault, I must own, is +mine. I have not been zealous enough; yet, this has not proceeded from +the fear of man; but I wished not to act precipitately, and to raise the +prejudices of the clergy as little as possible. I meant well; but I see I +have acted wrong. Had I been persecuted, I should have been much +bolder; but the people are so civil to me, that it has, in a great measure, +proved my ruin. I have had such a sense of my ignorance and inability, +that I have been frequently tempted to think, I ought to refrain entirely +from preaching. But, again, I thought I might, perhaps, be of some use +here, where the people are ready to listen to me, yet are not willing to +hear a Methodist. Could I once open a door here for the Methodist +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</span> +preachers, I should willingly go to any part of the globe that God should +call me to. Were I near you, I should be too happy to fill the place of +your assistant. Though we must lament the want of discipline in our +Church, and though I admire the economy of the Methodists, yet I +entirely agree with you, that they ought not to leave the Church. So long +as they mingle with the members of it, they may be the means of converting +them; but, if they separate, they will thereby stop the ears and +eyes of thousands. These were my sentiments long before I heard that +they were yours. I never was bigoted to opinions, and hope I never +shall.</p> + +<p>“I remain, dear sir, your very humble servant, and affectionate +brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">James Creighton</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_314_314" href="#Footnote_314_314" class="fnanchor">[314]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>The discipline of the Church of England was a thing over +which Wesley and his friends had no control. With the +discipline of the Methodists it was otherwise. Hence, the +following characteristic letter, hitherto unpublished, addressed +to one of his itinerants, at Brecon, Mr. William Church, an +ancestor of the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Henry L. Church, who possesses the +original.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Wallingford</span>, <i>October 13, 1778</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Billy</span>,—The soul and the body make a man; the Spirit and +discipline make a Christian. Let John Watson and you agree together, +and be exact in this wherever you go. Insist upon the observance of all +the society rules, by all the members of society; and on the observance +of all (even the least) of the band rules, by all that meet in band. I +give, for instance, no band tickets to any woman, who wears either ruffles +or a high crowned cap. If any will not lay aside these, rather than lose +that blessed means of improvement, she is not worthy of it.</p> + +<p>“I am, your affectionate brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>Another unpublished letter, of the same kind, addressed to +Samuel Bradburn, will be welcome.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>October 17, 1778</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Sammy</span>,—I think you judge exactly right. You are called to +obey <i>me</i>, as a son in the gospel. But who can prove, that you are so +called to obey any other person? What I require (according to the +twelfth rule of a helper) of John Hampson and you, is, that each of you, +in his turn, spend four weeks, and no more, first at Cork, and then at +Bandon. When, therefore, you have been at Bandon, I desire you to +return straight to Cork. And, if John Hampson will not then go to +Bandon, I will order one that will. Pray show this letter to Mr. Mackrie, +whom I beg to assist you in this matter. Pass smoothly over the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</span> +perverseness of those you have to do with, and go straight forward. It is +abundantly sufficient, that you have the testimony of a good conscience +towards God.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Sammy, yours affectionately,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>Reference is made, in Mr. Creighton’s letter, to the subject +of the Methodists leaving the Established Church; and it has +been already seen, that this was a matter earnestly debated, +at the Dublin conference, during the present year. The following +letter, sent to Miss Bishop, is of great importance, +and, though long, must have insertion.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>October 18, 1778</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Sister</span>,—The original Methodists were all of the Church +of England; and the more awakened they were, the more zealously they +adhered to it, in every point, both of doctrine and discipline. Hence, we +inserted in the very first rules of our society, ‘they that leave the Church +leave us.’ And this we did, not as a point of prudence, but a point of +conscience. We believed it unlawful to separate from the Church, unless +sinful terms of communion were imposed. Just as did Mr. Philip Henry, +and most of those holy men that were contemporary with him.</p> + +<p>“‘But the ministers of it do not preach the gospel.’ Neither do some +of the independent or anabaptist ministers. Calvinism is not the gospel: +nay, it is further from it, than most of the sermons I hear at the church. +These are very frequently unevangelical, but they are not anti-evangelical. +Few of the Methodists are now in danger of imbibing error from the +Church ministers; but they are in great danger of imbibing the grand +error, Calvinism, from some of the Dissenting ministers. Perhaps thousands +have done it already; most of whom have drawn back to perdition. +I see more instances of this than any one else can do; and, on this +ground also, exhort all who would keep to the Methodists, and from Calvinism, +to go to the church, and not to the meeting.</p> + +<p>“But to speak freely: I myself find more life in the Church prayers, +than in any formal extemporary prayers of Dissenters. Nay, I find more +profit in sermons on either good tempers, or good works, than in what +are vulgarly called gospel sermons. The term has now become a mere +cant word: I wish none of our society would use it. It has no determinate +meaning. Let but a pert, self sufficient animal, that has neither +sense nor grace, bawl out something about Christ, or His blood, or justification +by faith, and his hearers cry out, ‘What a fine gospel sermon!’ +Surely the Methodists have not so learned Christ! We know no gospel +without salvation from sin. There is a Romish error which many protestants +swallow unawares. It is an avowed doctrine of the Romish church, +that the ‘pure intention of the minister is essential to the validity of the +sacraments.’ If so, we ought not to attend the ministrations of an unholy +man. But in flat opposition to this, our Church teaches, in the twenty-eighth +article, that ‘the unworthiness of the minister does not hinder the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</span> +validity of the sacraments.’ Although, therefore, there are many disagreeable +circumstances, yet, I advise all our friends to keep to the Church. +God has surely raised us up for the Church chiefly, that a little leaven +may leaven the whole lump. I wish you would seriously consider that +little tract, ‘Reasons against a Separation from the Church of England.’ +These reasons were never yet answered; I believe, they never will.</p> + +<p>“I am, my dear sister, yours very affectionately,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_315_315" href="#Footnote_315_315" class="fnanchor">[315]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Whatever may be thought of the validity of Wesley’s +reasons, there can be no question, that, in theory at least, he +was still firmly attached to the Established Church. His +enemies, not without reason, stigmatised him as a Dissenter; +he persisted, that he himself and the Methodists were not +Dissenters. Who is possessed of competent authority to +decide the doubt?</p> + +<p>Before passing to Wesley’s publications, there is another +matter which deserves attention. One of the questions proposed +at the conference of 1778 was,—“Is it not advisable +for us to visit all the jails we can?” The answer was,—“By +all means. There cannot be a greater charity.” From the +first, this was a duty to which Wesley and his brother had +devoted themselves to the utmost of their power; and so also +had many of their preachers and followers, especially Silas +Told, a man who richly deserves a passing notice.</p> + +<p>Mr. Told was the son of a physician at Bristol, where he +was born in 1711. At the age of fourteen, he was bound +apprentice as a sailor; and, for eleven years, lived a life of +adventurous romance. In 1740, Charles Casper Greaves, +a young bricklayer, introduced him to the Methodists. In +1744, Silas, at Wesley’s request, became the master of the +Foundery school, and received a salary of <abbr title="26 pounds">£26</abbr> a year. At +the same time, he began to visit the London prisons, and +to preach to debtors and malefactors. There was not a +prison in the metropolis, nor scarcely a workhouse within +twelve miles round it, where Silas Told was not a frequent +and welcome visitor. The scenes he witnessed were +horrible; but for these the reader must turn to Told’s autobiography. +Suffice it to add, that Silas Told was preeminently, +in London, the prison philanthropist, the real, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</span> +though unrecognised chaplain of all its wretched prisoners. +For more than thirty years, no man was better known, or +more welcome in the jails of the metropolis, than he. All +sorts of criminals, papists and protestants, clung to him in +their anguish, for counsel and consolation. Notwithstanding +opposition at the first, he persisted in his enterprise, till even +turnkeys, sheriffs, and hangmen, as well as prisoners, were +wont to weep while listening to his exhortations and his +prayers. Silas Told continued his great good work, till he +tottered under the weight of nearly threescore years and ten, +when he peacefully expired in December 1778. It was befitting +that Wesley himself should inter such at Methodist. He +writes: “1778, Sunday, December 30—I buried what was +mortal of honest Silas Told. For many years, he attended +the malefactors in Newgate, without fee or reward; and I +suppose no man for this hundred years has been so successful +in that melancholy office. God had given him peculiar talents +for it; and he had amazing success therein. The greatest part +of those whom he attended died in peace, and many of them +in the triumph of faith.”</p> + +<p>Several of Wesley’s publications in 1778 have been already +mentioned; only two still require notice.</p> + +<p>The first was “Some Account of the late Work of God in +North America, in a Sermon on Ezekiel <abbr title="one">i.</abbr> 16.” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 23 +pages. It was almost a misnomer to designate this a sermon; +but it was vastly popular, and, before the year was out, +reached a second edition. It is really a brief historical statement +of American affairs from 1736 to 1778. Wesley begins +with the colonisation of Georgia, passes on to the wonderful +revival of religion in New England, and speaks of the amazingly +successful labours of Whitefield, but affirms that, for +want of forming his converts into societies, the far greater +part of them became backsliders. He then traces the war to +its origin, and concludes by foretelling, not the <em>independency</em> +of the rebellious colonists, which he says would be “a heavy +curse,” but a restoration of civil and Christian liberty. It is +dangerous to turn prophet: in one respect, Wesley’s vaticination +was soon falsified.</p> + +<p>On August 14, 1777, Wesley wrote: “I drew up proposals +for the <cite>Arminian Magazine</cite>.” We are not aware that these +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</span> +“Proposals” have ever been reissued, just as Wesley published +them; and, as an original copy now lies before us, we insert +the document <i>verbatim</i>.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="hanging">“<i>Proposals for printing, by Subscription, the</i> <span class="smcap">Arminian Magazine</span>; +<i>consisting of Extracts, and Original Treatises on Universal +Redemption.</i></p> + +<p class="center">“<span class="smcap">Conditions.</span></p> + +<p>“1. A number, containing 80 pages, in octavo, printed on fine paper, +and with a new type, will be delivered monthly to each subscriber, at the +price of one shilling.</p> + +<p>“2. It will be so printed, as to bind up in volumes, twelve numbers +in a volume.</p> + +<p>“3. This work will contain no news, no politics, no personal invectives, +nothing offensive either to religion, decency, good nature, or good +manners.</p> + +<p>“4. The first number will be delivered on January 1, 1778, and continued +the first day of every month.</p> + +<p>“5. Subscriptions are taken in at the Foundery, London; the New +Room, Bristol; and by the booksellers in town and country.</p> + +<p class="center">“<i>To the Reader.</i></p> + +<p>“1. Amidst the multitude of magazines which now swarm in the world, +there was one, a few years ago, termed <cite>The Christian Magazine</cite>, which +was of great use to mankind, and did honour to the publishers. But it +was soon discontinued, to the regret of many serious and sensible persons. +In the room of it, started up a miscreated phantom, called <cite>The +Spiritual Magazine</cite>; and, not long after, its twin sister, oddly called <cite>The +Gospel Magazine</cite>. Both of these are intended to show, that God is +not <em>loving to every man</em>, that <em>His mercy is</em> not <em>over all His works</em>; and, +consequently, that Christ <em>did</em> not <em>die for all</em>, but for one in ten, for the +elect only.</p> + +<p>“2. This comfortable doctrine, the sum of which, proposed in plain +English, is, God before the foundation of the world absolutely and irrevocably +decreed, that ‘some men shall be saved, do what they will, and +the rest be damned, do what they can,’ has, by these tracts, been spread +throughout the land, with the utmost diligence. And these champions of +it have, from the beginning, proceeded in a manner worthy of their cause. +They have paid no more regard to good nature, decency, or good manners, +than to reason or truth. All these they set utterly at defiance. Without +any deviation from their plan, they have defended their dear decrees, with +arguments worthy of Bedlam, and with language worthy of Billingsgate.</p> + +<p>“3. In the <cite>Arminian Magazine</cite> a very different opinion will be +defended, in a very different manner. We maintain, that God <em>willeth all +men to be saved</em>, by <em>speaking the truth in love</em>; by arguments and illustrations +drawn, partly from Scripture, partly from reason; proposed in as +inoffensive a manner as the nature of the thing will permit. Not that we +expect those on the other side of the question will use <em>us</em> as we use <em>them</em>. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</span> +Yet, we hope, nothing will move us to return evil for evil; or, however +provoked, to render railing for railing.</p> + +<p>“4. Our design is, to publish some of the most remarkable tracts on the +universal love of God, and His willingness to save <em>all men</em> from <em>all sin</em>, +which have been wrote in this and the last century. Some of these are +now grown very scarce; some have not appeared in <em>English</em> before. To +these will be added original pieces, wrote either directly upon this subject, +or on those which are equally opposed by the patrons of <em>particular +redemption</em>. We are not yet determined, whether to insert any poetry or +not; but we faithfully promise not to insert any <em>doggrel</em>. If any verses +are inserted, they shall be such as will not shock either the understanding +or the taste of the serious reader.</p> + +<p>“5. We know nothing more proper to introduce a work of this kind +than a sketch of the life and death of <i>Arminius</i>; a person, with whom +those, who mention his name with the utmost indignity, are commonly +quite unacquainted, of whom they know no more than of <i>Hermes +Trismegistus</i>.”</p> +</div> + +<p>This, though lengthy, is too scarce and too curious a document +to withhold from the Methodist community; moreover, +it was the commencement of a magazine, now, we believe, +the oldest religious periodical in the world; a magazine which +has flourished, without interruption, for ninety successive +years; and has been read by myriads in all quarters of the +globe.</p> + +<p>It has been said, that Mr. Walter Churchey, of Brecon, +was the first to suggest to Wesley the publication of this +periodical;⁠<a id="FNanchor_316_316" href="#Footnote_316_316" class="fnanchor">[316]</a> Wesley himself says, that he had been desired +to publish a magazine for near forty years before he complied +with the request.⁠<a id="FNanchor_317_317" href="#Footnote_317_317" class="fnanchor">[317]</a> Of course, Wesley is the best authority; +still there can be no doubt, that Mr. Churchey was one of his +advisers. The following letter furnishes evidence of this.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>October 18, 1777</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—We agree, that no politics shall have a place +in the <cite>Arminian Magazine</cite>. But poetry will; only my brother and I +are the judges what pieces shall be admitted. It may be, some will +think us too nice in our choice; but that we cannot help. As to a +review of religious books, it might be well; but I have two objections. +(1) I scruple my own sufficiency for the work. (2) I would not, at any +price, be bound to read over all the present religious productions of +the press.</p> + +<p>“I am your affectionate brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_318_318" href="#Footnote_318_318" class="fnanchor">[318]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</span> +The first number of the magazine appeared on the 1st of +January, 1778; on the cover of which Wesley said:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“I am content this magazine should stand or fall by its own intrinsic +value. If it is a compound of falsehood, ribaldry, and nonsense, let +it sink into oblivion. If it contains only the words of truth and soberness, +then let it meet with a favourable reception. It will easily be +observed, that it contains fewer articles than any other magazine. This +is not by accident, but design. I have frequently been disgusted by the +many bits and scraps of various kinds, which make up a great part of +most publications of this nature. Before one has well entered upon any +subject, it is at an end, and referred to the next number; a mere trick +to decoy the reader to buy another and another number. On the contrary, +I shall endeavour to begin and conclude as many things as +possible in each number: and, with regard to taking the numbers that +follow, let every reader use his own discretion.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Space forbids any lengthened outline of the contents of +the first volume. There are lives of Arminius, Luther, +Bernard Gilpin, Bishop Bedell, Peter Jaco, and John Atlay. +There are half-a-dozen articles on the Calvinian controversy, +some of them, (rather in contradiction of Wesley’s +announcement,) running through several numbers. There +are fifty-nine letters; and nearly the same number of poetic +pieces. There are three portraits, one of Wesley himself, +one of Peter Jaco, and the third of John Atlay. At the +end of the copy now before us, is a four paged letter, +dated Londonderry, June 5, 1778, answering objections +against the five numbers already issued. One objection +was, there was not enough for money. The reply was: “I +write for those who judge of books, not by the quantity, +but by the quality of them. I spare both my reader’s +time and my own, by couching my sense in as few words +as I can. Those who prefer the dealers in many words +may find them on every side.” A second objection was, +that there was not variety enough. Wesley answered: +“Here is all the variety I promised. I promised the bulk +of the magazine should treat of universal redemption. Do +you blame me for not rambling from my subject? It is +not my manner, I do not aim at it.” A third objection was, +“there is not variety in the historical part.” “What do you +mean?” says Wesley. “Would you have me insert bits and +scraps of history; or give, in each number, part of the life +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</span> +of one man, and part of that of another? I never proposed +this: I think it far better to select a few of the best +lives I know, and to go entirely through one before I enter +upon another.” Another objection was: “you have no +pictures or other decorations or embellishments which other +magazines have.” Wesley answers: “It is true. But I will +tell you what I have: such paper as no magazine in England +was ever printed upon before. Consider! this one single +article costs more than all their fine embellishments put +together.”</p> + +<p>In concluding this notice of the first volume of the +<cite>Arminian Magazine</cite>, the following letter will be welcome. It +was addressed to Thomas Taylor, and is here copied from +the original.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>January 15, 1778</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Tommy</span>,—As to preaching, you ought not to preach against +that unscriptural, blasphemous, mischievous doctrine constantly; no, nor +very frequently. But you ought, now and then, to bear a full, strong, +express testimony against it; otherwise you are a sinner against God, +and the people, and your own soul. I have done this too seldom: scarce +once in fifty sermons. I ought to do it once in fifteen or so.</p> + +<p>“As to writing or publishing, the deadly poison has, for many years, +been spread through England, chiefly by means of those pestilent +declamations, <i>The Gospel</i>, and <i>The Spiritual</i> Magazine. Whatever is +designed for an antidote to this poison must be spread in the same +manner. Thousands have been thereby poisoned already, and are now +twice dead. To guard those who are not poisoned yet, (not to get +money,) I fight them at their own weapons. I oppose magazine to +magazine, though of a totally different kind. But, it seems, you know +nothing at all of the matter. You do not appear to have read the +Proposals.⁠<a id="FNanchor_319_319" href="#Footnote_319_319" class="fnanchor">[319]</a> This magazine not only contains no railing, but (properly +speaking) no controversy. It proves one point: ‘God willeth all men +to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth.’ It goes +straight forward, taking notice of no opponents, but invariably pursuing +the one point. And this is the only way to preserve the Methodists, +and to make the Calvinists quiet. Meantime, both the letters and the +lives, which will make a considerable part of every number, contain +the marrow of experimental and practical religion; so that nothing of +the kind has appeared before. Therefore, a magazine of this kind is a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</span> +new thing in the land; and those, who formerly spoke against the +magazine, may, with a good grace, recommend this as being quite +another thing, and published on other motives. I do not desire any +Calvinist to read it. I publish it not to convince, but to preserve. I +know, by long experience, they will never bend, but when the war is +carried into their own quarters. This I will do, as long as God spares +my life; and, in love, and in meekness of wisdom. This is the way, and +the only way, to establish lasting peace.</p> + +<p>“But is it not odd that a Methodist, a preacher, an assistant, should +be the only one who sees my brother, and me, and the bulk of the +preachers, and the body of the people, to be wrong? Tommy, distrust +yourself. Do not lean too much to your own understanding. It is +possible they may be right, and you wrong. You do not at all understand +this affair. We are well rid of those turbulent men. With love +to Nancy,</p> + +<p>“Your affectionate friend and brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>We only add, that, nearly to the end of Wesley’s life, +Thomas Olivers was a sort of sub-editor, and corrector of the +press; but corrected so incorrectly, that, in August, 1789, +Wesley writes: “I chose a new person to prepare the <i>Arminian +Magazine</i>; being obliged, however unwillingly, to drop +Mr. Olivers, for only these two reasons: 1. The errata are +unsufferable; I have borne them for these twelve years, but +can bear them no longer. 2. Several pieces are inserted +without my knowledge, both in prose and verse. I must +try whether these things cannot be amended for the short +residue of my life.”</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_304_304" href="#FNanchor_304_304" class="label">[304]</a> The words in the original are given in full.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_305_305" href="#FNanchor_305_305" class="label">[305]</a> See memoirs of Toplady, prefixed to his works, 1857 edit.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_306_306" href="#FNanchor_306_306" class="label">[306]</a> <cite>Christian Miscellany</cite>, 1849, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 84.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_307_307" href="#FNanchor_307_307" class="label">[307]</a> Memoirs of Benson, by Macdonald, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 75.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_308_308" href="#FNanchor_308_308" class="label">[308]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1814, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 508.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_309_309" href="#FNanchor_309_309" class="label">[309]</a> Manuscript.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_310_310" href="#FNanchor_310_310" class="label">[310]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1788, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 383.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_311_311" href="#FNanchor_311_311" class="label">[311]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 296.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_312_312" href="#FNanchor_312_312" class="label">[312]</a> <cite>Christian Miscellany</cite>, 1850, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 54.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_313_313" href="#FNanchor_313_313" class="label">[313]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1785.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_314_314" href="#FNanchor_314_314" class="label">[314]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1788, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 608.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_315_315" href="#FNanchor_315_315" class="label">[315]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 33.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_316_316" href="#FNanchor_316_316" class="label">[316]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1823, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 134.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_317_317" href="#FNanchor_317_317" class="label">[317]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume four">vol. iv.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 107.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_318_318" href="#FNanchor_318_318" class="label">[318]</a> Ibid. <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 407.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_319_319" href="#FNanchor_319_319" class="label">[319]</a> Taylor was opposed to the magazine. In his unpublished diary, +he writes: “1777. December 14—I wrote a long letter to Mr. Wesley +concerning the <cite>Arminian Magazine</cite>, which I am persuaded will do +hurt, and no good.”</p></div></div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</span></p> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="1779">1779.</h2> +<hr class="short"> +<p class="center"> +Age 76</p></div> + +<p class="p2 drop-cap"><span class="smcap">The</span> year 1779 was one of national alarm. The remarkable +trials of Admiral Keppel and Sir Hugh +Palliser occasioned fierce debates in parliament. Lord +North and his colleagues were accused of being intermeddling, +shortsighted, and incapable. American agents were +busy with Irish malcontents; and armed associations, not +the most loyal, were formed in Dublin and throughout the +country. The Spanish ambassador quitted London, after +delivering to the secretary of state a hostile manifesto. +The ministry proposed, that the militia should be doubled. +Press warrants were issued in all directions, and press gangs +actively employed in increasing the navy. France was jubilant. +England rang with reports of invasion, and of new +Spanish armadas, more terrible than that sent against Queen +Elizabeth. Gibraltar was threatened; and so was Jersey. +Paul Jones, at the head of a squadron manned by French and +Americans, and desperadoes from various other countries, +menaced the whole of the eastern coast of England, from +Flamborough Head to the Frith of the Tay. Lord North’s +parliamentary majorities were dwindling. George <abbr title="Three">III.</abbr> had +no decisive victories to report. It was asserted that the +American war had already added sixty-three millions to the +national debt; and Charles Fox declared that treachery, and +not ignorance, must have prevailed in the national councils to +reduce the country to its present miserable condition. England +throughout was in a panic.</p> + +<p>In this emergency, as in all others, Wesley was among +the foremost to evince his loyalty. On February 8, he wrote: +“Finding many serious persons were much discouraged by +prophets of evil, confidently foretelling very heavy calamities +which were coming upon our nation, I endeavoured to lift up +their hands, by opening and applying Psalm <abbr title="forty-three">xliii.</abbr> 5, 6.” Two +days later was the national fast, when he preached on +Abraham interceding for the city of Sodom. To quiet the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</span> +panic at Newcastle, he took for his text, “The Lord sitteth +above the waterfloods; the Lord reigneth a king for ever.” +In a letter to Bradburn, he says:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“It is the judgment of many, that, since the time of the Invincible +Armada, Great Britain and Ireland were never in such danger from foreign +enemies as they are at this day. Humanly speaking, we are not able to +contend with them, either by sea or land. They are watching over us as +a leopard over his prey, just ready to spring upon us. They are mighty +and rage horribly; but the Lord that dwelleth on high is mightier; and +now is the time, at this awful crisis, for the inhabitants of the land to learn +righteousness. I make no doubt, but you improve the important opportunity, +and lift up your voice like a trumpet. Who knoweth but God may +be entreated of <i>us</i>, as He was for Nineveh? Our brethren, in various parts +of England, have set apart an hour in a week for prayer (namely, from +eight till nine on Sunday evening), in behalf of our king and country. +Should not the same be done in Ireland too? particularly at Cork and +Bandon? Those who have not opportunity of meeting, at the time, may +pray part of the hour in private. Meantime, there is a text for <em>you</em>: ‘I +will not destroy it for <em>ten’s</em> sake.’”⁠<a id="FNanchor_320_320" href="#Footnote_320_320" class="fnanchor">[320]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>Besides this weekly prayer-meeting by the English Methodists, +a Methodist fast was observed in connection with the +annual conference. Thomas Taylor writes: “July 30—This +day was observed as a fast on account of public affairs. We +met in the morning at five; and, after the sermon, we +continued in prayer till nine o’clock. At one, we met again, +and received the sacrament. In the evening, we kept a +watchnight, and I gave an exhortation. But the people do +not stay at watchnights in London, as they do in the +country.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_321_321" href="#Footnote_321_321" class="fnanchor">[321]</a></p> + +<p>A few days later, we find Wesley holding a noonday prayer-meeting, +at Haverfordwest, to intercede for the king and +country. At Bristol, he preached on David’s prayer, “Lord, +turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness”; and, in +October, wrote again to Samuel Bradburn as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>October 10, 1779</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Sammy</span>,—The alarm has been general in England as well as +Ireland; particularly in the maritime parts. But it has done abundantly +more good than harm to the work of God. The children of God have +been greatly stirred up, and have been more instant in prayer. And +many men of the world have been greatly awakened, and continue so to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</span> +this day. Most of those who have the fullest intercourse with God believe +our enemies will never be permitted to land in England. And, indeed, God +has already given abundant proof of His hearing prayer: first, in their not +landing at Plymouth, where they stayed gaping and staring for eight-and-forty +hours, while they might with all ease have destroyed both the dock +and the town; secondly, in the malignant fever which has broken out in +their fleet, and already destroyed several thousands of men.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_322_322" href="#Footnote_322_322" class="fnanchor">[322]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>Infidelity will sneer at this; but religion, recognising a +ruling Providence, will reverentially bow its head. The crisis +was terrible. Sixty-eight French and Spanish ships of the +line, and many frigates and smaller vessels, all commanded by +D’Orvilliers, appeared off Plymouth. The British fleet did +not exceed thirty-eight sail of the line, and was absent at sea, +under the command of Admiral Hardy. Where was the difficulty +of seizing Plymouth? Wesley writes: “They might +have entered it with perfect ease. The wind was fair; there +was no fleet to oppose them; there was scarce any garrison, +and the few men that were there had no wadding at all, and +but two rounds of powder; and only two of the cannon were +mounted.” And yet the combined fleet, nearly twice the size +of Hardy’s, contented itself with a pompous parade in front of +the unprotected town. No wonder that Wesley, with grateful +exultation, preached from texts like the one he took at Newcastle: +“The Lord sitteth above the waterfloods; the Lord +reigneth a king for ever.”</p> + +<p>Before we track Wesley’s wanderings in 1779, there is +another matter which deserves mention. On the 30th of +May, 1778, Voltaire died in Paris, in the eighty-fifth year of +his age. His death was what the death of an arch infidel +might be expected to be. The subjoined anecdote respecting +it has long been widely published, but, perhaps, never +so nearly traced to its source as now. Wesley had been +informed that one of the chaplains of George <abbr title="Three">III.</abbr> was about +to publish Voltaire’s pernicious works in a collected form; +and, in a fit of godly indignation, he wrote the following +unpublished letter.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>January 4, 1779.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—In September last, a gentleman, near Bristol, showed me a +letter, which he had received from the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Fletcher, at Paris. I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</span> +desired him to give a transcript of one part of it, which he immediately +did. It was as follows:</p> + +<p>“‘Mr. Voltaire sent for Monsieur Tronclils, first physician to the Duke +of Orleans, (one of his converts to infidelity,) and said to him, “Sir, I +desire you will save my life. I will give you half my fortune, if you will +lengthen out my days only six months. If not, I shall go to the devil, +and carry you with me.”’</p> + +<p>“This is the man to whom a crowned head pays such a violent compliment! +Nay, this is the man whose works are now publishing by a +divine of our own Church; yea, a chaplain to his majesty. Pity but +the king should know it. If the publisher of that poor wretch’s works +writes a panegyric upon him or them, I shall think it my duty to show +the real value of those writings.</p> + +<p>“I am, sir, your humble servant,</p> +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">J. Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>No man was a more determined opponent of evil than +Wesley was; and, at the same time, no man was a more +faithful friend. The following is illustrative of this. The +Methodists know something, and might be told a great deal +more, respecting William Shent, the Methodist barber of the +town of Leeds. Poor William was now in not undeserved +embarrassment; his friends forsook him; but not so Wesley. +Hence the following, hitherto unpublished, letter to the +Methodist society in Keighley.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>January 11, 1779</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">I have</span> a few questions, which I desire may be proposed to the society +at Keighley.</p> + +<p>“Who was the occasion of the Methodist preachers first setting foot in +Leeds? William Shent.</p> + +<p>“Who received John Nelson into his house at his first coming thither? +William Shent.</p> + +<p>“Who was it that invited me, and received me when I came? William +Shent.</p> + +<p>“Who was it that stood by me while I preached in the street with +stones flying on every side? William Shent.</p> + +<p>“Who was it that bore the storm of persecution for the whole town, and +stemmed it at the peril of his life? William Shent.</p> + +<p>“Whose word did God bless for many years in an eminent manner? +William Shent’s.</p> + +<p>“By whom were many children now in paradise begotten in the Lord, +and many now alive? William Shent.</p> + +<p>“Who is he that is ready now to be broken up, and turned into the +street? William Shent.</p> + +<p>“And does nobody care for this? William Shent fell into sin, and +was publicly expelled the society; but must he be also starved? Must he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</span> +with his grey hairs and all his children be without a place to lay his +head? Can you suffer this? Oh, tell it not in Gath! Where is gratitude? +Where is compassion? Where is Christianity? Where is +humanity? Where is concern for the cause of God? Who is a wise +man among you? Who is concerned for the gospel? Who has put on +bowels of mercy? Let him arise and exert himself in this matter. You +here all arise as one man, and roll away the reproach. Let us set him on +his feet once more. It may save both him and his family. But what we +do, let it be done quickly.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear brethren, your affectionate brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>It is hardly necessary to track the steps of Wesley throughout +the whole of a journey which occupied the next five +months. He opened the new chapel at Bath, of which more +must be said shortly. On Friday, March 19, he preached in +Bengeworth church at noon; and, at six, in the church at +Pebworth. At West Bromwich, during a terrific storm of +wind and hail, he addressed a congregation in the open air. +At Madeley, he preached in the new chapel, built by his +friend Fletcher, in Madeley Wood. He opened a new chapel +at Davyhulme, Manchester. He also paid his first visit to +Oldham, where he says: “I had such a congregation as I have +not seen since I was in the Cornish amphitheatre. And all, +beside a few giddy children, were seriously attentive.”</p> + +<p>This was a great improvement in the manners of the Oldham +people. When Matthew Mayer commenced preaching +here in 1763, he asked a man to allow him to stand before +his door. “No,” replied the Lancashire savage; and then he +swore that, if Mayer attempted to gather a congregation there, +he would cleave his skull. Having removed to the door of +Jonathan Mabbot’s, in George Street, Mayer mounted a stool; +but he had no sooner sung and prayed, than the mob, led on +by churchwardens and constables, surrounded him. “By what +authority do you come hither?” asked the Oldham functionaries. +“By what authority do you ask me?” replied Mr. +Mayer. “Pull him down, pull him down!” cried the mob; +and then one of the constables upset the preacher’s stool; and +the zealous guardians of the Church shouted, “We want none +of your preaching here.” On the Sunday following, while +Mayer was preaching, the mob amused themselves by thrusting +pins into the legs and arms of serious hearers; and, on the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</span> +Sunday after that, a brute was hired for threepence halfpenny +to strip himself stark naked, and rush into the midst of +Mayer’s congregation. On another occasion, John Murlin was +dragged from his horseblock pulpit, and was thrown into a +dungeon; and, on another, James Hall was honoured with +the presence not only of the constables, churchwardens, and +Oldham mob, but also of a huntsman and his hounds. The +churchwardens raved; the constables brandished their official +staves; the mob bawled; the dogs barked; and the huntsman +blew his horn with such vehemence that Mr. Hall found it +impossible to preach, but, for an hour and a half, continued +to sing and pray.⁠<a id="FNanchor_323_323" href="#Footnote_323_323" class="fnanchor">[323]</a></p> + +<p>Leaving Oldham, Wesley proceeded to Northwich and +other places in Cheshire; then to Warrington, Liverpool, +Bolton, Rochdale, Bacup, and Padiham. He writes: “April +13—At one o’clock, I preached in the shell of the house at +Padiham, where there is at length a prospect of peace, after +abundance of disturbance, caused by one who neither fears +God nor reverences man.”</p> + +<p>The chapel referred to, in this extract, was erected in the +midst of the most determined opposition. What was built +during the day was frequently demolished during the night; +and it became necessary to appoint nocturnal watchers to +guard the premises. At length, the building was completed, +and had, in the front wall, a stone with a sun dial, serving for +a clock, and round about it an inscription, which, to future +generations, was a memento of bygone troubles: “They +thrust sore at me that I might fall; but the Lord hath helped +me, and taken part against them that hated me.”</p> + +<p>From Padiham, Wesley went to Todmorden, Heptonstall, +Ewood, and Halifax. He writes: “April 15—I went to +Halifax, where a little thing had lately occasioned great disturbance. +An angel blowing a trumpet was placed on the +sounding board over the pulpit. Many were vehemently +against this; others as vehemently for it: but a total end was +soon put to the contest, for the angel vanished away.”</p> + +<p>“Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth!” +Several of the Halifax Methodists, thinking that the sounding +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</span> +board would be improved by some sort of ornament, opened a +subscription for that purpose, and, a fortnight before Wesley’s +visit, procured the celestial trumpeter which Wesley mentions. +John Murlin, one of the preachers, determined not to preach +under the angel’s expanded wings. Discussion sprung up, in +the midst of which Wesley came. The leaders were summoned; +a hot discussion followed; and the votes, for and +against the angel, were equal. Just at this juncture, John +Hatton, of Lightcliffe, entered, and gave a vote for the angel’s +removal. Immediately, the carved image was taken down; +John Murlin hewed it in pieces; and, before midnight, it was +burnt in the chapel yard. Great was the consternation of +these simple Methodists, when, at the five o’clock preaching, +next morning, they found their pet angel had vanished. +Quarrelling ensued; and several influential members, in +angelic indignation, left the society which had destroyed the +angelic ornament, and, in some instances, remained to the end +of life unconnected with any church whatever.⁠<a id="FNanchor_324_324" href="#Footnote_324_324" class="fnanchor">[324]</a></p> + +<p>Proceeding to Haworth, Wesley preached, in the morning, +in the church; but, in the afternoon, “thousands upon thousands +being gathered together,” he was obliged to take his +stand in the churchyard. The next day,—Monday, April 19,—he +preached in the church at Bingley; and then went to +Otley. “On April 24,” Thomas Taylor writes, “I met Mr. +Wesley at Cross Hall, and found the old apostle as hearty and +lively as ever. The conversation at table was such as became +our religious profession. There were present two pious clergymen, +two of my brethren, and several serious women. On +Sunday, April 25, I went with Mr. Wesley to Birstal church, +after which he preached to, I think, the largest congregation I +have ever seen in any place.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_325_325" href="#Footnote_325_325" class="fnanchor">[325]</a></p> + +<p>At Huddersfield, Wesley found a great revival of the work +of God, sometimes “sixteen, eighteen, yea, twenty,” being +converted in a day. At Leeds, Dr. Kershaw, the vicar, +desired him to assist at the sacrament. Ten clergymen +were present, and seven or eight hundred communicants. +At Darlington, he found some of the liveliest Methodists in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</span> +the north of England. He preached in the market place, and +all behaved well, except a party of the Queen’s Dragoons. +At Barnard Castle, the Durham militia were assembled,—the +handsomest body of soldiers he had ever seen, except in +Ireland; and all, officers and soldiers, came to hear him, and +were a pattern to the whole congregation.</p> + +<p>He now made his way to Newcastle, and thence to Scotland, +where he travelled as far north as Inverness. He writes: +“June 8—I reached Inverness, but found a new face of things +there. Good Mr. Mackenzie had been, for some years, +removed to Abraham’s bosom. Mr. Fraser, his colleague, a +pious man, of the old stamp, was likewise gone to rest. The +three present ministers are of another kind; so that I have +no more place in the kirk; and the wind and rain would not +permit me to preach on the green. However, our house was +large, though gloomy enough. Being now informed, (which +I did not suspect before,) that the town was uncommonly +given to drunkenness, I used the utmost plainness of speech; +and I believe not without effect. I then spent some time +with the society, increased from twelve to between fifty and +sixty;⁠<a id="FNanchor_326_326" href="#Footnote_326_326" class="fnanchor">[326]</a> many of these knew in whom they had believed; so +that all the pains which have been taken to stop the work of +God here have hitherto been in vain.”</p> + +<p>A month later, Wesley wrote the following hitherto unpublished +letter to Mr. McAllum.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Epworth</span>, <i>July 10, 1779</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Duncan</span>,—This is the circumstance which puzzles the case: +who can preach in Erse but you? Cannot you then think of any +preacher, whom you love, and who is a zealous, active man? Inverness +should by all means be a circuit by itself, including as many towns as +you please, north and south. I wish you would think of it, and send me +the plan to London.</p> + +<p>“Did not sister Anderson receive my letter? I wonder she did not +answer. Joseph Moore utterly denies he ever offered her marriage. I +desired her to tell me the very words he spoke or wrote.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Duncan, yours affectionately,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>. +</p> + +<p class="unindent">“To Mr. Duncan McAllum,<br> + at Mr. John Watson’s, slater, Inverness.” +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</span> +Wesley spent nearly a month in his evangelistic tour +through Scotland. Everywhere he was received with great +respect and affection; and he speaks of many “times of +refreshing from the presence of the Lord.” He was introduced +to several persons of distinction, and, among others, to +gossiping James Boswell, who writes: “Though I differed +from Mr. John Wesley in some points, I admired his various +talents, and loved his pious zeal. At my request, therefore, +Dr. Johnson gave me a letter of introduction to him.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“To the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. John Wesley.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<i>May 3, 1779.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—Mr. Boswell, a gentleman, who has been long known to me, is +desirous of being known to you, and has asked this recommendation, +which I give him with great willingness, because I think it very much to +be wished that worthy and religious men should be acquainted with each +other.</p> + +<p>“I am, sir, your most humble servant,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">Sam. Johnson</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>Boswell adds, that he presented the letter to Wesley at +Edinburgh, “and was very politely received.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_327_327" href="#Footnote_327_327" class="fnanchor">[327]</a></p> + +<p>Wesley, in returning, reached Newcastle on June 22, and +would fain have rested in a place to which he was tenderly +attached. He writes: “Wednesday, June 23—I rested here. +Lovely place, and lovely company! But I believe there is another +world; therefore I must ‘arise and go hence.’” Accordingly, +next morning, he set out for Stockton upon Tees, and +preached all the way along the east coast of England till he +came to Great Grimsby. “Here,” he says, “I found a little +trial. In this, and many other parts of the kingdom, those striplings, +who call themselves Lady Huntingdon’s preachers, have +greatly hindered the work of God. They have neither sense, +courage, nor grace, to go and beat up the devil’s quarters, in +any place where Christ has not been named; but, wherever +we have entered as by storm, and gathered a few souls, often +at the peril of our lives, they creep in, and, by doubtful disputations, +set every one’s sword against his brother. One of these +has just crept into Grimsby, and is striving to divide the poor +little flock; but I hope his labour will be in vain, and they +will still hold the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</span> +Having visited the societies in Lincolnshire, Wesley proceeded +to Doncaster and Sheffield, and thence, by way of +Derby, Nottingham, Leicester, Hinckley, and Coventry, to +London, which he reached on July 23.</p> + +<p>Wesley had not preached at Hinckley since the year 1744. +What led him to visit the town now? We learn, from the +unpublished autobiography of Thomas Dixon, who, at this +time, was stationed in the Leicestershire circuit, that, just +before the conference of 1779, he attempted to introduce +Methodism into Hinckley, and not without success. According +to custom, he took his stand in the street, and began to +sing. The night was wet, and his congregation was not only +small, but seemed so apprehensive of the Methodist apparition, +that, while they listened to him, they also kept at a safe +distance from him. He preached again next morning to a +congregation somewhat larger, and then set out for Tamworth. +This was his first and his last visit; but a class was +formed just after,⁠<a id="FNanchor_328_328" href="#Footnote_328_328" class="fnanchor">[328]</a> which, in 1780, contributed nearly a pound +per quarter for the support of the work of God;⁠<a id="FNanchor_329_329" href="#Footnote_329_329" class="fnanchor">[329]</a> and, from +that time to this, Methodism has had a place in Hinckley.</p> + +<p>Then as it respects Coventry, this was the first sermon +Wesley delivered here. He says: “July 21—When I came +to Coventry, I found notice had been given for my preaching +in the park; but the heavy rain prevented. I sent to the +mayor, desiring the use of the town hall. He refused; but, +the same day, gave the use of it to a dancing master. I then +went to the women’s market. Many soon gathered together, +and listened with all seriousness. I preached there again the +next morning, and again in the evening.”</p> + +<p>As already stated, from Coventry Wesley went to London. +The entry in his journal recording the journey is worthy of +quotation. “I took coach for London. I was nobly attended: +behind the coach were ten convicted felons, loudly blaspheming, +and rattling their chains; by my side sat a man with a +loaded blunderbuss, and another upon the coach.”</p> + +<p>Before proceeding to notice the conference, of 1779, two +other matters demand attention.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</span> +Thomas Maxfield seceded from Wesley in 1763; took away +with him about two hundred members of Wesley’s society; +and became the minister of a separate and independent congregation.⁠<a id="FNanchor_330_330" href="#Footnote_330_330" class="fnanchor">[330]</a> +For some reason, he now wished to return to +Wesley’s connexion; but to this Wesley and his brother +objected. Hence the following letters, by Charles Wesley, +the first addressed to Vincent Perronet, the second to Wesley +himself.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>April 20, 1779</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Reverend and dear Sir</span>,—My brother and I agreed not to receive +Mr. Maxfield again, as a fellow labourer, till he acknowledged his fault. +Ought we not to wait for some word, of his being sensible of his ingratitude? +Ought we to trust him, and the people to his care, without it? I +have not the least spark of resentment towards Mr. Maxfield; but to +deliver up our charge to him, unconvinced, is to betray them.</p> + +<p>“My brother’s interest with the bishop is great, (I believe,) but my son +Samuel’s is greater. Sam and the bishop are, <i>Ego et rex meus</i>.</p> + +<p>“Your very affectionate and ever obliged servant,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">Charles Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_331_331" href="#Footnote_331_331" class="fnanchor">[331]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>April 23, 1779</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Brother</span>,—I still love Thomas Maxfield. I see some advantages +to us, as well as to him, from his return to us, <i>provided</i> he is first +convinced. Receive him <i>unconvinced</i>, and you will have to put him away +again, when perhaps it will scarce be in your power. One more trial, if +you please, we will make upon him, in a conference between us three. +Possibly we may gain our brother.</p> + +<p>“I shall be happy to hear you have saved poor William Shent. Hopper +and others will, I know, draw in their horns while you are talking with +them, and be perhaps convinced for a short time. Give them back their +first love, and their first poverty, and they will not even wish to reign without +us. Peter Jaco, John Atlay, and John Pawson, might, I hope, be set +right by a friendly conference with us. They then would strengthen their +brethren, or recover them.</p> + +<p>“Your defect of mistrust needs my excess to guard it. You cannot be +taken by storm, but may by surprise. We seem designed for each other. +If we could and would be more together, it might be better for both. That +I shall go first, I cannot doubt. The extraordinary strength, continued to +you, is a promise of your longer continuance. My strength and my work +are very near their end.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Charles Wesley.</span>”<a id="FNanchor_332_332" href="#Footnote_332_332" class="fnanchor">[332]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>The above letter refers to another matter besides that of +the return of Thomas Maxfield. Charles Wesley was still +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</span> +jealous of the preachers aspiring after power, and especially +of Christopher Hopper and his friends. He seems to have +thought, that John Atlay, who was now the book steward in +London, and John Pawson, who was the London assistant, +and Peter Jaco, who was a London supernumerary, “might be +set right by a friendly conference”; but of the other London +preachers, including Thomas Rankin and Thomas Coke, he +was in doubt. He properly enough gives himself credit for +an excess of caution; but, perhaps wrongly, thinks his brother +had not enough of it.</p> + +<p>This was another important crisis in the history of the two +Wesleys. It was only a few months before, that City Road +chapel had been opened. Charles Wesley, Thomas Coke, +John Richardson, and John Abraham, were its officiating +clergymen; but John Pawson, Thomas Rankin, Thomas +Tennant, and Peter Jaco, were itinerant preachers, appointed +by the conference of 1778, to the London circuit, of which +the chapel in City Road was now a part. What was the +result? Jealousies sprung up, indirectly referred to in the +above letter, but mentioned in greater detail in another letter +to be presently inserted. Before, however, that letter is introduced, +perhaps the following extracts from John Pawson’s +unpublished manuscript memoir of Dr. Whitehead will be +acceptable, and will cast light on Wesley’s difficulties. Mr. +Pawson writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“I was perhaps as well acquainted with the two brothers as any man +now living. That Mr. Charles Wesley was of a very suspicious temper is +certainly true; and that Mr. John Wesley had far more charity, in judging +of persons in general, (except the rich and great,) than his brother had, is +equally true. But that he was so apt to be taken in with appearances is +not true. He was well able to form a judgment of particular persons, +and was as seldom mistaken as his brother. I once heard him pleasantly +say: ‘My brother suspects everybody, and he is continually imposed +upon; but I suspect nobody, and I am never imposed upon.’ It is well +known that Mr. Charles Wesley was much prejudiced in favour of the +clergy, through the whole course of his life, and that it was nothing but +hard necessity that obliged him, in any degree, to continue the lay +preachers. He must have been blind indeed not to have seen, that God +had given to many of them, at least, very considerable ministerial gifts, +and that He attended their labours with great success; but I am well +persuaded, that, could he have found a sufficient number of clergymen to +have carried on the work of God, he would soon have disowned all the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</span> +lay preachers. He was glad of their assistance when he did not choose +to preach himself; and, accordingly, on a Sunday evening, he would +always have a lay preacher appointed as well as himself, lest a shower of +rain, or an agreeable visit, should prevent his attending. At a conference +held in Bristol many years ago, about a dozen clergymen attended for the +purpose of convincing us, that we ought not to preach in any parish that +was favoured with a gospel minister. Mr. Charles Wesley took part with +them, and said, ‘If I was stationed in any particular parish, you should +not preach there.’ Mr. John Hampson replied, ‘I would preach there, +and never ask your leave; and I should think I had as good a right for +doing so, as you had,’ Mr. Charles answered in great anger, ‘You are a +grievous wolf: you will tear the flock when my brother and myself are +dead, unless God give you repentance.’ Mr. Charles was inclined to find +out and magnify any supposed fault in the lay preachers; but his brother +treated them with respect, and exercised a fatherly care over them. I am +persuaded that, from the creation of the world, there never existed a body +of men who looked up to any single person with a more profound degree +of reverence than the preachers did to Mr. Wesley; and I am bold to say, +that never did any man, no, not <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Paul himself, possess so high a degree +of power over so large a body of men as was possessed by him. He used +his power, however, for the edification of the people, and abused it as +little perhaps as any one man ever did. When any difficulty occurred in +governing the preachers, it soon vanished. The oldest, the very best, +and those of them that had the greatest influence, were ever ready to +unite with him, and to assist him to the utmost of their power. The +truth is, if the preachers were in any danger at all, it was of calling Mr. +Wesley ‘Rabbi,’ and implicitly obeying him in whatsoever he thought +proper to command.</p> + +<p>“Dr. Whitehead informs his readers, that a party existed among the +preachers, who wished for a total separation from the Established Church, +and for the Methodists to be formed into an independent body; and +represents Dr. Coke as being at the head of that party. I am well assured, +that this is incorrect. The preachers only wished, that the people, who +had grown weary of seeking the living among the dead, and of asking +bread of those who they well knew had only a stone to give them, might +be indulged with the lively ordinances of God; and some of the people +thought it very unjust, not to say cruel, that their ministers did not grant +them the privilege of worshipping God at those particular times of the +Lord’s day, when both body and mind were best prepared for so doing. +It is true, that a party existed, both among the preachers and people, who +were inclined to believe, that those whom God had called to preach might +lawfully administer the sacraments; as they were not able to perceive +that it required a greater degree of wisdom and piety to qualify a person +to baptize a child than to preach the word of God. They likewise had +scruples whether it was right to wish those ministers God speed, by +attending their ministry, whom, they felt convinced, God had never sent. +But, at the same time, the preachers knew, that there never was among +themselves a sufficient number of acceptable men to supply all the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</span> +Methodist congregations; and that, if there had been, and if an entire +separation from the Church had taken place, the Methodists were too +poor to support such a multitude of ministers. Common prudence, therefore, +prevented them from wishing for that which they knew could not be +accomplished.”</p> +</div> + +<p>These are important statements, coming from a man of +Mr. Pawson’s ministerial standing, and who was one of +Wesley’s itinerant preachers during the last twenty-nine +years of Wesley’s life. They could be easily extended; but, +perhaps, enough has been said, to show that the feeling, +between Charles Wesley and the preachers, was not of the +most friendly kind; and this will prepare the reader for the +following letter, which Charles, at this period, addressed to +his brother.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>June 16, 1779</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Brother</span>,—Mr. B. has been lately with the committee, and +was there informed, that our preachers (the three principal⁠<a id="FNanchor_333_333" href="#Footnote_333_333" class="fnanchor">[333]</a>) have written +to the country preachers heavy complaints of their ill usage by the clergy +here; not, I should suppose, by quiet John Richardson,—not by passive +Dr. Coke, for he, they say, is gone to Bristol, that he may not be a witness +of their cruel persecution. The persecuting clergy, therefore, are neither +more nor less than your own brother Charles, and the whole ground of +their complaint against me is, ‘my serving the chapel on Sunday afternoon, +as well as in the morning.’</p> + +<p>“But this is no new grievance; for I constantly preached Sunday +morning and afternoon at Bristol. If they could exclude me here, they +would not long permit me there.</p> + +<p>“My reasons for preaching at the new chapel twice every Sunday are: +1. Because, after you, I have the best right. 2. Because I have so short +a time to preach anywhere. 3. Because I am fully persuaded I can do +more good there than in any other place. They, I know, are of a different +judgment, and make no secret of it, declaring everywhere, ‘that the work +is stopping; the society scattering; and the congregation at the new +chapel dwindled away and quite dead.’</p> + +<p>“I thank God, the chapel is well filled. Last Sunday I preached twice, +never with greater, and seldom with equal, effect. After sermon, Mr. +Rankin followed me to the vestry to assure me, ‘he had never spoken +disrespectfully of us, and that he was a great friend to the Church.’ At +the same time, a gentlewoman came, filled with faith and love by the word +just spoken. I turned aside to let Mr. Rankin examine her. She said +that, a month ago, she was brought up out of the pit of despair, under my +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</span> +word. He repeated his inquiries, and she her answers, to his satisfaction +shall I say, or dissatisfaction? I would hope the former. You will inquire +when here (only not of the preachers), and judge for yourself whether my +persevering ministry at the chapel has done good or hurt.</p> + +<p>“I think the preachers wrong, and in the greatest danger through pride; +but I have, and will have, no quarrel with them. Mr. Kemp proposed to +carry me to meet you on the last day’s journey, or I should not have +thought of it. I do not want to have the first word. Let them have the +first and last. I do not want to interfere in that government of yours, or +to appear at all at the congress. A word of yours might turn the scale, +and send me directly to Bristol.</p> + +<p>“It is just come into my mind, ‘The lay preachers affect to believe I +act as a clergyman in opposition to them.’ To me, it seems that I act as +I do, in goodwill to them, as well as to the people. If there was no man +above them, what would become of them? How would they tear one +another in pieces! Convince them, if you can, that they want a clergyman +over them, to keep them and the flock together. Convince them, that it is +impossible I should stand in their way long, for I cannot (should I live to +the winter) serve the new chapel Sundays and holydays in all weathers. +Persuade each of them to be the least, not the greatest; and then all will +be right again. You have no alternative but to conquer that spirit, or to +be conquered by it. Can you think, I envy you your pre-eminence? If +God continues my strength, I shall take the best care of the chapel till you +return. Then I shall deliver up my charge to you, and you alone.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Charles Wesley.</span>”<a id="FNanchor_334_334" href="#Footnote_334_334" class="fnanchor">[334]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>This peevish epistle, published in Wesley’s own <i>Arminian +Magazine</i>, will not add to the fair fame of Methodism’s great +hymnist. It was an unworthy production of a pen which +wrote hundreds, in fact, thousands, of sweet songs of praise. +John Pawson—​good, but gossiping,—​and Thomas Rankin—​honest +to the heart’s inmost core, but somewhat obstinate and +overbearing,—were far from perfect; but was it just in +Charles Wesley to write to his brother respecting them in the +querulous tone in which he did? Charles Wesley says, the +City Road chapel was well filled; Pawson says, in the +manuscript memoir of Dr. Whitehead, that “the congregation +fell off exceedingly; and that the society was brought into +great disorder.” Charles Wesley was a scholar, and, as a +sacred poet, was without a peer; but we incline to think, that +John Pawson and Thomas Rankin were more popular and +powerful preachers than either he or any other of his City +Road clerical colleagues; and it is not surprising, that the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</span> +people wished to hear them on Sundays as well as week days; +and that the itinerants themselves,—one of whom was the +appointed superintendent of the London circuit, and the other +of whom had been Wesley’s chosen superintendent of the +whole of the Methodist societies in America,—should think +they had quite as much right as Charles Wesley, Thomas +Coke, John Richardson, or John Abraham, to preach to +Sunday congregations in City Road. The truth is, though, +in years past, Charles Wesley’s ministry had been exceedingly +attractive and powerful, it was now, what shall we say? John +Pawson writes: “When he was favoured with freedom of +mind, which was but seldom, then his preaching was truly +profitable; but, in general, it was exceedingly dry and +lifeless.” His sons Charles and Samuel,—the former twenty-one +years of age, and the latter thirteen,—were, by their +musical genius, creating a sensation in the highest circles of +London society; and, for several years, conducted in their +father’s house a series of domestic subscription concerts, +of twelve nights’ continuance, in each season. Their father +thoroughly approved of this. “I am clear,” says he, +“without a doubt, that my sons’ concert is after the will +and order of Providence.” Wesley appends to this a note: +“I am clear of another mind.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_335_335" href="#Footnote_335_335" class="fnanchor">[335]</a> Without staying to settle +the dispute, there can be no doubt that, by these concerts, +Charles Wesley was brought into the society of a large number +of the rich and great. The simple minded London Methodists +were staggered at one of their great leaders having such musical +performances in his house, and at his mingling with persons, +who, though highly genteel, were not religious. Many began +to regard him with suspicion; his preaching popularity +was waning; Pawson says, “he was like Samson shorn +of his strength”; his health also was failing; like most +men of high poetic genius, he was subject to melancholy +moods: put all these things together, and the petulancy and +suspicion of Charles Wesley’s letter to his brother will not +excite surprise.</p> + +<p>This then was the state of things awaiting the venerable +Wesley, on his return to London, after a laborious preaching +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</span> +tour of five months’ duration. By an almost superhuman +effort, he had built and opened his new chapel in City +Road; but things, instead of being more prosperous than +ever, were in a state of disastrous commotion. In this, the +first year after the chapel was opened, there was a decrease of +one hundred and twenty-three members in the London circuit, +though that circuit had now an unprecedented staff of ordained +clergymen, and four of the best itinerants in Wesley’s connexion. +Ordinary men would have been discouraged and at +their wits’ end; but not so the man who was born, not to be +conquered by difficulties, but to conquer them.</p> + +<p>Wesley’s conference of 1779 was commenced on August 3; +and it was now ascertained, that nineteen other circuits besides +London had a decrease of members. Wesley asked, How +can we account for this? The reasons assigned were:—1. +Partly the neglect of outdoor preaching, and of trying new +places. 2. Partly prejudice against the king, and speaking +evil of dignities. 3. But chiefly the increase of worldly +mindedness, and conformity to the world. It was also +resolved, that no one speaking evil of those in authority, or +prophesying evil to the nation, should be a Methodist preacher. +Itinerants were reproved for hastening home to their wives +after preaching; and were told, they ought never to do this +till they had met the society. To revive the work in Scotland, +the preachers were directed to preach in the open air as +much as possible; to try every town and village; and to visit +every member of society at home.</p> + +<p>As soon as the conference was ended, Wesley set out, with +his brother and his family, for Wales, where he spent a fortnight +in preaching to large and deeply affected congregations.</p> + +<p>He then proceeded to the west of England. At Exeter, +he writes: “I preached in a convenient room, lately a school; +I suppose formerly a chapel. It is both neat and solemn, and +is believed to contain four or five hundred people.”</p> + +<p>This was the meeting-house concerning which Wesley +wrote to Samuel Wells, the assistant of the Tiverton circuit, +as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>January 28, 1779</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Sammy</span>,—According to the act of toleration—1. You are +<em>required</em> to <em>certify</em> to the registrar of the bishop’s court, or the justices, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</span> +the place of your meeting for Divine worship. This is all you have to do. +You ask nothing at all of the bishop or justices.</p> + +<p>“2. The registrar, or clerk of the court, is <em>required</em> to register the +same, and to give a certificate thereof to such persons as shall <em>demand</em> +the same; for which there shall be no greater fee or reward taken than +sixpence.</p> + +<p>“I advise you to go once more to the sessions, and say, ‘Gentlemen, +we have had advice from London; we desire nothing at all of <em>you</em>; but +we <em>demand</em> of your clerk to register this place, and to give us a certificate +thereof; or to answer the refusal at his peril.’</p> + +<p>“Answer no questions to the justices, or lawyers, but with a bow, and +with repeating the words, ‘Our business is only with your clerk; we +<em>demand</em> of him what the act requires him to do.’</p> + +<p>“If you judge proper, you may show this to any of the justices. What +I have written, I am ready to defend.</p> + +<p>“You have led the justices into the mistake, by your <em>manner</em> of addressing +them. Beware of this for the time to come. You have nothing to +ask of <em>them</em>.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span>”<a id="FNanchor_336_336" href="#Footnote_336_336" class="fnanchor">[336]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>On September 4, Wesley returned to Bristol, where he +spent a month in visiting the surrounding societies. He +then made his way to London, preaching at Devizes, Winchester, +and Portsmouth. On leaving London, he slept, for +the last time, in the old Foundery. He now, for the first +time slept in the house, in which he afterwards died, in City +Road.</p> + +<p>On October 11, he began his preaching tour to Northamptonshire; +a week later to Sussex; and a week later still to +Norfolk. He then commenced his annual examination of the +London society, and writes: “I did not find such an increase +as I expected. Nay, there was a considerable decrease, +plainly owing to a senseless jealousy that had crept in +between our preachers.”</p> + +<p>This doubtless refers to the quarrel already mentioned. +Unfortunately, the strife was now extended to Bath. The +assistant appointed at the late conference to the Bristol +circuit (of which Bath was part), was Alexander M‘Nab, a +native of Perthshire, in North Britain, and now in the thirty-fourth +year of his age. For thirteen years, he had been +an itinerant preacher, and had laboured, with considerable +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</span> +success, in the three kingdoms.⁠<a id="FNanchor_337_337" href="#Footnote_337_337" class="fnanchor">[337]</a> Wesley, writing to Lady +Maxwell in 1771, said: “Mr. M‘Nab is a sound and good +preacher; but too warm, and impatient of contradiction.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_338_338" href="#Footnote_338_338" class="fnanchor">[338]</a> +Thomas Rutherford, one of his colleagues, writes: “I was +particularly attached to him. He was a most amiable, +sensible man, and an excellent preacher. He had the most +copious flow of natural, simple oratory, of any man I ever +heard. There was an ease, beauty, sweetness, and harmony +in his style and language, that was at once both striking and +pleasing. The <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Dr. Webster once said, ‘I have heard +Mr. Walker, Mr. Fordyce, Dr. Blair, etc.; but Mr. M‘Nab is +a greater orator than any of them.’”⁠<a id="FNanchor_339_339" href="#Footnote_339_339" class="fnanchor">[339]</a> At the conference of +1777, M‘Nab was appointed to Edinburgh; but found the +chapel in such a ruinous condition, that he spent <abbr title="500 pounds">£500</abbr> in repairing +it. For this amount he was personally responsible; +and, in order to extricate himself, was requested, by the following +conference, to visit the English societies for the purpose +of asking assistance.⁠<a id="FNanchor_340_340" href="#Footnote_340_340" class="fnanchor">[340]</a> While on this begging excursion, he +wrote a letter to Robert Dall, which is inserted here to show +the spirit of the man, and that he wished for peace, notwithstanding +that he was soon involved in war.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Bradford</span>, <i>April 24, 1779</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My very dear Brother</span>,—I hope persons and things are better at +Glasgow then when you went there. I was grieved to hear of the disunion +of the preachers, and that it had hurt the people; but trust God +sent you to Glasgow as a cure for their wounds. In every place, I find +the prosperity of the work, under God, depends, in a great measure, upon +the piety, zeal, and prudence of the preachers. Persons of that character +God will honour, to build up His church; and I need not tell you, we +have need of faith in doing and suffering the Divine will; for, without that, +we have not the necessary qualification to render us either holy, happy, +or useful. In my present employ, I find both pleasure and pain; but, +hitherto, God has been with me, and I believe will never leave me. +Wishing you every blessing, I am your truly affectionate brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Alex. M‘Nab</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_341_341" href="#Footnote_341_341" class="fnanchor">[341]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Such was one of the chief actors in the scene at Bath. +Another was the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Edward Smyth, who has been already +mentioned, and who had brought his wife to Bath for the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</span> +benefit of her health. Wesley writes: “God having greatly +blessed the labours of Mr. Smyth in the north of Ireland, I +desired him to preach every Sunday evening in our chapel, +while he remained in Bath. But, as soon as I was gone, Mr. +M‘Nab vehemently opposed this; affirming it was the common +cause of all the lay preachers; that they were appointed +by the conference, not by me; and would not suffer the clergy +to ride over their heads, Mr. Smyth in particular, of whom +he said all manner of evil. Others warmly defended him. +Hence the society was torn in pieces, and thrown into the +utmost confusion.”</p> + +<p>Such was the dispute. What was the result? On November +22, Wesley and his brother set out from London to +settle the disturbance. The Bath society was assembled. +Wesley says: “I read to them a paper, which I wrote, near +twenty years ago, on a like occasion. Herein I observed, +that ‘the rules of our preachers were fixed by me, before any +conference existed,’ particularly the twelfth: ‘Above all, you +are to preach when and where I appoint.’ By obstinately +opposing which rule, Mr. M‘Nab has made all this uproar. +In the morning, at a meeting of the preachers, I informed +Mr. M‘Nab, that, as he did not agree to our fundamental +rule, I could not receive him as one of our preachers, till he +was of another mind. Wednesday, November 24, I read the +same paper to the society at Bristol, as I found the flame had +spread thither also. A few at Bath separated from us on this +account; but the rest were thoroughly satisfied.”</p> + +<p>Such is the entry in Wesley’s journal; but eight months +after this, he writes: “Mr. M‘Nab quarrelling with Mr. Smyth +threw wildfire among the people at Bath, and occasioned +anger, jealousies, judging each other, backbiting, and tale +bearing without end; and, in spite of all the pains which have +been taken, the wound is not healed to this day.”</p> + +<p>Wesley throws all the blame upon M‘Nab; but it may +fairly be doubted whether this was just. There can be no +question concerning Wesley’s abstract right to appoint to his +chapels whom he pleased; but the manner in which the right +was exercised is not an improper subject for doubt and discussion. +Wesley pleads what he did twenty years before; but, +even allowing that his action then was right, it remains to be +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</span> +proved, that the same action, under altered circumstances, was +prudent now. During that interval, the number of Methodists +and Methodist preachers had more than doubled. Besides, +now that the number of itinerant preachers was more than a +hundred and sixty; and that many of them were men of +great genius and talent, as well as piety; and that all had a +right to take part in the deliberations of the annual conference, +which really made the appointments for the ensuing +year, Wesley’s claim to have the sole and exclusive power, +asserted in the document read to the Bath society, is a claim +which can hardly be admitted.⁠<a id="FNanchor_342_342" href="#Footnote_342_342" class="fnanchor">[342]</a> There is a forgetfulness of +existing facts, and therefore a fallaciousness, in the following +letter, written on this subject a few weeks after the Bath disturbances +occurred.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>January, 1780.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—You seem not to have well considered the +Rules of a Helper, or the rise of Methodism. It pleased God, by me, to +awaken, first my brother, and then a few others; who severally desired +of me, as a favour, that I would direct them in all things. After my return +from Georgia, many were both awakened and converted to God. One, +and another, and another of these desired to join with me as sons in the +gospel, to be directed by me. I drew up a few plain rules (observe there +was no conference in being!), and permitted them to join me on these +conditions. Whoever, therefore, violates these conditions, particularly +that of being directed by me in the work, does, <i lang="la">ipso facto</i>, disjoin himself +from me. This brother M‘Nab has done (but he cannot see that he has +done amiss): and he would have it a common cause; that is, he would +have all the preachers do the same. He thinks ‘they have a right so to +do.’ So they have. They have a right to disjoin themselves from +me whenever they please. But they cannot, in the nature of the thing, +join with me any longer than they are directed by me. And what, if +fifty of the preachers disjoined themselves! What should I lose thereby? +Only a great deal of labour and care, which I do not seek; but endure, +because no one else either can or will.</p> + +<p>“You seem likewise to have quite a wrong idea of a conference. For +above six years after my return to England, there was no such thing. I +then desired some of my preachers to meet me, in order to advise, not +control, me. And you may observe, they had no power at all, but what +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</span> +I exercised through them. I chose to exercise the power which God had +given me in this manner, both to avoid ostentation, and gently to +habituate the people to obey them when I should be taken from their +head. But as long as I remain with them, the fundamental rule of +Methodism remains inviolate. As long as any preacher joins with me, +he is to be directed by me in his work. Do not you see then, that brother +M‘Nab, whatever his intentions might be, acted as wrong as wrong could +be? and that the representing of this as the common cause of the +preachers was the way to common destruction, the way to turn their +heads, and to set them in arms? It was a blow at the very root of +Methodism. I could not, therefore, do less than I did; it was the very +least that could be done, for fear that evil should spread.</p> + +<p>“I do not willingly speak of these things at all; but I do it now out of +necessity; because I perceive the mind of you, and some others, is a little +hurt by not seeing them in a true light.</p> + +<p>“I am, your affectionate brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_343_343" href="#Footnote_343_343" class="fnanchor">[343]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>This was Wesley’s defence of the boldest act of discipline +he had ever exercised; but we still doubt its wisdom and +sufficiency. All he says about the preachers placing themselves +under his direction, and about the first conferences, is +strictly true; but Methodist matters now were widely different +from what they were when Methodist conferences were +first begun. With all due deference to Wesley, Methodism +now was not wholly the work of Wesley, nor was it entirely +dependent on him. At this very time, there was, among the +preachers, a ministerial phalanx, who had a right to be +something more than mere <em>advisers</em>,—servants in the gospel, +sometimes taken into the counsels of their chief, but wholly +at his disposal. There were Olivers, Pawson, Rankin, Murlin, +Story, Whatcoat, Valton, Benson, Hanby, Manners, Taylor, +Mather, Hopper, Vasey, Thompson, Pilmoor, Rhodes, Bradburn, +Boardman, the two Hampsons, Barber, Rutherford, +Moore, Myles, and others, whose names will always be +memorable in Methodistic history. Considering the talents, +the preaching power, the untiring labours, and the marvellous +success of these distinguished men, was it wise, and was it +fair, for Wesley to insist upon his retention of the absolute +authority that he justly exercised when Methodism was first +commenced? Remembering the paltry pittance they received +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</span> +for their important and unceasing toil, was it just, that, in a +great religious movement, now spread throughout the three +kingdoms, and to which they themselves had greatly contributed, +they should be employed as mere <em>workmen</em>, without +the least right to take a part in the arrangement of their +respective spheres of labour, and without a particle of +authority, except what was implied in their advices, in the +general legislation of a body now numbering more than forty +thousand people? Was it surprising, that Wesley’s expulsion +of M‘Nab, for claiming a pulpit to which he had been appointed +at the conference, but into which Wesley desired +to introduce an expelled Irish clergyman, should create dissatisfaction +and incipient rebellion?</p> + +<p>There can be no doubt, that this was one of the most +dangerous ordeals through which Methodism passed in the +lifetime of its founder. It was hardly a fair statement of the +case, when Wesley said, that all that he would lose, by fifty +of his preachers leaving him, would be “a great deal of labour +and care.” If such an event had happened, Methodism would +have been split into fragments, and, as a system, would have +ceased to exist; and Wesley, seeing the demolition of such a +work, would have been a sorrowful man for the remainder of +his life. The crisis, in 1779, was most momentous. It was +really the first time that Wesley’s supreme and absolute power +was professedly and openly resisted. The whole question +hinges on the point, were the appointments to chapels and +to circuits made by Wesley and his conference of preachers +<em>conjointly</em>? or were they made by Wesley himself <em>alone</em>? +Wesley argues, that the power of appointment rested solely +with himself. We can only answer, that this was an unreasonable +and dangerous power to wield. Under the circumstances, +Wesley could not claim it, without ignoring the reasonable +claims of a large body of the most remarkable men that +England has ever had; and he could not exercise it without +serious danger to himself and to his system.</p> + +<p>Alexander M‘Nab, though comparatively young, was not +an ordinary man. Testimonies concerning his character, +eloquence, and preaching power, have been already given. +Mr. Smyth was doubtless both sensible and pious; but we +greatly question whether he was as popular and powerful a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</span> +preacher as the North Briton. No charge of unsound doctrine, +or of immorality, or of incompetency, or of inattention +to discipline, was made against M‘Nab. He was faithfully +and successfully doing the work to which he had +been appointed. He was popular with the people. But +because he refused, at Wesley’s bidding, to allow an Irish +stranger, not at all his superior, but, probably, his inferior in +pulpit ability, to take his place, Wesley, at once, by his own +<i lang="la">ipse dixit</i>, expelled him from his connexion of preachers. +However painful to do it, we are bound to maintain that this +was an injustice. The act might be technically right; but it +was an almost popish assumption of autocratic authority, and +a most perilous—​it might have been disastrous—​exercise of +disciplinary power. It is true that no absolute rebellion +followed,—a fact showing the simple minded piety of the +Methodist preachers and people, and the marvellous influence +of Wesley over them, and their almost unparalleled respect +for his character and labours; but there were great commotions +and serious misgivings; and, if concessions had not +been made, there might have been open resistance, and a +consequent wreck of Methodist success and hope.</p> + +<p>Here, however, another question occurs. Was Wesley +to be solely or principally blamed for this imprudent exercise +of power? We have no wish to shield him from censure, +when censure is merited; but if others were to blame as well +as he, or if others were even more blamable than he, it is +only fair to his memory and name, that the facts should be +published.</p> + +<p>Charles Wesley’s quarrel with the London preachers has +been already mentioned. It occurred a few months only +previous to the affair at Bath. There is no denying it, that +Charles was violently opposed to lay preachers, and was +unreasonably jealous of their intriguing to obtain co-ordinate +power with his brother, and of their intention to use such +power in effecting a separation of Methodism from the +Established Church. On Good Friday, 1779, he wrote to his +brother: “The preachers do not love the Church of England. +When we are gone, a separation is inevitable. Do you not +wish to keep as many good people in the Church as you can? +Something might be done now to save the remainder, if you +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</span> +had resolution, and would stand by me as firmly as I will by +you. Consider what you are bound to do as a clergyman; +and what you do, do quickly.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_344_344" href="#Footnote_344_344" class="fnanchor">[344]</a></p> + +<p>It was in such a frame of mind, that Charles Wesley heard +of M‘Nab’s resisting the authority of his brother at Bath. +Mr. Pawson, who says he was perfectly acquainted with the +affair, tells us, in his manuscript memoir of Dr. Whitehead, +that Charles Wesley “took fire at once, and highly resented +Mr. M‘Nab’s behaviour. He prevailed upon his brother, after +much strife and contention, to exclude Mr. M‘Nab from the +connexion; and, upon this condition, he promised to attend +him to Bath. Accordingly the two brothers, accompanied by +Dr. Coke and the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Collins, went to Bath with all +possible secrecy, and the sentence was pronounced upon poor +Mr. M‘Nab agreeably to Mr. Charles Wesley’s wish. By this +means, the Bath society was divided. Many of the people +loved Mr. M‘Nab, and thought it wrong that he should be +condemned unheard. The society at Bristol also was thrown +into great confusion; and, had it not been for the exertions +of Dr. Coke, would have been divided like that at Bath. On +the Sunday evening after Mr. Wesley’s return to London, he +brought the matter before the London society, and certainly +degraded the preachers, and laid them low even in the dust at +his feet. When he was gone from London, Mr. Charles, after +the sacrament at the new chapel, prayed for his brother in the +following words: ‘Lord, preserve him from his rebellious sons. +Though they curse him, do Thou bless him. Though they +wish his death, do Thou prolong his life. Lord, stand between +the living and the dead, and let not the curse of pride destroy +them.’”</p> + +<p>This was strange language to use, in prayer, and after a +solemn sacrament; but it was not dissimilar to the language of +a “Hymn for the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> John Wesley,” which Charles composed, +and which was “sung by the society in Bristol, on Sunday, +December 5, 1779,” only a fortnight after M‘Nab’s expulsion.</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0b">“Jesus, Thy hated servant own,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">And send the glorious Spirit down,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">In answer to our prayers;</div> +<div class="verse indent0">While others curse, and wish him dead, + <span class="pagenum" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</span></div> +<div class="verse indent0">Do Thou Thy choicest blessings shed,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">And crown his hoary hairs.”—etc., etc.⁠<a id="FNanchor_345_345" href="#Footnote_345_345" class="fnanchor">[345]</a></div> +</div></div> + +<p>Pawson was the superintendent of the London circuit, and +felt it his duty to write to Charles Wesley, and remonstrate +with him for using such language, at such a time, and in such +a place. An interview followed; and Pawson adds: “We +came to an explanation, and he was in high good humour; +but I have reason to believe, he never forgave me. He made +his brother believe, that Mr. M‘Nab was only the tool of +a violent party among the preachers, among whom there was +a very powerful combination against his authority; and that, at +the next conference, they would show themselves.” Pawson +adds: “There was not a single grain of truth in this. Not +one preacher in the whole connexion was concerned in the +business, save those who were stationed in the Bristol circuit. +It is true, that the preachers in general thought that Mr. +M‘Nab was cruelly used; and so they do to this day.”</p> + +<p>Not to return to the subject, it may be added, that Dr. +Whitehead states that, as the conference of 1780 drew near, +Wesley “was evidently intimidated,” and wrote to his brother +requesting him to attend the conference. Charles answered +as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“My reasons against accepting your invitation to the conference are: +(1) I can do no good; (2) I can prevent no evil; (3) I am afraid of being +a partaker of other men’s sins, or of countenancing them by my presence; +(4) I am afraid of myself; you know I cannot command my temper, and +you have not courage to stand by me. I cannot trust <em>your resolution</em>; +unless you act with a vigour that is not in you, <i lang="la">conclamatum est</i>, our affairs +are past hope.</p> + +<p>“I am not sure, they will not prevail upon you to ordain them. You +claim the <i>power</i>, and only say, ‘It is not probable you shall ever exercise +it.’ Probability on one side implies probability on the other; and I want +better security. So I am to stand by, and see the ruin of our cause! You +know how far you may depend on me; let me know how far I may +depend on you, and on our preachers. In the Bath affair, you acted with +vigour for the first time; but you could not hold out. Unmindful of your +power and your infirmity, you yielded to the rebel, instead of his yielding +to you. You should not have employed him again till he had owned his +fault. This quite overturned my confidence in you, which I should never +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</span> +have told you, had I not been compelled. If you think my advice can +be of any use to you, I will attend you to Bristol, and be always within +call.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_346_346" href="#Footnote_346_346" class="fnanchor">[346]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>Poor Wesley! Wishful to repair a wrong, he had become +reconciled to Mr. M‘Nab, principally by the mediation of Mr. +Pawson and the preachers in London;⁠<a id="FNanchor_347_347" href="#Footnote_347_347" class="fnanchor">[347]</a> but, by this, he had +offended his brother, by whom he had been goaded to the +rash act at Bath.</p> + +<p>At the conference of 1780, M‘Nab was restored to his +place among his brethren, and was appointed to Sheffield. +Charles Wesley was present, and, of course, was exceedingly +dissatisfied. About a fortnight after, he wrote the following +letter to his brother.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“I did not hope, by my presence at the conference, to do any good, or +prevent any evil. So I told you in London. Yet I accepted your invitation, +only because you desired it. And as I came merely to please you, I +resolved not to contradict your <em>will</em> in anything. Your <em>will</em>, I perceived, +was to receive Mr. M‘Nab, unhumbled, unconvinced, into your confidence, +and into your bosom. He came uninvited, and openly accused +your curate for obeying your orders: you suffered it; and did not give +Mr. M‘Nab the gentlest reproof for disobeying them, and drawing others +into his rebellion; and endeavouring to engage all the preachers in it; +making an actual separation at Bath, and still keeping up his separate +society. My judgment was, never to receive Mr. M‘Nab as a preacher +<em>till he acknowledged his fault</em>. But I submitted and attended in +silence. It was much easier for me to say nothing, than to speak neither +more nor less than you would approve. I was sometimes strongly tempted +to speak; but, if I had opened my mouth, I should have spoiled all. Your +design, I believed, was to keep all quiet. I allow you your merit. ‘<i lang="la">Tu +maximus ille, es unus qui nobis</i> <span class="allsmcap">CEDENDO</span> <i>restituis rem</i>.’ By a very few +words, I could have provoked your preachers to lay aside the mask; but +that was the very thing you guarded against; and, I suppose, the reason +for which you desired my presence was that I might be some sort of check +to the independents. Still, I think it better for the people, that they (the +preachers) should show themselves before your death than after it. You +think otherwise; and I submit. ‘<i lang="la">Satis, jam satis spectata in te amicitia +est mea</i>;’ and I am perfectly satisfied with my own insignificancy. I have +but one thing to do. The Lord make me ready for it!”⁠<a id="FNanchor_348_348" href="#Footnote_348_348" class="fnanchor">[348]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>This was an angry letter of a baffled man. It was grumbling +in private what ought to have been said in public, or not to have +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</span> +been said at all. The insinuation respecting the preachers +was unfounded and unworthy. The desire that M‘Nab should +acknowledge his fault was unjust, for M‘Nab was really the +aggrieved party. Charles Wesley would have driven the +preachers into rebellion; his brother, as ready to repair an +injury as he was anxious to avoid committing one, restored +unanimity and confidence. “There was nothing at the conference,” +writes John Pawson, “but peace, harmony, and love.”</p> + +<p>We only add, that Mr. M‘Nab’s subsequent appointments +were honourable both to Wesley and himself. In 1780, he +was sent to Sheffield; in 1781 to Manchester; and in 1782 to +Newcastle. He then retired, “and resided for several years +at Sheffield, where he was the pastor of a small congregation, +who highly esteemed him; and there he finished his course +about the year 1797.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_349_349" href="#Footnote_349_349" class="fnanchor">[349]</a></p> + +<p>Mr. Smyth went back to Ireland; but, in 1782, became one +of Wesley’s London curates, with a salary of sixty guineas +yearly.⁠<a id="FNanchor_350_350" href="#Footnote_350_350" class="fnanchor">[350]</a> In 1786, he was appointed minister of Bethesda +chapel, Dublin;⁠<a id="FNanchor_351_351" href="#Footnote_351_351" class="fnanchor">[351]</a> where he rent the Methodist society, and +took with him above a hundred persons, amongst whom were +the richer members of the Dublin Methodists.⁠<a id="FNanchor_352_352" href="#Footnote_352_352" class="fnanchor">[352]</a> He then +removed to Manchester, where he officiated as curate of <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> +Clement’s and <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Luke’s churches. He was the author of +several publications, the chief of which were:—“The Fall +and Recovery of Man. A Poem.” 1777: <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 71 pages. +“James Poulson further Detected.” 1778: <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 58 pages. +“Twelve Sermons on the most important Subjects.” 1778: +<abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 254 pages. “<abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Paul against Calvin.” 1809: <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, +115 pages. And “A Confutation of Calvinism.” 1810: <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, +391 pages.</p> + +<p>Much space has been occupied with the disturbances at Bath; +but, considering the importance of the point at issue, the facts +connected with it were too important to be omitted.</p> + +<p>The year 1779, like most previous ones, was a year of +trouble. Besides the anxiety and vexation arising out of Mr. +M‘Nab’s affair, Wesley was still annoyed with virulent +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</span> +attacks from his Calvinist opponents. His old friend, John +Macgowan, published “The Foundry Budget Opened; or, the +Arcanum of Wesleyanism Disclosed.” The animus of +Macgowan’s pamphlet may be inferred from his motto on +the title page:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0b">“A man so various, that he seemed to be</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Not one, but all mankind’s epitome;</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Stiff in opinions, always in the wrong;</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Was everything by starts, but nothing long.”</div> +</div></div> + +<p>He tells his readers, that “for craft and cunning sophistry, +he will match the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. John Wesley against any man +that ever stained paper with pollution”; and throughout +speaks of him in the most contemptuous terms.</p> + +<p>Of course, this was too savoury a production to pass unnoticed +by the <cite>Gospel Magazine</cite>. Wesley is accused, in the +review of it, with using “absurd, unscriptural jargon and +contradictions”; and with “robbing Father, Son, and Spirit, +of their glory as a covenant God; and exalting the sinful, +proud nature of fallen man; and militating against the whole +tenor of Scripture, and of reformed Christianity, as professed +by all protestant churches.”</p> + +<p>Another hostile publication was “Methodism and Popery +dissected and compared; and the Doctrines of both proved +to be derived from a Papal Origin.” Besides attacking Whitefield, +Rowland Hill, and others, the anonymous author of this +scurrilous pamphlet learnedly remarks, that “it would be +less difficult to paint Proteus, in all his fabled shapes, under +one distinct figure, than to describe Wesley”; whom he is +pleased to honour with epithets like the following: “a +living monument of apostolic frenzy”; “Jesuit”; “rank +Catholic;” “actor”; and “anabaptist.”</p> + +<p>This was far from being pleasant; but Wesley was used to +it; and his character was too well established to need defence +from such slanderous attacks. It may be doubted whether he +took the trouble to read a tithe of the malignant diatribes +launched against him.</p> + +<p>While on the subject of books, it is due to Methodism to +notice an interesting fact not generally known. The first +Bible society, founded in Great Britain, and perhaps in the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</span> +world, was established in 1779, and was the work of Methodists. +George Cussons and John Davies, after leaving the +leaders’ meeting in West Street chapel, entered into conversation, +and, when near Soho Square, formed a resolution +to endeavour to raise a fund for supplying soldiers with pocket +Bibles. They and a dozen of their friends united themselves +into a society for promoting this object. Their meetings were +held once a month in the house of Mr. Dobson, of Oxford +Street. John Thornton, <abbr title="Esquire">Esq.</abbr>, of Clapham, became a generous +subscriber. The first parcel of Bibles was sent from the +vestry of Wesley’s West Street chapel; and the first sermon +on behalf of the society was preached in the same chapel, by +the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Collins, from the appropriate words, “And the +Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the +camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been +such a thing heretofore.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_353_353" href="#Footnote_353_353" class="fnanchor">[353]</a> Thus arose “The Naval and +Military Bible Society,”—twenty-five years before the formation +of “The British and Foreign Bible Society” in 1804,—a +society still in active operation, and we believe the oldest +association for the circulation of the word of God, that now +exists.</p> + +<p>Wesley still employed the press, as well as pulpit, in defending +and spreading truth. John Atlay was his book +steward, of whose conscientiousness he had a high opinion. +Hence the following unpublished letter, sent to Bradburn.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Edinburgh</span>, <i>June 19, 1779</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Sammy</span>,—I suppose John Atlay has paid the money. He is +cautious to an extreme. I <em>hear</em> what angry men say or write; but I do +not often regard it. Lemonade will cure any disorder of the bowels, +(whether it be with or without purging,) in a day or two. You do well to +spread the prayer-meetings up and down. They seldom are in vain. +Honest Andrew Dunlop⁠<a id="FNanchor_354_354" href="#Footnote_354_354" class="fnanchor">[354]</a> writes me word that the book money is stolen. +Pray desire him to take care that the knave does not steal his teeth.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Sammy, your affectionate friend and brother,</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley published, in 1779, the seventeenth extract from +his journal, extending from September 13, 1773, to January 2, +1776; <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 82 pages.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</span> +Popery was beginning to be troublesome; for parliament, +in the previous year, had passed a bill removing from the +English and Irish papists the penalties and disabilities +imposed upon them by the famous act, “for the further preventing +the growth of popery,” enacted in 1699. Wesley had +been called a papist times without number; but now, in a +time of danger, he proved himself one of popery’s most +trenchant opponents. His pamphlet, now issued, with the title, +“Popery Calmly Considered,” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 25 pages, was one of the +most timely and valuable productions of his pen. Scores of +such pamphlets have been given to the public; but not one +superior to Wesley’s. He writes: “In the following tract, I +propose, first, to lay down and examine the chief doctrines of +the Church of Rome: secondly, to show the natural tendency of +a few of those doctrines; and that with all the plainness and +all the calmness I can.” “Mr. J. Russell,” observes Charles +Wesley, in a letter dated April 23, 1779, “tells me, some of +the bitterest Calvinists are reconciled to you for the tract on +popery. It should be spread immediately through the three +kingdoms.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_355_355" href="#Footnote_355_355" class="fnanchor">[355]</a> We shall meet with popery again; but, meantime, +we wish the Methodist book committee and conference +would do, at present, what Charles Wesley wished to be done +ninety years ago. However urgent the case was in 1779, the +necessity now is ninety times greater than it was then; and +John Wesley’s successors will be recreant to his protestant +principles unless they do their duty as he did his.</p> + +<p>It only remains, before concluding the present chapter, to +notice Wesley’s <cite>Arminian Magazine</cite>. This, like the volume +for 1778, was, to a large extent, controversial, Wesley believing +that “there never was more need, in the memory of man, of +opposing the <em>Horrible Decree</em>, than at this day; for thousands, +in every part of England, were still halting between two +opinions, and were exceedingly perplexed on this account.” +Among other pieces, intended to refute the Calvinian theory, +he republished his own “Predestination Calmly Considered,” +which he first printed in 1752. There are interesting lives of +Bishop Bedell, Archbishop Usher, and Dr. Donne, the last +mentioned by Wesley’s own pen, though never included in his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</span> +collected works. There are short accounts of ten of his +itinerant preachers, accompanied by their respective portraits, +many of which he pronounces “really striking.” +There are ninety-three letters, most of which, says he, +“are closely practical and experimental.” There are about +seventy poetical pieces, one of which, “Henry and Emma, +a Dialogue,” fills more than fourteen pages; a sort of +love story, to which objections were not unreasonably raised. +Wesley acknowledged that it was “not strictly religious”; +but maintains that there was “nothing in it contrary to +religion, nothing that can offend the chastest ears”; that it +was “one of the finest poems in the English tongue, both for +sentiment and language”; and that those who could “read it +without tears must have a stupid and unfeeling heart.” All +this might be true; but, with all due deference to Wesley, +there can hardly be two opinions, that it was out of its proper +place when inserted in the <cite>Arminian Magazine</cite>.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_320_320" href="#FNanchor_320_320" class="label">[320]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 117.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_321_321" href="#FNanchor_321_321" class="label">[321]</a> Manuscript diary.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_322_322" href="#FNanchor_322_322" class="label">[322]</a> Manuscript letter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_323_323" href="#FNanchor_323_323" class="label">[323]</a> Manuscripts.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_324_324" href="#FNanchor_324_324" class="label">[324]</a> “History of Methodism in Halifax.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_325_325" href="#FNanchor_325_325" class="label">[325]</a> Manuscript diary.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_326_326" href="#FNanchor_326_326" class="label">[326]</a> How is it that there are not more Methodists in Inverness now than +there were ninety years ago, in the days of good old Duncan McAllum?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_327_327" href="#FNanchor_327_327" class="label">[327]</a> Boswell’s Life of Johnson.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_328_328" href="#FNanchor_328_328" class="label">[328]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1823, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 777.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_329_329" href="#FNanchor_329_329" class="label">[329]</a> Ibid. 1856, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 234.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_330_330" href="#FNanchor_330_330" class="label">[330]</a> Atmore’s “Methodist Memorial.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_331_331" href="#FNanchor_331_331" class="label">[331]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1826, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 244.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_332_332" href="#FNanchor_332_332" class="label">[332]</a> Ibid. 1789, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 388.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_333_333" href="#FNanchor_333_333" class="label">[333]</a> These were Pawson, Rankin, and Jaco. The committee consisted of +gentlemen appointed to manage the business of City Road chapel.—(Pawson’s +manuscript.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_334_334" href="#FNanchor_334_334" class="label">[334]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1789, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 441.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_335_335" href="#FNanchor_335_335" class="label">[335]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1789, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 387.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_336_336" href="#FNanchor_336_336" class="label">[336]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1825, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 456.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_337_337" href="#FNanchor_337_337" class="label">[337]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1779, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 240.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_338_338" href="#FNanchor_338_338" class="label">[338]</a> Lady Maxwell’s Life, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 70.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_339_339" href="#FNanchor_339_339" class="label">[339]</a> Rutherford’s Life, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 94.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_340_340" href="#FNanchor_340_340" class="label">[340]</a> Atmore’s “Methodist Memorial.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_341_341" href="#FNanchor_341_341" class="label">[341]</a> Manuscript letter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_342_342" href="#FNanchor_342_342" class="label">[342]</a> Thomas Taylor, in his manuscript diary, remarks: “1780, January +14— I learned, that Mr. M‘Nab is excluded the connexion; but I cannot +learn, that he has merited such treatment. A man who has been a credit +to our cause, whose moral character is unblamable, and whose abilities +are considerable, is expelled for his integrity and uprightness. Being +very uneasy on account of the expulsion, I wrote Mr. Wesley respecting +it.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_343_343" href="#FNanchor_343_343" class="label">[343]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 132.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_344_344" href="#FNanchor_344_344" class="label">[344]</a> Whitehead’s Life of Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 372.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_345_345" href="#FNanchor_345_345" class="label">[345]</a> <cite>Christian Miscellany</cite>, 1849, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 57; and “Wesley Poetry,” <abbr title="volume eight">vol. viii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 415.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_346_346" href="#FNanchor_346_346" class="label">[346]</a> Whitehead’s Life of Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 379.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_347_347" href="#FNanchor_347_347" class="label">[347]</a> Pawson’s manuscript.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_348_348" href="#FNanchor_348_348" class="label">[348]</a> Whitehead’s Life of Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 380.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_349_349" href="#FNanchor_349_349" class="label">[349]</a> Atmore’s “Methodist Memorial.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_350_350" href="#FNanchor_350_350" class="label">[350]</a> Manuscript.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_351_351" href="#FNanchor_351_351" class="label">[351]</a> “Life and Times of Lady Huntingdon,” <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 202.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_352_352" href="#FNanchor_352_352" class="label">[352]</a> Life of John Valton, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 100.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_353_353" href="#FNanchor_353_353" class="label">[353]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1823, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 737.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_354_354" href="#FNanchor_354_354" class="label">[354]</a> The assistant of the Limerick circuit.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_355_355" href="#FNanchor_355_355" class="label">[355]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1789, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 387.</p></div></div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="1780">1780.</h2> +<hr class="short"> +<p class="center"> +Age 77</p></div> + +<p class="p0 drop-cap"><span class="smcap">The</span> year 1780 will always be marked in English +history. The nation was steeped in guilt and misery. +War was raging on almost every side. Trade was paralysed; +and taxes intolerable. Popery had been established in +Canada; and, by the repealing of the statutes of the 11th +and 12th of King William <abbr title="Three">III.</abbr>, had received great encouragement +in England. The Protestant Association sprung into +existence; and the Gordon riots followed. The details of these +events are full of profound interest and instruction; but our +limited space prevents enlargement. Suffice it to say, that, +in this serious crisis, Wesley took an active interest. He +writes: “1780. January 18—Receiving more and more +accounts of the increase of popery, I believed it my duty to +write a letter concerning it, which was afterwards inserted in +the public papers. Many were grievously offended; but I +cannot help it; I must follow my own conscience.”</p> + +<p>The following was Wesley’s unanswerable, though obnoxious +letter.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“A Letter to the Printer of the <cite>Public Advertiser</cite>, occasioned by the +late Act, passed in favour of Popery.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">City Road</span>, <i>January 21, 1780</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—Some time ago, a pamphlet was sent me, entitled ‘An Appeal +from the Protestant Association to the People of Great Britain.’ A day +or two since, a kind of answer to this was put into my hands, which +pronounces ‘its style contemptible, its reasoning futile, and its object +malicious.’ On the contrary, I think the style of it is clear, easy, and +natural; the reasoning, in general, strong and conclusive; the object, +or design, kind and benevolent. And in pursuance of the same kind +and benevolent design, namely, to preserve our happy constitution, I +shall endeavour to confirm the substance of that tract by a few plain +arguments.</p> + +<p>“With persecution I have nothing to do. I persecute no man for his +religious principles. Let there be as ‘boundless a freedom in religion,’ +as any man can conceive. But this does not touch the point; I +will set religion, true or false, utterly out of the question. Suppose the +Bible, if you please, to be a fable, and the Koran to be the word of +God. I consider not, whether the Romish religion be true or false; I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</span> +build nothing on one or the other supposition. Therefore, away with all +your commonplace declamation about intolerance and persecution in +religion! Suppose every word of Pope Pius’s creed to be true; suppose +the council of Trent to have been infallible: yet, I insist upon it, that no +government, not Roman Catholic, ought to tolerate men of the Roman +Catholic persuasion.</p> + +<p>“I prove this by a plain argument; let him answer it that can. That +no Roman Catholic does or can give security for his allegiance or peaceable +behaviour, I prove thus. It is a Roman Catholic maxim, established, +not by private men, but by a public council, that ‘no faith is to be kept +with heretics.’ This has been openly avowed by the council of Constance; +but it never was openly disclaimed. Whether private persons avow or +disavow it, it is a fixed maxim of the Church of Rome. But as long as it +is so, it is plain that the members of that church can give no reasonable +security, to any government, of their allegiance or peaceable behaviour. +Therefore, they ought not to be tolerated by any government, protestant, +Mahommedan, or pagan.</p> + +<p>“You may say, ‘Nay, but they will take an <em>oath</em> of allegiance.’ True, +five hundred oaths; but the maxim, ‘no faith is to be kept with heretics,’ +sweeps them all away as a spider’s web. So that still, no governors that +are not Roman Catholics can have any security of their allegiance.</p> + +<p>“Again, those who acknowledge the <em>spiritual power</em> of the pope can +give no security of their allegiance to any government; but all Roman +Catholics acknowledge this; therefore, they can give no security for their +allegiance.</p> + +<p>“The power of granting <em>pardons</em> for all sins, past, present, and to +come, is, and has been, for many centuries, one branch of his <em>spiritual +power</em>.</p> + +<p>“But those who acknowledge him to have this spiritual power can give +no security for their allegiance; since they believe the pope can pardon +rebellions, high treasons, and all other sins whatsoever.</p> + +<p>“The power of <em>dispensing</em> with any promise, oath, or vow, is another +branch of the <em>spiritual power</em> of the pope. And all who acknowledge +his spiritual power must acknowledge this. But whoever acknowledges +the <em>dispensing power</em> of the pope can give no security for his allegiance to +any government. Oaths and promises are none; they are light as air; +a dispensation makes them all null and void.</p> + +<p>“Nay, not only the pope, but even a <em>priest</em> has <em>power</em> to pardon sins! +This is an essential doctrine of the Church of Rome. But they that +acknowledge this cannot possibly give any security for their allegiance to +any government. Oaths are no security at all; for the priest can pardon +both perjury and high treason.</p> + +<p>“Setting then religion aside, it is plain that, upon principles of reason, +no government ought to tolerate men, who cannot give any security to +that government for their allegiance and peaceable behaviour. But this +no Romanist can do, not only while he holds that ‘no faith is to be kept +with heretics,’ but so long as he acknowledges either priestly absolution +or the <em>spiritual power</em> of the pope.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</span>“‘But the late act,’ + you say, ‘does not either <em>tolerate</em> or <em>encourage</em> +Roman Catholics.’ I appeal to matter of fact. Do not the Romanists +themselves understand it as a toleration? You know they do. And does +it not already (let alone what it <em>may</em> do by-and-by) <em>encourage</em> them to +preach openly, to build chapels (at Bath and elsewhere), to raise seminaries, +and to make numerous converts day by day, to their intolerant, +persecuting principles? I can point out, if need be, several of the persons. +And they are increasing daily.</p> + +<p>“But ‘nothing dangerous to English liberty is to be apprehended from +them.’ I am not certain of that. Some time since, a Romish priest +came to one I knew; and, after talking with her largely, broke out, +‘You are no heretic! You have the experience of a real Christian!’ +‘And would you,’ she asked, ‘burn me alive?’ He said, ‘God forbid! +unless it were for the good of the church!’</p> + +<p>“Now what security could she have had for her life, if it had depended +on that man? The <em>good of the church</em> would have burst all the ties of +truth, justice, and mercy. Especially when seconded by the absolution of +a priest, or, if need were, a papal pardon.</p> + +<p>“If any please to answer this, and to set his name, I shall probably +reply; but the productions of anonymous writers I do not promise to +take any notice of.</p> + +<p>“I am, sir, your humble servant,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley’s arguments are irrefutable; and terrible is England’s +danger, at the present day, because such arguments, +instead of being answered, have been dexterously, but disastrously, +ignored by England’s statesmen. Wesley’s letter +will probably be treated, by many, as they would treat an +old almanack, out of date; but, on February 17, 1780, it +evoked the unanimous thanks of the Protestant Association; +and, in the same month, was published in the pages of +Wesley’s bitterest antagonist,—the <cite>Gospel Magazine</cite>,—with +an editorial note, that it had “been almost universally +approved of,” and that it was a “production of real +merit.”</p> + +<p>Wesley’s letter was too damaging to the disloyalty and +preposterous assumptions of popery, to pass unnoticed. His +chief antagonist was the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Arthur O’Leary, the son of +peasant parents, and now a popish priest, in the fiftieth year +of his age.</p> + +<p>O’Leary’s remarks on Wesley’s letter made an octavo +pamphlet of 101 pages. The friar tells the Methodist, that +the temperature of Ireland’s climate and the quality of its +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</span> +soil had cleansed the veins of its papists “from the <em>sour</em> +and <em>acid</em> blood of the Scythians and Saxons.” He writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“We are tender hearted, we are good natured, we have feelings. We +shed tears on the urns of the dead; deplore the loss of hecatombs of +victims slaughtered on the gloomy altars of religious bigotry; cry in +seeing the ruins of cities over which fanaticism has displayed the funeral +torch; and sincerely pity the blind zeal of our Scotch and English neighbours, +whose constant character is to pity none, for erecting the banners +of persecution, at a time when the inquisition is abolished in Spain and +Milan, and the protestant gentry are caressed at Rome, and live unmolested +in the luxuriant plains of France and Italy. We are too wise to +quarrel about religion. The Roman Catholics sing their psalms in +Latin, with a few inflections of the voice. Our protestant neighbours +sing the same psalms in English, on a larger scale of musical notes. We +never quarrel with our honest and worthy neighbours, the quakers, for not +singing at all; nor shall we ever quarrel with Mr. Wesley for <em>raising his +voice to heaven</em>, and warbling forth his canticles on whatever tune he +pleases. We like <em>social harmony</em>; and, in <em>civil</em> music, hate <em>discordance</em>. +Thus, when we go to the shambles, we never inquire into the butcher’s +religion, but into the quality of his meat. We care not whether the ox +was fed in the pope’s territories, or on the mountains of Scotland; provided +the joint be good; for, though there be many <em>heresies</em> in old books, +we discover neither <em>heresy</em> nor <em>superstition</em> in beef and claret. We divide +them cheerfully with one another; and, though of different religions, we +sit over the bowl with as much cordiality as if we were at a <em>lovefeast</em>.”</p> +</div> + +<p>O’Leary’s quaint jocularity and rounded periods are +amusing; but they furnish not the slightest answer to +Wesley’s allegations. On March 23, Wesley replied to +O’Leary, in a letter addressed to the editors of the <cite>Freeman’s +Journal</cite>, and from which the following is extracted.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Mr. O’Leary’s remarks are no more an answer to my letter, than to +the Bull <i lang="la">Unigenitus</i>. His manner of writing is easy and pleasant; but +might it not as well be more serious? The subject we are treating of is +not a light one; it moves me to tears, rather than to laughter. I plead +for the safety of my country; yea, for the children that are yet unborn. +I would not have the Roman Catholics persecuted at all. I would only +have them hindered from doing hurt: I would not put it in their power to +cut the throats of their quiet neighbours.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_356_356" href="#Footnote_356_356" class="fnanchor">[356]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>O’Leary published a “Rejoinder to Mr. Wesley’s Reply,” in +which he was less jocular, but not more logical. Of Wesley’s +three reasons why it is not safe to tolerate papists, two were +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</span> +left untouched, and one was played with and evaded. Such +a controversialist scarcely deserved an answer; and, yet, +Wesley supplemented his second letter by a third, dated +Chester, March 31, 1780. After recapitulating his three +reasons, Wesley writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Nine parts in ten of Mr. O’Leary’s remarks are quite wide of the +mark. Not that they are wide of <em>his</em> mark, which is to introduce a +plausible panegyric upon the Roman Catholics, mixed with keen invectives +against the protestants, whether true or false it matters not. All +this is admirably well calculated to inspire the reader with aversion to +these heretics, and to bring them back to the holy, harmless, much +injured Church of Rome! Close arguing he does not attempt; but he +vapours, and skips to and fro, and rambles to all points of the compass, in +a very lively and entertaining manner.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley thus concludes his long letter:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“What security for my life can any man give me, till he utterly +renounces the council of Constance? What security can any Romanist +give a protestant, till this doctrine is publicly abjured? If Mr. O’Leary +has anything more to plead for this council, I shall follow him step by +step. But let him keep his word, and ‘give a serious answer to a serious +charge.’ ‘Drollery may come in when we are talking of roasting fowls’; +but not when we talk of ‘roasting men.’</p> + +<p>“Would I then wish the Roman Catholics to be persecuted? I never +said or hinted any such thing. I abhor the thought: it is foreign to all +I have preached and wrote for these fifty years. But I would wish the +Romanists in <em>England</em> (I had no others in view) to be treated still with +the same lenity that they have been these sixty years; to be allowed +both civil and religious liberty, but not permitted to undermine ours. I +wish them to stand just as they did before the late act was passed: not +to be persecuted or hurt themselves; but gently restrained from hurting +their neighbours.</p> + +<p>“I am, gentlemen, your obedient servant,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_357_357" href="#Footnote_357_357" class="fnanchor">[357]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Here the controversy ended.⁠<a id="FNanchor_358_358" href="#Footnote_358_358" class="fnanchor">[358]</a> O’Leary was baffled; and, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</span> +to this day, the arguments in Wesley’s letter of January 21, +1780, remain unanswered. Seven years afterwards; when at +Cork, Wesley wrote: “A gentleman invited me to breakfast, +with my old antagonist, Father O’Leary. I was not at all +displeased at being disappointed. He is not the stiff, queer +man that I expected; but of an easy, genteel carriage, and +seems not to be wanting either in sense or learning.”</p> + +<p>It was during this controversy, and while Wesley was in the +north of Ireland, that the fearful riots occurred, which are so unfortunately +associated with the name of Lord George Gordon, +and which were the cause of that nobleman’s incarceration +(rightly or wrongly) in the Tower of London. Here Wesley, +after repeated invitations, visited him, and writes: “1780, +December 19—I spent an hour with Lord George Gordon, at +his apartment in the Tower. Our conversation turned upon +popery and religion. He seemed to be well acquainted with +the Bible; and had abundance of other books, enough to +furnish a study. I was agreeably surprised to find he did not +complain of any person or thing; and cannot but hope his +confinement will take a right turn, and prove a lasting blessing +to him.”</p> + +<p>We return to more congenial matters. Wesley spent the +first two months of 1780 in London and its vicinity. On +February 28, he started on his journey to the north. Among +other places, he now, for the first time, preached at Delph. He +writes: “April 7—I went to Delph, a little village upon the +mountains, where a remarkable work of God is just broke out. +I was just set down, when the minister sent me word, I was +welcome to preach in his church. On hearing this, many +people walked thither immediately, near a mile from the +town; but, in ten minutes, he sent me word his mind was +changed. We knew not then what to do, till the trustees of +the independent meeting offered us the use of their house. +It was quickly filled, and truly God bore witness to His +word.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</span> +The minister of the parish church was the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Heginbotham, +who had engaged Mr. Stones as his curate. Mr. +Stones was a sportsman, fond of his dog and gun. On one +occasion, a rough Yorkshireman told him, it would be better if +he minded his study more and his gun less. The curate took +the hint; his dogs and his guns were given up; he became a +thorough Christian; his ministry was greatly blessed; an +extensive religious awakening followed; meetings for prayer +were convened in private houses; and not a few were +scripturally converted. Opposition soon ensued, on the ground +that the poor, by spending so much time in prayer, would +neglect their work, and become chargeable to the parish. +The curate was dismissed; the young converts applied to +Joseph Benson, then at Manchester, for help; Methodist +preaching was commenced; a room in Millgate hired; and +a flourishing society was formed.⁠<a id="FNanchor_359_359" href="#Footnote_359_359" class="fnanchor">[359]</a> The case was named to +Wesley; and, a fortnight before his visit, he signed the following +legal looking document, which to a Methodist antiquarian +will be welcome.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“<i>Whereas</i> for about twelve months last past, the people called +Methodists have preached in a room at Delph, in Saddleworth, in the +county of York,—the travelling preachers coming there regularly every +fortnight from Manchester, besides local preachers occasionally on +Sundays. And <i>Whereas</i> the last summer such crowds attended, that the +room could not contain them, the society also increasing very fast, and a +great likelihood of much good being done in the place,—It is, therefore, +thought necessary that a preaching house be erected at Delph aforesaid, +twelve yards long and eight wide. The expense of such a building, +according to the plan laid down, will be vastly more than the society will be +able to raise amongst themselves. They have, therefore, requested our +consent to go amongst our societies, to ask the charitable contributions of +such of our friends as would willingly encourage such an undertaking. +This is, therefore, to certify that we approve of the measure, and recommend +the same to our Christian friends everywhere, hoping they will +readily and cheerfully contribute to the same.</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span>⁠<a id="FNanchor_360_360" href="#Footnote_360_360" class="fnanchor">[360]</a></p> +<p class="p0">“<span class="smcap">Manchester</span>, <i>March 25, 1780</i>.”</p> +</div> + +<p>This formalised certificate smacks of the office of Joseph +Mellor, the Methodist attorney of the town of Delph; and +Wesley must have been hard pressed for time when, instead +of writing a statement of the case himself, he put his hand to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</span> +such legal magniloquence. Suffice it to add, the chapel was +built, with not more than <abbr title="100 pounds">£100</abbr> of debt resting upon the +premises.⁠<a id="FNanchor_361_361" href="#Footnote_361_361" class="fnanchor">[361]</a></p> + +<p>It was during this northern tour, that Wesley, for the first +time, was denied the use of the church at Haworth. He +writes: “Sunday, April 23—Mr. Richardson being unwilling +that I should preach any more in Haworth church, Providence +opened another; I preached in Bingley church, both morning +and afternoon. This is considerably larger than the other.”</p> + +<p>It was either on this, or some future occasion, when +Wesley was preaching in Bingley church, that a rich man in +the congregation, who seemed to think that his wealth was a +licence to practise bad manners, sneered at the preacher and +at his sentiments. Wesley paused, and fixing his keen eye +on the Dives sitting in the seat of the scornful, said: “I heed +your sneers no more than I heed the fluttering of a butterfly; +but I know what good breeding is as well as any gentleman +in the land.”</p> + +<p>It was now that Wesley preached his first sermon in Blackburn. +He writes: “April 27—I preached in Todmorden +church with great enlargement of heart. In the afternoon we +went on to Blackburn. It seemed the whole town was +moved; and the question was where to put the congregation. +We could not stand abroad because of the sun; so as many +as could squeezed into the preaching house. All the chief +men of the town were there.” Mr. Banning was Wesley’s +host at Blackburn; and, on one occasion, took his venerable +guest to see a neighbouring chapel which was in the course of +being built. “Mr. Banning,” said Wesley, “I have a favour +to ask. Let there be no pews in the body of this chapel, +except one for the leading singers. Be sure to make accommodation +for the poor. <em>They</em> are God’s building <em>materials</em> in +the erecting of His church. The rich make good <em>scaffolding</em>, +but bad <em>materials</em>.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_362_362" href="#Footnote_362_362" class="fnanchor">[362]</a> Weighty words! One of Methodism’s +evil omens, at the present day, is a disregard of the advice +which Wesley gave, namely, that, in building chapels, the +Methodists should never fail to provide ample accommodation +for the poor.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</span> +It was a sign of Wesley’s growing popularity, that, though, +forty years before, he had been indignantly expelled from the +pulpits of the Established Church, he was now invited, in all +parts of the country, by rectors, vicars, curates, and others, to +favour them with his services. At Pateley Bridge, in 1752, +Thomas Lee, the old itinerant, and his Methodist companions, +were subjected to treatment the most barbarous; and, on +applying to the Dean of Ripon for protection, were met with +a churchman’s scorn rather than a magistrate’s just dealing. +Now it was otherwise. Wesley writes: “1780, May 1—At +Pateley Bridge, the vicar offered me the use of his church. +Though it was more than twice as large as our preaching +house, it was not near large enough to contain the congregation. +How vast is the increase of the work of God! particularly +in the most rugged and uncultivated places. How does +He ‘send the springs’ of grace also ‘into the valleys, that +run among the hills!’”</p> + +<p>Leaving Pateley, Wesley, for the first time, visited Ripon. +He writes: “May 2—We came to Ripon, and observed a +remarkable turn of providence: the great hindrance of the +work of God in this place has suddenly disappeared; and the +poor people, being delivered from their fear, gladly flock +together, and hear His word. The new preaching house was +quickly more than filled.”</p> + +<p>Four years previous to this, Thomas Dixon was one +of the Ripon preachers, and, in his unpublished autobiography, +wrote: “Upon our going to Ripon, we preached +in a small room up a flight of stairs, and even this we +were to leave at Martinmas. But, just at this time, Mr. T. +Dowson, who had suffered much for the gospel’s sake, bought +the premises where an old barn and stable stood. He +immediately pulled down the barn, and built a decent +chapel and a dwelling house upon the site, and, with such +expedition, that we were able to get into the shell of the new +chapel by the time we had to leave the upstairs room. By +this means, God gave the poor persecuted Methodists, in +Ripon, a degree of rest they had never known before, and the +work, from that time, gradually grew.”</p> + +<p>On leaving Ripon, Wesley proceeded “through a delightful +country to the immense ruins of Garvaix Abbey,” and thence +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</span> +across the “horrid, dreary, enormous mountains” to Penrith, +another place where he now, for the first time, preached. He +writes: “May 5—In the evening, a large room, designed for an +assembly, was procured for me at Penrith; but several of the +poor people were struck with panic, for fear the room should +fall. Finding there was no remedy, I went down into the +court below, and preached in great peace to a multitude of +well behaved people.”</p> + +<p>On May 11, Wesley reached Newcastle, and thence proceeded +to Scotland. On his return southwards, we find him +preaching at Durham, Darlington, Northallerton, Boroughbridge, +and York. Making his way through Lincolnshire, he +came to Newark, where, twenty years before, the mob had +burnt the Methodist pulpit in the market place; and had not +only pelted the preacher, Thomas Lee, with all sorts of missiles, +and dragged him to the river Trent, where they ducked +and dabbled him without mercy, but, to complete the whole, a +painter came with his pot and brush, and bedaubed him most +ludicrously. Wesley writes: “1780, June 12—Our friends at +Newark were divided as to the place where I should preach. +At length, they found a convenient place, covered on three +sides, and on the fourth open to the street. It contained two +or three thousand people well, who appeared to hear as for +life. Only one big man, exceeding drunk, was very noisy +and turbulent, till his wife (<i lang="la">fortissima Tyndaridarum!</i>) seized +him by the collar, gave him two or three hearty boxes on the +ear, and dragged him away like a calf. But, at length, he got +out of her hands, crept in among the people, and stood as +quiet as a lamb.”</p> + +<p>On June 13, Wesley wrote: “I accepted of an invitation +from a gentleman at Lincoln, in which I had not set my foot +for upwards of fifty years. At six in the evening, I preached +in the castle yard to a large and attentive congregation. +They were all as quiet as if I had been at Bristol. Will God +have a people here also?” For seven years after this, there +was not a Methodist in Lincoln.</p> + +<p>After an interval of many years, Wesley preached again at +Boston, where, in 1757, Alexander Mather, the first Methodist +preacher there, had his face plastered with mire taken from +the kennels of the streets, and his head laid open with a stone.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</span> +Wesley spent his birthday in Sheffield, and wrote: +“June 28—I can hardly think I am entered this day into the +seventy-eighth year of my age. By the blessing of God, I +am just the same as when I entered the twenty-eighth. This +hath God wrought, chiefly by my constant exercise, my rising +early, and preaching morning and evening.”</p> + +<p>The next day, he preached his first and last sermon at +Worksop. He says: “I was desired to preach at Worksop; +but when I came, they had not fixed on any place. At length, +they chose a lamentable one, full of dirt and dust, but without +the least shelter from the scorching sun. This few could bear; +so we had only a small company of as stupid people as I +ever saw.”</p> + +<p>After this, Wesley made his way to London, where he spent +a week; and, then, he and his brother set out for Bristol, for +the purpose of holding his annual conference. He writes: +“August 1—Our conference began. We have been always, +hitherto, straitened for time. It was now resolved, ‘For the +future, we will allow nine or ten days for each conference; +that everything, relative to the carrying on of the work of +God, may be maturely considered.’”</p> + +<p>The conference, in this instance, lasted from August 1 to +August 9, inclusive. Its main business was a revision of the +minutes of conferences already held. Several alterations +were made, some of the chief being the following. It was no +longer to be a rule, that Methodists were to endeavour to +preach most where Wesley and his brother clergymen were +allowed to preach in parish churches. Classmeetings were +to be made more lively and profitable, by removing improper +leaders; and care was to be taken, that those appointed were +not only men of sound judgment, but truly pious. If a +preacher could secure twenty hearers at five o’clock in the +morning, he was to preach; if not so many, he was to sing +and pray. “Observe,” says Wesley to his preachers, “it is +not your business to preach so many times, and to take care of +this or that society; but to save as many souls as you can, to +bring as many sinners as you possibly can to repentance, and, +with all your power, to build them up in that holiness without +which they cannot see the Lord. And remember! a Methodist +preacher is to mind every point, great and small, in the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</span> +Methodist discipline! Therefore, you will need all the sense +you have, and to have all your wits about you.” It was +agreed, that the neglect of fasting was sufficient to account +for their feebleness and faintness of spirit. They were continually +grieving the Holy Spirit of God, by the habitual +neglect of a plain duty. “Let you and I,” says Wesley, +“every Friday (beginning on the next), avow this duty +throughout the nation, by touching no tea, coffee, or chocolate, +in the morning, but, (if we want it,) half-a-pint of milk or +water gruel. Let us dine on potatoes, and, (if we need it,) +eat three or four ounces of flesh in the evening. At other +times, let us eat no flesh suppers. These exceedingly tend to +breed nervous disorders.” The rule was rescinded, that no +preacher ought to print anything without Wesley’s approbation. +The preachers were to join as one man in putting an +end to the indecency of the people talking in the preaching +houses, before and after service. Complaints having been +made, that sluts had spoiled preachers’ houses, Wesley writes: +“Let none, that has spoiled one, ever live in another. But +what a shame is this! A preacher’s wife should be a pattern +of cleanliness, in her person, clothes, and habitation. Let +nothing slatternly be seen about her; no rags, no dirt, no +litter. And she should be a pattern of industry; always at +work, either for herself, her husband, or the poor. I am not +willing that any should live in the Orphan House at Newcastle, +or any preaching house, who does not conform to this rule.” +Complaints were also made, that people crowded into the +preachers’ houses as into coffee shops, without invitation; +and it was ruled, that no person should, in future, come into a +preacher’s house, unless he wanted to ask a question.</p> + +<p>Some of these may appear to be minute matters; but they +are not without interest as indicative of the defects of Methodists +in the days of Wesley.</p> + +<p>There is reason to believe, though the fact is not +recorded in the minutes, that the Church question was again +discussed at the conference of 1780. Hence the following +letter, written to Miss Bosanquet.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Bristol</span>, <i>August 5, 1780</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Sister</span>,—I snatch time from the conference to write two +or three lines. I am glad you have begun a prayer-meeting at Hunslet, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</span> +and doubt not it will be productive of much good. Hitherto, we have had +a blessed conference. The case of the Church we shall fully consider +by-and-by; and, I believe, we shall agree that none who leave the Church +shall remain with us.</p> + +<p>“I am, my dear sister, yours most affectionately,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_363_363" href="#Footnote_363_363" class="fnanchor">[363]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Charles Wesley was present, and was far from satisfied. +He purposed to attend no more of these annual synods, and +wrote as follows:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0b">“Why should I longer, Lord, contend,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">My last important moments spend</div> +<div class="verse indent2">In buffeting the air?</div> +<div class="verse indent0">In warning those who will not see,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">But rest in blind security,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">And rush into the snare?</div> + +<div class="stanza"><div class="verse indent0">Prophet of ills, why should I live,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Or, by my sad forebodings, grieve</div> +<div class="verse indent2">Whom I can serve no more?</div> +<div class="verse indent0">I only can their loss bewail,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Till life’s exhausted sorrows fail,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">And the last pang is o’er.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_364_364" href="#Footnote_364_364" class="fnanchor">[364]</a></div></div> +</div></div> + +<p>Poor Charles, alarmed lest the Methodists should leave the +Church, retired from the conference to weep and die; John to +rejoice and work.</p> + +<p>Conference statistics have not been given annually; but the +following figures will show the progress made during the +decade of years ending at the conference of 1780.</p> + +<table class="small"> + +<tr><td class="t l r"></td> + <td class="tdc t b r pad2">Circuits.</td> + <td class="tdc t b r pad2">Itinerant<br>Preachers.</td> + <td class="tdc t b r pad2">Members.</td> + <td class="tdc t b r pad2">Kingswood<br>Collection.</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdc l r">1770</td> + <td class="tdc r">50</td> + <td class="tdc r">123</td> + <td class="tdc r">29,406</td> + <td class="tdc r"><abbr title="218 pounds">£218</abbr> <span class="hidenum">1</span>4   5</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdc l r">1780</td> + <td class="tdc r b">64</td> + <td class="tdc r b">171</td> + <td class="tdc r b">43,830</td> + <td class="tdc r b"><abbr title="402 pounds">£402</abbr> <span class="hidenum">1</span>1   9</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdc l r b">Increase </td> + <td class="tdc r b">14</td> + <td class="tdc r b">48</td> + <td class="tdc r b">14,424</td> + <td class="tdc r b"><abbr title="183 pounds">£183</abbr> 17   4</td></tr> +</table> + +<p>To these numbers, however, must be added the Methodists +in the West Indies, and also 20 circuits, 42 itinerant preachers, +and 8504 members of society in America.⁠<a id="FNanchor_365_365" href="#Footnote_365_365" class="fnanchor">[365]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</span> +The American conference met at Baltimore on April 24, +and agreed to continue in close communion with the Church, +and to permit “the friendly clergy” to preach and administer +the sacraments in Methodist chapels. Hitherto, neither +Asbury, nor any other of the preachers in America, had administered +these Christian ordinances to the Methodist people; +and, as the number of members was now rapidly increasing, +this was becoming a momentous question. The want in +England had been met, to some extent, by Wesley and his +brother and their clerical assistants; but, in America, the +Methodists had no ordained clergyman to render service like +this. Besides, there the Methodists were very differently situated +from what Methodists were in England. In this country, wherever +there was a Methodist society there was a parish church, +at which, if they chose, Methodists might attend on sacramental +occasions. In America it was otherwise. Clergymen +were few; and parish churches far distant from each other; +and, in many instances, where Methodist societies had been +formed, no church existed. The case was becoming serious. +Were these thousands of American Methodists to be left without +sacraments? Or were unordained Methodist preachers +to administer sacraments? Or was an effort to be made, +to send a clergyman of the Church of England to supply +this lack of sacred service? Or was Wesley himself to +assume episcopal functions, and, by ordination, turn his +preachers into priests? These were serious difficulties to be +surmounted. To deprive eight thousand converted people of +the most sacred ordinances of the church, would have been a +sin against the church’s Head. To allow unordained preachers +to administer baptism and the Lord’s supper was a thing for +which Wesley himself was not prepared; though who can +question, that a man like Francis Asbury, whom God had so +signally honoured, had as much right to do this as the most +renowned priest or prelate in existence? An alternative remained, +namely, either to send the American Methodists an +ordained clergyman of the Church of England; or that +Wesley should take upon himself the office of ordainer, and +thus qualify his own itinerants for what was conceived to be a +higher function than that of preaching the infinitely great and +everlasting truths of Christ’s glorious gospel.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</span> +Was Wesley prepared for such a step as this? Fortunately, +this is a point on which we are not left to speculate. In a +letter to his brother, dated June 8, 1780, he writes: “Read +Bishop Stillingfleet’s ‘Irenicon,’ or any impartial history of +the ancient church, and I believe you will think as I do. I +verily believe, I have as good a right to ordain, as to administer +the Lord’s supper. But I see abundance of reasons why +I should not use that right, unless I was turned out of the +Church. At present, we are just in our place.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_366_366" href="#Footnote_366_366" class="fnanchor">[366]</a></p> + +<p>As yet, Wesley, for “abundance of reasons,” hesitated to +ordain his preachers; and, hence, the only remaining expedient +was to endeavour to secure an ordained clergyman of +the Church of England; and this he attempted. The following +letter was addressed to Dr. Lowth, bishop of London, +two months after the date of his letter to his brother Charles. +The reader will perceive, that it was written the day after the +close of the Bristol conference. It ought to be premised +that, previous to this, Wesley had applied to the bishop for a +clerical helper, and had met with a refusal.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>August 10, 1780.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My Lord</span>,—Some time since, I received your lordship’s favour, for +which I return your lordship my sincere thanks. These persons did not +apply to the Society,” [for Propagating Christian Knowledge in Foreign +Parts,] “because they had nothing to ask of them. They wanted no salary +for their minister: they were themselves able and willing to maintain him. +They, therefore, applied, by me, to your lordship, as members of the +Church of England, and desirous so to continue, begging the favour of +your lordship, after your lordship had examined him, to ordain a pious +man who might officiate as their minister.</p> + +<p>“But your lordship observes, ‘There are three ministers in that country +already.’ True, my lord: but what are three, to watch over all the souls +in that extensive country? Will your lordship permit me to speak freely? +I dare not do otherwise. I am on the verge of the grave, and know not +the hour when I shall drop into it. Suppose there were threescore of +those missionaries in the country, could I in conscience recommend these +souls to their care? Do they take any care of their own souls? If they +do, (I speak it with concern,) I fear they are almost the only missionaries +in America that do. My lord, I do not speak rashly: I have been in +America; and so have several with whom I have lately conversed. And +both I and they know, what manner of men the greater part of these are. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</span> +They are men who have neither the power of religion, nor the form; men +that lay no claim to piety, nor even decency.</p> + +<p>“Give me leave, my lord, to speak more freely still: perhaps it is the +last time I shall trouble your lordship. I know your lordship’s abilities +and extensive learning: I believe, what is far more, that your lordship +fears God. I have heard, that your lordship is unfashionably diligent +in examining the candidates for holy orders; yea, that your lordship is +generally at the pains of examining them <em>yourself</em>. Examining them! in +what respects? Why whether they understand a little <em>Latin</em> and <em>Greek</em>; +and can answer a few trite questions in the science of divinity! Alas, +how little does this avail! Does your lordship examine, whether they +serve <em>Christ</em> or <em>Belial</em>? Whether they love God or the world? Whether +they ever had any serious thoughts about heaven or hell? Whether they +have any real desire to save their own souls, or the souls of others? If +not, what have they to do with holy orders? and what will become of the +souls committed to their care?</p> + +<p>“My lord, I do by no means despise learning: I know the value of it +too well. But what is this, particularly in a Christian minister, compared +to piety? What is it in a man that has no religion? ‘As a jewel in a +swine’s snout.’</p> + +<p>“Some time since, I recommended to your lordship a plain man, whom +I had known above twenty years, as a person of deep, genuine piety, +and of unblamable conversation. But he neither understood Greek nor +Latin; and he affirmed, in so many words, that ‘he believed it was his +duty to preach, whether he was ordained or no.’ I believe so too. What +became of him since, I know not. But I suppose he received <em>presbyterian</em> +ordination; and I cannot blame him if he did. He might think any +ordination better than none.</p> + +<p>“I do not know, that Mr. Hoskins had any favour to ask of the +Society. He asked the favour of your lordship to ordain him, that he +might minister to a little flock in America. But your lordship did not +see good to ordain <em>him</em>: but your lordship did see good to ordain, and +send to America, other persons, who knew something of Greek and Latin; +but knew no more of saving souls, than of catching whales.</p> + +<p>“In this respect, also, I mourn for poor America; for the sheep scattered +up and down therein. Part of them have no shepherds at all, particularly +in the northern colonies; and the case of the rest is little better, +for their own shepherds pity them not. They cannot, for they have no +pity on themselves, they take no thought or care about their own souls.</p> + +<p>“Wishing your lordship every blessing from the great Shepherd and +Bishop of our souls, I remain, my lord, your lordship’s dutiful son and +servant,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_367_367" href="#Footnote_367_367" class="fnanchor">[367]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Did his lordship ever receive, from any other “dutiful son +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</span> +and servant,” a letter like this? We doubt it. Wesley was +foiled in his attempt to obtain <em>episcopal</em> ordination for an +American Methodist preacher: no wonder, that, soon after, he +administered ordination himself.</p> + +<p>Before proceeding with Wesley’s history, the insertion of a +selection of his letters, belonging to this period, may be +acceptable.</p> + +<p>It is a terrible thing to write a dangerous book. When +Joseph Benson was a young man, he read Dr. Watts’s “Glory +of Christ as God-man,” and became a convert to his doctrine +of the pre-existence of our Lord’s <em>human soul</em>. Speaking his +mind too freely upon this unscriptural dogma, Benson was +suspected to be an Arian, and was represented as such, by +Dr. Coke, all over the kingdom.⁠<a id="FNanchor_368_368" href="#Footnote_368_368" class="fnanchor">[368]</a> At the conference of 1780, +Coke accused him of holding the Arian heresy; the matter was +sifted; Benson was acquitted; and Coke offered to ask his +pardon. Still, Benson, for years afterwards, held Dr. Watts’s +dangerous speculation; and it was not until he undertook the +revision of Fletcher’s manuscripts, that he laid aside the +expression, “<cite>pre-existent soul of Christ</cite>;” “an expression,” +says he, “which neither reason, nor Scripture, nor antiquity, +will warrant our using.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_369_369" href="#Footnote_369_369" class="fnanchor">[369]</a></p> + +<p>Dr. Watts’s pernicious book, and also the Gordon riots, (at +this time raging,) are referred to in the following extract from +a letter to Charles Wesley.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>June 8, 1780.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Brother</span>,—I would not read over Dr. Watts’s tract for a hundred +pounds. You may read it, and welcome. I will not, dare not, move those +subtle, metaphysical controversies. Arianism is not in question; it is +Eutychianism or Nestorianism. But what are they? What neither I nor +any one else understands. But they are what tore the eastern and +western churches asunder.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</span> +“It is well I accepted none of Lord George’s invitations. If the government +suffers this tamely, I know not what they will not suffer.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Collins is not under my direction; nor am I at all accountable +for any steps he takes. He is not in connection with the Methodists. +He only helps us now and then. I will suffer no disputing at the conference.</p> + +<p>“Undoubtedly many of the patriots seriously intend to overturn the +government; but the hook is in their nose.</p> + +<p>“Peace be with you all!</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span>”<a id="FNanchor_370_370" href="#Footnote_370_370" class="fnanchor">[370]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>The Mr. Collins, mentioned in the above extract, was Brian +Bury Collins, of the university of Cambridge, who, without +ever receiving a regular appointment, continued to assist +Wesley, in various parts of the kingdom, until Wesley’s death +in 1791. A number of his manuscript letters, all written in +1779 and 1780, now lie before us, from which we learn, that +he regarded himself as having “an unlimited preaching commission”; +and that one of his great objects was to unite +Wesley’s and Whitefield’s followers. “I could freely die,” +says he, “to see the Tabernacles and Foundery reconciled.” +He began the year 1779 in the north of England, +where he sometimes preached five or six times a day. He +then removed to London, Bristol, and the west, where his +health failed. In May, 1780, he was among his relatives at +Linwood, and wrote: “I am not yet recovered from my late +illness, though I am much better than I have been. My +relations here receive me with more cordiality than I expected. +I find the Divine presence in the churches where I preach; +but what the Lord designs to do with me I cannot tell. +Lately, I have thought of spending a few weeks at Cambridge. +I have also had fresh desires of being in full orders.” In pursuance +of this, Mr. Collins went to <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> John’s college, Cambridge, +where, in July 1780, he took his master of arts degree. +By advice of the two Wesleys, he sought ordination; and the +dowager Lady Townsend gave him a recommendatory letter +to the Bishop of Chester, requesting that the rite might be +administered in private; but the bishop, having heard of his +irregular preaching, hesitated until he had time to confer with +his brother bishops. Ordination was ultimately obtained; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</span> +Collins married, and, for a time, was assistant to David +Simpson, at Macclesfield; after this, he again became a +rover, and preached in Wesley’s and Lady Huntingdon’s +chapels, and wherever else he had a chance. He writes: +“I wish to do good unto all. I do not love one and dislike +another. I can unite with all who are united to Jesus. I +care not for names in the least.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_371_371" href="#Footnote_371_371" class="fnanchor">[371]</a></p> + +<p>These glimpses of a man whom Wesley, to the end of life, +repeatedly mentions in his journals, will not be unwelcome. +Of his subsequent career we know nothing; except that its +close was not as bright as its beginning. A son of his lies +interred in the burial ground of the new chapel in City +Road.⁠<a id="FNanchor_372_372" href="#Footnote_372_372" class="fnanchor">[372]</a></p> + +<p>One of the legislative acts of the conference of 1780 was +to enforce the old rule, that, in Methodist meeting-houses, +the men and women should sit apart. In galleries, where +they had always sat together, they might do so still; but +in all new erected galleries, and in the seats below, the old +rule was to be rigidly observed. “If,” said Wesley, “I come +into any new house, and see the men and women together, I +will immediately go out. I hereby give public notice of this. +Pray let it be observed.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_373_373" href="#Footnote_373_373" class="fnanchor">[373]</a></p> + +<p>This sounds strangely at the present day; but, for some +reason, it was with Wesley a matter of importance. Hence +also the following unpublished letter to the leaders at +Sheffield.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Bristol</span>, <i>September 4, 1780</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brethren</span>,—Let the persons, who purpose to subvert the +Methodist plan, by mixing men and women together in your chapel, consider +the consequence of so doing. First, I will never set foot in it more. +Secondly, I will forbid any collection to be made for it in any of our +societies.</p> + +<p>“I am, my dear brethren, your affectionate brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>Two more letters, now for the first time given to the +public, will be welcome. They were addressed to Samuel +Bradburn, who had been three years in Ireland, and was now +to remove to Keighley.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</span> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Near Bristol</span>, <i>September 16, 1780</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Sammy</span>,—I wanted to have Betsy” [Mrs. Bradburn] “a little +nearer me. And I wanted her to be acquainted with her twin soul, Miss +Ritchie, the fellow to whom I scarce know in England. But I do not like +your crossing the sea till your children are a little stronger. If there was +stormy weather, it might endanger their lives. Therefore, it is better +you should stay in Ireland a little longer. Athlone circuit will suit you +well; and John Bredin may be at Keighley in <i>your place</i>.</p> + +<p>“Now read over the minutes concerning the office of an assistant, and +exert yourself as to every branch of it. I fear the late assistant neglected +many articles; dispersing the books in particular.</p> + +<p>“My love to Betsy. Let her love Molly Pennington for my sake.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“I am, etc., <span class="smcap">J. Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="p2 right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>October 28, 1780</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Sammy</span>,—I am glad you are safe landed at Keighley. You +will find there</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent2">‘... a port of ease</div> +<div class="verse indent0">From the rough rage of stormy seas.’</div> +</div></div> + +<p>“There are many amiable and gracious souls in Cork; but there are +few in the whole kingdom of Ireland to be named, (either for depth of +sense or grace,) with many, very many persons in Yorkshire, particularly +the west riding. Go to Betsy Ritchie, at Otley, and then point me out +such a young woman as she in Ireland.</p> + +<p>“I think lemonade would cure any child of the flux.</p> + +<p>“Now be exact in every branch of discipline; and you will soon find +what a people you are among.</p> + +<p>“I am, with tender love to Betsy, dear Sammy, your affectionate friend +and brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>The following letter, kindly supplied by the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Thomas +W. Smith, and now for the first time published, was +addressed “To Mr. Valton, at the preaching house, in Manchester.” +Oldham Street chapel was now in course of erection, +and was opened by Wesley seven months afterwards.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Bristol</span>, <i>October 1, 1780</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—I expected the state of Manchester circuit to +be just such as you have found it. But the power of the Lord is able to +heal them. I fear S. Mayers was left unemployed, because she loved +perfection. If you find a few more of the same spirit, I believe you will +find them employment. The accommodations everywhere will mend, if +the preachers lovingly exert themselves. I am glad you take some pains +for the new chapel. Our brother Brocklehurst will do anything that is +reasonable.</p> + +<p>“In one thing only, you and I do not agree; but, perhaps, we shall +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</span> +when we have prayed over it: I mean, the giving me an extract of your +life. I cannot see the weight of your reasons against it. ‘Some are +superficial.’ What then? All are not; brother Mather’s and Haime’s +in particular. Add one to these; a more weighty one, if you can. You +know what to omit, and what to insert. I really think you owe it (in +spite of shame and natural timidity) to God and me and your brethren. +Pray for light in this matter.</p> + +<p>“I am, your affectionate friend and brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">J. Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>The next, though short, is not devoid of interest. For the +first time, it was published in the <cite>Watchman</cite> newspaper, as +recently as October 12, 1870; and was written on the same +day as the foregoing one.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Bristol</span>, <i>October 1, 1780</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—Joseph Bradford has been at the gate of +death; but is now so far recovered, that he thinks to set out to-morrow +morning, with me and his wife, for London.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Brackenbury likewise seems to be better, with regard to his +bodily health; but he is married! And I shall not be much disappointed +if he soon takes leave of the Methodists.</p> + +<p>“I am, your affectionate brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">J. Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>The following, which has not before been published, is +kindly furnished by Charles Reed, <abbr title="Esquire">Esq.</abbr>, <abbr title="Member of Parliament">M.P.</abbr></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>November 3, 1780</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—Disorderly walkers are better excluded than +retained; and I am well satisfied you will exclude no others. I am glad +you have made a beginning at Trowbridge. If it be possible, say not one +offensive word. But you must declare the plain, genuine gospel; and, +sooner or later, God will give you His blessing.</p> + +<p>“I am, your affectionate friend and brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">J. Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>Another, equally characteristic, was sent to Zechariah +Yewdall, stationed in “Glamorganshire” circuit, which extended +(from Llanelly in Wales to Calvert in Gloucestershire) +above a hundred miles, and was traversed regularly +every month. Mr. Yewdall was now in the second year of +his itinerancy, and, at Monmouth, had met with brutal +treatment.⁠<a id="FNanchor_374_374" href="#Footnote_374_374" class="fnanchor">[374]</a> The letter also refers to the principle involved +in Mr. M‘Nab’s affair.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</span> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>December 3, 1780</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—You mistake one thing. It is I, not the conference, +(according to the twelfth rule,) that station the preachers; but I +do it at the time of the conference, that I may have the advice of my +brethren. But I have no thought of removing you from the Glamorganshire +circuit; you are just in your right place. But you say, ‘Many of +the people are asleep.’ They are; and you are sent to awaken them out +of sleep. ‘But they are dead.’ True; and you are sent to raise the dead. +Good will be done at Monmouth⁠<a id="FNanchor_375_375" href="#Footnote_375_375" class="fnanchor">[375]</a> and Neath in particular. Where no +good can be done, I would leave the old, and try new places. But you +have need to be all alive yourselves, if you would impart life to others. +And this cannot be without much self denial.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Zachary, your affectionate brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_376_376" href="#Footnote_376_376" class="fnanchor">[376]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>After the conference at Bristol was concluded, Wesley +set out for Cornwall. Some time before this, Sir Harry +Trelawney, a student of Christ Church, Oxford, had become +a zealous revivalist, and had begun to preach at West Looe, +where, in 1777, he became the pastor of a congregation +of his own raising, and which worshipped in a meetinghouse +fitted up at his own expense. The novelty of the +proceeding, and the rank of the preacher, created great +excitement. Sir Harry, the descendant of one of the seven +bishops who were committed to the Tower in the reign of +James <abbr title="Two">II.</abbr>, was made the hero of a witty book, written by +a clergyman of the Church of England, and entitled, “The +Spiritual Quixote; or the History of Geoffry Wildgoose, +<abbr title="Esquire">Esq.</abbr>” 3 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>: 1773. The preaching baronet vindicated +his nonconformity in “A Letter addressed to the +<abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Thomas Alcock, Vicar of Runcorn.” For a time, +the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> John Clayton was his assistant, but, in 1778, +removed to the Weigh House congregation, in London. +Soon after, Sir Harry returned to Oxford; procured ordination +in the national establishment; was made a country +rector in the west of England; whilst his chapel at West +Looe was ignominiously changed into a house for converting +barley into malt. He died in 1834.</p> + +<p>It was about the time of Wesley’s visit to Cornwall, that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</span> +he wrote the subjoined letter. Sir Harry had been a +Calvinist, and had been patronised by the Countess of +Huntingdon’s connexion; but, having renounced his Calvinian +tenets, he was now regarded with disfavour. Some +communication had passed between him and Wesley on +the subject; Wesley knew his danger; and wrote to him as +follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“For a long time, I have had a desire to see you, but could not find +an opportunity. Indeed, I had reason to believe my company would +not be agreeable; as you were intimate with those who think they do +God service by painting me in the most frightful colours. It gives me +much satisfaction to find, that you have escaped out of the hands of those +warm men. It is not at all surprising, that they should speak a little +unkindly of you too in their turn. It gave me no small satisfaction +to learn from your own lips the falsehood of their allegation. I believed +it false before, but could not affirm it so positively as I can do now.</p> + +<p>“Indeed, it would not have been without precedent, if from one +extreme you had run into another. This was the case with that great +man, Dr. Taylor. For some years, he was an earnest Calvinist; but, +afterwards, judging he could not go far enough from that melancholy +system, he ran, not only into Arianism, but into the very dregs of +Socinianism.</p> + +<p>“You have need to be thankful on another account likewise; that is, +that your prejudices against the Church of England are removing. +Having had an opportunity of seeing several of the churches abroad, +and having deeply considered the several sorts of Dissenters at home, I +am fully convinced, that our own Church, with all her blemishes, is +nearer the scriptural plan than any other in Europe.</p> + +<p>“I sincerely wish you may retain your former zeal for God; only, that +it may be a zeal according to knowledge. But there certainly will be a +danger of your sinking into a careless, lukewarm state, without any +zeal or spirit at all. As you were surfeited with an irrational, unscriptural +religion, you may easily slide into no religion at all; or into +a dead form, that will never make you happy either in this world, or in +that which is to come.</p> + +<p>“Wishing every spiritual blessing, both to Lady Trelawney and you,</p> + +<p>“I am, dear sir, your affectionate servant,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_377_377" href="#Footnote_377_377" class="fnanchor">[377]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley, at the end of August, returned to Bristol, and +here he spent the month of September. He then set out +for London, which he reached on October 7. A week later +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_341">[Pg 341]</span> +he made a tour to Tunbridge Wells, and other towns in +Kent. After this, we find him, as usual, visiting the +societies in Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, and Bedfordshire. +The last month of the year was chiefly employed in +London. He read to the society, and explained, the Large +Minutes of conference, recently published; and wrote: “I +desire to do all things openly and above board. I would +have all the world, and especially all of our society, see not +only the steps we take, but the reasons why we take them.” +He visited Lord George Gordon in the Tower. He went +with some of his friends to the British Museum. He wrote +his well known sermon on “This is the true God and eternal +life,” fully establishing the doctrine which Joseph Benson, +at the conference, had been accused of denying—​the Divinity +of Christ.⁠<a id="FNanchor_378_378" href="#Footnote_378_378" class="fnanchor">[378]</a> He likewise wrote his “Thoughts upon Jacob +Behmen,” allowing the Teuton to be a good man, but +charging him with propounding “a crude, indigested philosophy, +supported neither by Scripture, nor reason, nor anything +but his own <i lang="la">ipse dixit</i>;” and with using “language that +was never used since the world began, queerness itself, +mere dog Latin.” “None,” says Wesley, “can understand +it without much pains, perhaps not without reading him +thrice over. I would not read him thrice over on any +consideration. (1) Because it would be enough to crack +any man’s brain to brood so long over such unintelligible +nonsense; and (2) because such a waste of time might +provoke God to give me up to a strong delusion to believe +a lie.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_379_379" href="#Footnote_379_379" class="fnanchor">[379]</a></p> + +<p>Wesley concludes the year with the following entry in +his journal. “Sunday, December 31—We renewed our +covenant with God. We had the largest company that I +ever remember; perhaps two hundred more than we had +last year. And we had the greatest blessing. Several +received either a sense of the pardoning love of God, or +power to love Him with all their heart.”</p> + +<p>Happy, happy old man! “I do not remember,” said +he, only nine days before the year 1780 was ended, “I do +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_342">[Pg 342]</span> +not remember to have felt lowness of spirits for one quarter +of an hour since I was born.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_380_380" href="#Footnote_380_380" class="fnanchor">[380]</a></p> + +<p>It only remains to notice Wesley’s publications in 1780; +and this shall be done as briefly as possible. His letters on +popery, his revised minutes of the conferences, and his +Thoughts upon Behmen, have been already mentioned. +Besides these, there were⁠—</p> + +<p>1. “Directions for Renewing our Covenant with God.” +<abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 23 pages.</p> + +<p>2. “Reflections on the Rise and Progress of the American +Rebellion.” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 96 pages.</p> + +<p>3. “The History of Henry, Earl Moreland.” Abridged. +2 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>.</p> + +<p>It has been already stated, that this was a novel, written +by Mr. Brooke, and originally published, in five <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, in 1766, +with the title, “The Fool of Quality.” Dr. Adam Clarke +once stated, that Mr. Brooke’s nephew declared to him, that, +“with the exception of a few touches of colouring, everything +in the book was founded in fact—​even the very incidents +were facts.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_381_381" href="#Footnote_381_381" class="fnanchor">[381]</a> This might be so; but still the colouring made +the work a fiction; and that an old evangelist, like Wesley, +bordering on fourscore years of age, should revise, abridge, +publish, and circulate a novel, has always been a perplexity to +a certain section of Wesley’s admirers. John Easton, one of +his itinerants, belonged to these. After John had very freely +condemned the conduct of his great leader, Wesley proposed +to him the following interrogations in reference to three of +the personages in this remarkable book.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p><i>Wesley.</i>—“Did you read Vindex, John?”</p> + +<p><i>Easton.</i>—“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p><i>W.</i>—“Did you <em>laugh</em>, John?”</p> + +<p><i>E.</i>—“No, sir.”</p> + +<p><i>W.</i>—“Did you read Damon and Pythias, John?”</p> + +<p><i>E.</i>—“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p><i>W.</i>—“Did you <em>cry</em>, John?”</p> + +<p><i>E.</i>—“No, sir.”</p> + +<p><i>W.</i>, lifting up his eyes, and clasping his hands, exclaimed: + “O earth—​earth—​earth!”⁠<a id="FNanchor_382_382" href="#Footnote_382_382" class="fnanchor">[382]</a></p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_343">[Pg 343]</span> +Whatever may be thought and said on the general subject +of novels and novel reading, all must admit, that “Henry, Earl +Moreland,” is one of the most unexceptionable ever published. +Wesley writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“I recommend it as the most excellent in its kind, that I have seen, +either in the English or any other language. The lowest excellence +therein is the style, which is not only pure in the highest degree, not +only clear and proper, every word being used in its true genuine meaning, +but frequently beautiful and elegant, and, where there is room for it, truly +sublime. But what is of far greater value is the admirable sense, which +is conveyed herein: as it sets forth in full view most of the important +truths, which are revealed in the oracles of God. And these are not only +well illustrated, but also proved in an easy, natural manner: so that the +thinking reader is taught, without any trouble, the most essential doctrines +of religion.</p> + +<p>“But the greatest excellence of all in this treatise is, that it continually +strikes at the heart. It perpetually aims at inspiring and increasing +every right affection. And it does this, not by dry, dull, tedious precepts, +but by the liveliest examples that can be conceived: by setting before +your eyes one of the most beautiful pictures, that was ever drawn in the +world. The strokes of this are so delicately fine, the touches so easy, +natural, and affecting, that I know not who can survey it with tearless +eyes, unless he has a heart of stone. I recommend it, therefore, to all +those who are already, or desire to be, lovers of God and man.”</p> +</div> + +<p>The whole of this is strictly accurate; and if this is not +enough to justify Wesley in the eyes of faultfinders, like +<i>earthy</i> John Easton, the task of doing so must be abandoned +as a hopeless one. Besides, it may be added, that, if Wesley +sinned, his successors copied his example; for, twenty-two +years after Wesley’s death, the conference book-room published +a fourth edition of the novel which Wesley first published +in 1780.</p> + +<p>4. “A Collection of Hymns for the use of the People called +Methodists.” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 520 pages.</p> + +<p>Up to this period, the hymns and the books used in Methodist +congregations had been endlessly varying; now Wesley +issued a book which, with slight alterations, has been used +from that time to this; and prefixed the preface which has +been read by millions; and from which, therefore, we must +content ourselves with quoting only the concluding hint, +which is far more needed now than even when first published.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Many gentlemen have done my brother and me (though without +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_344">[Pg 344]</span> +naming us) the honour to reprint many of our hymns. Now they are +perfectly welcome so to do, provided they print them just as they are. +But I desire they would not attempt to mend them; for they really are +not able. None of them is able to mend either the sense or the verse. +Therefore, I must beg of them one of these two favours: either to let +them stand just as they are, to take them for better for worse; or to add +the true reading in the margin, or at the bottom of the page; that we may +no longer be accountable either for the nonsense or for the doggerel of +other men.”</p> +</div> + +<p>5. Wesley’s only other publication, in 1780, was his <i>Arminian +Magazine</i>, <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, 683 pages.⁠<a id="FNanchor_383_383" href="#Footnote_383_383" class="fnanchor">[383]</a> The work contains Goodwin’s +Paraphrase on Romans <abbr title="nine">ix.</abbr>; an extract from Bird’s +“Fate and Destiny, inconsistent with Christianity;” lives of +Armelle Nicolas and Gregory Lopes; short accounts of +Thomas Lee, Alexander Mather, John Haime, Thomas +Mitchell, Thomas Taylor, Thomas Hanson, Thomas Hanby, +and John Mason. There are about fifty valuable letters; and +about seventy poetic pieces. Also Wesley’s “Thought on +Necessity,” and “Thoughts upon Taste.”</p> + +<p>To enlarge concerning these is superfluous. The volume +was quite equal to the former ones; though Wesley confesses, +that the portraits were not yet such as he desired; and declares, +that he will have better, or none at all.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_356_356" href="#FNanchor_356_356" class="label">[356]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1781, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 295.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_357_357" href="#FNanchor_357_357" class="label">[357]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1781, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 352.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_358_358" href="#FNanchor_358_358" class="label">[358]</a> As a specimen of popish jesuitry, it may be added, that O’Leary’s +Remarks upon Wesley’s Letter were first printed in six successive numbers +of the <cite>Freeman’s Journal</cite>; but were afterwards reprinted in London with +the following title, “Mr. O’Leary’s Remarks on the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Wesley’s +Letter in Defence of the Protestant Associations in England, to which +are prefixed Mr. Wesley’s Letters.” This was a popish deception, +intended, no doubt, to cast upon Wesley the odium incurred by the Protestant +Association during the Gordon riots. The truth is: (1) Wesley +had not written more than a few lines in defence of the appeal of that +Association. (2) His two replies to O’Leary, published in the <i>Freeman’s +Journal</i>, were suppressed in O’Leary’s pamphlet. (3) A spurious letter +was inserted, and palmed on the public as genuine, which Wesley +declared was not his, and one which he had never seen before O’Leary +printed it.—(<cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1781, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 295.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_359_359" href="#FNanchor_359_359" class="label">[359]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1853, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 785.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_360_360" href="#FNanchor_360_360" class="label">[360]</a> Manuscript.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_361_361" href="#FNanchor_361_361" class="label">[361]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1853, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 786.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_362_362" href="#FNanchor_362_362" class="label">[362]</a> Banning’s Memoirs (private circulation).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_363_363" href="#FNanchor_363_363" class="label">[363]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 379.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_364_364" href="#FNanchor_364_364" class="label">[364]</a> Jackson’s Life of C. Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 327.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_365_365" href="#FNanchor_365_365" class="label">[365]</a> Minutes of Methodist Conferences in America.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_366_366" href="#FNanchor_366_366" class="label">[366]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 137.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_367_367" href="#FNanchor_367_367" class="label">[367]</a> Whitehead’s Life of Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 392.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_368_368" href="#FNanchor_368_368" class="label">[368]</a> Dr. Coke, a young man of thirty-three, displayed, at this period, a fussy +officiousness, which scarcely redounded to his honour. He wrote to +Bradburn, to the effect, that he suspected that he also was an Arian; +though it was only four years before, that Thomas Taylor, at the London +conference, had blamed Bradburn for “preaching <em>too much</em> on the Divinity +of Christ, and for being <em>too warm against the Arians</em>.” (“Memoirs of +Bradburn,” <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 225.) In an unpublished letter, addressed to Bradburn, and +dated October, 1779, Wesley asks: “Is there any truth in the report that +John Hampson has converted you to Arianism?”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_369_369" href="#FNanchor_369_369" class="label">[369]</a> Benson’s Life, by Macdonald, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 108.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_370_370" href="#FNanchor_370_370" class="label">[370]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 137.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_371_371" href="#FNanchor_371_371" class="label">[371]</a> Manuscript letters.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_372_372" href="#FNanchor_372_372" class="label">[372]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1845, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 117.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_373_373" href="#FNanchor_373_373" class="label">[373]</a> Minutes, 1780.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_374_374" href="#FNanchor_374_374" class="label">[374]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1795, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 268.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_375_375" href="#FNanchor_375_375" class="label">[375]</a> Wesley’s words were verified. At Monmouth Mr. Yewdall was +mobbed by a bellowing rabble; but the society increased one third.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_376_376" href="#FNanchor_376_376" class="label">[376]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 10.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_377_377" href="#FNanchor_377_377" class="label">[377]</a> Whitehead’s Life of Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 395.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_378_378" href="#FNanchor_378_378" class="label">[378]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1781, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 189.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_379_379" href="#FNanchor_379_379" class="label">[379]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume nine">vol. ix.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 491.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_380_380" href="#FNanchor_380_380" class="label">[380]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1781, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 185.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_381_381" href="#FNanchor_381_381" class="label">[381]</a> Everett’s Life of Clarke.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_382_382" href="#FNanchor_382_382" class="label">[382]</a> Ibid.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_383_383" href="#FNanchor_383_383" class="label">[383]</a> I am not quite sure of this. In 1780, a <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr> tract of 12 pages was +published with the following title:—“Jesus, altogether Lovely: or, a Letter +to some of the Single Women of the Methodist Society. London: Printed +by R. Hawes; and sold at the New Chapel, in the City Road; and at the +<abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Wesley’s Preaching Houses, in town and country. 1780.” The +letter is dated, “Hoxton, March 10, 1763.” It enforces chastity, poverty, +and obedience; and is written in a style strongly resembling Wesley’s.</p></div></div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_345">[Pg 345]</span></p> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="1781">1781.</h2> +<hr class="short"> +<p class="center">Age 78</p></div> + +<p class="p2 drop-cap"><span class="smcap">Wesley</span> purposed to visit Ireland in 1781, but was +prevented doing so; and, hence, the months he +was accustomed to spend in that island were spent in an +irregular itinerancy through England and Wales. He now +entered on the seventy-ninth year of his age; and, to obtain +something like a correct idea of his amazing energy and toil, +it may be useful to trace his footsteps more minutely than we +have been wont to do during the last few years.</p> + +<p>He writes: “January 1, 1781—We began, as usual, the +service at four” (in the morning) “praising Him who, maugre all +our enemies, had brought us safe to the beginning of another +year.”</p> + +<p>At this period, his nephews, Charles and Samuel Wesley, +were attracting great attention by their musical performances. +They had won the friendship of the great musical composers, +Dr. Boyce, Dr. Nares, and Dr. Burney. Lords Le Despencer, +Barrington, Aylesford, Dudley, and others, were enraptured +with them. The Earl of Mornington, for some years, breakfasted +weekly with them. Dr. Howard, the distinguished +organist, declared concerning Samuel, that he seemed to have +“dropped down from heaven.” Charles was introduced to +George <abbr title="Three">III.</abbr>, with whom he became a great favourite. The +result of this unparalleled popularity was the institution, in +Wesley’s brother’s house, of the series of select concerts, +already referred to, which were continued for several years, +the regular subscribers varying in number from thirty to fifty, +though eighty persons were often present; including not a +few of the English nobility, besides the Bishop of London, +and the Danish and Saxon ambassadors. On January 25, +Wesley was there, and wrote: “I spent an agreeable hour +at a concert of my nephews. But I was a little out of my +element among lords and ladies. I love plain music and +plain company best.”</p> + +<p>It was during this brief sojourn in London, in the beginning +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_346">[Pg 346]</span> +of 1781, that Wesley wrote his stinging sermon on “Little +children, keep yourselves from idols”;⁠<a id="FNanchor_384_384" href="#Footnote_384_384" class="fnanchor">[384]</a> and his able discourse +on, “For this purpose was the Son of God manifested, that +He might destroy the works of the devil.” In the former +he terribly belabours the man of business, who retires from the +activities of town to the laziness of country life, where his +only employment is altering, enlarging, rebuilding, or decorating +the old mansion house he has purchased, and improving +the stables, outhouses, and grounds, without ever thinking of +the God of heaven any more than he thinks of the king of +France. In the latter sermon, he strikes a heavy blow at the +heresy of Dr. Watts, which Benson, at the conference of +1780, had been accused of embracing. He writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“I cannot at all believe the ingenious dream of Dr. Watts, concerning +the glorious humanity of Christ, which he supposes to have existed before +the world began, and to have been endued with, I know not what, +astonishing powers. Nay, I look upon this to be an exceeding dangerous, +yea, mischievous hypothesis; as it quite excludes the force of very many +Scriptures, which have been hitherto thought to prove the Godhead of the +Son. And, I am afraid, it was the grand means of turning that great man +aside from the faith once delivered to the saints; that is, if he was turned +aside, if that beautiful soliloquy be genuine, which is printed among his +posthumous works, wherein he so earnestly beseeches the Son of God not +to be displeased, because he cannot believe Him to be coequal and coeternal +with the Father.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Both these sermons enriched the <cite>Arminian Magazine</cite> for +1781. In fact, it is to the establishment of that periodical, +that we are indebted for many of the most elaborated sermons +that Wesley ever published. Besides the two above mentioned, +Wesley, during the year 1781, wrote at least three others. +His sermon on “Zeal” is a remarkable production, and was +not inappropriate to the circumstances of a period when so +much excitement existed concerning popery. He says:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Fervour for <em>opinion</em> is not Christian zeal. How innumerable are the +mischiefs which this species of false zeal has occasioned in the Christian +world! How many of the excellent of the earth have been cut off, by +zealots, for the senseless opinion of transubstantiation! Fervour for +<em>indifferent things</em> is not Christian zeal. How warmly did Bishop Ridley, +and Bishop Hooper, and other great men of that age, dispute about +the <em>sacerdotal vestments</em>! How eager was the contention, for almost a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_347">[Pg 347]</span> +hundred years, for and against wearing a surplice! Oh, shame to man! +I would as soon have disputed about a straw, or a barleycorn!”⁠<a id="FNanchor_385_385" href="#Footnote_385_385" class="fnanchor">[385]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>Another of his homilies, written in 1781,⁠<a id="FNanchor_386_386" href="#Footnote_386_386" class="fnanchor">[386]</a> was his able +discourse on the province of reason in matters of religion; +and another was his unique sermon on “The Brute Creation,” +in which he unhesitatingly propounds the doctrine, not only +that the brute creation will live again, but likewise, that, +when restored, they will possess a far higher state of being +than they possess at present; in fact, that they will then be +made what beasts, birds, insects, and fishes were when first +created.⁠<a id="FNanchor_387_387" href="#Footnote_387_387" class="fnanchor">[387]</a> This may seem a wild theory for an octogenarian +to advance; but it deserves more attention, on that account, +than if it had been an imaginative rocket let off by a stripling +in his teens.</p> + +<p>While on the subject of sermons, it may be added, that it +was now Wesley published, in his <cite>Arminian Magazine</cite>, +his remarkable discourse on the “Danger of Riches,”—the +first of a series on that subject, which he continued to issue +to the end of life, and in which wealthy Methodists and others +are lashed with terrific power. “I do not remember,” says he, +“that in threescore years I have heard one sermon preached +on this subject. And what author, within the same term, has +declared it from the press? I do not know one. I have seen +two or three who just touch upon it; but none that treat +of it professedly. I have myself frequently touched upon it +in preaching, and twice in what I have published to the +world: once in explaining our Lord’s sermon on the mount, +and once in the discourse on the mammon of unrighteousness. +But I have never yet either published or preached +any sermon expressly upon the subject. It is high time +I should; that I should at length speak as strongly and +explicitly as I can, in order to leave a full and clear testimony +behind me, whenever it pleases God to call me hence.”</p> + +<p>One extract from this striking sermon must suffice.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“O ye Methodists, hear the word of the Lord! I have a message +from God to all men; but to <em>you</em> above all. For above forty years, I +have been a servant to you and to your fathers. And I have not been +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_348">[Pg 348]</span> +as a reed shaken by the wind; I have not varied in my testimony. I +have testified to you the very same thing, from the first day even until +now. But <em>who hath believed our report</em>? I fear not many rich. I fear +there is need to apply to some of <em>you</em> those terrible words of the apostle: +‘Go to now, ye rich men! Weep and howl for the miseries which shall +come upon you. Your gold and silver is cankered, and the rust of +them shall witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire.’ +Certainly it will, unless you both save all you can, and give all you can. +But who of you hath considered this, since you first heard the will of the +Lord concerning it? Who is now determined to consider and practise +it? By the grace of God, begin to-day!</p> + +<p>“O ye <em>lovers of money</em>, hear the word of the Lord! Suppose ye, that +money, though multiplied as the sand of the sea, can give you happiness? +Then you are <em>given up to a strong delusion, to believe a lie</em>—a +palpable lie, confuted daily by a thousand experiments. Open your eyes. +Look all around you! Are the richest men the happiest? Have those +the largest share of content, who have the largest possessions? Is not +the very reverse true? Is it not a common observation, that the richest +of men are, in general, the most discontented, the most miserable? Had +not the far greater part of them more content, when they had less money? +Look into your own breasts. If you are increased in goods, are you proportionably +increased in happiness? You have more substance; but have +you more content? You know the contrary. You know that, in seeking +happiness from riches, you are only striving to drink out of empty cups. +And let them be painted and gilded ever so finely, they are empty still.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Before we recur to Wesley’s journal, an unpublished letter +may be acceptable.</p> + +<p>The preachers now labouring in the Sheffield circuit were +James Rogers, Alexander M‘Nab, and Samuel Bardsley. Mr. +Rogers writes: “One of my fellow labourers did not lovingly +draw in the same yoke, and soon after left the connexion. +The uneasiness occasioned in the society by his disaffection, +for some months, threatened us with disagreeable consequences; +and our enemies expected a considerable division +among us; but ‘He that sitteth above the waterfloods’ +found means to prevent it. So that instead of losing in +our number, we found, at the end of the year, an increase +of ninety-seven members.”</p> + +<p>Of course, this refers to Alexander M‘Nab, who had +rebelled against Wesley’s authority in 1779. Samuel +Bardsley was a man of peace, and, moreover, one of the +most laborious preachers Wesley had. Besides his pulpit +labours, he had rendered great service to the Sheffield society, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_349">[Pg 349]</span> +by a preaching excursion, undertaken for the purpose of +obtaining subscriptions for their chapel. His collecting book +is before us, with a list of the collections he made, and the +donations he obtained, in a tour extending from Sheffield to +York, thence to Hull, and thence, along the east coast, to +Newcastle on Tyne. Altogether, he gathered the sum of +<abbr title="89 pounds">£89</abbr> 15<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 11<abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr>; and, in doing this, made thirty-one public +collections, amounting, in the aggregate, to <abbr title="30 pounds">£30</abbr> 15<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 6¾<abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr>, +and begged the balance of <abbr title="59 pounds">£59</abbr> 0<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 4¼<abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr>, of considerably more +than three hundred different subscribers, including in this +number the inhabitants of not fewer than forty-four towns +and villages, whose munificent donations are lumped together. +When Bardsley had completed his tour, Wesley wrote him as +follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Near London</span>, <i>February 10, 1781</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Sammy</span>,—I did not doubt but you would agree with the +people of Sheffield. They are a loving and affectionate people. I am +glad you were so successful in your labour of love for them. That +assistance was very seasonable.</p> + +<p>“That misunderstanding, which was troublesome for a season, may +now be buried for ever. I am perfectly well satisfied, both of the honesty +and affection, both of brother Woodcroft and brother Birks. So Satan’s +devices are brought to nought.</p> + +<p>“I doubt not but James Rogers and you recommend our books in every +place, and the magazines in particular, which will be a testimony for me, +when I am no more seen.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Sammy, your affectionate brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_388_388" href="#Footnote_388_388" class="fnanchor">[388]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>On the 12th of February, Wesley set out on a week’s +excursion to Norfolk and back again to London, preaching +at least ten sermons on the way;⁠<a id="FNanchor_389_389" href="#Footnote_389_389" class="fnanchor">[389]</a> and, in wintry weather, +travelling more than two hundred miles.</p> + +<p>Having spent a few more days in London, he then started, +on Sunday, March 4, (as he thought,) for Ireland, but spent a +fortnight in the vicinity of Bath and Bristol. Leaving +Bristol on March 19, eleven days were occupied in reaching +Manchester, during which he preached more than twenty +sermons, some of them in the open air.</p> + +<p>On March 30, he opened the chapel in Oldham Street, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_350">[Pg 350]</span> +Manchester. He writes: “Friday, March 30—I opened the +new chapel at Manchester, about the size of that in London. +The whole congregation behaved with the utmost seriousness. +I trust much good will be done in this place. Sunday, April 1—I +began reading prayers at ten o’clock. Our country friends +flocked in from all sides. At the communion was such a sight +as I am persuaded was never seen in Manchester before: +eleven or twelve hundred communicants at once; and all of +them fearing God.”</p> + +<p>Thus began the history of a building, which, next to the +chapel in City Road, is the most interesting Methodist +edifice in existence. First of all, the Manchester Methodists +had been located in a miserable room on or near the present +site of Bateman’s Buildings. Removing thence, in 1750, they +worshipped for thirty years in their first chapel, which, up to +a recent period, was a warehouse in Birchin Lane.⁠<a id="FNanchor_390_390" href="#Footnote_390_390" class="fnanchor">[390]</a> Among +the first members, in that old chapel, were: Mary Bromley, +for seventy years a Methodist, who died happy in God, at the +age of eighty-nine, in 1826:—Mrs. Leech, an upright follower +of Christ, who expired in the full assurance of a blessed +immortality in 1770:—John Morris, whose autobiography, in +the <cite>Arminian Magazine</cite> for 1795, will be found to be full of +more than romantic interest:—Mr. Fildes, who, in the same +year in which Raikes began his work at Gloucester, opened a +Sunday-school in a Manchester cellar, a second in a garret, +and a third in the first room in Manchester built expressly +for Sunday-school purposes, a room erected at Mr. Fildes’ +own expense, behind his own dwelling house, in the neighbourhood +of London Road:⁠<a id="FNanchor_391_391" href="#Footnote_391_391" class="fnanchor">[391]</a>—Adam Oldham, a feltmaker, +one of the first trustees of Birchin Lane chapel,⁠<a id="FNanchor_392_392" href="#Footnote_392_392" class="fnanchor">[392]</a> who lived in a +house on the site which the Albion Hotel now occupies, for many +years a useful Methodist,⁠<a id="FNanchor_393_393" href="#Footnote_393_393" class="fnanchor">[393]</a> but afterwards a rich backslider, to +whom Oldham Street owes its name:—Richard Barlow, who, +for sixty-five years, rose at half-past four in summer, and at +five in winter:—Mr. Brierley, a member of Peter Kenworthy’s +class, the leading singer in Oldham Street chapel, and afterwards +a magistrate:—John Moseley, a poor hatter in Millgate, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_351">[Pg 351]</span> +the grandfather of Sir Oswald Moseley, from whom +Moseley Street derived its name:—and Mrs. Bennett, a +relative of John Moseley’s, and the first female classleader in +Manchester.⁠<a id="FNanchor_394_394" href="#Footnote_394_394" class="fnanchor">[394]</a> We wish we had space for details respecting +these old Manchester Methodist worthies, who deserve far +more honourable record than they have yet received.</p> + +<p>From Manchester, Wesley went to Bolton, where he writes: +“The society here are true, original Methodists. They are +not conformed to the world, either in its maxims, its spirit, or +its fashions; but are simple followers of the Lamb; consequently +they increase both in grace and number.”</p> + +<p>This was a high compliment to pay to George Escrick and +his friends. Their old chapel in New Acres had been converted +into cottages; and, in 1776, they had built another in +Ridgway Gates, though not without a united and great effort. +The <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Fowles, a clergyman, had the management of +a sandbed from which they had to obtain their sand; and +hearing of their intentions, he announced, that, after the +expiration of five days, the sand would be charged half-a-crown +a load. This, to the poor Methodists, was a serious +matter; but George Escrick was a man of too much +energy to be easily defeated. Accordingly, he, at once, +requested all the Methodists, young and old, strong and +feeble, active and otherwise, to repair with him to the +sandpit, and to dig and convey away all the sand they +needed. To a man, they obeyed George’s injunction, and, in +a single day, got as much as their intended chapel was +likely to require. Michael Fenwick was then their preacher, +and kept running over the half-a-mile distance, between the +site of the new chapel and the clerical sandbed, encouraging +the people in their task, and, at one time, wanting to sing the +hymn beginning with “Before Jehovah’s awful throne”; but +blunt George Escrick, the weaver, imperatively stopped his +spiritual superior, telling him to take a spade in his hand, for +there was a time for all things, and this was a time to dig.</p> + +<p>In this old Ridgway Gates chapel, William Grime used to +conduct a band meeting every Sunday morning at four +o’clock; and, beneath it, Parson Greenwood, one of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_352">[Pg 352]</span> +circuit preachers, whose only home was two neighbouring +attics, used to keep his victuals.⁠<a id="FNanchor_395_395" href="#Footnote_395_395" class="fnanchor">[395]</a> The head of the circuit +was Liverpool, and the following were the munificent sums +contributed quarterly, by the several societies, in 1776, when +the chapel was completed. Liverpool, <abbr title="5 pounds">£5</abbr> 8<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 9<abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr>; Bolton, +<abbr title="7 pounds">£7</abbr> 14<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 7<abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr>; Preston, 11<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr>; Wigan, <abbr title="1 pound">£1</abbr> 10<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr>; Meols, 11<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr>; Top +of Coal Pits, 17<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr>; Edgeworth, 10<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 6<abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr>; Moulden Water, +7<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr>; Shackerley, 10<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr>; Aspul Moor, 7<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr>; Chowbent, 10<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 6<abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr>; +Warrington, <abbr title="1 pound">£1</abbr> 1<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr>; Northwich, <abbr title="1 pound">£1</abbr> 1<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr>; Budworth, 12<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 3<abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr>; +Little Leigh, <abbr title="1 pound">£1</abbr> 9<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 6<abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr>; and Lamberhead Green, 7<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 6<abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr> +Such was Liverpool circuit in 1776; and, out of these +Methodist contributions, three Methodist preachers and their +families had to be supported. No wonder that the cupboard, +beneath the pulpit of the old chapel, was big enough to serve +Parson Greenwood for a pantry.</p> + +<p>From Bolton, Wesley went to Wigan, and preached a +funeral sermon for Betty Brown, one of the first members of +Wigan society, “beloved of God, the delight of His children, +a dread to wicked men, and a torment to devils.”</p> + +<p>Leaving Wigan, Wesley proceeded to Chester, and thence +to Alpraham, where he did for “good old sister Cawley, a +mother in Israel, and a pattern of all good works,” what he +had done for Betty Brown. Arriving at Warrington, he says: +“I put a stop to a bad custom, which was creeping in here: +a few men, who had fine voices, sang a psalm which no +one knew, in a tune fit for an opera, wherein three, four, or +five persons sung different words at the same time! What +an insult upon common sense! What a burlesque upon public +worship! No custom can excuse such a mixture of profaneness +and absurdity.”</p> + +<p>Desiring to reach Ireland as soon as possible, Wesley embarked +at Liverpool, on the 12th of April; but, on getting +out to sea, was overtaken with a storm; and, in an hour, was +so affected as he had not been for forty years before. For +two days, he was unable to swallow anything solid larger than +a pea, and was bruised and sore from head to foot, and ill +able to turn himself in bed. The sea grew rougher; the +horses of Wesley and his companions became turbulent; and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_353">[Pg 353]</span> +the hatches were closed. Water, three feet in depth, was in +the hold; the ship refused to obey the helm, and was +furiously driving on lee shore. Wesley says: “I called our +brethren, Floyd, Snowden, and Bradford, to prayers; and we +found free access to the throne of grace. Soon after, we got, +I know not how, into Holyhead harbour, after being sufficiently +buffeted by the winds and waves for two days and +two nights. The more I considered, the more I was convinced, +it was not the will of God I should go to Ireland at +this time. So we went into the stage coach without delay, +and the next evening came to Chester.”</p> + +<p>Baffled in his purpose to visit Ireland, Wesley set out on a +preaching tour to Whitchurch, Shrewsbury, Brecon, Broseley, +Worcester, Brecknock, Carmarthen, Pembroke, Haverfordwest, +Tracoon, Newport, Narberth, Llanelly, Swansea, Neath, +Bridgend, Cowbridge, Cardiff, and Monmouth. On the 16th +of May, he got back to Worcester, having completed the +circuit in a month, and preached about thirty times.</p> + +<p>He now proceeded to Kidderminster, Salop, Whitchurch, +Nantwich, Northwich, and, on May 18, arrived in Manchester, +having preached each night and morning.</p> + +<p>At Manchester, he writes: “I preached a funeral sermon +for Mary Charlton, an Israelite indeed. From the hour that +she first knew the pardoning love of God, she never lost +sight of it for a moment. Eleven years ago, she believed that +God had cleansed her from all sin; and she showed, that +she had not believed in vain, by her holy and unblamable +conversation.”</p> + +<p>Molly Charlton was the sweetheart of good old Samuel +Bardsley, the only one he ever had. They wished to marry; +but the difficulty of providing for married preachers was so +great, that Wesley and Pawson interfered, and the nuptial +engagement was broken off. In four quarto manuscript +volumes, containing Bardsley’s diary, and in Pawson’s letter +concerning this business, and likewise the letter of poor +disappointed Molly (all in the writer’s possession), there are +some racy facts, and traits of personal character, which may +be given to the public at some future time.</p> + +<p>Leaving Manchester on May 21, Wesley made his way to +Warrington, Chowbent, Bolton, Kabb, Blackburn, and Preston.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_354">[Pg 354]</span> +In reference to the last mentioned place, he writes: “May +24—I went on to Preston, where the old prejudice seems to +be quite forgotten. The little society has fitted up a large +and convenient room, where I preached to a candid audience. +Every one seemed to be considerably affected.”</p> + +<p>Who was the founder of this little society? Twelve years +previous to Wesley’s visit, John Wood, one of the first +Methodists at Padiham, attended Preston sessions, to obtain +a licence to preach. Having granted it, one of the magistrates, +a clergyman, seeing a number of rude and noisy +people outside the sessions house, said to John, perhaps with +more sarcasm than sincerity: “There, go and reform that +crowd!” John bowed, thanked his worship for his licence, +left the court, entered the crowd in full authority, and +preached in peace.⁠<a id="FNanchor_396_396" href="#Footnote_396_396" class="fnanchor">[396]</a> Six years after this, in 1775, Samuel +Bradburn formed the first Methodist class in Preston;⁠<a id="FNanchor_397_397" href="#Footnote_397_397" class="fnanchor">[397]</a> and +now, in 1781, Martha Thompson, Roger Crane, William +Bramwell, of immortal memory, and a few others, had hired +an old calendering house, in Lord Street, for a place of +meeting, and had fairly begun a work in proud Preston, +which, despite the popery of the place, has grown into +one of the most prosperous societies in the kingdom.</p> + +<p>Wesley next proceeded to the Isle of Man, where he spent +eight days, “visited the island round, east, south, north, and +west”; preached, at least, a dozen times; and, in a population +of thirty thousand, found above two thousand Methodists, +with a score of “stout, well looking” local preachers, not +surpassed in England. “I was thoroughly convinced,” says +he, “that we have no such circuit as this, either in +England, Scotland, or Ireland. It is shut up from the +world; and, having little trade, is visited by scarce any +strangers. Here are no papists, no Dissenters of any kind, +no Calvinists, no disputers. Here is no opposition, either +from the governor, from the bishop, or from the bulk of the +clergy. One or two of them did oppose for a time; but +they seem now to understand better. So that we have now +rather too little than too much reproach. The natives are a +plain, artless, simple people; unpolished, that is, unpolluted; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_355">[Pg 355]</span> +few of them are rich or genteel; the far greater part, moderately +poor. The local preachers are men of faith and love, +knit together in one mind and one judgment. They speak +either Manx or English, and follow a regular plan, which the +assistant gives them monthly.”</p> + +<p>On leaving the Isle of Man, Wesley proceeded to Newcastle, +preaching, on the way, at Cockermouth, Ballantyne, +and Carlisle.</p> + +<p>Can it be that this flying evangelist was an old man of +nearly eighty? No wonder that he sometimes sang⁠—</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0b">“Oh that without one lingering groan</div> +<div class="verse indent2">I may the welcome word receive,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">My body with my charge lay down,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">And cease at once to work and live!”</div> +</div></div> + +<p>Without work, Wesley could not live. The following unpublished +letter, written at this period, is strongly characteristic +of the man. It was addressed to Samuel Bradburn, at +Keighley.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>June 16, 1781.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Sammy</span>,—We have no supernumerary preachers, except +John Furz, who is so from old age. If John Oliver lives till the conference, +and desires it, I suppose he may be upon the same footing. +The more exercise he uses, winter or summer, the more health he will +have. I can face the north wind at seventy-seven better than I could at +seven-and-twenty. But if you <em>moan over him</em>, you will kill him outright. +A word in your ear. I am but half pleased with Christopher Hopper’s +proceedings.⁠<a id="FNanchor_398_398" href="#Footnote_398_398" class="fnanchor">[398]</a> + I do not admire <em>fair weather preachers</em>. You must stop +local preachers who are loaded with debt. There are few healthier +places in England than Keighley. Neither Dublin nor Cork is to compare +with it. But have a care! or you will kill Betsy! Do not constrain +God to take her away!</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Sammy, your affectionate friend and brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley spent eight days at Newcastle, and in its vicinity, +and preached, at least, ten or a dozen times. He then visited +his societies between there and York. At Thirsk, in a +letter to his brother, Wesley wrote:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Thirsk</span>, <i>June 27, 1781</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Brother</span>,—This is the last day of my seventy-eighth year; +and (such is the power of God) I feel as if it were my twenty-eighth. +Next Saturday, I expect to be at Epworth; the second, at Boston; the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_356">[Pg 356]</span> +third, at Sheffield. I take the opportunity of a broken year, to visit +those parts of Lincolnshire, which I have not seen before, but once, these +twenty years.</p> + +<p>“From several, I have lately heard, that God has blessed your preaching. +See your calling! ‘Cease at once to work and live!’ Peace be +with all your spirits!</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span>”<a id="FNanchor_399_399" href="#Footnote_399_399" class="fnanchor">[399]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Two days after this, Wesley arrived at Epworth, and +wrote: “I have now preached thrice a day for seven days +following; but it is just the same as if it had been but one.” +Twelve days were spent in Lincolnshire, during which he +preached more than a score of sermons. Among other places, +Grantham was favoured with his ministry. He writes: +“July 9—I preached at Grantham, in the open air, for no +house would contain the congregation; and none made the +least disturbance.”</p> + +<p>At the village of Welby, the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> W. Dodwell was +minister; and, in his church, Wesley preached twice on the +day before he preached at Grantham. Mr. Dodwell was +the pastor of Welby parish for nearly half a century, and +died in 1824, when he presented, by deed of gift, <abbr title="10 thousand pounds">£10,000</abbr> +to the Wesleyan Missionary Society, and an equal sum to +the British and Foreign Bible Society.⁠<a id="FNanchor_400_400" href="#Footnote_400_400" class="fnanchor">[400]</a> He was present at +Wesley’s conference of preachers in 1782.⁠<a id="FNanchor_401_401" href="#Footnote_401_401" class="fnanchor">[401]</a></p> + +<p>After visiting many other societies in Lincolnshire during +the next ten days, Wesley, on July 23, “passed into Yorkshire,” +and preached at Yeadon, Bradford, Halifax, Greetland, +Huddersfield, Longwood House, Mirfield, Daw Green, Birstal, +Tadcaster, York, Malton, Scarborough, Beverley, Hull, and +Pocklington; and, at the beginning of August, arrived in +Leeds, for the purpose of holding his annual conference; but, +before giving an account of its proceedings, two letters to +two ladies, both written on the same day, will be acceptable. +The first was to his niece, Miss Sarah Wesley, then a young +lady about twenty—​afterwards a personal friend of a large +and distinguished literary circle, including Mrs. Hannah +More, Miss Porter, Miss Aikin, Miss Edgeworth, Mrs. Barbauld, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_357">[Pg 357]</span> +and others,—and who died in 1828, at the age of +sixty-eight, some of her last words being, “I have peace, but +not joy.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_402_402" href="#Footnote_402_402" class="fnanchor">[402]</a></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Near Leeds</span>, <i>July 17, 1781</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Sally</span>,—Without an <em>endeavour</em> to please God, and to give +up our own will, we never shall attain His favour. But till we have attained +it, till we have the Spirit of adoption, we cannot actually give up +our own wills to Him. Shall I tell you freely what I judge to be the grand +hindrance to your attaining it? Yea, to your attaining more health both +of body and mind than you have ever had, or, at least, for a long season? +I believe it is, what very few people are aware of, intemperance in sleep. +All are intemperate in sleep, who sleep more than nature requires; and how +much it does require is easily known. There is, indeed, no universal rule,—none +that will suit all constitutions. But, after all the observations and +experience I have been able to make for upwards of fifty years, I am +fully persuaded that men, in general, need between six and seven hours’ +sleep in twenty-four; and women, in general, a little more,—namely between +seven and eight.</p> + +<p>“But what ill consequences are there in lying longer in bed,—suppose +nine hours in four-and-twenty?</p> + +<p>“1. It hurts the body. Whether you sleep or no, (and, indeed, it commonly +prevents sound sleep,) it, as it were, soddens and parboils the flesh, +and sows the seeds of numerous disorders; of all nervous diseases in +particular, as weakness, faintness, lowness of spirits, nervous headaches, +and consequent weakness of sight.</p> + +<p>“2. It hurts the mind; it weakens the understanding; it blunts the +imagination; it weakens the memory; it dulls all the nobler affections. +It takes off the edge of the soul, impairs its vigour and firmness, and +infuses a wrong softness, quite inconsistent with the character of a good +soldier of Jesus Christ. It grieves the Holy Spirit of God, and prevents, +or, at least, lessens, those blessed influences which tend to make you, not +almost, but altogether, a Christian.</p> + +<p>“I advise you, therefore, from this day forward, not trusting in yourself, +but in Him that raiseth the dead, to take exactly so much sleep as nature +requires. If you need between seven and eight hours, then, in the name +of God, begin this very night, in spite of all temptation to the contrary. +Lie down at ten o’clock, and rise between five and six, whether you sleep +or no. If your head aches in the day, bear it. In a week you will sleep +sound. If you can take this advice, you may receive more from,</p> + +<p>“My dear Sally, yours most affectionately,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_403_403" href="#Footnote_403_403" class="fnanchor">[403]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>The other letter was addressed to Miss Bishop, who became +a Methodist about the year 1767, and who, from that time, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_358">[Pg 358]</span> +had been one of Wesley’s correspondents. Many of his most +spiritual letters were written to this Christian lady, who, +though poor, was a gentlewoman. For some years, she had +kept a school in Bath or its neighbourhood; but, in 1777, had +been seized with spitting of blood, and had been thrown upon +the kindness of her friends in Bristol.⁠<a id="FNanchor_404_404" href="#Footnote_404_404" class="fnanchor">[404]</a> Recently, however, +she had commenced another school at Keynsham, which, said +Wesley, “is worthy to be called a Christian school;”⁠<a id="FNanchor_405_405" href="#Footnote_405_405" class="fnanchor">[405]</a> though, +it would seem, some of the Bristol people wished to make it +more fashionable than Wesley liked.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Near Leeds</span>, <i>July 17, 1781</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Sister</span>,—If I live to meet the society in Bristol again, I +shall kill or cure the fault of those unwise and unkind parents, who make +their children finer than themselves. I shall make their ears tingle. As +to you, I advise you, first, to be a Bible Christian yourself, inwardly and +outwardly. Be not a hair’s breadth more conformable to the fashions of +the world than you were when I saw you last. Then, train up your +children in the selfsame way. Say to them, with all mildness and firmness, +‘Be ye followers of me, even as I am of Christ.’ Whoever is pleased or +displeased, keep to this; to <em>Christian, primitive simplicity</em>. Perhaps you +will at first lose some scholars thereby; but regard it not: God will provide +you more. And be assured, nothing shall be wanting that is in the +power of,</p> + +<p>“My dear sister, your affectionate friend and brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_406_406" href="#Footnote_406_406" class="fnanchor">[406]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Two or three other letters may be given here. The first is +copied from the original now before us, and, we believe, has +not before been published.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Near Leeds</span>, <i>July 25, 1781</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—As long as you give yourself up to God without +reserve, you may be assured He will give you His blessing. Indeed, +you have already received a thousand blessings; but the greatest of all is +yet behind,—Christ in a sinless heart, reigning the Lord of every motion +there. It is good for you to hold fast what you have attained, and to be +continually aspiring after this. And you will never find more life in your +own soul than while you are earnestly exhorting others to go on to perfection. +Many will blame you for doing it; but regard not that. Go on, +through honour and dishonour. <em>This one thing I do</em>, is your motto; I +will save my own soul and them that hear me.</p> + +<p>“I am, your affectionate brother,</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">J. Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_359">[Pg 359]</span> +Wesley had told his niece, that, if she took his advice with +respect to sleep, she might hear from him again. It seems, +the advice was adopted; hence the following letter, written +seven weeks after the former one.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Bristol</span>, <i>September 4, 1781</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Sally</span>,—It is certain the Author of our nature designed +that we should not destroy, but regulate, our desire for knowledge. What +course you may take in order to this, I will now briefly point out.</p> + +<p>“1. You want to know God, in order to enjoy Him in time and eternity.</p> + +<p>“2. All you want to know of Him is contained in one book, the +Bible. And all that you learn is to be referred to this, either directly +or remotely.</p> + +<p>“3. Would it not be well, then, to spend, at least, an hour a day in +reading and meditating on the Bible? reading, every morning and evening, +a portion of the Old and New Testament, with the Explanatory +Notes?</p> + +<p>“4. Might you not read two or three hours in the morning, and one or +two in the afternoon? When you are tired of severer studies, you may +relax your mind by history or poetry.</p> + +<p>“5. The first thing you should understand a little of is grammar. You +may read first Kingswood English Grammar, and then Bishop Lowth’s +Introduction.</p> + +<p>“6. You should acquire, if you have not already, some knowledge of +arithmetic. Dilworth’s Arithmetic would suffice.</p> + +<p>“7. For geography, I think you need only read over Randal’s or +Guthrie’s Geographical Grammar.</p> + +<p>“8. Watts’ Logic is not a very good one; but I believe you cannot find +a better.</p> + +<p>“9. In natural philosophy, you have all that you need to know in the +‘Survey of the Wisdom of God in Creation.’ But you may add the +Glasgow abridgment of Mr. Hutchinson’s works.</p> + +<p>“10. With any, or all, of the foregoing studies, you may intermix that +of history. You may begin with Rollin’s Ancient History; and afterwards +read, in order, the Concise History of the Church, Burnet’s History +of the Reformation, the Concise History of England, Clarendon’s History +of the Rebellion, Neal’s History of the Puritans, his History of New +England, and Robertson’s History of America.</p> + +<p>“11. In metaphysics, you may read Locke’s Essay on the Human +Understanding, and Malebranche’s Search after Truth.</p> + +<p>“12. For poetry, you may read Spenser’s Fairy Queen, and select parts +of Shakspeare, Fairfax, or Hoole; Godfrey of Bouillon, Paradise Lost, the +Night Thoughts, and Young’s Moral and Sacred Poems.</p> + +<p>“13. You may begin and end with divinity; in which I will only add, to +the books mentioned before, Bishop Pearson on the Creed, and the +Christian Library. By this course of study, you may gain all the knowledge +which any reasonable Christian needs. But remember, before all, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_360">[Pg 360]</span> +in all, and above all, your great point is, to know the only true God, and +Jesus Christ whom He hath sent.</p> + +<p>“I am, my dear Sally, your affectionate uncle,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_407_407" href="#Footnote_407_407" class="fnanchor">[407]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Though Miss Wesley was now in her twenty-first year, and +had yet to begin Kingswood English Grammar, still, assuming +that henceforward she acted upon the advice of her +venerable uncle, it is not surprising, that she ultimately +became the well informed woman which her father’s biographer +says she was. Her brother Charles was three years +older than herself; her brother Samuel six years younger. +The brothers were musical prodigies; their uncle took a +deep interest in their welfare; and wrote to Charles, on +August 4, and September 8, 1781, as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Charles</span>,—There is a debt of love, which I should have +paid before now; but I must not delay it any longer. I have long observed +you with a curious eye; not as a musician, but as an immortal +spirit, that is come forth from God the Father of spirits, and is returning +to Him in a few moments. But have you well considered this? Methinks, +if you had, it would be ever uppermost in your thoughts. For +what trifles, in comparison of this, are all the shining baubles in the world! +God has favoured you with many advantages. You have health, strength, +and a thousand outward blessings. And why should you not have all +inward blessings, which God hath purchased for those that love Him? +You are good humoured, mild, and harmless; but, unless you are born +again, you cannot see the kingdom of God! You are now, as it were, on +the crisis of your fate; just launching into life, and ready to fix your +choice, whether you will have God or the world for your happiness. You +cannot avoid being very frequently among elegant men and women, that +are without God in the world; but, as your <em>business</em>, rather than your +<em>choice</em>, calls you into the fire, I trust that you will not be burnt; seeing +He, whom you desire to serve, is able to deliver you, even out of the +burning fiery furnace.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Charles, your very affectionate uncle,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_408_408" href="#Footnote_408_408" class="fnanchor">[408]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Charles Wesley, junior, who had been already introduced to +the court of George <abbr title="Three">III.</abbr>, lived to become the organist of George +<abbr title="Four">IV.</abbr>, and the musical preceptor of the long lamented Princess +Charlotte. He never married; but resided, first with his +widowed mother, and then with his sister Sarah,—was a man +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_361">[Pg 361]</span> +of deep devotional feeling, an attendant at Methodist chapels, +a lover of Methodist preachers, and died, in 1834, humming +Handel’s music, and was buried in the same grave as his +father and mother in Marylebone churchyard. Poor Samuel +was seduced into the popish church before he arrived at the +age of twenty; and, thereby, brought the grey hairs of his +father with sorrow to the grave. He composed a high mass +for the use of the chapel of Pope Pius <abbr title="Six">VI.</abbr>, and received that +pontiff’s thanks.⁠<a id="FNanchor_409_409" href="#Footnote_409_409" class="fnanchor">[409]</a> Like many others, he found it an easy +step from popery to infidelity, and wrote: “In this life, my +only consolation is in the belief of fatalism, which, although +a gloomy asylum, is as bright as I can bear, till convinced of +that truth which a launch into the great gulf only can demonstrate.” +He survived his brother Charles and his sister +Sarah; in his last days became a penitent; died in 1837; and +was buried in the sepulchre of his parents.⁠<a id="FNanchor_410_410" href="#Footnote_410_410" class="fnanchor">[410]</a></p> + +<p>The conference of 1781 was a memorable gathering. It +was preceded, on Sunday, August 5, by a service in the +parish church, at Leeds, such as was probably never witnessed +within its walls, either before or since. Wesley preached; +eighteen clergymen, inclusive of himself, Coke, and Fletcher, +were present; and, at the Lord’s supper, there were about +eleven hundred communicants, the ordinance being administered +by Wesley and ten other ministers.⁠<a id="FNanchor_411_411" href="#Footnote_411_411" class="fnanchor">[411]</a></p> + +<p>Connexional affairs created anxiety. Thomas Taylor, in his +manuscript diary, remarks: “I feel much concern respecting +several things; but how to have them remedied I cannot tell. +Many things are exceedingly wrong; but whom to trust to +attempt amendment I know not. I sometimes think, the +whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.”</p> + +<p>Wesley writes: “August 6—I desired Mr. Fletcher, Dr. +Coke, and four more of our brethren, to meet every evening, +that we might consult together on any difficulty that occurred. +On August 7, our conference began, at which were present +about seventy preachers, whom I had severally invited to +come and assist me with their advice, in carrying on the great +work of God.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_362">[Pg 362]</span> +The burden of so many preachers being present was found +to be greater than the Leeds society could conveniently bear; +and it was agreed that every preacher should pay the expenses +of his horse keep during the conference sittings. There were +more preachers’ wives in the connexion than there were houses +to lodge them, or money to find them maintenance; and it was +resolved, that no more married preachers should be admitted, +except in cases of necessity.⁠<a id="FNanchor_412_412" href="#Footnote_412_412" class="fnanchor">[412]</a> Some of the preachers had +printed, both in verse and prose, without Wesley’s consent or +correction. Among others, James Kershaw had recently +issued a quarto sized book, of 134 pages, entitled, “The +Methodist; attempted in Plain Metre.” It was thought, +that these productions had brought a reproach upon the +Methodists, and had hindered the spreading of more profitable +books; and it was determined that, in future, no preacher +should print anything till it had been corrected by Wesley, +and that the profits thereof should go into the common stock. +Wesley’s Notes on the Old Testament had now been published +sixteen years, and yet the edition had not been sold. +To get rid of the remaining copies, it was directed that they +should be sold at half price.</p> + +<p>A number of Methodists at Baildon, in Yorkshire, had +written to Wesley, stating that, in accordance with his instructions, +they attended the services of their parish church; +but their minister preached what they considered to be “dangerously +false doctrine,” inasmuch as he publicly declared, +that men “must not hope to be perfected in love, on this side +eternity”; and this had made them doubt whether they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_363">[Pg 363]</span> +ought to hear him. Wesley laid their letter before the conference, +and, as the difficulty applied to many others besides +the Methodists at Baildon, he invited a friendly and free +discussion. It was unanimously agreed: (1) That it was +highly expedient, that all the Methodists, who had been bred +therein, should attend the service of the church as often as +possible. But that, (2) If the minister began either to preach +the absolute decrees, or to rail at, and ridicule Christian +perfection, they should quietly go out of the church; yet +attend it again the next opportunity.” Wesley adds: “I +have, since that time, revolved this matter over and over in +my mind; and the more I consider it, the more I am convinced, +this was the best answer that could be given. Only, I +must earnestly caution our friends not to be critical; not to +make a man an offender for a word; no, nor for a few sentences, +which any who believe the decrees may drop without +design.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_413_413" href="#Footnote_413_413" class="fnanchor">[413]</a> “It is a delicate and important point, on which I +cannot lay down any general rule. All I can say, at present, +is, if it does not hurt you, hear them; if it does, refrain. Be +determined by your own conscience.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_414_414" href="#Footnote_414_414" class="fnanchor">[414]</a></p> + +<p>But this was not all that occurred, on the Church question, +at the conference of 1781. One of the principal Methodists, +in Leeds, was William Hey, now in the forty-fifth year of his +age, a medical man of great repute, an intimate friend and +correspondent of Dr. Priestley, and who had been a Methodist +for seven-and-twenty years. Mr. Hey intimated to Wesley +his desire to address the conference, and to offer some suggestions +and advice; declaring, at the same time, that, if his proposals +were rejected, he could no longer remain a member of +the Methodist society. By Wesley’s permission he began to +read a paper, to the effect, that Dissenting ideas had been, for +many years, gradually growing among the Methodists. In +proof of this, he held that the Methodists preached in places +already supplied with pious ministers; that meetings in some +instances were held in church hours; that the intervals of +church service were so filled up with public and private assemblies, +that there was no time for suitable refreshment, nor +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_364">[Pg 364]</span> +opportunity for instructing families; that many of the largest +societies rarely went to church, and some never carried their +children there; and that church ministers, who formed societies +for private instruction, were looked upon with an envious eye. +Such were the complaints which Mr. Hey intended to lay +before the conference; but, as he proceeded, the marks of disapprobation +were such that Wesley interposed, and said: “As +there is much other business before us, brother Hey must +defer reading the remainder of his paper to another time.”</p> + +<p>Brother Hey forthwith left the society; a few months later +he was elected alderman; and, more than once, filled the +office of chief magistrate in the town of Leeds. Of his ability +and piety there can be no question; but Wesley was not prepared +to allow him to be the dictator of the Methodists.⁠<a id="FNanchor_415_415" href="#Footnote_415_415" class="fnanchor">[415]</a></p> + +<p>No sooner was the conference over than the venerable +Wesley again set out on his gospel wanderings. He preached +at Sheffield, and then, taking coach with Dr. Coke, travelled +day and night till he arrived in London. Two days were +spent in the metropolis, and then off he set, on Sunday night, +August 19, by coach to Cornwall. We need not follow him. +Suffice it to say, that, in eight days, he preached in Cornwall, +at least, thirteen sermons, five of them in the open air, and +one in Gwennap Pit, to a congregation computed at more +than twenty thousand people.</p> + +<p>On September 6, he got back to Bristol, in the neighbourhood +of which, according to his custom, he spent a month. +While here, he wrote the following characteristic letter to +Mr. Elijah Bush, a young schoolmaster at Midsomer Norton, +who wished to marry a lady to whom his father and mother +objected.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Coleford</span>, <i>September 11, 1781</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—I was much concerned yesterday, when I +heard you were likely to marry a woman against the consent of your +parents. I have never, in an observation of fifty years, known such a +marriage attended with a blessing. I know not how it should be, since it +is flatly contrary to the fifth commandment. I told my own mother, +pressing me to marry, ‘I dare not allow you a positive voice herein; I dare +not marry a person because you bid me. But I must allow you a negative +voice: I will marry no person if you forbid. I know it would be a sin +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_365">[Pg 365]</span> +against God.’ Take care what you do. Mr. S. is not a proper judge: he +hopes to separate you from the Methodists; and I expect, if you take +this step, that will be the end.</p> + +<p>“I am, your affectionate brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_416_416" href="#Footnote_416_416" class="fnanchor">[416]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Mr. Bush acted upon Wesley’s advice; became the leader +of the Midsomer Norton society, and a local preacher; and +died a faithful Methodist in 1845.⁠<a id="FNanchor_417_417" href="#Footnote_417_417" class="fnanchor">[417]</a></p> + +<p>There are other unhappy marriages besides those contrary +to the fifth commandment. Wesley’s was one. For thirty +years, he paid a fearful penalty for his rash act in 1751; but +now his matrimonial misery ended. Leaving Bristol on +October 7, and preaching on his way at Devizes, Sarum, +Winchester, and in the Isle of Wight, he arrived in London +on October 12, and, under the same date, wrote in his journal: +“I was informed my wife died on Monday.” (October 8.) +“This evening she was buried, though I was not informed of +it till a day or two after.”</p> + +<p>Mourning for such a wife would have been hypocrisy. +Three days after, on October 15, the widower set out to visit +his societies in Oxfordshire. On a similar errand, he went off +to Norfolk. On November 5, he began meeting the London +classes, and says: “I found a considerable increase in the +society. This I impute chiefly to a small company of young +persons, who have kept a prayer-meeting at five every +morning.” He then set out on his tours through Northamptonshire, +Huntingdonshire, Bedfordshire, Sussex, and +Kent, and concluded the year in London.</p> + +<p>The war still raged; English disasters were multiplied; the +ministry was tottering, and soon after fell; with which fall the +conflict in America concluded. It was at this period, that a +rumour gained credence, that the administration intended to +propose the embodying of the militia, and their being exercised +on Sundays. Wesley was an ardent friend of the ministry +of Lord North; and, of course, a staunch defender of the +sanctity of the sabbath. Accordingly, towards the close of +1781, he addressed the following letter to a nobleman, then +high in office.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_366">[Pg 366]</span> +<p>“<span class="smcap">My Lord</span>,—If I wrong your lordship, I am sorry for it; but I really +believe your lordship fears God: and I hope your lordship has no unfavourable +opinion of the Christian revelation. This encourages me to +trouble your lordship with a few lines, which otherwise I should not take +upon me to do.</p> + +<p>“Above thirty years ago, a motion was made in parliament for raising +and embodying the militia, and for exercising them, to save time, on +Sunday. When the motion was like to pass, an old gentleman stood up +and said: ‘Mr. Speaker, I have one objection to this: I believe an old +book, called the Bible,’ The members looked at one another, and the +motion was dropped.</p> + +<p>“Must not all others, who believe the Bible, have the very same objection? +And from what I have seen, I cannot but think, these are still +three fourths of the nation. Now, setting religion out of the question, is +it expedient to give such a shock to so many millions of people at once? +And certainly it would shock them extremely; it would wound them in a +very tender part. For would not they, would not all England, would not +all Europe, consider this as a virtual repeal of the Bible? And would +not all serious persons say, ‘We have little religion in the land now; but, +by this step, we shall have less still. For wherever this pretty show is +to be seen, the people will flock together; and will lounge away so much +time before and after it, that the churches will be emptier than they are +at present!’</p> + +<p>“My lord, I am concerned for this on a double account. First, +because I have personal obligations to your lordship, and would fain, +even for this reason, recommend your lordship to the love and esteem of +all over whom I have any influence. Secondly, because I now reverence +your lordship for your office sake, and believe it to be my bounden duty +to do all, that is in my little power, to advance your lordship’s influence +and reputation.</p> + +<p>“Will your lordship permit me to add a word in my old fashioned way? +I pray Him, that has all power in heaven and earth, to prosper all your +endeavours for the public good; and am, my lord, your lordship’s willing +servant,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_418_418" href="#Footnote_418_418" class="fnanchor">[418]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>For some reason, no such bill was introduced into +parliament. A few months later, Lord North and his +colleagues tendered to the king their resignation, and peace +negotiations were commenced.</p> + +<p>Before concluding the present year, it only remains to +notice Wesley’s publications in 1781.</p> + +<p>1. “An Extract of a Letter to the Right Honourable Lord +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_367">[Pg 367]</span> +Viscount <span class="lock">H——e</span>, on his Naval Conduct in the American +War.” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 27 pages.</p> + +<p>2. “A Concise Ecclesiastical History, from the Birth of +Christ to the Beginning of the present Century. In four +volumes.” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>. The proposals for printing this work by +subscription are now before us; from which it appears, that +the price of the four volumes, to subscribers, was ten shillings, +and that booksellers, subscribing for six copies, should have +a seventh gratis. The book, in fact, is Wesley’s abridgment +of Mosheim, to which is added, “A Short History of the +People called Methodists,” filling 112 printed pages, and +dated “London, November 16, 1781.”</p> + +<p>3. The <cite>Arminian Magazine</cite>. <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, 688 pages. In his +preface, Wesley says: “I dare not fill up any publication of +mine with bits and scraps, to humour any one living. It is +true, I am not fond of verbose writers, neither of very long +treatises. I conceive, the size of a book is not always the +measure of the writer’s understanding. Nay, I believe, if +angels were to write books, we should have very few folios. +But, neither am I fond of tracts, that begin and end before +they have cleared up anything.”</p> + +<p>Besides six original sermons, the principal article, in the +magazine of 1781 is Wesley’s own translation of Castellio’s +Dialogues on Predestination. There is a long and interesting +account of Kingswood school. Wesley writes:—“I +love the very sight of Oxford; but my prejudice in its +favour is considerably abated: I do not admire it as I once +did; and, whether I did or not, I am now constrained to make +a virtue of necessity.” He then refers to the expulsion, and +exclusion of students, because of their being Methodists; and +continues: “I am much obliged to Dr. Nowell and others, +for not holding me longer in suspense, but dealing so frankly +and openly. And, blessed be God! I can do all the business, +which I have in hand, without them. Honour or preferment +I do not want, any more than a feather in my cap; and I +trust, most of those who are educated at our school are, and +will be, of the same mind. As to the knowledge of the +tongues, and of arts and sciences, with whatever is termed +academical learning, if those who have a tolerable capacity for +them do not advance more at Kingswood in three years, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_368">[Pg 368]</span> +than the generality of students at Oxford and Cambridge do +in seven, I will bear the blame for ever.” He then meets +the objection, that young men could not have at Kingswood +the advantages they would have at the university, from +professors, tutors, public exercises, and company. He maintains, +that it would be no loss to the universities if all their +professorships were abolished. Some of the tutors, he +admits, were worthy of all honour, but many were utterly +unqualified for the work they had undertaken. As to the +public exercises, he himself had never “found them any +other than useless interruptions of useful studies.” As to +company, he writes: “It is most true, that the moment a +young man sets his foot either in Oxford or Cambridge, +he is surrounded with company of all kinds, except that +which will do him good; with loungers and triflers of every +sort; with men who no more concern themselves with learning +than with religion. Company, therefore, is usually so far from +being an advantage to those who enter at either university, +that it is the grand nuisance, as well as disgrace, of both; +the pit that swallows unwary youths by thousands. I bless +God! we have no such <em>choice of company at Kingswood</em>; nor +ever will, till my head is laid. There is no trifler, no lounger, +no drone there; much less any drunkard, sabbath breaker, +or common swearer. Whoever accounts this a disadvantage +may find a remedy at any college in Oxford or Cambridge.”</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_384_384" href="#FNanchor_384_384" class="label">[384]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1781, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 303.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_385_385" href="#FNanchor_385_385" class="label">[385]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1781, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 522.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_386_386" href="#FNanchor_386_386" class="label">[386]</a> Ibid. <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 636.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_387_387" href="#FNanchor_387_387" class="label">[387]</a> Ibid. 1782, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 69.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_388_388" href="#FNanchor_388_388" class="label">[388]</a> Original manuscript letter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_389_389" href="#FNanchor_389_389" class="label">[389]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1845, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 8.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_390_390" href="#FNanchor_390_390" class="label">[390]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1851, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 556.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_391_391" href="#FNanchor_391_391" class="label">[391]</a> Ibid, 1860, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 379.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_392_392" href="#FNanchor_392_392" class="label">[392]</a> Manuscript.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_393_393" href="#FNanchor_393_393" class="label">[393]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1782, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 331.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_394_394" href="#FNanchor_394_394" class="label">[394]</a> Manuscript.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_395_395" href="#FNanchor_395_395" class="label">[395]</a> Manuscript.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_396_396" href="#FNanchor_396_396" class="label">[396]</a> Manuscript.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_397_397" href="#FNanchor_397_397" class="label">[397]</a> Bradburn’s Memoirs, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 47.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_398_398" href="#FNanchor_398_398" class="label">[398]</a> Then at Colne, in the thirty-fourth year of his itinerancy.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_399_399" href="#FNanchor_399_399" class="label">[399]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 138.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_400_400" href="#FNanchor_400_400" class="label">[400]</a> “History of Methodism in Grantham.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_401_401" href="#FNanchor_401_401" class="label">[401]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 475.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_402_402" href="#FNanchor_402_402" class="label">[402]</a> Jackson’s Life of C. Wesley; and <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1828, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 719.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_403_403" href="#FNanchor_403_403" class="label">[403]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1844, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 288.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_404_404" href="#FNanchor_404_404" class="label">[404]</a> Manuscript letter by Miss March.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_405_405" href="#FNanchor_405_405" class="label">[405]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume four">vol. iv.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 207.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_406_406" href="#FNanchor_406_406" class="label">[406]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1807, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 471; and Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 36.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_407_407" href="#FNanchor_407_407" class="label">[407]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1846, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 452.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_408_408" href="#FNanchor_408_408" class="label">[408]</a> Ibid. 1844, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 562.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_409_409" href="#FNanchor_409_409" class="label">[409]</a> Life of C. Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 316.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_410_410" href="#FNanchor_410_410" class="label">[410]</a> <i>Wesley Banner</i>, 1851.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_411_411" href="#FNanchor_411_411" class="label">[411]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1829, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 528.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_412_412" href="#FNanchor_412_412" class="label">[412]</a> The following letter was written to Duncan Wright, assistant in +Yarm circuit, a few months later.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>November 24, 1781</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Duncan</span>,—Surely you and I may speak freely to each other; +for we love one another. If George Holder goes out, either you must +keep his mother, or she must go to the workhouse. You must not give an +exhortation to the bands, but encourage them to speak. I would be much +obliged to you if you would (1) accept the key of the book room, and +immediately take the books into your own care; (2) clip the wings of the +local preachers, stewards, and leaders, changing them as need requires; +(3) fix bands where they are wanting; (4) if James Bogie is willing to +remain single, let him travel; (5) do not receive the blind man hastily, +let him be thoroughly tried first; (6) be of good courage, and conquer +everything. I am, dear Duncan, etc., <span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”—(<cite>Watchman</cite>, +<abbr title="January">Jan.</abbr> 8, 1868.)</p> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_413_413" href="#FNanchor_413_413" class="label">[413]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1782, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 153.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_414_414" href="#FNanchor_414_414" class="label">[414]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 232.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_415_415" href="#FNanchor_415_415" class="label">[415]</a> Life of Hey.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_416_416" href="#FNanchor_416_416" class="label">[416]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1848, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 1055.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_417_417" href="#FNanchor_417_417" class="label">[417]</a> Ibid.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_418_418" href="#FNanchor_418_418" class="label">[418]</a> Whitehead’s Life of Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 400.</p></div></div> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_369">[Pg 369]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="1782">1782.</h2> +<hr class="short"> +<p class="center"> +Age 79</p></div> + +<p class="p2 drop-cap"><span class="smcap">As</span> usual, Wesley spent the first two months of the new +year in London. The most notable occurrence, during +this period, was the institution of a tract society,—the first +that was ever formed. The Religious Tract Society was +originated in 1799; Wesley’s, seventeen years previous to this. +We have before us an original document printed in 1783, +entitled, “A Plan of the Society, instituted in January, 1782, +to distribute Religious Tracts among the Poor.” The rules +are three. “1. Every member must subscribe half-a-guinea, +a guinea, or more, annually. 2. A proportionable quota of +tracts shall be delivered yearly to each subscriber, according +to his subscription, and, as nearly as possible, at prime cost, +and carriage paid. 3. Every subscriber shall have a right to +choose his own tracts, if he please; otherwise, he will receive +a proportionable variety of the whole.” After this follows a +list of thirty tracts already printed, all of them either written +or published by Wesley. Then there is subjoined the following: +“An Extract of the Original Proposals.”</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“I cannot but earnestly recommend this to all those who desire to see +true scriptural Christianity spread throughout these nations. Men wholly +unawakened will not take pains to read the Bible. They have no relish +for it. But a small tract may engage their attention for half-an-hour; +and may, by the blessing of God, prepare them for going forward.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>January 25, 1782</i>.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Though Wesley’s tract society does not now exist, in the +form in which it was instituted in 1782, it is a fact worth +noting, that, in 1867, Wesley’s book room, in City Road, sold +not fewer than one million five hundred and seventy thousand +tracts, all printed and published by itself;⁠<a id="FNanchor_419_419" href="#Footnote_419_419" class="fnanchor">[419]</a> and that the +number of its distinct and separate tract publications, in 1871, +is not less than 1250.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_370">[Pg 370]</span> +We have said, the Methodist Tract Society was the first +that was ever formed. It is true that, in 1699, “The Society +for Promoting Christian Knowledge” was founded; and, in +1750, “The Society for Promoting Religious Knowledge +among the Poor”; but, strictly speaking, neither of these was +a tract society. In this respect, as in others, Wesley was a +pioneer. As early as 1745, he speaks of “giving away some +thousands of little tracts among the common people”; and +long before 1782, had written, and published, besides a large +number of separate and short sermons, at least scores of +penny publications. And yet Mr. Jones, the corresponding +secretary of the Religious Tract Society, in his jubilee +volume of 700 pages, while professing to trace the origin of +tract distribution, entirely omits the name of Wesley, who +saw the value and the power of a tract more than fifty years +before the Religious Tract Society had a name. Was this +intentional? We trust not.</p> + +<p>On Sunday, the 3rd of March, Wesley took coach for +Bristol, where he spent the next fortnight. He then started +off on his long northern journey. On his way, he called at +Madeley, where “both Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher complained, +that, after all the pains they had taken, they could not prevail +on the people to join in society, no, nor even to meet in class.” +What the vicar and his new wife (Miss Bosanquet) failed to +do, Wesley accomplished. He preached two rousing sermons; +and “then desired those, who were willing to join together for +Christian fellowship, to call upon him and Mr. Fletcher after +service. Ninety-four persons did so: about as many men as +women.” Wesley adds: “We explained to them the nature +of a Christian society, and they willingly joined therein.”</p> + +<p>Wesley then proceeded to Congleton, where “the Calvinists +were striving to make havoc of the flock”; and to Macclesfield, +where he spent Good Friday and Easter Sunday. On +the former day, he preached twice, in the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> David Simpson’s +church; and, with his assistance, administered the +sacrament to about thirteen hundred persons; on the latter +day, he also preached twice in the same edifice; again +administered to eight hundred communicants; and, in the +evening, preached in the Methodist chapel, and held a lovefeast +at which sixteen or eighteen persons professed to live in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_371">[Pg 371]</span> +the enjoyment of the blessing of perfect love. “About forty,” +says Hester Ann Rogers, in the unpublished portion of her +diary, “made a noble confession.” Among these were herself, +George Bradock, Joseph Roe, John Booby, T. Ridgway, +Joseph Norberry, Billy Sharpley, S. Bradshaw, and John +Goostry; the last of whom Wesley ordered to stand on the +form, that the people might hear him. “Mr. Wesley,” continues +Mrs. Rogers, “kept the lovefeast two hours, a thing +which I never knew him do before; but his soul was filled +with thankfulness, for so many witnesses of redeeming love +and full salvation.”</p> + +<p>It would be tedious to mention all the places Wesley +visited. Suffice it to say, that, at Ashton under Lyne, he +preached in the new chapel, which had the following inscription +over the door: “Can any good come out of Nazareth? +Come and see!” At Oldham, “a whole troop of boys and +girls would not be contented till he shook each by the hand.” +At <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Helen’s, he preached in the house of Joseph Harris, +who had removed from Kingswood, “to take care of the +copper works.” At Wigan, he “saw an uncommon sight,—the +preaching house filled, yea, crowded.” At Epworth, +there had been a marvellous revival. At Thorne, fifty had +found peace with God within two months. At Edinburgh, he +was the guest of Lady Maxwell, and visited her school of +forty poor children, many of whom were without shoes; but +not a girl, in rags, was without her ruffles. At Kelso, he fell, +head foremost, down the stairs of Dr. Douglas’s house, but +mercifully escaped without serious injury.⁠<a id="FNanchor_420_420" href="#Footnote_420_420" class="fnanchor">[420]</a> At York, he +entered into his eightieth year, and wrote: “Blessed be God! +my time is not labour and sorrow. I find no more pain or +bodily infirmities than at five-and-twenty. This I still impute—(1) +To the power of God, fitting me for what He calls +me to. (2) To my still travelling four or five thousand miles +a year. (3) To my sleeping, night or day, whenever I want +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_372">[Pg 372]</span> +it. (4) To my rising at a set hour. (5) To my constant +preaching, particularly in the morning.”</p> + +<p>Wesley reached London, after an absence of more than +four months, on July 20. Here he held his conference. +He writes: “Friday, August 2, we observed as a day of +fasting and prayer for a blessing on the ensuing conference; +and I believe God clothed His word with power +in an uncommon manner throughout the week; so that, +were it only on this account, the preachers who came from +all parts found their labour was not in vain.”</p> + +<p>Among other questions debated at this conference, was the +sabbath. Methodists, in some instances, visited barbers’ +shops on Sundays; and, in others, practised military exercises, +as volunteers, or were spectators of such exercises. This +led the conference to enact, that no members of society should +have their hair dressed on Sundays; and that, as far as +possible, those barbers should be patronised who observed the +sabbath’s sanctity. It was further determined, that any +Methodist, who practised military exercises on the sabbath, +as a volunteer, should be expelled; and that any one who, +after proper admonition, continued a spectator of such +sabbath drills should undergo the same penalty. Though +not absolutely forbidden, preachers were recommended not to +powder their hair, nor to wear artificial curls. The weekly +and quarterly contributions having been shamefully neglected +in many of the societies, the assistants and leaders were to +remind the people of the original rule, that “every member +contributes one penny weekly, (unless he is in extreme +poverty,) and one shilling quarterly.” Wesley adds: “<em>Money +lovers</em> are the pest of every Christian society. They have +been the main cause of destroying every revival of religion. +They will destroy <em>us</em>, if we do not put them away. A man +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_373">[Pg 373]</span> +not worth a shilling enters our society. Yet he freely gives a +penny a week. Five years after, he is worth scores of pounds; +he gives a penny a week still. I must think this man covetous, +unless he assures me he bestows his charity some other +way. For every one is covetous, whose beneficence does not +increase in the same proportion as his substance.”</p> + +<p>The most troublesome subject of discussion was the case +of the Birstal chapel. It was asked, “What can be done with +regard to the preaching house at Birstal?” Answer. “If +the trustees still refuse to settle it on the Methodist plan: 1. +Let a plain statement of the case be drawn u<abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 2. Let a +collection be made throughout all England, in order to +purchase ground, and to build another preaching house as near +the present as may be.”</p> + +<p>This was an important matter, on account of its involving +one of Methodism’s fundamental principles, namely, that the +conference <em>alone</em> shall have the power of appointing preachers +to preach in Methodist chapels. This was the first time that +the question was fairly raised. It was seen, that the issue, +either way, would be most momentous. It affected not +Birstal merely, but the whole Methodist connexion; and not +the present only, but the future. Great excitement was +created. The controversy, among other great results, led to +the drawing up and enrolment of Methodism’s Magna Charta, +Wesley’s deed of declaration, in 1784. Altogether, this was +one of the most important events in Wesley’s history; and, +hence, a detailed account of it will not be inappropriate.</p> + +<p>The original chapel at Birstal was erected, under the auspices +of John Nelson, about the year 1751. By the deed of +settlement, the right of occupying the pulpit was given, first, +to the two Wesleys in succession, and then to Grimshaw +of Haworth; but, after the decease of these three ministers, +the trustees were to elect their own preachers monthly; +and all such preachers, so long as they continued in this +office, were to preach in the chapel twice every Sunday, every +Christmas day, New Year’s day, and Good Friday, and +also every Thursday night, as had been, up to 1751, “usual +and customary to be done.”</p> + +<p>Such was the substance of the obnoxious clause; which +hitherto, however, had created no difficulty.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_374">[Pg 374]</span> +In 1782, it was found necessary, either to enlarge the old +chapel, or to build a new one in its place. Contributions were +given for this purpose; but were not sufficient. It was ascertained, +that the sum of <abbr title="350 pounds">£350</abbr> additional would be required, +and that eight of the intended trustees would have to advance +the money. To give them security, a deed of transfer was +prepared, in which John and Charles Wesley, for the considerations +therein mentioned, sold to certain specified +trustees the old premises, with the following agreements in +reference to the enlarged, or the new chapel, which was to be +provided to meet the growing necessities of the Birstal +Methodists. 1. The trustees advancing the <abbr title="350 pounds">£350</abbr> were to +have, as their security, “the rents and profits to arise from +the hearers’ pews and seats.” 2. The new or enlarged chapel +was to be occupied, during their lifetime, by John and Charles +Wesley, or by those whom they might from time to time +appoint. 3. After their death, the appointment of preachers, +to preach in the said chapel, was to be made by the trustees, +and by “such members of the Methodist society as had +been classleaders for three years, within the circumjacent +villages of Birstal, Great Gomersal, Little Gomersal, Birkenshaw, +Adwalton, Drighlington, Batley, Carlinghow, and +Heckmondwike; or by the major part of such trustees and +classleaders.” Provided always, that the said preachers preach +no other doctrine than is contained in Mr. Wesley’s Notes +upon the Old and New Testament; that they preach in the +said chapel twice every Sunday, and at least one evening +every week; and that they hold the said premises and exercise +the function of a preacher only during the goodwill and +pleasure of the major part of the aforesaid trustees and classleaders. +After this, followed a number of provisoes in reference +to pew rents, etc. (1) The rents were to be applied in +keeping the premises in repair. (2) In paying interest upon +the debt of <abbr title="350 pounds">£350</abbr>, at 5 per cent. per annum. (3) In maintaining +the preacher for the time being, for which purpose, however, +not more than <abbr title="10 pounds">£10</abbr> a year should be appropriated, until +after the whole of the <abbr title="350 pounds">£350</abbr> had been repaid; when, after +deducting for repairs and lasting improvements, the whole of +the clear rents and profits arising from the pews and seats +should be given “for and towards the maintenance and support +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_375">[Pg 375]</span> +of the preachers or pastors for the time being of the said +society at Birstal.” It was further provided, that the appointment +and removal of chapel stewards should be vested in the +preachers, trustees, and classleaders aforesaid, or the major +part of them, notice of their meetings for such purpose, however, +having to be publicly read to the congregation on three +successive Sunday evenings immediately preceding. Certain +rooms also in a dwelling house, on the premises, were to be at +the use of the stewards and leaders, for the purpose of transacting +business and meeting classes.</p> + +<p>The above is an abstract of all the important points in the +new trust deed of 1782. That deed had attached to it the +following signatures.</p> + +<ul> +<li>John Aspinall,</li> +<li>Joseph Bennett,</li> +<li>James Blackburn,</li> +<li>John Tempest,</li> +<li>Jonathan Brearley,</li> +<li>Benjamin Mallinson,</li> +<li>Anthony Williamson,</li> +<li>Nathaniel Harrison,</li> +<li>John White,</li> +<li>Joseph Nelson,</li> +<li>William Booth,</li> +<li>John Wesley,</li> +<li>Joseph Charlesworth,</li> +<li>Charles Gunson,</li> +<li>John Armitage,</li> +<li>Joseph Lee,</li> +<li>Thomas Crowther,</li> +<li>William Tempest,</li> +<li>Isaac Smith,</li> +<li>William Chadwick.</li> +</ul> + +<p>Wesley’s signature was witnessed by Thomas Briscoe and +Alexander Mather. The deed was dated May 14, 1782, and +was enrolled on the 11th of October following. It may be +added, that, of the above signers, Aspinall, Bennett, Blackburn, +Tempest, Brierley, Williamson, Harrison, White, Nelson, +and Booth were old trustees; Mallinson, Charlesworth, Gunson, +Armitage, Lee, Crowther, W. Tempest, Smith, and +Chadwick were the new trustees.</p> + +<p>The deed of 1782 was widely different from that of 1751, +and, as the vice chancellor ruled in 1854, so far as it purported +to vary the trusts of the latter deed, it was void and +of no effect;⁠<a id="FNanchor_421_421" href="#Footnote_421_421" class="fnanchor">[421]</a> but it still contained the obnoxious clause, +giving power to other parties than Wesley’s conference, to +appoint the preachers. Wesley says, in a letter to his brother, +dated May 28, 1782:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_376">[Pg 376]</span> +<p>“The trustees brought to me the deed, at Daw Green, which they read +over, and desired me to sign. We disputed upon it about an hour. I +then gave them a positive answer, that I would not sign it; and, leaving +them abruptly, went up into my room. At night, a little before I went to +bed, they came again, got round and worried me down. But, I think, they +cannot worry you. May you not very properly write to Mr. Valton? ‘If +the trustees will settle the Birstal house on the Methodist plan, I will sign +their deed with all my heart; but, if they build a house for a presbyterian +meeting-house, I will not, dare not, have anything to do with it.’”⁠<a id="FNanchor_422_422" href="#Footnote_422_422" class="fnanchor">[422]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley committed a mistake; but, be it borne in mind, +that he was now an old man of nearly eighty, and that +Alexander Mather, and Thomas Briscoe, the superintendents +of the Leeds and Birstal circuits, were participators in his +folly.</p> + +<p>In an unpublished letter to Samuel Bradburn, then stationed +at Bradford, Wesley wrote:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>November 9, 1782</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Sammy</span>,—I abhor the thought of giving to twenty men the +power to place or displace the preacher in their congregations. How +would he then dare to speak an unpleasing truth? And, if he did, what +would become of him? This must never be the case, while I live, +among the Methodists. And Birstal is a leading case, the first of an +avowed violation of our plan. Therefore, the point must be carried for +the Methodist preachers now or never; and I alone can carry it, which +I will, God being my helper. You are not a match for the silver tongue, +nor brother Hopper. But do not, to please any of your new friends +forsake</p> + +<p>“Your true old friend,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>Charles Wesley acted upon his brother’s advice. He +entered into correspondence with the Birstal reformers. In +answer to their objection, that “the present trustees <em>could not</em> +legally transfer any of their power <em>to the conference</em>,” he asks: +“Then how can they transfer any of their power to the +leaders?” He continues:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“You add,—‘As long as the conference appoints preachers with candid +impartiality, we doubt not their appointments will be acquiesced in by the +trustees and classleaders.’ But, according to this deed, the conference +has no more business than the parliament to appoint preachers at all. To +touch on one more point. From the beginning of Methodism till now, the +assistants appointed the stewards in all societies; but this deed gives the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_377">[Pg 377]</span> +trustees and leaders this power; which they think is ‘<em>necessary</em> to ensure +the repayment of the <abbr title="350 pounds">£350</abbr> to be advanced for the building.’ <em>Necessary!</em> +Not at all. How many thousand pounds, advanced for buildings, have +been paid within these forty years, though all the stewards in England, +Scotland, and Ireland, have been hitherto appointed by my brother or the +assistants! You conclude your letter with a very just observation: ‘the +civil and religious rights of mankind have seldom been promoted by the +assemblies of ecclesiastics of any denomination; and they never will be, +unless they are composed of men devoted to God, and dead to all the +allurements of ease, and avarice, and ambition.’ This is undoubtedly +true; and this, we humbly hope, is the real character of most (at least) of +those persons that meet in our assemblies. We hope, likewise, that ‘their +consultations will always be moderated by some wise and truly religious +man’; otherwise, that God will sweep away the very name of Methodist +from the earth. Upon the whole, I cannot, I dare not sign that deed. I +can have nothing to do with it. If the house should, nevertheless, be +built, and settled upon that plan, I apprehend the consequence would be +this: 1. No Methodist preacher would ever preach in it. If any did, the +whole body would disclaim him. 2. My brother would immediately set a +subscription on foot for buying ground and building another house. The +trustees then might do what they pleased with theirs.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_423_423" href="#Footnote_423_423" class="fnanchor">[423]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>This letter was written a week before the conference of +1782 was opened; and was a reply to one written by James +Carr, the trustees’ attorney, who, soon afterwards, addressed +the following unpublished letter to Mr. Charlesworth.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“<span class="smcap">My good Friend</span>,—Having an insuperable + aversion to <em>recite</em> my own +simple performances, I here enclose a correct copy of my letter to Mr. +Charles Wesley.</p> + +<p>“I know, that you and the other framers of the present trust deed, +were actuated by the <em>purest</em>, most <em>equitable</em>, and <em>disinterested</em> motives; +and, therefore, in my address to Mr. Wesley, I held myself bound, by +every tie of justice, to explain and enforce the <em>grounds</em> and <em>reasons</em> of your +conduct, with all the energy in my power. I hope, I have no immodest +opinion of my poor abilities, when I assert, that the <em>reasons</em>, by me +alleged, for modifying the deed, in the manner described, cannot be +fairly answered or refuted, by Mr. Mather, or Mr. C. Wesley. Ingenuity +may perplex, wit may ridicule, sophistry may misinterpret, or prejudice +may dislike a deed framed contrary to <em>received systems</em> or <em>opinions</em>. But +when it is calmly considered, that the poor, beneficent founders of the +preaching house had an undoubted right to settle it in what manner they +thought meet; that it would be <em>impious</em>, as well as <em>illegal</em>, to abrogate +their constitution; that you could only modify and improve it in a way +consistent with their manifest intention; that the honour of religion required +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_378">[Pg 378]</span> +you to make a legal and effectual provision for payment of a just +debt;—when these things, I say, are calmly considered, candour must +admit, every preacher of righteousness must acknowledge, that the present +trust deed is modelled with that rectitude and propriety, which +become Christian men.</p> + +<p>“As nothing can discourage me when I am engaged in a righteous +cause, I mean to write again to Mr. Charles Wesley; and, therefore, if I +have omitted, in my former address, any topics or arguments which occur +to you or friends, I wish you would specify them in <em>writing</em>; though I +shall certainly now speak to him more in a <em>professional</em> style than in a +religious one.</p> + +<p>“Yours most sincerely,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">James Carr</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>In the mean time, the new chapel was built, and Dr. Coke +took up the matter. The following also is a letter now for +the first time published. It was addressed to Mr. Charlesworth.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Bristol</span>, <i>October 18, 1782</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—There is but one argument, which you have used, which appears +to me to have any force in it against the many uncontrovertible +arguments, which I have urged on the other side. It is this: is it not +unjust, that the persons who have advanced money on the building, which +has been lately erected, should lose that money, when they advanced it +upon the word of Mr. Wesley, and would not have advanced it on any +other ground? In answer to this, I observe, that, as I am in this business +the servant of the conference, and have invested in me a discretionary +power to act as I see occasion, I will, therefore, remove this objection as +far as justice, equity, and my trust, will admit me to go. For this purpose, +I promise and engage, that the interest of the money, which has been +lent on the lately erected building, shall be regularly paid, either out of +the profits of that building, or out of the profits of the building which is to +be erected, or out of the profits of both of them together, so long as the +two Messrs. Wesley live; and, after their decease, as long as the lately +erected building is at the disposal of the Methodist conference, and no +longer. Provided, that either of the chapels, or both of them together, +produce an income sufficient to pay the aforesaid interest, after paying +for the necessary repairs, and the <abbr title="10 pounds">£10</abbr> paid to the support of the preachers, +be deducted. Provided, also, that the debt <em>itself</em> which has been already +incurred, remain upon the lately erected edifice, and upon that alone,—I +promise and engage, that the aforesaid interest shall be paid to the +creditors annually in preference to every other payment, except the said +necessary repairs, and <abbr title="10 pounds">£10</abbr> towards the support of the preachers.</p> + +<p>“I am, sir, your humble servant in the gospel,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">Thomas Coke</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>Shortly after, Dr. Coke published a <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr> tract of 12 pages, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_379">[Pg 379]</span> +entitled, “An Address to the inhabitants of Birstal, and the +adjacent villages.” He relates how the attorney of the trustees +obtained Wesley’s signature to the deed. He states, that +Charles Wesley had not signed, and, he believed, never would. +The “<em>amazing deed</em>” had been discussed at the late conference, +and had created just alarm; and he (Dr. Coke) had +been delegated to carry into execution the minute that +was passed; but, upon application to the trustees, he had +“found the greatest part of them determined to hold fast +their unlimited and most dangerous power.” He answers the +objection, “Would it not be equally dangerous to invest this +power in the conference?” by saying, “No: for the plan of +settlement, adopted by the conference, ties them down to the +principles of religion at present held by the Methodists.” He +relates, that he had proposed to the trustees to submit the +matter to the arbitration of the attorney general, or some +other eminent counsellor; and had engaged that, if the +opinion thus obtained was the same as that of the trustees +and Mr. Carr, “Birstal preaching house should be considered +an exempt case, and the trustees should be suffered quietly to +retain all the power which they had at present”; with the +understanding, on the other hand, that, if the legal opinion +of the arbitrator was, “that the surviving trustees, with the +consent of the original proprietor, and all the parties concerned, +could resettle the house on the Methodist plan, +they would resettle it accordingly.” He had also added, at +another meeting, that, in such a case, he would give a bond +of five or six hundred pounds, that the trustees, who had +advanced the <abbr title="350 pounds">£350</abbr>, should not only have their interest, but +their <em>principal</em> paid them, in instalments of <abbr title="50 pounds">£50</abbr> per annum; +and, further, that he would engage, that all subscribers to the +recently erected building, “who signified their desire of +having their money returned, should have it returned to them +within two years.” The trustees, however, “obstinately +refused to comply with this.”</p> + +<p>Coke continues:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Afterwards, another plan of reconciliation was proposed, by one of +themselves, to which we all consented, namely, that all the trustees should +bind themselves by a deed, that if they, or the major part of them, should +agree, after the demise of the Messrs. Wesley, to choose an independent +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_380">[Pg 380]</span> +teacher, they should be obliged to signify, this their intention, by three +years’ notice to the conference, or to the moderator of the conference for +the time being; with a provision, that, if the preachers were ever to +desist from meeting in regular conference, as they did at present, or to +deviate from the grand Methodist plan on which they at present act, then +the full power should immediately devolve upon the trustees, and they +might, without any previous notice whatever, choose an independent +teacher.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Such was the unanimous agreement. A rough draft of the +intended deed was made, and (<i lang="la">horresco referens!</i>) was brought, +by the attorney of the trustees, to Dr. Coke on the <i>Sunday</i> +following. On reading it, Coke found a few words inserted, +which upset the whole. It read: “If the said trustees and +leaders, or the major part of them, shall at any time, <em>in their +judgment, think</em> that the said conference deviates from the +grand Methodist plan, then,” etc., “thus constituting themselves +judges in their own cause.” Dr. Coke objected to +this; and they seemed willing to give it up; but “desired +that another meeting might be held on the following Sunday! +at which all the leaders might be present, that their consent +might also be procured.” The conference representative +agreed to this; Sunday came; and the trustees and leaders +“would not move a single step.”</p> + +<p>Such had been the negotiations, and such was the state of +affairs, when Dr. Coke published his pamphlet in November, +1782. He makes an appeal “to the congregation, and to the +society,” and concludes with the following prayer: “O Thou +Lover of concord and Prince of peace, keep these little ones +under Thy fostering wing. Preserve them from the silken +tongued sycophant, the sly deceiver, who seeks his own, and +not the things of Jesus Christ. Hide them for a little moment +in the chambers of Thy love, till this and every indignation be +overpast. Keep them close to the bleeding side of Jesus, and +close to the affectionate hearts of their faithful pastors for +ever.”</p> + +<p>What more was done? Two months after this, on January +3, 1783, Wesley issued a folio circular, entitled, “The Case of +the Birstal House.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_424_424" href="#Footnote_424_424" class="fnanchor">[424]</a> This all can read for themselves in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_381">[Pg 381]</span> +Wesley’s collected works (<abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 260). Suffice it to say, +that the reasons assigned by Wesley, why neither the Birstal, +nor any other Methodist chapel, should be settled according +to the Birstal deed, were: (1) It would put an end to itinerant +preaching, for when the trustees got a preacher whom they +liked, they would keep him. (2) It would put a bridle in the +preacher’s mouth; for how would he dare to speak the full +and the whole truth, when he was liable to lose his bread? +(3) “The power of the trustees was greater than that of any +nobleman; yea, or of the king himself. Where he is patron, +he can <em>put in</em> a preacher, but he cannot <i>put him out</i>.” He +concludes: “No Methodist trustees, if I can help it, shall, +after my death, any more than while I live, have the power of +<em>placing</em> and <em>displacing</em> the preachers.”</p> + +<p>So the thing went on. A case was submitted to Mr. John +Maddocks, barrister, for his opinion, as to the possibility of +legally making such an alteration in trust deeds, as was +desired in the Birstal case. His opinion, dated “Lincoln’s +Inn, July 24, 1783,” is before us, and is to the effect, that +such an alteration might be made. On the 5th of September +following, Wesley met the nineteen trustees, and offered to +allow the same clause to be inserted in a new deed as was +inserted in the deed of the chapel in City Road, namely, “In +case the doctrine or practice of any preacher should, in the +opinion of the major part of the trustees, be not conformable +to Mr. Wesley’s Sermons and Notes on the New Testament, +on representing this, another preacher shall be sent within +three months.” Five of the trustees were willing to accept of +this; the rest refused.</p> + +<p>In an unpublished letter, written by Dr. Coke, and addressed +to Mr. Benson, only ten days after this interview, there are +some other particulars given. Wesley first told the trustees, +he wished their chapel to be settled according to the Methodist +plan contained in the minutes of conference. He then +offered to allow the clause to be inserted which has just been +mentioned; adding, “this was never allowed to any trustees +before, and never shall again while I live.” He further offered +to relieve the trustees of their <abbr title="350 pounds">£350</abbr> debt, promising to give +<abbr title="100 pounds">£100</abbr> himself, and saying, “This I do, because I love you, and +for old acquaintance sake.” And he further promised to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_382">[Pg 382]</span> +make them a present of the piece of ground which Dr. Coke +had purchased for the site of another chapel. The names of +the five consenting trustees were, Nathaniel Harrison, Anthony +Williamson, John Aspinall, Joseph Bennett, and +James Blackburn.⁠<a id="FNanchor_425_425" href="#Footnote_425_425" class="fnanchor">[425]</a></p> + +<p>The dissentient trustees took time to think. On September +25, 1783, Christopher Hopper wrote to one of them, Mr. +Charlesworth, in a somewhat ambiguous style, as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“<span class="smcap">My very dear Joseph</span>,—It gives me pleasure to hear that you were +so well satisfied with Mr. Wesley’s temper and conduct; and I am glad +to hear you behaved so well. Solemn conference! Great expectations! +Grand overture! But alas! no decision! Mortifying indeed! I still +wish we never had given you any trouble, but patiently waited the event. +But, if you are determined to stand your ground after this meeting, I +cannot tell what the consequence will be. Great grace be on you all!</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">C. Hopper.</span>”<a id="FNanchor_426_426" href="#Footnote_426_426" class="fnanchor">[426]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Reflection often brings wisdom. On the 13th of January, +1784, Mr. Charlesworth wrote to Wesley, saying, that his offer +would now be accepted. He says, with a Yorkshire keenness, +which smacks of avarice⁠—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“We cannot but acknowledge your goodness in promising the land, and +the money towards paying our debt, which will be two very convenient +articles at this place, as we are in great want of both.</p> + +<p>“I am, reverend and dear sir, for and on behalf of the trustees,</p> + +<p>“Yours very affectionately,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">Joseph Charlesworth</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_427_427" href="#Footnote_427_427" class="fnanchor">[427]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>The result was, a new deed was made, giving the conference +power to appoint preachers; and this serious hubbub, <i lang="la">pro tem.</i>, +subsided. We shall soon have to recur to the same subject; +and this apparently long and tedious digression may serve +as an introduction to what will have to be said hereafter. The +controversy was the first battle fought for restricting, or rather +for setting aside, an ecclesiastical power, which has grown to +be the greatest exercised by any church throughout the +whole of the Christian world; and perhaps, on this ground, +the writer will be pardoned for trespassing on the reader’s +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_383">[Pg 383]</span> +patience; and especially as many of the incidents are now for +the first time published.⁠<a id="FNanchor_428_428" href="#Footnote_428_428" class="fnanchor">[428]</a></p> + +<p>We return to Wesley. Of course, the dispute at Birstal led +to much unpleasantness; but Wesley was firm in maintaining +discipline. Hence the following, addressed to Mr. Valton, +then one of the Birstal preachers.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>June 18, 1782.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—I cannot allow J⁠—— S⁠—— to be any longer a +leader; and, if he will lead the class, whether I will or no, I require you to +put him out of our society. If twenty of his class will leave the society +too, they must. The first loss is the best. Better forty members should +be lost, than our discipline be lost. <em>They are no Methodists, that will bear +no restraints.</em> Explain this at large to the society.</p> + +<p>“I am, your affectionate friend and brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_429_429" href="#Footnote_429_429" class="fnanchor">[429]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley’s clerical friends were now regularly and constantly +increasing. He had, to some extent, outlived their <em>brotherly</em> +persecution. They began to appreciate his motives and his +services; and, so far from hooting and hissing him, began to +greet him, to court his company, and to ask his counsel. +Among others of this description may be mentioned the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> +Thomas Davenport, who was now in his sixtieth year, but +had only recently found peace with God, and that principally +through Wesley’s help.⁠<a id="FNanchor_430_430" href="#Footnote_430_430" class="fnanchor">[430]</a> Wesley wrote to him as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Bristol</span>, <i>August 14, 1782</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>,—It would have given me a good deal of satisfaction to +have had a little conversation with you. But I do not stay long in one +place. I have no resting place on earth:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0a">‘A poor wayfaring man,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">I dwell in tents below,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Or gladly wander to and fro,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">Till I my Canaan gain.’</div> +</div></div> + +<p>“You would have been very welcome at our conference. Mr. Pugh +and Mr. Dodwell⁠<a id="FNanchor_431_431" href="#Footnote_431_431" class="fnanchor">[431]</a> were present at it; and, I believe, are more determined +than ever to spend their whole strength in saving their own souls, and +them that hear them.</p> + +<p>“I believe, that one of our preachers, who are stationed in the Leicester +circuit, will call upon you at Alexton; and I make no doubt but some of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_384">[Pg 384]</span> +the seed which you have been long sowing will then grow up. No one +should wish or pray for persecution. On the contrary, we are to avoid it, +to the uttermost of our power. ‘When they persecute you in one city, flee +unto another.’ Yet, when it does come, notwithstanding all our care to +avoid it, God will extract good out of evil.</p> + +<p>“To-morrow I am to set out for Cornwall. In about three weeks, I expect +to be here again. In the beginning of October, I generally move +towards London; in the neighbourhood of which I usually spend the +winter.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear sir, your affectionate friend and brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_432_432" href="#Footnote_432_432" class="fnanchor">[432]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>The day after this letter was written, Wesley set out +westwards. On reaching Exeter, where his old antagonist, +Bishop Lavington, once resided, he met with a most +friendly welcome; and, by invitation, dined on the Sunday, +with the bishop, in his palace, five other clergymen and +four of the aldermen of Exeter being present besides himself. +Arriving at Plymouth, Wesley preached in the Square, +and, while doing so, a regiment of soldiers, with military +music, marched into it. No sooner, however, did the commanding +officer perceive the preacher, than he stopped the +music, and drew up his men to listen. “They were all still +as night;” says Wesley, “nor did any of them stir, till I had +pronounced the blessing.”</p> + +<p>In Cornwall, he found an old clerical friend at the point of +death, the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Thompson, rector of <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Gennis. It was +now thirty-seven years since Wesley first preached in Mr. +Thompson’s church, and, throughout the whole of that period, +they had been faithful friends. The dying rector wished once +more to see his old acquaintance. Wesley, borrowing the +best horse he could find, and riding as fast as he was able, +says: “I found Mr. Thompson just alive, but quite sensible. +He had many doubts concerning his final state, and rather +feared, than desired, to die; so that my whole business was +to comfort him, and to increase and confirm his confidence in +God. He desired me to administer the Lord’s supper, which +I willingly did; and I left him much happier than I found him, +calmly waiting till his change should come.”</p> + +<p>While riding to see his friend, Mr. Thompson, Wesley +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_385">[Pg 385]</span> +was accosted by an old acquaintance of another sort. He +writes: “On the way, I met with a white headed old man, +who caught me by the hand, and said, ‘Sir, do you not +know me?’ I answered, ‘No.’ He said, ‘My father, my +father! I am poor John Trembath.’ I desired him to speak +to me in the evening at Launceston; which he did. He was, +for some time, reduced to extreme poverty, so as to hedge +and ditch for bread; but, in his distress, he cried unto God, +who sent him an answer of peace. He, likewise, enabled him +to cure a gentleman that was desperately ill, and afterwards +several others; so that he grew into reputation, and gained a +competent livelihood. ‘And now,’ said he, ‘I want for +nothing: I am happier than ever I was in my life.’”</p> + +<p>Who was John Trembath? One of Wesley’s first itinerants, +who commenced his ministry in 1743, and, for several +years, laboured with diligence under Wesley’s direction,⁠<a id="FNanchor_433_433" href="#Footnote_433_433" class="fnanchor">[433]</a>—a +man of great eloquence and zeal,⁠<a id="FNanchor_434_434" href="#Footnote_434_434" class="fnanchor">[434]</a>—a burning and shining light, +and a workman who, at one time, according to Wesley, had no +need to be ashamed,⁠<a id="FNanchor_435_435" href="#Footnote_435_435" class="fnanchor">[435]</a>—a preacher not deep, and yet so popular +as to be almost idolised by the people;⁠<a id="FNanchor_436_436" href="#Footnote_436_436" class="fnanchor">[436]</a> but who, alas! +for the last twenty years, had sunk into an extreme of sin, and +shame, and misery. Naturally vain, the applauses of the +people spoiled him. He became bouncing, and boastful, and +not always truthful. He married, gave up reading, turned to +farming, and kept company with men who had just wit +enough to “talk of bullocks,” and to “smoke, drink, and +flatter him.” He became a sportsman, and was suspected of +smuggling.⁠<a id="FNanchor_437_437" href="#Footnote_437_437" class="fnanchor">[437]</a> His career was almost a romance. But now, to +use Wesley’s language, “John Trembath was alive again.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_438_438" href="#Footnote_438_438" class="fnanchor">[438]</a> +A month after the strange interview above related, Trembath +wrote to Wesley: “Though God has forgiven me, yet I cannot +forgive myself for the precious time I have wasted, the years +I have lost, and the glorious harvest I have neglected.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_439_439" href="#Footnote_439_439" class="fnanchor">[439]</a> Poor +Trembath died of paralysis, at Cork, about the year 1793.⁠<a id="FNanchor_440_440" href="#Footnote_440_440" class="fnanchor">[440]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_386">[Pg 386]</span> +Such were the old friends whom Wesley met in Cornwall. +Getting back to Bristol, on September 6, he found a new +one, young, but warm hearted, honest, and faithful. Adam +Clarke, just emerging out of his teens, had arrived from +Ireland. He had travelled from Birmingham to Bristol upon +a penny loaf and a halfpennyworth of apples; and had just +three halfpence left when he got to Kingswood school. He +met with a reception from Simpson, the head master, as frigid +as cold heartedness could make it. Simpson’s stupid, imperious +wife made bad things worse, by suspecting that the young Irishman +might be afflicted with the itch, and by making him rub +himself from head to foot with Jackson’s ointment. This “infernal +unguent,” as Adam calls it, made him smell worse than +a polecat. His only sustenance was bread and milk; and not +enough of that. For more than three weeks, no one performed +any kind act for him. As for Mrs. Simpson, he feared +her as he feared the devil. At length, Wesley arrived from +Cornwall; Clarke was introduced; Wesley laid his hands +upon his head, and spent a few minutes in beseeching God to +bless him; and then gave him his commission to proceed to +Wiltshire as a Methodist preacher. Fifty years after this, +Adam Clarke died in London,—an old itinerant preacher, +without a spot on the fair escutcheon of his character,—one +of the most extensively learned scholars of the age,—a +voluminous author,—the friend of philosophers and princes,—and +a man intensely beloved by nearly all who knew him.</p> + +<p>Wesley left Bristol for London on October 7, and, on his +way, preached at Newport in the Isle of Wight. He writes: +“This place seems now ripe for the gospel, opposition is at +an end.”</p> + +<p>At, Newport the first Methodist preaching place was a room +in Node Hill; and the opposition, referred to by Wesley, +consisted of the beating of drums, tin kettles, and bells; the +throwing of rotten eggs, sticks, and stones; sparrows let loose +in the room for the purpose of putting out the lights; and +covering the chimney top and fastening the door, in order to +stifle the imprisoned worshippers. It was at Newport, that +Robert Wallbridge heard Wesley preach; was converted; +became a Methodist; and a Methodist local preacher. Elizabeth +Wallbridge, his sister, was now a light haired, ruddy +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_387">[Pg 387]</span> +faced, and merry hearted girl, of twelve years old. Of scholastic +learning she had but a slender share; and had to earn +her bread as a household servant. She had a high flow of +spirits, vanity, and ready wit, and was inordinately fond of +dress. Elizabeth was converted under the ministry of James +Crabb, a Methodist preacher, became a Methodist herself, +and continued such to the end of life. Her father joined the +church presided over by the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Daniel Tyerman, who +published an account of him, in a well written tract, a short +time before he set sail on his mission to the South Sea islands. +Elizabeth’s brother Robert, for more than forty years, was a +Methodist local preacher, and died at Newport in 1837. Elizabeth +herself died, at the age of thirty-one, in the year 1801; +the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Legh Richmond visited her in her last moments; and +afterwards wrote her life, with the title of “The Dairyman’s +Daughter,” omitting to state, however, that his heroine was a +Methodist. Millions of copies of that publication have been +circulated; it has been translated into, at least, thirty +languages; and, thirty years ago, it had been the means of +the conversion of three hundred and fifty persons.⁠<a id="FNanchor_441_441" href="#Footnote_441_441" class="fnanchor">[441]</a></p> + +<p>Wesley reached London on October 11. Here, and in +eight or nine of the southern counties of England, he spent, +according to his custom, the remainder of the year.</p> + +<p>His publications, in 1782, were few in number.</p> + +<p>1. An Extract from his Journal, from January 1, 1776, to +August 5, 1779. <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 112 pages.</p> + +<p>2. “Alleine’s Alarm to the Unconverted.” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 107 +pages.</p> + +<p>3. “An Estimate of the Manners of the present Times.” +<abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 23 pages.</p> + +<p>This was an exceedingly characteristic piece. With +terrible severity, he lashes the vices of the age; the slothfulness +of people of fashion; the increase of luxury, both in +meat, drink, dress, and furniture; and lewdness of every +kind. He writes: “A total ignorance of God is almost universal +among us. The exceptions are exceeding few, whether +among the learned or unlearned. High and low, cobblers, +tinkers, hackney coachmen, men and maid servants, soldiers, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_388">[Pg 388]</span> +sailors, tradesmen of all ranks, lawyers, physicians, gentlemen, +lords, are as ignorant of the Creator of the world as +Mahommedans or pagans.”</p> + +<p>4. The <cite>Arminian Magazine</cite>. <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, 680 pages. Here we +have an engraving of the new chapel in City Road, with +portraits of George Story, etc. About forty pages are filled +with a continuation of Wesley’s translation of the Dialogues +of Castellio on Election and Free Will. There are long +extracts from Wesley’s “Survey of the Wisdom of God in +Creation”; and from Dr. Watts’s Treatise on the Passions. +Remarks upon Locke’s Essay on the Human Understanding +make a part of every number. Memoirs and happy deaths +are more numerous than ever. There are sixty letters, and +as many poems. There are six original sermons by Wesley +himself. One, on “Redeeming the Time,” is a vigorous +enforcement of the principles propounded in his letter to his +niece in 1781.⁠<a id="FNanchor_442_442" href="#Footnote_442_442" class="fnanchor">[442]</a> Another is a remarkable homily on “Dust +thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return”; and another, +equally striking, is on God’s six days’ work. Then there is +his magnificent sermon on, “Not as the transgression, so is +the free gift.” And, lastly, there is his terrific discourse on +the Punishments of Hell. If the <cite>Arminian Magazine</cite> had +done nothing more than give birth to sermons like these, +it would have rendered incalculable service to the cause of +Christ.</p> + +<p>In addition to the above, the magazine contains several +original articles, by Wesley’s pen, of great interest and importance. +In one, on Persecuting Papists, he says: “I set out +in early life with an utter abhorrence of persecution in every +form, and a full conviction, that every man has a right to +worship God, according to his own conscience. I would not +hurt a hair of the head of Romanists. Meantime, I would not +put it into their power to hurt me, or any other persons +whom they believe to be heretics. I would neither kill, nor +be killed. I wish them well; but I dare not trust them.” In +another article there is an onslaught on the “Divinity and +Philosophy of the highly illuminated Jacob Behmen”; concluding +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_389">[Pg 389]</span> +thus: “May we not pronounce, with the utmost certainty, +of one who thus distorts, mangles, and murders the +word of God, That the light which is in him is darkness; that +he is <em>illuminated</em> from beneath, rather than from above; +and that he ought to be styled <em>Demonosopher</em>, rather than +<em>Theosopher</em>?”</p> + +<p>This was savage; and Wesley’s old friend, Mr. Harry +Brooke, of Dublin, wrote him a letter of earnest remonstrance; +to which Wesley replied as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>April 21, 1783.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Harry</span>,—Your letter gave me pleasure and pain. It gave +me pleasure, because it was written in a mild and loving spirit; but it +gave me pain, because I found I had pained you, whom I so tenderly love +and esteem. But I shall do it no more. I sincerely thank you for your +kind reproof. It is a precious balm, and will, I trust, in the hands of +the Great Physician, be the means of healing my sickness. I am so +sensible of your real friendship herein, that I cannot write without +tears. The words you mention were too strong. They will no more fall +from my mouth.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Harry, affectionately yours,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_443_443" href="#Footnote_443_443" class="fnanchor">[443]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>This may serve as an <i lang="la">erratum</i>, belonging to the <cite>Arminian +Magazine</cite> of 1782.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_419_419" href="#FNanchor_419_419" class="label">[419]</a> <cite>Methodist Recorder</cite>, <abbr title="August">Aug.</abbr> 16, 1867.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_420_420" href="#FNanchor_420_420" class="label">[420]</a> It was doubtless at this time that he had a youthful hearer, who afterwards +became the renowned Sir Walter Scott. In a letter to Southey, +dated Abbotsford, April 4, 1819, Scott writes: “When I was about +twelve years old, I heard Wesley preach more than once, standing on a +chair, in Kelso churchyard. He was a most venerable figure, but his +sermons were vastly too colloquial for the taste of Saunders. He told +many excellent stories. One I remember, which he said had happened +to him at Edinburgh. ‘A drunken dragoon,’ said Wesley, ‘was commencing +an assertion in military fashion, <span class="lock">G——d</span> eternally <span class="lock">d——n</span> me, +just as I was passing. I touched the poor man on the shoulder, and +when he turned round fiercely, said calmly, You mean, <em>God bless you</em>.’ In +the mode of telling the story, he failed not to make us sensible how much +this patriarchal appearance, and mild yet bold rebuke, overawed the +soldier, who touched his hat, thanked him, and, I think, came to chapel +that evening.”—(“Memoirs of Sir Walter Scott,” by J. G. Lockhart, <abbr title="Esquire">Esq.</abbr>)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_421_421" href="#FNanchor_421_421" class="label">[421]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1854, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 184.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_422_422" href="#FNanchor_422_422" class="label">[422]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 138.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_423_423" href="#FNanchor_423_423" class="label">[423]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 140.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_424_424" href="#FNanchor_424_424" class="label">[424]</a> The copy before us is addressed “To Mr. Thompson, at the Methodist +chapel, Hull,” and is signed by Wesley in his own handwriting.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_425_425" href="#FNanchor_425_425" class="label">[425]</a> Coke’s manuscript letter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_426_426" href="#FNanchor_426_426" class="label">[426]</a> Manuscript letter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_427_427" href="#FNanchor_427_427" class="label">[427]</a> Ibid.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_428_428" href="#FNanchor_428_428" class="label">[428]</a> For the manuscripts that have been used, I am indebted to the kindness +of Mr. Clapham, of Birstal.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_429_429" href="#FNanchor_429_429" class="label">[429]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1824, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 307.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_430_430" href="#FNanchor_430_430" class="label">[430]</a> Ibid. 1790, <abbr title="pages">pp.</abbr> 106, 163.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_431_431" href="#FNanchor_431_431" class="label">[431]</a> Both clergymen.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_432_432" href="#FNanchor_432_432" class="label">[432]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 475.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_433_433" href="#FNanchor_433_433" class="label">[433]</a> Myles’s History.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_434_434" href="#FNanchor_434_434" class="label">[434]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1826, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 794.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_435_435" href="#FNanchor_435_435" class="label">[435]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 309.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_436_436" href="#FNanchor_436_436" class="label">[436]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1782, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 468.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_437_437" href="#FNanchor_437_437" class="label">[437]</a> Ibid. 1798, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 492; and 1780, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 448.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_438_438" href="#FNanchor_438_438" class="label">[438]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 13.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_439_439" href="#FNanchor_439_439" class="label">[439]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1790, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 557.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_440_440" href="#FNanchor_440_440" class="label">[440]</a> Everett’s “Methodism in Sheffield.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_441_441" href="#FNanchor_441_441" class="label">[441]</a> Dyson’s “History of Methodism in the Isle of Wight.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_442_442" href="#FNanchor_442_442" class="label">[442]</a> In 1783, this sermon was reprinted, in a separate form, without +Wesley’s knowledge, by a gentleman of Cambridge, in <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_443_443" href="#FNanchor_443_443" class="label">[443]</a> Walton’s “Memorial of W. Law,” <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 91; and Brooke’s Life, +<abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 194.</p></div></div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_390">[Pg 390]</span></p> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="1783">1783.</h2> +<hr class="short"> +<p class="center">Age 80</p></div> + +<p class="p2 drop-cap"><span class="smcap">One</span> of the first entries in Wesley’s journal, in 1783, is +the following. “Friday, January 10—I paid one +more visit to Mr. Perronet, now in his ninetieth year. I do +not know so venerable a man. His understanding is little, +if at all, impaired; and his heart seems to be all love. A +little longer, I hope, he will remain here, to be a blessing +to all that see and hear him.” This is beautiful, after an unbroken +friendship of about forty years.</p> + +<p>Another entry, equally deserving of being noted, was as +follows: “Sunday, January 19—I preached in <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Thomas’s +church in the afternoon, and at <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Swithin’s in the evening. +The tide is now turned; so that I have more invitations to +preach in churches than I can accept of.” What a contrast +between 1783 and 1739!</p> + +<p>Wesley was an unendowed clergyman; but was not unsupported. +The funds, raised for his purposes, were large; +but his own appropriation from them, not equal to the poor +parson’s, who was “passing rich on <abbr title="40 pounds">£40</abbr> a year.” In reference +to the London annual audit, he writes: “Friday, +February 21—At our yearly meeting for that purpose, we +examined our yearly accounts, and found the money received, +(just answering the expense,) was upwards of <abbr title="3000 pounds">£3000</abbr> a year. +But that is nothing to me: what I receive of it, yearly, is +neither more nor less than <abbr title="30 pounds">£30</abbr>.”</p> + +<p>Wesley was an old man; but he was still an outdoor +preacher: for five-and-forty years he had been branded as +a schismatic and a Dissenter; but he was still an ardent +Churchman. Hence the following, addressed to Joseph +Taylor, one of his itinerant preachers.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>January 16, 1783</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Joseph</span>,—I am glad to hear so good an account of Marazion. +You must endeavour to hire a larger room at Truro. We shall not +build any more in haste. I often preach abroad, in winter as well as +summer.</p> + +<p>“In my journals, in the magazine, in every possible way, I have advised +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_391">[Pg 391]</span> +the Methodists to keep to the Church. They that do this most prosper +best in their souls; I have observed it long. If ever the Methodists +in general were to leave the Church, I must leave them.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Joseph, your affectionate friend and brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_444_444" href="#Footnote_444_444" class="fnanchor">[444]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>An extract from another letter may be inserted here, +showing that, rightly or wrongly, the Methodist preachers +of the present day have departed from one of the principles +of their founder. Ministerial classes are now almost general. +Hear what Wesley had to say, on this subject, to John Cricket, +then stationed, with Henry Moore, at Londonderry.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>February 10, 1783</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—You must immediately resume the form at +least of a Methodist society. I positively forbid you, or any preacher, to +be a leader; rather put the most insignificant person in each class to +be the leader of it. And try if you cannot persuade three men, if no +more, and three women, to meet in band.</p> + +<p>“Hope to the end! You shall see better days! The plainer you +speak, the more good you will do. Derry will bear plain dealing. I am +just as well as I was forty years ago.</p> + +<p>“I am, yours affectionately,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_445_445" href="#Footnote_445_445" class="fnanchor">[445]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>The hale old man soon found himself in a different plight. +On March 2, he set off for Bristol, in the neighbourhood of +which he spent the next twelve days, preaching and meeting +classes. He then became seriously unwell; but, for two days +longer, continued preaching, when he was obliged to take his +bed. He had a deep tearing cough; was weak and heavy, +and in a fever. He had fixed the next morning for commencing +his journey to Ireland, and had sent notice to Stroud, and +various other places, of the days wherein he purposed to visit +them. Fortunately, the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Brian Collins was at hand, and +undertook to supply his appointments as far as Worcester. +Accordingly, Mr. Collins, in the morning of March 17, set out +to preach at Stroud; but Wesley, finding himself better, in the +afternoon, imprudently set out after him, and actually gave +a short exhortation to the Stroud society. For the next +three days, he was dangerously ill. The whole nervous system +was violently agitated. His cough was most distressing. He +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_392">[Pg 392]</span> +was seized with cramp. He was bereft of strength, “scarce +able to move, and much less to think.” Before leaving Bristol, +he wrote the following unpublished letter to Miss Hester +Ann Roe, afterwards Mrs. Rogers.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Bristol</span>, <i>March 16, 1783</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Hetty</span>,—It has frequently been on my mind of late, +that my pilgrimage is nearly at an end; and one of our sisters here told +us this morning a particular dream which she had two months ago. She +dreamt, that the time of conference was come, and that she was in a +church expecting me to enter; when she saw a coffin brought in, followed +by Dr. Coke and Mr. Fletcher, and then by all our preachers walking two +and two. A fortnight ago, she dreamt the same dream again. Such +a burying I have ordered in my will, absolutely forbidding either hearse +or coach.</p> + +<p>“I intended to have written a good deal more. For a few days, I have +had just such a fever as I had in Ireland a few years ago. But all is well. +I am in no pain; but the wheel of life seems scarcely able to move. Yet, +I made a shift to preach this morning to a crowded audience, and hope +to say something to them this afternoon. I love that word, ‘And Ishmael +died in the presence of all his brethren.’</p> + +<p>“I am, in life or death, my dear sister, yours affectionately,<br> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_446_446" href="#Footnote_446_446" class="fnanchor">[446]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>What was the result? The news of Wesley’s being dangerously +ill flew far and wide. A number of the preachers +met together to pray for a further prolongation of his life; +and, from that time, he rapidly recovered.⁠<a id="FNanchor_447_447" href="#Footnote_447_447" class="fnanchor">[447]</a> For three days +he lay at Stroud, in great danger. On the morning of the +fourth day, he wrote: “A violent fit of the cramp carried the +fever quite away; and, perceiving this, I took chaise without +delay, and reached Worcester in the afternoon. Here I overtook +Mr. Collins, who had supplied all my appointments, with +a remarkable blessing to the people; and, the next morning, I +gave a short exhortation, and then went on to Birmingham.” +At Birmingham, he was electrified, and “ventured to preach +three quarters of an hour.” He then made his way to +Hinckley, where, for three days, he preached morning and +evening, “to a serious and well behaved people.” He then +visited other societies on his way to Holyhead, and reached +Dublin on April 13.</p> + +<p>For three weeks, he was the guest of Mr. Henry Brooke, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_393">[Pg 393]</span> +and was employed in healing serious divisions in the Dublin +society.⁠<a id="FNanchor_448_448" href="#Footnote_448_448" class="fnanchor">[448]</a> Four days were spent in holding a conference with +his Irish preachers, at which, he says, “all was peace and +love.” “I wish,” he writes, “all our English preachers were of +the same spirit with the Irish, among whom is no jarring +string. I never saw such simplicity and teachableness run +through a body of preachers before.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_449_449" href="#Footnote_449_449" class="fnanchor">[449]</a> This was a high compliment +paid to Thomas Rutherford, Andrew Blair, Zechariah +Yewdall, Richard Boardman, Thomas Barber, Henry Moore, +John Cricket, John Crook, and their twenty-six colleagues in +Christian enterprise and labour.</p> + +<p>Wesley embarked for England on the 8th of May, and, +after preaching at Warrington, Liverpool, Wigan, Bolton, and +other places, reached Manchester nine days afterwards. Here +he had an enormous sacramental service, at which thirteen +or fourteen hundred communicants were present: “such a +sight,” says he, “as, I believe, was never seen in Manchester +before.” “I believe,” he adds, “there is no place but London +where we have so many souls so deeply devoted to God.”</p> + +<p>Leaving Manchester, he proceeded to Macclesfield, where a +week never passed “in which some were not justified, and +some renewed in love.” He preached, for the first time, at +Buxton, where John Knowles and his wife were almost the +only Methodists, and frequently rode on horseback to +Stockport, a distance of sixteen miles, to hear the Methodist +preachers.⁠<a id="FNanchor_450_450" href="#Footnote_450_450" class="fnanchor">[450]</a> Here he married a couple of his friends, and +preached in the parish church. He arrived in London on +May 31.</p> + +<p>On June 11, accompanied by Messrs. Brackenbury, Broadbent, +and Whitfield, he set out for Holland. For more +than forty years, Wesley had been incessantly at work +forming Methodist societies. Up to the present, he had +never indulged in the luxury of a ministerial holiday; and +we are not sure, that his trip to Holland should be regarded +in such a light as that. Still, there was a difference +between this journey and others. In other instances, his +object was to institute Methodist societies, or to strengthen +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_394">[Pg 394]</span> +those already formed; in this instance, that was no part +of the object at which he aimed. He went, says Mr. +Moore, “partly for relaxation, and partly to indulge and +enlarge his catholic spirit, by forming an acquaintance with +the truly pious in foreign nations.” The fact is, one of +his own local preachers, whom he highly esteemed, Mr. +William Ferguson, had removed to Holland, and, by +his earnest piety, had attracted the attention of the public +generally, including many of the principal inhabitants +and persons in authority. He spoke much of Wesley +and of the Methodists, and distributed Wesley’s sermons +among his friends. The result was a general wish to see +the veteran evangelist, and to hear him for themselves. One +difficulty, however, was in the way. Wesley was acquainted, to +a greater or less extent, with the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, +the English, French, German, and Spanish languages; but he +knew nought of Dutch. This objection was surmounted by +Mr. Ferguson’s son, Jonathan, offering to act as his interpreter.⁠<a id="FNanchor_451_451" href="#Footnote_451_451" class="fnanchor">[451]</a> +Accordingly, off Wesley went, accompanied by the three +preachers above mentioned.</p> + +<p>His visit was eminently pleasant. Ministers of religion +welcomed him; and persons of high rank showed him honour. +At Rotterdam, he preached twice, in the episcopal church, to +large congregations, and says: “Were it only for this, I am +glad I came to Holland.” At the Hague, in the house of a +lady of the first quality, he met a dozen ladies and two +military gentlemen, expounded the first three verses of the +thirteenth of the first epistle to the Corinthians, and prayed, +Captain M⁠—— interpreting sentence by sentence. Wesley +writes: “I believe, this hour was well employed.” He held a +sort of service in the passenger boat between Haarlem and +Amsterdam. That is, he and his friends began to sing a +hymn; the people listened; Wesley talked; Ferguson interpreted; +“and all our hearts,” says Wesley, “were strangely +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_395">[Pg 395]</span> +knit together, so that, when we came to Amsterdam, they +dismissed us with abundance of blessings.”</p> + +<p>At Utrecht, Wesley wrote: “June 28—I have this day lived +fourscore years; and, by the mercy of God, my eyes are not +waxed dim, and what little strength of body or mind I had +thirty years since, just the same I have now. God grant I +may never live to be useless! rather may I</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0a">‘My body with my charge lay down,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">And cease at once to work and live!’”</div> +</div></div> + +<p>On the same day, he made a short excursion. Hence, the +following extract from the diary of the Moravian congregation +at Zeyst:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“1783, June 28.—We kept the children’s prayer day. The <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> John +Wesley, the well known Methodist minister, arrived here in the afternoon, +with several other ministers. After visiting his old friend, Brother Anton, +he paid a hurried visit to the brethren’s house, and sisters’ house; and +then attended a children’s lovefeast, at three o’clock; on which occasion, +as it happened to be his eightieth birthday, the children sang a few benedictory +verses for him; the congregation closing the service by singing +‘The grace of our Lord be with us all!’ At 4.30 p.m. he and his companions +returned to Utrecht, where he had preached the day before.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley spent altogether seventeen days in Holland, and +was delighted with his visit. He writes: “I can by no +means regret either the trouble or expense, which attended +this little journey. It opened me a way into, as it were, a +new world; where the land, the buildings, the people, the +customs, were all such as I had never seen before. But as +those with whom I conversed were of the same spirit with my +friends in England, I was as much at home in Utrecht and +Amsterdam, as in Bristol and London.” “There is a blessed +work at the Hague, and many other of the principal cities; +and, in their simplicity of spirit, and plainness of dress, the +believers vie with the old English Methodists. In affection, +they are not inferior to any. It was with the utmost difficulty +we could break from them.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_452_452" href="#Footnote_452_452" class="fnanchor">[452]</a> “Two of our sisters, when we +left the Hague, came twelve miles with us on the way; and one +of our brethren, of Amsterdam, came to take leave of us to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_396">[Pg 396]</span> +Utrecht, above thirty miles. I believe, if my life be prolonged, +I shall pay them a visit at least every other year. Had I had +a little more time, I would have visited our brethren in +Friesland, and Westphalia likewise; for a glorious work +of God is lately broken out in both these provinces.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_453_453" href="#Footnote_453_453" class="fnanchor">[453]</a></p> + +<p>Wesley got back to London on July 4. Ten days later, he +set off to his conference at Bristol. “I expect,” says he, +“a good deal of difficulty at this conference, and shall stand +in need of the prayers of you and your friends.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_454_454" href="#Footnote_454_454" class="fnanchor">[454]</a> His +apprehension was realised; hence the following entry in his +journal: “July 29—Our conference began, at which we +considered two important points: first, the case of Birstal +house; and, secondly, the state of Kingswood school. With +regard to the former, our brethren earnestly desired, that I +would go to Birstal myself, believing this would be the most +effectual way of bringing the trustees to reason. With regard +to the latter, we all agreed, that either the school should cease, +or the rules of it be particularly observed: particularly, that +the children should never play, and that a master should be +always present with them.”</p> + +<p>We need not recur to the first of these points, except to +add, that the Birstal chapel case, no doubt, led to the adoption +of the following resolutions:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“<i>Question 21.</i> What houses are to be built this year?</p> + +<p>“<i>Answer.</i> None that are not already begun.</p> + +<p>“<i>Q. 22.</i> Has not the needless multiplying of preaching houses been a +great evil?</p> + +<p>“<i>A.</i> So it appears.</p> + +<p>“<i>Q. 23.</i> How may this be prevented?</p> + +<p>“<i>A.</i> By permitting none for the future to beg for any house, except in +the circuit where it stands.</p> + +<p>“<i>Q. 24.</i> What can be done to get all our preaching houses settled on +the conference plan?</p> + +<p>“<i>A.</i> Let Dr. Coke visit the societies throughout England, as far as is +necessary for the accomplishment of this end; and let the respective +assistants give him all the support in their power.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Such was the commission given to Dr. Coke, a weary and +worrying one.</p> + +<p>Kingswood school, however, was as great a bore as Birstal +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_397">[Pg 397]</span> +chapel. It had now existed for five-and-thirty years; it had +been to Wesley a source of almost ceaseless trouble, and was +now in a worse state than ever. Nevertheless, it was a far +famed institution; and, besides the sons of itinerant preachers, +it had, at this very time, <em>parlour boarders</em> from Denmark, +Norway, Sweden, and the West Indies. None of the scholars +however, were remarkable for piety or learning; and the +<em>young gentlemen</em>, just mentioned, had spoiled the discipline +of the school. Thomas Simpson, <abbr title="Master of Arts">M.A.</abbr>, was head master; +Mrs. Simpson housekeeper; Cornelius Bayley was English +teacher, with a salary of <abbr title="12 pounds">£12</abbr> per annum and his board; +Vincent de Boudry was occasional French teacher; and +C. R. Bond a sort of half boarder, and assistant to Bayley.⁠<a id="FNanchor_455_455" href="#Footnote_455_455" class="fnanchor">[455]</a></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“My design in building the house at Kingswood,” says Wesley, “was +to have therein a Christian family; every member whereof, (children excepted,) +should be alive to God, and a pattern of all holiness. Here it +was that I proposed to educate a few children, according to the accuracy +of the Christian model. And almost as soon as we began, God gave us +a token for good, four of the children receiving a clear sense of pardon. +But, at present, the school does not, in any wise, answer the design of its +institution, either with regard to religion or learning. The children are +not religious: they have not the power, and hardly the form of religion. +Neither do they improve in learning better than at other schools; no, nor +yet so well. Insomuch, that some of our friends have been obliged to +remove their children to other schools. And no wonder that they improve +so little either in religion or learning; for the rules of the school are not +observed at all. All in the house ought to rise, take their three meals, and +go to bed at a fixed hour. But they do not. The children ought never to +be alone, but always in the presence of a master. This is totally neglected; +in consequence of which, they run up and down the wood, and mix, yea, +fight with the colliers’ children. They ought never to play: but they do, +every day; yea, in the school. Three maids are sufficient; now there are +four; and but one, at most, truly pious.</p> + +<p>“How may these evils be remedied, and the school reduced to its +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_398">[Pg 398]</span> +original plan? It must be mended or ended: for no school is better than +the present school. Can any be a master, that does not rise at five, observe +<em>all</em> the rules, and see that others observe them? There should be +three masters, and an usher, chiefly to be with the children out of school. +The head master should have nothing to do with temporal things.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_456_456" href="#Footnote_456_456" class="fnanchor">[456]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>This was a dark picture; doubtless the result of bad management. +Easy, good tempered Mr. Simpson was a scholar; +his wife, the real governor, was an ogress. A woman that +rubbed Adam Clarke with the “infernal unguent” to cure +him of an imaginary itch; thrust him into a solitary room, with +a wretched old bedstead, and left him there without book or +fire; and from whom Adam, when he heard her voice, was disposed +to run in the utmost fright, was not the woman to manage +Kingswood school. “She was probably very clever,” says +Clarke; “all stood in awe of her; for my own part, I feared +her more than I feared Satan himself. The school was the +worst I had ever seen, though the teachers were men of adequate +learning. It was perfectly <em>disorganised</em>; and, in several +respects, each did what was right in his own eyes. There was +no efficient plan pursued; they mocked at religion; and +trampled under foot all the laws. The little children of the +preachers suffered great indignities; and, it is to be feared, +their treatment there gave many of them a rooted enmity +against religion for life. The parlour boarders had every kind +of respect paid to them, and the others were shamefully +neglected. Scarcely any care was taken either of their bodies +or souls.”</p> + +<p>Poor Kingswood! Could all this be strictly accurate? +Probably it was; for the following, given as a fact, prepares +the mind for almost anything in the form of stupidity, and +ignorant confusion. “At the table,” writes Adam Clarke, +“every person when he drank was obliged to run the following +gauntlet. He must drink the health of Mr. Simpson, +Mrs. Simpson, Miss Simpson, Mr. Bayley, Mr. De Boudry, all +the foreign gentlemen, then all the parlour boarders, down +one side of the long table, and up the other, one by one, and +all the <i>visitors</i> who might happen to be there: after which it +was lawful for him to drink his glass of beer.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_457_457" href="#Footnote_457_457" class="fnanchor">[457]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_399">[Pg 399]</span> +Wesley was quite right. No school at all was better than +such a school as this. It was high time to mend it or end it. +In his magazine, for the very month in which the conference +of 1783 was held, Wesley published an article, by his own +pen, entitled, “A Thought on the Manner of Educating +Children,” in which he strongly maintains, that all education +ought to be religious; but adds, probably with the state of +Kingswood in his eye,—“Even religious masters may still be +mistaken with regard to the manner of instilling religion into +children. They may not have the spirit of government, to +which some even good men are utter strangers. They may +habitually lean to this or that extreme, of remissness or of +severity. And if they either give children too much of their +own will, or needlessly and churlishly restrain them; if they +either use no punishment at all, or more than is necessary, +the leaning either to one extreme or the other may frustrate +all their endeavours. In the latter case, it will not be strange, +if religion stink in the nostrils of those that were so educated. +They will naturally look on it as an austere, melancholy thing; +and, if they think it necessary to salvation, they will esteem it +a necessary evil, and so put it off as long as possible.”</p> + +<p>Wesley was not the man to hesitate in changing his officials +when change was necessary. Mr. Simpson was dismissed; +Thomas McGeary, A.M., a young man of twenty-two, took +his place.⁠<a id="FNanchor_458_458" href="#Footnote_458_458" class="fnanchor">[458]</a> Cornelius Bayley had previously made up his +mind to leave, in order to enter the ministry of the Established +Church;⁠<a id="FNanchor_459_459" href="#Footnote_459_459" class="fnanchor">[459]</a> and Thomas Welch, an assistant in a school +at Coventry, applied to be appointed his successor. Wesley +wrote to him as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Bristol</span>, <i>August 15, 1783</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Thomas</span>,—You seem to be the man I want. As to salary, you +will have <abbr title="30 pounds">£30</abbr> a year; board, etc., will be thirty more. But do not come +<em>for money</em>. (1) Do not come at all, unless purely to raise a Christian +school. (2) Anybody behaving ill, I will turn away immediately. (3) I +expect you to be in the school eight hours a day. (4) In all things, I +expect you should be circumspect. But you will judge better by considering +the printed rules. The sooner you come the better.</p> + +<p>“I am, your affectionate brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_460_460" href="#Footnote_460_460" class="fnanchor">[460]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_400">[Pg 400]</span> +Mr. Welch was a young man of twenty-three. Two years +before, he had become a Methodist. The Coventry society, +then extremely feeble, was loath to lose him; and some of +its members succeeded in persuading him to remain where +he was. He wrote to Wesley to this effect; and Wesley +answered: “You use me very ill. I have turned away three +masters on your account. The person, who gives you this +advice, is wanting either in common sense or common +honesty.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_461_461" href="#Footnote_461_461" class="fnanchor">[461]</a> Mr. Welch became a valuable local preacher, and +lived and died a Methodist. Thomas Jones took the place +that he declined, and, for three years, retained it, when he +was ordained a clergyman of the Church of England.</p> + +<p>This was Wesley’s last complaint of Kingswood. Twelve +months afterwards, the school and family were visited with a +gracious outpouring of God’s good Spirit. In 1786, he says: +“I found the school in excellent order.” “It is now one of +the pleasantest spots in England. I found all things just +according to my desire; the rules being well observed, and +the whole behaviour of the children showing, that they were +now managed with the wisdom that cometh from above.” In +1787, he expressed himself to the same effect, as, in fact, he +did to the end of life. The last entry in his journal, in reference +to this memorable place,—a child, always with him a +pet, though often troublesome,—was this: “1789, September +11—I went over to Kingswood: sweet recess! where everything +is now just as I wish. But</p> + +<p class="center small">‘Man was not born in shades to lie!’</p> + +<p>Let us work now; we shall rest by-and-by. I spent some +time with the children; all of whom behaved well: several +are much awakened, and a few rejoicing in the favour of +God.”</p> + +<p>We must now bid a final adieu to dear old Kingswood +school, the sacred scene of so many Methodistic memories, +and turn to other matters connected with the conference of +1783.</p> + +<p>The number of members was reported to be 45,955; but +all these were Methodists within the limits of the United +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_401">[Pg 401]</span> +Kingdom. No account was taken of the 13,740 Methodists in +America. No mention was made of Antigua, where nearly +2000 persons had joined John Baxter’s society; and where, in +this very year, the first Methodist chapel in the torrid zone +was completed.⁠<a id="FNanchor_462_462" href="#Footnote_462_462" class="fnanchor">[462]</a></p> + +<p>Nova Scotia also is not noticed; though it had been the +scene of a most blessed work, and William Black had +written to Wesley, urgently asking him to send them +preachers. The following were Wesley’s answers.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>February 26, 1783</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—I did indeed very strongly expostulate with +the Bishop of London, concerning his refusing to ordain a pious man, +without learning, while he ordained others that, to my knowledge, had no +piety, and but a moderate share of learning.</p> + +<p>“Our next conference will begin in July; and I have great hopes, we +shall then be able to send you assistance. One of our preachers informs +me, he is willing to go to any part of Africa or America. He does not +regard danger or toil; nor, indeed, does he count his life dear unto himself, +so that he may testify the gospel of the grace of God, and win sinners +to Christ. But I cannot advise any person to go alone. Our Lord sent +His disciples two and two. And I do not despair of finding another +young man, as much devoted to God as he.</p> + +<p>“Of Calvinism, mysticism, and antinomianism, have a care; for they +are the bane of true religion; and one or other of them has been the +grand hindrance of the work of God, wherever it has broke out.</p> + +<p>“I am, my dear brother, yours affectionately,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_463_463" href="#Footnote_463_463" class="fnanchor">[463]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>The second letter to William Black was as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>July 13, 1783</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—It is a rule with me, to answer all the letters +which I receive. If, therefore, you have not received an answer to every +letter which you have written, it must be, either that your letter or my +answer has been intercepted.</p> + +<p>“I do not wonder at all, that, after that great and extraordinary work +of God, there should be a remarkable decay. So we have found it in +almost all places. A swift increase is generally followed by a decrease +equally swift. All we can do to prevent it, is continually to exhort all +who have tasted that the Lord is gracious, to remember our Lord’s words, +‘Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation.’</p> + +<p>“The school at Kingswood is exceeding full; nevertheless there shall +be room for you. And it is very probable, if you should live to return to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_402">[Pg 402]</span> +Halifax, you may carry one or more preachers with you. I hope you will +live as brethren, and have a free and open intercourse with each other.</p> + +<p>“I am, my dear brother, affectionately yours,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_464_464" href="#Footnote_464_464" class="fnanchor">[464]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Such was the wish of William Black; and such was +Wesley’s intention; but it was not until 1785, that Nova +Scotia appeared in the minutes of conference as a Methodist +circuit. “The harvest truly was great; but the labourers +were few.” And yet all that offered were not accepted.</p> + +<p>At the conference of 1783, there was present a young Welshman, +of middle stature, thin and delicate, with a somewhat +elongated face, an eye of genius, and a capacious forehead, +who offered himself as an itinerant preacher, but whom +Wesley and his brethren, from the delicacy of his health and +the feebleness of his voice, thought not equal to the arduous +labours of the itinerant office. He had been converted under +the preaching of Samuel Bardsley, and, soon after his offer +was declined by Wesley, was ordained by Bishop Horsley, +and became vicar of Llanbister. The vicarage had a parlour, +with a slab stone floor, an open chimney, and a hearth on +which burnt a fire of wood and turf. It had a kitchen, and two +upper rooms of the same humble character. For many a +long year this was the home of the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> David Lloyd, “a +philosopher, a poet, and a divine,” says Dr. Dixon, “who +seemed to enjoy, with unmixed contentment, the inheritance +given him by Providence.” For fifty years, his wife was a +Methodist, and his parsonage a Methodist preachers’ home. +Besides poetical works of considerable merit, the good vicar +became the author of a large octavo volume of very valuable +essays, entitled “Horæ Theologicæ.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_465_465" href="#Footnote_465_465" class="fnanchor">[465]</a> Mr. Lloyd was a perfect +enthusiast on the missionary question, and gave a subscription +of <abbr title="10 pounds">£10</abbr> a year to the Methodist and Church +missionary societies respectively; presented each with a +donation of <abbr title="500 pounds">£500</abbr>; and left the residue of his property, after +other demands had been satisfied, to be equally divided +between these two institutions. He also built a Methodist +chapel on his estate, and secured it to the connexion by +deed. Thus, as a diligent clergyman of the Church of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_403">[Pg 403]</span> +England, and the friend and host of Methodist preachers, +lived and died the good vicar of Llanbister,—a candidate +rejected by the conference of 1783.⁠<a id="FNanchor_466_466" href="#Footnote_466_466" class="fnanchor">[466]</a></p> + +<p>In the midst of this conference, Wesley was again seized +with an alarming illness. Dr. Drummond attended him +twice a day. His friends thought, that his end was come; +and he himself apprehended that the cramp would probably +reach his stomach, and occasion sudden death. “I have been +reflecting on my past life”, said he to his faithful nurse, +Joseph Bradford; “I have been wandering up and down +between fifty and sixty years, endeavouring, in my poor way, +to do a little good to my fellow creatures; and, now, it is +probable that there are but a few steps between me and +death; and what have I to trust to for salvation? I can see +nothing which I have done or suffered, that will bear looking +at. I have no other plea than this:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0a">‘I the chief of sinners am,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">But Jesus died for me.’”<a id="FNanchor_467_467" href="#Footnote_467_467" class="fnanchor">[467]</a></div> +</div></div> + +<p>For eighteen days, Wesley hung between life and death, +when, finding himself somewhat better, and “being,” as he +says, “unwilling to be idle,” he spent an hour with the Bristol +penitents. The day following, he preached twice, and, the +day after that, on Monday, August 25, set out again on his +much loved gospel ramblings. Death itself, to Wesley, was +more desirable than life without work.</p> + +<p>Preaching on his way at Gloucester, Worcester, and +Birmingham, he came, on August 29, to Stafford, where he +writes: “I preached, for the first time, to a large and deeply +attentive congregation. It is now the day of small things +here; but the grain of mustard seed may grow up into a +great tree.”</p> + +<p>Four years before this, Dr. Coke was passing through +Stafford, and, while dining at the inn, sent the bellman round +to announce to the inhabitants that he would preach in the +market place. Jeremiah Brettell, his companion, took a table +from the hostelry; the doctor mounted; the people came; +all listened with deep attention; and some expressed a wish +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_404">[Pg 404]</span> +for the visit to be repeated. Soon after, a little society was +formed,⁠<a id="FNanchor_468_468" href="#Footnote_468_468" class="fnanchor">[468]</a> which, in 1784, consisted of sixteen members, Henry +Robinson being leader.⁠<a id="FNanchor_469_469" href="#Footnote_469_469" class="fnanchor">[469]</a></p> + +<p>From Stafford, Wesley made his way to Macclesfield, +where he preached twice in the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> David Simpson’s church, +and had a sacramental service, at which seven hundred communicants +were present.</p> + +<p>He was now proceeding to Birstal, to effect the settlement +with the Birstal chapel trustees, as already related. +The journey occupied sixteen days; the distance was five or +six hundred miles; according to his wont, he preached all the +way there and back; and yet, the old man, who a month +before had been on the very verge of death, returned to Bristol +on the 13th of September, almost as vigorous as ever.</p> + +<p>An unpublished letter, belonging to this period, may be +welcome here. It was addressed to John Atlay, his book +steward.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Leeds</span>, <i>September 3, 1783</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—The schoolmasters for Kingswood are fixed, +and expected there every day. Mr. Simpson’s sister is the housekeeper, +who is come hither in her way to Bristol. Let no man or woman go +to West Street chapel without my appointment. It is a matter of deep +concern. The building or not building, at Birstal, does not depend upon +me, but the trustees. J. Fenwick is to correct the press chiefly, in the +absence of Dr. Coke, and to transcribe tracts for me. And he may receive +his little salary, at least, till I return to London.</p> + +<p>“I am, with love to sister Atlay, your affectionate brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley remained in the neighbourhood of Bristol till +October 6, and employed the interval, not only in preaching, +but in begging money to relieve the distresses of the destitute, +and in visiting the poor recipients at their own houses. +“I was surprised,” says he, “to find no murmuring spirits +among them, but many that were truly happy in God; and +all of them appeared to be exceeding thankful for the +scanty relief which they received.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_405">[Pg 405]</span> +No wonder, that such a man was popular; and no wonder, +that his presence was a loadstone drawing the poor around +him. Sometimes, however, their absence would have been +more welcome than their company. A month after this, +Wesley was at Norwich, and, when leaving, had a whole host +of poverty stricken people about his carriage. His purse was +low, containing only what was necessary to take him back to +London; and the clamour of the mendicant crowd, for once, +disturbed his temper. Somewhat sharply he said: “I have +nothing for you. Do you suppose I can support the poor +in every place?” At the moment, he was entering his +carriage; his foot slipped; and he fell upon the ground. Feeling +as though God Himself had rebuked him for his hasty +words, he turned to Joseph Bradford, and, with subdued +emphasis, remarked: “It is all right, Joseph; it is all right; +it is only what I deserved; for if I had no <i>other</i> good to give, +I ought, at least, to have given them good words.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_470_470" href="#Footnote_470_470" class="fnanchor">[470]</a></p> + +<p>The concluding months of the year were employed, as +usual, partly in London, and partly in the surrounding +counties.</p> + +<p>Considering Wesley’s advanced age, his labours are without +parallel. Here we have,—not a man of Herculean frame, big, +brawny, and heavy, fed on the daintiest diet, and stimulated +with the costliest wines,—but a man small in stature, his +weight eight stones and ten pounds (exactly the same as it +was fourteen years before), his age eighty, without indulgences, +feeding, for eight months in every year, chiefly at the tables +of the poor, sleeping on all sorts of beds and in all sorts of +rooms, without a wife, without a child, really without a home; +and yet a man always cheerful, always happy, always hard at +work, flying with all the sprightliness of youth throughout the +three kingdoms, preaching twice every day, indoors and out +of doors, in churches, chapels, cottages, and sheds, and everywhere +superintending the complex and growing interests +of the numerous societies which had sprung into buoyant +being through the labours of himself and his godly helpers. +The man was a marvel, such as the world sees only now and +then. Once show him the path of duty, and with a dauntless +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_406">[Pg 406]</span> +step he trod it. Nothing frightened him; nothing could allure +from the post assigned to him by Providence. However +arduous the work, and however great the privations and the +dangers, if his Master bid him go, he went, trusting in his +Master’s power for defence and help. “My brother Charles,” +he once remarked, “amid the difficulties of our early ministry, +used to say: ‘If the Lord would give me wings, I would fly.’ +I used to answer, ‘If the Lord bid me fly, I would trust Him +for the wings.’”⁠<a id="FNanchor_471_471" href="#Footnote_471_471" class="fnanchor">[471]</a></p> + +<p>One of the last acts of this youthful octogenarian, in 1783, +was to pay a pastoral visit to another of the most remarkable +men of that period,—Dr. Samuel Johnson, who was +now suffering his last illness, and died twelve months afterwards.</p> + +<p>Wesley’s publications, in 1783, were the following.</p> + +<p>1. “The Spirit of Prayer.” 24 pages, <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>.</p> + +<p>2. “Baxter’s Call to the Unconverted.” 76 pages, <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>.</p> + +<p>3. “The Important Question. A Sermon. By John Wesley.” +23 pages, <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>.</p> + +<p>Besides these, Wesley also published many new editions +of former tracts, for the use of his recently instituted tract +society, most of these reissues having upon the title page, +“This tract is not to be sold, but given away.”</p> + +<p>His principal publication, however, was his <i>Arminian +Magazine</i>, and this was as vigorously conducted as before. +Again, we have half-a-dozen original sermons, by Wesley +himself, all of them remarkable, and among the most able +that he ever published. These include his two discourses +on good and fallen angels; in which he propounds the +doctrine, that good angels minister to our happiness, by +assisting us in our searches after truth, by preserving us in +danger, by dreams, etc.: and that all evil angels are united +under one common head; and are often the authors of +accidents, diseases, fires, storms, and earthquakes. Then +there is his elaborate sermon on “The Mystery of Iniquity,” +in which he expresses the opinion, that the “greatest blow +that genuine Christianity ever received was when Constantine +the Great called himself a Christian, and poured in a flood of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_407">[Pg 407]</span> +riches, honours, and power upon the Christians, more +especially upon the clergy.” Next we have his curious +homily on the Spread of Christianity, where he hazards +the conjecture that truth will be transmitted from this nation +to that, until at last it reaches the South Sea islands. And, +finally, there are his characteristic sermons on Family +Religion, and on Training Children. As usual, every number +of the magazine has an article on the Calvinian controversy. +Biographical accounts are still numerous. Extracts from +his own Natural Philosophy, and from Locke’s Essay on +the Human Understanding, form a part of each of the +twelve numbers; as do also Benson’s letters in reply to +Madan’s treatise on polygamy; likewise extracts from Dr. +Hilldrop’s able “Thoughts on the Brute Creation,” professedly +to prove a theory which Wesley liked, the ultimate restoration +of the brute creation; and a series of profoundly thoughtful +articles on “The True Original of the Soul.” Nine numbers +have extracts from Baxter’s “Certainty of the World of +Spirits, fully evinced by unquestionable Histories of Apparitions +and Witchcrafts.” There are forty-five letters; forty-one +poems; and a number of portraits, including those of John +Hampson and William Thom, both of whom left the +Methodist connexion. There are also long continued extracts +from Bryant’s Analysis of Ancient Mythology, which +Wesley pronounces to be “one of the most remarkable +books, in its kind, which has been published for centuries.” +And, finally, there are Wesley’s “Thoughts on the +Writings of Baron Swedenborg.” The baron, a little before +he died, presented Wesley with his last and largest theological +work, the “True Christian Religion”; but he failed to make a +convert of him. Wesley believed him to be insane, and +traced his insanity to a fever, which he had in London, when +“he ran into the street stark naked, proclaimed himself the +Messiah, and rolled himself in the mire.” He was a “fine +genius,—majestic though in ruins.”</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_444_444" href="#FNanchor_444_444" class="label">[444]</a> <cite>The Wesleyan</cite>, <abbr title="September">Sept.</abbr> 9, 1846.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_445_445" href="#FNanchor_445_445" class="label">[445]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume fourteen">vol. xiv.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 343.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_446_446" href="#FNanchor_446_446" class="label">[446]</a> Manuscript letter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_447_447" href="#FNanchor_447_447" class="label">[447]</a> Mrs. Rogers’ Life, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 473.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_448_448" href="#FNanchor_448_448" class="label">[448]</a> Life of Brooke, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 100.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_449_449" href="#FNanchor_449_449" class="label">[449]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 141.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_450_450" href="#FNanchor_450_450" class="label">[450]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1851, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 313.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_451_451" href="#FNanchor_451_451" class="label">[451]</a> The Fergusons, father and son, were notable persons. Mr. Ferguson, +<abbr title="senior">sen.</abbr>, was a well known local preacher for upwards of sixty years; +Jonathan, his son, was a friend, and sometimes the travelling companion, +of John Howard the philanthropist. He was a hearty Methodist, a happy +Christian, and, at the age of eighty, died a triumphant death, at Islington, +in 1844.—(<cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1845, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 292.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_452_452" href="#FNanchor_452_452" class="label">[452]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 358.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_453_453" href="#FNanchor_453_453" class="label">[453]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 60.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_454_454" href="#FNanchor_454_454" class="label">[454]</a> Ibid. <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 60.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_455_455" href="#FNanchor_455_455" class="label">[455]</a> Simpson was a man of learning and piety, but too easy for his situation. +On leaving Kingswood, he wished to become an itinerant preacher, +but set up a school at Keynsham, where his son ultimately was made +vicar. Bayley was a good Hebrew scholar, became a doctor of divinity, +had a church, <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> James’s, built for him in Manchester, and was highly +respected for his piety, usefulness, and high church principles. De Boudry +began a school on Kingsdown, Bristol, and long bore the character of a +pious, steady, honest man. Bond was affectionate, but not talented, and +aspired to become a clergyman. Such is the testimony of Adam Clarke; +and it is only fair to give it as a counterpoise to the discreditable state of +the Kingswood school committed to their care.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_456_456" href="#FNanchor_456_456" class="label">[456]</a> Minutes of Conference, 1783.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_457_457" href="#FNanchor_457_457" class="label">[457]</a> “Life of Adam Clarke,” in three <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, 1833, <abbr title="volume one">vol. i.</abbr>, <abbr title="pages">pp.</abbr> 153–168.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_458_458" href="#FNanchor_458_458" class="label">[458]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1788, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 1.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_459_459" href="#FNanchor_459_459" class="label">[459]</a> Manuscript letter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_460_460" href="#FNanchor_460_460" class="label">[460]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1817, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 324.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_461_461" href="#FNanchor_461_461" class="label">[461]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1817, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 324.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_462_462" href="#FNanchor_462_462" class="label">[462]</a> Coke’s Life, by Drew, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 167.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_463_463" href="#FNanchor_463_463" class="label">[463]</a> Black’s Memoirs, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 99.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_464_464" href="#FNanchor_464_464" class="label">[464]</a> Black’s Memoirs, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 109.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_465_465" href="#FNanchor_465_465" class="label">[465]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1816, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 832.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_466_466" href="#FNanchor_466_466" class="label">[466]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1863, sixpenny edition, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 1.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_467_467" href="#FNanchor_467_467" class="label">[467]</a> Moore’s Life of Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 389.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_468_468" href="#FNanchor_468_468" class="label">[468]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1830, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 657.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_469_469" href="#FNanchor_469_469" class="label">[469]</a> + The names were: Henry Robinson, Mary Robinson, Charles Machin, +John Smith, Ann Stockdale, William Holding, Sarah Holding, John +Rowland, Sarah Jervis, Thomas Smith, Elizabeth Smith, John Ward, Ann +Ward, John Kelsall, Thomas Elley, and William Freepound.—(Burslem +old circuit book.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_470_470" href="#FNanchor_470_470" class="label">[470]</a> Everett’s Life of Clarke.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_471_471" href="#FNanchor_471_471" class="label">[471]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1825, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 390.</p></div></div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_408">[Pg 408]</span></p> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="1784">1784.</h2> +<hr class="short"> +<p class="center">Age 81</p></div> + +<p class="p2 drop-cap"><span class="smcap">Dr. Whitehead</span> calls the year 1784 “the grand +<i>climacteric</i> year of Methodism, because of the changes +which now took place in the form of its <i>original</i> constitution. +Not,” says he, “that these changes destroyed at once the +<i>original</i> constitution of Methodism; but the seeds of its +corruption and final dissolution were this year solemnly +planted, and have since been carefully watered and +nursed by a powerful party among the preachers.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_472_472" href="#Footnote_472_472" class="fnanchor">[472]</a> The +doctor was an able man; but he can scarcely be called a +prophet. Of course, he refers to Wesley’s deed of declaration, +and Wesley’s ordination of bishops for America; both +of which must have due attention, before we conclude the +present year.</p> + +<p>Wesley himself, according to his own correspondence, +seemed to grow younger as he grew older. In a letter to +“the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Walter Sellon, at Ledsham, near Ferrybridge, +Yorkshire,” and dated, “London, January 10, 1784,” he +writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“On the 28th of last June, I finished my eightieth year. When I was +young, I had weak eyes, trembling hands, and abundance of infirmities. +But, by the blessing of God, I have outlived them all. I have no infirmities +now, but what I judge to be inseparable from flesh and blood. This +hath God wrought. I am afraid you want the grand medicine which I +use,—exercise and change of air.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_473_473" href="#Footnote_473_473" class="fnanchor">[473]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>On the same day, he wrote another letter, now also, like the +former, for the first time published. Methodism had recently +been introduced, by a company of soldiers, into the Channel +islands; and Mr. Robert Carr Brackenbury, with his servant, +Alexander Kilham, had gone to promote its interests. The +letter was addressed, “Robert Carr Brackenbury, <abbr title="Esquire">Esq.</abbr>, in <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> +Heliers, Isle of Jersey.”</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>January 10, 1784</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>,—While those poor sheep were scattered abroad, without +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_409">[Pg 409]</span> +any shepherd, and without any connection with each other, it is no wonder +that they were cold and dead. I am glad you have gathered a few of +them together, and, surely, if prayer be made concerning it, God will provide +you with a convenient place to meet in. Perhaps an application to +the gentlemen, who have hired the ballroom, might not be without +success.</p> + +<p>“’Tis pity but you had the ‘Earnest Appeal’ to present to the governor, +as well as the minister. I trust both you and our newly connected +brethren will overcome evil with good. We can easily print the rules here, +and send them down with some other books. ’Tis good that every one +should know our whole plan. We do not want any man to go on blindfold. +Peace be with your spirit!</p> + +<p>“I am, dear sir, your affectionate friend,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">J. Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>The first two months of 1784 were chiefly spent in London, +with the exception of a flying visit to Colchester, and another +to Nottingham; Wesley’s errand to the last mentioned place +being to “preach a charity sermon for the general hospital.” +He had a grand covenant service in City Road chapel, attended +by upwards of eighteen hundred people. He took +counsel with the London preachers, as to the desirability of +the Methodists sending missionaries to India. He read +“Orlando Furioso,” and says, “Ariosto had, doubtless, an uncommon +genius, and subsequent poets have been greatly +indebted to him; yet, it is hard to say, which was the most +out of his senses, the hero or the poet. He has not the least +regard even to probability; his marvellous transcends all conception. +Who, that is not himself out of his senses, would +compare Ariosto with Tasso?”</p> + +<p>On the 1st of March, the venerable Wesley,—as agile as a +boy, above fourscore years of age, and yet reading the Italian +poet with all the zest of a youth still at school,—set out on +a seven months’ journey, first to Bristol, then to Scotland, +then to Leeds, then through Wales to the west of England, +and then to London, which he reached on October 9. With a +hasty step, we must try to follow him.</p> + +<p>Wesley, as opportunity permitted, “intermeddled with all +wisdom,” and, to the end of life, showed, that a man is never +too old to learn. At Bradford, in Wiltshire, he says: “I was +convinced of two vulgar errors; the one, that nightingales +will not live in cages; the other, that they only sing a month +or two in the year. Samuel Rayner has now three nightingales +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_410">[Pg 410]</span> +in cages; and they sing almost all day long, from +November to August.”</p> + +<p>At Stroud, he wrote: “Here, to my surprise, I found the +morning preaching was given up, as also in the neighbouring +places. If this be the case while I am alive, what must it be +when I am gone? Give up this, and Methodism too will +degenerate into a mere sect, only distinguished by some +opinions and modes of worship.”</p> + +<p>Wesley considered, that preaching at five o’clock in the +morning was the healthiest exercise in the world; and probably +he was not far from being right. But besides this, these +early matutinal services had now, for five-and-forty years, +been one of the things which made the Methodists “a <em>peculiar</em> +people,” as well as “zealous of good works.” No other church +or community, in England, had a service like this. It was a +religious ordinance which Wesley dearly loved. In thousands +of instances, he and his friends had proved the words, “Those +that seek Me <i>early</i> shall find Me.” No wonder then, that he +evinced alarm when he found the Methodists giving up the +morning services. Three weeks after he was at backslidden +Stroud, he came to Chester, and expressed himself in the +strongest terms on this subject. He writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“I was surprised, when I came to Chester, to find that there also morning +preaching was quite left off, for this worthy reason: ‘Because the +people will not come, or, at least, not in the winter.’ If so, the Methodists +are a fallen people. Here is proof. They have ‘lost their first love’; and +they never will or can recover it, till they ‘do the first works.’ As soon +as I set foot in Georgia, I began preaching at five in the morning; and +every communicant, that is, every serious person in the town, constantly +attended throughout the year; I mean, came every morning, winter and +summer, unless in the case of sickness. They did so till I left the province. +In the year 1738, when God began His great work in England, I +began preaching at the same hour, winter and summer, and never wanted +a congregation. If they will not attend now, they have lost their zeal; +and then, it cannot be denied, they are a fallen people. And, in the +meantime, we are labouring to secure the preaching houses to the next +generation! In the name of God, let us, if possible, secure the present +generation from drawing back to perdition! Let all the preachers, that +are still alive to God, join together as one man, fast and pray, lift up their +voice as a trumpet, be instant, in season, out of season, to convince them +that are fallen; and exhort them instantly to ‘repent, and do the first +works’: this in particular,—rising in the morning, without which neither +their souls nor bodies can long remain in health.”</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_411">[Pg 411]</span> +Perhaps this was looking at the thing too seriously. That +early morning service is highly profitable cannot reasonably +be called in question; but, that it should begin at the hour of +five may fairly be disputed. Early risers are persons to be +envied; they breathe the purest air, listen to the sweetest +songs, and have promptings to worship God that the sluggard +never feels.</p> + +<p>At Tewkesbury, Wesley had to correct the “impropriety +of standing at prayer, and sitting while singing praise.” At +Worcester, he “preached, to a crowded audience, in <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> +Andrew’s church.” At Madeley, he preached twice in the +parish church, revised the vicar’s letters to Dr. Priestley, and +declared, that there was hardly another man in England, so +fit to encounter the great Socinian philosopher as his friend +from the mountains of Switzerland. At Stafford, he preached, +to “a small company, in a deplorable hole, formerly a stable.” +At Lane End, near Newcastle under Lyne, in the face of +one of the most piercing winds of the month of March, he +preached, by moonlight, in the open air, the congregation +being four times larger than the chapel could contain. At +Burslem, also, for the same reason, he was obliged to abandon +the chapel for the field. At Manchester, on Easter Sunday, +he had “near a thousand communicants”; Thomas Taylor +says, twelve hundred.⁠<a id="FNanchor_474_474" href="#Footnote_474_474" class="fnanchor">[474]</a></p> + +<p>Thus he employed himself all the way to Whitehaven, +where he “had all the church ministers” to hear him, “and +most of the gentry in the town”; and, to his evident surprise, +“they all behaved with as much decency as if they had been +colliers.” At Edinburgh, he writes: “I am amazed at this +people. Use the most cutting words, and apply them in the +most pointed manner, still they <em>hear</em>, but <em>feel</em> no more than +the seats they sit upon.” Throughout Scotland, morning +preaching and prayer-meetings had almost vanished. “At +Aberdeen,” he writes, “I talked largely with the preachers, +and showed them the hurt it did both to them and the people, +for any one preacher to stay six or eight weeks together in +one place. Neither can he find matter for preaching every +morning and evening, nor will the people come to hear him. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_412">[Pg 412]</span> +Hence, he grows cold by lying in bed, and so do the people. +Whereas, if he never stays more than a fortnight together in +one place, he may find matter enough, and the people will +gladly hear him. The preachers immediately drew up such a +plan for this circuit, which they determined to pursue.”</p> + +<p>From Aberdeen, Wesley went, by invitation, to Lady +Banff’s at Old Meldrum, where he preached twice; and +thence to Keith, where he had a congregation to his heart’s +content, all the people poor, and “not a silk coat among +them.” At Forres, he was the guest of Sir Lodowick Grant. +In making his way to Inverness, by the mistake of his coachman, +he had to trudge, through heavy rain, twelve miles and +a half on foot, but says, he “was no more tired” than when +he first set out. At Elgin, he preached in the church, and +significantly remarks: “I do not despair of good being done +even here, provided the preachers be ‘sons of thunder.’” At +Newburgh, he found “the liveliest society in the kingdom.” +At Melval House, “the grand and beautiful seat of Lord +Leven,” he was hospitably entertained by the countess and +her family, and, at their desire, preached from, “It is appointed +unto men once to die.” Here, also, he wrote his +“Thoughts on Nervous Disorders.” His next halting place +was at Lady Maxwell’s, “who appeared to be clearly saved +from sin, although exceedingly depressed by the tottering +tenement of clay.”</p> + +<p>After thus visiting most of the important towns in Scotland, +Wesley reached Newcastle, where, on Whitsunday, he +preached thrice to large congregations. A week later, he +again set out, on his unwearied mission; and, at Stockton, +“found an uncommon work of God among the children,” +upwards of sixty of whom, from the age of “six to fourteen, +were under serious impressions, and earnestly desirous to save +their souls.” He writes: “As soon as I came down from the +desk, I was enclosed by a body of children; all of whom +sunk down upon their knees: so I kneeled down myself, and +began praying for them.” Beautiful picture this, well worth +painting! No wonder that he adds: “abundance of people +ran back into the house. The fire kindled, and ran from +heart to heart, till few, if any, were unaffected. Is not this a +new thing in the earth? God begins His work in children. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_413">[Pg 413]</span> +Thus it has been also in Cornwall, Manchester, and Epworth. +Thus the flame spreads to those of riper years; till at length +they all know Him, and praise Him from the least unto the +greatest.”</p> + +<p>Having visited the “dales,” Darlington, Northallerton, +Thirsk, Osmotherley, and other places, he made his way to +Whitby, where he wrote: “The society here may be a pattern +to all in England. They despise all ornaments but good +works, together with a meek and quiet spirit. I did not see a +ruffle, no, nor a fashionable cap among them; though many +of them are in easy circumstances. About forty had a clear +witness of being saved from inbred sin; and seemed to walk +in the full light of God’s countenance.”</p> + +<p>At Scarborough, Wesley attended church, and was regaled +with one of the bitterest sermons he ever heard. “So,” says +he, “all I have done, to persuade the people to attend the +church, is overturned at once! And all who preach thus will +drive the Methodists from the church, in spite of all that I +can do.” Two years after this, in a letter to his brother, he +wrote: “The last time I was at Scarborough, I earnestly +exhorted our people to go to church; and I went myself. +But the wretched minister preached such a sermon, that +I could not in conscience advise them to hear him any +more.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_475_475" href="#Footnote_475_475" class="fnanchor">[475]</a></p> + +<p>From Scarborough, Wesley proceeded along the east coast +to Hull; thence to Pocklington and York; and thence to +Epworth, where he spent his birthday, and preached in the +market place of the town, whose church, for nine-and-thirty +years, had been blessed with the able and faithful ministry of +his honoured father. He writes: “June 28—To-day I entered +on my eighty-second year, and found myself just as strong to +labour, and as fit for any exercise of body or mind, as I was +forty years ago. I do not impute this to second causes, but +to the sovereign Lord of all. It is He who bids the sun of +life stand still, so long as it pleaseth Him. I am as strong at +eighty-one, as I was at twenty-one; but abundantly more +healthy, being a stranger to the headache, toothache, and +other bodily disorders which attended me in my youth. We +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_414">[Pg 414]</span> +can only say, ‘The Lord reigneth!’ While we live, let us +live to Him!”</p> + +<p>Having spent a week in visiting the Lincolnshire societies, +Wesley proceeded to various towns in the west riding of +Yorkshire; and thence, for the first time, to Burnley. He +writes: “Burnley had been tried for many years, but without +effect. Now, high and low, rich and poor, flocked together +from all quarters; and all were eager to hear, except one +man, who was the town crier. He began to bawl amain, till +his wife ran to him, and literally stopped his noise; she +seized him with one hand, and clapped the other upon his +mouth, so that he could not get out one word. God then +began a work, which, I am persuaded, will not soon come +to an end.” Wesley’s words were verified.</p> + +<p>Thomas Dixon, who was appointed to the Colne circuit +in 1784, remarks, in his unpublished diary: “The work +of God at Burnley was very young; but many, during this +year, were converted. The great men of the place were +angry, and agreed to banish the Methodist preachers from the +town. The proprietor of the preaching house sent us notice +to quit the premises; and the rest of the gentlemen pledged +themselves not to let us have another. But about a month +before the expiration of the notice, the Lord converted a man, +who had a house of his own, which he opened to the preachers; +and now we had a better preaching place than we had before. +Soon after a chapel was erected.” One of the first members +was John Eagin, who, for fifty years, maintained an unspotted +character; and died, in 1836, saying, “I am happy.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_476_476" href="#Footnote_476_476" class="fnanchor">[476]</a></p> + +<p>Leaving Burnley, Wesley went to Otley, where, marvellous +to relate! he had a two days’ rest. He then, on July 18, +preached twice in Bingley church, a great part of his congregation +being obliged to stand outside. He writes: “Before +service, I stepped into the Sunday-school, which contains two +hundred and forty children, taught every Sunday by several +masters, and superintended by the curate. So many children, +in one parish, are restrained from open sin, and taught a little +good manners, at least, as well as to read the Bible. I find +these schools springing up wherever I go. Perhaps God may +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_415">[Pg 415]</span> +have a deeper end therein, than men are aware of. Who +knows but some of these schools may become nurseries for +Christians?”</p> + +<p>This is Wesley’s first notice of Sunday-schools. Though +such schools had long existed in a few isolated cases, it was +not until now that they attracted public attention. Miss +Ball’s Methodist Sunday-school at High Wycombe has been +already mentioned; and it has also been stated, that Miss +Cooke, a Methodist young lady (afterwards the wife of +Samuel Bradburn), was the first to suggest to Robert +Raikes the idea of instituting a Sunday-school at Gloucester. +Raikes commenced that school about the year 1783. At all +events, his account of it was dated Gloucester, June 5, 1784, +and was published in the January number of Wesley’s +<cite>Arminian Magazine</cite>, for 1785, with the title, “An Account +of the Sunday Charity Schools, lately begun in various parts +of England.” Wesley was one of the first to catch and +patronise the Sunday-school idea. At Bingley, he visited +the school before preaching in the church, and gave to +Sunday-schools one of their happiest designations, “nurseries +for Christians.” Similar institutions had been begun in +Leeds, where Wesley was about to hold his conference. +The town was already divided into seven divisions; and +had twenty-six schools, containing above two thousand +scholars, taught by forty-five masters. Each school commenced +at one o’clock in the afternoon, the children being +taught reading, writing, and religion. At three, they were +taken to their respective churches; then conducted back to +school, where a portion of some useful book was read, a +psalm sung, and the whole concluded with a form of prayer, +composed and printed for that purpose. Boys and girls were +kept separate. There were four “inquisitors,” persons whose +office it was to spend Sunday afternoon in visiting the twenty-six +schools, to ascertain who were absent, and then in seeking +the absentees at their homes or in the public streets. The +masters were mostly pious men, and were paid from one to +two shillings a Sunday for their services, according to their +respective qualifications. Each had a written list of his +scholars’ names, which he was required to call over, every +Sunday, at half-past one, and half-past five. Five clergymen +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_416">[Pg 416]</span> +visited the schools, and gave addresses; and the expenses +of the first year, ending in July 1784, were about <abbr title="234 pounds">£234</abbr>.</p> + +<p>Such were the Sunday-schools at Leeds when Wesley, for +the first time, visited one in the neighbouring town of +Bingley. Manchester also had taken up Raikes’ Methodist +idea; and, on the 1st of August, 1784, Wesley’s old friend, the +<abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Cornelius Bayley, <abbr title="Doctor of Divinity">D.D.</abbr>, who for ten years had been +one of the masters of Kingswood school, but was now an +ordained clergyman in this important city, published an +“Address to the Public on Sunday-Schools,” in which he +gave an account of the schools at Leeds, and urged the men +of Manchester to copy so excellent an example. Bayley’s +address produced a powerful effect; the magistrates patronised +his scheme; and the result was, that Cornelius Bayley, +<abbr title="Doctor of Divinity">D.D.</abbr>, the quondam Methodist, and master of Wesley’s +Kingswood school, became one of the chief, though not only, +instruments of establishing Sunday-schools in Manchester +and its neighbourhood.⁠<a id="FNanchor_477_477" href="#Footnote_477_477" class="fnanchor">[477]</a></p> + +<p>After visiting some of the intermediate towns and villages, +Wesley arrived at Leeds, for the purpose of holding his +annual conference. He writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“July 25, Sunday—I preached to several thousands at Birstal, and to, +at least, as many at Leeds. July 27, Tuesday—​Our conference began; +at which four of our brethren, after long debate (in which Mr. Fletcher +took much pains) acknowledged their fault, and all that was past was +forgotten. July 29, Thursday—​Being the public thanksgiving day, as +there was not room for us in the old church, I read prayers, as well as +preached, at our room. Having five clergymen to assist me, we administered +the Lord’s supper, as was supposed, to sixteen or seventeen +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_417">[Pg 417]</span> +hundred persons. August 1, Sunday—​We were fifteen clergymen at the +old church. August 3, Tuesday—​Our conference concluded in much love, +to the great disappointment of all.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Such are Wesley’s brief notices of this momentous conference. +Some additional incidents must be added. The war +of American independence was now ended, and the day of +public thanksgiving had reference to that event. In the +morning, at five, Thomas Hanby preached from, “My grace +is sufficient for thee.” Wesley’s text, previous to the almost +unparalleled sacramental service, was 1 Corinthians <abbr title="thirteen">xiii.</abbr> 1–4. +The five clergymen who assisted him were Messrs. Coke, +Fletcher, Dillon, Bayley, and Simpson. In the afternoon, the +business of the conference was resumed; and, at night, Wesley +preached again, taking as his text, “This is the first and +great commandment.” Altogether, Wesley preached not +fewer than eight times during this important session, besides +regulating the ticklish and difficult business that had to be +transacted.⁠<a id="FNanchor_478_478" href="#Footnote_478_478" class="fnanchor">[478]</a></p> + +<p>The “long debate,” which Wesley mentions, had reference +to the deed of declaration, which must now have the best +attention that space permits us to give it.</p> + +<p>At an early period of his history, Wesley published a model +deed for the settlement of chapels, to the effect, that the +trustees, for the time being, should permit Wesley himself +and such other persons as he might, from time to time, +appoint, to have the free use of such premises, to preach +therein God’s holy word. In case of his death, the same right +was secured to his brother; and providing that his brother’s +decease occurred before that of William Grimshaw, the same +prerogatives were to belong to the last mentioned. After the +death of the three clergymen, the chapels were to be held, in +trust, for the sole use of such persons as might be appointed +at the yearly conference of the people called Methodists, +provided, that the said persons preached no other doctrines +than those contained in Wesley’s Notes on the New Testament, +and in his four volumes of sermons.⁠<a id="FNanchor_479_479" href="#Footnote_479_479" class="fnanchor">[479]</a></p> + +<p>Thus the matter stood in 1784. According to Myles’ +Chronological History, there were, at this time, in the United +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_418">[Pg 418]</span> +Kingdom, three hundred and fifty-nine Methodist chapels; +and it may be fairly presumed, that most of these were +settled substantially according to the provisions of the deed +above mentioned.</p> + +<p>Here it may be asked, what necessity was there for a +further deed? The answer is, that, as yet, there was no legal +definition of what was meant by the term “<i>conference</i> of the +people called Methodists.” To supply this defect, Wesley, +on the 28th of February, 1784, executed his famous deed of +declaration, which, a few days afterwards, was enrolled in the +high court of chancery. To use the language of the deed +itself, its object was “to explain the words, ‘yearly conference +of the people called Methodists,’ and to declare what +persons are members of the said conference, and how the +succession and identity thereof is to be continued.”</p> + +<p>The document proceeds to state, that the said conference +had always consisted of Methodist preachers whom Wesley +had annually invited to meet him for the following purposes: +namely, to advise with him for the promotion of the gospel +of Christ; to appoint the said preachers, and other preachers +and exhorters in connection with him, to the use and +enjoyment of chapels conveyed upon trust as aforesaid; +to expel unworthy preachers; and to admit others on +probation.</p> + +<p>The deed then gives the names and addresses of one hundred +preachers, who are now declared to be the members of +the said conference; and proceeds to state (1) That they and +their successors, for the time being for ever, shall assemble +once a year. (2) That the act of the majority shall be the +act of the whole. (3) That their first business, when they +assemble, shall be to fill up vacancies. (4) That no act of +the conference assembled shall be valid unless forty of its +members are present. (5) That the duration of the yearly +conference shall not be less than five days, nor more than +three weeks. (6) That, immediately after filling up vacancies, +they shall choose a president and secretary of their +assembly out of themselves. (7) That any member of the +conference, absenting himself from the yearly assembly +thereof for two years successively, without the consent or dispensation +of the conference, and who is not present on the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_419">[Pg 419]</span> +first day of the third yearly assembly thereof, shall forthwith +cease to be a member, as though he were naturally dead. (8) +That the conference shall and may expel any member thereof, +or any person admitted into connection therewith, for any +cause which to the conference may seem fit or necessary. (9) +That they may admit into connection with them any person, +of whom they approve, to be preachers of God’s holy word, +under the care and direction of the conference. (10) That no +person shall be elected a member of the conference, who has +not been admitted into connection with the conference, as a +preacher, for twelve months. (11) That the conference shall +not appoint any person to the use of a chapel or chapels, who +is not either a member of the conference, or admitted into +connection with the same, or upon trial; and that no person +shall be appointed for more than three years successively, +except ordained ministers of the Church of England. (12) +That the conference may appoint the place of holding the +yearly assembly thereof, at any other town, or city, than +London, Bristol, or Leeds. (13) That the conference may, +when it shall seem expedient, send any of its members as +delegates to Ireland, or other parts out of the kingdom of +Great Britain, to act on its behalf, and with all the powers of +the conference itself. (14) That all resolutions and acts +whatsoever of the conference shall be written in the journals +of the conference, and be signed by the president and secretary +thereof for the time being. (15) That whenever the +conference shall be reduced under the number of forty members, +and continue so reduced for three years successively; or +whenever the members thereof shall decline or neglect to +meet together annually during the space of three years, the +conference of the people called Methodists shall be extinguished, +and all its powers, privileges, and advantages shall +cease. (16) That nothing in this deed shall extinguish or +lessen the life estate of the said John Wesley and Charles +Wesley, or either of them, in any of the chapels in which they +now have, or may have, any estate or interest, power or +authority whatsoever.</p> + +<p>Such was Wesley’s deed of declaration,—a deed recognised +in the trust deeds of all the chapels that Methodism builds; +and, hence, a deed investing a hundred Methodist preachers +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_420">[Pg 420]</span> +with the unexampled power of determining, irrespective of +trustees, societies, and congregations, who shall be the officiating +ministers in the thousands of chapels occupied by +Methodist societies at home and abroad, throughout the +United Kingdom and throughout the world. We repeat, this +is an unexampled power; and the ministers, invested with it, +ought to feel, that they have a corresponding responsibility to +God and to His church. High is the honour; the responsibility +is fearful. If Methodism should ever fail in its duty, or +fall to pieces, they, above all men else, must bear the blame.</p> + +<p>We purposely refrain from raising the vexed question about +the kind of church government, involved in this great settlement; +and proceed to notice the history of the deed of +declaration, up to the time of its being signed on February +28, 1784.</p> + +<p>Mr. Pawson, in his manuscript memoir of Dr. Whitehead, +states that, from the year 1750, all Methodist chapels were +settled according to the provisions of the model deed that +has been already mentioned; but several of the “wisest and +best preachers” were not satisfied, and, from time to time, +brought up the matter at the yearly conferences, and earnestly +urged Wesley to do something more to preserve the chapels +for the purpose which the original builders intended. Wesley +replied, that the trust deed in itself was quite sufficient; that +it had been drawn up by three of the most eminent counsellors +in London; and that, even supposing there might be +some defect in it, no one would be so mad as to go to law +with an entire body of people like the Methodists. Such +reasoning failed to satisfy the preachers, especially Messrs. +Hampson and Oddie, both of whom, says Pawson, “were +men of remarkably deep understanding and sound judgment.” +At length, Wesley began to yield to the pressure +that was brought upon him; and various schemes were propounded +to accomplish the purpose upon which men like +Hampson and Oddie had set their hearts. One was to +consolidate all the chapels in the connexion into a general +trust, the trustees to be chosen out of all the large societies +throughout the three kingdoms. Another was to have all the +chapel deeds brought to London, and deposited in a strong +box, to be provided for the purpose; and, in execution of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_421">[Pg 421]</span> +this project, many were actually sent, and some were thereby +lost. All this occurred previous to Dr. Coke’s uniting himself +with Wesley; and, from Pawson’s testimony, we now turn to +that of Coke.</p> + +<p>In his “Address to the Methodist Society in Great Britain +and Ireland, on the Settlement of Preaching Houses,” Coke +relates that, at the conference of 1782, the preachers seemed +to be universally alarmed at the danger arising from the want +of a legal definition of what was meant by the term, “the +conference of the people called Methodists”; and unanimously +wished some method to be taken to remove a danger +which appeared to them to be pregnant with evils of the first +magnitude. In consequence of this, Coke took the opinion +of Mr. Maddox, one of the first counsel of the day, and +ascertained, that the law would not recognise the conference, +without some further definition; and, consequently, that there +was nothing to preserve the Methodist connexion from being +shivered into a thousand fragments after Wesley’s death. To +prevent this, Mr. Maddox advised, that Wesley should execute +a deed, specifying the persons by name who composed the +conference, together with the mode of succession for its perpetuity. +Dr. Coke read Mr. Maddox’s opinion to the conference +of 1783; and the whole conference expressed their wish +that such a deed should be drawn up and executed. Coke +immediately set to work, and, with the assistance of Mr. +Clulow, a solicitor, and Mr. Maddox, the barrister, a draft of +the deed was carefully prepared, and submitted to Wesley for +his approval. Coke’s opinion was, that every preacher, in full +connexion, should have his name inserted; and that admission +into full connexion should, in the future, be looked upon +as admission into membership with the conference. Wesley +demurred to this, and determined to limit the number of +members to one hundred, and, without any advice from Coke, +made his own selections. In this form, the deed was executed; +and Coke sent copies of it to all the assistants of circuits +throughout the United Kingdom.⁠<a id="FNanchor_480_480" href="#Footnote_480_480" class="fnanchor">[480]</a></p> + +<p>We believe that this is, substantially, all that can be said +respecting the origin of what has been termed Methodism’s +Magna Charta.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_422">[Pg 422]</span> +What was the result? There were, at the conference of +1783, one hundred and ninety-two preachers appointed to +sixty-nine circuits, throughout the three kingdoms. We have +no hesitancy in saying, that we think it would have been +wise to have inserted the names of the whole of these in the +deed of declaration, with the exception of twenty-two, who +were still on trial, and not admitted into full connexion. All +seemed to have an equal right to this; and, thereby, all would +have been satisfied. Instead of this, Wesley proceeded to the +invidious task of selecting a hundred, and rejecting ninety-two. +It was a perilous experiment; and the peril was augmented +by the mode in which the experiment was made. +For instance, sixteen were elected who had travelled less than +four years; whereas among the rejected were the following.</p> + +<table class="small"> +<tr><td class="tdl">Thomas Lee</td> + <td class="tdc">travelled</td> + <td class="tdc"> 36 </td> + <td class="tdc">years.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">John Atlay</td> + <td class="tdc">”</td> + <td class="tdc">21</td> + <td class="tdc">”</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Joseph Thompson</td> + <td class="tdc">” </td> + <td class="tdc">25</td> + <td class="tdc">”</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">John Poole</td> + <td class="tdc">”</td> + <td class="tdc">25</td> + <td class="tdc">”</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">William Ashman</td> + <td class="tdc">”</td> + <td class="tdc">19</td> + <td class="tdc">”</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Jonathan Hern</td> + <td class="tdc">”</td> + <td class="tdc">15</td> + <td class="tdc">”</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">William Eels</td> + <td class="tdc">”</td> + <td class="tdc">12</td> + <td class="tdc">”</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Thomas Mitchell</td> + <td class="tdc">”</td> + <td class="tdc">36</td> + <td class="tdc">”</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl">Joseph Pilmoor</td> + <td class="tdc">”</td> + <td class="tdc">19</td> + <td class="tdc">”</td></tr> +</table> + +<p>Besides, where was the fairness of choosing and refusing +the following preachers, who, at the time, were colleagues in +the same circuit?</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<table class="muchsmaller"> +<tr><td class="tdl"><i>Names of Chosen.</i></td> + <td class="tdr"><i>Years standing.</i></td> + <td class="tdl pad2" colspan="2"><i>Names of Rejected.</i></td> + <td class="tdr"><i>Years standing.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl pad1">Joshua Keighley</td> + <td class="tdr">3</td> + <td></td><td class="tdl">William Horner</td> + <td class="tdr">13</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl pad1">Joseph Cole</td> + <td class="tdr">3</td> + <td></td><td class="tdl">Simon Day</td> + <td class="tdr">17</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl pad1">Jonathan Cousins</td> + <td class="tdr">3</td> + <td></td><td class="tdl">Robert Empringham</td> + <td class="tdr">21</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl pad1">William Green</td> + <td class="tdr">3</td> + <td></td><td class="tdl">John Hampson, sen.</td> + <td class="tdr">31</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl pad1">Joseph Taylor</td> + <td class="tdr">6</td> + <td></td><td class="tdl">John Wittam</td> + <td class="tdr">16</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl pad1">William Hoskins</td> + <td class="tdr">1</td> + <td></td><td class="tdl">John Watson</td> + <td class="tdr">12</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl pad1" rowspan="2">William Myles</td> + <td class="tdr" rowspan="2">6</td> + <td class="tdl pad1">⎧</td> + <td class="tdl">John Hampson, <abbr title="junior">jun.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdr">6</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl pad1">⎩</td> + <td class="tdl">George Snowden</td> + <td class="tdr">14</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl pad1">William Simpson</td> + <td class="tdr">4</td> + <td></td><td class="tdl">Thomas Johnson</td> + <td class="tdr">31</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl pad1">James Wray</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td></td><td class="tdl">Thomas Wride</td> + <td class="tdr">15</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl pad1">Henry Foster</td> + <td class="tdr">3</td> + <td></td><td class="tdl">George Mowat</td> + <td class="tdr">13</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p>Wesley doubtless had a right to make any selection that +he liked; but those who were not selected had an equal right +to grumble; and we are not surprised that, sooner or later, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_423">[Pg 423]</span> +not fewer than nearly thirty of the rejected withdrew from +the connexion altogether.</p> + +<p>John Pawson writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Mr. Wesley, designedly or otherwise, left out the names of several of +the old and respectable preachers; and these good men were exceedingly +grieved and not without reason. Many of the trustees also were alarmed, +thinking that we wished to make the chapels our own property; but +nothing of the kind was ever contemplated. The one design of the deed, +to my certain knowledge, was to prevent any preacher, who might be +inclined to settle, from taking possession of any of our chapels. The +preachers, whose names were inserted in the deed, so far from being +desirous to be distinguished above their brethren, very cheerfully complied +with Mr. Wesley’s desire, and gave up every privilege granted to them in +the deed, except that of electing their own president and secretary, which +appears to me to be a matter of little consequence.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_481_481" href="#Footnote_481_481" class="fnanchor">[481]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>There can be no question, that the deed of declaration +occasioned great excitement. John Hampson, <abbr title="junior">jun.</abbr>, says:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Every itinerant had always considered himself as a member of conference; +and, hence, when the ninety-one, who were to be excluded, saw +the deed, it was with astonishment and indignation. The injustice of the +thing stared them in the face; and they found that, in consenting to such +a deed, they had consented, that all the affairs of the connexion should be +lodged in the hundred mentioned in the declaration; that they should be +the lords and rulers of the rest; and should have it in their power to +turn any other preacher out of the conference, and tell him he had no +business there. The exclusion itself was both an iniquitous and a mortifying +measure. But the partiality of it rendered it still more oppressive. +Some of the oldest and ablest preachers, in the connexion, were excluded. +Many of the selected members were not only deficient in abilities, but +some of them, at the time of their insertion in the deed, were only upon +trial; while the chief qualifications of others were ignorance, fanaticism, +and ductility. Under such circumstances, it is no wonder if the persons +excluded thought themselves aggrieved. They were really so, and +they made no scruple to declare their sentiments. They sent circular +letters, inviting all the preachers to canvass the business at the ensuing +conference; and a large number assembled. Many of them were as +averse to the deed, as those who had so decidedly opposed it, and had +repeatedly execrated the measure, both by letter and in conversation; but +they had not the courage to avow their sentiments in conference. Mr. +Wesley made a speech, and invited all who were of his mind to stand up. +They all rose to a man. The five were found guilty, and it was unanimously +determined, that they should either make concessions or be +dismissed. Urged by the entreaties of Mr. Fletcher, and anxious for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_424">[Pg 424]</span> +the restoration of peace, the preachers in the opposition apologised to +Mr. Wesley, for printing the circular letter, without having first appealed +to conference.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_482_482" href="#Footnote_482_482" class="fnanchor">[482]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>Such, in substance, and omitting acrid comments, is the +account given by John Hampson, <abbr title="junior">jun.</abbr>; and there can be +little doubt that, in the main, it is quite correct. The printed +circular he mentions was issued by his father, and was +entitled, “An Appeal to the Reverend John and Charles +Wesley; to all the preachers who act in connection with +them; and to every member of their respective societies in +England, Scotland, Ireland, and America.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_483_483" href="#Footnote_483_483" class="fnanchor">[483]</a> Another circular +was drawn up by James Oddie, in the form of a petition +to Wesley and the legalised conference, to the effect, that the +preachers, whose names had been inserted in the deed, would +sign an agreement that, at the death of Wesley, they would +refrain from taking any advantage of their position, but would +invite the excluded to their first conference, and would treat +them, in all respects, as equals. This was first suggested by +Robert Oastler, of Thirsk; and was widely circulated, and +received with favour;⁠<a id="FNanchor_484_484" href="#Footnote_484_484" class="fnanchor">[484]</a> and, perhaps, it was this that evoked +the following letter, which was written on April 7, 1785, and +entrusted to Joseph Bradford, to deliver to the conference, +at their first meeting after the writer’s death.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brethren</span>,—Some of our travelling preachers have expressed +a fear, that, after my decease, you would exclude them, either +from preaching in connection with you, or from some other privileges +which they now enjoy. I know no other way to prevent any such inconvenience, +than to leave these my last words with you.</p> + +<p>“I beseech you, by the mercies of God, that you never avail yourselves +of the deed of declaration, to assume any superiority over your brethren; +but let all things go on, among those itinerants who choose to remain +together, exactly in the same manner as when I was with you, so far as +circumstances will permit.</p> + +<p>“In particular, I beseech you, if you ever loved me, and if you now love +God and your brethren, to have no respect of persons in stationing the +preachers, in choosing children for Kingswood school, in disposing of the +yearly contribution and the preachers’ fund, or any other of the public +money; but do all things with a single eye, as I have done from the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_425">[Pg 425]</span> +beginning. Go on thus, doing all things without prejudice or partiality, +and God will be with you even to the end.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span>”<a id="FNanchor_485_485" href="#Footnote_485_485" class="fnanchor">[485]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>This was a serious crisis in the history of Methodism. +Fortunately, it passed over without any other immediate +consequences than the retirement of the five principal +opponents to the deed of declaration, namely, the two +Hampsons, Joseph Pilmoor, William Eels, and John Atlay. +Considerable excitement, however, existed; and, in the spring +of 1785, Wesley found it desirable to write his “Thoughts +upon some late Occurrences.” He gives the history of the +origin of his conferences; and states that the term conference +meant not so much conversation, as the persons that conferred, +that it had become necessary to define the term, and +that, at the conference of 1783, he had been requested to fix +the determinate meaning of the word. He accordingly took +counsel’s opinion how to act, and was advised to execute a +deed of declaration. At first, he thought of naming only ten +or twelve; but, on second thoughts, he believed there would +be more safety in a greater number of counsellors, and, therefore, +named a hundred; as many as, he judged, could meet +without too great expense, and without leaving any circuit +without preachers while the conference assembled. He adds:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“In naming these preachers, as I had no adviser, so I had no respect +of persons; but I simply set down those that, according to the best of my +judgment, were most proper. But I am not infallible. I might mistake, +and think better of some than they deserved. However, I did my best; if +I did wrong, it was not the error of my will, but of my judgment.</p> + +<p>“This was the rise, and this the nature, of that famous deed of declaration,—that +vile, wicked deed, concerning which you have heard such an +outcry! And now, can any one tell me how to mend it, or how it could +have been made better? ‘O yes. You might have inserted two hundred, +as well as one hundred, preachers.’ No; for then the expense of meeting +would have been double, and all the circuits would have been without +preachers. ‘But you might have named other preachers instead of these.’ +True, if I had thought as well of them as they did of themselves. But I +did not: therefore, I could do no otherwise than I did, without sinning +against God and my own conscience.</p> + +<p>“‘But what need was there for any deed at all?’ There was the utmost +need of it; without some authentic deed fixing the meaning of the term, +the moment I died, the conference had been nothing. Therefore, any of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_426">[Pg 426]</span> +the proprietors of the land on which our preaching houses were built +might have seized them for their own use; and there would have been +none to hinder them; for the conference would have been nobody, a mere +empty name.</p> + +<p>“You see then, in all the pains I have taken about this absolutely +necessary deed, I have been labouring, not for myself (I have no interest +therein), but for the whole body of Methodists; in order to fix them upon +such a foundation as is likely to stand as long as the sun and moon +endure. That is, if they continue to walk by faith, and to show forth their +faith by their works; otherwise, I pray God to root out the memorial of +them from the earth.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span><a id="FNanchor_486_486" href="#Footnote_486_486" class="fnanchor">[486]</a> +</p> + +<p class="p0">“<span class="smcap">Plymouth Dock</span>, <i>March 3, 1785</i>.”</p> +</div> + +<p>We have done. All the facts, within our knowledge, have +been given. The reader must form his own opinion. Comment +would be easy; but we purposely refrain; only adding, +that, by Wesley’s famous deed of declaration, the Methodist +conference became a legally incorporated institution; and +that, without this, the Methodist itinerancy must have ceased, +and Methodism itself have been broken up into congregational +churches.</p> + +<p>We must now advert to another matter, which, if not of +equal, was of great importance, namely, the episcopal organisation +of the Methodist societies in America. This has been +the subject of bewildering controversy for more than eighty +years. Wesley and Coke have been bitterly assailed, and as +warmly defended. We will narrate the facts as simply and +briefly as we can.</p> + +<p>During the American war, which was now ended, the +American Methodists had multiplied with marvellous rapidity. +In 1774, they numbered 2073; in 1784, they were 14,988; +showing an increase of 12,915. They had 46 circuits, and +83 itinerant, besides some hundreds of local, preachers.⁠<a id="FNanchor_487_487" href="#Footnote_487_487" class="fnanchor">[487]</a> All +these, so far as the sacraments were concerned, were as sheep +without shepherds. Some of the clergymen of the Church of +England had taken military commissions in the army; others +were destitute of both piety and sense; and nearly all +opposed and persecuted the Methodists to the utmost of +their power. Bishop White testified, that “the Church of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_427">[Pg 427]</span> +England was becoming more and more unpopular,—with +some, because it was not considered as promoting piety,—and +with others, because they thought the provision for it +a useless burden on the community.” At the termination +of the revolutionary struggle, says Dr. Hawks, himself a +clergyman, “a large number of the churches in Virginia +were destroyed or irreparably injured; twenty-three of her +ninety-five parishes were extinct or forsaken; and of the +remaining seventy-two, thirty-four were destitute of ministerial +services; while of her ninety-eight clergymen, only +twenty-eight remained.” The <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Jarratt, another +clergyman of the Church of England, stated, that “most +of the clergy preached what was little better than deism,” +and were bitter revilers and persecutors of those who +preached the truth.⁠<a id="FNanchor_488_488" href="#Footnote_488_488" class="fnanchor">[488]</a></p> + +<p>Under these circumstances, the Methodists demanded of +their preachers the administration of the sacraments. Many +of the societies had been months, some of them years, without +these sacred ordinances. Five years before this, in 1779, the +preachers in the south proceeded to ordain themselves by the +hands of three of their senior members, unwilling that their +people should longer be denied the Lord’s supper, and their +children and probationary members the rite of baptism. +Asbury was greatly annoyed at this, and, a year afterwards, +with difficulty succeeded in persuading them to suspend the +administration of the sacraments till further advice could be +received from Wesley.⁠<a id="FNanchor_489_489" href="#Footnote_489_489" class="fnanchor">[489]</a> Asbury wrote to Wesley, telling him of +the greatness of the work, and of the division that had taken +place in Virginia, on account of the people’s uneasiness +respecting the sacraments. Thousands of their children were +unbaptized, and the members of the societies, in general, +had not partaken of the Lord’s supper for many years.⁠<a id="FNanchor_490_490" href="#Footnote_490_490" class="fnanchor">[490]</a> +“Dear sir,” says he, on March 20, 1784, “we are greatly in +need of help. A minister, and such preachers as you can fully +recommend, will be very acceptable. Without your recommendation, +we shall receive none. But nothing is so pleasing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_428">[Pg 428]</span> +to me, sir, as the thought of seeing you here; which is the +ardent desire of thousands more in America.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_491_491" href="#Footnote_491_491" class="fnanchor">[491]</a></p> + +<p>Wesley’s going was impossible. He had tried (as we have +already seen) to induce Bishop Lowth to ordain a minister, +and had failed. What else remained? He thought of Dr. +Coke, who replied as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Near Dublin</span>, <i>April 17, 1784</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Honoured and very dear Sir</span>,—I intended to trouble you no +more about my going to America; but your observations incline me to +address you again on the subject.</p> + +<p>“If some one, in whom you could place the fullest confidence, and +whom you think likely to have sufficient influence and prudence and +delicacy of conduct for the purpose, were to go over and return, you +would then have a source of sufficient information to determine on any +points or propositions. I may be destitute of the last mentioned essential +qualification (to the former I lay claim without reserve); otherwise my +taking such a voyage might be expedient.</p> + +<p>“By this means, you might have fuller information concerning the state +of the country and the societies than epistolary correspondence can give +you; and there might be a cement of union, remaining after your +death, between the societies and preachers of the two countries. If the +awful event of your decease should happen before my removal to the +world of spirits, it is almost certain, that I should have business enough, +of indispensable importance, on my hands in these kingdoms.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear sir, your most dutiful and most affectionate son,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Thomas Coke</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_492_492" href="#Footnote_492_492" class="fnanchor">[492]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>This is a curiously expressed letter; but if it means anything, +it means, that if Wesley would be good enough to +think and say, that Coke had “sufficient influence, and +prudence, and delicacy of conduct,” he was willing to become +Wesley’s envoy to the American Methodists.</p> + +<p>Here the matter rested, until the assembling of the conference +at Leeds. Mr. Pawson, in his manuscript memoir of +Dr. Whitehead, relates, that ordination was first proposed by +Wesley himself in his select committee of consultation. +Pawson was a member, and was present. He writes: “The +preachers were astonished when this was mentioned, and, to +a man, opposed it. But I plainly saw that it would be done, +as Mr. Wesley’s mind appeared to be quite made up.”</p> + +<p>Coke, Whatcoat, and Vasey were appointed to America; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_429">[Pg 429]</span> +and, six days after the conference concluded, Coke wrote to +Wesley as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>August 9, 1784.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Honoured and dear Sir</span>,—The more maturely I consider the +subject, the more expedient it appears to me, that the power of ordaining +others should be received by me from you, by the imposition of your +hands; and that you should lay hands on brother Whatcoat and +brother Vasey, for the following reasons: (1) It seems to me the most +scriptural way, and most agreeable to the practice of the primitive +churches. (2) I may want all the influence, in America, which you can +throw into my scale. Mr. Brackenbury informed me at Leeds, that he +saw a letter from Mr. Asbury, in which he observed that he would not +receive any person, deputed by you, with any part of the superintendency +of the work invested in him; or words which evidently implied so +much. I do not find the least degree of prejudice in my mind against +Mr. Asbury; on the contrary, I find a very great love and esteem; and +am determined not to stir a finger without his consent, unless necessity +obliges me; but rather to be at his feet in all things. But, as the journey +is long, and you cannot spare me often, it is well to provide against all +events; and I am satisfied that an authority, formally received from you, +will be fully admitted; and that my exercising the office of ordination, +without that formal authority, may be disputed, and perhaps, on other +accounts, opposed. I think you have tried me too often to doubt, whether +I will, in any degree, use the power you are pleased to invest me with, +farther than I believe absolutely necessary for the prosperity of the work.</p> + +<p>“In respect of my brethren Whatcoat and Vasey, it is very uncertain +whether any of the clergy, mentioned by brother Rankin, except Mr. +Jarratt, will stir a step with me in the work; and it is by no means certain, +that even he will choose to join me in ordaining; and propriety and +universal practice make it expedient, that I should have two presbyters +with me in this work. In short, it appears to me, that everything should +be prepared, and everything proper be done, that can possibly be done, on +this side the water. You can do all this in Mr. <span class="lock">C——n’s</span> house, in your +chamber; and afterwards, (according to Mr. Fletcher’s advice,) give us +letters testimonial of the different offices with which you have been +pleased to invest us. For the purpose of laying hands on brothers Whatcoat +and Vasey, I can bring Mr. Creighton down with me, by which you +will have two presbyters with you.</p> + +<p>“In respect to brother Rankin’s argument, that you will escape a great +deal of odium by omitting this, it is nothing. Either it will be known, or +not known. If not known, then no odium will arise; but if known, you +will be obliged to acknowledge, that I acted under your direction, or suffer +me to sink under the weight of my enemies, with perhaps your brother +at the head of them. I shall entreat you to ponder these things.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“Your most dutiful, <span class="smcap">Thomas Coke</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_493_493" href="#Footnote_493_493" class="fnanchor">[493]</a> +</p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_430">[Pg 430]</span> + +Would it not seem from this, that Wesley had no +idea of ordaining any one himself; but, that he intended +Coke, who, as a presbyter of the same church, had coequal +power, to go out to America for that purpose? There can be +no question, that there is force in Dr. Whitehead’s critique, +that “Dr. Coke had the same right to ordain Mr. Wesley, +that Mr. Wesley had to ordain Dr. Coke.” Wesley, we +think, never intended doing this; but, at Coke’s request, he +acquiesced.</p> + +<p>Of his power to ordain others, Wesley had no doubt. +Nearly forty years before this, he had been convinced, by +Lord King’s Account of the Primitive Church, “that bishops +and presbyters are of one order.” In 1756, he wrote: “I +still believe the episcopal form of church government, to agree +with the practice and writings of the apostles; but, that it is +prescribed in Scripture, I do not believe. This opinion, which +I once zealously espoused, I have been heartily ashamed of, +ever since I read Bishop Stillingfleet’s ‘Irenicon.’ I think he +has unanswerably proved, that neither Christ nor His apostles +prescribe any particular form of church government; and that +the plea of Divine right, for diocesan episcopacy, was never +heard of in the primitive church.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_494_494" href="#Footnote_494_494" class="fnanchor">[494]</a> Again, in 1761, in a letter +to a friend, he repeated, that Stillingfleet had fully convinced +him, that to believe that none but episcopal ordination was +valid “was an entire mistake.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_495_495" href="#Footnote_495_495" class="fnanchor">[495]</a> And again, in 1780, he +shocked the high church bigotry of his brother, by declaring, +“I verily believe I have as good a right to ordain, as to +administer the Lord’s supper.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_496_496" href="#Footnote_496_496" class="fnanchor">[496]</a></p> + +<p>His right to ordain, then, was no new assumption of +Wesley, adopted in his old age, or in his imbecility, as some +of his critics have alleged. It was a firm conviction of forty +years’ standing.</p> + +<p>Besides, there was another fact, which might have some +influence with him, but which none of his biographers have +noticed. The Methodists, under the care of the Countess of +Huntingdon, stood in the same relation to the Church of +England that the Methodists under Wesley did. They <em>varied</em>, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_431">[Pg 431]</span> +not <em>dissented</em>, from the Church. Recently, however, there +had been a formal and avowed secession. Many of Lady +Huntingdon’s chapels were supplied by ordained clergymen, +and, among others, a large building in Spafields, previously +known as the Pantheon. This edifice stood in the parish of +Clerkenwell, of which the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> William Sellon was minister. +Mr. Sellon claimed the right of appointing ministers and +clerks to the Spafields chapel; also the right of himself +to officiate within its walls as often as he liked. He further +demanded the sum of <abbr title="40 pounds">£40</abbr> a year, in consideration of his permitting +two of the Countess’s preachers to occupy the said +chapel; also all the sacramental collections; and four collections +yearly, for the benefit of the children of the charity +school of Clerkenwell parish; and, finally, that, for the due +performance of these demands, the proprietors should sign a +bond for <abbr title="1000 pounds">£1000</abbr>.</p> + +<p>Of course, the proprietors refused to comply with such +demands. Mr. Sellon then instituted a suit in the consistorial +court of the Bishop of London, and cited the <abbr title="Reverends">Revs.</abbr> Messrs. +Jones and Taylor, the officiating clergymen, and both of them +ordained, to answer for their irregularity in preaching in a +place not episcopally consecrated, and for carrying on Divine +worship there, contrary to the wish of the minister of the +parish. Verdicts were obtained against them. The question +was then removed to the ecclesiastical courts; and was again +decided against the ministers of the countess, and in favour +of Mr. Sellon, who obtained the name of Sanballat.</p> + +<p>This was a momentous matter. Hitherto, Romaine, Venn, +and others had preached for the countess; but now, as ordained +clergymen, in danger of prosecution, they had to withdraw +their services; and some of the most important chapels +were left without supplies. The crisis was serious. The +countess took counsel with her friends; and, at length, it was +determined, that Messrs. Wills and Taylor should formally +secede from the Church of England, and should take upon +themselves to ordain others: both of them had received +episcopal ordination themselves, both were scholars and able +preachers, and Mr. Wills had married Miss Wheeler, the +countess’s niece. Accordingly, these two ministers issued an +address to the archbishops and bishops of the Church of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_432">[Pg 432]</span> +England, stating that, because they could not, as clergymen of +the Established Church, continue preaching to their present +congregations, without “knowingly and wilfully opposing the +Church’s laws,” they had resolved to secede peaceably, and to +put themselves under the protection of the Toleration Act.</p> + +<p>Here then was a formal Methodist secession from the +Established Church. But more than this: on March 9, +1783, these two seceding clergymen began to do what Wesley +did eighteen months afterwards,—they held their first ordination. +This was in Spafields chapel. The service commenced +at 9 a.m., and lasted about seven hours. The names of the +six young men, then set apart to the Christian ministry, were +Thomas Jones, Samuel Beaufoy, Thomas Cannon, John Johnson, +William Green, and Joel Abraham Knight. During the +service, Mr. Wills addressed the congregation, and assigned +his reasons for believing that he had the right to ordain, +namely, that presbyters and bishops were the same order, and +that, as he and Mr. Taylor had been ordained presbyters, they +had really been ordained bishops, and had as much right to +ordain others as any bishop in the land.⁠<a id="FNanchor_497_497" href="#Footnote_497_497" class="fnanchor">[497]</a></p> + +<p>Wesley was acquainted with all this, though he never mentions +it. For aught he knew, an action might be commenced +against himself and the other clergymen preaching in City +Road, West Street, and elsewhere, similar to that which had +been successfully prosecuted against the Countess of Huntingdon’s +preachers at Spafields. It was time to look about. He held +exactly the same views respecting presbyters and bishops that +had been publicly avowed by Messrs. Wills and Taylor; and +now, in September 1784, reduced them to practice by proceeding +to Bristol, and there ordaining Coke, Whatcoat, and Vasey.</p> + +<p>Passing by the ordinations of Whatcoat and Vasey, which +involve no difficulty except Wesley’s churchmanship, the ordination +of Coke is a perplexing puzzle. Coke had been +already ordained a deacon and a priest of the Church of +England; and, hence, his ministerial status was the same as +Wesley’s. What further ordination was needed? Wesley +intended none; but Coke wished it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_433">[Pg 433]</span> +Wesley was the founder and father of the Methodists. +There were 15,000 in America whom he had never seen. In +no sense were these members of the Church of England; for, +at the termination of the war, no state church was recognised. +What were they? Not presbyterians, not Dissenters, not +quakers, not anything, except simple Methodists. They +were without sacraments. They wished to have them. +As Christians, they had a right to them. But who was +to administer? Common sense would have said, the men +by whose preaching they had been converted; but here +priestly prejudice stepped in, and forbad men, whom God +had called to preach, to administer the sacraments, until +episcopal or presbyterian hands had been put upon them. +Things were brought into a dead lock. The question was, +are the Methodist preachers in America to administer +the sacraments without ordination? Or shall Wesley or +some one else go from England to give them ordination? +Wesley, a man of action, decided to send Coke, and Coke +consented; but, before starting, he wished to have an +additional ordination himself. What was that ordination to +be? The only one possible was this. Wesley was the venerable +father of the 15,000 Methodists in America. He was not +able to visit them himself; but sends them Dr. Coke. The +doctor pretends, that it is more than possible, that some of +the American preachers and societies will refuse to acknowledge +his authority. To remove this objection, Wesley, at +Bristol, in a private room, holds a religious service, puts his +hands upon the head of Coke, and, (to use his own words,) +sets him apart as a <em>superintendent</em> of the work in America, +and gives him a written testimonial to that effect. This was +all that Wesley did, and all that Wesley meant; but we +greatly doubt whether it was all that the departing envoy +wished.</p> + +<p>With the highest respect for Dr. Coke, and his general +excellences, it is no detraction to assert, that he was +dangerously ambitious, and that the height of his ambition +was a desire to be a bishop. Some years after this, Coke, +unknown to Wesley and Asbury, addressed a confidential +letter to Dr. White, bishop of the protestant episcopal +church of Pennsylvania, which, if it meant anything, meant +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_434">[Pg 434]</span> +that he would like the Methodists of America to be reunited to +the English Church, on condition that he himself was ordained +to be their bishop. In 1794, he secretly summoned a meeting, +at Lichfield, of the most influential of the English preachers, +and passed a resolution, that the conference should appoint +an order of bishops, to ordain deacons and elders, he himself, +of course, expecting to be a member of the prelatical brotherhood. +And again, it is a well known fact, that, within twelve +months of his lamented death, he wrote to the Earl of Liverpool, +stating that he was willing to return most fully into the +bosom of the Established Church, on condition, that his +royal highness the Prince Regent, and the government, +would appoint him their bishop in India. These are unpleasant +facts; which we would rather have consigned to +oblivion, had they not been necessary to vindicate Wesley +from the huge inconsistency of ordaining a coequal presbyter +to be a bishop. Wesley meant the ceremony to be a mere +formality likely to recommend his delegate to the favour of +the Methodists in America: Coke, in his ambition, wished, and +intended it to be considered as, an ordination to a bishopric. +This will be clear as we proceed farther. The following are +the “letters testimonial,” which Coke asked to have.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“To all to whom these presents shall come, John Wesley, late Fellow +of Lincoln College in Oxford, Presbyter of the Church of England, +sendeth greeting.</p> + +<p>“Whereas many of the people in the southern provinces of North +America, who desire to continue under my care, and still adhere to the +doctrine and discipline of the Church of England, are greatly distressed +for want of ministers to administer the sacraments of baptism and the +Lord’s supper, according to the usage of the same Church; and whereas +there does not appear to be any other way of supplying them with +ministers:</p> + +<p>“Know all men, that I, John Wesley, think myself to be providentially +called, at this time, to set apart some persons for the work of the ministry +in America. And, therefore, under the protection of almighty God, and +with a single eye to His glory, I have this day set apart as a superintendent, +by the imposition of my hands, and prayer, (being assisted by +other ordained ministers,⁠<a id="FNanchor_498_498" href="#Footnote_498_498" class="fnanchor">[498]</a>) Thomas Coke, doctor of civil law, a presbyter +of the Church of England, and a man whom I judge to be well qualified +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_435">[Pg 435]</span> +for that great work. And I do hereby recommend him to all whom it +may concern, as a fit person to preside over the flock of Christ. In +testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this second +day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred +and eighty-four.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span>”<a id="FNanchor_499_499" href="#Footnote_499_499" class="fnanchor">[499]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="p2 right"> +“<span class="smcap">Bristol</span>, <i>September 10, 1784</i>.</p> + +<p class="center">“<i>To Dr. Coke, Mr. Asbury, and our Brethren in North America.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">By</span> a very uncommon train of providences, many of the provinces of +North America are totally disjoined from the mother country, and +erected into independent states. The English government has no +authority over them, either civil or ecclesiastical, any more than over the +states of Holland. A civil authority is exercised over them, partly by +the congress, partly by the provincial assemblies. But no one either +exercises or claims any ecclesiastical authority at all. In this peculiar +situation, some thousands of the inhabitants of these states desire my +advice, and, in compliance with their desire, I have drawn up a little +sketch.</p> + +<p>“Lord King’s account of the primitive church convinced me, many +years ago, that bishops and presbyters are the same order, and consequently +have the same right to ordain. For many years, I have been +importuned, from time to time, to exercise this right, by ordaining part of +our travelling preachers. But I have still refused; not only for peace +sake, but because I was determined, as little as possible, to violate the +established order of the national church to which I belonged.</p> + +<p>“But the case is widely different between England and North America. +Here there are bishops, who have a legal jurisdiction; in America there +are none, neither any parish minister; so that, for some hundreds of +miles together, there is none either to baptize, or to administer the Lord’s +supper. Here, therefore, my scruples are at an end; and I conceive +myself at full liberty, as I violate no order, and invade no man’s rights, +by appointing and sending labourers into the harvest.</p> + +<p>“I have accordingly appointed Dr. Coke and Mr. Francis Asbury to +be joint superintendents over our brethren in North America; as also +Richard Whatcoat and Thomas Vasey, to act as elders among them, by +baptizing and administering the Lord’s supper. And I have prepared a +liturgy, little differing from that of the Church of England, (I think the +best constituted national church in the world,) which I advise all the +travelling preachers to use on the Lord’s day, in all the congregations, +reading the litany only on Wednesdays and Fridays, and praying extempore +on all other days. I also advise the elders to administer the supper +of the Lord, on every Lord’s day.</p> + +<p>“If any one will point out a more rational and scriptural way of feeding +and guiding these poor sheep in the wilderness, I will gladly embrace it. +At present, I cannot see any better method than that I have taken.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_436">[Pg 436]</span> +“It has, indeed, been proposed to desire the English bishops to ordain +part of our preachers for America. But to this I object: (1) I desired the +Bishop of London to ordain one, but could not prevail. (2) If they consented, +we know the slowness of their proceedings; but the matter +admits of no delay. (3) If they would ordain them now, they would +expect to govern them; and how grievously would this entangle us! (4) +As our American brethren are now totally disentangled, both from the +state and the English hierarchy, we dare not entangle them again, either +with the one or the other. They are now at full liberty, simply to follow +the Scriptures and the primitive church. And we judge it best, that +they should stand fast in that liberty, wherewith God has so strangely set +them free.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span>”<a id="FNanchor_500_500" href="#Footnote_500_500" class="fnanchor">[500]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>“These are the steps,” says Wesley in another place, +“which, not of choice, but necessity, I have slowly and +deliberately taken. If any one is pleased to call this +<em>separating from the Church</em>, he may. But the law of England +does not call it so; nor can any one properly be said so to +do, unless, out of conscience, he refuses to join in the service, +and partake of the sacraments administered therein.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_501_501" href="#Footnote_501_501" class="fnanchor">[501]</a></p> + +<p>Eight days after the date of the above letter, Coke, Whatcoat, +and Vasey set sail for America, where they arrived on +November 3. A conference of nearly sixty preachers met in +Baltimore on December 24. Three days later, Coke ordained +Asbury; and the two then ordained a number of elders and +deacons. Coke preached a sermon, which was published, +with the title, “The Substance of a Sermon preached at +Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, before the General +Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, on the 27th +of December, 1784, at the Ordination of the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Francis +Asbury to the office of Superintendent. By Thomas Coke, +<abbr title="Doctor of Laws">LL.D.</abbr>, Superintendent of the said Church. Published at the +desire of the Conference.” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 22 pages.</p> + +<p>The title is worth observing. Coke and Asbury are <i>superintendents</i>; +the Methodist church is <em>episcopal</em>,—a church +governed by <em>bishops</em>. The sermon begins with an onslaught +on the Church of England in America. “The churches had, +in general, been filled with the parasites and bottle companions +of the rich and great. The humble and importunate +entreaties, of the oppressed flocks, were contemned and despised. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_437">[Pg 437]</span> +The drunkard, the fornicator, and the extortioner, +triumphed over bleeding Zion, because they were faithful +abettors of the ruling powers. But these intolerable fetters +were now struck off; and the antichristian union, which before +subsisted between church and state, was broken asunder.” +Coke then proceeds to answer the question, “What right have +you to exercise the episcopal office?” “To me,” says he, +“the most manifest and clear. God has been pleased, by +Mr. Wesley, to raise up, in America and Europe, a numerous +society, well known by the name of Methodists. The whole +body have invariably esteemed <em>this man</em> as their chief pastor, +under Christ; and we are fully persuaded, he has a right to +ordain. Besides, we have every qualification for an episcopal +church, which that of Alexandria possessed for two hundred +years; our bishops, or superintendents (as we rather call +them), having been elected by the suffrages of the whole body +of our ministers through the continent, assembled in general +conference.”</p> + +<p>This is scarcely conclusive reasoning, but it shows that, +from the very first, Coke assumed, what Wesley never gave +him, the title of a bishop. Five years later, in May, 1789, +Coke and Asbury presented an address to Washington, the +president of the United States, beginning with the words, +“We, the <em>bishops</em> of the Methodist <em>Episcopal</em> Church”;⁠<a id="FNanchor_502_502" href="#Footnote_502_502" class="fnanchor">[502]</a> and +at the conference of the same year the first question asked +was: “Who are the persons that exercise the episcopal office +in the Methodist church in Europe and America? Answer. +John Wesley, Thomas Coke, and Francis Asbury, by regular +order and succession.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_503_503" href="#Footnote_503_503" class="fnanchor">[503]</a></p> + +<p>This grandiloquent parade of office must not be ascribed to +Wesley. He never sanctioned it; he positively condemned +it. Besides, even allowing that Coke and Asbury had a right +to designate themselves bishops of the Methodist churches in +America, what was their authority for pronouncing Wesley +the bishop of the Methodist church in Europe? They had +none. It was an unwarrantable liberty taken with the name +of a venerable man, who had censured the use of such an +appellation, and whose humility and modesty Coke would +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_438">[Pg 438]</span> +have been none the worse for copying. As it was, Wesley +was held up to ridicule, and made to suffer, on account of the +episcopal ambition of his friends.</p> + +<p>We have no fault to find with the American Methodists +being called the Methodist Episcopal Church. They have +the fullest right to such a designation if they choose to use it; +but it was a name which Wesley never used; and to censure +him for ordaining bishops is to censure him for what he never +did. He ordained a <em>superintendent</em>; but he never thought to +call him <em>bishop</em>. Hence the following to Asbury.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>September 20, 1788</i>. +</p> + +<p>“... There is indeed a wide difference between the relation wherein +you stand to the Americans, and the relation wherein I stand to all the +Methodists. You are the elder brother of the American Methodists; I +am, under God, the father of the whole family. Therefore, I naturally +care for you all in a manner no other person can do. Therefore, I, in a +measure, provide for you all; for the supplies which Dr. Coke provides +for you, he could not provide, were it not for me,—were it not that I not +only permit him to collect, but also support him in so doing.</p> + +<p>“But in one point, my dear brother, I am a little afraid, both the doctor +and you differ from me. I study to be little; you study to be great. I +creep; you strut along. I found a school; you a college! nay, and call it +after your own names!⁠<a id="FNanchor_504_504" href="#Footnote_504_504" class="fnanchor">[504]</a> O, beware; do not seek to be something! Let +me be nothing, and ‘Christ be all in all!’</p> + +<p>“One instance of this, of your greatness, has given me great concern. +How can you, how dare you, suffer yourself to be called bishop? I +shudder, I start at the very thought! Men may call me a knave or a fool, +a rascal, a scoundrel, and I am content; but they shall never, by my +consent, call me bishop! For my sake, for God’s sake, for Christ’s sake, +put a full end to this! Let the presbyterians do what they please, but let +the Methodists know their calling better.</p> + +<p>“Thus, my dear Franky, I have told you all that is in my heart. And +let this, when I am no more seen, bear witness how sincerely I am your +affectionate friend and brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_505_505" href="#Footnote_505_505" class="fnanchor">[505]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Coke, in his letter, dated August 9, 1784, mentions the +“odium” which Wesley was likely to incur by the ordinations +which he himself was soliciting; and, with a want of chivalry +not to be commended, requests Wesley to acknowledge that +the deed was all his own, otherwise Coke would “sink under +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_439">[Pg 439]</span> +the weight of his enemies, with Charles Wesley at the head +of them.” The apprehension was not unfounded. Charles +Wesley knew nothing of the ordinations in Bristol till they +were over; but, of course, it was impossible to keep them +secret; and great was the excitement which the revelation +created. One of the preachers wrote:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Ordination among Methodists! Amazing indeed! Surely it never +began in the midst of a multitude of counsellors; and, I greatly fear, the +Son of Man was not secretary of state, or not present, when the business +was brought on and carried. Who is the father of this <em>monster</em>, so long +dreaded by the father of his people, and by most of his sons? Whoever +he be, time will prove him to be a felon to Methodism, and discover his +assassinating knife sticking fast in the vitals of its body. Years to come +will speak in groans the opprobrious anniversary of our religious madness +for gowns and bands.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Another wrote: “I wish they had been asleep when they +began this business of ordination: it is neither <em>episcopal</em> nor +<em>presbyterian</em>; but a mere hodge-podge of inconsistencies.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_506_506" href="#Footnote_506_506" class="fnanchor">[506]</a></p> + +<p>On April 28, 1785, Charles Wesley addressed a long letter +to Dr. Chandler, an episcopal clergyman, who was about to +embark for America, from which the following is an extract.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“I never lost my dread of separation, or ceased to guard our societies +against it. I frequently told them: ‘I am your servant as long as you +remain in the Church of England; but no longer. Should you forsake +her, you would renounce me.’</p> + +<p>“Some of the lay preachers very early discovered an inclination to +separate, which induced my brother to print his ‘Reasons against Separation.’ +As often as it appeared, we beat down the schismatical spirit. If +any one did leave the Church, at the same time he left our society. For +near fifty years, we kept the sheep in the fold; and, having filled the +number of our days, only waited to depart in peace.</p> + +<p>“After our having continued friends for above <em>seventy</em> years, and fellow +labourers for above <em>fifty</em>, can anything but death part us? I can scarcely +yet believe it, that, in his eighty-second year, my brother, my old, intimate +friend and companion, should have assumed the episcopal character, +ordained elders, consecrated a bishop, and sent him to ordain our lay +preachers in America! I was then in Bristol, at his elbow; yet he never +gave me the least hint of his intention. How was he surprised into so +rash an action? He certainly persuaded himself that it was right.</p> + +<p>“Lord Mansfield told me last year, that ordination was separation. +This my brother does not and will not see; or that he has renounced the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_440">[Pg 440]</span> +principles and practice of his whole life; that he has acted contrary to all +his declarations, protestations, and writings; robbed his friends of their +boasting; and left an indelible blot on his name, as long as it shall be +remembered!</p> + +<p>“Thus our partnership here is dissolved, but not our friendship. I have +taken him for better for worse, till death do us part; or, rather, reunite +us in love inseparable. I have lived on earth a little too long, who have +lived to see this evil day. But I shall very soon be taken from it, in +stedfast faith, that the Lord will maintain His own cause, and carry on +His own work, and fulfil His promise to His church, ‘Lo, I am with +you always, even to the end!’</p> + +<p>“What will become of these poor sheep in the wilderness, the American +Methodists? How have they been betrayed into a separation from the +Church of England, which their preachers and they no more intended +than the Methodists here! Had they had patience a little longer, they +would have seen a real bishop in America, consecrated by three Scotch +bishops, who have their consecration from the English bishops, and are +acknowledged by them as the same with themselves. There is, therefore, +not the least difference betwixt the members of Bishop Seabury’s⁠<a id="FNanchor_507_507" href="#Footnote_507_507" class="fnanchor">[507]</a> church, +and the members of the Church of England. He told me he looked upon +the Methodists in America as sound members of the Church, and was +ready to ordain any of their preachers whom he should find duly qualified. +His ordination would be indeed genuine, valid, and episcopal. But what +are your poor Methodists now? Only a new sect of presbyterians. And, +after my brother’s death, which is now so near, what will be their end? +They will lose all their influence and importance; they will turn aside to +vain janglings; they will settle again upon their lees; and, like other sects +of Dissenters, come to nothing.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_508_508" href="#Footnote_508_508" class="fnanchor">[508]</a></p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_441">[Pg 441]</span> +Charles Wesley hints, that his brother was “<em>surprised</em> +into the rash act” of ordaining. Perhaps he was; but did +he afterwards regret it? In answering this question, we must +use materials which properly belong to succeeding years.⁠<a id="FNanchor_509_509" href="#Footnote_509_509" class="fnanchor">[509]</a></p> + +<p>It is a fact, which cannot be denied, that, while Wesley +himself was, to some extent, welcomed in Scotland, by the +ministers of the kirk, the Methodists, in many instances, +were substantially in the same position as the Methodists in +America. There were, indeed, clergymen of the English +Church in Scotland; but several of them absolutely refused +to admit the Methodists to the sacraments, except on the +condition that they would renounce all future connection +with the Methodist ministry and discipline.⁠<a id="FNanchor_510_510" href="#Footnote_510_510" class="fnanchor">[510]</a> There was, +therefore, the same necessity to ordain for the one country +as for the other. Accordingly, Wesley, in his journal, +writes: “1785: August 1—Having, with a few select +friends, weighed the matter thoroughly, I yielded to their +judgment, and set apart three of our well tried preachers, +John Pawson, Thomas Hanby, and Joseph Taylor, to minister +in Scotland.” A year afterwards, at the conference of 1786, +he ordained Joshua Keighley and Charles Atmore, for Scotland; +William Warrener, for Antigua; and William Hammet, +for Newfoundland. A year later, five others were ordained; +in 1788, when Wesley was in Scotland, John Barber and +Joseph Cownley received ordination at his hands; and, at the +ensuing conference, seven others, including Alexander Mather, +who was ordained to the office, not only of deacon and elder, +but of <i>superintendent</i>. On Ash Wednesday in 1789, Wesley +ordained Henry Moore and Thomas Rankin; and this, we +believe, completes the list of those upon whom Wesley laid +his hands. All these ordinations were in private; and many +of them at four o’clock in the morning. Some of the favoured +ones were intended for Scotland; some for foreign missions; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_442">[Pg 442]</span> +and a few, as Mather, Moore, and Rankin, were employed in +England. In most instances, probably in all, they were +ordained deacons on one day; and, on the day following, received +the ordination of elders, Wesley giving to each letters +testimonial.⁠<a id="FNanchor_511_511" href="#Footnote_511_511" class="fnanchor">[511]</a> Wesley justified his ordinations for Scotland thus.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“After Dr. Coke’s return from America, many of our friends begged I +would consider the case of Scotland, where we had been labouring for +many years, and had seen so little fruit of our labours. Multitudes, +indeed, have set out well, but they were soon turned out of the way; chiefly +by their ministers either disputing against the truth, or refusing to admit +them to the Lord’s supper, yea, or to baptize their children, unless they +would promise to have no fellowship with the Methodists. Many, who did +so, soon lost all they had gained, and became more the children of hell +than before. To prevent this, I, at length, consented to take the same +step with regard to Scotland, which I had done with regard to America. +But this is not a separation from the Church at all. Not from the Church +of Scotland, for we were never connected therewith, any further than we +are now: nor from the Church of England; for this is not concerned in +the steps which are taken in Scotland. Whatever then is done in +America, or Scotland, is no separation from the Church of England. I +have no thought of this; I have many objections against it. It is a totally +different case. ‘But for all this, is it not possible there may be such a +separation after you are dead?’ Undoubtedly it is. But what I said at +our first conference above forty years ago, I say still: ‘I dare not omit +doing what good I can while I live, for fear of evils that may follow when +I am dead.’”⁠<a id="FNanchor_512_512" href="#Footnote_512_512" class="fnanchor">[512]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>There is some force in this, so far as it regards Scotland. +The Scotch Methodists never professed themselves to be +members of the Church of England; in fact, they regarded +that church almost with as much abhorrence as they cherished +towards the Church of Rome. Hence the following extract +from one of Pawson’s unpublished letters, dated “Edinburgh, +October 8, 1785.”</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Dr. Coke intends to be with us on Sunday, the 23rd instant, when we +are to have the sacrament again; but Mr. Wesley is against us having it +in the Scotch form, and I am well satisfied our new plan will answer no +end at all in Scotland, but will prove a hindrance to the work of God. +The people generally hate the very name of Prayer-Book, and everything +belonging to it, as they have always been taught to believe it a limb of +antichrist, and very little better than the popish mass-book. Popery, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_443">[Pg 443]</span> +prelacy, and all such things, they hold in the greatest detestation. They +would soon tell us: ‘I dunna ken what you mean by these unca inventions. +We belong to the gude old kirk of Scotland, and will not join with the +whore of Babylon at all.’”</p> +</div> + +<p>In reference to the English ordinations, Mr. Pawson +writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Mr. Wesley knew the state of the societies in England required such +measures to be taken, or many of the people would leave the connexion; +and had the preachers, after his death, only acted upon his plan, +and quietly granted the people, who desired the sacraments, that privilege, +no division would have taken place.⁠<a id="FNanchor_513_513" href="#Footnote_513_513" class="fnanchor">[513]</a> He foresaw, that the +Methodists would soon become a distinct body. He was deeply prejudiced +against presbyterian, and as much in favour of episcopal, +government. In order, therefore, to preserve all that is valuable in the +Church of England among the Methodists, he ordained Mr. Mather and +Dr. Coke, bishops. These he undoubtedly designed should ordain +others. Mr. Mather told us so at the Manchester conference, in 1791.⁠<a id="FNanchor_514_514" href="#Footnote_514_514" class="fnanchor">[514]</a> I +believe, Mr. Wesley’s first thought of ordaining arose out of the bishop +of London refusing to ordain a preacher for America; but that he +originally intended to ordain preachers for England is what I never +could believe; and, with respect to Scotland, he often declared to +me, and in the congregation at Edinburgh, that he was over persuaded +to it. And, a few months before his death, he was so annoyed +with Dr. Coke’s conduct, in persuading the people to depart from the +original plan, that he threatened, in a letter, to have no more to do with +him, unless he desisted from such a course of procedure.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_515_515" href="#Footnote_515_515" class="fnanchor">[515]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>We give this as we find it; and now turn to a deeply +interesting correspondence between Wesley and his brother. +Within a fortnight after the ordination of Pawson, Hanby, +and Taylor, at the conference of 1785, and in which Wesley, +Coke, and Creighton took part,⁠<a id="FNanchor_516_516" href="#Footnote_516_516" class="fnanchor">[516]</a> Charles Wesley wrote to his +brother as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Bristol</span>, <i>August 14, 1785</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Brother</span>,—I have been reading over again your ‘Reasons +against a Separation,’ printed in 1758, and your Works; and +entreat you, in the name of God, and for Christ’s sake, to read them +again yourself, with previous prayer, and stop, and proceed no farther, +till you receive an answer to your inquiry, ‘Lord, what wouldst <em>Thou</em> have +me to do?’</p> + +<p>“Every word of your eleven pages deserves the deepest consideration; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_444">[Pg 444]</span> +not to mention my testimony and hymns. Only the seventh I could wish +you to read,—a prophecy which I pray God may never come to pass.</p> + +<p>“Near thirty years, since then, you have stood against the importunate +solicitations of your preachers, who have scarcely at last prevailed. I +was your natural ally, and faithful friend; and, while you continued +faithful to yourself, we two could chase a thousand.</p> + +<p>“But when once you began ordaining in America, I knew, and you +knew, that your preachers here would never rest till you ordained them. +You told me, they would separate by-and-by. The doctor tells us the +same. His Methodist episcopal church in Baltimore was intended to +beget a Methodist episcopal church here. You know he comes, armed +with your authority, to make us all Dissenters. One of your sons assured +me, that not a preacher in London would refuse orders from the +doctor.</p> + +<p>“Alas! what trouble are you preparing for yourself, as well as for me, +and for your oldest, truest, and best friends! Before you have quite +broken down the bridge, stop, and consider! If your sons have no regard +for you, have some regard for yourself. Go to your grave in peace; at +least, suffer me to go first, before this ruin is under your hand. So much, +I think, you owe to my father, to my brother, and to me, as to stay till I +am taken from the evil. I am on the brink of the grave. Do not push +me in, or embitter my last moments. Let us not leave an indelible blot +on our memory; but let us leave behind us the name and character of +honest men.</p> + +<p>“This letter is a debt to our parents, and to our brother, as well as to +you, and to</p> + +<p>“Your faithful friend,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">Charles Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_517_517" href="#Footnote_517_517" class="fnanchor">[517]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Five days afterwards, Wesley replied as follows. The line +of poetry was his brother’s.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Plymouth</span>, <i>August 19, 1785</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Brother</span>,—I will tell you my thoughts with all simplicity, +and wait for better information. If you agree with me, well; if not, we +can, as Mr. Whitefield used to say, agree to disagree.</p> + +<p>“For these forty years, I have been in doubt concerning that question, +What obedience is due to</p> + +<p class="center"> +‘Heathenish priests and mitred infidels’? +</p> + +<p>“I have, from time to time, proposed my doubts to the most pious and +sensible clergymen I knew. But they gave me no satisfaction. Rather, +they seemed to be puzzled as well as me.</p> + +<p>“Obedience I always paid to the bishops, in obedience to the laws of +the land. But I cannot see, that I am under any obligation to obey them +further than those laws require.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_445">[Pg 445]</span> +“It is in obedience to these laws, that I have never exercised in England +the power which, I believe, God has given me. I firmly believe, I +am a scriptural επισκοπος, as much as any man in England, or in +Europe; for the uninterrupted succession I know to be a fable, which no +man ever did or can prove. But this does in no wise interfere with my +remaining in the Church of England, from which I have no more desire +to separate than I had fifty years ago. I still attend all the ordinances of +the Church, at all opportunities; and I constantly and earnestly advise +all that are connected with me so to do. When Mr. Smyth pressed us to +separate from the Church, he meant, ‘Go to church no more.’ And this +was what I meant twenty-seven years ago, when I persuaded our brethren +not to separate from the Church.</p> + +<p>“But here another question occurs: ‘What is the Church of England?’ +It is not all the people of England. Papists and Dissenters are no part +thereof. It is not all the people of England, except papists and Dissenters. +Then we should have a glorious church indeed! No; according to our +twentieth article, a particular church is ‘a congregation of faithful people +among whom the word of God is preached, and the sacraments duly +administered.’ Here is a true logical definition, containing both the +essence and the properties of a church. What then, according to this +definition, is the Church of England? Does it mean all the believers in +England (except the papists and Dissenters) who have the word of God +and the sacraments duly administered among them? I fear, this does not +come up to your idea of the Church of England. Well, what more do +you include in the phrase? ‘Why, all the believers that adhere to the +doctrine and discipline established by the convocation under Queen Elizabeth.’ +Nay, that discipline is well-nigh vanished away; and the doctrine +both you and I adhere to.</p> + +<p>“All these ‘Reasons against a Separation from the Church,’ in this +sense, I subscribe to still. What then are you frighted at? I no more +separate from it now than I did in 1758. I submit still (though sometimes +with a doubting conscience) to ‘mitred infidels,’ I do, indeed, vary from +them in some points of doctrine, and in some points of discipline (by +preaching abroad, for instance, by praying extempore, and by forming +societies); but not a hair’s breadth farther than I believe to be meet, +right, and my bounden duty. I walk still by the same rule I have done +for between forty and fifty years. I do nothing rashly. It is not likely I +should. The high day of my blood is over. If you will go on hand in hand +with me, do. But do not hinder me, if you will not help. Perhaps if you +had kept close to me, I might have done better. However, with or without +help, I creep on; and as I have been hitherto, so I trust I shall +always be,</p> + +<p>“Your affectionate friend and brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_518_518" href="#Footnote_518_518" class="fnanchor">[518]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_446">[Pg 446]</span> +To this letter Charles Wesley returned the following +reply.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Marylebone</span>, <i>September 8, 1785</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Brother</span>,—I will tell you my thoughts with the same +simplicity. There is no danger of our quarrelling; for the second blow +makes the quarrel; and you are the last man upon earth whom I would +wish to quarrel with.</p> + +<p>“That juvenile line of mine,</p> + +<p class="center"> +‘Heathenish priests, and mitred infidels,’ +</p> + +<p class="unindent">I disown, renounce, and with shame recant. I never knew of more than +one ‘mitred infidel,’ and for him I took Mr. Law’s word.</p> + +<p>“I do not understand what obedience to the bishops you dread. They +have let us alone, and left us to act just as we pleased, for these fifty +years. At present, some of them are quite friendly toward us, particularly +toward you. The churches are all open to you; and never could there +be less pretence for a separation.</p> + +<p>“That you are a scriptural <span lang="el">επισκοπος</span>, or overseer, I do not dispute. +And so is every minister who has the cure of souls. Neither need we +dispute whether the uninterrupted succession be fabulous, as you believe; +or real, as I believe; or whether Lord King be right or wrong.</p> + +<p>“Your definition of the Church of England is the same in prose with +mine in verse. By the way, read over my ‘Epistle,’ to oblige me, and +tell me you have read it, and likewise your own ‘Reasons.’</p> + +<p>“You write, ‘all these reasons against a separation from the Church, I +subscribe to still. What then are you frighted at? I no more separate +from it than I did in the year 1758; I submit still to its bishops; I do +indeed vary from them in some points of discipline; (by preaching +abroad, for instance, praying extempore, and by forming societies’); +(might you not add, and by ordaining?). ‘I still walk by the same rule I +have done for between forty and fifty years; I do nothing rashly.’</p> + +<p>“If I could prove your actual separation, I would not; neither wish to +see it proved by any other. But do you not allow, that the doctor has +separated? Do you not know and approve of his avowed design and +resolution to get all the Methodists of the three kingdoms into a distinct, +compact body? Have you seen his ordination sermon? Is the high day +of his blood over? Does he do nothing rashly? Have you not made +yourself the author of all his actions? I need not remind you, <i lang="la">qui facit +per alium facit per se</i>.</p> + +<p>“I must not leave unanswered your surprising question, ‘What then +are you frighted at?’ At the doctor’s rashness, and your supporting him +in his ambitious pursuits; at an approaching schism, as causeless and +unprovoked as the American rebellion; at your own eternal disgrace, and +all those frightful evils which your ‘Reasons’ describe.</p> + +<p>“‘If you will go on hand in hand with me, do.’ I do go, or rather +creep on, in the old way in which we set out together, and trust to continue +in it, till I finish my course.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_447">[Pg 447]</span> +“‘Perhaps if you had kept close to me, I might have done better.’ +When you took that fatal step at Bristol, I kept as close to you as close +could be; for I was all the time at your elbow. You might certainly have +done better, if you had taken me into your counsel.</p> + +<p>“I thank you for your intention to remain my friend; herein my heart +is as your heart; whom God hath joined let not man put asunder. We +have taken each other for better for worse, till death do us—​part? No; +but unite eternally. Therefore, in the love which never faileth, I am your +affectionate friend and brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Charles Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_519_519" href="#Footnote_519_519" class="fnanchor">[519]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Five days later, Wesley replied.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>September 13, 1785.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Brother</span>,—I see no use of you and me disputing together; +for neither of us is likely to convince the other. You say, I separate from +the Church; I say, I do not. Then let it stand.</p> + +<p>“Your verse is a sad truth. I see fifty times more of England than +you do; and I find few exceptions to it.</p> + +<p>“I believe Dr. Coke is as free from ambition as from covetousness. +He has done nothing rashly, that I know; but he has spoken rashly, +which he retracted the moment I spoke to him of it. To publish, as his +present thoughts, what he had before retracted, was not fair play. He is +now such a right hand to me as Thomas Walsh was. If you will not or +cannot help me yourself, do not hinder those that can and will. I must +and will save as many souls as I can while I live, without being careful +about what may <em>possibly be</em> when I die.</p> + +<p>“I pray do not confound the intellects of the people in London. You +may thereby a little weaken my hands, but you will greatly weaken your +own.</p> + +<p class="center">“I am, etc.,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_520_520" href="#Footnote_520_520" class="fnanchor">[520]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley failed to grapple with his brother’s question; or +rather he declined. Charles’s point evidently was the same as +Lord Mansfield’s,—“ordination was separation.” No doubt +this was strictly accurate. Wesley was too keen sighted not +to see it; but he was too much a churchman to acknowledge +it. He felt himself unable to reply to his brother’s argument; +and, therefore, really did not attempt to reply at all.</p> + +<p>Two brief letters more, and then we quit the subject of +ordination. Six days after the date of the above, Charles +Wesley replied as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>September 19, 1785</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Brother</span>,—I did not say, you separate from the Church; but +I did say, ‘If I could prove it, I would not.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_448">[Pg 448]</span> +“That ‘sad truth’ is not a new truth; you saw it when you expressed +in your ‘Reasons’ such tenderness of love for the unconverted clergy.</p> + +<p>“Of your second Thomas Walsh we had better talk than write.</p> + +<p>“How ‘confound their intellects’? how ‘weaken your hands’? I know +nothing which I do to prevent the <i>possible</i> separation, but pray. God +forbid I should sin against Him by ceasing to pray for the Church of +England, and for you, while my breath remains in me!</p> + +<p>“I am, your affectionate brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">Charles Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_521_521" href="#Footnote_521_521" class="fnanchor">[521]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Again:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Bristol</span>, <i>July 27, 1786</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Brother</span>,—I cannot rest, living or dying, unless I deal as +faithfully with you as I am persuaded you would deal with me, if you were +in my place, and I in yours.</p> + +<p>“I believe you have been too hasty in ordaining. I believe God left +you to yourself in that matter, as He left Hezekiah, to show you the +secret pride which was in your heart. I believe Lord Mansfield’s decisive +words to me, ‘ordination is separation.’</p> + +<p>“Thus I have discharged my duty to God and His church, and approved +myself your faithful friend and affectionate brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Charles Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_522_522" href="#Footnote_522_522" class="fnanchor">[522]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>This is a long, and, we fear, a wearisome account of what, +abstractedly considered, was a trivial thing. John Wesley’s +preachers, being called of God, were as much ministers of +Christ, and as much entitled to administer the sacraments of +the church, without the imposition of his hands as with it. +We raise no objection to the formality; we think it right, +and, because of its solemnity, likely to be useful; but to contend +that the thing itself is necessary, would be to condemn +all the grand old Methodist preachers, who flourished from +the year 1795, when their administration of sacraments was +authorised by the Methodist conference, to the year 1836, +when, for the first time, ordination by imposition of hands +was solemnly enacted, and declared to be a “standing rule +and usage in future years.”</p> + +<p>This, however, is not the point in question. The right or +wrong, of ordaining, is left to others to discuss. There can be +no doubt that, as a minister of Christ, Wesley had as much +right to ordain as any bishop, priest, or presbytery in existence; +but he had no right to this as a clergyman of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_449">[Pg 449]</span> +Church of England; and, by acting as he did, he became, +what he was unwilling to acknowledge, a Dissenter, a separatist +from that church. Such was the opinion of Lord +Mansfield; and such was the argument of Wesley’s brother. +Wesley refused to acknowledge this; but, feeling the impossibility +of the thing, he declined to attempt refuting it. With +great inconsistency, he still persisted in calling himself a +member of the Church of England;⁠<a id="FNanchor_523_523" href="#Footnote_523_523" class="fnanchor">[523]</a> and, as will be seen, +to the day of his death, told the Methodists that if they +left the Church they would leave him. All things considered, +this was not surprising; but it was absurd. Great +allowance must be made for Wesley; but to reconcile +Wesley’s practice and profession, in this matter, during the +last seven years of his eventful life, is simply impossible.</p> + +<p>Much space has been occupied with these recitals; but, +remembering that no event, in Wesley’s history, has +occasioned more controversy than his act of ordaining +preachers, it became a duty to give all the facts concerning it +within our knowledge.</p> + +<p>We now return to the conference of 1784. As soon as its +sessions ended, Wesley again set out on his evangelistic +ramblings; and, two days afterwards, came to Shrewsbury, +and preached a funeral sermon “in memory of good John +Appleton.” John was a currier, and became a Methodist +under circumstances somewhat peculiar, and which are worth +relating.</p> + +<p>While at Bristol, he happened to go into a church, where +the minister preached a violent sermon, which he had already +delivered in two other churches, against “the upstart Methodists.” +Shortly after, he had to preach again in the church of +<abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Nicholas, but, while announcing his text, was suddenly +seized with a rattling in his throat, fell backward against the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_450">[Pg 450]</span> +pulpit door, rolled down the steps, was carried home, and +died. Mr. Appleton was present, and was so greatly shocked +with this event, that, when he returned to Shrewsbury, he +took a house, in which he fitted up a room for religious service, +and began to preach himself. In 1781, at his own expense, +he built the Methodists a chapel, which Wesley opened. A +more devoted Christian it would be difficult to find than good +John Appleton. His labour, as a working currier, was hard; +but, for many years, besides preaching every Sunday, he +preached twice a week on the week days, and had full and +attentive congregations. He died in the full triumph of +faith on the 1st of May, 1784.⁠<a id="FNanchor_524_524" href="#Footnote_524_524" class="fnanchor">[524]</a></p> + +<p>From Shrewsbury, Wesley made his way, through Wales, +to Bristol, which he reached on August 29, and where, a +few days afterwards, he ordained Coke, Whatcoat, and Vasey. +The next month was spent in incessant preaching in the +surrounding neighbourhood.</p> + +<p>Here we pause to insert two of his remarkable letters: +the first to Miss Bishop, the mistress of a boarding school; +the second to the Right <abbr title="Honorable">Hon.</abbr> William Pitt, now in the +twenty-fifth year of his age, and prime minister of +England.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Haverfordwest</span>, <i>August 18, 1784</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Sister</span>,—It seems God Himself has already decided the +question concerning dancing. He has shown His approbation of your +conduct, by sending these children to you again. If dancing be not evil +in itself, yet, it leads young women to numberless evils. And the hazard +of these, on the one side, seems far to overbalance the little inconveniences, +on the other. Therefore, thus much may certainly be said, you +have chosen the more excellent way.</p> + +<p>“I would recommend very few novels to young persons, for fear they +should be desirous of more. Mr. Brooke wrote one more, beside the +‘Earl of Moreland,’ ‘The History of the Human Heart.’ I think, it is +well worth reading, though it is not equal to his former production. The +want of novels may be more than supplied by well chosen history: such +as ‘The Concise History of England,’ ‘The Concise History of the +Church,’ Rollin’s Ancient History, Hooke’s Roman History (the only +impartial one extant), and a few more. For the elder and more sensible +children, Malebranche’s ‘Search after Truth’ is an excellent French book. +Perhaps, you might add Locke’s ‘Essay on the Human Understanding,’ +with the remarks upon it in the <cite>Arminian Magazine</cite>. I had forgotten +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_451">[Pg 451]</span> +that beautiful book, ‘The Travels of Cyrus,’ whether in French or +English.</p> + +<p>“I always am your affectionate friend and brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_525_525" href="#Footnote_525_525" class="fnanchor">[525]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>The letter to Pitt was one such as prime ministers seldom +get.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Bath</span>, <i>September 6, 1784</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—Your former goodness, shown to Mr. Ellison,⁠<a id="FNanchor_526_526" href="#Footnote_526_526" class="fnanchor">[526]</a> emboldens me +to take the liberty of recommending to your notice an old friend, Lieutenant +Webb.⁠<a id="FNanchor_527_527" href="#Footnote_527_527" class="fnanchor">[527]</a></p> + +<p>“On my mentioning formerly some of his services to Lord North, his +lordship was pleased to order him <abbr title="100 pounds">£100</abbr> a year. But as it has since been +reduced, it is hardly a maintenance for himself and his family. If you +would be so good as to remember him in this, or any other way, I should +esteem it a particular favour.</p> + +<p>“Will you excuse me, sir, for going out of my province by hinting a few +things, which have been long upon my mind? If those hints do not +deserve any further notice, they may be forgiven and forgotten.</p> + +<p>“New taxes must undoubtedly be imposed; but may not more money +be produced by the old ones? For instance:</p> + +<p>“1. When the land tax is four shillings in the pound, I know some towns +which pay regularly seven or five pence. Nay, I know one town where +they pay one penny in the pound. Is there no help for this?</p> + +<p>“2. As to the window tax: I know a gentleman who has near a +hundred windows in his house, and he told me he paid for <i>twenty</i>.</p> + +<p>“3. The same gentleman told me: ‘We have above one hundred men +servants in this town, but not above <em>ten</em> are paid for.’</p> + +<p>“4. I firmly believe, that, in Cornwall alone, the king is defrauded of +half a million yearly in customs. What does this amount to in all +Great Britain? Surely not so little as five millions.</p> + +<p>“5. Servants of distillers inform me, that their masters do not pay for a +fortieth part of what they distil. And this duty last year, (if I am rightly +informed,) amounted only to <abbr title="20 pounds">£20</abbr>,000. But have not the spirits distilled +this year cost 20,000 lives of his majesty’s liege subjects? Is not then +the blood of these men vilely bartered for <abbr title="20 pounds">£20</abbr>,000? not to say anything +of the enormous wickedness, which has been occasioned thereby; and +not to suppose that these poor wretches have any souls! But, (to consider +money alone,) is the king a gainer, or an immense loser? To say nothing +of many millions of quarters of corn destroyed, which, if exported, would +have added more than <abbr title="20 pounds">£20</abbr>,000 to the revenue, be it considered, ‘Dead +men pay no taxes,’ So that, by the death of 20,000 persons yearly, (and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_452">[Pg 452]</span> +this computation is far under the mark,) the revenue loses far more than +it gains.</p> + +<p>“But I may urge another consideration to you. You are a man. You +have not lost human feelings. You do not love to drink human blood. +You are a son of Lord Chatham. Nay, if I mistake not, you are a +Christian. Dare you then sustain a sinking nation? Is the God whom +you serve able to deliver from ten thousand enemies? I believe He +is. Nay, and you believe it. O, may you fear nothing but displeasing +Him!</p> + +<p>“May I add a word on another head? How would your benevolent +heart rejoice, if a stop could be put to that scandal of the English nation, +suicide!</p> + +<p>“The present laws against it avail nothing; for every such <em>murderer</em> is +brought in <i lang="la">non compos</i>. If he was a poor man, the jurors forswear themselves +from pity. If he was rich, they hope to be well paid for it. So no +ignominy pursues either the living or the dead, and self murder increases +daily. But what help?</p> + +<p>“I conceive this horrid crime might be totally prevented, and that +without doing the least hurt to either the living or the dead. Do you not +remember, sir, how the rage for self murder among the Spartan matrons +was stopped at once? Would it not have the same effect in England, if +an act of parliament were passed, repealing all other acts and appointing +that every self murderer should be hanged in chains?</p> + +<p>“Suppose your influence could prevent suicide by this means, you +would do more service to your country than any prime minister has done +these hundred years. Your name would be precious to all true Englishmen +as long as England continued a nation. And, what is infinitely +more, a greater Monarch than King George would say to you, ‘Well +done, good and faithful servant.’ I earnestly commit you to His care, and +am, sir, your willing servant,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_528_528" href="#Footnote_528_528" class="fnanchor">[528]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Methodism was established not only in America, but also +in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, though neither of these +countries found a place in the conference minutes till 1785. +William Black, now a young man of twenty-four, had begun +to pray and preach, and had witnessed the conversion of +hundreds. Societies had been formed; and quarterly meetings +held; and, for three years, Black had devoted himself +wholly to the work of the ministry, without being formally +recognised as one of Wesley’s itinerant preachers. He had +encountered no ordinary difficulties in the prosecution of his +work. The <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Henry Alline, a Calvinist preacher, had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_453">[Pg 453]</span> +divided his societies, by sowing the seeds of antinomian error; +and Methodist meetings had been illegally disturbed, and +broken up, by English soldiers: but, in the midst of all, +young Black courageously persevered. He applied to Wesley +for assistance; and he himself expressed a wish to come to +Kingswood school to fit himself more fully for the Christian +ministry. During the year 1784, Wesley addressed to him +the two following letters.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Inverness</span>, <i>May 11, 1784</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—I am glad you have given a little assistance +to our brethren at Halifax, and along the coast. There is no charity +under heaven to be compared to this,—the bringing light to the poor +heathens, that are called Christians, but, nevertheless, still sit in darkness +and the shadow of death. I am in great hopes, that some of the emigrants, +from New York, are really alive to God. And, if so, they will every way +be a valuable acquisition to the province where their lot is now cast.</p> + +<p>“There is no part of Calvinism or antinomianism which is not fully +answered in some part of our writings; particularly in the ‘Preservative +against Unsettled Notions in Religion.’ I have no more to do with +answering books. It will be sufficient if you recommend, to Mr. Alline’s +friends, some of the tracts that are already written. As to himself, I fear +he is wiser in his own eyes than seven men that can render a reason.</p> + +<p>“The work of God goes on with a steady pace in various parts of +England. But, still, the love of many will wax cold, while many others +are continually added to supply their place. In the west of England, in +Lancashire, and in Yorkshire, God still mightily makes bare His arm. +He convinces many, justifies many, and many are perfected in love.</p> + +<p>“My great advice to those who are united together, is, Let brotherly +love continue! See that ye fall not out by the way! Hold the unity of +the Spirit in the bond of peace! Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so +fulfil the law of Christ!</p> + +<p>“I am, your affectionate brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_529_529" href="#Footnote_529_529" class="fnanchor">[529]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>October 15, 1784</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—A letter of yours, some time ago, gave me +hopes of meeting you in England; as you seemed desirous of spending +some time here, to improve yourself in learning. But, as you have now +entered into a different state, I do not expect we shall meet in this world. +But you have a large field of action where you are, without wandering +into Europe. Your present parish is wide enough, namely, Nova Scotia +and Newfoundland. I do not advise you to go any farther. In the +United States, there are abundance of preacher. They can spare four +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_454">[Pg 454]</span> +preachers to you, better than you can spare one to them. If I am rightly +informed, they have already sent you one or two; and they may afford +you one or two more, if it please God to give a prosperous voyage to Dr. +Coke and his fellow labourers. Does there not want a closer and more +direct connection between you of the north, and the societies under +Francis Asbury? Is it not more advisable, that you should have a +constant correspondence with each other, and act by united counsels? +Perhaps it is for want of this, that so many have drawn back. I want a +more particular account of the societies in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. +I am not at all glad of Mr. Scurr’s intention to remove from Nova +Scotia to the south. That is going from a place, where he is much +wanted, to a place where he is not wanted. I think, if he got <abbr title="10 pounds">£10</abbr>,000 +thereby, it would be but a poor bargain; that is, upon the supposition, +which you and I make, that <em>souls</em> are of more value than <em>gold</em>. Peace be +with all your spirits!</p> + +<p>“I am, your affectionate brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_530_530" href="#Footnote_530_530" class="fnanchor">[530]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley returned to London on October 9, and, nine days +afterwards, set out on his usual visit to the societies in Oxfordshire. +He then went off to Norfolk; and spent the rest of +the year in London, and the surrounding counties. He had +a long interview with Pascal Paoli, the great Corsican general. +He visited convicts, under sentence of death, in Newgate, +preached the condemned criminals’ sermon, forty-seven of +these unhappy creatures being present, all in chains, and most +of them in tears. Burglars broke into his house, in City Road. +He met with Simeon, who had been with Fletcher at Madeley, +and, for fifty-three years afterwards, was rector of Trinity +church, Cambridge. Jottings like these might be multiplied; +Wesley’s life was full of them. We conclude with an +unpublished letter to Henry Moore, who was now at Dublin.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>November 4, 1784</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—I am glad you spoke freely to Mr. Collins. +He is a good man, but not very adviseable. If he should declare open +war in England, he will do little or no harm. Mr. Smyth will not be fond +of him, if he preaches at Plunkett Street.⁠<a id="FNanchor_531_531" href="#Footnote_531_531" class="fnanchor">[531]</a> There will not soon be a +coalition between Arminianism and Calvinism. This we found even in +Holland.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_455">[Pg 455]</span> +“If James Rogers and you keep to the Church still, a few, I doubt not, +will follow your example. We made just allowance enough for leaving +the Church at the last conference.</p> + +<p>“I am, with kind love to Nancy, yours affectionately,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>Besides “The Sunday Service of the Methodists in +America,” and a tract or two, Wesley published nothing, in +1784, except his <cite>Arminian Magazine</cite>. This was as racy and +rich as ever. “The Calvinist Cabinet Unlocked” was continued +from the previous volume, and run through the whole +of this. Like its predecessors, it contained six original +sermons by Wesley himself. In that on Dissipation, he +expresses the startling opinion: “There is not, on the face +of the earth, another nation so perfectly dissipated and +ungodly as England; not only so totally without God in the +world, but so openly setting Him at defiance. There never +was an <i>age</i>, that we read of in history, since Julius Cæsar, +since Noah, since Adam, wherein dissipation and ungodliness +did so generally prevail, both among high and low, rich and +poor.” In the sermon on Patience, he gives an interesting +account of the way in which he was led to embrace the +doctrine of Christian perfection; and observes that, in 1762, +there were 652 members of the London society, who professed +to have attained to this state of grace. That on the +text, “We know in part,” is a marvellous production, such +as none but a man like Wesley could have written. In the +sermon on the “Wisdom and Knowledge of God,” as displayed +in the history of the church, after giving one of +his most interesting accounts of the rise of Methodism, +he does not hide the fact, that many of the Methodist +preachers and people had not been faithful. Speaking of +the first preachers, he says, they “were young, poor, ignorant +men, without experience, learning, or art; but simple +of heart, devoted to God, full of faith and zeal, seeking no +honour, no profit, no pleasure, no ease, but merely to save +souls; fearing neither want, pain, persecution, nor whatever +man could do unto them: yea, not counting their lives dear +unto them, so they might finish their course with joy.” But +in process of time, “several of the preachers increased in +other knowledge; but not proportionably in the knowledge +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_456">[Pg 456]</span> +of God. They grew less simple, less alive to God, and less +devoted to Him. They were less zealous for God, and +consequently less active, less diligent in His service. Some +of them begun to desire the praise of men, and not the +praise of God only; some, to be weary of a wandering life, +and to seek ease and quietness. Some began to fear the +faces of men; to be ashamed of their calling; to be unwilling +to deny themselves, to take up their cross daily, +and endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ. +Wherever these preachers laboured, there was not much +fruit of their labours. Their word was not, as formerly, +clothed with power; it carried with it no demonstration of +the Spirit!” Weighty words these! especially as coming +from an old man of more than eighty, one of the keenest +observers of facts, himself the founder of Methodism, now +nearly at the close of his remarkable career. And equally +pungent are his remarks respecting the people. Referring +to the causes of Methodist backslidings, he writes: “But of +all the temptations, none so struck at the whole work of God, +as the deceitfulness of riches; a thousand melancholy proofs +of which I have seen, within these last fifty years. I have not +known threescore rich persons, perhaps not half the number, +during threescore years, who, as far as I can judge, were not +less holy than they would have been, had they been poor. By +riches, I mean not thousands of pounds; but any more than +will procure the conveniences of life.” “Having gained and +saved all you can, give all you can: else your money will eat +your flesh as fire, and will sink you to the nethermost hell! +O beware of laying up treasures upon earth! Is it not treasuring +up wrath against the day of wrath? Lord! I have +warned them: but if they will not be warned, what can I do +more? I can only give them up unto their own hearts’ lusts, +and let them follow their own imaginations! By not taking +this warning, it is certain many of the Methodists are already +fallen. Many are falling at this very time. And there is +great reason to apprehend, that many more will fall, most of +whom will rise no more!” If Wesley found it necessary to +say this in 1784, what would he have said in 1871?</p> + +<p>In the sermons, on Obedience to Parents, and Companionship +with the Wicked, the reader will find most valuable +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_457">[Pg 457]</span> +advices, such as none but a long experienced casuist like +Wesley has wisdom and confidence enough to give.</p> + +<p>Further description of the <cite>Magazine</cite>, for 1784, is scarcely +needed. The letters and the poetry are quite equal to those +in the former volumes; the biographies are rich in Christian +experience; the anecdotes quaint and instructive. Extracts +from his “Natural Philosophy” are given in every number, +and also from Bryant’s Ancient Mythology. Benson’s Letters +on Polygamy run through the whole. The supernatural disturbances +at Epworth parsonage are related; and, as if in +anticipation of his own death, Wesley tells his readers, that, not +“to lessen the honour of the house of God, or infect it with +unwholesome vapours, he has left orders to bury his remains, +not in the new chapel in City Road, but in the burying +ground adjoining it;” and then, to show that “epitaphs +ought to be prepared by persons who have some knowledge +of grammatical and typographical accuracy; and not be left +to illiterate relations, parish clerks, or stonemasons, to the +great scandal of the nation in general, and of religion in +particular,” he gives the following, taken from a tombstone +in Arbroath churchyard.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Here lyis Alexand Peter, <em>present</em> Town Treasurer of Arbroth, who +died —— day January 1630.</p> +</div> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry small"> +<div class="verse indent0b">“Such a Treasurer was not since, nor yet before,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">For common works, calsais, brigs, and schoir—</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Of all others he did excel;</div> +<div class="verse indent0">He deviced our skoel, and he hung our bell.”</div> +</div></div> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_472_472" href="#FNanchor_472_472" class="label">[472]</a> Life of Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 404.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_473_473" href="#FNanchor_473_473" class="label">[473]</a> Manuscript letter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_474_474" href="#FNanchor_474_474" class="label">[474]</a> Manuscript diary.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_475_475" href="#FNanchor_475_475" class="label">[475]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 144.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_476_476" href="#FNanchor_476_476" class="label">[476]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1836, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 397.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_477_477" href="#FNanchor_477_477" class="label">[477]</a> On Sunday, September 18,1870, the London Road Methodist Sunday-school, +Manchester, removed from their somewhat dingy premises to a +new and more commodious building, erected in Grosvenor Street East, +and adjoining the Wesleyan chapel there. A card commemorative of the +event was presented to each person joining in the day’s proceedings, +with the following inscription: “London Road Wesleyan Sunday School, +founded in 1785, by John Lancaster, and first conducted by him in a +cellar at the corner of Travis Street. It was soon after removed to a +room in Worsley Street, built specially for its accommodation, and there +carried on until November 10, 1811, when it took possession of the then +new schools, situated behind Borough Buildings, and there continued until +this day, when it was again removed to the recently erected building +adjoining the Grosvenor Street chapel, in commemoration of which event +this card is presented to ——. Manchester, September 18, 1870.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_478_478" href="#FNanchor_478_478" class="label">[478]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1845, <abbr title="pages">pp.</abbr> 12, 13.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_479_479" href="#FNanchor_479_479" class="label">[479]</a> Minutes of Conference, <abbr title="volume one">vol. i.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 41.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_480_480" href="#FNanchor_480_480" class="label">[480]</a> Drew’s Life of Coke, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 37.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_481_481" href="#FNanchor_481_481" class="label">[481]</a> Manuscript memoir of Whitehead.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_482_482" href="#FNanchor_482_482" class="label">[482]</a> Hampson’s Life of Wesley.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_483_483" href="#FNanchor_483_483" class="label">[483]</a> Smith’s History of Methodism, <abbr title="volume one">vol. i.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 523.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_484_484" href="#FNanchor_484_484" class="label">[484]</a> Manuscript.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_485_485" href="#FNanchor_485_485" class="label">[485]</a> Myles’ History, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 201.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_486_486" href="#FNanchor_486_486" class="label">[486]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1785, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 269.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_487_487" href="#FNanchor_487_487" class="label">[487]</a> American minutes.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_488_488" href="#FNanchor_488_488" class="label">[488]</a> Bangs’ “Original Church of Christ,” <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 114.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_489_489" href="#FNanchor_489_489" class="label">[489]</a> Stevens’ History of Methodism, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 212.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_490_490" href="#FNanchor_490_490" class="label">[490]</a> Moore’s Life of Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 326.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_491_491" href="#FNanchor_491_491" class="label">[491]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1786, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 682.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_492_492" href="#FNanchor_492_492" class="label">[492]</a> Manuscript letter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_493_493" href="#FNanchor_493_493" class="label">[493]</a> Whitehead’s Life of Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 417.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_494_494" href="#FNanchor_494_494" class="label">[494]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 200.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_495_495" href="#FNanchor_495_495" class="label">[495]</a> Ibid. <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 223.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_496_496" href="#FNanchor_496_496" class="label">[496]</a> Ibid. <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 137.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_497_497" href="#FNanchor_497_497" class="label">[497]</a> “Life and Times of Lady Huntingdon;” and “Authentic Narrative +of Primary Ordination in Spafields Chapel, 1784.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_498_498" href="#FNanchor_498_498" class="label">[498]</a> The <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> James Creighton was present; but Charles Wesley was not, +though he was in Bristol at the time.—(Jackson’s Life of C. Wesley, +<abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 389.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_499_499" href="#FNanchor_499_499" class="label">[499]</a> Drew’s Life of Coke, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 66.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_500_500" href="#FNanchor_500_500" class="label">[500]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1785, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 602.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_501_501" href="#FNanchor_501_501" class="label">[501]</a> Ibid. 1786, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 677.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_502_502" href="#FNanchor_502_502" class="label">[502]</a> Coke’s Life, by Etheridge.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_503_503" href="#FNanchor_503_503" class="label">[503]</a> American minutes.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_504_504" href="#FNanchor_504_504" class="label">[504]</a> Cokesbury college, twice burned down.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_505_505" href="#FNanchor_505_505" class="label">[505]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 70.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_506_506" href="#FNanchor_506_506" class="label">[506]</a> Whitehead’s Life of Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 419.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_507_507" href="#FNanchor_507_507" class="label">[507]</a> Dr. Samuel Seabury was a missionary of the Society for the Propagation +of the Gospel. After the ratification of the treaty of peace, the +American episcopal church felt it necessary, not to remain dependent +on the good offices of a prelate residing in England, but to have +bishops of its own. Accordingly, the clergy in Connecticut assembled +in a voluntary convention, and elected Seabury. The election was +easily accomplished; the <em>consecration</em> was more difficult. Seabury came +to England, asking of the archbishops of the English Church a boon +which, for a hundred and fifty years, had been asked in vain, namely, +that episcopalians in America might have ordained bishops of their own. +At the time, the see of Canterbury was vacant; and the archbishop of +York was unable to take measures for the consecration of an American +citizen, without the authority of parliament. A long delay was unavoidable, +and, under the circumstances, Seabury proceeded to Scotland, where he +applied for consecration to the bishops of the Scottish episcopal church. +His application was granted, and he was solemnly ordained at Aberdeen, +on November 14, 1784, by the bishops of Aberdeen, Ross, and Moray.—(Caswall’s +American Church, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 124.) This will explain the meaning of +C. Wesley’s letter; but is it surprising that, amid all these changes, difficulties, +and confusions, Wesley took upon himself to ordain deacons and +presbyters for the abandoned Methodists of America?</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_508_508" href="#FNanchor_508_508" class="label">[508]</a> Jackson’s Life of C. Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 392.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_509_509" href="#FNanchor_509_509" class="label">[509]</a> The <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> James Creighton, in his reply to Bradburn’s pamphlet in +1793, affirms that Wesley repented, with tears, that he had ordained any +of his preachers. He states, that he expressed his sorrow for this at the +conference of 1789, and occasionally afterwards till his death. Creighton +adds: “About six weeks before he died, he said, ‘The preachers are now +too powerful for me.’” This must pass for as much as it is worth; James +Creighton was a clergyman.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_510_510" href="#FNanchor_510_510" class="label">[510]</a> Jackson’s Life of C. Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 382.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_511_511" href="#FNanchor_511_511" class="label">[511]</a> Manuscripts; also <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1867, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 622.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_512_512" href="#FNanchor_512_512" class="label">[512]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1786, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 678.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_513_513" href="#FNanchor_513_513" class="label">[513]</a> Manuscript memoir of Whitehead.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_514_514" href="#FNanchor_514_514" class="label">[514]</a> Manuscript letter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_515_515" href="#FNanchor_515_515" class="label">[515]</a> Manuscript letter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_516_516" href="#FNanchor_516_516" class="label">[516]</a> Pawson’s manuscript.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_517_517" href="#FNanchor_517_517" class="label">[517]</a> Jackson’s Life of C. Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 394.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_518_518" href="#FNanchor_518_518" class="label">[518]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1786, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 50.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_519_519" href="#FNanchor_519_519" class="label">[519]</a> C. Wesley’s Life, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 398.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_520_520" href="#FNanchor_520_520" class="label">[520]</a> Ibid.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_521_521" href="#FNanchor_521_521" class="label">[521]</a> C. Wesley’s Life, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 398.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_522_522" href="#FNanchor_522_522" class="label">[522]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1867, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 625.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_523_523" href="#FNanchor_523_523" class="label">[523]</a> Let us suppose John Hampson, not only to have formed societies, different +from the Methodist societies, but also to have ordained local +preachers to administer to them the sacraments; and let us suppose +further, that, despite this, John Hampson still persisted in calling himself +a Methodist: and we have a case analogous to that of Wesley. +Under such circumstances, would Wesley have admitted Hampson’s +claim to continued membership among the Methodists? We trow not; +and yet this is exactly the sort of claim which he himself makes in +reference to the Church of England.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_524_524" href="#FNanchor_524_524" class="label">[524]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1790, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 636.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_525_525" href="#FNanchor_525_525" class="label">[525]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1807, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 472; and Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, +<abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 36.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_526_526" href="#FNanchor_526_526" class="label">[526]</a> Wesley’s nephew, an excise officer (Clarke’s “Wesley Family,” <abbr title="volume two">vol. +ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 273).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_527_527" href="#FNanchor_527_527" class="label">[527]</a> Commonly called Captain Webb.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_528_528" href="#FNanchor_528_528" class="label">[528]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1850, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 161.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_529_529" href="#FNanchor_529_529" class="label">[529]</a> Black’s Memoirs, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 112.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_530_530" href="#FNanchor_530_530" class="label">[530]</a> Black’s Memoirs, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 126.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_531_531" href="#FNanchor_531_531" class="label">[531]</a> The <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Edward Smyth was about to become minister of Bethesda +chapel, Dublin. The <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Brian Collins seems to have been in Dublin +at the same time.</p></div></div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_458">[Pg 458]</span></p> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="1785">1785.</h2> +<hr class="short"> +<p class="center">Age 82</p></div> + +<p class="p2 drop-cap"><span class="smcap">Wesley</span> began the year 1785, by spending five days in +walking through London, often ankle deep in sludge +and melting snow, to beg <abbr title="200 pounds">£200</abbr>, which he employed in purchasing +clothing for the poor. He visited the destitute in +their own houses, “to see with his own eyes what their wants +were, and how they might be effectually relieved.” Besides +preaching in his own chapels, he preached in Spitalfields, <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> +Ethelburga’s, and Stepney churches. As usual, he met the +London classes, from which he received, as ticket money, +<abbr title="48 pounds">£48</abbr> 7<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr>, out of which he was paid his quarter’s salary, <abbr title="15 pounds">£15</abbr>.⁠<a id="FNanchor_532_532" href="#Footnote_532_532" class="fnanchor">[532]</a> +His activity was unabated and marvellous.</p> + +<p>He wrote as follows, to Mr. Stretton, in Newfoundland.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>February 25, 1785</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—If that deadly enemy of true religion, popery, +is breaking in upon you, there is indeed no time to be lost; for it is far +easier to prevent the plague than to stop it. Last autumn Dr. Coke sailed +from England, and is now visiting the flock in the midland provinces of +America, and setting them on the New Testament plan, to which they all +willingly and joyfully conform. I trust, they will no more want such +pastors, as are after God’s own heart. After he has gone through these +parts, he intends to see the brethren in Nova Scotia, probably attended +with one or two able preachers, who will be willing to abide there. A day +or two ago, I wrote and desired him to call upon our brethren also in +Newfoundland, and leave a preacher there likewise. About food and +raiment we take no thought; our heavenly Father knoweth that we need +these things, and He will provide; only let us be faithful and diligent in +feeding His flock. Your preacher will be ordained. You shall want no +assistance that is in the power of your affectionate friend and brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_533_533" href="#Footnote_533_533" class="fnanchor">[533]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>At the previous conference, Wesley had appointed William +Moore to Plymouth. Moore was an itinerant of ten years’ +standing, and was dissatisfied with Wesley’s deed of declaration; +and, instead of serving Wesley, as he had done +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_459">[Pg 459]</span> +formerly, he dissevered the connection. He hired a room, +drew away about forty of the Plymouth Methodists, and +formed a society of his own. He issued “An Appeal to the +Inhabitants of the Town of Saltash,” <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, 8 pages; telling the +people, that he preached none other doctrines than those contained +in the articles, homilies, and prayers of the Church of +England; that he coveted no man’s silver, gold, or apparel; +and that he was actuated only by a sincere desire to serve +them. Moore was evidently a man of education, courage, +and Christian zeal; and might have occupied a superior +position among his brethren. But Wesley’s seeming partiality, +in the constitution of his conference, led to Moore’s secession; +and here, at Plymouth, he had become a somewhat formidable +rival. Wesley was summoned, and, in a most bitter frost, +off he went, on February 28, to put wrong things right. +Here he spent six days, and left the society “confirmed in +the truth more than ever.”</p> + +<p>Leaving Plymouth, Wesley came to Bristol, where he employed +a fortnight in visiting and preaching to neighbouring +societies.</p> + +<p>On March 21, he started off to Ireland, preaching all the +way to Liverpool, and, notwithstanding frost and snow, and +bitter cold, frequently in the open air. He arrived at Dublin +on April 11, and found “two such preachers,” James Rogers +and Andrew Blair, “with two such wives as he knew not +where to find again.”</p> + +<p>Having spent a week in Dublin, he set out for the provinces. +He often preached in churches, and not unfrequently in the +open air. Everywhere, with one or two exceptions, the people +welcomed him; congregations were large, and societies, in +general, were lively. Two months were occupied in this +employment. His labours were almost incredible. All over +Ireland he went, preaching every day, and often twice or thrice +a day, not only in Methodist meeting-houses, but in churches, +presbyterian chapels, in factories, in bowling greens, in assembly +rooms, in courthouses, in barns, in “sloping meadows,” +in “shady orchards,” in groves and avenues, in linen halls, in +churchyards and streets, everywhere, where he had a chance. +We know, with certainty, that, minute as are the details of +Wesley’s journals, he, by no means, mentions every sermon +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_460">[Pg 460]</span> +that he delivered, and every society that he visited; and yet, +in this two months’ Irish provincial tour, he records the names +of not fewer than between fifty and sixty towns, in which he +preached, collectively, about fourscore discourses.</p> + +<p>At Prosperous, he found a town built within the last five +years, by Captain Brooke, who employed two thousand people +in the manufacturing of cotton; a Methodist society of fifty +members had been formed; and Wesley preached to two +crowded congregations. On his way to Cork, he was met by +about thirty horsemen, who escorted him to the city, where +he met a society of about four hundred members, considerably +more than there are at the present time. At Kinsale, “all +behaved well, but a few officers.” He adds: “the poor in Ireland, +in general, are well behaved; all the ill breeding is among +well dressed people.” At Limerick, he assisted at a service, +in the cathedral, which lasted from eleven o’clock till three. +At Killchrist, he was the guest of Colonel Pearse; but says, +“the house being full of genteel company, I was out of my +element; there being no room to talk upon the only subject +which deserves the attention of a rational creature.” At +Ballinrobe, he visited the charter school, the children of +which were ragged and dirty. “The schoolroom was not +much bigger than a small closet:” three beds had to serve +for fifteen boys, and five for nineteen girls; and five farthings +a day were allowed the master for the sustenance of each of +the hunger bitten pupils. Wesley was so disgusted with +the thing, that he reported the case to the commissioners for +charter schools in Dublin.</p> + +<p>On June 18, he got back to Dublin, where he spent his +birthday, on the 28th, and wrote: “By the good providence +of God, I finished the eighty-second year of my age. Is anything +too hard for God? It is now eleven years since I have +felt any such thing as weariness: many times I speak till my +voice fails, and I can speak no longer; frequently I walk till +my strength fails, and I can walk no farther; yet, even then, +I feel no sensation of weariness, but am perfectly easy from +head to foot. I dare not impute this to natural causes; it is +the will of God.”</p> + +<p>Having held the Irish conference he set sail for England, +on July 10, leaving, says he, “the work of God increasing in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_461">[Pg 461]</span> +every part of the kingdom, more than it has done for many +years.” “Here is a set of excellent young preachers; nine +in ten of them are much devoted to God. I think, number +for number, they exceed their fellow labourers in England.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_534_534" href="#Footnote_534_534" class="fnanchor">[534]</a></p> + +<p>The following letter refers to the same subject, and is too +interesting to be omitted. It was addressed to Miss Ritchie.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Dublin</span>, <i>June 26, 1785</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Betsy</span>,—Our Lord has indeed poured out abundance of +blessings, almost in every part of this kingdom. I have now gone +through every province, and visited all the chief societies, and I have +found far the greater part of them increasing both in number and strength. +Many are convinced of sin; many justified; and not a few perfected in +love. One means of which is, that several of our young preachers, of +whom we made little account, appear to be, contrary to all expectation, +men full of faith and of the Holy Ghost; and they are pushing out, to +the right hand and the left; and, wherever they go, God prospers their +labours. I know not whether Thomas Walsh will not revive in two, if +not three, of them.</p> + +<p>“Many years, ago I was saying: ‘I cannot imagine how Mr. Whitefield +can keep his soul alive, as he is not now going through honour and +dishonour, evil report and good report; having nothing but honour and +good report attending him wherever he goes.’ It is now my own case; +I am just in the condition now that he was then in. I am become, +I know not how, an honourable man. The scandal of the cross is ceased; +and all the kingdom, rich and poor, papists and protestants, behave with +courtesy, nay, and seeming good will! It seems as if I had well-nigh +finished my course, and our Lord was giving me an honourable discharge.</p> + +<p>“Peace be with your spirit! Adieu!</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span>”<a id="FNanchor_535_535" href="#Footnote_535_535" class="fnanchor">[535]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>A letter, from Wesley to Mr. Stretton, has been already +given, announcing that preachers were about to be sent to +Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. This was already done; +and Freeborn Garretson and James Cromwell were +labouring, in the former country, with great success. +Wesley, while in Ireland, wrote to Garretson as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Dublin</span>, <i>June 16, 1785</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—I am glad brother Cromwell and you have +undertaken that ‘labour of love’ of visiting Nova Scotia; and doubt +not but you act in full concert with the little handful, who were almost +alone till you came. It will be the wisest way to make all those who +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_462">[Pg 462]</span> +desire to join together, thoroughly acquainted with the whole Methodist +plan; and to accustom them, from the very beginning, to the accurate +observance of all our rules. Let none of them rest in being half Christians. +Whatever they do, let them do it with their might; and it will be well, as +soon as any of them find peace with God, to exhort them to ‘go on to +perfection.’ The more explicitly and strongly you press all believers to +aspire after full sanctification, as attainable now by simple faith, the more +the whole work of God will prosper.</p> + +<p>“I do not expect any great matters from the bishop. I doubt his eye +is not single; and if it be not, he will do little good to you, or any one +else. It may be a comfort to you, that you have no need of him. You +want nothing which he can give.</p> + +<p>“You do not know the state of the English Methodists; they do not roll +in money, like many of the American Methodists. It is with the utmost +difficulty, that we can raise five or six hundred pounds a year to supply +our contingent expenses; so that it is entirely impracticable to raise <abbr title="500 pounds">£500</abbr> +among them to build houses in America. It is true, they might do much; +but it is a sad observation, they that have most money have usually least +grace.</p> + +<p>“The peace of God be with all your spirits! I am your affectionate +friend and brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_536_536" href="#Footnote_536_536" class="fnanchor">[536]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Thus was Methodism spreading. We find it firmly planted +throughout the whole of the United Kingdom. Its members +in America were counted by thousands. It had its societies +in the West Indies. It had taken root in Newfoundland and +Nova Scotia. And, besides all this, it was beginning to exert +indirectly a benign influence on other lands, where, since +then, religion has been extensively revived. The Methodist +mission to Sweden, begun by Joseph Rayner Stephens, in +1826, was facilitated by Methodist feeling, imbibed from +Wesley, in 1785. Hence the following letter, from an aged +clergyman of the established church of Sweden, written in +1827, and addressed to Mr. Stephens.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“It affected my heart to see, in the newspapers of Stockholm, that an +adherent to the famous and venerable Mr. J. Wesley had established a +chapel, for Divine service, in our metropolis. Mr. Wesley was an old +acquaintance of mine when I resided in England in the years 1784–86. +He was more; he was my dear friend, and with him I agreed in his +Christian principles and opinions. I was exceedingly pleased with him, +and with his religion of love, joy, and peace. I very often waited on him +at his house; and I was several times in company with him in the circle of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_463">[Pg 463]</span> +his friends, where I went to prayer with them. I learned of him, to be a +father to the people that might be entrusted to me. I shall never forget +the amiable Mr. Wesley. He was so good as to give me a remembrance +of him, by a present of one of his writings, called ‘An Appeal,’ etc., in +which he wrote these lines, ‘<i lang="la">Domino N. S. S. dono dedit Johannes +Wesley, circ. Kal. Augusti, 1785</i>.’ He gave me also several other of his +Christian pamphlets. I am far advanced in age; towards seventy-six +years old: but, if the almighty God grant me life and health, perhaps I +may make a tour to Stockholm next summer, when I have done with my +catechumens; and then I shall certainly wait upon you, and make one of +your auditory.⁠<a id="FNanchor_537_537" href="#Footnote_537_537" class="fnanchor">[537]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>While Wesley was forming new friendships, old ones were +being severed by death. It was in 1785, that he thus lost two +of the most valuable and valued friends that he ever had,—Vincent +Perronet, and John Fletcher, the vicars of Shoreham +and Madeley. The former was in the ninety-second year of +his age, and died, while Wesley was in Ireland, on the 9th +of May. Charles Wesley buried him, and preached his +funeral sermon. For the last twenty years, he had enjoyed +such a degree of fellowship with God as rarely falls to +the lot of man in the present world. He lived chiefly +in his library; but, when he mingled with his friends, was +always cheerful. His favourite study was the fulfilment of +prophecy, and the second coming and visible reign of +Christ on earth.⁠<a id="FNanchor_538_538" href="#Footnote_538_538" class="fnanchor">[538]</a></p> + +<p>While Perronet was the oldest, Fletcher was the most +valuable friend that Wesley had. No man had rendered, to +Methodism and its founder, the service that the vicar of +Madeley had. Compared with the vicar of Shoreham, he +was young; but his life was fraught with incalculable +blessings to the church of Christ. Only four years before +his death, he had married Miss Bosanquet, who, for thirty +years, revered his memory, and remained his widow, till the +two were reunited in a better world than this. As we +have already seen, he was present at Wesley’s last conference, +in Leeds; and it was chiefly by his almost angelic interposition +and services, that the results of that conference were +not much more disastrous than they were. His wife was +with him, and writes: “O how deeply was he affected concerning +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_464">[Pg 464]</span> +the welfare of his brethren! When any little +disputes arose among them, his inmost soul groaned beneath +the burden; and, by two or three in the morning, I +was sure to hear him breathing out prayer for the peace +and prosperity of Zion. When I observed to him, I was +afraid it would hurt his health, and wished him to sleep +more, he would answer, ‘O Polly, the cause of God lies near +my heart!’”⁠<a id="FNanchor_539_539" href="#Footnote_539_539" class="fnanchor">[539]</a></p> + +<p>Twelve months afterwards, this seraphic man expired, some +of his last words being: “O Polly, my dear Polly, <em>God is +love</em>! Shout! shout aloud! I want a gust of praise to go to +the ends of the earth!” He died August 14, 1785, having, +on the previous sabbath, read prayers, preached, and administered +the Lord’s supper, in his parish church. Wesley, at +the time, was in the west of England, and unable either to +see him, or to attend his funeral; but, as soon as possible, +he published a sermon in memory of him, taking the +same text as his brother Charles had taken at the death of +Perronet: “Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; +for the end of that man is peace.” Wesley writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“I was intimately acquainted with him for above thirty years; I conversed +with him morning, noon, and night, without the least reserve, +during a journey of many hundred miles; and, in all that time, I never +heard him speak one improper word, nor saw him do an improper action. +Many exemplary men have I known, holy in heart and life, within fourscore +years; but one equal to him I have not known, one so inwardly +and outwardly devoted to God. So unblamable a character, in every +respect, I have not found either in Europe or America; and I scarce +expect to find such another on this side of eternity.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley arrived in London, from Ireland, on July 14; and, +on the following Sunday, preached, morning and evening, +on the education of children. The next morning, at five +o’clock, he met the children of the congregation at City Road, +the morning chapel being full of juveniles, and many standing +in the larger chapel. The service was unique. When, either +before or since, was there such a congregation at such an +hour?</p> + +<p>Wesley writes: “July 26, Tuesday—​Our conference began; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_465">[Pg 465]</span> +at which about seventy preachers were present, whom I had +invited by name. One consequence of this was, that we had +no contention or altercation at all; but everything proposed +was calmly considered, and determined as we judged would +be most for the glory of God.” The deed of declaration was +again discussed; and seventy preachers present signed documents, +that they approved of it. Eight preachers left the +connexion, including William Moore and the two Hampsons. +Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Antigua, for the first time, +appeared in the list of circuits. It was declared, that it was +improper to sell books, to employ hairdressers, or to talk of +worldly things, on Sundays; and that it was entirely wrong +to send Methodist children to dancing schools, and for +dancing masters to be admitted into Methodist boarding +schools.</p> + +<p>The conference was closed on August 3, and, five days +afterwards, Wesley set out for Cornwall;⁠<a id="FNanchor_540_540" href="#Footnote_540_540" class="fnanchor">[540]</a> and on September 3 +got back to Bristol, where he wrote: “Sunday, September 4—Finding +a report had been spread abroad, that I was going +to leave the Church, to satisfy those that were grieved +concerning it, I openly declared in the evening, that I had no +more thought of separating from the Church than I had forty +years ago.”</p> + +<p>Here, and in the neighbourhood, he spent a month. On +October 3, he returned to London; and, the next day, set +out for Hertfordshire. A week later, he was off to Oxfordshire; +and the week after that, to Norfolk. He writes: +“October 22—I returned to Norwich; and, in the evening, +spoke home to an uncommonly large congregation; telling +them, ‘Of all the people I have seen in the kingdom, for +between forty and fifty years, you have been the most +fickle, and yet the most stubborn.’ However, our labour +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_466">[Pg 466]</span> +has not been lost, for many have died in peace; and God +is able to say to the residue of these dry bones, ‘Live!’”</p> + +<p>Querulous and quarrelsome Thomas Wride was, at this +time, the assistant in Norwich circuit, and, from a large mass +of his manuscripts in the author’s possession, the following +facts are gleaned. A monument to the memory of Mr. +Turner had been erected in the chapel, on which were +chiselled certain “doggrel verses,” with which Wride was +greatly dissatisfied. He had told the society, on September +4, what they might expect from him, in reference to meeting +in class, showing tickets, etc.; and says “the terror of his +countenance had awed them, and several had owned that +they were afraid of him.” He had received a quantity of +sermons for sale, and, among others, Dr. Coke’s sermon, +preached in Baltimore, at the ordination of Asbury; which, +he says, he is reluctant to put into circulation. He writes: +“It amounts to a formal separation from the Church of +England, and, in the end, will tear up Methodism by the +roots. Whatever may be said of America, I cannot think it +right, for us here, to declare ourselves independent of the +Church of England, while we enjoy the privileges we have +always done. I dread the consequence; for, if we are independents, +hardly any will come to us, but such as choose to +change their religion; whereas, those to whom the Methodists +have been mainly useful had no religion to change.” Wride +was also dissatisfied with his colleagues; for J. McKersey would +sing a hymn between the first prayer and the sermon; and +James McByron would permit the congregations to sing +anthems. McKersey also refused to preach at five in the +mornings; for though, as he said, he could rise soon enough, +he was not able to preach till he had had his breakfast; and, in +consequence, Wride had advised him to take his breakfast to +bed with him. Wride acknowledges, that the Methodists at +Norwich had not been used to morning preaching. The rich +would not attend; and, as the poor did not begin to work till +eight o’clock, and could not afford to burn a fire, they were +reluctant to rise so early. Hence, when he himself had +preached, his congregation consisted only of his wife and two +others. Mr. McKersey, further, had neglected the select +band; and had declared he would “rather go twelve miles +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_467">[Pg 467]</span> +than meet the children.” Wride multiplies complaints against +the leading singers, and against the leaders, Messrs. Booty, +Best, James and George Hay, Kilburn, Senior, Flegg, and +Johnson; and declares that a preacher, sent to Norwich +circuit, ought to combine in himself the qualities of “the lion, +the lamb, the dove, the serpent, and the ox.”</p> + +<p>Poor Wride! The contention continued, and, early in +1786, Wesley had to remove him to another post of duty; +but, before doing so, he addressed to him the following letters, +which have not before been published.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>November 8, 1785</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Tommy</span>,—James Byron is an amiable young man; at present +full of faith and love. If possible, guard him from those that will be +inclined to love him too well. Then he will be as useful a fellow labourer +as you can desire. And set him a pattern in all things.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Tommy, your affectionate friend and brother,</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>November 17, 1785</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Tommy</span>,—Deal plainly, and yet tenderly with James Byron, +and he will be a very useful labourer. But none can be a Methodist +preacher, unless he is both able and willing to preach in the morning; +which is the most healthy exercise in the world. I desire, that none of +our preachers would sing oftener than twice at one service. We need +nothing to fill up our hour.</p> + +<p>“In every place, where there is a sufficient number of believers, do all +you can to prevail upon them to meet in band. Be mild; be serious; and +you will conquer all things.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Tommy, your affectionate friend and brother,</p><p class="right"> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>December 14, 1785</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Tommy</span>,—Have patience with the young men, and they will +mend upon your hands. But remember! soft and fair goes far. For twenty +years and upwards, we had good morning congregations at Norwich; +but they might begin at six till Ladyday. I desire brother Byron to try +what he can do: better days will come.</p> + +<p>“I pray, let the doggrel hymn be no more sung in our chapel. If +they do not soon come to their senses at Norwich, I will remove you to +Colchester. Be mild! Be serious!</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Tommy, your affectionate friend and brother,</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>Tommy Wride was not the only preacher that gave Wesley +trouble. For twelve years, Michael Moorhouse had been one +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_468">[Pg 468]</span> +of his itinerants, and had had his share of persecution. In +1778, while preaching in the marketplace at Melton Mowbray, +he was pulled down by a ruthless mob, and, with three +other peaceable men, dragged to the Black Hole, where +means were used to impress him for the army.⁠<a id="FNanchor_541_541" href="#Footnote_541_541" class="fnanchor">[541]</a> Moorhouse +now was discontented, and, in 1785, published a broadsheet of +sixteen columns, in small type, entitled “An Appeal to +Honest Men,” and full of petty grievances, particularly with +regard to the influence of John Crook and Wesley, and +respecting his own appointments to inferior circuits. At the +conference of 1786, he left the work; and then embodied the +wailings of his Appeal in an octavo volume of 128 pages, with +the title, “Defence of Mr. Michael Moorhouse, written by +himself.” He bitterly complains of Wesley for suffering some +of the wives of his preachers to dine on potatoes and buttermilk, +while others were pampered with good cheer; and for +allowing their husbands to wear great coats, and to use +umbrellas on a rainy day. The <cite>Monthly Review</cite>, in noticing +poor Moorhouse’s notable production, quietly remarks: “The +labourer is certainly worthy of his hire, but, in adjusting +the hire to the labourer, a good deal must depend on the +workman’s skill; and, if we are to judge of Master Michael +Moorhouse’s preaching abilities, from his illiterate and silly +performance, we do not see how his master could have +afforded him higher wages: perhaps he might fare better, if +he were to return to his lawful occupation.”</p> + +<p>These were among the petty annoyances of Wesley’s busy +life. He had, in all conscience, enough to do without these; +but, in his position, such vexations were inevitable.</p> + +<p>Returning from Norfolk, Wesley spent the rest of the year +in London, and in preaching tours through Northamptonshire +and Kent.</p> + +<p>Before proceeding to notice his publications, it is right to +say that, at this time, an important pamphlet of twelve pages +was issued with the following title: “Free Thoughts concerning +a Separation of the People called Methodists from the +Church of England, addressed to the Preachers in the +Methodist Connexion, by a Layman of the Methodist +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_469">[Pg 469]</span> +society.” The pamphlet may be taken as an echo of the +opinions then prevalent, and a brief account of it may be +useful.</p> + +<p>The writer states, that the arguments, used in favour of +separation, are, not that the government, service, and doctrine +of the Church are unscriptural, but, that the clergy are not +converted men; that Methodism loses many of its members +through the sacraments not being administered; that the +Church of England is a fallen church; that the time is fully +come when the Methodists ought to be an independent body; +that the good effects of separation are already seen in the +continent of America; and that separation will probably take +place at Mr. Wesley’s death.</p> + +<p>Having endeavoured to refute these arguments, the author +proceeds to give his reasons against separation: namely (1) +many of the Methodists are zealous for the Church of +England, and would be offended; (2) separation implies ordination, +which would be a bone of contention, an apple of +discord, among the preachers, as to who should be ordainers; +(3) these “gownsmen or ordainers would have the government +of the body more and more devolved upon them, and, instead +of being itinerants, would become resident in one place, the +itinerant plan thereby becoming gradually weakened, or +continued only by <em>raw lads</em> on trial.”</p> + +<p>The arguments, <i lang="la">pro</i> and <i lang="la">con</i>, are given as we find them; +and merely to show the grounds taken by the opposing parties +in 1785.</p> + +<p>Excepting Fletcher’s funeral sermon, <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, 32 pages, Wesley’s +publications were only four in number.</p> + +<p>1. “A Pocket Hymn Book for the use of Christians of all +Denominations.” <abbr title="vicesimo-quarto">24mo</abbr>, 208 pages.</p> + +<p>2. “An Extract from the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. John Wesley’s Journal, +from August 9, 1779, to August 20, 1782.” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 92 pages.</p> + +<p>3. “A Call to the Unconverted. By R. Baxter.” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, +76 pages.</p> + +<p>4. The <cite>Arminian Magazine</cite>. <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, 668 pages.</p> + +<p>The <cite>Arminian Magazine</cite> contains extracts from Dr. +Whitby’s Discourses on the Five Points, and from Maundrell’s +Journey from Aleppo to Jerusalem. There are biographical +accounts of William McCormick, Martha Rogers, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_470">[Pg 470]</span> +Nancy Bissaker, James Creighton, Ann Roylands, John +Pritchard, and many others. There are more than thirty +letters, and as many poetic pieces. There is Wesley’s sermon +on his favourite text, 1 Corinthians <abbr title="thirteen">xiii.</abbr> 1–3. Also his sermon +on perfection, in which his most matured views, on this +momentous subject, are stated with his wonted lucidity. The +sermon on Hebrews <abbr title="thirteen">xiii.</abbr> 17 is remarkable. The point he endeavours +to establish is, that, “It is the <em>duty</em> of every private +Christian to obey his spiritual pastor, by either doing or leaving +undone anything of an indifferent nature; anything that is +in no way determined in the word of God.” In applying the +principle to himself and the Methodists, he asks: “Do you +take my advice with regard to dress? I published that advice +above thirty years ago; I have repeated it a thousand times +since. I have advised you to lay aside all needless ornaments: +to avoid all needless expense: to be patterns of plainness +to all that are round about you. Have you taken this +advice? Are you all exemplarily plain in your apparel? as +plain as quakers or Moravians? If not, you declare hereby +to all the world, that you will not obey them that are over +you in the Lord.” Wesley’s doctrine may be disputed; but +the practical use to which he puts it deserves attention. There +are three more of his original sermons—​on John <abbr title="one">i.</abbr> 47; Philippians +<abbr title="two">ii.</abbr> 12, 13; and Revelation <abbr title="twenty-one">xxi.</abbr> 5—which are well worth +reading.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_532_532" href="#FNanchor_532_532" class="label">[532]</a> City Road society book.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_533_533" href="#FNanchor_533_533" class="label">[533]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1824, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 307.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_534_534" href="#FNanchor_534_534" class="label">[534]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 143.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_535_535" href="#FNanchor_535_535" class="label">[535]</a> Ibid. <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 61.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_536_536" href="#FNanchor_536_536" class="label">[536]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 66.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_537_537" href="#FNanchor_537_537" class="label">[537]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1828, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 46.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_538_538" href="#FNanchor_538_538" class="label">[538]</a> Ibid. 1799, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 161.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_539_539" href="#FNanchor_539_539" class="label">[539]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume eleven">vol. xi.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 334</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_540_540" href="#FNanchor_540_540" class="label">[540]</a> Among other places, Wesley preached at <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Austell, where his host +had a little girl, twelve years of age, who had recently been admitted +into the Methodist society by Adam Clarke. That little girl is now +Mrs. Shaw, aged ninety-eight, and well remembers Wesley taking her, +more than once, in his carriage for a drive, and showing her other marks +of affectionate attention. Mrs. Shaw—​happy, intelligent, and full of faith,—is +a mother in Israel, and probably the oldest Methodist now living. The +writer has in his possession, in Mrs. Shaw’s own handwriting, a beautiful +hymn of five stanzas, composed by her, in the month of May, 1869.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_541_541" href="#FNanchor_541_541" class="label">[541]</a> Thomas Dixon’s manuscript autobiography.</p></div></div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_471">[Pg 471]</span></p> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="1786">1786.</h2> +<hr class="short"> +<p class="center">Age 83</p></div> + +<p class="p2 drop-cap"><span class="smcap">Wesley</span> spent the first two months of 1786 in London. +He went to the House of Lords at the opening of +parliament, and heard King George <abbr title="Three">III.</abbr> read the royal +speech. He writes: “How agreeably was I surprised. He +pronounced every word with exact propriety. I much doubt +whether there be any other king in Europe, that is so just +and natural a speaker.”</p> + +<p>Wesley had a remarkable season at City Road. While +preaching, the power of God came down; the preacher broke +out in prayer; and the congregation burst into a loud and +general cry.</p> + +<p>Of his own religious feelings he wrote:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“February 24,1786.—I do not remember to have heard or read anything +like my own experience. Almost ever since I can remember, I have been +led on in a peculiar way. I go on in an even line, being very little raised at +one time, of depressed at another. Count Zinzendorf observes, there are +three different ways wherein it pleases God to lead His people. Some are +guided, almost in every instance, by apposite texts of Scripture. Others +see a clear and plain reason for everything they are to do. And, yet, +others are led not so much by Scripture and reason as by particular +impressions. I am very rarely led by impressions, but generally by +reason and by Scripture. I see abundantly more than I feel. I want to +feel more love and zeal for God.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_542_542" href="#Footnote_542_542" class="fnanchor">[542]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>On February 26, Wesley set out, in a snowstorm, on a +journey which occupied more than the next four months. +His first halt was at Newbury, where he had “a large and +serious congregation;” but where, he says, he passed such a +night as he had not passed for forty years, his lodging room +being as cold as the outward air. He writes: “I could not +sleep at all till three in the morning. I rose at four, and set +out at five.”</p> + +<p>The next fortnight was spent at Bristol and in its vicinity. +On Sunday, March 5, he went through an amount of labour +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_472">[Pg 472]</span> +which would have appalled most men half his age. “I read +prayers,” says he, “and preached, and administered the +sacrament to about five hundred communicants. At three, I +preached in Temple church; at five in the New Room.”</p> + +<p>Eight days later, he started off to Scotland, when the roads +were blocked up with snow, and the weather intensely cold. +More than a week was spent at Birmingham: during which he +had another sacramental service, as large as that at Bristol; +and preached at Madeley a funeral sermon for the sainted +Fletcher, taking as his text Revelation <abbr title="fourteen">xiv.</abbr> 1–7.⁠<a id="FNanchor_543_543" href="#Footnote_543_543" class="fnanchor">[543]</a> At Lane +End, after it was dark, and in a piercingly cold wind, he says: +“I was constrained to preach abroad; and none of us seemed +to regard the weather, for God warmed our hearts.” At +Burslem, in the same inclement season, the congregation was +such, that the venerable preacher was obliged again to take +his stand in the open air. After preaching at Congleton, +Macclesfield, and other places, he came to Chapel-en-le-Frith, +where a large number had been converted, but who needed +discipline. He writes: “Frequently three or four, yea, ten +or twelve, pray aloud all together. Some of them, perhaps +many, scream all together as loud as they possibly can. +Some use improper, yea, indecent, expressions in prayer. +Several drop down as dead, and are as stiff as a corpse; +but, in a while, they start up, and cry, ‘Glory! Glory!’ +perhaps twenty times together. Just so do the French +prophets, and very lately the jumpers, in Wales, bring the +real work into contempt. Yet, whenever we reprove them, +it should be in the most mild and gentle manner possible.”</p> + +<p>At Bolton, he had, in his congregation, five hundred and +fifty children, all scholars in the Methodist Sunday-school; +and it was either now, or soon after, that he preached to them +a sermon, from Psalm <abbr title="twenty-four">xxxiv.</abbr> 11, in which he engaged to use +no word of more than two syllables, and literally fulfilled his +pledge.⁠<a id="FNanchor_544_544" href="#Footnote_544_544" class="fnanchor">[544]</a></p> + +<p>His congregations throughout Lancashire, and the west +riding of Yorkshire, were enormous, often compelling him +to preach out of doors. His popularity was greater than +ever. Churches were offered for his use; and accepted, at +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_473">[Pg 473]</span> +Haworth, Bingley, Heptonstall, Todmorden, Horsforth, and +York. Persecution had ceased; and everywhere the Christian +veteran was greeted with the welcomes of admiring and loving +crowds.</p> + +<p>Leaving York on the 8th of May, Wesley, for the first time, +visited the town of Easingwold, where was a class of seventeen +members, the leader of which was John Barber;⁠<a id="FNanchor_545_545" href="#Footnote_545_545" class="fnanchor">[545]</a> and where +a chapel had been built, costing <abbr title="140 pounds">£140</abbr>, only half of which was +paid.⁠<a id="FNanchor_546_546" href="#Footnote_546_546" class="fnanchor">[546]</a> To open this was the object of Wesley’s visit.</p> + +<p>He then proceeded to Scotland, where the Methodists were +now really a distinct and separated church; for not only had +Hanby, Pawson, and others been ordained, and invested with +gown and bands, but sacraments were administered; and, +while society tickets admitted to society meetings and the +lovefeasts, circular metal tokens seemed to become the +badge of church membership, having on one side the letters +“M. C.,” and on the other the words, “Do this in remembrance +of Me.” The tokens admitted the owners to the table of the +Lord.</p> + +<p>On the 1st of June, Wesley laid the foundation stone of a +new chapel at Alnwick; and, on the following Sunday, +preached three times out of doors, to vast congregations, at +Gateshead and Newcastle.</p> + +<p>On the 5th of June, he set out southwards. Pursuing his +usual route, he came to Hull, a fortnight afterwards, and, at +the vicar’s invitation, preached twice to immense crowds “in +one of the largest parish churches in England.” The next +day, he rode seventy-six miles, and preached at Malton, +Pocklington, and Swinfleet. “Sufficient,” says he, “for this +day was the labour thereof; but still I was no more tired +than when I rose in the morning.” Can such a fact as this +be paralleled? The day after, he preached at Crowle, and +Epworth; and the next day after that, at Scotter, Brigg, and +Grimsby. At Louth, for the first time, he saw the people +“affected.” At Gainsborough, his old friend, Sir Nevil +Hickman, was dead; but he made the yard of his house his +preaching place. On Saturday and Sunday, June 24 and 25, +he preached at New Inn, Newark, Retford, Misterton, Overthorpe, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_474">[Pg 474]</span> +and Epworth, six times, at six different towns, in two +days, the preacher himself eighty-three years of age!</p> + +<p>He writes: “1786, June 30—I turned aside to Barnsley, +formerly famous for all manner of wickedness. They were +then ready to tear any Methodist preacher to pieces. Now +not a dog wagged his tongue. I preached near the market +place to a large congregation; and, I believe, the word sunk +into many hearts; they seemed to drink in every word. +Surely God will have a people in this place.”</p> + +<p>Wesley might well speak of the brutal wickedness of +Barnsley. Three years before, a man resolved to murder +Henry Longden, ran up to him while preaching, aimed a +blow which would probably have been fatal, but Longden +leaped aside, and providentially escaped.⁠<a id="FNanchor_547_547" href="#Footnote_547_547" class="fnanchor">[547]</a> On another occasion, +Jeremiah Cocker, while preaching in the market place, +was pulled down, dragged through the streets, and pelted with +rotten eggs, one of which had a dead gosling in it. Cocker +applied to the vicar of Sheffield for protection; the rioters +were committed for trial at the Rotherham sessions; but +were acquitted, on the ground that, though the preacher was +licensed to preach, the spot he chose was not licensed as a +preaching place! Here John Barber, a few months before +Wesley’s visit, was saluted with a shower of stones, was +seriously hurt, and was rescued by a friendly quaker, who +lived in “Barnsley Folly.” At another time, a mob, of +some hundreds, assembled with cows’ horns, drums, and +other noisy instruments, and most effectually prevented the +preacher being heard. Mr. Raynor, a currier, having lent his +house for preaching, the Barnsley roughs made a bonfire at +the door, compelled the congregation to seek egress by some +other way, and pelted them most mercilessly with filth of the +foulest kind. Such are specimens of the treatment received +by the poor Methodists in Barnsley, between the years 1780 +and 1786. The society was small, not numbering a dozen +members; and they had no preaching room, except Raynor’s +house, till about 1792, when Alexander Mather secured a +small chamber over a weaver’s shop in Church Street.⁠<a id="FNanchor_548_548" href="#Footnote_548_548" class="fnanchor">[548]</a></p> + +<p>From Barnsley, Wesley went to Sheffield, where he selected +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_475">[Pg 475]</span> +as his text, “It is high time to awake out of sleep”; and an +anonymous hearer sent him a letter, saying, that he could +remember nothing that he said, except that “rising early was +good for the nerves!” Here he spent several days, held the +quarterly meeting and a lovefeast, administered the sacrament +to six or seven hundred persons, visited Wentworth House, +baptized Joseph Benson’s infant daughter,⁠<a id="FNanchor_549_549" href="#Footnote_549_549" class="fnanchor">[549]</a> and was Mr. +Holy’s guest. After preaching, crowds were wont to follow +him to his hospitable lodging; the streets were lined, and +the windows of the houses thronged with eager but respectful +gazers, Wesley all the while emptying his pockets in scattering +gifts among the poor. A vast concourse of people assembled +on the green, at the front of Mr. Holy’s house; +Wesley walked into the midst of them, knelt down, and +asked God to bless them. The place became a Bochim; the +crowd wept and literally wailed at the thought of losing him; +he prayed again; and then darted into Mr. Holy’s dwelling, +and hid himself.⁠<a id="FNanchor_550_550" href="#Footnote_550_550" class="fnanchor">[550]</a> What a contrast to the reception given to +his brother in 1743!</p> + +<p>His visit to Wentworth House has been mentioned. It is +a curious fact, but attentive readers of Wesley’s journal will +easily perceive, that, as Wesley grew older, he took far more +interest in visiting scenes of beauty and historic buildings +than he did in the earlier parts of his illustrious career. How +to account for this, we know not; but so it was.</p> + +<p>Tradition says, that Wesley was accompanied by Mr. +Birks, of Thorpe, and that, when they were leaving, Mr. Birks +asked Mr. Hall, the steward, if it would be agreeable for Mr. +Wesley to pray with the family before he left. Permission +was courteously given; the household were summoned; and +Wentworth House was none the worse for the prayer which +the arch Methodist offered beneath its roof.</p> + +<p>From Sheffield, Wesley proceeded, by way of Belper and +Derby, to Ilkestone. This was his first and last visit to the +last mentioned town, and the circumstances connected with it +are worth relating. For many years, the only Methodist in +Ilkestone had been a poor old woman. The preachers +preached, but, apparently, without effect. At length, the old +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_476">[Pg 476]</span> +woman died, and John Crook resolved to preach a funeral +sermon. A large congregation assembled at the front of a +public house. Mr. Crook stood upon a stone used by travellers +for mounting horses. The sermon was worthy of the +Methodist apostle of the Isle of Man; and, at its close, the +preacher received a message from the vicar of the parish, +requesting him to wait upon him next morning. John went, +and was received with kindness. “Sir,” said the clergyman, +“I heard you preach last night with pleasure; in what college +were you educated?” “I never attended college,” was the +answer. “Sir,” rejoined the vicar, “I have heard many of +the heads of our universities preach, but I never heard +a defence of our establishment equal to yours. You are +welcome to my pulpit next Sunday.” Crook replied, that he +was not ordained; and proposed that, instead of preaching +<em>within</em> the church, he should preach at the church’s door. +The proposal was accepted; the vicar published from the +pulpit the intended service; the itinerant selected as his text, +“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; he that +believeth not shall be damned;” under that sermon, the +priest was deeply convinced of sin, and next Sunday told his +congregation, that he was an earnest seeker of salvation; he +learnt that Crook was one of Wesley’s preachers, and sent to +Wesley an invitation;⁠<a id="FNanchor_551_551" href="#Footnote_551_551" class="fnanchor">[551]</a> and here, on Thursday July 6, we +find him. He writes: “Though the church is large, it was +sufficiently crowded. The vicar read prayers with great +earnestness and propriety; I preached; and the people seemed +all ear. Surely good will be done in this place; though it is +strongly opposed both by the Calvinists and Socinians.”</p> + +<p>Good was done. Among Wesley’s hearers was a joiner, +Richard Birch. Wesley’s discourse reached his heart. He +was converted; and, finding that there was in the town a +class of four Methodists, he became the fifth; and, before the +year expired, he and his friends built a chapel.</p> + +<p>Wesley arrived in London, after an absence of nearly +twenty weeks, on July 13. Four days were spent in town, +and then he started off again to Bristol, for the purpose of +holding his annual conference. He writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_477">[Pg 477]</span> +<p>“July 25, Tuesday—​Our conference began: about eighty preachers +attended. We met every day at six and nine in the morning, and at two +in the afternoon. On Tuesday, and on Wednesday morning, the characters +of the preachers were considered. On Thursday, in the afternoon, we +permitted any of the society to be present; and weighed what was said +about separating from the Church; but we all determined to continue +therein, without one dissenting voice; and I doubt not but this +determination will stand, at least, till I am removed into a better +world. The conference concluded on Tuesday morning, August 1. +Great had been the expectations of many, that we should have had +warm debates; but, by the mercy of God, we had none at all; everything +was transacted with great calmness; and we parted, as we met, in peace +and love.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Separation from the Church was again the great question of +the day. From the above extract, taken from his journal, it +is evident, that Wesley was more than apprehensive that such +a separation would occur subsequent to his decease; but it is +equally evident, that he was glad to have it postponed till +then. In an unpublished letter to Thomas Taylor, dated +February 21, 1786, he writes: “The wise bishop Gibson once +said, ‘Why cannot these gentlemen leave the Church? Then +they could do no more harm.’ Read ‘no more good,’ and it +would have been a truth. I believe, if we had then left the +Church, we should not have done a tenth of the good which +we have done. But I do not insist upon this head. I go +calmly and quietly on my way, doing what I conceive to be +the will of God. I do not, will not, concern myself with +what will be done when I am dead. I take no thought about +that. If I did, I should probably shut myself up at Kingswood +or Newcastle, and leave you all to yourselves.”</p> + +<p>“I love the Church,” said Wesley to his brother, in letters +written during the spring of 1786, “as sincerely as ever I did; +and I tell our societies everywhere, ‘The Methodists will not +leave the Church, at least while I live.’” “Eight or ten +preachers, it is probable (but I have not met with one yet), +will say something about leaving the Church, before the +conference. It is not improbable many will be driven out of +it where there are Calvinist ministers.”</p> + +<p>Such were Wesley’s wishes, and such were his apprehensions. +Wesley expected eight or ten of his preachers to +bring the business before conference. This was done by Dr. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_478">[Pg 478]</span> +Coke, who had returned from his <em>episcopal</em> tour in the United +States. Mr. Pawson writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Dr. Coke thought, that our public services in the large towns ought +to be held in church hours, and was freely speaking in the conference +upon that subject, and urging its necessity from the fact that nearly all the +converted clergymen in the kingdom were Calvinists. Upon hearing +this, Mr. Charles Wesley, with a very loud voice, and in great anger, cried +out, ‘No,’ which was the only word he uttered during the whole of the +conference sittings. Mr. Mather, however, got up and confirmed what +Dr. Coke had said, which we all knew to be a truth.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_552_552" href="#Footnote_552_552" class="fnanchor">[552]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>This debate seems to have issued in the adoption of a +document, which Wesley drew up three days before the +conference met.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“In what cases do we allow of service in church hours? I answer:</p> + +<p>“1. When the minister is a notoriously wicked man.</p> + +<p>“2. When he preaches Arian, or any equally pernicious doctrine.</p> + +<p>“3. When there are not churches in the town sufficient to contain half +the people.</p> + +<p>“4. Where there is no church at all within two or three miles.</p> + +<p>“We advise every one, who preaches in the church hours, to read the +psalms and lessons, with part of the church prayers; because, we apprehend, +this will endear the church service to our brethren, who probably +would be prejudiced against it, if they heard none but extemporary +prayer.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Considering the character of not a few of the ministers of +the Church of England in 1786; remembering the number of +pulpits from which were preached Arianism, and especially +Calvinism, both of which the Methodists considered “<em>pernicious +doctrines</em>”; and, further, bearing in mind, the scanty +provision made by the Established Church for the great +populations, these concessions, in reference to having +Methodist services in church hours, were really much more +extensive than, at first sight, appears.</p> + +<p>This was the last conference at which Charles Wesley was +present. At its conclusion, he preached from his favourite +text, “I will bring the third part through the fire;” and told +the congregation, that, after the death of himself and his +brother, there would be a split among the Methodists, and +not more than a third part of the preachers and of the people +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_479">[Pg 479]</span> +would remain faithful to the Established Church. Upon +these, however, God would pour out His Spirit more abundantly +than ever, and His work would prosper in their hands. +“This,” said he, “was the case with the Moravians when Count +Zinzendorf died. So it was when Mr. Whitefield was removed; +and thus it will be with the Methodists.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_553_553" href="#Footnote_553_553" class="fnanchor">[553]</a></p> + +<p>Before the conference was concluded, Charles Wesley wrote +as follows to the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Latrobe, Moravian minister in +London:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“My brother, and I, and the preachers were unanimous for continuing +in the old ship. The preachers of a Dissenting spirit will probably, after +our death, set up for themselves, and draw away disciples after them. An +old baptist minister, forty years ago, told me, he looked on the Methodists +as a seminary for the Dissenters. My desire and design, from the beginning +to this day, is, to leave them in the lap of their mother. The bishops +might, if they pleased, save the largest and soundest part of them back +into the Church; perhaps to leaven the whole lump, as Archbishop Potter +said to me. <em>But I fear, betwixt you and me, their lordships care for none +of these things.</em> The great evil, which I have dreaded for near fifty years, +is a schism.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_554_554" href="#Footnote_554_554" class="fnanchor">[554]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>Other matters were debated at the conference of 1786. +The old rules respecting the windows, doors, and pews of +chapels were to be strictly observed and kept; and no assistant +was to allow collections for a new chapel, “till every step +had been taken to secure it, on the conference plan, by a trust +deed, a bond, or sufficient articles of agreement.” And +Wesley concluded by giving the following advices to the +preachers. (1) To re-establish morning preaching, in all large +towns, at least; and to exert themselves in restoring the +bands, and the select societies. (2) Always to conclude the +service in about an hour. (3) Never to scream. (4) Never +to lean upon, or beat the Bible. (5) Wherever they preached, +to meet the society. (6) Not to go home at nights, except +in cases of the utmost necessity. (7) Never to preach funeral +sermons, but for eminently holy persons, to preach none for +hire, and to beware of panegyric, particularly in London. (8) +To hold more lovefeasts. (9) To introduce no new tunes; to +see that none sing too slow, and that the women sing their +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_480">[Pg 480]</span> +parts; and to exhort all to sing, and all to stand at singing, +as well as to kneel at prayers. (10) To let none repeat the +last line, unless the preacher does. And, (11) To inform the +leaders, that every assistant is to change both the stewards +and the leaders when he sees good; and that no leader has +power to put any person either into or out of the society.</p> + +<p>Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Antigua were now +Methodist circuits, and had, unitedly, nine itinerant preachers, +and 2179 members of society. These were Methodist missions, +though not designated such. And here let it be remarked, +that the Methodist Missionary Society was really +founded in 1784. Where is the proof of this?</p> + +<p>The following is an exact copy of a printed document, +kindly lent by the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> G. Mather, and addressed, by Dr. +Coke, to “The <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Fletcher, at Madeley, near Shiffnal, +Cheshire.”</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“A Plan of the Society for the Establishment of Missions among the +Heathen.</p> + +<p>“1. Every person who subscribes two guineas yearly, or more, is to be +admitted a member of the society.</p> + +<p>“2. A general meeting of the subscribers shall be held annually on the +last Tuesday in January.</p> + +<p>“3. The first general meeting shall be held on the last Tuesday in +January 1784, at No. 11, in West Street, near the Seven Dials, London, +at three o’clock in the afternoon.</p> + +<p>“4. At every general meeting, a committee of seven, or more, shall be +chosen, by the majority of the subscribers, to transact the business of the +society for the ensuing year.</p> + +<p>“5. The general meeting shall receive and examine the accounts of the +committee, for the preceding year, of all sums paid to the use of the +society, of the purposes to which the whole or any part thereof shall have +been applied, and also the report of all they have done, and the advices +they have received.</p> + +<p>“6. The committee, or the majority of them, shall have power: First, +to call in the sums subscribed, or any part thereof, and to receive all +collections, legacies, or other voluntary contributions. Secondly, to agree +with any they shall approve, who may offer to go abroad, either as missionaries, +or in any civil employment. Thirdly, to procure the best instruction +that can be obtained for such persons, in the language of the +country for which they are intended, before they go abroad. Fourthly, +to provide for their expenses, in going and continuing abroad, and for +their return home, after such time, and under such circumstances, as may +be thought most expedient. Fifthly, to print the Scriptures, or so much +thereof as the funds of the society may admit, for the use of any heathen +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_481">[Pg 481]</span> +country. And, sixthly, to do every other act which to them may appear +necessary, so far as the common stock of the society will allow, for carrying +the design of the society into execution.</p> + +<p>“7. The committee shall keep an account of the subscribers’ names, +and all sums received for the use of the society, together with such extracts +of the entries of their proceedings, and advices, as may show those +who are concerned all that has been done both at home and abroad; +which statement shall be signed by at least three of the committee.</p> + +<p>“8. The committee, for the new year, shall send a copy of the report +for the past year, to all the members of the society, who were not present +at the preceding general meeting, and (free of postage) to every clergyman, +minister, or other person, from whom any collection, legacy, or other +benefaction shall have been received within the time concerning which +the report is made.</p> + +<p>“9. The committee, if they see it necessary, shall have power to choose +a secretary.</p> + +<p>“10. The committee shall, at no time, have any claim on the members of +the society, for any sum which may exceed the common stock of the society.</p> + +<p>“N.B. Those who subscribe before the first general meeting, and to +whom it may not be convenient to attend, are desired to favour the +general meeting, by letter according to the above direction, with any +important remarks which may occur to them on the business, that the +subscribers present may be assisted, as far as possible, in settling the +rules of the society to the satisfaction of all concerned.</p> + +<p>“We have been already favoured with the names of the following subscribers, +viz.</p> +</div> + +<table class="smaller"> +<tr><td></td> + <td class="tdr"><abbr title="pounds">£</abbr></td> + <td class="tdr"><abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr></td> + <td class="tdr"><abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdh">Dr. Coke</td> + <td class="tdr pad1">2</td> + <td class="tdr pad1">2</td> + <td class="tdr pad1">0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdh"><abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Simpson, Macclesfield</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdh"><abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Bickerstaff, of Leicester</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdh">Mr. Rose, of Dorking</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdh">Mr. Horton, of London</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdh">Mr. Ryley, „   „</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdh">Mr. Riddsdale, „ „</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdh">Mr. Jay,   „ „</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdh">Mr. Dewey,  „ „</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdh">Mr. Mandell, of Bath</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdh">Mr. Jaques, of Wallingford</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdh">Mr. Butting, of High Wycombe</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdh">Mr. John Clark, of Newport, in the Isle of Wight</td> + <td class="tdr vlb">2</td> + <td class="tdr vlb">2</td> + <td class="tdr vlb">0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdh">Miss Eliza Johnson, of Bristol</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdh">Mr. Barton, of Isle of Wight</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdh">Mr. Henry Brooke, of Dublin</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdh">Master and Miss Blashford, of Dublin</td> + <td class="tdr vlb">4</td> + <td class="tdr vlb">4</td> + <td class="tdr vlb">0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdh">Mrs. Kirkover, of Dublin</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdh">Mr. Smith, Russia merchant, of London</td> + <td class="tdr vlb">5</td> + <td class="tdr vlb">5</td> + <td class="tdr vlb">0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdh">Mr. D’Olier, of Dublin</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdh">Mrs. Smyth, „   „</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdh">The <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Fletcher, of Madeley</td> + <td class="tdr vlb">2</td> + <td class="tdr vlb">2</td> + <td class="tdr vlb">0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdh">Miss Salmon</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdh">Mr. Houlton, of London, an occasional subscriber</td> + <td class="tdr vlb">10</td> + <td class="tdr vlb">10</td> + <td class="tdr vlb">0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdh">Mrs. King, of Dublin</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">2</td> + <td class="tdr">0</td></tr> +<tr><td></td> + <td colspan="3"><hr></td> +<tr><td></td> + <td class="tdr"><abbr title="66 pounds">£66</abbr></td> + <td class="tdr">3</td> + <td class="tdr">0</td></tr> +<tr><td></td> + <td colspan="3"><hr></td> +</table> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_482">[Pg 482]</span> +<p class="center"> +“<i>To all the real lovers of mankind.</i></p> + +<p>“The present institution is so agreeable to the finest feelings of piety +and benevolence, that little need be added for its recommendation. The +candid of every denomination, (even those who are entirely unconnected +with the Methodists, and are determined to be so,) will acknowledge the +amazing change which our preaching has wrought upon the ignorant and +uncivilised, at least, throughout these nations; and they will admit, that +the spirit of a missionary must be of the most zealous, most devoted, and +self denying kind; nor is anything more required to constitute a missionary +for the heathen nations, than good sense, integrity, great piety, +and amazing zeal. Men, possessing all these qualifications in a high degree, +we have among us; and we doubt not but some of these will accept of the +arduous undertaking, not counting their lives dear, if they may but promote +the kingdom of Christ, and the present and eternal welfare of their +fellow creatures; and we trust nothing shall be wanting, as far as time, +strength, and abilities will admit, to give the fullest and highest satisfaction +to the promoters of the plan, on the part of your devoted servants,</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">Thomas Coke</span>, <br> +“<span class="smcap">Thomas Parker</span>. +</p> + +<p>“Those who are willing to promote the institution are desired to send +their names, places of abode, and sums subscribed, to the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Dr. +Coke, in London, or Thomas Parker, <abbr title="Esquire">Esq.</abbr>, barrister at law, in York.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Such was the first Methodist <i>missionary</i> report ever published. +On the third page of the folio sheet, from which the +above is taken, is the following in manuscript.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Near Plymouth</span>, <i>January 6, 1784</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My very dear Sir</span>,—Lest Mr. Parker should neglect to send you +one of our plans for the establishment of foreign missions, I take the +liberty of doing it. Ten subscribers more, of two guineas per annum, +have favoured me with their names. If <i>you</i> can get a few subscribers +more, we shall be obliged to you.</p> + +<p>“We have now a very wonderful outpouring of the Spirit in the west +of Cornwall. I have been obliged to make a winter campaign of it, and +preach here and there out of doors.</p> + +<p>“I beg my affectionate respects to Mrs. Fletcher, and entreat you to +pray for your most affectionate friend and brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Thomas Coke</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>A few months after the above report was sent to Fletcher, +Coke set sail to America, and returned only in time to attend +the English conference of 1785. Henceforward, Christian +missions absorbed his time and energies.</p> + +<p>It is a well known fact, that Warren Hastings was the first +governor general of India; and that, in 1786, his celebrated +trial was commenced, and was protracted for nearly eight +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_483">[Pg 483]</span> +years, during which one hundred and forty days were spent +in its prosecution. Space forbids further remarks concerning +this great event; but the excitement created in England by +the affairs of India had, doubtless, something to do with the +following correspondence between Dr. Coke and a gentleman +in that country. Coke had written to him as early as 1784, +respecting the establishment of missions in India, and now +his correspondent replied. He sympathises with Coke’s proposal, +but foresees the arduous character of the undertaking. +He writes: “The leading features in the character of the +Mahommedans are pride and cruelty, treachery and love of +power; and those of the Hindoos, abject servility, cunning, +lying, dishonesty, and excessive love of money.” “Humanly +speaking, the probabilities of converting either the Hindoos +or Mahommedans appear to be very small.” Reasons are +assigned for this, showing the writer to be a well informed +and accomplished man. He proceeds to say: “The difficulties +are great; greater it may be, in some respects, than were those +of the first preachers among the freer and more polished +people of the Roman empire. Nevertheless, the same Divine +power that then made a few obscure, and, for the most part, +unlearned men, triumph over the united resistance of the +spiritual, secular, and carnal powers of this world, remains +unchanged.”</p> + +<p>Coke answered this long and able letter, on January 25, +1786, and said:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“At present, our openings in America, and the pressing invitations we +have lately received from Nova Scotia, the West Indies, and the States, +call for all the help we can possibly afford our brethren in that quarter of +the world. The high esteem which the government has for Mr. Wesley, +I am well persuaded, would procure for us the assistance which you +think to be necessary; but Mr. Wesley himself seems to have a doubt +whether that would be the most excellent way. In Great Britain, Ireland, +and America, we have gone on what appears, at first sight at least, +to be a more evangelical plan. Our missionaries have not at all concerned +themselves with applications to the civil power. They have been +exact in their submission to all its laws, and laid themselves out in the +most extensive manner for God. It appears very expedient, that our +missionaries should visit the settlements of the Danish missionaries in +India, and take every step they can to improve themselves in the language +of the people. Mr. Wesley is of opinion that not less than half-a-dozen +should be at first sent on such a mission; and, as soon as the present +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_484">[Pg 484]</span> +extraordinary calls from America are answered, I trust we shall be able to +turn our thoughts to Bengal.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_555_555" href="#Footnote_555_555" class="fnanchor">[555]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>For want of means, India had to be abandoned; but, in the +month of March, Coke issued “An Address to the Pious and +Benevolent, proposing an annual subscription for the support +of Missionaries in the Highlands and adjacent Islands of +Scotland, the isles of Jersey, Guernsey, and Newfoundland, +the West Indies, and the provinces of Nova Scotia and +Quebec;” to which was prefixed the following letter by +Wesley.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Bristol</span>, <i>March 12, 1786</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>,—I greatly approve of your proposal, for raising a subscription, +in order to send missionaries to the highlands of Scotland, the +islands of Jersey and Guernsey, the Leeward Islands, Quebec, Nova +Scotia, and Newfoundland. It is not easy to conceive the extreme want +there is, in all these places, of men that will not count their lives dear unto +themselves, so they may testify the gospel of the grace of God.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear sir, your affectionate brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_556_556" href="#Footnote_556_556" class="fnanchor">[556]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Coke commenced his Address as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“<em>Dearly beloved in the Lord</em>,—Some time past, I took the liberty of +addressing you, in behalf of a mission intended to be established in the +British dominions in Asia; and many of you very generously entered +into that important plan. We have not, indeed, lost sight of it at present; +on the contrary, we have lately received a letter of encouragement from a +principal gentleman in the province of Bengal. But the providence of +God has lately opened to us so many doors nearer home, that Mr. +Wesley thinks it imprudent to hazard, at present, the lives of any of our +preachers, by sending them to so great a distance, and amidst so many +uncertainties and difficulties; when so large a field of action is afforded +us in countries to which we have so much easier admittance, and where +the success, through the blessing of God, is more or less certain.”</p> +</div> + +<p>He then explains the openings in the places already mentioned. +The address is dated March 13, 1786.⁠<a id="FNanchor_557_557" href="#Footnote_557_557" class="fnanchor">[557]</a></p> + +<p>In this way, Methodist missions were fairly started; and, +on September 24, 1786, Coke set sail, with Messrs. Hammet, +Warrener, and Clarke; Warrener being intended for Antigua; +and Clarke and Hammet for Newfoundland.⁠<a id="FNanchor_558_558" href="#Footnote_558_558" class="fnanchor">[558]</a></p> + +<p>Messrs. Garretson and Black were already labouring in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_485">[Pg 485]</span> +Nova Scotia, and, to them, Wesley addressed the following +letters.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>September 30, 1786</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—I trust, before this comes to hand, you and +Dr. Coke will have met. I can exceedingly ill spare him from England, +as I have no clergyman capable of supplying his lack of service; but I +was convinced he was more wanted in America than in Europe. I was +far off from London when he set sail. Most of those in England, who +have riches, love money, even the Methodists; at least, those who are +called so. The poor are the Christians. I am quite out of conceit with +almost all those who have this world’s goods. Let us take care to lay up +treasure in heaven.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span>”<a id="FNanchor_559_559" href="#Footnote_559_559" class="fnanchor">[559]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>November 30, 1786.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—You have good reason to be thankful to God +that He lets you see the fruit of your labours. Whenever any are awakened, +you do well to join them together immediately. But I do not advise you to +go on too fast. It is not expedient to break up more ground than you +can keep; to preach at any more places than you, or your brethren, can +constantly attend. To preach once in a place, and no more, very seldom +does any good; it only alarms the devil and his children, and makes them +more upon their guard against a first assault.</p> + +<p>“Wherever there is any church service, I do not approve of any appointment +the same hour; because I love the Church of England, and would +assist, not oppose, it all I can. How do the inhabitants of Shelburne, +Halifax, and other parts of the province, go on as to temporal things? +Have they trade? Have they sufficiency of food, and the other necessaries +of life? And do they increase or decrease in numbers? It seems +there is a scarcity of some things,—of good ink, for yours is so pale that +many of your words are not legible.</p> + +<p>“As I take it for granted, that you have had several conversations with +Dr. Coke, I doubt not you proposed all your difficulties to him, and +received full satisfaction concerning them. Probably, we shall send a +little help for your building, if we live till conference. Observe the rules +for building laid down in the minutes. I am afraid of another American +revolution....</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span>”<a id="FNanchor_560_560" href="#Footnote_560_560" class="fnanchor">[560]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Both the above were addressed to Garretson; the following +was sent to Black.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>November 26, 1786</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—It is indeed a matter of joy, that our Lord is +still carrying on His work throughout Great Britain and Ireland. In the +time of Dr. Jonathan Edwards, there were several gracious showers in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_486">[Pg 486]</span> +New England; but there were large intermissions between one and another: +whereas, with us there has been no intermission at all for seven-and-forty +years, but the work of God has been continually increasing.</p> + +<p>“The same thing, I am in hopes, you will now see in America likewise. +See that you expect it, and that you seek it in His appointed ways, namely, +with fasting and unintermitted prayer. And take care that you be not +at all discouraged, though you should not always have an immediate +answer. You know</p> + +<p class="center">‘His manner and His times are best.’</p> + +<p>Therefore pray always! Pray, and faint not. I commend you all to our +Great Shepherd; and am your affectionate brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_561_561" href="#Footnote_561_561" class="fnanchor">[561]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley’s correspondence is so vast, that selection is difficult; +but two or three other letters, written in 1786, may be +given here. The first was sent to Mr. Lawrence Frost, of +Liverpool, with a request that it might be handed to the +mayor, and has not been previously published. One of +Wesley’s preachers had been interrupted while preaching to a +large multitude, near the old Fishstones, and Wesley wrote to +the chief magistrate as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">“<i>To the Mayor of Liverpool.</i></p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Bristol</span>, <i>July 29, 1786</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—Some preachers, in connection with me, have thought it their +duty to call sinners to repentance even in the open air. If they have +violated any law thereby, let them suffer the penalty of that law. But, +if not, whoever molests them on that account will be called to answer it +in his majesty’s court of King’s Bench. I have had a suit already in +that court, with a magistrate (Heap), and, if I am forced to it, am ready +to commence another.</p> + +<p>“I am, sir, your obedient servant,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>The letter was effectual. Ever afterwards, the constables +were civil, and wisely let the Methodists alone.</p> + +<p>William Simpson was one of Wesley’s itinerants, and, at +this time, was assistant in the Thirsk circuit, where he had to +contend with troubles somewhat different to those at Liverpool, +but for which Wesley prescribed as sharp a remedy. In +the month of November, he wrote him as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“The Sunday preaching may continue at Jervas for the present. I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_487">[Pg 487]</span> +suppose the society at Jervas is as large as that at Northallerton; and +this is a point which is much to be considered.</p> + +<p>“You must needs expel out of the society at Knaresborough those that +<em>will</em> be contentious. When you have to do with those stubborn spirits, it +is absolutely necessary, either to mend them or end them: and ten persons +of a quiet temper are better than thirty contentious ones. Undoubtedly +some of the eloquent men will be sending me heavy complaints. It is +well, therefore, that you spoke first.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Billy, your affectionate friend and brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_562_562" href="#Footnote_562_562" class="fnanchor">[562]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>We must now return to Wesley’s journal. A week after +the conclusion of the Bristol conference, he set sail for +Holland, accompanied by Messrs. Broadbent and Brackenbury. +There he mingled with many Christian friends; gave +many Scripture expositions in private houses; saw many +scenes of beauty; and employed all his leisure hours in +writing. On September 5, he returned to London, where he +spent two days in preaching and answering letters; and then +set off to Bristol, where he continued till September 26, +when he got back to London, and naively wrote: “I now +applied myself in earnest to the writing of Mr. Fletcher’s life, +having procured the best materials I could. To this I dedicated +all the time I could spare, till November, from five in +the morning till eight at night. These are my studying +hours; I cannot write longer in a day without hurting my +eyes.” We should think not! Fifteen hours a day of unintermitting +labour in the case of a man eighty-three years of age! +“Once or twice,” he wrote on December 12, “Once or twice, I +have been a little out of order this autumn; but it was only +for a day or two at a time. In general, my health has been +better for these last ten years, than it ever was for ten years +together since I was born. Ever since that good fever, which +I had in the north of Ireland, I have had, as it were, a new +constitution. All my pains and aches have forsaken me, and +I am a stranger even to weariness of any kind. This is +the Lord’s doing, and it may well be marvellous in all our +eyes.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_563_563" href="#Footnote_563_563" class="fnanchor">[563]</a></p> + +<p>At the beginning of October, he went on a preaching excursion +to Chatham and Sheerness. Then he set off to Norfolk; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_488">[Pg 488]</span> +and, on his way back to town, preached Mrs. Shewell’s funeral +sermon at Barnet. At this period, the father of the late +<abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Dr. Leifchild was the chief Methodist in Barnet, and the +doctor himself a little boy. “Upon arriving,” wrote this distinguished +minister, “he drove to my father’s house; and, when +the door of his carriage was opened, he came out arrayed in +his canonicals. Childlike, I ran to lay hold of him, but my +father pulled me back; upon which, extending his hand, he +said: ‘Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid +them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.’”</p> + +<p>The next five weeks were spent in London, partly in +preaching, partly in meeting classes, and partly in writing +Fletcher’s Life. The only holiday he took was a trip to +Hampton Court, which he pronounced “the finest palace the +king of England had”; but even this was scarcely a holiday, +for he preached at Wandsworth on his way back to town. +He had a brush with the Deptford Methodists, who urgently +requested to be allowed to have service in the Methodist +chapel at the same time as there was service in the church. +“It is easy to see,” he writes, “that this would be a formal +separation from the Church. We fixed both our morning and +evening service, all over England, at such hours as not to +interfere with the Church; with this very design,—that those +of the Church, if they chose it, might attend both the one and +the other. But to fix it at the same hour is obliging them to +separate either from the Church or us; and this I judge to be, +not only inexpedient, but totally unlawful for me to do.” +This style of reasoning can only be harmonized with the +enactments of the previous conference, on the supposition +that the Church minister at Deptford was not such as Wesley +then described.</p> + +<p>Wesley concluded the year by preaching from, “Set +thy house in order,” and, among other things, strongly +exhorted the people to make their wills.</p> + +<p>Except the Life of Fletcher, <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 227 pages, Wesley +seems to have published nothing, in 1786, but his <i>Arminian +Magazine</i>, <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, 688 pages.</p> + +<p>The volume bears the same character as previous ones. +There are again six original sermons by Wesley: the +Church; Divine Providence; Schism; Friendship with the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_489">[Pg 489]</span> +World; Visiting the Sick; and the Eternity of God. The +sermon on the Church was a sermon for the times; and, +remembering the agitation among the Methodists on the +subject of separation, an extract here will not be out of +place.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“The catholic, or universal, church is all the persons in the universe, +whom God hath so called out of the world, as to be one body, united by +one Spirit, having one faith, one hope, one baptism; one God and Father +of all, who is above all, and through all, and in them all. That part of +this great body, of the universal church, which inhabits any one kingdom +or nation, we may properly term a <em>national</em> church, as the Church of +France, the Church of England, the Church of Scotland. A smaller part, +of the universal church, are the Christians that inhabit any city or town, +as the church of Ephesus. Two or three Christian brethren united together +are a church in the narrowest sense. Such was the church in the +house of Philemon, and that in the house of Nymphas. A particular +church may, therefore, consist of any number of members, whether two +or three, or two or three millions. But still, whether they be larger or +smaller, the same idea is to be preserved. They are one body, and have +one Spirit, one Lord, one hope, one faith, one baptism, one God and +Father of all.”</p> +</div> + +<p>One more extract, from the <cite>Magazine</cite> for 1786, must suffice. +Addressing those afflicted with lowness of spirits, Wesley +writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“1. Sacredly abstain from all spirituous liquors. Touch them not, on +any pretence whatever. To others they may sometimes be of use; but to +nervous persons they are deadly poison.</p> + +<p>“2. If you drink any, drink but little tea, and none at all without eating, +or without sugar and cream.</p> + +<p>“3. Every day of your life, take, at least, an hour’s exercise, between +breakfast and dinner.</p> + +<p>“4. Take no more food than nature requires. Dine upon one thing, +except pudding or pie. Eat no flesh at supper; but something light and +easy of digestion.</p> + +<p>“5. Sleep early, and rise early. Unless you are ill, never lie in bed +much above seven hours. Then you will never lie awake; your flesh will +be firm, and your spirits lively.</p> + +<p>“6. Above all, beware of anger! beware of worldly sorrow! beware of +the fear that hath torment! beware of foolish and hurtful desires! beware +of inordinate affection!”</p> +</div> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_542_542" href="#FNanchor_542_542" class="label">[542]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 62.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_543_543" href="#FNanchor_543_543" class="label">[543]</a> Mrs. Mortimer’s Life.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_544_544" href="#FNanchor_544_544" class="label">[544]</a> Banning’s Memoirs.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_545_545" href="#FNanchor_545_545" class="label">[545]</a> Manuscript.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_546_546" href="#FNanchor_546_546" class="label">[546]</a> Manuscript letter by Mather.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_547_547" href="#FNanchor_547_547" class="label">[547]</a> Longden’s Life.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_548_548" href="#FNanchor_548_548" class="label">[548]</a> Manuscripts.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_549_549" href="#FNanchor_549_549" class="label">[549]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1836, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 166.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_550_550" href="#FNanchor_550_550" class="label">[550]</a> Manuscript.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_551_551" href="#FNanchor_551_551" class="label">[551]</a> Memoirs of <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> H. Taft, M.D., <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 6.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_552_552" href="#FNanchor_552_552" class="label">[552]</a> Unpublished manuscript.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_553_553" href="#FNanchor_553_553" class="label">[553]</a> Pawson’s manuscripts.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_554_554" href="#FNanchor_554_554" class="label">[554]</a> Life of C. Wesley, by Jackson, <abbr title="volume two">vol ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 402.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_555_555" href="#FNanchor_555_555" class="label">[555]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1792, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 333.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_556_556" href="#FNanchor_556_556" class="label">[556]</a> Ibid. 1840, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 574.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_557_557" href="#FNanchor_557_557" class="label">[557]</a> Ibid. <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 577.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_558_558" href="#FNanchor_558_558" class="label">[558]</a> Coke’s Life.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_559_559" href="#FNanchor_559_559" class="label">[559]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 67.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_560_560" href="#FNanchor_560_560" class="label">[560]</a> Ibid.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_561_561" href="#FNanchor_561_561" class="label">[561]</a> Memoirs of Black, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 158.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_562_562" href="#FNanchor_562_562" class="label">[562]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="pages">pp.</abbr> 86, 87.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_563_563" href="#FNanchor_563_563" class="label">[563]</a> Ibid. <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 92.</p></div></div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_490">[Pg 490]</span></p> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="1787">1787.</h2> +<hr class="short"> +<p class="center">Age 84</p></div> + +<p class="p0 drop-cap"><span class="smcap">Wesley</span> writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“1787. Monday, January 1—We began the service at four in +the morning, to an unusually large congregation. We had another comfortable +opportunity at the new chapel at the usual hour, and a third in +the evening at West Street.”</p> + +<p>“January 2—I went to Deptford; but it seemed, I was got into a den +of lions. Most of the leading men of the society were mad for separating +from the Church. I endeavoured to reason with them, but in vain: they +had neither sense nor even good manners left. At length, after meeting +the whole society, I told them: ‘If you are resolved, you may have your +service in church hours; but, remember, from that time, you will see my +face no more.’ This struck deep; and, from that hour, I have heard no +more of separating from the Church.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Considering the steps that Wesley had already taken, this +is somewhat amusing; as are also the two following letters, +written soon after, the first to William Percival,⁠<a id="FNanchor_564_564" href="#Footnote_564_564" class="fnanchor">[564]</a> and the +second to Samuel Bardsley.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>February 17, 1787</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Billy</span>,—You cannot be too watchful against evil speaking, or +too zealous for the poor Church of England. I commend sister Percival +for having her child baptized there, and for returning public thanks. By +all means, go to church as often as you can, and exhort all the Methodists +so to do. They that are enemies to the Church are enemies to <i>me</i>. I +am a friend to it, and ever was. By our reading prayers, we prevent our +people contracting an hatred for forms of prayer; which would naturally +be the case, if we always prayed extempore.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Billy, your affectionate brother,</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_565_565" href="#Footnote_565_565" class="fnanchor">[565]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Birmingham</span>, <i>March 25, 1787</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Sammy</span>,—Brother Jackson should advise brother Ridall,⁠<a id="FNanchor_566_566" href="#Footnote_566_566" class="fnanchor">[566]</a> not +to please the devil by preaching himself to death. I still think, when the +Methodists leave the Church of England, God will leave them. Every +year more and more of the clergy are convinced of the truth, and grow +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_491">[Pg 491]</span> +well affected towards us. It would be contrary to all common sense, as +well as to good conscience, to make a separation now.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Sammy, your affectionate brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_567_567" href="#Footnote_567_567" class="fnanchor">[567]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Before proceeding with Wesley’s history, we insert another +letter belonging to this period. It is now for the first time +published, and refers to John Hutchinson, the founder of +Hutchinsonianism.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>February 4, 1787</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Sister</span>,—I think Mr. Hutchinson was a man of strong +understanding, but greatly obscured by uncommon pride and sourness of +temper. He was the twin soul of Dr. Bentley. Many of his remarks I +exceedingly approve of. That upon the sin of Uzzah is highly probable. +His writings to me are far more agreeable than those of Dr. Harmer;⁠<a id="FNanchor_568_568" href="#Footnote_568_568" class="fnanchor">[568]</a> +an exceeding pretty writer, who seems to propose Dr. Blair for his +pattern. Both the one and the other are quite too elegant for me. Give +me plain, strong Dr. Horne. Your letters (as well as your conversation) +are always agreeable to, my dear sister,</p> + +<p>“Your affectionate friend and brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">J. Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley was always ready for all kinds of useful work,—reading, +writing, preaching, praying, and begging for the poor. +Towards the close of his career, especially, he seems to +have commenced almost every year by an effort to relieve +the miseries of his destitute fellow creatures. Accordingly, +at the opening of 1787, five days were spent in traversing the +streets of London to obtain subscriptions for this purpose. +About two hundred members of his own London society were +in great distress; and he hoped to provide for them and for +others, at least, food and clothing. He writes: “I was much +disappointed. Six or seven, indeed, of our brethren, gave +<abbr title="10 pounds">£10</abbr> apiece. If forty or fifty had done this, I could have +carried my design into execution. However, much good was +done with <abbr title="200 pounds">£200</abbr>, and many sorrowful hearts made glad.”</p> + +<p>Seven years previous to this, Wesley had preached his +first sermon at Newark upon Trent. He was now invited to +open a new chapel there; and took coach, for that purpose, +on February 9, travelled all night, and arrived next day. On +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_492">[Pg 492]</span> +Sunday morning, February 11, at nine o’clock, he preached +in the “lightsome, cheerful building”; and again at half-past +five in the afternoon; when the mayor and several aldermen +of the town were present.</p> + +<p>This was a kind of service which now frequently fell to +Wesley’s lot. On Sunday, February 25, after preaching +twice in London, he took the mail coach, and, by travelling +all night, arrived at Exeter in about four-and-twenty hours. +He then hurried off to Plymouth, and opened a new chapel +there. On Sunday morning, March 4, he conducted a service, +which lasted from half-past nine to nearly one o’clock; and, in +the evening, the throng was such, that, in order to reach the +pulpit, he was literally lifted over the people’s heads. At five +o’clock next morning, the chapel was again crowded; and, at +six, he departed by coach, “leaving,” says he, “such a flame +behind us as was never kindled here before.”</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the heavy services of the previous day, he +travelled all the way to Exeter in a continuous rain, and +again preached “to as many as could possibly squeeze” into +the chapel; and says, “I know not, that I ever saw such an +impression made on the people of Exeter before.”</p> + +<p>After this, he proceeded to Bristol, where “the work of +God had much increased, especially among the young men,” +but where, out of sixteen hundred members, only five, or ten, +or, at the most, a dozen hearers formed the five o’clock morning +congregations. Wesley says, he strongly warned them of +their indolence; and, during his stay, the congregations were +increased to three hundred; but even this was small, considering +the prestige of the place, and the fame of the +unequalled minister.</p> + +<p>Wesley now was suffering considerable anxiety respecting +Dr. Coke, who, with his three missionaries, had set sail, five +months before, for Newfoundland, but who, unknown to +Wesley, had been drifted to the West Indies. Hence the +following, addressed to William Black.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>February 20, 1787</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—After various unfortunate hindrances and +delays, Dr. Coke embarked on board a small brig, in the middle of +October, and was, by furious winds, twice beat back into the harbour. +They set sail a third time, with a crazy, shattered vessel, on the 18th of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_493">[Pg 493]</span> +October. We have not heard anything either from him or of him since. +I hope you have heard of him in America.</p> + +<p>“You have great reason to be thankful to God for the progress of His +work in Nova Scotia. This is far from being the case in Newfoundland, +where poor John McGeary appears to be utterly discouraged; not only +through want of success, but through want of the conveniences, yea, +necessaries of life. Truly, if I could have supposed, that those who made +me fair promises would have suffered a preacher to want bread, I should +have sent him into other parts, where he would have wanted nothing.</p> + +<p>“I hear very different accounts of the state of your provinces. Is there +plenty or scarcity in Nova Scotia, and New England? How does it fare +with Halifax and Shelburne, in particular? Do the buildings and people +increase or decrease? Public accounts I cannot at all depend upon; +but upon <em>your</em> word I can depend. Peace be with all your spirits!</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Billy, your affectionate friend and brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_569_569" href="#Footnote_569_569" class="fnanchor">[569]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>On March 19, Wesley left Bristol for Ireland, preaching on +the way at Stroud, Cirencester, Gloucester, and numerous +other places. At Birmingham, he administered the sacrament +to seven or eight hundred communicants. At Wolverhampton, +he opened a new chapel. At Burslem, he held one of the +most remarkable lovefeasts he had ever witnessed; for here +there had been “such an outpouring of the Spirit as had not +been in any other part of the kingdom; particularly in the +meetings for prayer. Fifteen or twenty had been justified in +a day; some of them the most notorious, abandoned sinners, +in all the country.” He “appointed to preach at five in the +morning of March 30, but, soon after four, he was saluted by +a concert of music, both vocal and instrumental, making the +air ring, with a hymn to the tune of Judas Maccabeus. It +was,” says he, “a good prelude; so I began almost half an +hour before five; yet the house was crowded both above and +below.”</p> + +<p>He writes: “Saturday, March 31—I went on to Macclesfield, +and found a people still alive to God, in spite of swiftly +increasing riches. If they continue so, it will be the only +instance I have known, in above half a century. I warned +them in the strongest terms I could, and believe some of them +had ears to hear.”</p> + +<p>He arrived in Dublin on Good Friday, April 6. On Easter +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_494">[Pg 494]</span> +Sunday he preached in Bethesda chapel, of which his friend, +the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Edward Smyth, was chaplain. He writes: “Mr. +Smyth read prayers, and gave out the hymns, which were +sung by fifteen or twenty fine singers; the rest of the congregation +listening with much attention, and as much devotion, +as they would have done to an opera. But is this Christian +worship? Or ought it ever to be suffered in a Christian +church? It was thought we had between seven and eight +hundred communicants.”</p> + +<p>At this period, the Dublin society, with the exception of +that in London, was the largest in the world, containing +upwards of eleven hundred members, being more than there +were in the whole of the five Dublin <em>circuits</em> in 1870!</p> + +<p>Having spent ten days in Dublin, he set out for the provinces. +It would be, substantially, a reiteration of former +narratives, to follow him in his wanderings. He met with no +persecution; but, on the contrary, with the warmest welcomes. +Almost everywhere the work of God was prospering; and the +people vied with each other to show him kindness. He writes: +“May 29—The old murderer is restrained from hurting me; +but it seems he has power over my horses. One of them I +was obliged to leave in Dublin, and afterwards another, having +bought two to supply their places; the third soon got an ugly +swelling in his shoulders, so that we doubted whether we +could go on; and a boy at Clones, riding, I suppose galloping, +the fourth over stones, the horse fell and nearly lamed himself.” +Perhaps Wesley blamed the devil when he ought to +have blamed his own long journeys.</p> + +<p>It was in one of these Irish tours that, preaching at a +certain place in the afternoon, and being expected, in the +evening, at a town several miles distant, he desired his chaise +to be ready at the close of the service, so that he might +start at once. As he left the chapel, the people, as usual, +crowded about him, to shake hands with him; among others, +a Methodist shoemaker pressed forward, and put into his +hand a brown paper parcel, saying with manifest emotion: +“Sir, this may be of use to you in your journey.” Wesley +thanked him, put the parcel into his pocket, and away he +went. After travelling some distance, his curiosity prompted +him to examine the nature of Crispin’s present, which he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_495">[Pg 495]</span> +found to be an awl and a strong waxed thread. The road +was rugged and lonely; and after a sudden jerk, the horses +stopped. “What’s the matter?” asked Wesley. “Matter +enough!” replied the coachman; “one of the traces is +broken, and we can’t go on.” Wesley bethought him of +his awl and thread; they were at once produced; the trace +was mended; and so, by the poor shoemaker’s gift, the +congregation was saved from being disappointed of their +preacher, and Wesley from a tiresome detention in a houseless +neighbourhood.⁠<a id="FNanchor_570_570" href="#Footnote_570_570" class="fnanchor">[570]</a></p> + +<p>Wesley got back to Dublin on the 21st of June, having +preached considerably more than a hundred times during his +ten weeks’ tour. A week later, on his birthday, June 28, he +wrote: “I had the pleasure of a conversation with Mr. +Howard, I think one of the greatest men in Europe. Nothing, +but the mighty power of God, can enable him to go +through his difficult and dangerous employments.”</p> + +<p>The great philanthropist was as much pleased with Wesley, +as Wesley was with him. “I was encouraged by him,” said +he to Alexander Knox, <abbr title="Esquire">Esq.</abbr>, “to go on vigorously with my +own designs. I saw in him how much a single man might +achieve by zeal and perseverance; and I thought, why may +not I do as much in my way, as Mr. Wesley has done in his, +if I am only as assiduous and persevering? and I determined +I would pursue my work with more alacrity than +ever.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_571_571" href="#Footnote_571_571" class="fnanchor">[571]</a></p> + +<p>Howard, in early life, had heard Wesley preach, in Bedfordshire, +and was deeply impressed with his discourse. In 1789, +he called at Wesley’s house, in London, to present him with +his latest publication, “An Account of the Principal Lazarettos +in Europe,” in quarto; but Wesley was not at home. +“Present,” said he, “my respects and love to Mr. Wesley; +tell him, I had hoped to have seen him once more: perhaps, +we may meet again in this world, but, if not, we shall meet I +trust in a better.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_572_572" href="#Footnote_572_572" class="fnanchor">[572]</a> And away he went on his mission of +mercy to Russia, where he fell an honoured victim to his +benevolence, on January 20, 1790.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_496">[Pg 496]</span> +Having held his Irish conference, Wesley preached his +farewell sermon, in Dublin, on the 11th of July; and arriving +in England on the 12th, he proceeded to Manchester, in the +neighbourhood of which he continued until August 6. Here +he held his English conference, though, in his journal, he never +mentions it. The preachers were specially invited; but, on +what principle the invitations were given, it is difficult to state. +Thomas Taylor was assistant at Leeds, within fifty miles of +Manchester, and moreover was one of the hundred mentioned +in Wesley’s deed of declaration; but he was also in favour of +the Methodists having the sacraments from the hands of their +own preachers; in other words, he was in favour of separation +from the Established Church; and, perhaps, this was one +of the reasons why he was not invited to the conference at +Manchester. At all events, he writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Mr. Wesley has sent his special summons to each preacher whom he +wishes to attend conference, and has expressly forbidden any one else to +go. I am unbidden, and think I am ill used. After labouring, with some +degree of success, for more than twenty-four years, and without a crime +having ever been alleged against, me, I am debarred of a privilege +granted to others who were converted under me, and whom I took into +society. This is a flagrant injustice. Besides, I am a member of the +legal conference. I’ll venture to go, let consequences be what they may. +If I am thrown overboard, I will swim as well as I can, believing the +Lord will take me up.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Mr. Taylor’s complaint was not without reason. He went; +but says, he had little satisfaction, for much of the time was +spent in trying to supersede the hymn-book published by +Robert Spence.⁠<a id="FNanchor_573_573" href="#Footnote_573_573" class="fnanchor">[573]</a></p> + +<p>The original edition of the minutes of the Manchester +conference is now before us, <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 20 pages; but there is +not a single syllable on what was the great question of the +day, separation from the Church. And yet this was a +question again and again introduced. Two years before, +Wesley had ordained Pawson for Scotland, and, ever since, +had addressed him as “reverend,” Pawson wearing gown +and bands, and administering the sacraments to the Scottish +Methodists. Now that Pawson was brought back to England, +he had to doff his canonicals, and had his letters from Wesley +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_497">[Pg 497]</span> +inscribed with “Mr.,” instead of “<abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr>” He loudly remonstrated; +but got no redress; and at length, like a good +Christian, more anxious to save souls than to wear sacerdotal +robes, submitted to obey orders which were strangely inconsistent +with Wesley’s ordaining acts, and went on his way +rejoicing. Pawson writes as follows, to his bosom friend, +Charles Atmore.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Thorner</span>, <i>August 8, 1787</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My very dear Brother</span>,—Our conference ended on last Saturday. +There were many preachers, and abundance of people, I think more than +I ever saw at any conference before. Almost the whole time was taken +up with temporal affairs. Mr. Wesley was in great haste, as he and Dr. +Coke were going to Guernsey and Jersey. There has been a general +revival of the work of God. Mr. Wesley seems more determined to abide +in the Church than ever. He talked about it again and again, in the +public conference, in the society, etc.; and in such a hot, fiery spirit, as I +did not like to see. He talked of fighting with a flail, and of putting all +out of society who do not go to church. <em>We</em> are to be just what we were +before we came to Scotland,—no sacraments, no gowns, no nothing at all +of any kind whatsoever. With much entreaty, I got him to ordain Mr. +McAllum and Suter. Two more were ordained, one for the West Indies, +and one for Nova Scotia.</p> + +<p>“Charles Wesley, the Sunday before the conference opened, spoke, to +the society in London, to this effect: ‘I told you, forty years ago, that, +from among yourselves, grievous wolves would arise, who would rend and +tear the flock. You now see my words fulfilled. These self created +bishops, and self made priests, are the very men. But I charge you all, +in the presence of God, never receive the sacrament from any of them.’⁠<a id="FNanchor_574_574" href="#Footnote_574_574" class="fnanchor">[574]</a> +So you see, he has discharged the people from receiving the sacrament +of his own brother; for who but he is the <em>self created bishop</em>? O cursed +prejudice! O furious bigotry! How does the fire from hell burn in that +poor miserable man’s breast!</p> + +<p>“Perhaps, if I live till next conference, I may petition to return to +Scotland, as there seems to be no prospect of doing anything, but just in +the old way, while Mr. Wesley lives. Solomon says, there is no new thing +under the sun; but here we see something, which, I believe, was never +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_498">[Pg 498]</span> +seen in the Christian church before,—that men, approved of God and +their brethren, and that for many years, should be regularly ordained, and +act in the capacity of ministers, and yet should be deposed from that +office by one single man, and that without any crime committed, great +or small, real or pretended. Even the pope himself never acted such +a part as this. What an astonishing degree of power does our aged +father and friend exercise! However, I am satisfied, and have nothing +but love in my heart toward the good old man. But really it will not +bear the light at all. Most affectionately yours,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Pawson</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_575_575" href="#Footnote_575_575" class="fnanchor">[575]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>This was pretty strong to come from a man like Pawson; +but it furnishes a glimpse of the proceedings of the conference +of 1787, concerning which so little has been written, and +shows the awkward position into which Wesley had put +himself by his ordinations of men from whom he now withdrew +the authority that he had previously given.</p> + +<p>Never, however, had Methodism been so prosperous as +now. The increase of members, in the United Kingdom, +during the present year, was nearly four thousand; and in +America, 6849. Letters, dated August, 1787, contain most +marvellous intelligence. It was computed that, in Brunswick +county, Virginia, not fewer than seven thousand persons +were under deep conviction of their sin and danger; and +as many as fifty in a day were savingly converted. At +a recent quarterly meeting, six thousand were assembled, +and hundreds were crying for mercy, including some of the +principal inhabitants of the land, and not a few who had +been persecutors.⁠<a id="FNanchor_576_576" href="#Footnote_576_576" class="fnanchor">[576]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_499">[Pg 499]</span> +The Manchester conference concluded on Saturday, +August 4, and, on the following day, besides meeting the +select society, Wesley preached twice, and, with the assistance +of his brother clergymen, administered the sacrament to +twelve or thirteen hundred communicants. There are two +other incidents, in connection with this conference, too interesting +to be omitted.</p> + +<p>At this period, the grandfather of the present Sir Robert +Peel was thirty-seven years of age, and one of the most +successful men in Lancashire. The leisure of his youthful +days had been spent in reading and study, and, before he +attained to his majority, a great portion of his time had been +devoted to the improvement of machinery. At the age of +twenty-three, he embarked in the cotton trade, and, by his +industry and perseverance, had already become a man of +wealth, though his riches fell immensely short of the two +millions which, it is said, he left behind him at his death in +1830. Wesley writes: “1787, July 27—I was invited to +breakfast at Bury, by Mr. Peel, a calico printer; who, a few +years ago, began with <abbr title="500 pounds">£500</abbr>, and is now supposed to have +gained <abbr title="50 pounds">£50</abbr>,000. Oh, what a miracle if he lose not his soul!” +The invitation was accepted, and, long after this, when the +calico printer had become a baronet, and had entered parliament, +Wesley’s visit was one of the pleasing reminiscences +of his remarkable career. To the end of life, he cherished a +warm affection for the Methodists. “My lads,” said he, when +some of his Methodist workmen applied to him for the site of +Tamworth chapel,⁠<a id="FNanchor_577_577" href="#Footnote_577_577" class="fnanchor">[577]</a> “My lads, do not build your chapel too +large, for people like to go to a little chapel well filled better +than to a larger one comparatively empty. I often go to +your chapels in Manchester, Liverpool, and London, and +have no wish to find myself alone in a large pew, and pointed +at as Sir Robert Peel. I have left most of my works in +Lancashire under the management of Methodists, and they +serve me excellently well. When I resided there, I asked +Mr. Wesley, at one of his conferences, to come and breakfast +with me; and he agreed, on condition that he might bring +some of his children with him. Of course, I consented, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_500">[Pg 500]</span> +and he came accompanied by six-and-thirty of his itinerant +preachers.” This was a curious episode in the history both +of Wesley and the founder of the distinguished family that +bears his name.</p> + +<p>No man in the nation took a greater interest in the institution +of Sunday-schools than Wesley. “I am glad,” said he, +to Richard Rodda, in a letter dated January 17, 1787, “I am +glad you have taken in hand that blessed work of setting up +Sunday-schools in Chester. It seems, these will be one great +means of reviving religion throughout the nation. I wonder +Satan has not sent out some able champion against them.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_578_578" href="#Footnote_578_578" class="fnanchor">[578]</a></p> + +<p>It was three years since Raikes had first called attention +to the importance of Sunday-schools in the <cite>Gloucester +Journal</cite>; and already these “nurseries for Christians” had +begun to dot and to adorn the country. That at Chester +altogether originated with the Chester Methodists, though +the rules were submitted to the bishop of the diocese, and +had his entire approval. It contained nearly seven hundred +children, who were taken to church once every Sunday. +“We had no intention,” said Richard Rodda, “as some +persons represented, to make disciples to Methodism, but to +train them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, +that they might become useful members of civil and religious +society.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_579_579" href="#Footnote_579_579" class="fnanchor">[579]</a></p> + +<p>Some idea may be formed of the popularity of this new +institution of the Christian church, from the fact that, in +1785, a Sunday-school society was formed, which, within two +years, was the means of establishing more than two hundred +schools; and that it was calculated, in 1787, that the number +of children then taught in Sunday-schools exceeded two +hundred thousand.⁠<a id="FNanchor_580_580" href="#Footnote_580_580" class="fnanchor">[580]</a></p> + +<p>As already stated, more than once, there were a few which +existed long before Raikes’ school at Gloucester,—as, for +instance, Miss Hannah Ball’s, at Wycombe, founded in 1769. +There was also another at Little Lever, the birthplace of +Oliver Heywood, four miles from Bolton, in Lancashire. Here +James Hey resided, a poor man who obtained a living by +winding bobbins for weavers. About the year 1775, James +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_501">[Pg 501]</span> +got the use of a room in a cottage, to which, twice every +Sunday, he summoned the boys and girls of the neighbourhood, +to teach them reading, his substitute for a bell being an +old brass mortar and pestle. Mr. Adam Crompton, the paper +manufacturer, sent him a supply of books; three branch +establishments were formed; subscriptions were given; and a +shilling per Sunday paid to each teacher for his Sunday +services.⁠<a id="FNanchor_581_581" href="#Footnote_581_581" class="fnanchor">[581]</a></p> + +<p>In June 1785, a Methodist school was started in the old +Ridgway Gates chapel, Bolton, chiefly through the instrumentality +of George Eskrick, who was its principal manager as +long as he lived. One of the scholars present, the first Sunday, +was Peter Haslam, eleven years of age, afterwards a most +devout and useful itinerant preacher,⁠<a id="FNanchor_582_582" href="#Footnote_582_582" class="fnanchor">[582]</a>—the first fruits of others +who, in the same institution, received their first trainings for the +Christian ministry. In the course of a few years, the number +of scholars, attending the Bolton Sunday-school, was 2,000; +and the <em>average</em> number, for the first thirty years of its existence, +was 1800.⁠<a id="FNanchor_583_583" href="#Footnote_583_583" class="fnanchor">[583]</a> Children came to it, several miles, from all +the country round about. Reading and writing were taught. +Each class was spoken to separately every Sunday on +religious subjects. The masters were devoted to their work, +and all gave their services gratuitously. The change in the +manners and morals of the children was marvellous; and +about a hundred of them sang like seraphs.⁠<a id="FNanchor_584_584" href="#Footnote_584_584" class="fnanchor">[584]</a> No wonder, +that such a school attracted the attention of Wesley. Hence, +on the very day when he and six-and-thirty of his itinerants +breakfasted with the father of the Peels, he wrote:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“From Mr. Peel’s we went to Bolton. Here are eight hundred poor +children, taught in our Sunday-schools, by about eighty masters, who +receive no pay but what they are to receive from their Great Master. +About a hundred of them, part boys and part girls, are taught to sing; +and they sang so true, that, all singing together, there seemed to be but +one voice. The house was throughly filled, while I explained and +applied the first commandment. What is all morality or religion without +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_502">[Pg 502]</span> +this? A mere castle in the air. In the evening, many of the children +still hovering round the house, I desired forty or fifty to come in and sing, +‘Vital spark of heavenly flame.’ Although some of them were silent, not +being able to sing for tears, yet the harmony was such as I believe could +not be equalled in the king’s chapel.”</p> +</div> + +<p>This was not bounce, nor was it the random garrulity of an +aged man. Nine months afterwards, Wesley came again, and +wrote:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“This I must avow, there is not such another set of singers in any of +the Methodist congregations in the three kingdoms as there is at Bolton. +There cannot be; for we have near a hundred such trebles,—boys and +girls, selected out of our Sunday-schools, and accurately taught—​as are +not to be found together in any chapel, cathedral, or music room within +the four seas. Besides, the spirit with which they all sing, and the beauty +of many of them, so suits the melody, that I defy any to exceed it; +except the singing of angels in our Father’s house.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Good singing is a good thing, and, like most other good +things, is far from being common. Had this been the only +result of Bolton Sunday-school, the school would have existed +to good purpose. But hear Wesley’s description, written +“Sunday, April 20, 1788,” and let Methodist Sunday-school +teachers now conscientiously and diligently endeavour to +make their establishments resemble that at Bolton then.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“At eight, and at one, the house was throughly filled. About three, I +met between 900 and a thousand of the children belonging to our Sunday-schools. +I never saw such a sight before. They were all exactly clean, +as well as plain, in their apparel. All were serious and well behaved. +Many, both boys and girls, had as beautiful faces as, I believe, England +or Europe can afford. When they all sung together, and none of them +out of tune, the melody was beyond that of any theatre; and, what is the +best of all, many of them truly fear God, and some rejoice in His salvation. +These are a pattern to all the town. Their usual diversion is to visit the +poor that are sick, (sometimes six, or eight, or ten together,) to exhort, +comfort, and pray with them. Frequently ten or more of them get +together to sing and pray by themselves; sometimes thirty or forty; and +are so earnestly engaged, alternately singing, praying, and crying, that +they know not how to part.”</p> +</div> + +<p>We have already stated that, the day after Wesley closed +his conference at Manchester, he preached twice, and, assisted +by others, administered the Lord’s supper to twelve or +thirteen hundred persons. The next day, August 6, he secured +the whole of the coach, that ran between Manchester and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_503">[Pg 503]</span> +Birmingham, for himself and his friends. Six packed themselves +within, and eight arranged themselves without, and off +they all set at midnight; but even the presence of fourteen +Methodist preachers was not an insurance against accident. No +doubt, many a hymn was sung as they whisked away through +beautiful Cheshire scenery, the stars shining approvingly, and +the fields all round wrapped in solemn silence; but, a little +before three in the morning, when approaching Congleton, the +coach broke down beneath its unwonted burden, and had to +be abandoned for another. In about an hour, number two +was crippled like number one; while one of the horses was +so knocked up as to be scarcely able to go at all. This +Methodist monopoly of the Birmingham stage coach issued, +not in a moonlight pleasure trip, but in a series of disasters +which men so pious and so good had not expected. The +distance was not great; but nineteen hours were spent in +getting over it. The party arrived at Birmingham at 7 p.m.; +Wesley found a congregation waiting; he stepped out of the +coach into the chapel, and began preaching without delay. +“And such,” says he, “was the goodness of God, that I found +no more weariness when I had done than if I had rested all +the day.”</p> + +<p>This was marvellous, in the case of an old man, above +eighty; but, notwithstanding this, he was off again, before +five o’clock next morning; travelled nearly eleven hours; and, +at night, preached in the new chapel at Gloucester. But even +this was not all. The morning after, he set out again at two +o’clock, travelled till half-past four in the afternoon, and +preached at Salisbury in the evening. Next morning at four, +he took chaise to Southampton, where, on August 9 and 10, +he preached thrice.</p> + +<p>Here the Methodists worshipped in an auction room; and +then in a loft, used by a bricklayer in stowing away his +scaffolding, and which acquired imperishable fame as the +spiritual birthplace of Elizabeth Wallbridge, the “Dairyman’s +Daughter.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_585_585" href="#Footnote_585_585" class="fnanchor">[585]</a></p> + +<p>Wesley, accompanied by Dr. Coke and Joseph Bradford, +was now on his way to the Channel islands; where Methodism +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_504">[Pg 504]</span> +had been introduced as early as the year 1783, by certain +Methodist soldiers, who wrote to England for a preacher. +Robert Carr Brackenbury, a gentleman of fortune, rented a +house in the town of <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Heliers, Jersey; and he and his +attendant, Alexander Kilham, preached throughout the island, +amid violent persecution, but with great success.⁠<a id="FNanchor_586_586" href="#Footnote_586_586" class="fnanchor">[586]</a> At the +conference of 1786, Adam Clarke was sent; and now there +were, in the three islands of Jersey, Guernsey, and Alderney, +Methodist societies containing three hundred members.</p> + +<p>On Saturday, August 11, Wesley and his friends started +from Southampton for Guernsey, but, before the day was +ended, had to put into Yarmouth harbour, in the Isle of +Wight, where they were detained till Monday, but improved +their detention by preaching four times in the market house. +On Monday the storm had abated, and they again set out; +but, in the afternoon, were glad to seek shelter at Swanage, +where Wesley found a small society, and preached in the +presbyterian chapel. Again they went on board, and +hoped to reach Guernsey on Tuesday afternoon; but the +storm obliged them to steer for the isle of Alderney, in +the bay of which they narrowly escaped being dashed to +pieces. Having slept in a five bedded room, and preached +upon the beach, they again set sail for Guernsey, where they +at last arrived, and were warmly welcomed by Mr. De Jersey. +Here five days were spent, during which Wesley preached +seven sermons, and dined at the governor’s.</p> + +<p>On Monday, August 20, they landed in Jersey, where they +were detained by storms and hurricanes till the 28th. During +the eight days, Wesley preached a dozen sermons, Mr. +Brackenbury acting as his interpreter.</p> + +<p>On the 28th, he returned to Guernsey, where, by stress of +weather, he was obliged to stay till September 6, but still +employed himself as actively as ever. He then sailed for +Penzance, in Cornwall, and arrived in safety.</p> + +<p>Wesley’s labours in the Channel islands were greatly +blessed; but his voyages were adventurous, and, more than +once, extremely dangerous. They were also rich in religious +incidents. On one occasion, two of the sailors, who were +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_505">[Pg 505]</span> +aloft, swore most dreadfully; and, greatly to the surprise of +his companions, Wesley seemed not to notice them. At +length, the sailors still swearing, Wesley looked up to them, +and said: “Swear louder, and then perhaps God Almighty +will hear you.” The ironical reproof stopped the blasphemy.⁠<a id="FNanchor_587_587" href="#Footnote_587_587" class="fnanchor">[587]</a></p> + +<p>Another incident is worth relating. Wesley writes in his +journal: “September 6—We went on board with a fair, +moderate wind; but we had just entered the ship when the +wind died away. We cried to God for help; and it presently +sprung up, exactly fair, and did not cease till it brought us +into Penzance bay.” This is all; but Adam Clarke, who was +present, gives further details. Wesley was reading in the +cabin; but, hearing the noise and bustle occasioned by +putting about the vessel, to stand on her different tacks, +he looked out of the cabin door, and asked what was matter. +Being told, he quietly remarked, “Then let us go to prayer.” +Coke, Bradford, and Clarke having prayed, Wesley began: +“Almighty and everlasting God, Thou hast sway everywhere, +and all things serve the purposes of Thy will: Thou holdest +the winds in Thy hands, and sittest upon the waterfloods, +and reignest a King for ever: command these winds and these +waves that they obey <em>Thee</em>; and take us speedily and safely +to the haven whither we would be!” The power of his petition +was felt by all: he rose from his knees, made no remark, +and resumed his reading. Clarke went on deck, and, to his +surprise, found the vessel standing her right course, with a +steady breeze, which brought them safe to Cornwall.⁠<a id="FNanchor_588_588" href="#Footnote_588_588" class="fnanchor">[588]</a></p> + +<p>Wesley was more than satisfied with his trip to these lovely +islands. “Here,” says he, “is an open door: high and low, +rich and poor, receive the word gladly; so that I could not +regret being detained by contrary winds several days longer +than we intended.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_589_589" href="#Footnote_589_589" class="fnanchor">[589]</a></p> + +<p>Wesley’s landing in Cornwall was unexpected, but not +unwelcome. He writes: “We appeared to our friends here +as men risen from the dead. Great was their rejoicing over +us; and great was the power of God in the midst of the congregation.” +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_506">[Pg 506]</span> +On Saturday, September 8, he preached twice, +out of doors, to large congregations; and, the day following, +thrice, besides meeting a society in a chapel “exactly round, +and composed wholly of brazen slags, which,” says Wesley, +“I suppose will last as long as the earth.”</p> + +<p>On September 14, he got to Bristol, where he spent the +next three weeks. First of all, “with the assistance of two +of his friends, he had to answer <em>abundance of letters</em>,” the +accumulation of the last five weeks. Then, he had to visit +the “country societies” round about, and, among others, that +at Castle Carey, where the mob had thrown the first preacher, +that visited the place, into a horse pond. On October 8, he +returned to London, where he employed the next few days +“in answering letters, and preparing matter for the magazine.” +One or two of the letters, belonging to this period, +may be inserted here.</p> + +<p>The first was addressed to William Black, in Nova Scotia, +who was considerably troubled with a recent importation from +Scotland, in the form of a presbyterian minister, who was +more a Socinian than a Calvinist.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Near Bath</span>, <i>September 26, 1787</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—You have great reason to praise God for the +great things that He hath done, and to expect still greater things than +these. Your grand difficulty, now, will be to guard your flock against +that accomplished seducer. When you mentioned a person came from +Scotland, I took it for granted that he was a Calvinist. But I find it is +not so well; for I take a Socinian to be far worse than even a predestinarian. +Nevertheless, I advise you and all our preachers, never oppose +him openly. Doing thus would only give the unawakened world an +advantage against you all. I advise you farther, never speak severely, +much less contemptuously, of him in any mixed company. You must use +no weapons in opposing him, but only those of truth and love. Your +wisdom is: (1) Strongly to inculcate the doctrines which he denies; but +without taking any notice of him, or seeming to know that any one does +deny them. (2) To advise all our brethren (but not in public) never to +hear him, at the peril of their souls. And (3) narrowly to inquire whether +any one is staggered, and to set such an one right as soon as possible. +Thus, by the blessing of God, even those that are lame will not be turned +out of the way. Peace be with your spirit!</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Billy, your affectionate friend and brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_590_590" href="#Footnote_590_590" class="fnanchor">[590]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_507">[Pg 507]</span> +The next has not before been published. Jonathan +Crowther and Duncan McAllum had been appointed to +succeed Edward Burbeck and Joshua Keighley, in Scotland. +On arriving, they found the former “dying of fever in a +<em>lousy</em> bed”; and the latter already dead and buried. Their +journey had been adventurous and dangerous; their circuit +(Inverness) was large; and their allowances next to nothing; +for Crowther received only fifty shillings for the whole year’s +labour; and forty of these he spent in removing to Dunbar. +He wrote to Wesley: “No man is fit for Inverness circuit, +unless his flesh be brass, his bones iron, and his heart harder +than a stoic’s.” After giving an account of the death of +Burbeck and Keighley, he adds: “I too shall probably be +sacrificed in this miserable corner; and, if I were doing good, +I should be content (if I had them) to sacrifice seven lives +every year; but to live in misery, and to die in banishment, +for next to nothing, is afflicting indeed.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_591_591" href="#Footnote_591_591" class="fnanchor">[591]</a></p> + +<p>Poor Crowther was downhearted, and no wonder. Wesley’s +reply was characteristic.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Near Bath</span>, <i>September 25, 1787</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Jonathan</span>,—The sum of the matter is, you want money; and +money you shall have, if I can beg, borrow, or anything but steal. I say, +therefore, ‘Dwell in the land, and be doing good, and, verily, thou shalt +be fed.’ I should be sorry for the death of Mr. Burbeck, but that I know +God does all things well; and, if His work prospers in your hands, this +will make your labours light. Our preachers now find, in the north of +Scotland, what they formerly found all over England; yet they went on; +and when I had only blackberries to eat in Cornwall, still God gave me +strength sufficient for my work. I am, etc.,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> + +<p>“P.S.—To Mr. Atlay:</p> + +<p>Pay to Jonathan Crowther, or his order, Five Guineas.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span>”<a id="FNanchor_592_592" href="#Footnote_592_592" class="fnanchor">[592]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>The next two letters refer to a case of discipline in the +Channel islands, in which Wesley displayed greater liberality +than some of his itinerants. The first was written to Robert +Carr Brackenbury, the second to Adam Clarke.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>October 20, 1787</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>,—Mr. —— is undoubtedly a good young man; and has a +tolerably good understanding. But he thinks it better than it is; and, in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_508">[Pg 508]</span> +consequence, is apt to put himself in your or my place. For these fifty +years, if any one said, ‘If you do not put such an one out of society, I +will go out of it’; I have said, ‘Pray go; I, not you, are to judge who +shall stay.’ I, therefore, greatly approve of your purpose, to give Mr. +<span class="lock">W——</span> a full hearing in the presence of all the preachers. I have often +repented of judging too severely; but very seldom of being too merciful. +As the point is undoubtedly of very great importance, it deserved serious +consideration; and I am glad you took the pains to consider it, and +discussed it so admirably well, according to Scripture and sound reason.</p> + +<p>“I ever am, dear sir, your affectionate friend and brother,</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_593_593" href="#Footnote_593_593" class="fnanchor">[593]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>December 8, 1787</i>. +</p> + +<p>“... Brother de Queteville and you do not mind what I say. I do +not wonder at him, (he does not know me,) but I do at you. His natural +temper is stern; yours is not. Therefore, I expect you to regard me, +whether he does or no. We have no such custom among our societies, +nor ever had, as for a man to acknowledge his fault before a whole society. +There shall be no such custom while I live. If he acknowledge it before +the preachers it is enough.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span>”<a id="FNanchor_594_594" href="#Footnote_594_594" class="fnanchor">[594]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>In the month of May of the present year, there was instituted, +in London, a society for the suppression of the slave +trade, of which the chief members were Granville Sharp, +William Dillwyn, Thomas Clarkson, and William Wilberforce. +In this, as in other great beneficent movements, Wesley was +one of the pioneers. Thirteen years previously, he had +published his “Thoughts upon Slavery”; and, at the commencement +of the present year, had inserted a long letter, on +the same subject, in his <cite>Arminian Magazine</cite>. The formation +of an antislavery society was to him a joy; and he, at once, +wrote to the committee, expressing his satisfaction. He +desired to warn them, that they must expect great difficulties +and great opposition; for those interested in the system of +slavery were a powerful body, and would employ hireling +writers, who would have neither justice nor mercy. As for +himself, he would do all he could to promote the object of +their institution. He would reprint a new and large edition +of his “Thoughts on Slavery,” and circulate it among his +friends in England and Ireland, to whom he would add a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_509">[Pg 509]</span> +few words in favour of their design. He then concluded +in these words: “I commend you to Him, who is able to +carry you through all opposition, and support you under all +discouragements.”</p> + +<p>On the 30th of October, 1787, he sent a second letter, which +was read to the society, and in which he said, that he had +now read the publications which the committee had sent him, +and that he took, if possible, a still deeper interest in their +cause. He exhorted them to more than ordinary diligence +and perseverance; to be prepared for opposition; to be +cautious about the manner of procuring information and +evidence, that no stain might fall upon their character; and +to take care that the question should be argued as well upon +the consideration of interest as of humanity and justice, the +former of which he feared would have more weight than the +latter.⁠<a id="FNanchor_595_595" href="#Footnote_595_595" class="fnanchor">[595]</a></p> + +<p>Wesley fulfilled his promise to render help. Hence the +following to Mr. Thomas Funnell, Lewes, Sussex.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>November 24, 1787.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—Whatever assistance I can give those generous +men, who join to oppose that execrable trade, I certainly shall give. I +have printed a large edition of the ‘Thoughts on Slavery,’ and dispersed +them to every part of England. But there will be vehement opposition +made, both by slave merchants and slave holders; and they are mighty +men: but our comfort is, He that dwelleth on high is mightier.</p> + +<p>“I am, your affectionate brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_596_596" href="#Footnote_596_596" class="fnanchor">[596]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Thus began a struggle, which lasted six-and-forty years, +and terminated in the Emancipation Act, which took effect on +August 1, 1834. Wesley died four years after the fight +commenced; Wilberforce just as the victory was being won, +for he expired while the resolutions, preparatory to the bill, +were being passed in the House of Commons.</p> + +<p>The last three months of the year 1787 were spent in +London, and in the usual journeys through the surrounding +counties. On October 15, he began what he calls his “little +tour through Oxfordshire,” and preached twice a day, besides +travelling. At this time, Joseph Entwisle and Richard Reece +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_510">[Pg 510]</span> +were in the “Oxfordshire” circuit. The former, a young man +of twenty, while riding with Wesley, had the misfortune to have +a horse whose pace was swifter than its steps were sure. The +nag fell with suddenness, the young preacher made a summersault +over the head of the prostrate animal, and alighted on +his feet unhurt. “Well done!” cried Wesley, delighted with +the agility of his youthful friend, and, no doubt, remembering +many of his own marvellous escapes,—​“Well done, Joseph! +I could not have done better than that myself.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_597_597" href="#Footnote_597_597" class="fnanchor">[597]</a></p> + +<p>Richard Reece also used to relate an anecdote respecting +Wesley’s visit to this, his first circuit, in 1787. Wesley was +accompanied by Thomas Rankin, and the two came to Oxford, +where Wesley had to preach in the chapel in New Inn Hall +Lane. The front gallery was filled with gownsmen, who, +whatever other accomplishments they had acquired, still lacked +the politeness of gentlemen, for, as soon as Wesley began to +read his text, the beardless boys, in gowns and college caps, +began to cheer. Up jumped Rankin, his Scotch blood boiling, +and, with stentorian voice, cried: “In the name of God, +gentlemen, what can ye mean, to interrupt and insult a servant +of the Lord, about to preach salvation?” Wesley, more used +to such behaviour than his impetuous friend, calmly said, +“Sit down, Tommy, sit down”; and then quietly proceeded +with his discourse.⁠<a id="FNanchor_598_598" href="#Footnote_598_598" class="fnanchor">[598]</a></p> + +<p>In his excursion through Kent, Wesley preached both +morning and evening, every day. In Hertfordshire, he met +Simeon from Cambridge.</p> + +<p>“Sir,” said young Simeon, “Sir, I understand you are called +an Arminian; now I am sometimes called a Calvinist, and +therefore, I suppose, we are to draw daggers. But, before I +begin to combat, with your permission, I will ask you a few +questions, not from impertinent curiosity, but for real instruction. +Pray sir, do you feel yourself a depraved creature, so +depraved that you would never have thought of turning to +God, if God had not put it into your heart?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said the veteran, “I do indeed.”</p> + +<p>“And do you utterly despair of recommending yourself to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_511">[Pg 511]</span> +God by anything that you can do; and look for salvation +solely through the blood and righteousness of Christ?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, solely through Christ.”</p> + +<p>“But, sir, supposing you were <em>first</em> saved by Christ, are you +not somehow or other to save yourself afterwards, by your +good works?”</p> + +<p>“No; I must be saved by Christ, from first to last.”</p> + +<p>“Allowing, then, that you were first turned by the grace of +God, are you not in some way or other to keep yourself by +your own power?”</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>“What, then? are you to be upheld every hour and every +moment by God, as much as an infant in its mother’s arms?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, altogether.”</p> + +<p>“And is all your hope in the grace and mercy of God, to +preserve you unto His heavenly kingdom?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I have no hope but in Him.”</p> + +<p>“Then, sir, with your leave, I will put up my dagger again: +for this is all my Calvinism; this is my election, my justification, +my final perseverance. It is in substance all that I hold, +and as I hold it; and, therefore, if you please, instead of +searching out terms and phrases to be a ground of contention +between us, we will cordially unite in those things wherein we +agree.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_599_599" href="#Footnote_599_599" class="fnanchor">[599]</a></p> + +<p>Such was the catechetical examination instituted by a +young parson of twenty-eight, and submitted to by an old +man of eighty-four.</p> + +<p>In November, Wesley took another step, which virtually +involved a separation from the Church of England. Seventeen +years before, in warning his preachers against such a separation, +he had not only directed them and the people to attend +the services and sacraments of the Church, but to guard against +calling preachers “ministers,” and their places of worship +“meeting-houses.” “Do not,” said he, “license them as such: +the proper form of a petition to the judge or justice is, ‘A. B. +desires to have his house in <span class="lock">C—</span> licensed for public worship.’” +He continued: “Do not license yourself till you are constrained; +and then not as a Dissenter, but a Methodist. It is +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_512">[Pg 512]</span> +time enough when you are prosecuted, to take the oaths. +And by so doing you are licensed.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_600_600" href="#Footnote_600_600" class="fnanchor">[600]</a></p> + +<p>Hitherto, Wesley had been opposed to licensing, except +in cases of necessity, simply on the ground that this savoured +of separation from the Established Church. Now he writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“1787, November 3—I had a long conversation with Mr. Clulow,” [his +legal adviser,] “on that execrable act called the Conventicle Act. After +consulting the Act of Toleration, with that of the fourteenth of Queen +Anne, we were both clearly convinced, that it was the safest way to license +<em>all</em> our chapels, and <em>all</em> our travelling preachers, not as Dissenters, but +simply ‘preachers of the gospel’; and that no justice, or bench of +justices, has any authority to refuse licensing either the house or the +preachers.”</p> +</div> + +<p>The “execrable Conventicle Act” was levelled against +Dissenters from the Church of England; the Act of Toleration +was passed for the relief of such Dissenters; and Wesley, by +availing himself of the provisions of that act, <i lang="la">ipso facto</i>, +conceded the point that the Methodists were Dissenters.</p> + +<p>He still, however, persisted in asserting that the Methodists +were members of the Church of England; and this involved +both him and them in further difficulties. In some instances, +the magistrates remarked: “You profess yourselves to be +members of the Church of England; therefore, your licences +are worthless; nor can you, as members of the Church, +receive any benefit from the Act of Toleration.” This was a +subtle distinction; and Wesley saw that the Methodists must +either profess themselves Dissenters, or be subjected to an +indefinite amount of trouble. He was unwilling to alter their +relation to the Established Church; and yet he wished them +to be saved from this embarrassment. Hence the following, +addressed to a member of parliament.⁠<a id="FNanchor_601_601" href="#Footnote_601_601" class="fnanchor">[601]</a></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>,—Last month, a few poor people met together in Somersetshire, +to pray, and to praise God, in a friend’s house; there was no preaching +at all. Two neighbouring justices fined the man of the house <abbr title="20 pounds">£20</abbr>. +I suppose, he was not worth twenty shillings. Upon this, his household +goods were distrained, and sold to pay the fine. He appealed to the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_513">[Pg 513]</span> +quarter sessions; but all the justices averred, ‘The Methodists could have +no relief from the Act of Toleration, because they went to church; and that, +so long as they did so, the Conventicle Act should be executed upon them.’</p> + +<p>“Last Sunday, when one of our preachers was beginning to speak to a +quiet congregation, a neighbouring justice sent a constable to seize him, +though he was licensed; and would not release him till he had paid <abbr title="20 pounds">£20</abbr>, +telling him his licence was good for nothing, ‘because he was a Churchman.’</p> + +<p>“Now, sir, what can the Methodists do? They are liable to be ruined +by the Conventicle Act, and they have no relief from the Act of Toleration! +If this is not oppression, what is? Where then is English liberty? +the liberty of Christians, yea, of every rational creature? who, as such, +has a right to worship God according to his own conscience. But, waiving +the question of right and wrong, what prudence is there in oppressing +such a body of loyal subjects? If these good magistrates could drive them, +not only out of Somersetshire, but out of England, who would be gainers +thereby? Not his majesty, whom we honour and love; not his ministers, +whom we love and serve for his sake. Do they wish to throw away so +many thousand friends, who are now bound to them by stronger ties +than that of interest? If you will speak a word to Mr. Pitt on that head, +you will oblige yours, etc.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span>” +</p> +</div> + +<p>About the same time, Wesley wrote as follows to a bishop.⁠<a id="FNanchor_602_602" href="#Footnote_602_602" class="fnanchor">[602]</a></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“<span class="smcap">My Lord</span>,—I am a dying man, having already one foot in the grave. +Humanly speaking, I cannot long creep upon the earth, being now nearer +ninety than eighty years of age. But I cannot die in peace, before I have +discharged this office of Christian love to your lordship. I write without +ceremony, as neither hoping nor fearing anything from your lordship, or +any man living. And I ask, in the name and presence of Him, to whom +both you and I are shortly to give an account, why do you trouble those +that are quiet in the land; those that fear God and work righteousness? +Does your lordship know what the Methodists are? That many thousands +of them are zealous members of the Church of England; and strongly +attached, not only to his majesty, but to his present ministry? Why +should your lordship, setting religion out of the question, throw away such +a body of respectable friends? Is it for their religious sentiments? Alas, +my lord, is this a time to persecute any man for conscience sake? I +beseech you, my lord, do as you would be done to. You are a man of +sense; you are a man of learning; nay, I verily believe, (what is of infinitely +more value,) you are a man of piety. Then think, and let think. I +pray God to bless you with the choicest of His blessings.</p> + +<p>“I am, my lord, etc.,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_603_603" href="#Footnote_603_603" class="fnanchor">[603]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_514">[Pg 514]</span> +Is it surprising, that the Methodists wished to separate from +the Church of England, and that Wesley was led, in fact +driven, to take the dissenting steps he did? And yet, to the +very last, we find him still adhering to the church of his early +choice. Already the Methodists had begun to have service in +church hours; but this was far from having his warm approval. +Only two days after his consultation with Mr. Clulow, he went +to Dorking, where he wrote:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“The congregation was, as usual, large and serious. But there is no +increase in the society. So that we have profited nothing by having our +service in the church hours, which some imagined would have done +wonders. I do not know that it has done more good anywhere in +England; in Scotland I believe it has.”</p> +</div> + +<p>If possible, Wesley was more popular than ever. He +writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“November 4—The congregation at the new chapel” [City Road] “was +far larger than usual; and the number of communicants was so great, +that I was obliged <em>to consecrate thrice</em>.” “November 9—A friend offering +to bear my expenses, I set out to Nottingham, where I preached a charity +sermon for the infirmary, which was the design of my coming. This is +not a county infirmary, but is open to all England; yea, to all the world; +and everything about it is so neat, so convenient, and so well ordered, +that I have seen none like it in the three kingdoms.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_604_604" href="#Footnote_604_604" class="fnanchor">[604]</a> “November 25—I +preached two charity sermons at West Street, in behalf of our poor +children.” “December 16—After preaching at Spitalfields, I hastened to +<abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> John’s, Clerkenwell, and preached a charity sermon for the Finsbury +dispensary; as I would gladly countenance every institution of the +kind.”</p> +</div> + +<p>All this was extra work; for Wesley’s chief employment, +at the end of every year, was preaching to the London +Methodists, and meeting the London classes. Strange to +say, the latter was to Wesley an irksome task. Hence he +writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“1787, November 19—I began the <em>unpleasing work</em> of visiting the +classes. I still continue to do this in London and Bristol, as well as in +Cork and Dublin. With the other societies, their respective assistants +supply my lack of service.”</p> +</div> + +<p>There were also other things, far from pleasant, requiring +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_515">[Pg 515]</span> +his attention. A Laodicean spirit had crept in among the +London Methodists, and, in strong terms, he had to warn +them of their sin and danger. They were also <abbr title="300 pounds">£300</abbr> in debt, +and he found it necessary to devise means to make the +income equal to the expenditure. His preachers also, and his +household, vexed him. He writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“1787. Sunday, December 9—I went down at half-hour past five, but +found no preacher in the chapel, though we had three or four in the +house; so I preached myself. Afterwards, inquiring why none of my +family attended the morning preaching, they said it was because they sat +up too late. I resolved to put a stop to this; and, therefore, ordered, that +(1) every one under my roof should go to bed at nine; that (2) every +one might attend the morning preaching; and so they have done ever +since.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Amid all this labour and annoyance, it is amusing to find +this venerable man, in the eighty-fifth year of his age, visiting +what then answered to the Madame Tussaud’s exhibition of +1871, and evincing a curiosity and a keenness of observation +not often equalled by the visitors of the present time. Hence +the following.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“December 10—I was desired to see the celebrated waxwork at the +museum in Spring Gardens. It exhibits most of the crowned heads in +Europe, and shows their characters in their countenance. Sense and +majesty appear in the king of Spain; dulness and sottishness in the king +of France; infernal subtlety in the late king of Prussia; (as well as in +the skeleton Voltaire;) calmness and humanity in the emperor, and king of +Portugal; exquisite stupidity in the prince of Orange; and amazing +coarseness, with everything that is unamiable, in czarina.</p> +</div> + +<p>With the exception of contributing to the <cite>Arminian +Magazine</cite>, Wesley’s literary life was ended. He revised +former publications, as, for instance, his Notes on the New +Testament; and he occasionally published an extract from +some other author; but all the <em>original</em> productions of his mind +and pen were now published in the magazine. During this +present year, he committed to the press a new pocket hymn-book, +24mo, 240 pages; but the work was <em>compiled</em>, not <em>written</em>, +and was intended as a substitute for the volume issued in 1785. +He also published “Conjectures concerning the Nature of +Future Happiness. Translated from the French of Monsieur +Bonnet, of Geneva:” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 12 pages,—a remarkable tract, little +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_516">[Pg 516]</span> +known, but full of thought.⁠<a id="FNanchor_605_605" href="#Footnote_605_605" class="fnanchor">[605]</a> The following is Wesley’s address +“To the Reader.” “Dublin, April 7, 1787. I am happy in +communicating to men of sense in this kingdom, and at a +very low price, one of the most sensible tracts I ever read.—<span class="smcap">John +Wesley.</span>”</p> + +<p>The magazine, as usual, contains six original sermons by +Wesley, several of them among the most able and interesting +that he ever wrote. That on Temptation is marked by great +discrimination and beauty. The one on Dress fearlessly +denounces what was then, and still is, a fearfully prevailing +evil. Having laid down the principles, that “slovenliness is +no part of religion”; and that “there may undoubtedly be a +moderate difference of apparel, between persons of different +stations”; he proceeds to show, that the natural effects of +“adorning ourselves with gold, or pearls, or costly array,” +are pride, vanity, anger, and lust; and concludes with one of +his most withering addresses to the Methodists then living, +and which the Methodists of the present day would do well to +ponder.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Have not many of you grown finer as fast as you have grown richer? +As you increased in substance, have you not increased in dress? Witness +the profusion of ribbons, gauze, or linen about your heads! What have you +profited then by bearing the reproach of Christ? by being called Methodists? +Are you not as fashionably dressed as others of your rank that are no +Methodists? Do you ask, ‘But may we not as well buy fashionable things +as unfashionable?’ I answer, Not if they give you a bold, immodest look, +as those huge hats, bonnets, headdresses do. And not, if they cost more. +‘But I can <em>afford</em> it.’ Oh, lay aside for ever that idle nonsensical word! +No Christian can <em>afford</em> to waste any part of the substance which God +has entrusted him with. How can it be, that, after so many warnings, +you persist in the same folly? Is it not hence? There are among you +some that neither profit themselves by all they hear, nor are willing that +others should; and these, if any of you are almost persuaded to dress as +Christians, reason, and rally, and laugh you out of it. O ye pretty triflers, +I entreat you not to do the devil’s work any longer. Whatever ye do +yourselves, do not harden the hearts of others. And you, that are of a +better mind, avoid these tempters with all possible care. You answer, +universal custom is against me. Not only the profane, but the religious +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_517">[Pg 517]</span> +world, run violently the other way. Look into, I do not say the theatres, +but the churches, nay, and the meetings of every denomination (except +a few old fashioned quakers, or the people called Moravians); look into the +congregations, in London or elsewhere, of those that are styled gospel ministers; +look into Northampton chapel, yea, into the Tabernacle, or the chapel +in Tottenham Court Road; nay, look into the chapel in West Street, or that +in the City Road; look at the very people that sit under the pulpit, or by +the side of it,—and are not <em>those that can afford it</em> (I can hardly refrain from +doing them the honour of naming their names) as richly, as fashionably +adorned, as those of the same rank in other places? This is a melancholy +truth. I am ashamed of it; but I know not how to help it. I call heaven +and earth to witness this day, that it is not my fault. The trumpet has +not <em>given an uncertain sound</em>, for near fifty years last past. O God! +Thou knowest I have borne a clear and faithful testimony. In print, in +preaching, in meeting the society, I have not shunned to declare the whole +counsel of God. I am, therefore, clear of the blood of those that will not +hear. It lies upon their own heads. And, yet, I warn you once more, in +the name, and in the presence of God, that the number of those that +rebel against God is no excuse for their rebellion. He hath expressly +told us, <cite>Thou shalt not follow the multitude to do evil</cite>. I conjure you, all +who have any regard for me, show me, before I go hence, that I have not +laboured, even in this respect, in vain, for near half a century. Let me +see, before I die, a Methodist congregation full as plainly dressed as a +quaker congregation. Only be more consistent with yourselves. Let +your dress be <em>cheap</em> as well as plain; otherwise, you do but trifle with +God and me, and your own souls. I pray, let there be no costly silks +among you, how grave soever they may be. Let there be no <em>quaker linen</em>, +proverbially so called, for their exquisite fineness; no Brussels lace; +no elephantine hats or bonnets, those scandals of female modesty. Be +all of a piece, dressed, from head to foot, as persons <em>professing godliness</em>; +professing to do everything small and great, with the single view of +pleasing God.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley’s sermon on the Lord’s Supper was written in 1732, +and has been already noticed. To the sentiments then +avowed, he still adhered.</p> + +<p>That on the More Excellent Way is characteristic of himself; +and re-enforces his views on early rising, on the manner +of transacting business, on food, conversation, amusements, +and money. One or two extracts may be given.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Diversions are of various kinds. Some are almost peculiar to men, +as the sports of the field,—hunting, shooting, fishing. Others are indifferently +used by persons of both sexes,—as races, masquerades, plays, +assemblies, balls, cards, dancing and music; to which may be added, the +reading of plays, novels, romances, newspapers, and fashionable poetry. +Some diversions, which were formerly in great request, are now fallen into +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_518">[Pg 518]</span> +disrepute. The nobility and gentry, (in England at least,) seem totally to +disregard the once fashionable diversion of hawking; and the vulgar +themselves are no longer diverted by men hacking and hewing each +other in pieces at broad sword. The noble game of quarter staff, likewise, +is now exercised by very few. Yea, cudgelling has lost its humour, +even in Wales itself. Bear baiting is now very seldom seen, and bull +baiting not very often. And it seems cock fighting would totally cease in +England, were it not for two or three right honourable patrons. It is not +needful to say anything more of these foul ‘remains of Gothic barbarity,’ +than that they are a reproach, not only to all religion, but even to human +nature. One would not pass so severe a censure on the sports of the +field. Let those, who have nothing better to do, still run foxes and hares +out of breath. Neither need much be said about horse races, till some +man of sense will undertake to defend them. It seems a great deal more +may be said in defence of seeing a serious tragedy. I could not do it +with a clear conscience, at least, not in an English theatre, the sink of all +profaneness and debauchery; but possibly others can. I cannot say +quite so much for balls, or assemblies; which are more reputable than +masquerades, but must be allowed, by all impartial persons, to have +exactly the same tendency. So undoubtedly have all public dancings. +Of playing at cards, I say the same as seeing of plays. I could not do it +with a clear conscience. But I am not obliged to pass any sentence on +those that are otherwise minded. I leave them to their own Master; to +Him let them stand or fall.</p> + +<p>“But supposing these, as well as the reading of plays, novels, newspapers, +and the like, to be quite <em>innocent diversions</em>, yet are there not +more excellent ways of diverting themselves, for those that love or fear +God? Would men of fortune divert themselves in the open air? They +may do it, by cultivating and improving their lands, by planting their +grounds, by laying out, carrying on, and perfecting their gardens and +orchards. At other times, they may visit and converse with the most +serious and sensible of their neighbours; or they may visit the sick, the +poor, the widows, and fatherless in their afflictions. Do they desire +to divert themselves in the house? They may read useful history, pious +and elegant poetry, or several branches of natural philosophy. If you +have time, you may divert yourselves by music, and perhaps by philosophical +experiments. But, above all, when you have once learned the +use of prayer, you will find, that this will fill every space of life, be interfused +with all your employments, and, wherever you are, whatever you do, +embrace you on every side. Then you will be able to say boldly:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0a">‘With me no melancholy void,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">No moment lingers unemployed,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">Or unimproved below;</div> +<div class="verse indent0">My weariness of life is gone,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Who live to serve my God alone,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">And only Jesus know.’”</div> +</div></div> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_519">[Pg 519]</span></p> + +<p>On the subject of money, Wesley’s “More Excellent Way,” +to the worldly minded, is equally startling, but one which +he himself, for fifty years, invariably adopted.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“If you have a family, seriously consider, before God, how much each +member of it wants, in order to have what is needful for life and godliness. +And, in general, do not allow them less, nor much more than you +allow yourself. This being done, fix your purpose, to gain no more. I +charge you, in the name of God, do not increase your substance! As it +comes daily or yearly, so let it go: otherwise you <em>lay up treasures upon +earth</em>; and this our Lord as flatly forbids, as murder and adultery. By +doing it, therefore, you would <em>treasure up to yourselves wrath against the +day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God</em>. But +suppose it were not forbidden, how can you, on principles of reason, spend +your money in a way, which God may <em>possibly forgive</em>, instead of spending +it in a manner which He will <em>certainly reward</em>? You will have no +reward in heaven, for what you <em>lay up</em>: you will, for what you <em>lay out</em>. +Every pound you put into the earthly bank is sunk; it brings no interest +above. But every pound you give to the poor is put into the bank of +heaven; and it will bring glorious interest; yea, and such as will be +accumulating to all eternity.”</p> +</div> + +<p>This was plain speaking; but who will undertake to gainsay +it?</p> + +<p>The sermon on Christian Courtesy is full of the wisdom +of an aged, and widely experienced, saint; while that on +Former Times Better than These is equally remarkable, +and well worth reading.</p> + +<p>The <cite>Arminian Magazine</cite> for 1787 is enriched, as usual, +with letters, poetry, biography, apparition anecdotes, and +choice extracts from other writers; but, besides these, there are +a few other productions from Wesley’s pen, as his able article +“On Allegorical Writings in general, and especially the +Parables of our Lord”; and his weighty “Thoughts upon +Methodism.” We can only afford space for an extract from +the latter. He writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“I am not afraid, that the people called Methodists should ever cease +to exist either in Europe or America. But I am afraid, lest they should +only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. +And this undoubtedly will be the case, unless they hold fast both the +doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out.”</p> +</div> + +<p>After describing the rise of Methodism, he proceeds:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“From this short sketch of Methodism, any man of understanding +may easily discern, that it is only plain, scriptural religion, guarded by a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_520">[Pg 520]</span> +few prudential regulations. The essence of it is holiness of heart and +life; the circumstantials all point to this. And as long as they are +joined together in the people called Methodists, no weapon formed +against them shall prosper. But, if even the circumstantial parts are +despised, the essential will soon be lost. And if ever the essential parts +should evaporate, what remains will be dung and dross.</p> + +<p>“It nearly concerns us to see how the case stands with us at present. +I fear, wherever riches have increased (exceeding few are the exceptions) +the essence of religion, the mind that was in Christ, has decreased in the +same proportion. Therefore, I do not see how it is possible, in the nature +of things, for any revival of true religion to continue long. For religion +must necessarily produce both industry and frugality; and these cannot +but produce riches. But as riches increase, so will pride, anger, and love +of the world in all its branches.</p> + +<p>“How then is it possible that Methodism, that is, the religion of the +heart, though it flourishes now as a green bay tree, should continue in +this state? For the Methodists in every place grow diligent and frugal; +consequently, they increase in goods. Hence, they proportionably increase +in pride, in the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, and the +pride of life. So, although the form of religion remains, the spirit is +swiftly vanishing away.</p> + +<p>“Is there no way to prevent this? this continual declension of pure +religion? We ought not to forbid people to be diligent and frugal; we +<em>must</em> exhort all Christians, to gain all they can, and to save all they can: +that is, in effect, to grow rich! What way then, I ask again, can we take, +that our money may not sink us to the nethermost hell? There is one +way, and there is no other under heaven. If those who <em>gain all they can</em>, +and <em>save all they can</em>, will likewise <em>give all they can</em>, then the more they +gain, the more they will grow in grace, and the more treasure they will +lay up in heaven.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley knew not how to flatter. However painful to himself +or to others, when he deemed it needful, he never tried +to conceal his thoughts. The above was not likely to win +him the applause of prosperous and rich Methodists; but +that to him was a matter of indifference. His great anxiety +was to perpetuate <em>Methodism</em>,—not merely <em>Methodists</em>.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_564_564" href="#FNanchor_564_564" class="label">[564]</a> Percival was one of the itinerant preachers at Newcastle on Tyne.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_565_565" href="#FNanchor_565_565" class="label">[565]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1834, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 674.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_566_566" href="#FNanchor_566_566" class="label">[566]</a> Bardsley’s colleagues in Colne circuit.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_567_567" href="#FNanchor_567_567" class="label">[567]</a> Manuscript letter in British Museum.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_568_568" href="#FNanchor_568_568" class="label">[568]</a> Dr. Harmer had recently published <abbr title="volumes three and four">vols. iii. and iv.</abbr> of his “Observations +on various Passages of Scripture.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_569_569" href="#FNanchor_569_569" class="label">[569]</a> Black’s Memoirs, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 185.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_570_570" href="#FNanchor_570_570" class="label">[570]</a> Memoirs of Burgess.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_571_571" href="#FNanchor_571_571" class="label">[571]</a> Life of Henry Moore, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 271.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_572_572" href="#FNanchor_572_572" class="label">[572]</a> Ibid. <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 272.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_573_573" href="#FNanchor_573_573" class="label">[573]</a> Manuscript journal.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_574_574" href="#FNanchor_574_574" class="label">[574]</a> In his “Short Hymns on Select Passages of the Holy Scriptures,” +published in 1762, Charles Wesley wrote, concerning the poor itinerants:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0b">“Raised from the people’s lowest lees,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Guard, Lord, Thy preaching witnesses,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Nor let their pride the honour claim</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Of sealing covenants in Thy name:</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Rather than suffer them to dare</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Usurp the priestly character,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Save from the arrogant offence,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">And snatch them uncorrupted hence.”</div> +</div></div> + +<p class="unindent">(Hymn on Numbers <abbr title="sixteen">xvi.</abbr> 10.) “Wesley Poetry,” <abbr title="volume nine">vol. ix.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 79.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_575_575" href="#FNanchor_575_575" class="label">[575]</a> Manuscript letter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_576_576" href="#FNanchor_576_576" class="label">[576]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1788, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 486. It is only fair to add that all was +not sunshine in America. At the conference of 1784, the American +preachers had recorded a declaration that, “during the life of Mr. Wesley +they were ready to obey his commands in matters belonging to church +government”; but, in 1787, and thenceforward, this declaration was +omitted from their printed minutes. Why? Because Wesley, without +consulting them, had changed the time and place of holding their conference, +and had appointed Richard Whatcoat to be co-superintendent +with Francis Asbury.—(Etheridge’s Life of Coke, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 173.) Dr. Coke was +present, and, in a letter printed four years afterwards, pronounced this an +“excommunication” of Wesley, and declared that, in his opinion, it +hastened Wesley’s death; for, “from the time he was informed of it, he +began to hang down his head, and to think he had lived long enough.”—(“Impartial +Statement of the known Inconsistencies of <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Dr. Coke.” +By William Hammet: 1792.) We gravely doubt the correctness of Dr. +Coke’s opinion.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_577_577" href="#FNanchor_577_577" class="label">[577]</a> <cite>Wesley Banner</cite>, 1850, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 114.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_578_578" href="#FNanchor_578_578" class="label">[578]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1846, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 562.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_579_579" href="#FNanchor_579_579" class="label">[579]</a> Ibid.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_580_580" href="#FNanchor_580_580" class="label">[580]</a> Ibid. <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 563.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_581_581" href="#FNanchor_581_581" class="label">[581]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1836, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 286. The <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> David Simpson, also, is +said to have commenced Sunday-schools, in Macclesfield, as early as the +year 1778.—(<i>Evangelical Magazine</i>, 1842, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 84.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_582_582" href="#FNanchor_582_582" class="label">[582]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1805, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 1.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_583_583" href="#FNanchor_583_583" class="label">[583]</a> Manuscript letter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_584_584" href="#FNanchor_584_584" class="label">[584]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1788, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 490.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_585_585" href="#FNanchor_585_585" class="label">[585]</a> Smith’s History of Methodism.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_586_586" href="#FNanchor_586_586" class="label">[586]</a> Drew’s Life of Coke.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_587_587" href="#FNanchor_587_587" class="label">[587]</a> Reynolds’s “Anecdotes of Wesley,” <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 25.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_588_588" href="#FNanchor_588_588" class="label">[588]</a> Life of Clarke, <abbr title="volume one">vol. i.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 259.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_589_589" href="#FNanchor_589_589" class="label">[589]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 80.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_590_590" href="#FNanchor_590_590" class="label">[590]</a> Black’s Memoirs, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 200.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_591_591" href="#FNanchor_591_591" class="label">[591]</a> Crowther’s manuscript autobiography.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_592_592" href="#FNanchor_592_592" class="label">[592]</a> Ibid.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_593_593" href="#FNanchor_593_593" class="label">[593]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 6.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_594_594" href="#FNanchor_594_594" class="label">[594]</a> <cite>Wesleyan Times</cite>, <abbr title="September">Sept.</abbr> 28, 1868.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_595_595" href="#FNanchor_595_595" class="label">[595]</a> Clarkson’s “Abolition of the Slave Trade,” <abbr title="volume one">vol. i.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 447.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_596_596" href="#FNanchor_596_596" class="label">[596]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1827, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 391.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_597_597" href="#FNanchor_597_597" class="label">[597]</a> Entwisle’s Memoir, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 36.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_598_598" href="#FNanchor_598_598" class="label">[598]</a> <cite>Wesleyan Times</cite>, June 19, 1849.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_599_599" href="#FNanchor_599_599" class="label">[599]</a> “Wesley the Worthy,” by Dr. Dobbin, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 91.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_600_600" href="#FNanchor_600_600" class="label">[600]</a> Large Minutes, 1770.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_601_601" href="#FNanchor_601_601" class="label">[601]</a> Henry Moore says this letter was written in the autumn of 1790; and +that, when the lawyer, at the head of the persecution, boasted that he +would drive Methodism out of Somersetshire, Wesley quietly remarked, +“Yes, when he can drive God out of it.”—(Life of Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 383.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_602_602" href="#FNanchor_602_602" class="label">[602]</a> This letter is without date. Henry Moore says it was written about +1790. (Wesley’s Life, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 383.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_603_603" href="#FNanchor_603_603" class="label">[603]</a> Atmore’s “History of Persecution,” <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 420.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_604_604" href="#FNanchor_604_604" class="label">[604]</a> The infirmary was built in 1781, on land partly given by the Duke of +Newcastle, and partly by the corporation. During the first thirty years +of its existence, it afforded assistance to 33,926 persons.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_605_605" href="#FNanchor_605_605" class="label">[605]</a> Its republication would enrich the pages of the <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite> +of the present day. One conjecture is, that, after the resurrection, “our +eyes may unite in themselves the qualities of microscopes and telescopes, +and accommodate themselves exactly to all distances.”</p></div></div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_521">[Pg 521]</span></p> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="1788">1788.</h2> +<hr class="short"> +<p class="center">Age 85</p></div> + +<p class="p2 drop-cap"><span class="smcap">Wesley</span> had published, in the ten volumes of his +<cite>Arminian Magazine</cite> already issued, forty-two original +sermons by himself; and he now ascertained, that a +clergyman, in the west of England, intended to reprint +them in a separate form. Wesley had been frequently +solicited to do this himself; but had as often answered, “I +leave this for my executors.” Now, to prevent piracy, he +determined to be his own republisher; and issued these +invaluable discourses, with a few others, in four volumes, +<abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>; to which he prefixed a preface, from which the +following characteristic extract is taken.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Is there need to apologise to sensible persons for the plainness of my +style? A gentleman, whom I much love and respect, lately informed +me, with much tenderness and courtesy, that men of candour made great +allowance for the decay of my faculties; and did not expect me to write +now, either with regard to sentiment or language, as I did thirty or forty +years ago. Perhaps they are decayed; though I am not conscious of it. +But is not this a fit occasion to explain myself concerning the style +which I use from choice, not necessity? I <em>could</em> even now write as +floridly and rhetorically as even the admired Dr. <span class="lock">B——;</span> but I dare not; +because I seek the honour that cometh from God only. What is the +praise of man to <em>me</em>, that have one foot in the grave, and am stepping +into the land whence I shall not return? Therefore, I dare no more +write in a <em>fine style</em> than wear a fine coat. But were it otherwise, had I +time to spare, I should still write just as I do. I should purposely +decline, what many admire, a highly ornamental style. I cannot admire +French oratory; I despise it from my heart. Let those that please be in +raptures at the pretty, elegant sentences of Massillon or Bourdaloue; but +give me the plain nervous style of Dr. South, Dr. Bates, or Mr. John +Howe; and, for elegance, show me any French writer who exceeds Dean +Young, or Mr. Seed. Let who will admire the French frippery, I am still +for plain sound English.</p> + +<p>“I think a preacher or writer of sermons has lost his way, when he +imitates any of the French orators; even the most famous of them; even +Massillon or Bourdaloue. Only let his language be plain, proper, and +clear; and it is enough. God Himself has told us how to speak, both +as to the matter and manner: ‘If any man speak’ in the name of God, +‘let him speak as the oracles of God’; and if he would imitate any part +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_522">[Pg 522]</span> +of these above the rest, let it be the First Epistle of <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> John. This is the +style, the most excellent style, for every gospel preacher. And let him +aim at no more ornament than he finds in that sentence, which is the +sum of the whole gospel, ‘We love Him, because He first loved us.’”</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley’s journal for the first two months of 1788 is +lost; but existing letters show, that the time was spent +in London. The following have not hitherto been published; +and, though brief, refer to two subjects of the highest +interest,—Sunday-schools and cottage prayer-meetings. +The first was addressed to Duncan Wright, who was now +at Bolton; the second to William Simpson, at Stockton +upon Tees.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>January 9, 1788</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Duncan</span>,—You send me a comfortable account of the work +of God in your circuit. I cannot doubt but a blessing redounds to you +all for the sake of the poor children. I verily think, these Sunday-schools +are one of the noblest specimens of charity, which have been set +on foot in England since the time of William the Conqueror.</p> + +<p>“If Michael Fenwick has a mind to go to Dumfries and assist Robert +Dall, you may give him three guineas, which he must husband well. He +may write to me from thence.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Duncan, your affectionate friend and brother,</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>January 18, 1788</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Billy</span>,—You did exceeding well to enlarge the number of +prayer-meetings, and to fix them in serious courts. I do not know +that any means of grace whatever has been more owned of God +than this.</p> + +<p>“It is not now, but at the time of conference, that children are +received into Kingswood school.</p> + +<p>“I am glad sister Moor has not forgotten me. I hope sister Middleton +also thinks of me sometimes. You are welcome to the four volumes +of sermons.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Billy, your affectionate friend and brother,</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>Charles Wesley was now dying. Long, loving, and +faithful had been the friendship between the two brothers. +Their opinions had often differed; but their affection had +never failed. Their most serious difference had been on +the subject of separation from the Church of England, +ordinations, and the administration of the sacraments; but, +even on these matters, Charles, while writing strongly, never +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_523">[Pg 523]</span> +wrote unbrotherly. His last letter, in our possession, on +these disputed topics, is as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>April 9, 1787.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Brother</span>,—I served West Street chapel on Friday and +Sunday. Next Saturday, I propose to sleep in your bed. Stand to +your own proposal: ‘Let us agree to differ.’ I leave America and +Scotland to your latest thoughts and recognitions; only observing now, +that you are exactly right. Keep your authority while you live; and, +after your death, <i lang="la">detur digniori</i>, or rather, <i lang="la">dignioribus</i>. You cannot +settle the succession: you cannot divine how God will settle it. Have +the people of —— given you leave to die, E. A. P. J.?⁠<a id="FNanchor_606_606" href="#Footnote_606_606" class="fnanchor">[606]</a></p> + +<p>“I am, etc.,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">C. Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_607_607" href="#Footnote_607_607" class="fnanchor">[607]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>It would almost seem from this, that Charles was disposed +to abandon his objections to the ordinations for America +and Scotland; but, be that as it may, we have here some of +his last thoughts respecting the Methodists. He evidently +believed that, after his brother’s death, they would exist +as a separated people, and he wished them to be governed +by those of themselves who were worthiest.</p> + +<p>Wesley loved his brother, and on February 18, 1788, +addressed to him the following laconic note.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Brother</span>,—You must go out every day, or die. Do not die +to save charges. You certainly need not want anything as long as I +live.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span>”<a id="FNanchor_608_608" href="#Footnote_608_608" class="fnanchor">[608]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Ten days after this, Wesley left London, for his long +northern journey, saying: “If I see it again, well; if not, I +pray God to raise up others, that will be more faithful and +more successful in His work! I find, by an increase of years, +(1) Less activity; I walk slower, particularly up hill: (2) My +memory is not so quick: (3) I cannot read so well by candlelight. +But, I bless God, that all my other powers of body and +mind remain just what they were.”</p> + +<p>A month later, Wesley’s brother had entered into rest. +They had parted, not to meet again till they met in heaven. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_524">[Pg 524]</span> +Wesley, however, thought that his brother might recover. +Hence the following, written on March 2.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Brother</span>,—Many inquire after you, and express much affection, +and desire of seeing you. In good time! You are first suffering +the will of God. Afterwards, He has a little more for you to do: that is, +provided you now take up your cross, (for that it frequently must be,) +and go out, at least, an hour in a day. I would not blame you, if it were +two or three. Never mind expense. I can make that up. You shall +not die to save charges. Peace be with all your spirits!</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span>”<a id="FNanchor_609_609" href="#Footnote_609_609" class="fnanchor">[609]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Three days later he wrote again.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>March 5, 1788.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Brother</span>,—I hope you keep to your rule, of going out every +day, although it may sometimes be a cross. Keep to this but one month, +and I am persuaded you will be as well as you were at this time twelve-month. +Adieu!</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span>”<a id="FNanchor_610_610" href="#Footnote_610_610" class="fnanchor">[610]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Here, with one exception, epistolary correspondence +between the two brothers ceased. Charles was too feeble +to continue it, and his daughter became his substitute. In +reply to one of her letters, Wesley wrote as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Bristol</span>, <i>March 7, 1788</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Sally</span>,—When my appetite was entirely gone, so that all +I could take at dinner was a roasted turnip, it was restored in a few days, +by riding out daily, after taking ten drops of elixir of vitriol in a glass +of water. It is highly probable, this would have the same effect in my +brother’s case. But, in the mean time, I wish he would see Dr. Whitehead. +I am persuaded there is not such another physician in England; +although, to confound human wisdom, he does not know how to cure his +own wife.</p> + +<p>“He must lie in bed as little as possible in the daytime; otherwise it +will hinder his sleeping at night.</p> + +<p>“Now, Sally, tell your brothers from me, that their tenderly respectful +behaviour to their father, (even to asking his pardon, if in anything they +have offended him,) will be the best cordial for him under heaven. I +know not but they may save his life thereby. To know nothing will be +wanting, on your part, gives great satisfaction to, my dear Sally,</p> + +<p>“Yours very affectionately,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_611_611" href="#Footnote_611_611" class="fnanchor">[611]</a> +</p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_525">[Pg 525]</span></p> + +<p>To Samuel Bradburn, now stationed in London, Wesley +addressed the following hitherto unpublished letter.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Bristol</span>, <i>March 13, 1788</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Sammy</span>,—With regard to my brother, I advise you: (1) +Whether he will or no, (at least, if not done already,) carry Dr. Whitehead +to him. (2) If he cannot go out, and yet must have exercise or die, persuade +him to use —— twice or thrice a day, and procure one for him. (3) I +earnestly advise him to be electrified; not shocked, but only filled with +electric fire. (4) Inquire if he has made his will, though I think it +scarcely possible he should have delayed it.</p> + +<p>“The tunes, which brother Rhodes left with you, should be immediately +printed in the cheap form. Kind love to Sophy.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Sammy, your affectionate friend and brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">J. Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>Four days later, Wesley wrote his last letter to his brother.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Bristol</span>, <i>March 17, 1788</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Brother</span>,—I am just setting out on my northern journey, but +must snatch time to write two or three lines. I stand and admire the +wise and gracious dispensations of Divine providence! Never was there +before so loud a call to all that are under your roof. If they have not +hitherto sufficiently regarded either you, or the God of their fathers, what +is more calculated to convince them, than to see you so long hovering upon +the borders of the grave? And, I verily believe, if they receive the +admonition, God will raise you up again. I know you have the sentence +of death in yourself: so had I more than twelve years ago. I know +nature is utterly exhausted: but is not nature subject to His word? I do +not depend upon physicians, but upon Him that raiseth the dead. Only +let your whole family stir themselves up, and be instant in prayer; then I +have only to say to each, ‘If thou canst believe, thou shalt see the glory +of God!’ Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. +Adieu!</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span>”<a id="FNanchor_612_612" href="#Footnote_612_612" class="fnanchor">[612]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Another letter must be inserted, written three days after +the above, to his niece, Miss Wesley.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Worcester</span>, <i>March 20, 1788</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Sally</span>,—Mr. Whitefield had, for a considerable time, +thrown up all the food he took. I advised him to slit a large onion across +the grain, and bind it warm on the pit of his stomach. He vomited no +more. Pray apply this to my brother’s stomach, the next time he +eats.</p> + +<p>“One in Yorkshire, who was dying for want of food, as she threw up +all she took, was saved by the following means: Boil crusts of white +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_526">[Pg 526]</span> +bread to the consistence of a jelly; add a few drops of lemon juice, and +a little loaf sugar; take a spoonful once or twice an hour. By all means, +let him try this.</p> + +<p>“If neither of these avail, (which I think will not be the case,) remember +the lady at Paris, who lived several weeks without swallowing a grain, +by applying thin slices of beef to the stomach.</p> + +<p>“But, above all, let prayer be made continually; and, probably, he +will be stronger after this illness than he has been these ten years. Is +anything too hard for God? On Sunday I am to be at Birmingham; on +Sunday sennight, at Madeley. My dear Sally, adieu!</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span>”<a id="FNanchor_613_613" href="#Footnote_613_613" class="fnanchor">[613]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Nine days after this, on March 29, Charles Wesley died. +It is a curious incident, that Wesley, at the time, was preaching +in Shropshire, and (as was afterwards ascertained) he and +his congregation, at the very moment of his brother’s exit, +were singing:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0b">“Come let us join our friends above,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">That have obtained the prize,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">And, on the eagle wings of love,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">To joys celestial rise:</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Let all the saints terrestrial sing,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">With those to glory gone;</div> +<div class="verse indent0">For all the servants of our King,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">In earth and heaven, are one.</div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="verse indent0">One family we dwell in Him,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">One church, above, beneath,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Though now divided by the stream,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">The narrow stream, of death:</div> +<div class="verse indent0">One army of the living God,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">To His command we bow;</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Part of His host have crossed the flood,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">And part are crossing <em>now</em>.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_614_614" href="#Footnote_614_614" class="fnanchor">[614]</a></div></div> +</div></div> + +<p>Samuel Bradburn, the assistant in the City Road circuit, +immediately dispatched a letter to Wesley, informing him of +his brother’s death; but, in consequence of its being misdirected, +it failed to reach him till April 4, the day before the +burial. Wesley was at Macclesfield, and to get to London +in time for the funeral was impossible. Hence the following +letter to the bereaved widow.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_527">[Pg 527]</span> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Macclesfield</span>, <i>April 4, 1788</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Sister</span>,—Half an hour ago, I received a letter from Mr. Bradburn, +informing me of my brother’s death. For eleven or twelve days +before, I had not one line concerning him. The last I had was from +Charles, which I delayed to answer, expecting every day to receive some +further information. We have only now to learn that great lesson, ‘The +Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the +Lord!’ If it had been necessary, in order to serve either him or you, +I should not have thought much of coming up to London. Indeed, to +serve you, or your dear family, in anything that is in my power, will +always be a pleasure to, dear sister, your affectionate friend and brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_615_615" href="#Footnote_615_615" class="fnanchor">[615]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley had no disposition to tell the deep sorrows of his +heart; but that he severely felt the departure of his brother, +there can be no question. A fortnight afterwards, when at +Bolton, he attempted to give out, as his second hymn, the +one beginning with the words, “Come, O Thou Traveller +unknown”; but when he came to the lines,⁠—</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0b">“My company before is gone,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">And I am left alone with Thee,”—</div> +</div></div> + +<p class="unindent">the bereaved old man sunk beneath emotion which was +uncontrollable, burst into a flood of tears, sat down in the +pulpit, and hid his face with his hands. The crowded +congregation well knew the cause of his speechless excitement; +singing ceased; and the chapel became a Bochim. +At length, Wesley recovered himself, rose again, and went +through a service which was never forgotten by those who +were present at it.⁠<a id="FNanchor_616_616" href="#Footnote_616_616" class="fnanchor">[616]</a></p> + +<p>Wesley intended to write his brother’s life, and began to +collect materials for it; but his other engagements were too +numerous to admit of the fulfilment of his purpose. The +following is the obituary published in the conference minutes.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Mr. <span class="smcap">Charles Wesley</span>, who, after spending fourscore years with +much sorrow and pain, quietly retired into Abraham’s bosom. He had no +disease; but, after a gradual decay of some months,</p> + +<p class="center">‘The weary wheels of life stood still at last.’</p> + +<p class="unindent">His least praise was his talent for poetry; although Dr. Watts did not +scruple to say, that that single poem, ‘Wrestling Jacob,’ was worth all +the verses he himself had written.”</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_528">[Pg 528]</span> +This is not the place, nor indeed have we room for it, to +write a critique on the life and character of this remarkable +man. It would be easy to give the opinions of those who +knew him,—Whitehead, Moore, Coke, Bradburn, Clarke, and +Pawson,—some in favour, and others to the contrary. Suffice +it to say, that, had he done nothing more than furnish the +Methodists, and the church of Christ generally, with his incomparable +hymns, in which so many millions have devoutly worshipped +the God of heaven, he would have rendered service to +the cause of truth and piety which no language can adequately +describe. His “hymns, and psalms, and spiritual songs,” for a +hundred and thirty years, have been the metrical liturgy of +the people called Methodists, and to them countless multitudes +have been indebted for not a few of their richest blessings.</p> + +<p>True to his high church principles, Charles Wesley, instead +of selecting the burial ground of his brother’s chapel in +City Road, desired to be interred in the consecrated churchyard +of <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Marylebone. This, to Wesley, was a painful +disappointment. “It is a pity,” said he, in a letter to the +<abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Peard Dickenson, “but the remains of my brother had +been deposited with mine. Certainly that ground is holy as +any in England; and it contains a large quantity of ‘bonny +dead.’”⁠<a id="FNanchor_617_617" href="#Footnote_617_617" class="fnanchor">[617]</a> So deeply did he feel this, that, seven weeks after +his brother’s funeral, he wrote an article, at Dumfries, on the +consecration of churches and burial grounds, which he published +in his magazine; and in which, after showing, that +there is no law of England, or of the English Church, +enjoining such a practice, he remarks:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Neither is it enjoined by the law of God. Where do we find one +word, in the New Testament, enjoining any such thing? Neither do I +remember any precedent of it in the purest ages of the church. It seems +to have entered, and gradually spread itself, with the other innovations +and superstitions of the Church of Rome. For this reason, I never +wished that any bishop should consecrate any chapel or burial ground of +mine. Indeed, I should not dare to suffer it; as I am clearly persuaded +the thing is wrong in itself, being not authorised either by any law of +God, or by any law of the land. In consequence of which, I conceive, +that either the clerk or the sexton may as well consecrate the church, or +the churchyard, as the bishop. With regard to the latter, I know not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_529">[Pg 529]</span> +who could answer that plain question: You say, ‘This is <em>consecrated +ground</em>, so many feet <em>broad</em>, and so many <em>long</em>’; but pray how <em>deep</em> is it? +‘Deep! what does that signify?’ Oh, a great deal! for if my grave be +dug too <em>deep</em>, I may happen to get out of the <em>consecrated ground</em>! And +who can tell, what unhappy consequences may follow from this! I take +the whole of this practice to be a mere relic of Romish superstition. And +I wonder, that any sensible protestant should think it right to countenance +it; much more that any reasonable man should plead for the +necessity of it! Surely it is high time now, that we should be guided, not +by custom, but by Scripture and reason.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_618_618" href="#Footnote_618_618" class="fnanchor">[618]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>This was a heavy blow at his brother’s prejudice. Wesley +himself resolved to be buried in the ground connected with +the chapel in the City Road, and he wished his brother to be +buried with him. To this Charles objected, because the +ground had not been <em>consecrated by a bishop</em>! The objection +was foolish; and the burial, in another place, occasioned +considerable gossip. John Pawson, in a letter dated April 28, +1788, remarks: “Charles Wesley would not be buried at the +new chapel, because it was not consecrated; nor by any of +our ministers, but by one of his own choosing. He sent for +the parson of the parish where he lived, and said: ‘Sir, +whatever the world may have thought of me, I have lived, +and I die, in the communion of the Church of England, and I +will be buried in the yard of my parish church.’”⁠<a id="FNanchor_619_619" href="#Footnote_619_619" class="fnanchor">[619]</a> Wesley +well knew that remarks like these were current; and he owed +it to his people to publish his thoughts on a subject, which, +however insignificant in itself, was not unlikely to be a +gossiping gangrene in his societies.</p> + +<p>Wesley’s affection for his brother was evinced in the +continued kindness exercised towards his brother’s family. +According to his own account book, he gave to them, in this +the year of their bereavement, at least, two hundred guineas. +He also assured his brother’s widow that, as long as he lived, +he would help her to the utmost of his power. The two +following letters may fitly draw the curtain on Charles +Wesley’s death and burial.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>July 25, 1788.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Sister</span>,—You know well what a regard I had for Miss +Gwynne, before she was Mrs. Wesley. And it has not ceased from that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_530">[Pg 530]</span> +time till now. I am persuaded it never will. Therefore, I will speak +without reserve just what comes into my mind. I have sometimes +thought you are a little like me. My wife used to tell me, ‘My dear, you +are too generous. You don’t know the value of money.’ I could not +wholly deny the charge. Possibly, you may sometimes lean to the same +extreme. I know you are of a generous spirit. You have an open heart, +and an open hand. But may it not sometimes be too open, more so than +your circumstances will allow? Is it not an instance of Christian, as well +as worldly, prudence, to cut our coat according to our cloth? If your +circumstances are a little narrower, should you not contract your expenses +too? I need but just give you this hint, which I doubt not you will take +kindly from, my dear Sally,</p> + +<p>“Your affectionate friend and brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_620_620" href="#Footnote_620_620" class="fnanchor">[620]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>December 21, 1788.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Sister</span>,—It is undoubtedly true, that some silly people, +(whether in the society or not I cannot tell,) have frequently talked in that +manner, both of my brother and me. They have said, that we were well +paid for our labours. And, indeed, so we were, but not by man. Yet, +this is no more than we were to expect, especially from busybodies in +other men’s matters. And it is no more possible to restrain their tongues, +than it is to bind up the wind. But it is sufficient for us, that our own +conscience condemned us not; and that our record is with the Most +High.</p> + +<p>“What has concerned me more than this idle slander is a trial of +another kind. I supposed, when John Atlay left me, that he had left me +one or two hundred pounds beforehand. On the contrary, I am one +or two hundred pounds behindhand, and shall not recover myself till after +Christmas. Some of the first moneys I receive, I shall set apart for you; +and in everything that is in my power, you may depend upon the willing +assistance of,</p> + +<p>“Dear Sally, your affectionate friend and brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_621_621" href="#Footnote_621_621" class="fnanchor">[621]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>We must now return to Wesley’s journal. On the last day +in February, he left London, for Bath and Bristol. The mayor +of Bristol invited him to preach in the civic church, which +invitation he accepted. His worship and most of the aldermen +were present; and Wesley, fearing no man’s frown, and +courting no man’s favour, took for his text the fearful narrative +of the rich man and Lazarus; and then dined, with the +rich men, at the rich man’s table, in the mansion house. The +most remarkable incident, however, occurred in his own +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_531">[Pg 531]</span> +chapel on Thursday evening, the 6th of March. At that +time, one of the great questions of the day was the subject +of slavery; and Wesley had announced his intention to +preach on it. The chapel, in consequence, was densely +crowded, with both rich and poor. Wesley selected as his +text, “God shall enlarge Japheth: and he shall dwell in the +tents of Shem: and Canaan shall be his servant.” The rest +we give in the words of Wesley himself. He writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“About the middle of the discourse, while there was on every side +attention still as night, a vehement noise arose, none could tell why, and +shot like lightning through the congregation. The terror and confusion +were inexpressible. You might have imagined it was a city taken by +storm. The people rushed upon each other with the utmost violence; +the benches were broken in pieces; and nine tenths of the congregation +appeared to be struck with the same panic. In about six minutes, the +storm ceased, almost as suddenly as it rose; and, all being calm, I went +on without the least interruption. It was the strangest incident of the +kind I ever remember; and, I believe, none can account for it, without +supposing some præternatural influence. Satan fought, lest his kingdom +should be delivered up. We set the next day apart as a day of fasting +and prayer, that God would remember those poor outcasts of men,” [the +slaves,] “and make a way for them to escape, and break their chains +asunder.”</p> +</div> + +<p>The sceptic will sneer at Wesley’s solution; but, before he +does so, he ought himself to supply a better. Opinions +respecting this mysterious commotion will be different; but +all parties will unite in admiring Wesley’s sympathy with the +suffering slave. Wesley was the first Englishman who +appointed a fast day to pray that slavery might cease.</p> + +<p>On the 17th of March, Wesley set out on his journey to +the north. Everywhere he had enormous congregations; and +frequently was obliged, in wintry weather, to preach in the +open air. Mrs. Fletcher, at Madeley, wrote: “I could not +but discern a great change in him. His soul seems far more +sunk into God, and such an unction attends his word, that +each sermon was indeed spirit and life.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_622_622" href="#Footnote_622_622" class="fnanchor">[622]</a></p> + +<p>Exactly eight weeks were occupied in reaching the Scottish +border; and, during this interval, Wesley preached more than +eighty sermons, in fifty-seven different towns and villages. +In seven instances, all in Yorkshire, he preached in churches. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_532">[Pg 532]</span> +The crowds were greater than ever; and, almost in every +place he visited, he found the work of God progressing.</p> + +<p>On the 13th of May, Wesley visited Dumfries, where he +had stationed Robert Dall, at the conference of 1787. +Dumfries was without a chapel, and without a society; but +Mr. Dall had just the sort of energy which such a place +required; and Wesley knew it. The following letters to his +home missionary have not before been published.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>December 1, 1787</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Robert</span>,—You have reason to praise God, who has prospered +you, and given you to see the fruit of your labours. Our all dispensing +God has called us to preach the plain gospel. I am glad your hands are +strengthened in corresponding with the brethren. I will desire any to +change with you when you see it best, and, if I live till spring, please +God, I will visit you at Dumfries.</p> + +<p>“I am, with love to sister Dall, your affectionate friend and brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>February 11, 1788</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Robert</span>,—I allow you to build at Dumfries, providing any one +will lend a hundred guineas on interest</p> + +<p>“I hope to see you, God willing, in May,</p> + +<p class="center">“I am, etc.,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>Robert Dall was one of Wesley’s favourites, and so was his +Christian wife, to whom, said Wesley, in another unpublished +letter now before us, “God has given both sense and grace.” +This godly couple set all their energies to work; and, by +begging of their friends in all parts of the United Kingdom, +succeeded, in three months, in building the unique chapel +which Wesley describes below. The effort was regarded as +gigantic; and Wesley’s visit was a sort of triumphant top +stone to the whole affair. “Such,” writes Mrs. Gordon +Playdell to Mr. Dall, “such was the general prejudice +against Mr. Wesley, that I really feared his coming would +end your hopeful prosperity; but God has disappointed all +my fears, and outdone all my hopes. The popularity, which +met him here, was marvellous. The turn in his favour was +such as none but God could have brought about. You have +been all along respected, and the esteem for you grows more +and more. Your pious, unwearied attentions to the poor +criminals have increased the general regard for you, and your +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_533">[Pg 533]</span> +sermons in the jail been much approved.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_623_623" href="#Footnote_623_623" class="fnanchor">[623]</a> “Mr. Wesley,” +wrote Charles Atmore, “was much pleased with Dumfries +and you. He has given you a place in his journal, and what +you have done at Dumfries will be a memorial of you to all +generations.”</p> + +<p>We could quote a large number of other letters relative to +the same subject; but the above is a sufficient preface to the +following racy extract from Wesley’s journal.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“May 13—To-day, we went through lovely roads to Dumfries. +Robert Dall soon found me out. He has behaved exceeding well, and +done much good here: but he is a bold man; he has begun building a +preaching house, larger than any in Scotland, except those in Glasgow +and Edinburgh! In the evening, I preached abroad in a convenient +street, on one side of the town. Rich and poor attended from every +quarter, of whatever denomination; and every one seemed to hear for +life. Surely the Scots are the best hearers in Europe! At five, next +morning, I was importuned to preach in the preaching house; but such +an one I never saw before. It had no windows at all: so that, although +the sun shone bright, we could see nothing without candles.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley’s next halting place was Glasgow. It had been +widely reported, by some of the Scottish ministers, that he +was about to publish a new edition of the Bible, and to leave +out part of the Epistle to the Romans, <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> John’s Apocalypse, +and other portions of the inspired writings;⁠<a id="FNanchor_624_624" href="#Footnote_624_624" class="fnanchor">[624]</a> but, notwithstanding +this, says Charles Atmore, in the letter before +quoted, “he was far better received in Glasgow than ever.”</p> + +<p>Here he spent three days; preached six sermons; gave an +account concerning the rise and progress of Methodism; and +ordained John Barber.⁠<a id="FNanchor_625_625" href="#Footnote_625_625" class="fnanchor">[625]</a></p> + +<p>Speaking of the Glasgow chapel, Wesley writes: “It will +contain about as many as the chapel at Bath. But oh the +difference! It has the pulpit on one side; and has exactly +the look of a presbyterian meeting-house. It is the very +sister of our house at Brentford. Perhaps an omen of what +will be when I am gone.”</p> + +<p>In his address on Methodism, which was delivered to the +congregation, he remarked:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“There is no other religious society under heaven, which requires +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_534">[Pg 534]</span> +nothing of men in order to their admission into it, but a desire to save +their souls. Look all around you, you cannot be admitted into the church, +or society of the presbyterians, anabaptists, quakers, or any others, unless +you hold the same opinions with them, and adhere to the same mode of +worship. The Methodists alone do not insist on your holding this or +that opinion; but they think and let think. Neither do they impose any +particular mode of worship; but you may continue to worship in your +former manner, be it what it may. Now, I do not know any other religious +society, either ancient or modern, wherein such liberty of conscience +is now allowed, or has been allowed, since the age of the apostles. Here +is our glorying; and a glorying peculiar to us. What society shares it +with us?”</p> +</div> + +<p>From Glasgow, Wesley went to Edinburgh, where he +wrote: “I still find a frankness and openness in the people +of Edinburgh, which I find in few other parts of the kingdom. +I spent two days among them with much satisfaction; and I +was not at all disappointed, in finding no such increase, +either in the congregation or the society, as many expected +from their leaving the kirk.”</p> + +<p>Wesley here recognises the Edinburgh Methodists as +a <em>separated</em> people, in other words, a <em>church</em>; but adroitly intimates, +that the result was not equal to what many of his friends +had ventured to expect. How stands the case? In 1766, +when the numbers were first given, Edinburgh circuit had 165 +members of society, who, in the next four years, dwindled to +62. Then the circuit rallied, and, in four years more, the +numbers rose to 287. In the next quadrennial period, we +find them reduced to 161. In 1785, when the ordinations +for Scotland took place, Edinburgh had 134 Methodists; now, +in 1788, it had 330; which, however, at Wesley’s death in +1791, were reduced to 205. These are curious statistics; and +help to cast light on Wesley’s meaning.</p> + +<p>On May 25, Wesley reached Newcastle, which, for the next +fortnight, was the centre of his labours. Two incidents, in +connection with this visit, are worth recording.</p> + +<p>Three years before, John Hampson, <abbr title="junior">jun.</abbr>, greatly offended, +had relinquished the itinerancy, and was now a clergyman +at Sunderland. Strangely enough, Hampson invited +Wesley to occupy his pulpit, and Wesley willingly accepted +the invitation. The church was crowded both morning and +afternoon.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_535">[Pg 535]</span> +The other incident occurred at Stanhope, famed “for nothing +but a very uncommon degree of wickedness.” The +preaching place was an upper room, and the congregation +large. Presently, the main beam, that supported the room, +gave way, and a frightful hubbub followed. “One man,” +says Wesley, “leaped out of the window; the rest quietly +went out; and nothing was hurt except a poor dog beneath +the window. I then preached in the open air, to twice or +thrice as many as the room would have contained, who were +all attention.” This, which might have been a serious catastrophe, +happened at five o’clock on a summer’s morning.</p> + +<p>On the 9th of June, Wesley left Newcastle for the south. +Reaching Darlington, he writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Margaret Barlow came to me; and I asked her abundance of questions. +I was soon convinced, that she was not only sincere, but deep in grace; +and, therefore, incapable of deceit. I was convinced likewise, that she +had frequent intercourse with a spirit that appeared to her in the form of +an angel. I know not how to judge of the rest. Her account was:—‘For +above a year, I have seen this angel, whose face is exceeding +beautiful: her raiment white as snow, and glistering like silver; her voice +unspeakably soft and musical. She tells me many things before they +come to pass. She foretold I should be ill at such a time, in such a +manner, and well at such an hour; and it was so exactly. She has said, +such a person shall die at such a time; and he did so. Above two +months ago, she told me your brother was dead; (I did not know you had +a brother;) and that he was in heaven. And some time since, she told +me, you will die in less than a year. But what she has most earnestly +and frequently told me, is, that God will, in a short time, be avenged on +obstinate sinners, and will destroy them with fire from heaven.’”</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley adds:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Whether this will be so or no, I cannot tell; but when we were alone +there was a wonderful power in her words; and, as the Indian said to +David Brainerd, ‘They did good to my heart.’ It is above a year since +this girl was visited in this manner, being then between fourteen and +fifteen years old. But she was then quite a womanish girl, and of unblamable +behaviour. Suppose that which appeared to her was really an +angel; yet from the face, the voice, and the apparel, she might easily +mistake him for a female; and this mistake is of little consequence. +Much good has already resulted from this odd event; and is likely to +ensue; provided those who believe, and those who disbelieve, her report, +have but patience with each other.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Marvellous! Who was Margaret Barlow? The answer +involves an episode in Methodistic history.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_536">[Pg 536]</span> +In the conference minutes for 1778, John Blades is reported +as one of Wesley’s itinerant preachers on trial; but, beyond +this, he is never mentioned. Blades was a native of Northumberland, +a weakminded fanatic, totally unfit for the +itinerant work. Perhaps, for this reason, he was not appointed +to a circuit. For some years, however, he acted, in the +capacity of a local preacher, in the north of England. He +then began to preach consummate nonsense respecting the +privileges of believers, and, with such success that, when he +left the Methodists in 1784, he was enabled to form separate +societies in a large number of places in the county of Durham, +and in the north of Yorkshire. Among his followers, who +were called <i>Bladonians</i>,⁠<a id="FNanchor_626_626" href="#Footnote_626_626" class="fnanchor">[626]</a> was Ralph Hodgson, a miller at West +Auckland, in whose house Margaret Barlow was a servant. +We have before us a long unpublished letter, written by this +dusty enthusiast, only a fortnight before Wesley’s interview +with his servant girl at Darlington. It is addressed to “Mr. +Richard Steel, Tanner, Wolsingham. With all possible +speed”: and is dated, May 27, 1788. Hodgson tells his +friend Steel that an angel from the Lord had appeared to +him, and stated that the “wicked were about to be destroyed +from off the face of the earth.” He also urges Steel to join +with him in making this angelic revelation as widely known +as possible.</p> + +<p>It is a curious fact that Hodgson waited upon Wesley at +Newcastle, for the purpose of converting him to his opinions; +and that he accompanied his clairvoyant servant, Margaret +Barlow, to meet Wesley at the house of Thomas Pickering, at +Darlington. He also wrote a long letter, dated “West Auckland, +October 26, 1788,” to the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Agutter, <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Mary +Magdalen college, Oxford, in which he informed that gentleman +that Margaret Barlow had been his servant about two +years; that she had attended the services of the Methodists; +that an angel had appeared to her in the form of a female, +and with a lustre brighter than the light of a thousand +candles; that the angel had come to her in the daytime as +well as night; and had made known to her the state of many +who were dead, as well as many who were still alive; but that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_537">[Pg 537]</span> +the principal matter, which the angel had revealed, was the +exact day when the wicked would be destroyed. Margaret +also had been much disturbed by the appearance of two evil +spirits, both clad in black, and wearing horns; but the +recital of her visions had produced effects great and blessed.</p> + +<p>What was the result of all this religious raving? Margaret, +at length, announced the exact day when the destruction of +the wicked was to be accomplished. Intense excitement followed. +Some sold their clothing and property, and distributed +the proceeds among the poor; and others exulted at the +thought of the possessions of the wicked being distributed +among themselves. The day came, numbers having sat up all +night to watch its dawning. Portentous signs appeared. The +heavens gathered blackness, lightnings flashed, and thunders +roared. At Barnardcastle it was the day of the weekly +market. The people were frantic, some with hope, and some +with fear. Cries were heard, “It is coming! It is coming!” +The business of the market was suspended; and consternation +was general. At length, the clouds were scattered, the +heavens brightened, the day passed over, and all things continued +as they were. The bubble burst; Blades, Hodgson, +his wife, and Margaret Barlow were discredited, and fled +across the Atlantic; where most, if not all of them, joined +the shakers, whose principles and morals, to say the least, +were capable of great improvement.</p> + +<p>The reader will excuse this lengthened digression concerning +a mad miller and his servant maid. We have purposely +omitted the numerous stories, of a similar description, which +Wesley has inserted in his journal and magazine; but one +instance seemed necessary, to illustrate what was unquestionably +a feature in Wesley’s character,—excessive credulity in +receiving doubtful proofs of the existence and nearness of an +unseen world of spirits. We are not inclined to say hard things +concerning this. It was a weakness, but not a sin. Besides, +though some of the stories, referred to, were ridiculously +foolish, it would be rashness to deny that some of the others +were strictly and startlingly true. And further, we honestly +declare that, in an age like this, when the general tendency +is to scepticism rather than to credulity, we should hail, as +no bad omen, the appearance of a disposition, like that of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_538">[Pg 538]</span> +Wesley, to cherish, not denounce, any and every evidence +of another and future state of being.</p> + +<p>On leaving Darlington, Wesley proceeded to Whitby, +where he was advertised to open a new chapel; but, as often +happens now, when the day arrived, the building was far from +being ready. For want of stairs, the people had to be admitted +to the gallery through one of the back windows near the +pulpit; and, for want of a gallery front, a number of stalwart +Yorkshiremen squatted themselves all round the gallery +ledge, their backs protecting the people behind them, and +their feet dangling over the heads of those below.⁠<a id="FNanchor_627_627" href="#Footnote_627_627" class="fnanchor">[627]</a> Wesley +writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“June 13, Friday.—At eight, I preached to a lovely congregation at +Stokesley; and, at eleven, in Guisborough, to one far larger. In the +evening, I preached at Whitby, in the new house, thoroughly filled above +and below. The unfinished galleries, having as yet no fronts, were frightful +to look upon. It is the most curious house we have in England. You +go up to it by about forty steps; and have then before you a lofty front, +I judge, near fifty feet high, and fifty-four feet broad.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley spent the next two days in Whitby, preaching +twice on Saturday, and thrice on Sunday, and finishing up +with a Yorkshire lovefeast.</p> + +<p>From the “<em>plain people at Whitby</em>,” Wesley went to the +Scarborough <em>elegants</em>; and thence to Bridlington, Malton, +Beverley, and Hull. In the last mentioned town, Joseph +Benson and the Methodists had recently erected George Yard +chapel, an edifice of which Benson was immensely proud, and +whose account of its opening services, six months before, +drew from Wesley the following laconic letter.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Joseph</span>,—I greatly rejoice in the erection of your new preaching +house; and in the tokens of the Divine presence with which you and +the people were favoured at the opening; but if it be at all equal to the +new chapel in London, I will engage to eat it.</p> + +<p>“I am, yours affectionately,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_628_628" href="#Footnote_628_628" class="fnanchor">[628]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley’s new chapel in City Road was his <i lang="fr">beau ideal</i>, and +great was his jealousy of all pretentious competitors; but +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_539">[Pg 539]</span> +still he was obliged to acknowledge, that even George Yard +chapel, Hull, was “well built, and elegantly finished; handsome, +but not gaudy.”</p> + +<p>During his stay in Hull, he preached twice in the high +church, by the invitation of the vicar, Mr. Clark; and thrice +in Benson’s pet chapel.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding his three heavy services on the previous +day, Wesley, an old man, in the eighty-fifth year of his age, +set out on June 23, and not only travelled all the way from +Hull to York, but, preached four sermons in four different +towns and villages.</p> + +<p>At York a happy reconciliation was brought about. +Wesley had been greatly annoyed with Robert Spence for +publishing the “York Hymn Book”; and Robert had +been so grieved by Wesley’s strictures as to be strongly +tempted to leave the Methodists. Wesley and the grand +old Methodist at York, however, were not the men to harbour +malice; and, by appointment, the offending bookseller +breakfasted with Wesley, <em>at three o’clock</em> in the morning, +and all past differences were consigned to the shades of +charitable oblivion.⁠<a id="FNanchor_629_629" href="#Footnote_629_629" class="fnanchor">[629]</a></p> + +<p>A three o’clock breakfast! And yet, this, with Wesley, +was not at all unusual. His energy, diligence, and punctuality +were marvellous. Addressing his coachman, at this early +breakfast in the city of York, he said, “Have the carriage +at the door at four. I do not mean a quarter or five minutes +past, but four.” The man knew what his master meant; and, +as the minster clock struck four, Wesley had shaken hands +with Robert Spence, and was entering his chaise.⁠<a id="FNanchor_630_630" href="#Footnote_630_630" class="fnanchor">[630]</a> Railways, +since then, have helped to make some men punctual; but +Wesley was perfect in this human excellence long before +railway engines began to whistle.</p> + +<p>Wesley made his way to Epworth, where he spent his +birthday. He writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“June 28.—I this day enter on my eighty-fifth year⁠<a id="FNanchor_631_631" href="#Footnote_631_631" class="fnanchor">[631]</a>: and what cause +have I to praise God, as for a thousand spiritual blessings, so, for bodily +blessings also! How little have I suffered yet by ‘the rush of numerous +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_540">[Pg 540]</span> +years!’ It is true, I am not so agile as I was in times past. I do not +run or walk so fast as I did; my sight is a little decayed; my left eye is +grown dim, and hardly serves me to read; I have daily some pain in the +ball of my right eye, as also in my right temple, (occasioned by a blow +received some months since,) and in my right shoulder and arm, which I +impute partly to a sprain, and partly to the rheumatism. I find, likewise, +some decay in my memory, with regard to names and things lately past; +but not at all with regard to what I have read or heard twenty, forty, or +sixty years ago; neither do I find any decay in my hearing, smell, taste, +or appetite; (though I want but a third part of the food I did once;) nor +do I feel any such thing as weariness, either in travelling or preaching; +and I am not conscious of any decay in writing sermons; which I do as +readily, and I believe, as correctly, as ever.</p> + +<p>“To what cause can I impute this, that I am as I am? First, doubtless, +to the power of God, fitting me for the work to which I am called, as +long as He pleases to continue me therein; and, next, subordinately to +this, to the prayers of His children.</p> + +<p>“May we not impute it, as inferior means, (1) To my constant exercise +and change of air? (2) To my never having lost a night’s sleep, sick +or well, at land or at sea, since I was born? (3) To my having +sleep at command; so that, whenever I feel myself almost worn out, I +call it, and it comes, day or night? (4) To my having constantly, for +above sixty years, risen at four in the morning? (5) To my constant +preaching at five in the morning, for above fifty years? (6) To +my having had so little pain in my life; and so little sorrow, or anxious +care?</p> + +<p>“Even now, though I find pain daily in my eye, or temple, or arm; yet +it is never violent, and seldom lasts many minutes at a time. Whether +or not this is sent to give me warning, that I am shortly to quit this +tabernacle, I do not know; but be it one way or the other, I have only to +say,</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent4a">‘My remnant of days</div> +<div class="verse indent4">I spend to His praise,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Who died the whole world to redeem:</div> +<div class="verse indent4">Be they many or few,</div> +<div class="verse indent4">My days are His due,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">And they all are devoted to Him.’”</div> +</div></div> +</div> + +<p>Wesley’s two texts on this memorable birthday were +appropriate. Here, eighty-five years before, he had been +born, in the Epworth parsonage; and now, in the morning, he +preached from, “So teach us to number our days, that we +may apply our hearts unto wisdom”; and, in the evening, +from, “Beware, therefore, lest that come upon you, which +is spoken of in the prophets; behold, ye despisers, and +wonder, and perish; for I work a work in your days, a work +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_541">[Pg 541]</span> +which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it +unto you.”</p> + +<p>This may be a fitting place to insert a selection from +Wesley’s letters, written in the previous six months.</p> + +<p>The first was addressed to William Black, one of his missionaries +in Nova Scotia. Black had related to Wesley the +cases of certain demoniacs, and particularly one which he +himself had seen. When Black approached, it was with the +utmost difficulty that four men could hold the poor wretch, +and prevent him doing the missionary serious injury. Black +immediately fell upon his knees, and began to pray. In an +instant, the frenzy of the man subsided; and the lips, that a +few moments before had uttered blasphemy, began to syllable +the praises of the great Redeemer. Wesley’s letter is as +follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Gloucester</span>, <i>March 19, 1788</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—I am glad to find you are still going on in the +glorious work to which you are called. We have need to make haste +therein; to use all diligence. For the work is great; the day is short; +and lonely is the night wherein no man can work.</p> + +<p>“It is well that Satan is constrained to show himself so plainly in the case +of those poor demoniacs. Thereby, he weakens his own kingdom, and +excites us to assault him more zealously. In the beginning of the work +in England and Ireland, we had many cases of the kind. But he now +chooses to assault us by subtlety more than by strength.</p> + +<p>“I wish you would do all you possibly can to keep our brethren in peace +with each other. Your pains will not be lost on poor John McGeary. +There is much good in him. Indeed, he is naturally of a bold, forward +temper; but I hope his zeal is now according to knowledge.</p> + +<p>“Praying that you may increase with all the increase of God, I am +your affectionate friend and brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_632_632" href="#Footnote_632_632" class="fnanchor">[632]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>The next is brief, but interesting. Agnes Collinson was +now a remarkable child, twelve years old. Six years afterwards, +she became the wife of Mr. Joseph Bulmer; and lived +to be the authoress of “Messiah’s Kingdom,” in twelve +books, 486 pages, and of the beautiful hymn, which is so +often sung at the laying of the foundation stones of +Methodist chapels, “Thou who hast in Zion laid,” etc.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Bulmer was born a poet, and, at the death of Charles +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_542">[Pg 542]</span> +Wesley, wrote an elegy, which was sent to the surviving +brother, and evoked the following characteristic letter.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Maiden</span>,—Beware of pride; beware of flattery; suffer +none to commend you to your face; remember, one good temper is of +more value, in the sight of God, than a thousand good verses. All +you want is to have the mind that was in Christ, and to walk as +Christ walked.</p> + +<p class="center">“I am, etc.,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_633_633" href="#Footnote_633_633" class="fnanchor">[633]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>The following is now for the first time published. William +Simpson, to whom it was addressed, was assistant in the +Yarm circuit.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Near Colne</span>, <i>April 26, 1788</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Billy</span>,—You did well to expel those who marry ungodly +persons,—a real evil, which we never can tolerate. You should speak to +every believer singly concerning meeting in band. There were always +some in Yarm circuit, though not many. No circuit ever did, or ever will +flourish, unless there are bands in the large societies. It is a good sign, +that so many of our preachers are willing to contribute to those necessary +expenses. They used to be much straitened in their bowels, whenever +money was wanted. You have now good encouragement to remain +another year in the circuit. But you know two preachers do not remain +in the same circuit more than one year.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Billy, your affectionate friend and brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>Dr. Coke was an innovator. Finding that many of the +Dublin Methodists were in the habit of attending Dissenting +chapels on the sabbath, he, in order to prevent this, directed +that, on three Sundays out of four, there should be service in +Whitefriar Street chapel in church hours; and that, on the +fourth, the Methodists should be recommended to attend <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> +Patrick’s church, and receive the sacrament.⁠<a id="FNanchor_634_634" href="#Footnote_634_634" class="fnanchor">[634]</a> Henry Moore +was the assistant in the Dublin circuit; was nearly as old a +man as Coke; and, as a preacher, his superior. Coke’s +assumption to act as Wesley’s vicar gave great offence, and +the new arrangement had to be abandoned.⁠<a id="FNanchor_635_635" href="#Footnote_635_635" class="fnanchor">[635]</a> The following +letters refer to this Dublin fracas, and are not without interest, +as evincing Wesley’s persistent adherence to the Established +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_543">[Pg 543]</span> +Church. The first three were addressed to Moore; the fourth +to Coke.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Leeds</span>, <i>May 6, 1788</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Henry</span>,—The doctor is too warm. He ought to have had +more regard to so respectable a body of men as applied to him. I am a +Church of England man; and, as I said fifty years ago, so I say still, in +the Church I will live and die, unless I am thrust out. We must have no +more service at Whitefriars in the church hours. Leave all contention +before it be meddled with. Follow after peace.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<p class="center">“I am, etc.,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_636_636" href="#Footnote_636_636" class="fnanchor">[636]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Whitehaven</span>, <i>May 11, 1788</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Henry</span>,—Still, the more I reflect, the more I am convinced, +that the Methodists ought not to leave the Church. I judge, that to lose +a thousand, yea, ten thousand, of our people, would be a less evil than +this. ‘But many had much comfort in this.’ So they would in any <em>new +thing</em>. I believe Satan himself would give them comfort herein; for he +knows what the end would be. Our glory has hitherto been not to be a +separate body:</p> + +<p class="center">‘Hoc Ithacus velit.’</p> + +<p>“But whatever Mr. Smyth does, I am for the old way. I advise you to +abide in it, till you find another <em>new event</em>, although, indeed, you may +expect it every day; namely, the removal of your affectionate friend and +brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_637_637" href="#Footnote_637_637" class="fnanchor">[637]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Glasgow</span>, <i>May 12, 1788</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Henry</span>,—I allow two points: 1. That, while Dr. Coke is in +Dublin, he may have service at eleven o’clock as before. 2. That, on +condition that our brethren will attend <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Patrick’s one Sunday in four, +you may read prayers the other three in the room. When Dr. Coke +returns from Dublin, he should immediately send me word who is proper +to succeed you there. I shall be glad, if I can, to have Nancy and you +at Bristol next year. It is not unlikely, I may finish my course there; +and, if so, I should love to have her to close my eyes. My brother said, I +should follow him within the year. But, be that as it may, by God’s help, +I will live to-day.</p> + +<p class="center">“I am, etc.,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_638_638" href="#Footnote_638_638" class="fnanchor">[638]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Glasgow</span>, <i>May 16, 1788</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>,—I came hither this morning. There is a fair opening +at Dumfries, and a prospect of much good. I like your proposal concerning +Joseph Cownley,⁠<a id="FNanchor_639_639" href="#Footnote_639_639" class="fnanchor">[639]</a> and will talk with him about it if I live to see +Newcastle.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_544">[Pg 544]</span> +“As I said before, so I say still, I cannot, I dare not, leave the Church, +for the reasons we all agreed to thirty years ago in the conference at +Leeds. Thus far only I could go. On condition, that our people would +receive the Lord’s supper once a month either at <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Patrick’s, or their +own parish church (the reasonableness of which should be strongly and +largely explained),—on this condition, I would allow Henry Moore to +read the morning service at Whitefriars on the other Sundays.</p> + +<p>“I wonder at the imprudence of Mr. Edward Smyth, to say nothing of +his unkindness. You did well in changing the stewards at Waterford.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear sir, yours most affectionately,</p> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_640_640" href="#Footnote_640_640" class="fnanchor">[640]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>The following, hitherto unpublished, letter was addressed +to Thomas Taylor, then stationed at Manchester, and refers +to a gigantic evil which still exists.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Near Newcastle</span>, <i>June 7, 1788</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Tommy</span>,—I have no time to spend on controversy about the +Church, unless I had leisure to write a folio.</p> + +<p>“It is no wonder, that every one should be ruined who concerns himself +with that execrable bill trade. In London, I expel every one out of our +society who has anything to do with it. Whoever endorses a bill, (that is, +promises to pay,) for more than he is worth, is either a fool or a knave.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Tommy, your affectionate friend and brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>When Wesley was at Bradford, in the month of May, he +preached in the parish church, and, in the course of his +sermon, quoted the opinion of Bengelius, that the millennial +reign of Christ would begin in the year 1836. Some one +present circulated this as the opinion of Wesley himself; and, +as the opinion of such a man was regarded of high importance, +the rumoured prophecy ran throughout the kingdom, +and more than one of Wesley’s friends wrote to ask if what +was said was true. The following is Wesley’s reply to +Christopher Hopper.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—I said nothing, less or more, in Bradford +church, concerning the end of the world, neither concerning my own +opinion, but what follows:—That Bengelius had given it as his opinion, +not that the world would then end, but, that the millennial reign of +Christ would begin in the year 1836. I have no opinion at all upon the +head; I can determine nothing about it. These calculations are far +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_545">[Pg 545]</span> +above, out of my sight. I have only one thing to do,—to save my soul, +and those that hear me.</p> + +<p>“I am, yours affectionately,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_641_641" href="#Footnote_641_641" class="fnanchor">[641]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>We left Wesley celebrating his eighty-sixth birthday, in +his birthplace, Epworth. Here he preached four or five +sermons, held a lovefeast, and attended sacred service in his +father’s church. He writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Mr. Gibson read the prayers with seriousness, and preached a plain, +useful sermon; but I was sorry to see scarce twenty communicants, +half of whom came on my account. I was informed, likewise, that +scarce fifty persons used to attend the Sunday service. What can be +done to remedy this sore evil? I fain would prevent the members here +from leaving the Church; but I cannot do it. As Mr. Gibson is not a +pious man, but rather an enemy to piety, who frequently preaches +against the truth, and those that hold and love it, I cannot, with all my +influence, persuade them either to hear him, or to attend the sacrament +administered by him. If I cannot carry this point even while I live, who +then can do it when I die? And the case of Epworth is the case of every +church, where the minister neither loves nor preaches the gospel; the +Methodists will not attend his administrations. What then is to be +done?”</p> +</div> + +<p>This is amusing. Here we find Wesley acknowledging, +that, in the very place where his father had been rector for +nearly forty years, the Methodists had, <i lang="la">ipso facto</i>, separated +from the Church, and that he, with all his influence, had not +sufficient power to hinder it.</p> + +<p>During the next fortnight, Wesley preached, on an average, +twice a day, until his arrival in London, on July 15. The +following letters belong to this period. The first was +addressed to Mr. John Mann, one of his missionaries in Nova +Scotia.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>June 30, 1788.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—I am greatly concerned for the prosperity of +the work of God in Nova Scotia. It seems some way to lie nearer my +heart than even that in the United States; many of our brethren there +are, we may hope, strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might; +but I look upon those in the northern provinces to be younger, and +tender children, and consequently to stand in need of our utmost care. +I hope all of you, that watch over them, are exactly of one mind, and of +one judgment; that you take care always to speak the same things, and +to watch over one another in love.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_546">[Pg 546]</span> +“Mr. Wray is a workman that need not be ashamed. I am glad to +hear of his safe arrival. Although he has not much learning,⁠<a id="FNanchor_642_642" href="#Footnote_642_642" class="fnanchor">[642]</a> he has, +what is far better, uprightness of heart, and devotedness to God. I +doubt not but he and you will be one, and go on your way hand in hand. +Whatever opposers you meet with, Calvinists, papists, antinomians, or +any other, have a particular care, that they do not take up too much +either of your thoughts or time. You have better work; keep to your +one point, Christ dying for us, and living in us; so will you fulfil the joy +of,</p> + +<p>“My dear brethren, your affectionate friend and brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_643_643" href="#Footnote_643_643" class="fnanchor">[643]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>The following was addressed to Samuel Bradburn, and, up +to the present, has not been published.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Epworth</span>, <i>July 6, 1788</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Sammy</span>,—To-morrow evening, I hope to be at Doncaster; on +Wednesday, at Sheffield; and to-morrow sennight, at London, bringing +my daughter with me. That evening I should not object to preaching +at West Street. On Tuesday morning, I would breakfast in Chesterfield +Street, if my sister will be ready at eight o’clock. Then I must hide +myself till Sunday; when I will preach at one or the other chapel for +Kingswood. Peace be with you and yours!</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Sammy, etc.,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>The next, addressed to Mr. Jasper Winscomb, is also now +for the first time printed.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>July 16, 1788</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Jasper</span>,—If all our society at Portsmouth, or elsewhere, separate +from the Church, I cannot help it. But, I will not. Therefore, I can in +no wise consent to the having service in church hours. <em>You</em> used to love +the Church; then keep to it, and exhort all our people to do the same. If +it be true, that brother Hayter is used to talk against the other preachers, +as well as against Thomas Warwick, brother Hayter and I shall not agree. +Of dividing circuits we may speak at the conference.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Jasper, your affectionate brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>The following also has not before been published. It was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_547">[Pg 547]</span> +addressed to “Mr. Churchey, attorney at law, near the Hay, +Brecon”; and refers to certain poetical productions which +Mr. Churchey wished to print.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Near London</span>, <i>July 22, 1788</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—I am glad you spoke to Mr. Cowper.⁠<a id="FNanchor_644_644" href="#Footnote_644_644" class="fnanchor">[644]</a> What +pity it is that such talents as his should be employed in so useless a +manner!</p> + +<p>“Mr. Bradburn delivered your papers to me a few days ago; but this +is so busy a time, that I had not leisure to go through them till to-day. <em>In +the Translation of the Art of Printing, there are many very good lines</em>; +but there are some that want a good deal of filing; and many that are +obscure. The sense is so much clouded, that it is not easy to be understood. +For many years, I have not had any booksellers but Mr. Atlay +and my assistants. <em>Some of the shorter copies are good sense and good +poetry.</em></p> + +<p>“My dear brother has left a translation of the Book of Psalms, and +verses enough to make, at least, six volumes in duodecimo. I could but +ill spare him, now I am myself so far declined into the vale of years. But +it is the Lord; let Him do what seemeth Him good. Our time is now +short. Let my dear sister Churchey, and you, and I make the best of it.</p> + +<p>“I am your affectionate brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>A week after the above letter was written, Wesley opened +his conference, which continued its sittings till August 6. +Besides presiding, he preached every evening, and on the +conference Sunday twice. The last day was kept as a solemn +fast,—prayer-meetings being held at five, nine, and one, and +the day concluded with a watchnight. No wonder, that the +old Methodist preachers returned from conferences, to their +respective circuits, like flames of fire. Wesley writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“One of the most important points considered at this conference was +that of leaving the Church. The sum of a long conversation was: (1) +that, in a course of fifty years, we had neither premeditatedly nor willingly +varied from it in one article either of doctrine or discipline; (2) +that we were not yet conscious of varying from it in any point of doctrine; +(3) that we have, in a course of years, out of necessity, not of +choice, slowly and warily varied in some points of discipline, by preaching +in the fields, by extemporary prayer, by employing lay preachers, +by forming and regulating societies, and by holding yearly conferences. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_548">[Pg 548]</span> +But we did none of these things till we were convinced we could no +longer omit them, but at the peril of our souls.”</p> +</div> + +<p>This was correct so far as it went; but Wesley ought to +have added, the ordaining of preachers, the licensing of +chapels; and, further, that in this selfsame year he had +published a <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr> volume of 430 pages, entitled, “The +Sunday Service of the Methodists; with other Occasional +Services”; in reality, an altered edition of the Prayer-Book +of the Church of England, attached to which was a “Collection +of Psalms and Hymns for the Lord’s Day,” composed by +himself and his brother. Wesley, in his preface, says:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Little alteration is made in the following edition of it, [The Prayer-Book,] +except in the following instances:</p> + +<p>“1. Most of the holy days (so called) are omitted, as, at present, +answering no valuable end.</p> + +<p>“2. The service of the Lord’s day, the length of which has often been +complained of, is considerably shortened.</p> + +<p>“3. Some sentences, in the offices of baptism, and for the burial of the +dead, are omitted. And,</p> + +<p>“4. Many psalms left out, and many parts of the others, as being +highly improper for the mouths of a Christian congregation.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Throughout his book, Wesley uses the word “minister,” +instead of the objectionable word “priest.” The half popish +canticle in the morning prayer, <span lang="la">“Benedicite, omnia opera,”</span> is +left out. In the communion service, the word “elder” is +used instead of “priest”; and, in the public baptism of infants, +Wesley dispenses with signing the child with the sign of +the cross, and leaves out the sentence, in the thanksgiving, +that “it hath pleased God to regenerate this infant with His +Holy Spirit.” The “order of confirmation” is omitted, and no +reference is made to godfathers and godmothers. The “order +for the visitation of the sick” is totally expunged, and of +course the popish absolution, “by His (Christ’s) authority +committed to me, I absolve thee from all thy sins, in the +name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy +Ghost. Amen.” In lieu of the three forms for ordaining +deacons, priests, and bishops, Wesley gives three for “ordaining +<em>superintendents</em>, <em>elders</em>, and <em>deacons</em>.” Wesley takes equal +liberty with the articles of religion. Some are entirely +omitted; others are abridged, or variously altered.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_549">[Pg 549]</span> +We find no fault with all this. Upon the whole, we regard +Wesley’s expurgations as emendations.⁠<a id="FNanchor_645_645" href="#Footnote_645_645" class="fnanchor">[645]</a> His prayer-book is +purged from popish and Calvinian errors; and, in that +respect, is superior to the prayer-book of the Church of +England. This, however, is not the point in question; but +rather, whether, after Wesley had done all this, he could be +fairly and honestly considered a member and minister of the +Established Church. The <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> G. Nott, in his Bampton +lecture, delivered eleven years after Wesley’s death, elaborately +argued this matter, and returned a negative reply; and, +we confess, it seems impossible to refute his general conclusion, +namely, that both “Wesley and Whitefield are to be +regarded as separatists from the Church of England.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_646_646" href="#Footnote_646_646" class="fnanchor">[646]</a> To +the day of his death, Wesley protested against this; but his +warmest friends must admit that, though both were undeniably +sincere, yet, in this respect, profession and practice were +at variance.</p> + +<p>Three years before this, he had ordained Joseph Taylor, +who, ever since, had preached in gown and bands, and administered +the sacraments in Scotland. Joseph was now +appointed to Nottingham circuit; and, of course, as an +ordained minister, dreamed that he was the same in England +as he had been in Scotland. But not so. Wesley, who, three +years before, had <em>frocked</em> his itinerant for the people across +the Tweed, now <em>unfrocked</em> him for the people bordering on +the Trent. Hence the following.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>November 16, 1788</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Joseph</span>,—I take knowledge of your spirit, and believe it is your +desire to do all things right. Our friends in Newark should not have forgotten, +that we have determined over and over ‘not to leave the Church.’ +Before they had given you that foolish advice, they should have consulted +me. I desire you would not wear the surplice, nor administer the Lord’s +supper, any more.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Joseph, your affectionate friend and brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_647_647" href="#Footnote_647_647" class="fnanchor">[647]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Such was the frequent clashing between practice and profession. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_550">[Pg 550]</span> +The prayer-book, above mentioned, had been put +into the hands of the Methodists; and yet, because of its +alterations and abridgments, it was of no use in services conducted +in the Church of England. For what then was it +intended? The following extract, from the minutes of conference +in 1788, supplies an answer.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“<i>Q. 21.</i> What further directions may be given concerning the prayers +of the Church of England?</p> + +<p>“<i>A.</i> The assistants shall have a discretionary power to read the +Prayer-Book in the preaching houses on Sunday mornings, where they +think it expedient, if the generality of the society acquiesce with it; on +condition that Divine service never be performed in the church hours on +the Sundays when the sacrament is administered in the parish church +where the preaching house is situated; and that the people be strenuously +exhorted to attend the sacrament in the parish church on those Sundays.”</p> +</div> + +<p>This may be vaguely worded; but there can be no mistake +about its meaning. By Wesley’s authority, and that of his +conference, assistants everywhere were permitted to do what +Dr. Coke had authorised to be done in Dublin, namely, that, +on certain conditions, there should be Divine service in +Methodist chapels in the same hours as Divine service was +performed in the parish churches adjoining them. If this was +not separation, what was it?</p> + +<p>There were two other points discussed at the conference of +1788, of great importance. Many of the preachers were +shamefully left without adequate support, and were actually +obliged, either to starve from hunger, or to go from house to +house to obtain their meals. Wesley was annoyed, perhaps +indignant; and, to remedy this glaring evil, the assistants +were directed to enforce, that every member, who could +afford it, should contribute, in the classmeetings, a penny +per week, and a shilling per quarter, at the quarterly visitation, +for the maintenance of the preachers appointed to +watch over them. And, in addition, Wesley issued the following +address.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">“<i>To our Societies in England and Ireland.</i></p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Fifty</span> years ago, and for several years following, all our preachers +were single men, when, in process of time, a few of them married. Those +with whom they laboured maintained both them and their wives, there +being then no settled allowance either for the one or the other. But above +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_551">[Pg 551]</span> +thirty years ago, it was found most convenient to fix a stated allowance +for both,⁠<a id="FNanchor_648_648" href="#Footnote_648_648" class="fnanchor">[648]</a> and this was found by the circuits where they were stationed; +till one year some of the circuits complained of poverty. Dr. Coke and +I supplied what was wanting. The next year, the number of wives +increasing, three or four of them were supplied out of the contingent +fund. This was a bad precedent, for more and more wives were thrown +upon this fund, till it was likely to be swallowed up thereby.⁠<a id="FNanchor_649_649" href="#Footnote_649_649" class="fnanchor">[649]</a> We could +think of no way to prevent this, but to consider the state of our societies +in England and Ireland, and to beg the members of each circuit to give +us that assistance which they can easily do without hurting their +families.</p> + +<p>“Within these fifty years, the substance of the Methodists is increased +in proportion to their numbers. Therefore, if you are not straitened in +your own bowels, this will be no grievance, but you will cheerfully give +food and raiment to those who give up all their time, and strength, and +labour to your service.</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>August 2, 1788</i>.</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span>”</p> +</div> + +<p>No wonder that, in his later years, Wesley so often wrote +and spoke of the corrupting influence of the riches of rich +Methodists!</p> + +<p>The other affair, which demanded the attention of Wesley’s +conference, in 1788, was equally unpleasant. Six years before, +as we have already seen, the trustees, at Birstal, claimed the +power of appointing preachers to their chapel. This was +followed by the deed of declaration in 1784. At the very +time this deed was being signed, the same subject was revived +at Dewsbury, a town contiguous to Birstal.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_552">[Pg 552]</span> +Here it had been proposed to build a new chapel. Mr. +Valton, the assistant, refused to move in the matter, unless it +was agreed that the chapel should be settled according to the +conference plan. Mr. Heald and some others wished to obtain +from Wesley certain concessions, and wrote to John Atlay, +the book steward, to secure them. Atlay replied as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>February 23, 1784</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Sir</span>,—I have, this morning, been with Mr. Wesley, and +have laid your letter before him.⁠<a id="FNanchor_650_650" href="#Footnote_650_650" class="fnanchor">[650]</a> + He is not only willing, but <em>desires</em>, +it be inserted in your deed, that, if ever the conference, or the +preacher appointed by conference, refuse or neglect to provide a preacher +for your chapel for three or four Sundays, then the trustees shall have +it in their own power to call one whom they please, and the power of +nomination shall be theirs in future.</p> + +<p>“If any preacher, appointed to serve your chapel, should be proved +guilty of immorality, the trustees shall have a power to reject him; and, +if the conference does not send another to fill up his place, you shall +have a power to call one to do it.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Atlay.</span>” +</p> +</div> + +<p>On the receipt of this letter, Valton solicited subscriptions, +and preached at the laying of the foundation stone.⁠<a id="FNanchor_651_651" href="#Footnote_651_651" class="fnanchor">[651]</a></p> + +<p>Five days after the date of the above letter, the deed of +declaration was executed; and, among other names omitted, +in the constitution of the legal conference, were those of John +Atlay and William Eels, the first of whom had been a +preacher one-and-twenty years, and the second twelve. This, +by no means, increased Atlay’s loyalty. In an unpublished +letter, dated September 17, 1785, he writes: “Mr. Hampson +is well provided for. I have begun to do a little business for +myself as coal merchant; and have reason to think it will do +well for me. I have not left the book room, nor do I intend +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_553">[Pg 553]</span> +it <em>at present</em>. I have my trials; but the disagreeable things +I have met with, in our connexion, have really raised my +heart to God.”</p> + +<p>In another, bearing date, April 18, 1786, he says: “You +smile at my commencing coal merchant. There was a time +when I could have trusted to my good old friend” (Wesley) +“for everything that I wanted, or was likely to want; but +late occurrences have given me a check; and, I really think, +the thing is right in the sight of the Lord.” He then proceeds +to state that he had lately been attending the ministry of +Mr. Latrobe, the Moravian minister, and that he increasingly +admired him every time he heard him.</p> + +<p>These extracts may help to throw some light on Atlay’s +subsequent conduct.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Dewsbury chapel was completed, and a draft +of the trust deed was sent, by Parson Greenwood, to Manchester +conference, in 1787, for perusal. This was handed +officially to Alexander Mather, who strongly objected to its +provisions; and complained that the trustees had not inserted +a clause, to the effect, “that no preacher should be sent away +till he was tried, and found guilty, before his peers, or the +neighbouring assistant preachers.” The trustees refused to +yield, thus, in reality, making themselves, as Dr. Coke put +it, “accusers, jury, judges, and executioners.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_652_652" href="#Footnote_652_652" class="fnanchor">[652]</a> Wesley had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_554">[Pg 554]</span> +appointed Parson Greenwood and William Percival to the +Dewsbury circuit; but, on October 23, he instructed them to +abandon the chapel and to leave the trustees to provide for +themselves to their hearts’ content.</p> + +<p>Mr. Mather, at the time, was in the Sheffield circuit, and +obtained Wesley’s consent to become mediator between +the contending parties. Accordingly he went, and proposed +to the trustees that they should have power: (1) +To mortgage the premises for the debt unpaid. (2) To +let the seats at any price they liked. (3) To appoint +their own stewards, and dispose of their own income. +He further proposed, that no assistant should expel a +trustee from the society but by the consent of the majority +of his co-trustees. All this was palatable; but what followed +was otherwise. Mather, of course, had no objection to a +preacher being dismissed for immorality, as was proposed in +Atlay’s letter; but he wished to institute a court in which +the accused might have a fair and impartial trial; and, hence, +requested that a clause might be inserted in the trust deed, +providing that three of the nearest assistants should be +judges; that, if they found the charges proved, they should +join with the trustees in requesting Wesley, or the president +of the conference for the time being, to remove the guilty +preacher, and to send another in his place; that, if this was +not done within a specified time, the trustees should do it +themselves; and that, if the conference next ensuing did not +send another preacher, then the election of preachers was to +remain with the trustees, and the power of conference, to +appoint preachers to Dewsbury chapel, to be forfeited for +ever. This the trustees stubbornly rejected; and the further +consideration of the matter was postponed till February 5, +1788. At this second interview, it was proposed by Mr. +Mather, that an appeal should be made to the subscribers to +decide whether the clauses he had named should be inserted +in the deed; and that their decision should be final. This +also was refused; and now, when all further negotiation +seemed impossible, Mather, by Wesley’s request, informed +the seatholders, “that they were not to pay any more rent +till the matter was settled between him and the trustees.”</p> + +<p>Thus the affair was left till the conference of 1788; when a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_555">[Pg 555]</span> +committee met on the subject. John Atlay was present, and +remarked, that if he were to go down to Dewsbury he would +soon settle matters with the trustees. Mather objected to +Atlay’s suggestion, and said: “Mr. Atlay, it is reported, that +you have promised the trustees, that, if Mr. Wesley withdraws +the preachers from Dewsbury, you will yourself go and serve +them. I ask you then, before God and these brethren, have +you made <em>any</em> such promise, or have you not?” Atlay +reluctantly acknowledged, that he had; and, further, that he +had also advised the Methodists at Malton not to settle their +chapel on the conference plan. Next morning Wesley wrote +as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">“<i>To the Trustees of Dewsbury.</i></p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>July 30, 1788</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brethren</span>,—The question between us is, ‘By whom shall +the preachers sent, from time to time, to Dewsbury be judged?’ You say, +‘By the trustees.’ I say, ‘By their peers——​the preachers met in conference.’ +You say, ‘Give up this, and we will receive them.’ I say, ‘I +cannot, I dare not, give up this.’ Therefore, if you will not receive them +on these terms, you renounce connection with your affectionate brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>As the trustees still held out, the conference decided that +another deputation, consisting of Mather, Pawson, Thompson, +Greenwood, and Percival, should meet at Dewsbury on +August 14. The deputies asked, “Have you executed a trust +deed?” The trustees answered, “Yes.” “Can we see it?” +“No.” “Will you add to it a clause such as Mr. Wesley +wishes?” “No.” Such, in substance, were the proceedings +of the meeting. The result was, as before stated, the +preachers, who had been appointed at Dewsbury, were at +once removed; the chapel was abandoned; and the preachers +in the Birstal circuit once more commenced Methodism at +Dewsbury, by preaching in the open streets.⁠<a id="FNanchor_653_653" href="#Footnote_653_653" class="fnanchor">[653]</a></p> + +<p>Five days after the date of the Dewsbury meeting, John +Atlay, who, as we have seen, had joined to Wesley’s book +stewardship the business of a coal merchant, and had also been +toying with the Dewsbury trustees, wrote as follows to Wesley.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>August 19, 1788</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Reverend and dear Sir</span>,—I was in hopes matters at Dewsbury +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_556">[Pg 556]</span> +would have been made up; but, by a letter yesterday, I am informed +that their preachers are removed from them, and their place declared +vacant; in consequence of which, the trustees have most solemnly called +me to come amongst them. They plead my promise; and I cannot go +back from it. With me a promise is sacred, though it should be ever so +much to my hurt; and, as to temporals, it must hurt me much. But I +regard not that, if there is a prospect that I shall be much more useful +there than I ever have been, or can be, in London. But it gives me more +pain than I can express, when I tell you that, in order to go there, I must +quit the book room. The longest that I can stay in it will be till the 25th +of September; and, by that time, you will be able to get one for my place. +I think the fittest man in the world for it is Joseph Bradford. If he +should be appointed, he may come directly, and stay with us till we +go; and, by that time, I could teach him more than he can learn in +three months without me; but these things I leave to your superior +judgment.</p> + +<p>“I have only now to request a few things of you. Do not be angry +with me for leaving you, after having spent fifteen of the best years of my +life in serving you, with more care, fear, labour, and pain, than all the +years of my life have produced. Do not blame me for going to a people +you have left; they are the Lord’s redeemed ones, and some of them +living members of His body. Do not disown me, nor forbid my preaching +in any of your places; but give me leave, where and when it is agreeable +to the preachers, to preach in your houses. But if this request cannot be +complied with, then drop me silently; and let me be of too little consequence +to say anything about me from the pulpit or press. I beg you will +write by return of post; and do not write unkindly to your faithful servant +and friend,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Atlay</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_654_654" href="#Footnote_654_654" class="fnanchor">[654]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Was this the whine of a mercenary man? or was it the +genuine effusion of a loving and honest heart? The reader +must answer for himself; remembering, however, that the +Dewsbury chapel had been built, not by the money of the +trustees, but by the subscriptions of the Methodists; that +three years previous to this, Atlay had entertained the +thought of ultimately leaving Wesley’s stewardship, and, +with an eye to that, had begun the business of selling coals; +and, further, that, since then, he had unquestionably encouraged +the Dewsbury trustees in their rebellion, by +promising to become their preacher, when Wesley withdrew +his. What was Wesley’s answer to his double dealing +friend?</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_557">[Pg 557]</span> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Pembroke</span>, <i>August 23, 1788</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—If you are persuaded, that such a promise +(which is the whole and sole cause of the breach at Dewsbury) is binding, +you must follow your persuasion. You will have blame enough from other +persons; my hand shall not be upon you. If I can do you good, I will; +but shall certainly do you no harm. George Whitfield is the person I +choose to succeed you. I wish you would teach him as much as you can +without delay.</p> + +<p>“I am, with kind love to sister Atlay, your affectionate brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>Thus did Wesley dispose of his book steward’s mischievous +promise; his pert nomination of Joseph Bradford as his +successor; and his whimpering prayer that Wesley would not +punish him for his naughty tricks.</p> + +<p>It is hardly necessary to insert the whole of the correspondence. +Suffice it to say, that Wesley requested Atlay, +before he left, to employ “one or two proper persons to take +an inventory of all the books in the shop and under the +chapel,” so that George Whitfield might know what was +put into his care. Atlay’s reply to this was the following.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>September 20, 1788</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Reverend and dear Sir</span>,—We have almost this moment finished +our job of taking the stock; and, as near as we can tell, your stock is this +day worth <abbr title="13 pounds">£13</abbr>,751 18<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 5<abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr>, according to the prices fixed in the catalogue. +However, you may be sure it is not less than that. Most of these are +saleable things. You will be sure to find sale for them, if you live; and, +if not, they will be of equal value to those to whom you leave them.</p> + +<p class="center">“I am, etc.,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Atlay</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>Atlay went to Dewsbury on September 24, and took +possession of the chapel built with the money of Methodists. +We have before us a number of Mr. Pawson’s letters, written +at this period, and in reference to the Dewsbury unpleasantness. +Pawson went, and preached to the discontented +Methodists; and spent two days in endeavouring to put them +right; but without effect. Mr. Mather was “highly offended” +on account of this; and Mr. Atlay wrote to Pawson “a +thundering letter.” Under date of September 16, 1788, +Pawson says:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“You see the blessedness of striving to make peace. The assistants of +the neighbouring circuits are to preach in the streets at Dewsbury, in their +turns. This is pain and grief to me. To preach in opposition, Methodists +against Methodists, is painful beyond expression. I believe all might have +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_558">[Pg 558]</span> +been prevented by loving, prudent preachers. We have had a few unworthy +men among us, who have been a great burden to us and to the +people; but we do not lay them aside. Therefore, the people will oblige +us to do it, by making deeds like that at Dewsbury. Some of our +preachers do not live near to God, and do not endeavour, by reading and +prayer, to render themselves acceptable to the people. But now it seems +as though the people would make them look about them a little.”</p> +</div> + +<p>From other unpublished letters, we learn that Atlay and +Eels⁠<a id="FNanchor_655_655" href="#Footnote_655_655" class="fnanchor">[655]</a> had large congregations; that they had taken with +them the whole of the Dewsbury society, except a good man +and his wife, of the name of Drake; and that one of the +trustees soon became a bankrupt, and was said to have +squandered a considerable amount of Atlay’s money. +Difficulties speedily ensued; hence the following, extracted +from a letter dated</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Birstal</span>, <i>December 18, 1789</i>. +</p> + +<p>“... Mr. Atlay and Mr. Eels cannot supply the places they have +at present. They want another preacher, but cannot get one. They have +tried to get Mr. Holmes, who left us last conference, but he is engaged to +Sheerness, as the society there is divided. Besides, I understand, they +are all for the Church, and utterly against separation, ordination, etc. The +devil can no longer set the men of the world against us; but he is trying +a much more effectual way, setting the people and preachers one +against another.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Pawson.</span>”<a id="FNanchor_656_656" href="#Footnote_656_656" class="fnanchor">[656]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Thus did Mr. Atlay really set up an <i lang="la">imperium in imperio</i>. +He called himself a Methodist; and yet was setting +Methodism’s founder at defiance. Not content with taking +possession of the Dewsbury circuit, he went to Shields, and +there, and in Newcastle, and other places, founded separate +societies. At length, he and his friend Eels quarrelled. +Hence the following.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Birstal</span>, <i>May 17, 1791</i>. +</p> + +<p>“... Mr. Atlay and Mr. Eels have differed and parted. Mr. Atlay is +gone to London, and whether he will return to Dewsbury is quite uncertain. +I believe very few desire or expect it. He has treated Mr. Eels +in a very unkind and unbrotherly manner ever since he came to Dewsbury, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_559">[Pg 559]</span> +and Mr. Eels was determined to bear it no longer. The trustees had a +meeting, and determined that Mr. Eels should stay; and be, in every +respect, equal to Mr. Atlay. They are greatly displeased with Mr. Atlay’s +conduct, as well as with his doctrines. He has got deep into Mr. +Manners’⁠<a id="FNanchor_657_657" href="#Footnote_657_657" class="fnanchor">[657]</a> opinions, and says that he has believed them these twenty +years. Mr. Eels is very friendly, and I believe most sincerely wishes a +reconciliation, and I hope will endeavour to bring it about.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Pawson.</span>”<a id="FNanchor_658_658" href="#Footnote_658_658" class="fnanchor">[658]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>William Eels died within two years after this. In the +meantime, the Dewsbury trustees began to entertain “shocking +opinions” of their friend Atlay; and in September, 1792, +sent for Pawson to effect a reunion.⁠<a id="FNanchor_659_659" href="#Footnote_659_659" class="fnanchor">[659]</a></p> + +<p>We need not pursue the subject farther. Here we have +the rise, the progress, and collapse of the Atlayite rebellion. +We could give a number of Atlay’s letters, showing that, in +1789, he coquetted with Alexander McNab, and tried to secure +the co-operation of James Oddie. But the traitorous book +steward has already occupied more space than his worth +deserves. We only add, that, to all his other faults, he +added that of circulating the most infamous reports reflecting +on Wesley’s moral character;⁠<a id="FNanchor_660_660" href="#Footnote_660_660" class="fnanchor">[660]</a> which extorted from Wesley +the following characteristic “Word to whom it may Concern,” +inserted in his <cite>Magazine</cite> for 1790, just after the appearance +of Atlay’s pamphlet on the subject.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“<span class="smcap">In</span> August, 1788, Mr. Atlay wrote me word, ‘I must look out for +another servant, for he would go to Dewsbury on September 25.’ So far +was I from ‘bidding him go,’ that I knew nothing of it till that hour. +But I then told him, ‘Go and serve them’: seeing I found he would serve +me no longer.</p> + +<p>“He sent me word that I had in London <abbr title="13 pounds">£13</abbr>,751 18<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 5<abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr>, stock in +books. Desiring to know exactly, I employed two booksellers to take an +account of my stock. The account they brought in, October 31, 1788, +was:</p> + +<p class="center">‘Value of stock, errors excepted, <abbr title="4827 pounds">£4827</abbr> 10<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 3½<abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr></p> + +<p class="right"> +‘John Parsons,  <br> +Thomas Scollick.’ +</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_560">[Pg 560]</span> +“Why did John Atlay so wonderfully overrate my stock? Certainly +to do me honour in the eyes of the world.</p> + +<p>“I never approved of his going to Dewsbury; but I submitted to what +I could not help.</p> + +<p>“With respect to Dewsbury House, there never was any dispute about +the <em>property of preaching houses</em>, that was an artful misrepresentation; +but merely the <em>appointing of preachers</em> in them.</p> + +<p>“If John Atlay has a mind to throw any more dirt upon me, I do not +know I shall take any pains to wipe it off. I have but a few days to live; +and I wish to spend those in peace.</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i><abbr title="February">Feb.</abbr> 25, 1790</i>.</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span>” +</p> +</div> + +<p>These are long, perhaps tedious, statements; but they are +not without interest, as helping to illustrate the life and +character of Wesley. His career was a long continued scene +of trouble. Mobs assailed him first; then parsons and +pamphleteers; then his friends, the Calvinists; and, last of +all, his vexations were chiefly those occasioned by some of his +own faithless followers.</p> + +<p>Not to return to Dewsbury, it may be added here, +that, at the conference of 1789, the preachers subscribed +<abbr title="206 pounds">£206</abbr> towards the erection of a new chapel; and Wesley +issued two circulars, stating the case to the Methodists in +general, and asking their assistance. After mentioning that +the former chapel had been built by the contributions of the +people, (the trustees themselves not giving a quarter of what it +cost,) he continues:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Observe, here is no dispute about the right of houses at all. I have +no right to any preaching house in England. What I claim is, a right of +stationing the preachers. This these trustees have robbed me of in the +present instance. Therefore, only one of these two ways can be taken; +either to sue for this house, or to build another: we prefer the latter, +being the most friendly way.</p> + +<p>“I beg, therefore, my brethren, for the love of God; for the love of me, +your old and well-nigh worn out servant; for the love of ancient Methodism, +which, if itinerancy is interrupted, will speedily come to nothing; +for the love of justice, mercy, and truth, which are all so grievously violated +by the detention of this house; that you will set your shoulders to the +necessary work. Be not straitened in your own bowels. We have never +had such a cause before. Let not then unkind, unjust, fraudulent men, +have cause to rejoice in their bad labour. This is a common cause. +Exert yourselves to the utmost. I have subscribed <abbr title="50 pounds">£50</abbr>. So has Dr. Coke. +The preachers have done all they could. O let them that have much give +plenteously! Perhaps, this is the last labour of love I may have occasion +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_561">[Pg 561]</span> +to recommend to you; let it then stand as one more monument of your +real gratitude to, my dear brethren, your old, affectionate brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_661_661" href="#Footnote_661_661" class="fnanchor">[661]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>We now return to the conference of 1788. These were +not the only things to try Wesley’s patience. An effort was +made to set aside the itinerant plan in Scotland,—a plan to +which, as already shown, Wesley attached the utmost importance. +This evoked the following letter to Lady Maxwell.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>August 8, 1788</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Lady</span>,—It is certain, many persons, both in Scotland and +England, would be well pleased to have the same preachers always. But +we cannot forsake the plan of acting, which we have followed from the +beginning. For fifty years, God has been pleased to bless the itinerant +plan; the last year most of all; it must not be altered, till I am removed; +and, I hope, it will remain till our Lord comes to reign upon earth.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span>”<a id="FNanchor_662_662" href="#Footnote_662_662" class="fnanchor">[662]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>To the same effect was another, written three months later, +and addressed to Jasper Winscomb.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>November 8, 1788</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Jasper</span>,—William Cashman advised you like a heathen. Mr. +Valton <em>deserves</em> pay, as well as you do. But he does not want it, and, +therefore, scorns to take it, knowing the poverty of the land.</p> + +<p>“I am glad to hear so good an account of the Isle of Wight. The +work of God will flourish, there, if it be steadily pursued.</p> + +<p>“No preacher ought to stay either at Portsmouth, or Sarum, or any +other place, a whole week together. That is not the Methodist plan at +all. It is a novel abuse.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Jasper, your affectionate brother,</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_663_663" href="#Footnote_663_663" class="fnanchor">[663]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>On the 10th of August, Wesley set out for Wales and the +west of England; generally preaching twice a day, and on the +Sundays thrice, and everywhere to crowded congregations.</p> + +<p>On the 28th of September, he returned to London, and, +two days after, went off to Norfolk. The remainder of the +year was employed, as usual, in the metropolis and the +surrounding counties.</p> + +<p>These were not pleasure trips; but made in wintry weather, +in frost and snow; the veteran of eighty-five preaching +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_562">[Pg 562]</span> +almost daily, both night and morning, and attending to a +thousand things which demanded his attention.⁠<a id="FNanchor_664_664" href="#Footnote_664_664" class="fnanchor">[664]</a> He writes.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“December 10, and the following days, I corrected my brother’s +posthumous poems; being short psalms, and hymns on the four gospels, +and the Acts of the Apostles. They make five volumes in quarto, containing +eighteen or nineteen hundred pages. Many of them are little, if any, +inferior to his former poems, having the same justness and strength +of thought, with the same beauty of expression; yea, the same keenness +of wit on proper occasions, as bright and piercing as ever. Some are +bad; some mean; some most excellently good. They give the true +sense of Scripture, always in good English, generally in good verse; +many of them are equal to most, if not to any, he ever wrote; but +some still savour of that poisonous mysticism, with which we were both +not a little tainted before we went to America. This gave a gloomy +cast, first to his mind, and then to many of his verses; this made him +frequently describe religion as a melancholy thing; this so often +sounded in his ears, ‘To the desert!’ and strongly persuaded in favour +of solitude.”</p> +</div> + +<p>What had Wesley to say respecting himself? He writes.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“About this time” [December 15] “I was reflecting on the gentle steps +whereby age steals upon us. Take only one instance. Four years ago, +my sight was as good as it was at five-and-twenty. I then began to +observe, that I did not see things quite so clear with my left eye as with +my right; all objects appeared a little browner to that eye. I began next +to find a little difficulty in reading a small print by candlelight. A year +after, I found it in reading such a print by daylight. In the winter of +1786, I could not well read our four shilling hymn-book, unless with a +large candle; the next year, I could not read letters, if wrote with a small +or bad hand. Last winter, a pearl appeared on my left eye, the sight of +which grew exceeding dim. The right eye seems unaltered; only I am +a great deal nearer sighted than ever I was. Thus are ‘those that look +out at the windows darkened’; one of the marks of old age. But, I bless +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_563">[Pg 563]</span> +God, ‘the grasshopper is’ not ‘a burden.’ I am still capable of travelling, +and my memory is much the same as it ever was; and so, I think, is my +understanding.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Thus did Wesley take stock of himself.</p> + +<p>On Christmas day, he preached at four o’clock in the +morning, in City Road, again at eleven, and in West +Street in the evening. On the last Sunday in the year, he +had an exceedingly large congregation in Allhallows church, +Lombard Street; and, concerning this, there is an anecdote +worth relating. The sermon was for the benefit of forty-eight +poor children belonging to <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Ethelburga society. “Sir,” said +Wesley to his attendant while putting on his gown, “it is above +fifty years since I first preached in this church; I remember it +from a particular circumstance. I came without a sermon; +and, going up the pulpit stairs, I hesitated, and returned into +the vestry, under much mental confusion and agitation. A +woman, who stood by, noticed my concern, and said, ‘Pray, +sir, what is the matter?’ I replied, ‘I have not brought a +sermon with me.’ Putting her hand on my shoulder, she +said, ‘Is that all? Cannot you trust God for a sermon?’ +This question had such an effect upon me, that I ascended +the pulpit, preached extempore, with great freedom to +myself, and acceptance to the people; and have never since +taken a written sermon into the pulpit.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_665_665" href="#Footnote_665_665" class="fnanchor">[665]</a> “A word spoken +in due season, how good is it!”</p> + +<p>Wesley’s publications, in 1788, have all been noticed, +except his <cite>Magazine</cite>; and, concerning this, it is not needful +to say much. There are, as usual, six new sermons from +the venerable editor’s own pen: namely, On Reproving Sin; +The Signs of the Times; Man; The Ministry of Wicked +Ministers; Conscience; and Faith.</p> + +<p>Wesley concludes the first of these thus:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“I have now only a few words to add unto you, my brethren, who are +vulgarly called Methodists. I never heard or read of any considerable +revival of religion, which was not attended with a spirit of reproving. I +believe, it cannot be otherwise; for what is faith unless it worketh by +love? Thus it was in every part of England, when the present revival of +religion began about fifty years ago. All the subjects of that revival,—all +the Methodists, in every place, were reprovers of outward sin. And, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_564">[Pg 564]</span> +indeed, so are all that, being justified by faith, have peace with God +through Jesus Christ. Such they are at first; and if they use that +precious gift, it will never be taken away. Come, brethren! In the name +of God, let us begin again! Rich or poor, let us all arise as one man! +And, in any wise, let every man rebuke his neighbour, and not suffer sin +upon him!”</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley’s sermon, on attending the ministry of unconverted +ministers, would never have been written, had he not been +pressed by the objections of Methodists, and yet determined +to prevent their leaving the Established Church. Its arguments +are specious, not sound. It might puzzle the simple +minded Methodists; but it would not convince them they +were wrong. It was a feeble attempt to get converted people +to sit under an unconverted ministry. We conclude with +one extract.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“It has been loudly affirmed, that most of those persons now in connection +with <i>me</i>, who believe it their duty to call sinners to repentance, +having been taken immediately from low trades, tailors, shoemakers, and +the like, are a set of poor, stupid, illiterate men, that scarce know their +right hand from their left; yet, I cannot but say, that I would sooner cut +off my right hand, than suffer one of them to speak a word in any of our +chapels, if I had not reasonable proof, that he had more knowledge in +the holy Scriptures, more knowledge of himself, more knowledge of God +and of the things of God, than nine in ten of the clergymen I have +conversed with, either at the universities, or elsewhere. Undoubtedly, +there are many clergymen in these kingdoms, that are not only free from +outward sin, but men of eminent learning, and, what is infinitely more, +deeply acquainted with God. But, still, I am constrained to confess, that +the far greater part of those ministers I have conversed with, for above +half a century, have not been holy men,—not devoted to God,—not +deeply acquainted either with God or themselves.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Such was Wesley’s reluctant confession; and yet, to +prevent what he called a separation from the Established +Church, he elaborately persuades the Methodists, that they +ought to receive the sacraments from these men; instead of +requiring them at the hands of the converted artisans, who +had preached so successfully, and who, according to Wesley’s +own confession, were, even in point of <em>scriptural knowledge</em>, the +superiors of the unconverted gentlemen, trained in colleges, +and made priests or deacons—​not by Christ,—but by bishops!</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_606_606" href="#FNanchor_606_606" class="label">[606]</a> Four letters, standing for <i lang="la">Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ Presbyter Johannes</i>: +“John, presbyter of the Church of England.” Wesley, in early life, sometimes +used this signature in writing to his brother.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_607_607" href="#FNanchor_607_607" class="label">[607]</a> Moore’s Life of Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 359.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_608_608" href="#FNanchor_608_608" class="label">[608]</a> Jackson’s Life of C. Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 437.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_609_609" href="#FNanchor_609_609" class="label">[609]</a> Jackson’s Life of C. Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 438.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_610_610" href="#FNanchor_610_610" class="label">[610]</a> Ibid. <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 438.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_611_611" href="#FNanchor_611_611" class="label">[611]</a> Ibid. <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 439.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_612_612" href="#FNanchor_612_612" class="label">[612]</a> Jackson’s Life of C. Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 440.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_613_613" href="#FNanchor_613_613" class="label">[613]</a> Jackson’s Life of C. Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 441.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_614_614" href="#FNanchor_614_614" class="label">[614]</a> “The Allens of Shiney Row,” <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 59.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_615_615" href="#FNanchor_615_615" class="label">[615]</a> Jackson’s Life of C. Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 442.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_616_616" href="#FNanchor_616_616" class="label">[616]</a> <cite>Methodist Recorder</cite>, <abbr title="December"><abbr title="December">Dec.</abbr></abbr> 5, 1861.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_617_617" href="#FNanchor_617_617" class="label">[617]</a> Jackson’s Life of C. Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 445.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_618_618" href="#FNanchor_618_618" class="label">[618]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1788, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 543.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_619_619" href="#FNanchor_619_619" class="label">[619]</a> Manuscript letter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_620_620" href="#FNanchor_620_620" class="label">[620]</a> Jackson’s Life of C. Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 449.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_621_621" href="#FNanchor_621_621" class="label">[621]</a> Ibid.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_622_622" href="#FNanchor_622_622" class="label">[622]</a> Mrs. Fletcher’s Life, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 251.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_623_623" href="#FNanchor_623_623" class="label">[623]</a> Manuscript letter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_624_624" href="#FNanchor_624_624" class="label">[624]</a> J. Pawson’s manuscript letter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_625_625" href="#FNanchor_625_625" class="label">[625]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1845, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 111.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_626_626" href="#FNanchor_626_626" class="label">[626]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1797, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 553.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_627_627" href="#FNanchor_627_627" class="label">[627]</a> Memoir of Mrs. Knaggs.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_628_628" href="#FNanchor_628_628" class="label">[628]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1836, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 492.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_629_629" href="#FNanchor_629_629" class="label">[629]</a> Memoirs of Spence, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 26.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_630_630" href="#FNanchor_630_630" class="label">[630]</a> Ibid.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_631_631" href="#FNanchor_631_631" class="label">[631]</a> It ought to have been <em>eighty-sixth</em>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_632_632" href="#FNanchor_632_632" class="label">[632]</a> Black’s Memoirs, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 219.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_633_633" href="#FNanchor_633_633" class="label">[633]</a> Bulmer’s Memoir, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 4.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_634_634" href="#FNanchor_634_634" class="label">[634]</a> Smith’s “Methodism in Ireland.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_635_635" href="#FNanchor_635_635" class="label">[635]</a> Ibid.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_636_636" href="#FNanchor_636_636" class="label">[636]</a> Manuscript letters in Mission House.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_637_637" href="#FNanchor_637_637" class="label">[637]</a> Ibid.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_638_638" href="#FNanchor_638_638" class="label">[638]</a> Ibid.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_639_639" href="#FNanchor_639_639" class="label">[639]</a> A proposal to ordain him. See <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1845, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 112.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_640_640" href="#FNanchor_640_640" class="label">[640]</a> Manuscript letters in Mission House.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_641_641" href="#FNanchor_641_641" class="label">[641]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 298.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_642_642" href="#FNanchor_642_642" class="label">[642]</a> James Wray was a member of Wesley’s legalised conference. After +travelling six years in English circuits, he now went, as an ordained +missionary superintendent to Nova Scotia. It is a curious fact that the +Nova Scotians objected to him, not only on the ground of his want of +learning, but because he was <em>an Englishman</em>! On hearing of this, +Wesley, in an unpublished letter, wrote: “O American gratitude! Lord, +I appeal to Thee!”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_643_643" href="#FNanchor_643_643" class="label">[643]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume fourteen">vol. xiv.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 343.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_644_644" href="#FNanchor_644_644" class="label">[644]</a> Cowper had recently published “The Task,” and was now employed +in his translation of Homer. In another letter, Wesley says: “I think Mr. +Cowper has done as much as is possible to be done with his lamentable +story. I can only wish he had a better subject.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_645_645" href="#FNanchor_645_645" class="label">[645]</a> Except in the case of the psalms, where about thirty are discarded, +and about sixty mutilated. The propriety of this may be fairly doubted.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_646_646" href="#FNanchor_646_646" class="label">[646]</a> See Nott’s Bampton Lecture, 1802.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_647_647" href="#FNanchor_647_647" class="label">[647]</a> <cite>The Wesleyan</cite>, <abbr title="November">Nov.</abbr> 4, 1846.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_648_648" href="#FNanchor_648_648" class="label">[648]</a> As a curious specimen of the way in which things were managed in +the early days of Methodism, the following extracts are given from “The +Dales” circuit book, whose accounts extend from 1765 to 1791.</p> + +<div class="footnote"> +<table> +<tr><td colspan="2"></td> + <td class="tdr pad1"><abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr></td> + <td class="tdr pad1"><abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2">“1765.</td> + <td class="tdh"><abbr title="December">Dec.</abbr> 7. Thomas Rankin. Two meals, and horse one night</td> + <td class="tdr vlb">1</td> + <td class="tdr vlb">0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2">1766.</td> + <td class="tdh">March 29. John Ellis. Six meals, and horse three nights, + shirt washed, and pennyworth of paper</td> + <td class="tdr vlb">2</td> + <td class="tdr vlb">10</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc vlt pad2">”</td> + <td class="tdh"><abbr title="September">Sept.</abbr> 28. Jeremiah Robertshaw. Twelve meals, and + horse four nights, and shirt washing</td> + <td class="tdr vlb">5</td> + <td class="tdr vlb">3”</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p class="unindent">The reader can calculate how many meals a day were allowed to these +godly men, and how much per meal. Besides these allowances for <em>board</em>, +each preacher was entitled to receive, as <em>quarterage</em>, for himself <abbr title="3 pounds">£3</abbr>; and, +for his wife, if he had one, <abbr title="2 pounds">£2</abbr> 10<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_649_649" href="#FNanchor_649_649" class="label">[649]</a> The contingent fund, raised by the yearly collection in the classes, +was originally intended to defray law expenses, and to pay, or reduce, +chapel debts. In this year, 1788, the income of the fund was <abbr title="1203 pounds">£1203</abbr> 7<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 1<abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr>, +out of which was paid for law expenses, <abbr title="37 pounds">£37</abbr> 4<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 2<abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr>; for chapels, +<abbr title="106 pounds">£106</abbr> 15<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 0<abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr>; and for the deficiencies of the preachers and their families, +<abbr title="433 pounds">£433</abbr> 18<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 1<abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr> It was high time for Wesley to take action; though his +effort to correct the evil was without effect.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_650_650" href="#FNanchor_650_650" class="label">[650]</a> In a <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr> pamphlet, published in 1788, and entitled, “A Reply to +what the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Dr. Coke is pleased to call ‘The State of the Dewsbury +House,’ being a Vindication of the Conduct of the Trustees of that +House,”—it is stated, that the questions proposed to Wesley by Mr. +Heald were: (1) “If the conference should neglect to supply the house +with preachers, would it be understood to remain the property of the +conference, or would the trustees have a power to provide for themselves? +(2) If any preacher, sent them, should be found guilty of immorality, +would the trustees have a power of rejecting him?” It further states, that +the trustees had, in Wesley’s own handwriting, a paragraph to the effect +that “the <em>assistants and leaders</em> were to be the proper judges” of a +preacher charged with immorality. This certainly clashes with Wesley’s +letter, given hereafter, and dated July 30, 1788.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_651_651" href="#FNanchor_651_651" class="label">[651]</a> “The State of Dewsbury House.” By Dr. Coke.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_652_652" href="#FNanchor_652_652" class="label">[652]</a> By the kindness of Mr. Robinson, of Dewsbury, we have before us a +copy of the original trust deed, from which we learn that, if, after a +vacancy, Wesley or the conference refused or neglected, for the space of +forty days, to appoint a preacher; or if the preacher appointed should +“not conduct or conform himself to the satisfaction of the trustees or, +the major part of them, it should be lawful for the said trustees, or such +major part, not only to displace such preacher, (after giving him one +month’s previous notice thereof in writing,) but also to appoint such other +preacher as they should deem more proper, and better qualified to benefit +the society.” The deed is dated January 31, 1788, and the names and +occupations of the trustees are as follows.</p> + +<ul> +<li>John Heald, maltster.</li> +<li>John Robinson, weaver.</li> +<li>Joseph Gill, clothier.</li> +<li>John Beaumont, cordwainer.</li> +<li>John Lancaster, currier.</li> +<li>John Howgate, <abbr title="senior">sen.</abbr>, clothier.</li> +<li>John Howgate, <abbr title="junior">jun.</abbr>, clothier.</li> +<li>Bartholmew Archer, clothier.</li> +<li>William Walker, clothier.</li> +<li>John Thorns, clothier.</li> +<li>Isaac Wilman, clothier.</li> +<li>Abraham Thomas, clothier.</li> +<li>Timothy Parker, clothier.</li> +<li>John Hirst, clothier.</li> +<li>Joseph Bennett, farmer.</li> +<li>Thomas Bromley, clothier.</li> +<li>Benjamin Whitaker, farmer.</li> +</ul> +<p></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_653_653" href="#FNanchor_653_653" class="label">[653]</a> Mather’s “State of Dewsbury House.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_654_654" href="#FNanchor_654_654" class="label">[654]</a> “Letters by <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> J. Wesley and Mr. John Atlay.” 1790.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_655_655" href="#FNanchor_655_655" class="label">[655]</a> By some strange oversight, William Eels, at the conference of 1788, +was left without an appointment; and, at the time of Atlay’s arrival +there, was actually at Dewsbury, endeavouring to make peace. Hearing +of this, and mistaking Eels’ motive, Mr. Mather impetuously took steps +to prevent his preaching in other Methodist pulpits. “This was the only +cause of his uniting with John Atlay.”—(Pawson’s manuscripts.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_656_656" href="#FNanchor_656_656" class="label">[656]</a> Unpublished letter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_657_657" href="#FNanchor_657_657" class="label">[657]</a> Nicholas Manners was one of Wesley’s itinerant preachers from 1759 +to 1784. He was an able man. His heresy, in substance, was, that, in +consequence of the work and death of Christ, all men are born in the +same state as that in which Adam stood previous to his fall.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_658_658" href="#FNanchor_658_658" class="label">[658]</a> Unpublished letter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_659_659" href="#FNanchor_659_659" class="label">[659]</a> Pawson’s manuscript letters.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_660_660" href="#FNanchor_660_660" class="label">[660]</a> We have, in manuscript, his most malignant slander, but prefer withholding +it. No wonder John Atlay wrote, in a letter to Mr. Merryweather, +of Yarm, in 1785, “You know I never mount high in profession of grace.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_661_661" href="#FNanchor_661_661" class="label">[661]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1790, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 103.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_662_662" href="#FNanchor_662_662" class="label">[662]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 328.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_663_663" href="#FNanchor_663_663" class="label">[663]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1859, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 247.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_664_664" href="#FNanchor_664_664" class="label">[664]</a> Among other places, he preached at Sevenoaks, and is said to have +used these words: “When a sinner is awakened, the baptists begin to +trouble him about outward forms, and modes of worship, and that of +baptism. They had better cut his throat,” etc. Whether the exact +words were used we have no means of knowing; but a warm controversy +sprung out of the affair. Mr. William Kingsford issued “A Vindication +of the Baptists from the Criminality of a Charge exhibited against them +by the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Wesley.” This was answered by T. C., supposed by +Kingsford to be the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Coleman. (Query Thomas Coke?) And +this was replied to by Kingsford in a shilling pamphlet, bearing the +title, “Three Letters to the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Wesley, containing remarks on +a Piece lately published, with his approbation, and Three Challenges +to all the Methodists in the Kingdom.” The whole thing was “much +ado about nothing.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_665_665" href="#FNanchor_665_665" class="label">[665]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1825, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 105.</p></div></div> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"><p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_565">[Pg 565]</span></p> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="1789">1789.</h2> +<hr class="short"> +<p class="center">Age 86</p></div> + +<p class="p2 drop-cap"><span class="smcap">Wesley</span> wrote:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“January 1, 1789—If this is to be the last year of my life, +according to some of those prophecies, I hope it will be the best. I am +not careful about it, but heartily receive the advice of the angel in Milton,⁠—</p> + +<p class="center">‘How well is thine; how long, permit to Heaven.’</p> + +<p>“January 5—I once more sat for my picture. Mr. Romney is a painter +indeed. He struck off an exact likeness at once; and did more in an +hour than Sir Joshua did in ten.⁠<a id="FNanchor_666_666" href="#Footnote_666_666" class="fnanchor">[666]</a></p> + +<p>“January 9—I left no money to anyone in my will, because I had none. +But now, considering that, whenever I am removed, money will soon arise +by sale of books, I added a few legacies by a codicil, to be paid as soon +as may be. But I would fain do a little good while I live; for who can +tell what will come after him?”</p> + +<p>“January 11—I again warned the congregation, as strongly as I could, +against conformity to the world. But who will take the warning? If +hardly one in ten, yet is my record with the Most High.”</p> + +<p>“January 20—I retired in order to finish my year’s accounts. If +possible, I must be a better economist; for, instead of having anything +beforehand, I am now considerably in debt; but this I do not like. I +would fain settle even my accounts before I die.”</p> +</div> + +<p>It was at this period that the following unpublished letter +was written. Duncan McAllum had been ordained by +Wesley in 1787, and the reader will observe that, instead +of addressing him as he addressed his preachers in general, +he gives him the title of “reverend.”</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>January 20, 1789</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Duncan</span>,—By all means choose trustees without delay; and +let them be such as belong to the circuit; only such as you can depend +upon, both for judgment and honesty. I think it is by prayer that +you must alter the purpose of the Earl of Findlater. I am not +at all surprised at the behaviour of John Atlay. In a year or two, he +will find whether he has changed for the better. He was the first occasion +of the division at Dewsbury, by sending word to the trustees, that, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_566">[Pg 566]</span> +if the conference would not supply them with preachers, he would come +himself, and settle among them.</p> + +<p>“I am, with love to sister McAllum, your affectionate friend and +brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>. +</p> + +<p>“To the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. McAllum, Inverness.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Four days later, he wrote as follows to Freeborn Garretson, +in America.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>January 24, 1789</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—It signifies but little where we are, so we are +but fully employed for our good Master. Whether you went, therefore, to +the east, it is all one, so you were labouring to promote His work. You +are following the order of His providence, wherever it appeared, as a +holy man expressed it, in a kind of holy disordered order. But there is +one expression, that occurs twice or thrice in yours, which gives me +some concern: you speak of finding freedom to do this or that. This +is a word much liable to be abused. If I have plain Scripture, or plain +reason, for doing a thing,—well. These are my rules, and my only rules. +I regard not whether I had freedom or no. This is an unscriptural +expression, and a very fallacious rule. I wish to be in every point, great +and small, a scriptural, rational Christian.</p> + +<p>“I am, your affectionate friend and brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_667_667" href="#Footnote_667_667" class="fnanchor">[667]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>At the end of January, Wesley went to open new chapels at +Rye and Winchelsea. Returning to London, the month of +February was spent in preaching, in writing, in meeting +classes and the local preachers, and in ordaining Henry +Moore and Thomas Rankin, the last of his preachers upon +whom he laid his hands.⁠<a id="FNanchor_668_668" href="#Footnote_668_668" class="fnanchor">[668]</a></p> + +<p>The following anecdotes, related in the Life of Moore, +belong to the present year, and are strikingly characteristic +of Wesley and his friends.</p> + +<p>One of the leading men, in the London circuit, (though +not a member,) had been in the habit of receiving the +sacrament from the hands of Wesley and his brother clergymen, +but had fallen into sin. Henry Moore waited upon +him for an explanation of his conduct, and, not being +satisfied, told him he should be obliged to refuse him a +note of admission to the Lord’s supper. The gentleman +was annoyed, and went to one of Wesley’s clergy, whom +he persuaded to apply to Wesley on his behalf. Entering +the vestry while Wesley was writing the note, Moore with +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_567">[Pg 567]</span> +his honest sternness accosted him: “Sir, do you mean to +give a note of admission to Mr. <span class="lock">——?”</span> “Yes, Henry,” +replied Wesley, “I have reason to believe the report of his +conduct is a mistake.” “I have fully examined it,” answered +Moore, “and I find it no mistake; and, if you give him a +note, I shall not take the sacrament myself.” Wesley, in +reply, observed, “I would take the sacrament if the devil +himself were there.” “So would I,” said Moore, “but not +if you gave him a note of admission.” The Irishman came +off with flying colours; for Wesley put the note into the fire, +and left the erring one to think and to repent.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hall was Wesley’s only surviving sister, and was an +inmate of his house, but not a Methodist. One day, the two +called on Henry Moore. “Brother,” said Mrs. Hall, “I +should like to attend the religious meetings of your people. +Have I your leave?” “O yes,” said he, “you may go to +them.” “Then,” rejoined this friend of the great Dr. +Johnson, “having your permission, I shall not ask that of +any one else.” “Yes, you must;” replied her brother, remembering +that Moore was circuit assistant, “when I am not here, +you must ask leave of Henry Moore.”</p> + +<p>In these days, it was customary for the itinerant and local +preachers to take breakfast together, on Sunday mornings, at +City Road. On one occasion, when Wesley was present, a young +man rose and found fault with one of his seniors. The Scotch +blood of Thomas Rankin was roused, and he sharply rebuked +the juvenile for his impertinence; but, in turn, was as sharply +rebuked himself. Wesley instantly replied: “I will thank the +youngest man among you to tell me of any fault you see in +me; in doing so, I shall consider him as my best friend.” +This was quite enough to silence Rankin.</p> + +<p>“Henry Moore,” said Wesley, “you are a witness that what +John Atlay said, when he left us, is untrue. He said, ‘Mr. +Wesley could never bear a man who contradicted him.’ Now +no man in England has contradicted me as much as you have +done; and yet, Henry, I love you still. You are right.”</p> + +<p>Hundreds of such anecdotes might be given: these must +serve as specimens.</p> + +<p>On Sunday, the 1st of March, after preaching to two +crowded congregations, in City Road, Wesley and three of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_568">[Pg 568]</span> +his preachers took coach for Bath; and “spent,” says he, “a +comfortable night, partly in sound sleep, and partly in singing +praise to God.” Such, after a hard day, at seven o’clock in a +winter’s night, was the start of an old man of eighty-six, on a +five months’ preaching tour!</p> + +<p>At Bath and Bristol, he spent a fortnight, in preaching and +meeting classes, and then set out for Ireland. On the way, he +preached at Stroud, Gloucester, and Tewkesbury. At Birmingham, +he opened a new chapel, and remarks: “Saturday, +March 21—I had a day of rest, only preaching morning and +evening.” The passage from Holyhead, instead of occupying +four hours, as at present, occupied thirty-six, and, during it, +the venerable voyager was a serious sufferer. “I do not +remember,” he writes, “that I was ever so sick at sea before; +but this was little to the cramp which held most of the night +with little intermission.” He arrived at Dublin quay at eight +on Sunday morning, and, notwithstanding the illness from +which he had suffered, went direct to Dublin chapel, and +“preached on the sickness and recovery of King Hezekiah +and King George,” and afterwards administered the sacrament +to about five hundred people.</p> + +<p>At this sacramental service, he employed his assistant, +William Myles, in giving the cup to the communicants; an +act which occasioned huge offence, for William Myles was not +ordained. In the week following, a long paragraph appeared +in the <cite>Dublin Evening Post</cite>, setting forth, that “the <em>Church +was in danger!</em> and calling upon the archbishop to use his +authority; for a Mr. William Myles, a layman, had assisted +Mr. Wesley in administering the Lord’s supper; the greatest +innovation that had been witnessed for the last fifty years!” +“This brought on,” says Mr. Myles, “a newspaper controversy, +which continued for three months. My name was +bandied about to some purpose; but I endeavoured in +patience to possess my soul. At the expiration of the three +months, the subscribers desired the printer to put no more +Methodist nonsense into his paper; and he had the good +sense to listen to the requisition of his customers, which +happily terminated this exquisitely silly controversy.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_669_669" href="#Footnote_669_669" class="fnanchor">[669]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_569">[Pg 569]</span> +On Wesley’s arrival at Dublin, he had, to use his own +expression, “letter upon letter,” concerning the alteration in +the Sunday service, which had been introduced by Dr. Coke; +and, hence, he addressed the following.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">“<i>To certain Persons in Dublin.</i></p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Whitefriar Street, Dublin</span>, <i>March 31, 1789</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brethren</span>,—I much approve of the manner and spirit +wherein you write concerning these tender points. I explained myself +upon them, in some measure, on Sunday: I will do it more fully now.</p> + +<p>“At present, I have nothing to do with Dr. Coke: but I answer for +myself. I do not separate from the Church, nor have any intention so to +do. Neither do they, that meet on Sunday noon, separate from the +Church, any more than they did before: nay, less; for they attend the +church and sacrament oftener now than they did two years ago.</p> + +<p>“‘But this occasions much strife.’ True; but they make the strife +who do not attend the service. Let them quietly either come or stay +away, and there will be no strife at all.</p> + +<p>“‘But those that attend say, those that do not are fallen from grace.’ +No, they do not give them a bad word; but they surely will fall from +grace, if they do not let them alone who follow their own consciences.</p> + +<p>“But you ‘fear this will make way for a total separation from the +Church.’ You have no ground for this fear. There can be no such +separation while I live. Leave to God what may come after.</p> + +<p>“But, to speak plainly, do not you separate from the Church? Yea, +much more than those you blame? Pray, how often have you been at +church since Christmas? Twelve times in twelve weeks? And how long +have you been so fond of the Church? Are you fond of it at all? Do +not you go oftener to a Dissenting meeting than either to <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Patrick’s, or +your parish church?</p> + +<p>“My dear brethren, you and I have but a short time to stay together. +‘My race of glory is run, and race of shame; and I shall shortly be with +those that rest.’ Therefore, as one that loves you well, and has loved you +long, I advise you, in the presence and in the fear of God: (1) Either +quietly attend the Sunday service, or quietly refrain from it; then there +will be no strife at all. Now you make the strife of which you complain. +(2) Make not this a pretence for being weary of well doing. Do not, for +so poor a reason, withdraw your subscription from the school or the +preachers. What a miserable revenge would this be! Never let it be +said, that my friend <span class="lock">A——</span> <span class="lock">K——,</span> + that brother <span class="lock">D——,</span> or <span class="lock">B——,</span> were +capable of this. From this hour, let this idle strife be buried in eternal +oblivion. Talk not of it any more. If it be possible, think not of it any +more. Rather think, ‘the Judge standeth at the door;’ let us prepare +to meet our God!</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span>”<a id="FNanchor_670_670" href="#Footnote_670_670" class="fnanchor">[670]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_570">[Pg 570]</span> +Such was Wesley’s attempt to defend the Dublin Methodist +service in church hours; or rather, such was his attack on +those who were opposed to it. No doubt his accusations were +founded upon facts; but this was hardly an answer to the +argument of objectors, that having service in church hours +was, <i lang="la">ipso facto</i>, separation from the Church. He tells us, that +one consequence of Dr. Coke’s new arrangement was, that +three times more Methodists now went to <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Patrick’s, on the +first Sunday in every month, than had done for ten or twenty +years before; and that, on the first Sunday of April, when +he went himself, many of them went with him; the number +of communicants being about five hundred, or, in other +words, more communicants, on that single Sunday, than <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> +Patrick’s used to have the whole year round, before the +Methodists were known in Ireland. The arrangement, says +Wesley, that the Methodists in Dublin should have service in +church hours, “on condition that they would attend <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> +Patrick’s every first Sunday in the month, was made, not to +prepare for, but to prevent, a separation from the Church.” +There can be no question, that this was Wesley’s wish; but +it may be doubted whether it was Dr. Coke’s intention.</p> + +<p>During this Dublin fracas, Wesley sent, at least, one letter +to the public papers. The following is an extract.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">“<i>To the Printer of the ‘Dublin Chronicle.’</i></p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Londonderry</span>, <i>June 2, 1789</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—As soon as I was gone from Dublin, the <em>Observer</em> came forth, +only with his face covered. Afterwards, he came out, under another +name, and made a silly defence for me, that he might have the honour of +answering it. His words are smoother than oil, and flow (who can +doubt it?) from mere love both to me and the people.</p> + +<p>“But what does this smooth, candid writer endeavour to prove, with all +the softness and good humour imaginable? Only this point, (to explain +it in plain English,) that I am a double tongued knave, an old crafty +hypocrite, who have used religion merely for a cloak, and have worn a +mask for these fifty years, saying one thing and meaning another. A +bold charge this, only it happens that matter of fact contradicts it from +beginning to end.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley then proceeds to give an outline of his history +from his youth to the time when he took the French churches +in West Street, Seven Dials, and in Spitalfields, and he and his +brother began to preach in them in church hours; and states +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_571">[Pg 571]</span> +that the two archbishops of Canterbury, Potter and Secker, +and the two bishops of London, Gibson and Lowth, never +blamed them for this, or thought or called it separation from +the Church; only, on one occasion, Archbishop Potter said: +“These gentlemen are irregular; but they have done good, +and I pray God to bless them.” Wesley continues:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“It may be observed that, all this time, if my brother or I were ill, I +desired one of our other preachers, though not ordained, to preach in +either of the chapels, after reading part of the Church prayers. This +both my brother and I judged would endear the Church prayers to them, +whereas, if they were used wholly to extemporary prayer, they would +naturally contract a kind of contempt, if not aversion, to forms of prayer; +so careful were we, from the beginning, to prevent their leaving the +Church.</p> + +<p>“When the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Edward Smyth came to live in Dublin, he +earnestly advised me to leave the Church; meaning thereby, (as all +sensible men do,) to renounce all connection with it, to attend the services +of it no more, and to advise all our societies to take the same steps. I +judged this to be a matter of great importance, and would, therefore, do +nothing hastily; but referred it to the body of preachers, then met in +conference. We had several meetings, in which he proposed all his +reasons for it at large. They were severally considered, and answered, +and we all determined not to leave the Church.</p> + +<p>“A year ago, Dr. Coke began officiating at our chapel in Dublin. +This was no more than had been done in London for between forty and +fifty years. Some persons immediately began to cry out, ‘This is leaving +the Church, which Mr. Wesley has continually declared he would never +do.’ And I declare so still. But I appeal to all the world, I appeal to +common sense, I appeal to the <em>Observer</em> himself, could I mean hereby, +‘I will not have service in church hours’? No; but I denied, and do deny +still, that this is leaving the Church, either in the sense of Bishop Gibson, +or of Mr. Smyth at the Dublin conference. Yet, by this outcry, many well +meaning people were frighted well-nigh out of their senses.</p> + +<p>“‘But see the consequence of having Sunday service here! See the +confusion this occasioned!’ Some time since, while a popular preacher +was preaching at Leeds, one cried out, ‘Fire! Fire!’ The people took +fright, some leaped over the gallery, and several legs and arms were +broken. But upon whom were these consequences to be charged? Not +on the preacher, but on him that made the outcry. Apply this to the +present case. I have kindled no more fire in Dublin than I did in +London. It is the <em>Observer</em> and a few other mischief makers, who +fright the people out of their senses; and they must answer to God +for the consequence.</p> + +<p>“This is my answer to them that trouble me, and will not let my grey +hairs go down to the grave in peace. I am not a man of duplicity; I am +not an old hypocrite, a double tongued knave. More than forty years, I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_572">[Pg 572]</span> +have frequented Ireland. I have wished to do some good here. I now +tell a plain tale, that ‘the good that is in me may not be evil spoken of.’ +I have no temporal end to serve. I seek not the honour that cometh of +men. It is not for pleasure, that, at this time of life, I travel three or four +thousand miles a year. It is not for gain.</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0a">‘No foot of land do I possess,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">No cottage in this wilderness;</div> +<div class="verse indent2">A poor wayfaring man,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">I lodge awhile in tents below,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Or gladly wander to and fro,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">Till I my Canaan gain.’</div> +</div></div> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span> +</p> + +<p>“P.S. At the desire of a friend, I add a few words in answer to one +or two other objections.</p> + +<p>“First. When I said, ‘I believe I am a scriptural bishop,’ I spoke on +Lord King’s supposition, that bishops and presbyters are essentially one +order.</p> + +<p>“Secondly. I did desire Mr. Myles to assist me in delivering the cup. +Now, be this right or wrong, how does it prove the point now in question, +that I leave the Church? I ask (2) What law of the Church forbids this? +And (3) What law of the primitive church? Did not the priest in the +primitive church send both the bread and wine to the sick by whom he +pleased, though not ordained at all?</p> + +<p>“Thirdly. The <em>Observer</em> affirms, ‘To say you will not leave the +church, meaning thereby all true believers in England, is trifling.’ Certainly; +but I do not mean so when I say, ‘I will not leave the Church.’ +I mean, unless I see more reason for it than I ever yet saw, I will not leave +the Church of England as by law established, while the breath of God is +in my nostrils.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_671_671" href="#Footnote_671_671" class="fnanchor">[671]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>Such was Wesley’s manifesto in 1789; in reality, a defence +of a thing he had often condemned,—Methodist service in +church hours.</p> + +<p>While Wesley was thus attacked in the public press, he met +with the greatest respect and attention from several persons +of distinguished rank in Dublin and its environs; the Earl of +Moira among the number. “They seemed,” says Mr. Myles, +“to think it a blessing to have him beneath their roof.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_672_672" href="#Footnote_672_672" class="fnanchor">[672]</a> +Many of them flocked to hear him, on Good Friday, when he +preached, morning and evening, in the elegant chapel of his +old clerical dissenting friend, the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Edward Smyth. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_573">[Pg 573]</span> +Neither grand people, however, nor grand chapels, were at all +prized by Wesley, except as they furnished opportunities of +Christian usefulness. “At both times on Good Friday,” says +he, “we had a brilliant congregation, among whom were +honourable and right honourable persons; but I felt they +were all given into my hands; for God was in the midst. +What a mercy it is, what a marvellous condescension in God, +to provide such places as Bethesda, and Lady Huntingdon’s +chapels, for these delicate hearers, who could not bear sound +doctrine if it were not set off with these <em>pretty trifles</em>!”</p> + +<p>Dublin was not the only place which, at this time, gave +Wesley trouble. The Dewsbury circuit was entirely wrested +by his traitorous book steward; and now, the same rebellion +against giving Wesley, and (after his death) Wesley’s conference, +the sole power to appoint preachers, was showing itself +at Shields. Hence the following, addressed to the three +itinerant preachers stationed in the Newcastle circuit.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Dublin</span>, <i>April 11, 1789</i>. +</p> + +<p>“I <em>require</em> you three, Peter Mill, Joseph Thompson, and John Stamp, +without consulting or regarding any person whatever, to require a positive +answer of Edward Coats, within three weeks after the receipt of this, +‘Will you, or will you not, settle the house at Milburn Place, North +Shields, on the Methodist plan?’ If he will not do it within another +week, I farther require that none of you preach in that house, unless you +will renounce all connection with your affectionate brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>. +</p> + +<p>“I am at a point. I will be trifled with no longer.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_673_673" href="#Footnote_673_673" class="fnanchor">[673]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>Was this more hasty than wise? John Pawson seemed to +think so. The following is taken from one of his unpublished +letters, to Charles Atmore, dated “Leeds, May 9, 1789.”</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“What a pity it is that Mr. Wesley will pursue these violent measures! +If he goes thus, there will be divisions upon divisions among us. Mr. +Hanby informs me, that, at North and South Shields, and at Alnwick, +they refuse to settle their houses upon the conference plan; and, at +Newcastle, they have been talking of building a chapel for the +<abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Collins, and of inviting some of the best preachers to settle +among them, and make a circuit by themselves. I suppose Mr. Sagar +would tell you, they had strange commotions among them when he was +there.”</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_574">[Pg 574]</span> +But even this was not all. In 1785, Wesley ordained John +Pawson and Thomas Hanby for Scotland; where, for two +years, they had administered the sacraments, and had +preached in gown and bands. In 1787, as already stated, he +brought them back to England, commanded them to doff +their canonicals, and, being in England, to discontinue their +sacramental services. This, to Pawson, was exceedingly +annoying; but he hardly had the pluck of Hanby in resisting +it. Hanby and Joseph Taylor, (who had also been ordained, +and was in the same dubious position,) were now stationed in +the Nottingham circuit; and many of the Methodists, aware +of their ordination, naturally wished them to administer to +them the Christian ordinances; but this Wesley imperiously +prohibited. Taylor yielded; Hanby persisted. The following +extracts, from two of his unprinted letters, will be read +with interest. The first was addressed to James Oddie; the +second to Richard Rodda.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Grantham</span>, <i>May 21, 1789</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My very dear Brother</span>,—I have been in deep waters on account +of my administering the Lord’s supper, which I think it my duty to do, +especially to those who, for conscience sake, cannot go to church. Mr. +Wesley ordered me to desist. I told him, if I did, I should sin, because +I was persuaded it was my duty. Then he instructed the London clergy +and preachers to take me in hand. I have received their letter, and have +replied, that I must still do as I have done; and that, if Mr. Wesley has +given me up into their hands, they must act according to their own +judgment; for what I was now doing was from a Divine conviction of +my duty. Thus the matter rests. For some time, I have expected +another preacher to take my place; but, as he has not come, perhaps, +they will refer the matter to conference. Mr. Wesley has ordered Joseph +Taylor, (who opposes me all he can,) to remove the leaders who have +promoted the sacraments; if he does so, I expect there will be a division.</p> + +<p>“See, my brother, my situation. I am much afraid of myself, lest I +should defile my conscience by yielding to the importunity of the +preachers. I am of all others the most improper person to make a stand +in defence of Christ’s precious and most neglected ordinance. However, +hitherto, through infinite mercy, I have been firm and immovable; and +our solemnities are much owned of God; and I have much employment +in the sacred service. I meet with great opposition from the high church +bigots; but yet there are many, who will stand by me, let the consequence +be what it will.</p> + +<p>“Let me hear from you soon; and advise your very affectionate friend +and brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Thomas Hanby</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_575">[Pg 575]</span></p> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Plumtree</span>, <i>June 4, 1789</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Friend</span>,—O yes! my sin is not to be forgiven unless I +repent, which I cannot do. That is too late, because I cannot seek it +with tears. Mr. Wesley has declared, that he will exclude the preachers +who administer the Lord’s supper in England. For some time, I have +expected to be unshipped; but whether hands are scarce, or I am to be +permitted to finish my voyage, which will be the last week in July, I +cannot tell.</p> + +<p>“I came under no such obligations to Mr. Wesley, not to administer in +England. If this prohibition had been laid upon me, I hope I should +have refused his offer of <em>nothing</em>. I am in the fire, but, like the salamander, +I live there. I am up to the chin in deep waters; but not +drowned. Mr. Mather sent me a threatening bull; Mr. Wesley a second; +and, to complete the work, the clergy in London, Mr. Rankin and Mr. +Moore, joined their artillery. The last in command is my colleague, +Joseph Taylor, who opposes me with the utmost warmth. You will +readily conclude, ‘Poor Hanby will be overpowered by numbers.’ True; +but I still keep the field, for all that, and mean to die there. I am single +handed, for my brethren, who promised to support me, have deserted to +the strongest party, not an unusual case. I grant, that those who are +called to preach have an equal right to administer; but do not talk of +‘depreciating ordination.’ Mr. Wesley did that, seven years ago, when he +published in the newspapers those who had presumed to be ordained by +the Greek bishop. I expect, he will depreciate me, though he himself +ordained me, and commanded me to administer the ordinances in the +church of God.</p> + +<p>“When the great opposition against the sacraments was formed, Mr. +Taylor had administered once; and I had promised to do so in two other +places; and when my engagements were fulfilled, I proposed to desist +from proceeding further, (as he had done,) for I saw there was no +withstanding so formidable a body. However, I was brought into deep +distress of mind, by the earnest request of the people, who had not +communicated for years, and who would not communicate with drinking, +whoring, swearing, and fighting parsons. The Lord let me see that His +ordinance was become obsolete, and that it was an unreasonable stretch +of power, in any human creature, to say, ‘If you will not communicate +with these wicked men, you shall not communicate at all.’ This appeared +to me as an abrogation of Christ’s commanded ordinance, for which no +one, either man or angel, had authority. I saw it was my duty to stand +forth in defence of this ordinance, and to suffer for it; for suffer I am sure +to do. Mr. Wesley, for many years, has treated me contemptuously, +putting me beneath the weakest and most suspicious characters, (viz. +Briscoe and Fenwick,) and, therefore, I expect no favour in that quarter.</p> + +<p>“I begin to look out for some poor cottage, to which I may retire, and +wait the opening of Providence. ‘<i lang="la">Vox populi vox Dei</i>,’ is my motto; and, +whatever others may say or think of me, I have no other motive but the +principle of Divine love. I can promise my sect neither riches nor +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_576">[Pg 576]</span> +honour, by my opposition to the conference; but quite the reverse. To be +expelled the connexion, after thirty-five years of uninterrupted labour, is, +to me, a very painful thought; but I see I must suffer it; and shall only +take away with me this motto, ‘Driven from Methodism for defending the +injured, and nearly abrogated and obsolete, ordinance of Christ.’ Farewell, +Mr. Wesley! Farewell, Mr. Rodda! Farewell, conference!</p> + +<p>“I have written Mr. Wesley my reasons for acting in opposition to his +will, and my reasons why I must still act as I do; but he has given me +no answer. Well, I am nothing. I only want to be the servant of God; +and I see I must be His servant in His own way. If we may judge of +the propriety of our action, by His sacred presence, I can assure you +the tokens of that presence are wonderfully manifested in our assemblies.</p> + +<p>“Many of the people in this circuit intend to apply again for the ordinance; +and, perhaps, their petition will be treated with the same contempt +as their last was at Manchester.</p> + +<p>“I am your very affectionate, and much obliged friend and brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Thomas Hanby</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>This was a painful state of things; Dewsbury, Shields, +Nottingham, and Dublin, in rebellion; and now Thomas +Hanby, ordained by Wesley, and one of his best preachers, +in danger of expulsion, for doing what he deemed to be his +duty. Fortunately, this unbending minister was saved; and +became the elected president of the fourth conference that was +held after Wesley’s death. On Christmas day, in 1796, he +preached thrice in Nottingham, and met four or five classes +for the renewal of their quarterly tickets. This was his last +labour of love. Four days afterwards, he died, saying: “I +am departing; but I have fought a good fight.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_674_674" href="#Footnote_674_674" class="fnanchor">[674]</a></p> + +<p>Wesley left Dublin, on his preaching tour through the Irish +provinces, on the 13th of April, and returned on the 19th of +June. In this nine weeks’ journey he preached about a +hundred sermons, in more than sixty different towns and +villages, at least a dozen times in the open air, half-a-dozen +times in churches, and once in a place which, he says, was +“large, but not elegant—​a cow house.”</p> + +<p>During a part of the time, he was seriously unwell, being +attacked with a complaint which was new to him, diabetes. +He wrote to London for the advice of Dr. Whitehead, and, +though the disease abated under the doctor’s treatment, he +suffered from it, more or less, to the time of his decease.⁠<a id="FNanchor_675_675" href="#Footnote_675_675" class="fnanchor">[675]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_577">[Pg 577]</span> +“I was delighted,” says Mr. Alexander Knox, “to find his +cheerfulness in no respect abated. It was too obvious that +his bodily frame was sinking; but his spirit was as alert as +ever; and he was little less the life of the company he happened +to be in, than he had been three-and-twenty years +before, when I first knew him. Such unclouded sunshine of +the breast, in the deepest winter of age, and on the felt verge +of eternity, bespoke a mind whose recollections were as +unsullied as its present sensations were serene.”</p> + +<p>In illustration of Mr. Knox’s testimony, an anecdote may +be added. At this time, Mr. (afterwards the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr>) Joseph +Burgess was quartermaster of a regiment of soldiers in Sligo +barracks, and had the honour of entertaining Wesley as his +guest. A large party of friends were assembled to meet the +venerable visitor at dinner; and, while the meal was in +progress, he suddenly laid down his knife and fork, clasped +his hands, and lifted up his eyes, as in the attitude of praise +and prayer. In an instant, feasting was suspended, and all +the guests were silent. Wesley then gave out, and sang with +great animation,</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent12a">“And can we forget,</div> +<div class="verse indent12">In tasting our meat,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">The angelical food which ere long we shall eat;</div> +<div class="verse indent12">When enrolled with the blest,</div> +<div class="verse indent12">In glory we rest,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">And for ever sit down at the heavenly feast?”</div> +</div></div> +</div> + +<p>The happy old man, so near to the gates of heaven, then +quietly resumed his knife and fork; and all felt that this +beautiful spontaneous episode, in the midst of an Irish +dinner, had done them good.⁠<a id="FNanchor_676_676" href="#Footnote_676_676" class="fnanchor">[676]</a></p> + +<p>Wesley spent three weeks more in Dublin and its vicinity. +He visited the classes, which contained above a thousand +members, after he had excluded about a hundred. He also +held his Irish conference, at which, of the sixty preachers +then employed in the sister island, between forty and fifty +were present. He writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“I found such a body of men as I hardly believed could have been +found together in Ireland; men of so sound experience, so deep piety, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_578">[Pg 578]</span> +and so strong understanding. I am convinced, they are no way inferior +to the English conference, except it be in number. I never saw such a +number of preachers before, so unanimous in all points, particularly as to +leaving the Church, which none of them had the least thought of. It is +no wonder, that there has been this year so large an increase of the +society.”</p> +</div> + +<p>On the conference Sunday, Wesley and his preachers, and +a large number of the Dublin Methodists, attended the service +in <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Patrick’s. “The dean,” says he, “preached a serious, +useful sermon; and we had such a company of communicants +as, I suppose, had scarce been seen there together, for above +a hundred years.”</p> + +<p>On his birthday he wrote:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“June 28.—This day I enter on my eighty-sixth year.⁠<a id="FNanchor_677_677" href="#Footnote_677_677" class="fnanchor">[677]</a> I now find, I +grow old: (1) My sight is decayed; so that I cannot read a small print, +unless in a strong light. (2) My strength is decayed; so that I walk much +slower than I did some years since. (3) My memory of names, whether +of persons or places, is decayed; till I stop a little to recollect them. +What I should be afraid of, is, if I took thought for the morrow, that my +body should weigh down my mind; and create either stubbornness, by the +decrease of my understanding, or peevishness, by the increase of bodily +infirmities: but Thou shalt answer for me, O Lord my God.”</p> +</div> + +<p>At length, on July 12, Wesley bid adieu to the shores of +Ireland, for ever. It was a touching scene. Multitudes +followed him to the ship. Before he went on board, he read +a hymn; and the crowd, as far as emotion would let them, +joined the sainted patriarch in singing. He then dropped +upon his knees, and asked God to bless them, their families, +the Church, and Ireland. Shaking of hands followed; many +wept most profusely; and not a few fell on the old man’s +neck and kissed him. He stepped on deck; the vessel moved; +and then, with his hands still lifted up in prayer, the winds +of heaven wafted him from an island which he dearly loved; +and the warm hearted Irish Methodists “saw his face no +more.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_678_678" href="#Footnote_678_678" class="fnanchor">[678]</a></p> + +<p>Before proceeding with Wesley’s history, another selection +from his letters may be welcome. The first was addressed to +a man who deserves a passing notice.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_579">[Pg 579]</span> +Walter Churchey was an enthusiastic Welshman; a lawyer +with a large family and a slender purse; a good, earnest, +conceited old Methodist, who, unfortunately for his wife and +children, had more delight in writing poetry than he had +employment in preparing briefs. He was one of Wesley’s +correspondents as early as 1771;⁠<a id="FNanchor_679_679" href="#Footnote_679_679" class="fnanchor">[679]</a> exchanged letters with +Wesley’s brother Charles; was an acquaintance of the saintly +Fletcher; and an intimate friend of Joseph Benson and Dr. +Coke. He claimed the honour, which belonged to others, of +having first suggested to Wesley the publishing of his +<cite>Arminian Magazine</cite>;⁠<a id="FNanchor_680_680" href="#Footnote_680_680" class="fnanchor">[680]</a> and, in a manuscript letter before us, +states that he it was who originated the scheme for reducing +what he calls “the national debt” of Methodism in the year +1800. He was a good man, though perhaps flighty, very +diligent but very poor, a warm admirer of Methodist +doctrine, but withal a millenarian, who wrote, in the letter just +mentioned: “I have lost my friend, Wesley; but I shall see +him again, perhaps <em>soon</em>, even upon <em>earth</em>, where the <em>sufferers</em> +for Christ are to rise to reign in His spiritual kingdom on +earth a thousand years. I grow daily a greater <em>Brotherite</em>.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_681_681" href="#Footnote_681_681" class="fnanchor">[681]</a></p> + +<p>In 1786, Churchey wished to enrich the world with his +poetical productions; and, among others, consulted Wesley +and the poet Cowper. The latter, in reply, remarked: “I find +your versification smooth, your language correct and forcible, +and especially in your translation of the Art of Printing. But +you ask me, would I advise you to publish? I would advise +every man to publish, whose subjects are well chosen, whose +sentiments are just, and who can afford to be a loser, if that +should happen, by his publication.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_682_682" href="#Footnote_682_682" class="fnanchor">[682]</a></p> + +<p>Thus encouraged, the sanguine Welshman set to work; +Wesley helped him in obtaining subscribers; the poems were +published; the reviewers were revilers; and poor Churchey +was poorer than ever.</p> + +<p>The following letters, among others, were addressed to this +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_580">[Pg 580]</span> +worthy, but needy man. The first and second have not before +been published.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>February 11, 1789</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—On Monday, March 2, I hope to be in Bath +or Bristol, and then we may talk about the number of copies. I have been +much more concerned than you, for these sixty years, in printing books, +both with and without subscription; and I still think, with all our skill +and industry, we shall be hard set to procure three hundred subscribers. +Perhaps three hundred may <em>promise</em>; but we must never imagine that <em>all</em> +who promise will perform. But of this we may talk more, when we meet +at Bristol.</p> + +<p>“I suppose every one that loves King George loves Mr. Pitt. Peace +be with all your spirits!</p> + +<p>“I am your affectionate brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Clones</span>, <i>May 25, 1789</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—I am afraid of delay. I doubt, I shall +not be able to be as good as our word, although, in the last proposals, +I have protracted the time of delivery till the 1st of August. +As you are not a stripling, I wonder you have not yet learnt the difference +between <em>promise</em> and <em>performance</em>. I allow, at least, five-and-twenty per +cent; and, from this conviction, I say to each of my subscribers (what, +indeed, <em>you</em> cannot say so decently to <em>yours</em>), ‘Sir, down with your money.’</p> + +<p>“I know Dr. Ogilvie well. He is a lovely man and an excellent poet. +I commend you for inoculating the children. I believe the hand of God +is in our present work: therefore, it must prosper. Indeed, I love sister +Churchey, and am your affectionate friend and brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>The following, besides referring to Churchey’s poems, is +possessed of interest as containing an allusion to the prayer-book +published in 1788; and also Wesley’s final testimony +concerning the great philanthropist, John Howard, who died +seven months afterwards.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Dublin</span>, <i>June 20, 1789</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—Michael —— is an original. He tells lies +innumerable, many of them plausible enough. But many talk full as +plausibly as he; and they that can believe him, may.</p> + +<p>“I do not doubt, but some part of your verse, as well as prose, will reach +the hearts of some of the rich.</p> + +<p>“Dr. Coke made two or three little alterations in the prayer-book +without my knowledge. I took particular care throughout, to alter +nothing merely for altering’s sake. In religion, I am for as few innovations +as possible; I love the old wine best. And if it were only on +this account, I prefer ‘<em>which</em>’ before ‘<em>who</em> art in heaven.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_581">[Pg 581]</span> +“Mr. Howard is really an extraordinary man. God has raised him up +to be a blessing to many nations. I do not doubt, but there has been +something more than natural in his preservation hitherto, and should not +wonder if the providence of God should hereafter be still more conspicuous +in his favour.</p> + +<p>“About three weeks hence, I expect to embark for England. Peace be +with you and yours!</p> + +<p>“I am your affectionate brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_683_683" href="#Footnote_683_683" class="fnanchor">[683]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>While in Ireland, Wesley was troubled with the affairs of +Scotland. Two years before this, John Pawson, eager to +exercise his newly acquired episcopal or presbyterian power,—whichever +the reader has a mind to call it,—began, in +Glasgow, a species of Methodism, which was not Wesley’s, +but his own. He ordained seven elders, who were to meet +weekly, and to have the supervision of the temporal and +spiritual affairs of the Glasgow Methodists. In a book, +Pawson wrote the rules, which were to regulate their conduct. +Among others, one regulation was, that no person should be +admitted into the society, or be expelled from it, but by a +majority of these ordained elders; for, though the itinerant +preacher might preside at their meetings, he was not allowed +to vote. No doubt, honest but simple Pawson expected +good and great results. The elders, however, like Pawson, +had no notion of being invested with ecclesiastical office +without using it; and, hence, all sorts of paltry cases were +got up, apparently for the purpose of enabling the newly +fledged elders to show their skill in settling them. One +must suffice, as a specimen. Thomas Tassey, the most +vigilant and active of the official seven, alleged that Peggy +—— had become a lodger with Peggy ——, and had committed +theft; and that, as the time for the administration of +the sacrament was approaching, the charge against Peggy +—— ought to be judicially examined. Accordingly, a +sessions was appointed. The elders, the accuser, the +accused, and the witnesses were present. Beside these, there +were also the two circuit preachers, Jonathan Crowther and +Joseph Cownley, whom Crowther justly designates “two +poor ciphers,” seeing, though they might preside, they had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_582">[Pg 582]</span> +no power to vote. The charge was, that when Peggy —— +went to lodge with Peggy ——, the latter Peggy bought half +an ounce of tea, and a farthing’s worth of oil; that these +household provisions did not last so long as usual; and that +the probability was, that the property of Peggy —— had, to +some extent, been feloniously appropriated by her lodger, +Peggy ——. The affair was so serious, and withal so +solemnly conducted, that it became needful to adjourn. At +the second sessions, Crowther (who, though not allowed to +vote, had a right to examine witnesses), asked the Peggy +whose property was in question, how often she had made +herself tea out of the half ounce, part of which had been +stolen. Peggy dolorously answered, “Only seven times.” +She was then examined respecting her farthing’s worth of oil; +and it was ascertained, that, though it had not lasted as long +as usual, she had been using a <em>new</em> feather in applying it; and +it was thought that the <em>new</em> feather might have absorbed the +quantity which Peggy, the lodger, was accused of stealing.</p> + +<p>So the matter ended. Jonathan Crowther was disgusted, +and told Pawson’s ordained elders, that their discipline resembled +the wisdom of Solomon, for it took cognisance of everything, +from the hyssop on the wall to the cedars of mount +Lebanon. The system had been instituted by Pawson, one +of Wesley’s confidential friends, and a preacher of seventeen +years’ standing. Crowther was young and inexperienced, +only in the fifth year of his itinerant life; but he was +gifted with common sense, and saw that, if this ordained +machinery was continued, Methodism must be ruined. +Wesley had been in Scotland twelve months before; but, +strangely enough, appears to have been kept in ignorance +of the new court at Glasgow. At all events, Jonathan +Crowther now wrote to him; and received the following +decisive answer.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Cork</span>, <i>May 10, 1789</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—‘Sessions’! ‘elders’! We Methodists have +no such custom, neither any of the churches of God that are under our +care. I require <em>you</em>, Jonathan Crowther, immediately to dissolve that +session (so called) at Glasgow. Discharge them from meeting any more. +And if they will leave the society, let them leave it. We acknowledge +only preachers, stewards, and leaders among us, over which the assistant +in each circuit presides. You ought to have kept to the Methodist plan +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_583">[Pg 583]</span> +from the beginning. Who had my authority to vary from it? If the +people of Glasgow, or any other place, are weary of us, we will leave them +to themselves. But we are willing to be still their servants, for Christ’s +sake, according to our own discipline, but no other.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span>”<a id="FNanchor_684_684" href="#Footnote_684_684" class="fnanchor">[684]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Before accompanying Wesley on his way back to England, +we insert another letter, which is abridged in Wesley’s collected +works. Adam Clarke was in the isle of Jersey; but +Wesley wished him to remove to Dublin, on account of the +disturbed state of the society in that city. His old friend, +the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Edward Smyth, was now one of his bitter enemies. +Hence the following.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Near Dublin</span>, <i>June 25, 1789</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Adam</span>,—You send me good news with regard to the islands. +Who can hurt us, if God is on our side? Trials may come, but they are +all good. I have not been so tried for many years. Every week and almost +every day, I am bespattered in the public papers, either by Mr. Smyth, or +by Mr. Mann, his curate. Smooth, but bitter as wormwood, are their words; +and five or six of our richest members have left the society, because (they +say) ‘I have left the Church.’ Many are in tears on account of it; and +many are terribly frightened, and crying out, ‘Oh! what will the end be?’ +What will it be? Why, ‘Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, +and goodwill among men.’</p> + +<p>“But, meantime, what is to be done? What will be the most effectual +means to stem this furious torrent? I have just visited the classes, and +find still in the society upwards of a thousand members; and, among +these, many as deep Christians as any I have met with in Europe. But +who is able to watch over them, that they may not be moved from their +steadfastness? I know none more proper than Adam Clarke and his +wife. Indeed, it may seem hard for them to go into a strange land again. +Well, you may come to me at Leeds, at the latter end of next month; and +if you can show me any that are more proper, I will send them in your +stead.⁠<a id="FNanchor_685_685" href="#Footnote_685_685" class="fnanchor">[685]</a> That God may be glorified, is all that is desired by, dear Adam,</p> + +<p>“Your affectionate friend and brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_686_686" href="#Footnote_686_686" class="fnanchor">[686]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>It has been already stated, that Wesley embarked for +England on July 12. William Myles was with him, and says: +“We had a pleasant passage; Mr. Wesley preached, and we +sang hymns most of the way.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_687_687" href="#Footnote_687_687" class="fnanchor">[687]</a> The passage lasted about +six-and-thirty hours.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_584">[Pg 584]</span> +After holding services at Chester and Northwich, Wesley +made his way to Manchester, where he and Coke administered +the sacrament to about twelve hundred communicants. At +Dewsbury, where John Atlay had taken both the Methodists +and their chapel, Wesley preached out of doors, in a drenching +rain. He then proceeded to Leeds for the purpose of +holding his annual conference; and, on the day before it +began its sessions, preached from what would be a good +conference text at the present time: “O Timothy, keep that +which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain +babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called.”</p> + +<p>As usual, Wesley, besides conducting the business of the +conference, preached every day during its sittings; and his +texts throughout were equally well timed, namely: “Train +up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old he +will not depart from it.” “We through the Spirit wait for +the hope of righteousness by faith.” “Woe unto the world +because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; +but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh.” “To the +weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak; I am +made all things to all men, that I might by all means save +some.” “Well, Master, Thou hast said the truth; for there is +one God; and there is none other but He.” “I have a message +from God unto thee.” “If any man speak, let him speak as +the oracles of God.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_688_688" href="#Footnote_688_688" class="fnanchor">[688]</a> Here was a word in season for every +one. Rare was the treat to attend a conference like this. On +the conference Sunday, Wesley seems to have devolved the +preaching upon others; but the day was not an idle one. He +writes: “with the assistance of three other clergymen, I +administered the sacrament to fifteen or sixteen hundred +persons.” When and where are such sacramental services +held at present?</p> + +<p>What may be called the <em>conference sermon</em> was preached +by a local preacher, perhaps the only instance of the kind in +Methodism’s history. James Hamilton, M.D., was the +preacher; his text, “Trust ye not in lying words, saying, the +temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple +of the Lord, are these.” His sermon was printed, and was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_585">[Pg 585]</span> +sold “at the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Wesley’s preaching houses in town +and country,” with the following title: “A Sermon preached +at Leeds, July 29, 1789, before the Methodist Preachers, +assembled in Conference, and a large body of the people in +connection with them; and now published at the request of +many of the Hearers.”</p> + +<p>This also was a sermon for the times, and evidently had +Wesley’s approbation. Its gist may be gathered from a few +brief extracts.</p> + +<p>After dwelling on the functions of the priests and scribes +of the Jewish church, the preacher said:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“But as all external religion is of no use, any farther than as it advances +the spiritual kingdom of Christ in the soul; and as the Jews too often +lost sight of this, resting in their types and ceremonies, God called a race +of men, named prophets, who had nothing to do with the priesthood; +men full of the Holy Ghost; and sent them to declare that all external +religion is nothing worth, when it fails to produce purity of heart. The +prophets were, (with two or three exceptions,) what we call laymen,—taken +from the common occupations in Judæa, chiefly farmers and shepherds,—holy +men, men of strong faith, their hearts overflowing with zeal for the +honour of God,—men of invincible courage, practising the strictest temperance, +and clothed in the plainest manner.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Dr. Hamilton then proceeded to argue, that Methodist +preachers bore some analogy to these special messengers of +God in ancient times; and after an affectionate allusion to +the two Wesleys, and to Whitefield, continued:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“And here mark the Divine wisdom. Although their brother priests +in the Church thrust them from them, and although their names were +cast out as evil above the names of all men, they ever retained a +strong and affectionate attachment to the men who had thus abused +them, and to the Church of which they were members; and this has +been, in the overruling hand of God, the great means of carrying on +that glorious spiritual work which we now behold. Had it not been for +this attachment, the Methodists would have, long ere this, become a distinct +body, separate from the Church and all others; and, I fear, in consequence +thereof, would have sunk into the dead formality of the numerous +sects, with which the world is harassed and divided.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Then proceeding to address the assembled conference, the +preacher added:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Will ye bear with me, ye spiritual messengers of the Lord, while I +presume to say a few words to <em>you</em>? See with what a holy calling ye are +called; for what a glorious and important end God has raised you up! +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_586">[Pg 586]</span> +Even to set spiritual religion before the eyes of all men; to cry to men of +all opinions, sects, and parties, ‘Trust not unto lying words, saying, The +temple of the Lord are these’; to bring them, from resting in external +duties, to the possession of internal holiness; from an opinion in the head, +to the love of God in the heart. Let then the dead bury their dead! Let +the formalist and the pharisee, the church bigot and the sectary, contend +for ways of thinking, gestures in worship, and modes of church government; +but may ye never forget, that ye are sent for a nobler end; that +your commission is the same as Paul’s, not to baptize, but to preach the +gospel. Although I am neither a prophet, nor the son of a prophet; yet +forgive me when I express my fears, that, if ever the Methodists leave +their several churches; if ever ye set up as a separate people by external +distinctions and creeds; if ye substitute a silken gown and sash for rough +garments and a leathern girdle, and call one another, Rabbi! Rabbi! then +the glory will depart from you, and God will raise up another people. He +will call other lay preachers, no matter by what name; and He will send +them to call <i>you</i> from opinions and forms, and to sound in <i>your</i> ears, +‘Trust not unto lying words, saying, The temple of the Lord, the temple of +the Lord, the temple of the Lord are these.’”</p> +</div> + +<p>Hamilton’s sermon, to say the least, was ingenious; and referring +as it does to the great topic of the day, separation from +the Church, these extracts will not be regarded as out of place.</p> + +<p>Wesley says, there were about a hundred preachers present +at the conference; Atmore says, about a hundred and thirty;⁠<a id="FNanchor_689_689" href="#Footnote_689_689" class="fnanchor">[689]</a> +be that as it may, one hundred and fifteen of them signed a +declaration, that they entirely approved of Methodist chapels +being settled on the conference plan; and, among these, were +several who, soon after, distinguished themselves as Methodist +reformers, namely, William Thom, Henry Taylor, and +Alexander Kilham.</p> + +<p>The principal subjects discussed are thus referred to in +Wesley’s journal.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“July 28—The case of separation from the Church was largely considered, +and we were all unanimous against it. August 1—We considered +the case of Dewsbury house, which the self elected trustees have robbed us +of. The point they contended for was this,—that they should have a right +of rejecting any preachers they disapproved of. But this, we say, would +destroy itinerancy. So they chose John Atlay for a preacher, who adopted +William Eels for his curate. Nothing remained but to build another +preaching house, towards which we subscribed <abbr title="206 pounds">£206</abbr> on the spot.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Besides these, some other points were decided; namely, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_587">[Pg 587]</span> +that the preachers should read the rules of the society in +every society once a quarter; that no person should be +admitted to lovefeasts without a society ticket, or a note +from the assistant; that every watchnight should be continued +till midnight; that the collections at lovefeasts should +be most conscientiously given to the poor; that preachers +should not go out to supper, and should be home before nine +at night; that preachers’ children should dress exactly +according to the band rules; that only one preacher should +come in future to the conference from Scotland, except those +that were to be admitted into full connexion; and that no +books should be published without Wesley’s sanction, and +that those approved by him should be printed at his press in +London, and be sold by his book steward.</p> + +<p>We give these legislative enactments as we find them. The +last bore hardly on strong minded writers, like Thomas +Taylor and Joseph Benson.</p> + +<p>The day after the conference concluded, Wesley set out for +London, and thence, for the last time, to Cornwall. His first +day’s journey was seventy miles, and his second eighty, and +to this amount of labour was added preaching. One day in +London was devoted to business; on the next, which was +Sunday, the patriarchal preacher delivered two sermons in +the chapel in City Road, set out at seven o’clock, p.m., +travelled all night, and reached Bristol about noon on +Monday. Without delay, he hurried on to Plymouth, preaching +at Taunton, Collumpton, and Exeter. At Plymouth +there had been, what he calls, a “senseless quarrel”; but he +administered the sacrament to six hundred people, and +preached to an enormous congregation out of doors.</p> + +<p>Arriving at <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Austell, he says: “I knew not where to +preach, the street being so dirty, and the preaching house so +small. At length, we determined to squeeze as many as we +could into the preaching house; and truly God was there.” +At Truro, the street, leading to the chapel, being blocked up +with starving tinners demanding an increase to their wages, +and a troop of soldiers who were keeping peace, Wesley was +obliged to preach “under the coinage hall.” Forty years had +elapsed since he was last at Falmouth, and then he was +“taken prisoner by an immense mob, gaping and roaring +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_588">[Pg 588]</span> +like lions; now high and low lined the street, from one end +of the town to the other, out of stark love and kindness”; and +he preached to the largest congregation he had ever seen in +Cornwall, except in or near Redruth. The same sort of scenes +awaited him at Helstone, <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Just, Newlyn, and Penzance. +In Gwennap pit his congregation was calculated at five-and-twenty +thousand. This remarkable spot was first used by +Wesley, as a place for preaching, in 1762, on account of the +wind being so boisterous as to prevent him occupying his +usual stand in the town itself. “At a small distance,” says +he, “was a hollow capable of containing many thousand +people. I stood on one side of this amphitheatre, toward the +top, with the people beneath, and on all sides.” Many since +then had been the marvellous scenes he had witnessed in this +“the finest natural amphitheatre in the kingdom.” There +can be little doubt, that the estimated numbers were sometimes +greater than the real; but still, it was here, on this +Cornish common, that Wesley had the largest congregations +to whom he ever preached. The place is now one of the +“sights” of Cornwall. Here an annual service has been +held ever since Wesley’s death; and now, on every Whitmonday, +thousands wend their way, in every style of conveyance, +from the donkey cart of the poor peasant to the dashing +carriage of the wealthy squire, and assembling within the +area and around the banks of this consecrated hollow, join in +one vast act of worship, offered to the God of heaven. Here +we have Methodism’s yearly pilgrimage, made by hosts of +Cornish Methodists, not to honour man, but to commemorate +the mercies of their fathers’ God, and to ask His help and +blessing on behalf of themselves and their posterity.</p> + +<p>Eleven days were spent in Cornwall, during which Wesley +preached, at least, seventeen times, nine of which were in the +open air. “There is,” says he, “a fair prospect in Cornwall, +from Launceston to the Land’s End.”</p> + +<p>On his way back, we find him preaching at Tavistock, +Plymouth, Exeter, Tiverton, Halberton, Taunton, Castle +Carey, Ditcheat, and Shepton Mallet, eleven sermons, in +seven days, besides the travelling from Cornwall to Bristol. +No wonder that the venerable traveller sometimes started at +three o’clock in the morning!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_589">[Pg 589]</span> +Bristol was the centre of Wesley’s labours from September +5 to October 5. On one of the Sundays, he preached twice +in his own chapel, and once in Temple church; but writes: +“It was full as much as I could do. I doubt I must not +hereafter attempt to preach more than twice a day.”</p> + +<p>On October 5, he started from Bristol at four o’clock in +the morning, for London. Arriving in town, he wrote:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“I am now as well, by the good providence of God, as I am likely to +be while I live. My sight is so decayed, that I cannot well read by +candlelight; but I can write as well as ever; and my strength is much +lessened, so that I cannot easily preach above twice a day. But, I bless +God, my memory is not much decayed; and my understanding is as clear +as it has been these fifty years.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Having spent five days in London, he set out for Norfolk. +The remainder of the year was employed, as usual, partly in +London, and partly in his long accustomed preaching tours +to the surrounding counties. On the last Sunday in the +year, he occupied the pulpit of <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Luke’s, his parish church. +“The tables are turned,” says he; “I have now more invitations +to preach in churches than I can accept of.”</p> + +<p>One of his London retreats was, what he calls, “the lovely +family at Balham.” This was, doubtless, the family of +George Wolff, <abbr title="Esquire">Esq.</abbr>, one of his executors,—a merchant, and +also consul general to the court of Denmark,—a gentleman +of unassuming manners, deeply pious, and one of the most +liberal of the metropolitan Methodists,—for many years the +confidential friend of Wesley, and who died at Balham, in +1828, at the age of ninety-two.⁠<a id="FNanchor_690_690" href="#Footnote_690_690" class="fnanchor">[690]</a></p> + +<p>Before concluding the year, we insert a further selection +from Wesley’s letters.</p> + +<p>The first was to his nephew, Samuel Wesley, the musical +genius, now twenty-three years of age, and is strikingly +characteristic of the venerable writer.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Near Bristol</span>, <i>September 16, 1789</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Sammy</span>,—It gives me pleasure to hear, that you have so +much resolution, that you go to bed at ten, and rise at four o’clock. Let +not the increase of cold affright you from your purposes. Bear your cross, +and it will bear you. I advise you carefully to read over Kempis, the Life +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_590">[Pg 590]</span> +of Gregory Lopez, and that of <abbr title="Monsigneur">Mons.</abbr> de Renty. They are all among my +brother’s books.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Sammy, your affectionate uncle and friend,</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_691_691" href="#Footnote_691_691" class="fnanchor">[691]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>The next beautifully illustrates the benevolence of Wesley, +and the faithfulness of his friendship. Mr. Salmon, at the +time referred to, was not a member of the Methodist society, +but only an occasional hearer; and, yet, the instance of his +liberality, which Wesley mentions, was not the only one +which does honour to his character. In 1762, Wesley opened +a new chapel at Shepton Mallet, with a mudden floor; and, +in this state, it was occupied for years, when Mr. Salmon +gave the stewards <abbr title="40 pounds">£40</abbr> to improve the floor, and to supply +back rails to the benches.⁠<a id="FNanchor_692_692" href="#Footnote_692_692" class="fnanchor">[692]</a> Richard Rodda, to whom the +following was addressed, now filled the office of assistant +at Manchester.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Wallingford</span>, <i>October 24, 1789</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—You are a man whom I can trust: whatever +you do, you will do it with your might. Some years since, we wanted a +preaching place near Coleford, in Somersetshire. A neighbouring gentleman, +Mr. Salmon, gave us ground to build on, and timber for the house, +and desired me to use his house as my own. He is now by wicked men +reduced to want.</p> + +<p>“I am informed, a master for a poorhouse is wanted at Manchester. +Pray inquire, and, if it be so, leave no means untried to procure the place +for him. Apply, in my name, to B. Barlow, D. Yates, T. Phillips, Dr. +Easton, Mr. Brocklehurst, Stonehouse, and all that have a regard for me. +Make all the interest you can. Leave no stone unturned. ‘Join hands +with God to make a good man live.’ I hope you will send me word in +London, that you have exerted yourself, and are not without a prospect of +success.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Richard, your affectionate friend and brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_693_693" href="#Footnote_693_693" class="fnanchor">[693]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>The following letter is now, for the first time, published. +The Liverpool Methodists were about to build their Mount +Pleasant chapel. An expenditure of <abbr title="1100 pounds">£1100</abbr> startled Wesley. +What would he have said to the expenditure of as many +thousands? And yet Liverpool Methodism does the one now +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_591">[Pg 591]</span> +with as much nonchalance as it did the other then. The letter +was addressed to Mr. Lawrence Frost.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>October 23, 1789</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—You are bold people! Two hundred pounds, +purchase money, besides nine hundred pounds! But I do not use to +damp any good design. Go on in the name of God. It is true, your +deed is clumsy enough. I am surprised, that no Methodist will take my +advice. I have more <em>experience</em>, in these things, than any attorney in the +land. And have I not the Methodist interest as much at heart? Oh, +why will you alter the beautiful deed we have already? why will you +employ any attorney at all? Only to seek a knot in a bulrush; only to +puzzle the cause. Well, comfort yourself. You will not long be troubled +with</p> + +<p>“Your affectionate brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>The next, which was written to William Black, in Nova +Scotia, is interesting as containing a reference to Wesley’s +labours, and his professed adherence to the Church.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>November 21, 1789</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—Your letter has given me great satisfaction. +My fears are vanished away. I am persuaded, brother Wray, Stretton, +and you, will go on hand in hand, and that each of you will take an equal +share in the common labour. I do so myself. I labour now just as I did +twenty or forty years ago. By all means, proceed by common consent, +and think not of <em>separating</em> from the Church of England. I am more and +more confirmed in the judgment which our whole conference passed on +that head, in the year 1758.</p> + +<p>“I am your affectionate friend and brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_694_694" href="#Footnote_694_694" class="fnanchor">[694]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Thirty-two years before, Wesley preached his first and last +sermon in Bideford. For long it had been a barren soil, but, +in 1788, was made a circuit town; and now simple minded, +sanctified Samuel Bardsley was labouring with great success. +“I am glad,” says Wesley to this godly man, “to hear so good +an account of the work of God at Bideford. It had held out +long, and seemed to bid defiance to the gospel.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_695_695" href="#Footnote_695_695" class="fnanchor">[695]</a> Bardsley +was all alone; and Michael Fenwick, fond of meddling, wrote +to him: “Dear Sammy,—Write a pressing letter every post, +until Mr. Wesley sends you another preacher. It is cruel to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_592">[Pg 592]</span> +let you be all alone in that great wide circuit; and I will tell +Mr. Wesley so. I am glad, that Col. Buck is the reigning +mayor with you. Pray, when you see him, give my Christian +respects to him, and tell him, I am glad he is raised to be the +first magistrate in Bideford.” Fenwick was without an +appointment, and was resident at Hexham. Wesley took +him at his word, and sent him to Bideford. Poor Michael +seems to have been a stormy petrel. No sooner was he come, +than there was serious trouble. Hence the following.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>December 25, 1789.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Most esteemed Friend</span>,—Yesterday, I waited upon the lord +lieutenant for this county, Lord Fortescue, and we spent an hour together +in a close, pointed conversation, respecting the hot persecution at Bideford. +His lordship told me, he will go over and inquire into matters, for he +thinks our lives are in danger, seeing that the mayor of Bideford and the +other justices have thrown open the flood gates to the mob, to do with us +as they please. I recommended to his lordship the 23rd of Matthew, +(only changing the word Jerusalem into that of Bideford,) in which our +blessed Lord describes the men. His lordship is greatly alarmed at our +present situation; but, the next week, he will be with his majesty, and +will let him know of our treatment; and they must take the consequences. +My dear brother, never fear: only believe; and we shall see great things +in due time. I shall conquer, or die in the field.</p> + +<p>“I am your affectionate friend,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">Michael Fenwick</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_696_696" href="#Footnote_696_696" class="fnanchor">[696]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>The above not only furnishes a glimpse of Methodist affairs +at Bideford, but casts light on the following letters, which +Wesley sent to Bardsley.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Northampton</span>, <i>November 25, 1789</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Sammy</span>,—Yours of the 21st instant was sent to me hither. +You have done exceeding well to take the upper room. If need be, we +will help you out. Let us have no law, if it be possible to avoid it: that +is the last and worst remedy. Try every other remedy first. It is a good +providence, that the mayor of Bideford is a friendly man. Prayer will +avail much in all cases. Encourage our poor people to be instant in +prayer. Take care of poor Michael; and do not forget,</p> + +<p>“Dear Sammy, your affectionate brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_697_697" href="#Footnote_697_697" class="fnanchor">[697]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Newcastle under Lyne</span>, <i>March 29, 1790</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Sammy</span>,—Take particular care, that neither Michael Fenwick, +nor any other, give any just offence; and especially, that they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_593">[Pg 593]</span> +offend not God; then He will make your enemies to be at peace with +you.</p> + +<p>“If I remember well, I did write to the mayor of Bideford; and I +expect, that makes him more quiet. By meekness, gentleness, and +patience, with faith and prayer, you will prevail at Torrington also. You +have only to go on calmly and steadily, and God will arise and maintain +His own cause. Only let us labour to have a conscience void of offence +toward God, and toward man.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Sammy, your affectionate friend and brother,</p> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_698_698" href="#Footnote_698_698" class="fnanchor">[698]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>All must admire this advice. During this year of storm +and tempest, the Bideford Methodists increased from eighty-three +to one hundred and forty.</p> + +<p>We insert one more letter. In the Isle of Man there +were 2569 Methodists, within five hundred of the number +there are at present. Then there was one circuit; now +there are four: then there were three itinerant preachers; +now there are ten. George Holder was assistant; and to +him Wesley addressed the following.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Near London</span>, <i>November 29, 1789</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear George</span>,—You did well to remember the case of Dewsbury +house, and to send what you could to Mr. Mather.</p> + +<p>“I exceedingly disapprove of publishing anything in the Manx language. +On the contrary, we should do everything in our power to abolish it from +the earth, and persuade every member of our society to learn and talk +English. This would be much hindered by providing them with hymns +in their own language. Therefore, gently and quietly let the proposal +drop.</p> + +<p>“I hope you and your fellow labourers are of one heart. Peace be +with your spirits!</p> + +<p>“I am, dear George, your affectionate friend and brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_699_699" href="#Footnote_699_699" class="fnanchor">[699]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley would take no step to gratify the linguistic folly of +the Manx Methodists; but he was still actively employed in +supplying books to his English readers. His publications, +in 1789, were:</p> + +<p>1. “The Life of Mr. Silas Told.” <abbr title="octodecimo">18mo</abbr>, 113 pages.</p> + +<p>2. “A Short Account of the Life and Death of Jane +Newland, of Dublin.” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 12 pages.</p> + +<p>3. “An Extract of the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. John Wesley’s Journal, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_594">[Pg 594]</span> +from September 4, 1782, to June 28, 1786.” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 134 +pages.</p> + +<p>4. “Minutes of Several Conversations between the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> +Mr. Wesley and others. From the year 1744, to the year +1789.” <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, 51 pages.</p> + +<p>5. His chief publication, of course, was his <i>Arminian +Magazine</i>, <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, 679 pages.</p> + +<p>As usual, it contains six of his own sermons. Those on +Man, Faith, and the Omnipresence of God, are among the +ablest he ever wrote. That on the Rich Man and Lazarus +is a powerful exposition of the text, which Wesley believed +to be, not merely a parable, but a history. The sermon on +Riches is boldly faithful, and must have made the rich +Methodists of that period wince and tremble; as, indeed, it +ought to make such Methodists wince and tremble at the +present day. The following, addressed to rich men, are the +concluding paragraphs.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“O how pitiable is your condition! And who is able to help you? +You need more plain dealing than any men in the world; and you meet +with less. For how few dare to speak as plain to <em>you</em>, as they would to +one of your servants? No man living that either hopes to gain anything +by your favour, or fears to lose anything by your displeasure. Oh that God +would give me acceptable words, and cause them to sink deep into your +hearts! Many of you have known me long, well-nigh from your infancy! +You have frequently helped me, when I stood in need. May I not say, +you loved me? But now the time of our parting is at hand; my feet are +just stumbling upon the dark mountains. I would leave one word with +you, before I go hence; and you may remember it when I am no more +seen.</p> + +<p>“O let your heart be whole with God! Seek your happiness in Him, +and Him alone. Beware, that you cleave not to the dust! This earth is +not your place. See that you use this world as not abusing it; <em>use</em> the +world, and <em>enjoy</em> God. Sit as loose to all things here below, as if you +were a poor beggar. Be a good steward of the manifold gifts of God; +that, when you are called to give an account of your stewardship, He may +say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy +Lord.’”</p> +</div> + +<p>Nothing can be plainer than that, for several of the last +years of his life, Wesley regarded the growing riches of +the Methodists as one of their greatest dangers. His +magazines, to say nothing of his letters and his journals, are +full of this. Hence, his eighteen lengthy extracts on the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_595">[Pg 595]</span> +Surest Way of Thriving, running through the whole of the +magazine of 1788, and part of that for 1789. Hence, the +solemn warning, contained in his brief article on “The Origin +of Image Worship among Christians”; an article meriting the +serious thought of those wealthy Methodists, who are +adorning (?) their chapels with painted windows and emblematic +pulpits. Citations might be multiplied, all tending to +show that, rightly or wrongly, Wesley regarded the growth of +riches among Christians, not as a good to be desired, but as +a necessary evil, and a serious danger.</p> + +<p>The only sermon, which remains unnoticed, is that on +God’s Vineyard,—a sermon on the doctrine, spiritual helps, +discipline, and outward protection of Methodism. He tells +us that, notwithstanding the assistance they received from +Peter Bohler, he and the other Oxford Methodists “were +never clearly convinced, that we are justified by faith alone, +till they carefully consulted the homilies of the Church of +England, and compared them with the sacred writings, +particularly <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Paul’s epistle to the Romans.” He propounds +the principle, which Dr. James Hamilton enlarged +upon in his conference sermon, already mentioned, that +for the Methodists to have become a separate sect, like +the Moravians, “would have been a direct contradiction to +the whole design of God in raising them up, to spread +scriptural religion throughout the land, among people of every +denomination, leaving every one to hold his own opinions, +and to follow his own mode of worship.” Having shown the +great advantages that the Methodists had enjoyed, his early +hopes concerning them, and how these hopes had hardly been +realised, he concludes with the following address to the rich +members of the society.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“O ye that have riches in possession, once more hear the word of the +Lord! Ye that are rich in this world, that have food to eat, and raiment +to put on, and something over! Are you clear of the curse? of loving +the world? Are you sensible of your danger? Do you feel, ‘How +hardly will they that have riches enter into the kingdom of heaven’? +Do you continue unburnt in the midst of fire? Are you untouched with +the love of the world? Are you clear from the desire of the flesh, the +desire of the eye, and the pride of life? Do you <em>put a knife to your throat</em> +when you sit down to meat, lest your <em>table</em> should be a <em>snare to you</em>? +Is not your belly your god? Is not eating and drinking, or any other +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_596">[Pg 596]</span> +pleasure of sense, the greatest pleasure you enjoy? Do not you seek +happiness in dress, furniture, pictures, gardens; or anything else that +pleases the eye? Do not you grow soft and delicate? unable to bear +cold, heat, the wind or the rain, as you did when you were poor? Are you +not increasing in goods, laying up treasures on earth; instead of restoring to +God, in the poor, not so much or so much, but all that you can spare! +Surely ‘it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a +rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven!’”</p> +</div> + +<p>There are other contributions by Wesley, in the <i>Magazine</i> +for 1789, which ought to have attention. There is an exquisitely +drawn up article on “The Nature of Inspiration, +clearly explained and enforced, as applicable to the Old +and New Testament”; and also his piece “On the Manners +of the Times”; neither of which has been included in Wesley’s +collected works. And there are also his “Thoughts on Separation +from the Church,” and his “Thoughts upon a late +Phenomenon;” both of them really on the same subject. +After showing how revivals of religion have generally ended +in the formation of separate sects, and thereby rarely lasted, +according to Luther’s <i lang="la">dictum</i>, “longer than a generation, that +is, thirty years,” Wesley remarks:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“The Methodists have been solicited again and again, to separate from +the Established Church, and to form themselves into a distinct body, +independent of all other religious societies. Thirty years ago, this was +seriously considered among them, at a general conference. All the +arguments, urged on one side and the other, were considered at large; and +it was determined, without one dissenting voice, that they ‘ought not to +separate from the Church.’</p> + +<p>“This is a new thing in the world; this is the peculiar glory of the +people called Methodists. In spite of all manner of temptations, they +will not separate from the Church. What many so earnestly covet, they +abhor; they will not be a distinct body. Now what instance have we of +this before, either in ancient or modern history, of a body of people, in +such circumstances, who will not be a distinct party, but choose to remain +in connection with their own church, that they may be more effectually +the servants of all? This, I say again, is an utterly new phenomenon! I +never saw, heard, or read of anything like it. The Methodists will not +separate from the Church, although continually reproached for doing it; +although it would free them from abundance of inconveniences, and make +their path much smoother and easier; and although many of their friends +earnestly advise, and their enemies provoke them to it,—the clergy in +particular; most of whom, far from thanking them for continuing in the +Church, use all the means in their power, fair and unfair, to drive them out +of it.”</p> +</div> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_666_666" href="#FNanchor_666_666" class="label">[666]</a> The photographic portrait, in the present volume, is taken from +Romney’s painting, by the kind permission of its possessor, the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> G. +Stringer Rowe.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_667_667" href="#FNanchor_667_667" class="label">[667]</a> Life of Garretson.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_668_668" href="#FNanchor_668_668" class="label">[668]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1867, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 623.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_669_669" href="#FNanchor_669_669" class="label">[669]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1797, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 313.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_670_670" href="#FNanchor_670_670" class="label">[670]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 253.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_671_671" href="#FNanchor_671_671" class="label">[671]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 254.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_672_672" href="#FNanchor_672_672" class="label">[672]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1831, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 298.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_673_673" href="#FNanchor_673_673" class="label">[673]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1845, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 117.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_674_674" href="#FNanchor_674_674" class="label">[674]</a> Atmore’s “Methodist Memorial.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_675_675" href="#FNanchor_675_675" class="label">[675]</a> Moore’s Life of Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 379.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_676_676" href="#FNanchor_676_676" class="label">[676]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1840, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 543.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_677_677" href="#FNanchor_677_677" class="label">[677]</a> It ought to have been eighty-seventh.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_678_678" href="#FNanchor_678_678" class="label">[678]</a> “Anecdotes of the Wesleys,” <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 312.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_679_679" href="#FNanchor_679_679" class="label">[679]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 404.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_680_680" href="#FNanchor_680_680" class="label">[680]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1823, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 134.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_681_681" href="#FNanchor_681_681" class="label">[681]</a> A reference to Richard Brothers, the prophecy expounder of that +period.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_682_682" href="#FNanchor_682_682" class="label">[682]</a> Cowper’s Works, Bohn’s <abbr title="edition">edit.</abbr>, <abbr title="volume three">vol. iii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 370.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_683_683" href="#FNanchor_683_683" class="label">[683]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 409.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_684_684" href="#FNanchor_684_684" class="label">[684]</a> Crowther’s manuscript autobiography.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_685_685" href="#FNanchor_685_685" class="label">[685]</a> Thomas Rutherford was sent in this emergency.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_686_686" href="#FNanchor_686_686" class="label">[686]</a> <cite>Wesleyan Times</cite>, June 11, 1866.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_687_687" href="#FNanchor_687_687" class="label">[687]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1797, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 313.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_688_688" href="#FNanchor_688_688" class="label">[688]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1845, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 115.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_689_689" href="#FNanchor_689_689" class="label">[689]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1845, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 115.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_690_690" href="#FNanchor_690_690" class="label">[690]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1828, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 286.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_691_691" href="#FNanchor_691_691" class="label">[691]</a> <cite>Wesley Banner</cite>, 1851, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 405.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_692_692" href="#FNanchor_692_692" class="label">[692]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1827, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 285.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_693_693" href="#FNanchor_693_693" class="label">[693]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 478.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_694_694" href="#FNanchor_694_694" class="label">[694]</a> Black’s Memoirs, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 251.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_695_695" href="#FNanchor_695_695" class="label">[695]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 472.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_696_696" href="#FNanchor_696_696" class="label">[696]</a> Manuscript letter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_697_697" href="#FNanchor_697_697" class="label">[697]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1825, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 675.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_698_698" href="#FNanchor_698_698" class="label">[698]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume twelve">vol. xii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 473.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_699_699" href="#FNanchor_699_699" class="label">[699]</a> Ibid. <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 108.</p></div></div> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_597">[Pg 597]</span></p> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="1790">1790.</h2> +<hr class="short"> +<p class="center">Age 87</p></div> + +<p class="p2 drop-cap"><span class="smcap">Wesley’s</span> career is drawing to a close. He himself +was on the “Delectable mountains,” basking in the +sheen of the celestial city; but all around him, or rather +beneath him, was darkness and confusion. The riots of 1789 +were about to culminate in the indescribable horrors of the +French revolution. Burke wrote against this terrible upheaving; +Dr. Price applauded it. English newspapers, all at +once, became Gallican and republican; and overflowed with +abuse of the old constitution,—abuse of the Church,—abuse of +the aristocracy,—abuse of almost everything except the +French insurrection, and the men who made it. Thomas +Paine and his friends were in the highest feather; and infidel +and revolutionary pamphlets were published with prodigal +profusion. Even Fox, in parliament, declared that the French +army, by refusing to obey the court and to act against the +people, had set a glorious example to all the armies of +Europe; to which Burke, who had hitherto been Fox’s friend, +replied, that the revolutionists were “an irrational, unprincipled, +proscribing, confiscating, plundering, ferocious, bloody, +tyrannical democracy.” It was amid such excitement, that +Wesley spent his last days on earth.</p> + +<p>He began the year in London, and wrote in his journal:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“1790, January 1.—I am now an old man, decayed from head to foot: +my eyes are dim; my right hand shakes much; my mouth is hot and +dry every morning; I have a lingering fever almost every day; my motion +is weak and slow. However, blessed be God, I do not slack my labour; +I can preach and write still.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Henry Moore observes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Being in the house with him when he wrote thus, I was greatly +surprised. I knew it must be as he said; but I could not imagine his +weakness was so great. He still rose at his usual hour, four o’clock, and +went through the many duties of the day, not indeed with the same +apparent vigour, but without complaint, and with a degree of resolution +that was astonishing.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_700_700" href="#Footnote_700_700" class="fnanchor">[700]</a></p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_598">[Pg 598]</span> +On Saturday, January 2, he preached at Snowsfields. The +next day, Sunday, he held the covenant service in the City +Road chapel, at which nearly two thousand persons were +present. A few days were then devoted to writing letters, +two of which we give. The first has not before been +published. It was addressed to Daniel Jackson, then appointed +to the Stockport circuit.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>January 2, 1790</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—It is no wonder many of the societies should +be in a poor condition, considering what poor care has lately been taken +of them. They will soon find the difference.</p> + +<p>“The books that are damaged you may give away as you judge +proper.</p> + +<p>“None ought to have made a collection for any place before the house at +Dewsbury was built. However, do what you can, and you do enough.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span style="margin-right: 4.5em;">“I am, with love to sister Jackson,</span><br> +<span style="margin-right: 2.5em;">“Your affectionate friend and brother,</span><br> +“<span class="smcap">J. Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>The next was written to John Mason, the assistant in the +<abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Austell circuit.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Near London</span>, <i>January 13, 1790</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—As long as I live, the people shall have no +share in choosing either stewards or leaders among the Methodists. +We have not, and never had, any such custom. We are no republicans, +and never intend to be. It would be better for those, that are so minded, +to go quietly away. I have been uniform, both in doctrine and discipline, +for above these fifty years; and it is a little too late for me to turn into a +new path, now I am old and grey headed. Neither good old brother +Porna (God bless him!) expects it from me, nor brother Wood, nor brother +Flamank.</p> + +<p>“If you and I shall be called hence this year, we may bless God that +we have not lived in vain. Come, let us have a few more strokes at +Satan’s kingdom, and then we shall depart in peace!</p> + +<p>“I am, your affectionate friend and brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_701_701" href="#Footnote_701_701" class="fnanchor">[701]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>On Sunday, January 17, Wesley buried Mrs. Dornford, a +good woman; and preached her funeral sermon. In the +afternoon, he preached to a large congregation, in the church +of Great <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Helen’s.</p> + +<p>On Monday, January 25, he went to Dorking, “and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_599">[Pg 599]</span> +laboured to awaken a harmless, honest, drowsy people, who, +for many years, seemed to stand stock still, neither increasing +nor decreasing.”</p> + +<p>On January 29, Wesley writes: “We held our general +quarterly meeting, whereby it appeared, that the society +received and expended about <abbr title="3000 pounds">£3000</abbr> a year; but our expense +still exceeds our income.”</p> + +<p>The next eight days were employed in meeting the London +classes, containing about 2500 members.</p> + +<p>During the month of February, we find him preaching a +funeral sermon for Robert Windsor; and sermons to children—​beautiful +sights—​at West Street, and at City Road. He +retired to his friend Mr. Wolff’s, at Balham, “to finish his +sermons, and to put all his little things in order.” He +“submitted to importunity, and once more sat for his picture.” +He “dined at Mr. Baker’s, one of the sheriffs of London; a +plain man, who still lived in an inn yard!”</p> + +<p>On Sunday, February 28, which, for five months, was his +last day in London, he preached to enormous congregations, +at City Road, West Street, and Brentford; and then started +off on his long journey to the north. Before we follow him, +two short letters may be welcome; the first to Adam Clarke +at Bristol, the second to Miss Bisson in the Channel islands.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>February 11, 1790</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Adam</span>,—On Monday, March 1, I hope to set out hence; and +to preach that evening, and on Tuesday, at half-past six o’clock, at Bath. +On Thursday, if he desires it, I will dine at Mr. Durbin’s; and, on +Monday following, begin as usual to meet the classes. I am not at all +sorry that James Gore is removed from this evil world. You and I shall +follow him in due time; as soon as our work is done. Many of our +friends have been lately gathered into the garner, as ripe shocks of wheat. +Peace be with both your spirits! I am, dear Adam, etc.,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_702_702" href="#Footnote_702_702" class="fnanchor">[702]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>February 13, 1790</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Sister</span>,—I love to see your name at the bottom of a letter, +especially when it brings me the good news, that your spirit is still +rejoicing in God your Saviour. My sight is so far decayed, that I cannot +well read a small print by candlelight; but I can write almost as well as +ever I could; and it does me no harm, but rather good, to preach once or +twice a day. A few days since, I had a letter from one of our sisters in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_600">[Pg 600]</span> +Scotland, whose experience agrees much with yours; only she goes +farther; she speaks of being ‘taken up into heaven, surrounded with the +blessed Trinity, and let into God the Father.’ I commend you to His +care; and am, etc.,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley spent a fortnight at Bath, Bristol, and Kingswood; +preached daily; visited the sick; and met the Bristol classes. +On one of the Sundays, at least, he preached thrice; having +on the night previous occupied the pulpit of his friend, the +<abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Joseph Easterbrook, in Temple church. He writes: +“Mr. Easterbrook has lately been very ill; but God has again +lifted up his head to be a father to the poor a little longer.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_703_703" href="#Footnote_703_703" class="fnanchor">[703]</a></p> + +<p>This indefatigable clergyman was the son of the Bristol +bellman; was educated at Kingswood school; became assistant +master at Trevecca college; obtained ordination; was +presented to Temple church by the Bristol corporation; and +succeeded James Roquet as chaplain of Newgate prison.⁠<a id="FNanchor_704_704" href="#Footnote_704_704" class="fnanchor">[704]</a> +Fletcher, in writing to the Countess of Huntingdon concerning +him, says, when he first entered Trevecca, he began to +live upon water and potatoes; and yet, besides attending to +his scholastic duties, he preached every evening in the week, +and occasionally as many as four times on Sundays. Atmore +states that, in Bristol, it was Easterbrook’s invariable rule to +send those, who were awakened under his ministry, to meet +in class among the Methodists. His work was now nearly +ended. When Wesley came again to Bristol, in September, +he wrote: “Mr. Easterbrook is ill of a disorder which no +physician understands, and which it seems God alone can +cure. He is a pattern to all Bristol, and indeed to all in +England; having, besides his other incessant labours, which +were never intermitted, preached in every house in his +parish!” Within four months after this, Easterbrook was +dead, and Henry Moore preached for him a funeral sermon, +which was printed. He died on the 21st of January, 1791, in +the fortieth year of his age, some of his last words being +“God does all things well. I have no fear of death or of +judgment.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_705_705" href="#Footnote_705_705" class="fnanchor">[705]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_601">[Pg 601]</span> +While at Bristol, Wesley addressed the following characteristic +letter, not before published, to Jasper Winscomb, one of +his preachers in the Isle of Wight. What would Wesley have +said concerning the circuit divisions of the present day?</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Bristol</span>, <i>March 13, 1790</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Jasper</span>,—The story of Thomas Whitwood is very remarkable, +and the story is well told, and God has done much honour to him by the +happy effects which have been consequent on his death. I am in no haste +at all concerning building, without having paid some more of our debts. +I am likewise in no haste to multiply preachers, or to divide circuits. +Most of our circuits are too small rather than too large. I wish we had +no circuit with fewer than three preachers on it, or less than four hundred +miles’ riding in four weeks. Certainly, no circuit shall be divided before +conference. If we do not take care we shall all degenerate into milksops. +‘Soldiers of Christ, arise!’</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Jasper, etc.,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>On leaving London, the following circular, bearing Wesley’s +signature, was issued, indicating to his friends the places he +meant to visit, in his journey to the north. It furnishes a +bird’s eye view of the Herculean labours of an old man nearly +eighty-seven years of age, and also helps to fill up a gap in +Wesley’s journal. It must be remembered, that the means of +transit in 1790 were not what they are at present; and that, +at every place mentioned, Wesley preached at least once, +and often several times more than that. It will also be seen, +that from three to four days were employed in some of the +principal societies, where he arranged to spend his Sundays.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>March 1, 1790</i>. +</p> + +<p>“As many persons desire to know where I am from this time till the +conference, I here set down my route, which, if God permit, I shall keep +till that time.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>March.</i></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>Monday, 15, Stroud; 16, Gloucester; 17, Worcester; 18, Stourport; +19, Birmingham.</p> + +<p>Monday, 22, Wednesbury; 23, Dudley and Wolverhampton; 24, +Madeley; 25, Salop; 26, Madeley; 27, Newcastle under Lyne; +28, Lane End and Burslem.</p> + +<p>Monday, 29, Congleton; 30, Macclesfield.</p> +</div> + +<p class="center"><i>April.</i></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>Thursday, 1, Stockport; 2, Manchester.</p> + +<p>Monday, 5, Nantwich and Liverpool; 7, Warrington and Chester; +9, Wigan; 10, Bolton.</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_602">[Pg 602]</span></p> +<p>Monday, 12, Blackburn; 13, Colne; 17, Keighley; 18, Haworth and +Halifax.</p> + +<p>Tuesday, 20, Huddersfield; 21, Dewsbury; 24, Wakefield; 25, +Birstal and Leeds.</p> + +<p>Tuesday, 27, Bradford; 29, Otley.</p> +</div> + +<p class="center"><i>May.</i></p> + +<p>Saturday, 1, Parkgate; 2, York; 4, Pocklington; 6, Newcastle.</p> + +<p>Monday, 10, Alnwick; 12, Dunbar; 13, Edinburgh.</p> + +<p>Tuesday, 18, Dundee; 19, Arbroath; 20, Aberdeen.</p> + +<p>“N.B. I have not yet finally settled the rest of my plan. I probably +shall, if I come to York. Many persons are continually teasing me to +visit more places. Now let them judge whether I have not work enough.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley.</span>” +</p> +</div> + +<p>To this circular, two postscripts were added, by some other +hand, namely:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Those persons, who have occasion to write to Mr. Wesley, are +requested to direct their letters according to this plan, and not to +London.”</p> + +<p>“Our friends here earnestly desire that Mr. Wesley may be remembered +in prayer, especially at the next quarterly fast, that his strength may be +continued, and, if it please God, increased also.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Such was Wesley’s plan of travel and of labour for the +next ten weeks; but even this was a mere outline; and it will +be found, as we follow him, that he preached at many places +besides the above mentioned.</p> + +<p>At Stroud, on March 15, hundreds were unable to get into +the chapel. On the day following, he preached to two other +crowds, at Painswick, and at Gloucester, March 17, the +chapel at Tewkesbury was not large enough to hold the +noonday congregation; and at Worcester, in the evening, he +“found much comfort among a well established people.”</p> + +<p>Twenty years before this, Stourport did not exist; now +there were a couple of streets, at least, and also a prosperous +trade. In 1780, John Cowell came with his family from +Wolverhampton; and, soon after, Thomas Hanby preached +the first Methodist sermon, in an upper room, at Mr. Morris’s.⁠<a id="FNanchor_706_706" href="#Footnote_706_706" class="fnanchor">[706]</a> +A chapel was soon erected, towards which Mr. Cowell was a +large contributor. The chapel was to be occupied by both +Calvinist and Arminian preachers. The Arminians were +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_603">[Pg 603]</span> +speedily ejected; and, rather than appeal to law, Mr. Cowell, +at his own expense, built another and a larger chapel, which +Wesley opened in 1788. He now visited them again; had a +crowded congregation; was pleased with their attention; but +writes: “The moment I ceased speaking, fourscore or one +hundred begun talking all at once. I do not remember to +have been present at such a scene before. This must be +amended; otherwise, if I should live, I will see Stourport no +more.”</p> + +<p>March 19, at eleven a.m., Wesley preached at Quinton; +and, at night, to a densely packed congregation at Birmingham. +Next day, Saturday, the same scene was repeated; +and, on Sunday, when he opened a new meeting-house, and +preached twice, hundreds of people were unable to get in. +Joseph Benson, at this time stationed in Birmingham, met +Wesley at Stourport, and writes: “I found him much +stronger and better than I expected. Still his sight is so +defective, that he is much at a loss in giving out hymns, in +reading his text, and in referring to any portion of Scripture. +In conversation, he seemed much as usual, lively and entertaining.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_707_707" href="#Footnote_707_707" class="fnanchor">[707]</a></p> + +<p>On Monday, March 22, at Wednesbury, as many as could +<em>squeezed</em> into the chapel, and the rest were fain to be listeners +outside. The next day, he opened a new meeting-house, +“one of the neatest in England,” at Dudley; and, at night, +preached at Wolverhampton. Three days were spent at +Madeley and Salop; one sermon was written; and four were +preached. Week day though it was, Madeley church was +crowded; and so also was the meeting place at Salop; but +concerning the Salopians, Wesley writes: “I was much +ashamed for them. The moment I had done speaking, I +suppose fifty of them were talking all at once; and no +wonder they had neither sense nor good manners, for they +were gentlefolks!”</p> + +<p>The halt at Madeley gave him the opportunity, not only +to write his sermon on the wedding garment, but to write +letters to his friends. To Adam Clarke he expresses the +opinion, that “animal magnetism is diabolical from the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_604">[Pg 604]</span> +beginning to the end;” he also advises him to consult Dr. +Whitehead about his health, and requests him to follow all +the doctor’s directions, “except the leaving off preaching”; +naively adding, “I think, if I had taken this advice many +years since, I should not have been a living man.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_708_708" href="#Footnote_708_708" class="fnanchor">[708]</a></p> + +<p>Charles Atmore had recently commenced a Sunday-school, +in the Orphan House, at Newcastle, consisting of seventy +teachers and more than a thousand children.⁠<a id="FNanchor_709_709" href="#Footnote_709_709" class="fnanchor">[709]</a> And Michael +Longridge, one of Wesley’s best local preachers, in the north +of England, had published a <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr> pamphlet of 13 pages, +entitled, “Sunday-schools Recommended as a Religious +Institution: with a Plan for their Extension at a small +Expense.” All this had Wesley’s cordial approval; and, +hence, the following letter to Atmore, which, besides a reference +to the Sunday-schools, also contains an addition to +Wesley’s <em>preaching plan</em>.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Madeley</span>, <i>March 24, 1790</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Charles</span>,—I am glad you have set up Sunday-schools in +Newcastle. It is one of the noblest institutions which has been seen in +Europe for some centuries, and will increase more and more, provided +the teachers and inspectors do their duties. Nothing can prevent the +increase of this blessed work, but the neglect of the instruments. Therefore, +be sure to watch over these with all care, that they may not grow +weary in well doing.</p> + +<p>“I shall be at Darlington, if God permit, on Tuesday and Wednesday, +May 4th and 5th; on Thursday, at Durham to preach at twelve o’clock at +noon; and at Newcastle between four and five in the afternoon. Grace +be with you and yours!</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Charles, etc.,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_710_710" href="#Footnote_710_710" class="fnanchor">[710]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>To return. According to announcement, Wesley, on +Saturday, March 27, preached at Newcastle under Lyne; +and, on the day following, twice, to large crowds, in the open +air, at Lane End, and at Burslem. At nine o’clock on +Monday morning, he opened Tunstall new chapel, “the most +elegant he had seen since he left Bath”; and, at night, +preached at Congleton, the clergyman of the parish, “the +mayor, and all the heads of the town,” forming a part of his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_605">[Pg 605]</span> +congregation. He quietly remarks: “That I might not +overshoot them, I preached on, ‘So teach us to number our +days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.’”</p> + +<p>Two days were spent at Macclesfield, and two crowded +audiences were addressed. Here, also, one of his horses died. +On April 1, he had a large congregation at Stockport. The +next day, Good Friday, he preached at Oldham and Manchester; +and, at the latter place, again on Saturday.</p> + +<p>On Easter Sunday, at Manchester, he preached twice, and +held a sacramental service at which there were about sixteen +hundred communicants!</p> + +<p>Next day, he preached thrice, at Altrincham, Northwich, +and Chester; and, in each place, had crowded congregations. +At Warrington, “the chapel was well filled with serious +hearers”; and, at Liverpool, multitudes were not able to get +in. At Wigan, the chapel “was more than filled”; and “in +the lovely house at Bolton” he preached to, what he calls, +“one of the loveliest congregations in England.” This was +on April 10; and, from this date to May 24, there is a +chasm in Wesley’s journal, which we shall endeavour to fill +up; first of all, however, giving an unpublished letter, addressed +to Thomas Taylor, who, with William Simpson, was +stationed at Hull.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Manchester</span>, <i>April 4, 1790</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Tommy</span>,—I did not approve of Dr. Coke’s making collections +either in yours or any other circuit. I told him so, and am not well +pleased with his doing it. It was very ill done. It is exceeding probable, +that sea bathing will be of use to brother Simpson, especially if he be +temperate in all things.</p> + +<p>“I do not know what you mean concerning talking ‘about the Church.’ +I advise all our brethren, that have been brought up in the Church, to +continue there; and there I leave the matter. The Methodists are to +spread life among all denominations; which they will do, till they form a +separate sect.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Tommy, etc.,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>According to Wesley’s plan, the week, intervening between +April 10 and 17, was to be spent in visiting Blackburn, +Colne, Keighley, Haworth, and Halifax. But, besides these +places, he also preached at Preston, from Revelation <abbr title="twenty-two">xxii.</abbr> 17; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_606">[Pg 606]</span> +and was the guest of Mrs. Emmett of Walton,⁠<a id="FNanchor_711_711" href="#Footnote_711_711" class="fnanchor">[711]</a> where he wrote +the following letter to the celebrated Ann Cutler, commonly +called “praying Nanny.”</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Walton</span>, <i>April 15, 1790</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Sister</span>,—There is something in the dealings of God with +your soul, which is out of the common way. But I have known several +whom He has been pleased to lead in exactly the same way, and particularly +in manifesting to them distinctly the three Persons of the ever +blessed Trinity. You may tell all your experience to me any time; but +will need to be cautious in speaking to others, for they would not understand +what you say. Go on in the name of God, and in the power of +His might. Pray for the whole spirit of humility; and I wish that you +would write and speak without reserve to, dear Nanny,</p> + +<p>“Yours affectionately,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_712_712" href="#Footnote_712_712" class="fnanchor">[712]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley spent April 21 at Halifax;⁠<a id="FNanchor_713_713" href="#Footnote_713_713" class="fnanchor">[713]</a> and, in connection +with his visit here, preached at Bradshaw, where, on his tottering +up the pulpit stairs, the whole congregation burst into +a flood of tears. More than once, his memory failed him, and +Joseph Bradford and William Thompson had to act the part +of remembrancers. The visit was memorable in more respects +than one. While the congregation was waiting for the +venerable preacher, and a crowd was assembled at the door, +a woman of the name of Wilson mockingly exclaimed, +“They are waiting for their God”; no sooner was the sentence +uttered than she fell senseless to the ground, and, the day +following, she expired.⁠<a id="FNanchor_714_714" href="#Footnote_714_714" class="fnanchor">[714]</a></p> + +<p>The next few days, according to Wesley’s plan, were +employed at Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Wakefield, Birstal, +Leeds, Bradford, and Otley. On the 3rd of May, he came to +York. Thomas Taylor, in his unpublished diary, remarks: +“May 3—I went to York, and was amazed to meet such a +number of travelling preachers, fifteen or sixteen of them. +Mr. Wesley preached a useful sermon; and, after preaching, +we had a meeting respecting one of our number who was +accused of drunkenness.”</p> + +<p>On the 5th of May, Wesley was met at Darlington by his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_607">[Pg 607]</span> +son in law, Mr. William Smith, and by Charles Atmore, from +Newcastle. Atmore writes: “We heard him preach in the +evening, from ‘He is before all things, and by Him all things +consist.’ He appears very feeble; and no wonder, he being +nearly eighty-seven years of age. His sight has failed so +much, that he cannot see to give out the hymn; yet his +voice is strong, and his spirits remarkably lively. Surely this +great and good man is the prodigy of the present age.”</p> + +<p>Old as he was, Wesley set out next morning, at half-past +three o’clock, for Newcastle, where he preached, in the +evening, from Isaiah <abbr title="fifty-seven">lvii.</abbr> 1, 2. The following night (Friday) +he preached again his remarkable sermon to the children of +the Sunday-school, taking as his text Psalm <abbr title="thirty-four">xxxiv.</abbr> 11; +the sermon being literally composed and delivered in words +of not more than two syllables.⁠<a id="FNanchor_715_715" href="#Footnote_715_715" class="fnanchor">[715]</a> On Saturday, May 8, +we find him at North Shields, preaching, says Atmore, +“an excellent sermon, from ‘What things were gain to me, +these I counted loss for Christ.’” Next day, Sunday, May +9, he addressed a crowd of several thousands, on Byker Hill, +from Matthew <abbr title="seven">vii.</abbr> 24; and, in the evening, at the Orphan +House, took his old favourite text, “By grace are ye saved, +through faith.” “The house,” writes Atmore, “was much +crowded, and many hundreds returned, not being able to +obtain an entrance.” Atmore continues:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“He was highly honoured in his ministry; particularly to one who had +been in a state of great despair for many years. As soon as he arrived +at the Orphan House, Mr. Wesley inquired after this individual, and I +accompanied him in visiting him. As soon as he entered the room, +where the poor man was, he went up to him, and said, ‘Brother Reed, I +have a word from God unto thee; Jesus Christ maketh thee whole.’ He +then knelt down to pray; and such a season I have seldom experienced. +Hope instantly sprang up, and despair gave place; and, although Reed +had not been out of his habitation, nor even from his wretched bed, for +several years, he went that evening to hear Mr. Wesley preach; and God +graciously confirmed the testimony of His servant in restoring him to ‘the +light of His countenance.’”⁠<a id="FNanchor_716_716" href="#Footnote_716_716" class="fnanchor">[716]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>On Monday, May 10, Wesley proceeded on his journey to +Scotland. Of his labours during the next fortnight, we have +no record; but, on May 25, we find him preaching to a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_608">[Pg 608]</span> +crowded audience at Aberdeen; then at Brechin, Glasgow, +and Dumfries. The last mentioned town was now a part of +the Glasgow circuit, and had, as its resident preacher, Mr. +Yewdall, who writes: “In the latter end of May, Mr. Wesley +visited us. He came from Glasgow that day, (about seventy +miles,) but his strength was almost exhausted, and, when he +attempted to preach, very few could hear him. His sight +was likewise much decayed, so that he could neither read the +hymn or text. The wheels of life were ready to stand still; +but his conversation was agreeably edifying, being mixed +with the wisdom and gravity of a parent, and the artless +simplicity of a child.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_717_717" href="#Footnote_717_717" class="fnanchor">[717]</a></p> + +<p>From Dumfries, Wesley proceeded, on June 2, to Carlisle, +where the chapel would not near contain his congregation. +Thence he went to Hexham, where he “found a loving +people, much alive to God, and consequently increasing +daily.”</p> + +<p>On Friday, June 4, he once again, and, for the last time, +reached Newcastle. He writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“In this and Kingswood house, were I to do my own will, I should +choose to spend the short remainder of my days. But it cannot be; this +is not my rest. This and the next evening, we had a numerous congregation; +and the people seemed much alive. Sunday, June 6, I was invited +to preach in Lemsley church, on the side of Gateshead Fell; but, some +hours after, the minister changed his mind. So I preached in our own +preaching house, which contained the greater part of the congregation; +among whom were Sir Henry Liddell and his lady, with a great number +of his servants. The chapel was hot as a stove; but neither high nor +low seemed to regard it: for God was there! The Orphan House was +equally crowded in the evening; but the rain would not suffer me to +preach abroad. Monday, June 7, I transcribed the stations of the +preachers. Tuesday, June 8, I wrote a form for settling the preaching +houses, without any superfluous words, which shall be used for the time +to come, verbatim, for all the houses to which I contribute anything. I +will no more encourage that villainous tautology of lawyers, which is the +scandal of our nation. In the evening, I preached to the children of our +Sunday-school; six or seven hundred of whom were present. Observe, +none of our masters or mistresses teach for pay; they seek a reward that +man cannot give.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Two days after this, Wesley left Newcastle, where he had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_609">[Pg 609]</span> +spent so many happy hours, for ever. Before we follow him, +three more of his letters may be acceptable; the first to +Henry Moore, the second to the wife of Adam Clarke, the +third to Miss Bisson.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Dumfries</span>, <i>June 1, 1790</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Henry</span>,—So I am upon the borders of England once +again. My sight is much as it was, but I doubt I shall not recover my +strength, till I use that noble medicine, preaching in the morning. But +where can we put poor Adam Clarke? He must not preach himself to +death. What circuit is he equal to? Where can he have rest as well as +labour? The best place I can think of, at present, is Leeds.</p> + +<p>“The dying words of the Prince of Orange are much upon my mind +this morning: ‘Lord have mercy upon the people!’ I never saw so much +likelihood of doing good in Scotland as there is now, if all our preachers +here would be Methodists indeed! Tell dear Nancy to love me as well +as she can.</p> + +<p>“I am, my dear Henry, etc.,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">J. Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_718_718" href="#Footnote_718_718" class="fnanchor">[718]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Dumfries</span>, <i>June 1, 1790</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Sister</span>,—The great question is, What can be done for +Adam Clarke? Now, will you save his life? Look round; consider if +there be any circuit where he can have much rest, and little work; or +shall he and you spend September in my rooms at Kingswood, on condition +that he shall preach but twice a week, and ride to the Hotwells +every day? I think he must do this, or die; and I do not want him +(neither do you) to run away from us in haste. You need not be told, +that this will be attended with some expense; if it be, we can make it +easy. I am apt to think this will be the best way. In the meantime, let +him do as much as he can, and no more.</p> + +<p>“It is probable, I shall stay with you a little longer, as my strength +does not much decline. I travelled yesterday nearly eighty miles, and +preached in the evening without any pain. The Lord does what pleases +Him. Peace be with all your spirits!</p> + +<p class="center">“I am, etc.,</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_719_719" href="#Footnote_719_719" class="fnanchor">[719]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Newcastle</span>, <i>June 6, 1790</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Sister</span>,—To hear from you is always a pleasure to me; +though it is a pleasure mixed with concern when I hear of your weakness +or sickness; only I know the Lord loveth whom He chasteneth. But of +what kind is your illness? Perhaps I might be enabled to tell you how to +remove it; and if you can recover your health, you ought; for health is a +great blessing.</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_610">[Pg 610]</span> +“In August last, my strength failed almost at once; and my sight, in a +great measure, went from me. But all is well; I can still write almost as +easily as ever; and I can read in a clear light; and, I think, if I could +not read or write at all, I could still say something for God. When you +have more strength, tell me more of the work of God, whether in yourself +or those round about you. And ought you not to let me know if you are +in any temporal distress? For everything that concerns you, concerns, +my dear Jenny, yours most affectionately,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_720_720" href="#Footnote_720_720" class="fnanchor">[720]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>On leaving Newcastle, on the 10th of June, Wesley proceeded, +over rough roads and high hills, a distance of at least +thirty miles, to Weardale, where he preached both at noon +and night. On the 11th, he preached twice in the open air, +at Stanhope and at Durham, the crowds being so immense +that the chapels were utterly unable to contain them. The +12th and 13th he spent at Sunderland, where he preached +thrice: once in the Methodist chapel; a second time in +Monkwearmouth church, for the benefit of the Sunday-school; +and a third, to many thousands of people, out of +doors.</p> + +<p>During the ensuing week, we find him preaching at +Hartlepool, Stockton, Yarm, Potto, Hutton Rudby, Stokesley, +and Whitby. At the last mentioned town, he spent +Sunday, June 20, preached twice, attended church, and wrote +in his journal: “It was very providential, that part of the +adjoining mountain fell down, and demolished our old +meeting-house, with many houses besides; by which means +we have one of the most beautiful chapels in Great Britain, +finely situated on the steep side of the mountain. In all +England, I have not seen a more affectionate people than +those at Whitby.”</p> + +<p>This was high praise of these Yorkshire fishermen; but it +was not unmerited. Warm hearts often beat under rough +exteriors. Besides, the Methodist society at Whitby was now +well-nigh a model. Most of the two hundred and fifty +members met in <em>band</em>. Their itinerant preachers preached +to them three mornings every week; and, on the other +mornings, they were either supplied with local preachers, or +held prayer-meetings. At noon, every Friday, they had their +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_611">[Pg 611]</span> +intercession meeting; and, after the toils of the week were +ended, they met together every Saturday night, to ask God +to fit their minds and hearts for the services of Sunday.⁠<a id="FNanchor_721_721" href="#Footnote_721_721" class="fnanchor">[721]</a></p> + +<p>On June 21, Wesley preached at Pickering and Malton; +and, on the following days, at Scarborough, Bridlington, +Beverley, and Hull. At Hull, he spent Sunday, June 27, +and also his birthday. He writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Friday, June 25—About noon I preached at Beverley, to a serious, +well behaved congregation; and, in the evening, to one equally serious, +and far more numerous, at Hull. Saturday, 26, was a day of satisfaction. +I preached at seven in the morning, and at six in the evening, to as many +as our house would contain; the ground being too wet for the congregation +to stand abroad.”</p> +</div> + +<p>This is a simple entry, and gives no idea of the commotion +created by Wesley’s visit. Thomas Taylor, who was now the +assistant in the Hull circuit, writes in his diary: “I and +many friends from Hull met Mr. Wesley at Beverley. We +dined at an inn. He preached, and we hastened to Hull. +Many people attending this evening.” Taylor is as laconic +as Wesley; but, from another source, we learn, that the +“many friends from Hull” were a regular cavalcade of forty +persons, some in chaises, and the rest on horses. All these +dined with Wesley at his inn at Beverley; spirits were lively, +and conversation brisk; but, in the midst of it, and while all +present were utterly oblivious of the flight of time, Wesley +pulled out his watch, started on his feet, bid his friends good +day, stepped into his carriage, and was gone before they had +time to remonstrate, or to wish him to wait for the cavalcade to +attend him. Horses were saddled, and carriages got ready with +as much celerity as possible; but the old man was on his +way, and it was with the utmost difficulty that “the horsemen +and the chariots” overtook the illustrious visitor in sufficient +time to do him honour in the sight of their fellow citizens.⁠<a id="FNanchor_722_722" href="#Footnote_722_722" class="fnanchor">[722]</a></p> + +<p>On his birthday, he wrote:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Monday, June 28.—This day, I enter into my eighty-eighth year. For +above eighty-six years, I found none of the infirmities of old age; my +eyes did not wax dim, neither was my natural strength abated; but, last +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_612">[Pg 612]</span> +August, I found almost a sudden change. My eyes were so dim, that no +glasses would help me. My strength likewise now quite forsook me; and +probably will not return in this world. But I feel no pain from head to +foot; only it seems nature is exhausted; and, humanly speaking, will +sink more and more, till ‘the weary springs of life stand still at last.’”</p> +</div> + +<p>Thus did the venerable man calmly contemplate the inevitable +closing of his remarkable career. No weary child of +innocence ever went to its welcome couch with greater +serenity than Wesley went down the steps leading to his +sepulchre.</p> + +<p>Here we pause again, to insert another selection of his +letters. The first was addressed to William Black, in Nova +Scotia.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Sunderland</span>, <i>June 14, 1790</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—You did well to send me an account of your +little societies. Here is a good beginning, though it is, as yet, in many +places, a day of small things; and although it does not please God to +carry on His work so rapidly with you as in the United States. But one +soul is worth all the merchandise in the world; and, whoever gets money, +do you win souls.</p> + +<p>“Never was there, throughout England, Scotland, and Ireland, so great +a thirst for the pure word of God as there is at this day. The same we +find in the little islands of Man, Wight, Jersey, Guernsey, and Alderney +in the Western Ocean. In the Isle of Man alone (thirty miles long) the +societies contain about four-and-twenty hundred members. I have just +now finished my route through Scotland, where I never had such congregations +before. So it pleases God to give me a little more to do, before +He calls me hence.</p> + +<p>“What has become of brother Scurr, Dodson, and our other Yorkshire +friends? Some of them doubtless are gone into a farther country; but +some I suppose remain. I doubt you do not keep up a constant intercourse +with each other. Love as brethren!</p> + +<p>“I am, dear William, etc.,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_723_723" href="#Footnote_723_723" class="fnanchor">[723]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>The following, kindly lent by Charles Reed, <abbr title="Esquire">Esq.</abbr>, <abbr title="Member of Parliament">M.P.</abbr>, has +not before been published. It was addressed to William +Thom, the assistant appointed to Sarum circuit.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Malton</span>, <i>June 21, 1790</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—I concur in the judgment of my brother, that +the using of the form of prayer will tend to unite our people to the Church, +rather than to separate them from it; especially if you earnestly insist on +their going to church every fourth Sunday.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_613">[Pg 613]</span> +“I am very indifferent concerning the preaching house, and shall not +concern myself about it any more. I have lost <abbr title="10 pounds">£10</abbr> by it already, although +to no purpose. If anything more is done concerning it, it must be done +by the people at Sarum themselves.</p> + +<p>“I am, with love to sister Thom, dear Billy, your affectionate friend and +brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">J. Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>The next was addressed to a bishop, whose name is not +given.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Hull</span>, <i>June 26, 1790</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My Lord</span>,—It may seem strange, that one, who is not acquainted with +your lordship, should trouble you with a letter. But I am constrained to +do it; I believe it is my duty both to God and your lordship. And I must +speak plain; having nothing to hope or fear in this world, which I am on +the point of leaving.</p> + +<p>“The Methodists, in general, my lord, are members of the Church of +England. They hold all her doctrines, attend her service, and partake of +her sacraments. They do not willingly do harm to any one, but do what +good they can to all. To encourage each other herein, they frequently +spend an hour together in prayer and mutual exhortation. Permit me +then to ask, ‘<i lang="la">Cui bono?</i> for what reasonable end, would your lordship +drive these people out of the Church?’ Are they not as quiet, as inoffensive, +nay, as pious, as any of their neighbours? except perhaps here and there +a hairbrained man, who knows not what he is about. Do you ask, ‘Who +drives them out of the Church?’ Your lordship does; and that in the +most cruel manner; yea, and the most disingenuous manner. They desire +a licence to worship God after their own conscience. Your lordship +refuses it; and then punishes them for not having a licence! So your +lordship leaves them only this alternative, ‘Leave the Church or starve.’ +And is it a Christian, yea, a protestant bishop, that so persecutes his own +flock? I say <em>persecutes</em>; for it is persecution, to all intents and purposes. +You do not burn them, indeed, but you starve them; and how small is the +difference! And your lordship does this, under colour of a vile, execrable +law, not a whit better than that <i lang="la">de hæretico comburendo</i>! So persecution, +which is banished out of France, is again countenanced in England!</p> + +<p>“O my lord, for God’s sake, for Christ’s sake, for pity’s sake, suffer the +poor people to enjoy their religious, as well as civil liberty! I am on the +brink of eternity! Perhaps so is your lordship too! How soon may you +also be called, to give an account of your stewardship, to the great +Shepherd and Bishop of our souls! May He enable both you and me to +do it with joy! So prays, my lord, your lordship’s dutiful son and +servant,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_724_724" href="#Footnote_724_724" class="fnanchor">[724]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>The following letter is without date, but is too characteristic +to be omitted.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_614">[Pg 614]</span> +<p>“You give five reasons why the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. <span class="lock">P——</span> will come no more among +us. 1. Because we despise the ministers of the Church of England. This +I flatly deny: I am answering letters, this very post, which bitterly blame +me for just the contrary. 2. Because so much backbiting and evil +speaking is suffered amongst our people. It is not suffered; all possible +means are used, both to prevent and remove it. 3. Because I, who +have written so much against hoarding up money, have put out <abbr title="700 pounds">£700</abbr> to +interest. I never put sixpence out to interest since I was born; nor had +I ever <abbr title="100 pounds">£100</abbr> together, my own, since I came into the world. 4. Because +our lay preachers have told many stories of my brother and me. If they +did, I am sorry for them; when I hear the particulars, I can answer, and, +perhaps, make those ashamed who believed them. 5. Because we did not +help a friend in distress. We did help him as far as we were able. ‘But we +might have made his case known to Mr. G., Lady H., etc.’ So we did, +more than once; but we could not pull money from them, whether they +would or no. Therefore, these reasons are of no weight. You conclude +with praying, that God would remove pride and malice from amongst us. +Of pride, I have too much; of malice, I have none; however, the prayer +is good, and I thank you for it.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_725_725" href="#Footnote_725_725" class="fnanchor">[725]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>The next was addressed to Adam Clarke, then at Bristol.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>June 28, 1790.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Adam</span>,—I often wonder at the people of Bristol. They are so +honest, yet so dull, ’tis scarce possible to strike any fire into them. Only +with God all things are possible. Many years ago, I put the society at +Bath into a way wherein, if they had persevered, they would now have owed +nothing. They were at Plymouth but thirty in number, and their debt +was <abbr title="1400 pounds">£1400</abbr>. I advised them, let every member subscribe monthly what +he can; and a hundred at the Dock promised to do the same. ‘I,’ said +one, ‘will give a crown a month’; ‘I,’ said another, ‘half-a-crown.’ +Many subscribed a shilling, sixpence, or threepence a month. And now +the debt is paid. I began such a subscription in Bath; as I have done in +many places with success. But they left it off in two or three weeks. +Why? Because I gave four guineas to prevent one, that was arrested, +from going to jail! Good reason, was it not? ‘Why,’ said one and +another, ‘might he not have given it to <em>me</em>?’</p> + +<p>“On Monday four weeks, I shall probably set out for Bristol. Peace +be with your spirits.</p> + +<p class="center">“I am, etc.,</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_726_726" href="#Footnote_726_726" class="fnanchor">[726]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>While on money matters, let an explanation be given. +Wesley asserts, in one of the foregoing letters, that he never +had, at one time, since he was born, <abbr title="100 pounds">£100</abbr> that was his own. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_615">[Pg 615]</span> +No doubt, excepting an occasional legacy, this was strictly +true; and yet, towards the close of life, a year never passed +without his giving hundreds of pounds away in charity. +Wesley not only kept a journal of his labours, but account +books of his income and expenditure. The last of these +has, at the end of it, the following entry, in Wesley’s own +handwriting, but in penmanship which it is extremely difficult +to decipher:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“N.B. For upwards of eighty-six years,⁠<a id="FNanchor_727_727" href="#Footnote_727_727" class="fnanchor">[727]</a> I have kept my accounts +exactly. I will not attempt it any longer, being satisfied with the continual +conviction, that I save all I can, and give all I can, that is, all I have.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>, <br> +“<i>July 16, 1790.</i>” +</p> +</div> + +<p>What was Wesley’s income? He had <abbr title="30 pounds">£30</abbr> a year from +the London circuit;⁠<a id="FNanchor_728_728" href="#Footnote_728_728" class="fnanchor">[728]</a> and, in the country, the Methodists +occasionally, but not often, paid his hostelry bill, and other +similar expenses incurred in travelling. But this was not +all. Wesley was the proprietor of a large publishing and +book concern, from which he derived considerable profits; +but be the profits what they might, they were at once distributed +in the work of God, and in acts of charity. In as +brief a form as possible, we give, from the book above +mentioned, a few items belonging to the last nine years of +Wesley’s life.</p> + +<p>In 1782, Wesley received <abbr title="361 pound">£361</abbr> 19<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> Of this, he spent +<abbr title="5 pounds">£5</abbr> 19<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> for clothes. The balance, <abbr title="356 pounds">£356</abbr>, he, with his own +hands, gave away; and, during the same year, John Atlay, his +book steward, by his directions, gave a further sum of <abbr title="237 pounds">£237</abbr> 13<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr>; +making <abbr title="593 pounds">£593</abbr> 13<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> for the year.</p> + +<p>In 1783, he, and his steward by his orders, gave <abbr title="832 pounds">£832</abbr> 1<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 6<abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr> +In 1784, <abbr title="534 pounds">£534</abbr> 17<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 6<abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr> In 1785, <abbr title="851 pound">£851</abbr> 12<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> In 1786, <abbr title="738 pounds">£738</abbr> 5<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> +In 1787, including his travelling expenses, <abbr title="961 pound">£961</abbr> 4<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> In 1788, +the last year Atlay acted for him, the two united gave in +charity <abbr title="738 pounds">£738</abbr> 4<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr></p> + +<p>At the end of his accounts for 1789, he writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_616">[Pg 616]</span> + +<table class="smaller"> +<tr><td class="tdl">“I have given this year by myself</td> + <td class="tdr pad2"><abbr title="206 pounds">£206</abbr></td> + <td class="tdr pad2">0</td> + <td class="tdr pad2">0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"> By George Whitfield<a id="FNanchor_729_729" href="#Footnote_729_729" class="fnanchor">[729]</a></td> + <td class="tdr pad2">560</td> + <td class="tdr pad2">0</td> + <td class="tdr pad2">0</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"> Travelling</td> + <td class="tdr pad2">60</td> + <td class="tdr pad2">0</td> + <td class="tdr pad2">0</td></tr> +</table> +<p class="center smaller">“But I can be accurate no⁠<a id="FNanchor_730_730" href="#Footnote_730_730" class="fnanchor">[730]</a> ... ‘Not as <em>I</em> will, but as Thou wilt.’”</p> +</div> + +<p>No one can dispute that the profits of Wesley’s book +establishment were as much his own property as the profits +of any of the great publishing houses in Paternoster Row; +but, of these profits, he literally spent none upon himself, +except for an occasional suit of clothes. All were most +scrupulously given, as fast as they were realised, and sometimes +faster, to the support and extension of the great work +to which his long life was cheerfully devoted, and to the +relief of the distresses of his fellow creatures as far as he +had the power. Dr. Whitehead says, it was supposed that, +in the course of fifty years, Wesley gave away between twenty +and thirty thousand pounds. Henry Moore writes: “Mr. +Wesley’s accounts lie before me, and his expenses are noted +with the greatest exactness. Every penny is recorded; and, +I am persuaded, the supposed <abbr title="30 pounds">£30</abbr>,000 might be increased +several thousands more.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_731_731" href="#Footnote_731_731" class="fnanchor">[731]</a></p> + +<p>Wesley made a will, in which he bequeathed his book +business, and his books then on sale, (subject to a rent charge +of <abbr title="85 pounds">£85</abbr> a year to the widow and children of his brother,) to +the Methodist conference, in trust “for carrying on the work +of God, by itinerant preachers”; his furniture, books, and +whatever else belonged to him at Kingswood, to Coke, +Mather, and Moore, “in trust, to be still employed in +teaching and maintaining the children of poor travelling +preachers”; all the books which belonged to him in his +studies at London and other places, to Coke, Whitehead, and +Moore, “in trust, for the use of the preachers who shall +labour there from time to time”; all his manuscripts to the +same Coke, Whitehead, and Moore, “to be burned, or +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_617">[Pg 617]</span> +published, as they saw good”; his gowns, cassocks, sashes, +and bands in City Road chapel, “for the use of the clergymen +attending there”; his “pelisse to the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Creighton”; +all the rest of his “wearing apparel to four of the travelling +preachers that wanted it most”; his watch to Joseph +Bradford; his gold seal to Elizabeth Ritchie; his chaise and +horses to James Ward and Charles Wheeler, “in trust, to be +sold, and the money to be divided, one half to Hannah +Abbott, and the other to the members of the select society”; +and copies of the eight volumes of his sermons to “each +travelling preacher who should remain in the connexion six +months after his decease.”</p> + +<p>All this was property, but not money. Hitherto, not a +<em>coin</em> has been bequeathed; but still there are six clauses in +Wesley’s will, which may be designated <em>monetary</em>. We give +them in substance, though the first two seem to contradict +each other. (1) All the coins, and whatever else was found +in the drawer of his bureau at London, to his granddaughters, +Mary and Jane Smith. (2) Whatever money remained in +his bureau and pockets, to Thomas Briscoe, William Collins, +John Easton, and Isaac Brown. (3) Out of the first money +arising from the sale of books, <abbr title="40 pounds">£40</abbr> to his sister Martha, <abbr title="40 pounds">£40</abbr> +to Mr. Creighton, and <abbr title="60 pounds">£60</abbr> to the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Heath. (4) The +annuity of <abbr title="5 pounds">£5</abbr>, left by Roger Shiel to Kingswood school, to +be paid to Henry Brooke, Arthur Keene, and William Whitestone. +(5) A pound each to the six poor men who should +carry his body to the grave. (6) Any personal estate, undisposed +of, to be given to his two nieces, E. Ellison, S. Collet, +equally.</p> + +<p>The reader has here the substance of Wesley’s will. Where +were his hoardings, his money put out to interest, his landed, +household, and chapel property? He had none. He died, +as he had lived, without a purse. He had been his own +executor as far as possible; and now had nothing to bequeath, +except what, in his lifetime, could not easily be turned into +current coin.</p> + +<p>We return to his itinerary. Leaving Hull, Wesley proceeded +to Lincolnshire. On June 29, the crowd at Owston +was such that he had to preach in the open air. At Lincoln, +his text was, “One thing is needful.” “Is this the great Mr. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_618">[Pg 618]</span> +Wesley?” exclaimed a lady when retiring: “why, the poorest +person in the chapel might understand him.” “Yes,” replied +a gentleman; “in this he displays his greatness, that while +the most ignorant can understand him, the most learned are +edified, and can take no offence.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_732_732" href="#Footnote_732_732" class="fnanchor">[732]</a> On Friday, July 2, he +preached twice, once out of doors at Newton, and a second +time in the chapel at Gainsborough. On Saturday, he +preached at Epworth, and met the society. On Sunday, +July 4, he attended his father’s church, where the congregation +was five times, and the attendance at sacrament ten times, +larger than usual. Besides this, he preached at Misterton, to +a great multitude, “under a spreading tree”; and, in Epworth +market place, to “such a congregation as was never seen at +Epworth before.”</p> + +<p>Here occurs an eight weeks’ hiatus in Wesley’s journal. +The space between July 4 and August 27 we shall fill up in +the best way we can.</p> + +<p>At Doncaster, where he had a crowded congregation, a +burly butcher, noted for his popery, his wickedness, and his +pugilistic feats, was converted, became a Methodist, and, to +his dying day, continued a peaceful, humble, loving Christian.⁠<a id="FNanchor_733_733" href="#Footnote_733_733" class="fnanchor">[733]</a> +This was probably on July 5, as, on the day following, he was +at Rotherham.⁠<a id="FNanchor_734_734" href="#Footnote_734_734" class="fnanchor">[734]</a> There can be no question, that Sheffield also +would be visited; and, most likely, Derby and Nottingham; +also perhaps Castle Donington, Leicester, Coventry, and +other places. At all events, the Castle Donington old +stewards’ book contains this item: “1790. Paid for Mr. +Wesley’s carriage through the circuit, <abbr title="1 pound">£1</abbr> 6<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr>”⁠<a id="FNanchor_735_735" href="#Footnote_735_735" class="fnanchor">[735]</a></p> + +<p>We cannot trace him farther; but, three weeks after he was +at Doncaster and Rotherham, he opened his conference at +Bristol,—the last that he attended. Charles Atmore writes: +“Mr. Wesley appeared very feeble; his eyesight had failed so +much that he could not see to give out the hymns; yet his +voice was strong, his spirit remarkably lively, and the powers +of his mind, and his love towards his fellow creatures, were as +bright and as ardent as ever.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_736_736" href="#Footnote_736_736" class="fnanchor">[736]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_619">[Pg 619]</span> +The only legislation at this conference was concerning +preachers and preaching houses.</p> + +<p>In reference to the latter, it was determined: (1) That, in +future, all chapels should be built on the same plan as those +in Bath and in City Road. (2) No chapel should be undertaken +without the consent of a majority of the connexional +building committee. (3) Not a stone was to be laid, till the +chapel was settled after the Methodist form, verbatim; nor +until two thirds of the estimated expense were subscribed; +and no collections were to be made for any chapel except in +the circuit where it was to be erected.</p> + +<p>Then in reference to preachers: (1) None, in future, were +to attend conference, except those whose travelling expenses +were paid by the circuits in which they respectively laboured. +Those in Scotland and Wales were to be the only exceptions. +(2) The assistants were to tell the people, that every circuit +must bear its own burden, and that those circuits which “did +not provide for their preachers and their children, (except +Scotland, Ireland, and Wales,) should have no more preachers +sent to them, for the time to come, than they would provide +for.” (3) No assistant was to take into society any one put +out by his predecessor, without consulting him. (4) Preachers +were never to hasten home to their families, after evening +preaching, till they had met the society. (5) No preacher +was to leave conference before the conclusion of it, without +consent publicly obtained. (6) No preacher was to preach +three times the same day to the same congregation; or oftener +than twice on a week day, or thrice on Sundays.</p> + +<p>In reference to the last of these regulations, Adam Clarke +relates that Wesley was outwitted. In a private meeting with +some of his principal and senior preachers, Wesley proposed +that no preacher should preach thrice on the same day. Messrs. +Mather, Pawson, Thompson, and others objected. Wesley +replied: “It must be given up; we shall lose our preachers +by such excessive labour.” They answered: “We have all +done so; and you, even at a very advanced age, have continued +to do so.” “What I have done,” said he, “is out of +the question: my life and strength have been under an +especial providence; besides, I know better than they how to +preach without injuring myself; and no man can preach thrice +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_620">[Pg 620]</span> +a day without killing himself sooner or later; and the custom +shall not be continued.” The objectors pressed the point no +further, finding that he was determined; but deceived him +after all, by altering the minute thus, when it was sent to +press: “No preacher shall preach three times the same day, +<em>to the same congregation</em>.”</p> + +<p>This was not ingenuous. Wesley was right; and Methodism +has paid an incalculable penalty by disregarding his almost +dying wish. Clarke justly remarks:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“He who preaches the gospel, as he ought, must do it with his whole +strength of body and soul; and he who undertakes a labour of this kind +thrice every Lord’s day will infallibly shorten his life by it. He who, +instead of <em>preaching</em>, <em>talks</em> to the people,—merely <i>speaks</i> about good +things, or <em>tells</em> a religious story,—will never injure himself by such an +employment: but such a person does not <em>labour</em> in the word and doctrine; +he tells his tale; and, as he preaches, so his congregation believes; and +sinners are left as he found them.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_737_737" href="#Footnote_737_737" class="fnanchor">[737]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>During the last decade of years in Wesley’s life, Methodism +had made amazing progress. In 1780, there were 64 circuits in +the United Kingdom; now there were 115. Then there were +171 itinerant preachers employed; now there were 294. Then +there were 43,380 members of society; now there were 71,568. +Then there were no missionary stations; now 19 missionaries +were appointed to Antigua, Barbadoes, <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Vincent’s, <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> +Christopher’s, Nevis, Tortola, Jamaica, Nova Scotia, and +Newfoundland, which had an aggregate membership of 5350 +persons,—800 in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, and 4550 +in the West Indies. In 1780, there were in America twenty +circuits, 42 itinerant preachers, and 8504 members of society. +In 1790, there were 114 circuits, 228 itinerant preachers, and +57,631 members of society.</p> + +<p>These statistics, put into another form, will stand thus.</p> + +<table class="small"> +<tr><td class="t"></td> + <td class="tdc t l">Methodist Circuits throughout the world.</td> + <td class="tdc t l">Methodist Itinerant Preachers.</td> + <td class="tdc t l">Methodist Members.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc t"><b>1790</b></td> + <td class="tdr pad4 t b l">240</td> + <td class="tdr pad5 t b l">541</td> + <td class="tdr pad6 t b l">134,549</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc t b"><b>1780</b></td> + <td class="tdr pad4 b l">84</td> + <td class="tdr pad5 b l">213</td> + <td class="tdr pad6 b l">52,334</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdc b"><span class="smcap">Increase</span> in 10 years</td> + <td class="tdr pad4 b l">156</td> + <td class="tdr pad5 b l">328</td> + <td class="tdr pad6 b l">82,215</td></tr> +</table> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_621">[Pg 621]</span> +Marvellous had been the success of Methodism up to the +year 1780; and, yet, the results during the last ten years of +Wesley’s life were much more than double the united results +of the forty years preceding!</p> + +<p>Before leaving the conference of 1790, we insert an unpublished +letter, addressed by Miss Ritchie to the wife of one of +Wesley’s clerical assistants, the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Peard Dickenson.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>August 3, 1790.</i> +</p> + +<p>“... I felt much for our Zion previous to the conference. Our +dear and honoured father’s state of health was alarming; but prayer +was heard, and he is much better, and things have such an appearance as +revives my hope that we shall still go on in the good old way.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Wesley has very openly and fully declared his sentiments respecting +the impropriety of a separation from the Church; and the preachers, +in general, have agreed to abide by the old plan. I sincerely pity Dr. +Coke; but I really believe good will be brought out of evil.</p> + +<p>“The preachers have had a most searching conference, and the Lord +has been very present. The preachers’ dress has been largely debated, and +what is verging towards worldly conformity is to be laid aside. We all +lament dress as a growing evil among the Methodists; and, if the +preachers are not patterns in this respect, how can they exhort the +people? One morning, at breakfast, among a very few select friends, +Mr. Wesley said he had some things to complain of, which he had better +mention before half-a-dozen persons than before a hundred. Among +other things, he spoke with disapprobation of the ruffles on Mr. Dickenson’s +shirts. I endeavoured to soften matters, saying, that you desired to +take them off, and that, if this was not already done, it was because you +had been prevented; on which I was requested to mention to you the +conversation which had taken place. My dear sister, let me beg of you +then, never to let Mr. Dickenson wear a ruffled shirt again. You both +love our dear father too well to grieve him. Yours in Jesus,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Elizabeth Ritchie</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>As soon as the Bristol conference was ended, the veteran +evangelist again set out on his glorious mission, and spent +the next three weeks in Wales. At Brecon, he preached in +the town hall; and in Watton chapel, on the state of the +church at Ephesus, and our Lord’s lamentation over Jerusalem.⁠<a id="FNanchor_738_738" href="#Footnote_738_738" class="fnanchor">[738]</a> +At Haverfordwest, he wrote as follows, to Thomas +Roberts, then a young preacher, of four years’ standing, +whom he had just appointed to the Bristol circuit.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_622">[Pg 622]</span> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Haverfordwest</span>, <i>August 13, 1790</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Tommy</span>,—Now I shall make a trial of you, whether I can +confide in you or no. Since I came hither, I have been much concerned. +This is the most important circuit in all Wales; but it has been vilely +neglected by the assistant, whom, therefore, I can trust no more. I can +trust you, even in so critical a case. I desire, therefore, that, whoever +opposes, you will set out immediately, and come hither as soon as ever +you can. I wish you could meet me at Cardiff, or Cowbridge. You will +see, by the printed plan, when I shall be at either of those places. If you +have not notice enough to do this, meet me to-morrow sennight at the +New Passage, unless you can get a passage by the weekly boat to Swansea. +If it be possible, do not fail. It may be, this may be the beginning of a +lasting friendship between you and, dear Tommy, yours, etc.,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_739_739" href="#Footnote_739_739" class="fnanchor">[739]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>At Pembroke, Wesley wrote the following to Mr. William +Mears, a useful local preacher, at Rochester.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Pembroke</span>, <i>August 16, 1790</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—It is my desire that all things be done to the +satisfaction of all parties. If, therefore, it be more convenient, let brother +Pritchard’s⁠<a id="FNanchor_740_740" href="#Footnote_740_740" class="fnanchor">[740]</a> + family be at Canterbury, and sister Boone⁠<a id="FNanchor_741_741" href="#Footnote_741_741" class="fnanchor">[741]</a> lodge in Chatham +house.</p> + +<p>“Why do you not again set on foot a weekly subscription in order to +lessen your debt? Have neither the preachers nor the people any spirit +in them? Who begins? I will give half-a-crown a week for a year, if +all of you will make it up twenty shillings.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Billy, your affectionate brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_742_742" href="#Footnote_742_742" class="fnanchor">[742]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>In a letter to his niece, Miss Sarah Wesley, dated “Near +Cowbridge, August 18, 1790,” he writes: “I always reprove +profane sailors, or, what is worse, profane gentlemen; and +many of them will receive it civilly, if not thankfully. They +all know, captains as well as common men, that swearing is +not necessary. And, even now, we have captains of several +men-of-war who do not swear at all; and never were men +better obeyed.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_743_743" href="#Footnote_743_743" class="fnanchor">[743]</a></p> + +<p>Thus was Wesley always about his heavenly Father’s work. +On August 27, he returned to Bristol, in the neighbourhood +of which he was busily employed till September 27.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_623">[Pg 623]</span> +In the morning of Sunday, August 29, he read prayers, +preached, and administered the Lord’s supper, a service in +which, without assistance, he was occupied for three full +hours; and, yet, in the afternoon, he preached again, out of +doors. The next day, we find him preaching twice, at Castle +Carey, and Ditcheat.</p> + +<p>On Tuesday 31, he was visited by a <i lang="la">lusus naturæ</i>, William +Kingston, born without arms, who, in Wesley’s presence, took +his teacup between his toes, and the toast with his other +foot; and afterwards, by another feat, showed himself to be a +man of no mean penmanship. On the same day, Wesley had +“a lovely congregation at Shepton Mallet,” and a crowded +one at Pensford.</p> + +<p>During the remainder of the week, he preached at Bristol, +and corrected and abridged the Life of Mrs. Scudamore.</p> + +<p>On Saturday, September 4, he went to Bath and preached; +and on Sunday, the 5th, writes: “At ten we had a numerous +congregation, and more communicants than ever I saw here +before. This day, I cut off that vile custom, I know not +when or how it began, of preaching three times a day by the +same preacher to the same congregation; enough to weary +out both the bodies and minds of the speaker, as well as his +hearers.” On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, in the +ensuing week, he preached once daily, and on Friday twice.</p> + +<p>On Sunday, September 12, he employed himself in Bristol, +and, during the week following, met the classes, containing +944 members, and likewise preached at Thornbury, and at +Kingswood.</p> + +<p>In labour like this the whole month was spent.</p> + +<p>At the preceding conference, Wesley had appointed Adam +Clarke to the Dublin circuit, and, on September 5, Adam +wrote him a long letter, telling him that Thomas Rutherford +had been laid aside by rheumatic fever, and that the results +of a religious revival had been destroyed by the extravagant +irregularities of those who conducted the prayer-meetings +during Mr. Rutherford’s illness. These meetings had been, +and still were, kept up till ten or eleven o’clock on Sunday +nights, and sometimes till twelve and one; and it was no +uncommon thing for a person, in the midst of them, to give +an exhortation of half or three quarters of an hour’s continuance. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_624">[Pg 624]</span> +Clarke wished to correct these irregularities, and wrote +to Wesley for advice,⁠<a id="FNanchor_744_744" href="#Footnote_744_744" class="fnanchor">[744]</a> who replied to him as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Bristol</span>, <i>September 9, 1790</i>. +</p> + +<p>“Dear Adam,—Did not the terrible weather that you had at sea make +you forget your fatigue by land? Come, set one against the other, and +you have no great reason to complain of your journey.</p> + +<p>“You will have need of all the courage and prudence God has given +you. Indeed, you will want constant supplies of both. Very gently, and +very steadily, you should proceed between the rocks on either hand. +In the great revival at London, my first difficulty was, to bring into +temper those who opposed the work; and my next, to check and regulate +the extravagances of those that promoted it. And this was far the +hardest part of the work; for many of them would bear no check at all. +But I followed one rule, though with all calmness: ‘You must either bend +or break.’ Meantime, while you act exactly right, expect to be blamed by +both sides. I will give you a few directions. (1) See that no prayer-meeting +continue later than nine at night, particularly on Sunday: let +the house be emptied before the clock strikes nine. (2) Let there be no +exhortation at any prayer-meeting. (3) Beware of jealousy, or judging +one another. (4) Never think a man is an enemy to the work, because +he reproves irregularities. Peace be with you and yours!</p> + +<p class="center">“I am, etc.,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_745_745" href="#Footnote_745_745" class="fnanchor">[745]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Clarke acted upon Wesley’s good advice, and wrote him +the results. Wesley answered.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Bedford</span>, <i>October 28, 1790</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Adam</span>,—I am glad my letter had so good an effect. I dearly +love our precious society in Dublin, and cannot but be keenly sensible of +anything that gives them disturbance. I am glad our leaders have +adopted that excellent method of regularly changing their classes. Wherever +this has been done, it has been a means of quickening both the leaders +and the people. I wish this custom could be more extensively introduced.</p> + +<p>“You did well to prevent all irregular and turbulent prayer-meetings, +and, at all hazards, to keep the meetings of the society private.</p> + +<p>“Poor Mr. Smyth is now used just as he used <em>me</em>. He must either +bend or break. Although you cannot solicit any of Bethesda to join with +us, yet neither can you refuse them when they offer their hand.</p> + +<p>“You do well to offer all possible courtesy to Mr. William Smyth and +his family.</p> + +<p>“As long as the society in Dublin continues upward of a thousand, you +will have no reason to complain.</p> + +<p class="center">“I am, etc.,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_746_746" href="#Footnote_746_746" class="fnanchor">[746]</a> +</p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_625">[Pg 625]</span> + +Before returning to Wesley’s journal, another letter may +be welcome. It was addressed to Mr. Robert C. Brackenbury. +Wesley’s reference to himself is touching; and his +remarks on the doctrine of Christian perfection ought to +be remembered.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Bristol</span>, <i>September 15, 1790</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>,—I am glad to find you are in better bodily health, and +not weary and faint in your mind. My body seems nearly to have done +its work, and to be almost worn out. Last month, my strength was nearly +gone, and I could have sat almost still from morning to night. But, +blessed be God, I crept about a little, and made shift to preach once a day. +On Monday, I ventured a little further; and, after I had preached three +times (once in the open air), I found my strength so restored, that I could +have preached again without inconvenience.</p> + +<p>“I am glad brother <span class="lock">D——</span> has more light with regard to full sanctification. +This doctrine is the grand <i lang="la">depositum</i> which God has lodged with +the people called Methodists; and, for the sake of propagating this +chiefly, He appeared to have raised them up.</p> + +<p>“I congratulate you upon sitting loose to all below; stedfast in the +liberty wherewith Christ has made you free. Moderate riding on horseback, +chiefly in the south of England, would improve your health. If you +choose to accompany me, in any of my little journeys on this side +Christmas, whenever you were tired you might go into my carriage. I +am not so ready a writer as I was once; but, I bless God, I can scrawl +a little,—enough to assure you that,</p> + +<p>“I am, dear sir, your affectionate friend and brother,</p> +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_747_747" href="#Footnote_747_747" class="fnanchor">[747]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>On Monday, September 27, Wesley set out from Bristol +to London, and preached at Devizes and Salisbury. On +Wednesday we find him preaching at Winchester and Portsmouth; +and on Thursday and Friday at Newport, in the +Isle of Wight.</p> + +<p>On Saturday, October 2, he left Portsmouth, at two o’clock +in the morning; and, at Cobham, twenty miles from London, +was met by James and Hester Ann Rogers, and six other +friends, in carriages, to welcome him.⁠<a id="FNanchor_748_748" href="#Footnote_748_748" class="fnanchor">[748]</a> Mr. Rogers writes: +“He arrived in good health and spirits. We all dined at +Cobham, and, about six in the evening, reached London, +where we praised the Lord with joyful hearts.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_749_749" href="#Footnote_749_749" class="fnanchor">[749]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_626">[Pg 626]</span> +The next day, Sunday, October 3, he preached twice in the +City Road chapel, and held a lovefeast. Rogers says:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Many souls were greatly comforted. Indeed, his preaching, during +the whole winter, was attended with uncommon unction; and he frequently +spoke, both in his sermons and exhortations, as if each time were +to be his last; and often desired the people to receive what he advanced +as his dying charge. His conversation also, in his family, seemed to +indicate a presentiment of death. He frequently spoke of the state of +separate spirits, and their particular employments; and, for the last three +months of his life, there were scarcely three evenings passed together, but +he gave out and sung, in the family, the hymn beginning with the line, +‘Shrinking from the cold hand of death.’”⁠<a id="FNanchor_750_750" href="#Footnote_750_750" class="fnanchor">[750]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>After spending two short days in London, Wesley set off, +on October 5, to Rye, a distance of upwards of sixty miles, +and preached to a large and serious congregation. The day +after, for the last time, he preached in the open air. This was +at Winchelsea, beneath an ash tree, in the churchyard,—a +tree long protected by the vicar of the parish, and known +for miles round, by the name of “Wesley’s Tree,” though +often mutilated by pilgrim Methodists, who chopped and +lopped it for wood to make it into Methodist snuff boxes, +and other <em>un Wesleyan</em> mementoes of Wesley’s last outdoor +preaching service. On one occasion, a local preacher was +detected in the act of bearing away a bough in pious +triumph, was apprehended for the theft, had to beg for +mercy, was solemnly reprimanded, and was threatened with +transportation, in case of repeating the offence. Wesley’s text, +at Winchelsea, was a part of Christ’s first outdoor sermon, +“The kingdom of God is at hand; repent ye, and believe the +gospel;” and he writes: “It seemed as if all that heard were, +for the present, almost persuaded to be Christians.” Robert +Miller was with him at the time, and says: “The word was +attended with mighty power, and the tears of the people +flowed in torrents.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_751_751" href="#Footnote_751_751" class="fnanchor">[751]</a> On the evening of the same day, he +preached again at Rye.</p> + +<p>Returning to London, for the services on Sunday, October +10, Wesley started on the day following for Norfolk. At +Colchester, things were disheartening, but he says he had, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_627">[Pg 627]</span> +“on Monday and Tuesday evenings, wonderful congregations +of rich and poor, clergy and laity.” One of his hearers was +a shoemaker, a young man of twenty-four, who was then +convinced of sin, became a useful local preacher, and often +returned from his appointments besmeared, from head to foot, +with the filthy missiles of persecuting mobs. William Candler, +the preaching shoemaker, took a deep interest in the spiritual +welfare of soldiers, and was not unrewarded; for, one morning, +to his great surprise, he received a government commission to +make military shoes, and an extraordinary despatch, from the +Colchester commanding officer, that all the shoemakers in the +regiments stationed at Harwich, Ipswich, and Colchester, should +assist him in executing the martial order. For near fifty +years, William Candler rendered important service to the cause +of Christ, and then, in 1838, died, kissing his family, and +whispering to each, “Good bye; God bless you!”⁠<a id="FNanchor_752_752" href="#Footnote_752_752" class="fnanchor">[752]</a></p> + +<p>In years past, Colchester had been one of Wesley’s favourite +places; but now, he says, “the society was lessened, and +cold enough; preaching was discontinued, and the spirit of +Methodism quite gone, from the preachers and the people.” +All this was the result of the clerical interference of the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> +Mr. <span class="lock">S——,</span> of <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Peter’s, who had adopted the theory, that, +wherever there was a gospel ministry in the Church, Methodist +preaching ought to cease, and Methodist societies be handed +over to the care of the gospel clergyman. To accomplish +this at Colchester, no pains were spared, and even gifts and +bribes were used. Wesley was annoyed, and, in the course of +his sermon, said: “I understand there is a sheep stealer in +Colchester, who takes both sheep and lambs from his neighbour’s +fold at will. Now, I charge that man to desist; or to +meet me, and answer for his deeds, at the bar of God, in the +day of judgment.” The reverend gentleman was present; and +his subsequent conduct showed that he was not a forgetful +hearer.⁠<a id="FNanchor_753_753" href="#Footnote_753_753" class="fnanchor">[753]</a></p> + +<p>Wesley had, in his congregation, at Colchester, another +remarkable hearer, Henry Crabb Robinson, who writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“It was, I believe, in October 1790, that I heard John Wesley in the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_628">[Pg 628]</span> +great round meeting-house at Colchester. He stood in a wide pulpit, and +on each side of him stood a minister, and the two held him up, having +their hands under his armpits. His feeble voice was barely audible; but +his reverend countenance, especially his long white locks, formed a picture +never to be forgotten. There was a vast crowd of lovers and admirers. +It was for the most part a pantomime, but the pantomime went to the +heart. Of the kind, I never saw anything comparable to it in after +life.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Considering the long picturesque life which Mr. Robinson +lived subsequent to this, the last sentence is remarkable. In +a letter dated October 18, 1790, this young auditor, then +fifteen years of age, remarks:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“I felt great satisfaction last week in hearing that veteran in the service +of God, the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> John Wesley. At another time, and not knowing the +man, I should almost have ridiculed his figure. Far from it now. I +looked upon him with a respect bordering upon enthusiasm. After the +people had sung one verse of a hymn, he arose and said: ‘It gives me a +great pleasure to find that you have not lost your singing; neither men +nor women. You have not forgotten a single note. And I hope, by the +assistance of God, which enables you to sing well, you may do all other +things well.’ A universal ‘Amen’ followed. At the end of every head or +division of his discourse, he finished by a kind of prayer, a momentary +wish as it were, not consisting of more than three or four words, which was +always followed by a universal buzz. His discourse was short. The text +I could not hear. After the last prayer, he rose up and addressed the +people on liberality of sentiment, and spoke much against refusing to join +with any congregation on account of difference in opinion.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_754_754" href="#Footnote_754_754" class="fnanchor">[754]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>On Wednesday, October 13, Wesley went from Colchester +to Norwich, and writes: “I preached; but the house would +in nowise contain the congregation. How wonderfully is the +tide turned! I am become an honourable man at Norwich. +God has, at length, made our enemies to be at peace with us; +and scarce any but antinomians open their mouths against +us.”</p> + +<p>The next day, he preached at Yarmouth, to a congregation +“far too large to get into the chapel.” And the day +following at Lowestoft. Here again, he had another distinguished +hearer, the poet Crabbe; and repeated the well +known lines from Anacreon, with an application of his own.</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_629">[Pg 629]</span> +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0b">“Oft am I by woman told,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Poor Anacreon! thou grow’st old;</div> +<div class="verse indent0">See, thine hairs are falling all:</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Poor Anacreon! how they fall!</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Whether I grow old or no,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">By these signs, I do not know;</div> +<div class="verse indent0">But this I need not to be told,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">’Tis time to <em>live</em>, if I grow old.”</div> +</div></div> + +<p>Crabbe was greatly struck with the reverend appearance +of the aged preacher, with his cheerful air, and the beautiful +cadence he gave to the lines he quoted; and, after the +service, was introduced to him, and was received with benevolent +politeness.⁠<a id="FNanchor_755_755" href="#Footnote_755_755" class="fnanchor">[755]</a></p> + +<p>On Saturday, October 16, Wesley preached at Loddon and +at Norwich; and, next day, twice again in the latter city, +besides administering the sacrament at seven o’clock in the +morning, to about one hundred and fifty persons. He writes: +“I take knowledge, that the last year’s preachers were in +earnest. Afterwards, we went to our own parish church; +although there was no sermon there, nor at any of the thirty-six +churches in the town, save the cathedral and <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Peter’s.” +Who will say that Methodist preaching was not needed in +this <em>non-preaching</em> diocesan city?</p> + +<p>On Monday, October 18, Wesley preached at Swaffham, +and at Lynn. At the latter place, he preached again on +Tuesday, administered the sacrament,⁠<a id="FNanchor_756_756" href="#Footnote_756_756" class="fnanchor">[756]</a> made a collection for +the Sunday-schools, and had present to hear him all the +clergymen of the town, except one, whose lameness prevented +his attending. On Wednesday, the 20th, he occupied the +church at Diss, one of the largest in the county. “I suppose,” +says he, “it has not been so filled these hundred years.” His +text was, “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found”; and +the results of the sermon were remarkable and lasting.⁠<a id="FNanchor_757_757" href="#Footnote_757_757" class="fnanchor">[757]</a></p> + +<p>On the evening of the same day, and also on the day +following, he preached at Bury <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Edmunds; and on Friday, +October 22, returned to London.</p> + +<p>The last entry, in Wesley’s published journal, is dated two +days later. “Sunday, October 24—I explained, to a numerous +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_630">[Pg 630]</span> +congregation, in Spitalfields church, ‘the whole armour +of God,’ <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Paul’s, Shadwell, was still more crowded in the +afternoon, while I enforced that important truth, ‘one thing is +needful’; and I hope many, even then, resolved to choose the +better part.”</p> + +<p>There can be little doubt, that the rest of the year was +occupied with what Wesley often called his “<em>little journeys</em>,” +into Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, +etc. The reader will catch glimpses of him in the following +letters.</p> + +<p>The first was addressed to his niece, Miss Sarah Wesley, at +Mrs. Whitcomb’s, in Margate. The reference to his relatives +is significant and painful.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>October 5, 1790</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Sally</span>,—I am glad you are situated so comfortably. Mrs. +Whitcomb does really fear God; and, I hope, before you leave her house, +will know what it is to love Him. Providence has not sent you to spend +a little time in Margate merely on your own account. Before you leave it, +she, with several others, shall have reason to praise God that you came. +See that you lose no time. A word spoken in season how good is it! +Warn every one, and exhort every one, if by any means you may save +some. ‘In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not +thy hand; for thou knowest not which shall prosper.’ Say not, ‘I can do +nothing, I am slow of speech.’ True; but who made the tongue? You +have seen sister Boon, a loving, simple hearted woman. Be a follower of +her, as she is of Christ. Why should you not meet in her class? I think +you will not be ashamed. Is it not a good opportunity of coming a little +nearer to them that love you well? Let me have the comfort of one +relation, at least, that will be an assistant to me in the blessed work of +God.</p> + +<p>“I must visit other places before I come into Kent, as well as visit the +classes in London; so that I cannot be at Margate till the latter end of +next month. If you stay there till then, you will see me.</p> + +<p>“I am, my dear Sally, your affectionate uncle,</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_758_758" href="#Footnote_758_758" class="fnanchor">[758]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>The next was written the day after his return to town from +Norfolk, and was addressed to James Macdonald, then +stationed at Newry, in Ireland. It will be seen, that the +Methodist sin of neglecting fasting is not of recent growth.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>October 23, 1790</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—You have great reason to praise God for His +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_631">[Pg 631]</span> +late glorious work at and near Newry; and I make no doubt, but it will +continue, yea, and increase, if the subjects of it continue to walk humbly +and closely with God. Exhort all our brethren steadily to wait upon God +in the appointed means of fasting and prayer; the former of which has +been almost universally neglected by the Methodists, both in England +and Ireland. But it is a true remark of Kempis: ‘The more thou deniest +thyself, the more thou wilt grow in grace.’</p> + +<p class="center">“I am, etc.,</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_759_759" href="#Footnote_759_759" class="fnanchor">[759]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Something has been already said respecting the division of +circuits. The Dales circuit in 1790 had forty-three preaching +places, including Barnardcastle, Bishop Auckland, Appleby, +Alstone, Allendale, Wolsingham, Hexham, Penrith, and +Kendal,—now all of them circuit towns themselves. The +nearest neighbouring circuit, eastwards, was Yarm; westwards, +Whitehaven; northwards, Newcastle; and southwards, +Thirsk. This will give the reader an idea of the +enormous region embraced in the Dales circuit at the time to +which we are now adverting. Within the same border, there +are now not fewer than at least twenty circuit towns, most of +them the centre of a large cluster of smaller towns and +villages.⁠<a id="FNanchor_760_760" href="#Footnote_760_760" class="fnanchor">[760]</a> The Dales circuit, in 1790, had three itinerant +preachers, and 980 members of society, who contributed for +the maintenance of their preaching triumvirate, during the +quarter in which Wesley died, the sum of <abbr title="29 pounds">£29</abbr> 8<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 6<abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr>, +sevenpence per member per quarter, and affording <abbr title="9 pounds">£9</abbr> 16<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> 2<abbr title="pence"><i>d.</i></abbr> +for the support of each preacher, his wife, and family, and the +general maintenance of Methodist machinery throughout the +circuit.⁠<a id="FNanchor_761_761" href="#Footnote_761_761" class="fnanchor">[761]</a> George Holder was the assistant, and Jonathan +Hern and John Wittam were his colleagues. The feed was +poor, the pay pauperish, the journeys long, the roads bad, the +region mountainous, and the work heavy. There was a wish +to divide the circuit; but the following was Wesley’s reply +to Holder.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>October 30, 1790</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear George</span>,—The assistant in every circuit (not the leaders) is to +determine how each preacher is to travel. If Jonathan Hern will not, or +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_632">[Pg 632]</span> +cannot, take his turn with his fellow labourers, I must send another that +will. I do not like dividing circuits. Could not three or more of the +northern places be added to the Sunderland or Newcastle circuits, in +order to lessen yours, and bring it into a six weeks’ circuit? Pray send +me the manner of your travelling through your circuit. I think, I shall +order it better.</p> + +<p>“I am, with love to sister Holder, dear George, yours, etc.,<br></p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_762_762" href="#Footnote_762_762" class="fnanchor">[762]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>A small circuit then was one of the things which Wesley +thought inimical to the interests of Methodism. Was Wesley +right? Unless Methodist preachers can become thoroughly +pastoral in their habits,—a thing which triennial changes +render extremely difficult,—would it not be better for circuits +to be of such a size as to make daily preaching a healthy +duty, instead of being so circumscribed that one or two +sermons, between sabbaths, is all that their necessities +require? This is a serious problem, which we must leave +to be solved by others.</p> + +<p>Another hindrance, as Wesley thought, to Methodist +progress, was the neglect of reading. Hence the following +extract from an unpublished letter, dated November 8, 1790.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“If you and your wife strengthen each other’s hands in God, then you +will surely receive a blessing from Him. But it is not abundance of +money, or any creature, that can make us happy without Him.</p> + +<p>“It cannot be that the people should grow in grace, unless they give +themselves to reading. A reading people will always be a knowing +people. A people who talk much will know little. Press this upon them +with your might; and you will soon see the fruit of your labours.”</p> +</div> + +<p>An extract from another letter may be given here. The +letter was addressed to Alexander Mather.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“No, Aleck, no! The danger of ruin to Methodism does not lie here. +It springs from quite a different quarter. Our preachers, many of them, +are fallen. They are not spiritual. They are not alive to God. They +are soft, enervated, fearful of shame, toil, hardship. They have not the +spirit which God gave to Thomas Lee at Pateley Bridge, or to you at +Boston. Give me one hundred preachers, who fear nothing but sin, and +desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen +or laymen, such alone will shake the gates of hell, and set up the +kingdom of heaven upon earth.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_763_763" href="#Footnote_763_763" class="fnanchor">[763]</a></p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_633">[Pg 633]</span> +As we have often shown, Wesley regarded the preaching of +the doctrine of Christian perfection as of the utmost importance. +The following letter to Adam Clarke is to the same +effect.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>November 26, 1790</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Adam</span>,—To retain the grace of God, is much more than to +gain it; hardly one in three does this. And this should be strongly and +explicitly urged on all who have tasted of perfect love. If we can prove +that any of our local preachers or leaders, either directly or indirectly, +speak against it, let him be a local preacher or leader no longer. I +doubt whether he should continue in society. Because he, that could +speak thus in our congregations, cannot be an honest man. I wish sister +Clarke to do what she can, but no more than she can. Betsy Ritchie, +Miss Johnson, and Mary Clarke are women after my own heart. Last +week I had an excellent letter from Mrs. Pawson, (a glorious witness of +full salvation,) showing how impossible it is to retain pure love without +growing therein. I am, etc.,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_764_764" href="#Footnote_764_764" class="fnanchor">[764]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Such letters might be greatly multiplied. We only add +another. He was now an old man, and extremely feeble; +and Mr. Ireland, having heard that claret wine had been +recommended to him by his medical adviser, sent him a +small case as a present. The wine was seized by the custom +house authorities, to whom Wesley addressed the following +laconic letter.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">City Road</span>, <i>November 14, 1790</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Gentlemen</span>,—Two or three days ago, Mr. Ireland sent me, as a +present, two dozen of French claret, which I am ordered to drink, during +my present weakness. At the White Swan it was seized. Beg it may be +restored to,</p> + +<p>“Your obedient servant,</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>. +</p> + +<p>“Whatever duty comes due, I will see duly paid.”</p> +</div> + +<p>The letter seems to have been returned to the dying man; +and, across it, a government official curtly wrote: “No. +M. W.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_765_765" href="#Footnote_765_765" class="fnanchor">[765]</a></p> + +<p>Wesley’s only publication, in 1790, besides the thirteenth +volume of his <cite>Magazine</cite>, was his translation of “The New +Testament, with an Analysis of the several Books and +Chapters.” <abbr title="sextodecimo">16mo</abbr>, 424 pages. In his preface, he remarks:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_634">[Pg 634]</span> +<p>“In this edition, the translation is brought as near as possible to the +original; yet the alterations are few and seemingly small; but they may +be of considerable importance. Though the old division of chapters is +retained, for the more easy finding of any text, yet the whole is likewise +divided, according to the sense, into distinct sections; a little circumstance +which makes many passages more intelligible to the reader. The +analysis of every book and epistle is prefixed to it. And this view of the +general scope of each will give light to all the particulars.”</p> +</div> + +<p>It ought to be remarked, that this is, by no means, a +verbatim reprint of Wesley’s translation, published with his +Notes in 1755. The book is extremely scarce; but the +variations are too numerous and minute to be pointed out in +a work like this.</p> + +<p>As it respects the <cite>Magazine</cite>, there can be no doubt, that all +the articles composing it may be considered to be in harmony +with Wesley’s own sentiments; but, as usual, in this review, +we only notice the articles which Wesley himself contributed; +and that, principally, for the purpose of obtaining knowledge +of his latest opinions and feelings. We pass over his +“Thoughts on Memory”; his critique on Captain Wilson’s +“Account of the Pelew Islands”; and his “Thoughts on +Suicide”; and direct attention to his last, his dying manifesto, +on separation from the Established Church. The article +is dated, “December 11, 1789,” and is in the April number +of the <cite>Magazine</cite> for 1790.</p> + +<p>He states that, next to the primitive church, he had, from +childhood, esteemed the Church of England as the most +scriptural, national church in the world; and had, therefore, +not only assented to all the doctrines, but observed all the +rubric in the liturgy; and that with all possible exactness, +even at the peril of his life. He proceeds to give the history +of the rise of Methodism, and of his own <em>irregularities</em>; and +thus concludes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“I never had any design of separating from the Church. I have no +such design now. I do not believe, the Methodists in general design it, +when I am no more seen. I do, and will do, all that is in my power +to prevent such an event. Nevertheless, in spite of all that I can do, many +of them will separate from it (although, I am apt to think, not one half, +perhaps not one third of them). These will be so bold and injudicious as +to form a separate party, which, consequently, will dwindle away into a +dry, dull, separate party. In flat opposition to these, I declare once more, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_635">[Pg 635]</span> +that I live and die a member of the Church of England; and that none, +who regard my judgment or advice, will ever separate from it.”</p> +</div> + +<p>To the same effect is his sermon on “No man taketh this +honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was +Aaron,”—a sermon which he wrote at Cork, in May 1789, and +published in his magazine, twelve months afterwards. He +correctly maintains that, in ancient times, the offices of priest +and preacher were entirely distinct. Priests were not +preachers; and preachers, or prophets, were not priests. +He argues that, in the New Testament, the office of an +evangelist is not the same as that of a pastor. Pastors +presided over the flock, and administered the sacraments; +evangelists helped them, and preached the word. He asserts +that the same distinction is recognised in the English, +presbyterian, and Roman churches; and then, coming to +Methodism, tells his readers that Methodist itinerant preachers +are evangelists, not pastors; and that their work is wholly +and solely to preach, not to administer sacraments. His +address to them is worth quoting.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“God has commissioned you to call sinners to repentance; but it does +by no means follow from hence, that ye are commissioned to baptize, or +to administer the Lord’s supper. Ye never dreamt of this, for ten or +twenty years after ye began to preach. Ye did not then, like <em>Korah +Dathan</em>, and <em>Abiram</em>, <em>seek the priesthood also</em>. Ye knew, ‘No man +taketh this honour to himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.’ +O contain yourselves within your own bounds. Be content with preaching +the gospel. Do the work of evangelists. I earnestly advise you, abide +in your place; keep your own station. Ye were fifty years ago,—those of +you that were then Methodist preachers,—<em>extraordinary messengers</em> of +God, not going in your own will, but <em>thrust out</em>, not to supersede, but to +<em>provoke to jealousy</em> the <em>ordinary messengers</em>. In God’s name, stop there! +Both, by your preaching and example, provoke them to love and good +works. Ye are a new phenomenon in the earth; a body of people, who, +being of no sect or party, are friends to all parties, and endeavour to +forward all, in the knowledge and love of God and man. Ye yourselves +were, at first, called in the Church of England; and though ye have and +will have a thousand temptations to leave it, regard them not. Be Church +of <em>England</em> men still. Do not cast away the peculiar glory which God +hath put upon you, and frustrate the design of Providence, the very end +for which God raised you up.”</p> +</div> + +<p>In reply to the charge that he himself had already separated +from the Church, Wesley allows, that he deviated from +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_636">[Pg 636]</span> +the rules of the Church in “preaching abroad,” in “praying +extempore,” in forming societies, and in employing lay +preachers; but he adds:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“All this is not separating from the Church. So far from it, that, +whenever I have opportunity, I attend the Church service myself, and +advise all our societies so to do. Nevertheless, the generality even of +religious people naturally think, ‘I am inconsistent.’ And they cannot +but think so, unless they observe my two principles. The one, that I dare +not separate from the Church, that I believe it would be a sin so to do; +the other, that I believe it would be a sin not to <em>vary</em> from it in the points +above mentioned. I say, put these two principles together, first, I will not +<em>separate</em> from the Church; yet, secondly, in cases of necessity, I will +<em>vary</em> from it; and inconsistency vanishes away. I have been true to my +profession from 1730 to this day.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Here we leave the matter. This is the last time we shall +quote Wesley on separation from the Church. We care not +either to vindicate or to condemn his thoughts and course of +conduct. In a few lines, Wesley here says all that can be +said in favour of the anomalous position in which he stood: +he did not <em>separate</em>, but he <em>varied</em> from the Church of England. +It will be difficult for either sophistry or sound argument to +make either more or less than this of the vexed question,—the +difference between Wesley’s profession and his practice in +reference to his continued adherence to, or separation from, +the Established Church. He lived and died a hearty, but +inconsistent Churchman.</p> + +<p>There is another point which must be mentioned. The +reader has already seen Wesley’s intense anxiety in reference +to rich Methodists. In the last fourteen sermons that he +wrote, during the last two years of his eventful life, and which +were, for the first time, published in the magazines for 1790, +1791, and 1792, he again and again, in the strongest and +most affecting language, reverts to this momentous matter. +Exception may be taken to his opinions; but they are +worthy of being quoted. They are the last sentiments of an +old man, with unparalleled experience; and, throughout a +long life, were by himself reduced to practice. The following +are extracts.</p> + +<p>In the remarkable sermon, on Jeremiah <abbr title="eight">viii.</abbr> 22, written in +Dublin, July 2, 1789, in which he tries to answer the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_637">[Pg 637]</span> +question, “Why has Christianity done so little good in the +world?” he writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Who regards those solemn words, <cite>Lay not up for yourselves treasures +upon earth</cite>? Of the three rules, which are laid down on this head, in the +sermon on <cite>The Mammon of Unrighteousness</cite>, you may find many that +observe the first rule, namely, <cite>Gain all you can</cite>. You may find a few that +observe the second, <cite>Save all you can</cite>. But how many have you found, +that observe the third rule, <cite>Give all you can</cite>? Have you reason to believe, +that five hundred of these are to be found among fifty thousand +<em>Methodists</em>? And, yet, nothing can be more plain, than that all who +observe the two first rules, without the third, will be twofold more the +children of hell than ever they were before.</p> + +<p>“O that God would enable me once more, before I go hence and am +no more seen, to lift up my voice like a trumpet to those who <em>gain</em> and <em>save</em> +all they can, but do not <em>give</em> all they can! Ye are the men, some of the +chief men, who continually grieve the Holy Spirit of God, and, in a great +measure, stop His gracious influence from descending on our assemblies. +Many of your brethren, beloved of God, have not food to eat; they have +not raiment to put on; they have not a place where to lay their head. +And why are they thus distressed? Because <em>you</em> impiously, unjustly, and +cruelly detain from them what your Master and theirs lodges in <i>your</i> +hands, on purpose to supply <em>their</em> wants. In the name of God, what are +you doing? Do you neither fear God, nor regard man? Why do you not +deal your bread to the hungry? And cover the naked with a garment? +Have you laid out, in your own costly apparel, what would have answered +both these intentions? Did God command you so to do? Does He +commend you for so doing? Did He entrust you with <em>His</em>,—not <em>your</em>,—goods +for this end? And does He now say, ‘Servant of God, well done’? +You well know He does not. This idle expense has no approbation, +either from God or your own conscience. But, you say, ‘You can <em>afford</em> +it!’ O be ashamed to take such miserable nonsense into your mouths. +Never more utter such stupid cant, such palpable absurdity! Can any +steward <em>afford</em> to be an arrant knave? to waste his lord’s goods? Can +any servant <em>afford</em> to lay out his master’s money, any otherwise than his +master appoints him? So far from it, that whoever does this ought to be +excluded from a Christian society.</p> + +<p>“I am distressed. I know not what to do. I see what I might have done +once. I might have said peremptorily and expressly, ‘Here I am: I and +my Bible. I will not, I dare not, vary from this book, either in great things +or small. I have no power to dispense with one jot or tittle of what is +contained therein. I am determined to be a Bible Christian, not almost but +altogether. Who will meet me on this ground? Join me on this, or not at +all.’ With regard to dress in particular, I might have been as firm, (and I +now see it would have been far better,) as either the people called quakers, +or the Moravian brethren. I might have said, ‘This is <i>our</i> manner of +dress, which we know is both scriptural and rational. If you join with us, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_638">[Pg 638]</span> +you are to dress as we do: but you need not join us unless you please.’ +But alas! the time is now past. And what I can do now, I cannot tell. +The Methodists grow more and more self indulgent, because they <em>grow +rich</em>. Although many of them are still deplorably poor (<cite>Tell it not in +Gath; publish it not in the streets of Askelon!</cite>), yet many others, in the +space of twenty, thirty, or forty years, are twenty, thirty, yea, a hundred +times richer than they were when they first entered the society. And it is +an observation which admits of few exceptions, that nine in ten of these +decreased in grace, in the same proportion as they increased in wealth. +Indeed, according to the natural tendency of riches, we cannot expect +it to be otherwise.</p> + +<p>“But how astonishing a thing is this! Does it not seem (and yet this +cannot be!) that true scriptural Christianity has a tendency, in process of +time, to undermine and destroy itself? For, wherever it spreads, it must +cause diligence and frugality, which, in the natural course of things, beget +riches. And riches naturally beget pride, love of the world, and every +temper that is destructive to Christianity. Now, if there be no way to +prevent this, Christianity is inconsistent with itself, and, of consequence, +cannot stand, cannot long continue among any people; since, wherever it +generally prevails, it saps its own foundation.</p> + +<p>“But, allowing that diligence and frugality must produce riches, is there +no means to hinder riches destroying the religion of those that possess +them? I can see only one possible way; find out another who can. Do +you gain all you can, and save all you can? Then you must, in the nature +of things, grow rich. Then if you have any desire to escape the damnation +of hell, <i>give</i> all you can; otherwise I can have no more hope of your +salvation, than for that of Judas Iscariot.</p> + +<p>“I call God to record upon my soul, that I advise no more than I +practise. I do, blessed be God, gain, and save, and give all I can. And +so, I trust in God, I shall do, while the breath of God is in my nostrils. +But what then? I count all things but loss, for the excellency of the +knowledge of Jesus, my Lord! Still</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0a">‘I give up every plea beside,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Lord, I am damned! but Thou hast died!’”⁠<a id="FNanchor_766_766" href="#Footnote_766_766" class="fnanchor">[766]</a></div> +</div></div> +</div> + +<p>To the same effect is Wesley’s searching and terrible sermon, +on the Rich Fool, written at Balham, February 19, 1790; and +another written at Bristol, September 21, 1790, on the text, +“If riches increase, set not thine heart upon them.” In the +latter sermon, he writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“By whatsoever means thy riches increase, whether with or without +labour; whether by trade, legacies, or any other way, unless thy charities +increase in the same proportion,—unless thou givest a full tenth of thy +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_639">[Pg 639]</span> +substance, of thy fixed and occasional income, thou dost undoubtedly set +thy heart upon thy gold, and it will <em>eat thy flesh as fire</em>.</p> + +<p>“But O! who can convince a rich man, that he sets his heart upon +riches? For considerably above half a century, I have spoken on this +head, with all the plainness that was in my power. But with how little +effect? I doubt whether I have, in all that time, convinced fifty misers +of covetousness.</p> + +<p>“I have a message from God unto thee, O rich man, whether thou wilt +hear, or whether thou wilt forbear. Riches have increased with thee; at +the peril of thy soul, <em>set not thine heart upon them</em>. Be thankful to Him +that gave thee such a talent, so much power of doing good. Yet dare not +to rejoice over them, but with fear and trembling.</p> + +<p>“Let us descend to particulars; and see that each of you deal faithfully +with his own soul. If any of you have now twice, thrice, or four times as +much substance as when you first saw my face, faithfully examine yourselves, +and see if you do not set your hearts, if not directly on riches themselves, +yet, on some of the things that are purchaseable thereby, which comes to +the same thing. Do you not <em>eat</em> more plentifully or more delicately than you +did ten or twenty years ago? Do not you use more <em>drink</em>, or drink of a +more <em>costly</em> kind, than you did then? Do you sleep on as hard a bed as +you did once, suppose your health will bear it? Do you <em>fast</em> as often now +you are rich, as you did when you were poor? Ought you not in all +reason to do this, rather more often than more seldom? I am afraid, your +own heart condemns you. You are not clear in this matter.</p> + +<p>“Do not some of you seek no small part of happiness in that trifle of +trifles, dress? Do not you bestow more money, or, which is the same, +more time and pains upon it, than you did once? I doubt this is not done +to please God. Then it pleases the devil. If you laid aside your needless +ornaments, some years since, ruffles, necklaces, spider caps, ugly, unbecoming +bonnets, costly linen, expensive laces, have you not, in defiance of +religion and reason, taken to them again?</p> + +<p>“After having served you between sixty and seventy years, with dim +eyes, shaking hands, and tottering feet, I give you one more advice before +I sink into the dust. Mark those words of <abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Paul, <cite>Those that desire</cite>, +or endeavour, <cite>to be rich</cite>, that moment, <cite>fall into temptation</cite>; yea, a deep +gulf of temptation, out of which nothing less than Almighty power can +deliver them. Permit me to come a little closer still: perhaps I may +not trouble you any more on this head. I am pained for you that are +<em>rich in this world</em>. Do you give all you can? You who receive <abbr title="500 pounds">£500</abbr> +a year, and spend only <abbr title="200 pounds">£200</abbr>, do you give <abbr title="300 pounds">£300</abbr> back to God? If +not, you certainly rob God of that <abbr title="300 pounds">£300</abbr>. ‘Nay, may I not do what I will +with <em>my own</em>?’ Here lies the ground of your mistake. It is not your +<em>own</em>. It cannot be, unless you are Lord of heaven and earth. ‘However, +I must provide for my children.’ Certainly. But how? By making +them rich? When you will probably make them heathens, as some of +you have done already. Leave them enough to live on, not in idleness +and luxury, but by honest industry. And if you have not children, upon +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_640">[Pg 640]</span> +what scriptural or rational principle can you leave a groat behind you, +more than will bury you? I pray consider: What are you the better for +what you leave behind you? What does it signify, whether you leave +behind you ten thousand pounds, or ten thousand shoes and boots? Oh, +leave nothing behind you! Send all you have before you into a better +world! Lend it, lend it all unto the Lord, and it shall be paid you again! +Is there any danger that <em>His</em> truth should fail? It is fixed as the pillars +of heaven. Haste, haste, my brethren, haste! lest you be called away, +before you have settled what you have, on this security!”⁠<a id="FNanchor_767_767" href="#Footnote_767_767" class="fnanchor">[767]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>To say the least, this was plain speaking, such as is seldom +heard at present; the following, in the sermon on Matthew +<abbr title="six">vi.</abbr> 22, 23, written at Bristol, September 25, 1789, is terrific.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“How great is the darkness of that execrable wretch (I can give him no +better title, be he rich or poor), who will sell his own child to the devil! +who will barter her own eternal happiness, for any quantity of gold or +silver! What a monster would any man be accounted, who devoured the +flesh of his own offspring! And is he not as great a monster, who, by his +own act and deed, gives her to be devoured by that roaring lion? As he +certainly does (so far as is in his power), who marries her to an ungodly +man. ‘But he is rich; he has <abbr title="10 pounds">£10</abbr>,000!’ What if it were <abbr title="100 pounds">£100</abbr>,000? +The more the worse; the less probability will she have of escaping the +damnation of hell. With what face wilt thou look upon her, when she +tells thee in the realms below, ‘Thou hast plunged me into this place of +torment! Hadst thou given me to a good man, however poor, I might +now have been in Abraham’s bosom!’</p> + +<p>“Are any of you, that are called Methodists, seeking to marry your +children well (as the cant phrase is), that is, to sell them to some purchaser, +that has much money, but little or no religion? Have <i>ye</i> profited no +more by all ye have heard? Man, woman, think what you are about. +Dare <em>you</em> also sell your child to the devil? You undoubtedly do this (as +far as in you lies), when you marry a son or a daughter to a child of the +devil, though it be one that wallows in gold and silver. O take warning +in time! Beware of the gilded bait! Death and hell are hid beneath. +Prefer grace before gold and precious stones; glory in heaven, to riches +on earth! If you do not, you are worse than the very Canaanites. They +only made their children <em>pass through the fire</em> to Moloch. You make +yours <em>pass into the fire</em> that never shall be quenched, and <em>to stay in it for +ever</em>. O how great is the darkness that causes you, after you have done +this, <em>to wipe your mouth and say, you have done no evil</em>!</p> + +<p>“Upwards of fifty years, I have ministered unto you. I have been your +servant for Christ’s sake. During this time, I have given you many +solemn warnings on this head. I now give you one more, perhaps the +last. Dare any of you, in choosing your calling or situation, eye the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_641">[Pg 641]</span> +things on earth, rather than the things above? In choosing a profession +or a companion of life for your child, do you look at earth or heaven? +And can you deliberately prefer, either for yourself or your offspring, a +child of the devil with money, to a child of God without it? Repent, +repent of your vile earthly mindedness! Renounce the title of Christians; +or prefer, both in your own case and the case of your children, grace to +money, and heaven to earth. For the time to come, at least, <em>let your eye +be single</em>, that your <em>whole body may be full of light</em>!”</p> +</div> + +<p>These were Wesley’s last words to the Methodists. The +extracts are long; but, in this money making, mammon +worshipping, intensely worldly age, they may be useful.</p> + +<p>The other sermons, published in the last year of Wesley’s +life, and in the year subsequent to his death, are well worthy +of the reader’s notice. That on “Knowing Christ after the +flesh” is perhaps the only one, in the English language, on +such a subject. That on the text, “There is one God,” is +characteristically thoughtful, keen, logical, and evangelical. +That on “Walking by Faith,” terse, vigorous, earnest, practical, +and terribly faithful. That on “The Wedding Garment,” +an excellent exposition of an often ill used text. That on +“The Deceitfulness of the Human Heart” is one which +none but a man like Wesley could have preached. That +on “Atheism,” ingenious, searching, and powerful. That on +“The Treasure in Earthen Vessels,” simple and beautiful. +While that on “Life like a Dream” was being printed on the +very day when Wesley’s corpse lay in the chapel in City +Road; and that on “Faith, the evidence of things not +seen,” was the last he ever wrote, and was finished only six +weeks previous to his death.</p> + +<p>Both the last mentioned deserve quoting. They are the +profoundly interesting musings of an old man, conscious that +he must soon enter the spiritual and unseen world. Imagining +a disembodied soul before him, he thus soliloquises.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Now that your eyes are open, see how inexpressibly different are all +the things that are now around you! What a difference do you perceive +in yourself! Where is your body? Your house of clay? Where are +your limbs? your hands, your feet, your head? There they lie; cold, +insensible! What a change is in the immortal spirit! You see everything +around you: but how? Not with eyes of flesh and blood! You +hear; but not by a stream of undulating air, striking on an extended +membrane. You feel; but in how wonderful a manner! You have no +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_642">[Pg 642]</span> +nerves to convey the ethereal fire to the common sensory; rather are you +not now all eye, all ear, all feeling, all perception?”</p> +</div> + +<p>Again, in his last, the sermon on faith:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“How will this material universe appear to a disembodied spirit? Who +can tell whether any of these objects, that now surround us, will appear +the same as they do now? What astonishing scenes will then discover +themselves to our newly opening senses! Probably fields of ether, not +only tenfold, but ten thousand fold, ‘the length of this terrene.’ And +with what variety of furniture, animate and inanimate! How many orders +of beings, not discovered by organs of flesh and blood! Perhaps +‘thrones, dominions, principalities, and, powers!’ And shall we not then, +as far as angels’ ken, survey the bounds of creation, and see every place +where the Almighty</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0a">‘Stopped His rapid wheels, and said,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">This be thy just circumference, O world!’</div> +</div></div> + +<p>Yea, shall we not be able to move, quick as thought, through the wide +realms of uncreated night? Above all, the moment we step into eternity, +shall we not feel ourselves swallowed up of Him, who is in this and every +place, who filleth heaven and earth? It is only the veil of flesh and blood +which now hinders us from perceiving, that the great Creator cannot but +fill the whole immensity of space; He is every moment above us, beneath +us, and on every side. Indeed, in this dark abode, this land of shadows, +this region of sin and death, the thick cloud, which is interposed between, +conceals Him from our sight. But then the veil will disappear, and He +will appear in unclouded majesty, God over all, blessed for ever!”</p> +</div> + +<p>The blessed old man already had glimpses of the shining +ones, and of the gates of that celestial city, into which, six +weeks after these words were written, he triumphantly entered.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_700_700" href="#FNanchor_700_700" class="label">[700]</a> Life of Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 380.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_701_701" href="#FNanchor_701_701" class="label">[701]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1830, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 251.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_702_702" href="#FNanchor_702_702" class="label">[702]</a> Dunn’s Life of Clarke, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 72.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_703_703" href="#FNanchor_703_703" class="label">[703]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 105.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_704_704" href="#FNanchor_704_704" class="label">[704]</a> Pawson’s manuscripts.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_705_705" href="#FNanchor_705_705" class="label">[705]</a> Moore’s sermon.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_706_706" href="#FNanchor_706_706" class="label">[706]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1832, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 594.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_707_707" href="#FNanchor_707_707" class="label">[707]</a> Benson’s Life, by Macdonald, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 209.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_708_708" href="#FNanchor_708_708" class="label">[708]</a> Dunn’s Life of Clarke, <abbr title="pages">pp.</abbr> 72, 73.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_709_709" href="#FNanchor_709_709" class="label">[709]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1845, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 119.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_710_710" href="#FNanchor_710_710" class="label">[710]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 113.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_711_711" href="#FNanchor_711_711" class="label">[711]</a> “Methodism in Preston,” <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 44.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_712_712" href="#FNanchor_712_712" class="label">[712]</a> Cutler’s Life, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 5.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_713_713" href="#FNanchor_713_713" class="label">[713]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1792, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 66.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_714_714" href="#FNanchor_714_714" class="label">[714]</a> “Methodism in Halifax,” <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 181.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_715_715" href="#FNanchor_715_715" class="label">[715]</a> See <a href="#Page_472">page 472</a> of this volume.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_716_716" href="#FNanchor_716_716" class="label">[716]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1845, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 121.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_717_717" href="#FNanchor_717_717" class="label">[717]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1795, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 423.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_718_718" href="#FNanchor_718_718" class="label">[718]</a> Moore’s Life, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 89.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_719_719" href="#FNanchor_719_719" class="label">[719]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 94.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_720_720" href="#FNanchor_720_720" class="label">[720]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 105.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_721_721" href="#FNanchor_721_721" class="label">[721]</a> Kilham’s Life, by Blackwell, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 114.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_722_722" href="#FNanchor_722_722" class="label">[722]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1836, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 494.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_723_723" href="#FNanchor_723_723" class="label">[723]</a> Black’s Memoirs, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 265.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_724_724" href="#FNanchor_724_724" class="label">[724]</a> Moore’s Life of Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 384.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_725_725" href="#FNanchor_725_725" class="label">[725]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 139.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_726_726" href="#FNanchor_726_726" class="label">[726]</a> Dunn’s Life of Clarke, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 73.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_727_727" href="#FNanchor_727_727" class="label">[727]</a> Ought it not to be sixty-eight.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_728_728" href="#FNanchor_728_728" class="label">[728]</a> An error occurred in the first edition of this volume, on page 224. It +was there stated, that Wesley received <abbr title="60 pounds">£60</abbr> a year; it ought to have been +<abbr title="30 pounds">£30</abbr>. According to the old circuit book, at City Road, it was the custom +to pay him <abbr title="15 pounds">£15</abbr> in the first quarter of each year, and <abbr title="15 pounds">£15</abbr> in the last.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_729_729" href="#FNanchor_729_729" class="label">[729]</a> Now his steward.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_730_730" href="#FNanchor_730_730" class="label">[730]</a> The sentence is unfinished.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_731_731" href="#FNanchor_731_731" class="label">[731]</a> Samuel Bradburn remarks: “I know that, from the conference of +1780 to the conference of 1781, he gave away, in <em>private charities</em>, above +<abbr title="1400 pounds">£1400</abbr>. He told me himself, in 1787, that he never gave away, out of his +own pocket, less than <abbr title="1000 pounds">£1000</abbr> a year.” Bradburn adds: “He never relieved +poor people in the street, but he either took off, or removed, his hat +to them, when they thanked him.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_732_732" href="#FNanchor_732_732" class="label">[732]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1825, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 25.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_733_733" href="#FNanchor_733_733" class="label">[733]</a> Ibid. 1828, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 741; and <cite>Christian Miscellany</cite>, 1847, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 173.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_734_734" href="#FNanchor_734_734" class="label">[734]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1792, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 288.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_735_735" href="#FNanchor_735_735" class="label">[735]</a> Ibid. 1856, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 234.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_736_736" href="#FNanchor_736_736" class="label">[736]</a> Ibid. 1845, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 123.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_737_737" href="#FNanchor_737_737" class="label">[737]</a> Clarke’s Life, <abbr title="volume one">vol. i.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 277.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_738_738" href="#FNanchor_738_738" class="label">[738]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1847, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 211.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_739_739" href="#FNanchor_739_739" class="label">[739]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1837, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 11.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_740_740" href="#FNanchor_740_740" class="label">[740]</a> The assistant in Chatham circuit.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_741_741" href="#FNanchor_741_741" class="label">[741]</a> The wife of Charles Boone, the assistant in Canterbury circuit.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_742_742" href="#FNanchor_742_742" class="label">[742]</a> <cite>Local Preachers’ Magazine</cite>, 1851, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 75.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_743_743" href="#FNanchor_743_743" class="label">[743]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1847, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 656.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_744_744" href="#FNanchor_744_744" class="label">[744]</a> <cite>Wesleyan Times</cite>, June 11, 1866.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_745_745" href="#FNanchor_745_745" class="label">[745]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 98.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_746_746" href="#FNanchor_746_746" class="label">[746]</a> <cite>Wesleyan Times</cite>, June 11, 1866.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_747_747" href="#FNanchor_747_747" class="label">[747]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 8.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_748_748" href="#FNanchor_748_748" class="label">[748]</a> This was done with the approbation of the London stewards, who paid +<abbr title="1 pound">£1</abbr> 19<abbr title="shillings"><i>s.</i></abbr> for the carriages and expenses. (City Road society book.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_749_749" href="#FNanchor_749_749" class="label">[749]</a> Life of James Rogers, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 44.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_750_750" href="#FNanchor_750_750" class="label">[750]</a> Life of James Rogers, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 44.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_751_751" href="#FNanchor_751_751" class="label">[751]</a> <cite>Youth’s Instructor</cite>, 1833, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 330.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_752_752" href="#FNanchor_752_752" class="label">[752]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1841, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 1.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_753_753" href="#FNanchor_753_753" class="label">[753]</a> Ibid.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_754_754" href="#FNanchor_754_754" class="label">[754]</a> “Diary, Reminiscences, and Correspondence of Henry Crabb +Robinson,” <abbr title="volume one">vol. i.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 20.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_755_755" href="#FNanchor_755_755" class="label">[755]</a> Crabbe’s Life.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_756_756" href="#FNanchor_756_756" class="label">[756]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1856, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 203.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_757_757" href="#FNanchor_757_757" class="label">[757]</a> Reynolds’ “Anecdotes of Wesley,” <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 39.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_758_758" href="#FNanchor_758_758" class="label">[758]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1846, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 1189.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_759_759" href="#FNanchor_759_759" class="label">[759]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 113.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_760_760" href="#FNanchor_760_760" class="label">[760]</a> Merely in the circuits above mentioned (a fraction of the Dales +circuit) there are, at present, 7819 members. (See Minutes of Conference, +1870.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_761_761" href="#FNanchor_761_761" class="label">[761]</a> Circuit manuscript books.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_762_762" href="#FNanchor_762_762" class="label">[762]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 109.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_763_763" href="#FNanchor_763_763" class="label">[763]</a> Sigston’s Life of Bramwell.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_764_764" href="#FNanchor_764_764" class="label">[764]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 99.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_765_765" href="#FNanchor_765_765" class="label">[765]</a> Manuscript letter, kindly lent by Charles Reed, <abbr title="Esquire">Esq.</abbr>, <abbr title="Member of Parliament">M.P.</abbr></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_766_766" href="#FNanchor_766_766" class="label">[766]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1790, <abbr title="pages">pp.</abbr> 348, 400, etc.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_767_767" href="#FNanchor_767_767" class="label">[767]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1792, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 341, etc.</p></div></div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_643">[Pg 643]</span></p> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="1791">1791.</h2> +<hr class="short"> +<p class="center">Age 88</p> +</div> + +<p class="p2 drop-cap"><span class="smcap">Only</span> two months of Wesley’s eventful life are left +unnarrated. The following letters, belonging to this +period, will be read with interest.</p> + +<p>The first was addressed to Adam Clarke, who, in Dublin, +had buried his eldest daughter, and was himself dangerously +afflicted with rheumatic affection in the head.⁠<a id="FNanchor_768_768" href="#Footnote_768_768" class="fnanchor">[768]</a></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>January 3, 1791.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Adam</span>,—You startle me when you talk of grieving so much for +the death of an infant. This is certainly a proof of inordinate affection; +and, if you love them <em>thus</em>, all your children will die. How did Mr. De +Renty behave when he supposed his wife to be dying? There is a pattern +for a Christian.</p> + +<p>“But you forget to send me anything about magnetism. John Bredin +is a weak brother: let him not complain. He behaved ill both at Jersey +and Guernsey; but let him behave well now, and that will be forgotten. I +wish my dear sister Clarke and you many happy years; and am, dear +Adam, etc.,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_769_769" href="#Footnote_769_769" class="fnanchor">[769]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>The next has not before been published. It was written +to Thomas Taylor, then in the Hull circuit. Dr. King +was made archbishop of Dublin in 1702, and died in +1729. He was author of “<cite>De Origine Mali</cite>,” written to prove, +that the existence of natural and moral evil is not incompatible +with the power and goodness of the Deity, and may +be accounted for without the supposition of an evil principle.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>January 6, 1791</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Tommy</span>,—With regard to the powerful workings of the Spirit, +I think those words of our Lord are chiefly to be understood: ‘The wind +bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof,’ (thou art +sure of the fact,) ‘but canst not tell whence it cometh, or whither it +goeth.’</p> + +<p>“Make your yearly subscription when you see best, only take care it +does not interfere with any other subscription.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_644">[Pg 644]</span> +“The tract of Archbishop King has been particularly admired by many +persons of excellent sense. I do not admire it so much as they do; but I +like it well. Yet, I have corrected a far better tract on the same subject, +perhaps, the last I shall have to publish.⁠<a id="FNanchor_770_770" href="#Footnote_770_770" class="fnanchor">[770]</a></p> + +<p>“Indeed, I hope I shall not live to be useless. I wish you and yours +many happy years, and am, dear Tommy, etc.,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>The next letter, addressed to Miss Bolton of Witney, contains +an important reference to Wesley’s state of health.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>January 12, 1791</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Nancy</span>,—I thank you for your welcome present, and +rejoice to hear that your health is better. What is it, which is good for +us, that our Lord will not give, if we can but trust Him?</p> + +<p>“These four last days, I have had better health than I had for several +months before. Only my sight continues much as it was. But good is +the will of the Lord.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Nancy, affectionately yours,</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">J. Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_771_771" href="#Footnote_771_771" class="fnanchor">[771]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>The following was addressed to the wife of Adam Clarke, +and refers to her husband’s serious affliction, as well as to the +loss of their daughter.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>January 18, 1791</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Sister</span>,—Before this time, I hope God has heard prayer, +and given brother Clarke a little more ease. I should suspect a dropsy +in the brain, which, though formerly judged incurable, has lately been +cured.</p> + +<p>“Both brother Clarke and you have large proofs that whom the Lord +loveth He chasteneth. He knoweth the way whence you go; when you +have been tried, you shall come forth as gold.</p> + +<p>“I wonder at the folly of Mr. V. Surely, he is a very weak man. But +I shall judge better when I have seen his performances. Peace be multiplied +again!</p> + +<p>“I am, my dear sister, ever yours,</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_772_772" href="#Footnote_772_772" class="fnanchor">[772]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_645">[Pg 645]</span> +John Booth was now assistant in Keighley circuit, and to +him was addressed the following.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>January 29, 1791</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—You give me a very agreeable account of the +progress of the work of God in your circuit. As to the poor, self conceited +enthusiasts in Keighley, it seems best that you should never name them +in public; but, when occasion offers, strike at the root of their errors, by +clearly proving the truth which they deny. And whenever you meet +with any of them in private, then speak and spare not. Whenever you +have opportunity of speaking to believers, urge them to go on to perfection. +Spare no pains; and God, even our own God, still give you His +blessing!</p> + +<p class="center">“I am, etc.,</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_773_773" href="#Footnote_773_773" class="fnanchor">[773]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Miss Cambridge was an Irish Methodist, twenty-nine years +of age, and had established meetings in various parts of the +town of Bandon, at which she prayed and occasionally +exhorted. She had also held similar meetings at Kinsale, +Youghal, and other places. Many of the Methodists, and +some of the Methodist preachers, pronounced her public +addresses to be entirely irregular, and what ought not to be +tolerated in the Christian church. She wrote to Wesley for +advice; and received the following reply,—Wesley’s last +utterance on female preaching.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>January 31, 1791</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Sister</span>,—I received your letter an hour ago. I thank you +for writing so largely and so freely; do so always to me as your friend, as +one that loves you well. Mr. Barber has the glory of God at heart; and +so have his fellow labourers. Give them all honour, and obey them in all +things as far as conscience permits. But it will not permit you to be silent +when God commands you to speak; yet, I would have you give as little +offence as possible; and, therefore, I would advise you not to speak at +any place where a preacher is speaking at the same time, lest you should +draw away his hearers. Also, avoid the first appearance of pride or +magnifying yourself. If you want books, or anything, let me know; I +have your happiness much at heart. During the little time I have to +stay on earth, pray for,</p> + +<p>“Your affectionate brother,</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_774_774" href="#Footnote_774_774" class="fnanchor">[774]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Ezekiel Cooper was the son of an officer in the army of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_646">[Pg 646]</span> +the American revolution, and was now twenty-eight years of +age, and a Methodist preacher at Annapolis. He was a man +of great mental vigour and versatility, almost unequalled in +debate, and was called, by the American Methodists, <i>Lycurgus</i>, +in reference to his profound wisdom. He was a diligent +student, and a close observer of men and things, lived a long +life of celibacy, was frugal to a fault, left behind him an estate +of about fifty thousand dollars, and died in 1847, the oldest +Methodist preacher in the world. When he entered the +ministry in 1783, the American Methodists numbered eighty-three +preachers, and fifteen thousand members; when he +died, their ministry numbered five thousand, and their membership +above a million.⁠<a id="FNanchor_775_775" href="#Footnote_775_775" class="fnanchor">[775]</a> To him Wesley wrote the last +letter which he posted to America.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Near London</span>, <i>February 1, 1791</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—Those that desire to write, or to say anything, +to me, have no time to lose, for time has shaken me by the hand, and +death is not far behind. But I have reason to be thankful for the time +that is past. I felt few of the infirmities of old age, for fourscore and six +years. It was not till a year and a half ago, that my strength and my +sight failed. And still I am enabled to scrawl a little, and to creep, +though I cannot run. Probably I should not be able to do so much, did +not many of you assist me by your prayers.</p> + +<p>“I have given a distinct account of the work of God, which has been +wrought in Britain and Ireland, for more than half a century. We want +some of you to give us a connected relation, of what our Lord has been +doing in America, since the time that Richard Boardman accepted the +invitation, and left his country to serve you. See that you never give +place to one thought of separating from your brethren in Europe. Lose +no opportunity of declaring to all men, that the Methodists are one people +in all the world, and that it is their full determination so to continue,⁠—</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0a">‘Though mountains rise, and oceans roll,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">To sever us in vain.’</div> +</div></div> + +<p>“To the care of our common Lord I commit you, and am your affectionate +friend and brother,</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_776_776" href="#Footnote_776_776" class="fnanchor">[776]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Such was Wesley’s dying legacy to the transatlantic +Methodists.</p> + +<p>The next is brief, but full of interest. For many years +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_647">[Pg 647]</span> +Wesley had been accustomed to leave London, on, or about, +the 1st of March, for what he was accustomed to call his +long journey, to the north, or to Ireland. Though so aged +and feeble, he fully intended to do the same again; and +Henry Moore relates, that, in reference to this, he actually +sent his chaise and his horses before him to Bristol, and took +places for himself and his friends in the Bath coach; but, +almost on the very day when he purposed to begin afresh his +“long journey” on earth, the venerable pilgrim left earth +for heaven.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>February 6, 1791</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>,—On Wednesday, March 17, I purpose, if God permit, to +come from Gloucester to Worcester; and, on Thursday, the 18th, to +Stourport. If our friends at Worcester are displeased, we cannot help it. +Wishing you and yours all happiness,</p> + +<p>“I am, dear sir, your affectionate servant,</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>The letter was addressed to Mr. York, of Stourport; but +was not sent. At the bottom of it is the last line that +Wesley ever wrote.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“February 28—This morning I found this in my bureau.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_777_777" href="#Footnote_777_777" class="fnanchor">[777]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>In a letter, given on <a href="#Page_622">page 622</a>, Mr. Thomas Roberts was +directed, in an emergency, to leave Bristol for Haverfordwest +circuit. He went, and had to encounter difficulties. +Wesley now wrote to him as follows.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>February 8, 1791</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Brother</span>,—Who was it that opposed your reducing the +preachers, in the circuit, to two? and on what pretence? We must needs +reduce all our expenses everywhere as far as possible. You must never +leave off till you carry this point, and constitute bands in each large +society. When the lecture begins at Carmarthen, it will then be time +enough to prevent any ill effects of it. I am glad to hear your journey +home has not been in vain. My best wishes attend my friends at Traison +and Langwair.</p> + +<p>“I am, dear Tommy, yours, etc.,</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>The original, from which this is copied, was written by an +amanuensis, but is signed in Wesley’s own tremulous handwriting.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_648">[Pg 648]</span> +We have already seen that Adam Clarke had been dangerously +ill in Dublin. In fact, it was reported in England that +he was dead; and William Stevens actually preached his +funeral sermon in the isle of Jersey. He was now slowly +recovering, had entered himself a medical student in Trinity +college, Dublin, and had founded a “Strangers’ Friend +Society,” like those already instituted in London, and in +Bristol.⁠<a id="FNanchor_778_778" href="#Footnote_778_778" class="fnanchor">[778]</a> To him Wesley now addressed the following.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>February 9, 1791</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Adam</span>,—You have great reason to bless God for giving you +strength according to your day. He has indeed supported you in an +uncommon manner under these complicated afflictions. You may well +say, ‘I will put my trust in Thee as long as I live.’ I will desire Dr. +Whitehead thoroughly to consider your case, and to give us his thoughts +upon it. I am not afraid of your doing too little, but too much. I am in +continual danger of this. Do little at a time, that you may do the more. +My love to sisters Cookman and Boyle, but it is a doubt with me whether +I shall cross the seas any more.</p> + +<p>“What preacher was it who first omitted meeting the select society? I +wonder it did not destroy the work!</p> + +<p>“You have done right in setting up the strangers’ society: it is an +excellent institution.</p> + +<p>“I am quite at a loss concerning Mr. Maddan; I know not what to +think of him. Send me your best thoughts concerning him.</p> + +<p>“Let not the excluded preachers by any means creep in again. In any +wise, write, and send me your thoughts on <i>animal magnetism</i>. I set my +face against that device of Satan. Two of our preachers here are in +danger of that satanical delusion; but, if they persist to defend it, I must +drop them. I know its principles full well.</p> + +<p>“With much love to your wife, I am, etc.,</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_779_779" href="#Footnote_779_779" class="fnanchor">[779]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Wesley was quite ready to “cross seas,” as he had already +done so often, in his Master’s service; but he might well +doubt his ability. Exactly three weeks after writing thus to +Adam Clarke, he crossed the dark river of death.</p> + +<p>For sixty-five years, Wesley had been an earnest, laborious, +self denying, and unceasing preacher of “the glorious +gospel of the blessed God”; and, notwithstanding his extreme +age and feebleness, he continued in his beloved employ until +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_649">[Pg 649]</span> +within seven days of his decease. The following was his last +week of public labour.</p> + +<p>On Thursday, February 17, he preached at Lambeth, then +a thriving suburban village, from the text, “Labour not for +the meat which perisheth; but for that which endureth to +everlasting life.” Returning home, he seemed to be unwell, +and said he had taken cold.</p> + +<p>Friday the 18th, he read and wrote as usual, dined at Mr. +Urling’s, and preached at Chelsea, in the evening, from the +words, “The king’s business requireth haste.” Once or twice +he was obliged to stop, and to tell the people that his cold so +affected his voice as to prevent his speaking without these +necessary pauses. He had, as usual, arranged to meet the +classes for the renewal of their tickets; but was persuaded to +leave this part of his work to his companions, James Rogers, +and Joseph Bradford.</p> + +<p>Saturday, the 19th, was principally employed in reading +and writing. The following was addressed to Mrs. Susanna +Knapp, of Worcester, and shows his unquenchable Christian +ardour.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>February 19, 1791</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Suky</span>,—As the state of my health is exceeding wavering, +and waxes worse, I cannot yet lay down any plans for my future journeys. +Indeed, I propose, if God permit, to set out for Bristol on the 28th instant; +but how much further I shall be able to go, I cannot yet determine. If I +am pretty well, I hope to be at Worcester about the <abbr title="twenty-second">22nd</abbr> of March. To +find you and yours in health of body and mind will be a great pleasure to,</p> + +<p>“My dear Suky, yours affectionately,</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">J. Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_780_780" href="#Footnote_780_780" class="fnanchor">[780]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>On the same day, Wesley went out to dinner, at Mrs. +Griffith’s, Islington, and, while there, desired a friend to read +to him the fourth and three following chapters of the book of +Job, containing the speech of Eliphaz, and the answer of Job, +and strikingly appropriate to the case of a dying man. After +dinner, he purposed to meet the penitents at City Road, but +was prevailed on to allow Mr. Brackenbury to take his place.</p> + +<p>Next morning (Sunday) he rose, at his usual hour, but was +utterly unfit for the sabbath services. At seven o’clock, he +was obliged to lie down again; and slept for above three +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_650">[Pg 650]</span> +hours. In the afternoon, he had again to go to bed; had +another sleep; and then, after two of his own sermons had +been read to him, came downstairs to supper.</p> + +<p>On Monday, the 21st, he seemed better, and, despite +persuasion, would fulfil an engagement he had made to dine +at Twickenham. His niece, Miss Sarah Wesley, and Miss +Ritchie, went with him. On the way he called upon Lady +Mary Fitzgerald, and conversed and prayed most sweetly.</p> + +<p>Tuesday, the <abbr title="twenty-second">22nd</abbr>, he proceeded with his usual work; +dined at Mr. Horton’s, Islington; and preached in City Road +chapel, from, “We through the Spirit wait for the hope of +righteousness by faith.” After this, he met the leaders.</p> + +<p>Wednesday, February 23, he arose at four a.m., as he also +did the day following, and, accompanied by Mr. Rogers, set +out to Leatherhead, eighteen miles from London, to visit a +magistrate, in whose dining room he preached, from “Seek ye +the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He +is near.” This was Wesley’s last sermon.</p> + +<p>Thursday, February 24, he spent with his old friend, Mr. +Wolff, at Balham, where he was cheerful, and seemed nearly +as well as usual.⁠<a id="FNanchor_781_781" href="#Footnote_781_781" class="fnanchor">[781]</a></p> + +<p>During the day, he wrote his last letter, which was +addressed to Wilberforce, who had brought before parliament +the question, which Wesley was one of the first to advocate, +the abolition of slavery.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">London</span>, <i>February 24, 1791</i>. +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">My dear Sir</span>,—Unless the Divine Power has raised you up to be as +Athanasius, <i lang="la">contra mundum</i>, I see not how you can go through your +glorious enterprise, in opposing that execrable villainy, which is the +scandal of religion, of England, and of human nature. Unless God +has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition +of men and devils; but, <cite>if God be for you, who can be against +you</cite>? Are all of them together stronger than God? O! ‘<cite>be not weary +in well doing</cite>.’ Go on, in the name of God, and in the power of His +might, till even American slavery, the vilest that ever saw the sun, shall +vanish away before it.</p> + +<p>“Reading this morning a tract, wrote by a poor African, I was particularly +struck by that circumstance,—that a man who has a black skin, +being wronged or outraged by a white man, can have no redress; it being +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_651">[Pg 651]</span> +a <em>law</em>, in our colonies, that the <em>oath</em> of a black, against a white, goes for +nothing. What villainy is this!</p> + +<p>“That He who has guided you, from your youth up, may continue to +strengthen you in this and all things, is the prayer of, dear sir,</p> + +<p>“Your affectionate servant,</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">John Wesley</span>.”<a id="FNanchor_782_782" href="#Footnote_782_782" class="fnanchor">[782]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Friday, February 25, Mr. Wolff having brought him home, +to City Road, Wesley went upstairs, and requested that, for +half an hour, he should be left alone. When the time expired, +faithful Joseph Bradford found him so unwell, that he sent +for Dr. Whitehead. “Doctor,” said the dying patriarch, +“they are more afraid than hurt.”</p> + +<p>Saturday, February 26, was principally passed in drowsiness +and sleep.</p> + +<p>Sunday morning, February 27, he seemed better, got up, +sat in his chair, looked cheerful, and repeated, from one of his +brother’s hymns,⁠—</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0b">“Till glad I lay this body down,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">Thy servant, Lord, attend!</div> +<div class="verse indent0">And oh! my life of mercy crown</div> +<div class="verse indent2">With a triumphant end!”</div> +</div></div> + +<p>And then, soon after, with marked emphasis, he said, “Our +friend Lazarus sleepeth.” His niece, Miss Wesley, and Miss +Ritchie prayed with him. “When at Bristol,” said he, alluding +to his illness there in 1753, “my words were,</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0a">‘I the chief of sinners am,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">But Jesus died for me!’”</div> +</div></div> + +<p>Miss Ritchie asked, “Is that your language now?” “Yes,” +said he. “Christ is all! He is all!” He then dozed, and +sometimes wandered; but, in his wanderings, was always +preaching or meeting classes.</p> + +<p>On Monday, February 28, his weakness increased. Dr. +Whitehead wished for further assistance. Wesley replied: +“Dr. Whitehead knows my constitution better than any one. +I am quite satisfied, and will have no one else.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_783_783" href="#Footnote_783_783" class="fnanchor">[783]</a> Most of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_652">[Pg 652]</span> +day was spent in sleep. He seldom spoke; but, once, in a +wakeful interval, was heard saying, in a low, distinct voice, +“There is no way into the holiest, but by the blood of Jesus.” +Then referring to the text, “Ye know the grace of our Lord +Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich,” etc., he remarked, +with solemn emphasis, “That is the foundation, the only +foundation, there is no other.” It was now evident to all, that +he was beginning to sleep his last sleep. His friends were +intensely anxious and alarmed. Poor, broken hearted, Joseph +Bradford despatched notes to the preachers, asking their +prayers, in the following terms.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +“<i>February 27, 1791.</i> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Brother</span>,—Mr. Wesley is very ill: pray! pray! pray!</p> + +<p>“I am your affectionate brother,</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">Joseph Bradford</span>.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_784_784" href="#Footnote_784_784" class="fnanchor">[784]</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p>All was unavailing. Wesley’s work was ended. On +Tuesday, March 1, after a restless night, being asked if he +suffered pain, he answered, “No,” and began singing,⁠—</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0b">“All glory to God in the sky,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">And peace upon earth be restored!</div> +<div class="verse indent0">O Jesus, exalted on high,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">Appear our omnipotent Lord.</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Who, meanly in Bethlehem born,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">Didst stoop to redeem a lost race,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Once more to Thy people return,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">And reign in Thy kingdom of grace.</div> + +<div class="stanza"><div class="verse indent0">Oh, wouldst Thou again be made known,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">Again in the Spirit descend;</div> +<div class="verse indent0">And set up in each of Thy own</div> +<div class="verse indent2">A kingdom that never shall end!</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Thou only art able to bless,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">And make the glad nations obey,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">And bid the dire enmity cease,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">And bow the whole world to Thy sway.”</div></div> +</div></div> + +<p>Here, while breathing faith and universal benevolence, his +strength failed. “I want to write,” said he. A pen was put +into his hand, and paper was placed before him. His hand +had forgot its cunning. “I cannot,” said the dying man. +“Let me write for you,” remarked Miss Ritchie: “tell me +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_653">[Pg 653]</span> +what you wish to say.” “Nothing,” he replied, “but that +God is with us.”</p> + +<p>“I will get up,” said he; and, while his friends were +arranging his clothes, the happy old man again began +singing,⁠—</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0b">“I’ll praise my Maker while I’ve breath;</div> +<div class="verse indent0">And, when my voice is lost in death,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">Praise shall employ my nobler powers:</div> +<div class="verse indent0">My days of praise shall ne’er be past,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">While life, and thought, and being last,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">Or immortality endures.</div> + +<div class="stanza"><div class="verse indent0">Happy the man whose hopes rely</div> +<div class="verse indent0">On Israel’s God; He made the sky,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">And earth, and seas, with all their train;</div> +<div class="verse indent0">His truth for ever stands secure,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">He saves the’ oppressed, He feeds the poor,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">And none shall find His promise vain.”</div></div> +</div></div> + +<p>Once more seated in his chair, he, in a weak voice, said: +“Lord, Thou givest strength to those that can speak, and to +those that cannot. Speak, Lord, to all our hearts, and let +them know that Thou loosest tongues.” And again he began +to sing, what proved to be his last song on earth:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0b">“To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">Who sweetly all agree.”</div> +</div></div> + +<p>But here his voice failed, and, after gasping for breath, he +said: “Now we have done. Let us all go.”</p> + +<p>Full of happiness, but utterly exhausted, he was put to +bed, where, after a short but quiet sleep, he opened his eyes, +and, addressing the weeping watchers who stood around +him, said, “Pray, and praise!” and, of course, they at once +complied. Then he asked Joseph Bradford about the key +and contents of his bureau, remarking, “I would have all +things ready for my executors. Let me be buried in nothing +but what is woollen, and let my corpse be carried in my +coffin into the chapel.” And then, as if no other earthly +matters required his attention, he again called out, “Pray and +praise!” Down fell his friends upon their knees, and fervent +were the dying patriarch’s responses, especially to John +Broadbent’s prayer, that God would still bless the system of +doctrine and discipline, which Wesley had been the means of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_654">[Pg 654]</span> +establishing. On rising, from prayer, each watcher drew near +to the bed of the expiring saint, and, with affectionate solicitude, +awaited the coming of the shining ones to conduct him +home. With the utmost placidity, he saluted each one +present, shook hands, and said, “Farewell! farewell!”</p> + +<p>Conflict there was none. The scene was the peaceful +setting of a glorious sun, undisturbed by the slightest soughing +wind, undimmed by the smallest intervening cloud.</p> + +<p>He tried to speak; but his friends found it difficult to +make out what he meant, except that he wished his sermon +on “The Love of God to Fallen Man,” founded on the text, +“Not as the offence, so also is the free gift,” to be “scattered +abroad, and given to everybody.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_785_785" href="#Footnote_785_785" class="fnanchor">[785]</a> Seeing that those around +him were at a loss to understand what he tried to say, +the grand old Christian gladiator paused; and, summoning, +for a final effort, all the little strength he had remaining, he +exclaimed, in a tone well-nigh supernatural, “The best of all +is, God is with us!” And then, after another pause, and +while lifting his arm in grateful triumph, he emphatically +reiterated, “The best of all is, God is with us!”</p> + +<p>Nature was once more exhausted. Some one wetted his +parched lips. “It will not do,” said he; “we must take the +consequence. Never mind the poor carcase.”</p> + +<p>James Rogers and Thomas Rankin were standing by +his bed; but his sight was so nearly gone, that he was +unable to recognise their features. “Who are these?” he +asked. “Sir,” said Mr. Rogers, “we are come to rejoice with +you; you are going to receive your crown.” “It is the +Lord’s doing,” replied Wesley, “and it is marvellous in our +eyes.”</p> + +<p>Being told that his brother’s widow had come to see him, +he thanked her, affectionately endeavoured to kiss her, and +remarked, “He giveth His servants rest.” She wet his lips; +on which he repeated his constant thanksgiving after meals: +“We thank Thee, O Lord, for these and all Thy mercies. +Bless the Church and king, and grant us truth and peace, +through Jesus Christ our Lord, for ever and ever!” Then, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_655">[Pg 655]</span> +pausing a little, he cried, “The clouds drop fatness.” After +another pause, “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of +Jacob is our refuge! Pray and praise!” And again his friends +fell upon their knees.</p> + +<p>During the night, he scores of times repeated the words, +“I’ll praise. I’ll praise!” but could say nothing more. Next +morning, Wednesday, March 2, Joseph Bradford prayed with +him. It was a few minutes before ten o’clock. Around the +bed there knelt his niece, Miss Sarah Wesley; one of his +executors, Mr. Horton; his medical attendant, Dr. Whitehead; +his book steward, George Whitfield; the present +occupants of his house, James and Hester Ann Rogers, and +their little boy; and his friends and visitors, Robert Carr +Brackenbury, and Elizabeth Ritchie,—eleven persons altogether. +Bradford, so long Wesley’s faithful friend and +travelling companion, was the mouthpiece of the other ten. +“Farewell!” cried Wesley,—the last word he uttered; and +then, as Joseph Bradford was saying, “Lift up your heads, O +ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and this +heir of glory shall come in!” Wesley gathered up his feet in +the presence of his brethren; and, without a groan and without +a sigh, was gone. He died about ten o’clock a.m., on +Wednesday, March 2, 1791.⁠<a id="FNanchor_786_786" href="#Footnote_786_786" class="fnanchor">[786]</a></p> + +<p>What followed? “Children!” said John Wesley’s mother, +“as soon as I am dead, sing a song of praise!” As soon as +Wesley himself died, his friends, standing about his corpse, +sang:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0b">“Waiting to receive thy spirit,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">Lo! the Saviour stands above;</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Shows the purchase of His merit,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">Reaches out the crown of love.”</div> +</div></div> + +<p>And then they knelt down, and prayed, that the mantle of the +ascended Elijah might rest upon his followers.⁠<a id="FNanchor_787_787" href="#Footnote_787_787" class="fnanchor">[787]</a></p> + +<p>Wesley’s remains were interred, behind the chapel in City +Road, on the 9th of March. Such was the excitement created +by his death, that, within twelve hours only before the funeral +took place, it was determined, in order to prevent the +assembling of an inconvenient crowd, that the funereal +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_656">[Pg 656]</span> +solemnities should be performed at the early hour of five a.m. +The notice to his friends was short; but hundreds attended; +and to each one was given a biscuit, in an envelope, engraven +with a beautifully executed portrait of the departed, dressed +in canonicals, surmounted by a halo and a crown.</p> + +<p>Much remains unsaid; but our space is gone. Whilst +the present pages are passing through the press, we learn, +that “a most eligible site, in Westminster Abbey, has been +courteously offered,” by the dean of that noble edifice, for +the erection of a “public monument” to Wesley and his +brother Charles; and that arrangements are being made to +secure the services of “a first class sculptor,” at the cost of +about <abbr title="800 pounds">£800</abbr>. Thus the wheel turns round. One hundred and +thirty years ago, Wesley was shut out of every church in +England; now marble medallion profiles of himself and his +brother, accompanied with suitable inscriptions, are deemed +deserving of a niche in England’s grandest cathedral. The +man who, a century since, was the best abused man in the +British isles, is now hardly ever mentioned but with affectionate +respect. In the literature of the age; in its lectures +and debates; in chapels and in churches; in synods, congresses, +and all sorts of conferences; by the highest lords +and the most illustrious commoners, the once persecuted +Methodist is now extolled; and the judgment of Southey, +in a letter to Wilberforce, is tacitly confirmed: “I consider +Wesley as the most influential mind of the last century,—the +man who will have produced the greatest effects, +centuries, or perhaps millenniums hence, if the present race of +men should continue so long.”</p> + +<p>In person, Wesley was rather below the middle size, but +beautifully proportioned, without an atom of superfluous +flesh, yet muscular and strong; with a forehead clear and +smooth, a bright, penetrating eye, and a lovely face, which +retained the freshness of its complexion to the latest period of +his life.</p> + +<p>In <em>general</em> scholarship and knowledge, he had few +superiors; whilst such was his acquaintance with the New +Testament, that, when at a loss to repeat a text in the words +of the authorised translation, he was never at a loss to quote +it in the original Greek.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_657">[Pg 657]</span> +As an author, the chief characteristics of his style are +brevity, perspicuity, and strength. He abhorred verboseness, +and constantly endeavoured to say everything in the fewest +words possible. “I never think,” said he, “of my style at all, +but just set down the words that come first. Only when I +transcribe anything for the press, then I think it my duty to +see that every phrase be <em>clear</em>, <em>pure</em>, <em>proper</em>, and <em>easy</em>. Conciseness, +which is now as it were natural to me, brings <i lang="la">quantum +sufficit</i> of strength.” Not for want of genius, but for want of +time, and for want of disposition to make it otherwise, his +style is one of naked and self dependent strength, unaccompanied +with gaudy colouring, and equally undiluted with the +pretentious puerilities of weak and little minds. It is impossible +to abridge his writings without omitting thoughts as well +as words. Who can abridge Euclid’s Elements without +maiming them? And who can take from the works of +Wesley without reducing their specific gravity?</p> + +<p>In the pulpit, Wesley’s attitude was graceful and easy; his +action calm, natural, pleasing, and expressive; and his voice, +not loud, but clear and manly. Whitefield was the greater +orator; Wesley the better divine. Wesley’s preaching was +without Whitefield’s Demosthenic eloquence; but it had the +accuracy of a scholar, the authority of an ambassador, the +unction of a saint, the power of God. It was always searching; +but not often terrible and severe, except when addressed +to congregations rich, respectable, and polite. “Sir,” said a +friend to him, after he had preached to a genteel audience +from the words, “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how +can ye escape the damnation of hell?” “Sir,” said Wesley’s +offended hearer, “such a sermon would have been suitable in +Billingsgate; but it was highly improper here”; to whom +Wesley quietly, but significantly, remarked: “If I had been in +Billingsgate, my text should have been, ‘Behold the Lamb of +God, which taketh away the sin of the world.’” The poor +need to be told the terribleness of their danger, and the rich +more; but, unfortunately, the poor hear most of this, and the +rich least. Wesley was a faithful minister to both.</p> + +<p>In social life, Wesley was a Christian gentleman, and, with +perfect ease, accommodated himself to both the high and low, +the rich and poor. Placid, benevolent, and full of anecdote, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_658">[Pg 658]</span> +wit, and wisdom, his conversation was not often equalled; and +was generally concluded with two or three verses of a hymn, +applicable to what had just been spoken. Though never +trifling, he was always cheerful; sometimes saying, “I dare +no more <em>fret</em> than <em>curse</em> or <em>swear</em>.” His sprightliness among +his friends never left him; but was as conspicuous at eighty-seven +as at seventeen. He was at home in mansions, and +equally in cottages; courteous to all, and especially to the +young, often remarking, “I reverence the young, because +they may be useful after I am dead.”</p> + +<p>Of his piety nothing need be said. “His modesty,” writes +Bradburn, “prevented him saying much concerning his own +religious feelings. In public, he hardly ever spoke of the +state of his own soul; but, in 1781, he told me that his +experience might almost at any time be expressed in the +following lines:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="verse indent0a">‘O Thou, who camest from above,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">The pure celestial fire to’ impart,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Kindle a flame of sacred love</div> +<div class="verse indent2">On the mean altar of my heart!</div> + +<div class="stanza"><div class="verse indent0">There let it for Thy glory burn,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">With inextinguishable blaze,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">And trembling to its source return,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">In humble love and fervent praise!’”</div></div> +</div></div> + +<p>His industry is almost without a parallel. In many things, +he was gentle and easy to be entreated; but, in his earnestness +in redeeming time, he was decisive and inexorable. While +kept waiting for his carriage, on one occasion, he passionately +exclaimed, “I have lost ten minutes for ever!” “You have +no need to be in a hurry!” said a friend: “Hurry,” he replied, +“I have no time to be in a hurry.” It has been calculated, +that, during the fifty years of his itinerant ministry, he travelled +a quarter of a million of miles, and preached more than +forty thousand sermons. In these volumes, we have seen +him rising with the lark, travelling with the sun, preaching +throughout the three kingdoms, and always acting in harmony +with his own well known utterance, “The world is my +parish!” Looking at his travelling, the marvel is how he +found time to write; and, looking at his books, the marvel is +how he found time to preach. His hands were always full; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_659">[Pg 659]</span> +but his action was never fluttered. He was always moving, +and yet, in the midst of his ceaseless toils, betraying no more +bustle than a planet in its course. His mission was too great +to allow time for trifles.</p> + +<p>Was Wesley without faults? Not so; no man but “<em>the +Man Christ Jesus</em>” ever was. Wesley, for instance, was +naturally irritable; but even that was better than being +apathetic. “Tommy,” said Wesley once, “touch that!” +pointing to a dock. The itinerant did so. “Do you feel +anything?” asked Wesley. “No,” replied his friend. +“Touch that!” continued Wesley, pointing to a nettle. His +companion obeyed, and, in consequence, was stung. “Now, +Tommy,” remarked Wesley, “some men are like docks; say +what you will to them, they are stupid and insensible. +Others are like nettles; touch them, and they resent it. +Tommy, you are a nettle; and, for my part, I would rather +have to do with a nettle than a dock.”</p> + +<p>Numberless instances of Wesley’s wit and repartee might +easily be given. “Stop that man from speaking!” exclaimed +Charles Wesley at one of the early conferences, when a +preacher rose up, and, full of the love of Christ and irrepressible +emotion, began to relate his religious experience. “Stop +that man from speaking!” said Charles; “let us attend to +business!” but still the good man proceeded. “Unless he +stops, I’ll leave the conference,” continued Charles. Wesley +himself, revelling in the itinerant’s religious recital, effectually +cooled the warmth of his brother’s temper by quietly +remarking, “Reach him his hat!”</p> + +<p>On another occasion, when about to dine with a rich +Methodist, one of his preachers, who was present, with more +piety than politeness, cried out: “O sir, what a sumptuous +dinner! Things are very different to what they were formerly! +There is now but little self denial amongst the +Methodists!” Wesley pointed to the abundantly furnished +table, and then silenced the preacher’s untimely eloquence +by saying, “My brother, there is a fine opportunity for self +denial now.”</p> + +<p>Thus was Wesley always “instant in season, and out of +season.” Always and everywhere he was ready to turn +passing incidents to practical account. “Pray, sir, let us go,” +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_660">[Pg 660]</span> +said one of his friends, whilst two women, near Billingsgate +market, were quarrelling most furiously, and using language +far more forceful than pious: “Pray, sir, let us go; I cannot +stand it.” “Stay, Sammy,” replied Wesley, as he looked at +the viragoes, who were evidently <em>inspired</em>, though not from +heaven. “Stay, Sammy,” answered the man who had eyes +for everything; “stay, and learn how to preach!”</p> + +<p>We must close. Taking him altogether, Wesley is a man +<i lang="la">sui generis</i>. He stands alone: he has had no successor; no +one like him went before; no contemporary was a coequal. +There was a wholeness about the man, such as is rarely seen. +His physique, his genius, his wit, his penetration, his judgment, +his memory, his beneficence, his religion, his diligence, +his conversation, his courteousness, his manners, and his dress,—made +him as perfect as we ever expect man to be on +this side heaven. “A greater poet may rise than Homer or +Milton,” writes Dr. Dobbin, “a greater theologian than +Calvin, a greater philosopher than Bacon, a greater dramatist +than any of ancient or modern fame; but a more +distinguished revivalist of the churches than John Wesley, +never.” “He was a man,” says Lord Macaulay, “whose +eloquence and logical acuteness might have rendered him +eminent in literature; whose genius for government was +not inferior to that of Richelieu; and who devoted all his +powers, in defiance of obloquy and derision, to what he +sincerely considered the highest good of his species.”</p> + +<p>But, in the case of a man like Wesley, panegyric is out +of place. He is one of the very few, whose memory can +afford to do without it. His well won and world wide fame +requires no inscription on his monumental marble,—whether +in England or in America, in Westminster or in Washington,—more +elaborate than this:</p> + +<p class="p2 center"> +<span class="ls">JOHN WESLEY,</span><br> +<span class="cursive">Born, A.D. 1703.<br> +Died, A.D. 1791.</span> +</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_768_768" href="#FNanchor_768_768" class="label">[768]</a> Clarke’s Life, <abbr title="volume one">vol. i.</abbr>, <abbr title="pages">pp.</abbr> 278, 283.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_769_769" href="#FNanchor_769_769" class="label">[769]</a> <cite>Wesley Banner</cite>, 1852, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 275; and <cite>Wesleyan Times</cite>, June 1, 1866</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_770_770" href="#FNanchor_770_770" class="label">[770]</a> This was probably “An Essay on the Liberty of Moral Agents,” +published consecutively in the first five numbers of the <cite>Arminian Magazine</cite> +for 1791, and concerning which Wesley writes: “I do not remember to +have ever seen a more strong and beautiful treatise on moral liberty than +the following; which I, therefore, earnestly recommend to the consideration +of all those who desire ‘to vindicate the ways of God with man.’”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_771_771" href="#FNanchor_771_771" class="label">[771]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 157.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_772_772" href="#FNanchor_772_772" class="label">[772]</a> Dunn’s Life of Clarke, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 80.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_773_773" href="#FNanchor_773_773" class="label">[773]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 146.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_774_774" href="#FNanchor_774_774" class="label">[774]</a> Memoir of Miss A. Cambridge, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 39.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_775_775" href="#FNanchor_775_775" class="label">[775]</a> Sprague’s “Annals of the American Methodist Pulpit.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_776_776" href="#FNanchor_776_776" class="label">[776]</a> <cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1804, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 46.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_777_777" href="#FNanchor_777_777" class="label">[777]</a> Wesley’s Works, <abbr title="volume thirteen">vol. xiii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 147.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_778_778" href="#FNanchor_778_778" class="label">[778]</a> Everett’s Life of Clarke.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_779_779" href="#FNanchor_779_779" class="label">[779]</a> <cite>Wesleyan Times</cite>, June 1, 1866.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_780_780" href="#FNanchor_780_780" class="label">[780]</a> Manuscript letter, kindly lent by Mr. Dimbleby of Malvern.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_781_781" href="#FNanchor_781_781" class="label">[781]</a> Life of James Rogers.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_782_782" href="#FNanchor_782_782" class="label">[782]</a> Wilberforce’s Life, <abbr title="volume one">vol. i.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 297; and Moore’s Life of Wesley, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, +P. 437.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_783_783" href="#FNanchor_783_783" class="label">[783]</a> Jacob Jones, <abbr title="Esquire">Esq.</abbr>, however, seems to have been called in. He was then +a young man, and had just joined the Methodists. He died, in Finsbury +Square, in 1830.—(<cite>Methodist Magazine</cite>, 1830, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 511.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_784_784" href="#FNanchor_784_784" class="label">[784]</a> Smith’s “History of Methodism,” <abbr title="volume one">vol. i.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 608.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_785_785" href="#FNanchor_785_785" class="label">[785]</a> In compliance with his wish, ten thousand copies were printed, and +gratuitously distributed. (Rogers’ Life.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_786_786" href="#FNanchor_786_786" class="label">[786]</a> James Rogers’ Life.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_787_787" href="#FNanchor_787_787" class="label">[787]</a> “Authentic Narrative,” 1791.</p></div></div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_661">[Pg 661]</span></p> +<h2 class="nobreak ls" id="APPENDIX">APPENDIX.</h2> +<hr class="medium"> +<div class="blockquot small"> +[As some" American Methodists have expressed dissatisfaction with Mr. Tyerman’s +views (<a href="#Page_426"><abbr title="volume three">vol. iii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 426 <i>et seq.</i></a>) of Wesley’s ordination of Coke and organization +of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the following exhaustive review of the question +is cited from Dr. Abel Stevens’s History of Methodism, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 209 <i lang="la">et seq.</i>] +</div></div> + +<p class="p2"><span class="smcap">It</span> is another of the great providential facts of Wesley’s history +that the same year which gave a constitutional security to Methodism +in Great Britain was signalized by its episcopal organization +in America, a measure which, by its consequences, may well be +ranked among the most important events of Wesley’s important +life. Here again did he follow, with simple wisdom, the guidance +of that divine Providence, the recognition of which in the affairs of +men, and especially in the affairs of the Church, was the crowning +maxim of his philosophy and the crowning fact of his policy. He +had been providentially preparing for this new and momentous exigency +by that gradual development of his personal opinions which +we have already traced. Bigoted even, as a High-Churchman, at +the beginning of his career, we have seen him, year after year, attaining +more liberal views of ecclesiastical policy. Nearly forty years +before his ordinations for America, he had, after reading Lord King’s +“Primitive Church,” renounced the opinion that a distinction of order, +rather than of office, existed between bishops and presbyters.⁠<a id="FNanchor_788_788" href="#Footnote_788_788" class="fnanchor">[788]</a> +Fifteen years later he denied the necessity, though not the expediency, +of episcopal ordination. Bishop Stillingfleet had convinced +him that it was “an entire mistake that none but episcopal ordination +was valid.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_789_789" href="#Footnote_789_789" class="fnanchor">[789]</a> Henceforth he held that presbyters and bishops, +identical in order, differing only in office, had essentially the same +right of ordination. It was not possible for a man like Wesley, +keen, quick, fearless, and candid, to remain long in any ecclesiastical +prejudice now that he was on this track of progressive opinions. +He soon broke away from all other regard for questions of Church +government than that of Scriptural expediency; and as early as +1756, when in his maturest intellectual vigor, he declares: “As to +my own judgment, I still believe ‘the episcopal form of Church government +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_662">[Pg 662]</span> +to be Scriptural and apostolical’—I mean, well agreeing +with the practice and writings of the apostles; but that it is prescribed +in Scripture I do not believe. This opinion, which I once +zealously espoused, I have been heartily ashamed of ever since I +read Bishop Stillingfleet’s ‘Irenicon.’ I think he has unanswerably +proved that ‘neither Christ nor his apostles prescribe any particular +form of Church government, and that the plea of divine +right for diocesan episcopacy was never heard of in the primitive +Church.’”⁠<a id="FNanchor_790_790" href="#Footnote_790_790" class="fnanchor">[790]</a></p> + +<p>It was, then, by no new assumption in his old age—​in his imbecility, +as some of his critics allege, that he now met the necessities +of American Methodism by ordaining men to provide for them. +His keenest-eyed associates could as yet detect no declension of +his faculties; and if they could, still his course in this case was in +accordance with the reasonings of his best days, and he but repeats +his long-established opinions when he now asserts, “I firmly believe +I am a Scriptural <i lang="la">episcopos</i> as much as any man in England, for the +uninterrupted succession I know to be a fable, which no man ever +did or can prove.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_791_791" href="#Footnote_791_791" class="fnanchor">[791]</a></p> + +<p>Methodism had spread rapidly in America, notwithstanding the +war of the Revolution. It now comprised eighty-three traveling +preachers, besides some hundreds of local preachers, and about fifteen +thousand members and many thousands of hearers, and its ecclesiastical +plans were extending a network of powerful agencies +over the country. The Revolution had not only dissolved the civil, +but also the ecclesiastical relations of the colonies to England. +Many of the English clergy, on whom the Methodist societies had +depended for the sacraments, had fled from the land, or had entered +political or military life, and the Episcopal Church had been generally +disabled. In Virginia, the centre of its colonial strength, it had +rapidly declined, morally as well as numerically. At the Declaration +of Independence it included not more than one third of the +population of that province.⁠<a id="FNanchor_792_792" href="#Footnote_792_792" class="fnanchor">[792]</a> At the beginning of the war the sixty-one +counties of Virginia contained ninety-five parishes, one hundred +and sixty-four churches, and ninety-one clergymen. At the conclusion +of the contest many of her churches were in ruins, nearly a +fourth of her parishes “extinct or forsaken,” and thirty-four of the +remaining seventy-two were without pastoral supplies; twenty-eight +only of her ninety-one clergymen remained, and these, with an addition, +soon after the war, of eight from other parts of the country, +ministered in but thirty-six parishes.⁠<a id="FNanchor_793_793" href="#Footnote_793_793" class="fnanchor">[793]</a> In the year in which Wesley +ordained an American Methodist bishop, “memorials” to the Virginia +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_663">[Pg 663]</span> +Legislature for the incorporation of the “Protestant Episcopal +Church in Virginia,” and for other advantages to religion, were met +by counter petitions that “no step might be taken in aid of religion, +but that it might be left to its own superior and successful influence.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_794_794" href="#Footnote_794_794" class="fnanchor">[794]</a> +The memorials were postponed till the next session, and +then rejected; but a bill for the “incorporation of all religious societies +which may apply for the same” was adopted. In other parts +of the country the English Church never had been numerically +strong, and its existence was now precarious, except in two or three +large cities.</p> + +<p>Under these circumstances the Methodists demanded of their +preachers the administration of the sacraments. Many of the societies +had been months, some of them years, without them. The +demand was not only urgent, it was logically valid, but by the majority +of the preachers it was not deemed expedient. The prudent +delay which Wesley, notwithstanding his liberal ecclesiastical principles, +had practiced in England, afforded a lesson which their good +sense could not disregard. They exhorted their people, therefore, +to wait patiently till he could be consulted. Thomas Rankin, one +of Wesley’s missionaries, presiding at the Conference of Deer Creek, +Maryland, 1777, induced them to delay one year. At the next session +the subject was again prudently postponed, as no English +preacher was present, Rankin having returned to England, and Asbury +being absent and sick. In 1779 the question occasioned a +virtual schism, the preachers of the South being resolute for the administration +of the sacraments, those of the North still pleading for +patient delay. The latter met in Conference at Judge White’s residence, +the retreat of Asbury, in Delaware; the former at Brockenback +Church, Fluvanna County, Virginia, where they made their +own appointments, and proceeded to ordain themselves by the +hands of three of their senior members, unwilling that their people +should longer be denied their right to the Lord’s Supper, and their +children and probationary members the rite of baptism. At the +session of 1780 Asbury was authorized to visit the Southern preachers, +and, if possible, conciliate them. He met them in Conference; +they appeared determined not to recede, but at last consented to +suspend the administration of the sacraments till further advice +could be received from Wesley. The breach was thus happily repaired, +but must evidently soon again be opened if redress should +not be obtained.⁠<a id="FNanchor_795_795" href="#Footnote_795_795" class="fnanchor">[795]</a></p> + +<p>What could Wesley do under these circumstances? What but +exercise the right of ordination which he had for years theoretically +claimed, but practically and prudently declined? He had importuned +the authorities of the English Church in behalf of the +Americans. In this very year he had written two letters to Lowth, +Bishop of London, imploring ordination for a single preacher, who +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_664">[Pg 664]</span> +might appease the urgency of the American brethren by traveling +among them as a presbyter, and by giving them the sacraments; +but the request was denied, Lowth replying that “there are three +ministers in that country already.” “What are these,” rejoined +Wesley, “to watch over all that extensive country? I mourn for +poor America, for the sheep scattered up and down therein—​part +of them have no shepherds at all, and the case of the rest is little +better, for their shepherds pity them not.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_796_796" href="#Footnote_796_796" class="fnanchor">[796]</a> If there was any imprudence +on the part of Wesley in this emergency, it was certainly +in his long-continued patience, for he delayed yet nearly four years. +When he yielded, it was only after the triumph of the American +arms and the acknowledged independence of the colonies; and not +then till urged to it by his most revered counselors. Fletcher, of +Madeley, was one of these. That good man’s interest for American +Methodism should endear his memory to the American Church. +He had thoughts at one time of going to the New World and of +giving himself to its struggling societies, but his feeble health forbade +him.</p> + +<p>Fletcher was present with Wesley and Coke at the Leeds Conference +of 1784, and there, with his assistance,⁠<a id="FNanchor_797_797" href="#Footnote_797_797" class="fnanchor">[797]</a> the question was +brought to an issue. Wesley had previously consulted with Coke +respecting it. He represented to Coke that as the Revolution had +separated the United States from the mother country, and the Episcopal +Establishment was utterly abolished in the States, it became +his duty, as providentially at the head of the Methodist societies, to +obey their demand and furnish for them the means of grace. He +referred to the example of the Alexandrian Church, which, at the +death of its bishops, provided their successors through ordination +by its presbyters—​a historical fact exemplified during two hundred +years. Recognized as their founder by the American Methodists, +required by them to provide for their new necessities, and unable +to induce the English prelates to do so, he proposed to appoint Coke, +that he might go to the American societies as their superintendent +or bishop, ordain their preachers, and thus afford them the sacraments +with the least possible irregularity. Coke hesitated, but in +two months wrote to Wesley accepting the office.⁠<a id="FNanchor_798_798" href="#Footnote_798_798" class="fnanchor">[798]</a> Accordingly, +accompanied by <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> James Creighton, a presbyter of the Church +of England, Coke met him at Bristol, and on the second of September, +1784, was ordained <em>superintendent or bishop of the Methodist societies +in America</em>, an act of as high propriety and dignity as it was +of urgent necessity. Richard Whatcoat and Thomas Vasey were +at the same time ordained presbyters; and on the third of November, +attended by his two presbyters (the number necessary to assist +a bishop in ordination, according to the usages of the English +Church), Coke arrived in the Republic, and proceeded to ordain +Francis Asbury, first as a deacon, then as a presbyter, and finally +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_665">[Pg 665]</span> +as a bishop, and to settle the organization of American Methodism, +one of the most important ecclesiastical events (whether for good +or evil) of the eighteenth century, or indeed since the Reformation, +as its historical consequences attest.</p> + +<p>The Colonial English Church being dissolved by the Revolution, +its dwindled fragments were yet floating, as had been the Methodist +societies, on the stormy tide of events. Methodism preceded it in +reorganization. The Methodist bishops were the first Protestant +bishops, and Methodism was the first Protestant Episcopal Church +of the New World;⁠<a id="FNanchor_799_799" href="#Footnote_799_799" class="fnanchor">[799]</a> and as Wesley had given it the Anglican Articles +of Religion (omitting the seventeenth, on Predestination), and +the Liturgy, wisely abridged, it became, both by its precedent organization +and its subsequent numerical importance, the real successor +to the Anglican Church in America.</p> + +<p>Of course this extraordinary but necessary measure met with opposition +from Charles Wesley. He still retained his High-Church +opinions; he denounced the ordinations as schism; with his usual +haste he predicted that Coke would return from “his Methodist +Episcopal Church in Baltimore” to “make us all Dissenters here.” +The poet was no legislator; he became pathetic in his remonstrances +to his brother; “alas!” he wrote, “what trouble are you preparing +for yourself, as well as for me, and for your oldest, truest, +best friends! Before you have quite broken down the bridge, stop +and consider! If your sons have no regard for you, have some for +yourself. Go to your grave in peace; at least suffer me to go first, +before this ruin is under your hand.” He did soon after go to his +grave in peace, except the alarms of his imaginary fears, and the +only evidence of the predicted “ruin” is seen to-day in the prevalent +and permanent success of Methodism in both hemispheres.</p> + +<p>The next year after the ordination of Coke, Wesley records in his +Journal: “I was now considering how strangely the grain of mustard-seed, +planted about fifty years ago, had grown up. It spread +through all Great Britain and Ireland, the Isle of Wight, and the +Isle of Man; then to America, through the whole continent, into +Canada, the Leeward Islands, and Newfoundland. And the societies +in all these parts walk by one rule, knowing religion is holy +tempers, and striving to worship God, not in form only, but likewise +in spirit and in truth.” His policy becomes more and more liberal +as he now finds it necessary to fortify his cause before his approaching +death. The following year (1786) he ordained six or +seven more preachers, sending some to Scotland, and others to the +West Indies,⁠<a id="FNanchor_800_800" href="#Footnote_800_800" class="fnanchor">[800]</a> but he ordained none as yet for England, where he +and his clerical friends could partially supply the sacraments. +Three years later he ordained Mather, Rankin, and Moore.⁠<a id="FNanchor_801_801" href="#Footnote_801_801" class="fnanchor">[801]</a> About +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_666">[Pg 666]</span> +a score of lay preachers received ordination from his hands, and for +no other purpose but that they might administer the sacraments in +cases of necessity.</p> + +<p>Thus did providential events give shape and security to Methodism, +as its aged leader approached his end.</p> + +<p>No act of Wesley’s public life has been more misrepresented, if +not misunderstood, than his ordination of Coke, and the consequent +episcopal organization of his American societies. Churchmen, so +called, have especially insisted that he did not design to confer upon +Coke the character of a bishop; that Coke’s new office was designed +to be a species of supervisory appointment, vague and contingent—​something +widely different from episcopacy, however difficult +to define; and that, therefore, the distinct existence of American +Methodism, as an episcopal Church, is a fact contrary to the intention +of Wesley.</p> + +<p>No extant forensic argument, founded upon documentary evidence, +is stronger than would be a right collocation of the evidence +which sustains the claim of American Methodism respecting this +question. All Methodist authorities, British as well as American, +support that claim; its proofs have been more or less cited again +and again, but they have not usually been drawn out in detail. Presented +in their right series, they become absolutely decisive, and +must conclude the controversy with all candid minds. It is appropriate, +at this point of our narrative, to review the argument. In +stating the facts which compose it, in their successive relations one +to another, some repetition will be necessary; but the highest logic—​mathematical +demonstration itself—​is that in which not only the +postulates, but the successive proofs most often recur to strengthen +the advancing demonstration.</p> + +<p>It has been seen that, as before the American Revolution the two +countries were under one government, the two Methodist bodies +were also. Wesley’s “Minutes” were the discipline of the American +as well as the British Methodists; and Asbury represented his +person in America, vested with much greater powers than have since +belonged to the American Methodist bishops. Thus was the American +Church governed for years by the paternal direction of Wesley. +It has been further shown that, as none of the American preachers +were ordained, the societies were dependent for the sacraments upon +the clergy of the English Church in the colonies; that at the Revolution +most of these left the country, and the Methodists were thereby +deprived of those means of grace; that many societies insisted +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_667">[Pg 667]</span> +upon having them without ordination; that a general strife ensued, +and a large portion of the Southern societies revolted; that a compromise +was effected until they could apply to Wesley for powers to +ordain and to administer the sacraments; and that, in meeting their +demand, he ordained and sent over Dr. Coke, with episcopal powers, +under the name of superintendent, to ordain Francis Asbury a +“joint superintendent,” and to ordain the preachers to the offices of +deacons and elders. He sent also a printed liturgy, or “Sunday +Service,” containing, besides the usual prayers, forms for “ordaining +superintendents, elders, and deacons,” the “Articles of Religion,” +and “A Collection of Psalms and Hymns.” Coke also bore from +him a circular letter to the societies, stating reasons for the new +measures, the chief one being the demand of the American societies. +When Coke arrived, the preachers assembled in Baltimore to receive +him and the new arrangements borne by him from Wesley. The +adoption of the provisions thus made by Wesley, at the request of +“some thousands of the inhabitants of these states,” is what is called +the “organization” of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The +“Minutes,” which had before been the law of the Church, were continued, +with such additions as were required by these new arrangements. +There was no revolution of the Church polity, and no new +powers were imparted to Asbury, except authority to ordain. Every +thing proceeded as before, except that the American societies +no longer depended upon the Church of England for the sacraments, +but received them from their own preachers. Thus, then, it appears +that the so-called “organization” of the Methodist Episcopal Church +at Baltimore was simply and substantially the adoption of the system +appointed by Wesley. In respect to the very term “episcopal” +itself, the Conference of Baltimore said, in their “Minutes” of the +so-called organization, that, “following the counsel of Mr. John +Wesley, <em>who recommended the episcopal mode</em> of Church government, +we thought it best to become an episcopal Church.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_802_802" href="#Footnote_802_802" class="fnanchor">[802]</a> The Minutes +containing this declaration were, six months afterward, in the hands +of Wesley, and were published in England without a word of disapprobation +from him; and when Coke was attacked in an English +pamphlet for his proceedings at Baltimore, he publicly defended +himself by declaring that he had “done nothing without the direction +of Mr. Wesley.” This he did in a publication, under the eye +of Wesley.⁠<a id="FNanchor_803_803" href="#Footnote_803_803" class="fnanchor">[803]</a></p> + +<p>It should be frankly admitted, however, that Wesley, while he established +the American episcopacy, did not approve the use of the +title of “bishop,” because of the adventitious dignities associated +with it. But let it be borne in mind that the American societies +had been in existence nearly four years under the express title of +an “Episcopal Church,” with the uninterrupted approbation of Wesley, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_668">[Pg 668]</span> +before the name bishop was personally applied to their superintendents.⁠<a id="FNanchor_804_804" href="#Footnote_804_804" class="fnanchor">[804]</a> +Not till this term was so applied did he demur. He +then wrote a letter to Bishop Asbury objecting strongly to his being +“called a bishop.” And it is on this letter, more than any thing +else, that the opponents of Methodism have founded their allegation +that Wesley did not design to establish the American Methodist +episcopacy, but that Coke and the Baltimore Conference exceeded +his intentions in assuming it. Quotations from this letter have been +incessantly given in a form adapted only to produce a false effect, +for the letter can be rightly comprehended only by the aid of the +historical facts of the case.</p> + +<p>Did Wesley, then, design, by his ordination of Coke, to confer on +him the office of a bishop, and to constitute the American Methodist +societies an episcopal Church? Three things are to be assumed as +preliminary to this inquiry:</p> + +<p>1. That Wesley was a decided Episcopalian. What man was +ever more attached to the national episcopacy of England? We +have already cited proofs that he believed the “episcopal form of +Church government to be Scriptural and apostolical,” that is, “well +agreeing with the practice and writings of the apostles,” though that +it is prescribed in Scripture he did not believe.</p> + +<p>2. That Wesley, while he believed in episcopacy, belonged to that +class of Episcopalians who contend that episcopacy is not a distinct +“order” (in the usual technical or ecclesiastical sense of the +term), but a distinct office in the ministry; that bishops and presbyters, +or elders, are of the same order, and have essentially the +same prerogatives; but that, for convenience, some of this order +may be raised to the episcopal office, and some of the functions +originally pertaining to the whole order, as ordination, for example, +may be confined to them; the presbyter thus elevated being but +<i lang="la">primus inter pares</i>—the first among equals—​a presiding officer.⁠<a id="FNanchor_805_805" href="#Footnote_805_805" class="fnanchor">[805]</a></p> + +<p>3. That the words <em>episcopos</em> (Greek), <em>superintendent</em> (Latin), and +bishop (English)⁠<a id="FNanchor_806_806" href="#Footnote_806_806" class="fnanchor">[806]</a> have the same meaning, namely, an overseer.</p> + +<p>With these preliminaries, we recur to the questions, Did Wesley +appoint Coke to the episcopal office? Did he establish the American +Methodist episcopacy? Let us look at the evidence.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_669">[Pg 669]</span> +1. Wesley mentions, in Coke’s certificate of ordination, as a reason +for ordaining him, that the Methodists in America desired “still +to adhere to the doctrine and discipline of the Church of England.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_807_807" href="#Footnote_807_807" class="fnanchor">[807]</a> +That Church in America was dissolved by the Revolution; +he therefore appointed Coke, with an episcopal form of government, +a ritual, and articles of religion, to meet the exigency. If Coke was +appointed merely to some such indefinite and contingent supervisory +office as “Church” writers allege, if he possessed not the authoritative +functions of episcopacy, wherein did his appointment +answer the purpose mentioned by Wesley—“the discipline of the +Church of England?” Wherein consists the main feature of the discipline +of the English Church? In its episcopal superintendence. +Wherein does American Methodism resemble it? Certainly not in +class-meetings, itinerancy, and other characteristic peculiarities, but +in its episcopal regimen. Wesley’s language is without sense if this +is not its meaning.</p> + +<p>2. Why did Wesley attach so much importance to the appointment +if it was of the secondary character alleged? He says in his +circular letter respecting Coke’s ordination, “For many years I +have been importuned, from time to time, to exercise this right by +<em>ordaining</em> part of our traveling preachers; but I have still refused, +not only for peace’ sake, but because I was determined as little as +possible to violate the established order of the national Church to +which I belonged. But the case is widely different between England +and America. Here there are bishops who have a legal jurisdiction. +In America there are none, neither any parish ministers, +so that for some hundred miles together there are none either +to baptize or administer the sacrament. Here, therefore, my scruples +are at an end!”</p> + +<p>Scruples! What could have been his “scruples” about sending +Coke on such a secondary errand as the opponents of the Methodist +episcopacy assert? He had already sent Asbury and others to +America, and to Asbury he had actually assigned such a special yet +secondary office, but unaccompanied with the ordination and authority +of episcopacy. This he had done years before, without any +scruple whatever; but during all this time he had been scrupling +about this new and solemn measure, till the Revolution relieved +him by abolishing the jurisdiction of the English bishops in the +colonies. There is certainly sheer absurdity in all this if Wesley +merely gave to Coke and Asbury a sort of indefinite though special +commission in the American Church, not including in it the distinctive +functions of episcopacy. We can conceive of nothing in +the nature of such a commission to excite such scruples—​a commission +which had long since been given to Asbury.</p> + +<p>Again: When Wesley proposed to Coke his ordination to this new +office, some six or seven months before it was conferred, Coke “was +startled at a measure so unprecedented in modern days,” and doubted +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_670">[Pg 670]</span> +Wesley’s authority to ordain him, as Wesley himself was not a +bishop.⁠<a id="FNanchor_808_808" href="#Footnote_808_808" class="fnanchor">[808]</a> Wesley recommended him to read Lord King’s Primitive +Church, and gave him time to reflect. Coke passed two months in +Scotland, and, on satisfying his doubts, wrote to Wesley accepting +the appointment, and was afterward ordained, with solemn forms +and the imposition of hands, by Wesley, assisted by presbyters of +the Church of England. What could have possibly been the pertinency +of all these former scruples of Wesley, this surprise, and +doubt, and delay of Coke, this reference to ecclesiastical antiquity, +and to a book which demonstrates the right of presbyters to ordain +bishops in given cases, and these solemn forms, if they related merely +to the alleged species of appointment, especially as this very +species of commission had already existed for some years in the +person of Asbury?</p> + +<p>3. It is evident, beyond all question, that Wesley did not consider +this solemn act in the subordinate sense of an appointment, but as +an “ordination,” using the word in its strictest ecclesiastical application. +In his circular letter he says, “For many years I have been +importuned ... to exercise this right by <em>ordaining</em> a part of our +traveling preachers; but I have still refused ... because I was determined +as little as possible to violate the established order of the +national Church.... Here my scruples are at an end.” Here the +word ordaining is expressly used; and if the new appointment was +not a regular “ordination,” but a species of nondescript commission, +solemnized by the mere forms of ordination, how could it be +an interference with the “established order of the national Church?” +How, especially, could it be such an interference, in any important +sense different from that which Wesley had already, for years, been +exercising without “scruple,” in sending to America his unordained +preachers? It was clearly an ordination, in the ecclesiastical sense +of the term; but there have been only three ordinations claimed in +the Christian world, namely, to the offices of, 1. Deacons; 2. Elders +or presbyters; and, 3. Bishops. If, then, Coke was ordained +by Wesley, and was not ordained a bishop, it becomes at once a +pertinent but unanswerable question, To what was he ordained? He +had been a presbyter for years. To what, then, did Wesley ordain +him, if not to the next recognized office?</p> + +<p>Let it be remembered that Whatcoat and Vasey were ordained +elders for America at the time of Coke’s ordination, but by a distinct +act. If Coke did not receive a higher ordination (that is, episcopal, +for this is the only higher one), why was he ordained separately +from them, though on the same occasion? And why did Wesley, +in his circular letter, declare to the American Methodists that, +while Whatcoat and Vasey were “to act as elders among them,” +Coke and Asbury were “to be joint superintendents over them?”</p> + +<p>4. Wesley, in his circular letter, appeals to Lord King’s Sketch +of the Primitive Church to show that he, as a presbyter, had a right, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_671">[Pg 671]</span> +under his peculiar circumstances, to perform these ordinations. +Lord King establishes the second of the above preliminary statements, +and the right of presbyters to ordain. And Wesley cites +particularly his reference to the Alexandrian Church, where, on the +decease of a bishop, the presbyters ordained his successor.</p> + +<p>Why now this reference to Lord King and the Alexandrian +Church—​proving that presbyters could ordain—​in justification of +Wesley’s proceedings, if he did not ordain? And if he did ordain +Coke, it may again be asked, as Coke was already a presbyter, To +what was he thus ordained, if it was not to the only remaining office—​the +episcopacy? And still more pointedly may it be asked, What +propriety was there in Wesley’s justifying himself by referring to +the ordination of bishops by the presbyters of Alexandria if he +himself had not ordained a bishop?</p> + +<p>5. Wesley prepared at this time a Prayer-Book for the American +Church—​an abridgment of the English Liturgy—​to be used under +the new arrangement. It contains the forms for the ordination of, +1. Deacons; 2. Elders; 3. Superintendents; and directs expressly +that all preachers elected to the office of deacon, elder, or superintendent +shall be presented to the superintendent “to be ordained.” +Let it be remarked then, 1. That here the very word ordain is used. +2. We have here the three distinct offices of the ministry stated in +order, according to the understanding of Wesley, and of all Episcopalians +throughout the world. 3. That not only is the name of +bishop changed to that of superintendent, but the name of presbyter, +or priest, to that of elder—​the new names being in both cases +synonymous with the old ones. If the change of the former name +implies a difference in the office also, why does not the change +in the latter imply the same? 4. These forms of ordination were +taken from the forms in the English Liturgy for the ordination of +deacons, presbyters, and bishops, the names of the latter two being +changed to synonymous terms, namely, elders and superintendents. +The opponents of the Methodist episcopacy readily grant +that elder means presbyter, yet, as soon as superintendents are mentioned +as bishops, they protest. 5. These forms show that Wesley +not only created the Methodist episcopacy, but designed it to continue +after Coke and Asbury’s decease; they were printed for permanent +use.</p> + +<p>6. By reading Coke’s letter to Wesley, consenting to and directing +about his proposed ordination, it will be seen that Whatcoat +and Vasey were ordained presbyters at Coke’s request, because +“propriety and universal practice,” he says, “make it expedient that +I should have two presbyters with me in this work.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_809_809" href="#Footnote_809_809" class="fnanchor">[809]</a> That is, Coke +requests, and Wesley grants, that two presbyters shall be ordained +to accompany Coke in his new office, because “propriety and universal +practice” require that two presbyters assist a bishop in ordaining; +and yet Coke was not appointed to the office of a bishop! +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_672">[Pg 672]</span> +Coke in this letter, let it be repeated, requests that these two men +should be made “presbyters;” Wesley complies; and yet, in the +forms of the Prayer-Book, or Discipline, they are called “elders.” +The name only was changed, therefore, not the thing; why, then, is +not the inference just, that the other change in these forms, that of +bishop to superintendent, is only in the name, not in the thing? +The rule certainly ought to “work both ways.”</p> + +<p>7. Charles Wesley was a rigid High-Churchman, and opposed to +all ordinations by his brother. The latter knew his views so well +that he would not expose the present measure to interruption by +acquainting him with it till it was consummated. Though Charles +Wesley was a presbyter of the Church of England, and in the town +at the time, yet other presbyters were summoned to meet the demand +of “propriety and universal practice” on such occasions, while +he was carefully avoided. Now why this remarkable precaution +against the High-Church prejudices of his brother respecting ordinations +if he did not in these proceedings ordain? If it be replied +that Charles was not only opposed to his brother’s ordaining a bishop, +but equally to his ordaining to the other offices of the ministry, +and, therefore, the ordinations might have been confined to the latter, +and yet such precautions be proper, it may then be asked again, +How can we suppose Coke to be now ordained to these lower offices +when he had already received them, and had exercised them for +years?</p> + +<p>8. As soon as Charles Wesley learned these proceedings he was +profoundly afflicted. His correspondence with his brother⁠<a id="FNanchor_810_810" href="#Footnote_810_810" class="fnanchor">[810]</a> shows +that he understood them in the manner that the American Methodists +do, and Wesley never corrected this interpretation. He defends +himself, but never denies the facts. Charles Wesley speaks of +Coke’s “Methodist Episcopal Church in Baltimore,” alluding to +the name assumed by the American Church at its organization in +that city. Wesley, in his reply, utters not a word in denial or disapproval +of this title, but simply vindicates the necessity of his course +in respect to the American Methodists. Charles Wesley, in response, +speaks of the doctor’s “ambition” and “rashness.” Wesley, +though he knew the Church had been organized at Baltimore +with the title of “Episcopal,” and had used the very word “bishop,” +but not as a personal title, says, “I believe Dr. Coke as free from +ambition as covetousness. He has done nothing rashly that I +know.” Charles Wesley, in his letter to Dr. Chandler, a clergyman +about to sail for America, speaks of his brother having “assumed +the episcopal character, ordained elders, <em>consecrated a bishop</em>, and +sent him to ordain our lay preachers in America,” showing thus +what the office really was, though the name was changed. Evidently +it was only the appellation of bishop, applied to the superintendents +in person, that Wesley disapproved.</p> + +<p>9. The Conference at which the Church was organized terminated +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_673">[Pg 673]</span> +January 1, 1785. The Minutes were published by Coke, with +the title “General Minutes of the Conferences of the Methodist +Episcopal Church in America.” The Minutes, as has been stated, +expressly say that the American societies were formed into an Episcopal +Church, and this, too, at the “recommendation” of Wesley. +By July, Coke was with Wesley at the British Conference. By the +26th of the preceding June, his own Journal, containing this phrase, +was inspected by Wesley. Coke also took to England the American +Minutes, and they were printed on a press which Wesley used, +and under his own eye. The Baltimore proceedings were therefore +known to Wesley, but we hear of no remonstrance from him. They +soon became known, by the Minutes, to the public; and when Coke +was attacked publicly for what he had done, he replied, as we have +seen, through the press, that “he had done nothing but under the +direction of Mr. Wesley.” Wesley never denied it. How are all +these facts explicable on the supposition that Coke and Asbury had +ambitiously broken over Wesley’s restrictions?</p> + +<p>10. One of Charles Wesley’s greatest fears was, as we have noticed, +that the English preachers would be ordained by Coke. He +had prevailed upon his brother to refuse them ordination for years. +He now writes, with deep concern, that “not a preacher in London +would refuse orders from the doctor.” “He comes armed with your +authority to make us all Dissenters.” Now, why all this sudden +disposition of the English preachers to receive “orders from the +doctor,” if it was not understood that he had received episcopal +powers, and they despaired of ever getting ordination from the national +bishops? If it is replied, they believed, with Wesley, that, +under necessary circumstances, presbyters could ordain, and therefore +desired it from Coke, not in view of his new appointment, but +because he was a presbyter of the Church of England, then it may +be properly asked, why did they not seek it before? for Coke had +been a presbyter among them for years. Why start up with such a +demand all at once as soon as they learned of the new position of +Coke? And how could Charles Wesley say in this case, “He comes +armed with your authority?” for his authority as a presbyter he obtained +from a bishop of the English Church years before he knew +Wesley.</p> + +<p>11. The term bishop was not personally applied in the Discipline +to the American superintendents till about three years after the “organization” +of the Church, and Wesley’s objurgatory letter to Asbury +was not written till four years after it. During all this interval, +however, the American societies were called an “Episcopal +Church.” Six months after adopting the name, its Minutes were, +as stated, inspected by Wesley, and published under his auspices; +they were called the “Minutes of the Methodist Episcopal Church +in America;” and they expressly declare that, “following the counsel +of Mr. John Wesley, who recommended the episcopal mode of +Church government, we thought it best to become an Episcopal +Church;” yet, as has been shown, during this long interim Wesley +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_674">[Pg 674]</span> +never uttered a syllable against this assumption! When his brother +writes him, accusing Coke of rashness, he replies that “the doctor +has done nothing rashly;” and when Coke is accused through +the press, he declares, under Wesley’s eye, and without contradiction, +that “he had done nothing without the direction of Mr. Wesley.” +What, now, do all these incidents imply? What but that +Wesley did approve the American episcopacy—​that it was established +by his direction? Yet four years after, when the appellation +of bishop had been applied personally to the American <i lang="el">episcopoi</i>, +this letter of Wesley was written. What further does this imply? +What but that it was not the thing he condemned, but the name? +The thing had existed for years uncondemned, nay, defended by +him; the very name “Episcopal,” so far as it applied to the Church +collectively, he did not condemn; the title “bishop,” as a definition +or synonym of “superintendent” in the Minutes, he did not condemn; +but the personal title of bishop he disapproved, because of +its objectionable associations. Is it possible to escape this inference?</p> + +<p>Thus we see that, whatever view we take of the subject, we are +compelled to one conclusion: that Wesley did create and establish +the American Methodist episcopate. The man who gainsays such +evidence must be given up as incorrigible. There can be no reasoning +with him.</p> + +<p>And now, what is the sum of this evidence? It has already been +presented with sufficient detail, but let us retrace the successive and +decisive steps of the argument. Here we have Wesley proposing +to establish “the discipline of the Church of England” among the +American Methodists, and to do so he ordains for them bishops, +and gives them an episcopal regimen; yet, according to their antagonists, +he never designed them to be a distinct Church, but only +a “society” in the Protestant Episcopal Church! Wesley and Coke +have “scruples,” delays, references to antiquity, imposition of hands, +and other solemn forms, conforming to the “universal practice” of +episcopal ordination, and yet all concerning some nondescript kind +of appointment, analogous to that which is conferred upon a missionary +in charge over his brethren in a foreign station! Wesley +speaks of it as “ordaining,” and of his refusing to use the right before +the Revolution because it would have interfered with the “established +order of the national Church;” and yet a mere secondary +commission of Coke, such a one as had existed in the person of Asbury +for years, is the momentous interference with the established +order of the national Church—​though there was nothing in that order +with which it could interfere, the national Church never having +had any such appointments! Wesley solemnly “ordains” Coke; +and yet it is not to the episcopal office, though he had been ordained +to all the other offices to which ordination is appropriate years +before! Wesley ordains two other men to the office of elders, and +at the same time separately and formally ordains Coke, who had already +borne this office; but still Coke’s new office is not the only +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_675">[Pg 675]</span> +remaining one that could be conferred upon him! Wesley refers +to the ordination of bishops by the presbyters of Alexandria in justification +of his ordination of Coke, and yet he does not ordain Coke +a bishop! Wesley prepares for the American Church a Prayer-Book, +abridged from that of the Church of England, prescribing the +English forms for the three offices of deacons, presbyters, and bishops; +the two former are admitted unquestionably to be what they +are in England, and yet the latter is explained into something new +and anomalous, answering to nothing ever heard of in the Church +of England or in any other episcopal Church! In these forms the +old names of two of the offices are changed to new but synonymous +appellations—​that of presbyter or priest to elder, that of bishop to +superintendent; in the former case, the change of the name is not +for a moment supposed to imply a change of the thing, and yet, in +the other case, the change of the name invalidates entirely the thing, +without a particle more evidence for it in one case than in the other! +Charles Wesley, being a High-Churchman, is kept unaware of +his brother’s proceedings till they are accomplished, though he is in +the town at the time of the ordination; and yet it is no ordination, +but a species of appointment against which he could have had no +episcopal prejudice whatever! When he learns the facts he is overwhelmed +with surprise, and in his correspondence exclaims against +his “brother’s consecration of a bishop,” and “Dr. Coke’s Methodist +Episcopal Church” at Baltimore; and Wesley, in his replies, never denies +these titles, but simply vindicates his ordinations, and says that +Coke had “done nothing rashly;” yet there was no bishop, no episcopal +office appointed, no distinct episcopal Church established, but +Coke had fabricated the whole! When the preachers in England, +trained, from childhood, under episcopacy, hear of Coke’s new office, +they are, to the great alarm of Charles Wesley, suddenly seized with +a desire to be ordained by Coke, though they fully know that he is +no bishop, but the same presbyter that he had been among them for +years! In six months after the organization of the American Church, +Coke publishes its Minutes, with the title “Methodist Episcopal +Church in America,” in London, under the eye of Wesley, and in +these Minutes it is declared that Wesley “recommended the episcopal +mode of Church government;” but no remonstrance is heard +from Wesley! When Coke is condemned through the press for his +proceedings, he publicly replies that he had done “nothing without +the direction of Mr. Wesley;” no rebuke follows from Wesley, but +Coke goes on as usual, active in his Conferences, and maintained in +his new position; and yet his American proceedings were an ambitious +plot, contrary to the will of Wesley! The American Methodists +had borne the title “Episcopal Church,” with Wesley’s full approval, +for four years, when, on the use of the personal title of bishop, +Wesley writes his letter to Asbury; and yet it is not the mere personal +title he condemns, but the office which for four years he had +left uncondemned, nay, had vindicated!</p> + +<p>And now, looking again at this series of arguments, will not the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_676">[Pg 676]</span> +American Methodists be acquitted of presumption when they assume +that they may here make a triumphant stand, surrounded by +evidence altogether impregnable? The mighty ecclesiastical system +under which it has pleased God to give them and their families +spiritual shelter and fellowship with his saints, and whose efficiency +has surprised the Christian world, is not, as their opponents +would represent, an imposition of their preachers, and contrary to +the wishes of Wesley, but was legitimately received from his hands +as the providential founder of Methodism.</p> + +<p>If Wesley’s strong repugnance to the mere name of bishop had +been expressed before its adoption by the American Church, it +would probably not have been adopted. Still, the American Church +was now a separate organization, and was at perfect liberty to dissent +from Wesley on a matter of mere expediency. The Church +thought it had good reasons to use the name. The American Methodists +were mostly of English origin. The people of their country +among whom Methodism was most successful were either from England +or of immediate English descent, and had been educated to +consider episcopacy a wholesome and apostolical government of +the Church. The Church approved and had the office, why not, +then, have the name? especially as, without the name, the office itself +would be liable to lose, in the eyes of the people, its peculiar +character, and thereby fail in that appeal to their long-established +opinions which Methodism had a right, both from principle and expediency, +to make? The English Establishment having been dissolved +in this country, and the Protestant Episcopalians not being +yet organized on an independent basis, and the episcopal organization +of the Methodists having preceded that of the Protestant Episcopalians, +the Methodist Church had a clear right to present itself +to the American public as competent to aid in supplying the place +of the abolished Establishment, having the same essential principles +without its peculiar defects.</p> + +<p>And may not the circumstance of the assumption of an episcopal +character, nominally as well as really, by the American Methodists, +be considered providential? Episcopacy, both in America and England, +has reached an excess of presumption and arrogance. The +moderate party, once declared by Bishop White, of the Protestant +Episcopal Church, to include a large majority of American Episcopalians,⁠<a id="FNanchor_811_811" href="#Footnote_811_811" class="fnanchor">[811]</a> +has nearly disappeared. Was it not providential, under +these circumstances, that a body of Christians should appear, exceeding +every other in success, and nominally and practically bearing +an episcopal character, without any of its presumptuous pretensions? +Amid the uncharitable assumptions of prelatical Episcopalians, +the Methodist Episcopal Church stands forth a monument of +the laborious and simple episcopacy of the early ages, its success, +as well as its humility, contrasting it signally with its more pretentious +but feebler sister. It has thus practically vindicated episcopacy +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_677">[Pg 677]</span> +as an expedient form of ecclesiastical government, and assuredly +it needs vindication in these days.</p> + +<p>Such, then, is the evidence which should, with all men of self-respectful +candor, conclude decisively the question of Wesley’s design +and agency in the organization of American Methodism.</p> + +<p>Driven from this ground, objectors retreat to an equally untenable +one by alleging that the episcopal organization of the societies in +America is to be attributed to the influence of ambitious counselors +over Wesley in the imbecility of his old age. It has already been +shown that he as yet betrayed no such imbecility; but it has still +more conclusively been demonstrated that the ecclesiastical opinions +which sanction this great act were adopted in the prime of his +manhood. They were the well-considered and fully demonstrated +convictions of two score years, before he yielded to the unavoidable +necessity of giving them practical effect. Few facts in the history +of Methodism are more interesting and instructive than the +gradual development of Wesley’s own mind and character under his +extraordinary and accumulating responsibilities; it has therefore +been studiously traced throughout the preceding pages. No reader +who has followed our narrative will accept this last objection to +the American Methodist episcopacy, and no possible ground of argument +remains for its opponents but the prelatical charge against +its legitimacy, founded in the traditional and exploded ecclesiasticism +of obsolete ages. Methodists are content, with Wesley, to +pronounce the apostolic succession “a fable which no man ever did, +or ever can prove,” and believe that, in this age, they need not anxiously +challenge any advantage which their opponents can claim +from a pretension so incompatible alike with the letter and the +charity of the Gospel, as well as with the Christian enlightenment +of modern times.⁠<a id="FNanchor_812_812" href="#Footnote_812_812" class="fnanchor">[812]</a></p> + +<p>[Attempts have been made to impugn Coke, as having overweeningly +led Wesley into this important measure.⁠<a id="FNanchor_813_813" href="#Footnote_813_813" class="fnanchor">[813]</a> The charge, however, +were it valid, could not affect the validity of the measure itself +as genuinely Wesleyan, and as giving to American Methodism an +Episcopal organization. After the preceding review, no one can +doubt that the whole proceeding was in accordance with Wesley’s +own views of Church government. He was, as we have seen, a decided +Episcopalian, and he designed to give the American Methodist, +as he says, “the discipline of the Church of England;” that is +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_678">[Pg 678]</span> +to say, an Episcopal regimen. His appeal to Lord King’s proof, +that the presbyters of Alexandria ordained bishops, could otherwise +have no relevancy. His use of this proof with Coke, while the latter +hesitated, shows what was his original design, and it is impossible +to conceive what merely Presbyterian system, without a “superintendency” +or episcopate, could at this time fit into the itinerant +ministerial scheme of the American Church, where Rankin and Asbury +had hitherto been superintendents, though without ordination +or the power to ordain.</p> + +<p>Whether Coke influenced Wesley or not does not, then, let it be +repeated, affect the main question. Whether Wesley was influenced +or not, he did construct and solemnly appoint the Episcopal system +of the American Methodists, such as it was adopted by the Conference +of 1784; he did provide for its perpetuation by abridging, +printing, and sending over with Coke the English Liturgy, containing +its forms of ordination for the threefold ministerial functions +recognized in the Anglican Church, and all these acts were in strict +accordance with his long-avowed ideas of Church government.</p> + +<p>Coke’s character alone, then, is concerned in this charge. That +character, however, is dear to all Methodists, and important, not to +the validity, but to the historical character of the American episcopate. +He is to stand forever as its first representative. I have +elsewhere sketched his remarkable life and character.⁠<a id="FNanchor_814_814" href="#Footnote_814_814" class="fnanchor">[814]</a> Though he +had essential greatness, he had, doubtless, characteristic weaknesses +also. There have been few great men without them. The faults of +such men become the more noticeable, either by contrast with or +by partaking of their greatness; and the vanity of ordinary human +nature is eagerly disposed, in self-gratulation, to criticise, as peculiar +defects of superior minds, infirmities which are common to all. +Practical energy was his chief intellectual trait, and, if it was sometimes +effervescent, it was never evanescent. He had a leading +agency in the greatest facts of Methodism, and it was impossible +that the series of momentous deeds which mark his career could +have been the result of mere accident or fortune. They must have +been legitimate to the man. Neither Whitefield nor Wesley exceeded +him in ministerial travels. It is probable that no Methodist +of his day, it is doubtful whether any Protestant of his day, contributed +more from his own property for the spread of the Gospel. His +biographer says that he expended the whole of his patrimonial estate, +which was large, on his missions and their chapels. He was +married twice; both his wives were like-minded with himself, and +both had considerable fortunes, which were used like his own. In +1794 was published an account of his missionary receipts and disbursements +for the preceding year, from which it appeared that +there were due him nearly eleven thousand dollars; but he gave the +whole sum to the cause. Flying, during nearly forty years, over +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_679">[Pg 679]</span> +England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland; crossing the Atlantic eighteen +times; traversing the United States and the West Indies; the +first who suggested the organization of English Methodism by Wesley’s +Deed of Declaration; the organizer, under Wesley, of American +Methodism; one of the first, if not the very first, of Protestant +bishops in the Western hemisphere; the founder of the Methodist +missions in the West Indies, in Africa, and in Asia, as well as in +Ireland, Wales, and England; the official and almost sole director +of the missionary operations of the denomination during his long +public life, and the founder of the first Tract Society in the world, +he must be recognized as one of the chief representative men of +modern religious history, if not, indeed, as Asbury pronounced him, +“the greatest man of the last century as a minister of Christ.”</p> + +<p>Asbury, who hesitated not thus to place him above Wesley “as +a minister of Christ,” knew him well, and especially knew him in +those transactions for which he has been most blamed. A settled +and wealthy clergyman of the Establishment, bearing the +highest literary title which its universities could give, a man of +high family and high prospects, he forsook, under the influence +of deepened religious feelings, all his apparent advantages, to become +a wandering evangelist in Wesley’s despised but heroic band +of itinerants. He became, as Wesley called him, “the right hand” +of the great founder. His spirit flamed with evangelic zeal. He +expressed truly his own character in the exclamation, recorded +on the high seas, when passing for the first time to America, “I +want the wings of an eagle and the voice of a trumpet, that I +may proclaim the Gospel through the East and the West, the +North and the South.” He seemed almost ubiquitous in the United +States, superintending its ministry, and in the United Kingdom, administering +the affairs of the Wesleyan Church, founding and conducting +its Irish, its Welsh, its “Domestic,” and its Foreign Missions, +virtually embodying in his own person the whole missionary +enterprise of English Methodism. When an old man of nearly seventy +years he conceived the project of introducing Methodism into +Asia. He presented himself before the British Conference, and, +against great opposition, entreated, with tears, to be sent as a missionary +to India, offering to defray the expenses of himself and seven +chosen colleagues. The Conference could not resist his appeal, +and at length, on the 30th of December, 1813, he departed with his +little band, consisting of nine persons besides himself. He died on +the voyage, and was buried in the Indian Ocean; but, though the +great leader was no more, his spirit remained, and the successful +East Indian Missions of Methodism are the sublime results. History +should respect the reputation of such a man.</p> + +<p>The charge of his leading Wesley into the measures for the organization +of the American Church is made in spite of the express +testimony of Drew, his intimate friend and biographer, who says that +“Wesley, in his study, ‘City Road,’ first divulged his purpose to +Coke,” and that, arguing with him there on the ordination of bishops +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_680">[Pg 680]</span> +by presbyters in the Alexandrian Church, he concluded by proposing +“that, being himself a presbyter, Coke should accept ordination +from his hands, and proceed to the continent of America to superintend +the societies in the United States.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_815_815" href="#Footnote_815_815" class="fnanchor">[815]</a></p> + +<p>A letter from Coke to Wesley, proposing that a messenger should +be sent to America to inspect the field and report to Wesley, has +been cited as proof of Coke’s overweening wish for such an appointment.⁠<a id="FNanchor_816_816" href="#Footnote_816_816" class="fnanchor">[816]</a> +The hostile critic seems not to be aware that this letter was +written <em>after</em> Wesley’s proposition to send Coke as superintendent. +The conversation in Wesley’s London study was in February, 1784. +Coke’s letter, proposing a preliminary inspection and report of the +wants of the American societies, was not written till the middle of +April [“Near Dublin, April 17, 1784”]. It was actually sent while +he was yet considering Wesley’s proposition. It showed his hesitancy +rather than his eagerness for the new office.</p> + +<p>Thus far, then, no solicitation, no selfish management, is apparent +in the course of Coke. If, contrary to Drew’s express statement, +the particular act of Coke’s ordination by Wesley was by the request +of Coke himself, it does not materially affect the question of either +the American Church system or Coke’s character. Wesley undoubtedly +designed, as we have seen, that the former should be a system +of superintendency, of practical episcopacy “conformed to the discipline +of the Church of England,” as he expressly says—​such as, +in fact, it had hitherto been, except that its superintendents had not +yet the function of ordination, which was now to be supplied. If +he had not at first designed to ordain Coke (according to his reasoning +about the Alexandrian example), it was doubtless because he +had assumed that Coke, being already a presbyter, could, in accordance +with that example, ordain Asbury a superintendent, and complete +the organization of the American Church. Now Wesley had, +as we have seen, for years believed in the essential parity of presbyters +and bishops, and their equal right to ordain. Coke’s request (if +any there were) for more formal authorization by Wesley himself was +perfectly correspondent with Wesley’s theory and design, and, this +being the fact, it was indisputably expedient, as Wesley himself saw. +The agitations and debates among the American Methodists rendered +it necessary that he should bear with him the highest possible +sanction of Wesley, who was recognized as founder and superintendent +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_681">[Pg 681]</span> +of the whole Methodist cause. Coke’s liability to disaffected +criticism at home, especially from Charles Wesley (whose opinions +were well known), gave him a right to claim, as he did in his letter +to Wesley, that the latter should “be obliged to acknowledge that I +acted under your direction”—a phrase which would have been inadmissible +had not Wesley’s designs corresponded fully with his +own. This objection to Coke, then, is not relevant. His course +was logical; it was prudent; it was necessary; and its historical +results have proved its supreme wisdom.</p> + +<p>Almost every other disputed act of Coke’s life has been adduced +to confirm the unfounded objection to his course in this great measure. +It has been alleged that he wrote to Bishop White, of Philadelphia, +that “he would like the Methodists of America to be reunited +to the English [American Protestant Episcopal] Church on +condition that he himself were ordained to be their bishop.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_817_817" href="#Footnote_817_817" class="fnanchor">[817]</a> Coke +was already a bishop, and Asbury another, in America; their denomination +was already more extended than the Protestant Episcopal +Church, and it had an immeasurably better prospect in the new +republic. Coke’s impulsive zeal and catholicity led him to think, +what many Churchmen, if not Methodists, have since thought, that +a union of the two bodies would be a blessing to common Christianity. +If he was imprudent, he was nevertheless charitable in his desire. +It did more credit to his heart than discredit to his head. +He did not propose it, as alleged, in order to be “ordained their +bishop.” He included his Episcopal colleague, Asbury, and all his +ministerial brethren. The union was to be made “on terms which +in no wise compromised the honor or rights of the Methodist Episcopal +Church.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_818_818" href="#Footnote_818_818" class="fnanchor">[818]</a> “I never did apply,” says Coke, “to the General +Convention, or any other Convention, for reconsecration. I never +intended that either Bishop Asbury or myself should give up our +episcopal office if the junction were to take place.”</p> + +<p>It has been alleged against him, as an “unpleasant fact,” and as +illustrating his course in the present case with Wesley, that he solicited +the “Prince Regent and the government to appoint him their +bishop in India,” and this “within twelve months of his lamented +death.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_819_819" href="#Footnote_819_819" class="fnanchor">[819]</a> This aspersion is founded in incidents connected with +that last heroic mission to India above noticed, for which, in his old +age, he sublimely sacrificed his property, his episcopal functions in +America, and his life, but founded the whole East India Methodist +work. The British domination there had, to his eyes, opened a +door for the Gospel to all Asia. For some years he had been planning +and working for a mission to the Hindoos; the East India Company’s +government “had steadily opposed” their evangelization; +Coke knew that he could not accomplish his grand designs without +authority from the home government in an episcopal appointment; +for this reason he sought that appointment. He was still a priest +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_682">[Pg 682]</span> +of the national Church, and the Wesleyans were all yet considered +as members of that Church. He proved the purity of his purpose +when his application failed, for then, as we have seen, he stood, an +aged and broken man, before the British Conference, and extorted, +by his entreaties, his tears, and the pledge of his own property, its +consent to let him go, with a corps of Methodist evangelists, and attempt +the great work in the only way that remained for him.⁠<a id="FNanchor_820_820" href="#Footnote_820_820" class="fnanchor">[820]</a></p> + +<p>Again, it is alleged that “in 1794 he secretly summoned a meeting +of the most influential of the English preachers, and passed a resolution +that the Conference should appoint an order of bishops to ordain +deacons and elders, he himself, of course, expecting to be a member +of the prelatical brotherhood.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_821_821" href="#Footnote_821_821" class="fnanchor">[821]</a> The real facts of this case, as in +the others, need but to be correctly stated to fully vindicate Coke. +Wesley had been dead some three years; the Wesleyans were in +the greatest anxiety and distraction respecting their permanent organization +during these years; the very existence of the body seemed +periled; ministerial disputes and popular agitation prevailed, ending +at last in the Kilham schism; the people were clamoring for the +sacraments—​the preachers were not empowered, by ordination, to +administer them. “At present we really have no government,” wrote +Pawson, the president of the Conference, toward the latter part of +1793. “It will by no means answer our ends to dispute one with +another as to which is the most scriptural form of Church government. +We should consider our present circumstances, and endeavor +to agree upon some method by which our people may have the ordinances +of God, and, at the same time, be preserved from division. I +care not a rush whether it be Episcopal or Presbyterian; I believe +neither of them to be purely scriptural. But our preachers and people +in general are prejudiced against the latter; consequently, if the +former will answer our end, we ought to embrace it. Indeed, I believe +it will suit our present plan far better than the other. The design +of Mr. Wesley will weigh much with many, which now evidently +appears to have been this: He foresaw that the Methodists would, +after his death, soon become a distinct people; he was deeply prejudiced +against a Presbyterian, and was as much in favor of an Episcopal +form of government. In order, therefore, to preserve all that +was valuable in the Church of England among the Methodists, he +ordained Mr. Mather and Dr. Coke bishops. These he undoubtedly +designed should ordain others. Mr. Mather told us so at the Manchester +Conference, but we did not then understand him. I see no +way of coming to any good settlement but on the plan I mentioned +before. I sincerely wish that Dr. Coke and Mr. Mather may be allowed +to be what they are, bishops. We must have ordination +among us at any rate.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_822_822" href="#Footnote_822_822" class="fnanchor">[822]</a> It was in these circumstances that Coke +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_683">[Pg 683]</span> +met some of the most venerable and devoted preachers at Litchfield. +He “addressed them on the agitated state of the Connection, and +the perils which menaced it; he referred to the success of Methodism +in the New World under its Episcopal organization, and the relief +which Wesley’s establishment of this form of government there +had given to a similar controversy. He offered ordination to the +brethren who were present. His motive was disinterested, for he +already possessed the Episcopal office and dignity, conferred by an +authority which they all venerated above that of any archbishop of +the realm. Most of the meeting approved his proposition, but Moore, +who had been ordained by Wesley, very wisely suggested that they +should confine their proceedings to the discussion of its practicability, +and defer its decision to the next Conference. He, however, +pronounced the measure a scriptural and suitable expedient for the +government of any Christian Church. Mather concurred with +Moore. They adjourned after adopting a series of resolutions +which were to be submitted with all their signatures to the Annual +Conference.”⁠<a id="FNanchor_823_823" href="#Footnote_823_823" class="fnanchor">[823]</a> It is certainly remarkable that a sinister motive +could be imputed to Coke in these circumstances—​to him who had +already a diocese co-extensive with the United States of America.</p> + +<p>An impartial revision, then, of all the facts directly or indirectly +involved in this discussion, results, first, in a vindication of the +Episcopal government, adopted at Baltimore in 1784, as the genuine +work of Wesley himself, accordant with his previously declared +opinions on the subject; and, secondly, of Coke’s conduct respecting +it, as also in the other above facts alleged against him. Wesley +was just when, after the whole measure had transpired, he declared +Coke to “have done nothing rashly,” and that he was “as free from +ambition as from covetousness.”]</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_684">[Pg 684]</span> +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_788_788" href="#FNanchor_788_788" class="label">[788]</a> + History of Methodism, <abbr title="volume one">vol. i.</abbr>, book <abbr title="three">iii.</abbr>, <abbr title="chapter five">chap. v.</abbr> + The persistent misrepresentations +of him on this point are astonishing. The <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Edwin Sidney (Life of +Walker, of Truro, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 260) says that “when he wanted ordained preachers for +America, he, of a sudden, <em>in his old age</em>, found out, by reading Lord King’s Account +of the Primitive Church, that bishops and presbyters are of the same order.” +This inexcusable violation of historical truth is common in the writings of +Churchmen against Methodism.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_789_789" href="#FNanchor_789_789" class="label">[789]</a> A Letter to a Friend, Works, <abbr title="volume seven">vol. vii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 301.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_790_790" href="#FNanchor_790_790" class="label">[790]</a> Letter to <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr. Clark, Works, <abbr title="volume seven">vol. vii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 284.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_791_791" href="#FNanchor_791_791" class="label">[791]</a> “On the Church,” Works, <abbr title="volume seven">vol. vii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 312.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_792_792" href="#FNanchor_792_792" class="label">[792]</a> Burk’s History of Virginia, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 180. Hawks (Contributions to the Ecclesiastical +History of the United States of America, <abbr title="volume one">vol. i.</abbr>, <abbr title="chapter nine">chap. ix.</abbr>) doubts +Burk’s estimate. Dr. Hawks’s volume needs important emendations, especially +in respect to Methodism.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_793_793" href="#FNanchor_793_793" class="label">[793]</a> Hawks’s “Contributions,” <abbr title="volume one">vol. i.</abbr>, <abbr title="chapter ten">chap. x.</abbr></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_794_794" href="#FNanchor_794_794" class="label">[794]</a> Journals of the Virginia Assembly, 1784.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_795_795" href="#FNanchor_795_795" class="label">[795]</a> Bangs’s <abbr title="History Methodist Episcopal">Hist. M. E.</abbr> Church, <abbr title="volume one">vol. i.</abbr>, <abbr title="pages">pp.</abbr> 135–7.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_796_796" href="#FNanchor_796_796" class="label">[796]</a> Works, <abbr title="volume seven">vol. vii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 231.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_797_797" href="#FNanchor_797_797" class="label">[797]</a> Coke’s Letter to Wesley, Smith’s History of Wesleyan Methodism, <abbr title="volume one">vol. i.</abbr>, +book <abbr title="two">ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="chapter">chap.</abbr> 6.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_798_798" href="#FNanchor_798_798" class="label">[798]</a> Drew’s Life of Coke, <abbr title="chapter">chap.</abbr> 5.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_799_799" href="#FNanchor_799_799" class="label">[799]</a> Unless the Moravians are to be considered an exception.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_800_800" href="#FNanchor_800_800" class="label">[800]</a> Jackson’s Charles Wesley, <abbr title="chapter">chap.</abbr> 26.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_801_801" href="#FNanchor_801_801" class="label">[801]</a> + “To administer the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper according +to the usages of the Church of England,” says the certificate of ordination (see it +in Life of Henry Moore, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 134, <abbr title="American edition">Am. ed.</abbr>); and yet a living Churchman (Dr. Pusey’s +Letter to the Bishop of Oxford, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 151) says that “Wesley reluctantly took +the step of ordaining at all;” and that “to the last <em>he refused, in the strongest +terms, his consent that those thus ordained should take upon them to administer the +sacraments</em>. He felt that it exceeded his powers, and so inhibited it, however it +might diminish the numbers of the society he had formed.” The biographers of +Wilberforce (<abbr title="volume one">vol. i.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 248) + also say: “Nor were any of his preachers <em>suffered +during his lifetime to attempt to administer the sacraments of his Church</em>.” It is +high time that such fictions should cease among English Churchmen. It seems +that they have yet to learn how thorough and noble a heretic Wesley really was.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_802_802" href="#FNanchor_802_802" class="label">[802]</a> + Minutes of 1785, in Minutes of the Annual Conference of the <abbr title="Methodist Episcopal">M. E.</abbr> Church, +<abbr title="volume one">vol. i.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 22. New York, 1840.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_803_803" href="#FNanchor_803_803" class="label">[803]</a> + Drew’s Life of Coke, <abbr title="chapter">chap.</abbr> 6. His assailant is supposed to have been Charles +Wesley. Etheredge’s Coke, book <abbr title="two">ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="chapter">chap.</abbr> 7.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_804_804" href="#FNanchor_804_804" class="label">[804]</a> It had been used, however, all this time, in the Minutes, as explanatory of the +word “superintendent.” The Minutes say that, “following the counsel of Mr. +John Wesley, who recommended the episcopal mode of Church government, we +thought it best to become an episcopal Church, making the episcopal office elective, +and the elected superintendent, or <em>bishop</em>, amenable to the body of ministers +and preachers.” Minutes, <abbr title="volume one">vol. i.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 22. New York, 1840. It was not in the bishops’ +address to Washington in 1789 that the title was first <em>personally</em> assumed. +The Discipline of 1787 so used it. Emory’s History of the Discipline, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 82. +But, as we have just seen, the title was inserted in the Minutes of the Organization +of the Church (1784, 1785) as synonymous with “superintendent.” Minutes +1785, <abbr title="volume one">vol. i.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 22. Wesley’s letter of reproof to Asbury was written before the +bishops’ address to Washington.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_805_805" href="#FNanchor_805_805" class="label">[805]</a> + See his circular letter to the American Societies, Drew’s Coke, <abbr title="chapter">chap.</abbr> 5.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_806_806" href="#FNanchor_806_806" class="label">[806]</a> Bishop (Saxon, bischop) is a corruption of the Latinized Greek word episcopus. +Its analogy to the second and third syllables of the latter is obvious.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_807_807" href="#FNanchor_807_807" class="label">[807]</a> + Drew’s Life of Coke, <abbr title="chapter">chap.</abbr> 5.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_808_808" href="#FNanchor_808_808" class="label">[808]</a> Drew’s Life of Coke, <abbr title="chapter">chap.</abbr> 5.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_809_809" href="#FNanchor_809_809" class="label">[809]</a> + Smith’s History of Methodism, <abbr title="volume one">vol. i.</abbr>, book <abbr title="two">ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="chapter six">chap, vi.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 541.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_810_810" href="#FNanchor_810_810" class="label">[810]</a> + Jackson’s Charles Wesley, <abbr title="chapter">chap.</abbr> 26.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_811_811" href="#FNanchor_811_811" class="label">[811]</a> + Case of the <abbr title="Protestant Episcopal">Prot. Epis.</abbr> Church in the United States, etc., <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 25.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_812_812" href="#FNanchor_812_812" class="label">[812]</a> Wesley was in good company among Churchmen in his denunciation of the +“fable” of the succession. Chillingworth said, “I am fully persuaded there hath +been no such succession.” Bishop Stillingfleet declares that “this succession is +as muddy as the Tiber itself.” Bishop Hoadley asserts, “It hath not pleased +God, in his providence, to keep up any proof of the least probability, or moral +possibility, of a regular uninterrupted succession; but there is a great appearance, +and, humanly speaking, a certainty to the contrary, that the succession hath +often been interrupted.” Archbishop Whately says “there is not a minister in +all Christendom who is able to trace up, with approach to certainty, his spiritual +pedigree.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_813_813" href="#FNanchor_813_813" class="label">[813]</a> Tyerman’s Wesley, <abbr title="volume three">vol. iii.</abbr> An. 1784.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_814_814" href="#FNanchor_814_814" class="label">[814]</a> History of Methodism, <abbr title="volume three">vol. iii.</abbr>, + <i>passim</i>. History of the <abbr title="Methodist Episcopal">M. E.</abbr> Church, <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, +<abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 151; <abbr title="volume four">vol. iv.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 503.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_815_815" href="#FNanchor_815_815" class="label">[815]</a> Drew’s Life of Coke, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 62. Etheridge (Life of Coke, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 101) says: “A writer +in the Quarterly Review affirms that it was Coke who first requested Wesley to +make him a bishop, and send him as such to America. The opposite is the +truth: the request came from Wesley, and took Coke by surprise. He had not +even given the clerical question involved in the project any serious consideration; +and he first required of Wesley some time for investigation, before he could +express with confidence an opinion upon it at all. He now applied himself to +those Biblical and patristic studies which bear upon the subject, and after the +lapse of two months, spent partly in Scotland, communicated to Wesley that the +conclusions at which he had arrived enabled him, without any hesitation, to concur +with himself as to the abstract lawfulness of the measure which had been +propounded.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_816_816" href="#FNanchor_816_816" class="label">[816]</a> Tyerman’s Wesley, <abbr title="volume three">vol. iii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 428.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_817_817" href="#FNanchor_817_817" class="label">[817]</a> Tyerman, <abbr title="volume three">vol. iii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 344.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_818_818" href="#FNanchor_818_818" class="label">[818]</a> + History of <abbr title="Methodist Episcopal">M. E.</abbr> Church, <abbr title="volume three">vol. iii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 41. Also <abbr title="volume four">vol. iv.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 443.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_819_819" href="#FNanchor_819_819" class="label">[819]</a> Tyerman, <abbr title="volume three">vol. iii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 434.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_820_820" href="#FNanchor_820_820" class="label">[820]</a> See Etheridge’s Coke, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 368. Etheridge gives all the facts of the case, and +fully vindicates Coke from the charge of unchristian ambition.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_821_821" href="#FNanchor_821_821" class="label">[821]</a> Tyerman, <abbr title="volume three">vol. iii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 434.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_822_822" href="#FNanchor_822_822" class="label">[822]</a> Smith, History of Methodism, etc., <abbr title="volume two">vol. ii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 4, 3. Stevens’s History of Methodism, +<abbr title="volume three">vol. iii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 51.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_823_823" href="#FNanchor_823_823" class="label">[823]</a> History of Methodism, <abbr title="volume three">vol. iii.</abbr>, <abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 52.</p></div></div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"><h2 class="nobreak" id="INDEX">INDEX.</h2></div> + + +<ul class="index"> +<li class="ifrst">Aberdeen, ii. 404, 470, 568; iii. <a href="#Page_10">10</a>, <a href="#Page_411">411</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">“Act of Toleration,” ii. 385.</li> + +<li class="indx">Adam, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Thomas, ii. 209, 251; iii. <a href="#Page_18">18</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Adams, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr., i. 485.</li> + +<li class="indx">Adams, Thomas, i. 536.</li> + +<li class="indx">“Advice to a Young Clergyman,” i. 106.</li> + +<li class="indx">Affleck, Andrew, ii. 471.</li> + +<li class="indx">African Methodist Episcopal Church, i. 9.</li> + +<li class="indx">African Mission proposed, iii. <a href="#Page_272">272</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Agutter, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr., iii. <a href="#Page_536">536</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Alemouth, ii. 140.</li> + +<li class="indx">Alliance, Quadruple, ii. 557.</li> + +<li class="indx">Alnwick, ii. 166, 276, 328; ii. 473, 573.</li> + +<li class="indx">Alpraham, iii. <a href="#Page_352">352</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Ambition, i. 20.</li> + +<li class="indx">American Colonies, i. 114.</li> + +<li class="indx">American Indians, i. 115, 124, 130.</li> + +<li class="indx">American Methodism, i. 8, 9; iii. <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>, <a href="#Page_151">151</a>, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>, <a href="#Page_194">194</a>, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>, <a href="#Page_331">331</a>, <a href="#Page_426">426</a>, <a href="#Page_498">498</a>, <a href="#Page_646">646</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">American Rebellion, iii. <a href="#Page_147">147</a>, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">American Wesleyan Methodists, i. 9.</li> + +<li class="indx">Amsterdam, i. 197; iii. <a href="#Page_394">394</a>, <a href="#Page_395">395</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Andrews, Mr., iii. <a href="#Page_28">28</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Andrews, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> John, i. 428; ii. 493.</li> + +<li class="indx">Animal Magnetism, iii. <a href="#Page_603">603</a>, <a href="#Page_648">648</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Annesley, Dr. Samuel, i. 285.</li> + +<li class="indx">Antigua, iii. <a href="#Page_151">151</a>, <a href="#Page_195">195</a>, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Antinomianism, i. 477, 481, 519; ii. 400; iii. <a href="#Page_14">14</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Antislavery Society, iii. <a href="#Page_508">508</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Apparitions, i. 22, 23; iii. <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Appleton, John, iii. <a href="#Page_449">449</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Arbroath, iii. <a href="#Page_66">66</a>, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_457">457</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Armagh, ii. 601; iii. <a href="#Page_41">41</a>, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx"><cite>Arminian Magazine</cite>, iii. <a href="#Page_251">251</a>, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>, <a href="#Page_346">346</a>, <a href="#Page_367">367</a>, <a href="#Page_388">388</a>, <a href="#Page_406">406</a>, <a href="#Page_455">455</a>, <a href="#Page_469">469</a>, <a href="#Page_488">488</a>, <a href="#Page_508">508</a>, <a href="#Page_515">515</a>, <a href="#Page_563">563</a>, <a href="#Page_594">594</a>, <a href="#Page_634">634</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Asbury, Francis, ii. 610; iii. <a href="#Page_7">7</a>, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>, <a href="#Page_195">195</a>, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>, <a href="#Page_429">429</a>, <a href="#Page_435">435</a>, <a href="#Page_438">438</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Ashbourne, ii. 195.</li> + +<li class="indx">Ashburton, ii. 585.</li> + +<li class="indx">Ashby de la Zouch, ii. 501.</li> + +<li class="indx">Ashton under Lyne, iii. <a href="#Page_371">371</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Assistants, duties of, i. 445, 499.</li> + +<li class="indx">Athlone, ii. 4, 35, 37, 78, 601.</li> + +<li class="indx">Atlay, John, iii. <a href="#Page_207">207</a>, <a href="#Page_297">297</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>, <a href="#Page_404">404</a>, <a href="#Page_552">552–558</a>, <a href="#Page_565">565</a>, <a href="#Page_567">567</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Atmore, Charles, iii. <a href="#Page_441">441</a>, <a href="#Page_533">533</a>, <a href="#Page_604">604</a>, <a href="#Page_607">607</a>, <a href="#Page_618">618</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Atterbury, Bishop, i. 42, 60.</li> + +<li class="indx">Aughrim, ii. 4, 78.</li> + +<li class="indx">Aylesbury, iii. <a href="#Page_29">29</a>.</li> + + +<li class="ifrst">Backhouse, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> William, ii. 489.</li> + +<li class="indx">Baddiley, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> William, ii. 195, 205, 211.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bagshaw, Matthew, ii. 560.</li> + +<li class="indx">Baildon, iii. <a href="#Page_362">362</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bailey, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr., ii. 90.</li> + +<li class="indx">Balham, iii. <a href="#Page_589">589</a>, <a href="#Page_599">599</a>, <a href="#Page_650">650</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Ball, Hannah, ii. 534; iii. <a href="#Page_241">241</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Ball, Roger, ii. 77.</li> + +<li class="indx">Ballinrobe, iii. <a href="#Page_460">460</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bandon, ii. 36, 81, 304, 354; iii. <a href="#Page_645">645</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bandroom Methodists, i. 5.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bands, Methodist, i. 445, 463; ii. 475, 516; iii. <a href="#Page_22">22</a>, <a href="#Page_542">542</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Banff, Lady, iii. <a href="#Page_412">412</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Baptism, i. 229; ii. 135, 264.</li> + +<li class="indx">Barber, John, iii. <a href="#Page_441">441</a>, <a href="#Page_474">474</a>, <a href="#Page_533">533</a>, <a href="#Page_645">645</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Barclay’s Apology, i. 489.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bardsley, Samuel, ii. 540; iii. <a href="#Page_156">156</a>, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>, <a href="#Page_348">348</a>, <a href="#Page_353">353</a>, <a href="#Page_402">402</a>, <a href="#Page_591">591</a>, <a href="#Page_592">592</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Barlow, Margaret, iii. <a href="#Page_535">535</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Barnardcastle, ii. 141, 434, 472, 535, 569; iii. <a href="#Page_18">18</a>, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>, <a href="#Page_537">537</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Barnes, John, ii. 552.</li> + +<li class="indx">Barnet, iii. <a href="#Page_488">488</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Barnsley, iii. <a href="#Page_474">474</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bate, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> James, i. 249.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bateman, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Richard T., i. 548.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bath, ii. 557, 587; iii. <a href="#Page_252">252</a>, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>, <a href="#Page_614">614</a>, <a href="#Page_623">623</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx"><i>Bath Journal</i>, ii. 41.</li> + +<li class="indx">Baxter, John, iii. <a href="#Page_273">273</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bayley, Dr. Cornelius, ii. 261; iii. <a href="#Page_397">397</a>, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Beard, Thomas, i. 441.</li> + +<li class="indx">Beau Nash, i. 237.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bedford, ii. 160, 274, 300, 340, 358.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bedford, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Arthur, i. 209, 364.</li> + +<li class="indx">Behmen, Jacob, ii. 265; iii. <a href="#Page_341">341</a>, <a href="#Page_388">388</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Belfast, ii. 240, 445, 600.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bell, George, ii. 433, 441, 444, 450, 460, 462, + 507, 556; iii. <a href="#Page_13">13</a>, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_686">[Pg 686]</span></li> + +<li class="indx">Benefactions, Wesley’s, iii. <a href="#Page_615">615</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Benezet, Anthony, iii. <a href="#Page_115">115</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bennet, John, i. 472; ii. 42, 57, 129; iii. <a href="#Page_119">119</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bennett, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr., i. 458.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bennis, Elizabeth, iii. <a href="#Page_45">45</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Benson, Joseph, ii. 474; iii. <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_215">215</a>, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>, <a href="#Page_324">324</a>, <a href="#Page_334">334</a>, <a href="#Page_341">341</a>, <a href="#Page_538">538</a>, <a href="#Page_603">603</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Beresford, Miss, ii. 195.</li> + +<li class="indx">Berridge, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> John, ii. 309, 324, 331–333, 356, 370, 397, + 444, 459, 463, 491; iii. <a href="#Page_2">2</a>, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Berwick, ii. 328.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bethnal Green, iii. <a href="#Page_193">193</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Beverley, ii. 330, 502; iii. <a href="#Page_611">611</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bible Christians, i. 6.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bible, Study of, i. 532.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bideford, iii. <a href="#Page_591">591</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bigg, Thomas, ii. 53.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bingham, iii. <a href="#Page_69">69</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bingley, ii. 275, 411, 573; iii. <a href="#Page_225">225</a>, <a href="#Page_243">243</a>, <a href="#Page_325">325</a>, <a href="#Page_414">414</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Birmingham, i. 488; ii. 115, 163, 195, 348, 399, 500; + iii. <a href="#Page_7">7</a>, <a href="#Page_392">392</a>, <a href="#Page_472">472</a>, <a href="#Page_493">493</a>, <a href="#Page_503">503</a>, <a href="#Page_568">568</a>, <a href="#Page_603">603</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Birr, ii. 4.</li> + +<li class="indx">Birstal, i. 369, 383, 440; ii. 121, 139, 331, 412; + iii. <a href="#Page_270">270</a>, <a href="#Page_373">373</a>, <a href="#Page_404">404</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bishop of Bristol, i. 246.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bishop, Letter to a, iii. <a href="#Page_513">513</a>, <a href="#Page_613">613</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bishop, Miss, ii. 559; iii. <a href="#Page_86">86</a>, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>, <a href="#Page_357">357</a>, <a href="#Page_450">450</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bishops, Interview with, i. 230.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bisson, Miss, iii. <a href="#Page_599">599</a>, <a href="#Page_609">609</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Black, William, iii. <a href="#Page_401">401</a>, <a href="#Page_452">452</a>, <a href="#Page_484">484</a>, <a href="#Page_492">492</a>, <a href="#Page_506">506</a>, <a href="#Page_541">541</a>, <a href="#Page_591">591</a>, <a href="#Page_612">612</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Blackburn, iii. <a href="#Page_325">325</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Blackheath, i. 359.</li> + +<li class="indx">Blackwell, Ebenezer, i. 555, 558, 559; ii. 5, 26, 83, 107, + 142, 169, 174, 185, 196, 219, + 236, 275, 304, 326, 352, 414, + 506; iii. <a href="#Page_251">251</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Blackwell, Richard, ii. 587.</li> + +<li class="indx">Blades, John, iii. <a href="#Page_536">536</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Blair, Andrew, iii. <a href="#Page_459">459</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Blarney, ii. 37.</li> + +<li class="indx">Blendon, i. 173, 178.</li> + +<li class="indx">Boarding Schools, iii. <a href="#Page_120">120</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Boardman, Richard, iii. <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bogie, James, iii. <a href="#Page_362">362</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bohler, Peter, i. 177, 179, 181, 186, 197, 532; + ii. 156–158; iii. <a href="#Page_201">201</a>, <a href="#Page_595">595</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bolton, i. 547; ii. 18, 57, 116; iii. <a href="#Page_191">191</a>, <a href="#Page_351">351</a>, <a href="#Page_472">472</a>, <a href="#Page_501">501</a>, <a href="#Page_527">527</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bolton, Edward, ii. 498.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bolton, Miss, ii. 498; iii. <a href="#Page_644">644</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bolzius, Martin, i. 151.</li> + +<li class="indx">Book Stewards’ Circular, ii. 179.</li> + +<li class="indx">Books recommended by Dr. Doddridge, i. 517.</li> + +<li class="indx">Books recommended by Wesley, iii. <a href="#Page_359">359</a>, <a href="#Page_450">450</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Booth, Alice, i. 546.</li> + +<li class="indx">Booth, John, iii. <a href="#Page_645">645</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Boothbank, i. 546.</li> + +<li class="indx">Borlase, Dr., i. 453, 470.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bosanquet, Miss, ii. 286, 289, 517, 588; iii. <a href="#Page_68">68</a>, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>, <a href="#Page_329">329</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Boston, ii. 327, 413; iii. <a href="#Page_327">327</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Boswell, James, iii. <a href="#Page_294">294</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bourke, Richard, ii. 603.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bourne, Hugh, ii. 609.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bowden, Dr. Samuel, ii. 190.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bowman, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> William, i. 328.</li> + +<li class="indx">Brackenbury, Robert C., iii. <a href="#Page_338">338</a>, <a href="#Page_393">393</a>, <a href="#Page_408">408</a>, <a href="#Page_429">429</a>, <a href="#Page_487">487</a>, <a href="#Page_504">504</a>, <a href="#Page_507">507</a>, <a href="#Page_625">625</a>, <a href="#Page_649">649</a>, <a href="#Page_655">655</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bradburn, Samuel, iii. <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, <a href="#Page_251">251</a>, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>, <a href="#Page_334">334</a>, <a href="#Page_336">336</a>, <a href="#Page_355">355</a>, <a href="#Page_376">376</a>, <a href="#Page_525">525</a>, <a href="#Page_526">526</a>, <a href="#Page_546">546</a>, <a href="#Page_616">616</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bradford (Yorkshire), ii. 12, 331, 569.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bradford (Wilts), iii. <a href="#Page_52">52</a>, <a href="#Page_409">409</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bradford, Joseph, iii. <a href="#Page_16">16</a>, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>, <a href="#Page_338">338</a>, <a href="#Page_403">403</a>, <a href="#Page_557">557</a>, <a href="#Page_606">606</a>, <a href="#Page_649">649</a>, <a href="#Page_651">651</a>, <a href="#Page_652">652</a>, <a href="#Page_655">655</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Brainerd, David, iii. <a href="#Page_36">36</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Brammah, Alice, iii. <a href="#Page_29">29</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Brammah, William, iii. <a href="#Page_243">243</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bramwell, William, iii. <a href="#Page_354">354</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Brandon, John, ii. 170, 281.</li> + +<li class="indx">Breage, ii. 218.</li> + +<li class="indx">Brecon, i. 457.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bredin, John, iii. <a href="#Page_151">151</a>, <a href="#Page_643">643</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Brettell, Jeremiah, iii. <a href="#Page_403">403</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bribery, i. 554; ii. 515.</li> + +<li class="indx">Briggs, William, ii. 176–179.</li> + +<li class="indx">Briscoe, Thomas, iii. <a href="#Page_375">375</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bristol, i. 234, 296, 390, 391, 425, 461; + ii. 1, 25, 75, 85, 86, 171, 190, + 235, 255, 290, 339, 362, 425, + 481, 512, 514, 546, 587; iii. <a href="#Page_28">28</a>, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>, <a href="#Page_165">165</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>, <a href="#Page_236">236</a>, <a href="#Page_349">349</a>, <a href="#Page_364">364</a>, <a href="#Page_370">370</a>, <a href="#Page_391">391</a>, <a href="#Page_396">396</a>, <a href="#Page_404">404</a>, <a href="#Page_492">492</a>, <a href="#Page_530">530</a>, <a href="#Page_568">568</a>, <a href="#Page_589">589</a>, <a href="#Page_600">600</a>, <a href="#Page_622">622</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx"><i>Bristol Weekly Intelligencer</i>, ii. 85.</li> + +<li class="indx">Broadbent, John, iii. <a href="#Page_393">393</a>, <a href="#Page_487">487</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Brooke, Henry, iii. <a href="#Page_172">172</a>, <a href="#Page_342">342</a>, <a href="#Page_392">392</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Broughton, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> J., i. 68, 83, 102, 108, 132, 178.</li> + +<li class="indx">Broughton, Sir Thomas, iii. <a href="#Page_119">119</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Brute Creation, iii. <a href="#Page_347">347</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bryan, Jonathan, iii. <a href="#Page_117">117</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bryant, Thomas, ii. 487.</li> + +<li class="indx">Buchan, Earl, iii. <a href="#Page_2">2</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bull, Patrick, iii. <a href="#Page_189">189</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bulmer, Agnes, iii. <a href="#Page_541">541</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bumby, John H., ii. 277.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bunting, Dr., i. 340.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, i. 434. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_687">[Pg 687]</span></li> + +<li class="indx">Burbeck, Edward, iii. <a href="#Page_507">507</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Burgess, Joseph, iii. <a href="#Page_577">577</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Burnet, Bishop, i. 64.</li> + +<li class="indx">Burnley, iii. <a href="#Page_414">414</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Burslem, ii. 349; iii. <a href="#Page_8">8</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_472">472</a>, <a href="#Page_493">493</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Burton, Dr. John, i. 108, 136.</li> + +<li class="indx">Burton on Trent, ii. 560.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bury, iii. <a href="#Page_166">166</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Bush, Elijah, iii. <a href="#Page_231">231</a>, <a href="#Page_364">364</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Butterworth, Joseph, i. 545.</li> + +<li class="indx">Butterworth, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> John, i. 545.</li> + +<li class="indx">Butts, Thomas, ii. 142, 176–179.</li> + +<li class="indx">Buxton, iii. <a href="#Page_393">393</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Byrom, Dr., i. 135, 210, 243, 484.</li> + +<li class="indx">Byron, James Mac, iii. <a href="#Page_7">7</a>, <a href="#Page_466">466</a>.</li> + + +<li class="ifrst">Cadogan, Dr., iii. <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_182">182</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Cadogan, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> W. B., iii. <a href="#Page_179">179</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Calling of Methodist Preachers, iii. <a href="#Page_635">635</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">“Calm Address,” Publication of, iii. <a href="#Page_186">186</a>-192.</li> + +<li class="indx">Calvinism, i. 39; ii. 191–193; iii. <a href="#Page_278">278</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Calvinist Concessions, i. 349.</li> + +<li class="indx">Calvinist Controversy, iii. <a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>, <a href="#Page_136">136</a>, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>, <a href="#Page_209">209</a>, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>, <a href="#Page_259">259</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Calvinistic Methodists, i. 402, 511.</li> + +<li class="indx">Camborne, i. 453.</li> + +<li class="indx">Cambridge, Miss, iii. <a href="#Page_645">645</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Candler, William, iii. <a href="#Page_627">627</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Canterbury, ii. 69, 230, 309, 339, 425, 511.</li> + +<li class="indx">Cardiff, i. 560.</li> + +<li class="indx">Carlisle, iii. <a href="#Page_63">63</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Carrickfergus, ii. 240, 350, 445.</li> + +<li class="indx">Castle Carey, iii. <a href="#Page_506">506</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Castlebar, iii. <a href="#Page_153">153</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Catechism, ii. 64.</li> + +<li class="indx">Catechumen Classes, ii. 362.</li> + +<li class="indx">Catholic Spirit, ii. 374.</li> + +<li class="indx">Causton, Thomas, i. 143, 152, 162.</li> + +<li class="indx">Cavignac, General, ii. 350.</li> + +<li class="indx">Cayley, Cornelius, ii. 317.</li> + +<li class="indx">Celibacy, i. 432; ii. 6, 551.</li> + +<li class="indx">Cennick, John, i. 225, 263, 274, 277, 295, 331, + 343, 344, 360, 402, 419, 556, + 559; ii. 23, 101.</li> + +<li class="indx">Chandler, Samuel, ii. 493.</li> + +<li class="indx">Channel Islands, iii. <a href="#Page_503">503</a>-505.</li> + +<li class="indx">Chapel Affairs, i. 11, 270, 519; ii. 291, 539, 584, 610; + iii. <a href="#Page_30">30</a>, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>, <a href="#Page_325">325</a>, <a href="#Page_511">511</a>, <a href="#Page_533">533</a>, <a href="#Page_614">614</a>, <a href="#Page_619">619</a>, <a href="#Page_622">622</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Chapel-en-le-Frith, iii. <a href="#Page_472">472</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Chapman, Mrs., i. 138.</li> + +<li class="indx">Chapman, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Jacob, ii. 482.</li> + +<li class="indx">Chapman, William, i. 133.</li> + +<li class="indx">Charlton, Mary, iii. <a href="#Page_353">353</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Charter House School, i. 19.</li> + +<li class="indx">Chatham, iii. <a href="#Page_6">6</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Cheltenham, ii. 559; iii. <a href="#Page_7">7</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Chester, i. 547; ii. 142, 448, 565; iii. <a href="#Page_410">410</a>, <a href="#Page_500">500</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Chesterfield, iii. <a href="#Page_226">226</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Chester-le-Street, ii. 277, 329, 538.</li> + +<li class="indx">Cheyne, Dr., i. 27.</li> + +<li class="indx">Children’s Meetings, i. 446; iii. <a href="#Page_23">23</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Chinley, i. 459.</li> + +<li class="indx">Chipping, ii. 116.</li> + +<li class="indx">Christian, Almost a, i. 175.</li> + +<li class="indx">Christian, David, i. 200.</li> + +<li class="indx">“Christian Library,” ii. 26, 65.</li> + +<li class="indx">Church Government, i. 499; ii. 257.</li> + +<li class="indx">Church, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Thomas, i. 455, 478, 530.</li> + +<li class="indx">Church, Stephen, ii. 376.</li> + +<li class="indx">Church, William, iii. <a href="#Page_277">277</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Churchey, Walter, iii. <a href="#Page_244">244</a>, <a href="#Page_282">282</a>, <a href="#Page_547">547</a>, <a href="#Page_579">579</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Circuits, Division of, iii. <a href="#Page_601">601</a>, <a href="#Page_632">632</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">City Road Chapel, iii. <a href="#Page_220">220</a>, <a href="#Page_241">241</a>, <a href="#Page_243">243</a>, <a href="#Page_251">251</a>, <a href="#Page_255">255</a>, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>, <a href="#Page_297">297</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Clanmain, ii. 445.</li> + +<li class="indx">Clark, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> James, ii. 244, 373.</li> + +<li class="indx">Clarke, Adam, ii. 119, 227; iii. <a href="#Page_342">342</a>, <a href="#Page_386">386</a>, <a href="#Page_397">397</a>, <a href="#Page_504">504</a>, <a href="#Page_507">507</a>, <a href="#Page_583">583</a>, <a href="#Page_599">599</a>, <a href="#Page_609">609</a>, <a href="#Page_614">614</a>, <a href="#Page_619">619</a>, <a href="#Page_623">623</a>, <a href="#Page_643">643</a>, <a href="#Page_644">644</a>, <a href="#Page_648">648</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Clarkson, Thomas, iii. <a href="#Page_115">115</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Class Meetings, i. 379, 380; ii. 516; iii. <a href="#Page_215">215</a>, <a href="#Page_328">328</a>, <a href="#Page_550">550</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Classes, Methodist, i. 353, 377; iii. <a href="#Page_391">391</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Classical Learning, i. 117.</li> + +<li class="indx">Classleaders, i. 446; iii. <a href="#Page_109">109</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Clayton, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> John, i. 68, 83, 93, 94; ii. 138.</li> + +<li class="indx">Clements, William, i. 494.</li> + +<li class="indx">Clergy, Advice to Young, ii. 63.</li> + +<li class="indx">Clerical Costume, ii. 338.</li> + +<li class="indx">Clippendale, Mrs., iii. <a href="#Page_116">116</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Clive, Sir Edward, ii. 300.</li> + +<li class="indx">Clones, iii. <a href="#Page_202">202</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Clonmel, ii. 237.</li> + +<li class="indx">Clowes, William, ii. 609.</li> + +<li class="indx">Clulow, Elizabeth, iii. <a href="#Page_8">8</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Coates, Alexander, ii. 413.</li> + +<li class="indx">Cobham, Mr., ii. 351.</li> + +<li class="indx">Cockburn, Dr., ii. 278.</li> + +<li class="indx">Cocker, Jeremiah, ii. 502; iii. <a href="#Page_226">226</a>, <a href="#Page_474">474</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Coke, Dr. Thomas, iii. <a href="#Page_16">16</a>, <a href="#Page_214">214</a>, <a href="#Page_222">222</a>, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>, <a href="#Page_297">297</a>, <a href="#Page_299">299</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>, <a href="#Page_334">334</a>, <a href="#Page_361">361</a>, <a href="#Page_378">378</a>, <a href="#Page_396">396</a>, <a href="#Page_403">403</a>, <a href="#Page_421">421</a>, <a href="#Page_428">428–432</a>, <a href="#Page_478">478</a>, <a href="#Page_480">480–485</a>, <a href="#Page_492">492</a>, <a href="#Page_542">542</a>, <a href="#Page_552">552</a>, <a href="#Page_562">562</a>, <a href="#Page_570">570</a>, <a href="#Page_580">580</a>, <a href="#Page_605">605</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Colbeck, Thomas, ii. 14.</li> + +<li class="indx">Colchester, ii. 313, 324, 327, 334, 342; iii. <a href="#Page_627">627</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Coleford, i. 487; ii. 236; iii. <a href="#Page_590">590</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">College, Methodist, proposed, ii. 360.</li> + +<li class="indx">Colley, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Benjamin, ii. 413, 614.</li> + +<li class="indx">Collins, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Brian, iii. <a href="#Page_310">310</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>, <a href="#Page_335">335</a>, <a href="#Page_391">391</a>, <a href="#Page_454">454</a>, <a href="#Page_573">573</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Colne, ii. 15; iii. <a href="#Page_226">226</a>, <a href="#Page_243">243</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Cologne, i. 197.</li> + +<li class="indx">Communion of Saints, iii. <a href="#Page_157">157</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Community, The Christian, iii. <a href="#Page_134">134</a>. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_688">[Pg 688]</span></li> + +<li class="indx">Companions, Trifling, i. 54.</li> + +<li class="indx">Conferences, Methodist, i. 441, 497, 527, 551; ii. 5, 60, 104, + 120, 144, 166, 187, 240, 278, + 305, 333, 354, 415, 448, 474, + 479, 511, 538, 584, 608; iii. <a href="#Page_21">21</a>, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, <a href="#Page_209">209</a>, <a href="#Page_226">226</a>, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>, <a href="#Page_302">302</a>, <a href="#Page_328">328</a>, <a href="#Page_361">361</a>, <a href="#Page_372">372</a>, <a href="#Page_396">396</a>, <a href="#Page_465">465</a>, <a href="#Page_477">477</a>, <a href="#Page_496">496</a>, <a href="#Page_547">547</a>, <a href="#Page_584">584</a>, <a href="#Page_598">598</a>, <a href="#Page_618">618</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Congleton, ii. 349; iii. <a href="#Page_8">8</a>, <a href="#Page_165">165</a>, <a href="#Page_604">604</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Coningsby, ii. 11, 327.</li> + +<li class="indx">Connexion, Lady Huntingdon’s, i. 5; iii. <a href="#Page_430">430</a>-432.</li> + +<li class="indx">Consecration of Churches, etc., ii. 512; iii. <a href="#Page_528">528</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Conversation, iii. <a href="#Page_3">3</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Conversion, Instantaneous, i. 178.</li> + +<li class="indx">Convicts, i. 175; ii. 27.</li> + +<li class="indx">Conyers, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Dr., ii. 335, 473, 502.</li> + +<li class="indx">Coolylough, ii. 354.</li> + +<li class="indx">Cooper, Jane, ii. 450, 494.</li> + +<li class="indx">Cooper, Ezekiel, iii. <a href="#Page_645">645</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Cooper, Miss, i. 382.</li> + +<li class="indx">Cordeux, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr., ii. 571.</li> + +<li class="indx">Cork, ii. 36, 80, 147, 237, 304; iii. <a href="#Page_42">42</a>, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>, <a href="#Page_460">460</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Cornwall, i. 415, 555; ii. 362.</li> + +<li class="indx">Costerdine, Robert, iii. <a href="#Page_48">48</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Coughlan, Lawrence, ii. 313; iii. <a href="#Page_25">25</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Courcy, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Richard de, ii. 471; iii. <a href="#Page_65">65</a>, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Coventry, iii. <a href="#Page_295">295</a>, <a href="#Page_399">399</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Coward, William, ii. 276.</li> + +<li class="indx">Cownley, Joseph, ii. 53, 83, 117, 129, 200, 206, + 230, 253, 381, 387; iii. <a href="#Page_441">441</a>, <a href="#Page_543">543</a>, <a href="#Page_581">581</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Crabbe, the Poet, iii. <a href="#Page_629">629</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx"><i>Craftsman</i>, i. 475.</li> + +<li class="indx">Credulity, iii. <a href="#Page_537">537</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Creighton, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> James, iii. <a href="#Page_276">276</a>, <a href="#Page_429">429</a>, <a href="#Page_434">434</a>, <a href="#Page_441">441</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Cricket, John, iii. <a href="#Page_391">391</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Crook, John, iii. <a href="#Page_228">228</a>, <a href="#Page_476">476</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Crosby, Sarah, ii. 286, 289, 398, 436, 565; iii. <a href="#Page_41">41</a>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Crowther, Jonathan, iii. <a href="#Page_507">507</a>, <a href="#Page_581">581</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Cudworth, William, i. 482; ii. 400, 527.</li> + +<li class="indx">Cussons, George, i. 11; ii. 410; iii. <a href="#Page_315">315</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Cutler, Ann, iii. <a href="#Page_606">606</a>.</li> + + +<li class="ifrst">“Dairyman’s Daughter,” The, iii. <a href="#Page_387">387</a>, <a href="#Page_503">503</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Dales Circuit, iii. <a href="#Page_631">631</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Dall, Robert, iii. <a href="#Page_225">225</a>, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>, <a href="#Page_532">532</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Darlington, ii. 407; iii. <a href="#Page_293">293</a>, <a href="#Page_535">535</a>, <a href="#Page_606">606</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Darney, William, i. 545; ii. 128; iii. <a href="#Page_68">68</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Dartmouth, Lord, ii. 509, 511; iii. <a href="#Page_197">197</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Davenport, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Thomas, iii. <a href="#Page_383">383</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Deal, i. 173.</li> + +<li class="indx">Deaths, Happy, i. 294, 355, 395; iii. <a href="#Page_218">218</a>, <a href="#Page_219">219</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Deed of Declaration, iii. <a href="#Page_408">408</a>, <a href="#Page_417">417</a>, <a href="#Page_465">465</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Delamotte, Charles, i. 117, 118, 134, 135, 140, 146, + 164.</li> + +<li class="indx">Delamotte, William, i. 299.</li> + +<li class="indx">Delany, Dr., i. 80.</li> + +<li class="indx">Deleznot, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr., i. 353.</li> + +<li class="indx">Delph, iii. <a href="#Page_323">323</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Demoniacs, i. 401, 531; iii. <a href="#Page_541">541</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Depravity, National, i. 62.</li> + +<li class="indx">Deptford, iii. <a href="#Page_488">488</a>, <a href="#Page_490">490</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Derby, ii. 398, 501; iii. <a href="#Page_244">244</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Devizes, i. 538.</li> + +<li class="indx">Dewsbury, iii. <a href="#Page_275">275</a>, <a href="#Page_565">565</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Dewsbury Chapel Case, iii. <a href="#Page_551">551</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Dickenson, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Peard, iii. <a href="#Page_621">621</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Dillon, John, ii. 603.</li> + +<li class="indx">Dingle, Thomas, iii. <a href="#Page_27">27</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Dispensary opened, i. 11, 525.</li> + +<li class="indx">Diss, iii. <a href="#Page_629">629</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Diversions, iii. <a href="#Page_517">517</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Dixon, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr., i. 160.</li> + +<li class="indx">Dixon, Thomas, iii. <a href="#Page_295">295</a>, <a href="#Page_326">326</a>, <a href="#Page_414">414</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Dobbin, Dr., quoted, iii. <a href="#Page_660">660</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Dobinson, Mr., ii. 501.</li> + +<li class="indx">Dodd, Dr., ii. 231, 526, 597; iii. <a href="#Page_237">237</a>-240.</li> + +<li class="indx">Doddridge, Dr., i. 251, 300, 383, 490, 515, 516.</li> + +<li class="indx">Dodwell, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> William, iii. <a href="#Page_356">356</a>, <a href="#Page_383">383</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Dogmatism, ii. 542.</li> + +<li class="indx">Doncaster, i. 493; ii. 502; iii. <a href="#Page_618">618</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Dover, ii. 339, 363, 548.</li> + +<li class="indx">Downes, John, i. 402, 418, 441, 518; ii. 26, 134, 226, + 450, 461.</li> + +<li class="indx">Downes, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> John, ii. 342.</li> + +<li class="indx">Dram Drinking, ii. 390, 540; iii. <a href="#Page_44">44</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Dress, i. 139; ii. 390; iii. <a href="#Page_413">413</a>, <a href="#Page_470">470</a>, <a href="#Page_517">517</a>, <a href="#Page_621">621</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">“Drummer Jack,” ii. 19.</li> + +<li class="indx">Drunkenness, i. 503.</li> + +<li class="indx">Dublin, i. 556; ii. 3, 35, 77, 82, 143, 236, + 272, 301, 350, 445, 447, 537; + iii. <a href="#Page_41">41</a>, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>, <a href="#Page_251">251</a>, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>, <a href="#Page_392">392</a>, <a href="#Page_459">459</a>, <a href="#Page_493">493</a>, <a href="#Page_542">542</a>, <a href="#Page_568">568</a>, <a href="#Page_623">623</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx"><i>Dublin Chronicle</i>, iii. <a href="#Page_570">570</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx"><i>Dublin Evening Post</i>, iii. <a href="#Page_568">568</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Dudley, ii. 115, 500.</li> + +<li class="indx">Dumfries, ii. 164; iii. <a href="#Page_532">532</a>, <a href="#Page_608">608</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Dunbar, ii. 276, 471; iii. <a href="#Page_66">66</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Dundee, ii. 567.</li> + +<li class="indx">Dunlop, Andrew, iii. <a href="#Page_315">315</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Dunstan, Edward, i. 543.</li> + +<li class="indx">Durham, i. 458; ii. 277, 407, 588; iii. <a href="#Page_610">610</a>.</li> + + +<li class="ifrst">Earthquakes, ii. 71, 212.</li> + +<li class="indx">Easingwold, iii. <a href="#Page_473">473</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Easterbrook, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Joseph, iii. <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_600">600</a>. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_689">[Pg 689]</span></li> + +<li class="indx">Easton, John, iii. <a href="#Page_342">342</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Edinberry, ii. 35, 302.</li> + +<li class="indx">Edinburgh, ii. 118, 470, 503, 568; iii. <a href="#Page_63">63</a>, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>, <a href="#Page_371">371</a>, <a href="#Page_411">411</a>, <a href="#Page_534">534</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Education of Children, iii. <a href="#Page_399">399</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Education of the Wesleys, i. 17.</li> + +<li class="indx">Edwards, John, i. 537; ii. 241.</li> + +<li class="indx">Edwards, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Jonathan, i. 218, 500.</li> + +<li class="indx">Eels, William, iii. <a href="#Page_558">558</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Egginton, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr., i. 407, 414.</li> + +<li class="indx">Election, i. 311, 334, 349; ii. 144, 145, 536.</li> + +<li class="indx">Electricity, ii. 161.</li> + +<li class="indx">Elizabeth, Queen, iii. <a href="#Page_32">32</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Ellison, Richard, ii. 139.</li> + +<li class="indx">Elmoor, Micah, i. 541.</li> + +<li class="indx">Elocution, ii. 60.</li> + +<li class="indx">Ely, iii. <a href="#Page_178">178</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Embury, Philip, ii. 146, 239, 607; iii. <a href="#Page_47">47</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">England needed Methodism, i. 173.</li> + +<li class="indx">England, State of, i. 16, 42, 60; ii. 393; iii. <a href="#Page_185">185</a>, <a href="#Page_286">286</a>, <a href="#Page_318">318</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Enniskillen, iii. <a href="#Page_153">153</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Entwisle, Joseph, iii. <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_509">509</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Episcopacy, ii. 244, 257.</li> + +<li class="indx">Epitaphs, iii. <a href="#Page_457">457</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Epworth, i. 91, 387, 405, 458, 488, 493, + 540; ii. 8, 120, 278, 300, 327, 413, + 473; iii. <a href="#Page_371">371</a>, <a href="#Page_413">413</a>, <a href="#Page_539">539</a>, <a href="#Page_545">545</a>, <a href="#Page_618">618</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Epworth, Fire at, i. 17.</li> + +<li class="indx">Epworth Rectory, i. 95.</li> + +<li class="indx">Erasmus, Bishop, ii. 486.</li> + +<li class="indx">Erskine, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Ralph, i. 264.</li> + +<li class="indx">Escrick, George, iii. <a href="#Page_351">351</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Eustick, Mr., i. 507.</li> + +<li class="indx">Evans, Caleb, iii. <a href="#Page_187">187</a>, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Evans, John, i. 494.</li> + +<li class="indx">Evans, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Theophilus, ii. 229.</li> + +<li class="indx">Everton, ii. 311, 331, 341, 397, 444.</li> + +<li class="indx">Evesham, ii. 163, 399, 560; iii. <a href="#Page_47">47</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Exeter, i. 419, 473, 554; ii. 448; iii. <a href="#Page_302">302</a>, <a href="#Page_384">384</a>, <a href="#Page_492">492</a>.</li> + + +<li class="ifrst">Faith, i. 52, 167, 177, 182, 186, 238, + 552; ii. 216.</li> + +<li class="indx">Falmouth, i. 471; ii. 279; iii. <a href="#Page_587">587</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Family Religion, i. 466.</li> + +<li class="indx">Fanaticism, i. 188, 395; ii. 434, 454, 460.</li> + +<li class="indx">Fasting, i. 81; iii. <a href="#Page_157">157</a>, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>, <a href="#Page_631">631</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Faversham, i. 173; ii. 548.</li> + +<li class="indx">Female Preaching, ii. 398; iii. <a href="#Page_41">41</a>, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>, <a href="#Page_645">645</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Fenwick, John, ii. 612.</li> + +<li class="indx">Fenwick, Michael, ii. 219, 278; iii. <a href="#Page_351">351</a>, <a href="#Page_391">391</a>, <a href="#Page_522">522</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Ferguson, William, iii. <a href="#Page_394">394</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Ferrars, Earl, ii. 364.</li> + +<li class="indx">Fetter Lane Society, i. 301, 308.</li> + +<li class="indx">Field Preaching, i. 227, 233, 235, 446; ii. 329, 339; + iii. <a href="#Page_588">588</a>, <a href="#Page_626">626</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Final Perseverance, i. 313; ii. 135, 536.</li> + +<li class="indx">Fitzgerald, Lady Mary, iii. <a href="#Page_650">650</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Fleetwood, William, i. 364.</li> + +<li class="indx">Fletcher, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> John, ii. 220, 262, 299, 308, 437, 464, + 556, 563; iii. <a href="#Page_3">3</a>, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>, <a href="#Page_136">136</a>, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>, <a href="#Page_181">181</a>, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>, <a href="#Page_209">209</a>, <a href="#Page_212">212</a>, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>, <a href="#Page_361">361</a>, <a href="#Page_370">370</a>, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>, <a href="#Page_429">429</a>, <a href="#Page_463">463</a>, <a href="#Page_472">472</a>, <a href="#Page_480">480</a>, <a href="#Page_487">487</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Fleury, Claude, ii. 64.</li> + +<li class="indx">Fleury, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr., iii. <a href="#Page_113">113</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx"><cite>Fogg’s Weekly Journal</cite>, i. 85, 86.</li> + +<li class="indx">“Fool of Quality,” iii. <a href="#Page_342">342</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Foote, Samuel, ii. 366, 591.</li> + +<li class="indx">Fothergill, Dr., ii. 161, 174, 189.</li> + +<li class="indx">Foundery, Old, i. 271, 551; ii. 498; iii. <a href="#Page_220">220</a>, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Fox, John, ii. 421.</li> + +<li class="indx">Francke’s Orphanage, i. 199.</li> + +<li class="indx">Francks, Samuel, ii. 345; iii. <a href="#Page_155">155</a>, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Franklin, Benjamin, ii. 161.</li> + +<li class="indx">Frederica, i. 124, 131, 134.</li> + +<li class="indx">“Free Grace,” Sermon, i. 317, 320, 323.</li> + +<li class="indx">Free, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Dr., ii. 321.</li> + +<li class="indx">Freedom of Speech, i. 497.</li> + +<li class="indx">French Invasion, threatened, i. 438; ii. 323.</li> + +<li class="indx">French Language, ii. 260.</li> + +<li class="indx">French Prisoners, ii. 339.</li> + +<li class="indx">French Revolution, iii. <a href="#Page_597">597</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Frome, i. 473; ii. 190; iii. <a href="#Page_28">28</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Fulneck, i. 544.</li> + +<li class="indx">Funeral, Irish, ii. 79.</li> + +<li class="indx">Furley, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Samuel, ii. 186, 450.</li> + + +<li class="ifrst">Gainsborough, ii. 330, 331, 413, 502.</li> + +<li class="indx">Gallatin, Colonel, ii. 117, 189.</li> + +<li class="indx">Gambold, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> John, i. 68, 70, 108, 179, 281, 337, + 339, 361; iii. <a href="#Page_222">222</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Garden, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr., i. 139, 326.</li> + +<li class="indx">Gardiner, Lady, ii. 470.</li> + +<li class="indx">Gardner, John, ii. 253.</li> + +<li class="indx">Garretson, Freeborn, iii. <a href="#Page_461">461</a>, <a href="#Page_484">484</a>, <a href="#Page_566">566</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Gateshead, ii. 328.</li> + +<li class="indx">Gawksham, ii. 275.</li> + +<li class="indx">Gayer, Mr., iii. <a href="#Page_203">203</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx"><cite>Gentleman’s Magazine</cite>, i. 357.</li> + +<li class="indx">Georgia, i. 109–117, 120, 122.</li> + +<li class="indx">Georgian Mission, i. 169.</li> + +<li class="indx">German Methodists, i. 9.</li> + +<li class="indx">Ghosts, i. 22.</li> + +<li class="indx">Gib, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Adam, i. 374.</li> + +<li class="indx">Gibraltar, iii. <a href="#Page_46">46</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Gibson, Bishop, i. 207, 217, 244, 454, 548.</li> + +<li class="indx">Gifted Itinerants, ii. 84.</li> + +<li class="indx">Gilbert, Francis, ii. 298, 535; iii. <a href="#Page_151">151</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Gilbert, Miss Mary, ii. 535. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_690">[Pg 690]</span></li> + +<li class="indx">Gilbert, Nathaniel, ii. 297, 535; iii. <a href="#Page_273">273</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Gilbert, Nicholas, ii. 382.</li> + +<li class="indx">Gill, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Dr., ii. 148, 191.</li> + +<li class="indx">Gillies, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> John, ii. 164, 165, 276, 328; iii. <a href="#Page_9">9</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Girl, Starving, i. 71.</li> + +<li class="indx">Giving, ii. 516.</li> + +<li class="indx">Glasbrook, James, ii. 353, 587.</li> + +<li class="indx">Glasgow, ii. 164, 276, 328, 568; iii. <a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#Page_533">533</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Glass, John, ii. 293.</li> + +<li class="indx">Glenorchy, Lady, ii. 471, 604; iii. <a href="#Page_64">64</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Gloucester, iii. <a href="#Page_6">6</a>, <a href="#Page_503">503</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Godfathers, ii. 148.</li> + +<li class="indx">Goldney, Edward, ii. 375.</li> + +<li class="indx">Goodday, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Thomas, ii. 334, 335, 606.</li> + +<li class="indx">Goodenough, Matthew, iii. <a href="#Page_259">259</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Gordon, Lord George, iii. <a href="#Page_323">323</a>, <a href="#Page_341">341</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Gordon Riots, iii. <a href="#Page_318">318</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx"><cite>Gospel Magazine</cite>, iii. <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>, <a href="#Page_233">233</a>, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>, <a href="#Page_256">256</a>, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Gospel Preaching, iii. <a href="#Page_135">135</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Grant, Sir Archibald, ii. 404.</li> + +<li class="indx">Grant, Sir Lodowick, iii. <a href="#Page_412">412</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Grantham, iii. <a href="#Page_356">356</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Grantham, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Thomas, i. 366.</li> + +<li class="indx">Granville, Mary, i. 74.</li> + +<li class="indx">Graves, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> C. G., i. 339, 382, 391, 406, 414.</li> + +<li class="indx">Green, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Dr., ii. 370.</li> + +<li class="indx">Green, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Thomas, ii. 217.</li> + +<li class="indx">Greenwood, Parson, iii. <a href="#Page_352">352</a>, <a href="#Page_553">553–555</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Greenwood, Paul, ii. 381.</li> + +<li class="indx">Gregory, Dr., iii. <a href="#Page_122">122</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Grey, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Zachary, i. 325, 476.</li> + +<li class="indx">Griffith, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Thomas, ii. 229.</li> + +<li class="indx">Grimsby, i. 406, 488; ii. 11, 278, 327, 502; iii. <a href="#Page_294">294</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Grimshaw, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> William, i. 536, 544; ii. 13, 17, 165, 166, 204, + 211, 245, 275, 327, 363, 384, + 387, 412, 415, 423, 478, 573; iii. <a href="#Page_373">373</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Grou, Monsieur, ii. 11.</li> + +<li class="indx">Guier, Philip, ii. 144, 146.</li> + +<li class="indx">Guisborough, ii. 409.</li> + +<li class="indx">Guiseley, ii. 330.</li> + +<li class="indx">Gwennap, i. 524, 540; ii. 289; iii. <a href="#Page_275">275</a>, <a href="#Page_364">364</a>, <a href="#Page_588">588</a>.</li> + + +<li class="ifrst">Haime, John, i. 494; ii. 164, 190.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hales, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Dr., i. 265.</li> + +<li class="indx">Halifax, i. 544; ii. 12, 573; iii. <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_291">291</a>, <a href="#Page_606">606</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hall, Westley, i. 68, 99, 117, 132, 285, 337, + 496, 561; ii. 87; iii. <a href="#Page_212">212</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hall, Mrs., iii. <a href="#Page_567">567</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Halyburton, Thomas, i. 287.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hamilton, Dr. James, iii. <a href="#Page_122">122</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_584">584</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hammet, William, iii. <a href="#Page_441">441</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hampson, John, ii. 102, 189, 226, 381, 398, 511, + 579; iii. <a href="#Page_251">251</a>, <a href="#Page_277">277</a>, <a href="#Page_298">298</a>, <a href="#Page_334">334</a>, <a href="#Page_420">420</a>, <a href="#Page_423">423</a>, <a href="#Page_424">424</a>, <a href="#Page_449">449</a>, <a href="#Page_534">534</a>, <a href="#Page_552">552</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hampton, i. 426.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hanby, Thomas, ii. 470, 560; iii. <a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_417">417</a>, <a href="#Page_441">441</a>, <a href="#Page_574">574</a>, <a href="#Page_602">602</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Harman, John, ii. 373, 498.</li> + +<li class="indx">Harris, Howel, i. 220, 275, 277, 299, 307, 315, + 321, 342, 349, 375, 402, 535; + ii. 68, 154, 236, 479, 555, 608; iii. <a href="#Page_128">128</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Harrison, Hannah, ii. 421; iii. <a href="#Page_41">41</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Harrison, Nathaniel, i. 384.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hart, Joseph, i. 364.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hartlepool, ii. 277, 330.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hartley, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Thomas, ii. 518.</li> + +<li class="indx">Haverfordwest, ii. 595.</li> + +<li class="indx">Haweis, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Dr., ii. 463, 499; iii. <a href="#Page_34">34</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hawes, Dr., i. 564.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hawnby, ii. 277.</li> + +<li class="indx">Haworth, ii. 12, 33, 69, 155, 275, 330, 363, + 412, 573; iii. <a href="#Page_292">292</a>, <a href="#Page_325">325</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hayes, ii. 70.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hayes, Eleanor, i. 165.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hayfield, ii. 195.</li> + +<li class="indx">Healey, John, i. 440; ii. 2.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hebrew Points, ii. 260.</li> + +<li class="indx">Heck, Barbara, ii. 239, 607; iii. <a href="#Page_47">47</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Helme, John, ii. 455.</li> + +<li class="indx">Helmsley, ii. 335, 473, 502.</li> + +<li class="indx">Helstone, ii. 218, 585.</li> + +<li class="indx">Heptonstall, ii. 18, 141.</li> + +<li class="indx">Heresy, ii. 244.</li> + +<li class="indx">Herrnhuth, i. 199, 202–207.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hertford, iii. <a href="#Page_28">28</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hervey, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> James, i. 68, 132, 133; ii. 194, 227, 261, 293, + 315, 526, 535; iii. <a href="#Page_56">56</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hervey, T., i. 252.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hewgill, William, ii. 277.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hexham, i. 507.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hey, William, iii. <a href="#Page_363">363</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hicks, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr., ii. 310.</li> + +<li class="indx">High Churchism, i. 95, 147, 152, 160, 496.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hill, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Rowland, iii. <a href="#Page_106">106</a>, <a href="#Page_137">137</a>, <a href="#Page_255">255</a>, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hill, Sir Richard, iii. <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>, <a href="#Page_136">136</a>, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hilton, John, iii. <a href="#Page_245">245</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hinckley, iii. <a href="#Page_295">295</a>, <a href="#Page_392">392</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hitchcock, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Dr., ii. 428.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hitchins, Thomas, i. 524.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hoblin, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr., i. 417.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hobson, Elizabeth, iii. <a href="#Page_10">10</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hodges, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> John, i. 442.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hodgson, Ralph, iii. <a href="#Page_536">536</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Holder, George, iii. <a href="#Page_362">362</a>, <a href="#Page_593">593</a>, <a href="#Page_631">631</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Holland, i. 196; iii. <a href="#Page_393">393</a>, <a href="#Page_487">487</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">“Honest Munchin,” i. 413.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hooker, Mr., i.326. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_691">[Pg 691]</span></li> + +<li class="indx">Hopkey, Miss, i. 146–149, 169.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hopper, Christopher, i. 543, 545; ii. 52, 75, 118, 254, 381, + 383, 404, 407, 462, 612; iii. <a href="#Page_152">152</a>, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_297">297</a>, <a href="#Page_355">355</a>, <a href="#Page_382">382</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Horncastle, ii. 327, 413, 566.</li> + +<li class="indx">Horne, Bishop, ii. 457; iii. <a href="#Page_34">34</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Horne, Melville, i. 11.</li> + +<li class="indx">Horton, John, iii. <a href="#Page_17">17</a>, <a href="#Page_650">650</a>, <a href="#Page_655">655</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hoskins, John, iii. <a href="#Page_176">176</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hosmer, John, ii. 408.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hospital, Methodist, proposed, ii. 360.</li> + +<li class="indx">How, John, ii. 290.</li> + +<li class="indx">Howard, John, iii. <a href="#Page_495">495</a>, <a href="#Page_581">581</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Huddersfield, ii. 274, 414, 541; iii. <a href="#Page_292">292</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hull, ii. 139, 330, 410; iii. <a href="#Page_473">473</a>, <a href="#Page_538">538</a>, <a href="#Page_611">611</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Humane Society, Royal, iii. <a href="#Page_251">251</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hume, David, iii, 121.</li> + +<li class="indx">Humphreys, Dr., i. 141.</li> + +<li class="indx">Humphreys, Joseph, i. 346, 402.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hunt, John, ii. 606.</li> + +<li class="indx">Huntingdon, Lady, i. 339, 341, 369, 381; ii. 20, 68, 245, + 326, 337, 364, 448, 462, 508, + 556, 604; iii. <a href="#Page_2">2</a>, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>, <a href="#Page_431">431</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hurd, Dr., ii. 493.</li> + +<li class="indx">Husk, General, i. 492.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hutchins, Mr., i. 179.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hutchinson, John, ii. 260; iii. <a href="#Page_491">491</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hutton, James, i. 108, 132, 181, 182, 236, 298, + 300, 307, 342, 420, 477; ii. 158, 159, + 220, 222.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hutton, Mrs., i. 189.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hutton, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr., i. 189.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hutton Rudby, ii. 409, 570.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hymn Book, Methodist, ii. 181; iii. <a href="#Page_343">343</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hymn Singing in Scotland, ii. 164.</li> + +<li class="indx">Hymn Writing, i. 397.</li> + +<li class="indx">“Hymns and Sacred Poems,” i. 290.</li> + + +<li class="ifrst">I‘Anson, Mr., ii. 358.</li> + +<li class="indx">Ilkestone, iii. <a href="#Page_475">475</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Imputed Righteousness, ii. 458, 469, 551; iii. <a href="#Page_14">14</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Infidelity and Popery, i. 140.</li> + +<li class="indx">Infidelity at Oxford, i. 65.</li> + +<li class="indx">Ingham, Benjamin, i. 68, 108, 117, 118, 122, 126, + 127, 135, 137, 196, 198, 250, + 277, 299, 306, 328, 338; ii. 116, 164, + 166, 534; iii. <a href="#Page_255">255</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Innys, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr., i. 538.</li> + +<li class="indx">Inverness, iii. <a href="#Page_65">65</a>, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>, <a href="#Page_507">507</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Ireland, i. 556.</li> + +<li class="indx">Irish Methodists, iii. <a href="#Page_42">42</a>, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Irish Primitive Methodists, i. 6.</li> + +<li class="indx">Isle of Man, iii. <a href="#Page_228">228</a>, <a href="#Page_241">241</a>, <a href="#Page_354">354</a>, <a href="#Page_593">593</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Isle of Wight, i. 121, 171; ii. 304; iii. <a href="#Page_386">386</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Itinerancy, iii. <a href="#Page_167">167</a>, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_561">561</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Itinerant Preachers Advised, ii. 163, 199.</li> + +<li class="indx">Itinerant Preachers in 1744, i. 459.</li> + + +<li class="ifrst">Jackson, Daniel, iii. <a href="#Page_598">598</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Jackson, Thomas, ii. 114.</li> + +<li class="indx">Jaco, Peter, i. 555; iii. <a href="#Page_297">297</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Jane, John, ii. 75.</li> + +<li class="indx">Janitor, Grateful, i. 24.</li> + +<li class="indx">Jarratt, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr., iii. <a href="#Page_151">151</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Jenkins, Herbert, i. 537.</li> + +<li class="indx">Jephson, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Alexander, ii. 369.</li> + +<li class="indx">Johnson, Dr. Samuel, i. 51, 61; iii. <a href="#Page_185">185</a>, <a href="#Page_238">238</a>, <a href="#Page_294">294</a>, <a href="#Page_406">406</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Johnson, John, ii. 359, 383.</li> + +<li class="indx">Johnson, Miss, iii. <a href="#Page_272">272</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Johnson, Thomas, ii. 416.</li> + +<li class="indx">Jones, Jacob, iii. <a href="#Page_651">651</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Jones, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Griffith, i. 221.</li> + +<li class="indx">Jones, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> John, ii. 11, 202, 203, 358, 486, 507; + iii. <a href="#Page_205">205</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Jones, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Thomas, ii. 324.</li> + +<li class="indx">Jumpers, Welsh, ii. 480.</li> + +<li class="indx">Justification, i. 52, 306, 443, 497.</li> + + +<li class="ifrst">Keighley, i. 544; ii. 330; iii. <a href="#Page_243">243</a>, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Keighley, Joshua, iii. <a href="#Page_441">441</a>, <a href="#Page_507">507</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Keith, Jeannie, i. 542; ii. 52, 166.</li> + +<li class="indx">Kelso, ii. 276; iii. <a href="#Page_371">371</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Kempis, Thomas à, i. 33–36, 106; iii. <a href="#Page_631">631</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Kendal, ii. 164, 505, 535.</li> + +<li class="indx">Kennicott, Dr., i. 448.</li> + +<li class="indx">Kennington Common, i. 228.</li> + +<li class="indx">Kershaw, James, ii. 531, 535; iii. <a href="#Page_362">362</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Kilham, Alexander, iii. <a href="#Page_408">408</a>, <a href="#Page_504">504</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Kinchin, Charles, i. 67, 225.</li> + +<li class="indx">King, Archbishop, iii. <a href="#Page_643">643</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">King, John, iii. <a href="#Page_207">207</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">King, Lord, i. 508.</li> + +<li class="indx">Kingsford, William, iii. <a href="#Page_562">562</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Kingswood, i. 227, 268, 519; ii. 34, 75, 86, 89, + 290, 425; iii. <a href="#Page_110">110</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Kingswood School, i. 269; ii. 7, 121, 171, 241, 287, 297, + 454, 559; iii. <a href="#Page_51">51</a>, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>, <a href="#Page_367">367</a>, <a href="#Page_396">396–400</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Kinnard, iii. <a href="#Page_41">41</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Kinsale, ii. 147, 354; iii. <a href="#Page_460">460</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Kirkby, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> John, ii. 70.</li> + +<li class="indx">Kirkham, Robert, i. 49.</li> + +<li class="indx">Knaresborough, ii. 411.</li> + +<li class="indx">Knight, Titus, ii. 573.</li> + +<li class="indx">Knox, Alexander, ii. 536, 577.</li> + +<li class="indx">Koker, Dr., i. 196; ii. 57.</li> + + +<li class="ifrst">Lackington, James, i. 550.</li> + +<li class="indx">Lacy, David, ii. 275.</li> + +<li class="indx">Lambeth, iii. <a href="#Page_217">217</a>, <a href="#Page_649">649</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Lancaster, John, iii. <a href="#Page_416">416</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Lancaster, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Nathaniel, ii. 616.</li> + +<li class="indx">Land, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Tristam, i. 242. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_692">[Pg 692]</span></li> + +<li class="indx">Landau Church, i. 458.</li> + +<li class="indx">Lane End, iii. <a href="#Page_411">411</a>, <a href="#Page_472">472</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Laneast, i. 458.</li> + +<li class="indx">Langhorne, Dr., ii. 213, 455.</li> + +<li class="indx">Langston, Mr., ii. 375.</li> + +<li class="indx">Languages, ii. 135.</li> + +<li class="indx">Larwood, Samuel, ii. 187.</li> + +<li class="indx">Latrobe, Benjamin, i. 556.</li> + +<li class="indx">Laughing, i. 293.</li> + +<li class="indx">Launceston, ii. 190, 218, 361.</li> + +<li class="indx">Lavington, Bishop, ii. 23, 91, 134, 150.</li> + +<li class="indx">Law, William, i. 50, 83, 99, 132, 185–187, 284, + 330, 399; ii. 63, 265, 269; iii. <a href="#Page_36">36</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Lay Preaching, i. 201, 276; ii. 246.</li> + +<li class="indx">Learning, Wesley on, i. 367; ii. 64, 491.</li> + +<li class="indx">Leatherhead, iii. <a href="#Page_650">650</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Lee, Thomas, ii. 572; iii. <a href="#Page_326">326</a>, <a href="#Page_327">327</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Leeds, i. 490, 495, 513; ii. 2, 33, 120, 139, + 166, 316, 399, 448, 584; iii. <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>, <a href="#Page_356">356</a>, <a href="#Page_415">415</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Leek, iii. <a href="#Page_118">118</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Lefevre, Mrs., ii. 109.</li> + +<li class="indx">Leicester, ii. 170, 281.</li> + +<li class="indx">Leifchild, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Dr., iii. <a href="#Page_488">488</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Leighton Buzzard, iii. <a href="#Page_114">114</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Leith, iii. <a href="#Page_123">123</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Leland, Dr. Thomas, ii. 493.</li> + +<li class="indx">Lending Society, i. 550.</li> + +<li class="indx">Leominster, i. 524.</li> + +<li class="indx">Letters for first time published, i. 26, 27, 29, 37, 94, 131, + 132, 136, 137, 224, 233, 306, + 312; ii. 112, 167, 201, 253, 281, 360, + 416, 503, 508, 563, 564, 612; + iii. <a href="#Page_3">3</a>, <a href="#Page_5">5</a>, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>, <a href="#Page_212">212</a>, <a href="#Page_225">225</a>, <a href="#Page_230">230</a>, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>, <a href="#Page_277">277</a>, <a href="#Page_284">284</a>, <a href="#Page_288">288</a>, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>, <a href="#Page_324">324</a>, <a href="#Page_336">336</a>, <a href="#Page_337">337</a>, <a href="#Page_349">349</a>, <a href="#Page_355">355</a>, <a href="#Page_358">358</a>, <a href="#Page_376">376</a>, <a href="#Page_377">377</a>, <a href="#Page_378">378</a>, <a href="#Page_382">382</a>, <a href="#Page_392">392</a>, <a href="#Page_404">404</a>, <a href="#Page_408">408</a>, <a href="#Page_428">428</a>, <a href="#Page_442">442</a>, <a href="#Page_454">454</a>, <a href="#Page_467">467</a>, <a href="#Page_477">477</a>, <a href="#Page_482">482</a>, <a href="#Page_486">486</a>, <a href="#Page_491">491</a>, <a href="#Page_497">497</a>, <a href="#Page_507">507</a>, <a href="#Page_522">522</a>, <a href="#Page_525">525</a>, <a href="#Page_532">532</a>, <a href="#Page_542">542–544</a>, <a href="#Page_546">546</a>, <a href="#Page_565">565</a>, <a href="#Page_580">580</a>, <a href="#Page_590">590</a>, <a href="#Page_592">592</a>, <a href="#Page_598">598</a>, <a href="#Page_601">601</a>, <a href="#Page_605">605</a>, <a href="#Page_621">621</a>, <a href="#Page_632">632</a>, <a href="#Page_633">633</a>, <a href="#Page_643">643</a>, <a href="#Page_649">649</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Leven, Lord, iii. <a href="#Page_412">412</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Lewen, Miss, ii. 588.</li> + +<li class="indx">Ley, William, ii. 353; iii. <a href="#Page_17">17</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Leytonstone, ii. 287.</li> + +<li class="indx">Libraries, i. 499.</li> + +<li class="indx">Licensing Chapels, iii. <a href="#Page_511">511</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Lichfield, Bishop of, i. 61.</li> + +<li class="indx">Limerick, ii. 36, 37, 78, 354, 448; iii. <a href="#Page_460">460</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Lincoln, iii. <a href="#Page_327">327</a>, <a href="#Page_617">617</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Lisbon, Earthquake at, ii. 223.</li> + +<li class="indx">Lisburn, ii. 240, 445; iii. <a href="#Page_154">154</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Liskeard, ii. 290.</li> + +<li class="indx">List of Itinerants, ii. 126.</li> + +<li class="indx">Liverpool, ii. 196, 274, 301, 328, 448, 566, + 600; iii. <a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#Page_486">486</a>, <a href="#Page_590">590</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Lloyd, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> David, iii. <a href="#Page_402">402</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Lloyd, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Richard, ii. 79.</li> + +<li class="indx"><cite>Lloyd’s Evening Post</cite>, ii. 348, 388, 428.</li> + +<li class="indx">Logic, ii. 90.</li> + +<li class="indx"><i>London Chronicle</i>, ii. 460.</li> + +<li class="indx">London Circuit Plan in 1792, iii. <a href="#Page_223">223</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx"><i>London Daily Post</i>, ii. 58.</li> + +<li class="indx"><i>London Evening Post</i>, i. 473.</li> + +<li class="indx">London in 1739, i. 213.</li> + +<li class="indx"><cite>London Magazine</cite>, ii. 292, 427.</li> + +<li class="indx">London Methodist Chapels, ii. 89; iii. <a href="#Page_216">216</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">London Methodist Day School, i. 550.</li> + +<li class="indx">London Methodist Society, i. 420, 461, 489.</li> + +<li class="indx">Londonderry, ii. 536; iii. <a href="#Page_42">42</a>, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Longden, Henry, iii. <a href="#Page_474">474</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Longridge, Michael, iii. <a href="#Page_604">604</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Lots, Casting, i. 147, 232, 323, 531.</li> + +<li class="indx">Loughborough, iii. <a href="#Page_69">69</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Lovefeast at Fetter Lane, i. 229.</li> + +<li class="indx">Lovefeasts, Methodist, ii. 341, 539.</li> + +<li class="indx">Lowes, Matthew, iii. <a href="#Page_6">6</a>, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Lowestoft, ii. 512; iii. <a href="#Page_628">628</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Lowth, Bishop, ii. 596; iii. <a href="#Page_251">251</a>, <a href="#Page_332">332</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Loyalty, Methodist, i. 439, 440, 491; iii. <a href="#Page_235">235</a>, <a href="#Page_236">236</a>, <a href="#Page_286">286</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Lunell, Mr., i. 557; ii. 5.</li> + +<li class="indx">Lurgan, ii. 303, 445; iii. <a href="#Page_202">202</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Lutheran Reformation, i. 2.</li> + +<li class="indx">Luton, iii. <a href="#Page_114">114</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Lynn, iii. <a href="#Page_629">629</a>.</li> + + +<li class="ifrst">McAllum, Duncan, iii. <a href="#Page_272">272</a>, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>, <a href="#Page_497">497</a>, <a href="#Page_507">507</a>, <a href="#Page_565">565</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Macaulay, Lord, iii. <a href="#Page_660">660</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Macclesfield, ii. 448; iii. <a href="#Page_8">8</a>, <a href="#Page_165">165</a>, <a href="#Page_370">370</a>, <a href="#Page_393">393</a>, <a href="#Page_404">404</a>, <a href="#Page_493">493</a>, <a href="#Page_501">501</a>, <a href="#Page_605">605</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">M‘Donald, James, iii. <a href="#Page_630">630</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">M‘Geary, John, iii. <a href="#Page_493">493</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">M‘Geary, Thomas, iii. <a href="#Page_399">399</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">M‘Gowan, John, ii. 407; iii. <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Machiavel, Nicholas, i. 134.</li> + +<li class="indx">M‘Kersey, J., iii. <a href="#Page_466">466</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Mackford, Mr., ii. 14.</li> + +<li class="indx">Mackie, George, iii. <a href="#Page_134">134</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">M‘Nab, Alexander, iii. <a href="#Page_84">84</a>, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>, <a href="#Page_348">348</a>, <a href="#Page_559">559</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Madan, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Martin, ii. 283, 448, 499, 556.</li> + +<li class="indx">Maddox, Mr., iii. <a href="#Page_421">421</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Madeley, ii. 299; iii. <a href="#Page_290">290</a>, <a href="#Page_370">370</a>, <a href="#Page_411">411</a>, <a href="#Page_472">472</a>, <a href="#Page_603">603</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Maldon, ii. 300.</li> + +<li class="indx">Malton, ii. 570.</li> + +<li class="indx">Manchester, i. 92, 174, 545; ii. 138, 164, 327, 399, + 448, 478, 540; iii. <a href="#Page_119">119</a>, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>, <a href="#Page_337">337</a>, <a href="#Page_350">350</a>, <a href="#Page_353">353</a>, <a href="#Page_393">393</a>, <a href="#Page_411">411</a>, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>, <a href="#Page_496">496</a>, <a href="#Page_605">605</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Mann, John, iii. <a href="#Page_544">544</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Manners, John, ii. 415, 570.</li> + +<li class="indx">Manners, Nicholas, ii. 306; iii. <a href="#Page_559">559</a>. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_693">[Pg 693]</span></li> + +<li class="indx">Manning, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Charles, i. 551; ii. 70, 101.</li> + +<li class="indx">March, Miss, iii. <a href="#Page_177">177</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Marienbourn, i. 197.</li> + +<li class="indx">Marriage with deceased wife’s sister, ii. 259.</li> + +<li class="indx">Marriages, Improper, iii. <a href="#Page_364">364</a>, <a href="#Page_640">640</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Marriott, Thomas, i. 465.</li> + +<li class="indx">Marvellous Escape, iii. <a href="#Page_169">169</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Mary, Queen of Scotland, iii. <a href="#Page_32">32</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Maskew, Jonathan, ii. 411; iii. <a href="#Page_68">68</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Mason, John, ii. 170; iii. <a href="#Page_598">598</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Mason, William, iii. <a href="#Page_75">75</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Massiot, James, ii. 304.</li> + +<li class="indx">Mathematics, ii. 389.</li> + +<li class="indx">Mather, Alexander, ii. 184, 488; iii. <a href="#Page_155">155</a>, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>, <a href="#Page_327">327</a>, <a href="#Page_375">375</a>, <a href="#Page_441">441</a>, <a href="#Page_478">478</a>, <a href="#Page_553">553</a>, <a href="#Page_558">558</a>, <a href="#Page_575">575</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Maud, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> J., i. 474.</li> + +<li class="indx">Maxfield, Thomas, i. 274, 302, 369, 454, 470; ii. 381, 432, + 436, 440, 450, 454, 462, 464, + 474, 482, 486, 507, 556; iii. <a href="#Page_26">26</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#Page_261">261</a>, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Maxwell, Lady, ii. 471, 503, 603; iii. <a href="#Page_40">40</a>, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>, <a href="#Page_561">561</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Mayer, Matthew, ii. 328, 473; iii 290.</li> + +<li class="indx">Mayor, First Methodist, ii. 274.</li> + +<li class="indx">Mayor of Grampound, ii. 290.</li> + +<li class="indx">Means of Grace, i. 304.</li> + +<li class="indx">Mears, William, iii. <a href="#Page_622">622</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Meek, Jenny, i. 487.</li> + +<li class="indx">Meggot, Samuel, ii. 472.</li> + +<li class="indx">Mellar Barn, ii. 142.</li> + +<li class="indx">Meriton, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> John, i. 442, 458, 539; ii. 3.</li> + +<li class="indx">Merryweather, George, ii. 408, 415, 565, 612; iii. <a href="#Page_69">69</a>, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Methodism, Growth of, ii. 538.</li> + +<li class="indx">Methodism’s first Lay Preacher, i. 274.</li> + +<li class="indx">Methodist Episcopal Church, i. 8.</li> + +<li class="indx">Methodist Manifestoes, i. 484; ii. 533.</li> + +<li class="indx">Methodist, Name of, i. 67, 331.</li> + +<li class="indx">Methodist New Connexion, i. 5.</li> + +<li class="indx">Methodist Newspapers, i. 11.</li> + +<li class="indx">Methodism, Perpetuation of, iii. <a href="#Page_49">49</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Methodist Protestant Church, i. 9.</li> + +<li class="indx">Methodist Statistics, i. 7, 9; ii. 608, 609; iii. <a href="#Page_330">330</a>, <a href="#Page_620">620</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Methodists not perfect, ii. 540, 580.</li> + +<li class="indx">Middleton, Dr. Conyers, ii. 34, 61.</li> + +<li class="indx">Middleton, John, ii. 409.</li> + +<li class="indx">Midsomer Norton, iii. <a href="#Page_231">231</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Mill, Peter, iii. <a href="#Page_573">573</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Millard, Henry, i. 453.</li> + +<li class="indx">Millenarianism, ii. 220, 521; iii. <a href="#Page_544">544</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Miller, Robert, ii. 483; iii. <a href="#Page_626">626</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Milner, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> J., ii. 116, 141, 164, 166, 330.</li> + +<li class="indx">Milton, John, ii. 495.</li> + +<li class="indx">Ministerial Responsibility, iii. <a href="#Page_121">121</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Ministers, Unconverted, iii. <a href="#Page_564">564</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Minulla, ii. 304.</li> + +<li class="indx">Miracles, i. 531; ii. 87.</li> + +<li class="indx">Missionary Collection, First Methodist, ii. 606.</li> + +<li class="indx">Missionary Report, First Methodist, iii. <a href="#Page_480">480</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Missionaries, Wesley on, i. 135, 142; ii. 606.</li> + +<li class="indx">Missions, Methodist, iii. <a href="#Page_46">46</a>; iii. <a href="#Page_272">272</a>-274, <a href="#Page_480">480–484</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Missions to India proposed, iii. <a href="#Page_483">483</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Mitchell, Thomas, ii. 44, 381; iii. <a href="#Page_68">68</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">“Mitre,” The, ii. 241, 254.</li> + +<li class="indx">Molther, Philip H., i. 297, 301, 302.</li> + +<li class="indx">Monmouth, iii. <a href="#Page_339">339</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Monro, Dr., iii. <a href="#Page_122">122</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Montanists, ii. 87.</li> + +<li class="indx">Moon, Elizabeth, ii. 409.</li> + +<li class="indx">Moore, Henry, i. 147, 350; ii. 101, 115; iii. <a href="#Page_16">16</a>, <a href="#Page_224">224</a>, <a href="#Page_246">246</a>, <a href="#Page_441">441</a>, <a href="#Page_543">543</a>, <a href="#Page_566">566</a>, <a href="#Page_575">575</a>, <a href="#Page_598">598</a>, <a href="#Page_609">609</a>, <a href="#Page_616">616</a>, <a href="#Page_647">647</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Moore, William, iii. <a href="#Page_458">458</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Moorfields, i. 214.</li> + +<li class="indx">Moorhouse, Michael, iii. <a href="#Page_467">467</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Moravian Missions, i. 300.</li> + +<li class="indx">Moravianism, i. 205, 206, 210, 281; ii. 155, 467; iii. <a href="#Page_72">72</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Moravians, i. 121, 126, 195, 279, 310, 337, + 477, 478, 535; ii. 58, 95.</li> + +<li class="indx">Morgan, James, ii. 358; iii. <a href="#Page_16">16</a>, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Morgan, R., i. 131.</li> + +<li class="indx">Morgan, William, i. 67, 84.</li> + +<li class="indx">Morley, ii. 331.</li> + +<li class="indx">Morley, Dr., i. 58.</li> + +<li class="indx">Morning Preaching, iii. <a href="#Page_22">22</a>, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>, <a href="#Page_410">410</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Morpeth, ii. 329.</li> + +<li class="indx">Morris, James, ii. 315.</li> + +<li class="indx">Moss, Richard, i. 471, 482; ii. 11.</li> + +<li class="indx">Murgatroyd, John, i. 385.</li> + +<li class="indx">Murlin, John, ii. 381; iii. <a href="#Page_292">292</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Murray, Grace, i. 541, 543; ii. 12, 45–56.</li> + +<li class="indx">Music, ii. 500.</li> + +<li class="indx">Musselburgh, ii. 118, 276.</li> + +<li class="indx">Myles, William, iii. <a href="#Page_154">154</a>, <a href="#Page_568">568</a>, <a href="#Page_572">572</a>, <a href="#Page_583">583</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Mystics, The, i. 133; ii. 519.</li> + + +<li class="ifrst">Nantwich, ii. 163; iii. <a href="#Page_118">118</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">National Alarm, iii. <a href="#Page_267">267</a>, <a href="#Page_286">286</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">National Churches, i. 509.</li> + +<li class="indx">National Commotion, ii. 234; iii. <a href="#Page_39">39</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">National Distress and its Remedies, iii. <a href="#Page_130">130</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Naval and Military Bible Society, iii. <a href="#Page_315">315</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Neath, i. 525; iii. <a href="#Page_20">20</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Nelson, John, i. 369, 381, 383, 418, 420, 441, + 458, 507, 544; ii. 53, 169, 383, 573; + iii. <a href="#Page_70">70</a>, <a href="#Page_373">373</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Nervousness, iii. <a href="#Page_274">274</a>, <a href="#Page_489">489</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">New Birth, i. 230.</li> + +<li class="indx">New Mills, iii. <a href="#Page_9">9</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">New York, ii. 607; iii. <a href="#Page_47">47</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Newark, iii. <a href="#Page_327">327</a>, <a href="#Page_491">491</a>, <a href="#Page_549">549</a>. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_694">[Pg 694]</span></li> + +<li class="indx">Newbury, iii. <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>, <a href="#Page_471">471</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Newcastle on Tyne, i. 385, 392, 403–405, 425, 431, 461, + 483, 487, 490, 494, 513, 541; + ii. 12, 33, 49, 56, 112, 117, 120, + 140, 166, 212, 328, 406, 418, + 470, 503, 537, 567, 569, 595, + 603, 606; iii. <a href="#Page_7">7</a>, <a href="#Page_17">17</a>, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>, <a href="#Page_215">215</a>, <a href="#Page_241">241</a>, <a href="#Page_294">294</a>, <a href="#Page_355">355</a>, <a href="#Page_412">412</a>, <a href="#Page_573">573</a>, <a href="#Page_604">604</a>, <a href="#Page_607">607</a>, <a href="#Page_608">608</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Newfoundland, iii. <a href="#Page_25">25</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_458">458</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Newgate Prison, ii. 396.</li> + +<li class="indx">Newlyn, i. 555; ii. 25.</li> + +<li class="indx">Newman, Miss, ii. 560.</li> + +<li class="indx">Newry, ii. 445, 600.</li> + +<li class="indx">Newspaper, First Methodist, i. 346.</li> + +<li class="indx">Newton, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> John, ii. 295, 314, 349, 363; iii. <a href="#Page_33">33</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Nitschmann, David, i. 117, 119, 146.</li> + +<li class="indx">Nitschmann, Hannah, ii. 157.</li> + +<li class="indx">Norris, Dr. John, i. 367.</li> + +<li class="indx">North, Lord, iii. <a href="#Page_197">197</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Northallerton, i. 486, 487.</li> + +<li class="indx">Northampton, ii. 587.</li> + +<li class="indx">Northtawton, ii. 544.</li> + +<li class="indx">Northwich, i. 547.</li> + +<li class="indx">Norton, Mr., ii. 256.</li> + +<li class="indx">Norwich, ii. 123, 189, 218, 273, 290, 309, + 313, 317, 325, 333, 342, 348, + 381, 397, 444, 482, 512, 534, + 615; iii. <a href="#Page_178">178</a>, <a href="#Page_405">405</a>, <a href="#Page_465">465</a>, <a href="#Page_629">629</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Norwood, ii. 290.</li> + +<li class="indx">“Notes on New Testament,” ii. 184, 226.</li> + +<li class="indx">“Notes on Old Testament,” ii. 552.</li> + +<li class="indx">Nottingham, i. 339, 440, 507, 518; ii. 514, 560; + iii. <a href="#Page_409">409</a>, <a href="#Page_514">514</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Nova Scotia, iii. <a href="#Page_401">401</a>, <a href="#Page_497">497</a>, <a href="#Page_545">545</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Novels, iii. <a href="#Page_172">172</a>, <a href="#Page_450">450</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Nowell, Dr., iii. <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>.</li> + + +<li class="ifrst">Oastler, Robert, iii. <a href="#Page_424">424</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Oddie, James, iii. <a href="#Page_70">70</a>, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_420">420</a>, <a href="#Page_559">559</a>, <a href="#Page_574">574</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Oglethorpe, General, i. 110, 117, 118, 122, 129, 136, + 146.</li> + +<li class="indx">Okeley, Francis, ii. 301.</li> + +<li class="indx">Oldham, iii. <a href="#Page_290">290</a>, <a href="#Page_371">371</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Oldham, Adam, iii. <a href="#Page_119">119</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">O’Leary, Arthur, iii. <a href="#Page_320">320</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Oliphant, Lawrence, ii. 190.</li> + +<li class="indx">Oliver, John, iii. <a href="#Page_71">71</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Olivers, Thomas, ii. 489, 588; iii. <a href="#Page_41">41</a>, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>, <a href="#Page_106">106–108</a>, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>, <a href="#Page_181">181</a>, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>, <a href="#Page_259">259</a>, <a href="#Page_285">285</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Oratorios, ii. 499.</li> + +<li class="indx">Ordination, i. 510.</li> + +<li class="indx">Ordination of Methodist Preachers, ii. 202, 487; iii. <a href="#Page_311">311</a>, <a href="#Page_331">331</a>, <a href="#Page_427">427</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Ordination Vows, i. 100.</li> + +<li class="indx">Original Sin, i. 443; ii. 294.</li> + +<li class="indx">Orphan House, Newcastle, i. 393, 519, 543.</li> + +<li class="indx">Orphanage, Methodist, ii. 517.</li> + +<li class="indx">Orton, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Job, iii. <a href="#Page_19">19</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Osborn, Thomas, ii. 359.</li> + +<li class="indx">Osmotherley, i. 485, 487, 490, 541, 544; ii. 12, 107, + 140, 212, 277, 409.</li> + +<li class="indx">Otley, ii. 330, 410, 416.</li> + +<li class="indx">Oulton, John, ii. 370.</li> + +<li class="indx">Owen, Miss, iii. <a href="#Page_129">129</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Oxford, i. 174, 179, 182, 224; iii. <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Oxford Methodists, 66–74, 83–88, 90, 92, 106, + 182, 361.</li> + + +<li class="ifrst">Padiham, ii. 275; iii. <a href="#Page_291">291</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Palatines, ii. 146, 238, 354.</li> + +<li class="indx">Paoli, General, iii. <a href="#Page_454">454</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Papists, i. 485; ii. 384; iii. <a href="#Page_318">318</a>-323.</li> + +<li class="indx">Parkhurst, Dr., ii. 180.</li> + +<li class="indx">Pastoral Visitation, i. 420, 446; ii. 313, 580; iii. <a href="#Page_23">23</a>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Pateley, ii. 572; iii. <a href="#Page_326">326</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Pawson, John, ii. 112, 443, 511, 547; iii. <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>, <a href="#Page_297">297</a>, <a href="#Page_300">300</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310–312</a>, <a href="#Page_420">420</a>, <a href="#Page_423">423</a>, <a href="#Page_428">428</a>, <a href="#Page_441">441</a>, <a href="#Page_442">442</a>, <a href="#Page_496">496</a>, <a href="#Page_529">529</a>, <a href="#Page_557">557</a>, <a href="#Page_573">573</a>, <a href="#Page_582">582</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Payne, John, ii. 493.</li> + +<li class="indx">Pearse, Colonel, iii. <a href="#Page_460">460</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Pearson, George, iii. <a href="#Page_8">8</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Pebworth, iii. <a href="#Page_7">7</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Peel, Sir Robert, iii. <a href="#Page_499">499</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Pembroke, iii. <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Penitents, i. 445.</li> + +<li class="indx">Penn, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> James, ii. 456.</li> + +<li class="indx">Pennington, William, ii. 532.</li> + +<li class="indx">Penrith, iii. <a href="#Page_327">327</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Pensford, i. 236.</li> + +<li class="indx">Perfection, Christian, i. 88, 288, 313, 316, 334, 339, + 349, 365, 444, 461, 498, 535, + 553; ii. 215, 232, 306, 346, 399, 413, + 416, 431, 439, 442, 447, 449–453, + 461, 465, 482, 494, 507, 535, + 546, 550, 562, 593, 596; iii. <a href="#Page_12">12</a>, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>, <a href="#Page_462">462</a>, <a href="#Page_625">625</a>, <a href="#Page_633">633</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Periam, Joseph, i. 247.</li> + +<li class="indx">Perronet, Charles, i. 559; ii. 2, 34, 84, 109, 189, 200, + 201, 206, 381, 548.</li> + +<li class="indx">Perronet, Edward, ii. 57, 84, 101, 104, 200, 230, + 241, 254, 419.</li> + +<li class="indx">Perronet, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Vincent, i. 512, 525; ii. 6, 8, 54, 62, 92, + 104, 107, 108, 129, 130, 149, + 179, 230, 298, 467, 549; iii. <a href="#Page_53">53</a>, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>, <a href="#Page_390">390</a>, <a href="#Page_463">463</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Persecution, i. 236, 238, 296, 331, 356, 396, + 425, 453, 470, 547; ii. 2, 37, 272, + 291, 353.</li> + +<li class="indx">Persecutors, Death of, ii. 278.</li> + +<li class="indx">Perth, iii. <a href="#Page_10">10</a>, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Peters, Sarah, ii. 27, 28. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_695">[Pg 695]</span></li> + +<li class="indx">Philanthropy, i. 294, 332, 352; ii. 348, 467; iii. <a href="#Page_458">458</a>, <a href="#Page_491">491</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Philips, Sir John, i. 132.</li> + +<li class="indx">Pickering, ii. 570.</li> + +<li class="indx">Pickles, Joseph, ii. 411.</li> + +<li class="indx">Piercy, George, ii. 607.</li> + +<li class="indx">Piers, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Henry, i. 375, 427.</li> + +<li class="indx">Pilkington, Mrs., ii. 77.</li> + +<li class="indx">Pilmoor, Joseph, iii. <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Pine, William, iii. <a href="#Page_188">188</a>, <a href="#Page_211">211</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Piracy, i. 465.</li> + +<li class="indx">Pitt, Right <abbr title="Honorable">Hon.</abbr> William, iii. <a href="#Page_450">450</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Placey, ii. 276.</li> + +<li class="indx">Plagiarism, i. 366.</li> + +<li class="indx">Plainness, ii. 183.</li> + +<li class="indx">Playdell, Mrs., iii. <a href="#Page_532">532</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Plendelieth, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr., iii. <a href="#Page_13">13</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Plummer, Stephen, ii. 171.</li> + +<li class="indx">Plymouth, i. 554; ii. 190, 361, 585; iii. <a href="#Page_28">28</a>, <a href="#Page_384">384</a>, <a href="#Page_459">459</a>, <a href="#Page_492">492</a>, <a href="#Page_587">587</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Pocklington, ii. 140, 278.</li> + +<li class="indx">Poor House, Methodist, i. 549.</li> + +<li class="indx">Popery, iii. <a href="#Page_315">315</a>, <a href="#Page_318">318</a>, <a href="#Page_388">388</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Poplar, iii. <a href="#Page_115">115</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Port Isaac, i. 555; ii. 361.</li> + +<li class="indx">Portadown, ii. 600.</li> + +<li class="indx">Portarlington, ii. 37, 78, 82, 302, 353, 447; iii. <a href="#Page_42">42</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Portsmouth, ii. 170.</li> + +<li class="indx">Potter, Archbishop, i. 43; ii. 16; iii. <a href="#Page_571">571</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Potter, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr., ii. 317.</li> + +<li class="indx">Potto, ii. 409.</li> + +<li class="indx">Power, Autocratic, ii. 577; iii. <a href="#Page_305">305</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Prayer Answered, i. 232; iii. <a href="#Page_204">204</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Prayer Book, Methodist, iii. <a href="#Page_548">548</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Prayer Meetings, iii. <a href="#Page_135">135</a>, <a href="#Page_522">522</a>, <a href="#Page_623">623</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Preachers’ Allowances, iii. <a href="#Page_550">550</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Preachers, how to mend, ii. 582.</li> + +<li class="indx">Preachers, First Methodist, iii. <a href="#Page_455">455</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Preaching, Extempore, iii. <a href="#Page_563">563</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Preaching, Gospel, ii. 130.</li> + +<li class="indx">Preaching the Law, ii. 84.</li> + +<li class="indx">Preaching, Lay, i. 369; ii. 245.</li> + +<li class="indx">Preaching, Methodist, i. 515.</li> + +<li class="indx">Predestination, i. 40, 318, 319, 366; ii. 148; iii. <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Preston, iii. <a href="#Page_354">354</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Preston Pans, ii. 567.</li> + +<li class="indx">Pretender, The, i. 42, 489.</li> + +<li class="indx">Price, Dr., iii. <a href="#Page_234">234</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Primitive Methodists, i. 6; ii. 609.</li> + +<li class="indx">Prince Edward’s Island, iii. <a href="#Page_66">66</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Pritchard, John, ii. 547.</li> + +<li class="indx">Protestant Association, iii. <a href="#Page_318">318</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Publications, Anti-Methodist, i. 325, 364, 426, 454, 474, 513; + ii. 180, 217, 229, 270, 291, 367, 427, + 455, 489, 525, 537, 550, 590, + 616; iii. <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#Page_255">255</a>, <a href="#Page_261">261</a>, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Publications, Wesley’s, i. 90, 105, 210, 288, 333, 365, + 397, 430, 463, 500, 529, 562; + ii. 29, 60, 89, 135, 142, 147, 181, + 191, 220, 264, 293, 317, 345, + 389, 429, 457, 494, 532, 550, + 593, 617; iii. <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>, <a href="#Page_161">161</a>, <a href="#Page_182">182</a>, <a href="#Page_210">210</a>, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>, <a href="#Page_260">260</a>, <a href="#Page_267">267</a>, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>, <a href="#Page_342">342</a>, <a href="#Page_366">366</a>, <a href="#Page_387">387</a>, <a href="#Page_406">406</a>, <a href="#Page_455">455</a>, <a href="#Page_469">469</a>, <a href="#Page_488">488</a>, <a href="#Page_515">515</a>, <a href="#Page_593">593</a>, <a href="#Page_633">633</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Publow, iii. <a href="#Page_129">129</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Punctuality, iii. <a href="#Page_539">539</a>.</li> + + +<li class="ifrst">Quakerism, i. 489; ii. 30; iii. <a href="#Page_245">245</a>, <a href="#Page_246">246</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Quarterly Meetings, ii. 42.</li> + +<li class="indx">Quarterly Visitation, i. 380; iii. <a href="#Page_514">514</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Questions to Candidates, ii. 583.</li> + +<li class="indx">Quick, Catherine, i. 416.</li> + +<li class="indx">Quincy, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Samuel, i. 114, 126, 127.</li> + + +<li class="ifrst">Rankin, Thomas, ii. 507, 532, 545; iii. <a href="#Page_69">69</a>, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>, <a href="#Page_194">194</a>, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>, <a href="#Page_297">297</a>, <a href="#Page_299">299</a>, <a href="#Page_300">300</a>, <a href="#Page_429">429</a>, <a href="#Page_441">441</a>, <a href="#Page_510">510</a>, <a href="#Page_566">566</a>, <a href="#Page_567">567</a>, <a href="#Page_575">575</a>, <a href="#Page_654">654</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Reading (Berks.), ii. 218.</li> + +<li class="indx">Reading recommended, ii. 515; iii. <a href="#Page_359">359</a>, <a href="#Page_632">632</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Redemption, Universal, i. 535.</li> + +<li class="indx">Reece, Richard, iii. <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_509">509</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Reeves, Jonathan, i. 453, 454, 473.</li> + +<li class="indx">Religion, how to Revive, iii. <a href="#Page_22">22</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Religious Cheerfulness, i. 138.</li> + +<li class="indx">Religious Reformations Compared, i. 533.</li> + +<li class="indx">Religious Revivals, i. 218, 220, 222, 223, 467; iii. <a href="#Page_124">124</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Religious Societies, i. 254.</li> + +<li class="indx">Relly, James, i. 536; ii. 240, 400.</li> + +<li class="indx">Relly, John, i. 537.</li> + +<li class="indx">Renty, Monsieur de, i. 366.</li> + +<li class="indx">Repentance, i. 52, 497; iii. <a href="#Page_24">24</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Reprobation, i. 317; ii. 144, 145.</li> + +<li class="indx">Reproving Sin, iii. <a href="#Page_622">622</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Reynolds, John, ii. 484.</li> + +<li class="indx">Richardson, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> John, ii. 507, 573; iii. <a href="#Page_222">222</a>, <a href="#Page_299">299</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Rich Methodists Warned, iii. <a href="#Page_456">456</a>, <a href="#Page_516">516</a>, <a href="#Page_519">519</a>, <a href="#Page_563">563</a>, <a href="#Page_594">594</a>, <a href="#Page_636">636</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Riches, Danger of, iii. <a href="#Page_347">347</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Richmond (Yorkshire), iii. <a href="#Page_18">18</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Ridley, Mr., i. 491, 494.</li> + +<li class="indx">Rimius, Henry, ii. 156.</li> + +<li class="indx">Riots in Staffordshire, i. 407.</li> + +<li class="indx">Ripon, ii. 569; iii. <a href="#Page_326">326</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Ritchie, Miss, ii. 411; iii. <a href="#Page_243">243</a>, <a href="#Page_337">337</a>, <a href="#Page_461">461</a>, <a href="#Page_621">621</a>, <a href="#Page_650">650</a>, <a href="#Page_651">651</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Ritualism, i. 168.</li> + +<li class="indx">Robe, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> James, i. 222.</li> + +<li class="indx">Roberts, Thomas, iii. <a href="#Page_621">621</a>, <a href="#Page_647">647</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Robertson, Dr., iii. <a href="#Page_120">120</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Robin Hood’s Bay, ii. 277, 330, 409.</li> + +<li class="indx">Robinson, Archbishop, i. 277.</li> + +<li class="indx">Robinson, Henry Crabb, iii. <a href="#Page_628">628</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Rochdale, ii. 57. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_696">[Pg 696]</span></li> + +<li class="indx">Rochester, iii. <a href="#Page_622">622</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Rodda, Richard, iii. <a href="#Page_248">248</a>, <a href="#Page_500">500</a>, <a href="#Page_574">574</a>, <a href="#Page_590">590</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Rogers, Hester Anne, iii. <a href="#Page_166">166</a>, <a href="#Page_371">371</a>, <a href="#Page_392">392</a>, <a href="#Page_650">650</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Rogers, James, iii. <a href="#Page_178">178</a>, <a href="#Page_348">348</a>, <a href="#Page_459">459</a>, <a href="#Page_625">625</a>, <a href="#Page_649">649</a>, <a href="#Page_650">650</a>, <a href="#Page_654">654</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Rolvenden, ii. 359.</li> + +<li class="indx">Romaine, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> William, ii. 219, 277, 412, 448, 459, 463, + 534, 556; iii. <a href="#Page_75">75</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Romley, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr., i. 405, 458, 488, 493; ii. 11.</li> + +<li class="indx">Roquet, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> James, ii. 11, 546; iii. <a href="#Page_16">16</a>, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Rotherham, ii. 69, 278, 331, 412, 502.</li> + +<li class="indx">Roughlee, ii. 14.</li> + +<li class="indx">Rousseau, iii. <a href="#Page_58">58</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Rowell, Jacob, ii. 144, 381, 565.</li> + +<li class="indx">Rules of Methodist Societies, i. 430.</li> + +<li class="indx">Rutherford, Thomas, iii. <a href="#Page_304">304</a>, <a href="#Page_623">623</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Rutherforth, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Dr., ii. 490; iii. <a href="#Page_36">36</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Ryan, Sarah, ii. 109, 285, 297, 517, 562.</li> + +<li class="indx">Rye, iii. <a href="#Page_566">566</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Ryles, Mr., iii 8.</li> + + +<li class="ifrst">Sabbath Desecration, i. 501; iii. <a href="#Page_366">366</a>, <a href="#Page_372">372</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Sacraments, i. 81, 353, 501; ii. 263; iii. <a href="#Page_574">574</a>-576.</li> + +<li class="indx">Sagar, William, iii. <a href="#Page_243">243</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Salisbury, ii. 87, 218; iii. <a href="#Page_52">52</a>, <a href="#Page_503">503</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Salmon, Mr., i. 117; iii. <a href="#Page_118">118</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Saltzburghers, i. 112.</li> + +<li class="indx">Salvation by Faith, i. 183, 238.</li> + +<li class="indx">Sandeman, Robert, ii. 293, 534; iii. <a href="#Page_3">3</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Sandemanianism, ii. 293, 550.</li> + +<li class="indx">Saunderson, Hugh, iii. <a href="#Page_42">42</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Savannah, i. 123, 126, 128, 161, 163.</li> + +<li class="indx">Scarborough, ii. 330, 410, 509; iii. <a href="#Page_413">413</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Schism, ii. 244.</li> + +<li class="indx">Schisms, i. 325, 344.</li> + +<li class="indx">Scilly Islands, i. 419.</li> + +<li class="indx">Scotch Funerals, iii. <a href="#Page_167">167</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Scotch National Assembly, ii. 567.</li> + +<li class="indx">Scotland, Methodism in, ii. 119.</li> + +<li class="indx"><i>Scots Magazine</i>, i. 239, 357.</li> + +<li class="indx">Scott, Captain, ii. 587.</li> + +<li class="indx">Scott, Francis, ii. 12.</li> + +<li class="indx">Scott, Sir Walter, iii. <a href="#Page_371">371</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Seabury, Dr. Samuel, iii. <a href="#Page_440">440</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Secker, Archbishop, i. 500.</li> + +<li class="indx">Selby, ii. 327.</li> + +<li class="indx">Select Societies, i. 445.</li> + +<li class="indx">Sellon, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Walter, ii. 8, 11, 201, 281, 359, 531; + iii. <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>, <a href="#Page_408">408</a>, <a href="#Page_431">431</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Separation from Church of England, ii. 198, 200, 241, 279, 317, + 380, 402, 416, 444, 477, 526, + 575; iii. <a href="#Page_12">12</a>, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>, <a href="#Page_330">330</a>, <a href="#Page_363">363</a>, <a href="#Page_391">391</a>, <a href="#Page_413">413</a>, <a href="#Page_431">431</a>, <a href="#Page_436">436</a>, <a href="#Page_449">449</a>, <a href="#Page_465">465</a>, <a href="#Page_468">468</a>, <a href="#Page_477">477</a>, <a href="#Page_488">488</a>, <a href="#Page_490">490</a>, <a href="#Page_496">496</a>, <a href="#Page_511">511</a>, <a href="#Page_523">523</a>, <a href="#Page_534">534</a>, <a href="#Page_542">542</a>, <a href="#Page_545">545</a>, <a href="#Page_547">547</a>, <a href="#Page_569">569</a>, <a href="#Page_613">613</a>, <a href="#Page_634">634</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Sermons before University, i. 362, 448.</li> + +<li class="indx">Settle, iii. <a href="#Page_242">242</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Sevenoaks, i. 376, 525; iii. <a href="#Page_562">562</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Seward, William, i. 342.</li> + +<li class="indx">Shackerley, ii. 18.</li> + +<li class="indx">Shadford, George, iii. <a href="#Page_175">175</a>, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Shaftesbury, ii. 86, 87, 218, 585.</li> + +<li class="indx">Sharpe, Granville, iii. <a href="#Page_114">114</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Shaw, Mrs., iii. <a href="#Page_465">465</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Sheerness, ii. 615.</li> + +<li class="indx">Sheffield, i. 390, 425, 488; ii. 139, 278, 328, 331, + 501, 561; iii. <a href="#Page_48">48</a>, <a href="#Page_328">328</a>, <a href="#Page_336">336</a>, <a href="#Page_348">348</a>, <a href="#Page_474">474</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Shent, William, ii. 118, 595; iii. <a href="#Page_289">289</a>, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Shepherd, Mr., i. 416, 418.</li> + +<li class="indx">“Shepherd of Salisbury Plain,” iii. <a href="#Page_53">53</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Shepton Mallet, i. 524; ii. 1, 2, 86; iii. <a href="#Page_590">590</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Sherlock, Bishop, ii. 72.</li> + +<li class="indx">Shields, i. 404; ii. 329; iii. <a href="#Page_18">18</a>, <a href="#Page_573">573</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Shirley, Lady Frances, ii. 32, 194.</li> + +<li class="indx">Shirley, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Walter, ii. 337, 364, 380; iii. <a href="#Page_65">65</a>, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Shoreham, i. 507, 525; iii. <a href="#Page_53">53</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Short Prayers, ii. 577.</li> + +<li class="indx">Shrewsbury, iii. <a href="#Page_19">19</a>, <a href="#Page_449">449</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Silvester, Rev, Tipping, i. 209.</li> + +<li class="indx">Simeon, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Charles, iii. <a href="#Page_454">454</a>, <a href="#Page_510">510</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Simpson, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> David, iii. <a href="#Page_165">165</a>, <a href="#Page_336">336</a>, <a href="#Page_370">370</a>, <a href="#Page_404">404</a>, <a href="#Page_501">501</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Simpson, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr., i. 302, 303, 338, 476.</li> + +<li class="indx">Simpson, Thomas, iii. <a href="#Page_397">397</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Simpson, William, iii. <a href="#Page_486">486</a>, <a href="#Page_522">522</a>, <a href="#Page_542">542</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Singing, i. 398; ii. 429; iii. <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>, <a href="#Page_352">352</a>, <a href="#Page_502">502</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Skelton, Charles, ii. 36, 129, 134, 187, 241.</li> + +<li class="indx">Skerret, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Dr., i. 239.</li> + +<li class="indx">Skircoat Green, i. 513.</li> + +<li class="indx">Slanders, i. 357.</li> + +<li class="indx">Slavery, ii. 132; iii. <a href="#Page_114">114</a>, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_650">650</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Sleep, i. 72; iii. <a href="#Page_357">357</a>, <a href="#Page_359">359</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Sligo, ii. 354, 445; iii. <a href="#Page_269">269</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Slocomb, John, i. 440.</li> + +<li class="indx">Smalbroke, Bishop, i. 504.</li> + +<li class="indx">Smith, Christopher, ii. 408.</li> + +<li class="indx">Smith, John, ii. 350.</li> + +<li class="indx">Smith, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Haddon, iii. <a href="#Page_80">80</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Smith, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Thomas, iii. <a href="#Page_337">337</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Smith, William, ii. 112; iii. <a href="#Page_16">16</a>, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_607">607</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Smyth, Agnes, iii. <a href="#Page_241">241</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Smyth, Aquila, i. 326.</li> + +<li class="indx">Smyth, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Edward, iii. <a href="#Page_241">241</a>, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>, <a href="#Page_454">454</a>, <a href="#Page_494">494</a>, <a href="#Page_571">571</a>, <a href="#Page_572">572</a>, <a href="#Page_583">583</a>, <a href="#Page_624">624</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Smuggling, ii. 277, 449, 515, 617; iii. <a href="#Page_215">215</a>. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_697">[Pg 697]</span></li> + +<li class="indx">Snowsfields Chapel, i. 421.</li> + +<li class="indx">Snuff taking, ii. 540.</li> + +<li class="indx">Societies, Methodist, i. 278, 444.</li> + +<li class="indx">Society for Reformation of Manners, ii. 468.</li> + +<li class="indx">Society Meetings, i. 446.</li> + +<li class="indx">Socinianism, ii. 295.</li> + +<li class="indx">Soldiers, i. 432; ii. 231, 237.</li> + +<li class="indx">South Leigh, ii. 498.</li> + +<li class="indx">South Sea Bubble, i. 43.</li> + +<li class="indx">Southall, Mr., ii. 500.</li> + +<li class="indx">Southampton, iii. <a href="#Page_503">503</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Southey, Robert, i. 265; iii. <a href="#Page_656">656</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Spangenberg, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr., i. 125, 420.</li> + +<li class="indx">Sparrow, Samuel, iii. <a href="#Page_117">117</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Spence, Robert, iii. <a href="#Page_496">496</a>, <a href="#Page_539">539</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Spencer, William, ii. 11.</li> + +<li class="indx">Spitalfields, ii. 534; iii. <a href="#Page_25">25</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx"><abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Agnes, i. 554; ii. 289, 361.</li> + +<li class="indx"><abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Austell, ii. 290; iii. <a href="#Page_465">465</a>, <a href="#Page_587">587</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx"><abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Helens, iii. <a href="#Page_371">371</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx"><abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Ives, i. 416, 453, 454, 554; ii. 87, 171, 218, + 361, 587, 610.</li> + +<li class="indx"><abbr title="Saint">St.</abbr> Just, i. 489, 524; ii. 25, 87, 218, 289, 361.</li> + +<li class="indx">Stafford, iii. <a href="#Page_403">403</a>, <a href="#Page_411">411</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Stamp, John, iii. <a href="#Page_573">573</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Stanhope, iii. <a href="#Page_535">535</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Staniforth, Samson, ii. 487.</li> + +<li class="indx">Stanton Harcourt, i. 174, 179.</li> + +<li class="indx">Stationing Preachers, iii. <a href="#Page_271">271</a>, <a href="#Page_339">339</a>, <a href="#Page_373">373</a>, <a href="#Page_418">418</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Stebbing, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Dr., i. 240, 475.</li> + +<li class="indx">Stennett, Dr., iii. <a href="#Page_13">13</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Stephens, Joseph Rayner, iii. <a href="#Page_462">462</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Stephens, William, i. 162, 164.</li> + +<li class="indx">Sterne, Lawrence, ii. 369, 590; iii. <a href="#Page_114">114</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Stevens, William, iii. <a href="#Page_648">648</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Stewards, London, i. 422, 549.</li> + +<li class="indx">Stockport, iii. <a href="#Page_327">327</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Stockton, ii. 12, 120, 277, 330, 407; iii. <a href="#Page_412">412</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Stokesley, ii. 330.</li> + +<li class="indx">Stonehouse, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr., i. 179, 305, 514.</li> + +<li class="indx">Stourport, iii. <a href="#Page_602">602</a>, <a href="#Page_647">647</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Strangers’ Friend Society, i. 11; iii. <a href="#Page_252">252</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Stroud, ii. 500, 535; iii. <a href="#Page_391">391</a>, <a href="#Page_410">410</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Sunday Schools, i. 10; ii. 534; iii. <a href="#Page_414">414</a>, <a href="#Page_500">500</a>, <a href="#Page_522">522</a>, <a href="#Page_604">604</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Sunderland, i. 404; ii. 140, 277, 329, 618; iii. <a href="#Page_48">48</a>, <a href="#Page_328">328</a>, <a href="#Page_336">336</a>, <a href="#Page_348">348</a>, <a href="#Page_474">474</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Suter, Alexander, iii. <a href="#Page_497">497</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Swaddlers, i. 559.</li> + +<li class="indx">Swearing, i. 502.</li> + +<li class="indx">Sweden, Methodism in, iii. <a href="#Page_66">66</a>, <a href="#Page_462">462</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Swedenborg, iii. <a href="#Page_59">59</a>, <a href="#Page_407">407</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Swindells, Robert, ii. 2, 3, 29, 122, 129.</li> + +<li class="indx">Syke House, i. 458.</li> + + +<li class="ifrst">Tadcaster, ii. 327, 330.</li> + +<li class="indx">Taunton, i. 419; ii. 133; iii. <a href="#Page_27">27</a>, <a href="#Page_211">211</a>, <a href="#Page_214">214</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Taxes, ii. 390; iii. <a href="#Page_451">451</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Taylor, David, i. 10, 382, 383, 390, 426; ii. 42.</li> + +<li class="indx">Taylor, Dr., ii. 18, 291, 294.</li> + +<li class="indx">Taylor, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr., iii. <a href="#Page_431">431</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Taylor, Isaac, i. 266.</li> + +<li class="indx">Taylor, Jeremy, i. 35, 36.</li> + +<li class="indx">Taylor, Joseph, iii. <a href="#Page_391">391</a>, <a href="#Page_441">441</a>, <a href="#Page_549">549</a>, <a href="#Page_574">574</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Taylor, Thomas, iii. <a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, <a href="#Page_225">225</a>, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>, <a href="#Page_243">243</a>, <a href="#Page_246">246</a>, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>, <a href="#Page_284">284</a>, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>, <a href="#Page_334">334</a>, <a href="#Page_361">361</a>, <a href="#Page_496">496</a>, <a href="#Page_544">544</a>, <a href="#Page_606">606</a>, <a href="#Page_611">611</a>, <a href="#Page_643">643</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Tea Drinking, i. 521.</li> + +<li class="indx">Teetotalism, i. 117; iii. <a href="#Page_111">111</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Tennant, Thomas, iii. <a href="#Page_224">224</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Terryhugan, ii. 303.</li> + +<li class="indx">Teulon, Mr., iii. <a href="#Page_17">17</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Tewkesbury, iii. <a href="#Page_411">411</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Theatres, ii. 514.</li> + +<li class="indx">Theological Institution, i. 543.</li> + +<li class="indx">Thirsk, i. 544; ii. 567, 595; iii. <a href="#Page_424">424</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Thom, William, iii. <a href="#Page_612">612</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Thompson, Joseph, ii. 568; iii. <a href="#Page_573">573</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Thompson, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr., i. 458; iii. <a href="#Page_384">384</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Thompson, Thomas, iii. <a href="#Page_272">272</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Thompson, William, iii. <a href="#Page_152">152</a>, <a href="#Page_606">606</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Thornton, Mrs., iii. <a href="#Page_78">78</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Thorold, Sir John, i. 132, 478.</li> + +<li class="indx">Thurot, Commodore, ii. 350.</li> + +<li class="indx">Ticket, Unique Society, ii. 188.</li> + +<li class="indx">Tipton, i. 406.</li> + +<li class="indx">Tissot, Dr., ii. 345; iii. <a href="#Page_57">57</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Tiverton, ii. 86, 87, 133; iii. <a href="#Page_275">275</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Todmorden, ii. 141.</li> + +<li class="indx">Told, Silas, i. 273; ii. 387; iii. <a href="#Page_279">279</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Toltschig, John, i. 196.</li> + +<li class="indx">Tomo Chichi, i. 114, 126.</li> + +<li class="indx">Tompson, Richard, ii. 214.</li> + +<li class="indx">Toplady, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Augustus, ii. 315, 487; iii. <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>, <a href="#Page_210">210</a>, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Tottie, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Dr., ii. 591.</li> + +<li class="indx">Towcester, ii. 348.</li> + +<li class="indx">Townsend, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Joseph, ii. 604.</li> + +<li class="indx">Tract Distribution, i. 496.</li> + +<li class="indx">Tract Society, Methodist, i. 11; iii. <a href="#Page_369">369</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Tracts, Publication of, i. 505.</li> + +<li class="indx">Trapp, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Dr., i. 241, 329; ii. 63.</li> + +<li class="indx">Tratham, David, ii. 129.</li> + +<li class="indx">Trelawney, Sir Harry, iii. <a href="#Page_339">339</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Trembath, John, i. 493, 558; iii. <a href="#Page_385">385</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Trevecca, ii. 236.</li> + +<li class="indx">Trevecca College, iii. <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>, <a href="#Page_255">255</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Tripp, Ann, ii. 289.</li> + +<li class="indx">Troutbeck, Dr., ii. 8. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_698">[Pg 698]</span></li> + +<li class="indx">Trowbridge, ii. 190; iii. <a href="#Page_338">338</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Truro, ii. 449, 585; iii. <a href="#Page_587">587</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Tucker, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Dr., i. 244, 399.</li> + +<li class="indx">Tullamore, ii. 4, 78, 303; iii. <a href="#Page_269">269</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Tunstall, iii. <a href="#Page_604">604</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Tyerman, Elizabeth, i. 486.</li> + +<li class="indx">Tyerman, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Daniel, iii. <a href="#Page_387">387</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Tyrell’s Pass, ii. 2, 78, 353.</li> + + +<li class="ifrst">Ulverstone, ii. 69.</li> + +<li class="indx">Union, i. 321; ii. 542.</li> + +<li class="indx">Union, Clerical, proposed, ii. 508.</li> + +<li class="indx">Union of Methodists, i. 511.</li> + +<li class="indx">United Methodist Free Churches, i. 6.</li> + +<li class="indx">Unthank, John, ii. 407.</li> + +<li class="indx">Uxbridge, ii. 71.</li> + + +<li class="ifrst">Valton, John, iii. <a href="#Page_337">337</a>, <a href="#Page_383">383</a>, <a href="#Page_552">552</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Vasey, Thomas, iii. <a href="#Page_428">428</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Vegetarianism, i. 117, 525.</li> + +<li class="indx">Venn, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Henry, i. 11; ii. 186, 252, 337, 412, 414, 448, + 459, 541; iii. <a href="#Page_18">18</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Visitors, Methodist, i. 353, 422.</li> + +<li class="indx">Voltaire, iii. <a href="#Page_58">58</a>, <a href="#Page_288">288</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Voltaire and Wesley contrasted, i. 44.</li> + +<li class="indx">Vowler, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr., ii. 279.</li> + + +<li class="ifrst">Wakefield, i. 440; ii. 12, 139; iii. <a href="#Page_184">184</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Waldron, Isaac, ii. 387.</li> + +<li class="indx">Walker, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Samuel, ii. 207, 211, 244, 250, 279, 317, + 414, 585.</li> + +<li class="indx">Walpole, Horace, ii. 32, 72, 558.</li> + +<li class="indx">Walpole, Sir Robert, i. 103, 136.</li> + +<li class="indx">Walsal, i. 407; ii. 501.</li> + +<li class="indx">Walsh, Thomas, i. 462; ii. 146, 147, 200, 202, 206, 239, + 261, 273, 304, 534, 597.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wandsworth, ii. 25, 297.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wanley, Dean, ii. 570.</li> + +<li class="indx">Warburton, Bishop, i. 208; ii. 450, 454, 492, 519.</li> + +<li class="indx">Ward, Elizabeth, ii. 407.</li> + +<li class="indx">Ward, Valentine, ii. 471.</li> + +<li class="indx">Warminster, ii. 1, 308.</li> + +<li class="indx">Warne, Jonathan, iii. <a href="#Page_139">139</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Warrener, William, iii. <a href="#Page_441">441</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Warrington, ii. 565; iii. <a href="#Page_352">352</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Watchnight, First, i. 333.</li> + +<li class="indx">Watchnight Service, iii. <a href="#Page_252">252</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Waterford, ii. 147; iii. <a href="#Page_153">153</a>, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Waterland, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Daniel, i. 330.</li> + +<li class="indx">Watson, Richard, i. 265; ii. 102.</li> + +<li class="indx">Watteville, Baron, i. 196.</li> + +<li class="indx">Watts, Dr., iii. <a href="#Page_334">334</a>, <a href="#Page_346">346</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Weardale, ii. 406, 503, 569; iii. <a href="#Page_123">123</a>, <a href="#Page_610">610</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Webb, Captain, ii. 546, 607; iii. <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <a href="#Page_451">451</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Webster, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Dr., iii. <a href="#Page_64">64</a>, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Webster, Eleazer, i. 543.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wednesbury, i. 406, 495; ii. 115, 348, 399, 501, 600; + iii. <a href="#Page_603">603</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx"><i>Weekly Miscellany</i>, i. 250, 326, 358.</li> + +<li class="indx">Welch, Thomas, iii. <a href="#Page_399">399</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wells, Samuel, iii. <a href="#Page_302">302</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Welsh Calvinistic Methodists, i. 4.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wentworth, General, i. 493.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wentworth House, iii. <a href="#Page_475">475</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wesley, Charles, <abbr title="junior">jun.</abbr>, iii. <a href="#Page_345">345</a>, <a href="#Page_360">360</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wesley, Mrs. Charles, ii. 35; iii. <a href="#Page_654">654</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wesley, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Charles, i. 67, 117, 126–128, 131, 137, 178, + 179, 181, 188, 210, 226, 229, + 232, 253, 260, 264, 279, 295, + 299, 302, 303, 310, 317, 324, + 331, 336, 341, 343, 349, 404, + 406, 407, 412, 416, 425, 437, + 439, 440, 448, 458, 470, 487, + 506, 538, 559; ii. 2, 6, 32–34, 40, + 52, 73, 95, 101, 103, 107, 113, + 118, 122, 127, 130, 137, 138, + 143, 147, 172, 175, 189, 201, + 206, 230, 244–253, 271, 307, 319, + 357, 358, 361, 365, 381, 387, + 388, 396, 416, 431, 441, 448, + 453, 459, 462, 487, 497, 506, + 507, 511, 556, 562, 574, 595, + 596, 602; iii. <a href="#Page_1">1</a>, <a href="#Page_5">5</a>, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>, <a href="#Page_135">135</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>, <a href="#Page_194">194</a>, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>, <a href="#Page_222">222</a>, <a href="#Page_225">225</a>, <a href="#Page_233">233</a>, <a href="#Page_246">246</a>, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>, <a href="#Page_261">261</a>, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>, <a href="#Page_330">330</a>, <a href="#Page_355">355</a>, <a href="#Page_376">376</a>, <a href="#Page_434">434</a>, <a href="#Page_439">439</a>, <a href="#Page_443">443</a>, <a href="#Page_478">478</a>, <a href="#Page_497">497</a>, <a href="#Page_522">522</a>, <a href="#Page_529">529</a>, <a href="#Page_562">562</a>, <a href="#Page_659">659</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wesley Family, The, i. 16.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wesley’s Brother Samuel, i. 24, 29, 46, 133, 188–194, 252, + 264, 286, 287.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wesley’s Father, i. 16, 30, 39, 41, 45, 98, 102, + 103.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wesley’s First Convert, i. 49.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wesley’s Journals Commenced, i. 35.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wesley’s Marriage and Wife, ii. 101, 111–115; iii. <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>, <a href="#Page_233">233</a>, <a href="#Page_365">365</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wesley’s Mother, i. 23, 26, 27, 29, 32, 34, + 37–39, 127, 132, 285, 369, 390.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wesley’s Nephew Samuel, iii. <a href="#Page_345">345</a>, <a href="#Page_361">361</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wesley’s Niece Sarah, iii. <a href="#Page_356">356</a>, <a href="#Page_524">524</a>, <a href="#Page_622">622</a>, <a href="#Page_630">630</a>, <a href="#Page_650">650</a>, <a href="#Page_651">651</a>, <a href="#Page_655">655</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wesley’s Poetry, i. 47.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wesley’s Sister Emily, i. 33, 94, 424; ii. 406.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wesley’s Sister Keziah, i. 99, 161.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wesley’s Sister Martha (Mrs. Hall), ii. 406, 589; iii. <a href="#Page_16">16</a>, <a href="#Page_567">567</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wesley’s Sister Mehetabel (Mrs. Wright), ii. 74, 406.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wesley’s Will, in 1768, iii. <a href="#Page_15">15</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wesley’s Will, in 1789, iii. <a href="#Page_616">616</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wesleyan Methodism, i. 3.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wesleyan Reform Union, i. 7.</li> + +<li class="indx">West, <abbr title="Honorable">Hon.</abbr> James, ii. 234.</li> + +<li class="indx">West Bromwich, i. 406; iii. <a href="#Page_7">7</a>, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">West Street Chapel, i. 421.</li> + +<li class="indx">Westall, Thomas, i. 440, 453.</li> + +<li class="indx"><i>Westminster Journal</i>, i. 473; ii. 397. + <span class="pagenum" id="Page_699">[Pg 699]</span></li> + +<li class="indx">Whatcoat, Richard, i. 442; iii. <a href="#Page_428">428</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wheatley, Benjamin, i. 543.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wheatley, James, ii. 121, 189, 309, 313, 325.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wheatley, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Charles, i. 240.</li> + +<li class="indx">Whiston, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Thomas, i. 325.</li> + +<li class="indx">Whitaker, John, ii. 410.</li> + +<li class="indx">Whitby, ii. 409; iii. <a href="#Page_68">68</a>, <a href="#Page_413">413</a>, <a href="#Page_538">538</a>, <a href="#Page_610">610</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Whitchurch, ii. 339.</li> + +<li class="indx">White, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> George, ii. 15.</li> + +<li class="indx">Whitefield, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> George, i. 68, 104, 108, 132, 141, 171, + 179, 221, 226, 232, 233, 243, + 247, 250, 252, 254, 269, 277, + 311–316, 321, 322, 327, 336, 342, + 344, 346–349, 372, 402, 414, 426, + 437, 455, 470, 477, 506, 535; + ii. 19, 22, 24, 32, 33, 42, 53, 68, + 95, 118, 132, 137, 147, 150, 154, + 156, 167, 175, 185, 209, 219, + 223, 228, 234, 272, 297, 366, + 371, 373, 396, 415, 416, 426, + 431, 448, 459, 463, 470, 493, + 497, 537, 548, 556, 562, 595, + 608, 614; iii. <a href="#Page_1">1</a>, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_255">255</a>, <a href="#Page_261">261</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Whitehaven, ii. 117, 504; iii. <a href="#Page_411">411</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Whitehead, Dr., ii. 103, 474; iii. <a href="#Page_16">16</a>, <a href="#Page_298">298</a>, <a href="#Page_616">616</a>, <a href="#Page_650">650</a>, <a href="#Page_651">651</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Whitelamb, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> John, i. 68, 389.</li> + +<li class="indx">Whitfield, George, iii. <a href="#Page_393">393</a>, <a href="#Page_557">557</a>, <a href="#Page_650">650</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Whitford, John, ii. 57, 187.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wickedness, Abounding, i. 215, 503, 532; ii. 72.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wickham, ii. 141.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wigan, ii. 566; iii. <a href="#Page_352">352</a>, <a href="#Page_371">371</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wilberforce, William, iii. <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#Page_509">509</a>, <a href="#Page_650">650</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wilder, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> John, i. 239.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wilkes, John, iii. <a href="#Page_37">37</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wilkinson, Benjamin, ii. 411.</li> + +<li class="indx">Williams, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Joseph, i. 252, 536.</li> + +<li class="indx">Williams, Robert, i. 429.</li> + +<li class="indx">Williams, Thomas, i. 557; ii. 536.</li> + +<li class="indx">Williams, William, ii. 481.</li> + +<li class="indx">Williamson, William, i. 146, 149, 163.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wills, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Mr., iii. <a href="#Page_431">431</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Winchelsea, iii. <a href="#Page_566">566</a>, <a href="#Page_626">626</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Windsor, i. 174.</li> + +<li class="indx">Windsor, Robert, ii. 189.</li> + +<li class="indx">Winscomb, Jasper, iii. <a href="#Page_546">546</a>, <a href="#Page_561">561</a>, <a href="#Page_601">601</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Winter, Cornelius, ii. 616; iii. <a href="#Page_128">128</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Witchcraft, iii. <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Witness of the Spirit, i. 190–195, 201, 207, 285, 552; + ii. 168, 216, 491; iii. <a href="#Page_24">24</a>, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Witney, ii. 498.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wogan, William, i. 138.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wolfenden, Mrs., iii. <a href="#Page_203">203</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wolff, George, iii. <a href="#Page_589">589</a>, <a href="#Page_599">599</a>, <a href="#Page_650">650</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wolverhampton, ii. 399; iii. <a href="#Page_7">7</a>, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>, <a href="#Page_493">493</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wood, John, iii. <a href="#Page_354">354</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wood, Samuel, ii. 144.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wooler, ii. 276.</li> + +<li class="indx">Worcester, ii. 127; iii. <a href="#Page_7">7</a>, <a href="#Page_647">647</a>, <a href="#Page_649">649</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Worksop, iii. <a href="#Page_328">328</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Worship, Methodist, ii. 282, 576.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wrangel, Dr., iii. <a href="#Page_66">66</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wray, James, iii. <a href="#Page_546">546</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wrestlingworth, ii. 311.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wride, Thomas, iii. <a href="#Page_466">466</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wright, Duncan, ii. 569; iii. <a href="#Page_362">362</a>, <a href="#Page_522">522</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wroote, i. 57.</li> + +<li class="indx">Wycombe, ii. 534; iii. <a href="#Page_241">241</a>, <a href="#Page_251">251</a>.</li> + + +<li class="ifrst">Yarm, ii. 12, 277, 408, 569; iii. <a href="#Page_83">83</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Yarmouth, ii. 555, 615.</li> + +<li class="indx">Yeadon, iii. <a href="#Page_68">68</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Yearly Collection, iii. <a href="#Page_5">5</a>, <a href="#Page_551">551</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Yewdall, Zechariah, ii. 471; iii. <a href="#Page_338">338</a>, <a href="#Page_608">608</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">York, ii. 120, 140, 214, 278, 327, 410, + 500, 571; iii. <a href="#Page_539">539</a>, <a href="#Page_606">606</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Yorkshire Methodism, ii. 608.</li> + + +<li class="ifrst">Zeal, Christian, iii. <a href="#Page_346">346</a>.</li> + +<li class="indx">Zinzendorf, Count, i. 181, 196–198, 206, 298, 300, 339, + 477; ii. 58, 88, 97, 116, 220.</li> +</ul> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 style="display: none; 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By <span class="smcap">Henry Alford</span>, <abbr title="Doctor of Divinity">D.D.</abbr>, Dean +of Canterbury. <abbr title="Volume One">Vol. I.</abbr>, containing the Four Gospels. 944 pages, <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, +$6 00; Sheep, $6 50.</p> + +<p class="hanging">ABBOTT’S FREDERICK THE GREAT. The History of Frederick the Second, +called Frederick the Great. By <span class="smcap">John S. C. Abbott</span>. Elegantly Illustrated. <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, +Cloth, $5 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">ABBOTT’S HISTORY OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. The French Revolution +of 1789, as viewed in the Light of Republican Institutions. By <span class="smcap">John S. C. Abbott</span>. +With 100 Engravings. <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, $5 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">ABBOTT’S NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. The History of Napoleon Bonaparte. By +<span class="smcap">John S. C. Abbott</span>. With Maps, Woodcuts, and Portraits on Steel. 2 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, +<abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, $10 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">ABBOTT’S NAPOLEON AT <abbr title="Saint">ST.</abbr> HELENA; or, Interesting Anecdotes and Remarkable +Conversations of the Emperor during the Five and a Half Years of his +Captivity. Collected from the Memorials of Las Casas, O’Meara, Montholon, +Antommarchi, and others. By <span class="smcap">John S. C. Abbott</span>. With Illustrations. <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, +Cloth, $5 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">ADDISON’S COMPLETE WORKS. The Works of Joseph Addison, embracing the +whole of the “Spectator.” Complete in 3 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, $6 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">ALCOCK’S JAPAN. The Capital of the Tycoon: a Narrative of a Three Years’ +Residence in Japan. By Sir <span class="smcap">Rutherford Alcock</span>, <abbr title="Knight Commander of the Bath">K.C.B.</abbr>, Her Majesty’s Envoy +Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary in Japan. With Maps and Engravings. +2 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $3 50.</p> + +<p class="hanging">ALISON’S HISTORY OF EUROPE. <span class="smcap">First Series</span>: From the Commencement of +the French Revolution, in 1789, to the Restoration of the Bourbons, in 1815. [In +addition to the Notes on Chapter <abbr title="Seventy-six">LXXVI.</abbr>, which correct the errors of the +original work concerning the United States, a copious Analytical Index has been +appended to this American edition.] <span class="smcap">Second Series</span>: From the Fall of Napoleon, +in 1815, to the Accession of Louis Napoleon, in 1852. 8 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, $16 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">BALDWIN’S PRE-HISTORIC NATIONS. Pre-Historic Nations; or, Inquiries concerning +some of the Great Peoples and Civilizations of Antiquity, and their +Probable Relation to a still Older Civilization of the Ethiopians or Cushites of +Arabia. By <span class="smcap">John D. Baldwin</span>, Member of the American Oriental Society. +<abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $1 75.</p> + +<p class="hanging">BARTH’S NORTH AND CENTRAL AFRICA. Travels and Discoveries in North +and Central Africa: being a Journal of an Expedition undertaken under the +Auspices of <abbr title="Her Britannic Majesty’s">H. B. M.’s</abbr> Government, in the Years 1849–1855. By <span class="smcap">Henry Barth</span>, +Ph.D., <abbr title="Doctor of Civil Law">D.C.L.</abbr> Illustrated. 3 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, $12 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">HENRY WARD BEECHER’S SERMONS. Sermons by <span class="smcap">Henry Ward Beecher</span>, +Plymouth Church, Brooklyn. Selected from Published and Unpublished Discourses, +and Revised by their Author. With Steel Portrait. Complete in 2 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, +<abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, $5 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">LYMAN BEECHER’S AUTOBIOGRAPHY, &c. Autobiography, Correspondence, +&c., of Lyman Beecher, <abbr title="Doctor of Divinity">D.D.</abbr> Edited by his Son, <span class="smcap">Charles Beecher</span>. With Three +Steel Portraits, and Engravings on Wood. In 2 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $5 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">BOSWELL’S JOHNSON. The Life of Samuel Johnson, <abbr title="Doctor of Laws">LL.D.</abbr> Including a Journey +to the Hebrides. By <span class="smcap">James Boswell</span>, <abbr title="Esquire">Esq.</abbr> A New Edition, with numerous +Additions and Notes. By <span class="smcap">John Wilson Croker</span>, <abbr title="Doctor of Laws">LL.D.</abbr>, F.R.S. Portrait of +Boswell. 2 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, $4 00. +</p> + +<p class="hanging">DRAPER’S CIVIL WAR. History of the American Civil War. By <span class="smcap">John W. Draper</span>, +M.D., <abbr title="Doctor of Laws">LL.D.</abbr>, Professor of Chemistry and Physiology in the University of +New York. In Three Vols. <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, $3 50 per <abbr title="volume">vol.</abbr></p> + +<p class="hanging">DRAPER’S INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT OF EUROPE. A History of the +Intellectual Development of Europe. By <span class="smcap">John W. Draper</span>, M.D., <abbr title="Doctor of Laws">LL.D.</abbr>, Professor +of Chemistry and Physiology in the University of New York. <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, $5 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">DRAPER’S AMERICAN CIVIL POLICY. Thoughts on the Future Civil Policy of +America. By <span class="smcap">John W. Draper</span>, M.D., <abbr title="Doctor of Laws">LL.D.</abbr>, Professor of Chemistry and Physiology +in the University of New York. Crown <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, $2 50.</p> + +<p class="hanging">DU CHAILLU’S AFRICA. Explorations and Adventures in Equatorial Africa: with +Accounts of the Manners and Customs of the People, and of the Chase of the Gorilla, +the Crocodile, Leopard, Elephant, Hippopotamus, and other Animals. By +<span class="smcap">Paul B. Du Chaillu</span>. Numerous Illustrations. <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, $5 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">BELLOWS’S OLD WORLD. The Old World in its New Face: Impressions of Europe +in 1867–1868. By <span class="smcap">Henry W. Bellows</span>. 2 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $3 50.</p> + +<p class="hanging">BRODHEAD’S HISTORY OF NEW YORK. History of the State of New York. +By <span class="smcap">John Romeyn Brodhead</span>. 1609–1691. 2 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr> <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, $3 00 per <abbr title="volume">vol.</abbr></p> + +<p class="hanging">BROUGHAM’S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. Life and Times of <span class="smcap">Henry, Lord Brougham</span>. +Written by Himself. In Three Volumes. <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $2 00 per <abbr title="volume">vol.</abbr></p> + +<p class="hanging">BULWER’S PROSE WORKS. Miscellaneous Prose Works of Edward Bulwer, +Lord Lytton. 2 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $3 50.</p> + +<p class="hanging">BULWER’S HORACE. The Odes and Epodes of Horace. A Metrical Translation +into English. With Introduction and Commentaries. By <span class="smcap">Lord Lytton</span>. With +Latin Text from the Editions of Orelli, Macleane, and Yonge. <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $1 75.</p> + +<p class="hanging">BULWER’S KING ARTHUR. A Poem. By <span class="smcap">Earl Lytton</span>. New Edition. <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, +Cloth, $1 75.</p> + +<p class="hanging">BURNS’S LIFE AND WORKS. The Life and Works of Robert Burns. Edited +by <span class="smcap">Robert Chambers</span>. 4 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $6 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">REINDEER, DOGS, AND SNOW-SHOES. A Journal of Siberian Travel and Explorations +made in the Years 1865-’67. By <span class="smcap">Richard J. Bush</span>, late of the Russo-American +Telegraph Expedition. Illustrated. Crown <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, $3 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">CARLYLE’S FREDERICK THE GREAT. History of Friedrich <abbr title="Two">II.</abbr>, called Frederick +the Great. By <span class="smcap">Thomas Carlyle</span>. Portraits, Maps, Plans, &c. 6 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, +Cloth, $12 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">CARLYLE’S FRENCH REVOLUTION. History of the French Revolution. Newly +Revised by the Author, with Index, &c. 2 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $3 50.</p> + +<p class="hanging">CARLYLE’S OLIVER CROMWELL. Letters and Speeches of Oliver Cromwell. +With Elucidations and Connecting Narrative. 2 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $3 50.</p> + +<p class="hanging">CHALMERS’S POSTHUMOUS WORKS. The Posthumous Works of Dr. Chalmers. +Edited by his Son-in-Law, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> <span class="smcap">William Hanna</span>, <abbr title="Doctor of Laws">LL.D.</abbr> Complete in 9 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, +<abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $13 50.</p> + +<p class="hanging">COLERIDGE’S COMPLETE WORKS. The Complete Works of Samuel Taylor +Coleridge. With an Introductory Essay upon his Philosophical and Theological +Opinions. Edited by Professor <span class="smcap">Shedd</span>. Complete in Seven <abbr title="Volumes">Vols.</abbr> With a fine +Portrait. Small <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, $10 50.</p> + +<p class="hanging">CURTIS’S HISTORY OF THE CONSTITUTION. History of the Origin, Formation, +and Adoption of the Constitution of the United States. By <span class="smcap">George Ticknor +Curtis</span>. 2 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, $6 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">DOOLITTLE’S CHINA. Social Life of the Chinese: with some Account of their Religious, +Governmental, Educational, and Business Customs and Opinions. With +special but not exclusive Reference to Fuhchau. By <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> <span class="smcap">Justus Doolittle</span>, +Fourteen Years Member of the Fuhchau Mission of the American Board. Illustrated +with more than 150 characteristic Engravings on Wood. 2 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, +Cloth, $5 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">GIBBON’S ROME. History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. By <span class="smcap">Edward +Gibbon</span>. With Notes by <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> <span class="smcap">H. H. Milman</span> and <span class="smcap">M. Guizot</span>. A new cheap +Edition. To which is added a complete Index of the whole Work, and a Portrait +of the Author. 6 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $9 00. +</p> + +<p class="hanging">HARPER’S NEW CLASSICAL LIBRARY. Literal Translations.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="unindent">The following Volumes are now ready. Portraits. <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $1 50 each.</p> + +<p class="hanging"><span class="smcap">Cæsar.—Virgil.—Sallust.—Horace.—Cicero’s Orations.—Cicero’s Offices, +&c.—Cicero on Oratory and Orators.—Tacitus</span> (2 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>).—<span class="smcap">Terence.—Sophocles.—Juvenal.—Xenophon.—Homer’s +Iliad.—Homer’s Odyssey.—Herodotus.—Demosthenes.—Thucydides.—Æschylus.—Euripides</span> +(2 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>).—<span class="smcap">Livy</span> (2 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>).</p> +</div> + +<p class="hanging">DAVIS’S CARTHAGE. Carthage and her Remains: being an Account of the Excavations +and Researches on the Site of the Phœnician Metropolis in Africa and other +adjacent Places. Conducted under the Auspices of Her Majesty’s Government. +By Dr. <span class="smcap">Davis</span>, <abbr title="Fellow Royal Geographic Society">F.R.G.S.</abbr> Profusely Illustrated with Maps, Woodcuts, Chromo-Lithographs, +&c. <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, $4 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">EDGEWORTH’S (<span class="smcap">Miss</span>) NOVELS. With Engravings. 10 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $15 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">GROTE’S HISTORY OF GREECE. 12 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $18 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">HELPS’S SPANISH CONQUEST. The Spanish Conquest in America, and its Relation +to the History of Slavery and to the Government of Colonies. By <span class="smcap">Arthur +Helps</span>. 4 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $6 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">HALE’S (<span class="smcap">Mrs.</span>) WOMAN’S RECORD. Woman’s Record; or, Biographical Sketches +of all Distinguished Women, from the Creation to the Present Time. Arranged +in Four Eras, with Selections from Female Writers of each Era. By Mrs. <span class="smcap">Sarah +Josepha Hale</span>. Illustrated with more than 200 Portraits. <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, $5 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">HALL’S ARCTIC RESEARCHES. Arctic Researches and Life among the Esquimaux: +being the Narrative of an Expedition in Search of Sir John Franklin, in +the Years 1860, 1861, and 1862. By <span class="smcap">Charles Francis Hall</span>. With Maps and 100 +Illustrations. The Illustrations are from Original Drawings by Charles Parsons, +Henry L. Stephens, Solomon Eytinge, W. S. L. Jewett, and Granville Perkins, +after Sketches by Captain Hall. <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, $5 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">HALLAM’S CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY OF ENGLAND, from the Accession of +Henry <abbr title="Seven">VII.</abbr> to the Death of George <abbr title="Two">II.</abbr> <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, $2 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">HALLAM’S LITERATURE. Introduction to the Literature of Europe during the +Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Seventeenth Centuries. By <span class="smcap">Henry Hallam</span>. 2 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, +<abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, $4 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">HALLAM’S MIDDLE AGES. State of Europe during the Middle Ages. By <span class="smcap">Henry +Hallam</span>. <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, $2 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">HILDRETH’S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. <span class="smcap">First Series</span>: From the +First Settlement of the Country to the Adoption of the Federal Constitution. +<span class="smcap">Second Series</span>: From the Adoption of the Federal Constitution to the End of +the Sixteenth Congress. 6 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, $18 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">HUME’S HISTORY OF ENGLAND. History of England, from the Invasion of Julius +Cæsar to the Abdication of James <abbr title="Two">II.</abbr>, 1688. By <span class="smcap">David Hume</span>. A new Edition, +with the Author’s last Corrections and Improvements. To which is Prefixed +a short Account of his Life, written by Himself. With a Portrait of the Author. +6 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $9 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">JAY’S WORKS. Complete Works of <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> William Jay: comprising his Sermons, +Family Discourses, Morning and Evening Exercises for every Day in the Year, +Family Prayers, &c. Author’s enlarged Edition, revised. 3 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, +$6 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">JEFFERSON’S DOMESTIC LIFE. The Domestic Life of Thomas Jefferson: compiled +from Family Letters and Reminiscences by his Great-Granddaughter, +<span class="smcap">Sarah N. Randolph</span>. With Illustrations. Crown <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Illuminated Cloth, Beveled +Edges, $2 50.</p> + +<p class="hanging">JOHNSON’S COMPLETE WORKS. The Works of Samuel Johnson, <abbr title="Doctor of Laws">LL.D.</abbr> With +an Essay on his Life and Genius, by <span class="smcap">Arthur Murphy</span>, <abbr title="Esquire">Esq.</abbr> Portrait of Johnson. +2 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, $4 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">KINGLAKE’S CRIMEAN WAR. The Invasion of the Crimea, and an Account of +its Progress down to the Death of Lord Raglan. By <span class="smcap">Alexander William Kinglake</span>. +With Maps and Plans. Two Vols. ready. <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, + $2 00 per <abbr title="volume">vol.</abbr></p> + +<p class="hanging">KINGSLEY’S WEST INDIES. At Last: A Christmas in the West Indies. By +<span class="smcap">Charles Kingsley</span>. Illustrated. <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $1 50. +</p> + +<p class="hanging">KRUMMACHER’S DAVID, KING OF ISRAEL. David, the King of Israel: a Portrait +drawn from Bible History and the Book of Psalms. By <span class="smcap">Frederick William +Krummacher</span>, <abbr title="Doctor of Divinity">D.D.</abbr>, Author of “Elijah the Tishbite,” &c. Translated under the +express Sanction of the Author by the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> <span class="smcap">M. G. Easton</span>, + <abbr title="Master of Arts">M.A.</abbr> With a Letter +from Dr. Krummacher to his American Readers, and a Portrait. <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, +$1 75.</p> + +<p class="hanging">LAMB’S COMPLETE WORKS. The Works of Charles Lamb. Comprising his Letters, +Poems, Essays of Elia, Essays upon Shakspeare, Hogarth, &c., and a Sketch +of his Life, with the Final Memorials, by <span class="smcap">T. Noon Talfourd</span>. + Portrait. 2 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, +<abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $3 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">LIVINGSTONE’S SOUTH AFRICA. Missionary Travels and Researches in South +Africa; including a Sketch of Sixteen Years’ Residence in the Interior of Africa, +and a Journey from the Cape of Good Hope to Loando on the West Coast; thence +across the Continent, down the River Zambesi, to the Eastern Ocean. By <span class="smcap">David +Livingstone</span>, <abbr title="Doctor of Laws">LL.D.</abbr>, <abbr title="Doctor of Civil Law">D.C.L.</abbr> + With Portrait, Maps by Arrowsmith, and numerous +Illustrations. <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, $4 50.</p> + +<p class="hanging">LIVINGSTONES’ ZAMBESI. Narrative of an Expedition to the Zambesi and its +Tributaries, and of the Discovery of the Lakes Shirwa and Nyassa. 1858–1864. +By <span class="smcap">David</span> and <span class="smcap">Charles Livingstone</span>. + With Map and Illustrations. <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, +$5 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">M‘CLINTOCK & STRONG’S CYCLOPÆDIA. Cyclopædia of Biblical, Theological, +and Ecclesiastical Literature. Prepared by the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> + <span class="smcap">John M‘Clintock</span>, <abbr title="Doctor of Divinity">D.D.</abbr>, +and <span class="smcap">James Strong</span>, S.T.D. <i>3 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr> + now ready.</i> Royal <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>. Price per <abbr title="volume">vol.</abbr>, Cloth, +$5 00; Sheep, $6 00; Half Morocco, $8 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">MARCY’S ARMY LIFE ON THE BORDER. Thirty Years of Army Life on the +Border. Comprising Descriptions of the Indian Nomads of the Plains; Explorations +of New Territory; a Trip across the Rocky Mountains in the Winter; +Descriptions of the Habits of Different Animals found in the West, and the Methods +of Hunting them; with Incidents in the Life of Different Frontier Men, &c., +&c. By Brevet Brigadier-General <span class="smcap">R. B. Marcy</span>, U.S.A., Author of “The Prairie +Traveller.” With numerous Illustrations. <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, Beveled Edges, $3 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">MACAULAY’S HISTORY OF ENGLAND. The History of England from the Accession +of James <abbr title="Two">II.</abbr> By <span class="smcap">Thomas Babington Macaulay</span>. With an Original Portrait +of the Author. 5 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, + Cloth, $10 00; <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $7 50.</p> + +<p class="hanging">MOSHEIM’S ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY, Ancient and Modern; in which the +Rise, Progress, and Variation of Church Power are considered in their Connection +with the State of Learning and Philosophy, and the Political History of Europe +during that Period. Translated, with Notes, &c., by <span class="smcap">A. Maclaine</span>, + <abbr title="Doctor of Divinity">D.D.</abbr> +A new Edition, continued to 1826, by <span class="smcap">C. Coote</span>, + <abbr title="Doctor of Laws">LL.D.</abbr> 2 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, $4 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">NEVIUS’S CHINA. China and the Chinese: a General Description of the Country +and its Inhabitants; its Civilization and Form of Government; its Religious and +Social Institutions; its Intercourse with other Nations; and its Present Condition +and Prospects. By the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> <span class="smcap">John L. + Nevius</span>, Ten Years a Missionary in China. +With a Map and Illustrations. <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $1 75.</p> + +<p class="hanging">OLIN’S (<span class="smcap">Dr.</span>) LIFE AND LETTERS. 2 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, + <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $3 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">OLIN’S (<span class="smcap">Dr.</span>) TRAVELS. Travels in Egypt, Arabia Petræa, and the Holy Land. Engravings. +2 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, $3 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">OLIN’S (<span class="smcap">Dr.</span>) WORKS. The Works of Stephen Olin, + <abbr title="Doctor of Divinity">D.D.</abbr>, late President of the Wesleyan +University. 2 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $3 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">OLIPHANT’S CHINA AND JAPAN. Narrative of the Earl of Elgin’s Mission to +China and Japan, in the Years 1857, ’58, ’59. By <span class="smcap">Laurence Oliphant</span>, Private +Secretary to Lord Elgin. Illustrations. <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, $3 50.</p> + +<p class="hanging">OLIPHANT’S (<span class="smcap">Mrs.</span>) LIFE OF EDWARD IRVING. The Life of Edward Irving, +Minister of the National Scotch Church, London. Illustrated by his Journals and +Correspondence. By Mrs. <span class="smcap">Oliphant</span>. Portrait. <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, $3 50.</p> + +<p class="hanging">RAWLINSON’S MANUAL OF ANCIENT HISTORY. A Manual of Ancient History, +from the Earliest Times to the Fall of the Western Empire. Comprising +the History of Chaldæa, Assyria, Media, Babylonia, Lydia, Phœnicia, Syria, Judæa, +Egypt, Carthage, Persia, Greece, Macedonia, Parthia, and Rome. By +<span class="smcap">George Rawlinson</span>, <abbr title="Master of Arts">M.A.</abbr>, + Camden Professor of Ancient History in the University +of Oxford. <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $2 50. +</p> + +<p class="hanging">RECLUS’S THE EARTH. The Earth: a Descriptive History of the Phenomena and +Life of the Globe. By <span class="smcap">Elisée Reclus</span>. Translated by the late B. B. Woodward, +and Edited by Henry Woodward. With 234 Maps and Illustrations, and 23 Page +Maps printed in Colors. <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, $5 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">POETS OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. The Poets of the Nineteenth Century. +Selected and Edited by the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> <span class="smcap">Robert + Aris Willmott</span>. With English and +American Additions, arranged by <span class="smcap">Evert A. Duyckinck</span>, Editor of “Cyclopædia +of American Literature.” Comprising Selections from the Greatest Authors of +the Age. Superbly Illustrated with 132 Engravings from Designs by the most +Eminent Artists. In elegant small <abbr title="quarto">4to</abbr> form, printed on Superfine Tinted Paper, +richly bound in extra Cloth, Beveled, Gilt Edges, $6 00; Half Calf, $6 00; Full +Turkey Morocco, $10 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">SHAKSPEARE. The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare, with the Corrections +and Illustrations of Dr. <span class="smcap">Johnson</span>, <span class="smcap">G. Steevens</span>, + and others. Revised by <span class="smcap">Isaac +Reed</span>. Engravings. 6 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, Royal + <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $9 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">SMILES’S LIFE OF THE STEPHENSONS. The Life of George Stephenson, and +of his Son, Robert Stephenson; comprising, also, a History of the Invention and +Introduction of the Railway Locomotive. By <span class="smcap">Samuel Smiles</span>, Author of “Self-Help,” +&c. With Steel Portraits and numerous Illustrations. <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, $3 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">SMILES’S HISTORY OF THE HUGUENOTS. The Huguenots: their Settlements, +Churches, and Industries in England and Ireland. By <span class="smcap">Samuel Smiles</span>. With an +Appendix relating to the Huguenots in America. Crown <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, $1 75.</p> + +<p class="hanging">SPEKE’S AFRICA. Journal of the Discovery of the Source of the Nile. By Captain +<span class="smcap">John Hanning Speke</span>, Captain H. M. Indian Army, Fellow and Gold Medalist +of the Royal Geographical Society, <abbr title="Honorable">Hon.</abbr> Corresponding Member and Gold +Medalist of the French Geographical Society, &c. With Maps and Portraits and +numerous Illustrations, chiefly from Drawings by Captain <span class="smcap">Grant</span>. + <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, +uniform with Livingstone, Barth, Burton, &c., $4 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">STRICKLAND’S (<span class="smcap">Miss</span>) QUEENS OF SCOTLAND. Lives of the Queens of Scotland +and English Princesses connected with the Regal Succession of Great Britain. +By <span class="smcap">Agnes Strickland</span>. 8 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, + <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $12 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">THE STUDENT’S SERIES.</p> + +<ul> +<li>France. Engravings. <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $2 00.</li> +<li>Gibbon. Engravings. <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $2 00.</li> +<li>Greece. Engravings. <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $2 00.</li> +<li>Hume. Engravings. <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $2 00.</li> +<li>Rome. By Liddell. Engravings. <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $2 00.</li> +<li>Old Testament History. Engravings. <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $2 00.</li> +<li>New Testament History. Engravings. <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $2 00.</li> +<li>Strickland’s Queens of England. Abridged. Engravings. <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $2 00.</li> +<li>Ancient History of the East. <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $2 00.</li> +<li>Hallam’s Middle Ages. <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $2 00.</li> +<li>Lyell’s Elements of Geology. <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr>, Cloth, $2 00.</li> +</ul> + +<p class="hanging">TENNYSON’S COMPLETE POEMS. The Complete Poems of Alfred Tennyson, +Poet Laureate. With numerous Illustrations by Eminent Artists, and Three +Characteristic Portraits. <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Paper, 75 cents; Cloth, $1 25.</p> + +<p class="hanging">THOMSON’S LAND AND THE BOOK. The Land and the Book; or, Biblical Illustrations +drawn from the Manners and Customs, the Scenes and the Scenery of +the Holy Land. By <span class="smcap">W. M. Thomson</span>, + <abbr title="Doctor of Divinity">D.D.</abbr>, Twenty-five Years a Missionary of the +<abbr title="American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions">A.B.C.F.M.</abbr> + in Syria and Palestine. With two elaborate Maps of Palestine, an accurate +Plan of Jerusalem, and several hundred Engravings, representing the Scenery, +Topography, and Productions of the Holy Land, and the Costumes, Manners, +and Habits of the People. 2 large <abbr title="duodecimo">12mo</abbr> + <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, Cloth, $5 00.</p> + +<p class="hanging">TYERMAN’S WESLEY. The Life and Times of the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> + John Wesley, <abbr title="Master of Arts">M.A.</abbr>, Founder +of the Methodists. By the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> <span class="smcap">Luke Tyerman</span>, Author + of “The Life of <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> +Samuel Wesley.” Portraits. 3 <abbr title="volumes">vols.</abbr>, Crown <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>.</p> + +<p class="hanging">VÁMBÉRY’S CENTRAL ASIA. Travels in Central Asia. Being the Account of a +Journey from Teheran across the Turkoman Desert, on the Eastern Shore of the +Caspian, to Khiva, Bokhara, and Samarcand, performed in the Year 1863. By +<span class="smcap">Arminius Vámbéry</span>, Member of the Hungarian Academy of Pesth, by whom he +was sent on this Scientific Mission. With Map and Woodcuts. + <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, Cloth, $4 50.</p> + +<p class="hanging">WOOD’S HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. Homes Without Hands: being a Description +of the Habitations of Animals, classed according to their Principle of Construction. +By <span class="smcap">J. G. Wood</span>, <abbr title="Master of Arts">M.A.</abbr>, + <abbr title="Fellow Linnean Society">F.L.S.</abbr> With about 140 Illustrations. + <abbr title="octavo">8vo</abbr>, +Cloth, Beveled Edges, $4 50.</p> +</div> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_back.jpg" + alt="back cover"> + </div><!--end figcenter--> +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h4>Transcriber’s Note:</h4> + +<p>Footnotes were renumbered sequentially and were +moved to the end of each chapter. There is no anchor for + Footnote <a href="#Footnote_703_703" class="label">[703]</a>. It +was added where it may belong. There are two anchors to + Footnote <a href="#Footnote_134_134" class="label">[134]</a>. +Sidenotes displaying Wesley’s age were changed to follow +the chapter title. Obsolete and alternative +spellings were not changed. Nine misspelled words were corrected.</p> +</div> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76882 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/76882-h/images/colophon.jpg b/76882-h/images/colophon.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..22ebb28 --- /dev/null +++ b/76882-h/images/colophon.jpg diff --git a/76882-h/images/cover.jpg b/76882-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d62cd28 --- /dev/null +++ b/76882-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/76882-h/images/frontis.jpg b/76882-h/images/frontis.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6cb912f --- /dev/null +++ b/76882-h/images/frontis.jpg diff --git a/76882-h/images/i_back.jpg b/76882-h/images/i_back.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..57166c7 --- /dev/null +++ b/76882-h/images/i_back.jpg |
