fM DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY FRANK BAKER COLLECTION OF WESLEYANA AND BRITISH METHODISM / Air FOR THE PEOPLE CALLED METHODISTS: CONTAIKIKO A CONCISE ACCOUNT OP THEIft ORIGIN AND PROGRESS, DOCTRINE, DISCIPLINE, AND DESIGNS : Humbly fiibmitted to the Confideration of THE FRIENDS OF TRUE CHRISTIANITY* By JOSEPH BENSON. We defire to hear of thee what thou thinkeft : For as con- ccrnhig this Sed, we know that every where it is fpoken againft. Acts xxYiii. ae. Be ready always to give an anfwer to every man, that a(kcth you, a reafon of the hope that is in you, with meeknefs and fear: having a good confcicnce ; that whereas, they fpeak evil of you, as of evil-doers, they may be afliamed, that falfely accufe your good converfation in Christ. 1 Pet. iii. 15, 16. LONDON; FRINTED BY C. STORY, NORTH-GRKKN, FINSBURY-SQUARE. Sold by G. Whitfield, at the New-Chapel, City- Road; Mr. BuTTERwoRTH, Flcct-Strcct ; — Mr. Kknt, Holhorn; — Mr. P.\RSONs, Lucig.ite-Hill ; — Mr. Bavnes, Patcr- noflcr-Row : — arid at the Metliodiil Prcaching- Houfts in Town ani Country. 1801. (Price 4«. in Boards.) PREFACE. '^Vv-^rrb <^«^oof. for ciu/e. '~ fi.' i — cry /» thee. "Z it — 22I — Foundry
e'll covered and phufible fallacies, whicli afterwarc^s gave him gieat fuperiority over mod of his numerous opponents. It .Tp|)ears, however, that amidll all this, his chief lludy was religion, and his principal care to attain a more practical knowledge of God, and ( 12 ) and a greater conformity to his iv/ll, in the temper of his mi id, and in all his actions. But concerning tlie way of attaining tliis, he was not yet properly informed ; nor was he con- vinced, that his own endeavours were infuf- ficient for this purpofe. He faw indeed, in 1725, what the Gofpel was intended to do for him and ail mankind, to be the means of reconciling him to God, and giving him a title to the heavenly inheritance; of cleanung him from fm, and preparing him for the enjoyment of hea- ven ; and he retained this view, of the general defign of the gofpel, from that period to the end of his life, without the leaft variation. But he did not yet underfrand the method propofed in the gofpel, of putting a fmner in pofielTion of thefe bleflings, nor the order in which we are capable of acquiring them. What chiefly kept his mind in this ilate of perplexity, v.as a confufed notion, which he had imbibed, of jurtitication. This he either confounded with fanctihcation, or thought a man muft be fanc- titied before he is juftitied. This notion pre- vented his perceiving, that to juftify, in the lan- giiage of St. Paul, is to pardon a believing fm- ner, as an acSt of grace j not for the fake of any previous hoiinefs in him, but thro' Jefus Chrift alone, and that the way of faith is the way of vidory, of hoiinefs and peace. As foon, as he was convinced of this, he was no longer embarraffed and perplexed, he faw immediately the plan which the gofpel propofes of reconcil- ing finners to God, of nuking them holy in heart and life, and of giving them an hope full of immortality. But let us attend him in this important purfuit, and every ftep we take wiU convince tiS, ( 13 ) Tj'?, of the upnghtnefs of his Intention, and of iTis great zeal for God and religion. Iti tlie year 1729, Ue^tcHs us, he began riot only to read, but to fludy the Bible, as the one, the only rtandard of truth, and the only mocJcl of p»ure religion. Hence he faw, in a clcarej" and clearer light, what the law of God required him to be, and the indiipenfable neccfTity of having the ;;///.■:/ v^>htch zras in Cbriji, and of walking as Chrijl alj'o ivalkcd, and that not only in many or in moft rcfpc6^s, but in all thiugj.. And this was the light wherein, at this tin^.e, he generally coniidered religion, as an uniform following of Chrift, an entire inward and out- ward conformity to our Maimer. Nor was he afraid of any thing more than of bending tliis rule to the experience of himfclf, or of any otlier man, — of allowing himfeif in any, the Icall, difconformity to our grand exemplar. It was about this time, that a ferious man, whom he had travelled many miles to fee, faid to him, " Sir, you wilh to ferve God, and go to heaven. Remember you cannot ferve hiai alone. You mufi:, therefore, find companions or make them. 1'he Bible knows nothing of foUtary religion.''* He never forgot this. There- fore on his return to the Univcrfity, in Novem- ber 1729, at whicii time he began to refide there altogether, he fpoke to his brother Charles, who was Student of Chrid-Church, to Mr. Mor- gan, Commoner of Chrift-Church, and to Mr. Kirkham, of Merton-College, on tlie fubjecl, and they agreed to fpend three or four evenings in a week together. Their defign was to read over the ClalHcs, which they had before read in private, and chiefly the Greek Teftament, qv\ common nights, and on Sundays fome book of C divinity. ( 14 ) divinity. The next year two or three of Mr. Wefley's pupils defired the liberty of meeting with them, and afterwards one of Mr. Charles Wefley's pupils. In the fummer of this year Mr. Morgan in- formed Mr. Wefley, that he had called at the gaol to fee a nfian who was condemned for kill- ing his wife, and that, from the talk he had with one of the debtors, he verily believed it would do much good if any one would be at the pains of, now and then, fpeaking with them. This he fo frequently repeated, that on the 24th of Auguft, Mr. Welley, and his brother, walked ■with him to the Calile. They were fo well fatisfied with their vifit there, that they agreed to go thither once or twice a week, which they had not done long, before Mr. Morgan delired Mr. Wefley to go with him to fee a poor wo- man in the town that was fick. In this em- ployment too, when they came to reflect upon it. they believed it would be worti\ v^hile to fpend an hour or two in a week, provided the minifler of th.e parifli, in which any fuch per- fon was, were not again(t it. But that they Ought not depend on their own judgment, Mr. Wefley wrote an account to his father of their whole defign, withal begging that he, who had Jived feventy years in the world, and fcen as imuch of it as moll private men had ever done, v/ould advife them whether they had yet gone too far, and whether they ihould now (land full or go forward ? Part of his Anfwer, dated Sept. ai, 1730, Xwas this : *• And now, as to your defigns and employ- mcots, what can I fay lefs of them than, — Faldf ( 15 ) froho*: and that I have the higheft reafon Xa bicfs God, that he has given nie two fons to- gether at Oxford, to whom lie has given grace and courage to turn the .war againft the worid and the devil, which is the beft way to con-i qucr them. They have but one more enemy to combat with, the ilefli ; which if, they take care to fubdue by falling and prayer, Uiere will he no more for them to do, but to proceed fttadily in the fame courfc, and expect tlie crowri which fadeth not away. You have reafon to biefs Goi\, as I do, that you have fo faft a friend as Mr.M.who I fee, in the moll difficult fervice, is ready to break the ice for you. You do not know of how much good that poor wretch, who killed his wife, has been the providential occa- fion. I think I muft adopt Air. M — to be my fon, together with you and your brother Charles : and when I have fuch a ternion to profecute that war, wherein 1 am now AHUs emeritus f , I (hall not be afhamcd, when they fpeak with their enemies in the f^atc." *• I am afraid left the main obje6lion you make, againft your going on in the bufMcrsvvitli the prifoners, may fecretly proceed from flelh and blood. For " who can harm you if you are followers of that which is fo good ?" And which will be one of the marks by which the Shepherd of Ifrael will know his flieep at the all day? — i'hough, if it were polhble for you to fuflci a little in the caufe, you would have a confefibr's reward. You own, none, but fuch as are out of their fenfes, would be prejudiced againft your a(5ling in this manner. Go on then, * I greatly approve. + A worn out foldier. C 2 ia ( i6 ) Jn God's name, in the path to which your Sa- viour has diretS^ed you, and that track wherein your father has >^a,i T»j •ntxcUK7^vai\' ivz^'iTifKTcivofjLXi t>j ;^afa.* What would you be ? Would you be angels ? I quef^ion whetlier a mortal can arrive at a greater degree of perfection, than fteadily to do good, and for that reafon patiently and meekly to fufFer evil. For my part, on the prefent view of your actions and deilgns, my daily prayers are, that God would keep you humble ; and then 1 am fure, that if you con- tinue to Juffer for righteoujnefs juke, tho' it be but in a lower degree, the Spirit of God, and of glory (hall, in fome good meafure, rejl upon you. Be never weary of well-doing : Nover look back ; for you know the prize, and the crown are be- ^ Great is my glorying of yon. I am filled with com* fort. I am exceeding joyful, C 3 fore ( i8 ) fore you. Tho' I can fcarce think, (o meanly of you, as that you would be difcouraged with *' the crackling of thorns under a pot." Be not high-minded, but fear ; preferve an equal temper of mind under whatever treatment you meet with, from a not very juft or well-natured world. Bear no more fail than is necefi'ary, but fteer fteady. The lefs you value yourfelves for thefe unfafhionable duties, (as there is no luch thing as works of fupererogation,) the more all good and wife men will value you, if they fee your actions are of a piece ; or, which is infinitely more. He by whom aitions and intentions are weighed, will both accept, efteem, and reward you." *' I hear my fon John has the honour of be- ing Ayled the Father of the holy Club : If it be fo, I am fure I mufl be the Grand-father of it : And I need not fay, that I had rather any of my fons were fo dignified and diftinguilhed, than to have the title of PIis Holiness." In the fame letter, he advifes them to ufe great mildnefs towards their perfecutors ; but at the fame time, to avoid a mean or fneaking beha- viour, and rather to fhew an open manly firm- nefs, which is highly becoming, in a mind confcious of a6ring w'ell. In anfwer to this, iVTr. Wefley wrote to his fatlier, December, ii. He fays, ** We all re- turn you our fmcere thanks for your timely and neceffary advice ; and fliould be glad if it were as edfy to follow it, as it is impoffible not to approve it. That doubtlefs is the very point, we have to gain, before any other can be managed fuccefsfully, to have an habitual, lively fenfe of our being only inftruments ia his hand, who can do all things either with or with- ( 19 ) ^v*lthout any inftrument. But liow to fix this fenfe in us, is the great queftion. We Jiope you and all our friends will continue to in- tercede for us, to him with whom all things are poflible. *' To morrow night I expesEl to be in com- pany with the gentleman, who did us the honour to take the firll notice of our little focicty. I have terrible reafons to think he is as Honderly provided with humanity, as wilh fenfe and learning. However, I mud not flip this op- portunity, becaufe he is at prefent in fome dillrefs, occafioncd by l\is being obliged to dif- pute in the fchools on Monday, though he is not furnifhed with fuch arguments, as he wants. 1 intend, if he lias not procured them before, to help him to fome arguments, that I may at leafi remove that prejudice from him, — that we are friends to none, but thofe wlio are as queer as ourfelves," Under the incouragement of his facher's let- ter, they dill continued to meet together as ufual, and to confirm one another in their pious refolutions. I'hey communicated once a week. They vifited the prisoners , and fome poor fa- milies in the town, when they were fick. And that they might have wlierewitii to relieve their diftrefs, they abridged themfelves of all fuper- fluities, and of many of the conveniencies of hfe. They took every opportunity of convetf- ing with their acquaintance in the moft ufe- ful manner, to awaken in them a fenfe of reli- gion. Bvit the out-cry daily increafing, that th^y might (hew what ground there was for it, they propofed to their friends, or opponents, as they had opportunity, thefe or the like queflions : I. Whether ( 20 ) I. Whether it does not concern all men, of ■all conditions, to imitate Him, as much as they can, " who went about doing good ?" Whether all chriAJans are not concerned in that command ; *' While we have time let us do good to all men ?" VS^hether we Ihall not be more happy here- after, the more good we do now ? Whether we can be happy at all hereafter unlefs we have, according to our power, " Fed the hungry, clothed the naked, vifited thofe that are Tick, and in prifon," and made all thefe adlions fubfervient to a higher purpofe, even the faving of fouls from death ? Whether it be not our bounden duty always to remember, that he did more for us, than we can do for him, who aiTures us, " In as much as ye have done it unto one of the leaft of thefe my brethren, ye have done it unto me ?" II. Whether, upon thefe conGderations, we may not try to do good to our acquaintance ? Particularly, whether we may not try to con- vince them of the necefTity of being chriflians ? Whether of tlie confequent necelFuy of being Scholars ? V/hether of the neceffity of method and in- dullry in order to either learning or virtue ? Whether we may not try to perfuade them to confirm and increafe their indullry, by conunu- nicating as often as they can ? Whether we may not mention to them the authors whom we conceive to have written beft on thofe fubjecTts ? Whether we may not afTift them as we are able, from time to time, to form refolutions upon what they read in thofe authors, and to execute them with fleadinefs and uerfeverence ? III. ( 21 ) III. Whether, upon the confiderations'above- mctitioned, we may not try to do good to thofe that are hungry, naked, or lick ? In particulir, whether-, if we know any neceifilous family, we may not give them a httle food, clothes, or phyfic, as they want ? Whether we may not give them, if they can read, a Bible, Common-Prayer Book, or Whole Duty of Man ? Whether we may not now and then enquire how they have uf.d ihem ; explain what they do not underftand, and enforce \\hat they do? Whether we may not enforce upon them, more efpecially, the neceflity of private prayer, and of frequenting the church and the facra- ment ? Whether we may not contribute what httle we are able toward having their children clothed and taught to read ? Whether we may not take care that they be taught their catechifm, and fhort prayers for morning and evening ? IV. Laflly, Whether, upon the confiderations above-mentioned, we may not try to do good to thofe tiiat are in prifon ? In particular, W"hether we may not releafe fuch wcll-difpofed perfons as remain in prifon for fmall fums ^ Whether we may not lend fmaller fums to thofe that are of any trade, tiiat they may procure themfelves tools and materials to work with ? Whether we may not give to them, who ap- pear to want it moll, a little money, or clothes, or phyiic ? \Viiether we may not fupply as inany as are ferious enough to read, with a Bible, and Whole Duty of Man ? Whether we may not, as we have oppor- tunity, explain and enforce thefe upon theuij efpecially 1 ( 22 ) efpeclally with refpeft to public and private prayer, and the blefled facrament ? They met with no perfon who anfwered any of thefe queftions in the negative, or who even doubted, whetlier it were not lawful to apply to this ufe that time and money, which, other- wife, they would have fpent in common diver- fions. But feveral they met witli who increafed their little liock of money for the prifoners and tiie poor, by fubfcribing fometliing quarterly to it ; fo that tlie more perfons they propofed their deligns to, the more were they contirmed in the belief of their innocency, and the more deter- mined to purfue them in fpight of the ridicule, vhich increafed faft: upon them during the winter. However, in the fpring, Mr. Wefley thought it would not be improper to defire farther inftruc- tions from thofe,who were wifer and better than themfelves; and accordingly, (onMay i8, 1731.) he wrote a particular account of all their pro- ceedings to a clergyman of known wifdom and integrity. Fart of the Anfwer he received was as follows : " Good Sir, *' I cannot but heartily approve of that ferious and religious turn of mind that prompts you and your affociates to thofe pious and charitable offices ; and can have no notion of that man's religion or concern for the honour of the Uni- verlity, that oppofes you, as far as your defign refpecls the Colleges. I fliould be loth to knd a fon of mine to any Seminary, where his con- verfing with virtuous young men, whofe profeft defign of meeting together, at proper times, was toairill each other in forming good refolutions, and encourage one another to execute them with conflancy and fteadinefs, was inconfiftent with any received maxims or rules of life among the members," It ( 23 ) It appears from the queftions, above propofed which relate to the ftudents, that Mr. Wcfley, was not inattentive to their progrefs in learning, tho' he endeavoured to make them religious. flis regular method of rtudy, his diligence and care to make his pupils thoroughly under- hand every thing they read, were admirably adapted to make them fcholars. It is, indeed, imiveifally allowed, that he was an excellent Tutor, and his pupils have in general acknow- ledged themfelves under infinite obligations to him on this account. This year Mr. Wefley, and his brother Charles, began the prailice of converfing to- gether in Latin, whenever they were alone : chiefly with a view of acquiring a facility in exprciTing themfelves in this language, on all occafions, with perfpicuity, energy and elegance. This practice they continued for near fixty years, and with fuch fuccefs, that if their (tyle did not equal, it certainly, on fome fubjedts, approached nearer to the belt models of conver- fation in tlie Auguftine age, than many of the learned have thought it poifiblc to attain. In the April following, they became acquaint- ed with Mr. Clayton of Bra/.cn-Nofc Col- lege, who, upon being informed of their pro* ceedings, immediately and heartily joined with them, and by his advice, to the two particulars they had obferved before, viz, the endeavour- ing to do what good they could, and commum- cating as ot'ten as they had opportunity, they now added a third, the obferving the falls of the Church, the general negled of which, they could not apprehend to be, by any means, a- fufiicient excufe, for their negle*5ling them. This ( 2+ ) This encreafing ftri(9:nefs In their way of liv- ing, conftancy in the ufe of all the means of grace, and readinefs to every good work, drew down upon them ftill greater ridicule from the Gentlemen of the Univerfity. I'heir common ap- pellation now was, X\\t ScicramcntariansyXhz Godly Club, the Holy Cluby and, by and by, they were termed Alethcdijls, This laft tide was given them, in tie firft inftaace, by a Fellow of Mor- ton College, in allufion to an ancient College of Phyficians at Rome, who were remarkable for putting their patients under regimen, and were therefore termed Mcthodijis. Thus, when thtiir oppofers could derive no advantage either from fcripture or reafon, they endeavoured to gain their point by giving them names. But moft of thofe, who thus ridiculed them, being perfons of well-known characters, they had not the good fortune to gain any Profelytes, from the Sacrament, until a Gentleman, eminent for learning, and well efteemed for piety, joining them, told his nephew, " That if he dared to go to the weekly communion any longer, he would immediately turn him out of doors. This argument had no fuccefs j the young Gentle- man communicated next week. The uncle now became more violent, and fhook his ne- phew by th.e throat, to convince him more ef- feclually that receiving the facrament every week, was founded in error ; but this argu- ment appearing to the young Gentleman to have no weight in it, he continued his ufual pra;S' ao^aio,- w? a.v.^.uM TViilo/jiiioi xci?\ti yx^ a.%r^u SsQc^Sxi y.ui HKXD- Stand thou fted- faft, as a beaten anvil to the Arokc, for it is the part of a good champion to be flayed alive, ajid to conquer." Yet this good man, (hortly after this, feems to have too readily received fome unfavourable reports concerning his brothers, and their friends at Oxford, which occafioncd the following letter from Mr. John VVefley : Lincoln College, Nov. 17, 1731. *< Dear Brother, " Confidering the changes, that I remember in myfelf, I fliali not nt all wonder, if the time conic, when we differ as little in our conclu- fions, as wc do in our prcmifes. In moil: we feem to agree already, efpecially as to earlyrifing, and not keeping much company. But thcfe are the very things, about which, others will never agree with us. Had I given up thefc, or but one of them, rifmg early, which implies going to bed early, and keeping little company, not one man in ten of thofe, who are offended at me, would ever open their mouths againfl any of the other particulars. For the fake of thcfe, thofe are mentioned. The root of the matter lies here. Would I but employ a third of my money, and about half of my time, as other folks do, fmallt-r matters would be eafily over- looked. But I think, " Nil tanti cjL" * '' I have often thought of a faying of Dr. Hayward, when he examined me for Prieft's Orders : — ' Do you know what you are about ? * Nothing is of fo much inipoitance. You ( 27 ) Yon are bidding defiance to all mankind. He that would live as a ChrilVian Prieft, ought to know that, whether his hand be againft every man or not, he murt expert every man's liand (hou!d be againft him.' It is not ftrange that every man's hand, who is not a Chriftian, lliould be againft him, who endeavours to be kich. But is it not hard, that even thofe that are with us fhould be og<-nnJ} us : That a man's enemies, (in fome degree,) (hould be thofe of the houfehold of faith ? Yet fo it is. From tlie time, that a man fets himlelf to liis bufinels, very many, even of thofe who travel the fame road, will hyjiu^ul'ling-blocks, in his way. One blames him, for not going faft enough, or for Iiaving made no greater progrefs ; another for going too far, wliich perhaps, ftrange as it is, is the more common charge of the two." '• This being a point of no common con- cern, I deiire to explain myfelf upon it, once for all, and to tell you freely and clearly, thofe general pofitions, on which I ground all thofe pra6tifes for which I am generally accufed of lingularity. ift. As to the end of my I'eiugy I lay it down for a rule, that I cannot be too happy^ or therefore tco holy, and thence infer that the more fteadily, I keep my eye upon the prize cf our high calling, the better, and the more of my thoughts, and words, and a61:ions, are di- redly pointed at the attainment of it. 2dly, As to the inftituted means of attaining it, I likewife lay it down for a rule, that I am to ufe them every time I may. 3dly, As to pruden- tial means, 1 believe this rule holds, of things indifferent in themfelves : Whatever I know to do me hurt, that to me is not indifferent, but relblutdy to be abftaiued from j whatever I D 2 know ( 28 ) know to do me good, that to me affo is not indifferent, but refolutely to be embraced." *' But it will be fald, ' I am whimflcal/ True: And what then? If by wh'nrijlcal, be meant fimply fingular, I own it ; if fingular with- out any realbn, I deny it with both my hands, and am ready to give an anfwcr to any i!:at afk me, of every cuftom, wherein I wilfully differ from the world. I grant in many fingle actions, I differ unreafonably from others, but not wilfully ; no, I fhould extremely thank any one, who would teach me to help it. But can I totally lielp it, till I have more breeding, or more prudence, to neither of which I am much difpofed naturally ? And I greatly feir my acquired fJock of either, wiil give me fmall aifillance." *' 1 have but one thing more to add, and that is, as to my being formal, li by that be meant, that I am not eafy, and unaffeded enough in my carriage ; it is very true ; but how lliall I help it I I cannot be genteely be- haved by inilindf ; and if I am to try after it, by the experience and obfervation of others, that is not the work of a month, but of years. If hy formal, be meant, that I am faious, this too is very true ; but why (hould 1 help it .^ ' Mirth I grant is fit for you ; but it does not follow, that it is fit for me. Are the fame tem- pers any more than the fame words and anions, fit for all circumfiances ? If you are to '• re- joice evermore," becaufe you have put your enemies to flight, am I to do the fame while they continually afTault me ? You are glad be- caufe you have '''• faffed from death to life -f — well : But let him be afraid, who knows not whether he is to live or die. Whether this be my ( 29 ) my condition, or not, who can tell better than myfclf ? Him, who can, whoever he be, I allow to be a proper judge, whether I do well to be generally as ferious as I can- I am, dear Brother, your's and my Sifler's AffecSlionate Brother, John Wesley." The members of this little afToclation had now attained a good degree of firmnefs and courage. " In our refolution," fays Mr. Wcfley, in a letter dated Oitober i8, 1730, " to adiicre to all things which we are convinced God requires at our hand, we truft: w-e (hall perfevere, till He calls us to give an account of our llcvvarddiip. As to the names, of Jlletlw" cijls, Supenrcgation-men, and fo on, with vvhicii fome of our neighbours are pltafed to compli- ment us, we do not conceive ourfelves to be under any obligation to regard them ; much lefs to take them for arguments. To the Law', and to the Tcllimony we appeal, whereby we ought to be judged. If by thefe it can be proved, we are in an error, we will immediately and gladly retrat j iinlefs for the little time I fpent in walking. They were always employed, always cheerful themfelves, anti in g )od humour with one ano- ther. They had put away all anger and Itrife, and wrath and bitternefs, and clamour, and evil fpeaking. They walked worthy of the vocation, wherewith they were called, a.nd £ 2 adorned (40} adorned the Gofpel of our Lord In a-ll things.**' He proceeds, " Saturday, Feb, 28. They met to confult concerning the affairs of their Church. Mr. Spangenberg being Uiortly to ga to Pennfylvania, and Bilhop Nitfchman, to re- turn to Germany. After feveral hours fpent in conference and prayer, they proceeded to the election and ordination of a Bilhop. The ^reat fimplicity, as well as folemnity of the whole, al- moftmade me forget the feventeen hundred years- between, and imagine myfelf in one of thofe alTembJies, where form and llate were not ; but Paul, the tent-maker, or Peter, the fifl^er-man,. prefided : yet with the demonftratioa of the Spirit and of power.'* On the Thurfday preceding, Mr. Wefley, and his brother had gone to pay their firft viiit to ihc Indians, and on March the 7th, he entered upon his Miniliry at Savannaii, by preaching on the Epiftle for the day, being the xiii. chap, of the firft Epiftle to the Co- rinthians. In the fecond LefTon, Luke xviii. was our Lord's predi6lion of the treatment which he himfelf, and confequently his fol- 1-owers, were to meet with from the world ; and his gracious promife to thofe %vho are con- tent, Nudi nu(luf7i Chrljlum fcqui: " Verily I fay tinto you, there is no man that hath left houfe, or friends, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's fake, who (hall not receive manifold more in this prefent time, and in the world to come everlafting life." " Yet notwiihftanding thefe plain declarations of our Lord, fays he, notwithftanding my own repeated experience, notwithftanding the experi- ence of all the ftncere followers of Chrift, whom I havs ever talked with, read or heard of 5 >^ay, ( 41 ) nay, and the reafon of tlie thing, evincing to a demonftration, I'hat aJI who Jove not the light, muft hate him who is continually luhour- jng to pour it in upon them : I do here bear witnefs againil myfelf, that when I law the •number of people crowding into the church, the deep attention with wJiich they received the word, and the ferioufnefs that afterwards fat on all their faces ; I could fcarce refrain from giv- ixig the lie, to experience, and reafon, and fcrip- ture all together. I could hardly believe that the greater, the far greater part of this atten- tive, and ferious people, would hereafter tram- ple under foot that word, and fay all manner of evil falfely of him that fpake it. O who can believe, what their heart abhors ? Jefus, Mailer, have mercy on us ! Let us love tliy crofs ! Then fhall we believe, ** If we fuffer with thee, we (hall alfo reign with thee !" But he did not confine his Miniftry to Savan- nah. He gave Frederica alfo, a portion of his labours. In going "there he was in imminent 'n, intending to make a fire, and to flay there till morning; but find- ing our tinder wet, I advifed to walk on flill ; but my companions, being faint and weary, were for lying down, which we accordingly did about fix o'clock : The ground was as wet as our clothes, which (it being a (harp froli,) were foon frozen together; however, I flept till (ix in the morning. There fell a heavy dew in the night, which covered us over as white as fnow. Within an hour after fun-rife, we came to a plantation, and in the evening, with- out any hurt, to Savannah. " Tuefday 28. We fet out by land with a btf- ter guide for Frederica. On Wednefday even- ing we came to Fort-Argyle, on the back of the river Ogeechy. The next afternoon we ciofTed Cooanochy river in a fmall canoe, our horfes fvvimming by the fide of it. We made a fire on the bank, and, notwithflanding the rain, flept quietly till the morning. " Saturday, January r, 1737. Our provifions fell fliort, our journey being longer than we expelled ; but having a little barbecued Bears- flefh; (i. e. dried in the fun,) we boiled it, and found C 51 ) found it wholefoine food. The hext day ws reached Darien, the Settlement of the Scotch Highlanders, a fober, indullrious, friendly, liof- pi table people i and on Wednefday 5, came to ficderica." Let us obferve now what the emolument was, ^^'hich he received, for his aflonilhing labours, and the various fufferings, to which he expofed liimfelf. It appears, from his account of the iaft year's expence, viz. from A4arch i, 1736, to March 1737 ; which he wrote to the Truf- tces for Georgia, that, deducting extraordi- nary cxpcnccs, fuch as for repairing the Par- fonage-houfe, and journeys to Fredcrica, there remained for Mr. Delaaiotte and himfflf, ;^44. 4^. 4^/./ This, with the labours and hard!hips, which he endured, being confidered, few, I believe, would expedl to hear him exprcfs him- felf as he does in a letter to a friend. " How to attain to the being crucified with Chrlft, I find not, being in a condition i neither defired, nor cxpecfled in America, in eafe, and honour, and abundance. A ftrange fchool, for him, who has but one bufmefs, Tiy.vx^in aiavloit wgo; tva-iQusiK^'* Alas! few would liave envied the fituaticn in ivhich he was placed ! The inconveniencies and dangers, which he underwent, that he might preach the Gofpel, and do good of every kind to all that would receive it at his hands, and the expofing himfelf thus, to every change of feafon, and inclemency of weather, in the pro- fecution of his work, were conditions to which few, but himftlf, would have fubmitted. But the honour and refpeit he then enjoyed, fmall as it muft have been, foon drew to an end, ^d he began to experience, more fully than ever, * To cxcrcifc himfelf to Godliiicls. i' 2 ' the i 52 } tiie truth of that fcripture, // any man will live godly in Chrijl "Jcjui, he /})aU fujfcr pcrfecution. His faiihfuliiefs in preacliiiig the word, and in reproving fin, and his Ariel obfervance of every part of the Rubrick. of the Cliurcli of England, efpecially refpefting Baptifm and the Lord's Supper, with his repelling Mrs. Williamfon, daugjiter of Mr. Caufton, ftorc-keeper, and chief magiflrate of Savannah, from the Coin- munion, drew down upon him the deep, and implacable refentment of fome of the leading people at Savannah; fo that all things grew mbre and more unfavourable to his continuing in America. He was not likely to be ufeful to the Englilh, and the way was not yet open for profecuting tb.e main defign on which they went to America, which was to convert the Indians. TlVerefore, 06iober 7, 1737, he confulted liis friends, wliether God did not call him to re- turn to England, and found them unanimous ill opinion, that he ought to return, biit not imniediately. In the midft of the florm, now excited and kept up by the arts of his avov.ed enemies, Mr. Wefley, without a Hiilling in his pocket, and three thoufand miles from home, pofTerfed his foul in peace, and purfued his labours with the fame unremitting diligence as if he had en- joyed the greateft tranquility and eafe. Some letters, from thofe of his friends, to whom he had reprefented his fituation, afforded him fup« port and confolation. One of this kind from Dr. Curler, a Clergyman at Bofton, contains fome thoughts fo jurt, and not very commonly to be met with, that I give it a place here ; ir is dated, October 22. " I am forry. Sir," fays ^he, *' for the clouds hanging over your headj> re fpc cling' ( 53 1 fcfpeding your undertaking and fituntion : but hope God will give a happy encreafe to the good feed you have planted and watered, according to his will. The bed of men in all ages, have* failed in the fuccefs of their labours : and there \vill ever be found too many enemies to the Crofs of Chrifl : for earth will not be heaven. This reminds us of that happy place, where we ihall not fee and be grieved for tranfgrelTors ; and where, for our well meant labours, our judgment is with the Lord, and our reward vvith our God. And you well know, Sir, that under the faddeft appearances, we may have focne Hiare in the Confolations which God gave Jliijah : and may trull in him, that there is fome .wickednefs we reprefs or prevent ; fome goodnefs by our means, weak and unworthy as we are, beginning and increafmg in the hearts of pien, at prefent, perhaps like a grain of muf- tard-feed, that in God's time may put forth, and fpread, and iiourilh ; and that, if the world feems not the better for us, it might be w^orfe without us. Our low opinion of ourfelves is preparative to thefe fuccelTcs ; and Co the modelt and great Apoftle found it. No doubt, Sir, you have temptations, where you are, nor is there any retreat from them ; they hint to us, the care we muft take, and the promifes we mufl: apply to : and blefTed is the man, tliat endureth temptation. " I rejoice in the good character you ?rive, which I believe you well bellow, of Mr. Whit- field, who is coming to you. — But I quedion not, but his labours, will be better joined with, than fuperfcde yours : and even his and all our fufficiency and efficiency is of God. It is tlie icafi we can do to pray for one another, and F 3 if ( 54 } U God will hear me, a great {inner, it wjllv ftrengthen your iiUereft in him. I recommend iTiylelf to a fhare in your prayers, for his par- don, acceptance, and affidance : and beg that my family, may not be forgotten by you." In the mean time he continued his labours*- vith unremitting diligence. Odtober 30, he gives an account of his work on the Lord's-day. ♦' The Englifh fervice lafted from five to lialf an hour pall fix in the morning. The Italian (with a few Vaudois,) began at nine. The fecond fervice for the Engliih, including the Sermon, and the holy Communion, continued from half an hour paft ten, till about half an hour part: twelve. The French fervice began at one. At two I catechifed the children. About three began the Englifh fervice. After this was ended, I had the happinefs of joining with as many as mylargeil room would hold, in reading, prayer, and fmging praife. And about fix, the fervice of the Moravians began, at which I was glad to be piefent, not as a teacher, but as a learner." Nov. I. He received a temporary relief from his preflmg wants. '* Colonel Stephens, fays he, arrived, by whom I received a bencfadlioa of ten pounds fterling ; after having been for feveral months without one (hilling in the houfe, but not without peace, health and contentment !" November 3. Mr. Wefley perceiving that he had not the mod dillant profpeil of obtain- ing juftice, that he was in a place where thofe in power were combined together againfl: him, and could any day procure evidence, (as experience had /hewn,) of words he had never fpoken, and of actions he had never done; being difappoinrcd too, in tiie primary objed of his Million ; he con- ( 55 ) confulted his friends again what he ougtu to do; who were of opinion, with hini, that, by thefe circumftances, Providence did now call him to leave Savannah. Accordingly next day he called on Mr. Caufton, his principal enemy, and told him, he defigned to fet out for Eng- land immediately. November 24. He put up an advcrtifement in the Great Square, defiring thole who had borrowed any books of him to return them, as he intended fhortly fetting out for England, and then quietly prepared for his journey. Novem- ber 30, he went once more to xVlr. Cauftoa to defire money to defray his expences to Eng- land, intending to fet out on Friday, the fecond of December. It was evident, this was an event, which the magiftratcs moft ardently widied to take place, and to which all their proceedings had been folely direded. They were eager to get rid of a man, whofe whole manner of life was a conftant reproof of their llcentioufnefs, and whofe words were as arrows (licking faft in them. Neverthelefs, to keep up appearances in their favour, which they faw they Could do without fear of difappointment, find- ing him refolved to go, in the afternoon they publilhcd an O/vAr, requiring all officers to prevent his going out of the province, and forbidding any per-^bn afllAing him fo to do. The day was now far fpent ; after evening prayers, therefore, the tide again fcrving, Mr. Wcdey left Savannah in company with three other perfons, no one attempting to hinder him. I would juft obferve here, that Mr. Wefley might probably have aiSled with more caution, and more regard to his own eafe, and chara6t(.r than he did, when he fixd fav; the ftorm gather- ing ( 56 ) ing and likely to buril vvi\h violence upon Iiini.' JBut )iis conftant rule was, to afccrtaia to the fatisfa<5lion of Iiis own miiicl, that particular Jine of conduiSl, which duly requited him tb purfue ?.s a Chrirtian and as a Minifter of the Gofpel, and then fleadily to walk in it, rcgardlefs of confequences. And there is every evidence, which the cafe will adniit, tjiat he a who either in England or here, have hitherto attempted t(> follow ( 59 ) follow me. I am, and mufl be an exaiVipIe te> my flock : not indeed in my prudential rules, but in fome meafure, (if, giving God the glory, I may dare to fay fo,) in my fpirit, and life, and converfation.. Yet all of them are, in your fcnk of the word, unlearned, and jnoft of them of low underftanding, and Aill not one of them has been, as yet, entangled in any cafe of con- fcience, whicli was not folved. And as to the nice diftinclions you fpeak of, it is you my friend, it is the wife, the learned, the dilputers of this world, who are loft in them, and be- wildered more and more, the more they ftrive to extricate themfelves. We have no need of nice diftiniHrions, for I advife all, — *' Difpute with none." I feed my brethren in Chrifl', as he giveth me power, with the pure, unmixt milk of the word. And thofe who are as little Children receive it, not as the word of man, but as the word of God. Some grow thereby, and advance apace, in peace and holinefs. They"' ■grieve, it is ti'ue, for thofe, who did run well, but are now turned back ; and they fear for themfelves, left they alfonioiTld be te;r)pted; yet, through the mercy of God. they cicfpnir not, but have ftill a good hope that they ihall endure to tlie end. Not that this hope has any refem- blance to enthufiafm, which is a hope to attaia ; the end Vvithout the means. This they know is impoftlhle, and therefore ground their hope on a conflanr, careful ufc of all the means. And if they keep in this way, with lovvlinefs, patience, and meeknefs of refignation, they car.not carry the principle of prefling towards perfedlion too far. O may you and I carry it far enough ! Be fervent in fpirit ! Rejoice evermore ! Pray without ceafini^ ! h\ every thing give thanks • Do ( 6o ) Do every thing in tlie Name of the Lord Jefusi Abound more and more in nil hohnefs, and in zeal for every good word and work I " The account of his journey to Charles-Town, from which place he embarked for England, contains fuch a flriking and fuitable clofe to his labours and dangers in America ; that I fliall give it in his own words. " Saturday, December 3. We came t-, Purryf- burg early in the morning, and endeavoured to procure a guide for Port Royal. But none be- ing to be had, we fet out without one, an hour before fun-rife. After walking two or three hours, we met with an old man, who led us into a fmall path, near which was a line of tlrized trees,, (i. e. marked by cutting ofi" pari of the bark,) by following which, he faid, we might eafily come to Port-Royal in five or fix hours. " We were four in all ; one of Vvfhom intended to go for England with me ; the otiier two to fet le in Carolina. About eleven we came into a large fwamp, where we wandered about till near tv/o. We then found another blaze, and purfued it, till it divided into two ; one of thefe we followed through an almofl impafTable thicket, a mile beyond which it ended. We made through the thicket again, and traced the other hl(7%e, till that ended too. It now grew toward funfet, [o we fat down faint and weary, having had no food all day, except a ginger- bread cake, which I had taken in my pocket. A third of this we had divided among us at jHoon ; another third we took now ; the reil: we refcrvcd for the morning ; but we had met with no water ill the day. Thrufting a rtick into the ground, and fmding the end of it moill, two of ■ '( 6i ) of our company fell a digging with their ha,nds, and, at about three feet depth, found water. We thanked God, drank, and were refreHied. The night was fliarp ; however there was no com- plaining among us ; but after having commend- ed ourfelves to God, we lay down clofe together, jind (I at leaft,) flept till near fix in the morn- ing- " Sunday, December 4. God renewing our fircngth, we arofe neither faint nor weary, and lefolved to make one trial mo e, to find a path to Port-Royal. Wc ficercd due eall: ; but find- ing neither path nor blaze, and the woods grow- ing thicker and thicker, we judged it would be our bed courfe to return, if we could, by the way we came. The day before, in the thickeft part of the woods, I had broke many young trees, I knew not why, as we walked along': thefe we found a great help in fevcral places, where no path was to be fcen ; and between one and two Gcxl brought u5 fafe to Benjamin Arien's houfe, the old man we Ict't the day before. ' ♦' In the evening I «ad French prayers to a numerous family, a mile from Arien's j one of whom undertook to guide us to Port-Roya!. In the morning we fet out. About fun-fet, wc aflced our guide, If he knew where he was i Who frankly anfwered. No. However, we pufhed on till about feven we came to a planta- tion, and the next evening, (after many diffi- culties and delays,) we landed on Port- Royal ifland. " Wednefday 7. We walked to Beauford • where Mr. Jones, (the minifier of Beaufort,) with whom I lodged during my fhort fiay here, gave me a lively idea of the old Englilh iiofpi- G tality. ( 62 > tality. On Thurfday Mr. Delamotte came; with whom, on Friday gih, I took boat for Charles-Town. After a flow paflage by reafon of contrary winds, and fome conflict, (our pro- vifions falling Iliort,) with hunger as well as cold, we came thither -early in the morning, on Tuefday the 13th. Here I expecled trials of a different kind, and far more dangerous. For contempt and want are eafy to be borne : But ■who can beat refpefl and abundance ? " December 16. He parted with his faitliful tnend Mr. Delamotte, from whom he had been but a few days feparate iince their departure from England, and on the 22nd, took leave of America, '* after Iiaving preached the Gofpel, fays he, in Savannah, not as I ought, but as I was able, one year, and near nine months.'* In the beginning of the following May, Mr. Whitfield arrived at Savannah, wheVe he found fome ferious perfons, the fruits of Mr. Wefley's Miniftr)', glad to receive him. He had now an .opportunity of enquiring upon the fpot into the circumflances of the late dlfputes, and bears teflimony to the ill ufuage Mr. Welley had received ; but adds, " he thought it mofl pru- dent not to repeat grievances." When he was at Charles-Town, Mr. Garden acquainted him with the ill treatment Mr. Wefley had met with, and afTured him, that were the fame arbitrary proceedings to commence againft him, he would defend him with life and fortune. Thefe tefli- monies of perfons (o refpectable, and capable of knowing all the circumllances of the affair coincide with the flatement here given ;' and, vvith candid perfons, mud do away all fufpi- cions, with regard tp tlije integrity of Mr, Wefley's coiidu«^ The ( ^3 ) In the trials through which he hacf lateFjF prVded, tlie Lord had given Mr. Welley abun- dant means of fcU"- knowledge,' and they were not loft upon him. He now felt more thaa ever, wliat he liad fubfcribed to, at his ordi- nation, that he was *' far gone from original righteoufnefs," and /.'«<^ fallen /hort of the glory of Gad, that glorious image of God, in which man was tirlt created. He had weighed himfelf in the balance of the fantSluary, the word of God » and had attentively marked the lively, vicStori/aus faith of more experienced Chriftians. And January 8, 1738, in the fulnefs of his lieart, he wries thus : " By the moll: infallible of proofs, inward, feeling, I am convinced, 1. *' Of unbelief; — having no fuch faith in Chrift, as will prevent my heart from being troubled in a degree it could not be, if I be- lieved in God, and rightly believed alfo in Him : 2. '* Of pride, throughout my life paft, in- afmuch as I tho\ight I had, what I find I have not : 3. ** Of grofs irrccollc£Vion, inafmuch as in a ftorm I cry to God ; in a calm not. 4. '* Of levity and luxuriancy of fpirit, re- clining whenever the preflure is taken off", and a}>pcaring by my fpeaking words not tending to tdify ; but moft, by my manner of fpeaking of my enemies." " Lord fave, or I perifli ! Save me, 1. •' By fuch a faith as implies peace in life, and in death." 2. ♦' By fuch humility, as may fill my heart from this hour for ever, with a piercing, unin- terrupted fenfe, Nihil e/i quod haSfejius feci,* hav- iiig evidently built without a foundation.'* * I have done nothing hitherto, Qz 3. "By ( 64 ) 3- " By fuch a recolle<5l:ion as may enable mt to cry thee every moment, efpecially when all is calm. Give me faith or I die ; give me a lowly fpirit ; otherwife let life be a burden to me. 4. " By fteadinefs, ferioufnefs, Ee/^voV, Co- briety of fpirit, avoiding as fire every word that tendeth not to edifying, and never fpeaking of any who oppofe me, or fin againft God, with- out all my own fins fet in array before my face." " On Monday 9, and the following days, fays he, I refledled much on that vain delire, which had purfued me for fo many years, of being in folitude, in order to be a Chriftiar>. 1 have now, thought I, folitude enough. But am 1 therefore the nearer being a Chriltian ? Not if Jefus Chrift be the model of Chriftianity. I doubt indeed I am much nearer that myftery of fatan, which fome writers affedt to call by that name. So near, that I had probably funk wholly into it, had not the great mercy of God juft now thrown me upon reading St. Cyprian'$ works. '* O my foul, come not thou into their lecret ! Stand thou in the good old paths." " Friday 13. We had a thorough ftorm, which obliged us to fhut all clofe, the fea breaking over the /hip continually. I was at firft afraid ; but cried to God and was ftrengthened. Before ten .1 lay down, I blefs God, without fear. About midnight we were awaked by a confufed noife, of feas, and wind, and men's voices, the like to which I had never heard before. The found of the fea breaking over, and againft the fides of the Ihip, I could compare to nothing bur large cannon, or American thunder. The re- boundmg, Parting, quivering motion of th« {\\\p, much refembled what is faid of earth, i^uakes, The captain was upon deck in an in- ftanr. ( 65 ) ftant. But his men could not hear what he faid. It blew a proper hurricane ; which be- ginning at South-weft, then went Weft, North- weft, North, and in a quarter of an hour, round by the Eaft to the South-weft point again. At the fame time the fea running, (as they term it,) mountains high, and that from many dif- ferent points at once ; the fliip would not obey the helm ; nor indeed could the fteerfman, thro* the violent rain, fee the compafs. So he was •forced to let her run before the wind, and in half an hour the ftrefs of the ftorm was over. ♦' Tuefday'i4. We fpokc with two fhips, out- ward bound, from whom we had the wel- come news, of our wanting but i6o leagues of the Land's-end. My mind was now full of thought ; part of which I writ down as fol- lows : '* I went to America, to convert the Indians : but oh 1 Who ihall convert me I Who, what is he that will deliver me from this evil heart of ■unbelief ? I have a fair fummer-religion. I can talk well J nay, and believe myfelf, while no danger is near : But let death look me in the face, and my fpirit is troubled. Nor can I fay. To die is gain ! *' I.have a fin of fear, that when I've fpun *' My laft thread, I fliall perilh on the Ihore!'* *' I think, verily, if the Gofpel be true, I am fafe : for 1 not only have given, and do give all my goods to htd the poor ; I not only give my body to be burned, drowned, or whatever God ftiall appoint for me ; but I follow after Charity, (though not as I ought, yet as I can,) if haply I may attain it. I notu believe the Gof- pel is true. "• I Ihew my faith by my works,'* G 3 by , ( 66 ) by flaking my all upon it. I would do fo again and again a thoufand times, if the choice were ftill to make. , Whoever fees me, fees I would be a Chriflian. Therefore " are my ways not like other men's ways." Therefore I have been, I am, I am content to be, a by-word, a proverb of reproach. But in a ftorm I think, " What if the gofpel be not true ? Then thou art of all men moft foolifli. For what hafl: thou given thy goods, thy eafe, thy friends, thy reputation, thy country, thy life ? For what art thou wan- dering over the face of the earth ? A dream, a cunningly dcv'tfed fable ? O who will deliver me from this fear of death ! What (hall 1 do I Where (hall I fly from it ! " A few days after he enlarges ftill more on the fame fubjedl:, *' It is now two years, and almoft four months, fince I left my native country, in order to teach the Georgian Indians, the Na- ture of Chriftianity. But what have I learned myfelf in the mean time? Why (what 1 the leaft of all fufpeded,) that 1 who went to America to convert others, was never myfelf converted to God. 1 am not mad, though 1 thus fpeak ; but J fpeak the words of truth and fober^ ?ufs ; if haply fome of thofe VN'ho ftill dream may awake, and fee, that as I am, fo are they. — " Are they read in Philofophy ? So was I. In aniient or modern Tongues F So was I alfo. Are they verfed in the Science of Divinity? I too have ftudied it many years. Can they talk fluently upon fpiritual things ? The very fame could 1 do. Are they plenteous in Alms? Be- hold I gave all my goods to feed the poor. Do they give of their labour as well as their fub- ftance ? I have laboured more abundantly than they all. Are they willing to fufer for their brethren \ ( 67 ) brethren ? I have thrown up my friends, repu- tation, eafe, country : I have put my life in my hand, wandering into Grange lands : I have given my body to be devoured by the deep, parched up with heat, confumed by toil and. wearinefs, or whatfoever God Ihall pleafe to bring upon me. But does all this, (be it more or lefs, it matters not,) make me acceptable to God? Does all I ever did or can, know^fay^ give, do, ox fuffcr, juftify me in his fight ? Yea, or the conjlant ufe of all the means of grace ? (which neverthelefs is meet, right, and our bounden duty) : Or, xhzx. I know nothing of my- felf, that I am as touching outward, moral righ- teoufnefs blamclcfs : », Or, (to come clofer yet,) the having a Rational Convi^ion of all the truths of Cliriftianity? Does all this give me a claim to the iioly, heavenly, divine chara£ler of a Chrij- tian ? By no means. If the oracles of God are true, if we are ftill to abide by the Loxv and the TejVimony ; all thefe things, though when en- nobled by faith in Chrift, they are holy, and juft, and good, yet without it are dung and drofs. " This then have I learned in the ends of tlie earth, that I zm fallen Jhort of the glory of God -y that my whole heart is altogether corrupt and abo- minable, and confequently my whole life, (fee- ing it cannot be, that an evil tree (hould bring forth good fruit :) That my own works, my own fufferings, my own righteoufnefs, are fo far from reconciling me to an offended God, fo far from making any atonement for the lead: of thofe fins, (which are more in number than the hairs of 7ny head,}^ that the moft fpecious of them need an atonement themfelves, or they cannot abide his righteous judgment : That having the fentence of death in my heart, and Juv- ing C 68 ) ing nothing in or of myfelf, to plead, I have no hope, but that of being juftified freely through the rede?nption that is in "Jefus : I have no hope, but that, if I fcek, I fliall rind Chrifl, and be founcf in him not having my own righteoufnefs, but that which is through the faith of Chrift, the righteoufnefs which is of God by faith. ** If it be faid, that I have faith (for many fuch things have I heard, from many miferable com- forters,) I anfv.'er, fo have the devils, — a fort of faith ; but ftill they are Grangers to the co- venant of promife. So the Apoftles had even at Cana in Galilee, when Jefus firft manifejled forth his glory j even then they, in a fort, believed on him ; but they had not then The faith that overconieth the world. The faith I want is, *' A fure trufl and confidence in God, that through the merits of Chrift, my fins are forgiven, and I reconciled to the favour of God." I want that faith which St. Paul recommends to all the world, efpecially in his Epiftle to the Romans : that faith v.?hich enables every one that hath it to cry out, *' I live not ; but Chrift liveth in me : And the life which I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himfelf for me." I want that faith which none can have without knowing that he hath it, (though many i?7iagi7ie they have it, who have it not.) For whofoever hath it is freed from ths power of fin : he is freed from fear, "having peace with God through Chrift, and rejoicing in hope of the glory of God." And he is freed from doubt, *' having the love of God fhed abroad in his heart, through the Holy Ghoft which is given unto him ; which Spirit itfelf beareth witnefs with his fjiirit, that he is a child of God." SECTION ( 69 ) SECTION III. X)f his beco?mng acquainted with form eminent per" fans of the Adoravian Church, atid of the light he received through thetn concerning the cloiiring . effalvation by grace through faith. \^N Sunday, January 29, they came within fight of the Enghdi Ihore j and on the 31II, ar- rived in the Downs. On Wednefday, February I, 1738, between four and five in the morning, Mr. Wefley landed at Deal ; wlicrc he was ioon informed that Mr. Whitfield had failed for America, the day before, in order to aflift him. He read prayers and expounded a portion of Scripture at the Inn, as he did alfo at other ]")laccs on the road, and on Friday 3, arrived in London. After waiting on General Oglethorpe, and on the Truftecs for Georgia, he was invited to preach in feveral of the Churches. He now began to be popular, appearing in a new charac- ter, as a A^illionary lately returned from preach- ing the Gofpel to the Indians in America. The Churches, where he preached, were crowded. This foon produced a complaint, that there was not room, " for the beft of the pari(h," and that objecflion, united to the offence that was given, by his plain, heart fearching Sermons, produced in each place, at laft, the following declaration, " Sir, you mufl: preach here no more." On Tuefday, February 7. " A day," ob- ferves Mr. Wefley, '' much to be remembered," He met Peter Bohler, and two other perfons, belonging to the Moravian Church, who wer^ juft ( -0 ) juft landed from Germany. Having been already acquainted with fome of t)ie excellent of the earth, in that Church, he received them with the greateft cordiality. Sunday the I2th. He preached at St. Andrew's, Holborn, on '• Tho'* / give all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to he burned, and have not Charity , (love,) it profiteth me Jiothing" On which he remarks. "Oh liard fayings ! who can bear them ? Here too it feems 1 am to preach no more." On Friday 17. He (et out for Oxford, where he was kindly received by Mr. Sarney, the only one now remaining there of many, who, at his embarking for America, were ufed to take fvveet counfel together, and to rejoice in bearing the reproach of Chrift. He had now jnuch -converfation with Peter Bohler, who had ac- companied him to Oxford, upon the nature and fruits of Chriftian faith. But although he was a fincere enquirer after truth, yet he made continual objedtions to the dodlrine advanced by his friend, which caufed him to reply mor« than once. Mi frater^ ini frater^ excoqucnda ejl ijia tua Philofophia. * Hitherto it is to be obferved, he had endea- voured to reduce his religious principles to practice in the moft fcrupulous and rigorous manner, and yet had not attained that vi61:ory over the evils of his own heart, and that peace and happinefs, which he faw the Gofpel pro- mifed. It feems as if he had always fuppofed that bodily aurterities, and a religious regard to the duties he owed to God and man, would produce in him the Chriftian faith, and the * My Brother, my Brother, that Philofophy of yoiu'i gnuft be purged away, true ( 7x ) true Chrlftian temper. After about (en yea^J- of painful labour, his experience co^ivinced him, that his views were not Evangelical, that he had confidered as caufes, things, which were only placed as X\\q fruits of faith in the Gofpel eco- nomy ; and therefore, that he neither pofTefTcd faving faith, nor had a right notion of it. Hav- ing obferved, both at Tea, and in America, that the Moravian brethren enjoyed a Aate of peace ami comfort in their minds, to which he was almofl wholly a flranger, he was well prepared to hear what thefe meiTengers of God liad to fay- of faith as the means of obtaining it. He was determi4ied that this convitSlion ihould be the refult of knowledge, and therefore made continual objedlions towhat Bohler faid on the fubjetSl. We may obferve however, that ob- jedions in fuch cafes are feldom the refult of jufl reafoning, but the mere effects of prejudice, which a previous fyftem has produced in the mind. The reproach, which he formerly endured at Oxford, now again revived, and even as he walked through the Squares of the Colleges, he was mocked and laughed iit. Upon one of thefe occafions Mr. Bohler, perceiving Mr. Wefley was troubled at it chiefly for his fake, faid with a fmile, Mi fraUVy non adharet vfjii' bus:' * On the 20th, he returned to London, and the next day, at St. Helens, explained and applied, * If any man ivill covie after me, let him deny hirn- felf and take up his crofs ^aiiy, and follow me,* And on the Sunday following, preached three times, at different Churches, but with great offence to fome. He was now preparing to go f My Bfotbcr, it docs not even fl;ck to our cloilies. tp ( 72 ) to fee his brother Samuel at Tiverton, whei\ he receivedip meflage that his brother Charles was dying <5f a pleurify at Oxford, which obliged him to fet out for that place immediately. At This time he renewed and wrote down the following refolutions. I. To ufe abfolute opennefs and unreferve •with thofe he (hould converfe with. 2. To la- bour after continual ferioufnefs, not willingly indulging himfelf in any the leaft levity of beha- viour. 3. To fpeak no word which does not tend to the glory of God. And 4, to take no pleafure which does not tend to his glory, thank- ing God every moment for all he took, and therefore rejedting every fort and degree of it, which he felt he could not fo thank him in •and for. Saturday 4. He found his brother at Oxford recovering from his pleurify ; and with him Peter Bohler : "By whom, fays he, in the hand of the great God, I was on Sunday the 5th, clearly convinced of unbelief, of the want of that faith whereby alone ive are favedJ' He afterwards added, ' with the full Chrijiian falva^ tion' He was now fully convinced that his faith had hitherto been a faith in God, too much Separated from an evangelical view of the pro- mifes of free juftification, throwgh the atone- ment and mediation of Chrirt alone ; which was the reafon why he had been held in con- tinual bondage and fear. It immediately oc- curred, to his mind, *' Leave off preaching. How can you preach to others who have not faith yourfelf ? " He confulted his friend Bohler, who faid, '* By no means. Preach faith till you have it, and then becaufe you have it, you will preach it." Thurfday ( 73 ) *• Tliurfday the 24th, fays he, I met Petef Bohler again, who now amazed nie more and more, by the accounts he gave of the fruits of livino; faith, the hohnefs and happinefs which he affirmed to attend it. The next morning I besan the Greek Tel^ament a2;ain, refolved to abide by the Idw and the tcftimony^ being confi- dent, that God would hereby (hew me whether this do£frine was of God." By this it ap- pears how exceedingly cautious he was, and what unremitting care and diligence he ufed to pre- vent his beino; deceived in a matter of fuch mo- ment to his own falvation and the falvation of others. And when we confider, as Dr. White- head has obferved, in that excellent Sermon preached on the occafion of his death, *' liis qualifications for enquiring after truth, we Hiall find that he pofTefTed every requifuc to examine a fubjeil, that we could expect or wi(h a man to have ; a (^rong natural underftandinjr, highly cultivated, and well ftored with the knowledge of languages, and of various Arts and Sciences. He had a reverence for God j he was confci- entious in all his ways, and intent upon dif- covering the truth," efpecially in every matter which he judged to be important. And it evidently appears, that he had firmnefs and refblution to embrace truth, wherever he found it, however unfalhionable it might appear. This certainly is not the cale with all men or learning. Many perfuade themfclves that they are fearL-hing after truth j but if they meet wit'i it drelTcd in a different form, to that under which they liave been accuftonied to confider it, they are alluraed of it. This cannot be faid of jMr. Welley i cautious in his enquiries, he iougiit truth irom the love of it j and whcre- 11 ever ( 74 1 ever he found it ; had firmnefs to embrace it ; and publicly avow it. Now here " he tells us, that, after converfing with people of experience, he fat down and read his Greek Tefiament over, with a view to the grand and leading do(5lrine of juftification ; he could not be fatisli- ed with any thing lefs than this j he proceeded upon convitSlion in every ftep he took. And let me afk, if any man could proceed with more caution, or take wifer methods to guard againft error, in a matter of fuch importance to his own comfort and happinefs, and to the peace and comfort of others ? " Hitherto, it appears, he had confined him- felf to Forms of Prayer, and chiefly thof** of the Church of England, when he prayed in public ; ufing at their little meetings, one or two Col- Ied:s, before and after expounding the Scrip- tures, But about this time he began to pray extempore. " March 27. Mr. Kinchin went with him to the Caftle, where, after reading prayers and preaching on, It is appointed unto men once to die^ *' We prayed, fays he, with the condemned man, firfl, in feveral Forms of Prayer, and then in fuch words as were given us in that hour. He kneeled down in much heavinefs and confufion, having, no reft in his bones by reafon of his fins. After a fpace he rofe up, and eagerly fa id, / am now ready to die. I know Chrijl has taken away my fins, and there is no more condem- nation for me. The fame compofed cheerfulnefs he (hewed, when he was carried to execution : and in his hft moments he was the fame, en- joying a perfect peace, in confidence that he was accepted in the Beloved." Mr. Wefley agaia obferves, that on Saturday April i, being at Mr. ) ( 75 ) Mr. Fox's Society, he found his heart Co full, that he could not confine himfelf to the Forms of Prayer that they were accuftomed to ufe there. " Neither, fays he, do I purpofe to be confined to them any more ; but to pray indifferently, with a form or without, as I may find fuitable to particular occafions." Saturday, April 21. He met Peter Bohler once more. *' I had now, fays he, no objec- tion to what he faid of the nature of Faith, viz. that it is, (to ufe the words of our Church,) * ' jifure truji and corijidence itjhich a rnan hath in God, that through the merits of Chriji, his fins are forgiven, and he is reconciled to the favour of Gael." Neither could I deny either the happi- nefs or holinefs which he defcribed as the fruits of this living faith. 'Ihe Spirit itfef bearcth witnefs with curfpirit, that we are the children of God; and. He that bcUeveth hath the witnefs in himfelf fully convinced me of the former : As IVhofocver is born of Gcd, doth not com/nit fn ; and Whofoever believeth, is born of God, did of the latter. But 1 could not comprehend what he fpake of an injlantaneous work. I could not conceive how this faith fhould be given in a moment : how a man could at once be thus turned from darknefs unto light, from fin and mifery to righteoufiiefs and joy in the Holy Ghoft. I fearched the Scriptures again, touch- ing this very thing, particularly the Jcis of the Apofiles. But, to my utter afionilhment, I found fcarce any inftances there of any other than injlantaneous converfions ; fcarce any fo flow as that of St. Paul. I had but one retreat left, viz. '♦ Thus, I grant God wrought in the frji ages of Chrif- tianity -. but the times are changed. What reafon H a have A < 76 ) have I to believe he works in the fame manner now?" But on Sund. 22. I was beat out of this retreat too, by the concurring evidence of feve- ral living vvitncHes ; who teftitied, Gcd had thus •wrought in tbcnijehcs ; giving them in a moment, fuch a faith in the blood of his Son, as tran- flated them out of darknefs into light, out of fm and fear into holinefs and happinefs. Here ended my difputing. I could now only cry out, ♦' Lord help thou my unbelief." Here again, we may trace the marks of a great and liberal mind; when he knew the truth he embraced it, though it condemned him. This is not the cafe with all ; how many fee the truth, and Ihrink from it ? He on the contrary embraced it, though he knew the profelTion of it, would expofe him to ridicule, contempt, and reproach. Is it poffible for any man to give a Wronger proof than this, that he a6ts from conviciion ; and from a love of, (what at lead he conceives" to be) the truth ? Had all thofe who have read Mr. Welley's writings, or heard liim preach, ailed with the fame fmcerity and firmnefs, that he did, the number of converts would have been much greater, than we have yet (ttn it. He now began to declare the y?7//Z» as it is VI yefus, a do6irine which thofe that were con- vinced of (in gladly received. A day or two after he was much confirmed in the truth by hearing the experience of Mr. Hutchens of Pem- broke College, and Mr. Fox : *' Two living witnefles, fays he, that God can, at lead, if he does not always, give that faith, whereof Cometh falvation, in a moment." May 1. They began to form themfelves into a Society, which met in Fetter-lane. This has been ( 77 ) been called the firfl: A4ethodift Society in Lon- don. Mr. Welley dillinguilhes the origin of Methodifm into three different periods. •' The jirjl rife of Methodifm, fays he, was in Nov. 1729, when four of us met together at Oxford. They^cded to hear him -, yet, when Mr. Wefley arrived, he at firft expounded in one of the Society rooms. But being encouraged by confidering the example of our Lord, who preached upon a mountain, and having no place to contain the multitudes that flocked to- gether, '' I fubmitted," fays he, " to be yet more vile, and proclaimed in the high-ways, the glad tidings of falvation, fpeaking from a little eminence in a ground adjoining to the city, to about three thoufand people. lli.e JScripture on which I fpoke was this, — (is it poffible, any one ihould be ignorant, that this is fulfilled in every true minifter of Chrift ? ) T/je Spirit of the Lord is upon me, hecaufe he bath anointed me to- preach the Gofpel to the poor. Mi hath fent me to heal the broken hearted : to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovery of Jight to the blind : to fct at liberty them that are bruifed : to procUmn the acceptable year of the Lord." It appears that his adopting this way of p'eaching the Gofpel to the poor, was not of choice. " When, fays he, I was told, I muft preach no more in this, and another Church, ( 101 ) Church, fo much the more thofe, who could not hear me there, flocked together when I vs'as at any of the Societies j where 1 fpoke more or lefs, though with much inconvenience, to as many as the room I was in would contain. *' But after a time, finding thofe rooms could not contain a tenth part of the people that were earnefl; to hear, I determined to do the fame thing in England, which I had often done in a warmer climate: namely, when the houfe would not contain the congregation, to preach in the open air. This I accordingly did, firft at Brif- tol, where the Society-rooms were exceeding fmall, and at Kingswood, where we had ng room at all ; afterwards in or near London. " And I cannot fay, I have ever feen a more awful fight, than when on Rofe Green, or the top of Hannam-Mount, fome tlioufands of peo- ple were calmly joined together in folemn wait- ing upon God, while *' They ftood and under open air ador'd ** The God who made both air, earth, hea- ven and fky." " And whether they were liflcning to his word, with attention ftill as night ; or were lift- ing up their voice in praife, as the found of many waters ; many a time have I been con- ftrained to fay in my heart, *' How dreadful is this place !" this alfo is no other than the Houfe cf God ! this is the Gate of Heaven ! " Be pleafcd to obferve, i. That I was for- bidden, as by a general confent, to preach in any Church, (though not by any judicial fen- tence,) " for preaching fuch' dodrine." 71iis was the open, avowed caufe : there was at that time no other, either real or pretended ; (ex- cept that the people crowded fo.) ?.. That i had K 3 no ( 102 ) no defire or dcfign to preach in the open air, till long after this prohibition. 3. That when 1 did, as it was no matter of choice, fo neither of premeditation. There was no fcheme at all previoufly formed, which was to be fupported thereby ; nor had I any other end in view than this, to fave as many fouls as I could. 4. Field' preaching was therefore a fudden expedient, a thing fubmitted to, rather than chofen ; and therefore fubmitted to,becaufe I thought preach- ing even thus, better than not preaching at all : Firft, in regard to my own foul, becaufe, a dif- penfation of the gofpel being committed to me, I did not dare, not to preach the gofpel : Se- condly, in regard to the fouls of others, whom ♦ every where faw, feekiiig death in the error of heir life." He ftill continued to expound in the Society- rooms : but it was in the open airtheLord chiefly wrought by his minillry. Many thoufands now attended the word. In the fuburbs of Briftol, at Bath, in Kingswood, on Hannam Mount, and Rofe Green, many who had fet all laws, human and divine, at defiance, and were ut- ttr\y -Lvithout God in the world, no\v fell before the Majefty of Heaven, and joyfully acknowledged, That a Prophet was fent among them. Cries and tears, on every hand, frequently drowned his voice, while many exclaimed in the bitter- iiefs of their fouls, " What fliall I do to be faved ? " Not a few of thefe were now, (and frequently while he was declaring the willing- nefs of Chrift to receive them,) filled with peace and joy in believing, and evidenced that the work was really of God, by an holy, happy, and unblamable walking before him. Blafphe- mies v/ere now turned to praife, and the voi(;e of ( 103 ) of joy and gladnefs was found, wlierc wlcked- nefs and misery had reigned before. A few here alfo, in the iirft inftance, and then a greater number, agreed to meet together, to edify and ftrengthen each other, according to the example of the Society in London. Some of thefe were defirous of building a room, large enough to contain, not only the Society, but fuch alfo as might dcfire to be prefent with them, when the Scripture was expounded. And on Saturday the 12th of May, 1739, the lirft Itone was laid, with the voice of praife and thankfgiving. His ordinary employment, (in public,) was now as follows : every morning he read prayers and preached at Newgate. Kvery evening he expounded a portion of Scripture, at one, or more of the Societies. On Monday in the after- noon, he preached abroad near Briliol ; on Tuef- day at Bath, and Two-Mile-Hill alternately. On Wednefday at Baptift-Mills. Every other Thurfday near Pensford. Every other Friday in another part of Kingswood. On Saturday in the afternoon, and Sunday morning, in the Bowhng- Green, (\^hich lies near the middle of the city.) On Sunday at eleven near Hannam- Mount. At two at Clifton, and at five on Rofe-Green. And hitherto, fays he '' as my day is, fo my ftrength hath been." In the city, in the fuburhs, and in Newgate, fmners were daily humbled under the mighty hand of God, and made, by his grace, mw creatures in Chriji Jcfus. — Befides the general blefling that accompanied his labours, the Lord g-ive fpecial tunes of refrejhing from his prcfence. " At this timcv he was almoft continually afked, either by tabfe who purpofely came to Briftol, ( 104 ) Brltlol, to enquire concerning this Grange work, or by his old or new correfpondents, How can thefe things be ? And innumerable cautions were given him, (generally grounded on grofs mifre- prefentations of things,) '*Not to regard vifions or dreams ; or to fancy people had remiflion of fins, becaufe of their cries, or tears, or bare out- ward profefTions." To one,who had many times wrote to him on this head, the fum of his anfwer was as follows : •* The queftion between us turns chiefly, if not wholly, on matter of fa£l. You deny. That God does now work thefe eftedls : at leaft, that he works them in this manner. I affirm both ; becaufe I have heard thefe things with my own ears, and feen them with my eyes. I have feen, (as far as a thing of this kind can be feen,) very many perfons changed from the fpirit of fear, horror, defpair, to the fpirit of love, joy and peace j and from fmful defire, till then reigning over them, to a pure defire of doing the will of God. Thefe are matters of fa6t, whereof I have been, and almoft daily am, an eye or ear-witnefs. And that fuch a change was then wrought, appears, (not from their (bedding tears only, or falling into fits, or cry- ing out : thefe are not the fruits, as you feein to fuppofe, whereby I judge,) but from the whole tenor of their life, till then many ways wicked ; from that time, holy, juft and good. " I will fhew you him that was a lion till then, and is now a lamb ; him that was a drunkard, and is now exemplarily fober ; the whoremonger that was, who now abhors the very garment fpotted by the flefh. Thefe are my living arguments for what' I afTert, viz. *' That God does now, as aforetime, give re- in iflion ( 105 ) minion of fins, and the gift of the Holy Ghoft, even to us, and to our children ; yea, and that often fuddcnly." If it be not fo, I am found a falfe witncfs before God. For thefe things I do, and by his grace, will teftif)'." But fome faid, " Thefe were purely natural effects J the people fainted away, only becaufe of the heat and clofenefs of the rooms." And others were fure, " It was all a cheat : they might help it if they would. Elfe why were thefe things only in tlieir private Societies ? Wliy were they not done in the face of the fun ? " I'o-dny, Monday 21, *' our Lord, fays he, atv- fvvercd for himfelf. For while I was enforcing tiicfe words, *' Be flill, and know that I am God," he began to make bare his arm, not in a cJofc room, neither in private, but in the open air, and before more tlian two thoufand witneiTes. One and another, and another, were ftruck to the earth, trembling exceedingly at the prefence of his power. Others cried, with a loud and bitter cry, '* \Vhat muft we do to be faved ?" And in Icfs than an hour, feven per- fons, wholly unknown to me till that time, were rejoicing and finging, and with all their might giving thanks to the God of their falva- tion." Notwithdanding nil the encouragement he met with, it appears that he had frequently many uneafy thouglits concerning tins unufual manner of adminlftcring among the people. Bur, after frequently laying the matter before God in prayer, and calmly weighing whatever ob- jetftions he heard againft it, he could not but adhere to what he had fome time before written to a friend, who had freely fpoken his fenti- ments concerning it. An extract of that letter ( io6 ) is here fubjoined, that the whole may be placed in a clear light. *« Dear Sir, ** The beft return I can make for the kind freedom you ufe, is to ufe the fame to you. O may the God whom we ferve fanctify it to us both, and teach us the whole truth as it is in Jefus ! " As to your advice, " That I (hould fettle in College," 1 have no bufinefs there, having now no office, and no pupils. And whether the other branch of your propofal be expedient for me, viz. " To accept of a cure of fouls," it will be time enough to confider, when one is offered to me. " But in the mean time, you think, "I ought to fit flill ; becaufe otherwife I fliould invade another's office, if I interfered with other peo- ple's bufinefs, and intermeddled with fouls that did not belong to me." You accordingly afk, *' How is it that 1 afilemble Chriftians who are none of my charge, to fing pfalms, and pray, and hear the Scriptures expounded ; and think it hard to juftify doing this in other men's parifhes, upon Catholic Principles ?" '* Permit me to fpeak plainly. If by Catholic Principles, you mean any other than Scriptural, they weigh nothing with me : I allow no other rule, whether of faith or practice, than the Holy Scriptures. But on Scriptural Principles, I do not think it hard to juflify whatever I do. God in Scripture commands me, according to my power, to inftrucl the ignorant, reform the ■wicked, confirm the virtuous. Man forbids me to do this, in another's parifh ; that is, in efFedl, to do it at all ; feeing 1 have now no parhh of my own, nor probably ever fliall. Whom then ^ ihall ( 107 ) (hall I hear? God or man ? '* If It be juft to obey man rather than God, judge you. A dif- penfation of the gofpel is committed to me, and woe is me if I preach not the gofpel." But where (hall I preach it upon the principles you mention? Wliy, not in Europe, Afia, Africa, or America .* not in any of the Clirillian parts, at leaft, of the habitable earth. For all thefe are, after a fort, divided into parilhes. If it be faid, ** Go back, then to the Heathens from whence you came." Nay, but neither could I now, (on your principles,) preach to them. For all the Heathens in Georgia belong to the parilh either of Savannah or Frederica. " Suffer me now, to tell you my principles ia this matter. I look, upon all the world as my parifli ; thus far I mean, that in whatever part of it I am, I judge it meet, right and my bounden duty, to declare unto all that are will- ing to hear the glad tidings of falvation. This is the work which I kiiow God has called me to. And fure I am, that his blelCng attends it. Great encouragement have I therefore to be faithful, in fulfilling the work he hath given me to do. His fervant I am, and as fuch am employed, (glory be to him,) day and ni^ht in his fervice. I am employed according to the plain direction of his word, *' As I have op- portunity to do good unto all men." And his providence clearly concurs with his word ; which has difcngaged me from all things elfc, that I might fingly attend on this very thing, and go about doing good. " If you afk, " How can this be ? How can one do good, of whom rnen Jay all rnanner of gvil f" I will put you in mind, (though you once knew this, yea, and much eilablilhed me in ( io8 ) in that great truth,) the more evil men fay of nie for my Lord's fake, the more good he will do by me. That it is for his fake 1 know, and he knoweth, and the event agreeth thereto ; for he mightily confirms the words I fpeak, by the Holy Gholl given unto thofe that hear them. my friend, my heart is moved toward you. 1 fear, you have herein made fliipwreck of the faith. 1 fear, Satan^ tramformed into an angel of lights hath afTaulted you, and prevailed alfo. I fear, that offspring of hell, worldly prudence, has drawn you away from the fimplicity of the gofpel. How elfe could you ever conceive, That the being reviled and hated of all men, fhould make us lefs fit for our Mafter's fervice ? How elfe could you ever think, oi faving yoiir- felf and them that hear you, witliout being the filth and offscouring of the world? To this hour, is this Scripture true. And I therein rejoicoi yea, and will rejoice. BlefTed be God, I enjoy the reproach of Chrift: ! O may you alfo be vile, exceeding vile for his fake I God forbid that you (hould ever be other than generally fcandalous. I had almoft faid, univerfally. If any man tell you, there is a new way of follow- ing Chrift, he is a Har and the truth is not in him. I am, &c." Wednefday 13. He returned to London, and next day went with Mr. Whitfield to Black- heath, where it was fuppofed, between twelve and fourteen thoufand people were affembled. JVlr. Whitfield defiring him to preach, he con- fented, (although, he fays, nature recoiled,) and fpoke from what he calls his favourite fub- jedt, fefus Chrift, made of God unto us wifdoniy righteoufnefs, fan^ification, and redemption. He ( 109 ) He now laboured in London, and nriflol, and rhe intermediate and adjacent places, la Moorfields, Kenning,ton-Common, HIackheath, &c. many thoufands attended lus minillry. In every place God bore witnefs to his truth, ^.lultitudes were convinced, that the 'wages of fin is death, but the ^ift of God-, is eternal Life^ through Jrfus Chriji our Lord : and they brought forth fruits meet for repentance ; and not a few found redemption through his Uiod, iht forgi-jeuefi of their fms. Various and ftrange were the reports, that \vere now in circulation concerning him. But the moft common rumour was, That he ■was a "Jfuit, and had evil defigns againll the church, if not alfo againll the ibte. \'aiious alfo were the publications refpeifting him. Mofl of them lived but a few days or \iveeks, the writers being totally ignorant of the fubje*St they wrote upon. Some of them, how« ever, were not unworthy of novice, and thefe he anfv.'ered with great ability. A ferious Clergy- man, convinced of his uprightnefs, bur yet ftaggered at a conduiR:, which he tliouglu con- trary to the interells of the ef^ablilhed Church, defired to know in what points he differed from llie Church of England ? " I anfwered," fays Air. Welley, " to the beft of my know, ledge in none : the dodrines we preach are the doc- trines of the Church of England, indeed the tundamental doilrinas thereof, clearly hid down, in her prayers, articles and homilies. " He aflced, It; what points then do you dif- fer from the other Clergy of the Church- of England ? I anfwered, In none, from that part of the Clergy, who adhere to the dotflrines of the Church : but tVom that part of the h Clergy, ( no ) Clergy, who diffent from the Church, (though they own it not,) I differ in tiie points foJlow- ina : " Firft. They fpeak of juftification, either as the fame thing with fan6i:ilication,or as fome- thing confequent upon it. I beheve juftifica- ti' n to be wholly diftin^St from fancftification, and neceiTarily antecedent \o it. " Secondly. They fpeak of our own b.olinefs or good works, as the caufeof our juftification ; or, that for they^i^ of vshich, or on account of ivhich, we are juftified before God. I believe reiiher our own holinefs nor good works are any part of the caufe of our juftification, but that the death and righteoufnefs of Chrill are tMe whole and fole caufe of it : or that for the fake of which, or on account of which, we are jufrihed before God. " Thirdly. They fpeak of good works, as a condition of jufiificatiop, neceiTarily previous to it. I believe no good work, (l^^riilly fpeak- ing, ) can be previous to juftification, nor con- fequently a condition of it : but that we are juflificd by faith only, faith preceded, how- ever, by repentance, and produci ^g all good works. *' Fourthly. They fpeak of fanctification, or holinefs, as if it were an outward thing, as if it confifled chiefly, if not wholly, in thefe two points. I. Doing no harm. 2. The do- ing 2;ood, (as it is called,) i. e. the ufing the means of grace, and helping our neighbour. I believe it to be chiefly an inv»'ard thing, r^mely. The life of God in the Soul of Man i a participation of the divine nature ; the mind that ivas in Chriji ; or, the renewal of our heart cftt.r the image cf uiUi that created us. Laftly, ( III ) «' Laftly. They fpeak of the New-Birth, as an outward thing, as if it were no more than Raptifm ; or at inoft, a change from outward wickedncCs, to outward goodnefs ; from a vi- cious to, -what is called, a virtuous life. I believe it to be an inward thing ; a change from inward wickednefs to inward goodnefs: an en- tire change of our utmoil: nature, from th.e image of this devil, to the image of God ; a change from the love of the Creature, to ihe love of the Creator, from earthly and fenfual, to heavenly and holy affeflions : in a word, from the tempers of the fpirits of darknefi;, to thofc of the Angels of God in heaven. " There is therefore a wide, eileniial, fund,;- mental, irreconcilable difference between uo : fo that, if they fpeak the truth as it is in Tcf'.:;', I am found a falfe witnefs before God. But if I teach the way of God in truth, t:i'.;y arc hiifui leaders of the blind. ^* The word fpokcn now began to make u rapid progrefs. Societies were fonned not only in London and Briilol, but in many adjacent places : and fome even at a conliderable diilance. The labourers as yet were few ; but believing they were engaged in the caufe of God againft ignorance and profanenefs, which over-fpread the land, they were indefatigable, fcarcely giv- ing themfeivcs any rell day or night, 'rhe effe •' A Miniller of our Churciv who may loofc wpon it as his duty to warn iiis parifhioners, or au Author who may think, it ncceffary to caution his readers, againil fuch Preachers or their dodrine, (Enthutlaftic Preachers, I fuppofe,. fuch as, he takes it for granted, tlie Methodift Preacliers are,) ought to be very careful to adt with a Chrilliau fpirit, and to advance nothing but witli temper, charity and truth. — Perhaps the tbllowing rules may be proper to be oblervcd by them. 1. " Not to blame pei*fons for doint; that now, which Scripture records holy men of old to liave praiftifcd, led, had ihey lived in thofe times, thev (hoiild have condennied them alfo. 2. " Not to ccnlure perfons in Holy Orders^ for teaching the fame do6trines which are taught in Scripture, and by our Church ; left they fhould jgnorantly cenfure, what they profefs to defend I. 3. "Not to cenfure a^ny profefled members of our cliurch, who live good lives, for refort- ing to religious alTemblies in private houfes, to perform in Society a6ls of divine worfliip ; when the fame feems to have been pradifed by the Primitive Chriflians ; and when alas ! there are fo many parilhes, where a perfon, pioully dif- pofed, has no opportunity of joining in the public fervice of our church, more than one hour and a half in a week. 4. " Not to condemn tliofe who are conflant attendants on the communion and fervice of otir church, if they foinetimes ufe other prayers in private affemblies : fince the beft Divines 0/ our church have compofed and publiHicd many prayers, that have not the fancSlion of puljlic autliorityi which implies a general confcnti. Uiat ' C ii6 ) that our cburch has not made provifion for every private occafion. 5. " Not to cllablini the power of v^'orkins^ miracles as the great Criterion of a divine inif- fion ; when Scripture teaches us, t!iat the agree- ment of do£brines with truth as taught in thofe Scriptures, is the only infallible rule. 6. *' Not to drive any away from our church,, by opj.)robriouily calling them DiiTentei's, or treating them as fuch, fo long as they keep to her communion. ■ 7. " Not lightly to take up with filly flories that may be propagated, to the difcredit of per- fons of a genera] good chara6ter. " I do not lay down, (fays he,) thefe nega- th'e rules, fo much for the fake of any perfons v/hom the unobfervance of them would imme- diately injure, as of our chuich, and her pro- felTed defenders. For churchmen, however well- meaning, would lay themfelves open to cenfure, and might do her irretrievable damage, by a behaviour contrary to them." Mr. Weiley oaen wilhed that they who either preached or wrote againrt: him, would ferioufly attend to thefe rules. But thefe rules y/erc too hberal and candid for the common herd of op- pofers. A few months after this, Mr. Wcfley received the following excellent letter from the author of the above mentioned refleclions : *' Reverend Sir, •* As I wrote the Rules and Confiderationsy Jin No. 25, of Country Common-Senfe,] with an eye to Mr. Whitefield, yourfelf, and your oppofers, from a .fincere d&ine to do feme fer- vice to Chrifiianlty, according to the impcrfecft notion 1 had at that time of the real merits of the ( 117 ) tlie caiife ; I at tlie fame time rcfolved, to take any opporiiinity that Ihould oRer for my better information. ** On this [)rinciple it was, that I made one of your audience, C>ctobcr 23, at Bradi'ord. And becaufe I thought 1 could form the bell judgment of you, and your do6irines from your fermon, I refolved to hear that tirl> : which was the reafon, that ahiiough, by accident, 1 was at the fame lunife, and walked two miles with you, to the place vou preached at, 1 fpokc little or nothing to you. I muft conicfs. Sir, that the difcourfe you made that day, wherein you preft your hearers in the clofefl: manner, an.d with the authority of a true minifter of the gofpel, not to Hop at faith only, but to add to it all virtues^ and to fliew forth their faith, by every kind of gcodivorks, convinced me of the great wrong done you by a public report, common in people;'* mouths, That you preach faith without works. For, that is the only ground of prejudice whicli any true Chrirtian can have : and is the fenfe in which your adverfaries would take your words, when they cenfure them. For that we are juilitied by faith only, is the doctrine of Jefus Chrii), the do6lrine of his Apoliies, and the dochinc of the church of Kngland. J am afhamed that after having lived twenty-nine years, fmcc my baptifm into this faith, — 1 lliould l4)eak of it in the lame, unfaithful, I may fay, faife manner I have done in tlie paper above- mentioned ! What mere darknefs is man, when truth hidcth her face from him ! " Man is by nature a finner, the child of the devil, under God's wrath, in a flate of damna- tion. The Son of God took pity on this our mifery : he made hiiufeif man, he made him- felf • ( "8 ) felf fin for us ; that is, He Iiath borne the punlihment of our fin, the chaftifement of our peace was upon him, and by liis ftripes we are healed. To receive this boundlcfs mercy, tiiis ineftimabie benefit, we mull iiave faith in our Benefactor, and through hiin in God. — But then, true faith is not a lifelcfs principle, as your adverraries feem to underftand it. 'i'hev and you mean quite different tilings by faith. T'liey mean, a bare believing, that Jefus is the Ci.rift. You mean a living, giowing, purifying princi- ple, which is the root both of inv^ard and out- ward holinefs ; both of purity and good works : ■without which no man can have faitli, at leait no other than a dead faith. " This, Sir, you explained in your fermon at Bradford, Sunday, OtShober 28, to near ten thoufand people, who all Hood to liear you, with awful filence and great attcniion. I have fincG reflected how much good the C.'krgy might do, if, inilead of Hiunning, they v.ould come to hear and converfe with you ; and in their churches and pariihes, would farther enforce thofe Catho- lic doctrines which you preach : and v.hich, I am glad to fee, have fuch a furprifing good effe<5i:, on great numbers of fouls. ** I think indeed, too many Clergymen are culpable, in that they do not inforu^ themfelves better, of Mr. W d, yourfelf, and your doc- trines, from your own mouths : 1 am perfuaded, if they did this with a ChriAian fpirit, the dif- ferences between you would foun be at an end. Nay, I think, thofe vvhofe flocks refort fo much to hear you, ought to do it, out of their Paf- loral duty to them ; that if you preach good doctrine, they may edify them, on the impref- fions fo vifibly inade by your fermons, or if evil, they may reclaim them from error. — ^' I aiall ( "9 ) *' I fliall conclude this letter with putting you in mind, in all your fermons, writings and prailice, nakedly to follow the naked Jefus : 1 mean, to preach the pure do6lrine of the gof- pel without refpedl of pcrlbns or things. Many Preachers, many Reformers, many MilFionaries, have fallen by not obferving this ; by not hav- ing continually in mind, " Whofoever ftiall break the leaft of thefe commandinetus, and teach men fo, he fhall be called the Icalf in the kingdom of heaven." " Aug. 27. fays Mr. Weflt-y, for two hours I took up my crofs, in arguing with a zealous man, and labouring to convince him^ " That I was not an enemy to the church of England.". He allowed, " 1 taught no other dodlrines than thofe of the church ;" but could not forgive my teaching thein out of the church-walh. He allowed too, (vvhich none indeed can deny, wlio has either any regard to truth or fenle of (hamc, ) that " by this teaching ma ly fovils, who till that time were peiilhing for lack of knowledge, have been, and are brought from darknefs to light, and from the power of fatan unto God." But he added. " No one can tell, what may hs here- after : and therefore I fay, thefe things ought not to be fuffered." Are not many fiill of the fame mind 1 Do they not think, becaufe they cannot tell ivhat may he hereafter^ and what confequcnces may re- fult from this manner of preaching the Gofpel, that therefore none ought to be fuffcred th.us to preach it ? but that alMhould be compelled to let their fellow-creatures, for whom Christ died, ftilJ remain in darknefs, and continue to perifti, for luck of knowledge / ! We ( 120 ) We have feen above what grest encourage- JTient, and how much alhltance A4r. WelTey received, in his pious courfe, from the letters, and advice of his mother. It fccms, never- thelefs, that it was not till within a few years of her death that fhe was fully afTured of her acceptance with God. *' AJon. Sept. 3, fays lie, I talked largely with my mother, who told mc, That till a fliort time fince, fhe had fcarce heard fuch a thing mentioned, as having foreivenefs of fms now, or God's Spirit bearing witnefs with our fpirit : much lefs did flie imagine, that this was tlie common privilege of all true believers. '•'There- fore, (faid file,) I never durft afk for it myfelf. But two or three weeks ago, while my fon Kail ■was pronouncing thofe words, in delivering the cup to me, " The blood of our Lord Jefus Chrift, which, was given for thee : " the words frruck through my heart, and I knew God fur Chrift's fake had forgiven mc all my fms." " I allced, Whether her father, (Dr. An- iiefley,) had not the fame faith ? And, Whe- ther fhe had not heard him preach it to others ? She anfwered, " He had it himfeif, and de- clared a little before his death, that for more than forty years, he had h.ad no darknefs, no fsm-f no doubt at all, of his being accepted in the Be- loved. But that neveriheiefs, Hie did not re- member to have heard him preach, no not once, explicitly upon it ; whence (he fuppofed he alfo looked upon it as the peculiar blelTuig of a few, not as promifed to all the people of God." The reader will expecl: to be informed how this excellent woman, in vihofe happinefs he inufl: feel himfeif interefled, finiflied her earthly courfe. I ( I.2I ) courfe. Of this we have an account in the following words of Mr. Welley. " July 1 8, 1742. I left Brirtol in the even- ing, and on Tuefday came to London. I found my mother on the borders of eternity. But (lie had no doubt nor fear : nor any defire but, (as foon as God Ihould call,) to depart, and t$ be with Chrijl. *' Friday 30. About three in the afternoon, I went to my mother, and found her change was near. I fat down on the bed-fide. She was in her laft conflid ; unable to fpeak, but I believe quite fenfible. Her look, was calm and ferene, and her eyes fixt upward, while we com- mended her foul to God. From three to four, the filver cord was loofmg, and the wheel break- ing at the ciftern. And then, without any ftrug- gle or figh or groan, the foul was let at liberty. We flood round the bed, and fulfilled her laft requeft, uttered a little before fhe loft her fpeech, *• Children, as foon as 1 am releal'ed, fmg a pfalm of praife to God." *' Sunday, Augull i.-Almoft an innumerable company of people being gathered together, about five in the afternoon, 1 committed to the earth, the body of my mother, to llcep with her fathers. The portion of Scripture from which I afterwards fpoke was, " I faw a great white throne, and Him that fat on it; from whofe face the earth and the he.iven fled away, and tltere was found no place for them. And I faw the dead, fmall and great, fland before God ; and the books were opened. — And the dead ^vcre judged out of thofe things which were written in the books, according to their works." Jt was one of the mol\ folemn aflemblies I ever faw, or expedt to fee on this fide eternity, M «' We ( 122 ) " We fet up a plain (lone at the head of her grave, infcribed with the fallowing words : ** Here lies the body of Mrs. Sufannah Wef- ley, the younged and laft furviving daughter of Dr. Samuel Anncfley." "In fure and ftedfafl Hope to rife And claim her Manfion in the Skies, A Chriftian here her Flefh laid down, The Crofs exchanging for a Crown. True Daughter of Afflidion fhe. Inured to Pain aiid Mifery, Mourn'd a long Night of Gtiefs and Fears, A legal Night of feventy Years. The Father then reveal'd his Son, Him in the broken Bread made known. She knew and felt her Sins forgiven. And found the Eameft of her Heaven. Meet for the Fellowfhip above, She heard the Call, " Arife my Love ; " '* I come, her dying Looks replied, And Lamb-like as her Lord, Ihe died," *' I cannot but further obferve, adds Mr. Wefley, That even Ihe, (as well as her father and grandfather, her hulband, and her three fons,) had been, in her meafure and degree, a preacher of righteoufnefs. This I learned from a letter, written long fince to my tather ; part of which I have here fubjoined. P'eb. 6, 1711-12. *' '■•' As I am a woman, fo I am alfo mif- trefs of a large family. And though the fupe- rior charge of the fouls contained in it, lies upon you, — yet in your abfence, I cannot but look ( 123 ) look upon every foul you leave under my care, as a talent committed to me under a truft, by the great Lord of all the families, both of hea- ven and earth. And if I am unfaithful to him or you, in negle£ting to improve thefe talents, how fhall I anfwer unto Him, when He (hall command me, to render an account of my ftewardlhip ? " As thefe and other fuch like thoughts, made me at firll take a more than ordinary care, of the fouls of my children and fervants ; fo knowing our religion requires a ftris had fuch great fuccefs in preaching the Gofpel to x:\z middling and lower orders of people, when fuch Minillers as thefe had the care of moft of the parilhes in England? The cafe it is hoped, is now greatly altered. At prefent there is more religious knowledge, more candour, and c;reater attention to propriety of condutft, both among the Clergy and the people, than there was at that ( 132 ) that time ; and the Methodifts, certainly have been the principal means of producing the change. The reader has probably been informed how frequently the Colliers in Kingswood were wont to rife in mobs, and-fet all law and government at defiance. But to check fuch outrages alfo, the preaching of the Methodifts had great in- fluence. September 22, Mr. Charles Wefley, was informed that the Colliers were rifen j and riding out from Briftol, he met about a thou- fand of them at Lawrence-Hill. The occafion of their riling was the dearnefs of Corn. He went up to an eminence, and began to talk to them. Many feemed niclined to go back with him to the fchool, which fome of the mod defparate perceiving, they rufhed violently upon the others, beating, tearing and driving them every way from Mr. Wefley. He adds, " L rode up to a ruffian, who was ftriking one of our Colliers,* and prayed him rather to ftrike me." He anfwered, * No, not for all the world,' and was quite overcome. I turned upon another, who ftruck my horfe, and he alfo funk into a lamb. They now made one general alTauIt, and the violent Colliers forced the quiet ones into the town. I feized one of the tailed, and earneftJy befought him to follow me, — ' Yes, faid he, that 1 will, all the world over.' I prcfl'ed about fix into Chrift's fervice. We met fevcral parties, and flopped and exhorted them to fol- low us, and gleaning fome from every com- pany, we increafed as we marched on to the ichool. From one till three o'clock, we fpent in prayer, that evil might be prevented, and the lion chained. Then news was brought us, * He meaas a Collier, who was ie ibc Methojifl Society, that ( 133 ) that the Coiliers were returned in peace. They had walked quietly into the city, without (licks or the leaft violence. A few of the better fort of them went to the A4ayor, anil t .>kl their grievance. Then thevall returned, as they came, without noife or diiturbancc. All who faw it, were amazed. Nothing could more clearly have rtiewn the change wrought among them, than this conduct on Inch an occaiion." *' I found afterwards that all the Colliers, in our Society had been forced away, to a man. Having learned of Clirid: not to refift evil, they went a mile with thofe that compelled them, rather than free tliemfelves by violence. One man the rioters dragged out of his fick-bed, and threw him into the Filh-Ponds. Ihey threatened to bury others ahve, by tiliing u]> the pits if they would not come up, and bear them company." It was a happy circumdance, that they forced fo many of the Methotlift Col- liers to go with them : as thefc, by tlieir exam- pie and advice, reftrained the favage fury of the others. This, undoubtedly, was the true caufe why they all returned, without making any dif- turbance. SECTION V. Of the Separation between Mr. WESLEY mtd .l/r. WHITFIELD; and thi hittodiUimi of Lay- Preachers into the Work. .ITHERTO Mr. WhitfieM had laboured in union and harmony, v.'ith Mr. Wefley and his brolher. They preached in the fame puU N pits, ( 134 ) pits, and had only one common defign, to pro- mote Chrirtian knowledge, and a holy conver- fation among the people, widiout entering into the difcufTion of particular opinions. But Air. Whitfield, on his fecond vifit to America, be- ing well received by many pious minifters in the northern States, who were of Calvin's fen- timents, and afierted, abfolute Predeiiination, and being edified by their piety, began alfo in a Jittle time to relifh their creed. They flrongly recommended to him the writings of the Puritan Divines, which he, from that time, read with much pleafure, approving all he found therein, as he informed Mr. Wefley in a letter, which he viote to him on the fubje6l. On the other hand, Mr. Wefley believed and afTerted that God is not willing thruu, that I have feen Maxtield. He is one of the greateft inftanccs of God's peculiar favour, that I know. God has railed from the ilones, one to fit among the princi;s of his people. — He is my atloaifhment. — How is God's power ilievN'U ( 142 ) fhewn in weaknefs. You can ]iave no idea what an attachment I have to him. He is highly favoured of the Lord. The Hrfl time I made him expound, expelling httjc from h.im, I fat overagainft him, and thought,, what a power of God mull be with him, to make me ^i,ivc any sttention to him. But before he lud goae (jver one fifth part, any one that had ften me, would have thought rne made of wood or ftone, fo quite immoveable, I both felt and looked. His power in prayer is very extraordiiiary. To deal plainly, I could talk for an i-.our about him. Tiie Society goes on well here. Live aflured of the moll faithful and fincere friend- (hip of your unworthy filter in Chritl: Jcfus. Selina IJuntingdon.** Some, however, were offended at the irregu- larity, as it was termed, of a Layman preach- ing. A complaint was made in form to Air. Wefley, and he hallened to London, in order to put a ftop to It. His mother then lived in his houfe, adjoining the Foundery. When he arrived, flie perceived that liis countenance was exprefTive of diilatisfaction, and inquired the caufe. " Tliomas iv'iaxfield," faid he abruptly, " has turned Preacher, I tind." She looked attentively at him, and replied, " John, you know what my fentiments have been. You cannot fufpedl me of favouring readily any thing of this kind. But take care what you do with refpeiSl to that young man, for he is as furely called of God to preach as you are. Examine what have been the fruits of liis preaching : and hear him alfo yourfeJf." He did fo. His prejudice bowed before, the force of truth, and he could only fay, ** h is the Lord; let him d^ what feemeth him good." In ( 143 ) In other places alfo the fame aflillance was afft.rded. It appears indeed, from what he hatii faid at various times, that he o\\\y fubmittcd with reluoiance to it. His high church principles ftood in his way. But fuch effeifts were pro- duced, that he frequently found himfeJf in the predicament of Peter, who being quellioned in a matter fomewhat fimilar, could only relate the fadl, and fay, " what was I, that J could with" Jiand GodF" But the Lord was about to fliew him ftill greater things than thefe. An honeft man, a Mafon of Blrftal, in Yorklliire, whofe name was John NeUon, coming up to I.oadon, to work, at his trade, heard that Word, which he found to be the pnuer of God unto falvatisn. His underilanding was informed, his confcience awakened, and feeling the whole energy of the truths he heard delivered, he received tliat peace, which the Apoftle fpeaks of, as tiie fruit of juftifying faith, he received a knowledge of fal- vation by the remifi'ion of fms. He had full bufmefs in London and large wages. But from the time of his finding peace with God, it was continually upon his mind, That he mufl return, (though he knew not why,) to his native place. He did fo, about Chriitmas, in the year 1740. His relations and acquain- tance foon began to enquire, " What he thought of this new faith ?" And whether he believed. There was any fuch thing, as a man's knov^ing that his fuis were forgiven ? John told them point blank. That " this new faith, as they called it, was the old faith of the Gofpel : And that he himfelf was as fure his fins were forgiven, as he could be of the Ihining of the fun." This was foon noifcd abroad ; more and more came to inquire, concerning thefe flvaage things. Some ( 144- ) So.ne put him upon the proof of the great truths, which fuch inquiries naturally led him to mention. And thus he was brou^jht una- wares to quote, explain, compare, and inforce feverp>l parts of Scripture. This he did at firft, fitting in his houfe, till the company increafed fo that the houfe could not contain them. Then he flood at the door, which he was commonly obliged to do, in the evening, as foon as he came from work. God immediately fet his feal to what was fpoken : and feveral be- lieved, and therefore declared, that God was merciful alfo to their unrighteoufnefs, and had forgiven all their fins. Mr. Ingham hearing of this, came to Bir- ftal, enquired into the fails, talked with John himfelf, and examined him v,'ith the clofeft ex- a(Stnefs, both touching his knowledge and fpiri- tual experience. After which he encouraged him to proceed, and prefied him as often as he had opportunity to come to any of the plaees where himfelf had been, and fpeak to the people as God Ihould enable him. Things being in this ftate, John Nelfon in- vited Mr. Wefiey, to come down among them, and in May, he arrived at Birftal. Here he found a Lay-Preacher who, undeniably, had done much good. Many of the greateft pro- fligates in all the country were now changed. Their blafphemies were turned to praife. The whole town wore a new face : fuch a change did God work, by the artlefs teftimony of one plain man ! Mr. Wefley was now fo fully con- vinced of the great defign of a preached Gofpcl, that if finners were truly converted to God, and a decent order preferved in hearing the word, he thought it a matter of no confequence, whether ( 145 ) whether the inftrumcnt of tlie good done, was a Lay-man, or regularly ordained. And it a regu- larly ordained Preacher did no good, and a Lav- inan, by preaching, did; it was eafy to judge wliich was acting moll agreeably to the deligns of the Gofpel, and moft for the benefit of fociety. It is probable that fuch rcflecSlions as thefe had rifen in his mind on the fact before him ; and his judgment was confirmed by repeated facts of the fame kind, tliat occurred ; and thus he was in- duced to make ufc of the labours of Lay-men, on a more extenfive fcale than had hitherto been allowed. And from this time the number of Laymen employed, gradually increafed, in pro- portion to the increafe of Societies, and the want of Preachers ; the Clergy in general, ftanding, at a difiance from a plan of fuch irregularity, as they judged it, and (o much labour. Mr. John Nelfon's Journal, was afterwards pub- lilhed, and is now extant. And, it is hard to fay, which is moll to be admired, the ftrengthof Ins underftanding, unafTifted by human learnings his zeal for the falvation of fouls, or the in- juries and oppreffions he fufFered from thofc, who knew not what fpirit they were of. From this time Mr. Welley laboured much in YorkHiire. In no part of England has re- ligion taken a deeper root, or had a wider fpread.. than in this favoured county. The people, who are numerous, are all induftrious, and in general fully employed. They have learned to be ** diligent in bufinefs, and fervent in fpirit, ferving the Lord." Not only in all the capital, towns, but in moft: of the villages alfo, numer- ous Societies are formed, and Chrillian fellow- ihip, till then unknown, has given religion a liability and beauty, which can hardly be con- ceived by thofe who know it not. O SECTION ( 146 ) SECTION VI. Qfthe fuccefs of the Gofpel among the Colliers and : others, in and about NcvucaJlU-upon-Tyne, and in Staffhrdjhire, and among the Tinners in Corn" ivall, zvith the perfecutions Jl^Ir. WESLEY and his Friends endured. .BOUT a year before this, viz. on June 1741, Mr.Welleyhad taken a journey as far as Notting- ham, where he had preached in the Marker- Place, to an immenfe number of people. Being now as far North as Birftal near Leeds, he deter- mined to go forward from thence to vifit New- caftle-upon-Tyiie. Having witnefTed the fuccefs o^f the Gofpel among the Colliers at Kingswood, he had long had a defire to vifit thofe about New- caftle, and now accompliflied his wifh ; at lealT: in part, and made way for future vifits. He was not known to any perfon of Newcaftle ; and therefore he and Mr. J. Taylor, who travelled with him, put up at an inn. On walking thro' the town, after taking fome refrefhment, he obferves, " I w^s furprized j fo much drunken- nefs, curfing, and f wearing, (even from the mouths of little children,) do I never remem- ber to have feen and heard before, in fo fmall a compafs of time. Surely this place is ripe for Him, who " came not to call the righteous but finners to repentance." " Sunday 30. At feven I walked down to Scmdgate, the poorert, and mort contemptible part of the town, and fl:anding at the end of the ftreet with John T^aylor, began to fing the luindredth pfalm. Three or four people came out to fee what was the matter, who foon encreafed to fowr or five hundred. I fuppofe there might be twelve or fifteen hundred before I had done preaching : ( 147 ) preaching: to whom I applied thofe folemn words, ** He was wounded for our tranfgreinons, He was bruifed for our iniquities ; the chaftifement of our peace was upon Him, and by his ftripes we are healed." *' Obfcrving the people when I hid done to Oand gaping and flaring upon me, with the mofl: profound aftonifhment, I told them, " If you dcfire to know who I am, my name is John Weflcy. Ac five in the evening, with God's help, I defign to preach here again." " At five the hill on which I defigned to preach, was covered from the top to the bottom. I never faw fo large a number of people toge- ther, either in Adoorfields, or at Kennington- Common. I knew it was not polfible for the one half to hear, although my voice was then flrong and clear, and I llood fo as to have them all in view, as they were ranged on the fide of the hill. The word of God which I fet before them was, / luill heal their backJl'uUng^ I will love them freely. After preachitig, the poor people were ready to tread me under foot, out of pure love and kindnefs. It was fome time before I could poflibly get out of the prefs. I then went back another way than I came. But feveral were got to our Inn before me ; by whom I was vehemently importuned, to flay with them, at leall, a few days : or, however, one day more. But I could not confent: having given my word, to he aL Birllal, with God's leave, on Tuefday night." As they were returning thro' Knareiborough, not intending to flop there, a young man (lop- ped Air. Welley in the ftreet, and earneftly de- fired him to go to his houfe. He did lb. The young man told him, that their talking with'a O 2 perfon, ( 148 ) perfon, as tliey went through the town before, had fet many on a flame, and that the Sermon they had given liim, had travelled from one end of the town to the other. Thus was fomc precious feed of divine truth fown here alfo, wJiich appears to have produced fruit in the convisStion and converfion of divers individuals. After preaching in fundry places in the Weft of Yorklhire, he vifited Epworth, his native place, where his father had been Re<5tor of the pariih many years, and had born a faithful teftimony j though all the feed feemed to have faJlen, as by the highway-fide. " It being many years, fays he, fmce I had been in Epworth before, I went to an inn, in the middle of the town, not knowing whether there were any left in it now, who would not be aflnam- ed of my acquaintance. But an old fervant of my father's, with two or three poor women, pre- fently found me out. I afked her, " Do you know any in Epworth who are in earneft to be faved ? She anfwered, " I am, by the grace of God : and I know I am faved through faith." I afked, " Have you then the peace of God ? Do you know that he has forgiven your Cms ? " She replied, *' I thank God, I know it well. And many here can fay the fame thing." " Sunday 6. A little before the fervice began, I went to A4r. Romley the curate, and offered to afllft him either by preaching or reading prayers. But he did not care to accept of my ainriance. The church was exceeding full in the afternoon, a rumour being fpread, that I was to preach. But the Sermon on, ^ench not ti:>e Spirit, was not fuitable to the expe6tation of many of the hearers. Mr. Romley told them, ** One of the moft dangerous ways of quencja> ing { H9 ) ' Ing the Spirit was by enthufiafm : and enlarged on the character of an enthufiaft, in a very florid and oratorical manner. After Sermon, J. Taylor flood in the church-yard, and gavo •notice as the people were coming out, ** Mr. We/ley, not being permitted to preach in the church, defigns to preach here at fix o'clock." '* Accordingly at fix I came, and found fuch a congregation, as 1 believe Epworth never faw before. I ftood nenr the eaft end of the church, upon my father's tomb-ftone, and cried, *' The kingdom of heaven is not meat and drink ; but righteoufnefs, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghoft." '* Wednefday 9. I rode over to a neighbour- ing town, to wait upon a judice of peace, a man of candour and underftanding j before whom, (I was informed,) their angry neigh- bours had carried, a whole waggon-load of thefo, new hereticks. But when he aflccd. What tliey had done ? tliere was a deep filence ; for that was a point their condudlors had forgot. At length one faid, *' Why they pretend to be better than other people, and befides, they pray from morning to night," Mr. S. afked, " But have they done nothing befides ? " ' *' Yesj Sir, faid an old man, An't pleafe your worfliip, they have convartcd my wife. 'I'ill flie went among them, fhe had fuch a tongue ! And now file is as quiet as a lamb." *' Carry them back, carry them, back, replied the jultice, and let them convert all the rc<:>kls in the town." He continues, *' Friday the nth, I preached again at Epworth, about eight, on Ezekicl's vifion of the refurrec^tion of the dry bones. And great indeed was the fliaking among them. La- mentation and creat mowning were he-ard j ^03 God ( 150 ) God bowing their hearts, fo that on every fide," as with one accord, they hfted up their voice, and wept aloud. Surely He who fent his Spirit to breathe upon them, will hear their cry, and will help them. " Saturday la. I preached on the righteouf- nefs of the law, and the righteoufnefs of faith. While I was fpeaking feveral dropped down as dead. And among the reft, fuch a cry was heard, of tinners groaning for the righteoufnefs of faith, as almoft drowned my voice. But many of thefe foon lifted up their heads with joy, and broke out into thankfgivinc; ; being aiiured, they now had the defire of their foul, the forgivenefs of their fins. ** I obferved a gentleman there, who was remarkable for not pretending to be of any religion at all. I was informed, he had not been at public worfhip of any kind, for upwards of thirty years. Seeing him fland as motion- lefs as a ftatue, 1 afked him abruptly, "Sir, are you a finner ? " He replied, v;ith a deep and broken voice, '* Sinner enough," and continued flaring upwards, until his wife, and a fervant or two, who were all in tears, put him into his chaife, and carried him home. " At fix I preached for the laft time in Ep- worth church-ya*'d (being to leave the town the next morning,) to a vaft multitude gathered to- gether from all parts, on the beginning of our Lord's Sermon on the Mount. I continued among them for near three hours : and yet w& fcarce knew how to part. O let none think his labour of love is loft, becaufe the fruit docs not immediately appear. Near forty years did my father labour here. But he fav/ little fruit of ail his Ubour. I took, fome pains among this ( 151 ) • this people too. And my ftrength a!fo feemed fpent in vain. But now the fruit appeared. There were fcarce any in the town, on whom either my father or I had taken any pains for- merly, but the feed fown fo long fince now fprung up, bringing forth repentance and re- miflion of fms." Preaching at various places in his way, June 28, 1742, Mr. Weflcy came to Briliol. From hence he vifited Wales, and afterwards divided his labours chiefly between London and Brifto]» and fome adjacent Societies, till the beginning of November, when he again fet out for the North. On the 31(1, he came to Newcaftle. Here his brother Charles had been preaching fome weeks before, with great fuccefs, and a Society was already formed. The next morn- ing Mr. Welley began to preach at five o'clock, a thing unheard of in thefe parti., till he in- troduced the practice; which he did everywhere, if there was any probability, that a few perfons could be gathered to hear him. On the i8th, he fays, *' I could not but obferve the different manner wherein God is pleafed to work in dif- ferent places. The grace of God flows here, with a wider flrcam than it did at firil, either at Briftol or Kingswood. But it does not fmk (o deep as it did there. Few aic thoroughly con- vinced of fin, and fcarce any can witnefs, that the Lamb of God has taken away their fins. I never faw the work of God in any other place fo evenly, and gradually carried on. Jt con- tinually rifes flep by ftep. Not fo much feems to be done at any one time, as hath frequently been done at Briftol or London : but fome- thing at every time. It is the fame with par- ticular fouls. I faw none iii the triumph of faith ( isa ) faith which has been fo common in other places,'' But the behevers go on calmly and fteadily^ Let God do, as feemeth him good," December 20. Having obtained a piece of ground, forty yards in length, to build a houfe for their meetings and public worfhip, they laid the firfl: ftone of the building. It being computed, that fuch a houfe, as was propofed, could not be flniflied under feven hundred pounds, many were pofitive it wound never be finiQied at all. " I was of another mind, fays Mr. Welley, not doubting, but as it was begun for God's fake, he would provide what was need- ful for finilhing it." Jahuary 2, 1743. He reached Epworth, and next day, being Sunday, he preached at five in the morning, and again at eight, from his Father's tomb-ffone. " A-Iany from the neigh- bouring towns, afked, if it would not be well, as it was facrament Sunday, for them to receive it. I told them, fays Mr. Wefley, ** By all means. But it would be more refpe£tful firft to a(k Mr. Romley, the Curate's leave." One did fo, in the name of the reft. To whom he faid, " Pray tell Mr. Wefley, I fhall not give him the facra- ment. For he is not Jit*' " How wife a God, obferves he, is our God ! There could not have been, fo fit a place under heaven, where this fhould befall me firft, [as my father's houfe, the place of my nativity, and the very place, where, according to the Jhaiteji feSi of our religion, I had fo long lived a Pharifee ! It was alfo fit in the higheft degree, that he who re- pelled me from that very table, where I had myfelf fo often diftributed the bread of life, fhould be one who owed his all in this world, to the tender love which my father had fhewn to /»;>/ as well as perfonally to himjelf'* The ( 153 ) The Meflrs. Wefleys having wltnefled the Lappy efFcds of their preaching, among the CoJiicrs at Kingswood, and thofe in Newcaftle, and the parts adjacent, now determined to vifit thofe alfo in Statfordlhire, who were known to be in a fimilar ftate of ignorance and vice. Mr. Charles Wefley went firll, and preached fundry times at Wednel^bury, and in the neigh- bourhood with confiderabie fuccefs. Mr. John Weiley nov/ took thefe parts in his way from Epworth to 13ril\oh He came to Wednelbury, on Saturday, January 8, and preached in the Town-Hall, at (ewQn in the evening. *' It was filled, he obfervcs, from end to end ! and all appeared to be deeply attentive, while I ex- plained, *' This is the covenant which I will make after thofe days, faith the Lord." " Sunday 9. The hall was filled again at five ; and i proclaimed, *' The name of the Lord ; the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-fuffcring, and abundant in good- nefs and truth." At eight we met in the place where my brother preached, made, as it were, for the great congregation. It is a large hollow, fcarcely a mile from the town, capable of con- taining four or live thoufand people. They flood in a half circle one above another, and feemed all to receive with joy, that great truth, *' The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but ri66 ) grieved within him, at the extreme ungodllHers of thofe who were appointed to detcnd the. Jand. He therefore wrote the following letter to one of the mas^illrates. Sir, " The fear of God, the love of my coun- try, and the regard I have for his Majeity King George, conftrain me to write a few plain words to one, who is no Granger to thefe principles of adlion. *' My foul has been pained day by day, evea in walking the ftreets of Newcaftle, at the fenfe- lefs, fhamelefs wickednefs, the ignorant profane- nefs of the poor men, to whom our lives are intruded. The continual curling and fwearing, the wanton blafphemy of the foidiers in general, muft needs be a torture to the fober ear, whe- ther of a chriftian or an honeft infidel. Caa any that either fear God, or love their neigh- bour, hear this without concern ? Efpecially, if they confider the intereft of our country, a* well as of thefe unhappy men themfelves ? For can it be expected, that God fhould be on their fide, who are daily affronting him to his face ? And if God be not on their fide, how little will either their number, or courage, or ftrength avail ? ** Is there no man tliat careth for thefe fouls? Doubtlefs there are fome who ought fo to do. But many of thefe, if I am rightly informed, receive large pay, and do juft nothing. *' I would to God it were in my power, in any degree, to fupply their lack of fervice. I am ready to do what in me lies, to call thefe poor finners to repentance, once or twice a day, (while I remain ii\ thefe parts,) at any hour. ( i67 ) liour, or place. And I dcfire no pay at all for doing this : unlefs what my Lord (hallgive at his appearing. - ■ • <" - '* If it be objefted, ('A-ftmour heathenifli poet,) " This confcience will make cowards of us all:" I anfwer, let us judge by matter of fa(ft. Let either friends or enemies fpeak. Did thofe who feared God bcliave as cowards at Fontenoy ? Did John Haime the dragoon be- tray any cowardice, before or after his horfe funk under him ? Or did William Clements, when he received the firft ball in his left, and the fecond in his right arm ? Did John Evans, when the cannon-ball took off both his legs ? Did he not call all about him as long as hft could fpeak, to praife and fear God, and honour the king ? As one who feared nothing, but left his breath fliould be fpent in vain ? ** If it were objeded, that I ftiould only fill their heads with peculiar whims and notions ! That might eafily be known. Only let the officers hear with their own eais : yid they may judge, whether I do not preach the plain principles of manly, rational religion. " Having myfelf no knowledge of the Gene- ral, I took the liberty to make this offer to you. I have no intereft herein : but I fhould rejoice to ferve, as I am able, my King and Country. If it be judged, that this will be of no real fervice, let the propofal die, and be forgotten. But I beg you. Sir, to believe, that I have the fame glorious caufe, for which you have (hewi* fo becoming a zeal, earneftly at heart : and that therefore I am, with warm refpedl, Sir, your moft obedient fervant, John Wesley.'* A polite ( 168 ) A polite anfwer was returned by the Magi-' ftrate ; and the General being informed of it, gave his confent ; in confequence of which Mr. Wefley preached to the foldiers as long as he continued in thofe parts. On Friday, Auguft 24, 1744. Mr. Wefley preached for the laft time at Oxford before the Univerfity. He had preached to them twice be- fore, fmce the time he began to declare the truth in the fields and highways. Thofe fer- mons are printed in the fir ft volume of his Works, and are well worth a ferious peru- fal. *' I am now," fays he, *' clear of the blood of thefe men. I have fully delivered my own foul. And 1 am well pleafed that it fliould be the very day, on which, in the lafl century/ near two thoufand, burning and fhining lights ■were put out at one ftroke. Yet what a wide difference is there between their cafe and mine ! They were turned out of houfe and home, and all that they had : whereas I am only hindered from preaching, without any other lofs : and tbzt in a kind of honourable manner ; it being determined, that when my next turn to preach comes, they will pay another perfon to preach for me." And fo they did twice or thrice ; even to the time that he refigned his fellowfhip. About this time Mr. Wefley, and his brother began to be fpoken of in Scotland, and a few of the moft pious minifters there, though differing from the two brothers in many points of doc- trine, yet rejoiced at the great revival of prac- tical religion in England, by their means. Mr. James Robe, minifter of Killfyth, having re- ceived from a friend fome account of them, wrote as follows': •" I was much pleafed with ■what you wrote to me of the MefTrs. Wefleys, Ire- i ( 169 ) I rejoice ihat juftification, the imputed righte- oufnefs of Jehovah, our righteoufnefs, received by faith alojie, and Gofpel hoiinefs, are the fubjeds of their fermons : and the debated points, (various fcntiments about which, are not inconfiftent with faving faith, and our ac- ceptance with God,) are laid afide. I embrace fellowHiip with them, and pray, that the Lord of the vineyard may give them fuccefs in preach- ing the P'aith of Chnll, fo much needed in Eng- land. I have learned fomething new, as to the exhorters.* From what you mention of them, I look upon them, as fo many licenfed probati- oners, or ufcful public teachers ; which is the cafe of our probationers. This provides us with an anfwer to objedions, befides thai of the ex- traordinary circumllances of the ellablillied Church. I beg you to falute the two brothers for me much in the Lord." Mr. James Erfkine, who frequently, in the coLirfe of the year i;44-, or 1745, correfpondeti with Mr. Wciley, tranfmitted this part of Mr. Kobe's letVer to him, and with a liberality, not common to Scotchmen at that time, he afics, " Are the points which give the different de- nominations to Chrirtians, and from which pro- cecJ feparate coinmunions, animofities, evij- Ipeakings, furmifes, and, at lafl, coolnefs of af- tection, aptntfs to miiconllrue, llownefs 10 think well of others. rtifFnefs in our own conceits, and over-valuing our own opinion, &c. Sec. — aie thefe points as important, as clearly revealed, and as elTcntial, or as clofely coimedted with elTentials of praftical Chrirtianity, as the loving one another, with a pure heart ferve7iily, and not forjuklng, much lefs refufing, the ajfemhling of * He means the Lay-Prtaclicrs. { I/O ) eurfehes together, as the manuer of Jome ivus, and of almoft all, is F" Every candid man will mod certainly anfwer this qucftion in the nega- tive. And it requires no great degree of dif- cernment to perceive, that the narrow, party fpirit, which prevails among mofl denomina- tions of Chriftians, with regard to communion, and church fellowfhip, even where it is ac- knowledged that the efTential dodlrines of the Gofpel, are held faft, is one grand hinderance of brotherly love, and of the more general dif- fufion of real, experimental Chriftianity. The light, however, in which Mr. Wefley and his helpers were viewed by fome of the Clergy of the Church of England, was very dif- ferent from that in which they appeared to thefe pious and eminent Minifters in Scotland. Feb. 1747. *' Being in Yorkfhire, fays Mr. Wellev, I met with a Clergyman, who told me fome of the Preachers had frequently preached in his parilh ; and his judgment was, i. That their preaching had done fome good, but more harm. Bccaufe, 2. Thofe who had attended it, had only turned from one degree of wickednefs to another ; they had only exchanged fabbath- breaking, fwearing, or drunkennefs, for ilan- dering, backbiting, and evil-fpeaking : and, 3. Thofe who did riot attend it, were provoked liereby to return evil for evil. So that the for- mer, in efFedl, were no better, and the latter worfe than before. " The fame objedion in fubftance," fays Mr. Wefley, " has been made in moft other parts of England. It therefore deferves a ferious anfwer which will equally hold in all places. It is allowed, firft, that our preaching has done good; commoa fwearers, fabbath-breakers, drunkards, ( 171 ) drunkards, thieves, foniicators, having been reclaimed from thofc outv^'ard fins. But it is affirmed, fecondly, That it has done more harm ; the perfon fo reclaimed, only changing one wickednefs for another ; and their neigh- bours being fo provoked thereby, as to become worfe than before. " Thofe who have left their outward fins, you affirm, have only changed drunkennefs, or iVibbath-breaking, for back-biting or evil-fpeak- ing. I anfwer, if you affirm this of them all, it is notorioufly falfe, many v.'e can name, v\'ho have left curfing, fwearing, back-biting, drunk- ennefs, and evil-fpeaking altogether, and who are to this day, juft as fearlul of fiandering, as they are of curfing or fwearing. And if fome are not yet enough aware of this fnarc of the devil, we may hope they will be ere long. Meantime let us blefs God for what he has done, and pray that he would deliver them from this death alfo. *' You affirm further, ** That their neigh- bours are provoked hereby, to return evil for evil i and fo while the former are no better, the latter are worfe than they were before.'* *' I anfwer. i. Thefe are worfe than they were before. But why ? Becaufe they do frefli de- fpite to the Spirit of grace ; becaufe, they defpife that long fitffering love of God, which would lead them, as it does their neighbours, to re- pentance. And in laying the blame of this, on thofe, who will no longer run with them, to the fame excefs of rioty they only fulfil the fcrip- tures, and fill up the meafure of their own iniquity. *• I anfwer. 2. There is ftill iio proportion, between the good on the one hand, and the Q 2 harm ( 172 ) harm on tlie other j for they who rejecSt the goodnefs of God, were fervants of the devil before ; and they are but fervants of the devil itilh But they who accept it, are brought from the power of fatan, to ferve the hving and true God." In April, Mr. Wefley, on his return from the North, fpent an hour with the fame Clergy- man, and prefTed him to make good his afler- tion, that the preaching of the Methodirts had done more harm than good. This he did not choofe to purfue ; but enlarged on the harm it might occafion to fucceeding generations. Mr. Welley adds, *' I cannot fee the force of this argument, I dare not negle6l the doing certain prefent good, for fear of fome probable ill con- fequences, in thefucceeding century." In the fpring and fumraer of the fame year, (1747,) Mr. Welley, and the Preachers were invited into many parts of Yorkfliire, Lanca- Ihire, Derbylliire, and Chefliire, where they had not been before. Mr. John Bennet,* was a mo!! indefatigable and fuccefsful labourer, for fcveral years, in thefe parts of the country. He was a man of found judgment, and of confi- derable abilities as a Preacher. From a letter which he wrote to Mr. Wefley, fometime after this period, we may form fome notion of the labours of the Preachers. " Many doors, fays he, are opened for preaching in thefe parts, but cannot be fupplled for want of Preachers. I think forne onefliould be fent toaffill: me, other- wife we fliall lofe ground. My circuit is one hundred and fifty miles in two weeks ; during which time, I preach publicly, thirty-four times, * lather of the late Rev. Mr. Bonnet, Miniftcr to a congregation on the Stones in Mcorfields. befides ( 173 ) befides meeting the Societies, vifiting the fick, and tranfading the temporal bufmefs. I think the above is too much for me, confidering my weak conftitution." This was great labour, but Mr. Wefley, and his brother Mr. Charles, laboured ftill more. They preached as often, did all the other bufi- nefs, and frequently travelled treble the diftance in the fame fpace of time. I fliall prefent my readers with an account of one of Mr. Wefley's journeys, taken from his own Journals, as a fpe- cimen of his mode of travelling, of his perfe- vering diligence in the work of calling fmners to repentance, and of the hardfliips which he endured in the profecution of it, ** Tuefday, Feb. lo, 1747. My brother returned from the North, and I prepared to fupply his place there. Sunday 15, I was very weak and faint. But on Monday 16, I rofe foon after three, lively and ftrong, and found all my.complaints were fied away like a dream. ** I was wondering the day before at the mildnefs of the weather, fuch as feldom attends me in my journeys. But my wonder now ceafed: the wind v.as turned full North, and blew Co exceeding hard and keen, that when we came to Hatfield, neither my companions nor I had much ufc of our hands or feet. After refting an hour, we bore up again through the wind and fnow, which drove full in our faces. But this was only a fquall. In Baldock-field the Aorm began in earneft. The large hail drove fo vehemently in our faces, that we could not fee, nor hardly breathe. However before two o'clock we reached Baldock, where one met and condudted us fafe to Potten. About fix I preached to a ferious congregatio'n. Q 3 »' Tuefday ( 174 ) ** Tuefday 17, we fet out as foon as it waj veil light. But it was really hard work to get forward. For the ice would neither well bear nor break. And the untracked fnow covering all the road, we had much ado to keep our horfes on their feet. Mean time the wind rofe higher and higher, till it was ready to overturn both man and beaft. However after a (hort bait at Bugden,we pufhed on, and met in the middle of an open field with fo violent a fiorm of rain and hail, as we had not had before. It drove through our coats, great and fmall, boots, and every thing, and yet froze as it fell, even upori our eye-brows : fo that we had fcarce either lirength or motion left, when we came into the Inn at Stilton. " We now gave up our hopes of reaching Grantkam, the fnow falling failer and falter. However we took the advantage of a fair blail, and made the befl: of our way to Stamford- Heath. But here a new difficulty arofe, from the fnow lying in large drifts. Sometimes horfes and men were well nigh fwallowed up. Yet in lefs than an hour we were brought fafe to Stamford. Being willing to get as far as we could, vve made but a Ihort flop here ; and about fun-fet came, cold and weary, yet well, to a little town called Brig-cafterton. " Wednefday 18. Our fervant came up, and faid, " Sir, there Is no travelling to-day. Such a quantity of fnow has fallen in the night, that the roads are quite filled up." I told him, " At leafl we can walk twenty miles a day, v/ith our horfes in our hands." So in the name of God we fet out. The North Eaft wind was as piercing as a fword, and had driven the fnow into fuch uneven heaps, that the main road was not ( 175 ) not paflable. However we kept on, on foot or horfeback, till we came to the White Lion, at Grantham. Some from Grimfby had ap- pointed to meet us here. But not hearing any thing of them, (for they were at another houfe by miftake,) after an hour's reft we fet out ftraight for Epworth. *' Thurf. 19. The froft was not fo fharp: fo that we had little difficulty till we came to Haxey- Car. But here the ice which covered the dikes and great part of the common, would neither bear, nor readily break. Nor did we know, there being no track of man or beaft, what parts of the dikes were fordable. However we committed ourfelves to God, and went on. We hit all our fords exaflly, and without any fall or confiderable hinderance came to Epworth in two hours, full as well as when we left London." Thus, ftrange as it may feem, did he la- bour as long as he could ride on horfeback ; nor, perhaps, could an inftance be found, dur- ing the fpace of fifty years, wherein the fevereft weather liindered him even for one day ! Many were the '* hair-breadth efcapes," which he experienced during that time ; and which he has noted in his Journals, with lively gratitude to Him who numbers the hairs of our head. In this year he records a remarkable one. '* I took horfe," fays he, " in Briftol for Wick, where I had appointed to preach at thn e in the afternoon. I was riding by the wal[ thro' St. Nicholas' gate, (my horfe having been brought to the houfe where I dined,) juft as a cart turned fliort from St. Nicholas ftreet, and came fwiftly down the hill. There was juft room ( «76 ) room to pafs between the wheel of It, and the wall ; but that fpace was taken up by the car- man. I called to him to go back, or I muft ride over him. But the man, as if deaf, walked ftraight forward. This obliged me to hold back my horfe. In the mean time the fhaft of the cart came full againft his flioulder, with fuch a fliock as beat him to the ground. He (hot me forward over his head, as an arrow out of a bow, where I lay, with my arms and legs, I know not how, ftretched out in a line, clofe to the wall. The wheel ran by, clofe to my fide, but only dirted my clothes. I found no flutter of fpirit, but the fame compofure as if I had been fitting in my ftudy. When the cart was gone, I rofe. Abundance of people gathered round, till a gentleman defired me to ftep into his fhop. After cleaning myfelf a little, I took horfe again, and was at Wick by the time ap- pointed. I returned to Briftol, (where the re- port of my being killed had fpread far and wide,) time enough to praife God in the great congre- gation, and to preach on, '* Thou, Lord, ihalt lave both man beafl." Mr. Wefley now alfo vifited Plymouth, and many other places in the Weft : and in every place the work of God profpered. (Mr. Welley obferves, *' This is no cant word : it means the converfion of finners from fin to holinefs.") But ftill they were obliged in many parts to carry their lives in their hands. Some inftances of this have been related already. 1 will mention one more in his own words. *' Friday, Feb. i2, 1748. After preaching at Oakhill, a village in Somerfetfhire, I rode on to Shepton-Mallett, but found the people all under a ftrange confternation, A mob, they laid, ( 177 ) fald, was hired, and made fufficiently drunk to do all manner of miTchief. I began preaching between four and tive ; and none hir.dered or interrupted at all. VVe had a blelTed opportu- nity, and the hearts of many were exceedingly comforted. I wondered what was become of the mob. But we were quickly informed, they mirtook the place, imagining I Ihould aligiir, (as I ufed to do,) at \V"illiam Stone's houfe, and had fammoned by drum all their forces to- gether, to meet me at my coming. But xVIr. Swindells, (one of the Preachers,) innocently car- rying me to the other end of the town, they did not hnd their miflake till I had done preaching. " However they attended us from the Preach- Ing-houfe to William St. ne's, throwing dirt, ilones and clods in abundance ; but they could not hurt us, only Mr. Swindells had a little dirt on his coat, and I a few fpecks on my hat. " After we had gone into the houfe, they began throwing large ftones, in order to break the door. But pt.ncciving this would require fome time, th.ey dropped that dcfign for the prcfent. They then broke all the tiles on the Pent-houfe over the door, and poured in a fhower of rtone* at the windows. One of their Captains, in his great zeal, had followed us into the houfe, and was now Ihut in with us. He did not like this, and would fain have got out ; but it was not pofhble. So he kept as clofe to me as he could, thinking himfelf fafell when he was near me. But Haying a little be- hind, (when I went up two pair of llairs, and flood clofe on one fide, where we were a little ey faw or felt fome impending or prefling evil, or fome good end neceflary to be purfued. And many times they fell unawares on the very thing, which fecured the good, or removed the evil. At other timce they confulted on the moft probable means, following only com?non fenfe, and fcrlptuy-e : tho' they generally found, in looking back, fome- thing in Chr'ijiian antiquity likewife, very nearly parallel thereto. *' I. A few years ago, my brother and I were defired to preach in many parts of London. We had no view therein, but fo far as we were able (and we knew God could work by "whomfoever it pleafed him,) to convince thofe who would hear, what true Chriftianity is, and to perfuade them to embrace it. *' Many of thofe who heard us began to cry out, that v;e brought Jlrangf things to their ears : that this was a do6trine which they never heard beforej ( i8s ) before ; or, at leaft, never regarded. They fearchedthe fcriptures, whether thefe things were fo, and acknowledged the truth as it is in Jefus. Their hearts alfo were influenced to follow Jefus Chrift, and him crucified. *' Immediately they were furrounded with difficulties : all the world rofe up againft them : neighbours, Grangers, acquaintance, relations, friends, began to cry out amain ; * be not reighteous overmuch : why fhouldeft thou de- ftroy thyfelf : let not much religion make thee mad.' '♦ One and another, and another came to us, afking, what they fliould do ? being diftreflcd on every fide, as every one firove to weaken, and none to fl:rengthen their hands in God. We advifed them, ' Strengthen you one another. Talk together as often as you can. And pray earneftly, with and for one another, that you may endure to the end, and be faved.' Againft this advice, we prefumed, there could be no ob- je long, rejoice unto God, fo it be with reverence. And even if lightnefs or pride fhould mix whh their joy, let us not flrike at the joy itfelf, (this is the gift of God,) but at that lightnefs or pride, that, the evil may ceafe, and the good remain. *' O. 14. But ought we not to be troullccU on account of the fmful nature which ftill re- mains in us ? ** A. It is good for us to have a deep fenfe of this, and to be much afhamed before the Lord. But this Ihould only incite us, the more earneftly to turn unto Chrift: every moment, and to draw light, and life, and ftrength from him, that we may go on, conquering and to conquer. " VIII. O. I. In what view may we, and our helpers be coniidered ? *' A. Perhaps as extraordinary meflengers, (i. e. out of the ordioary way,) deligned, i. To provoke the regular minifters to jealoufy. 2. To fupply their lack of fervice, toward thofe who are perilhing for want of knowledge. " Q. 2. What ( 219 ) *' O. 2. What is the office of a Helper? *' A. To feed and guide the flock. To fave fouls : to fpend, and be fpent in this work; to go always, not only to thofe that want him, but to thofe that want liim moft. •' Obferve. It is not his bufinefs, to preach fo many times, and to take care of this or that Society, merely ; but to fave as many fouls as he can ; to bring as many fmners as he polfibly can to repentance, and with all his power to build them up In that holinefs, without which they cannot fee the Lord. '* IX. O. What general method of emplo} - ing our time would you advife us to ? " A. We advife you, i. As often as poflib'e to rife at four. 2. From four to live in the morning, and from five to fix in the evening, to meditate, pray and read, partly the Scripture with the Notes, partly the clofely practical partg of what we have publirtied. 3. From fix in the morning till twelve, (allowing an hour for break- faft,) to read in order, with much prayer, firft, the Chriftian Library, and the other books which we have publilhed in profe and verfe, and then t.hofe which we have recommended. *' In the afternoon, follow Mr. Baxter's plan : that is. Go into every houje in courfe, and teach every one therein, young and old, if they belong to us, to be chriftians, inwardly and outwardly. " iMake every particular plain to their under- ftanding ; fix it in their memory ; write it in their heart. In order to this, there mull be line upon line, precept upon precept. What pa- tience, what love, what knowledge is requiilte for this \ U 2 X. O. I. ( 220 ) *« X. Q. I. Are we not Diffenters ? *' A. No : Although we call finners to re- pentance in all places of God's dominion ; and although we frequently ufe extemporary prayer, and unite together in a religious Society ; yet we arc not Diffenters in the only fenfe which our law acknowledges, namely, perfons who renounce the fervice of the church. We do not renounce it, and therefore ftrie foul to its primi- tive health, its original purity ; a recovery of the divine nature : tl)e renewal of our fouls after tlie image of God, in righteoufnefs and true holi- nefs, in juiiice, mercy, and truth. This im- plies all holy aod heavenly tempers, and, by confequence, all holinefs of converfation. *' Now, if by falvation we mean a prefent falvation from lin, we caniiot fay, holinefs is tlie condition of it. For it is the thins; itfelf. Salvation, in this fenfc, and holinefs are fyno- nymous terms. \Vq muft therefore fay, ' We are faved by Faith.' Faith is the condition of this Salvation. For without Faith we can- not be thus faved. But whofoever believeth, is faved already. " Without Faith we cannot be tlius faved. For we cannot rightly ferve God, unlei^s we love him. And we cannot love him, unlefs we . know him ; neither can we know God, iinleis by faith. Therefore Salvation by Faith, is only in ( 226 ) in otlier words, the love of God by the know- ledge of God : or, the recovery of the image of God, by a true fpiritual acquaintance with him. •' 3. Faith in general, is, a divine, fuper- natural iXe/^o;* of things not feen, not difco- verabie by our bodily fenfes, as being either part, future or fpiritual. Jullifying l^aith im- plies, not only a divine tAsf^o?, that God was in Chrill, reconciling the tuorid unto hinifdf, but a fure truft and contidence that Chrifl died for my lins, that he loved me and gave hirofclf for me. And the moment a penitent linner believes this, God pardons and abfolves him. " And as foon as his pardon or juflificatlon is witnelTed to him by the Holy Ghoft, he is faved. He loves God, and all mankind. H© has the mind that %\;ainft him, and the whole body witli whom he was connefled, as enthufiafts and fanatics, is wholly unfounded ; it only proceeds from the workings of a prejudiced mind, and a want of attention to the things fpoken. ,** I. The Gofpel, confuiered as a general plan of falvation, he viewed as a dil'play of the divine perfections, in a way agreeable to the nature of God j in which all the divine attri- butes harmonize, and fhine forth with peculiar luftre. Divine love in the gift of a Redeemer : divine wifdom, confpicuous in the plan of re- demption : divine jurtice, tempered with mercy to man, in the death of the Saviour; divir^e energy and power in making the whole cifectual to raife a fallen creature from a flate of Cm and inifery, to a ftate of holinefs and happinefs, and from a ftate of death, to immortal life and glory. *' 2. The gofpel, confidered as a means to attain an end, appeared to him to difcover as great litnefs in the means to the end, as can poffibly be difcovered in the ftru6ture of natural bodies, or in the various operations of nature, from a view of which we draw our arguments for the exiftence of God. This certainly was not an irrational view of the Gofpel ; but fliewed a mind enlarged, capacious, capable of compre- hending great things, of inveftigating every part of the Gofpel, and of harmonizing the whole. *' 3. Man, he viewed as blind, ignorant, wandering out of the way ; with his mind eftranged from God. The Gofpel, confidered only as a fyrtem of moral truths, he judged to be adapted to enlighten the underftanding and diredl the judgment. But experience an«.l ob- Y 2 fervatior* ( 244 ) fervation convinced him, as well as the Scrip- ture, that a man may contemplate moral truths, and learn to difcourfe well of them, without acquiring a pra6tical moral principle, of fuffi- cient ftrength to reform his condudt. It is con- fcience, he knew, that judges of the right or wrong of a man's motives and actions ; that till confcience interpofe its authority, and pais lentence, on him, the man remains infenfible of his own rtate and condition, however well he may difcourfe on morality in general. He is, in the language of Scripture, dead in trefpalTes and fins. TheGofpel then, being the power of God to fal- vation, he was perfuaded, mufl: be more than a mere fyflem of morals. It promifes, and God 2(ftually gives, the Spirit of Promife, which con- vinces the world of fin. The Spirit of God ac- companies the word of the Gofpel, and the other means of grace, and makes them effec- tual to awdken confcience to the exercife of its office, to pafs the fentence of condemnation for what has been done wrong ; and the fpeculativo truths of the underftanding being thus com- bined with the dictates of confcience, a pradli- cal principle is formed of fufficient flrength to reftrain the pafTions and reform the conduil. This he ufed to call repentance, and often con- viction for fin. And was he irrational in this? Is not this blefilng of the gofpel agreeable to the ftate, and to the natural faculties of man ? *' 4. He confidered the gofpel as a difpenfa- tion of mercy to men, holding forth pardon, a free pardon of fin to all who repent and believe in Chrift Jefus. That this is a fcriptural doc- trine, no man can doubt, who reads the New Teflament : it is interwoven with every part of Scripture. It will bear the teQ of Reafon alfo. ^■^ ( H5 ) It Is fuited to the ftate and wants of men, as they ftand related to an holy God. It is luited to the wants of every man living : every luaa has finned and comeJhort of the glory of God -, every man tiierefore rtands in need of mercy. It was not then inational in Ivlr. Welley, lo hold forth the rich difplay of divine grace in Chri/l Jefus to penitent finners, in the free man- ner that he did. His do<5trine is founded on a general view of the Scriptures ; on the peculiar promifcs of the gofpel : and it is fuited to the prefent condition and wants of men, as they iland related to Gud, and the profpeJls of ano- ther world. *' 5. The gofpel enjoins univerfal holinefs both in heart, and in the conduct of life. The defign of it is to regulate our afFe6lions, and govern our ziflions. It requires us to be dead to the world, and alive to God : to love the Lord our Goil with all our heart, and our neighbour as ourfeives : to do unto others as we would they (hould do unto us. Anil God has promifcd, in the gofpel, the continual aid and afllrtance of I'lis holy Spirit, to (Ircngthen lis with all mir^ht in the inner man : Chrirt is a Saviour that is able to fave to the uftermoil all them that come unto God by him ; and tlicre is a throne of grace, at which we may obtain, not only mercy, but grace to help in time of need. To him who ugluly believes the gofpel, it is a means adequate to the end intended by it : to him it is a quickening fpirit, a puiifying and cleanfmg word, the power of God to his faivation ; it influences every faculty of his mind, 2n<\ regulates every adion of his lite : to l)is mind it exhibits fuch views of p:jtcr- nal love, m every part of the plan of redcmp* Y 3 tioa • C 246 } tion, and of a fuperintending Providence, d:^ renting all thiirgs with unerring wifdom, to prc^ mote his holinefs liere, and his happinefs and glory hereafter, that he is continually animated to the pracElice of every Chrillian virtue, ani ftrengthened with patience to run the race thut h fet before him. ** The gofpel then, confidcred as a large comprehenlive plan of redemption, holds forth bleffings fuited to our prefent ftare and necelfi- ties : wifdom to inftrud: us, mercy, to juftify or pardon, and grace to fandtify and cleanfe us from evil ; with promifes of prote6lion, and- help through the fnares and ditiiculties of life. It operates upon us in a way that is fuited to our faculties : it enlightens the underftanding; awakens the confcience, fubdues the- will,- and regulates- the affections. Nor are its beneriis confined to the prefent life, they extend to the regions of the dead, and expand our views to the profpeds of eternity. What a glorious view does the- gofpel hold forth to us of a re- furredtion from the dead ? Our Lord hath died, and rifen again, that he might be Lord both of the dead, and of the living. They that die in the Lord are ftill under his protedtion and guidance. Death cannot feparate any from the love oF Chrift. The gofpel therefore in thisview holds - forth bleffings fuited to our neceflities, as com- prehenfive as our wants, and adapted to our ftate in life and death, and the enjoyments of a glorious and happy eternity. Thefe views Mr, Wefley continually held forth, and that witll- fuch energy and force, as made a lafling im- preffion on the minds of thoufands. " 6. But I muft obferve further, that in ex- plaining the order in which the bleffings- of the gofpel r 247 )i golpel are promircd to man, he (liewed a mincf well in{lru6ted in the Oracles of God, and well acquainted with human nature. *' There is not perhaps greater ccnfufion in any part of the fyrtems of religion, or \n the common explanations given of the Gofpel, than in this ; I mean in the order in which the bleif. ings of the Gofpel are promifed to us, and iii which we ought to expedl them. We muit fay, that Mr. VVeiley had an excellent intro- dudion to this part of his minifterial office : he himfclf had entered in at the right door; When a Miniller is awakened in his own hearti when he is truly fenllble of his fin, and want of a Saviour ; and comes to God for mercy as a poor finner, and accepts it as the free gift cf God tlirough Jefus Chrlft : being fenfible that he muli be jurtified, (or pardoned,) by faith, without the deeds of the law ; he is well pre- pared to inftrud others ; and to inftrud thein not only in the right way, but alfo in the right order in which we ought to expc6t the benefits of the Gofpel. How accurate was Air. Wefley in (hewing that the firft rtcp to be a Chriftian^ h to repent ; that till the confcience be awaken- ed to a true fenfe of the evil of fin, a man cannot enter into a ftate of juftification : it would totally fubvert the defign of the Gofpel, were it poflible that an unawakencd perfon could be jurtifred. The very fuppodtion fruftrates every intention of the coming of the Son of God ; which was to deliver us from fin, to re- concile us to God, and to prepare us for hea- ven. He carefully and properly diftinguilhcd thefe matters in his preaching and writings : lie contended that the awakening of confcience is the tirrt llep .in experimental religion ; and that ( 248 ) that til! a man is convinced of the evil of Cm and is determined to depart from it ; till he is convlned that there is a beauty in holinefs, and foinething truly deferable in being reconciled to God ; he is not prepared to receive Chrid. It would be well if all the minivers of the Gofpel laid this true foundation of Chriftian experience j and did not confound the order in which the bleffings of the Gofpel are given to the foul. It has been a fingular blefTmg to the body of the Methodiils at large, that their minifters have fo accurately dii1:inguifl"ied thefe things, and guard- ed them againil: error, in a matter that fo nearly concerns their peace and their progrefs in the divine life. They have, by thefe diftin6lions, been enabled to judge with more certainty of their ftate of mind, and to wlaat degree of ex- perience tliey have already attained in the things cf God : they have been enabled to fee more diftin6lly and clearly the benefits of the Gofpel which are ftill before them, and have been ani- mated in the purfuit of them, by an aflurance of fuccefs, if they perfevere in the way which God has appointed. " In marking fo diftincSlly the order in which we experience the benefits of the Gofpel, Ivlr, Weiley, certainly followed the example of our Lord and his Apofties. Our Lord began his preaching by faying, ' Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,' Mat. iv. 17. Peter, preaching to the Jews at Jcrufalem, fays, ' Re- pent ye and be converted,' Acts iii. 19. Paul has made this diftinclion in the moll pomted manner : 'I kept back nothin2;, fays he, that was profitable unto you, but have fliewed you, and have taught you, publicly, and from houfe to houfe : teiiifying both to the Jews, and alfo to the ( 249 ) the Greeks, Repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jefus Chril\,' Acts xx. 20, 21. But he not only followed the Scrip- ture in obferving this order, but alfo reafon, and the natural oider of things. Does not the natural order of things require, that a man be firrt convinced of his taulrs, before lie can be reclaimed from them ? Mull not a man be confcious of his condemnation, before he will apply to God for pardon .f C)ur progrefs in Chrillian experience bears a flriking analogy to our progrelb in any art or fcience. A man muft firft be inllrudfed in the fundaTnental principles of an art or fcience, before he can proceed to the higher branches of ir. Ihe firlt llep pre- pares him for the fecond, and fo on through the whole of his progrefs. The fame order is obfer- vable in Chrillian experience. The firft ftep in it prepares the mind tor the fecond ; and fo on till we come to the meafure of the ftature of the fulnefs of Chrift. In this important article then, Mr. Wefley has fpoken according to Scripture, and agreeably to the nature, and fitnefs of things. " The Second important and necellary ftep in Chriftian experience, is, Faith in the Lord Jefus Chrift, arifing chiefly from a Scriptural view of his prieftly office. \Vhen the mind is duly prepared to receive Chrift in this charaifer,. pardon is held forth to us in the Gofpel as a free gift, without money, and without pricej through Chrift the atonement for our fins. How often did he fet him forth as crucified be- fore men's eyes ? He exhibited him to their view in his prieftly chara6fer as the atonement for the fins of the world. He often ftiewed tluit the atonement which he has made is a)m- piete i that the moft vile helplefs finner who r:o» pents. ( 250 ) Ijents, and turns from his fins, may come, and freeJy receive pardon as the gift of God, in and through Chrilt 5 and have free admittance to this throne of grace. How gloriouHy did he often expiain this truth, and with what good efFedi, to multitudes of his hearers, who were bleffed and flrengthened under his word, while God bore witnefs to the truth of it, and feaJed its evidence on their hearts. ** In explaining Sandlihcation, he accurately diftinguifhed it from Juftification, or the pardon of fin. Juftrfication admits us into a Oate of grace and favour with God, into the family of heaven ; into a liate of fellowlhip with the Fa- ther, and with his Son Jefus Chrift, and lays the foundation of fan6lification or Chriftiaa holinefs, in all its extent. He (hewed that the tendency, and end of our juflification, is holi- nefs of heart, and holinefs in all manner of con- verfation : that being juftified by faith, our re- lation to God is altered ; our fins are forgiven ; we are now become children of God, and heirs of ail the promifes of the Gofpel, are quick- ened and animated with the fpirit of it. la this ftage of Chriftian experience, faith realizes the truths of tlie Gofpel to the mind ; it be- comes a practical principle of fufficient ftrength, not only to reftrain the pa/Tions, but to purify the heart, to influence every faculty of the foul, and every at fo, very ralhly. That it is confonant with the Scriptures is beyond a doubt : we can hardly open our Teflament in any part, but we find this do6lrine taught : we can hardly read a chapter in St. Paul's Epiftles but we hnd it in- culcated again and again. And I apprehend it will bear the tell of reafon alfo, and be found, upon the ftriiieft enquiry, to be agreeable to cur I ( 253 ) our (late and condition in this life. Is it unrea- fonable, for inftance, that we Ihoukl beHeve in God ? That we (hould believe in him who made us, who upholds us, and who governs all tilings ; in him, who conducts the whole machine of nature in all its vad extent, and in all its complicated operations ; who compre- hends every thin^^ as it were in one grafp, in whom all things live, and move, and have their hcmg ? Is it unrcafonable that a poor mortal who knows not what is juil: coming upon him, not even v.'l.at (hall happen to him the next moment, ihould triifl in God ? That he ihould confide in the goodnefs and providence of him, who fees all things at one view, paft, prefent, and to come ; and who fees man at one glance, in every period of his exiftence, with every fur- rounding circumrtancc ? Mui\ not every rea- fonable man aliovv that this is agreeable to the nature of God. and the (late of man? " The gofpel pminifeth to us a (late of in- tercourfc and fellowAiip with God, in the pre- fent enjoyment of fpiritual blefTmgs in Chrift Jcfus. Faith is made a neceffary condition of catering into this ftate of intercourfe and enjoy- ment. In this, God has dealt with us in a way fuitable to our faculties, and our ftate of inter- courle with one another. For we can have no kind of connection with each other, without faith ; all mutt acknowledge that faith is the bond of human fociety. Can Vv-e tranfadl any kind of bufincfs without it ? It is evident that . we cannot. We can have no enjoyment of the things of this life without an a£l of faith pre- ceding it. All our expectations and future prof- pc6>s in life are founded on faith. We tind, upon examination, that in every branch cf buli- 2 nefsj ( 254 ) nefs, in every focial intercourfe, we muft firrt: believe, and a£l from faith, and then we ob- tain the thing we expetfled, provided our faith be rightly placed. Wc cannot engage a fervant, without faitli in him. A merchant, cannot tranfadt bufmefs with any one, without firll having faith in the perfon with whom he tranf- acls that bufinefs. When the hufbandman ploughs his land, and fows his feed, faith is the principle from which he a£ls. Unlefs then we scl from faith, we can have no fellovvlhip with one another, nor enjoy the comforts ot life. And we may further obferve, that if the mind be fufficiently furnhhed with knowledge and prudence, our fuccefs will be in proportion to the degree of our faith, and the exertions that are made in confeqaence of it. This great man then, fhewed himfclf well acquainted both with Scripture, and human nature, in ex- plaining this important article of Chrifiian ex- perience. " It would be eafy to fiiew at large how faith operates on the mind in every ftep of Chriftian experience. In repentance, the firfl riep towards the Chriftian life, a man muft be- lieve that there is a God, who is holy, juft, and good : he muft believe the Word of God ; that there is a judgment to come, when every thought and action, will be examined, and when the wicked will be condemned to punifhment, and tlie righteous v/ill inherit eternal life. He mult believe alfo that God is merciful, and pardon may be obtained throui/h Jefus Chrill ; for a view of the holinefs of God, and of his own finfulnefs, would, without this, produce de- fpair, which is not gofpel repentance. When, by the grace of God, thefc things are impreffcd upon ( 2^55 ) upon the inind of a man, with full convi£iio)i ct their trutli, they awaken his confcience, aiid excite him to attention and felf-examination, and gradually prepare him to receive Chrirt in his mediatorial character. *< With refpcif^ to pardon, when the mind is rightly (irepared for it, the gofpel has mads faith the exprefs condition of it. How ably did Mr. Weiley efiablith this truth, and defend it aoainfi all oppofition ! Pardon of fin is ob- tained for us by the blood of Chritl, it is pro- mifed to us by the Word of God ; but it muH: be received by faith; we mufl: believe in the word of promife, in order to receive it. And he that believeth is jwftified : he is jullitied now, the moment he receives Chrifl as !iis Mediator, his Saviour, his Atonement. His faith is counted to him for righteoufiiefs, it gives him a title to the promife of pardon, and to the bkihngs con- nc«£ted with it. *' If we exatnine further how faith purifies the heart, we fliall find that there is nothing ir- rational in the do6\rine. There is nothing bet- ^ter adapted to remove every evil from the hu- 'man heart than faith in Chrift ; there is nothins^ ■more efficacious, as a mean to preferve us from evil through life, than faith rightly explained and rightly exercifed. Faith, as it unites us to Chrift our living head, gives us a principle of divine life ; we begin to live unto God, from a principle of love in the heart ; to live a life that is given by him who is the refurreilion and the life, and who raifeth the foul to an union with God. When this has taken place, old things are done away, all things are become new : the views, the purpofes, and tlie affecElions of the man are changed : he no longer a6ls from the Z 2 fame C 256 ) fame motives, nor by the fame rule as before ; a new principle of adtion is formed in his heart, which diredlly leads to holinefs and to God. " Faith, as a practical principle, is called by St. Paul, ' the fubftance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not feen.' It gives the things hoped for a prefent fubfiftence in the mind, in thac degree which is fuited to our pre- lent ftate. It is the evidence of things not feen : it realizes the truths of the Gofpel to the mind, and enables it to view thern with as much certainty as we have of the exiftence of corporeal objeds, when we feel their influence on our fenfes. A man who a£ls under the in- fluence of this faith, who has Gofpel truths full in his view, with all the certainty that his fenfes can give him of the exiftence of external objecS^s, will undoubtedly find his heart power- fully affeded by them. This faith v/i!l work by Jove, it will purify the heart from every thing contrary to the mind that was in Chrift. It will enable him to acknowledge God in all his ways, to fet him continually before his eyes, to live, as in his prefence, with a view to his glory, and refigned to his will. Let us inftance in one thing only at prefent. Suppofe a man believe that there is a Providence which fuperintends human affairs : if he be afiured that Divine Love can intend nothing but good in every thing that happejis to him, and that Infinite Wifdom cannot err in adapting the means to the end intended : if he be as fully afTured of thefe truths as he is of the exigence of the things which he fees or hears ; will not this faith lead him to a reverential fear of God, and a perfetS> relignation to his will in every occur- rence of life ? It appears to me certain, thai it C 257 ) It will, and alfo that it will make hiin cautious in his conduct, and attentive to every part of his duty. He will be anxioully caretul tor no- thing, but Jiving under a deep knle of tlie Divine Prefence and Care, his mind will be kept in perfect peace becaufe it is (laved upon God. In this then, Mr. Wefley appears to have fpoken agreeably to Scripture and Reaibn. " 10. Let us nov/ tiike notice of his no- tions of the univerfality of the Gofpcl blciiings. Here he Ihone with peculiar hillre; here he did honour to God, and the Divme Attributes, He maintained that God, is a God of luvcy not to a part of his creatures only, but to all; that He, who is the Father of all, who made all, who Hands in the fame rehuioii to all his creatures j loves them aFl : that he loved the world, and gave his Son a ranfom for all without diilindtion of perfons ; th.at there is no refpe«5i of perfons with God. This is a'li amiable chara£lcr of the Deity. It always ap- peared to him, that to reprefent God as partial, as confining his love to a few, was unworthy cur notions of the Deity. He therefore rcpre- fented the Gofpel in the mod: glorious and ex- tenlive point of view. He maiiuained that Chrilt died foFall men j that he is to be offered to all; that all are to be invited to come to him y and that whofoever comes, in the way which God has appointed, may partake of his bleflings. He maintained, That fufficicnt grace is g^ivcn to all, in that way and manner which is bertaciaptcd to influence the mind. And tiaay we not aj^peat to every man's experience for the truth of ihis ? How otten did he appeal to the confcienccs of men? — Have notour hearts reproved us? Have •vje not at times trembled for our iins ? Nayj Z 3 have ^ ( 253 ) have we not done more than this ; have we not been aihamed of ourfelves? Have we not detelled our own conduct in fecret, when none has feeii us but God, and none has been privy to our atStions but our own heart ? Whence did this arife ? Certainly not from man but from God. Jt is an evidence that there is falva- tion for thee, O man, who art in this {tate ; God is not willing th.xt thou (houldcft perifli ; he is caHing thee, inviting thee, to turn from thy fins, and turn to God. — He thus ftated the truths of the Gofpel with convincing evi- dence to the candid mind, which is open to the convidion of truth. And herein he fpoke ac- cording to the Scriptures. The expreffions of Scripture are pofitive in favour of this doctrine : tiiere are paitages which fo pofitivdy declare it, that it is impoffible to give any other coaftruc- tion to them without the greateft violence : but there is not a fingle paffage in the New Tefta- mcnt, which feems to favour the do6lrine that Chrift died for a part of mankind only, which will not eafily admit of a different con(tru<5lion. "It is true, he raifed fome enemies by this doctrine. He was called an Arminian j and perhaps many who have ufed the term have an- nexed an idea to it by no means juil. How often did he wifh, and it is devoutly to be wifb- ed by all the friends of true religion, that the names of CalviniH: and Arminian were buried in oblivion ; they have only tended to keep up ftrife and difcord, amonglt thofe who ought to love one annther as brethren, however they may have differed on fome points of doctrine. But fome have fuppofed that to be an Arminian is to maintain falvation by works : that it is to degrade Chrift : to throw the lurtre of redemp,. tion ( 259 ) (ion by Chrift into a cloud at any rate, If not to overturn it. Was this the cafe with Mr. Welley ? Did he not preach free grace as much as any Calvinift? Did he not aflert that pardon is the free gift of God, without money and without price ? Did he not afiert that repentance itfelf only prepares the heart to receive the gift of God? that it does not give any kind of merit to the man that experiences it ? How often did he declare that the beH: works any man can perform need atonement ! So far was he from putting works in the place of the blood of Chriil, that he only gave them, their juft value; he placed them in the order of ChriAian experience where the Gofpel places tliem : where we ought all to place them ; as the fruits of a living, operative faith, and as the mcafure of our future reward j for every man will be rewarded, not for his works, but according to the meafure of them. This is undoubtedly a Scriptural reprcfentation of this matter, and it would be well if all ChriiVians were to attend to this diAindtion more than they do. It is to be feared that fome may have cried out againft works, not from the beft motives, but from fome inclination to relax in holinefs. The way in which fome have preached fiu'th, has done no honour to the Gof- pel ; and may probahlv have encouraged fome perfons to pay kfs attention to Chrilban duties than they ought to do. But we muft fay of him, that while he infirted on good works, as the neccflary fruits of faith, he gave the whole glory of faivation to Gcd from firfc to laft ; not only in the general plan of it, but in the cider of communicating the benents of Chrift to the mind. He believed that man would never turn to God, if God did not begin the work : nay, how ( 2&Q ) how often did he fay, that the firft approaches of grace to the mind are irrcfuiibJe ; what I mean is, that a man cannot avoid being con- vinced that he is a linner; tliat God by various- means awakens his confciencej and, whether th;e of this important article of the Chriftian religion, aniongit the bulk of the people of this country. . Confidered in this view only, they have been a blclhng to every clafs and order of men. For though alt fcave not believed their report, yet many have believed it, in every ftation of life, and borne a happy teCliniony to the truth of it. How ably did lie illuhrate and defend this part of Chrif- lianity ! Many indeed have fuppofed that what we call Experience, is mere imagination: that it is nothing n'jO)ethan the working up of our minds into a fancy of foinething which can have no foundation in truth or leafon. This has been ilie general opinion of what the Methodifts cali txperiente, aud hence lias aiifen the <;harge oJ enlhufiai'm. ( 26l ) cntliuliarm. But certainly Oiriftian Experience is romething real and not imaginary : certainly it refts upon as folid a foundation as the evi- dence of our external fenles. We have no more rcafon to doubt the reality of our experi- ence, vvlicn it is Scriptural, thnn VvC have to doubt of the exiftence of an objetft which wc fee v.-ith our eyes, or of a found which we hear, "when thefe organs are in the moft found and healthy uate. But let us enquire v> hat Chrif- tian Experience is, and what degree of certainty there is in it. */Chr!ftian Experience is the prefent poflefiion of the benefits of the Goipel which relate to this life, and wiiich prepare us for the enjoy- ment of God in glory. If we ufe the word in the moll: extenfive fenfc, fo as to include the preparation of the mind to receive Chrlrt in his mediatorial charatSler, it will imply repentance towards God, faith in the Lord Jefus Chrifl, and the fruits of tlie Spirit, (o admiiabiy de- fcribed by St. Paul ; love, joy, peace, long-fuf- fering, gentlenefs, goodnefs, fidelity, meeknefs, and teniperance, Gal. v. 22, 23, with -all the privileges of the ChrilVian fUte here. In the Gofpel we are commanded to repent, and turn to God ; to believe in the Lord Jefus Chrifl, and to be filled with the fruits of the Spirit. The Goipel promifes every neceifary aid and afliilance to put us in poiTelnon of thefe benefits ; and we read alfo in the New Teftament of many pcrfons who profefi'ed to have experience of thtfe things. If indeed the Gofpel be a fa- ble, then the things it fpeaks of, and the pro- mifes it makes, fignify nothing real, they are purely imaginary, and to profefs any experience; cf them mufk be delufion. But, as we have the moiL ( ^^- } tho([ certain evidence that the Gofpel is of Gocf ; that it gives a true account of what (jod has •done, and is now doing, for tlie falvation of inen, and of tiie means by wliich lie is accom- p'.ilhing this great purpofe, the promifes it gives us niuit iignify fomething real, and they muil: be as certain as the exigence, and truth of God hitnfelf. It is certain then, that we may ex- perience the bleliings it promifes to us, if we feek them in the v.'av which God has appointed. ■ *' If we enquire into the evidence which a man has that he does experience the things we here Tpcak of, we ihall iind that it is of the ftrongeft kind poilibie. if a man's underilanding be en- ■ligluened with Gofpel truths ; if his confcience i>e avv-akened to decide juftly on his motives and anions, as they relate to God and his law ; if in confequence of this, he turn from his fins, :and is iiumbled, abafed and alhamed t)efore God ior them, and prays for mercy : how is it pof- Jiiblo for fuch a change as this is, to take place, Jn the didtutes cf his confcience, and in the opinion he has had of himfelf, and he not know it ? The very fuppofition is abfurd j he muH: be as coji.fcious of it as he is of his own exift- ence, or of any thing that happens to him. In j.ke masiner, when a perfon in the llate I have now defciibed, is enabled to believe in Jefus Chrifi: to the faving of his foul ; to rely fully upon liim for pardon and acceptance with God j muft not fuch a perfon be confcious of this a*St of his mind, and the change in his views of God, and in the feelings of his mind that are fubfequent to it ? Will he not be as confcious and ceitain of thefe things as he is of an object which he fees before him, or of the pleafure or pain he teels ? If he that believeth be tilled witl^ love^ ( 263 ) love, joy, peace, and the other fruits of the Spirit jull mentioned, muft he not be certain of this ? Our internal confcioufnefs carries ihc fame con- vidlion of reality with it, as our external fenfes. Would it not appear exceedingly abfuid to you, if you heard a perfon fay, in the common affairs of life, that he loved an objc61: dearly, but that Jie was not confcious of any love ? That he rejoiced exceedingly in a thing, but he did not feel any joy? It is juH: the fame in ChriOiaa experience. If from proper views of the Gof- pel, and faith in Cluifl, I feel peace, I cannot be ignorant of it ; if I look up to God through Jefus Chrift witii holy confidence and feci plea- lure and delight, I inult be confcious and cer- tain of it. '* Chridian Experience then, as the Rev. Mr. Wellcy long explained it, has certainty in k : if a man has it, he cannot be ignorant of it. But I mud fay, that thofe who h?.ve it not, can- not form a juft conception of it. How is it poffiblc for any man who has not felt the peace of God, to form a juft notion of it ? Its evi- dence flands on the fame ground as the evidence of our external fenfes. For if a man had never ften colours, he could not form any true idea of them ; if a man had never felt pain or pleafuie, he could not be taught to undcrlland what they are, however perfect his rational faculties might be; he muft feel them to know them. So it is with Chriftian experience, you mufl; enter into it, and feel it, and then you will know what it is ; and as eafily diHiiiguifh it from the feelings or confcioufnefs arifmg from other things, as you diftinguilh feeing from hearing, or tke touch from fmell." SLCTION ( ^64 ) SECTION XI. Of the Steps taken to improve the Preachers in- knoxvledge : — Of their ujejulnefs^ and the further fpread of Religion, M. -R. Wesley's great love of exa£lnefs and order, vv'as abuiidaTtly gratified by the eftablilh- ment of the difciphne above defcribed; — the formation of Circuits, and the introduction of the annual Conferences. In every place, where, he, or the Preachers in connexion with him laboured, the fame rules were obferved in form- ing and governing the Societies. From this time, therefore, the work of reformation went forward with regularity and famenefs, fo that it will not be necelTary to proceed further in the regular hiftory of its progrcfs. It will be fuffi- cient to obferve a few particulars refpeiting it, which appear moft worthy of notice. Although Mr. Weiley had now got many Afililanrs, yet he continued his own labours with the fame zeal and diligence, through the moft diflant parts of the kingdom. The Preachers alfo were irflant infeafon, and out offeafon. A'le- thodifm therefore fpread rapidly on every fide ; the Societies flouriflied, and the people increafed in number, and in tl\e know-ledge, and love of the truth. It is true, the Lay-Preachers, at this period, were not, in general, of that clafs of men that have been favoured v>'ith opportu- nities of improving their minds by an early education, or much reading. The knowledge of many of them extended not beyond the firft principles of Religion, and the practical con- fequenges. ( 265 ) fcqucnces, deducible from them ; Repentance to- %vard God^ faith in our Lord Jefus Chr'iji, and the fruits that follow, righteoujnefs, and peace, ^ndjoy in the Holy Ghoji. Tliele were the fub- jecls of their daily difcourfes, hi which there was little variety. But fuch was the low ftate of x-eligious knowledge among the people, that they were not then prepared for any thin.g higher. It was abfolutely neceilary to make them well acquainted with_/;;y/ principles, and to give thefe principles a practical influence on the heart and life, before they were led any further, in thefc circumllances, the limited knowledge of the Preachers was fo far from being an incon- venience, that it was an unfpeakable advantage; as it neceffarily conlined them, to thofe funda- mental points of expeiimental and practical Religion, which were beft adapted to the (late of the people. Preachers of education and diverfified know- ledge, feldom dwell fufficiently, in their fer- nions, on thefe important points j and hence the Lay-Preachers were far more fuccefsful in awakenuig fmners to a fenfe of their dangerous liate, and in bringing them to a faving know- ledge of CbrijU than other Preachers of much more cultivated minds. To enforce tlie nccellity of repentance, and of feeking fahation by grace alone through a Redeemer, the Preacher would often draw a pidlure of human nature in fuciv flrong and natural colours, that every one who hcaid him faw his own likciiefs in it, and was ready to fay, " he hath fhewed me all that was in my heart." Tlie eft\-6l was furprifing. The people found themfelves, under every difcourfe, emerging cut of the thickelt darknefs into a legion of hght. The blaze being fuddenly 2 A poured ( 266 ) poured In upon them, gave exqulfite pain at firll: ; but foon Ihewed theai the way to peace ap.d confolation. ■ Mr. Welley forefaw, however, that as know- ledge was incieafed among the people, it ought to be increafed in the fame, or even in a greater proportion among the Preachers, oiherwile they would become Icfs ufeful, and in the er-d be dcfpifed. He therefore began to think of a colleilion of fuch books in the Englifh language, as might forward their improvement, in treat- ing on the various branches of pra6tical diviiVity, and might alfo inftrudl and edify the people. And being confcious, perhaps, that the plan of his own education, and the prejudices he had early imbibed againft the non-conformifts of the laft century, had (hut him out from the know- ledge of many writings, whicli pofTibly might be very ufeful on this occafion, he applied to Dr. Doddridge, with whom he had a friendly cor- refpondence, for a lift of fuch books as he might think proper for the miprovement of young Preachers. After fome delay, arifing from the Doctor's want of leifure, he received fuch a lift, and foon after formed the defign of pub- lifhing his Chriiiian Library. To form this, he feledled and abridged the works of the wifeli, and moft pious men that have lived fince the days of the Apoftles. He began with the Epif- tiles, nnd other writings of the Apoftolic riithcrs, Io;nativ>s, Polycarp, C'emcns Romanus, &c. He waded thro' a prodigious number of hooks on practical and expe;imental religion, in regu- lar fuccelhon according to the times when they were written : and ai length completed a work of fifty volumes. Vhea we confider that he reduced many folios and c^uartos to a pocket volume : ( 267 ) volume : that he did this in the midll of labour," which many would think in itfelf fufficient to wear out the moft robull of mankind : that he abridged fome of thofe volumes on hoiTeback, and oth.ers at inns, or houfes, where he (laycd but a few days or liours, how allonirtiing will his indul^ry and perfeverance appear ! To give his Freachers and people an idea of the wifdom and goodnefs of God, manitelled in the vifible creation, he compiled a Syltem of Natural Philofophy. In this he comprifed what is known with any certainty, or is likely to pro- fit thofe who have pleafure in the woiks of God : who confider, .*' Thefe, as they change, Almighty Father ! thefe Are but the varied God !" And his labour was not loft. Even the learned have admired this performance, as an ufeful and edifying compendium. Mr.Weiley received letters highly expreflive of fatisfadtion, from fome of the firfi names in Oxford, to whom he had prefented it. From the fame motive he compiled his hirtorical works. He had not time to be origi- nal in thefe produ<5lions. He therefore chofe the beft he could find. Civil, and Ecclefiaihcal ; and abridged, added, or altered, as he believed tiie truth required, and to fuit the convenience of the purchafer: his chief aim being to ipread religious and ufeful knowledge among the poor or middling clal's of men. To unbend the mind, and innocently amufe it, he recommended the moll excellent Poems, and fome other writings in the Engliih lan- guage: and publidied a colledion of the former 2 A 2 hi ( 268 ) in three volumes. With the fame clefign he abridged that much eilccmed produdion, The Fool of Ouallty, by the late Mr. Brooke. He much admired this work, confidered in the view mentioned above ; as tending not only to en-, tertain, but alfo to foften and amend the heart, and open every avenue to pity and benevolence. His conrroverlial pieces he wrote as need required. Firll, to prcferve thofe who were in tlanger of being feduced from the plain religion of the Bible : and, fecondly, if poflible, to recover thofe who had fallen into the fnare. The chief of thefe is his Treatife on Original Sin, in anfvver to the late Dr. Taylor of Norwich, the mort; fubtle, refined, plaufible Socinian of the prefent age: and v.hofe writings gained the more credit, as he was a man of fobriety and and benevolence. The Doctor never could be prevailed on to anfwer Mr. WcQey, as he had done his other opponents. Whether he was convinced or not, it is certain his efteem was gained ; and he ever fpoke of Mr. Wefley in terms of the higheft refpeil. Many of thofe who wrote againfl Mr. Wef- ley were far from being refpecSlable : and fome of them were deftitute, either of ability or in- formation. Some of his friends have regretted, that he would condefcend to beiiow an anfwer upon them. But though thefe writers knew neither the man they viliHed, nor the fubje6t they treated, yet they generally made a here© attack, however clumfy, on fome part of what he efleemed the truth of God. To this they were indebted for an anfwer. And many who never faw the publications of thefe gentlemen, have been edified by his replies ; the truth ap- pearing to tlicm in a iVill ilronger light than ever before. It ( 2^9 ) It was in thofe pieces tliat his confummnrc Gi'ill in argument appeareJ with fuch advantage. }Ie needed not to complain concerning any of his opponents, " ^fo teneam vultum jnutantem P rote a nodo ?"* He could bind the fubtlell: of them. He per- ceived in a moment when they departed from the queftion, ihifted the terms, or ufed any fallacy. And as he was attacked from every quarter, there is fcarce any point of divinity, v.hicli he has not illuilratcd and coniirmed ni thofe occafional publications. But his principal deiire was that liis Preachers and people Hiould rtudy the Holy Scri[)tu!es, and accordingly, with a view to alliii: them there- in, he had long i)urpofed to write ihort Notes on the New Tcltament. l>uty through his great and inceflant labours inTravelling, Preach- hig, fuperintending the Societies, and writing letters to his numerous correfpondents, he couid never Hnd time to begin this neceifary work, till the year 1/53-; when, he was attacked with a confumptive diforder, which broiiglit him to the gates of death. After Ifruggling lomc time agaip.lt it, he retired to Lewilham, near Lon- don, for the benefit of air and gentle exercife. From hence he lemoved to the Hot-Wells,, where it pleafed God, in anfwer ta the prayers of thoufands, to renew his Itrength, and to enable \\\w\ again to declare his truth. 'I'liii. he did, at firil, to^ few perfons at his apartment.s, in the evening ; the Lord thus preparing \\v\y for his ufual labours, to which he loon returned.. He was confined, however, upon the whole^. * How Ihall I l:t)kt one wlio is coniuuiallj' chaii);in^' his . fiiupc ? a A 3 about ( 270 ) about four months, and employed a part of this time in writing the above mentioned Notes, •' I now, fays he, can neither travel nor preach ; but blefied be God, I can ftill read, write, and think : O ! that it may be to his glory." As he avows in his Preface, that he took Bengelius for his model, in writing thefe notes, we cannot be furprized that moll of them are concifely explanatory. Thofe who have read the Gnomon of Bengelius, and efpecially his Preface to the Latin edition, need not be in- formed, with what a degree of abhorrence that learned man fpeaks of long Comments, as tend- ing to draw off the reader's attention from the Scripture itfelf; or as leading him to magnify fome parts of it, to the negledt or lightly efteem- ing of other parts, equally given by the Divine Author for our profit. How exactly did thefe two great men agree in fentiment ! Some time after the publication of his New Tertamenr, he was ftrongly folicited to wiite a Comment on the Old Teflament alfo. But his various labours rendered this impoflible. He at length fo far complied with importunity, as to fele6i; and abridge the Comments of thofe writers who are moft highly efteemed, particu- larly Henry and Poole ; leaving out what he thought needlefs, or inconfillent with truth, and adding what he conceived neceflary to perfect the fenfe, or make it conduce more directly to the fpiritual profit of the reader. Thofe who can relifn the Holy Scriptures in their own naked majefty, have ufed this help with thankfulnefs. His Sermons have already been mentioned. Of his defign in writing them, as well as of his method of inveftigating truth in general, he has given us the following rtriking account in his Pietace. «* I defign ( ^71 ) •* I defign plain truth for plain people. There- fore of fet purpofe I abftain from all nice and philofophical fpeculations, from all perplexed and intricate rcafonings ; and as far as polFible, from even the (hew of learning, unlcfs ni fome- times citing the original Scripture. Nothing ap- pears here in an elaborate, elegant, or rhetorical drefs. I mention this, that curious readers may fpare themfelves the labour ot fceking for what they will not hnd. *' My defign is, in fome fenfe, to forget all that I liave ever read in my life. I mean to fpeak, in the general, as if I had never read one aut!ior, ancient or modern, (always excepting the infpired.) I am perfuaded, that, on the one hand, this msy be a means of enabling me more clearly to exprefs the fentiments of my heart, while I fimply follow the chain of my owa thoughts, without entangling myfelf with thofe of other men : and that, on the other, I Ihall come with fewer weights upon my mind, with lefs of prejudice and prepoffelVion, either to fearch for myfelf, or to deliver to others, the naked truths of the gofpel. " To candid reafonable men, I am not afraid o lay open what have been the inmoft thoughts ©f my heart. I have thought, I am a creature of a day, pafllng thro' life, as an arrow thro* the air. I am a fpirit come from God, and re- turning to God : Juft hovering over the great gulph ; till a few moments hence, I am no more feen ; I drop into an unchangeable eternity ! I want to know one thing, the way to heaven : How to land fafe on that happy fhore. God him- felf has condefcended to teach the way ; for this very end he came from heaven. He hatli written it doA'n in a book, O give me that book ! At any ( 272 ) any price, give me the book of God ! I have k : K«.re is knowledge enough for me. Let" me be Hono unius liLri. * Here then I am, far from the hufy ways of men." I fit down alone : Only God is liere. In his prefence, I open, I read his book ; for this end, to find ilie way to heaven. Is there a doubt concerning the mean* ing of what I read ? Does any thiivg appear dark or intricate ? 1 lift up my heart to the Father of Liglus. ' Lord, is it not thy word, 'If any man luck ivifdom, let him ajk it of Gou ? Vhon givcjl liberally, and up br aide/} not. Thoit haft fa id, If any be willing to do thy will,' he JJ}all knciv. I am willing to do: Let me kiiow thy will,' 1 thenfearch after and conilder parallel paf- /ages of Scripture, comparing Jpiritual things vjith fpiritual. I meditate thereon, with all the atten- tion and earncftnefs of which my mind is capa- ble. If any doubt ftill remains, I confult thofe who are experienced in the things of God : ancj' then the writings whereby, being dead, they yeC fpeak. And what I thus learn, that 1 teach." After fuch an account as this, to confider his fermons according to the ufual inode of cri- ticifm, would be unfair. They fuliy anfwer the expecSlation, which tlie pious and fenlible reader is led to form by tliis exordium. His firft four volumes in particular give us a view oF (what St. Paul calls -•/•,» uvxhtiyiut t»?j i:veriu%) The analogy of Faith. They are written with great energy ; and, as much as pclTible, in the very words of tlie infpired writers. He was fully of Luther's mitul, who declared, tliat divinity wag nothing elfe, than a granunar of the language, of the Holy Ghoft. * A man of one book. His ( 273 ) His other fermons were written cccafionally. Tlie lart fovir volumes, (which he wrote for his Magazine,) have been much admircti, even by tiiofe who were not much difpofed to relifii his clo6trines in generah They certainly contain abundance of information ; and are written not only wiih his ufual llrength, but with move than ufual elegance. His Appeals iiave been repeatedly mentioned. Apologies they would have been called in the ancient church, and are indeed majhrly produce iions. They were writt^^n in the fulneis of his heart ; while beholding the world lying in the xuicked one, he ivcpt over it. One may aJmoft venture to alTert, that no unprejudiced perfon can read them, without feeling their force, and acknowledging their juftnefs. It is certain they have convniced many perfons who were deeply prejudiced ; and thofe too of confiderable learn- ing. It has been remarked, that thofe who truly preach the Gofpcl, do it with a faming tongue. I may make a fimilar remark refpeiSting thefe Appeals. The flame, the power, and yet the fobnety of love, are highly manifeft in them. I cannot but cameftly recommend them to all, wiio defire to know what fpirit he was ofy while contending againll: almolt the whole world ; and whether it really was for the truth of God he fo contended. About fourteen years before his death, he began to publidi a periodical work, which he called the Arminian Magazine, as he defigned to infert therein extracts and original treatifes on Univer{:d Redemption. Many of thefe are of great value; and were written by men of great erudition. In. this work he reprinted an Original ( 274 ) Original Tratfl of his own, entitled, * Pre- dcftination Caimly conndcrcJ.' Concerning this piece, a Writer of Air. Welley's Life, who cannot be fufpefled of partiality, has obferved, * it is a model of controverl'y; clear, aiid cogent; concife and argumentative j and the more con^ vincing, becaule t'le fpirit in which it is written is as amiable, as the reafoning is unanfwcrable. Perhaps there is not in the Englilli language, a treatife which contains in fo fniall a compafs, fa full and matlerly a refutation of the principle he oppofes.' This publication has, upon the whole, been very profitable to its numerous readers. It is a Chriftian Library in itfelf, containing Con- troverfial, Docirinal, and Experimental Divinity,. in profe and verfe, animated by accounts of the Triumphant Deaths of many holy perfons. Natural Philofophy, and remarkable Anecdotes from Hiftory and Travels, have alfo a place therein. In compilations of this nature, it could hardly be expecSted that nothing trifling Ihould ever appear. Some things of this kind liave been acknowledged : and it is hoped more abundant care will be taken, that this publication Ihall not again be thus leiTpntd in its real value. What has been faid of Mr. Welley's ^e/i(;n m writing, may alfo be faid of h'\s Jiile. His concitenefs, which has been often remarked, did not arife from his abhorring circumlocution as a writer only, but alfo as a chrijiian. He has often faid, that he made a confcience of ufing no more words on any fubjecl than were ftriiStly necefTary. Perhaps fometimes on this account, he might complain with Horace. brevis efle laboro, Obfcurus fio. Striving ( 275 ) Striving to be conc'ife^ I become obfcurct But this was rarely the cafe. His pcrlpicuity is as re- markable as the manlinefs of his ftile. His original works have great force and energy. This, pro'oabJy arole, in a good de- gree, from a circumftancc not generally known. He never fet himfelf to confider a fubjcrt, before the neceffity of his treating upon it hrii appeared. Even then, he never wrote a line, till liis mind "Was fully impreffcd with the nature and iiVipor- tance of it. He has faid on one of thofe occa- fions, as Job, ' Now, if I hold my tongue, I fliall give up the Ghoft ! ' And he might have often faid the fame. His ideas came thus warm, both from the head and the heart. His foul v. as in the fubject : and hence the indelible impref* fions often made upon the minds of the readers. *' On the 24th of June, 1748, he opened his large fchool at Kingfwood. He had long before built a fmall one for the children of the colliers, which Hill exiHs. The lart was intended for tlie children of our principal friends, that they might receive a complete education in the languages and ftiences, without endangering their morals in the great fchools, where vice is fo prevalent. In time, many of the Preachers married and had families. Their little pittance was not fuf- ficient to enable them to fupport their children at fchool. The uninterrupted duties of the itinerant life would not permit the father to gi\'e his foii the neceflary education lie required^ and it 13 well known how impoffiblc it is, in the general, for a mother to inftrucf, or even to govern, a fon after a given age, efi)ecially during the ab- fence of the father. On thefe confulerations, after a few years, the fchool was appropriated to the I ( 276 ) the education of the Preachers' fons. Thef©- are iiii'lrmSted, boarded, and clothed : And tlie charity is fiipported by an aimual collevStion made in all the chapels belonging to the Societies in thefe kingdoms. Tlic coUe(Slion is now fo in- crcrtfcd, that a few fmall futns out of it are al- lowed towards the education of Preachers* daughters. Mr. Wefiey drew up a fet of rules for this fchool, which have been highly admired by moll: that have feen them. SECTION XII. Of the reajon why Lay-Preachers zvere employed C.S Itinerants, and their Jlatlons frequently change ed ; and of Air. JVeflefs endeavours to eftablijh a union and co-operation with the pijus Clergy of the Ejiahlifbed Church. JL HE doctrines of the Bible, of tlie Refor- mation, and of tlie Church of England, were now preached in almoft every part of the land. Prefent falvation by grace, thro' faith, and uni- vcrfal obedience, as the fruit thereof, urged on the confciences of men, caufed practical Chrif- tinnity again to revive. And, to ufe the words of that pious and elegant v^riter, the late Rev. Mr. Fletcher, Vicar of Madely, Shropfhire, A.uthor of the * Checks to Aiuinomianifm,' *' Leaning on her fair daughters, Truth, and Love, Religion took a folemn walk through the kingdom, and gave a foretafte of heaven to all that entertained her." Many thousands, who had before been carelefs or profane, were now brought under a great concern for religion. And the deep impreffion made on their minds of the importance i ( VI y the importancfc of eternal things, their being thoroughly convinced of the number and hein- oufnefs of their fins, and, in confequence there- of, bringing forth fruits meet for repentance : their being made happy partakers of righteouf. nefs, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghort, and their walking in all holiners,were demonftrable proofs that the work was of God. Now although the Rev. MefTrs. Wefleys and Whitfield were the firft and principal infiru- tnents in fpreading thefe important doftrines, land in beginning and carrying on this reforma- tion ; yet it appears, by the following letter of Mr. Wefley to the Rev. Mr. Walker of Truro, that he confidered the Lay-Pi eachers that laboured in connexion with him, as having a confiderable fhare in promoting this blelTedwork, I the rather infert this letter becaufe it lays be- fore us his thoughts on this fubje(Sl after almoft twenty years trial of thefe Preachers. *' Rev. and dear Sir, *' I have one point in view. To pro- mote, as far as I am able, vital, practical re- ligion ; and by the grace of God, to beget, pre- fcrve, and increafe, the life of God in the fouls of men. On this fingle principle 1 have hitherto proceeded, and taken no ftep, but in fubfervi- -ency to it. With this view, when I found it to be abfolutely necefiary tor the continuance of the work, which God had begun in many fouls 1 permitted feveral of their brethren, whom I b-'lievc God had called thereto, and qualified for the work, to comfort, exhort, and inftrudt thofe who were athirlt for God, or who walked in the light of his countenance. But, as the 2 B nance. ( 278 ) perfons fo qualified were few, and thofe wha wanted their afliftance very many, it followed, that moft of thefe were obliged to travel con- tinually from place to place; and this occafioned feveral regulations from time to time, which Vere chiefly made in our Conferences. " So great a blefling has, from the beginning, attended the labours of thefe Itinerants, that we liave been more and more convinced every year, of the more rhan lawfulnefs of this pro- ceeding. And the inconveniencies, moft of which we forefaw fron\ the very firft, have beea both fewer and fmaller than were expe£led. Rarely two in one year, out of the whole num- ber of Preachers, have either feparated them- felves, or been rejeded by us. A great majority have all along behaved as becometh the Gofpel of Chrift, and, I am clearly perfuaded, ftill de- |jr« nothing more than to fpend, and be fpent for their brethren. ** But you advife, * That as many of our Preachers as are fit for it, be ordained ; and that the others be fixed to certain Societies, not as Preachers^ but as Readers or Infpedlors. *' You oblige me by fpeaking your fenti- msnfs h plainly : v^^ith the fame plainnefs I will anfwer. So far as I know myfelf, I have no more concern for the reputation of Methodifm, or my own, than for the reputation of Prefter John. I have the fame point in view, as when I kt out, The promoting as I am able, vital, pradlical religion : and in all our difcipline, I dill aim at the continuance of the work which God has already begun in fo many fouls. With this view, and this only, I permitted thofe whom i believed God had called thereto, to comfort, exhort, ( 279 ) Ochort, and inftruft their brethren. And if tliis end can be better anfwered fome otlier way, i (hall fubfcribe to it without delay. *♦ But is that which you propcfe a better way ? This (hould be coolly and calmly con- fidered. •♦ If I miftake not, there are now, (in 1756,) in the county of Cornwall about four and thirty little Societies, part of whom now experience the love of God ; part are more or lefs earnefdy fecking it. Four Preachers, Peter Jaco, Tho- mas Johnfon, William Crabb, and William Alwood, defign, for the enfuing year, partly to call other finners to repentance, but chiefly to feed, and guide thefe few feeble iheep : to tor- ward them, as of the ability which God giveth, in vital, practical religion. •* Now fuppofe we can effeil, That Peter Jaco, and Thomas Johnfon, be ordained and fettled in the Curacies of Buryan, and St. Juft : and fuppofe William Crabb, and William Al- wood, fix at Launcefton and Plymouth-Dock, as Readers and Exhorters : will this anfwer the end which I have in view, fo well as travelling through the country ? •' It will not anfwer it (o well, even with re- gard to thofe Societies, among whom Peter Jaco and Thomas Johnfon are fettled. Be their ta- lents ever fo great, they will, probably, ere long grow dead themfelves, and fo will moft of tliofe that hear them. I cannot believe, it was ever the will of our Lord, that any congrega- tion (hould have only one teacher. We have found by long and con(\ant experience, that a frequent change of teachers is be(l. This Preacher has one talent, that another. No one, whom I ever yet knew, has all the talents which 2 B 2 are ( 28o ) are needful for beginning, continuing and pciu fetfling the work of grace in a whole congrega- tion. *' But fuppofe this would better anfwer the end, with regard to thofe two Societies, would it anfwer it in thofe where William Alwood, and William Crabb, were fettled as Infpe would be the dired way to caiife It. Wlirfe we are with them, our advice has weight, and keeps many of thenn to the church. But were we totally to withdraw, it would be of little or no weight. Nay, perhaps, refentment of our un- kindnefs, (as it would appear to them,) would prompt them to a<5l in flat oppotition to it. " Again, you fay, * Before a union can be effecSted, fomething muft be done on your part.* Tell me what, and I will do it without delay, however contrary it may be to my eafe or natural inclination : Provided only, that it confifts with my keeping a confcience void of offence toward God and toward man. It would not confifl with this, to give up the flock under my care to any other Minifter, till I and they were convinced, they would have the fame advantages for holinefs under him, which they now enjoy. " But ' paying us vifits, can ferve no other purpofe than to bring us under needlefs difficul- ties.* I will fpeak very freely on this head. Can our converfing together ferve no other purpofe ?: You feem then not to have the leail conception of your own want of any ftich. thing !.' But whether you do or not, I feel my want :: I am not in memet totus teres< atque rotundus. * I want more light, more flrength, for my perfonal walking wi'-hGod'. And' I know not but he may give it me thro' you. And whether you do or no, I want more light and flrength for guiding the fiock comtnitted to my charge.. May nor the I ord fend- this alfo, by whom he will fend ? And by you as probably as by any other ?' It is- not improbable that he may by you give me dearer light, either as to dodlrine or difcipline, * I uBi not all-XufiicJenu And ( ^85 ) And even hereby, how much comfort and pro- fit mie;ht redound to thoufands of thofe, for whom" Chrirt hath died? Which I apprehend would abundantly compenfate any d[fficultii3 that might arife from fuch converfation. *' I /peak as a fool: Bear with me. I am clearly fatisfied that you have far more faith, more love, and more of the mind which was in Chrift than I have. But have you more gifts for the work of God ? Or more fruit of your Jabour ? Has God owned you more ? I would he had, a thoufand fold ! 1 pray God, that he may ! Have you at prefent more experience of the wifdom of the world and the devices of fatan ? Or of the manner and method wherein it pleafes God to counterwork them in this period of his providence ? Are you fure, God would add nothing to you by me, (befide what he might add to me by you ?) Perhaps when the time is flipt out of your hands, when I am no more feen, you may wifh you had not rejected the afliftance of even Your afFedionate brother, John Wesley,'* .♦* To the Rev. Mr. Walker, in Truro." That he finccrely wiflied to unite with every Minifter of the Church of England who lived and preached the Gofpcl, is evident from his whole behaviour towards them, and from many paflages \n his Journals. A few years after the above correfpondence with Mr. Walker, he wrote to all thofe Clergymen, who, he believed, anfwered the above defcription, propofing, iu the fulnefs of his heart, that they fhould unite to forward the real work of God in the fouls of men. ( 286 ) »cn. His letter upon that occafion Is as fol- lows : «' Rev. Sir, *' Near two years and a half ago, I wrote the following letter. You will pleafe to obferve, That I propofe no more therein, than is the bounden duty of every Chriflian : That yott may comply with this propofal, whe- ther any other does or not. I myfelf have en- deavoured fo to do for many years, tho' I have been almofl alone therein ; and altho' many, the more earnertly I talk of peaccy the more zea- loufly make tbemfehes ready for battle, I am, Rev. Sir, Your affectionate brother, John W£sliy.** <* Dear Sir, *• It has pleafed God to give you both the will and the power, to do many things for his glory. This induces me to mention to you, ■what has been upon my mind for many years : and what I am perfuaded would be much for the glory of God, if it could once be effedted. And I am in great hopes it will be, if you heartily undertake it, trufting in him alone. *' Some years fince, God began a great work in England : but the labourers were few. At firfl: thofe few were of one heart : But it was not fo long. Firft one fell off, then another, and another, till no two of us were left together in the work, befide my brother and me. This- prevented much good, and occafloned much evil. It grieved our fpirits, and weakened our hands. It gave our common enemies huge oc- cafion ( 287 ) caflon to blafpheme. It perplexed and puzzled many fincere Chriftians. It caufed many to draw back to perdition. It grieved the Holy- Spirit of God. *' But ought this to be ? Ought not thofe who are united to one common Head, and employed by him in one common work, to be united to each other ? I fpeak now of thofe labourers, who are Minirters of the Church of England. " Not excluding any who agree in thefe ef» fentials. I. Original fin. II. Juflitication by faith, III. Holinefs of heart and life : Provided their life be anfwerable to their do£lrine. * But zvhat union would you defire amons; thefe ? ' Not an union in opinions. They might a^ree or difagree, touching abfolute de- crees on the one hand, and perfection on the other. Not an union in cxprejfmt^. Thefe may ftill fpeak of the imputed righteoufuefs^ and thofe of the merits of Chri/}. Not an union, with regard to outward order. Some may ftill re- main quite regular ; fome quite irregular j and fonle partly regular and partly irregular. Eut thefe things being as they are, as each is per- luaded in his own mind, is it not a moft defir- able thing, that we (hould, — I. Remove hindrances out of the way ? Not judge ox\t another, not defpife one another, not envy one another ? Not be difpleafed at one another's gifts or fuccefs, even though greattr than our owi^ ? Not wait for one another's"^ halt- ing, much kfs ivijh for it, or rejoice therein ? Ncv;r C 288 ) Never /peak difrefpedfully,* fliglitly, coldly, Or unkindly of each other : Never repeat each other's faults, miftakes, or infirmities, much lefs I'l/Ien for and gather them up ; Never fay or do any thing to hinder each other's ufefulnefs, either diredly or indiredly ? ** Is it not a moft defirable thing, that we fhould 2. Love as brethren F Think well of and honour one another ? TViJh all good, all grace, ■all gifts, all fuccefs, yea, greater than our own to each other ? Expe£l God will anfwer our wifh, rejoice in every appearance thereof, and praife him for it ? Readily believe good of each Other, as readily as we once believed evil ? " Speak refpectfully, honourably, kindly of each other : defend each other's character : fpeak all the good we can of each other: recommend one another where we have influence : each help the other on in his work, and enlarge his in- fluence by all the honeil means we can ? " This is the union which I have long fought after. And is it not the diity of every one of ,us fo to do ? Would - it not be far better for ourfehes ? A means of promoting both our hokinefs and happinefs ? Would it not remove much guilt from thofe who have been faulty in any of thefe inftances ? And much pain from .thofe who have kept themfelves pure ? Would * The cordiift which Mr. Wefky here recommends to l^e t)bferved by himfelf, and the other Clergy, fowaids each other, is the abfclute duty of all private Chnftians, and especially of all the Preachers of the Gofpel. And if one or two of our Brethren liave a£led contrary thereto,' and have Written or fpoken' difrefpeflfully o' the pious Minifters of the Church of Ei gland, or of thofe of any other denomi- Bation, it ought 01 ly be confidered as the improper conduft of indiyiduals, and by no means as the a£l of tbe body of Prcacheis or People'. k ( ^89 ) It not be far better for the people : who fufFcr feverely from the clalhings and contentions of their leaders, which feldom fail to occafion many unprofitable, yea, hurtful difputes among them ? Would it not be better even for the poor, blind worlds robbing them of their fport, * O they cannot agree among themfelves ? '* Would it not be better for the whole ivcrk of God, which would then be deepened and ex- tended on every fide ? •* But it will never be : it is utterly impof- fible/ Certainly it is with men. Who ima- gines we can do this ? That it can be effected hy zny human p:iver ? All nature is againft ir, every infirmity, every ivro/ig temper and pnjfton j love of honour and praife, of power, of pre- eminence ; or anger, refentment, pride ; long- contrailed habit, and prejudice lurking in ten thoufand form's. The (Icvil, and all his angels are againfl it. For if this take place, how (hall his kingdom fland ? All the world, all that know not God are againrt it, though they may fecm to favour it for a feafon. Let us fettle this in our hearts, that we may be utterly cut off from all dependence on our own Itrength or wifdom. " But furely with God all things are pojphle. Therefore ' all things are poffible to him that believeth.' And this union is propofed only to them that believe, that flievv their faith by their works. " When Mr. C. was objecting the impoflt- bility of ever etfefting fuch an union, I went up ftairs, and after a little prayer, opened Kempis on thcfe words : 2 C «■ Expeaa ( 290 ) * Expe(Sl:a Dominum : Virlliter age : noli diffidere : Noli difcedere, fed corpus & animam expone conftanter pro gloria Dei.' * I am, dear Sir, Your afFedionate fervant, Scarborough, John Wesley." April 29, 1764. Of thirty-four Clergymen, to whom he ad- drefled the above, only three vouchfafed him an anfwer ! The one which he received from the late Vicar of Shoreham, in Kent, is fuch a picture of that blefled man, (now with God,) that I doubt not but it will be acceptable to the reader. Shoreham, April, 1764. ** My Rev. and dear Brother, <* Your's of the 19th inftant gave me both pain and pleafure. *' I was highly delighted with your ardent withes and endeavours for promoting the fpirit of the go/pel among the preachers and other pro' fejfors of it ; — but deeply concerned at the dif- appointment and oppofition you have met with ! *' It has been A^nz^ s tl leading principle w'lih. me, (and I pray God confirm and ftrengthen it more and more, ) to love all thofe labourers of Chrijiy who give proof by their diligence^ their holy and heavenly behaviour, that they love our Lord Jefus Chriji in fincerity ; even though their fentiments, in many things, fliould differ from mine. '* And therefore, though it be abfurd to ex- pert an entire union of fentiments in all things ;— » Walt upon the Lord : play the man : doubt not : (hrink not : but facrifice foul and body contmually for the glory of Cod. yet ( 291 ) yet the endeavouring, by every chriftian method, to ' keep the unity of the Spirit in tlie bond of peace,' — is the indifpenfable duty of all chrif- tians. Where this fpiritual peace and union are not, — there faith working by love is not : and where this divine faith is wanting, — there Cbri/l is wanting : there his Spirit is wanting : and then, ' neither circumcilion nor uncircumcifion will avail us any thing ! ' '* In this melancholy fituation, whilft we are ftrangers to the divine fruits of the Holy Spirit,— let our gifts and talents be what they may ; — let w^fpeak with the tongues of men and of angels ; we are yet nothing in the fight of God ! Nay, though his Spirit fliould fpread xht gofpel, by our miniftry, in the hearts of thoufands ; yet our own fouls will remain but a barren wildernefs f and Chriji may fay, — * I never knew you,' *' How ought we therefore always to pray, — that the ♦ peace of God may ever rule in our hearts : '—that we may be rooted atjd grounded in love ; and that we may conftantly ' follow after the things, which make for peace ; and things wherewith one may edify another I " This is the gcfpel of Jefus ChriJl ! And may God imprefs it thoroughly upon the rninds and hearts of all ! — And may the poor • defpifed flock grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift !' I am, dear Sir, Your's moft affedionately, Vincent Perronet." Thofe remarkably pious and laborious Mi- nifters of Chrift, the late Rev. Mr. Grimftiaw, Re6lor of Haworth in Yorkfhire, and Mr. Fletcher, Vicar of Madeley, above mentioned, 2 C 2 were ( 292 ) were of the fame fpirit with Mr. Pcrronet, and joined heartily with Mr. Wefley in promoting the important work of reformation in which he was engaged. The latter is well known from his numerous and excellent writings on various important fubjeds of divinity, as well as from the Account of his Life, publifhed by Mr. Wef- ley, which has been long in circulation. Of the former, Mr. Wefley fpeaks as follows, in his Journal : " Mr. Grimfliaw was born Sept. 3, 1708, at Brindle, fix miles fouth of Prefton in Lan- cafhire, and educated at the fchools of Black- burn and Hefkin, in the fame county. Even then the thoughts of death and judgment made fome imprefllon upon him. At eighteen he was admitted at Chrift's College in Cambridge. Here bad example fo carried him away, that for more than two years he feemed utterly to have loft all fenfe of ferioufnefs ; which did not re- vive, till the day he was ordained deacon, in the year 1731. On that day he was much af- fei^ed with a fenfe of the importance of the minifterial office. And this was increafed by his converfing with fome at Rochdale, who met once a week to read and pray. *' About the year 1734, he left off all his diverfions, began to catechife the young people, to preach the abfolute neceflity of a devout life ; and to vifit his people, not in order to be merry v/ith them as before, but to prefs them to feek the falvation of their fouls. ** At this period alfo, he began himfelf to pray in fecret four times a day. And the God of all grace, who prepared his heart to pray, foon gave the anfwer to his prayer : not indeed as he expelled, in joy or peace, but by bring- ing ( 293 ) ing upon him very ftrong and painful convic- tions of his own guilt, and helplefsnefs, and mifery ; by difcovering to him what he did not fufped: before, that his heart was deceitful and defperately wicked ; and what was more afflid- ing ftill, that all his duties and labours could not procure him pardon, or gain him a title to eternal life. In this trouble he continued more than three years, not acquainting any one with the diftrefs he fuffered ; till one day, (in 1742,) being in the utmoft agony of mind, there was clearly reprefented to him, Jefus Chrift pleading for him with God the Father, and gaining a free pardon for him. In that moment all his fears vaniflied away, and he was filled with joy unfpeakable. ** I was now, fays he, willing to renounce myfelf, and to embrace Chrift for my all in all. O what light and comfort did I enjoy in my own foul, and what a lafte of the par- doning love of God !" " AH this time he was an entire ftranger to the people called Methodifts, whom afterwards he thought it his duty to countenance, and to labour with in his neighbourhood. He was an entire flranger alfo to all their writings, till he came to Haworth. And then the good efFeds of his preaching foon became vilible. Many of his flock were brought into deep concern for falvation, and were, in a little time after, filled with peace and joy through believing. And, as in ancient times, the whole congregation have been often feen in tears, on account of their provocations againft God, and under a fenfe of his goodnefs in yet fparing them. ** His lively manner of reprefenting the truths of God could not fail of being much talked of, and bringing rnany hundreds out of curiofity to Haworth church ; who received fo much bcnefii 2 C 3 by ( 294 ) by what they heard, that when the novelty was long over, the church continued to be full of people, many of whom came from far, and this for twenty years together.* " Mr. Grimfhaw was now too happy him- felf in the knowledge of Chrift, to refl fatisfied, without taking every method, he thought likely, to fpread the knowledge of his God and Saviour. And as the very indigent conflantly make their want of better clothes to appear in, an excufe for not coming to church in the day-time, he contrived, for them chiefly, a ledure on Sun- day-evenings, though he had preached and read prayers twice in the day before. God was pleafed to give great fuccefs to thefe attempts, which animated him ftill more to fpend, and be fpent for Chrift. So the next year he began a method, which was continued by him ever after, of preaching in each of the four hamlets he had under his care, three times every month. By this means the old and infirm, who could not attend the church, had the truth of God brought to their houfes ; and many, who were fo pro- fane as to make the diftance from the houfe of God a reafon for fcarce ever coming to it, were allured to hear. By this time, the great labour with which he inftruded his own people ; the holinefs cf his converfation, and the benefit, which very many from the neighbouring parifiies had obtained by attending his miniftry j con- curred to bring upon him many earneft in- * " Thin Congregations," fays Mr. Aithur Young, " whether in town or country, are always the fault of the Clergy. I never heard a really good, imprclTive Preacher, who delivered the doflrines of the Gofpel, and not thofe of fo many modern Divines, and who fecmed t'uly to feel the triuh and importance of what he uttered, without finding a numerous and aiteotive aiTcnibly." treaties C 29s ) treaties to come to their houfes, who lived in the neighbouring pariflies, and expound the Word of God to fouls as ignorant as they had been themfelves. This requeft he did not dare to refufe : fo that while he provided abun- dantly for his own flock, he annually found opportunity of preaching near three hundred times, to congregations in other parts. ** And for a courfe of fifteen years, or up- wards, he ufed to preach every week, fifteen, twenty, and fometimes thirty times, befides vifiting the fick, and other occafional duties of his function. It is not eafy to afcribe fuch un- wearied diligence, chiefly among the poor, to any motive but the real one. He thought he would never keep filence, while he could fpeak to the honour of that God, who had done fo much for his foul. And while he faw finners perifhing for lack of knowledge, and no one breaking to them the bread of life, he was conftrained, notwithflanding tl/Q reluctance he felt within, to give up his name to ftill greater reproach, as well as all his time and ftrength, to the work of the miniftry. *' During this intenfe application to what was the delight of his heart, God was exceed- ing favourable to him. In fixteen years he was only once fufpended from his labour by ficknefs, though he dared all weathers, upon the bleak mountains, and ufed his body with lefs com- paflion, than a merciful man would ufe his beaft. His foul at various times enjoyed large manifeftations of God's love j and he drank deep into his Spirit. His cup ran over, and at fome feafons his faith was fo ftrong, and his hope (o abundant, that higher degrees of fpiri- tual delight would have overpowered his mortal frame. ♦' In C 296 ) " In this manner Mr, Grimfhaw employed all his powers and talents even to his laft illnefs. And his labours were not in vain in the Lord. He faw an efFedlual change take place in many of his flock ; and a reftraint from the commif- lion of fin brought upon the parifli in general. He faw the name of Jefus exalted, and many fouls happy in the knowledge of him, and walk- ing as became the gofpel. Happy he was him- felf, in being kept by the power of God un- blamable in his converfation : happy in being beloved in feveral of the laft years of his life, by every one in his parifh ; who, whether they would be perfuaded by him to forfake the evil of their ways, or not, had no doubt that Mr. Grimfhaw was their cordial friend. Hence, at his departure, a general concern was vifible through his parifli. Hence bis body was in- terred with what is more ennobling than all the pomp of a royal funeral : for he was followed to the grave by a great multitude, with affecSli- onate fighs, and many tears ; who cannot ftill hear his much-loved name without weeping for the guide of their fouls, to whom each of them was dear as children to their father. *' His behaviour throughout his laft ficknefs, was of a piece with the laft twenty years of his life. From the very firft attack of his fever, he welcomed its approach. His intimate know- ledge of Chrift aboliftied all the reludlance na- ture feels to a diflblution ; and triumphing in Him, who is the refurredlion and the life, he departed April the 7th, 1763, in the 55th year of his age, and the twenty-firft of eminent ufe- fulnefs." About this time the Lord poured out his Spirit in a remarkable manner in diver> places, pro- ducing in the minds of men, by the preaching fruits, ( 297 ) of the word, a deep religious concern, ferious, and divine impreflions, and their confequent fruits, in fo great a degree, that more were fre- quently reformed in a few months, or even weeks or days, at fuch times, than for feveral years before. Many parts of thefe kingdoms have been thus favoured at different feafons, as London, at the time I am fpeaking of, and the Weft of Yoiklhire, and Cornwall of late years. Tlie confcquence of thefe effufions of the Holy Spirit has always been a great and confpicuous revival of genuine piety and virtue, manifefted by all the inward and outward fruits of righte- oufnefs, altho' often intermixed with fome ap- parent irregularity and diforder in the meetings. Meantime, the crowds that have flocked to hear, have been fo immenfe, that no places of worfhip, however large, have been able to con- tain them. In or about the year 1762, at New- caftle-upon-Tyne, Mr. Wefley was obliged to preach in the open air, even at five in the morn- ing. Many years before his death, Mr. Wefley had the happinefs of feeing religion greatly increafed in the nation. In every county, and in moft of the towns and villages, focieties were formed, and chapels erected for public worfhip. Thefe were fupplied by a continually increafing number of Itinerant Preachers, afTit^ed by many hundreds of Local Preachers. Neverthelefs Mr.Wefley's great defire to remain in union with the Church of England, fo far as the work he was engaged in would permit, would not allow him to apply for a legal cftablifhment, or for any thing, which might give the Societies under his care the form of ' a feparatebody of people,' his dellgn being, neither in whole nor in part, to form a fe£l, or party ( ^9« ) party, or church, but metely to fpread genuine piety and virtue in the nation. From this time he held on his "way, with little interruption. Tho' now declining in the vale of years, he flackened not his pace. He ftill rofe at four in the morning, preached two, three, or four times a day, and travelled between four and five thoufand miles a year, going once in two years thro' Great Britain and Ireland. He faw continually more and more fruit of his labour, and of the labour of thofe in connexion with him. He laid no /irefs on opinions or modes of worfhip, defiring only that the love of God and man through living faith in Chrift, as *' God manifeft in the flefh," Ihould be the ruling principle of the life, and fhew itfelf by an uniform pra<5i:ice of juftice, mercy, and truth. He accordingly gave the right-hand of fellowfhip to all who walked by this rule, how- ever they might differ from him in thofe fpecula- tive points, of which they are to give an account to God alone. SECTION xni. Of his vlfitlng Ireland, and of the fticcefs of his labours, and of the labours of the Preachers in connexion with him in that kingdom. AS Mr. Wefley had but one defign from the commencement of his Miniflry, and which he invariably purfued till his fpirit returned to God, viz. to be as ufeful as poflible to his fel- low-creatures, efpecially in matters that con- cerned their falvation ; fo he never faid, upon any fuccefs which he met with, '* It is enough," In this refpefl, aifo, as well as in relation to his ( 299 ) his own progrefs in the divine life, he * forgot the things behind, and reached forth to thofe be- fore.* The fame he continually inculcated upon thofe that laboured with him in giving them, at their admiflion, the charge above mentioned. *' Obferve it is not your bufinefs to preach fo many times, or to take care of this or that So- ciety, but to fave as many fouls as you can j to bring as many finners, as you polfibly can, to repentance, and with all your power to build them up in that holinefs, without which they cannot fee the Lord." Agreeably to this, they have from the beginning, gone from place to place ; and having formed Societies oi thofe who^ as far as they could judge, turned to God, (for they took, charge of none elfe, ) they immedi- ately vifited new places, beginning to preach generally in the open air, in a private houfe or barn, or market-houfe, or wherever a congre- gation could be aflembled, and hear the word without moleftation. Until the year 1747, they had confined their labours to England, in moft parts of which they had preached and formed Societies^, though frequently at the peril of their lives. But this year their line was ftretched a little further. One of the Lay-Preachers had gone over to Dublin, and, after preaching there for fome time, formed a Society. He wrote an account of his fuccefs to Mr. Welley, who determined to vifit Ireland immediately. Accordingly, on Tuefday, Augufl the 4th, 1747, he fet out from Briftol, and pafling through Wales, arrived in Dublin on Sunday the 9th, about ten o'clock in the forenoon. Monday 10, he met the Society at five, and at fix preached, on * Repent ye, and believe the ( 300 ) the gofpel.* The room, large as it was, would not contain the people, who all feemed to tafte the good word. The houfe, then ufed for preaching, was fituated in Marlborough-ftreet, and was origi- nally defigned for a Lutheran church. It con- tained about four hundred people : but four or five times the number might ftand in the yard which was very fpacious. An immenfe multi- tude aflembled there to hear him, on Monday evening, among whom were many of the rich, and Minifters of all denominations. He fpoke ftrongly and clofely on, * The Scripture hath concluded all under fin, that the promife by faith of Jefus Chrift might be given to them that believe ;' and obferves, that no perfon feemed offended. All, for the prefent at leaft, feemed convinced that he /pake as the oracles of God. The next day he waited on the Archbifliop. They converfed for two or three hours, in which time he anfwered an abundance of objections. He continued to preach morning and evening to large congregations, and had more and more reafon to hope they would not all be unfruitful hearers. " Having examined the Society, which then confifted of about two hundred and eighty mem- bers, and explained at large the Rules, (already laid before the reader,) he failed for England, leaving Mr. Williams and Mr. Trembath to take care of this little flock. Many of thefe, he ob- ferves, were ftrong in faith, and of an exceeding teachable fpirit: and therefore on this account fhould be watched over with the more care, as being almoft equally fufceptible of good or ill imprelTions. Mr. ( 301 ) Mr. Charles Wefley went over fliortly after, and preached in Dublin, and in other parts of the kingdom, chiefly Cork, Athlone, and Ban- don : and had reafon to blefs God, that in every place he faw fruit of his labours. Near Athlone he v^as in iiiimineiit hazard of his life. For, within about a mile of the town, he was way- laid by a numerous Popilh mob, which he very narrowly eicaped by fetting fpurs to his horie. But this had a happy effedl:, as it prejudiced ail the Protellants in his favour. Soon after this, Mr. John Weiley published an Addrefs to the Roman Catholics: a very Anall tracfl; but clearly Hating the points wherem we agree, and where- in we differ ; and equally confpicious for argu- ment and temper. 'l"he Society in Dublin, enjoyed their fun- /hine but for a little time. A penccuiion com- menced, on which Mr. Trembatli, in a letter to Mr. \V'"eiley, makes the following obferva- tions. '* 1 believe this perfecution was per- mitted for good, that we might not truft in an arm of flefh. We thought that the Magillrates ■would do us juftice j but in this we were difap- pomted. It likewife drives us all to prayer and w-atchfulnefs, and alio caufes us to love each other better than ever ; fo that we are like iheep driven by the wo!f into the fold. When we went out, we carried our lives in our hands 5 but all this did not hinder us ouce from meeting together at the ufual hours. The Society ftill increafed, and thofe who had the root in them- felves liood like marble pillars ; and, by the grace of God, were refolved rather to die with Chrift, than, to deny him. All the city was m -an uproar : fome faid, it is a fhame ; the men do no harm. Others faid, the dogs defervc 2 D all ( 302 ) all to be hanged. BlefTed be God, we walk unhurt in fire ! Now we can hterallv fay, we live by faith : and the lefs we have of human help, the more we fhall have of divine." Mr. Welley, accompanied by Meflrs Merl- ton and Swindells, arrived early in the fpring of the following year 1748, before his brother failed for England. He no longer confined himfelf to the houfe, but preached on Oxman- town-Green, adjoining the Barrack. He preach- ed alfo at Newgate ; and after a few days fpent in Dublin, he vifited many parts of the country. In feveral places he was conftrained to preach in the open air, by reafon of the multitude that attended. Many of the foldiers alfo in every place, gladly heard the word, and forty troopers were at this time members of the Society at Philipftown. In many of the towns in the pro- vinces of I^infter and Munfter, and in fome of Connaught, Societies were formed, which have increafed continually fince that time, and have adorned the dodtrine of God their Saviour. What he had to encounter, even when no vio- lence was offered to him, we may learn from a pafTage in his Journal. " Tuefday, May 3, 1748. I rode to Birr, twenty miles from Athlone ; and the key of the Sefiions-houfe not being to be found, declared * The grace of our Loid Jcfus Chrift,' in the ftreet, to a dull, rude, fenfelefs multitude. Many laughed the greater part of the time. Some went away jufl in the middle of a fentence. And yet when one cried out, (a Carmelite Friar, Clerk to the Prieft,) ' You lie, you lie:" the zealous Proteftants cried out, ' Knock him down." Aud it was no fooner faid than done, I faw fome buflle, but knew not what was the matter, till the whole was over." But ( 3^3 ) But the Lord gave a balance to this corr- tempt. For on the loth, when lie left x'\ihlone, (which he vifited after Birr,) he with much difficulty broke away from that immeajurably lov^ ing people, (to life his own exprefTion ;) and not fo foon as he imagined neither ; for when he drew near to the turnpike, about a mile from the city, a multitude waited for hiin at the top of the hill. They fell back on each fide, to make him way, and then joined, and clofed him in. After finging two or three verfes, he put forward, when- on a fudden he was furprifed by fuch a cry of men, women, and children, as he never heard before. * Yet a little while,* i'aid he, fpeaking of this intcrelling occurrence, • and we Ihall meet to pai t no more j and for- row and fighing (hall flee away for ever.' On his return to Dublin, he fpent fome days there previous to his departure for England. On one of thefe days, while he was preaching on the Green near the Barrack, a man cried out, * Aye, he is a Jefuit : that is plain." To which a Popilh Prieft, who happened to be near, replied, ♦ No, he is not. I would to God he were ! " Soon after he failed, the zealous mob, who for fome time had greatly incommoded thofe who attended at the'Preaching-houfe in Marl- borcugh-ilreet, made an attack in form. They abufed the Preacher, and the congregation in a very grofs manner. They then pulled down the pulpit, and carrying it with the benches, into the ftreet, made a large fire of them, round ■which they ftiouted for feveral hours. •* Thofe Preachers, who remained in the kingdom, continued their labour with much fuccefs. Mr. Swindells vifited Limerick, on:;; Z l) 2 Ot L ( 304 ) ol' the moft coi^fulcrable cities in tlie province of Alunrter. "rhe Lord much blelTed his la- boitjs there, fo that a Society was foon formed ; •and the rehgious imprell'ion was lb great on the inhabitants in general, that Mr. Welley ob- ferves, on his vifit to that city tlic following year, that ' he found no oppofition ; but every one feemed to fay, * Blefled is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." Rut in Cork the fcene was very different. For more than thee months, a riotous mob, headed by a Ballad-hnger, whofe name was But- Jer, had declared open war againft thcfe new re- formers, and all who attended their preaching. Xo give a detail of their violence would be al- moin too fliocking to human nature. They fell upon men and women, old and young, with clubs and fwords, and beat and wounded them in a dreadful manner. But they were not con- tent with thus abufing the people when attend- ing the preaching. They furrounded their houfes, wounded their cuftomcrs, broke their windows, and threatened to pull their houfes down, unlefs they would engage to leave this way ! The coinmon epithets ufcd on tKofe oc- cafions by Butler and his parly, were heretic dogs, and heritic t s : and feveral even of the magiftrates rather encouraged, than ftrove to prevent tliefe diforders. In the midft of this brutality and injuftlce, religion (bed her cheeruig light, and difFufed happinefs almoft at the gates of the city. At Rathcormick, within about twelve miles of Cork, the Rev. Mr. Lloyd, the Redor, had received Mr. Welley into his church, and fin- cerely flrove to advance the good v/ork in which he was engaged. A letter received from that Gentleman ( 305 ) Genleman about this time, forms a flriklng coiu trart to the diforders jud recited. " Rev. Sir^ ** Your favour of the 15th inftant, I received the 22d. I am more fatisfied than ever, that you aim at nothing but what has at\ im- mediate tendency to the glory of God, and the falvation of mankind. " I cannot help thinking that your defign, confidered in this light (allowing even of fome tniftakes,) mufl: be deemed very praife-worihy. As to myfelf, in particular, I mull own it gives me infinite fatisfadion, to find that you have fpoken to fo good an effe6l in our town and neighbourhood. My church is more frequented than ever it was ; and I have the pleafure of feeing a greater decency, and more of zeal and attention than I could have dared to promife myfelf: which has nlfo this effecl upon me, that I find myfelf belter difpofed than ever, to diftribiite to thofe who attend my minirtry, fuch food, as may yield them comfort here, and happinefs hereafter. I heartily wifh this may continue, and that the people may not cool. If fo, we may hope to fee wickednefs generally decline, and virtue and godlinefs take place.. I fee this work of yours, through God's blelnng, thus fuccefsfully carried on, without any ill-will or jealoufy, and could wilh that all the Clergy were, in that refpeft, of the fame mind with me. *' Your Society here keeps up well ; and is,. I believe, confiderably increafed fmce you left it. I frequently attend the preaching ; and tho' X am much refledted' on for it, this does not irv a D J '* any ( 3^6 ) aiiy-wife difcourage me. While I am confcioiis to myfelf that I do no harm, I am carelefs of wliat men can fay of me. " Michael Poor, lately a Romanlft, who is row of your Society, read his recantation on Sunday laft. — Pray let us know, when you or your brother intend for this kingdom and town : for be fure, none wifh more fincerely to fee and converfe with you than I, who am lincerely. Rev. and dear Sir, Your very affedionate Aug. 29, 1719. Brother and Servant, Richard Lloyd.'* In confequence of the fhameful refiifal of juftlce above-mentioned, the rioters continued the fame outrages during the greater part of the following winter. At the lent-afllzes, the Preachers, (who made up the whole number then travelling in the kingdom, or at Iea(t as many of them as had ever been in Cork, or its neigh- hood,) affemblcd at the houfe of a Mr. Jones, (a confiderable merchant, and a member of the Society,) and went from thence in a body to the Court, accompanied by Mi-. Jones, and other reputable inhabitants. His Majefty's judge be- haved as became him. He inquired where were the perfons pretented. On their being pointed out to him, he fcenicd for fome time vifibly agitated, and unable to proceed. He at length called for the evidence, on which Butler, ap- peared. On his fa)ing, in anfwer to the nrft queftlon, that he was a ballad-finger, the Judge defired him to witlidraw, obferving. That it was a pity be had not been prefented, no other perfon appearing, he turned to the Preachers, and faid, * Gentlemen, there is no evidence againft you ; )cu may retire : I am forry that vou c 307 ) you have been treated (o very improperly. I hope the police of this city will be better at- tended to for the time to come." It was now generally believed there would be no more riots in Cork. But the flame of perfecution was not yet extindt. Mr. Welley arrived in Ireland in the month of April, 175OJ and having preached in Dublin, and the inter- mediate places, he arrived in Cork : and at the repeated invitation of Mr. Alderman Pembrock came to his houfe. On the morrow, being the Lord's-day, he went about eight o'clock to Hammond's Marfti, being informed that the ufual place of preaching would by no means contain thofe who defired to hear. The con- gregation was large and attentive. A few of the rabble gathered at a diAance : but by little and little they drew near, and mixed with the congregation : and he preached to as quiet and orderly an aflembly, as he could have met with in any chuich in England or Ireland. In the afternoon, however, it was otherwife. While Mr. Welley was preaching in the houfe at five, the town drummers and ferjeants having received orders from the Mayor, came down witii an inumerable mob attending them. They continued drumming, and Mr. Welley con- tinued preaching, till he had tinifhed his dif- courfe. When he came out, the mob immedi- ately clofed him in. Obferving one of the ferjeants Handing by, he defired him to keep the King's peace : but he replied, " Sir, I have no orders to do that." As foon as he came into the flreet the rabble threw whatever came to hand. But all went by him, or flew over his l^ead ; nor did one thing touch him. He walk- ed on ftraight through the midft of the rabble, looking every man before him in the face: and ( 3o8 ) and the}'' opened on the right and left, till, her came nea^r Dant's Bridge. A large party had' taken pofTefTion of this, one of whom was bawl- ing out, '* Now, hey for the Romans ?" When he came up, i'bey likewife fhrunk back, and he: walked through them to Mr. Jenkins's houfe. But a Romanift flood juft within the door, and endeavoured to hinder him from going in ; till one of the mob^ (aiming at Mr. Wefley, but mifling him,) knocked down the Romanift. He then went in, and God reftrained the wild beafts, fo that not one attempted to follow him* But many of the congregation were more roughly handled ; particularly Mr. Jones, who was covered with dirt, and efcaped with h\o life almoft by miracle. The main body of the mob then went to the hcufe, brought out all the feats and benches, tore up the floor, the door, the frames of the windows, and what- ever of wood-work remained ; part of which they carried off for their own ufe, and the reft they burnt in the open ftreet. Finding there was no probability of their difperfing, Mr. Wefley fent to Alderman Pem- brock, who immediately defired Mr. Alderman Winthrop, his nephew, to go down to him at Mr. Jenkins' : with whom he walked up tha ftreet, none giving him an unkind or difrefped:- ful word. Monday 21. He rode on to Bandon. From three in the afternoon till paft feven, the mob of Cork marched in grand proceflion, and then burnt him in effigy near Dant's-Bride. While they were fo bufily employed, Mr. Haughton, one of the Preachers, took the op* portunity of going down to Hammond's Marfh. He cabled at a friend's- houfe there ; where the good. ( 309 ) good woman, in great care, locked liim in. But obferving many people were met, he threw up the faih, and preacheil to them out of tlie window. Many feemcd deeply aflfected, even of thofe who had been perfccutors before. And ihey all quietly retired to their feveral homes, before the mob was at leifure to attend them. Shortly after thefe riots in Cork, Butler went to VVaterford, and raifed difturbances in that city. But liappening to quarrel with fome who were as ready to (bed blood as himfelf, his right arm was cut off in the fray. Being thus dilabied, the wretch dragged on the remainder of his life in unpitied mifery. His fellow-rioters at Cork, were intimidated by the foldiers in garrifon, many of whom began now to attend the preaching. At length peace was reftored ; and the next time Mr. Weiley vifited that city, he preached without difturbance. A large Preaching-houfe was foon after built, in which the people quietly aflembled. There are few places, where religion has profpered more than in Cork. * Being reviled for the name of Chrifl:, the Spirit of glory, and of God has refted upon them :' and many have been the living and dying witneffes of the power of true religion. The principal iniiabitants have been long convinced of the folly and wicked- nefs of the authors and encouragers of thofe perfecutions : and on a vifit, fome years after, the Mayor invited Mr. Weiley to the Manfion- houfe, and feemed to confider his company as an honour. Several circuits were now formed. The Preachers, who came over with Mr. Weiley from time to time, vifued the Societies regularly, and preached in new places, as the way was opened opePicd for them. Several Preachers were al fo raifed up among the natives : men, who, after they had found acceptance with God them- felves, and ken the deplorable ftate of the peo- ple around them, had no rert till they declared the way of falvation. Some of thefe had been Romanifts, and for many years depended foF fajvation on the pageantry and forms, ufed by men as wicked as themfelves. Thefe were as fiames of fire, when they found the new and living way of faith in Chrift, and love to God and man. They laboured and fufFered, if by any means they might fave fouls from death. The late Mr. Thomas Walfh was an emi- nent inftance of this kind. His converfion was confpicuous ; his communion with God was deep and folid, and his labours and f«fFerings remarkable. His Journal is well worth the at- tention of all the difciples of Chrift ; efpecially as it clearly (hews what the Preachers of that day had to encounter, in teftifying the gofpel of the grace of God. He preached with great fuccefs in many parts of Irelaad and England. But his foul chiefly mourned over the poor ignorant people of that communion which he had renounced. For their fakes he often preached in Irifh, which he perfectly uadcrftood : and many of them were thereby turned to God. But, as one ob- ferves, his foul was too large for his body. At the age of twenty-eight, he died an old, old man, being worn out by his great and uninter- rupted labours. The work of God had hitherto extended ©nly to the three Southern provinces : it now began alfo in Ulfter. The people of this pro. vince are moftly members of the EftabliJhmentv { 31' ) or Proteftant DiflTenters. And they are well employed. The Linen-manutacfhire has given a Tpur to induftry, which has been exceeding friendly to the progrefs of religion. In fome parts of this province, the Romanics are nu- merous ; but ftill they bear a Imall proportion to the bulk of the inhabitants. Here the word of the Lord has had indeed free courfe, and is glorified. Mr. Welley always viiited this part of the kingdom with peculiar pleafure. The poorell of the people receive the truth with all s-eadinefs of mind ; and many of them arc rich in faith^ and heirs of the kingdom. The circuits were now regularly fuppiied. The fame difcipline was obferved in all the So- cieties, and Mr. WeJley began to hold Con- terences with the Preachers, as with thofe in England. By this means the work of religion ■was greatly forwarded. Love to God and love Ko man abounded more and more ; and thofe who before were either deplorably ignorant and wicked, or refted in the form of godlinefs, now * worfliippcd God in the fpirit, rejoiced in Chrift Jefus, and had no confidence in the fleih.' Thofe who have travelled tliroiigh Ireland, need not be informed, how diHiGiiit of accefs many parts -of that kingdom arc, efpecially in the province of Ulfter. But the love of God and man forces its way through every difficulty. in villages and fcattered cottages, lunounded with mountains or bogs, and oat ot all road, pure religion and undehled ha.s diffufed her cheering rays, gladdening the wildernefs. It may be truly faid, ** Hark ! the walles have found a voice ; Lonely deferts now rejoice," Many ( 312 ) Many of the pooreft of the people are fo well inftrut^ed in the Holy Scriptures, that they need not be adiamed to give an account of the hope that is in them, before the moil pious and learn- ed of the nation ! A remarkable providence fometlmes at- tended the efforts of the Preachers to introduce the Gofpel into thofe faftneffes. About the year 1768, John Smith, a zealous Preacher, who had been himfelf reclaimed from great •wickednefs, was prejjed in fpirit to go, and preach at Glenarm, a fmall place furrounded with mountains, on the fea-fhore oppofite the North of Scotland. Near this town he over- took a young lady riding behind a fervant ; and on her faying it was a very wicked place, he afked, * Are there no good men there ? * She faid, * Yes, there is one William Hunter.* He rode into the town, and inquired for William Hunter's houfe. When he came co the door, 3 young woman was fweeping the houfe. He afked her name, and being anfwered, ' Betty Hunter,' alighted, and faid, ' Betty take my horfe to an inn, and tell every one you meet, A gentleman at our houfe has good news to tell you at i'even o'clock,' At feven the houfe was well filled. John preached to them twice a day, for nine days. A Society was then formed which continues to this day. When he took his leave, he had only three pence : however, he afked the landlady, * What am I to pay for my horfe ? ' * Nothing, Sir,' faid the woman : * A gentleman has paid all ; and will do fo, if you ftay a month.' At other times, they fuffered fever ely in thofe attempts. Very fhortly after the above event, Mr. John M'Burney, another Preacher, was ( 313 ) was invited to preach at a Mr. Perry's, within a few miles of Ennifkillen. He accordingly went there. In the evening, while the congre- gation was finging a hymn, a large mob befct the houfe. Six of thefe rulhed in, armed with clubs, and immediately fell upon the people. But many of them joining together, thruil: the rioters out, and ihut and faftcaed the door. On this they broke every pane of glafs in tlur windows, and tl\revv in a large quantity of ftones. They then broke into the houfe thro* a weak part of the wall, and hauling out both men and women, beat them without mercy. Soon after, they dragged out Mr. AI' Burney, whom they inftantly knocked down. They con- tinued beating him on the head and breait, while he lay fenfelcfs on the ground. Yet after a while, coming a little to himfelf, he got up ; but not being quite fenfible, llaggered, and fell again. Then one of them fet his foot ui^on his face, fvvearing, *' he would tread the Holy Ghoft out of him." Another ran his ftick into his mouth. As foon as he could i'peak, he faid» * Mav God f jrgive you ; I do.' They then fet him on his horfe, and one of the ruffians got up behind him, and forced him to gallop down the rocky mountain to the town. There they kept iiim, till a gentleman took him out of their hands, and entertained and lodged hini in the moll iiofpitable manner. But his bruifes, on the liead and breaCt in particular, would not fuffer hi;n to llccp. After lingering a few years, he died at Clones, in confequence of this treat- ment. He preached almoft to tlie laft week of his life, and went to his reward, rejoicing in God his Saviour. 2 E "A few ( 3'4 ) A few months after this good man had been thus feverely treated, a furious mob way- laid Mr. Wefley within a few miles of the fame place. One of his horfes wanting a flioe, he went forward to Ennifkillen, accompanied by two friends. The mob, in the mean time, at- tacked the chaife, beat in the pannels with ftones, and almoft covered it with dirt and mortar. When he entered the town, a large party encountered him : but many foldiers in the ftreet, accofting him refpeilfully, the mob fhrunk back, and he pafTed through unhurt. The mofl: dangerous illnefs which Mr. Wef- ley ever had, previous to that which removed him to a better world, was in this kingdom, in the fummer of 1775. It is worthy of note, that during the ex- tremity of his illnefs, while many thoufands in the three kingdoms were praying for his reco- very, two of the Preachers, one near the place where he lay, the other in the county of Kent in England, while praying for him, had thofe words, fpoken originally of Hezekiah, (Ifaiah xxxviii. 5.) imprelTed upon their minds with remarkable force, ' I will add unto his days fifteen years,' After this, he lived fifteen years and a few months. In the year 1783, that blefled man, the late Rev. Mr. Fletcher, vifited Dublin. He was indeed one of *' The heav'n-born race of Priefts and Kings.* His preaching was (to ufe St. Peter's words,) ' with the Holy Gholt fent down from heaven.' His converfation was that of a Seraph. And his whole life was fuch a living picture of the truths he taught, that his name is ft/il among that ( 3^5 ) tliat people as ointment poured forth. A revi- val began under his minillry, which has lalled to this day. The Preachers who fucceeded, as well as thole who were cotemporary vvitli him, were lively, zealous men, and llrif mention a wbric, fmall at pre- fent but likely to be of the greateft magnitude in its confequences. In the countries we have hitherto confidered, (the Ide of Man excepted,) the Englilh language has been univerfally fpoken. But Divine Providence led Mr. Wefley, with the Preachers in connexion v/ith him, into an unexpected line of ufefulnefs. The Iflands of Jerfey, Guernfey, and AI- derney, are fituated in St. Michael's Bay, near the Coaf}: of Normandy. They are the only remains of the Norman dominions annexed to Great-Britain by Williatn the Conqueror. The inhabitants in genei-al, (thofe of the tv\'o prin- cipal towns excepted,) fpeak only French. Jerfey was known to the ancient Romans under the name of Caefarea. It is twelve miles in length, and contains about twenty thoufand inhabitants. Guernfey is feven or eight miles long, and contains about fifteen thoufand peo- ple. Thefe two Iflands are exceedingly fertile and healthy. Alderney is about eight miles in circumference, and has about three or four thoufand inhabitants. In" a regiment of foldiers, which was fent over to Jerfey in the late war, there were a few ferious Chriftians who had heard the gofpel in one of the fea-port towns of England. Thefe men finding no help for their fouls in the Ifland, wrote to Mr. Wefley, entreating him to fend them a Preacher. Mr. Brackenbury, a gentle- man of fortune in Lincolnfliire, who had joined the Society, and foon afterwards preached in connexion with Mr. Wefley, was prefent when the ( 329 ) the letter was received, and oflered his fervice, as he had fome acquaintance with the French language. Mr. VVelley readily accepted the offer. Mr. Brackenbury fct off tor Jerfcy, rented a lioiife in the town of St. Heher, preached tlie gofpel through the Ifland, and was the means of turning many from their fins to God. At iirll, his religious aflemblies were greatly difiurbed, particularly in the parifh of St. Mary, by a mifcrable fet of ungodly men, who, on an appeal to the civil Magirtraie, were fined, and obliged to give fccunty for their good behaviour. Jn the year 1786, Mr. WeHey fent another Preacher, Mr. Adam Clarke, to the liland of Jerfey. Mr. Clarke preached feveral times in the town of St. Aubin, furrounded by a very violent mob, from whom he received much abufe ; and was often in danger of lofing his Jife. The rioters tore the houfe in which he preached, almoit to pieces. At another time, one of the Magirtrates headed a large mob, and pulled down Mr. Clarke from the pulpit with his own hands. The drummer of the St. Aubin militia was then called, who had tiie honour of beating the Minirter of God, and afterwards of drumming him through, and out of the town. Mr. Chrke, however, was not to be intimidated by the ufage he met with, but continued his vifits and labours, till he at laft ovcrweathered the ftorm. Regular preaching was then eftab- Jilhed ill the town, and even the mob them- felves reverenced the Preacher. P>om this time religion flourished more and more in the Ifland of Jerfey. Many Preachers were raifed among the natives, and Societies formed all over the Ifland. 2 P' 3 In. ( 33° ) In the couile of thele events, a ihop-keeper of tiie lilaiui of (juernfcy, whole name was Ar- rive, viiitetl Jerfey, and under the preaching of Mr.Brackenbury was brought to repentance. He then invited Mt. Brackenbury to vifit Gyernfey. He went, and was univerfaHy well received. Many of the gentry opened their houfes to him, and permitted him to preach in their parlours. Dr. Coke, who about tins time vifited thefe Illands, followed Mr. Brackenbury in Guernfey, and formed the firft Society in that Ifland. After- wards Mr. Clarke,with much pain and difficulty, accompanied by many remarkable providences, erecfled a very commodious Chapel in the town of St. Peter, in which a large congregation re- gularly attended. Mr. De Oueteville, a native of Jerfey, was alfo very ufeful in the Ifland of Guernfey., par- ticularly in the country parts, where the P'rench language alone is fpoken. But he endured great perfecutions. The moft horrid things were laid to his charge. A profecution was carried on againft him in the fupreme court, with the de- fign of procuring a fentence of banidiment. But the very witnefles who were employed to fwcar the falfcft things againfl: him, and moll probably intended it when they firft appeared before the Court, were yet ftrangely conftrained to give the moft pointed evidence in his favour; which entirely counterailed all the defigns of his enemies. In the beginning of the year 1787, Mr. Clarice vifited the I lie of Alderney. When he arrived, he knew not where to go : he had no acquain- tance in the Ifland, nor had any perfon invited him thither. For fome time he was perplexed in reaConing on his fituation, till ^hat word of the ( 331 ) tl\e God of Miflionaries powerfully imprefTed his mind, ' Into whatfoever houfe ye enter, tirll fay, peace be to this houfe, — and in the fame houfe remain, eating and drinking fuch things as they give' Luke x. 5. 7. On this he took courage, and proceeded to the town, which is about a mile diflant from the harbour. After having walked fome way into it, he took particular notice of a very poor cottage, into which he found a ftrong inclina- tion to enter. He did fo, with a ' Peace be to this houfe!" and found in it an old man and woman, who, underftanding his buluiefs, bade him, ' welcome to the bed food they had, to a little chamber where he might ilcep, and (what was flill more acceptable,) to their houfe -to preach in.' He now faw clearly the hand of Piovidence in his favour, and was much encouraged. Being unwilling to lofe any time, he told thein he would preach that evening, if they could convene a congregation. Tlie ftrange news fpread rapidly through the town ; and long before the appointed hour, a multitude of people flocked together, to whom he fpoke of the kingdom of God, nearly as long as the little ftrength he had, after the fatigues of his voyage, remained. When he had concluded, it was with much difficulty he could perfuade them to depart, after promifing to preach to them again the next evening. He then retired to his little apartment, where he had not refled twenty minutes, when the good woman of the i\oure came and entreated him to preach again, as feveral of the gentry, (among whom was one of the Juftices,) were come to hear what he had to fay. ( 33* ) He went down immediately, and found the Ivoufe once more full. Deep attention fat on every -face, while he (hewed the great need they ftood in of a Saviour, and exhorted them to turn immediately from all their iniquities to the living God. He continued in this good work about an hour, and concluded with informing them what his defign was in vifiting their Ifland, and the motives that induced him thereto. Having ended, the Juftice ftepped forward, exchanged a few very civil words with him, and defired to fee the book out of which he had been fpeaking. He handed his Bible to him. The Juftice looked at it with attention, and returned it with apparent fatisfacSlion. The con- gregation then departed ; and the concern evi- dent on many of their countenances, fully proved, that God had added his tellimony to that of his fervant. The next evening he preached again to a large attentive company. But a fingular cir- cumftance happened the following day. While he was at dinner, a conftable came from a per- fon in authority, to folicit his immediate ap- pearance at a place called the Bray, (where feveral reputable families dwell, and where the Governour's {lores are kept,) to preach to a com- pany of gentlemen and ladies, who were wait- ing, and at whofe defire one of the large flore- rooms was prepared for the purpofe. He im- mediately went, and in a quarter of an hour after his arrival, a large company was affembled. The gentry were not fo partial to themfelves, as to exclude the failors, fmugglers or labourers. All heard with deep attention, except an Engli(h gentleman, fo called, who perhaps meant to Ihew the Illanders that he defpifed facred things. The ( 333 ) The next Lord's day in the evening he preached again in the fame place to a niucli larger congregation, compofed of the principal gentry of the Illand. The day fnllowi'ig, being the time appointed for his return, many wtre unwilHng he ftiould leave them, faying, ' We have much need of fuch preaching, and fuch a Preacher : we wifli you would abide in \hc liland, and go back no more.' However, the vefl'el being aground, he was detained till vlie next morning'to the great joy of his new friends, when after a tender parting he left the IHand. After this, the native Preacheris, raifed up in Jerfcy and Guerney, vifited this little liland : and by their means a chapel has been ere(5tcd, a large Society formed, and many fouls brought to an acquaintance with God. Auguft 6, 1787, Mr. VVefley, being now eighty-four years of age, witii Dr. Coke, and Ivlr. Bradford, fet off from the Manchelkr Con- ference to vifit the Illands in the Englilh Chan- nel. Being prevented by contrary winds from reaching the llle of Guernfey, they failed for Alderney, where they arrived on the 14th. At eight the next morning, Mr. Wefley preached on the Beach, near the place where he lodged j and before his hymn wns ended, had a tolerable congregation. Soon after he had concluded, the Governour of the Ifland waited \ipon him with very great courtefy. After which he with his company, failed forGuernfey, On his arrival, he went into the country, to the houfe of Mr. De Jerfey, a gentleman of fortune, where he preached at live the following- morning in a large room to a very ferious con- gregation ; and in the evening to a crowded audience in the Preaching-houfe in the town of St. ( 334 ) St. Peter. On the i8ih, he and Dr. Coke, dined with the Governor, who fludied to fhew him every mark of civility. On the 20th, he fet fail for the Ifle of Jerfcy. Mr. Brackenbury received him on his arrival, and in his houfe he frequently preached to exceeding ferious con- gregations. ' Even the gentry,' obferves Mr. Wefley, fpeaking of his vifit to this Ifland, * heard with deep attention. What little things, does God ufe to advance his own glory [ Pro- bably,' continues he, ' many of thefe flock to- gether, becaufe I have lived fo many years ! And perhaps even this may be the means of their living for ever!" In the country he preached in Englilh, Mr. Brackenbury inter- preting fentence by fentence : and even in this inconvenient way of fpeaking, God owned his word. Being detained a confiderable time by contrary winds, the Affembly-room was offered him, in which he preached to very large con- gregations, and to the profit of many. Hardly a gentleman or lady in the town of St. Peter, omitted a fmgle opportunity of at- tending his miniftry. So univerfal and fteady an attendance of the rich and the gay he never before experienced. During this vifit, he was favoured with Angular powers of elocution j and delivered a feries of difcourfes peculiarly fuited to his hearers. On the 6th, a fhip failed for Mount Bay in Cornwall : and, the wind not permitting him to fail for Southampton, he took his paflage in it, and on the next day landed at Penzance. There is now a furplus of native Preachers in the Iflands in the English Channel, two of whom had vifited France before the war, and formed ( 335 ) formed fome fmall Societies near Caen m Nor. mandy. Whether any fruit will arife, time will ihew. SECTION XV. Of the Origin and Progr(fs of the MethodiJJs In America^ and the JFrJi India Jflands. I N 1729, the Lord raiied up that eminent man, Dr. Jonathan Edwards, in New England. In his time religion flouriilied in that Province. A very brief account of this revival I Hiall give in his own words. *' In the town of Northampton in New Enc;- land, after a more than ordinary licentioufnefs in the people, a concern for religion began to revive in 1729, but more obfervcdiy in 1733 ; when there was a general reformation of out- ward diforders, which has continued ever fince. '* About this time I began to preach con- cerning fi/Jiification hy Faith tjlone. This was attended with a very remarkable blefling. Then it was, that the Spirit of God began wonder- fully to work among us. A great and earned concern about the things of God ran through all parts of the town. AH talk but of eternal things was laid afide. The converfation in all companies, (unlefs fo far as was neceflary for the carrying on of worldly bufinefs,) was wholly upon religion. Hence there foon appeared a glorious alteration, fo that in 1735, the town feemed to be full of the prefence of God. There were remarkable tokens of God's pre- fence almort in every houfe : parents rejoicing over ( 336 ) over their children as new-born, hufbands over their wives, and wives over their huibands." He proceeds to defcribe the amazing fpread of that work in New England ; and then adds : ** This fliower of divine bleflings has been yet more extenfive. There was no fmall degree of it in fome parts of the Jerfeys. " God has alfo feemed to go out of his ufual way in the quicknefs of his work. It is won- derful that perfons fhould be fo fuddenly, and yet fo greatly changed. Many have been taken from a loofe and carelefs way of living, and feized with ftrong convi6lions of their guilt and mifery ; and in a very little time old things have paiTed away, and all things have become new with them." There were many alfo in New England, and among the Indians, truly converted to God, by thofe eminent and laborious Miniflers, Mr. El- liott and Mr. Brainerd. In 1739, Mr. George Whiteficld made his fecond v:{it to America ; and the Spirit of the Moft High did indeed refi: upon that great man. He revived that pure religion, which was fo re- markable in the time of Dr. Edv.'ards, but after his death had decayed. Great was his zeal, and great his fuccefs. * God fpoke the word, and great was the company of the Preachers ' The zealous Minifters raifed by his labours, who were diftinguifhed by the denomination of New Lights, became the moft numerous body in New England : and, ftrange as it may ap- pear, the old, wife, literary body of Prefby- terians, in a fynod held among themfelves, formally thruft out or excommunicated the ma- jority ; declaring they would have no minifterial union with fuch an illiterate body of men. But the ( 337 ) the fWMiriiftcrs 9f God were not to be fiienced by fuch means. However, this revival alfo was but of fliort duration. Formality on the one hand, and Antinomianlfm on the other, again recovered their afcendency. Dui'ing the fpace of about thirty years, viz. from 1760 to 1790, feveral perfons, members of Mr. Wefley's Society, emigranted from Eng- land and Ireland, and fettled in various parts of America. About the year 1768, Philip Em- bury, a Local Preacher from Ireland, began to preach in the city of New-York, and formed a Society of his own countrymen and the citizens. About the fame time Robert Strawbridge, ano- ther Local Preacher from Ireland, fettled in Frederic-county in Maryland, and preaching there formed fome Societies, About this period alfo Mr. Webb, a Lieutenant in the army, preached at New-York and Philadelphia, with great fuccefs, and with the alFiflance of his friends ereded a chapel in New-York, which was the lirrt chapel in Mr. Wefley's connexion in America. Induced by the fuccefs he met witli, and by an earneft defire of faving fouls, he wrote a letter to Mr. WeAey, earneilly im- portuning him to fend Miflionaries to that Con- tinent. Accordingly Mr. Welley nominated Mr. Richard Boardman, and Mr. Jofeph Pil- inoor, as Milllonaries for America, who landed at Philadelphia in 1769, and were the firft Itine- rant Preachers in conneitron with Mr. Wefley on that Continent. A few days after their land- ing, Mr. Pilmoor wrote a letter tg Mr. Welley, of which the following is an extrad : 2 G Philadclphiaj • ( 33« ) Philadelphia, 061. 31, 1769. Reverend Sir, ** By the blefling of God we are fafe arrived here after a tedious paflage of nine weeks. " We were not a little furpriied to find Cap- tain Webb in town, and a Society of about a hundred members, who defire to be in clofe connexion with you. This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes. " I have preached feveral times, and the people flock, to, hear in multitudes. Sunday evening I went out upon the Common. 1 had the llage, appointed for the horfe-race, for my pulpit, and I think between four and five thou- fand hearers, who heard with attention ftiU as night. Blefied be God for field-preaching! Whei^ I began to talk of preaching at five o'clock in the morning, the people thought it would not anfwer in America : however, I re- foivcd to try, and had a very good congrega- tion. " Here feems to be a great and effectual door opening in this country, and 1 hope many fouls will be gathered in. The people in gene- ral like to hear the word, and feem to have fome ideas of falvatioa by grace." Mr. Boardman obferves in a letter to Mr. Welley from New York, dated April 24, 1770, *' Our houfe contains about feventeen liundred hearers. About a third part of thofe who at- tend the preaching, get in ; the reft are glad to hear without. There appears fuch a wiljing- nefs in the Americans to hear the word, as I never faw before. They have no preaching; in fome parts of the back Settlements. J doi/bt not ( 339 ) not but an effectual door will be opened among them. O may the Moft High, now give his Son the Heathen for his inheritance ! Tlie number of Blacks that attend the preaching, affe6ls me much." Mr. Pilmoor vifited Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina, and preached in thofe States ■with confiderable fuccels. About the latter end of the year 1771, Mr. Welley fent over Mr. Frances Albury and Mr. Richard Wright to the aflirtance of the for- mer Mifiionaries. Mr. Albury was then, as he has been ever fince, indefatigable in his labours. He flaid not long in the cities. Mofl: of his time he fpent in the villages and plantations, forming Societies in many places. He fre- quently complains in his Journal, which was publiflied in America, that his brethren were too fond of the cities ; and juflly obfervcs that no extenfive work could be carried on in America, unlefs the Preachers devoted more of their time to the plantations ; the cities and towns being very few, and a great majority of the in- habitants fettled in the interiour parts of the country. In 1773, Mr. Wertey fent over Mr. Thomas Rankin, and Mr. George Shadford. They la- boured for near five years on that Continent, travelling through all the States between New- York and North Cajolina inclufive, forming Societies and preaching the gofpel with great fuccefs. ** At our firft little Conference in Philadel- phia, July 1773," obferves Mr. Rankin in his own printed account, " we had about a thou- fand in the different Societies, and fix or fcven Preachers : and in May 1777, we had forty 2 G 2 Preachers ( 34P ) Preachers in the different circuits, and about feven thoufand members in the Societies ; be- lides many hundreds of Negroes, who were convinced of fin, and many of tliem happy in the Jove of God. Had it not been for the Civil War, I have reafon to believe the work of God ■would have flourirticd in a inore abundant manner, as both rich and poor gladly embraced the truths of the gofpel, and received thg Preachers with open arms." 1 jhall give a fhort account of one of the^ re- vivals in Virginia, at this period, which may in fome degree be confidered as a fpecimen of them all. In 1770 and 177 1, there was a confider- able out pouring of the Spirit of Cxod at a place called White-Oak. In the year 1772, the revi- val was more conliderable, and extended itfelf Sn fome places for fifty or fixty miles round. It increafed ftill more in the following year. In the fpring of 1774, it was more remarkable than ever. Tears fell plentifully from the eyes- of the hearers, and many were much affeded under the word. In the latter end of the year 1775, there was as great a revival of religion, as perhaps was ever known in country-places in fo Ihort a time : but it became ftill more con- fjderable in January 1776. Mr. Shadford then preached in Virginia : and while th^ ears of the people were opened by novelty, God fent his word home to their hearts. Many fmners were pov.erfully convinced, and mercy ! mercy ! was their cry. Converfions were frequent ; and the people of God were infpired with new life; and vigour, by the hnppinefs of others -y and^en- .ireated God with Itrong cries and tears, fo to * circumcife their he;arts,' that they might * love him. i ( 341 ) him with all their hearts,' and ferve him with" all their Itrength. Numbers of old and grey-headed, and of middle-aged perfons, of youth, yea, of little children, were the fubjeds of this work. There were inftances of the latter of eight or nine years old. Some of the children weie exceed- ing happy in the love of God ; and fpoke of the whole procefs of the work of God, of their convidlions, the time when, and the manner how they obtained deliverance, with fuch clear- nefs as might convince an Atheift, that this was indeed the work of God. This outpouring of the Spirit fo extended itfelf, that it foon took in a circumference of between four and tive hundred miles, including fourteen counties in Virginia, and two in North- Carolina. At one meeting held in Boifi'eau's Chapel, the windows of heaven were opened as it were, and the rain of Divine Influence was abundantly poured down. At the Lovc-fcall: then held, it feemed as if the whole houfe was filled with the prefence of God. A flame kindled, and ran from heart to heart. Many were deeply con- vinced of fin ; many mourners were filled with confolation ; and many believers were fo over- whelmed with love, that they could not doubt but God had enabled them to love him with all their heart. The multitudes that attended on thefe occa- fions, returned home all alive to God, and fpread the flame thro' their refpedive neighbourhoods, which ran from family to family. So that with- m four weeks, feveral found the peace of God. And fcarce any converfation was to be heard, but concerning the things of God. The un- 2 G 3 happy ( 34:t ) happy dirpute J between England and her GoToniey^ had till this time engrofled the converfation of all the people, but feemed now in moft com- panies to be forgotten, while things of far greater importance lay fo near their hearts. In many large companies one carelefs perfon could not be feen ; and the far greater part feemed happy in a clear fenfe of the love of God. It may be necefTary to obferve here, that we not judge of converfions, chiefly by thofe high laifed afFedtions^ which God gives from time to time according to the counfel of hh owjv will, perhaps, among other reafoiis, to alarm a drowfy world : and inftances of which we find in, the holy Scriptures, as well as in accounts tranfmitted down to us in all ages, and in all nations, of Chriftendcin, fmce the eftablifhment of Chriftanity i but by the confequent fruits^, by a holy life and converfation, by every heavenly tetnper, breathing forth through all the relative duties- ©f hfe,. and in all' the words and actions- ©f the man. At this time a great work, of divine grace w^s certainly wrought ; and it was evident beyond aS €ontradi ^ork, Mr. Mc Cornock, was felzed, tlwo* ex- celTive fatigue, with an inflammatory fever, of which he died : liis place, however, has fmce been filled up. Santa Cruz, and the other Danifh Ifles, are open to the MilTionaries. So that in this part of the globe, it may be truly faid, " The harveft is great, but the labourers are few." Upon the whole about fixtythoufand of the Ne- groes are now under inrtrudion, in all the Iflands unitedly confidered. Out of thefe, about twelve thoufand are members of the Society, and are, as far as the Miirionaries, who are no judges of the heart, can determine, awakened to a fenfe of their fallen ftate, and of their alienation from God by nature. A very confiderable part of thefe latter are converted to God, and give, in their Negro dialecSV, as clear and diftinifl an account of the work of grace upon their fouls, as any believers in England ; and the whole of them, as far as the Miillonaries know, fulftl all the relative duties of life, their own mafters being the judges ; or, if occafionally there be any who tranfgrefs the rules of morality, they are excluded from t'lc Society, at leaft after a negle<5t of due reproof. And it may be added, that they have all of tliem made a facrifice of their molt befctting (in — Polygamy. In Antigua, there are two MilTionaries : in St. Chriftopher's, three : in Tortola, and the Virgin-lflands, three : in Nevis, one : in Do- minica, one : in St. Vincent's, two : in Barba- does, one: in Grenada, two: in St. Bartholo- mew's, one : in Jamaica, two : and in Ber- muda, one. Lately, the Governour of Domi- nica, obliged Mr. Kingfton, the Mifllonary there at that time, to leave the Illand, becaufe 2 H 3 he i 354 ) he would not bear arms, which, as a Miniftev cf the Gofpel, he believed he could not con- icientioufly do ; but the Government at home, v.lnch has been always ready to adminifter re- lief to the Miffionaries under perfecution, fent directions to the Governours in tiie Weft Indies, to permit the Miffionaries to labour in their re- fpedlive Iflands, without the obligation of bear- ing arms ; in confequence of which we have now a Mifllonarv in Dominica. The Divine Grace and Providence have alfo raifed up about fifty Negro Preachers, who are very ufeful on the Lord's day j and without whofe afliftance, the work could not be cairied on upon the pre- fent extenfive fcale. The Black Preachers, by the removal of their mailers from one Illand to another, have intro- duced the Gcfpel among the Heathen into fome Iflands where no regular Miflions liave yet beeni eflabliflied ; but, as foon as may be, every ne- ceffary ftep will be taken to improve the prefent openings. On the Continent of America, the Methodift Millions among the Heathen, have been of a longer ftanding than in the Weft India Iftands. Above 14,000 Heathens on that Continent have been brought, through tlie grace of God, to genuine chriftianlty, that is, to holinefs and virtue, by the labours of our Miffionaries ; be- iides thoufands, who have already been lodged in Abraham's hofom. There is alfo a confi- derable number of Catechumens, in vi'hofe fa- vour, it is to be hoped, as much may be faid in time, as of the others. The Miftlons on the Continent of America are now entirely fupported, by the benevolent and pious on that Continent. And in the Weft Indies, ( 35S ) liidlcs, the Planters and other inhabitants of Antigua, St. Chriftopher's, Nevis, Tortol^, Grenada, and St. Vincent's are fo fully fatisfied with the condud of the Miflionaries, and fo confcious of the pohtical, as well as religious ad- vantages refulting from their labours, that they entirely fupport the work in thofe Illands, by voluntary contributions and fuhfcriptions. Bi>t though in the other Illands there are feveral friends of the Aliilions, among the rich and be- nevolent, yet the work is iTill very burdcri- fome to the Fund in Europe. The yellow fever has carried off fix of tlie Miflionaries in all. But, if we except the con- fequenccs of that dreadful and unforefeen dis- order, the mortality among the Milhonaries has been exceedingly little — far beneath the average computation in thefe Northern climates ; four only having died in the courfe of about four- teen years. Thus far the Grace and ProvideiKe of God have blefl"ed the labouis of the MilTionaries. The expence however is very great. But the enlargement of the Redeemer's kingdom, and the welfare and happinefs of the World, aire obje<5ts of fuch infinite moment, that every be- nevolent perfon muft rejoice in the fucctfs of, and be ready to afliil, fo difinterclled and im- portant an undertaking. About the year 1768, Mr. Cotighlan, a tra- velling Preacher in connexion with i\lr. Wefley, was ordained by the Bilhop of London, at the requeft of the Society for the propagation of the Gofpel, that he might be qunliiied for the office of a A'lifllonarv, for the liland of Newfound- land. Foj ( 356 ) For three years and upwards he laboured in Harbour-Grace and Carbonnear, without any apparent fuccefs, and in the midft of great per- fecution. He was profecuted in the chief court of the Ifland j but cfcaped the fury of his enemies. In letters to the Society for the pro- pagation of the Gofpel, he was accufed of al- moft every thing that was bad. When his enemies found that thefe methods were not fufiicient to remove him, they employed a Phy- fician lo poifon him, who was foon afterwards converted to God, and difcovered this wicked defign. At laft the Lord condefcendcd to vifit this miferablc people, and poured out his Spirit abundantly. Many were foon turned to the Aloft Hish, Mr. Coughlan immediately united the truly fmcere in regular ClalTes. On this the perfecution grew hotter ; till at laft he was fummoned before the Governour : but the Governour declared in his favour, and appointed him a Juftice of the Peace ; on which the per- fecution ceafed, and he hboured for four years in much quietnefs, and with great fuccefs. He then returned to England. On Mr. Cpughlan's departure, Mr. Stretton and Mr. Thoomey, two Local Preachers in connexion with Mr. Wefley, undertook the care of the Societies, which A4r. Coughlan had form- ed : but thefe gentlemen being much engaged in mercantile bufinefs, the Societies foon fell into decay. Some years after this, Mr. Wefley appointed a MifTionary for Newfoundland, who went over accordingly, and was rendered ufeful to the people. A little after Mr. Wefley's death, Mr. Black, who had the care of the Societies in Nova { 357 ) Nova Scotia and New Brunfwick, vWlted New* foiindlaiul, and was remarkably ufeful. Such a revival took, place under his labours, as will not foon be forgotten. Since then other MilR- onaries have been appointed, and a Society ofup- wards of five hundred people, has been raifed. I'hus in this barren fpot the Lord has raifed up a people to ferve him. ♦' He has, indeed made a way in the wildernefs, and rivers in the dcfert." i hat dreary, rocky, uncuhivated coaft is likely to bring fortli a plentiful harvefl fov the Lord, SECTION XVL 0/ the Methodtjl Benevolent, or Strangen* FrleftJ Societies^ and Sunday Schools, VV HOEVER has read with attention the preceeding pages, muft have obferved, that the defign of the Methodi'ls, from their very origin, has been to feek, and to fave that which was lolf, and to do fpiritual and temporal good to the pooreft, vilell and moft defpifcd of man- kind. With this view it was that the Rev, MefTrs. Welleys, and VVhitrield, in the begin- ning of their religious courfe, vifited and, ac- cording to their ability, relieved the prifoners \i\ the Caftle at Oxford, and the fick 3nd poor of the town. With this defign they confented, when applied to by the Truftees of the Colony in Georgia, to traverfe the Atlantic Ocean, and go as Miflionaries to the Indians. With the fame intention, when \i\ this kingdom the Churclies ( 358 ) Churches were (hut againft them, for rcaibns above fpecified, they went out into the ftreets and lanes of the towns and cities, and into tlie high-ways and hedges to call llnners to repentance. They vifited, as we have feen, not only the ino'ft:= populous but alfo and efpecially the moll: igno- rant and corrupt parts of the kingdom, proclaim- ing, and frequently at the hazard of their lives, the G fpel of the kingdom of God, to the Colliers of Kingfwood near Briftol, of Wednef- bury in Staffordshire, and of the neighbourhood of Newcaftle, as alfo to the Tinners in Corn- wall and the Manufacturers in Yorkshire and Lancafhire. Every where, in town or country, "where God opened them a door, and they could obtain accefs, they endeavoured to communicate inftruftion in righteoufnefs to the moft ignorant and unenlightened, — to reform the moft vicious and profane, and to fpread civilization and induf- try, as well as knowledge and piety among their fellow-creatures. In purfuance of the fame end, which they have kept in view from the begin- ing, the Methodifts of late years, as has been juft related, with great labour and expence, have eftablifhed Miffions among the Negroes in the Weft India Iflands, the Indians of North America, the forlorn inhabitants of Newfound- land, and the Catholics in Ireland. 1 have now to obferve, that with the fame defign, they have alfo founded, chiefly in Great Britain and Ireland, two other Inftitutions, viz. Benevolent or Strangers^ Friend Societies, and Sunday Schools. The farmer of thefe Charities commenced among the Methodifts in London in the year 1784, under the patronage of the late Rev. Mr, Weney.— Some pious perfons, of the Methodiil Society, who occafionally vifited the fick> found many ( 359 ) many not only grievoufly afHided with various difeafes, but entirely deftitute of the very necefTa- ries of life. After fome confideration, a plan was formed to raife a fund, for tlie relief of fuch mif- erable objedls, by each perfon fubfcribing a penny or two-pence a week. But the applications be- coming daily more and more frequent, and the means of fupplying the wants of the deftitute and afflicSlcd, being very fniall, it was fooa found neceflary to afk help of perfons of more affluent circumflances. The confequence was that the Benevolent or Strangers' Friend Society was formed, at the period above mentioned; to adniinifter relief to the Hck poor, that were deilitutc of other help, of all denominations ; each member of that Inllitution agreeing to contribute, according to his ability, in order to raife a Fund for that purpofe. Since that time many other Societies of a fnnilar nature, have been eflabliHied among the Alethodilh, in difie- rent parts of the kingdom, as at Briftol, Liver- pool, Bi;iiiinglu!n,Mancheftcr, Sheffield, I-ceds, Hull, and in moll towns aiid populous villages, where they have conlulernble coiigrcgations, and where their friends are numerous. The rules of thcfe Jniiitutions may differ Iii fome Jefler matters, in different places; but in the moll important points they all agree. The Charity is no where confined to the poor or fick niembers.of the AieihodiI\ Societies, nor have they any preference above others. So far from it, that at fome places, as at Mancheiter, (where the Fund is larger than any where elfe, cxcej>t at London,) the poor members of the Metho- dirt Society have no relief from it whatever>. If any poor and Tick perfon, that had had relief from it, Should bccc.Be a member of the Mcr thodjll f!^X^*^ -!'■ - ( 36o ) thodift Society, he would immediately be de- prived of that help, and though ftill diftrefTed, could, according to their Rules, have no more aid from that quarter.* The reafon of .this regulation * Let the anonymous and intolerant authors of tliat virulent publication, termed the ' Anti- Jacobin Review,' confider this, and be alhamed of the infamous falfehood of their afTcrtion, ■when they fay, (Review for April, 1801, pag. 396.) "Their (the Methodifts) benevolent fund, might more properly be called a fund for Profelytifm. For v/e fpeak. from perfonal knowledge." ff'e /peak — fFho fpeak? Let them give us their names : Let them dare to come forth from their covert, and (hew themfelves, that we may look the men in the face, ■VN'ho thus ■wickei!l thefe gentlemen tell us what advantage we ftiould gain by gathering a number of fick and poor people into our Societies-— to be fupported by charity } Who mull fupport them ? Others almoft as poor as themfelves ? Or the richer members of the Society ? The for:ner could not, and if fuch a burden were laid upon the latter, they niuft have both more zeal and difmtcreftednefs than thefe gentlemen, 1 think, will allow them to pofiefs, if they bore it long. They would Toon ceafe to be members, aiid the confequence would be that our Societies would be compofed entirely of poor people that muft live upon charity, and be caft upon the parifh ! And then how could our plan be Aipportcd ? How could the contributions at the Clafs- isicctiji^'i, which thefe geiUknicn glory in having rfifcovered, ana ( 36i ) regulation there was, not fo much to demon- flrate to the world, the difintereftednefs of the Methodifts in this Charity, and ftop the mouths of gainfayers, as to provide that there miglu be no tetnptation to any poor perfon to make an hypocritical profeflion of reHgion,and feck an ad- mifllon into the Methodift Society, with a view to obtain temporal relief. But in no place, I believe, are one fourth partof tlie objects relieved in con- nexion with theMethodifts. Two things therefore the reader will obferve, ift,That thefe Charities are not confined to perfons of any nation, feft, party, or denomination whatever, but Proteftants, Roman Catholics, Strangers, and Foreigners, have an equal right to be reHeved by them ; and 2dly, That the Vifitors are not influenced by former caufes of prefent dlftrefs, but extend tlie arms of their mercy to all who are objects of pity and compafTion, requiring no otiier qualification in thofe they relieve tiian a fuf- ficiency of evident diftrefs. Any perfon who will be at the trouble of attending the weekly meetings of the Vifitors of the fick, and of the Stewards and Managers of thefe funds j or that will infpe(51: the books in which the names and places of abode of all that are relieved are en- tered, will be fully fatisfied that what I fiate is the fadt. It is prefumed little need be faid on the ufe- fulnefs of fuch an Inftitution ; this muft be acknowledged by all who believe the Bible. To vifit orphans, and widows in their afflidion, is and which they wiih to work up into an objcdion againft us, be r.iifeci ? This is one among very many irftances which miglit eaiily be produced, of the falfc and groundJefs charges brought againll tiic people called Mcthodafts, in that moft intlainmatory publication. a I accounted ( 3^2 ) Sccounted by St. James, a principal part of pure and undefiled Religion ; and our Lord de- clares that he will reckon that kindnefs which is fiiewn to the ftranger, the hungry, the naked, the fick, and the prifoner, as fhewn unto him- ielf. And as to the mod: proper obje without food to fup- port or medicine to reftore them ; and, in a word, finking under all the aggravated horrors of want and difeafe ! Again, how often have they met with the mutilated and worn-out foldier and feaman, who liad fought the battles of their country, (hed their beft blood, and forfeited their limbs in her caufe; who had dared all the dangers of the field, and braved all the perils of \\\q ocean j but deprived, by fome unforefeen circumftance, cf that recompcnce which a watchful legillaturc- 1 1 2 has ( 364 ) has provided, were obliged to depend upon cafual Charity for fublilknce. And being at length overtaken by ficJcnefs, furrounded by Grangers, and reduced to the laft extremity of diftrefs, they anxioufly looked for that afylum from fuffering, in death, which hfe would not afford them. How far the utility of an inftitution of this kind may be extended, time alone can fully determine, but if we may be allowed to judge of the future by the pafl:, we will venture to fay, that, from the variety of objecTts which it em- braces, the advantages eventually refulting to fociety, both in a civil and moral point of view, are almo/i incalculable ; and may probably reach to generations yet unborn. And, in order to illuftrate this, in fome fmall degree, I need only enumerate a feiu of the beneficial con- fequences which have already enfued from the plan adopted. And, I ft, By a ■perjonal attendance at the houfes of thofe who are recommended to the notice of the Society, or voluntarily apply for relief from it, we difcover whether the cafe is real mifery, or fiiiitious diftrefs ; whether undefignmg poverty, or artful impofture j and by a tiinely alleviation of the one, and a jeafonable corre6tion of the Other, we ferve the caufe of the real poor, and efFedlually prevent the mifapplication of the pub- lic bounty. 2d. By formal application being regularly mzdz to neighbouring and remote parilhes, in behalf of their refpeitive paupers, whether refidents at the place or Grangers, we either procure their relief, or removal, and thus materially lelTen the poor-rates of our own parifli, while at the fame time, (which all will allow is highly necelTary,] ( 565 ) fit introduce a regulation in the police of otTlers,. and thus, in our meafure, prevent fuch as are In diftrefs from becoming ftreet beggars, rid the town of numbers who are already fuch, and obh'ge other parifhes to maintain their owa poor. 3d. By refufing aid to thofe who are too indo- lent to help themfclves, and by holding up every encouragement to honeft induftry, we furnilh ^ confiderable antidote for idlenefs, and afford a oonftant fpur to exertion ; and thus point out to the poor the beft way of ferving themfclves and their generation, and, in fome degree, preferve their rifmg offspring, from the dangerous effects- of bad example. 4th. As the health of the labouring poor is of the highell confequence, their fubiiftence principally, depending upon it, we conceive, that by providing fuch, on occafion, with medical aid, in cafes of Iicknefs, we not only eiTentially ferve their families, but Society at large, by pre- venting them from becoming chargeable to the parifli. And ai^ want of cleanlinefs is fo frequent a fource of difeafe, by refufmg our help to thofe who wilfully perfevere in the negledl of it, the health and comfort of the lowed claffes, are greatly promoted. 5th. In relieving the neceflitouS; the Vifitors ufe the greateft caution. They do not always give relief in money, for, however well meant on the part of the giver, it is but too often, from either ignorance or principle, ill applied on that of the receiver. And therefore, in fome places where it can conveniently be done, they often lay out the money themfelves ; and thus on the one lland, by the relief being applied in the very ■|*ay it is required, the fituation of the diftrefTed 2^1 i is ( J66 ) is rendered abundantly more comfortable, and on the other, the tribute of humanity is no« wafled. 6th. Many who are of ability, and who really delire to fuccour the diftreffed, befriend the friendlefs, and minifter to the fouls and bodies of the wretched, know not where to find fuch as they may be certain are real obje£ts of their charity. Indeed the lanes and alleys, which fuch miferable beings inhabit, forbid their ap- proach, and are carefully avoided by thofe, who wilh to fhun contagious difeafe, and whofe happy lot has been caft in far purer air, and more pleafant places. Now the Members of this Benevolent Inftitution feek for thofe, which fuch charitably difpofed perfons wifh to find, and by applying their bounty, according to their wifh, fupply their lack of fervice, and become their fervants, and thofe of the poor. To the great honour of this nation charita- ble Inftitutions of various kinds have been eftablifhed, and on their refpedive plans much good has been done; but this good has beea generally confined either to a certain number of refident individuals, with particular qualifica- tions, and who have had friends to recommend them, or to fuch as could make perfonal appli- cation for themfelves ; whereas this fociety, by its acquaintance with the wretched haunts of mifer)', difcovers objedls the moft diftrelTed, but too obfcure and dejeded to apply for relief in any fhape whatever, and who could only hope for it, under God, from fuch a Society as this, which is fo conftituted as to extend its bene- ficence to the very uttermoft of its means. In a natlort profeffing Chriftianity, it i& (arpriiing what ignorance, refpeifting even the very ( 367 ) very fird principles of religion, pervades the lower clafles of the people. — Many perfons who have come under the notice of this Society, were found to have very little more knowledge of them than the hearts that perirt'». Now, as the concerns of the foul are beyond comparifon the moft important; it is therefore a principal article in this Inrtitution to pay llritSt attention to the eternal interells of the objedts vifited, and to give them religious in(lru«Stion as well as tem- poral relief; fo that, if removed from this world by death, they may prcvioudy be made ac- quainted with the way of falvation thro' Jcfus Chrift; and, if reftored to health, they may learn their duty to God and to Society at large. And in this the Vifitors have had great fuccefs. In very many cafes they have witncffed a partial reformation, at lead. Numbers have been i'o far reclaimed, that decency and order have been introduced into thevr families, and the moft glaring profanation of the fabbath has been fuc- ceeded by a ferious and regular attendance on public wordiip. But in others, a far more im- portant change has been etyedfed. Many who were long notorious examples of complicated wickednefs, have become living proofs of the truth of that pure and enlightened religion which is full of mercy dnd good fruits, and whofc lan- guage is Peace upon earth, and good-will towards ?ncn. It will be obferved that no Inftitulion is conduced upon a more difmterefted plan; no txpcncos whatever are incurred by this Society in refpedl to its government. None of the Vifitors have ever received any fee or reward for their fervices, nor have they ever deHred it ; always confidering the facnlice of their time, and r 368 ) 9ni the rift of their heahh and llves^ (which- are fometimes much expofed to the attacks of dangerous fevers, &c.) to be amply compenfated by the pleafure of doing good. They ©nly wifh to be enabled to do more ; and' look for nO' leeward till the refurredion of the juft. The following are the general Rules of this Society in London, which do not differ, I be- Jieve, materially from thofe of the Benevolent Societies in Manchefter, Liverpool, Sheffield^ Leeds, Hull, and. other large places. L A Committee, chofen from the Subfcribers, manage the concerns of this Society. The Committee clioofe annually, a Prefid'ent, Trea- furer, and Secretary. II, The Committee choofe quarterly, Sub- Committees, to ?.£!: for each part of the town. The Sub-Committees appoint the Vifitors, and take particular care that they be perfons of un- impeachable chara£ler, and capable of giving jeligious inftruilion to thofe they vifit. IIL The Sub-Committees and Vifitors at each part of the town meet once a week, (with .any Subfcribers who may choofe to attend,) to fettle the weekly accounts, receive and confider cafes, and apportion relief, IV The General and all the Sub-Commitfees meet together once a month,, to regulate the concerns of the Society. V. Proper books are provided, and regular entries made of receipts and dilburfements, with the names and abodes of the obje£>s relieved. The books are always free of accefs for the in- fpe£tion of Subfcribers and the Public, VI. In order to avoid impofition, no perfon l&f on any pretence,, relieved previoufly to his being ( 370 ) being vlfitcd, and care is taken that the relief he properly applied. The Vilitors recommend cleanlinefs to thofe they vifit, and a free circula- tion of frefli air. VII. In order to regulate the Alfiftance ne- ceflary from this Society, inquiry is made of the neighbours, Szc. on the firfl vifit, what means of fdbfiftence the diftrefled family derives from any parilh, club, or other fource. VIII. Each Vifitor confiders the cafes to which he is appointed at the weekly meeting as under his immediate care during the week, and alfo endeavours to fee every cafual cafe on the day jirrt apprized of it, particularly if in great diltrefs, or death be apprehended. Tlie number of fick families, on the books in London, at the laft Alontlily Meeting, April ic, was 179. And, if, on an average, each family confift of three perfons, then five hundred and thirty-feven individuals were vifited and re- lieved every week. The number of vifits paid in each month, was about feven hundred and fixteen, and the money given away in the fame fpace of time near £100. Between 5 and ;^6oo is given annually in Alancheller, upwards of /300 in Hull, and in other places in propor» tion to the number, circumrtances and liberality of thofe in the Methodift Societies, and of tlieir friends. I have alfo mentioned Sunday Schools, as another ufeful Inltitution eftablifhed among us. Thefe from their firft rife in England, have, in a peculiar manner, been countenanced and fup- ported, by the Methodift Societies and congre- gations, and that with no other defign, than that which has called forth ti^eir efforts in all the other inftances which ha^, e come under our coafider- C 370 ) tonfideratlon in this work, viz. to do fpirituaF and temporal good to thofe who, however un- worthy, need it moft. It will readily be acknowledged by my readers in general that the many Schools and Seminaries for the inftruflion of youth, founded and en- dowed by our Anceftors, afford nn honourable teflimony, both of tlieir good fenfc and libera- Jity. Convinced of the importance of religious knowledge and a chriilian education, they wiftied to extend the blefiing to the lower ranks of mankind, and raife them from a ftate of igno- rance and degradation, to a participation of the advantages attached to a more improved ftate of Ibciety. Their pious intentions have in many^ inilances produced the wlfhed for effedls : know- ledge has been more generally diffufed ; the in- terefts of religion and virtue promoted, and various inftances have occurred, in which in- dividuals, who muft otherwife have languished in obfcurity, have become the diftinguiftied or- naments of fociety, and have thus been ren- dered a bleffing to mankind. But though much has been done by the benevolence and charity of former ages, much ftill remains to be done, by the prefent gene- ration.. The benefit to be derived from the different Schools already eftablifhed, though very numerous and liberally endowed, cannot, for many obvious reafons, be extended to thofe children who are the peculiar objeds of this- Inftitution. From an attentive condderation of the adtual ftate of numerous families amongft the poor, a very confiderab'.e number of children are found in fuch indigent circumftances, that they are under the neceffity of being early employed ia labouring ( 37^ ) labouring to procure their own maintenance j the confequence of which is, that they cannot poffibly be allowed any time for the purpofes of inftrudion or education. It was in order to remove thefe difficulties, that the Idea of form- ing Sunday Schqols was firft fuggefted, and the flan was immediately adopted, and foon ex- tended to almoft every part of the kingdom. It was one of thofe happy thoughts which com- mon fenfc immediately approves, and we are only furprifed that it (hould have been referved for the prefent age to carry the fcheme into execution. The mind of man, however, has never yet been able to form any ufeful defign, or contrive any extenfive mode of charity, againft which fome obje(5lion or other has rwt been raifed. That various obje. deuce whaicvrr, will carry with them thcii own coniutatioov 2 R liHed ( 374 ) filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the fea." SECTION XVII. Of the Dejigns of the Mcthodl/ls ; with an Appeal to the Public. T, HE reader is nov>' in fall poffelTion of the hiftory of Methodifm. He lias before him not only the Orign and Progrefs of this Se£t, fo generally fpoken againft, but alio their DcSirine and DifcipUnc. And it concerns him to enquire, before he join the common cry again/1 us, whether the rife and progrefs of Methodifm be not the rife, and progrefs cf a revival of experi- mental and praiSi:icyl Chriftianity in the Britifh Empire. This is certainly the view which the Methodifts tbemfelves have of it, and if they are miftaken, thev will be thankful to any one "who will undeceive them. Let it alfo be confidered, whether the Methodift Dodrine be not the very doilrine of the Holy Scriptures, of the Reformers, and of the Church of Eng- land, at leaft in every point of . importance j and whether their difcipline be not rational in jtftlf, and fantSHoned by the New Teilament, and the ufuage of the iirft Chriftians, as well as manifeftly calculated to promote godli- nefi and righteoufnefs, the love of God and all piankind, with its proper fruits and effefls, ihat is, true Chriuianity j which is the only end, we ( 375 ) we have in view, and an end to which all ouf efforts are continually direded. This is a point to which the reader is re* quefted cfpecially to attend. Our end is, not * to form a Se(5l,' or to bring people to this or the other fpeculative opinion, mode of worlhip, or form of Church government, but fimply to 7nake than Chrijl'ians \ — Chriftians in heart and life, in temper, word and work ; — fuch ns lived in the early days of Chriftianity, and fuch .is, we conceive, may live ftill, Je.sus Christ, and his Gofpcl, being the fame yeftcrday, to day, and forever. Andthatourideasof thehrdChnilians, are not very erroneous, as alfo that we do not ma- terially differ from them in our mode of living, we have the teflimony of a dignified Church- man, and moft able Defender of Chrillianiry, who will not be fufpeiSled of undue partialiiv to the Methodifts, I mean the Arch-Dcacoti Paley. In his View of the Evidences of Chrirtianity, perhaps the beft work of the kind which this, or any age has produced, he fpeaks thus : ** After men became Chriftians, much of their time was fpent in prayer, dc\ otion, in religious meetings, in celebrating the Eucharift, in con- ferences, in exhortations, in preaching, in ati affetSlionate intercourfe with one another, and in correfponding with other Societies. Ferliaps their mode of life, in its form and habit, was not very unlike the Unitas Fratrum, or iVlodeni Methodifts." * But here it will be objei^ed. < Why do you talk of making people Chrifti^jns, and ot fpread- ing Chrirtianity in this country, which was a * Page 98, Second Edition. 2 K 2 Chriftian ( 376 ) Chriftlan country before the Methodifts exifted, and where the inhabitants have been Chriilians from generation to generation ?' This queflion I beg leave to anfwer in the words of Mr. Welley, in his letter to Rev. Dr. Conyers Middleton, occafioned by his Fr-ee Enquiry, *• None can deny, that the peo])ie ot Eingland, in genera], are cfl/A'^Chriftians. They are called io, a few only excepted, by others, as well as by themfelves. But I prefume no man will fay the name makes the thing ; that men are Chrif- tians barely becaufe xhty zr^ called io. It mult be allowed, 2. That the people of England, generally fpeaking, have been chridened, oi bap- tized : but neither can we infer, ' Thefe were cnce baptized ; therefore they are Chriftians now,' It is 3. allowed, That many of thofe Vv'ho were once baptized, and are called Chrif- tians to this day, hear the word of God, attend public prayers, and partake of the Lord's Sup- per. But neither does this prove, that they are Chriftians. For notwithftanding this, fome of them live in open fin : and others (though not confcious to themfelves of hypocrify, yet) are utter Grangers to the religion of the heart; are full of pride, vanity, covetouinefs, ambition i of hatred, anger, malice or envy ; and confe- quently, are no more fpiritual Chriftians than the open drunkard, or common fwearer. '* Now thefe being removed, where are the Chriftians, from whom we may properly term England a Chriftian country ? The men who have the mind which vjas in Chrijl, and who walk as he alfo walked^. Whofe inmoft foul is renewed after the image of God ; and who en- deavour to be outWAfdiy holy, as he who hath called ( 377 ) called them is holy ? There are douhtlefs a few fuch to be found. To deny this, would be ♦ want of candour.' But how few r How thinly fcattered up and down ? And as for a Chriiliau vifible church, or a body of Chrillians, vifibly united together, where is this to be feen i Ye different feds, who all declare, Lo I here is Chrift, or Chrift is there, Your ftronger proofs divinely give, And Jhew me where the Chrijiians live! ** And what ufe is it of, what good end doe& it ferve, to term England a Chriltian country? Does it do any honour to our great Mafter, among thofe who are not called by his name ? Does it recommend chriftianity to the Jews, the Mahometans, or the avowed Heathens ? Surely no one can conceive it does. It only makes Chriftianity ftink in their noflrils. Does it anfwer any good end, with regard to thofe who are called by this worthy name ? I fear not ; but rather, an exceeding bad one. For does it not keep multitudes eafy in their heathen pradice ? Does it not make or keep, ftill greater numbers, fatisfied with their Heathen tempers ? Does it not diredly tend to make both the one and the other imagine, that they are what indeed they are not ? That they are ChrilVians, while they are utterly without Chrift, and without God in the world ? — If men are not Chrillians, till they are renewed after the" image of Chnft, and if the people of England^ in general, are not thus renewed, why do we term them fo ? ' The God of this world hath, ^iong blinded their hearts.' Let us do nothing' 2 K3. to- ( 378 ) to increafe that blindnefs ; but rather to recover them from that ftrong delufion, that they may no longer believe a lie. '' Let us labour to convince all mankind, that to be a real Chrirtian, is, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, and to ferve him with all our rtrength ; to love our neighbour as our- felves, and therefore to do unto every man, as we would he fhould do unto us." To enlarge a little on this important point. *' A Chriflian cannot think of the Author of his being, without abaling himfelf before Him : without a deep fenfe of the dillance between a worm of earth, and Him that fitteth on the circle of the heavens. In his prefence he finks into the duft, knowing himfelf to be lefs than nothing in his eye : and being confcious, in a manner words cannot exprefs, of his own littie- nefs, ignorance, foolifhnefs. So that he can only cry out, from the fulnefs of his heart, ♦ O God ! what is man ! what arn I ! ' *' He has a continual fenfe of his dependence on the Parent of Good, for his being, and all the bieffings that attend it. To him he refers every natural, and every moral endowment, with all that is commonly afcribed either to fortune, or to the wifdom, courage, or merit of the pof- feffor. And hence he acquiefces in whatfoever ap- pears to be his will, not only with patience, but ■with thankfulnefs. He willingly refigns all he is, all he has, to his wife and gracious difpofal. The ruhng temper of his heart, is the moft ab- folute fubmifiion, and the tendered gratitude to< his fovereign Benefadlor.. And this grateful love creates fihal fear ; an awful reverence toward him ; and an carneft care not to. give place tO; any 379 ) any difpofitloii, nor to admit an action, word oi thought, which might in any degree difpieafc that indulgent Power, to whom he owes his life, breath, and all tilings. " And as he has the ftrongeft afFe6lion for tlie Fountain of all Good, fo he has the firmell conridence in him : a coivlidence which neither pleafurc nor pain, neither life nor death can fliake. But yet this, far from creating lloth or indolence, pulhes him on to the nu»ll vigorous indulhy. It caufes him to put rorth all his ftrength, in obeying Him in whom he confides.. So that he is not faint in his mind, not weary of doing whatever he believes to be his will. And as he knows the moft acceptable worlhip of God, is to imitate Him he worfhipsy fo he is continually labouring to tranfcribe iiito him- fclf, all his imitable perfections : in particular, his juftice, mercy, and truth, fo eminently dif- played in all his creatures. '* Above all, remembering that God Is love,- he is conformed to the fame likenefs. He is full of love to his neighbour : of univerfal love ;, not confined to one fe(ft or party ;- not retrained; to thofe who agree with him in opinions, or in: outward modes of worfliip ;. or to thofe who are. allied to him by blood, or recommended by. nearnefs of place. Neither does he love thofe.^ only that love him, or that are endeared to hiin< by intimacy or acquaintance. But his love re- fembles that of Him whofe mercy is over all his works. It foars above all thefe fcanty bounds ; embracing neighbours and Grangers,, friends and enemies : yea, not only the good' and gentle, but alfo the froward ; the evil and unthankful. For he loves every foul that God has ( 38o ) has made ; every child of man, of whatever place or nation. And yet this univerfal bene- volence does in no wife interfere with a peculiar regard for his relations, friends and benefa^orsr a fervent love for his country ; and the moft endeared affedion to ail men of integrity, of clear and generous virtue. *' And this univerfal, difmterefted love, is pro- du(5tive of all right affections. It is fruitful of gentlenefs, ^ndernefs, fweetnefs ; of humanity, courtefy ana affability. It makes the Chriftiaa rejoice in the virtues of all, and bear a part in their happinefs ; at the fame time that he fym- pathizes with their pains, and compaffionates their infirmities. It creates modefty, conde- fcenfion, prudence, together with calmnefs and evennefs of temper. It is the parent of gene- rofity, opennefs, and franknefs, void of jealoufy and fufpicion. It begets candour, and willing- nefs to believe, and hope whatever is kind and friendly of every man j and invincible patience, never overcome of evil, but overcoming evil with good. " The fame love conftrains him to converfe, not only with a ftrift regard to truth, but with, artlefs fincerity and genuine fimplicity, as one in whom there is no guile. And not content with abftaining from all fuch exprefllons as are contrary to jurtice or truth, he endeavours to refrain from every unloving word, either to a prefent or an abfent perfon ; in all his conver- fation aiming at this, either to improve himfelf in knowledge or virtue, or to- make thofe with whom he converfes fome way wifer, or better, or happier than tliey were before. « The: ( 38i ) ** The fame love is proclu£lIve of all rigfit a(5lions. It leads him into an earnell and fteady difcharge of all focial orfices, of whatever is due to relations of every kind j to his friends, to his country, and to any particular community whereof he is a member. It prevents his willingly hurting or grieving any man. it guides him into an uniform praro' ff^a/et, " v.ith no ]->lace the manners of whole inhabitants are Co un- exceptionable, (as far at k-aft as a ftrangi;r is enabled to judge of th;m,) as Amiwcii ; and the favourable opinion wliich I w^i led to entertain of tirrm in vifiting the town laft year, is confirmed by what I have obferved at prefent. Not a lingle inftance have I known of drunkentiefs, not one quarrel have I VvitiieiVed, during tv.o very crowded market-days, and one of tl-.tm a day of unufual indulj;ence, that I paffed at this place: and I betieve no goal, or bridewell, or houfe of ccn-- fineinent, exifts in the town or neighbourhood. Molt of t!ie Miners are i\icthodi[ls, and to the prevalence of this re- iV'ious Sed, is chietly to be aitribu!ed the good order that jj fo confpicuous. " vices ( 387 ^ vices of men. Wherever this is, there are vir- tue and happinefs, going hand in hand. There is humblenefs of mind, gentienefs, long-fuffer- ing, tlie whole image of God, and at the fame time a peace that pafleth all underftanding, and joy unipeakable and full of glory. ** Eternal funfhine of the fpotlefs mind ; Each prayer accepted, and each wiih refigi^'d: Defires compos'd, afledions ever even. Tears that delight, and fighs that waft to hea- ven." ** This religion we long to fee ciiablidied in the world, a religion of love, and joy, and peace, having its feat in the heart, in the inmoit ibul, but ever fhewing itfelf, by its fruits, con- tinually fpringing forth, not only in all inno- cence, (for love worketh no ill to his neigh- bour,) but likewifc in every kind of bencti- cence, fpreading virtue and happinefs ail around it. ** This religion many of us have been fol- lowing after for many years ; but all this time, feckidg wifJom we found it not ; we were fpend- inff our ftrength in vain. And beinw now un- dcr full convidtion of this, we declare it to all mankind : for we defire not that others Ihould wander out of the way, as we have done before them ; but rather that they may profit by our lofs, that they may go, (though we did nor, having then no man to guide us) the ftraighi way to the religion of love, even by faith. " Now faith is VfxyixotTm iXeyj^®- « P?.i'!TOjA.tfeiir, the demon llrative evidence of things unfeen, the fupernatutal evidence of things invifible^ not perceivable by eyes of flelh. or by any of our natural fenfes or faculties. Faith is tl^at divine evidence, whereby the fpirilual man dif- 2 L 2 cernetU i ( 388 ) cerneth God and the things of God. It Is with regard to the fpiritual world, what fenfc is witb regard to the natural. It is the fpiritual fenfa- tion of every foul that is born of God. •* Perhaps you have not confidered it in this view ; we will then explain it a little further. ** Faith, according to the fcriptural account, is the eye of the new-born foul. Hereby every true believer in God, as it were, ' feeth him who is invilible.' Hereby, (in a more particu- lar manner fince life and immortality have been brought to light by the gofpel,) he * feeth the light of the glory of God in the face of Jefus Chrift;' and, ' beholdeth what manner of love it is, which the Father hath beilowcd upon us, that we,' (who are born of the Spirit,) ' fliould be called the fens of God.' *' Ir is the ear of the foul, whereby a finner * hears the voice of the Son of God and lives;' even that voice which alone wakes the dead, * Son, thy fins are forgiven thee.' *' It is, (if v\a may be allowed the expreffion,) the palate of the foul : for hereby a believer 'taftes the POod word of God, and the powers of the v.nrld to come ; and hereby he both taftes and fees that God is gracious, yea and merciful to him a finner.' " It is the feeling of the foul, whereby a believer perceives, through the power of the Htgheji over/Jmdowhig him, both the exiitence, and the prefence of Him, in whom he lives, mcves, ami has his leing', and indeed the whole invifible world, the entire fy(iem of things eter- nal. And hereby, in particular, he feels ' the love of God Hied abroad in his heart.' *' By this faith we are faved,' from uneafinefs of mind, from the anguifh of a wounded fpirit, from difcontcnt, from fear, and forrow of heart, and f 3^9 ) and from that inexpreinble liftleirnefs and weari- nefs, both of the world and of ourfelves, which fo many labour under for years ; efpecially when t!iey are out of the hurry of the world, and fink into calm reflc favcd hy hvi', many would have no gr'eaf ofcjeci tion : but they do not comprehend what we fay of hemg Jcrui'd by fii'ith.' 13y thofe words, then //'t' ^r£ favcd hy faith, we mean, that the mo- ment a man receives that faith which is above defcribed, he is faved in a great mcafure, from doubt and fear and forrow of heart, by a peace that paPics all un^lerltanding ; from the heavt- nefs of a wo\mded fpirit, by joy unfpeakable ; »nd from his Tins, of whatfoevcr kind they were; from his vicious dcdres, as well as words anti a6iioiv'ords to another fort of men ; (though not fo much with regard to our principles or practice, as with regard to their own ;) to you who do receive it, who believe the Scripture, but yet do not take upon you the cliara£ter of religious men, v/e are ob- liged to adurefs ourfclves likewife, under- the character of Men of Reafon. ** We would only afk, Are you fuch indeed? Do you anfvifer the character under which you appear ? If fo, you are confiftent with your- felves. Your principles and pr36tl.ce agree to- gether. *' Let ( 397 ) *' Let us try whether this is fo or not. Do you not take the name of God in vain ? Do you remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy ? Do you not fpeak evil of the Ruler of your people ? Are you not drunkards, or gluttons* faring as fumptuoully as you can every day ? Making gods of your bellies ? Do you not avenge yourfelves? Are you not whoremongers or adulterers ? Anfwer plainly to your own heart, before God the judge of all. *' Why then do you fay, you truly believe the Scripture ? If the Scripture be true you arc in the broad way that leadeth to deftruilion. Your damnation flumbereth nor. You are heaping up to yourfelves wrath againft the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judg- ment of God. Doubtlefs, if the Scripture be true, and you remain thus, it had been good for you if you had never been born,' *' How is it that you call yourfelves Men of Reafon ? Is reafon inconfiftent with itfelf ? You are the fartheft of all men under the fun from any pretence to that character. A common fwcarer, a fabbath breaker, a whoremonger, a drunkard, who fays he believes the Scripture is of God, is a monfter upon earth, the greateft contradiction to his own, as well as to the reafon of all mankind. In the name of God, (that worthy name whereby you are called,) and which you daily caufe to be blafphemed,) tvirn either to the right hand, or to the left. Fither profefs you are infidels, or be Chrif- tians. Halt no longer thus between two opinions. Either cait off the Bible, or your fms. And in the mean time, if you- have any fpark of your bonfted reafon left, do not ' count us your enemies,' (as we fear you have done hitherto, 2 M and C 398 ) and as tftoufands do wherever we have declared, *They who do fuch things ikall not inherit eter- nal life,') ' becaufe we tell you the truth :' Seeing thefe are not our words, but the words of him that fent us. Yea, though in doing this, we ufe great plainnefs of fpeech, as be- comes the miniftry we have received, ' For we are not as many who corrupt,' (cauponize, fof- ten, and thereby adulterate,) * the word of God. But as of fincerity, but as of God, in the light of God, fpeak. we in Chrift.* " But it may be, you are none of thefe. You abftain from all fuch things. You are a man of honour, or a woman of virtue. You fcorn to do an unhandfome thing, and are of an unblamable life and converfation. You are harmlefs, (if we underftand you right,) and ufelefs from morning to night. You do no hurt, — and no good to any one, no more than a ftraw floating upon the water. Your life glides fmoothly on from year to year ; and from one feafon to another, having no occafion to work, *' You waile away In gentle ina<5livity the day." ** We will not now (hock the eaiinefs of your temper, by talking about a future ftate. But fuffer us to afk you a queftion about prefent things. Are you now happy ? " I have feen, fays Mr. Wefley, (Appeal p. 18,} a large company of reafonable creatures called Indians, fitting in a row on the fide of a river, looking fometimes at one another, fome- times at the (ky, and fometimes at the bubbles on the water. And fo they fat, (unlefs in time of war,) for a great part of the year, from morning to night. " Thefe ( 399 ) ** Thefe were doubtlefs much at cafe. But can you think they were happy ? — And how little happier are you then tliey ? '* You eat, and drink, and fleep,and drefs, and dance, and fit down to play. You are carried abroad. You are at the mafquerade, the theatre, the opera-houfe, the park, the levee, the drawing- room. What do you do there ? Why fometimes you talk ; fometimes you look at one another. And what arc you to do to-morrow ? The next day ? The next week ? The next year ? You are to eat, and drink, and lleep, and dance, and drefs. and play again. And you are to be carried abroad again, that you may again look at one another ! And is this all ? Alas, how little more happinefs have you in this, than th« Indians in looking at the fky or water I *' Ah poor, dull round ! We do not wonder that Col. , or any man of reflection, rtiould prefer death itfelf, even in the midll of his years, to fuch a life as this ! and ihould frankly de- clare, ' that he choofe to go out of the world, becaufe he found nothing in it worth living for." '• Yet it is certain there is bufinefs to be done: and many we find in all places, (not to fpeak of tiie vulgar, the drudges of the earth,) who are continually employed therein. Are you of that number ? Are you en- gaged in trade, or fome other reputable em- ployment ? Perhaps, profitable too ; for you would not fpend your time, and labour,, and thought, for nothing. You are then making your fortune ; you are getting money. True : but money is not your ultimateend. Thetreafur- ing up gold and filver, for its own fake, all men own, is as foolifh and abfurd, as grofsly unrea- fonable, as the treafuring up fpiders, or the 2 M 2 wings ( 400 ) wings of butterflies. You confider this but as a mean to fome further end. And what is that? Why, the enjoying yourfelf, the being at eafe, the taking your pleafure, the living hke a gen- tleman. That is plainly, either the whole, or fome part of, the happinefs above defcribed. " Suppofing then your end to be actually at- tained, fuppofe you have your wifh, before you drop into eternity : go and fit down with Thieeanowhee and his companions on the river fide. — After you have toiled for fifty years, you arejuft as happy as they. '* Can you, or any reafonable man, be fath^ fied with this ? By no means. It is not pof- fible you fhould. But what elfe can you do ? You would have fomething better to employ your time ; but you know not where to find it upon earth. " And indeed It is obvious, thst the earth, as it is now conflituted, even with the help of all European arts, does not find fufficient em- ployment, to take up half the waking hours of half its inhabitants. *' What then can you do ? How can you employ the time that lies fo heavy upon your liands ? This very thing which you feek, de- clare we unto you. The thing you want, is the religion we preach. That alone leaves no time upon our hands. It fills up all the blank fpaces of life. It exaiily takes up all the time we have to fpare, be it more or lefs : fo that ' he that hath much, hath nothing over, and he that has little, has no lack.' " Once more. Can you, (or any man of reafon,) think, you was made for the life you now lead ? You cannot poflibly think fo ; at leaft, not till you tread the Bible under foot. The ( 4GI ) The oracles of God bear you wltnefs in every page, (and your own heart agreeih thereto,) that you were made in the image ot God, an incorriiptible picSlure of the God of glory. And what are you even in your prefent ftate ? An everlafting fpirit, going to God. For what end then did he create you, but to dwell with him, above this perilhable world, to know him, to love him, to do his will, to enjoy him for ever and ever ! O look more deeply into yourfelf f and into that Scripture, which you profcfs to receive as the zvord of Gcrl, as right concerning all things. There you will htjd a nobler, happier ftate defcribed, than, perhaps, it ever yet en- tered into your heart to conceive. But God hath now revealed it to all thofe who * rejoice evermore, and pray without ceafing, and in every thing give thanks, and do his will on earth as it is done in heaven.' For this you were made. Hereunto you are called. O be not difobedient unto the heavenly calling ! At leaft, be not angry with thofe who would fain bring you to be a living witnefs of that religion, ' whofe ways are indeed, ways of pleafantnefs, and all. her paths, peace. ** BlefTed be God ! He hath not yet left himfelf without witnefs ! * All are not loft ! There be, who faith -prefer. Though few, and piety to God !' Who know the power of faith, and are no ftrangers to that inward vital religion, ' the mind that was in Chrift,' ' riahteoufnefs, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghoft.' Of you who have ' taAed the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,' we would be 2 M 3 glad J ' "J^..I1'. JUI. C 402 ) glad to learn, if we have erred from the faith, or walked contrary to * the truth as it is in Jefus.' * Let the righteous fmite me friendly, and re- prove me ;" if haply that which is amifs may be done away, and what is wanting fupplied, till we all come to the meafure of the ftature of the fulnefs of Chrift. '* Before we conclude, we cannot but in- treat you, who know God, to review the whole matter from the foundation. Call to mind what the ftate of religion was, in our nation, a few years fmce. In whom did you find the holy tempers that. were in Chrift ? Bowels of mercies, lowlinefs, meeknefs, gentlenefs, con- tempt of the world, patience, temperance, long- fufFering ? A burning love to God, rejoicing evermore, an'd in every thing giving thanks ; and a tender love to all mankind, covering, be- lieving, hoping, enduring all things i' Perhaps ypu did not know one fuch man in the world. But how many, tliat had all unholy tempers ? What vanity and pride, what ftubbornnefs and fe!f-v>'i]l, what anger, fretfulnefs, difcontent,. what fufpicion and refentment, what inordinate affections, what irregular palTions, what foolifh and hurtful defires might you find, in thofe- who are called the beft of men ? In thofe who made the ftridleft profefTion of religion ? And how few did you know who went fo far as the profefTion of religion, who had even the form of godlinefs ? Did you not frequently bewail, wherever your lot was caft, the general want of e^en outward religion ? How few were feen at the public worlhip of God ? How much fewer at the Lord's table? And was even this little flock zealous of good works, careful, as they had time, to do good to all men ? On. the ( 403 ) the otlier hand, did you not with grief obferve, outward irreligion in every place ? Where could you be for one week, without being an eye or an ear witnefs, of curfing fwearing, or pro- phanenefs, of fabbath-breaking or drunken- nefs, of quarrelling or brawling, of revenge or obfcenity ? Were thcfe things done in a corner ? Did not grofs iniquity of all kinds overfpread our land as a flood ? Yea, and daily increafe, in fpite of all the oppofition which the children of God did or could make againrt it. ♦' If you had been then told, tliat the jealous God would foon arife and maintain his own caufe ; that he would pour down his Spirit from on high, and renew the face of the earth ; that he would fhed abroad his love in the hearts of the outcafls of men, producing all holy and heavenly tempers, expelling anger, and pride, and evil defire, and all unholy and earthly tem- pers ; caufmg outward religion, the work of faith, the patience of hope, the labour of love, to flourilh and abound ; and, wherever it thread, abolidiing oulward-irreligion, deftroying all the works of the devil : if you had been told that this living knowledge of the Lord would in a (hort fpace overfpread our land ; yea, and daily increafe, in fpite of all the oppofition which the devil and his children did or could make agalnfl it : would you not vehemently have defired to fee that day, that you might blefs God and rejoice therein ? " Behold the day of the Lord is come. He is again vifiting and redeeming his people. Hav- ing eyes, fee ye not ? Having ears, do ye not hear? Neither underfland with your hearts.? At this hour the Lord is rolling away our re- proach. Already his ftandard is fct up. His fpirit ( 404 ) fftirit is poured forth on the outcafls of men, and his love (hcd abroad in their hearts. Love of all mankind, meeknefs, gentlenefs, humble- nefs of mind, holy and heavenly affedions, do take place ot hate, anger, pride, revenge, and viJe or vain affedions. Hence wherever the power of the Lord fpreads, fprings outward religion in all its forms. The houfes of God are filled ; the table of the Lord is thronged on every fide. And thofe who thus lliew their love of God, (hew they love their neighbour alfo, by being careful to maintain good works, by doing all manner of good (as they have time,) to all men. They are likewife careful to abilain from all evil. Curfing, fabbath-break- ing, drunkennefs, with all other, (however falhionable,) works of the devil are not once named among them. All this is plain, demon- ftrable fad. For this alfo is not done in a corner. Now, do you acknowledge the day of your vifitaiion ? Do you blefs God and re- joice therein ? " What hinders .? Is it this, that men fay ,all mianner of evil of thofe whom God is pleafed to ufe as inftruments in his work ? O ye fools^ did ye fuppofe the devil was dead ? Or that he would not fight for his kingdom .'' And what weapons fhali he fight v;ith if not with lies ? Is he not a liar, and the father of it ? Suffer ye then thus far. Let the devil and his children fay all nianner of evil of us. And let them go on deceiving each other, and being deceived. But ye need not be deceived alfo. — Or if you are, if you will believe all they fay : be it fo,. that we are weak, filly, wicked men ; without fenfe, without learning, without even a defire or defignof doing good : yet we inuft upon the fad.. Ciirill ( 405 ) Cinift is preached, and (inners are converted to God. This none but a madman can deny. We are ready to prove it by a cloud of witnelTes. Neither therefore can the inference be denied, that God is now vifitlng his people. O that all men may know in this their day, the things that make for their peace ! '* Up6n the whole, to men of the world wc would ftill recommend the known advice of Gamaliel : * Refrain from thefe men, and let them alone ; for if this work be of men, it will come to nought : but if it be of God, ye can- not overthrow it, left haply ye be found even to fight againft God.' But unto you whom God hath chofen out of the world, we fay ye are our brethren, and of our Father's houfe, it be- hoveth you, in whatfoever manner ye are able, * to ftrengthen our hands in God.' And this ye are all able to do ; to wi(h us good luck in the name of the Lord, and, to pray continu- ally, that none of ' thefe things rnay move us,* and that * we may not count our lives dear unto ourfelves, fo that we may finifh our courfe with joy, and the minidry which we have re- ceived of the Lord Jefus !' FINIS. Puhlljhed by the fame Author, and fold by G. fVHJT FIELD, at the New-Chapel, City. Road, London. 1. A Vindication of the People called Metho-