tihravy of €he trheolo^ical ^eminarjo PRINCETON • NEW JERSEY PRESENTED BY S. Agnew ^ fidQR WR VIA A 17Q^.ry_ Whitehead, John, 1740?-1804| The life of the Rev. John ! Wesley ... ; / THE LIFE Rev. JOHNVEbLEY, M. A. SOME TIME FELLOW OF LINCOLN-COLLEGE, OXFORD. ColIe6led from his Pr i v \t e P A P£ r s and Pr i n t E D Wo R kS; and written at fiie Requeft of his ExhCUTORS. TO WHICH IS PREFIXED, Some Account of his Ancestors and Relations: WITH THE LIFE OF THE Rev. CHARLES WESLEY, A.M. Colleded from his Private Journal, and never before publifhed. The whole forming a HISTORY of METHODISM, in which the Principles and Economy of the Methodists are unfolded. y B Y JOHN iVHirEHEAD, M. D. Author of the Discourse delivered at Mr. Wesley's Funeral, • — In labours more abundant A workman that nccdcth not to be ajliamed^ rightly dividing the mord oJTruth, Paul, VOL. IL Honlron: printed by STEPHEN COUCH MAN; And fold by Knight & Son, St. James's-Street ; J. Matthev/s, No. i8. Strand; Dan. Taylor, No. 20, Mile-End-Road j andW, BuLGiN, Briftol. M DCC XCVI. Cnterea at ©tationerg^all. CONTENTS. BOOK THE SECOND. CHAPTER III. Page Of Mr. WesleyV Voyage to America, of his Labours there ^ and Return to England, /;/ 1 7 3 8 . . t C H A P T E R IV. Giving fome Account of Mr. Wesley, from Teh'iC- ary 1738, //// April 1739, "oohe-n he became an Itinerant and Field Preacher. \ . 58 BOOK THE THIRD. CHAPTER I. Containing a View of Mr. W e s l e v V Labours as an Itinerant Preacher^ and of the Formation of Socie- ties^ ^c. till thefirft Conference in-\'^\^ g^ CHAPTER II. Containing a further Account of Mr. W e s l e v V La- bours: a Summary of the Minutes of Conference reffe5iing the Doilrines he taughtl and a View of the Spr'^ad of Mefhodifm, until the Conference in^lS^ -''■- :.:.-::.-":.: 179 CHAPTER III. Of Mr. Wesley V Miniji trial Labours^ and the Spread of Methodifm, //// the Conference /;/ i']']0: with an Extras from the larger Mimxi^s -, giving a Viezv of various Regulations refpefling the Preachers^ 8cQ. Sec.,. ..- 265 CHAP, CONTENTS. CHAPTER IV. Page Stating the principal Circimftances of Mr. W e s l e y 's Life and Labours, //// after the Conference in 1784; TtvV/j a Continuation of the Hijlory of Me- thodilm to that Feriod - 344 C H A P T E R V. Opinions and Debates^ &c. on the New Plan of Ordi- nation: Several Particulars of the laft Tears of Mr. WesleyV Life ; zvith an Accoimt of his Death in March 1791. His laji Will^ Sec 418 CHAPTER VI. ScEi. I . A Review of Mr, Wesley's Chara&er. 463 Se6l. II. AJhort View ofMx.VsfESLEY's Writings. 485 Se6l. III. Stating the Opinion Mr. Wesley him^ felfhad^ of the relative Situation of his Societies to other religious Bndi/'s of People in this Kingdom : and his Notion af the Character and Office of the Methodift Preachers , 496 Seel. IV. A View of the Increafe of the Mediodifts for the hiji Thirty Tears : zvith a few Ohfervations on the general Tendency of Methodifm 504 E R R A T A. f.gc 79> line 22, ■itad away. 86, __ »?! theiefore- — 108, 6, difprovc. 112, J?, brought. 139' 6, the. — 177. 34» * — at. 229, 30, - — is. 231, S2, us. 3J*> 3' tenor. — 381, a. a fide. -, — 385' — '— i5» irnpartialify. 39»» 30. injcrt to be- ..— 433> 27» read invidious. THE THE LIFE OF THE Rev. JOHN WESLEY. — ■■ — — wtAUIAiiJi Ml" ' BOOK THE SECOND. CHAPTER III. Of Mr. Vvefley'j^ Voyage to America, of his Labours there, and Return to England, in 1738. X T has been already obferved, that Mr. JFeJIey, at this time, had very imperieft notions of the method-^ propofed in the GoTpe!, of attaining true chriftian experience. He did indeed differ, in fome things, from the generality of the Clergy in the Church of England: he carried his notions of gofpel holinefs much further than they thought, either neceffary or attainable in this life; and believing, that, an exaft attendance on the inftituted means of grace, with atis of charity, felf-dcnial, and mortification, were the chief helps to attain it, he carried thefe particu- lars to an extent which made him appear fmgular. Vol. II. B His 2 The life of the [^735* His ardour to attain the end was exceeded by no- ticing but tlie exactnefs and rigour with which he pratUfed, what he thought the means of attaining it. His extreme attention to every thing that might be helpful in fubduing the evil propenfities of his na- ture, and that might further his progrefs towards a conformity with Chrifty led him to conliderand fpeak of the c:>bfervance of little things, as of the utmoft importance to his falvation. Not that he thought the things of fo much importance in themfelves, de- tached from others; but as filling up the more minute parts of a fyftem of duties, which without them, would be incomplete and lefs beneficial to him. Like as a man ftraitened in his circumilances, and flfuggling to get forward in the w^orld; if he only attend to the more important branches of his bufinefs, and wholly neglecl the numerous little expences of his family, will foon find that they greatly retard his progrefs. Mr. IVeJlcy reafoned in the fame way, concerning the external he'ps and hinderances in a religious courfe of life, and there- fore thought it his duty to abllain from the mi- nutefl: thing that might be hurtful, and to pra6life every thing that might in any refpect be ufefiil to him. And as little thiiigs are too commonly over- looked, though great ones are made up of them, he might perhaps on this account fpeak more (Ironglv of them than otherwife he would have doric. How- ever this be, his fcrupulous exaQncfs in things which fccmed to others of little importance, or wholly in- cliiicrcnt in religion, chicHy attra^led notice, and made him appear wliiniiical and fuperftitious, to pcrfons who did not perceive the principle which governed his conduct. This leffeiied the dignity of his charader in their opinio!^, and weakened his in- iluence over rhofc under his care. To this prin- f ipie, therefore, whivli governed hiai in the finallefl matters. 1735-] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 3 matters, we raitft attribute, in great meafure, his want of fuccefs, and mod of the inconveniences which he fuffered in Georgia. We may blame his want of prudence, becaufe the principle on wliich he reafoned was Ibmetimes carried too far ; but his in- tegrity, and upright intention will remain unlullied. On Tuefday, the 14th of Oftober, he fet out for Grave/end^ in order to embark for Georgia *, ac- companied * Georgia Is fituated between Carolina and Florida. It extends 120 miles upon the Sea-coaft, and 300 miles from thence to the Ai>ala':hian mountains, and its boimclaries to the North and South, are the rivers Sa-oannah and Alatamaha. — The fettlement of a co- lony between the rivers Saiuinnah and Alatamaha^ was meditated in England in 1732, for the accommodation of poor people in Great-Britain and Ireland ^ and for the further fecurity of Cflr«?//W. Humane and opulent men fuggefted a plan of tranfporting a num- ber of indigent families to this part oi America ^ free of expence. For this purpofe thyv applied to the King, George II. and obtained from him letters patent, bearing date June o^ 1732, for legally- carrying into execution what they had generoufiy projeded. They called the new province Georgia, in honour of the King, v/ho en- couraged the plan. A corporation, coniifling of 21 perfons was conftituted by the name of. The Truftees for fettling and eilabhfh- ing the colony of Georgia. In November 1732, 116 fettlers embarked for Georgia, to be conveyed thither free of expence, furnifhcd with every thing requi- fite for building and cultivating the foil. Mr. James Oglethorpe^ one of the Truitees, and an adive promoter of the fettlement, em- barked as the head and diredor of thefe fettlers. They arrived at Charhjljtun early in rhe next year. Mr. Oglethorpe, accompanied by William Bull, ihortly after his arrival, vifited Georgia; and after furveying the country, marked the fpot on which Sa--uannah now Hands, as the fitted to begin their fettlement. Here they accord- ingly began and built a fmall fort ; a number of fmall huts for their defence and accommodation. Such of the fettlers as were able to bear arms were embodied, and well appointed with officers, arms, and ammunition. A treaty of friendfliip was concluded be- tween the ftittlers and their neighbours the Creek Indians, and every thing wore the afpedl of peace and future profperity. But the fundamental regulations eftablifhed by the Trullees of Georgia, were ill adapted to the circum.dances and fituation of the poor fettlers, 2vA of pernicious confequence to the profperity of the province. B 2 Lake 4 The LIFE of the Ci735- companied by his brother Mr. Charles Wejleyy Mr. Ingham^ of Sixteen s-Coilcge^ Oxford^ and Mr. Dela- v.iotte^ the Ton of a merchant in London. " Our end, fays he, in leaving our native country, was not to avoid want, God having given us plenty of teiDporal blemngs; nor to gain the dung or drofs of riches or honour ; but fingly this, to fave our fouls ; to live wholly to the glory of God." In the after- noon they found the Simmonds off Gravcfendy and immediately went on board. The next day he wrote to his brother, Mr. Samuel JVeJley\ of Tiver- ton, informing him that he had prefented his father's commentary on Johy to the Queexi, and had received many good words and fmiles. In this letter he de- clares his fentiments to his brother, concerning the ufual method of teaching boys the heathen poets in large fchools. ** The uncertainty, fays he, of having another opportunity to tell you my thoughts in this lifcj obliges me to teli you what I have often thoughtof, and that in as few and plain words as I can. Elegance of ilyle is not to be weighed againft purity of heart ; purity both from the hifts of the ilefli, the lufts of the eyCj and the pride of life. Therefore, wliatever Like other dillant legiflators, who framed their regulations on principles of fpecukitioii, they were liable to ni^my errors and mif- takes ; and however good their At{^^\\, their rules were found improper and impradicable. Thcfe injudicious regukitions and re- jjriftions, the wars in v,'hich they were involved with, the Spaviards 2nd hidinns^ and the frequent infurreciions among themfelves, threw the colony into a flace of confufion and wretchednefs too great for human nature long to endure. Their opprefied fituation was reprcfcnted to the Truuees by repealed complaints, till at length iint liorms, the fea going frequently over the fhip, and breaking the cabin windows. On thefe occafions he found the fear of death brought him into fome de- gree of bondage, and being a feverc judge of him- felf he concluded, that he was unfit, becaufe he was unwilling to die : at the fame time he could not but obferve the lively vitlorious faith \^h.ich appeared in the GermaiiSy and kept their minds in a ftate of tranquillity and eafe, in the midif of danger, to which he and the Englijh on board wxre flrangers : fpeaking of thefe humble followers of Chrift, he fays, " I had long before obier\ed the great ferioufnefs of their behaviour. Of their humility they had given a continual proof, by performing thofe fervile offices for the other palfengers which none of the Englijh would undertake ; for which they defired> and would receive no pay; faying, "It was good for th^cir proud hearts, and their -loving Saviour had done more for them." And every day IkkI given them occafion of iliewing a meeknefs, which no injury could m.ove. If they were pufhed, flruck, or thrown down, they rofe again and went away ; but no com- plaint w-as found in their mouth. There was now an opportunity of trying, whether they w^ere delivered from the fpirit of fear, as well as from that of pride, anger, and revenge. In the midfl of tlie pfalm, wherewith their fcrvice began, the fea broke over, {plit the main-fail in pieces, covered the iliip, and poured in between the decks, as if the great deep had . already fwallowed us up. A territjle fcreaming be- gan among the EngliJ/j. The Germans calmly fung on. I afi^ed one of them afterwards, '* Was you not afraid ?" He anfwercd, *' I thaiik God, No.*' I ^flvcd, '* But were not your women and children afraid?" 1736.] Rkv. JOHN WESLEY. 11 afraid?" He replied mildly, "No; our women and cliildren are not afraid to die." On the 2 9rh, they fell in with the fl^irts of a hurricane, which however did no damage ; on the 4rh of February, they law land ; and on the 6th, after a Itorniy palfage (irfl: let foot on American ground, on a fmall uninhabited iOand over againft Tyhcfy where Mr. Oglethorpe led them to a riling ground aiid they returned God thanks, and then he took bou for Savannah, During tliis palfage Mr. lVejley% leading principle, that fclf-denial and mortification, were to him the chief means of holinefs, fliewed itfelf powerfully in his conduct. Judging, as he obferves, that it might be helpful to him, he difcontinued the ufe of flcfh and wine, and confined himfelf to vegetables, chiefly nee and bifcuit. He alfo left off' eating {up- pers, and his bed having been v>'et by the fea, he lay upon the floor, and flept found till morning. He fpeaks with an air of triumph on this unexpefted vidory over the common indulgence of ufing a bed to fleep in ; and adds, " I believe, I fliall not find it needful to go to bed, as it is called, any more." February 7, Mr. Oglethorpe returned from Savan- nah^ with Mr. Spiingenlerg^ one of the paftors of the Germans. " I foon found, fays Mr. lVeJley\ what fpirit he was of; and aflced his advice with regard to my own . condutl. He faid, " My brother, I muft firft afk you one or two queflions. Have you the witnefs within yourfelf? Does the fpirit of God bear v/itnefs with your fpirit, that you are the child of God T' I was furprifcd and knew not what to anfwer. He obferved it, and afls^ed, " Do you know Jefiis Chrift ?" I paufed and faid, I know he is the Saviour of the world. ** True; replied he ; but do ' you know he has faved you ?" I anfwered, I hope he has died to fave me. He onlv added, ** Do you j2 The life of the [iJS^* you know youiTelF?" I faid, I do. But I fear they were vain words." — On the 14th, fome Indians came to them, and fnook them by the hand, one of them faying, ** I am. glad you are come. When I was in Englandy I defired that fome would fpeak the great word to me and my nation then defired to hear it; but now we are all in confufion. Yet I am glad you are come. I will go up and fpeak to the wife men of our nation ; and I hope they will hear. But we would not be made Chriftians, as the Sj^a- niards make Chriftians : we would be taught, be- fore we are b'aptized.'' The houfe at Savannahy where they were to refide, not being ready, Mr. Wcjley with Mr. Delamotte^ took up their lodging with the Germans. Here they had an opportunity of being better acquainted with them, and of clofciy obferving the whole of their behaviour, from morning till night. Mr. JVef- ley gives them an excellent charafter. He tells v,^^ " They were always employed, always cheerful themfelves, and in good humour v^'ith one another. They had put away all anger, and (Irife, and wrath, and bitternefs, and clamour, and evil-fpeaking. They walked worthy of the vocation wherewith they were called, and adoriied the Gofpel of our Lord in all things.'' He adds, " Fel>, 28. They met to confult concerning th.e affairs of their church. Af- ter feveral hours fpent in conference and prayer, they proceeded to the election and ordination of a bifhop. The great fimplicity, as well as folem- nity of the whole, almoil made me forget the fe- venteen hundred years betv;een, and imagine my- felf in one of tliofe affemblies where form and ftate were not ; but Faiil the tent-miaker, or Peter the fifherman prefided ; yet with the demonftration of the fpirit and of power." Sunday, 1736.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 13 Sunday, March 7. He entered on his minillry at Savannah^ by preaching on the epiftle For the day, being the 13th of the firft o{ Corinthians. In the lecond lefibn, Luke xviii. was our Lord's prediQion of the treatment which he himfelf, and confequentiy his followers, was to meet with from the world. — He adds, " Yet notwithitanding thefe plain decla- rations of our Lord ; notwithflanding my own re- peated experience ; notwithftanding the experience of all the fincere followers of Chriil, whom I have ever talked with, read, or heard of: nay and the reafo.n of the thing, evincing to a demonftration, that all who love not the light mud hate him who is continually labouring to pour it in upon them : I do here bear witnefs againfl myfelf, that when I faw the number of people crowding into the church, the deep attention with which they received the word, and the ferioufnefs that afterwards fat on all their faces; I could fcarce refrain from tjivins the lie to experience and reafon and fcripture all toge- ther. I could hardly believe that the greater, the far greater part of this attentive ferious people, would hereafter trample under foot that word, and fay all manner of evil falfely of him that fpake it." On the 18th, Mr. IVeJley v.^rote to his mother as follows : *' I doubt not but you are already informed of the many bleffings which God gave us in our paflage; as my brother IVeJley mud before now, have received a particular account of the circum- ilances of our voyage; wliich he would not fail to tranfmit to you by the Brft opportunity. " Wc are likely to ftav here fome months. The place is pleafant beyond imagination ; and by all I can learn exceeding healthful, — even in fumrner, for thole who arc not intemperate. It has pleafcd God, that I have not had a moment's illnefs of anv kind fmce 1 [et my foot upon the Continent : nor do J4 The life of the [.^73^- do I know any more than one of my feven hundred pari Ih loners, who is fick at this time. Many of them indeed, are, I believe, very angry already: for a gentleman, no longer ago than iaft night, made a Ball; but the public prayers happeniiig to begin about the fame time, the church was full, and the Ball-room fo empty, that the entertainment could not go forward. ** I fhould be heartily glad, if any poor and re- ligious men or women of Epworib or IVrooie, would come over to me. And fo would Mr. Oglethorpe too: he would give them land enough, and provi- lions gratis, till they could live on the produce o^ it* I was fully determined to have wrote to my dear Emmy'^ to-day; but time will not permit. O hope ye ftill in God! for ye (hall yet give' him thanks, who is the help of your countenance, and your God! Renounce the world: deny yourfelves: bear your crofs with Chrifty and reign with him! My brother Hooper too, has a conltant place in our pravers. May the good God give him tlie fame zeal for ho- linefs which he has given to a young gentleman of Rotterdam, who was with me lad night. Pray for us, and efpicially for, dear Mother, your dutiful and affc8:ionate fon, John IVcficy." Mr. //^>/7^y bemg now informed of the oppofition which his brother Charles met witli at Frederica\ on the 2 2d of March, wrote to him the following letter — - — " How different are the ways wherein we are led, yet I hope toward the fame end. I have hitherto no oppofition at all : all is fmooth, and fair, and promifmg. Many feem to be awakened : all are full of re fp eel and commendation. AVe cannot fee any cloud gathering. But this calm cannot laft ; ilorms muft come hither too : ai.d let them come vhen we are ready to meet them. * His eldefl liaer JLmclia. '' 'Tis 1736.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 15 *' 'Tis flrange To many of our friends fhould flili trull in God ! I hope indeed, whoever turns to tlie world, Mr. Tackner and Bett)\ with Mr. Hird^^ family, and Mr. Burk^ will zealoufly aim at the prize of their high calling. Thefe efpecially I ex- hort by the mercies of God, that they be not weary of well-doing, but that they labour more and more to be meek and lowly, and daily to advance in the knowledge and love of God. — I hope too Mr. IVef- ton, Mr. Moore y Mr. Allen, and Mr. Whiter as well as Mr. Ward and his wife, continue in the fame wife refolutions. I muft not forget Mr. Reed, and Mr. Dauhryy both of whom I left fully determined to fliake off every weight, and with all their might pur- fue the one thing needful. ** Condones omnes meas jamnunc habes, praeter iflas quas mifi. Aliquse in pyxide funt (de qua ne verbum fcribis) una cum bibliis in quarto. Liber de difciplina quam celerrime potes, remittendus eft. Quanta cit concordia fratrum : Tui volo et fratris B. T' Tou have nozv all my Sermons, except thofe which I have fent._ Some arc in the box (of which you fay not a word) together with the Bible in quarto, ^^he book of diJcipUnc mufl be fent back as foon as poffible. How great is the concord of brethren : I mean of Thee and brother B P " 7^bu are not, I think, at liberty rpB^p^cr^cii e^.g to i^r/i *sivc ci (7vy.(pv},ircci G-a, ^770:^^11 crs, to tum to the GentHes all your own countrymen fb all caff you out. If that pe- riod come foon, fo much the better : only in the mean while, reprove and exhort with all authority, even though all men fliould defpife Tliee. 'ATj-o.Gr^- cc.y." I /land in jeopardy every hour, — '* Let us be llrong and verv courageous ; for the Lord our God is with us : and there is no counfel or mio;ht againfl him !' Mr. Charles took the hint his brother gave him, and on the 28th, fent Mr. Ingham to Savannah f. April 4th, Mr. IVejley fet out for Frederica, in a Pettiaivga^ a fort of flat-bottomed barge, and the following evening tliey anc'norcd near Skidozvay ifland, where the water at flood, was twelve or four- teen feet deep. Mr. IVefiey \\n'2L^\. him (elf up in a large cloak, and lay down on the quarter-deck: but in the courfe of the night he rolled out of his cloak, and fell into the fea, fo faft aiiecp that he knew not where he was, till his mouth was full of water. He fwam round to a boat, and got out without any in- jury, more than wetting his clothes. This inflance gives us a lively view of his fortitude and prelence of mind in the midfl of furprife and danger. Mr. IVcJley left Frederic ay and arrived at Savannah' on the 20th. The next day he wrote to his bro- ther ; and among other things obferves, " I Hill ex- tremely pity poor Mrs. Hawkins: but what can I do more, till God fhew me who it is that continually exafperares her againfl me ? Then I may perhaps be of fome fervice to her. There is furely fome * See a fimilar conftruifticn of ^i*>.ai 2 Pet. i. 9. + Vol. I. page 1 33 one 1736.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 17 one who does not play us fair : but I marvel not at the matter. He that . is higher than the higheft regardcth ; and there is that is mightier than they — Yet a little while and God will declare who is fin- cere. Tarry thou the Lord's leifure and be ftrong, and he fliall comfort thy heart." , On the fame day he wrote to Mr. Ogle thorp Cy and tells him, *' Savannah, never was fo dear to me as now. I believe, knowing by whom I fend, I may write as well as fpeak freely. I found fo little, either of the form or power of religion at Frederica, that I am fmcerely glad I am removed from it. Surely, never was any place, no not London itfelf, freer from one vice, I mean hypocrify, O curvjE in terris animse, et coeleftium inanes ! 0 grovelling Souls, bent to the earth, and void of heavenly good ! ** Jefus Mafter have mercy upon them — There is none of thofe who did run well, whom I pity more than Mrs. Hazvkins : her treating me in fuch a man- ner would indeed have little affeded me, had my own interefts only been concerned. I have been ufed to be betrayed, fcorned, and infulted by thofe I had moft laboured to ferve. But when I reflccl on her condition, my heart bleeds for her — Yet with Thee nothing is impolTible ! ** With regard to one who ought to be dearer to me than her, I cannot but fay, that the more I think of it the more convinced I am, that no one, without a virtual renouncing of the faith, can ab- ftain from the public as well as the private worship of God. All the prayers ufually read morning and evening at Frederica and here, put together, do not laft feven minutes. Thefe cannot be termed long prayers: no chriftian affembly ever ufed fhorter: neither have they any repetitions in them at all — -If I did not fpeak thus plainly to you ; which I fear Vol. IL C ' no i8 The LIFE of the ^JS^-j no one elfe in Eughvid or America ^vill do, I flioulcl by no means be worthy to call myfclf, Sir, Your's, &c. John IVeJley.'* Not finding as yet any open door for pinTiiing his main defign of preaching to the Indians, he confulted with his companions, in what manner they might be moft ufeful to the little flock at Savannah, It was agreed, i. to advife the more ferious among them, to form themfelves into a little fociety, and to meet once or twice a week, in order to reprove, inltiuft, and exhort one another. 2. To fclcd out of thefe a fmaller number for a more intimate union with each other; which might be forwarded partly by their converfmg fingly with each, and inviting them altogether to Mr. Weftey\ houfe : and this accord- ingly they determined to do every Sunday in th.e afternoon. Here we fee the firfl rudiments of the future economy of claffes and bands, which has had no fmall influence in promoting the fuccefs of the Methodifts beyond any other denomination of Chrif- tians, not immediately favoured by the civil power. There fubfifted at this time, a difpute between the gentlemen of Carolina and Georgia, refpctling the right of trading v.ith the Indians. The difpute was brought mio JVeJlminJfer- Hall, and agitated on both fides with great animofity. Mr. IFefley had hitherto thought it his duty to confine himfelf to thofe things which immediately related to his office as a minifler, and not to intermeddle with any thing that feemed foreign to it. But having confidered the matter in debate, and the confcqucnces of it to the province, he altered his (t-ntimcnts, and on the 23d of July delivered his opinion. on the fubjcQ in a letter to Mr. Hidchejon. He obCerves, " By what I have fcen during my fliort Uay here, I am con- vinced that I have long l)cen urider a great nriflake, in thinking no circumflanccs could make u the ^w^v of 1736.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 19 of a chriftian pried, to do any thing elfe but preach the Gofpcl. On the contrary, I am now fatisfied, that there is a polTible cafe wherein a part of his time ought to be employed in what lejs dire6lly con- duces to the glory of God, and peace arid good will among men. And fuch a cafe, I believe is that which now occurs : there being feveral things which cannot fo effe6tually be done without me; and which, though not direftly belonging to my mini- ftry, yet are by confequence of the higheft concern to the fuccefs of it. It is from this convi8.ion that I have taken fome pains to inquire into the great controvcrfy now fubfifting betvv'een Carolina and Georgia I and in examining and weighing the letters wrote, and the arguments urged, on both fides of the quc'ftion. And I cannot but thmk that the whole affair might be clearly ftated in few words. A Charter was pad a few years hnce, eftablifliing the bounds of this province, and empowering the trudees therein named to prepare laws, which when ratified by the King in Council, fhould be of force within thofe bounds. Thofe Trudees have pre- pared a law, which has been fo ratified, for the regulation of the Indian trade, requiring that none fhould trade with the Indians who are within this province, till he is fo licenfed as therein fpecified. Notwithdanding this law, the governing part of C.:?- rolinay have aderted both in converfation, in writ- ing, and in the public News-Papers, that it is law- ful for any one not fo licenfed, to trade with the Creek, Cherokee, or Chicafaw Indians : they have pad an ordinance, not only aderting the fame, but ena6l- ing that men and money diall be raifed to fupport fuch traders ; and in fad they have themfelves li- cenfed and fent up fuch traders both to the Creek and Chicafaiv Indians, C 2 "This 20 ' The life of the [^ZS^- " This is the plain matter of fad: now as to matter of right, when twenty more reams of paper have been fpent upon it, I cannot but think it miift come to this fhortiflue at laft: i. are the Creeks^ Cherokee s^ and Chicafdwsy within the bounds of Georgia or no? 2. Is an a6l of the King in Council, in purfuance of an A8: of Parliament, of any force within thcfe bounds, or not? That all other inquiries are ab- folutely foreign to the qucflion a very little confider- ation will fliew. As to the form.er of thefe, the Georgian Charter compared with any map of thefe parts wdiich I have ever feen, determines it : the latter I never heard made a queftion of, but in the neighbourhood of Carolina, ** Mr. Johnfon's brother has been with us fome days. 1 have been twice in company with him at Mr. Oglethorpe's : and I hope there are in Carolina^ though the prefent proceeding would almoii: make one doubt it, many fuch gentlemen as he feems to be ; men of good nature, good manners,, and un- derftanding. 1 hope God will repay you feven-fold for the kindnefs you have fliewn to my poor mo- ther, and in her to. Sir, your moft obliged, mod obe- dient fervant John Wejley," At the fame time he wrote to Mr. Vernon on the fame fubje6l. " As Ihort a time, fays he, as I have for writing, I could not pardon mvfelf if I did not fpend fome part of it in acknowlcdgiitg the continu- ance of your goodnefs to my mother; which indeed neither flie, nor I, can ever lofe the fenfe of. *' The behaviour of the people o^ Carolina, finds much converfation for this place. I dare not fay, whether they want honefty or logic moll: U is plain a very little of the latter, added to the former, would fliew how utterly foreign to the point in quef- tion, all their voluminous defences are. Here is an atl'ofthe King in Council, pall in purfuance of an 1736.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 21 an AB of Parliament, forbidding unlicenfed perfons to trade with the Indians m Georgia. Nothing there- fore can juftify them in daily fending unlicenfed Traders to the Creek, Cherokee, and Chicajaiso In- dians, but the proving either that this aft is of no force, or that thofe Indians are not in Georgia. Why then are thefe queftions fo little confidered by them, and others fo largely difcuffed ? I fear for a very plain, though not a very honeft reafon; that is, to puzzle the caufe. I fmcereJy wifh you all happi- nefs in time and in eternity, and am Sir,'' Scq. Sept. 13. He began reading over, with Mr. DeLwiotie, Bifliop Beveridge^ PandeBae Canonum Conciiiorum. " Nothing, fays he, could fo effec- tually have convinced me, that both particular and general Counqils may err, and have erred : and of the infinite difference there is between the decifions of the wifefl men, and thofe of the Holy Ghoft re- corded in his word." — Sept. 20. They ended the Apoi'iolical Canons, fo called, and Mr. Wejley acknow- ledges in his printed Journal, that he once thought more highly of them than he ought to think. ** Bi- fliop Bcvcridge, fays he, obferves,^ that they are the decrees of the feveral Synods, which met at feveral phces, and on feveral occafions, in the fecond and third age after Chrifi ; and are therefore called ApoJ- iolical, be caufe partly grounded upon, and partly agreeing with the traditions they had received from the Apqjlles. He further obferves, that as they were enaBed by different Synods, fo they were colleBed by different perfons ; till about the year 5C0, Johtiy Bifliop of Conftantinople, placed them at the head of the Canons which he colleBed into one Code. — But then he adds (Cod. Canon, p. 159.) they contain that difcipline which was ufed in the Church when they were colleded, not when the Council of 'Nice C 3 met. 22 The life of the [_ij^6. met, for then many parts of them were ufclefs and obfolete/' After Mr. Charles had left Fredericdy and gone for England in the latter end of July, iMr. IVcjley often vifited that place; where he met with the moft violent oppofition, and the moft illiberal abufe. He dill however perfevered in his endeavours to do them good, and on the 13th of October fet out from Savannah^ once more to vifit them. He arrived at Fredtrica on the morning of the 16th, and met Mr. Hird on the Bluff, whiO gave him a melancholy account of the ftate of things there ^^ The public fervice had been difcontinued; arid from that time every thing was grown worfe and worfe — " Even poor Mifs Sophyi fays he, v/as fcarce^ the fliadow of what fhe v^'as when I left her. I en- deavoured to convince her of it, but in vain : and * Mr. WeJIey's private Journal. See alfo his printed Journal in his Works, vol. xxvi. p. 149. + This perfon was Mifs Sophy Caujlon, afterwards Mrs. ]Villinmf(,ny Niece to Mr. Canjlon^ ftorekeeper and chief rrirgiftrate of Sri-va?nmh, After her marriage fhe was the occafion of fo much trouble to Mr. W/Jhy, that it evidently hailened his departure out of America, He has obferved a filence in his printed Journal on fome circum- ftances of this affair, which has induced many perfons to fufpecl the propriety of his conduct in this bufinefs. He has however been more open in his private Journal, which was written at the time, as the circumllanccs arofe. And as this private Journal and his other papers, lay open to the infpedion of his friends for fe- veral years, I cannot help thinking that it would have been more candid, and more to the reputation of themfelves and Mr. IVcjley , to have openly avowed the faft, that he did intend to marry rviifs Cauri 7', and was not a little pained when Jhe broke off the con-' neftion with him. From a careful perufal of his private Journal, this appears to me to have been the cafe. But I will fairly ftate the evidence on which mv opinion is founded, in his own words as they occur, and leave the reader to judge for himfelf : not doubt- ing at the fame time, that, whatever may be faid of his weaknefs (and who is not we.ik in fome thing or other) or of his prudence in this affair, nothing can be laid to his charge in point of crimi- nality. to 173'^-] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 23 to put it eireftiially out oF my power fo to do, (lie was refolvcd to return to England immediately. I was at firft a little Hirprifed ; but I foon recolleQed my rpirits, and remembered my calling. Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. ** Non me, qui cartcra, vincet Impetus ; at rapido contrarius evehar orbi." The force Jhall not overcome me^ that overcomes all things elfe ; ' But I Jhall mount in a direSfiou contrary to the rapid world, " I began with earncflly crving to God to maintain his own caufe ; and then reading to a few who came to my houfe in the evenings, one oi Ephrevi Syriiss exhortations, as I did every night after, and by the bleffing of God not without effeci. My next flep was, to divert Mifs Sophy Svom the fatal refolution of goiiig to EngLmd. After feveral fruitlefs attempts I at lengili prevailed ; nor was it long before (lie recovered the ground flie had loft. " October 23. Mr. Oglethorpe returned from the Sr)uthv/ard. I was in the fort with Mr. Hortony when he came. He ran to Mr. Horton, kiffed him, aud exprePicd much kindnefs to him, but took no notice of me good or bad; any more than if I had not been in tlie room. I was not furprifed, having long expected it : when I mentioned it to Mifs So- phy, file faidi *' Sir, you encouraged me in my greateit trials : be not difcouraged yourfelf. Fear nothing: if Mr. Oglethorpe will not,' God will help you." Ocfohcr 25. I took boat for Savannah, with Mifs Sophy \ and came thither, after a flow and danger- ous, but not a tedious paffage, on Sunday the sift*". I infert the following (tory, becaufe it feems well authenticated, and becaufe it may be the means of putting young perfons upon their guard againft the * See alfohis printed Journal, in his Works, vol. xxvi. p. 150, C 4 arts. 24 The LIFE of the [^737- arts, and perfuafive words of defigning and unprin- cipled men. November 12, lays Mr. IVfjley, "By a careful inquiry of feveral perfons, I came to the full knowledge of a ftrangc piece of hifiory. Mr. "T. a Surgeon of Edinburgh debauched the daughter of one Mr. Ure, a lawyer, an only child, and dif- tant Relation. He then perfuaded her to fign a writing which (lie had never read, and to go over with him to America, When flie came hither,, he treated her as a common fervant ; and not only fo, but beat her frequently to fuch a degree that the icars made by the whip were plainly to be feen a year after. The fuult commonly was, that the child file had by him cried. ' After he had kept her thus for about two years, and the had brought him ano- ther child, he married another woman, and fold her to one of the Indiiin Traders! The fafts he allowed and defended before Mr. Oglethorpe (^only he faid, he had given, not fold her) who, after a full hear- ing, determ>ined that flie fliould be fet at liberty to work for herfelf and the child." — This was a poor recompence for fuch accumulated injuries. If Mr. Oglethorpe had the power, he certainly ought to have laid a fine upon the man, fufficient to have maintained the woman and the child. Mr. IVefley proceeds. " Nov. 23. Mr. Ogle- thorpe failed for England — In the beginning of De- cember, I advifed Mifs Sophy to fup earlier, and not immediately before flie went to bed. She did fo ; and on this little circumftance, what an incon- ceivable train of confequences depend ! Not only, * All the colour of remaining life,' for her ; but perhaps all my happinefs too \" Feb. 5, 1737. " One of the moft remarkable difpenfations of Providence towards me, which I have yet known, began to fhev/ itfelf this day. For many days after I could not at all judge which way the 1737-] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 25 the fcaie would turn : nor was it fully determined till March 4th, on which God commanded me to pull out my right eye ; and by his grace I deter- mined To to do : but being (lack in the execution, on Sat. March 12, God being very merciful to me, my friend performed what I could not *. *^ I have often thought, one of the moft difficult commands that ever was given, was that given to Ezrkiel concerning his wife. But the difficulty of obeying fuch a diretlion, appeared to me now more than ever before : when, conlidering the character I bore, I could not but perceive, that the word of the Lord v;as come to mc likewife, faying, ** Son of man, behold I take away from thee the defire of thine eyes with a (Iroke : yet neither (halt thou mourn, nor weep, neither fnall thy tears run down." Feb. 24. It was agreed that Mr. Inghiim fiiould go for England^ and endeavour, if it fhoulci pleafe God, to bring over fome of their friends to flrengthen their hands in his work. By him, Mr. JVef.ey v^xol^ to Mr. Oglethorpe ; and this letter fhews both his zeal and entire opennefs of heart, in purfuing and incul- cating without fear, what he deemed moft excellent. It is as foliows: " Sir, You apprehended ftrong op- pofition before you went hence ; and unlefs we are mifinformed, you have found it. Yefterday morn- ing, I read a letter from London^ wherein it was af- ferted, that Sir Robert had turned againft you ; that the Parliament was refolved to make a fevere fcru- tiny into all that has been tran faded here ; that the cry of the nation ran the fame way ; and that even the Truftees were fo far from acknowledging the fervice you have done, that they had protefted your bills, and charged you with mifapplying the monies you had received, and with grofs mifm.anagement * On March the 1 2th Mil's Sophy married Mr. William/on, of 26 The LIFE of the [^737* of the power wherewith you was intruded — Whether thefe things are (b, or no, I know not ; for it is ill depending on a ilngle evidence. But this I know, that if your Icheme was drawn (which I Ihali not eafiiy believe) from that Mrft-born of hell, 'Nicbolds Macbmvcl^'y as fure as there is a Cxod tliat governs the earth, he will confound both it and you. If on the contrary (as 1 (liall hope, till llrong proof ap- pear) your heart was ri^ht before God ; that it was your real defign to promote the glory of God, by promoting peace and love among men ; let not your heart be troubled: the God whom you fcrve is able to deliver you. Perhaps in fome things you have fhewn )'ou are but a man : perhaps I myfclf may have a little to complain of: but O what a train of benefits have I received to lav in the balance agajnfi it! I blefs God that vou was born. I acknowledge his exceeding mercy, in calling me into your hands. I own your generous kindnefs all the time we were at fea : I am indebted to you for a thoufand favours * Nichoiin: Madianjely was born of a dlilingulfhed fanuly at Florence. Of ail his writings, a political treatife entitled the Princc-y has iTiade the greateft noife in the world. Mr. IVeJIey fpeaks thus of it ; *• If all the other dofkrines of Devils which have been committed to writing iince . letters were in the world, were colledcJ together in one volume, it would fall (hort of tliis : and that fhould.a Prince form him/clf by this book, fo calmly recom- mending hvpocrify, treachery, tying, robbery, opprefiion, adultery, whoredom, and murder of all knids ; Dofnitian o^ Nero would be an angel of light compared wjth that man." — The world is not acrreed as to the motive of this work: fome thinking he me^nt to recommend tyrannical maxims ; others, that he only delineated them to excite abhorrence. Harri?2<>fon confiders Mnckia-je!, as a fuperior genius, and as the mod excellent writer on politics and government that ever appeared. Some have faid, his greateil fault was, that he told the world what bad Princes did, not >vhat they ought to do ; and that his principles, though daily condemned, are daily put in pradice. It has alfo been faid, that he took his po- litical maxims from the government of the Popes. He died in here: 1737-] ^^^'- JOIIxN WESLEY. 27 here : why then, the lead I can fay is, though all men flioiild revile you, yet, if God fhall ftrengtheii me, will not I: Yea, were it not for the poor crea- tures, whom you have as yet but half redeemed from their complicated mifery, I could almoft wifli that you were forfaken of all ; that you might clearly fee the difference, between men of honour, and thofe who are in the very loweft rank, the followers of Chrift jefus. " O ! where is the God of Elijah ? Stir up thy flrength and come and help him! If the defire of his heart be to thy name, let all his enemies flee before him! Art Thou not He who hail made him a father to the fatherlefs, a mighty Deliverer to the oppreifcd! Had Thou not given him to be, feet to the lame, hands to the helplefs, eyes to the blind ! Hath he ever with-held his bread from the hungry, or hid his foul from his own flefh ! Then^ whatever Thou with-holdeft from him, O Thou lover of men, fatisfy his foul with thy likenefs : renew his heart in the whole image of thy Chrift : purge his fpirit from felf-will, pride, vanity, and fill it with faith and love, gentlenefs and long-fuffering. Let no guile ever be found in his mouth ; no injuftice in his hands ! — And among all your labours of love, it becomes me earneftly to entreat him, that He will not forget thofe you have gone through for. Sir, )our obliged and obedient Servant, John IVeJIey," By Mr. Ingham^ he alfo w^'ote to Dr. Bray's aifo- ciates, v;ho had fent a parochial library to Savan- n^h"^. It w^as expeQed of the minifters who re- ceived * Dr. Tho?7!as Bray, was born at Marlo??^ in Shrop/^ire, in the year 1656, and educated at Oxford. He was at length prefented to the vicarage of Oo'^T-JF/j/V^ov, in Warcwidjhire ; and in 1690, to the rertory of Sheldon, where he compofed his Catechetical Lec- tures^ which procured him fuch reputation, that Dr. Compton, Bi- fliop ^8 The LIFE op the [^737- ceived thefe libraries, that they flionld fend an ac- count to their benefadors, of the method they ufed in catechifing the children, and inftru6ting the youth of their refpeclive parifhcs. That part of his letter was as follows — ** Our general method of catechi- fing, is this ; a young gentleman who came with me, teaches between thirty and forty children, to read, write, and caft accounts. Before fchool in the morning, and after fchool in the afternoon, he ca- techifes'the loweft clafs, and endeavours to fix fome- thing of what was faid in their underftandings, as well as in their memories. In the evening he in- ftruQs the larger children. On Saturday in the af- ternoon I catechife them all. The fame I do on Sunday before the evening-fervice : and in the church immediately after the fecond leffon, a (eled number of them having repeated the catechifm, and been examined in fome part of it, T endeavour to explain at large, and enforce that part, both on them and the congregation. fhop of Londoji^ pitched upon him as a proper perfon to model the infant church of Maryland ; and for that purpofe he was invefted with the office of Commijfary. He now engaged in feveral noble undertakings. He procured funis to be raifed for purchafing fmall libraries, for the ufe of the poor mlnilkrs in the feveral parts of our plantations : and the better to promote this defign. he publifhed two bocks ; one, entitled Bihlictheca Parochialis, or a fcheme of fuch theological and other heads, as feeni requifite to be perufed or occafionally confulred by the clergy, together with a catalogue of books which may be profitably read on each of thofe points ; the other, A p'Jiol tea I c\vdnx.y , its nature and excellency confidered. He endeavoured to get a fund eilablifhcd for the propagation of the Gofpel, efpecially among the uncultivated hidiafis ; and by his means a patent was obtained for ereding the corporation call- ed, ^he Society for the Propagation of ihe Go/pel. He, by his in- duftry, procured relie^f for prifoners ; and formed the plan of the fociety for the reformation of manners, charity-fchools, &c. He wrote 1. his Martryologyy or Papal ufurpation, in one volume folio. 2. Diredorium Mijftonarium ; and other works. He died in 1 730. " Some 1737-] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 39 " Some time after the evening-fervice, as many of my parifhior.ers as defire it, meet at my houfe (as they do alfo 011 Wedncfday evening) and fpcnd about an hour in prayer, finging, and mutual ex- hortation. A fmaller number, moftly thofe who defign to communicate the next day, meet here on Saturday evening : and a few of thefe come to me on the other evenings, and pafs half an hour in the fame employment/' March 4. Mr. JVeJIey wrote to the Truflees for Georgidy giving them an account of his expences from March 1, 1736, to March 1, 1737, which de- ducing extraordinary expences for repairing the parfonage-houfe, journies to hrederica.Scc. amount- ed for himfelf and Mr. Delamottc, to forty-four pounds, four fliillings, and four-pence. At the fanie time he accepted of the fifty pounds a year, fent by the Society for his maintenance, which, how- ever, was in a manner forced upon him, as he had formed a refolution not to accept of it, faying his Fellowfhip was fufficient for him. On this occafion his brother Samuel expoftulated with him, and fliew- ed him that by refufmg it, he might injure thofe who fhould come after him : and if he did not want it for himfelf, he m-ght give it away in fuch man- ner as he thought proper. He at length yielded to the folicitations of the Society, and the advice of his friends. It appears to mc, that the affair between Mr, VVeJley, and Mifs Sophy CaufioUy was this day finally broken off; and that he refers to this circumllance in the following paragraph in hi.s printed Journal ; *' From the direction I received from God this day; touching an altcur of the lad importance, I cannot but obferve, as I have done many times before, the entire miflake of many good men, who alfcrt, * That God will not aniwer \o\u nraver unlel's vour heart be 30 The life of the [^737* be wholly refigned to his will.' My heart was not wholly refigned to his will ; therefore I durfl not depend on my own judgment : and for this very reafon, I cried to him the more earneilly to fupply what was wanting in me. And I know, and am ai- fured, that he heard my voice, and did fend forth his light and his truth." He proceeds in his private Journal, in reference to the fame "affair. " March 7. When I walked with Mr. Cauftony to his country-lot, I plainly felt, that had God given me fuch a retirement, with the companion I defired, 1 fliould have forgot the work for which I was born, and have'fet up my reft in this world. March 8. Mifs Sophy engaged herfelf to Mr. IVilliamJon — and on Saturday, the 12th, they were married at Piirryfhurgh: this being the day which completed the year from mv firft ipeaking to her. What thou doeft, O God, I know not now ; but I fliall know hereafter." Whether the Lady's patience was exhaufted by Mr. IFfJJeVs (low procedure in the buhnefs (as it does not appear that he was in any hafte to finifh \i) or, whether flie dccliiied entering into the connubial ftate with him, on account of his abftemious and rigid manner of life, is imcertain : but whatever was the caufc, it is evident from his own words, that he felt a difappointment when fhe married Mr. IVil- liamfoiu It feems, that he exprcffed this more fully in a letter to his brother Sainncl^ who tells him in his anfwer, " I am forry you are difappointed in one match, bccaufe you are very unlikely to find ano- ther."— It was not long however, before he faw fufhcicnt caufc to be thankful, that Providence had not permitted him to choofe for himfelf. He had frequent occafions of difcovering, that Mrs. IVil- liamJon \\a^ not that ftriftly religious charafter which he had fuppofed. On one of thcfc occafions, near three 1737-] Re^^- JOHN WESLEY. 31 three months after her marriage, he writes thus, '* God has (hewed me yet more, of the grcatncfs of my deliverancej hv opening to me a new and un- expetled feene of Mifs Sophy's diflimulation. O never give me over to my own heart's defires ; nor let me follow my own imagina.tions !" The things Mr. Wejley now paffed through, gave him a m.ore perfect knowledge of his own heart, and of human nature in general, than he had before ac- quired, w^iich amply repaid him for the difappoint- mcnt he had Tuffered. He ftill purfued his labours widi unremitting diligence, and obferved the greateil puncluality in anfwering the letters from hi:-: friends. March 29. He wrote to Mrs. Cbapmaity a religious acquaintance in Evglandy with whom he held a cor- rcfpondence. This letter will be a fufficicnt anfwer to an obje6iion, often made againfl him at this time, that he thought cheerful nefs inconfiftent with reli- gion " True fricndfliip, fays he, is doubtlefs llronger than death, elfe yours could never have fubfified ftill, in fpite of all oppofition, and even after thoufands of miles are interpofed between us. *^ In the laft proof you gave of it, there are a few things which I think it lies on me to mention: as to the reft, my brother is the proper perfon to clear them up, as I fuppofe he has done long ago- " You feem to apprehend, that I believe religion to be inconfiftent with cheerfulnefs, and with a fo- ciable friendly temper. So far from it, that I am convinced, as true religion or holinefs, cannot be without cheerfulnefs, fo fteady cheerfulnefs, on the other hand, cannot be without holinefs or true re- ligion. And I am equally convinced, that religion has nothing four, aullere, un foci able, unfriendly in it : but, on the contrary, implies the moft winning fweetnels. 32 The LIFE of the [^ZSZ- fweetnefs, the moil amiable foftnefs* and gentle- nefs. Are you for having as much cheerfuhiefs as you can ? So am I. Do you endeavour to keep alive your tafte for all the truly innocent pleafures of life ? So do I likevvife. Do you refufe no pleafure, but what is a hindrance to fome greater good, or has a tendency to fomx evil ? It is my very rule : and I know no other by which afmcere reafonable Chrif- tian can be guided. In particular, I purfue this rule in eating, which I feldom do without much pleafure. And this I know is the will of God con- cerjiing me ; that I (liould enjoy every pleafure, that leads to my taking pleafure in him ; and in fuch a meafure as mod leads to it. I know that, as to every action which is naturally pleafing, it is his will that it fliould be fo : therefore in taking that pleafure fo far as it tends to this end (of taking pleafure in God] I do his will. Though therefore that pleafure be in fome fenfe diftincl from the love of God, yet is the taking of it by no means diftincl from his will. No; you fay yourfelf, * It is his will I fliould take it.' And here indeed is the hinge of the qucftion, which I had once occafion to ftate in a letter to you ; and more largely in a Sermon on the love of God. If you will read over thofe, I believe you will find, you differ from Mr. Law ^nd me, in words only. You fay, the pleafures you plead for are diftinft from the love of God, as the caafe from the efFetl. Whv then they tend to it ; arid thofe which arc only thus diftintl from it, no one excepts againft. The whole of what he affirms, and that not on die authority of men, but from the v/ords and example of God incarnate, is, there is one * Sofvnefs h an equivocal term : but Mr. JVcfley does not here mexn efreminacy, which the.chriftian religion forbids, and which he alway^i difcou raged both by his words and aciions. thing 17370 Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 33 thing needful, To do the will of God, and his will is our i'andification ; our renewal in the image of God, in faith and love, in all holinefs and happi- nefs. On this we are to fix our Tingle eye, at all times, and in all places : for fo did our Lord: thisone thing we are to do ; for fo did our fellow fervant Paul ; after his example, IVhether we eat or drinky or zvhatfoever we do, we are to do all to the glory of God, In other words, w^e are to do nothing but what, direftly or indireftly leads to our holinefs, which is his glory ; and to do every fuch thing with this de- fign, and in fuch a meafure as may mod promote it. ** I am not mad, my dear friend, for afferting thefe to be the words of truth and fobernefs: neither are any of thofe, either in England or here, who have hitherto attempted to follow me. I am, and muft be an example to my flock : not indeed in my pru- dential 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 fenfe of the word, unlearned, and moft of them of low underftanding : and (till not one of them has been as yet, entangled in any cafe of confcience which was not folved. And as to the nice diftinc- tions you fpeak of, it is you, my friend, it is the wife, the learned, the difputers of this world, wha are loft in them, and bewildered more and more, the more they ftrive to extricate themfelves. We have no need of nice diftinBions, for I exhort all — Dis- pute with none. I feed my brethren in Chrift, as he giveth me power, with the pure unmixt milk of his word. And thofe who are as little children re- ceive 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, 'tis true, for thofe who did run wellj but are now^ turned back ; Vol. 11. D and 34 The LIFE of the C^737- and they fear for themfelVes, left they alfo be tempt- ed : yet through the mercy of God they defpair not, but have ftill a good hope that they fhall en- dure to the end. Not that this hope has any re- femblance to enthufiafm, which is a hope to attain the end without the means; this they know is im- poffible, and therefore ground their hope on a con- ftant, careful ufe of all the means. And if they keep in this way, with lowlinefs, patience, and raeeknefs of refignation, they cannot carry the prmciple of preffing toward perfeftion too far. O may you, and I, carry it far enough ! Be fervent in ipirit ! Rejoice evermore ! Pray without ceaf- ing ! In every thing give thanks ! Do every thing in the name of the Lord Jefus ! Abound more and more in all holinefs, and in zeal for every good word and work !" Before Mr. IVejley left Frcderica, in January, where his brother had fuffered fo much, the oppofition of fome ill-minded and defperate perfons rofe to a de- gree of violence hardly credible ; fo that his life was in danger feveral times. Every fpecies of de- famation, likely to prejudice the people againft him, was propagated with diligence. The worft conftruftions, w^hich malignity itfelf could invent, were put upon his aftions, and reported as fafts: it even feems that the giving away his own private in- come in a6ls of charity, was conftrued into embez- zlement of the Society's money. Mr. IVejley did not doubt, but men capable of fuch bafenefs, would reprefcnt the matter in this light to the Truftees. He therefore wrote to them on the fubjeft, and received the following anfwer from Dr. Burton ; which, as it fnews the confidence the Truftees had in his uprightnefs and integrity, and their approba- tion cf his conduB, I fnall infert. '^ Georgia 1737-] R^v. JOHN WESLEY. 35 Georgia O^ce, June 15th. " Dear Sir, " I communicated your letter to the Board this morning. We are furprifed at your apprehenfions of being charged with the very imputation of hav- ing embezzled any public or private monies. I cannot learn any ground for even fufpicion of any thing of this kind. We never heard of any ac- cufation ; but on the contrary, are perfuaded both of your frugality and honefty. We beg you not to give weight to reports or private infmuations. The Truftees have a high efteem of your good fervices, and on all occafions will give further encourage- ment: and would not have the exprefs mention of the fifty pounds, in lieu of the fame fum formerly advanced by the Society for propagation fo un- derflood, as not to admit of enlargement upon pro- per occafions. I am ordered by all the members prefent to acquaint you of this, and to give you af- furance of their approbation of your conduft, and readinefs to affiit you. The V. Prov. of EJon has given you ten pounds, for your private ufe and doing works of charity : I have defired Air. Ogie^ thorpc, to convey this to you in a private way. Mr. JVhitefieldy will fliortly, and by the next convenient opportunity go over to Georgia. There are three hundred acres granted to the church in Frederiea, Be not difcouraged by many hafty infmuations ; but hope the befl while miany labour for the beft. In good time matters will bear a better face. God ftrengthen your hands, and give efficacy to your honeft endeavours. In a former letter I fpoke my mind at large to you concerning many particulars. I am in much hafte at prefent, ** Your affeftionate friend, " J. BURT.0N." D 2 p. S. 36 The life of the [^737' P. S. " My lord Egmont gives his refpefts and kind wifhes, and begs you not to be difcouraged." Mr. Caufton^ the chief Magi (Irate of Savannah, feems to have been of a ^^•arm and rather violent temper, in-patient of cdntradidion, over-bearing, and fickle in his attachments. He had hitherto, not only fliewn a decent civility towards Mr. IVeJJey, but even a friendly regard for him. This regard feemed increafed during a fever he had in the end of June, in wliich Mr. V/efley attended him every day. — On the third of July, Mr. IVcjley reproved Mrs. Williamfon for fome things he thought wrong n her conduQ:. The reproof was refented by the Tady, who faid, Jhe did not expefl fuch uf age from him. This was the beginning of jflrife, which as the wife man tells us, is as when one Ictteth out water. The next day, Mrs. Caujlon called, and apo- logizing for the behaviour of her niece, defired Mr. JVeJIcy 10 inform Mrs. IVilliamfon in writing what he had to objecl againfl her condu6t. He accordingly wrote to her on the 5th, and here die matter relied for a few weeks. In the mean time, however^ Mrs. IVilliamfon mifcarried, and Mrs. Cauflon reported that the mifcarriage was occafioned by Mr. iVejleyk reproof, and the letter he had fent : but Mrs. Wil- liamfon frankly acknowledged that, her hufoand hav- ing been Tick, it was occafioned by the hurry and anxiety his ficknefs had produced. During this time .VI r. Caufton (hewed the fame friendlv attention to Mr. Wefley^ as if nothing had liappened. On this occafion Mr. Wejley w'x'iit^ in his private jour-, nal ; ** July 23. The (Irange efteem which Mr. CaHf ton feemed to^fliew for us, by which means we had nothing without but eafe and plenty, occafioned my exprefling myfelF thus in a letter to a friend ; " How to attain the being crucified Vv'ith Chrift, I find not: beinsf in a condition which I neither defired nor 3737-] R^v- JOHN WESLEY. 37 nor expefted in America : in eafe and honour, and abundance. A ftrange Ibhool for him who has but one bufinefs, Tvy.uoc^eiv a-iccvro], Tvpog l'j(TESiiocu'^," In the beginning of Augull, he joined with the Germans in one of their Love-fealls. This, I be- lieve, was the firft time he ever faw a Love-feaft. He fpeaks thus of it : " It was begun and ended with thankfgiving and prayer, and celebrated in fo de- cent and folemn a manner, as a Chiillian of the Apollolic age, would have allowed to be worthy of Chrift." He afterwards adopted Love-feafts in- to the economy of methodifm. Augult 7. Mr. Wejley repelled Mrs. Williavifon from the holy communion, for the reafons fpecified in his letter of the 5th of July, as well as, for not giving him notice of her defign to communicate, after having difcontinued it for fome Jme. On the 9th, a warrant having been iffued and ferved upon him, he was carried before the Recorder and Ma- gi (I rat e s . M r . Willi amjo ?/'s charge \\^ as, 1 . T h at M r. IVejlcy had defamed his wife : 2. That he had caufe- lefsly repelled her from the holy communion. The firft charge Mr. IVeJley denied ; and the fecond, be- ing purely ecclefiaftical, he would not acknowledge the Magiftrate's power to interrogate him concern- ing it. He was told, that he mud however, appear at the next Court h olden for Savannah. In the mean time Mr. CauJIon, having become Mr. Wejley'^ bitter enemy, required him to affign his reafons in writing for repelling his niece. This he according- ly did, in the following letter to Mrs. IVilliainfon. " At Mr. Canfton's requcfl I write once more. The rules whereby I proceed are thefe : So. many as in- tend to partake of the holy communion^ JJjall fignify their names to the Curate^ at le aft fome time the day before. This you did not do. * To exerci/e himfrtf mi to pndlinrfs^ D 3 "^ " And 38 The life of the [i737« ** And if any oftheje — have done any wrong to his neighhour by zvord or deed, Jo that the congregation be thereby offended ^ the Curate Jloall advertije hiviy that in any zvife he prefume not to come to the Lord's tabh\ until he hath openly declared him/elf to have truly repented, ^Mf you offer yourfelf at the Lord's table on Sun- day^ I will advertife you, as I have done more than once, wherein you have done wrong: and zvhen you have openly declared yourfelf to have truly repent ed^ I will adminifler to you the myfteries of God." On the 1 2th of Auguft, and the following days, Mr. Caiiflon read to as many as he conveniently could, ail the letters Mr. U'^ejley had written to hini- felf, or Mifs Sophy, from the beginning of their acquaintance: not indeed throughout, but feleding certain paffages, which might, being detached from the reft, and aided by a comment which he fupplied, make an impreflion to Mr. JVeJlefs difad vantage. vSuch methods as thefe, of opprefhng an individual, are deteftable ; and yet they have too often been pra6lifed, even by perfons profeffing religion ; but they always afford fure evidence of a bad caufe. While Mr. Caufton was thus employed, the reft of the family were affiduous in their endeavours to convince all to whom they fpake, that Mr. Wejley had repelled Mrs. WilUamfon from the Communion out of revenge, becaufe fl:ie had refufed to marry him. " I fat ftill at home, fays Mr. ll'cjley, and I thank God eafy, having committed my caufe to him : and remembering his word, Blcffcd is the man that endiireth temptation ; for zvhen he is tried, he pall receive the crozvn of life, which the Lord hath promifed to them that love him. I was at firft afraid, that thofe who were weak in the faith would be turned out of the way, at leaft fo far as 10 negle^l the public worfhip, by attending which they 2 737-] . R^^^- JOHN WESLEY. 39 they were likely to fufFer in their temporal , con- cerns. But I feared where no fear was : God took care of this likewife ; infomuch that on Sunday the 14th, more were prefent at the morning prayers, than had been forfome months before. Many of them obferved thofe words in the firfl lefTon, Set Nahoth on high among the people : and Jet two men^ Jons oj Belial bejore hiniy to bear zvitnejs againft him. No lefs remarkable were thofe in the evening leffon, / hate himy for he doth not prophejy good concerning mCy but evil, O may I ever be able to fay with Micaiahy What the Lord Jaiih unto me^ that zvill I Jpeak : and that, though I too fhould be put into prifon, and fed there, with bread oJ affiiciiony and with water oJ affliofion," Auguft 16. At the requeft of feveral of the communicants, he drew up a fliort relation of the cafe, and read it after the evening prayers in the open congregation. And this evening, as Mr. JVeJIey fup- pofed, Mrs. Williamjon was prevailed upon to fwear to, and fign a Paper, containing many affer- tions and infmuations injurious to his character — During the whole of this week, Mr. Catijion was employed in preparing thofe who were to form the grand Jury at the next Court-day. He was talk- ing with fome or other of them, day and night : his table was free to all : old mifunderltandings were forgot, and nothing was too much to be done for them, orpromifed to them. Monday, the twenty- fecond, the Court was formed, and forty-four Ju- rors were fworn fn, inftead of fifteen, to be a grand Jury to find the bills. This was done by Mr. Cauftony who hereby fhewed his f[;ill in the management of a controverfy like this. He knew well, that numbers would add weight to every thing they tranfaded, and induce them to take bolder D 4 ileps, 40 The LIFE of the [i737- fleps, than a few would venture upon. To this grand Jury, he gave a long and earneft charge^ to beware of fpiritual tyranny^ and to oppofe the new il- legal authority, which was ufurped over their con- Jciences, Mrs. JVilliamfons affidavit was read ; and he then delivered to them a paper, entitled, a Lift of Grievances, prefented by the grand Jury for Sa- *vannahy this day of Auguft, 1737. In the af- ternoon Mrs. Williavifon was examined, who ac- knowledged that fhe had no obje6lions to make againft Mr. IVcjley's conduB; before her marriage. The next day Mr. and Mrs. Caiifton were alfo exa- mined, when (he confefTed, that it was by her re- queft Mr. Wejley had written to Mrs. IVilliamfon on the 5th of July : and Mr. Caufton declared, that if Mr. IVeJlcy had afked his confent to have married his niece, he fhould not have refufed it. — The grand Jury continued to examine thefe ecclefiafti- cal grievances, which occafioned warm debates, till Thurfday ; when Mr. Caufton being informed they were entered on matters beyond his inftru6lions, went to them, and behaved in fuch a manner, that he turned forty-two, out of the forty-four, into a fixed refolution to inquire into his whole beha- viour. They immediately entered on that bufinefs, and continued exam.ining witneffes all day on Fri- day. On Saturday, Mr. Caufton finding all his ef- forts to (lop them ineffeclual, he adjourned the Court till Thurfday, the firft of September, and fpared no pains, in the mean time, to bring them to another mind. September 1. He fo far prevail- ed, that the majority of the grand Jury returned the lift of grievances to the Court, in fome par- ticulars altered, under the form of two prefentments, containing ten bills, only two of which related to the affair of Mrs. IVilliavifon \ and only one of thefe was cognizable by that Court, the reft being merely ecclefiaftical. 1737-] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 41 ecclefiaftical. September 2, Mr. Wejley addrefiTed the Court to this effe8: ; " As to nine of the ten Indi6tments againft me, I know this Court can take no cognizance of them ; they being matters of an ecclefiaftical nature, and this not an ecclefiaftical Court. But the tenth, concerning my fpcaking and \vriting to Mrs. IVilliavjfon^ is ofafecular nature: and this therefore I defire may be tried here, where the fa6ls complained of were committed." Little anfwer was made, and that purely evafive. In the afternoon he moved the Court again, for an immediate trial at Savannah ; adding, " That thofe who are offended may clearly fee whether I have done any wrong to any one ; or whether I have not rather deferved the thanks of Mrs. IViU Uamfon, Mr. Caiifton^ and of the whole family/' Mr. Cauflons anfwer was full of civility and refpeft. He obferved, " Perhaps things would not have been carried fo far, had you not faid, you believed if Mr. Caufton appeared, the people would tear him in pieces; not fo much out of love to you, as out of hatred to him for his abominable pratlices." If Mr. IVejlcy really fpake thefe words, he was cer- tainly very imprudent, confidering the circumftances in which he was placed. But we too often find in difputes, that the conft ructions of others on what has been faid, are reported as the very words we have fpoken ; which I fufpe£l to have been the cafe here. Mr. Caufton^ however, has fufnciently difcovered the motives that influenced his conduR in this bufinefs. Twelve of the grand Jurors now drew up a protcft againft the proceedings of the majority, to be im- mediately fent to the Truftees in England, In this paper they gave fuch clear and fatisfaftory reafons, under every bill, for their diffcnt from the majo- rity, as efTeQually did away all juft ground of com- plaint 42 The LIFE of the [^737* plaint againft Mr. V/cjley, on the fubjefls of the profecution. — As Mr. and Mrs. IVilliamJon intended to go {ox England m the fir ft fliip that fhouldfail; fome of Mr. IVeJJefs friends thought, he ought to go likewife ; chiefly to prevent or remove the bad imprefTions which mifreprcfentation and ill-natured report, might make on the Truftees and others, interefted in the welfare of the Colony. But Sep- tember 10, he obferves, " I laid afide the thoughts of going to England ; thinking it more fuitable to my calling, ftill to commit my caufe to God, and not to be in hafte to juftify myfelf: only, to be always ready to give to any that fhould afk me, a reafon of the hope that is in me," Immoderate zeal is always to be fafpe6led ; efpe- cially when it appears in purfuing fuch meafures as tend to injure or ruin an individual. A bad caufe, which originated from hatred or malice, will almoft always be carried on with more intemperate zeal, and bolder meafures, than a confcioufnefs of afting right will ever produce. The purfuit of any end in view, when governed by the pafTions, is always more violent than when direded by reafon and truth. On this principle we may account for the proceed- ings of the Magiftrates of Savannah, They fent the affidavit they had procured, and the two pre- fentments of the grand Jury, to be inferted in the News-papers in different parts of America, The only purpofe this could anfwer was, to injure Mr. Wejley in the opinion of a large body of people, who could not eafily come at a true knowledge of the cafe. That thele advertifemcnts might make a deeper impreffion on the minds of the multitude, the pomp of legal form was preferved ; the follow- ing words being added at the end of each bill, " COx\TRARY TO THE PEACE OF OUR SOVE- REIGN Lord the King, his Crown and Dig- nity." 1737-] R^v. JOHN WESLEY. ' 43 NiTY." PeiTons of difcernment faw through the artifice, and in the end of September, Mr. IVejley received a letter from a gentleman of confiderable abilities and learning in Charlejhzvn^ in which are the following obfcrvations. " I am much concern- ed at fome reports and papers concerning you from Georgia. The papers contain fome affidavits made againft you, by one Mrs. M^ilUaviJon \ and a parcel of iluff called prefentments of you by the grand Jury, for matters chiefly of your mere office as a clergyman. Has our Sovereign Lord the King, given the temporal Courts in Georgiciy ecclefiaftical jurifdi6lion ? If he has not, then fure I am, that, whatever your failings in your office may be, a grand Jury's prefentments of them, being repug- nant to the fundamental Laws and Conftitution of England^ is a plain " Breach of his peace," and an open infult on, ** His Crown and Dignity ;" for which they themfelves ought to be prefented, if they have not incurred a premiinire *, The prefentments, a fad pack of nonfenle, I have feen ; but not the affidavits. They were both defigned to have been publiffied in our Gazette, but our friends here have hitherto prevented it. — I ffiall be glad to have fome light from yourfelf into thefe matters, and where- with to oppofe the reports induftrioufly fpread here to your difadvantage ; mean time, I remain your moil obedient humble fervant, " S. Garden." Mr. JVeJley received fome confolatory letters from thofe of his friends, to whom he had reprefented his fituation. A letter of this kind, from Dr. Cut- lery a clergyman at BoJioUy contains fome thoughts fo juft, and not very commonly to be met with, of goods To incure a premunire, is to be liable to imprifonment and lofs that 44 The LIFE of tpie [^737' that I think it worthy of a place here. It is dated the twenty-fecond of October. " I am forry, Sir, fays he, for the clouds hanging over your mind, refpetting your undertaking and fituation : but hope God will give an happy increafe to that good feed you have planted and watered, according to his will. The bcil of men in all ages, have failed in the fuccefs of their labour ; and there will ever be found too many enemies to the crofs of Chrift : for earth will not be heaven. This reminds us c^f that happy place, where we fhall not fee and be grieved tor tranfgreffors ; and where, for our well meant labours, our judgment is with the Lord, and our reward with our God. And you w'ell know. Sir, that under the faddefl appearances, we may have fome fhare in th(^ confolations which God gave Elijah ; and mav truft ,m him, that there is fome wickednefs w-e reprefs or prevent ; fome goodnefs by our means, weak and unworthy as we are, be- ginning and increafing in the hearts of men, at pre- fent ; perhaps like a grain of muflard-feed, that in God's time m.av put forth, and fpread, and flourifh : and that, if the world feems not the bet- ter for us, it might be worfe without us. Our low opinion of ourfelves is a preparative to thefe fuc- ceffes ; and fo the modeft and great Apoflle found it. " No doubt. Sir, you have temptations where you are, nor is there anv retreat from them ; they hint to us the care we muft rake, and the promifes we muft apply to : and blefl'cd is the man that endu- reth temptation, " I rejoice in the good character you give, which I believe you well bcftow, of Mr. IVbitcfieldy who is comini:^ to vou — but I quellion not, but his la- bours will be better joined wi:h, than fupcrfedc vours : 1737'] R^v. JOHN WESLEY. 45 yours : and even his, and all our fiifficiency and efiiciencv is of God. " It is the lead we can do to pray for one ano- ther ; and if God will hear nie, a great finner, it will (Irenthen your intereft- in him. I recommend myfelf to a (hare in your prayers, for his pardon, acceptance, and affiitance ; and beg that my family — may not be forgotten by you." Mr. IVeJley^ in the midfl of this ftorm kept up bv the arts of his avowed enemies, without a fliil- ling in his pocket, and three thoufand miles from home, poffefTcd his foul in peace, and purfued his labours with the fame unremitting diligence, as jf he had enjoyed the greateft tranquillity and eafe. 08.obcr 30. He gives us an account of his labours on the Lord' s-day. " The Engfijh fervice lafted from five till half an hour pafl lix. The Italian (with a few Vaiidois) began at nine. The fecond fervice for the EngliJJ:)y including the fermon and the holy Com- munion, continued from half an hour pad: ten, till about half an hour pad twelve. The French fervice began at one. At two I catechifed the children. Ajbout three b; gan the EngliJJj fervice. After this v.as ended, I joined with as many as my large room would hold, in readin^r, prayer, and hnging. And about fix the fervice of the Germans began ; at which I was glad to be prcfent, not as a teacher, but as a learner." November 1. He received a temporary relief from his prefTing wants. " Col. StephenSy fays he, arrived, bv whom I received a benefadion of ten pounds (terling*; after having been for feveral months without one fiiillincr in the houfe, but not without peace, health, and contentment." * I fuppofe the ten pounJs mentioned in Dr. Burto?i\ letter, the 3 3th of June. Xovcniber 46 The life of the [_^737* November 3. He attended the Court holden on that day : and again at the Court held on the twenty-third ; urging an immediate hearing of his cafe, that he might have an opportunity of anfwer- injT the alleviations alleged a^ainft him. But this the Magiftrates refufed, and at the fame time coun- tenanced every report to his difavantage : whether it was a mere invention, or founded on a malicious conftrudion of any thinghe did or faid. Mr. JVejley perceiving that he had not the moft diflant profpe61: of obtaining juRice, that he was in a place where thofe in power were combined together to opprefs him, and could any day procure evidence (as ex- perience had fliewn) of words he had never fpoken, and of aftions he had never done ; being difap- pointed too, in the primary obje8: of his mifTion, f reaching to the Indians \ he confulted his friends what he ought to do ; who were of opinion with him, that, by thefe circumflances Providence did now call him to leave Savannah, The next day he called on Mr. Caujion, and told him he defigned to fet out for England immediately. November 24, he put up the following adveVtifement in the great fquare, and quietly prepared for his journey. " Whereas John Wcjlcy defigns fhortly to fet out " for Englandy This is to defire thofe who have " borrowed any books of him, to return them " as foon as they conveniently can, to " John Wesley." November 30. He went once more to Mr. Caiif- ton, to defire money to defray his expences to Efig- landy intending to fet out on Friday the fecond of December. It appears to me, that this was an event which the Magiftrates moft ardently wiftied to take place, and to which all their proceedings had been fblely dired.ed. It is no obje6lion to this opinion, that 1737-] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 47 that they publiflied an order to prohibit him from leaving the province. It is manifeft, that they had no intention of bringing the matter to a fair hear- ing before them, and of giving it a legal decifion. They knew well that the evidence was fo flrong in Mr. Wefleys favour, that they could not even in- vent a plaufible pretence for giving the caufe againil him. But to give it in his favour would have been caufe of rejoicing to him and his friends, and would have covered his enemies with lliame ; and they had no way of preventing this, but by delay- ing the trial as long as poffible. On the other hand, they eafily forefaw, that if by cutting off all profpeB; of terminating the affair, and multiplying falfe and injurious reports concerning him, every day, they could weary out his patience, and induce him to quit the province of his own accord, the triumph would be left to his enemies ; and he leav- ing the province pending a profecution againfl him> and in oppc-fition to a prohibition of the Magi- itrates, would bring a ceniure upon him, and make his condu8; and character fufpefted among all thofe who did not know the circumftances of the cafe* Finding him now determined to go for England^ they had a fine opportunity of giving their plan its full effccL Mr. iVcjley intended to fet out about noon, the tide then ferving : but about ten o'clock the Magillrates fent for him, and told him he fliould not go out of the province, till he had entered into recognizance to appear at the Court, and anfwer the allegations laid againil him. Mr. IVeJley re- plied, that he had appeared at fix Courts fuccefiively, and had openly dcfircd a trial, but was refufed it. They faid that he muff: however give fecurity to appear again. He afi^Lcd, what fecurity? After a long confultation together, they agreed upon a kind of bond, that he Ihould appear at Savannah, when required. 48 The life of the L^737* required, under a penalty of fifty pounds. But the Recorder added, you niuft likewife give bail to anfwer Mr. JVilliamfon's, a8ion of one thoufand pounds damages. " I then began, fays Mr. IFef^ ley\ to fee into their dcfign, of fpinning out time and doing nothing; and fo told him plainly. Sir, / will ft gn neither one bond nor the other : you know your bujinefsy and I know mine. The Magift rates finding him quite refolved to go for Englandy faw their plan was fecure, and that they might carry on the farce, to keep up appear- ances in their own favour, without danger of dif- appointment. In the afternoon therefore, they pub- liflied an order, requiring all officers to prevent his going out of the province ; and forbidding any per- fon to affifl: him fo to do. The day was now far fpent : after evening prayers, therefore, the tide again ferving, Mr. Wejley left Savannah ^ in com- pany with three other perfons, no one attempting to hinder him. Indeed I have no doubt, but the MagiPcrates were heartily glad to get rid of a man, whole whole manner of life was a conftant reproof of their licentioufnefs, and whofe w'ords were as ar- rows fticking fall in them. If we candidly review all the circumflances of this affair, we fliall perhaps be led to conclude, that Mr. Wejley might have atled with more caution, and more regard to his own eafe and character than he did, when he firfi: faw the florm gathering and likely to burft with violence upon him. But his conltant rule was, to afcertain to the fadsfaclion of his own mind, that particular line of conduct which duty required him to purfue as a Chriltian and a miniiler of the gofpel, and then Readily to walk in it reo^avdlefs of confequences. And there is every evidence which the cafe will admit, that he a6led in this confcientious manner towards Mrs. IVilliainJon. It 1737-] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 49 It docs not appear that any one ever charged him with repelling her from the Holy Communion out of revenge becaufe fhe would not marry him, except her relations, who now thought it necelTary to in- jure his reputation as much as poffible, to cover themfelves from reproach. But this charge not only wants pofitive proof, it is even deftitute of probability. It was about five months after her marriage when this circumftance happened, during the former part of which time he had frequently ad- miniftered the Sacrament to her. without lhewing[ any fymptoms of revenge : and about three months after her marriage, he faw fuch things in her condu8:, as, in his private journal zvhicb zvas never printed^ in- duced him to blefs God for his deliverance in not marrying her. Now let me afk any candid man, if it is probable, that Mr. IVcjley could be atluated by a fpirit of revenge for a difappointment at the end of five months, which had no influence on his conduct at the end of three months ; and even af- ter he had been convinced that the difappointment itfelf was a mercy, for which he fecreily thanked Gcd ? I think no man will fay it is probable, I apprehend it is impofiible, this fhould be the cafe. In his paftoral chara8:er, JMr. IVeJley a8:ed by one rule towards, all the communicants. If any one had difcontinued his attendance at the Lord's Table, he required him to fignify his name fome time the day before he intended to communicate again : and if any one had done wrong to his neighbour, fo that the congregation was thereby offended, he re- quired him openly to declare that he had repented. This rule the order of the church of England re- quired him to obierve, and he a8:ed by it invari- ably in all cafes, whether the perfons were rich or poor, friends or enemies. Mrs. JVillicwifon did not conform to this eftablifhed order, which mud have Vol. II. E been ^o The life of the ^737-1 been "well known to all the communicants in fa fmall a place. Mr. IVeJky was therefore reduced to this alternative, either to break an order he held facred, in her favour, and thereby incur the cen- fure of a blamable partiality for her, after being married to another ; or to repel her from the Holy Communion, and incur the cenfure of having done it out of revenge, becaufe flie would not marry him. Cenfure was inevitable, w^iich ever way he had a6led; and having well confidered the matter, he determined to follow the rule he had always ob- fervcd, and to leave the confequences to God. Mr. Wcjlcy enjoyed a wonderful ftate of health while in America, His conftitution feemcd to im- prove under the hardfliips he endured, which ap- peared fufficicnt to have weakened or deftroyed the flrongcft man. Three hundred acres having been fet apart at Savannah^ for glebe land, he took from it wiiat he thought fufficient for a good garden, and here he frequently worked with his hands. He continued his cuftom of eating little, of fleeping lefs, and of leaving not a moment of his time unem- ployed. He expofed himfelf with the utmoft in- difierence to every change of feafon, and to ali kinds of weather. Snow and hail, fiorm and tem- ped, had no effe6l on his iron body. He fre- quently flept on the ground in the fum.mer, under the heavy dews of the night ; and in the winter wath his hair and clothes frozen to the earth in the morning. He would wade through fwamps, and fwirh over rivers in his clothes, and then travel on till they were dry, without any apparent injury to his health. On one of thefe occafions he concludes, that any perfon might undergo the fame hardfliip without injury, if his conftitution was not impaired by the foftnefs of a genteel education. In all Mr. IVeJJefs writings, I do not know fuch a flagrant in- ftance 1737] ^^^v. JOHN WESLEY. 51 ftance of falfe reafoning as this : contrary to all the rules of logic, he draws a general conclufion from particular premifes ; — but who is at all times in lull padeirion of the powers of his own mind? Mr. IVeJley, and his three companions fufFered great hardships in travelling from Purryfourgy to Port-Royal. Not being able to procure a guide, they fet out an hour before fun-rife, without one. The confequence was, they loft their way ; wan- dered in the woods till evening, without any food but part of a gingerbread cake divided among them, and without a drop of water. At night, two of the company dug with their hands about three feet deep, and found water, with which they Avere refreflied. They lay down together on the ground (in December) ** And I, at leaft, fays Mr. JVcJley, (lept till near fix in the morning/' They role, took the reft of the ginger-bread cake, and wan- dered on till between one and two o'clock, before they came to any houie, or obtained any further refreftiment. December 6, aRer many difficulties and delays, they came to Port-Royal, and the next day walked to Beaufort ^ on the oppofite fide of the I (land. Here Mr. Jones, the m.inifter of the place, invited Mr. IVejley to his houfe, and gave him as he acknowledges, a lively idea of the old EngU/b hofpitality. Mr. JVeJley adds in his private jour- nal, ** Yet obferving the elegance, and more than neatnefs of every thing about him, I could not but figh to myfelf, and fay, Hevi delicatiun dijcipulum Duri Magijtri." Perhaps this remark was unchari- table and unjuft ; and, to adopt the language Mr. Wefley fometimes ufed, he was feverely reproved for it fhortly after. On the 9th, Mr. DeUunotte having come to him, they took boat for Charlef- tozvn : but the wind being contrary, and provifions falling fliort, thev were obliged on the 11th, to land E 2 at 52- The LIFE of the [^737'^ at a plantation to get fome refrefliment. The peo- ple were unwilling to let them have any : at length, however, they gave them fome bad potatoes, " Of which, fays Mr. JVcfley^ they plainly told us we rob- bed the fwine/' — The wind continued contrary, and they in want of every thing, i\\\ about noon, on the 12th, having reached 7^/:?//'^ 7//^;7 Though he was far from being fingular in making this diftinftion, yet the propriety of it has been doubted, or rather denied. It is of fome importance in chriftian experience that the dibjecl fhould be underftood, and therefore it deferves to be examined. The diftinclion is founded on w'hat the Apoflle has faid, Rom. viii. 15. and further illuftrated and con- firmed, Gal. iv. 1—7. Mr. IVeJJey obferves in a note on Rom. viii. 15. that, ^'^The Spirit of bondage, here feems dire6lly to mean, thofe operations of the Holy Spirit, by which the foul on its firfl convic- tion, feels itfelf in bondage to fin, to the world, to Satan, and obnoxious to the wrath of God." He has printed a fermon on the fame text, in which he explains it in the fame way. He was not fingular in this interpretation, as might eafily be fhewn from * See the Errata to the 26th volume of his Works. xelpeQable 6o The LIFE or the [^73^- refpcRable authority. But, though it be mod true, that a perfon under convi6lion for fin, is in a (late of bondage and fear, it does not follow that this is the dinfJ meaning of the Apollle, or that ihe diftinftion between a fervant and a fon of God, , Matt. xi. 12. Set Mi/ceL S^cr^^ p. 768. perfons^ 173B.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. e^ perfons, teachervS in the Moravian church. Hitherto he had reduced his religious principles to pratlice, in the mofl fcnipulous and rigorous manner, and yet had not attained that victory over the evils of his own heart, and that peace and happinefs which he fav/ the gofpel promifed. It feems as if he had always fuppofed, that bodily aufterities, and a re- ligious regard to the duties he owed to God and man, would produce in him the chriftian faith, and the true chriftian temper. After about ten years of painful labour, his experience convinced him, that his notions were not evangelical, that he had confidered as caufes, things that were only placed as the fruits of faith in the gofpel economy ; and therefore, that he neither poflelfed faving faith, nor had a right notion of it. Having obferved, both at fea, and in ylmerica, that the Moravian brethren enjoyed a ftate of peace and comfort in their minds, to which he was almoft wholly a ftrang^er, he w^as well prepared to hear what thefe mefTengers of God had to fay of faith as the means of obtaining it. He was determined that his conviQion fliould be the refult of knowledge ; and therefore made continual objedions to what Bohler laid on the fubjeft. This occafioncd Bohler to fay, more than once. Mi fra- tcr^ Mi fratery excoqucnda eft ifta tiia philofophia : My brother, my brother, that philofophy of yours muit be purged away. We may obferve however, that objections in fuch cafes, are feldom the refult of juft reafoning, but the mere effetls of prejudice, which a previous fyftem has produced in the mind. Feb. 27. He took coacli for SalifbHry^ to fee his mother; intending alfo, to vifit his hxoihtv Samuel, at Tiverton, But March 2, he received a meffage that his brother Charles was dying at Oxford, and immediately fet out for that place. He now re- newed and fet down his former refolutions refpeft- F 2 iiig 6B The LIFE of the [173^- ing his own beViavionr. 1. To ufc abfokue open- Mefs and unrciervc, with all he (Jiould converle with. 2. I'o labour after continual lerioulnefs, not willingly indulging himlclf in any the lead levity of behaviour, or in laughter, no, not for a moment, 3. To fpeak yk) word which did not tend lo the glory of God ; in particular, not to talk of worldly things. " Others may, nay muft, faid he; but what is that to me." 4. To take no plealure, which did not ter.d to the glory of God, thanking God every moment for what he did take,, and therefore rejeft- ing every I'ort and degree of it, which he felt he could not fo tliank him /// and /^r it. At Oxford, Mr. IVeJley ng^^in met with Peter BohLn-; ** By Vviu)m, fays he, in the hand of the great Cod, I was on SAn^iday the 5th, clearly convinced of un- belief, of the want of 4hat faith wherehy alone zve are faved," — lie afterwards added — " With the full chrillian falvatioti. " lie was now fully convinced,, that his faith had hitherto been faith in God, too much fcparated from an evangelical view of the promifes of a free j unification, or pardon of iin, through the atonement and mediation of Cbrljt alone ; which v^as tlie reafon v;hy he had been held in conlinusd bondage and fear. It in)mediately oc- curred to his mind, " Lcare off preaching ; -how can vou preach to others, who have not faith your- fcli ?" lie confuked his friend Boblery who laid, " By no means. Preach faith //// you have it, and then hccdtife \'(Vli liave it, you ':':'/// preach faith.'' On the 13th of this month he fet out for Man- fheller, accompanied by Mr.Iunehin oi^ Corpus-Cbrijli- Colle^e, and a Mr. Fox, In this journey they lo{f few opportunities of fpeak ing on matters of reli- gion to t'lofe they met with, either on tlie road, or at the inns. The pradice was new, and the fuc- ccfis various ; lo-nie ilaring with iiient aflonilh me ;'.!,. and 1738.J Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 69 and others appeared thankful and ready to receive iniiruftion. On the twenty-fecond diey returned to Oxfordy and next clay Mr. IVejley obferves, ** I met Peter Bohhr again, who now amazed me more and more, bv the account he gave of the fruits of liv- ing faith, the holinefs and happincfs which he af- hrmed to attend it. The next morning I began the Greek Teftament again, refolving to abide by the Liiv uVui the tejhmonyy being confident, that God woidd hereby fhew me whether this doctrine \vas of God." About this time be began to pray extempore, March 27, Mr. Kinchin went with him to the caftle, where, after reading prayers and preaching on. It is appointed for men once to die^ " We prayed, fays he, with the condemned man, firfl in leveral forms of prayer, and then in fuch words as were given us in that hour. He kneeled down in m.uch heavinefs and confufion, having Jto reft in his bones by reafon of his fins. After a fpace he rofe up, and eagerly (jiid, I am nozv ready to die. I know Chrift has taken a^ivay my finsy and there is no more condemnaiiojtfor me, Th-e fame compofed checrfulnefs he fiiewed v;hcn he was carried to execution : and in his lad moments was the fame, enjoying a perfe6l peace in confidence that he was accepted in the beloved, Mr. IVejley again obferves, that on Saturday, x^pril i, being at Mr. Foxes fociety, he found his heart fo full, that he could not confine himfelf to the forms ofprayer they were accuRomed to ufe there. " Nei- ther lays he, do I propofe to be confined to them any more ; but to pray indifferently, with a form or v;id^out, as I may hnd fuitable to particular oc~ cafions " A few obfervations have ai ready been made, on the propriety and ufefulnefs of extemporary prayer^. * Vol. I. page 164. -F 3 and 70 The LIFE of the 1^738' and here I (hall tranfcribe the words Dr. JVatts* has quoted from the Marquis of Halifax , who being a Courtier in the reigns of the two brothers, King Charles and James II. cannot be fuppofed to have any partiaUty for a deviation from the forms of the eflabUfhed church. This noble writer, it feems, in a little book under a borrowed charatler, has ex- preffed his own fentiments on this fubjed. *' He tells us, fays Dr. J4^^atts, he is far from relifliing the impertinent wanderings of thofe who pour out long prayers upon the congregation, and all from their own flock, too often a barren foil, which pro- duces weeds inftead of flowers, and by this means they expofe religion itfelf rather than promote men's devotion : on the other lide, there may be too great a refiraint put upon men w^hom God and nature have diflinguifiied from their fellow labourers, by blef- fing them with a happier talent, and by giving them not only good fenfe, but a powerful utterance too ; this has enabled them to gufh out upon the at- tentive auditory with a mighty llream of devout and unaffetled eloquence. When a man fo qualified, endued with learning too, and above all adorned with a good life, breaks out into a warm and well delivered prayer before his fermon, it has the ap- pearance of a divine rapture ; he raifes and leads the hearts of the affembly in another manner than the moil compofed or belt ftudied form of fet w^ords can ever do ; and the Pray zy^'s, who ferve up all their fermons with the fame garnifhing, would look like fo many flatues, or men of flraw in the pulpit, ccrnipared with thofe who fpeak with fuch a power- ful zeal, that men are tempted at the moment to be- lieve that heaven itfelf has diftated their words to them." — We may obferve that no man will pray * See his humble attempt towards the Revival of Pradical Religion, p. j6i, with 1738.] Rev. JOHN. WESLEY. 71 with the energy and force here defcribed, unlefs his own heart be animated and powerfully quickened, with the mofl lively fentiments of true devotion : and if this be the cafe, a man will attain to it by conflant habits of prayer and reading the fcriptures, although he have but little learning, and his un- derfianding not improved above mediocrity. April 21. He met Peter Boh/er once more. " I had now, fays he, no objetlion to what he faid of the nature of faith ; diat it is, to ufe the words of our church, a lure truft and confidence which a man has in God, that through the merit of Chriil, his fins are forgiven, and he reconciled to the favour of God. Neither could I deny, either the happinefs or hoiinefs wh.ich he defcribed as fruits of this liv- ing f^iitii. ne/pir/t itjelf bearclh wilnefs ivith our Spirit^ that we are the children of God; and he that belie.veih hath the witnefs in himjelf\ fully convinced me of the former : as, whatfoever is I? or n of God, doth not commit fin ; and, whofoever helieveth is horn of God, did of the latter. But I could not compre- hend what he fpoke of an injlantaneoiis work. I could not underftand how this faitii fliould be given in a moment: hov/ a man zowXd, at oncc^ be thus turned from darknefs to light; from fin and mifery to righteoufhefs and joy in the Holy GhoIL i fearched the fcriptures again touching this very thing, particularly the Acis of the Apoftles, But to my utter aflonilhment, found fcarce any inftances there, of other than in ft ant an eons converfions ; fcarce any fo flow as that of St. Paul. — I had but one re- treat left, vi'z.. Thus, I grant God wrought in the firjt ages of Chriflianity : but the times are changed. What reafon have I to believe, he works in the fame manner now ? But on Sunday 22, I was beat out of this retreat too, by the concurrin that the weak were dailv turned out of the way. Numbcrlefs mifunderflandings had arifen, by means of which the way of truth was much blafphemed : and thence had fprung anger, clamour, bitternefs, cvil-fpeakmg, envyings, ilrifes, railings, evil-fur- mifes ; whereby the enemy had gained fuch an ad- vantage over the little flock, that of the reft durlt no man join himfelf to tliem. " But it has now plcafed oar bleffed Mafter to remove, in great meafure, ihefe rocks of offence. The word of the Lord again runs and is glorified ; and his work goes on and profpers. Great multi- tudes arc every where awakened, and cry out, • What muft we do to be fiived ?* Many of them fee, that there is only one name under heaven whereby they can be favcd : and more and more of thofe who feck it, find falvation in his name : and thefe are of one heart and one foul. They all love one another, and are knit togeihcr in one body, and one fpirit, as in one faith, and one hope of their calling. The Jove and zeal of our brethren in Hollaytd and Ger- manv^ particularly at Hernhuth^ has ftirred up many among us, v/ho will not be comforted till thev alio partake of the great and precious promifes. I hope, if 1738.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 91 if God permit, to fee them at lead once ijiore, were it only to give them the fruit of my love, the fpeaking freely on a few things which I did not aj)prove, perhaps becaufe I did not iinderftand them. May our merciful Lord give you a right judgment in all things, and make you to abound more and more in all lowlinefs and meeknefs, in all fimplicity and godly fmcerity, in all watchfulnefs and feriouf- nefs : in a word, in all faith and love, particularly to thofe that are without ; till you are merciful as your father which is in heaven is merciful ! I de- fire your conftant and earned prayers, that he would vouchfafe me a portion of the fame fpirit.'' " To the Church of God which is in Hernhnih, John JVeJley^ an unworthy Prefbyter of ih^ Church of God in England^ wiflieth all grace and peace in our Lord Jefus Chrift, 08.ober 14. " Glory be to God, even the Father of our Lord Jcjiis Chrift^ for his unfpeakable gift ! for giving mc to be an eye-witnefs of your faith, and love, and holy converfation in Chrift Jefus. I have borne tef- timony thereof with all plainnefs of fpeech, in many parts of Germany^ and thanks have been given to God by many on your behalf. " We are endeavouring here alfo, by the grace which is given us, to be followers of you, as ye are of Chrift, Fourteen were added to us fmce our return, fo that we have now eight bands of men, conlifting of fifty-fix perfons, all of whom feek for falvation only in the blood of Chrift, As yet v^'q have only tVv^o fmall bands of women, the one of three, the other of five perfons. But here are many others who only wait till we have leifure to indruft them,' how they may mod effeQually build up one another in the faith and love of him who gave himfelf for them, " Though 92 The LIFE of the C^73^' " Though my brother and I, arc not permitted to preach in mcii of the chiUrches in London^ yet, thanks be to God, there are others left, wherein we have liberty to fjpeak tlie truth as it is in Jefus, Likewife every evening, and on fet evenings in the week at two lev era! places, we publifn the word of reconcilation, i'oinetimes to twenty or thirty, fome- time^ to fifty or fixty, fometimes to three or four hundred perfons, met together to hear it. We be- gin and end all our meetings with fmging and p raver : and we know that our Lord heareth our prayer, having more than once or twice, and this was not done in a corner, received our petitions in tliat very liour. *' Nor hath he left himfelf without other wit- nefies of his grace and truth. Ten minifters I know now in Englandy who lay the right founda- tion. The blood of Chrift clean fetb us from all fvu Over and above whom, I have found one Ana- haptlfiy and one, if not tvvo of the teachers among the Prejhytcrians here, who, I hope, love the Lord Jefus Chrijl in fmcerity, and teach the way of God in truth. " O ceafe not, ye that are highly favoured, to be- feech our Lord that he would be with us even to the end ; to remove that which is difpleafing in his fight, to fupport that wliich is weak among us, to give us the whole mind that was in him, and teach us to walk even as he walked ! And may the very God of peace fill up what is wanting in your faith, aiui build you up more and miore in all lowlinefs of mind, in all plainnefs of fpeech, in all zeal and watchfulncb : tliat he may prefent you to himfelf a glorious church, not having fpot or v/rinkle, or any iuch thing, but that ye may be holy and unblame- able in the day of his appearing." 1738.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 93 We (hould not do juftice to Mr. JVrjJcy, were we to fuppofe, that he meant in this letter to infinuate, there were only ten clergymen in England who preached the gofpel. He particularly refers to thofe he perfonally knew, who had heen latelv awakened out of fieep, and now faw the way of falvation through, faith in Chrift Jejus. And his principles and connexions, as a high churchman, had feparated him from all denominations of Dif- fenters, fo that he could have had very litde ac- quaintance with them. Perhaps the three to whom he refers, were all he could fpeak of from his own perfonal knowledge ; though, no doubt many others taught the way of God in truth. Mr. IVeflcy purfued his labours with unremitting diligence, fpending his time from an early hour in the morning, till night, in preaching, exhorting, praying, or converfmg with the people, on fubje6ts that related to Chriltian experience. Nov. 22. He again wrote to three or four of his religious friends, and fpake more freely than bsfore, of the Rate of his own mind. " To Dr. Koker, at Rotterdam, " My defire and prayer to God is, that the glo- rious gofpel of his Son, may run and be glorified, aiTfong you as it doth among us ; and much more abundantly ! I fliould rejoice to hear, what our Lord hath done for you alio. Is the number of be- lievers multiplied ? Do they love one another ? Are they all of one heart and one foul? Do they build up one another, in the knowledge and love of our Lord Jefus Chrift? May he multipl)^ your little flock a thoufand fold, how many foever you be ! May he fill you with all peace and joy in believing! May he preferve vou in all lowlinefs of fpiril! And may he enable you to ufe great plainnefs of fpeech, both 94 The LIFE of the 1 73^-1 both toward each other, and toward all men; and by manifeftation of the truth, to commend your- felves to every man's confcience in the fight of God! " Even to this hour, I have not had one day*s leifure, to tranfcribe for you the papers I brought from Hernhnth: the harvelt here alio, is fo plen- teous, and the labourers fo few ; and it increafes upon us daily. Verily the fpirit of the Lord hath lift up his ftandard againft the iniquity which had over- fpread our land as a flood ! O pray ye for us, that he would fend more labourers into his harvefl ! And that he would enable us whom he hath already fent, to approve ourfelves faithful minillcrs of the New Covenant, by honour and diflionour, by evil report and good report [ In particular let all the brethren and fillers who are with you, pray that God would warm with his love, the cold heart of. Dear Sir, your much obliged and very affettionate brother in Chrift, J. IVcJley," " To Mr. Viney, at TJeljlein, " After a long (leep, there feems now to be a great awakening in this place alfo. The fpirit of the Lord hath already ihaken the dry bones, and fome of them ftand up aul live. But I am (till dead and cold; having peace indeed, but no love or joy in the Holy Ghoft. O pray for me, that I may fee and feel myfelf a finner, and have a full intereft. in the Lamb of God that taketh awav the fins of the world !" SzQ. " To Ifaac Le-long^ at Amfterdam, " Do not think mv dear brother that I have for- gotten you. I cannot forget you, bccaufe I love yau : though I cannot love any one vet, as I ought, becaufe I cannot love our bleffcd Lord, as I ought. My 1738.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 95 My heart is cold and fenfelefs : it is indeed a heart of ftone. Pray for me, and let all your houfchold pray for me, yea and all the brethren alfo, that our God would give me a broken heart, a loving heart ; a heart wherein his fpirit may delight to dwell. " May our good Lord repay you all a thoufand- fold for the love you fliewed to us. How does his gofpel profper at Amfterdam? Are believers multiplied? and is his grace mighty among you ? Is their name yet call out as evil (for that muR be the next) and do men defpitefully ufe you, and perfe- cute you ? I w^ant you to lay a great deal to me of it. But above all, I want you to pray a great deal, for your poor, v/eak brother, Johfv IVefleyJ' We fee by thefe letters, that Mr. JVejley was not carried up on high as on eagle's wings, by any ex- tatic joy which obliterated the common icelings of human nature : he walked in the valley, humble and low, bemoaning his condition, and ftruggling againft: the dulnefs and (luggiflmcfs of his own heart. Had he been aQuated in his labours, only by a religious fervour of mind, his diligence would not have been fo uniform as it was, nor his perfeverance fo lad- ing. Our paffions and inward feelings are necef- larily variable ; and if we are impelled only by thefe, in a religious courfe of life, or in any other laudable purfuit, our diligence will remit, and our perfeverance be fhort, efpecially when temptation and interefl draw another way. Mr. JVeJlev a6led on a different principle. He had a flrong convic- tion, founded on cool reflcftion, that he was every day doing what God required him to do : he con- fidered his fuccefs in turning dinners from darknefs to light, and from the power of Satan to God, as a teilimony of the divine approbation of his con- du6t i and therefore believed, that he was labour- ins: q6 The LIP'E of the [^735-^ ing for the beft interefls of his fellow mortals. This coHvi6lion was fo ftrong that no perfecution or oppofitc intereft could ever divert him from his purfuits. December ii. Hearing Mr. JVhitcfield was re- turned from Georgia, he went to London to meet him, and they again took fweet counfel together. January i, 1739. He was prefent at a love-lead in Fetter- LanCy together with Mr. Hally Kinchin^ Ing- hamy IVhttefieldy HiitchinSy and his brother Charles ; and about fixty of the brethren. " About three in the morning, fays he, as we were continuing in- llant in prayer, the power of God came mightily upon us, infomuch. that many cried out for exceed- ing joy, and many fell to the ground. As foon as we w^ere recovered a little from that awe and amaze- ment at the prefence of his Majefty, we broke out with one voice, IVe praife 'I'hcey O God ; we acknozv- ledge nee to be the Lord." — How little does the world know ; how little do merely fpeculative and formal Chriflians know, of theie refrefhing, in- vigorating feafons which come from the prefence oF the Lord, and give to the true worfhippcrs a demon ft rati ve evidence of the truth of Chrif- tianity ! In the fprrng Mr. Uloitefield went down to Briftol, and there firft began to preach in the open air, to incredible numbers of people. Mr. Wcjley conti- nued his labours in London and Oxford alternately, and occafionally in the neighbouring places without any intention of altering his ufual manner of pro- ceeding. But in the latrer end of March, he re- ceived a letter from Mr. IVhttefieldy who entreated him in the moft prefTing manner to come to Brif- toly evidently with intention that he might ftep into this new path which now lay open before him. At firft he was not at all forward to comply with the 1739-'] Rev- JOHN WESLEY. 97 the requcfl: ; and his brother Charles, and fome others, warmly oppofed his going ; from an unac- countable apprehenfion that it would prove fatal to him *. At length Mr. JVefley freely gave himfelf up, to whatever the Lord fhould appoint. It v/as a rule of the fociety, " That any perfon who defired, or defigned to take a journey, fhould firft, if it were pofTible, have the approbation of the Bands :" fo entirely were the miniders, at this time, under the direction of the people ! Accordingly on the 28th, the matter was laid before them, and after fome de- bate they determined that he fliould comply with Mr. IVbitcfield's requeft. He left London the next day, and on the 31(1 came to BriJioL * See vol. i. page 200» Vol. IL LI THE [ 99 ] THE LIFE O F T H E Rev. JOHN WESLEY. BOOK THE THIRD. CHAPTER I. Containing a Viezv of Mr, Wefley V Labours as an Itinerant Treacher^ and of the Formation of Socie- tiesy i^c, till the jirfi Methodift- Conference, /;/ 1744. X HAVE now traced the fteps of Mr. Wejley\ from his infancy to the prefent period, which forms an im- portant era in his life. He now commenced a Field Preachery as he was called, and Itinerancy naturally followed, which laid the foundation of the prefent fyftem of Methodifn. It has often been fug- gefted by his opponents, that the plan of Methodifn was the refult of a long premeditated defign: but on a careful examination into the very ^ninutice of his life till this time, no fuch defign appears. He H 2 pofitively lOO The LIFE of the [i739- pofitively aflerts the contrary ; and every circumdance collefted from his private papers, confirms the truth of his aflertion. It is indeed true, that by a ftrange chain of providences, he was admirably fitted without any defign of his own, to profecute the plan he now entered upon through all its confe- quences. After many years of painful labour and exercife of mind, he had obtained clear and diilind views of the gofpel ; and what was efpecially necel- fary to his fuccefs, he well underilood the order obfervable in the gradations of chriftian experience, from the firft commencement of a work of grace on the mind, to its confummation. He had long been inured to fatigue and hardfliip ; a qualifica- tion highly neceffary for the fuccefs of his prefent plan of proceedings. He had experienced great oppofition, contempt, reproach, and even perfecu- tion, both in England and America ; which made them appear in the profpe6t of his new undertak- ing lefs formidable to him, than they would have done to others. Moft of the churches in London had been iliut againfl him, fo that his opportu- nities of preaching became very limited, and as he durft not be filent, he was reduced to a fort of neceffity to preach in the open air, in oppofition to his former notions and habits. But he obferves, " I have fmce feen abundant reafon to adore the wife providence of God herein, making a way for myriads of people, who never troubled any churcli, pr were likely fo to do, to hear that word which they foon found to be the power of God unto fal- vation." April 1. Mr. IVhitefield having left Brijloly Mr. IVejley began to expound to a little fociety, accuf- tomed to meet in Nicbolas-Streeti our Lord's fermon on the mount ; ** One pretty remarkable precedent, fays he, of jield-preachingy though I fuppofe there 'yoerc 1739-] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. loi were churches at that time alfo. Monday the fe- cond, I fubmitted to be more vile, and proclaimed in the highways the glad-iidings of falvation, fpcak- ing from a little eminence in a ground adjoining to the city, to about three thoufand people." — His preaching was attended with furprifing fuccefs, fo that irf a very fliort time, a few, and afterwards a greater number, agreed to meet together, to edify and (Irengthen one another, as the people already did in London. Mr. IVcJJey continued in Briftol and the neighbour- ing places till June. He thus defcribes his public labours through the week. " My ordinary employ- ment in public, was now as follows : every morn- ing I read prayers and preached at Newgate. Every evening I expounded a portion of fcripture, at one or more of the focieties. On Monday in the afternoon I preached abroad near Briftol \ on Tuef- day at Bath and "^wo Mile-Hill^ alternately. On Wednefday at Baptift-Mills. Every other Thurf- day, near PensfonL Every other Friday, in ano- ther part o^ King/wood. On Saturday in the after- noon, and Sunday morning, in the 'BozvIing-GrccrL On Sunday at eleven, near Hannam- Mount ; at two at Clifton ; at five, at Rofe-Green. And hitherto, as my day is, fo is my ftrength/' — He tells us, he could fcarcely reconcile himfelf at firft, to this (Irange way of preaching in the fields, of which Mr. IVbiteJield had fet him the example; " Having been, fays he, till very lately, fo tenacious of every point relating to decency and order, that I fliould have thought the faving of fouls almoft a fin, if it had not been done /;/ a church," During this fummer, his preaching at Briftol wa5 attended with fome extraordinary circumflances, which made much noife, and gave great offence. Under the fermon, fome perfons trembled from head H 3 to 102 The LIP'E of the [^739* to foot : others, fell down and cried out with a loud and bitter cry : whilft others became fpeech- lels, and feemed convulfcd as if in the agonies of death. After prayer for them, many rofe up re- joicing in God, and teftifying, they had redemption through the blood of CbriJ}^ even the forgivcnejs of fins y accordiyig to the riches of his grace. Some afterwards faid, they had fo flrong a reprefentation of Chriji to their mind at that time, that it feemed like a vifion of him, evidently fet forth crucified among them: and in that moment they were enabled to believe on him. Others pretended they had a fimi- lar reprefentation of him in a dream, and through faith received the revnifiion of fins. No regard ought \o be had to thefe declarations, as evidences of con- verfion ; becaufe the judgment af thefe perfons muft be greatly confufed, while their pafTions were fo much agitated. Mr. JVeJJey himfclf, at firft knew not how he ought to judge of thefe extraordinary things ; but when he found that moft of the perfons fo alfefted, held fad their confidence, and walked worthy of their chrifiian calling, adorning the doc- trine of God our Saviour in all things, he could not deny that there was a real genuine work of grace, upon their minds. He did not however confider agitations, vifions, or dreams, as any evidence of a true converfion to God; but as adventitious or ac- cidental circumftances, which from various caufes- might, or might not, attend it : and this view of them, he thought perfeftly confident with fcripture. The gentle manner in which, under thefe views, he fpake of them wavS generally mifimdcrftood, rai fed up feveral adverfaries, and made the g(X)d that was really done, be evil fpoken of. He gave a parti- culalr account from time to time of the things that happened, to fuch minilters as he thought fincerely defired the increafc of God's kingjdom, and had fciiae 17390 Rev. JOPIN WESLEY. 103 fome experience of it. Mr. R.alpb Erfkine was very favourable in his judgment of thefe adventi- tious circumftances; and fays, " I defife to blefs ray Lord, for the great and good news your letter hears, ahout the Lord's turning many fouls from darhiejs to light, and from the power of Satan unto God; and that fiich a great and effeSfual door is opened among you as the many adverfaries cannot fhut. — As to the outward manner you fpeak of, wherein moft (jf them were affected who were cut to the heart by the fword of the fpirit, no wonder this was at firft furprifing to you, fince they are indeed fo very rare, that have been thus pricked and wounded* Yet fome of the inftances you give, feem to be exempiiiicd in the outward manner wherein Paul, and the jailor, were at firfl affe6led ; as alfo Peter'^i hearers, /Uls ii. — What influence fudden and (harp awakenings may have on the body, I pretend not to explain : but I make no queftion Satan, fo far as he gets power, may exert himfelf on fuch occa- fions, partly to hinder the good work in the perfons thus touched with the fharp arrows of convitlion, and partly to difparage the work of God, as if it tended to lead people to diftraftion. — However, the merciful iffue of the conflicts in the convcrfion of the perfons thus affefted, is the main thing. " All the outward appearances of people's being affeded among us, may be reduced to thefe two forts ; one is, hearing widi a clofe, filent attention, with gravity and grcedinefs, difcovered by fixed looks, weeping eyes, and forrowful or joyful countenances: another fort is, v;hen they lift up their voice aloud, fome more depreffedly, and others more highly ; and at times the whole multitude in a flood of tears, all as it were crying out at once, till their voice be ready to drown the minifter's, that he can fcarce be heard for the weeping noife that furrounds him. — • H 4 The 104 The LIFE of the [^739' The influence on fome of thefe, like a land flood, dries up : we hear of no change wrought. But on others it appears in the fruits of righteoufnefs, and the trad of a holy converfation." — It feems from this letter, that Mr. IVeJlcy was not the only gofpel ininifl:er, whofe difcourfes w^ere, at certain times, at- tended with uncommon effeBs on the minds of the hearers. Mr. Samuel Wefiey judged much more unfavour- ably of the outward circumflances attending his bro- ther's preaching ; and in fome relpecls denied the aflurance of the pardon of fins, which the people profefled to experience. A correfpondcnce took place on thefe fubjefts, between him and Mr. John IVefiey, a part of which has already been publiflied by Dr. Fricfihy^ in his co]le6lion of, Original Let- ters ky the Rev, John IVeJley^' &c. But as this cor- refponde^Kre ftands there in a mutilated ftate, it may miflead the judgment of fome perfons, not much acquainted with the hiftory of Methodifm : I therefore think it neceflary, that the reader may do iufliice to Mr. Wejley's charafter, to give a more complete view of it, and occafionally to add a re- mark for further illuftration of the fubjeft. This correfpondcnce commenced in the latter end of the year 1738; but I have referred the account of it to this place, that I might gi\e the whole of it together. The firfl letter on this contr^verfv^ which has been preferved, was written by Mr. Johit IFcJJcy, and dated the 30th of October. He obferves to his brother Samuel y " That you will always re- ceive kindly, what is fo intended, I doubt not. — Vv'ith regard to my ow^n chara6ler, and my doQrine like- Y.'ife, I fliall anfwer you very plainly. By a Chrif- t-ian, I mean one who fo believes in Chrijl^ as diat fin hath no more dominion over him; and in this, obvious fenfe of the word, 1 was not a Chriitian till May 1739-] ^Ev- JOHN WESLEY. 105 May the 24tb, laft pad. For till then fin had the dominion over me, although I fought with it conti- nually ; but furely then, from that time to this, it hath not ; Rich is the free grace of God in Chrijf, What fms they, were, which till then reigned over me, and from which, by the grace of God, I am now free, I am ready to declare on the houfe-top, if it may be for the glory of God. " If you dSk by what means I am made free (though not perfeft, neither infallibly fure of my perfeverance) I anfwer, by fai^th in Chrift; by fuch a fort or degree of faith, as I had not till that day. — Some meafare of this faith, which bringeth falva- tion or viftory over fm, and which implies peace and truft in God through Chrift y I do now enjoy by his free mercy ; though in very deed, it is in mc but as a grain of muftard-feed : for the 7rXr,po^cpioc TTjrfw?, the feal of the fpirit, the love of God fned abroad in my heart, and producing joy in the Holy Ghoft ; joy which no man taketh away ; joy unfpeakable and full of glory ; this witnefs of the fpirit I have not, but I patiently wait for it, I know many who have already received it ; more than one or two, in the very hour we were praying for it. And having feen and fpoken with a cloud of wit- nefles abroad, as well as in my own country, I cannot doubt but that believers who wait and pray for it, will find thefe fcriptures fulfilled in them- felves. My hope is that they will be fulfilled in me ; I build on Chrift the rock of ages: on his fure mercies defcribed in his v/ord ; and on his promiles, all which I know are yea, and Amen. Thofe who have not yet received joy in the Floly Ghoft, the love of God, and the plerophory of faith (any, or all of which I take to be the witnefs of the Spirit with our fpirit, that we are the fons of God) I be- lieve to be Chriftians in that imperfect fenfe wherein I call io6 The LIFE of the L^739' 1 call myfelf fuch ; and I exhort them to pray, that God would give them alfo, To rejoice in hope of the glory of God, and to feel his lovejhed abroad in their heart Sy by the Holy Ghofi which is given unto them. " On men I build not, neither on Matilda Chip- man's word, whom I have not talked with five mi- nutes in my life; nor on any thing peculiar in the weak w^ell -meant relation of IVilliam Hervey^ who yet is a ferious humble ading Chriftian. But have you built nothing on thefe ? Yes; I find them more or lefs, in almoft every letter you have writ- ten on the fubjeft. Yet were all that has been faid on, Vifionsy dreams, and balls of fire, to be fairly pro- pofed in fyliogifms, I believe it would not prove a jot more on one, than on the other fide of the quef- tion. " O brother, would to God you would leave dif- puting concerning the things which you know not, if indeed you know them not, and beg of God to fill up what is wanting in you. Why fhould not you alfo feek till you receive, That peace of God which pajfeth uyiderfianding ? Who Jball hinder you^ notwithftanding the manifold temptations, from rejoic- ing with joy unfpeakable, by reafon of glory ? Amen ! Lord Jefus ! May you and all who are near of kin to you, if you have it not already, feel his love fhed abroad in your hearts, by his fpirit which dwellcth in you, and be fealed with the Holy Spirit of Promife, which is the earnefl of your inherit- ance/' November 15. Mr. Samuel IVeJley, anfwered, '' I have many remarks to make on your letter, but do not care to fight in the dark, or run my head againft a ftone wall. You need fear no controverfy with me, unlefs you hold it worth while to remove thefe three doubts. — 1, Whether you will own, or difown in 1739-] Rev- JOHN WESLEY. 107 in terms, the neceiTuy of a Tcnfiblc information from God of pardon? If you difown it, the matter is over as to you : if you own it, then, 2. Whether you will not think me diftrafted, to oppofe you with the moft infallible of all proofs, inward feel- ing in yourfelf, and pofitive evidence in your friends, while I myfelf produce neither. 3. Whether you will releafe me from the horns of your dilemma, that I mull either talk without knowledge like a fool, or againft it like a knave ? I conceive neither part ftrikes — for a man may reafonably argue againft what he never felt, and may honeftly .deny what he has felt, to be neceffary to others. " You build nothing on tales, but I do. I fee what is manifeftly built upon them ; if you difclaimf it, and warn poor ihailow pates of their folly and danger, fo much the better. They are counted figns or tokens, means or conveyances, proofs or evidences, of the fenfible information, Szc, calcu- lated to turn fools into madmen, and put them without a jeft, into the condition of Oliver's por- ter.— When 1 hear vifions, &c. reproved, difcou- raged, and ceafed among the new brotherhood, I fhall then fay no more of them ; but till then,. I will ufe my utmoft ftrength which God fliall give me, to expofe thefe bad branches of a bad root. " Such do6lrine as encourages, and abets, fpi- ritual fire-balls, apparitions of the Father, &c. &c, isdelufive and dangerous: but the fenfible infor- mation, Sec. is futh J ti^'O' — I mention not this to- enter into any difpute with vou, for you feem to dilapprove, though not expreisly difclaim them ; but to convince you I am not out of my way, though encountering of wind-mills." This letter appears to me full of fallaty. To give one inftance. Mr. J. WrJIey had faid, the witnefs of the fpirit was the common privilege of believers : that io8 The life of the [i739- that he confidered, joy in the Holy Ghoft, the love of God, and the plerophory of faith, as the witnefs of the fpirit with our fpirit, that we are the fons of God : that the whole of what had been faid on " Vifions, dreams, and balls of fire/' could not, in his opinion, either prove or difapprove the point in queition between them ; that is, vifions, dreams, and balls of fire, were totally foreign to the v;itnefs of the fpirit, for w^hich he was contending. But his brother Samuel changes the term witncfsy and fubflitutes for it, Jeiifihle infor- mat ion \ by which he means, fomething vifible to the fight, or exiiting in the fancy, and then indeed vifions, cS:c. were connected with the queflion ; and he reafons on this fuppofition. But this was a mere fophifm, of which Mr. J. IVeflcy would pro- bably have taken notice had he been writing to a ftranger, or had he forefeen that any one would print the letters after his death. November30. He replied to his brother Samuel^ and tells him, " I believe every Chriftian v/ho has not yet received it, ought to prav for, * The witnefs of God's fpirit with his fpirit, that he is a child of God! In being a child of God, the pardon of his fins is included : there- fore I believe the fpirit of God will witnefs this alfo. That this witnefs is from God^ the very terms imply; and this witnefs I. believe is neceffary for my lalvation. How far invincible ignorance may excufc others, I know not. ** But this you fay, is delufive and dangerous, * Be- caufe it encourages and abets, idle vifions and dreams/ It * encourages' — True; accidentally, but not efi'entially. And that it does this accidentally, or that weak minds may pervert it to an ill ufe, is no reafonable objection againft it : for fo they may pervert every truth in the oracles of God ; more efpeciallv that dangerous doQrine of Joel^ cited by SU 1739-] ^Ev. JOHN WESLEY. 109 St, Peter ; It JJjdl come to pafs in the Lift days, faith Gody Izvill pour out ofmyfpiritupon allflejh : and your Jons and your daughters Jh all pro phcjy, and your young men /ball fee vijions, and your old men Jfjall dream dreams, — Such vifions indeed, as you mention are given up : does it follow that, vifions and dreams in genera', are bad branches of a bad root? God forbid. This would prove more than you defire/' December 13. Mr. Samuel IVrJley aga.in Vvrote to his brother. He now diicuffsd the matter a little more foberly, and kept clofer to the point in de- bate. He fays, *^That you were not a Chriftian be- fore May, in your fehfe, anyone may allow: but have you ever fmce continued fmlefs ? — * Sin has not the dominion !' Do you never then fall ? Or, do you mean no more, than that you are free from prefumptuous fins? If the former, I deny it: if the latter, who difputes ? Your mifapplication of the witnefs of the fpirit is fo thoroughly cleared by Bifnop Bull, that I Ihall not hold a candle to the fun. What portion of love, joy, Sec, God may pleafe to bellow on Chriftians, is in his hand, not cur's, Thofe texts you quote no more prove them generally neceffary, in what you call your imperfect Hate, than, rejoice in the Lord akvaySy contraditls — Blejjed are they that mourn — I had nmch more to fay, but it will keep, if ever i.t fhould be proper." In the beginning of the prefent year, 1739, Mr. J. Wefley replied to his brother. A part of this letter I have not been able to find"^'. In what re- mains, he tells him, " I think Bifliop Bull\ fermon * Mr. Wejley\ papers have been feparated, and parts of them feleded fever al times, I believe for the Magazines, and rorliis oiher publications : for fome years alfo, they have been fo much cxpofed to various perfons, that probably fome have been loll. On thefe accounts they are, as might be expefled, much mangled, and on many fubjeds rendered very defedive. on no The life of the [i739- on the witnefs of the fpirit (againft the witnefs of the fpirit it fliould rather be entitled) is full of grofs perverfions of Scripture ; and manifeft con- tradifiions both to Scripture and experience. I find more perfons, day by day, who experience a clear evidence of their being in a ftate of falvation. But r never faid this continues equally clear in all, as long as they continue in a ftate of falvation. Some indeed have tellilicd, and the whole tenor of their life made their teitimony unexceptionable, that, from that hour thev have felt no agonies at all, no anxious fears, no fenfe of dereliclion. Others have. " But I niuch fear, we begin our difpute at the wrong end. I fear you dijfent from the fundamen- tal Articles of the church of England. I know Bi- fliop Bull does — I doubt you do not hold juftifi- cation by faith alone : if not, neither do you hold, what our Articles teach concerning the extent and guilt of original fm : neither do you feel you rfelf a loft finner j and if we begin not here, we are build- ing on the fand. O may the God of love, if my fifter or you are otherwife minded, reveal even this unto you.'' " Tiverton, March 26. " Dear Jack, " I might as well have wrote immediately after your laft, as now, for any new information that I expected from ray mother: and I might as well let it alone at prefent, for any effed it will have, far- ther than fliewing you, I neither defpife you on the one hand, nor am angry with you on the other. — I am perfuaded you will hardly fee me face to face in this world, though fomewhat nearer than Count Zin%endorf, Charles has at laft told me in terms — He b'^^ieves no more of dreams and vifions than I do. Had you faid fo, I believe I fliould hardly have 1739-] ^Ev. JOHN WESLEY. m have fpent any time upon them ; though I find others credit them, whatever you may do. — You make two degrees or kinds of aflurance : that nei- ther of them are neceffary to a ftate of falvation, I prove thus : " 1. Becaufe multitudes are faved without either. Thefe are of three forts, i. All infants baptifed, who die before aftual Cn. 2. All perfons of a melan- choly, and gloomy conftitution ; who, without a mi- racle, cannot be changed. 3. All penitents, who live a good life after their recovery, and yet never attain to their firft ftate. " 2. The ioweft affurance is an imprelTion from God who is infallible, that heaven fliall be acluallv enjoyed by the perfon to whom it is made. How is this confiftent with fears of mifcarriage ; with deep forrow, and going on the way weeping ? How- can any doubt, after fuch certificate? If they can, then here is an aflurance whereby the perfon who has it is not furc. *' 3. If this be 'efTential to a ftate of falvation, it is utterly impofTible any fhould fall from that ftate finally ; fmce, how can any thing be more fixed, than what Truth and Power has faid he wmH per- form ? Unlefs you will fay of the matter here, as I obferved of the perfon, that there may be aflu- rance wherein the thing itfclf is not certain. We join in love. — I am your affeftionate Friend and Brother, " S. Wesley." April 4. Mr. John JVeJley replied from BriJ'loK " I rejoice greatly, fays he, at the temper with which you now write, and truft there is not only niildnefs, but love in your heart. If fo, you fliall know of this doftrine, whether it be cS God: though perhaps not by my miniftry. « To 112 The life of the l^739' " To this hour you have purfued an Jgnoratio elenchi. Your adbrance and" mine are as different as light from darknefs. I mean, an afTurance that I am now in a {late of faVvation ; you, an affurance that I (hall perfevere therein. The very definition of the term cuts off your fecond and third obfer- vation. As to the firft I would take notice ; i. No kind of affurance, that I know, or of faith, or re- pentance, is effential to their falvation who die in- fants. 2. I believe God is ready to give all true penitents, who fly to his grace in Chrifty a fuller fcnfe of pardon than they had before they fell. I know this to be true of feveral : whether thefe are exempt cafes I know not. 3. Perfons that were of a melancholy and gloomy conftitution, even to fome degree of madnefs, I have known in a moment (let it be called a miracle, I quarrel not) into a ftate of firm lading peace and joy. " My dear brother, the whole queflion turns chiefly, if not wholly, on matter of fact. You deny, that God does now work thefe efPeQs : at leaft, that he works them in fuch a m.anner. I affirm both, be- caufe I have heard thofe facls with my ears, and feen them with my eyes. I have feen, as far as it can be feen, very many perfons changed in a mo- ment, from the fpirit of horror, fear, and defpair, to the fpirit of hope, joy, peace; and from finful defires, till then reigning over them, to a pure de- firc of doing the will of God. Thefe are matters of fa8;, whereof 1 have been, and alraoft daily am, eye or ear witnefs. — This I know, feveral perfons in whom this great change from the power of Sa- tan unto God, was wrought either in fleep, or du- ring a ftrongreprefentation to the eye of their minds of Chrift, either on the crofs, or in glory. This is the fa^f. Let any judge of it as they pleafe. But that fuch a change was then wrought, appears, not from 1739-] Ri:v. JOHN WESLEY. 113 from their flicddiiig tears only, or fighlng, or Ting- ing pfalms, but from the whole tenor of their life, till then many ways wicked ; from that time holy, jull, and good. *^ I will fliew you him that was a lion till then, and is now a lamb : he that was a drunkard, but now excmplarily fober : the whoremonger that was, who now abhors the very lufts of the flefli. Thefe are my living arguments for what I affert, that God now, as aforetime, gives remiiiion of fins and the gift of the Holy Ghoft ; which may be called vi- lions/' April 16. Mr. Samuel IVejley rejoined. " I find brevity has made me obfcure. I argue againfl af- furance in your, or any fenfe, as part of the gofpel- covenant ; becaufe many are faved without it — you own you cannot deny exempt cafes, which is giving up the difpute. Tour affurance^ being a clear im- prelTion of God upon the foul, I fay muft be perpe- tual— rnufl be irreverfible. Elfe it is not alfurance from God, infallible and omnipotent.— You fay the crofs isfirongly reprefented to the eye of the mind. — Do thefe words fignify in plain Englijby the fancy f Inv/ard eyes, ears, and feelings, are nothing toother people. I am heartily forry fuch alloy fliould be found among fo much piety." We now fee this controverfy reduced to two points ; affiirance itfelf, and the manner of receiving it. Mr. John JVcjIey flill maintained his former po- litions, and. May 10, tells his brother, " The gof- pel promifes to you and me, and to our clrlldren, and to ail that are afar off, even as many of thofe whom the Lord our God fhall call, as are not dif- obedient to the heavenly vifion, The 'vciinejs of God's fp'irit zvith their Jpirit^ that -they are the chil- dren of God : that they are 7/^cc% at this hour, all ac- cepted in the beloved : but it witaeifcs not^ that they \'oi,. IL I a! IV ass 114 /The LIFE of thl , [^739' always Jljall he. It is an afl'urance of prefent lalva- tion only ; therefore, not ncceffarily perpetual, nei- ther irreverfible. " I am one of many ^vitne{^es of this matter of fatl, that God does now make good this his promife daily, very frequently during a reprefentation (how made I know not, but not to the outward eye) of Chrifty either hanging on the crofs, or (landing on, the right hand of God. This 1 knmv to be of God, becaufe from that hour the perfon fo affecled is a new creature, both as to his inward tempers and outward life. Old things are pafTed away ; and all things become new." Mr. IVejlcy did not remember, that after this time he received any letter from his brother. But there is one in Dr. PrieJJlcy's coile6lion, figned Sayniid PFeJJcyy and addreffed to his brother John ; in which he tells him, " You yourfelf doubted at hrfi, and inquired, and examined about the cxta.cics ; the matter therefore, is not {o plain as motion to a man walking. But I have my own reafon, as well as your own authority, againft the exceeding clearnefs of di- vine interpofition there. Your followers fall into agonies. I confefs it. They are freed from them, after you have prayed over them. Granted. They fay it is God's doing. I own they fay fo. Dear brother, Where is your ocular dcmonftration ? Where, indeed, the rational proof? Hieir living well afterwards may be a probable and fufhcient ar- gument, that they believe thcmfclves ; but it goes no further." Upon a review of the whole of this controvert,", we may fafely pronounce that the do6lrine of aflu- rance is in no refpeft invalidated, or rendered doubt- ful by any thing Mr. Samuel IVcflcy has faid againIL it. — But the fubjeft will be further confidered in reviewing Mr. Wcfiefi^ do61rines. — Mr. John IVejhj affirmed;^ 1739-] R^v. JOHN WESLEY. 115 affirmed, that he had known feveral perfons, who had received this aflurance of the pardon of lins, in a kind of vifion or dream ; but his brother's ob- jeclions againft the poflibility of his knowmg this, are in general convincing and fatisfatlory. Indeed there could be no evidence of this, but their own tellimony; which, if convinced of their fincerity, Mr. IVcJley was always too much difpofed to be-- lieve. It is true, lie built no fundamental dotirine of the gofpel, on the teftimony perfons gave of their own experience ; but fome of his opinions in mat- ters of lefs importance, and in which he appeared mod: fmgular, v;ere chiefly fupported by fuch kind of evidence, which the goodnefs of his own mind difpofed him to receive as fufficient proof. It is obfervable in the courfe of this difpute, that Mr. Samuel Wejley^ mind was much foftened toward:; his brother ; and the oppofition he at firfl made againft his brother's doftrine, and manner of pro- ceeding, became lefs violent. In the laO: letter he wrote, he fays not a word againft afTurance, though he does againft the manner in which it v/as laid perfons had received it. This feems to imply, that lie no longer oppofed the thing itfclf, when properlV' explained and guarded. At the bottom of the lait letter but one, he addrefled his brother in thefe words, "To AoiTTO:/, d^iXipoc, Tr^ocrivy^iG-^ov tts^i yiy.ooy. k. t. A.* Finally, brethren^ pray ye both for us, that the word cf the Lord fuay have free courfe , and he glorified, even as it is voith you. See 2 Thejf, iii. 1. A ftrange addrefs this, if he believed his two brothers were preaching falfe and dangerous doctrines ! The truth feems to be, that he thought more favourably of their doBrines and methods of proceeding, when he wrote thefe words, than he did when they firft fet out.-— * I fuppofe he refers to his two brothers, John and Charles^ as he has put the verb and noun In the dual number. I 2 Afier iiG The LIFE of the [^739- After peiTcvering fifiy years, through all kinds of difficuky, the two brothers extorted from the pub- lic, the fame favourable opinion. Some years after this period, Mr. //^>/'7o'exprefred his opinion more fully concerning thole agitations, Szc, which attended the conviction of hn under his fermons this fummer at Brijlol. He fuppofes, it is eafy to account for them either on principles of rea- fon, or fcripture. " Firll, fays he, on principles of reafon. For how eafy is it to fuppofe, that a ilrong, lively, and fudden apprehenfion of the heinoufnefs of {m, the wrath of God, and the bitter pains of eternal death, Ihould affed the body as well as the foul, during the prcfcnt laws of vital union; fliould interrupt or difturb the ordinary circulations, and put nature out of its courfe. Yea, we may queilion, whether while this union fubfilb, it be poilible for the mind to be affected in fo violent a degree, without fome or other of thofe bodily fymptoms fol- lowing ? " It is likewife eafv to account for thefe things on principles of fcripture. For when we take a view of them in this light, wc are to add to the conli- deration of natural caufes, the agency of thofe fpirits who ftill excel in ftrength, and as far as they have leave from God, will not fail to torment whom they cannot deftroy ; to tear thofe that arc coTuing to Chrift, It is alfo remarkable, that there is plain fcripture precedent of every fymptom which has lately appeared. So that we cannot allow even the conviclion attended v/ith thefe to be madncjsy with- out giving up both reafon and fcripture ^'■." After eight or nine days abfence, in which he came to London, Mr.. IVeficy returned to Br i Holy and continued his. labours with incrcafing fuccefs. lie * F%79?'s Works, vol. xivr F^'ge 323. "vvas 1739-] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 117 was now attacked hy friends as well as enemies, for his irregularity. To a friend * who had expollu- latcd with him on this fubjeQ, he wrote his thoughts in a letter, of which the following is an extra8;. " As to your advice that I Ihould i'ettle in College, I have no bufincfs there, having now no office, and no pupils. And whether the other branch of your propofal be expedient, 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, vou think, I ought to be Hill ; becaufe otherwife I fhould in- vade another's odice. — You accordingly afls., how it is that I affemble Chriftians who are none of my charge, to fing pfalms, and pray, and hear the fcrip- tures expounded: and think it hard to juftify doing this, in other men's parifhes, upon Catholic prin- ciples ? " Permit m.e to fpeak plainly. If by Catholic principles, you mean any other than y/?/r// //.?/, they weigh nothing with me : I allow no other rule, whether of faith or practice, than the holy fcrip- tures. But on fcriptural principles, I do not think it hard to juftify whatever I do. God in fcripture commands me, according to my power, to inftrucl the ignorant, reform the wicked, confirm the vir- tuous. Man forbids me to do this, in another's pa- rifli ; that is, in effi^^t, not to do it at all ; feeing I have now no parifh of my own, nor probably ever fliall. Whom then ihall 1 hear ? God or man ?= If it be juft to obey man rather than God^ judge you. A difpenfation of the gofpel is committed to mcy- and "Jcoe is mc if I preach not the gofpel. But where fhall I preach it upon the principles you mention ? — Not in any of the chriftian parts, at ieaft, of the habit- * I believe, the late Rev. Ja7nes Harvey^ who had been lijs pu- pil ; and was the author oi T heron 2:ciA Ajpajio \ Meditation?, 1 3 able ii8 The LIFE of the [i739' able earth. For all thefe are, after a fort, divided into paridies. — Suffer me to tell you my principles in this matter. I look upon all the zvorld as my parij/j ; 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 willing to hear, the glad-tidings of falvation. This is the work which I know God has called me to: and fure I am, that his bleffing attends it. Great encourage- ment have I therefore, to be faithful in fuliilling the work he hath given me to do. His fervant I am, and as fiich am employed according to the plain direction of his word, (7.^- / have opportunity^ doing good to all nicyi. And his providence clearly concurs with his word ; which has difengaged me from all things elfe, that I might fingly attend on this very thing, and go about doing good." — We have here a fpecimen of the manner in which Mr. V/eJlcy reafoned, to fatisfy himfelfthat his conduQ was juflifiable be- fore God and man. His arguments are taken from the obligation laid upon him to preach the gofpel, the neceilitv of his fituation, and the fuccefs of his labours. It is evident through the whole of his hif- tory, that, in addition to the two firft confiderations, the fuccefs of his labours in diff'ufing knowledge among the people, and in reforming their manners, bore down ail objeBions in his own mind, againfl the irregularity of his proceeding.-^. About the middle of Auguft, Mr. Wcjley had a Converfation with the Bifliop of Briftol^ on Jujlifica- tion by faith alone, a part of which has been pre- ferved. Bijljop. " Why, Sir, our faith itfelf is a good work, it is a virtuous temper of mind." Wrjley. *■ My Lord, whatever faith is, our church afferts, we are juftified by faith alone. But how it can be called a good work, I fee not : it is the gift of 1739-] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 119 of God; and a gift that prefuppofcs nothing in us, but fin and mifery." B. " How, Sir! Then you make God a tyran- nical Being, if he juftifies fome without any good- nefs in them preceding, and does notjuftify all. If thefe are not juilified on account of fome moral goodnefs in them, why are not thofejuftificd too?" IV. " Eecaufe, my Lord, they refift his Spirit; becaufe they will not come to him that they may have life ; bccaufc they fuffer him not, to work in them both to will and to do. They cannot be faved, becaufe they will not believe." B, '^ Sir, what do you mean by faith ?" JV. " My Lord ; by juflifying faith I mean, a convi6lion wrought in a man by the Holy Ghoft, that Cbrift hath loved him, and given himfelf for him, and tliat through Chrifty his fins are forgiven." B. " 1 believe fome good men have this, but not all. But how do you prove this to be the juftifying faith taught by our church ?" IV, ^^ My Lord, from her Homily on Salvation, where fhe defcribes it thus ; A fiire trufi and confi- dence . Tjbich a man bath in Gody that through the merits of Chrift his fins are forgiven^ ^and he recon- ciled to the favour of God.'* B. " Why, Sir, this is quite another thing." V/, " My Lord, I conceive it to be the very fame." B. *' Mr. IVeJley, I will deal plainly with you. I once thought you, and Mr. JVhitefield^ well-mean- ing men ; but I cannot think fo now. For I have heard more of you : matters of fact, Sir. And Mr. lVhitefi..rld fays in his Journal, * There are promifes flill to be fulfilled in me.' Sir, the pretending to extraordinary revelations, and gifts of the Holy Ghoil, is a horrid thing, a very horrid thing !" IV. */ My Lord, for what Mr. Whitefieldi^ys, Mr. lVhitef,eld, and not I, is accountable. I pretend to I 4 no 120 The life of tiil l_^729' no extraordinary revelations, or gifts of the Koly Ghoft : none but what every Chriftian may receive, and oiiglu to expetl and pray for. But I do not wonder your lordfliip has heard fads aflerted, which if true, would prove the contrary : nor do I wonder, that your lordfhip, believing them true,, fiiould al- ter the opinion you once had of m.e. A quarter of an hour I fpent with your lordfliip before, and about an hour now : and perhaps you have never converfed one other hour with any one who fpakc in my fa- vour. But how many with thole who fpake on the other fide ! fo that your lordfliip could not but think as you do. — But pray, my Lord, what are thole fa6ls you have heard ?" B. " I hear you adminifi:er the facramcnt in your focieties." I'F, *^ My Lord, I never did yet, and I believe never fliall." B, *' I hear too, many people fall into fits in your focieties, and that you pray over them." IV, " I do fo, my Lord, when any fhew by flrong cries and tears, that their foul is in deep anguifli ; I frequently pray to Go:!, to deliver them from it, and our prayer is often heard in that hour/' B. " Very extiaordinary indeed ! Well, Sir, fince you afk my advice, I will give it you very free- ly. You have no buhncfs here. You are not com- mifTioned to preach in this diocefe. Therefore, I advife you to go hence." IV. ** My Lord, my bufinefs on earth is^ to do what good I can. Wherever therefor^, I think I can do mofi; good, there mult I llav, ih long as I think fo. At prefent I think I can do mofl good liere : therefore, here I flay. ** As to my preaching here, a difpenfation of the gofpel is committed to me, and woe is me if I preach not the gofpel, wherever I am in the habitable' world. Your 1739-] R^^'- JOHN WESLEY. 121 Your lordfhlp knows, being ordained a Prieft, by the coinmiffion I then received, I am a Pried of the church univerlal : and being ordained as Fellow of a College, I was not limited to any particular cure, but have an indeterminate commifTion to preach the word of God, in any part of the church of Eng- land. I do not theren:)ve conceive, that in preach- ing here by this comrniiTion, I break any human law. When I am convinced I* do, then it will be time to afk, * Shall I obey God or man ?' But if I fhould be convinced in the mean v/hile, that I could advance the glory of God, and the falvation of fouls in any other place, m.ore than in Brijlol-y in that hour, by God's help, I will go hence ; which till then I may not do.'' Methodifm now began to make a rapid progrefs : focieties were formed, not only in London and Brif- toly but in many adjacent places ; and fome even at a confiderable diftance. The labourers as yet were few, but, believmg they were engaged in the caufe of God againll ignorance and profanenefs which over- fprcad the land, they were indefatigable, fcarcely giving themfelves any reft day or night. The effecls of their preaching made much noife, which at length roufed fome of the fleeping w^atchmen of IJrael \ not indeed to inquire after the truth, and amend their ways, but to crufli thefe irregular proceedings, that they might quietly fleep again. Theie oppo- nents, however, had more zeal againft Methodiun, than knowledge of it. They attacked it w-rh no- thing but idle ftorics, mifreprefentations of faft^i, and grofs falfehoods. They retailed thefe from the pul- pits, and publilhed them from the prefs, w^th little regard to moderation^ charity^ or even decency. This brought more difgrace upon themfelves, than on the Methodifts ; who, finding they were alfailed only \^ ith fuch kind of weapons, conceived a higher opi- nion 122 The life of the [^739' nion of the caufe in which they v/cre engaged, and profited by the attack. A pious and moderate Cler- gyman, perceiving that ilich attacks could do no good to their caufc, puhlifhed a few rules to direct the adailants in their future attempts to (lop the in- creafing innovations, in a difcourfe concerning en- thufialm, or religious delufion. ** A miiiifter of our church, fays he, who may look upon it as his duty to warn h.is pari/ljionersy or an author who may think it necelfary to caution his readers, againft fuch preachcrsy or their dotlrine (that is, enthufiaftic preachers, fuch as he took the Methodiji preachers to be) Ought to be very careful to atl with a chrif- iianfpirity ar.d to advance nothing but with temper^ charilVy and iriitb. — Perhaps the following rules may be proper to be obferved by them. 1. " Not to hLnne perfons for doing that now, which fcripture records holy men of old to have praQifed; lead had they lived in thofe times they fhould have condemned them alfo. 2. " >/7ryever faid in his life. Is it poffible, that a knowledge of the Truth, efpecially of the Truths of the gofpel, and of the doBrines of the church o^ England, can have a tendency, without fome fpecial guard, to lead people into enihujiafoh ox 1739-] R^v. JOHN WESLEY. 127 or defpair ? And is it poflible, that one \\ ho is fet for the defence of the gofpel and of the church, can alfert this? Enihufiajniy as the -word is com- monly ufed, is fo vague a term, that I will not in- quire what idea the do6lor affixed to it ; or whe- ther he introduced it merely for the found ? By defpair, I fuppofe he meant a Itate of mind confe- quent on repentance of paft tranigreffions of the law of God. But can the truths of the gofpel, or the do6lrines of the church, have any moral influence on the minds of men, without producing in the firll inftance this fort of repentance ? Or, do they leave men to defpair^ when brought to repent of their fins ? Certainly, he who maintains this, is igno- rant of the gofpel ; and inftead of propagating it, or defending the church, is, in flat oppofition to both, defending the reign of ignorance and fm over the minds of the people. Mr. jD — having requeRed a fliort account of what had been done in King/wood^ and of the build- ing intended for a fchool ; Mr. IVcJlcy, on his re- turn from Exeter, wrote to him as follows : " Few perfons have lived long in the Well of Engl and y who have not heard of the Colliers of Kingfzvood, a people famous from the beginning hi^ therto, for neither fearing God nor regarding man : fo ignorant of the things of God, that they feemcd but one remove from beafts tliat pcrifh ; and there- fore utterly without the defire of inftruciion, as well as without the means of it. " Many laft winter ufed tauntingly to f iv of Mr. Whitefield, If he uoill convert heathens, Z'^hy does 7tot he go to the Colliers of King f wood? In the fpring he did fo. And as there were thoufands who reforted to no place of public worflaip, he v/ent after them into their own wilder nefs, to feek and five that zvhich was loft. When he was called awav, others went into the highzvays and hedges, to compel them to come in. And 128 The LIFE of the ['739' And by the grace of Cod, their labour v;as not in vain. The Icene is already changed. Kingfwood does not nov/, as a year ago, refound with curfing and blafphemy. It is no more filled with drunken- nefs and uncleanneis, and the idle diverfions that na- turally lead thereto. It is no longer full of wars and fightings, of clamour and bitternefs, of wrath and envyings. Peace and love are there. Great numbers of the people are mild, gentle, and eafy to be entreated. They do not cry, neither' Jlrroc^ and hardly is their voice heard in the ftrects ; or indeed in their own wood; unlefs when they are at their uiual evening diverfion, finging praife unto God their Saviour. ** That their children too might know the things which make for their peace, it was fome time fince propofed to build a houfe in Kingfivood ; and af- ter many forefeen and unforefeen difficulties, in June laft, the foundation was laid. The ground made choice of was in the middle of the wood, be- tween the London and Bath roads, not far from that called Two-Mile-Hilly about three meafured miles from BriJIoL " Here a large room was begun for the fchool, having four fmall rooms at either end, for the fchool- mafters (and perhaps, if it Ihould pleafe God, fome poor children) to lodge in. Two perfons are ready to teach, as foon as the houfe is ready to receive them, the flicll of which is nearly finifhed ; fo that it is hoped the whole will be completed in ipring, or early in the fummer. " It is true, although the matters require no pay, yet this undertaking is attended with great cxpcnce. But let him \\\?iX.feedeth the young ravens fee to that. He hath the hearts of all men in his hand. If he put it into your heart, or into that of any of your friends, to adiil in bringing this work to pcrfe8ion, in 1740.1 Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 129 in this world look for no recompence ; but it fliall be remembered in that day when our Lord fhall fay, Inafmuch as yc did it unto the leajl of thcje my brethren, ye did it unto me,'' Before the Methodijls began to preach in Kingf^ woody the Colliers were a terror to the whole coun- try round. But the change produced by their preaching, was fo great and fudden, as to excite univerfal attention and admiration. And fuch was the ftate of religion and morality at this time through- out the nation, that, among a vaft majority of the people, a fimilar change in their tempers and principles of a8;ion, was notlefs neceflary to make them Chrif- tians, though the neceflity of it might be lefs appa- rent. And what was done in Kingfzvood fhews what might have been done every where, had the mini- fters of the gofpel been fuch men as their office re- quired them to be, and applied themfelves to the duties of it with the fame diligence, that men are obliged to ufe in following their temporal affairs ; which certainly is the leaft that is required of a mi- nifter of the gofpel. How will they meet Jefus Cbrift without fliame, confufion, and confcioiis guilt, who have filled the facred office of inftruQing the people in the way of falvation, and have fuffered them, to perijb for lack of knozvledgcf The time will come when fuch men, of whatever denomination among Chriftians, will be fully convinced, it had been better for them to have been common porters, than to have occupied the higheft paftoral offices in the church of God ! April 1740. The rioters in Brifiol, who had long difturbed the Metbodijhy being emboldened by im- punity, were fo increafed as to fill, not only the court, but a confiderable part of the ftreet. The Mayor fent them an order to difperfe : but they fet him at defiance. At length he fent feveral of his Vol. n. K officers. igo The life of the [1740. officers, "who took the ringleaders into cuHody. The next day they were brought into court, it being the time of the quarter-feflions. There they received a fevere reprimand, and the Methodifts were mo- lefted no more. Dilputes iiill continued in the fociety at Fetter- LaJte. Mr. IVejley had been in London leveral times without being able to put an end to them : and a great majority of the fociety were more and more eftranged from him. He again came to London in the beginning of June, and laboured with them till the 20th of July ; when, finding it was to no pur- pofe, he read a paper, the fubftance of which was as follows : " About nine months ago, certain of you began to fpeak contrary to the doftrine we had till then received. The fum of what you afferted is this : 1. That there is no fuch thing as vccak faith : that there is no jullifying faith, wdiere there is ever any doubt or fear ; or where there is not, in the full fenfe, a new, a clean heart. 2. That a man ought not to ufe thofe ordinances^ of God, which our church terms means of grace, before he has fuch a faith as excludes all doubt and fear, and implies a new, a clean heart. 3. You have oficn affirmed, that to fearcb the Jcr if) lures, to pray, ox to communicate, before we have this faith, is tofeekfalvation by zvorks ; and till ihefe works are laid alide, no man can receive faith. " I believe thefe aflcrtions to be flatly contrary to the word of God. I have warned you hereof again and again, and befought you to turn back to the law and to the tcflimoiiy. I have borne with you long, hoping you would turn. But as I find you more and more corinrnied in the error of your ways, nothing now remains, bur that I ffiould give you up to God. You that are of the fame judgment follow nie." — " I then, adds Mr. JVrJJey, without faying any 1740.] Rev. JOHN WESLfiY. ,131 any thing more, withdrew, as did eighteen or nine- teen of the fociety." July 23. " Our little company met at the Fotin^ dery, inftead of Fetter-Lane, About twenty-five of our brethren God hath given us already, all of whom think and fpeak the fame thing ; feven or eight and forty likewife, of the fifty women that were in band, defired to cafl; in their lot with us." We here fee Mr. IFeJley feparating himfelf from the Moravian brethren, by whom he had been in- ftrufted in the gofpel method of attaining prefent falvation. The controverfy' was about the ordi- nances, as means of grace, &c. He thought the ma- jority in an error, faw they were daily making pro- felytes, and that the difpute itfelf was eating out the good which had been done among them. He therefore thought it no fchifm, or breach of charity to depart from them, and divide the fociety, as a means of prefcrving the reft.— But Mr. JVeJley did not charge the whole body of the Moravians, with the notions above mentioned, but Molther in par- ticular, who had occafioned the difputes. Peter Bobler, however, many years after, in a private let- ter, denied that Moliber c\cvh(^\d the opinions Mr. /;^ that I know. — Pie has raifed from the Hones, one to fit among the princes of his people. — He is my aftonilhmcnt. — Hov/ is God's power (hewn in weaknefs. You can have no idea, what an attach- ment I have to him. He is highly favoured of the Lord. The firft time I made him expound, expetl* ing little from him, I fat over againft him, ctnd thought, what a power of God muff be with him, to make me give any attenfion to him» But before \\t had gone over one fifth p^art, any one that had feen me, would have thought I had been made of -wood or ftone, fo quite immoveable I both felt and looked. His power in prayer is very extraordinary. —To deal plainly, I could either talk or write fof an hour about him. — The fociety goes on well here. — Live affured of the moft faithful and fincere friendfhip of your unvv^orthy filler in Chriji Jejus.'* From this time the number of laymen employed, gradually increafed, in proportion to the increafe of the focieties and the want of preachers ; the clergy, generally {landing at a diftance from a plan of fuch jFregularity, and fo much labour. The objeftions that have been made againll erriploying lay-preachers, and what may be fairly laid in their defence, will be confidered in another part of this work. In June, Mr. Wrjlcy took a jotirney as far as Nottinghayny where he preached at the market-place, to an immenfe multitude of people, fie fet Out for London^ and read over in the way Luther^ Comment on the EpiRle to the Galatians, He pafles a moft fevere fentence on Luther^ for de- crying Reajon^ right or wrong, as an enemy to the gofpel of Chriji ; and for fpeaking blafphemoujly of good works, and the law of God. The feverity of this fentence perhaps arofe from a mifconception of 1741.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 141 of the fcopc and defign of Luther s words. That Lutbcr, fomctimcs fpake incautiouflvs and even rafh- ly, wc may readily admit, and that his words, on iuch occafions may be cahly underftood in a fenfe he did not intend; which was probably the cafe in the pafTages to which Mr. JVrfley refers. But fomc allowance is to be made for Lutber'a * fituation, the errors * Martin Lrithery the celebrated Ger??ian reformer, was born ivl Saxony^ in 1483. He ftudied at Erford, being defigned for a civilian. But an awful cataftrophe made fuch an impreflion on his mind, that he refolved to retire from the world. As he was walking in the fields with a fellow ftudcnt, they were ftruck by lightning, Luther to the grouiid, and his companion dead by his fide. He then entered into the order oi Augjiftine hermits at Erf^rd, From this place he removed to Wirtemburg, being appointed by the Eledor o^Saxojzy^ profeflbr of Theology and Philofophy in the uni- verfity jull founded there by that prince. In 1512, he was fent.to Rome, to plead the caufe of fome convents o-f his order, who had quarrelled v/ith their vicar-gencral : this gave him an opportunity of obferving the corruptions of the pontifical court, and the de- bauched lives of the dignitaries of the church ; and probably gave him the firft difgud to the Romifh ecclefiaftical government ; ef- pecially as he had engaged in the monaftic life from motives of ge- nuine piety. Upon his return to Ulrtemburg^ it was remarked that he grew unufually penfive, and more auftre in his life and conver- fation : he likcwife read and expounded the facred writings in lec- tures and fermons ; and threv/ new lights on obfcure pafTages. The minds of his auditors being thus prepared, a favourable occafion foou. olFcred for carrying into execution his grand plan of reform. In 1517, Pope Z(fo X. publifhed his indulgencies. 4/^^?v, archbifhop of Mentz, and Magdehurgh, was commiluoner for Qtrmany^ and was to have half the fum raifed in that couijtry : Tetzel, a Dominican friar, was deputed to colled, v/ith others of his order, for Saxony ; and he carried his zeal fo far, as to declare his commiiiion was fo extenfive, that by purchafing indulgencies, not only ail paft fins, but thofe intended in future, were to be forgiven. Luther beheld his fuccefs with great concern, and began to preach openly againft fuch vile pradices. And thus began the Reformation in Germc7y, which Luther carried on with aftonifhing fuccefs, through a train of difficulties and dangers, that, to human reafon appeared infuper- able. He died in 1556, aged 63. Z/^/^j-'? friends and adherents were firll called P/'c^y^^/v//, in 1529, at a Diet held, at Spres, in which 142 The LIFE of tiik C^74^'^ errors he had to oppofe, and the provocations he received. He mufl; be more than human, who can walk fteadily in the middle path of moderation, while a hod of enemies arc pufhing and goading him on every fide. June 18. Being at Oxford, Mr. IVcJIey inquired concerning the exercifes previous to tlie degree of Batchelor in Divinity, And though he certainly was well qualified to pafs through the various gradations of academical honours, yet he laid afide the thought of proceeding further in them.-^Havnig vifited Lon- don, he was again at Oxford in the beginning of July ; and on the fixth being in the college-librarv, " I took down, fays he, by miilake, the works of Epif- copius^y which, opening on an account of tlie vSynod ' of which feveral Princes of the Empire, and fome Imperial cities pro' fejied againll the attempts of the Ro-r7ia7i'!jis to obtain a decree, that no change ihould be made in their religion. Tlie Cal-cinijh have commonly been called the Reformed churches. * Si7no7i EpifcopiiiSi was born at Amfierdam in I5B3. He wa? one of the moft learned men of the 17th century, and chief fup- porter of the' Armiiiiati doctrine. In 1612, he was chofen divinity profefTor at Leyden. in the midft of the Arminian controverfy j which, though it had begun in the Univerfities, foon flevv to the pulpits, from whence it fpread and inflamed the people. In 1610, the ytds after Arminius died, his friends, who hp.d cfpoufed his do than othei- people, when they \i^\t tlie power of perfecuting and dif- ftretfiiig thofe who oppofc them, or differ from them in opinion i I low highly ought we to eiloem the tri^e minilkrs of Qhnji^ who iii£W' a n:o:c Chviitian teiiiper ! judge ^44 The LIFE of the [i74*' judge of them. His belief on this fubje8: was plainly this; i. Without experience of prefent fal- vation from our fins, the gofpel has no faving in- fluence on our hearts : 2. Such experience can have no exiftence without inward feeling, that is a con- fcioufnefs of it : 3. That we muft judge of the reality of our experience by the word of God, to which it will anfwer as face anfwers to face in a glafs, if it be of God ; otherwife it is mere imagi- nation, a creature of our own that will deceive us. The following queries concerning the Meihodijh^ were fent, 1 apprehend, from Holland or Germany to fome perfon in E^ngland, The anfwer to each is in Mr. JVefley's, hand-writing; and the date prefixed is 1741. But if this be the true date, I conjetlure, from the anfwer to the fourth and fifth query, that it muft have been very early in this year, before Mr. JVeJJey and Mr. JVhitefield feparated on the do8:rine of predeftination. However, not being able to afcertain the date exa8.1y, I have referred them to this place. Oueft. 1. Whether the number of the Mcthodifts is confiderable, among the ftudents and learned men? Anfw. " The number of the Methodifts is not confiderable, among the ftudents and learned men." 2. Whether at Oxford^ where the Methodifts firft fprung up, there be ftill many of them among the fcholars ? " There are very few of them now left, among the fcholars at Oxford," 3. Whether they are all of one mind, and whe- ther they have the fame principles ? Efpecially, 4. Whether thofe Methodifts that are Itill at Oxford, approve of the fentiments and attions of Mr. White- field, and Meffrs. Wefleys, '' They i>4iO Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 145 " They are all of the fame principles with the church of England^ as laid down in her Articles and Homilies: and, 4. Do accordingly approve of the fentiments of Mr. JVhitefieldy and Mr. Wejley^ and of their publifliing them elfewhere, fince they have been fliut out of the churches." 5. How they came to revive thofe do6lrines, hi- therto neglefted by the clergy of the church of England^ of predeftination, the new birth, and juf- tification by faith alone ? And 6. Whether they have the fame from the Moravian brethren /* " Predeftination is not a doftrine taught by the Meihodijh, But they do teach that men muft be born again, and that we are faved through faith :" and 6. " The latter of thefe they learned from fome of the Moravian brethren ; the former by read- ing the New Teftament. 7. Whether they be orthodox* in other do6lrinal points ; and whether they lead an unblameable Chrif- tian life ? " They openly challen^ all that hear them to anfwer thofe queftions, Which of you convinceth me of fin f Or, of teaching any doctrine contrary to the fcripture ? And the general accufation againft them is, that they are righteous overmuch." 8. Whether they ftriftly regulate themfelves ac- cording to the rule and difcipline of the Moravian brethren \ except that they ftill keep and obferve the outward worfliip according to the church of E^ig- * Some perfons have thought this word very equi'vocat, and dif- ficult to be explained. A late celebrated public fpeaker among the Friends, once told his audience at Warrivgtony that he knew noc hovv^ to explain the word orthodox, except by another little word of three fyllables, uppermofi ! In this fenfe the Methodifls have .never yet been orthodox ; and it is generally fuppofed there are but few among theiji who earneftly defire to be fo. Vol. II. L "They 146 The life or the [1741^ " They do not regulate themfelvcs according to the difcipline of tlie Moravians ^ but of the EngliJJj church." 9. Whether they do any real good among the common people ? " Very many of the common people among whom they preach, were profane fwearers, and now fear an oath ; were gluttons, or drunkards, and are now temperate ; were whoremongers, and are now chafle ; were fervants of the Devil, and are now fervants of God/' 10. Why the Bifliops do not cffeQually inhibit them, and hinder their field and flreet preaching? • " The Bifhops do not inhibit their field and ftreet preaching ; 1. Becaufe there is no law in Eng- land againft it : 2. Becaufe God docs not yet fuffer them to do it without law/' 11. VvHiether the Archbifliop of Canterbury is fa- tisfied with them ; as we are told ? " The Archbifliop of Canterbury is not fatisfied with them ; efpecially fmce Mr. Molther^ in the name of the Moravian church, told his Grace their difapprobation of them ; and in particular of their -field preaching." 12. Whether their private aiTcmblies, or focie- lies are orderly and edifying ? ** Their private aflemblies, and focictics are orderly, and many fay they find them edifying." 13. What opinion the Pre(byterians, and parti- cularly Dr. IVatts, has of them ? " Mod of the Prefbyterians, and moll of all other denominations, are of opinion, much reli- gion hath made them mad." 14. Whether there are any Methodifis among the epifcopal clergv of the church o{ Englcii\i f *^ Mr. Whiiefieldy HutchinSy Rcbjony and the two Meffrs. IVeJIeySy and feveral otlicrs, arc pricfls of the Epifcopal church of En->iandJ' The 1742.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY- 147 The modefty and opennefs with which Mr. JVef- ley anfwered the Queries, is ftriking and pleafing. His mind feems to have been wholly free from any defire to exaggerate or magnify the things of whicU he fpake. The labourers as yet being few, Mr. IVejley ftaid but a fliort time in any one place, being almoft con- tinually travelling between Zo;/^/o;/, BriJiol,dindi IVales-, the laft of which he vifited twice in the autumn, in London^ they had long been difturbed in their places of worfliip by a riotous mob ; but on the laft dav of this year. Sir John Ganfon called upon him, and faid, " Sir, you have no nee^ to fuffer thefe riotous mobs to moleft you, as they have done long. I, and all the other Middle/ex magiftrates have orders from above, to do you juftice whenever you apply to us." Two or three weeks after they did apply. Juftice was done, though not with rigour: and from that time the Methodifis had peace in Loitdon, Feb. 15, 1742. Many met together at Brijlol^ to confuit with Mr. IVefley concerning a proper me- thod of paying the public debt, contrafted by build- ing. Nearly three years before this period, a houfe had been built liere, called the 'New Room-, and not- withftanding the fubfcriptions and public colleftions made at the time to defray the expence, a large debt remained upon it. And it was now agreed, 1. That every member of the focietywho was able, fliould con- tribute a penny a week. 2. That the v.'hole fociety fliould be divided into little companies or claffesy about twelve in each clafs : and, 3. That one perfon in each ciais, fliould receive the contribution of the reft, and bring it to the ftewards weekly. In March, the fame thing was done in London^ though for a different purpofe. " I appointed, fays Mr. IVeJJey, feveral earneft and fenfible men to meet me, to L z whom 148 The life of the [1742- whom I fliewed the great difficuhy I had long found, of knowing the people who defired to be under my care. After much difcourfe, they all agreed, there could be no better Vv-ay to come to a fure, thorough knowledge of each perfon, than to divide them into clafies like thofe at Brijioly under the infpe6lion of thofe in whom I could moft con- fide. This was the origin of our claffes in Lwdon, for which 1 can never fufficientlv praife God: the unfpeakable ufefulnefs of the inftitution, having ever fince been more and more manifeft." The perfon appointed to vifit and watch over thefe little companies, or claifes, was called the leader of that clafs to which he received his ap- pointment. Mr. IVeJley called the leaders together, and defired that each would make a particular in- quiry into the behaviour oF thofe he faw weekly. They did fo ; and many diforderly walkers were dete6led. Some were turned from the evil of their ways, and fome put away from the fociety. The reft faw it with fear, and rejoiced unto God with reverence. — At firft the leaders vifited each perfon at his own houfe : but this was foon found inexpedient. It required more time than the leaders had to fpare ; many perfons lived with mafters, mii- treffes, or relations, where they could not be fo vifited ; and where mifunderftandings had arifen be- tween perfons in the lame clafs, it was more con- venient to fee them face to face. On thefe, and fome other confiderations, it was agreed, duit each leader fliould meet his clafs all together, once a w^eck, at a time and place moft convenient for the whole. He began and ended the meeting with iing- ing and prayer ; and fpent about an hour in con- verfing v/ith thofe prefent, one by one. By lhi^ means, a more full inquiry was made into the be- haviour of every perfon ; advice or reproof wa^ given as need required; mifuiidci ilaiidings were re- moved.- i742.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 149 moved, and brotherly-love promoted. " It can fcarcc be conceived, fays Mr. Wcjley^ what advan- tages have been reaped from this little prudential regulation. Many now experienced that Chriftian fcllowfhip, of which they had not fo much as an idea before. They began to hear one another s burdens^ and naturally to care for each other s welfare. And as they had daily a more intimate acquaintance with, fo they had a more endeared affe6lion for each other." Mr. Wcfley further adds, " Upon retle8:ion, 1 could not but oblerve, this is the very thing which -was from the beginning of Chriflianity. In the earl left times, thofe whom God had fent forth, f reached the gofpel to every creature. And the hi (y.KpoocToclt the body of hearers, w^ere moftly either Jews or Heathens, But as foon as any of thefe •were fo convinced of the truth, as to forfake fin, and fcek the gofpel of falvation, they immediately joined them together, took an account of their names, advifed them to watch over each other, and met thefe nccrr^x^^u^^oi^ catechumens, as they were then called, apart from the great congregation, that they might inftruB, rebuke, exhort, and pray with them, and for them, according to their feveral ne- ceffities." As the people increafed, and focieties were multiplied, Mr. JViiP.ey found it neceflary to add fome further regulations, to afcertain who belonged to the fociety, and to prevent improper perfons from impofing upon him. To every perfon therefore, of whole ferioufnefs, and good converfation he had no doubt, he gave a ticket, on w'hich was printed a ■fliort portion of fcripture, and on which he wrote the date and the perfon's name. He who received a ticket was by that made a member of the fociety, and immediatelv appointed to meet in fome one of the cialfes ; and ilus method of admitting members L 3 was 150 The LIFE of the [1742* was adopted throughout the whole Methodiji con- nexion. Thefe tickets, therefore, or Tejfcr^y as the ancients called them, being of the fame force with the iTTig-oXoii o-usrarty.ai, commendatory JetttrSy men- tioned by the Apoftle, introduced thofe who bore them, into fellowfhip one with another, not only in one place, but in every place where any might happen to come. As they w^ere common to all the members of the focieties every where, fo a ftraneer in any place, who held one, was immediately re- ceived as a brother, and admitted to their private affemblics. But left any improper perfon fliould be fuffered to continue in the fociety, and bring difgrace on the whole body by bad condu61, it was agreed that thefe tickets fliould have no force for a longer time than three months. Mr. Wejley de- termined, that, where he could ftay a few days, he would fpeak with every member of the fociety once a quarter, and change the tickets ; and that the preachers appointed to a8; as his qlfiftantSy fliould every where do the fame. By this means the tickets w^ere changed four times in a year ; and this VvTts called vifiting the claffes. Mr. IVejley obferves, " By thefe (tickets) it was eafily diftinguifned, when the fociety were to meet apart, who were members of it, and who not. Thefe alfo fupplied us wiih a quiet and inoifenfive method of removing any dif- ordcrly member , he has no new ticket at the next quarterly vifitation, and herebv it is immediately known, that lie is no longer of the community." April 9. They had the firft watch-night in Lon- don. ^' We commonly choole,-favs Mr. Wefln\ for this folemn fervice, the Friday night neareft the full moon, either before or after, that thofe of the con- gregation who live at a diilance may have light to their fcvcral homes. The fervjcc begins at half an hour pafl eight, and continues till a little after mid- night. 1742.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 151 night. We have often found a peculiar blefllng at thefe feafonjs. There is generally a deep awe upon the congregation, perhaps in fome meafure owing to the filence of the night : particularly in Tinging the hymn, with which we commonly conclude : *' Hearken to the folemn voice ! The awful midnight cry, Waiting fouls rejoice, rejoice, And feel the Bridegroom nigh.*' Having received a letter preffing him to go with- out delay into LeicejhrJIjtrey he fet out. " The next afternoon, fays Mr. We/ley^ I ftopt a little at New- port-Pagnelly and then rode on till I overtook a fe- rious man, with whom I immediately fell into con- verfation. He prefently gave me to know what his opinions were : therefore I faid nothing to contra- dift them. But that did not content him: he was quite uneafy to know * Whether I held the do6lrine of the decrees, as he did.' But I told him over and over, we had better keep to praftical things, leaft wc fhould be angry at one another. And fo we did for two miles, till he caught me unawares, and dragged me into the difpute before I knew where I was. He then grew warmer and warmer : told me, I was rotten at heart, and fuppofed I was ovit o{ John //^^'/r^-'s followers. I told him, No, I am John IVefley himfelf. Upon which he appeared, " hiiprov'ijum afprls veluil qui fent thus anguem Prejjit As one zvho had unazvares trodden on a fnake : and would gladly have run away outright. But being the better mounted of the two, I kept clofe to his fide, and endeavoured to fiiew him his heart, till we came into the ftreet of Northampton." Mr. JVijley had now a call to extend Ins labours further North, than he had hitherto done. John L 4 Ncljon^ 152 The life of the L^H'^' Nel/on, a Mafon of Birjlaly in Torkjhire^ had been in London fome time, and heard the gofpel at the Foundcry. His underftanding was informed, his con- fcience awakened, and feeling the whole energy of the truths he heard delivered, he received that peace, •which the Apoftle fpeaks of, as the fruit of juftifying faith. He received the knowledge of Jalvation by the remiffion of his fins. He had full employment and large wages in London^ but he found a conftant inclination to return to his native place. He did fo ; and his relations and acquaintance foon began to inquire what he thought of this new faith, which, by means of Mr. Ingham^ had occafioned much noife and talk in T^orkfhire. John told them point blank, this new faith, as they called it, was the old faith of the gofpel : and related to them his own expe- rience. This was foon noifed abroad ; and more and more came to inquire concerning thefe ftrange things. Some put him upon the proof of the great truths fuch inquiries naturally led him to mention. And thus he was brought unawares to quote, ex- plain, compare, and enforce feveral parts of fcrip- ture. 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. His word was foon made a bleffing to the people : many believed his report, and were turned from darknefs to light, and from the pov;er of .fin and Satan unto the living God. Mr. Ingham hearing of this came to Birftal, inquired into the fafts, talked with John himfelf in the clofeft manner, both touching his knowledge and experience. The refult was, he encouraged him to proceed, and invited him to come, as often as con- venient, \o any of thofe places where he himfelf had been, and fpeak to the people as God fliould enable him. 1742.] Rtv. JOHN WESLEY. ^53 him. Things being in this ftate, John Neljon^ invited Mr. Wejley to come down amongfl: them ; and May 26, he arrived at BlrftaL Here he found a Lay-^ Preacher who, undeniably, had done much good. Many of the greateli: prolllgates in all the country were now changed. Their blafphemies were turned to praife. Th^^ v;ho]e town wore a new face: fuch .a change did God work by the artlefs teftimony of one plain man ! Mr. IVcjley was fo fully convinced .of the great defign of a preached gofpel, that if fmners were truly converted to God, and a decent order preferved in hearing the word, he thought it a matter of lefs confequdnce, whether the inftru- ment of the good done, w^as a LaymaUy or regularly ordained. And if a regularly ordained preacher did no good, and a Layman by preaching did ; it •was eafy to jud,G;e which was afting mod agreeably to the defign of the gofpel, and mod for the be- nefit of fociety. It is probable that fuch refle8:ions as thefe had arifen in his mind on the fad before him; and his judgment was confiriiied by repeated fa6ls of the fame kind which occurred. And thus he was induced to make ufe of the labours of Lay- meuy on a more extenfive fcale than had hitherto been allowed. After preaching at Birjial, he v/ent forward to Newcaftle upon 7yne, Having wdtneffed the fuccefs of the gofpel among the Colliers at King/wood^ ho: had long had a defire to vifit thofe about Nezvcajile, and now accompli (lied his wifli ; at leall in part, and made way for future vifits. He was not known to any perfon in Nczvcaftle ; and therefore he, and John Taylor, who travelled with him, put up at an inn. C3n w^alking through the town, after taking Ibme reFrefhment, he obferves, ** 1 was furprifed: fo much drunkennefs, curfmg, and fwearing, even from the mouths of little children, do I never re- member 154 The LIFE of the [1742. member to have feen and heard before in fo fliort a time. Sunday, May 30. At feven in the morn- ing, he walked down to Sandgatt\ the poored and moft contemptible part of the town, and {landing at the end of the ftreet wnth John Taylory began to fing the hundredth pfalm. " Three or four people, fays he, came out to fee what was the m.atter, who foon increafed to four or five hundred. I fuppofe there might be twelve or fifteen hundred before I had done preaching : to whom I applied thofe folemn. words. He was wounded for our tranfgrejjlons, he was bruijedfor our iniquities; ihe chajlijemcnt of our feace was upon hiniy and by his ft ri pes we are healed. ** Obferving the people when I had done, to ft and gaping and ftanng upon me with the moft profound adonifhment, I told thenij If you defire to Know who 1 am, my name is John V/efley. At five in the evening, with God's help, I defign to preach here again. — At five, the hill on which 1 de- signed to preach, was covered from the top to the bottom, I never fa w fo large a number of people together, either in Moorficldsy or at Kenningion-Covi- nion. I knew it was not poflible for the one half to hear, although my voice was then ftrong and clear; and I ftood fo as to have them all in view, as they were ranged on the fide of the hill. The word of God which 1 fet before them was, / will heal their bael:jli dingy I will love them freely. After preaching, the poor people were ready to tread me urider foot, out of pure love and kindnefs. I was fome time before I could poffibly get out of the prefs. I then went back another way than \ came. But feveral were got to our inn before me ; by whom I was Tchemeiitly importuned to Itav with them, at leall a few daws : c>r however, oue day more. But 1 could not confent ; riaviiig given my v.'ord to be at Birffaly with God's Iccivc, on Tuefday night." Monday 1742.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 155 Monday 31. Mr. JVeJley left Nezvcaftle, and preached at various places as he returned through TorkJJjire. June 5. He rode for Epzvorthy in IJn~ colnjfjire^ the place ofhis nadvity. " It being many years, fays he, fmce I had been in Epzvortb 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 afhamed of my acquaintance. But an old fervant of my father, with two or three poor women, prefently found me out. I ails^ed her, Do vou 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.' 1 afl^ed, have you then peace w^ith God ? Do you know that he has forgiven your fms ? 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, he offered his afiidance to Mr. Romley the curate, either bv preaching or reading prayers. But this was not accepted. In the afternoon, the church was ex- ceedingly full, a report being fpread, that Mw^fVef- ley was to preach. After fermon, John Taylor flood in the church-yard, and gave notice, as the people came out, that Mr. JVeJley^ not being permitted to preach in the church, defigned to preach there at fix o'clock. " Accordingly at fix, fays he, I came, and found fuch a congregation as, I believe, Epwortb never faw^ before. I ilood near the eaft end of the church, upon my father's tombftone, and cried, The kingdom of heaven is not meats and drinks ; hut righte- pufnefsy and peace y and joy in the Holy Ghojl," On the 9th, lie tells us, " I rode over to a neigh- bouring town, to wait upon a juftice of peace, a man of candour and underftanding ; before whom, i was informed, their angry neighbours had carried a whole waggon-load of thefe new heretics. But when 5^ The LIFE of the [^742 \vlicii he an<.ed, * What they had done ?' There was a deep iilence ; for that was a point their conduc- tors had forgot. At length one faid, * Why they pretend to be better than otiier people : and be- sides they pray from morning to night/ Mr. S. afked, * But have they done nothing befides?' Yes, Sir, faid an old man : An't pleafe your worfhip, they have convarted my wife. Till flie went among them, file had fuch a tongue ! And now flie is as quiet as a lamb.' Carry them back, carry them back, replied thejullice, and let them convert all the fcolds in the town." On the 13th, Mr. Wejley preached for the lafl time at Epworth, during his prefent vifit, and from thence went to Sheffield. Here he ftaid and preached a few days, and then Vv^ent on to Donnington-Park^ and found Mifs Cowper^ whom he had called to fee in his way to 'Torkjhirey was gone to reft. Here he converfed with Mr. Simpfony who had gone amOngft the brethren. *^ And of this I am fully perfua,ded, fays Mr. IVejIeyy tliat whatever he docs, is in the uprightncfs of his heart. But he is led iiito a thoufand miftakes by one wrong principle; iIjC making inward imp rejfioiis his rule of a61ion, and not the ivriltcn word: which many ignorandy or wickedly, afcribe to the body of the people called Methodifts." — Mere we may obfervc, as in an in- ilance before mentioned, Mr. Wejley wholly con- demns the principle of making inzvard inipreffions the rule of conduct, independent of, or feparate from, the written word of God. Mr. IVefley left Donuingfon- Parky and preaching at various places in the wav, on the 28th, came to Brijlol. From hence he vifited IValeSy and after- wjuds divided his labours chiefly, between London and Brifioly and fome adjacent focietics, till the be- ginning of Xovembcr, when he fet out for the Xorrh. 1742.] Rev. JOHx\ WESLEY. 157 North. On the 13th, he came to Nezvcajile. Here his brother Charles had been preaching fome weeks before, with great fuccefs, and a fociety was aheady formed. The next morning Mr. IVeJley began to preach at five o'clock, a thing unheard of in thefe parts, till he introduced the praftice ; which he did every where, if there was any probability that a few perfons could be gathered to hear him. On the 18th, he fays, " I could not but obferve, the dif- ferent manner wherein God is pleafed to work in different places. The grace of God flows here, with a wider ftream than it did at firlt either at Brif- tol, or King fwood. But it does not fink fo deep as it did there. Few are thoroughly convinced of fin, and fcarce any can witnefs, that the Lamb of God has taken away their fins." — I fear this judgment of the (late of the people, was not founded on the moft fatisfatlory evidence. His brother had been here, who did not encoura::,e agitations : and he had hitherto feen lefs of them under his preaching, than he had been accuftomed to fee in other places. But however this may be, for I do not determine, he formed a different opinion fome days after. *' I never faw, fays he, a work of God in any other place, fo evenly and gradually carried on. It con- tinually rifes ftep by ftep. Not fo much feems to be done at any one time, as hath frequently been done at BriJIol or London : but fomething at every time. It is the fame with particular fouls. I faw none in the triumph of faith, which has been fo common in other places. But the believers go on caLm and ftcady. Let God do as feemeth him good." Dec. 20. Having obtained a piece of ground, forty yards in length, to build a houfe for their meetings and public worfliip, they laid the firlt ftone of the building. It being computed, that fuch a Louie 153 The life of the ^74^-3 houfe as was propofed, could not be finifhed under feven hundred pounds, many were pofitive it would never be finiflied at all. " I was of another mind, fays Mr. IVcJleyy nothing doubting, but as it was begun for God's fake, he would provide what was needful for the finifliing of it." — December 30. He took his leave for the prefent of NcwcaJilCy and the towns where he preached in the neighbourhood, and came as far as Darlington that niglit. " What en- couragement, fays he, have we to fpeak for God I At our inn we met an ancient man, who feemed by his converfation, never to have thought whe- ther he had a foul or not. Before we fet out, I fpoke a few words concerning his curfmg and idle converfation. The man appeared quite broken in pieces. The tears ftarted into his eyes : and he ac-* knowledged, with abundance of thanks, his own guilt, and the goodnefs of God." In this year, many focieties Vv-ere formed in So- mcrfctjhire^ ]ViltJIoirL\ Gloidcc/lcr/birey Leiceficrjhire^ Warzmckjfjirey and NottinghamJJjirey as w^ell as the fouihern parts of Torkjbire, And thofe in LondoUy Briftoly and King/woody were much increafed. January 1, 1743. He reached Epzvorth \ and the next day being Sunday, he preached at five in the morning ; and again at eight, from his faihers tomb-flone. " Many, fays he, from the neighbouring towns, aflvcd, if it would not be well, as it was Sa- crament-Sunday, for them to receive it ? I told them, by all means ; but it would be more refpeQ;- . ful firft to afk Mr. Romleyy the curate's leave. One did fo, in the name of the reft. To whom he faid, Pray tell Mr. Wefle)\ I fhall not give h'nii the fa- crament ; for he is not fit," — It is no wonder, that a mind ib wholly divcfted of chriilian charity, Ihould be totally clcftitute of gratitude. This Mr. Rgmley owed his all in this world, 10 the tender love 1743-] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 159 love which Mr. IVeJIeys father had fhewn to his fa- ther, as well as perlonally to himjelf, January 8. He came to IVednejhiry^ in Stafford- Jhirey which his brother had ah-eady vifited. At feven in the evening he preached in the town-halL It w^as crowded with deeply attentive hearers. Mr. Eggintoiiy the minifter, feemed friendly difpofed ; and the profpe8: of doing much good, was fair and pro- mifing. — From hence Mr. iVcJley went on to Brlftol^ and then to London, His flay was not long in either of thefe places. For February 1 4, notwithftanding the feafon of the year, and the badnefs of the roads at this time in m.any parts of England^ he again fet out on horfeback for the North. On the 19th, he reached Newcajfle : and here, and in the neighbour- ing towns and villages he fpent near fix weeks, in preaching and exhorting, in praying and conv^rfing with the people, and in regulating tlie focieties. A great number of thefe iocicties were already formed exacTiv on the fame principles, in various parts of the kingdom, though at a confiderable diftance one from another. But hitherto no general rules had been made to govern the whole. The tv;o brothers, therefore, now drew up a fet of rules which (liould be obferved by the members of all their focieties, and, as it were, unite them all into one body ; fo that a member at Ncwcajiky knew the rules of the focietv in London^ as well as at the place where he refided. Thev were printed under the title of, " "T'hc Nature^ Dfjign, and G e n e r a l R u l e s, of the United Societies^ in London^ Brifto!^ Nczvcafile upon TynCy cvrc. and here it will be proper to infert them. I. They (late the nature and defign of a Metho^ dift fociety in the following words, " Such a fociety is no other than, '^ A. c Gin p any of 7nen, having the formy and fifking the poz^er of godlinij's ; united in i6o The LIFE o¥ the [i?43^ order to pray together^ to receive the zi'ord of exhort a- iioriy and to watch over one another in lovCy that they may help each other to work out their falv at ion." " That it may the more eafily be difcerned, whe- ther they are indeed working out their own falva- tion, each fociety is divided into fmailer companies^ called claffesy according to their refpeftive places of abode. There are about twelve perlbns in every clafs ; one of whom is flyled the Leader. It is his bufinefs, i. To fee each perfon in his clafs once a week at lead, in order to inquire, how their fouls profper. To advife, reprove, comfort or exhort, as occafions require : to receive what they are willing to give toward the relief of the poor. 2. To meet the minifter, and the ftewards of the fociety once a week, in order to inform the minifter of any that are fick \ or of any that walk diforderly, and will not be reproved : to pay to the flewards w'hat they have received of their feveral claffes, the v/eek pre- ceeding ; and, to fhew^ their account of what each perfon has contributed. II. *^ There is one only condition previoufly re- quired in thofc who defire admiffion into thefe fo- cieties, A drfire to flee from the wrath to come^ to be favedfrovi their fins. But wherever this is really fixed in the foul, it will be fhewn by its fruits. It is therefore expefted of all who continue therein, that they fliould continue to evidence their defire of iaU V at ion, 1. " By doing no harm, by avoiding evil in every kmd; efpecially that which is moil generally prac- tifed, fuch is " The taking the name of God in vain : The pro- faning the day of the Lord, either by doing ordinary work thereon, or by buying on felling : drunkenneis ; buying or fellirigfpirituousltnuorSy or drinking them^ un- lefi in cafes of extreme necelfuy : fighting, quarrelling,, brawling -, 1743-] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 161 brawling; brother going to law with brother; re- turning evil for evil, or railing for railing : The ufing many words in buying or felling : The buying or felling iinciiftomed goods: The giving or taking things on u firry i i. e. unlawful intereft : Uncharitable or unprofitable converfation ; particularly fpeaking evil of magi Urates, or minifters : Doing to othefs as we would not they fliould do unto us : Doing what we know is not for the glory of God : As ** The putting on goldy or cojlly apparel: ne tak- ing fuch diver/ions as cannot be ufed in the name of the Lord ye/// ^' : Tht Jinging iho^tfongSy or reading thofe books, which do not tend to the knowledge or love of God : Softnefs, or needlefs felf-indulgence : Laying up treafures upon earth : Borrov/ing with- out a probability of paying; or taking up goods Avithout a probability of paying for them. " It is expected of all who continue in thefe [o^ cieties, that they fbould continue to evidence their defire of falvation. 2. " By doing good, by being in every kind mer- ciful after their power; as they have opportunity, doing good of every poffible fort, and as far as is poffible to all men : To their bodies, of the ability which God giveth ; by giving food to the hungry, by clothing the naked, by vifiting or helping them that are fick, or in prifon. To their fouls, by in- ftrucling, reproving, or exhorting all they haVe in- tercourfe with ; trampling underfoot that enthufiaftic dodrine of devils, that, we are not to do good nnlefs our hearts be free to it. *^ By doing good efpecially, to them that are of the houfehold of faith, or groaning fo to be ; em- ploying them preferably to others ; buying one of another; helping each other in buhnefs ; and fo much the more, becaufe the world will love its own, and them only. Vol. IL M *' By i62 The LIFE of hie [i7l3^ ** By all poiTible diligence and frugality, that the goTpel be not blamed : By running with patience the race that is fct before them, denying tbenifelves^ and taking up their crojs daily ; fubmitting to bear the reproach of Chrift, to be as the fihh and off-fcouring of the world; and looking that men S\\o\AA fay all manner of evil of them falfely for the Lord's fake, "It is expeded of all who defire to continue in thefe focieties, that they fliould continue to evi- dence their defire of falvation. 3. " By attending upon all the ordinances of God. Such are, The public worfhip of God: The miniftry of the word, either read or expounded : The fupper of the Lord : Family and private prayer : Searching the fcriptures ; and failing and abltinence. " Thefe are the general rules of our focieties ; all which we are taught of God to obferve, even in his written word, the only rule, and the fiifficient rule, both of our faith and praQice. And all thefe we know his fpirit writes on every truly awakened heart. If there be any among us who obferve them not, who habitually break any of them, let it be made known unto them who watch over that foul, as they that muft give an account. We will admo- nifh him of the error of his ways : we will bear with him for a feafon. But if he repent not, he hath no more place with us. We have delivered our own foul. " John Wesley, j/Vfjy 1, 1743. *" CiiARLES Wesley." The reader will take notice, 1. That the account here given of the nature and dcfign of a Methodifi fociety, differs elfentially from the definitions hither- to given of a church. There is no mention of fa- crament or the Lord's fupper, which was never ad- miniftcred except in a few oS. tl\Q larger focieties^ and 1743-] R^v. JOHN WESLEV. 163 and then by a regular clergyman. The members were defired to attend this ordinance at the refpec- tive places of worfhip to which they belonged, and thereby continue their former church fellowfliip. Mr. JVefleyy and the preachers with him, difclaimed every thought of making /)r^'/y/^i{/? preachers, go about raihng routs and riots, to the great damage of his Majeftv's liege, people, and againft the peace of our fovereign lord the King : " Thefe are in his Majefty's name, to command you, and every one of you, within your refpeBive diftriBs, to make diligent fearch after the faid Me^ thodijl preachers^ and to bring him or them before fome 174 The Life of the ^ [1744- fome of us his faid Majefty's juftices of the peace, to be examined concerning their unlawful doings. " Given under our hands and feals this day of October 1743. J, Lane, W. Persehouse.'* It appears from the preceding account, that thefe Avere the two juflices to whom the mob carried Mr. JVeJley^ and who feverally refufed to fee him. What- is it a mob will not dare to do, when encourag^ to break the peace, by the very men who are fworn to maintain it ! Mr. Wejley now went forwards toward the north, and on Sunday, Oftober 30, being at JVenjley, be preach- ed in the church, on, JVbat miij} I do to be javed? He fhcwed in the plainelt terms he could devife, that outward religion will not bring us to heaven : that none can go thither w^ithout inward holinefs, which is only to be attained by faith. As he went back through the church-yard, many of the pariih w^ere in high debate, What religion this preacher w^as of? Some faid he mud be a ^lakcr-y others, an Ana- baptifl : but at length one deeper learned than the reft, brought them all cicarly over to his opinion, that he was, a PrejhytcriaiuFapifil February 15, 1744. A report prevailed that the Trench threatened an invafion, and were expe6:ed: to land every hour, in fupport of Charles Stuart, the Pretender to the Crown of England. At this critical time, many addrefies were fcnt up to the Throne, exprelfmg attachment to the principles of the Revolution, and to the King's perfon and go- vernment. The alarm was general; the principle^* of the Methodijls were but imperfectly known, and their itinerancy and private focieties brought them, under general fufpicion. Mr. IVefiey was therefore defired 1744-] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 175 defired to write an addrefs to the King, and March 5, he complied with the requeft and wrote as fol- lows : " To the King's Mod Excellent Majefly ; " The humble Addrefs of the Societies in Enghind and IFales, in Derifon called Methodijls. '* Mofl gracious Sovereign^ ** So inconfiderable as we are, a people fcattcred and peeled and trodden under foot from the beginning bithertOy we ihould in no wife have prefumed, even on this great occafion, to open our lips to your Majeft\^, had we not been induced, indeed con- {trained fo to do, by two confiderations : the one, that in fpite of all our remonftrances on that head, we are continually reprefented as a peculiar {c^ of men, feparating ourfelves from the eflablifhed church; the other, that we are llill traduced as in- clined to Popery, and confequently difaffecled to your Majefty. " Upon thefe confiderations, we think it incum- bent upon us, if we muft (land as a diftinB; bodv from our brethren, to tender for ourfelves, our molt dutiful regards to your facred Majefty : and to de- clare in the prefence of him we ferve, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, that we are a part, how- ever mean, of that Proteftant church ellablifiied in thefe kiiigdoms : that we unite together for this and no other end, to promote, fo far as we be capable, juftice, mercy, and truth; the glory of God, and peace and good-will among men: that we deteft and abhor the fundamental doftrines of the church x)f Rome^ and are ftcadily attached to your Majelty's royal perfon and rlluftrious houfe. " We cannot indeed, fay or do either more or •lefs, than we apprehend confiltent with the written word ijS The life of the [1744- word of God. But we are ready to obey your Ma- jefty to the uttermoft, in all things which we con- ceive to be agreeable thereto. And we earneltly exhort all with whom we converfe, as they fear God, to honour the King. We of the clergy in parti- cular, put all men in mind to revere the higher powers, as of God: and continually declare, ye mud needs be fubjeft, not only for wrath, but alfo for confcience fake. " Silver and goId,mo{l of us muftown,wehave none. But fuch as we have, we humbly beg your Majeliy to accept: together with our hearts and prayers : may be who hath bought us with his blood, the Prince of all the Kings of the earth, fight againil all the ene- mies of your Majefty, with the two-edged fword that Cometh out of his mouth ! And when he calleth your Majefty from this throne, full of years and viftories, may it be with that voice, Come, re- ceive the kingdom prepared for thee, from the be- ginning of the world ! ** Thefe are the continual prayers of, your Ma- iefty's dutiful and loyal fubjeQs, John IVeJIey, &c." —This addrefs was not prefented ; it being on fur- ther confideration, judged heft to lay it afide*. " In April, fays Mr. JVeJJey, I took a fecond jour- ney into Cornzvally and went through many towns 1 had not feen before. Since my former vifit, there bad been hot perfecution both of the preachers and people. The preaching-houfe at Si. Ives, was pulled to the ground : one of the preachers preffed and fent for a foldier, as were fcvcral of the people: over and above the being ftoned, covered with dirt, and the like, which was the treatment many of them met with from day to day. But notwith- ftanding this, they who had been eminent for hurl- in^T, fighting, drinking, and all manner of wicked- neifs, continued eminent for fobriety, piety, and * See vol. i. ra;:^e 280. all 1744-] I^£v. JOHN WESLEY. 177 all manner of goodnefs. In all parts, more and more of the lions became lambs, continually praifing God, and calling their old companions in fm, to come and magnify the Lord together. About the fame time John Nelfon, and nomas Beard, were preffed and fent for foldiers, for no other crimCj either committed or pretended, than that of calling finners to repentance. The cafe of John Nelfon is well known. T^homas Beard alfo, was nothing terri- fied by his adverfaries. Yet the body after a while funk under its burden. He was then lodged in the hofpital of Newcaftky where he ftill praifed God continually. His fever increafmg, he was let blood: his arm feftered, mortified, and was cut off: two or three days after which, God figned his difcharge, and called him up to his eternal home. "All this year the alarms were uninterrupted, from the French on the one hand, and the Rebels on the other : and a general panic ran through the nation, from the Eaft to the Weft, from the North to the South. I judged it the more needful to vifit as many places as poflible, and avail myfelf of the pre- cious opportunity. My brother and our other preachers were of the fame mind : they fpoke and fpared not. They rufhed through every open door, * And cried, Sinners, behold the Lamb V And their word did not fall to the ground; they faw abun- dant fruit of their labour. I went through many parts of Wales : through moft of the midland coun- ties; and then through Lincolnjhire^ and Torkjhire^ to Newcajlle upon Tyne. And multitudes who were utterly carelefs before, did now prepare to meet their Godr The perfecution of St. Ives, Mr. lV(ifley obferves> " Was owing in great meafure to the indefatigable labours of Mr. Hoblin, and Mr. Simmons : gentle- VoL. IL N men lyS The LIFE of the {^^744' men worthy to be had in everlafting remembrance, for their unwearied endeavours to deltroy herefy. " Fortunatl ambo ! Siqidd mea pag'ina pojfity Nulla dies unquam memori vos exhnet ccvo.'" Happy both ! Long as my writings, fliall your fame remain. The riots in Stafford/hire ftill continued in the be- ginning of this year. The mob of JValfal, Barlaf- to7ty and lVednejhir)\ hired for the purpofe by their betters, broke open their, poor neighbours houfes at their pleafure, by day and by night, extorting money from the few that had it ; taking away, or deftroying their viBuals and goods ; beating and wounding their bodies ; abufmg their women, and openly declaring they would deftroy every Melho- dij} in the country : the Cbriftian country where his Majefly's peaceable and loyal fubjecls were fo treated for eight months, and then publicly branded in the Whitehall and London Evening-Foft, fur rioters and incendiaries ! From Cornwall y Mr. Wejley paffed over into Wales ; on his return he made a fhort flay at Brif- toly and then fct out for the North, vifiting moft of the focietics in his way to Newcajfle. June 20, he returned to London, where he met his brother, two or three other clergymen, and a few of the preachers, whom he had appointed to come from various parts, to confer \s\t\\ them on the affairs of the focieties. Mr. iVefley obferves, " Monday, June 25, and the five following days, we fpent in conference with our preachers, lerionflv confidering, by what means we might the mofl efiedually fave our own fouls and them that heard us. And the refiilt of our conhil- tations we fet down, to be the Rule of our future praclice." — This was tlie firff Methodijl-Cnnfcrence : and for the belter regulation of llicir affairs, a con- ference 1744-] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 179 ference has been held annually ever fince ; Mr. Wejley having prefided at forty-feven fuch confer- ences. The fubjefts of their deliberations were pro- pofed in the form of queftions, which were amply difcuffed ; and the queftions with the anfwers agreed upon were written down, and afterwards printed, under the title of, " Minutes of fever al Converfations between the Reverend Mr, JVeJley and others :" com- monly called Minutes of Conference^ CHAPTER IL Containing a further Account o/'Mr.Wefley's Lahours : a Summary of the Minutes of Conference refpe cl- ing the Do5irincs he taught : and a View of the Spread o/'Methodifm until the Conference in 1751. THE plan on which Mr. Wcfiey had hitherto go- verned the focieties and the preachers, was imperfe^l ; and as the number increafed muft foon have become infupportably laborious. When the preachers at firll, went out to exhort and preach, it was by Mr. JVeJley s, permiffion and authority; fome from one part of the kingdom, fojne from another: and though ftrangers, yet on his credit and fanftion alone, they were received and provided for as friends, by the focieties wherever they came. But, having little or no communication or inter- courfe with one another, nor any fubordination among themfelves, they muil have been under a continual ncceffity of recurruig to Mr. Wejley for direction, how and where each one was to labour. Bv calling them together to a Conference^ he brought them into clofer union with each other, and made them fenfible of the utility of acting in concert and N, 2 harmony i8o The LIFE of the [i74-i'' harmony under his ciire8.ion and appointment, lie loon found it neceffary, however, to bring their iti- nerancy under certain regulations, and reduce it to fome fixed order ; both to prevent confufion, and for his own eafe. He therefore took fifteen or twenty focieties, more or lefs, v»^hich lay round fome principal fociety in thofe parts, and which v/ere ih fituated, that the greateft diflance from one to the other was not much more than twenty miles, and united them into what was called a circuit. At the yearly conference, he appointed two, three, or four preachers to one of thefe circuits, according to its extent, which at firll was often very confiderable, fometimes taking in a part of three or four coun- ties. Here, and here only, they were to labour for one year, that is, until the next conference. One of the preachers on every circuit, \vas called the AJJiJianty for the reafon before m.entioned. He took charge of all the focieties w'ithin the limits ailigned him ; he enforced the Rules every where ; and fu- perintended, and di reefed the labours of the preachers alTociated with him. Having received a lilt of the focieties forming4iis circuit, he took his own (lation in it, gave to the other preachers a plan of it, and pointed out the day wiien each fhould be at the place fixed for bin), to begin a piogrcifive motion round it, in fuch order as tlie plan diie6ied. They now followed one another through all the focieties belonging to that circuit at flated didances of time ; all being governed by the fame rule, and undergoin,;; the fame labour. By this plan, evcrv preachcr'r^ daily work was appointed beforehand, each knew' every day where the others were, aiid each fociety when to expecl the preacher, an.d hbv; long he would ftay with them. But of late years, fince tliC great in- creafc oS. Miihcdijm, the circuits have been divided and fub-divided, which has made way for a gre;.K • ' incrcale J744.J Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 181 increafe of preachers, and rendered the fatigues of Itinerancy trifling, compared wi;.h what they were in the beginning. Many of the preachers too, have been fuffered to (lay two years, fometimes three, on the fame circuit, and even then have been removed to a circuit only a few miles diitant. Nay, it is faid, that the focieties in London itfelf, with the places adjacent, have been divided into three cir^ cuitSy by which a few preachers may become fta- tionary for a great rtumber of years. Mr. JVeJIey confidered Itinerancy as of the utmofl importance to Methodijm ; but by dividing the circuits in this manner, the efFefts of it have already been much diminiflied, and may in time be totally deftroyed. The conference being ended, Mr. /^^fy obferves, " The next week we endeavoured to purge the fo- ciety of all that did not walk w^orthy of the gofpel. By this means we reduced the number of members to lefs than nineteen hundred. But number is an inconfiderable circumftance. May God increafe them in faith and love!" This fhews us, the aflo- nifhing increafe of members in the Methodift focie- ties. Four years before this period, Mr. Wejley fe- parated from the Brethren at Fetter- Laney and foon after fifty or fixty joined with him: thefe were now increafed, in and about London^ to nineteen hun*- dred f Had the original piety, zeal, and dilintereft-' cdnefs been prefcrvcd unabated among the preachers, and their firft plan inviolably kept in every place, it is impofiible to fay how far the beneficial influence of Methodifni over the morals of the people of all ranks in this nation, would have been extended! *'Auguft 24, St. Bartholomew's- Day y^^y^MrJVeJIe}\ I preached for the laft time before the Univerfity of Oxford. I am now clear of the blood of thefe men, I have fully delivered my o\vn foul. And I ani well pleafed that it fhould be the very day, on A'hich, N 3 ' ' in 1^2 Tii£ LIFE or the [1744- in the lafl century, near two thoufand burning and fliining lights, were put out at one (troke *. 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 that in a kind of honourable manner: it being deter- mined, that when my next turn to preach came, they would pay another perfon to preach for me. And fo they did twice or thrice; even to the time that I re^ figned my fellowfhip." All this fummer the preachers and people in Corn- wally had hard fervice, the war againit the Mcthodijis being carried on more vigoroufly than that againft the Spaniards. In September, Mr. Wejley received the following letter from Mr. Henry Millar dy one of the preachers in Q^rnwally giving fome account of their difficulties. " The word of God, fays he, has free courfe here: it runs and is glorihed. But the Devil rages horribly. Even at St, IveSy we cannot fhut the door of John Nance's houfe to meet the fociety, but the mob immediately threatens to break it open. And in other places it is worfe. I was go- * BartholoTneivs-Day has been twice remarkable for the cruel- ties exercifed upon it. 7"he firft inftancc was, the malTacre of fe- venty thoufand French Proteftants throughout the kingdom of France^ by the Papijisy attended with circumftances of the moft horrid treachery and cruelty. It began pt Paris, in the night of the feftivalof St. BarihQlo?ne'w , Auguft 24, 1572, by fecret orders from Charles IX. king of Franccy at the inftlgation of the Queen Dow* ager, Catharine de Mcditis, his mother. The fecond inilance was the Ad of Uniformity y which was enforced on Bartholomeiv' s-Daj y Auguft 24, 1662, by which two thoufand miniflcrs, many of them the moft pious and learned men in the nation, were caft out from the Church of England, becaufe they could not conform to cer- tain ceremonies in Divine Worfiiip, which the Bifhops chofe to im- pofe upon them. By this proceeding they were not only deprived of their ufefulnefs, hut r»iany of them with ;hcir families, reduced to poverty and want ! ing 1744.] Rkv. JOHN WESLEY. 183 irtg to Crowan on Tuefday, and within a quarter of a mile of the place where I was to preach, when fome met me, and begged me not to go up : faying, * If you do, there will furely be murder; if there is not already : for many were knocked down, before we came away.' By their advice I turned back to the houfe where 1 had leFt my horfe. We had been there but a fhort time, when many people came in very bloody. But the main cry of the mob was, * Where is the preacher ?' w4iom they fought for in every part of the houfe ; fwearing bitterly, * If we can but knock him on the head, w^e fhail be fatis- fied. " Not finding me, they faid, ' However we fhall catch him on Sunday at Ccwibourn/ But it was Mr. IP'^eJlall's turn to be there. While he was preach- ing at Mr. Harris's^ a tall man came in, and pulled him down. Mr. Harris demanded his warrant ; but he fwore, * Warrant or no warrant, he fhali go with rne/ So he carried him out to the mob, who took him away to the church-town. They kept him there till the Tuefday morning, when the Rev. Dr. Bar- lafe wrote his mitthnuSy by virtue of which he was to be committed to the houfe of correftion at Bad- mirty as a vagrant. So they took him as far as Cam^ bourn that nigTn, and the next day to Bodmin." The juflices who met at the next quarter- fcfHons in Bodmiuy knowing a litde more of the laws of God and man, or at leaR iliewing more , regard for them, than Dr. Borlafcy declared Mr. Wejidl'^ com- mitment to be contrary to all law^ and immediately fet him at liberty ^, All * How feldom liave v/e feen clergymen in the commi'Iion of the peace, bat they have neglei mb»%i"s of any N 4 ' deuomiuariOUj i84 The LIFE of the [^744' All -this year God was carrying on the fame work, that is, reformation of manners on evangelical prin- ciples, in the Englijh army abroad, though on a fmaller fcale : fome account of which Mr. Wejley received from one of their preachers, in the follow- ing letter, dated November. "We make bold, fays Mr. EvanSy the writer, to trouble you with this, to acquaint you with fome of the Lord's deal- ings with us here. We have hired two rooms ; one fmall, wherein a few of us meet every day : and another large, wherein we meet for public fervice twice a day, at nine and at four. And the hand of the omnipotent God is with us, to the pulling down of the ftrong-holds of Satan. " The feventh inftant, when we were met toge- ther in the evening, as I was at prayer, one that was kneeling by me, cried out like a woman in travail. My Redeemer ! my Redeemer ! When he was aflvcd, what was the matter ? He faid, he had found that which he had often heard of, an heaven upon earth. And feveral others had much ado to forbear crying out in the fame manner. " Dear Sir, I am a ftranger to you in the flefli. I know not, if I have feen you above once, when I faw you preaching on Ke'nningt on-Common. I then hated you as much as, by the grace of God, I love you now. The Lord purfued me with conviftions from my infancy ; and I made many good refolu- tions. But finding I could not keep them, I at length gave myfelf over to all manner of profane- nefs. So I continued till the battle of Dettingen, The balls there came very thick about me, and my dencniipation, obtain dominion and authority over the temporal things of others, or acquire any fhare in the civil government, it feems as if a curfe attended every thing they do. They mar whatever they meddle with ; and occafion. infinite confufion and jnifcliief. comrades i745-] R^'V. JOHN WESLEY. 185 comrades fell on every fide. Yet I was preferved unhurt. A few days after, the Lord was pleafed to vifit me. The pains of hell got hold upon me ; the fnares of death encompaiTed me. I durft no longer commit any outward fin, and 1 prayed God to be merciful to my foul. Now I was at a lofs for books: but God took care of this alfo. One day I found an old Bible in one of the train waggons. This was now my only companion ; and I believed myfelf a very good Chriilian, till we came to winter quar- ters, where I met with John Hame. But I was foon fick of his company ; for he robbed me of my trea- fure, telling me, I and my works were going to hell together. This was ftrange doQrine to me, and as I was of a ftubborn temper, he fometimes refolved to forbid my coming to him any more. " When the Lord had at length opened my eyes, and fliewn me, that by grace zve are faved through faithy I began immediately to declare it to others, though I had not yet experienced it myfelf. But October 23, as William Clements was at prayer, I felt on a fudden, a great alteration in my foul. My eyes overflowed with tears -of love : I knew, I was through Chrijlj reconciled to God ; which inflamed my foul with love to him, whom I now faw^ to be my complete Redeemer. " O the tender care of Almighty God in bring- ing up his children ! Dear Sir, I beg you will pray for him, who is not worthy to be a door-keeper to the leafl: of my Mafler's fervants." February 4, 1745, Mr. Wejley obferves, " I had the pleafurc of receiving from Dr. Hartley^ a par- ticular account of Dr. Cheyne's lall hours *. During his * Dr. George Cheytie^ a pliyfician of great learning and abilities, was born in Scotlaudy in 1671. He palled his youth in clofeftady and great temperance. But coming to Lo7idon^ when about thirty, and i86 The LIFE of the L^7i5' his lafl illne'fs he felt a gentle and gradual decay, fo that he apprehended what the event would be. But it and finding the younger gentry and free-livers to be the moft eafy of accefs, he fuddeniy changed his former manner of living to aflbciate with them ; having obferved that this method had fuc- ceeded to introduce fome others into practice. The confequence was that he grew daily in bulk, fwelling to fuch an enormous fize, that he exceeded 32 ftone in weight, and was forced to have the whole fide of his chariot made open to receive him : he grev>r fhort- breathcd, lethargic, nervous, and fcorbutic ; fo that his life became an intolerable burden. After trying all the power of medicine in vain, he refolved to try a milk and vegetable diet ; the good efFefts of which foon appeared. His fize was reduced almoit a third; and he recovered his ftrengtb, aftivity, and cheerfuinefs, with the per- fect ufe of all his faculties. He lived to a_ mature period, dying Sit Bafh m 1742, aged 72. He wrote feveral treatifes that were well received ; particularly, " An Effay on Health and Long Life;" and, ** The Etiglijh Malady, or a Treatife of Nervous Difeafes ;'* both the refult of his own experience. His ** Philofophical Prin- ciples of Natural Religion, publifned in 1705, is a work tliiit fhews great ftrength of mind, and extenfive knowledge. Mr» IVeJley was well acquainted with him, and always fpake of him with eileera. Da^uid Harilej.hil. k. here mentioned by iMr. Wcjley, was born at Iling^jjorth, where his father was curate, and received his acade- mical education at ye/us College, Cambridge, of which he vi^as a fel- low.' He firft began to pradife phyfic at Ne^Mark^ in ISoitwgham- JJ:ire \ from whence he removed to St. EdmumVs Bury, in Suffolk, After this he fettled for fome time in Londan ; and laiUy went to live at Baihy where he died in 1757, aged 53. His raoft confider- able literary produdion, is a work entitled, ** Obfcrvations on Man, his frame, hi.s duty, and his expeftations, in two parts :" London, 1749, 2 vols. 8vo. of which, a few years ago, a fecond edition was publifhed. The firft part contains obfervations on the frame of the human body and mind, and their mutual connedicns and influences. This is a moft curious and ingenious fyftem; but it is founded on conjedlure, and the parts are held together only by a vague and uncertain analogy. Dr. Hartley fuppofes, that what has been called the nervous fluid, is a fine elaliic ether, through which vibrations are propagated to the brain, and through the whole of its fubftance. By thefe vibrations, and their various combina- tions and allociations, he attenipts to explain the operations of the foul. But he has not proved the exigence of fuch an ether, nor of the vibrations which he fuppofes to exift. And if he had, }e.t he I745-] ^'■''' i^^^ WESLEY. 187 it did not appear to give him any concern. He icemed quite 'loolc from all below, till without any Ih-usizle, either of body or mind, he cainly gave up liis I'oul to God." March 11, Mr. IVepy oUcrvcs, "Many perfons dill reprefcnting the Methodijls as enemies to the clergy, I wrote'to a friend the real (iate of the cafe, in as plain a manner as I could. " 1. About feven years fmce, we began preaching inzvarcU prcfcnt laivation, as attainable \yy faith alone. 2. For preaching this doctrine we were forbidden to preach in raoft churches. 3. We then preached in -private hoj[fcs, and when the houfes could not con- tain the people, in the op n air, 4. For this many of the clergy /^m^r^r^ or /?n?/7^^/ againd us, as both heretics and^'fchifm.atics. 5. Perfons who were con- vinced of fm, begged us to advife them more par- ticularly, how to flee from the wrath to come ? We defired them, being many, to come at one time, and he ought to have, explained to us in the cleareft manner, how diefe vibrations are the mechanical caufes of the operations of the mind ; or at leaft have ihewn, that there is a conaant correfpon- dence and harmony between the lav/s they obferve, and the laws of the phenomena they are brought to explain. But neither of thefe things has he done. The firft he has totally omitted ; and in attempting the latter, his analogical reafoning is {o vague and uncertain, that no man of common prudence would aft upon fuch evidence in the affairs of life in which he was much interefted. — In reference to this fubjecl the authors of the Encyclopedia Brr- tanica obferve, *' We think it our duty to remoniirate againft.this ilovenly way of writing : we would even hold.it up to reprobation. It has been chiefly on this faithlefs foundation, that the blind vanity of men has built that degrading fyftem of opinions called Ma- terialism, by which the aifedions and faculties of the^foul of man have been refolved into vibrations and pulfes of ether." Dr. Rdd, in his EJTays on the Inielleclual and yUlive Potvcrs of Man, 2 vols. 4to. has proceeded on a plan much more fimple and fatisfafiory. Soon after the firft volume was pubHflied, 1 aP^ed the late Dr. Price, his opinion of it: he replied, " I think it un- anfwerable, either by Dr. PrujU^j, or any other perfon," we i88 The LIFE of the [1745. we v/ould endeavour it. 6. For this 'ue were rc- prefented both from the pulpit and prefs, as intro- ducing Poper)\ and raifing ledition. Yea all man- ner of evil was faid both of us, and of thofe who ufed to alTemble with us. 7. Finding that fome of thefe did walk diforderly, we defired them not to €ome to us any more. 8. And fome of the others we defired to overlook the reft, that we might know whether they walked worthy of the goTpel. 9. Se- veral of the clergy now ftirred up the people, to treat us as outlaws or mad dogs. 10. The people did fo, both in Staffordjbirey CornwaUy and many other places. 11. And they do fo ftill wherever they are not reftrained by fear of the magiftrates. " Now what can -K/V do, or what cdd\ yon or our brethren do, towards healing this breach ? Defire of us any thing which we can do with a fafe con- fcience, and we will do it immediately. W'lW you meet us here ? Will you do what we defire of you, fo far as you can with a fafe confcience ? " Do you defire us, 1. To preach another, or to dcfift from preaching this doftrine ? We cannot do this with a fafe confcience. ** Do you defire us, 2. To defift from preaching in private boufeSy or in the open airf As things are now circumftanced, this would be the fame as de- firing us not to preach at all. ** Do you defire us, 3. Not to advife thofe who meet together for that purpole ? To difTolve our focieties ? We cannot do this wnth a fafe confcience ; for we apprehend many fouls would be loft thereby. " Do you defire us, 4. To advife them one by one ? This is impolfible bccaufe of their number. ** Do you defire us, 5. To fuffer thofe who walk difordcrly, ftill to mix with the reft ? Neither ctin we do this with a fafe confcience : for evil commu- nications corrupt good nranncrs. " Do 1745] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 189 " Do you defire us, 6. To difcharge thofe leaders, as we term them v;ho overlook the reft ? This is, in effeft, to fufFer the diforderly walkers ftill to re- main with the reft. " Do you defire us, laftly, to behave with ten- dernefs, both to the charafters and perfons of our brethren the clergy ? By the grace of God, we caa and will do this : as indeed we have done to this day. " If you afk, what we defire of you to do? We anfwer, 1. We do not defire any of you, to let us preach in your church, either if you believe us to preach falfe doftrine, or if you have the leaft fcruple. But we defire any who believes us to preach true doftrine, and has no fcruple in the matter, not to be either publicly or privately difcouraged from in- viting us to preach in his church. 2. " We do not defire, that any who thinks it his duty to preach or print againft us, fhould refrain therefrom. But we defire, that none will do this, till he has calmly confidered both fides of the quef- tion ; and that he would not condemn us unheard, but firft read what we fay in our own defence. 3. " We do not defire any favour, if either Po- pery, fcdition, or immorality be proved againft us. But we defire you would not credit without proof, any of thofe fenfelefs tales that pafs current with the vulgar : that if you do not credit them yourfelves, you will not relate them to others : yea, that you will difcountenance thofe who ftill retail theiii abroad, 4. '^We do not defire any preferment, favour, or recommendation, from thofe that are in power, either in church or ftate. Bat we defire, 1. l^hat if any thing material be laid to our charge, we mav be permitted to anfwer for ourfelves. 2. That you would hinder your dependants from ftirring up the rabble igo The LIFE of the [^745* rabble againft us, who are certainly not the proper judges in thefe matters : and, 3. That you would ef- fe8:ually fupprefs and difcountenance all riots and popular infurreftions, which evidently ftrike at the foundation of all government, whether of church or ftate. *^ Now thefe things you certainly can do, and that with a fafe confcience. Therefore till thefe things be done, the continuance of the breach, if there be any, is chargeable on you, and you only." In June Mr. PFeJley paid another vifit to Cornwall^ where the preachers were continually perfecuted, only not unto death ; both by the great vulgar and the fmall. They fhewed a little more courtefy to him, till July 4, when he went to fee a gentlewoman in Falmouth^ who had been long indifpofed. *' I had fcarce, fays he, fat down when the houfe was befet with an innumerable multitude of people. They quickly forced open the outer-door and filled the paffage, there being now only a wainfcot-partition between us. Among them were the crews of fome privateers, who being angry at the (lovvnefs of the reft, thruft them away, and fetting their flioulders to the inner-door, cried out, * Avaft, lads, avail !' Away went all the hinges at once, and the door fell back into the room. I fiepped forward into the midfl of them and faid, * Here I am ; which of you has any thing to fay to me ;' I continued fpeaking till I came into the middle of the ftrcet, though I could be heard by few only." But all that could hear were dill and quiet. Al length, one or two of their captains turned and fware, **^ Not a man fhall touch him/' A clergyman then came up and alked, " Are you not afhamed to ufe a ftranger thus?" — He was feconded by fome gentlemen of the town, who walked with Mr JFrJky to a friend's houfe. They then fent his horfe by a perfon to Pefirvn, and fent 1745'] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 191 fent him thither by water : the fea running clofc by the back-door of the houfe were he was. On this occafion he makes the following obferva- lions : " I never faw before, no not even at Waljal^ the hand of God fo clearly fliewn as here. There 1 received blows, was covered with dirt, and loft part of my clothes. Here, although the hands of hundreds of people were lifted up to (trike or throw, yet they were one and all flopped in the midway j fo that not a man touched me with his fingers : nei- ther was any thing thrown from firll to lafl, fo that I had not a fpeck of dirt upon my clothes. Who can deny that God heareth the prayer? Or that he hath all power in heaven and earth?" Auguft 1, and the following days, Mr. Wejley^ held the fecond Conference, with as many of the preachers as could conveniently be prefent. They reviewed their dodrines, and added fuch rules of difcipline as the increafe of the work required, or prudence fuggefted. Thefe will all be laid before the reader as foon as they form fomething like a complete fyftem. In Oclo'ber, he was at New caftle upon I'yne, where the EngliJJj army lay, to oppofe the progrefs of the rebels. Obferving with great concern, the drun- kennefs, and profane fwearing that prevailed among the foldiers, he wrote the following letter to Alder- man Ridley; which is highly charafteriftic of his zeal for the propagation of Chriftian knowledge, and Chriftian piety and virtue, confidered as a national bleriin^T, " Sir, '* The fear of God, the love of my country, and fhc regard I have for his Majeily Kmg George, con- drain me to v;rite a few plain words to one, who is no Ilraiiger to thcfc principles of action, " My 2 19^ The LIFE of the ^7i5'j " My foul Ivas been pained day by day, even in walking the flreets of NezvcaJUe^ at the fenfelefs, fhamelefs wickednefs, the ignorant profanenefs of the poor men to whom our lives ate intrufted. The continual curfing and fwearing, the wanton blafphe- my of the foldiers in general, muft needs be a tor- ture to the fober ear, whether of a Chriftian or an honeft infidel. Can any that either fear God or love their neighbour, hear this without concern ? Efpe- cially if they confider the intereft of our country, as well as of thefe unhappy men themfelves? For can it be expefted, that God fliould be on their fide who are dailv 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 that 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 juit 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 fmners to repentance, once or twice a day, while I remain in thefe parts, at any hour or at any place. And I de- fire no pay at all for doing this : unlefs what my Lord fhall give at his appearing. " If it w^ere ohjecled, that I fhould only fill their heads with peculiar whims and notions ! That might eafily be known. Only let the officers hear with their own ears : and they may judge, whether I do not preach the plain principles of manly, rational re- ligion. " Having mvfelf no knowledge of the General, I took the liberty to make this offer to you. I have no intereft herein : but I fliould 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 1745-] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 193 the propofal die and be forgotten. But I beg you^ Sir, to believe, that I have the fame glorious caufCj for which you have fhewn fo becoming a zeal, ear- nefUy at heart : and that therefore I am^ with warm rel'pecl, "Sir, " Your moft obedient fervant. This letter was written on the 26th, and on the 31ft, Mr. JVcJJey preached on Neisjcaftle Town-Moor, •at a fmall diflance from the EngliJIo camp. Novem- ber 1, he preached again on a little eminence before the camp, and continued this practice occafionally till the 30th of this month. At half an hour after 'eight on this day, he preached to a larger congre- gation than any before ; and adds^ ** Were it only for the fake of this hour, I fliould not have thought much of ftaying at Newcafile longer thian I intended. Between one and two in the afternoon, I went to the camp once more. Abundance of people now flock- ed together, horfe and foot, rich and poor, to whom I declared, There is no difference ; for all have finned and come foort of the glory of God. I obferved manv 'Germans ftanding difconfolate in the (Icirts of the coo^regration. To thefe I was conftrained. though I had difcontinued it fo long, to fpeak a few words in their own language. Immediately they gathered up clofe together, and drank in every word." ** All this year, fays Mr. Weflcy, the work of God gradually increafed in the Southern counties, as well as in the North of England, Many were awakened in a very remarkable manner : many were converted to God. Many were enabled to teftify, that the hlood of Jefiis cleanfeth froin all fin. Meantime we were in moft places tolerably quiet, as to popular tumults. Where any thing of the kind appeared, the Magiftrates ufually interpofed, as indeed it was Vol, 1L ' O their 194 The LIFE of the [^745- their duty to do. And wherever the peace officers do their duty, no riot can long rubfill." Mr. JVeJley and his brother began to be fpoken of in Scotlandy and a few of the moll pious miniftera there, though differing from the two brothers on many points of do6lrine, yet rejoiced in the great revival of praQ:ical rchgion in England^ by their means. ^\x. James Role, M ini Tier of i^/7//)'//j, hav- ing received from a friend fome account of them, wrote as follows : " I was much pleafed with what you wrote to me of the Meffrs. Wejleys. I rejoice that j unification, the imputed righteoufncfs of Je- hovah our Righteoufncfs, received by faith alone, and gofpel holinefs, are the fubje^ls of their fermons ; and the debated points (various fentiments a'bout which are not inconfiftent with faving faith and our acceptance with God) are laid afide. I embrace fcl- lowfliip with them, and pray that the Lord of the vineyard may give them fuccefs in preaching the faith of C/:7r/y?, fomuch needed in England, — As many as be perfeft, let them be thus minded ; and if in any other things ye be oth^rwife minded, God (hall reveal even this unto you. Nevcrthelefs whereunlo we have attained, let us w^alk by the fame rule, let us mind the fame things. — How good would it be for the chriflian \vorld, if this v/cre believed, and regarded as the word of God ! When the happy days upon the wing are come, fo it will be : and in as far as any have really fharcd in the late revival, it is fo with them in fome good meafare. I learned fomething new, as to the exhorters *, from the ac- count you gave of them. I look upon them as {o many licenfcd probationers, or useful public teachers; which is the cafe of our probationers. It provides me with an anfwer to objections, bcfidcs that of the * He means, the Lay- Preachers. extraordinary 1745-] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 195 extraordinary circumftances of theeflablifhed church. I beg you to lakite the two brothers for me, much in the Lord. I wrote to my correfpondents for- merly, upon yours to me from Nezvcajile, that there were hopes of their joining in our concert for prayer and praife, for the revival of real Chriflianity. Now I can write that tkey have acceded; and I hope we ffiall exprefsly remember one another before the throne of grace." Mr- James Erjkine^ who frequently in the courfe of this year correfponded with Mr. JVeJley, tranf- mitted this part of Mr. Rohes letter to him; and with a liberality not common to Scotchmen at that time, he aflvs, ** Are the points which give the dif- ferent denominations (to Chriftians) and from whence proceed feparate communions, animofities, evil- fpeakings, furmifes, and, at leaft, coolnefs of affec- tion, aptnefs to mifconflrue, flownefs to think well of others, ftiffnefs in one's own conceits, and over-valuing one's own opinion, &:c. &c. are thefe points (at lead among the far greateft part of Proteftants) as important, as clearly revealed, and as eifential, or as clofeiy connected with the effen- tials of pradical Chriftianity, as the loving of one another with a pure heart fervently, and not for- faking, much lefs refufing, the affembling. of our- felves together^ as the manner of fome w^as, and now of almoft all is?" — Every candid man will molt certainly anfwer this queftion in the negative. And it requires no great degree of difcernment to p'er- ceive, that the narrow party fpirit which prevails among mod denominations of Chriflians with re- gard to communion and church fellowfliip, even where it is acknowleged that the effential do6trines of the gofpel are held faft, is one. grand hinder- ance of brotherly-love, and of a more general dif- fufion of real experimental religion. O 2 Ixi 196 The life of the [i745* In the latter end of this year, Mr. Wcjley had exprefled a defire to be ufeful to the Scots^ and to preach the gofpcl in Scotland. His friend ^r. James Erfkine wrote to him on the fubje8:, and fet before him fome of the difficulties he would have to ftrug- gle with in the attempt. Mr. Erjhnc^ in his letter expreffes an ardent wifh for union and Chriftian fel- lowfliip among all thofe of different denominations and opinions, who love the Lord Jefus Chriji, He reprobates the animofity and bigotry, too preva- lent among them under the fpecious name of zeal for the truth. He then fets before him fome of the difficulties he would meet with in attempting to preach and form focieties in Scotland^ '* You have, fays he, fome fentiments and ways of fpeaking dif- ferent from the generality, and almoft from all the real Chriflians of the Pr^/y'/ but now I know * John Norris, the perfon here mentioned, was horn in 1657, at Collingborne-Ki/igJiofiy in Wilt/hire^ where his father was then mi- nifter. He was a learned divine, and Platonic philofopher. He was educated firft zt Winchejler-School, and in 1676, fen t to Ox- ford. In 1680, he waselefted Fellow of All-Souls , foon after he had taken his degree of bachelor of arts. In 1684, he commenced mailer of arts ; and the fame year opened a correfpondcnce with that learned myltic divine Dr. Henrj More^ of ChrijVs-Colltge in Cambridge, 202 The life of the » L^7i5' I know not which I want mpfl. Perhaps God will enlighten me by your words. O Ipeak and fpare not. At leall you will have the thanks and prayers of, your obliged and affetlionate iervant, " John Wesley." John Smith, for fo we niufl; call him for the fake of diilinftion, prefaces his fecond letter in the fol- lowing manner; " I heartily thank you for your very kind and very handfome letter. 1 have yielded it that attention which I think it jullly deferves ; and am now fat down to give you my thoughts upon it. I fiiall firft mod readily take notice of thofe things wherein I ftand corre6led, and am gone over to you : and next I fliall, with fome reluBance, pro- ceed to thofe in which we feem unfortunately to differ." — But though he yielded up feveral things to Mr. IVcJJcy, in whole or in-part, yet he preifed him very hard on one or two points of doclrine ; and I think his objeclions had afterwards fome influence on Mr. IVejley^ mind. — I am obliged to a friend for the copies of thefe letters, with liberty to make any ufe of them I might think proper. There are fix Cambridge. He had pJfo a correfpondence with the learned Lady Mojham^ Dr. Cudn,vorth''% daughter, and the ingenious Mrs. AfieL In 1691, his diftinguifiied merit procured him the re«ftory of Be^ tnerton, n^zx Sariim. This living, upwards of two hundred pounds a }'ear, was a comfortable provifion for his family, and the eafinefs of the parochial duty, gave him leifure to purfue his favourite ftu- dies. He died in 1711. Mr. Norris publifhed two os concerning juftification ? A. ** By all means : which were accordingly read. And it was defired, that each perfon prefent would in the afternoon confult the feriptur^s cited therein, and bring what objections might occur the next iBorning. Q. 5. ** Is an afTurance of God's pardoning love abfolutely neceffary to our being in his favour? Or may there pofTibly be fome exempt cafes? A. " We dare not pofitively fay, there are not. Q. 6. " Is fach an alfurance abfolutely necelfary to inward and outward holinefs ? A. " To inward, we apprehend it is: to outward holinefs, v/e incline to think it is not. Q. J. " Is it indifpenfably neceffary to final falva- tion ? A. *^ Love hopeth all things. We know not how far any may fall under the cafe of invincible igno- rance. Q. 8. " But what can we fay of one of our owd fociety, who dies without it, as J, JV, at London .^ A. " It may poffibly be an exempt cafe (if the faft was really fo). But we determine nothing. We leave his foul in the hands of him that made it. Q. 9. ** Does a man believe any longer than he fees a reconciled God ? A. " We conceive not. But we allow there may be infinite degrees in feeing God: even as many as there are between him who fees the fun, when it fhines on his eye-lids clofed, and him who ftands with his eyes wide open, in the full blaze of his beams. Q. 10. '* Does a man believe any longer than he loves Gad ? A. "In 1747-3 Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 221 A. " In no wife. For neither circumcifion or uncircumcifion avails, without faith working by love. Q. 11. *' Have we duly confidered the cafe of Cornelius F Was not he in the favour of God, wheri his prayers and alms came up for a memorial before God f i. e, before he believed in Chri/f .^ A. "It does feem that he was, in fome degree. But we fpeak not of thofe who have not heafd the gofpel. Q. 12. " But were thofe works of his fplcndid fins? A. ** No ; nor were they done without the grace of Chrift. Q. 13. '* How then can we maintain, that all works done before we have a fenfe of the pardon- ing love of God, are fin ? And, as fuch, an abomi- nation to him ? A. " The works of him who has heard the gofpel, and does not believe, are not done as God hath willed and commanded them to he done. And yet we know not how to (ay, that they are an abomination to the Lord in him who feareth God, and from that principle, does the beft he can. Q. 14. ** Seeing there is fo much difficulty in this fubjcQ, can we deal too tenderly with them that op- pofe us? A. ** We cannot j unlefs we were to give up any part of the truth of God. Q. 15. " Is a believer conjfrained io obey God? A. " At firft he often is. The love o{ Chrift con- ftraineth him. After this, he may obey, or he may not; no conftraint being laid upon him. 0.16. " Can faith be lofl, but through difobe- dience ? A. " It cannot, A believer firft inwardly dif- obeys, inclines to lin with his heart: then his inter- courfe with God is cut off, i, e. his faith is iolt. And after 222 The life of the [^747* •after this, he may fall into outward fin, being now weak, and like another man. Q. 17. " How can fuch an one recover faith ? A. " By repenting and doing the firll Worksu Rev. ii. 5. Q. 18. *^ Whence is it that fo great a majority of thole who believe fall more or iefs into doubt or fear ? A. " ChieSy from their own ignorance or un- faithfulnefs : often from their not watching unto prayer : perhaps fometimes from fome defcft, or want of the power of God in the preaching they hear. O. 19. " Is there not a defetb in us? Do we preach as we did at firft? Have w^e not changed our doctrines ? A. 1. " At firft we preached almoft wholly to un- believers. To thofe therefore we fpake almoft con- tinually, of remiflTion of fins through the death of Chrijly and the nature of faith in his blood. And fo we do ftillj among thofe who need to be taught the firft elements of the gofpel of Chrift : 2, " But thofe in whom the foundation is already laid, we exhort to go on to perfe8:ion : which we did not fee fo clearly at firft ; although we occafionally fpoke of it from the beginning. 3. "Yet we now preach, and that continually, faith in Cbrifi, as the prophet, prieft, and king, at leaft, as clearly, as ftrongly, and as fully, as we did fix years ago. ' Q. 20. " Do not fome of our aftiftants preach too much of the wrath, and too little of the love of God? A. " We fear they have leaned to that extreme ; and hence fome of their heareii may have loft the joy of faith ? O. 2t. " Need we ever preach the terrors of the Lord to thofe who know they are accepted of him? A. ''No: 1747-] Rev- JOHN WESLEY. 223 A. " No ; it is folly fo to do: for love is to them the ftrongeft of all motives. Q. 22. " Do we ordinarily reprefent a juftified Rate fo great and happy as it is ? A. " Perhaps not. A believer, walking in the light, is inexpreffibly great and happy. Q. 23. " Should we not have a care of depreci- ating juftification, in order to exhalt the Rate of full fanftification ? A. " Undoubtedly we fhould beware of this : for one may infenfibly Aide into it. O. 24. " How (liall we effetlually avoid it? A. " When we are going to fpeak of entire fane- tification, let us firft defcribe the bleflings of a juf- tified (late, as ftrongly as pofTible. O. 25. " Does not the truth of the gofpel lie very near both to Cahinifm and Antimmianijm ? A. " Indeed it does : as it were, within a hair's breadth. So that it is altogether foolifh and finful, becaufe we do not quite agree either with one or the other, to run from them as far as ever we can. O. 26. *' Wherein may we come to the very edge of Cahinifm ? A. " In afcribing all good to the free grace of God: 2. In denying all natural free will, and all power antecedent to grace ; and 3. In excluding all merit from man ; even for what he has or does bv the grace of God. Q. 27. *' W^herein may we come to the edge of Antinomianifm r* A. 1. " In exalting the merits and love of Chfiji, 2. In rejoicing evermore. 0.28. ^ Does faith fupercede (fet afide the nc. cefTity of) holinefs or good works ? A. " In'nowife. So far from it that it implies both, as a caufe does its effects." in. o 1. 224 The LIFE of the [i747« IIL Qi 1. " Can an unbeliever (whatever he be in other refpeQs) challenge any thing of God's juf- tice ? A. " Abfolutely nothing but hell. And this is a point which we cannot too much infift oh. Q. 2. " Do we empty men of their own righte- oufnefs, as we did at firft? Do we fufficiently labour, when they begin to be convinced of fm, to take away all they lean upon ? Should we not then endeavour ■with all our might to overturn their falfe founda- tions ? A. ** This was at firft one of our principal points. And it ought to be fo ftill. For, till all other founda- tions afe overturned, they cannot build upon Chrijl F Q. 3. *' Did we not then purpofely throw them into conviSions? Into ftrong forrow and fear? Nay, did we not ftfiv^ to make them inconfolable ? Refu- fing to be comforted ? A. « We did. Arid fo we fhould do ftill. For the ftronger the conviftion, the fpeedier is the deli- verance. And none fo foon receive the peace of God, as thofe who fteadily refufe all other comfort. Q. 4. ** What is fmcerity ? A. " Willingnefs to know and do the whole will of God. The loweft fpecies thereof feems to be faithfulnefs in that which is little. Q. 5. '^ Has God any regard to man's fmcerity? A. "So far, that no man in any ftate can poffibly pleafe God without it : neither indeed in any mo- ment wherein he is not fmcere. Q. 6. " But can it be conceived that God has any regard to the fmcerity of an unbeliever? A. ** Yes, fo much, that if he perfeveres therein, God will infallibly give him faith. Q. 7. ^* What regard may we conceive him to have, to the lincerity of a believer? A. "So 1747'] ^Ev- JOHN WESLEY. 225 A. " So much, that in every fincerc believer he fulfils all the great and precious promifes. Q. 8. *' Whom do you term 'd^fincere believer ? A. " One that walks in the light, as God is in the light. Q. g. " Is fincerity the fame with a fingle eye f A. " Not altogether. The latter refers to our in- tention ; the former to our will or defires. Q. 10. *' Is it not all in all ? A. " All will follow perfevering fmcerity. God gives every thing with it ; nothing without it. O. 11. " Are not then fincerity and faith equi- valent terms ? A. " By no means. It is at leafl as nearly related to works as it is to faith. For example ; Who is fin- cere before he believes ? He that then does all he can : he that, according to the pov/er he has received, brings {ox\\\ fruit s meet for repentance. Who is fin- cere after he believes ? He that, from a fenfe of God's love, is zealous of all good works. Q. 12. *' Is not fincerity what St. Paul terms a willing mind ? rl 7rpo^vfji.ix ? 2 Cor. viii. 12. A. " Yes : if that word be taken in a general kn^e. For it is a conftant difpofition to ufe ail the grace given. O. 13. " But do we not then fet fincerity on a le- vel with faith ? A. " No. For v/e allow a man may be finccre, and not be juRified, as he maybe penitent, and not be juftified: (not as yet) but he cannot have faith, and not be juftified. The very moment he believes he is juftified. Q. 14. " But do we not give up faith, and put fin- cerity in its place, as the condition of our acceptance with God ? A. " We believe it is one condition of our accept- ance, as repentance likewife is. And we believe it a Vol. II. Q condition 2 26 The life ot the 1^747' condition of our continuing in a ftate of acceptance. Yet we do not put it in the place of faith. It is by faith the merits of Chrifi arc applied to my foul. But if I am not fincere, they arc not applied. Q. 15. " Is not this ihdii going about to ejlahliJJj your oivnrighteoiifnefsy whereof^'/. Pj/^/rpcaks, Ro7n. x. 4 P A. ** St, Paul there manifeftly fpeaks of unbe- lievers, who fought to be accepted for the fake of their own righieoufiiefs. We do not feek to be accepted for the fake of our fmceritv ; but through the merits of Cbrijl alone. Indeed, fo long as any man believes, he cannot go about (in St. Paul's fenfe) to ejlabliJJd his czvn right eoujnejs. Q. 16. " But do you confider, that we are under the covenant of ,^race ? And that the covenant of works is now abolifhed ? A. " All mankind were under the covenant of grace, from the very hour that the original promife was made. If by the covenant of works you mean, that of unfmning obedience made with Ada772 before the fall : no man, but Adam, was ever under that covenant : for it was abolifhed before Cain was born. Yet it is not fo aboliihed, but that it will (land, in a meafure, even to the end of the world, /. e. if wc do this, we fliall live; if not, wc fnall die eternally : -if we do well, we fliall live with God in glory : if evil, we (liall die the fecond death. For every man fliall be judged in that day, and rewarded according to his works. Q. 17. 'MVhat means then, to him that hcJievcth^ his faith is counted for rightcoufnefs ? A. ** That God forgives him that is m^righteous as foon as he believes, accepting his faith inflcad of perfect rightcoufnefs. But then obfcrve, univcrfal rightcoufnefs follows, though it did not precede faith. O. 18. ''But is faith ^^■\\^^>. counted to us for right e- oufnefSf at whatfoever time wc believe ? A. '* Yes. 17470 R^v. JOHN WESLEY. 227 A. " Yes. In whatfoever moment we believe, all our paft fins vanifh away. They are as tboup-h they had never been, and we (land clear in the fight of God. Q. 19. " Are not the afTurance of faith, the infpi- ration of the Holy Ghoft, and the revelation of Chrifl in us, terms nearly of the fame import ? A. " He that denies one of them, mull deny all ; they are fo clofely connefted together. Q. 20. " Are they ordinarily, where the pure gof- pel is preached, effential to our acceptance ? A. ** Undoubtedly they are ; and as fuch, to be infifted on, in the ftrongeft terms. Q. 21. "Is not the whole difpute of falvation by faith, or by works, a merey?r//> of words f A. " In afferting falvation by faith, we mean this; 1. That pardon (falvation begun) is received by faith, producing works. 2. That holinefs (falvation continued) is faith working by love : 3. That heaven (falvation finiflied) is the reward of this faith. ** If you who affert falvation by v/orks. Or by faith and works, mean the fame thing (underftanding by faith, the revelation of Chrift in us, by falvation, par- don, holinefs, glory) we will not ftrive with you at all. If you do not, this is r\ol 2i flrife of words : hut the very vitals, the effence of Chriitianity is the thing in queftion. Q. 22. *^ Wherein does our do8;rine now differ from that we preached when at Oxford ^ A. *' Chiefly \n thefe two points: 1. We then knew nothing of that righteoufnefs of faith, in juftifi- cation; nor 2. Of the nature of faith itfelf, as imply- ing confcioufncfs of pardon. O. 23. " May not fome degree of the love of God, go before a difiincl fenfe of juftification? A. " We believe it may. O 2 Q. 24. 228 The LIFE of the [^747- Q. 24. ** Can any degree of fan6lification or ho- linels ? A. " Many degrees of outward holinefs may : yea, and fome degree of meeknefs, and feveral other tempers which would be branches of Chriftian ho- linefs, but that they do not fpring from Chriftian prin- ciples. For the abiding love of God cannot fpring, but from faith in a pardoning God. And no true Chriftian holinefs can exift, without that love of God for its foundation. Q. 25. " Is every man, as foon as he believes, a new creature, fandihed, pure in heart? Has he then anew heart? Dots Chrift dwell therein? And is he a temple of the Holy Ghoft ? "^ A* " All thefe things may be affirnied of every bdiever, in a true fenfe. Let us not therefore con- tradi8: thofe who maintain it. Why ftiould we contend about words ? IV. Q. 1. " How much is allowed by our bre- thren who differ from us, with regard to entire fanc- tification ? A. " They grant, 1. That every one muft be en- tirely fanftified, in the article of death : " 2. That till then, a believer daily grows in grace, comes nearer and nearer to perFeQion. " 3. That we ought to be continually prefling after "this, and to exhort all others fo to do. O. 2. " What do we allow them ? A. " We grant, 1. That many of thofe who have died in the faith, yea, the greater part of thofe w'e "have known, were not fan ftified throughout, not made perfeQ: in love, till a little before death : "'2. That the term, **" fanftified" is coniitiually ap- plied by St. Paul, to ail that were juftified, were triic believers : "3. That 1747'] R^^- JOHN WESLEY. 229 " 3^ That by this term alone, he rarely- (if ever) means, faved from all fm : " 4. That confcquently, it is not proper to ufe it in this fenfe, without adding the words '* wholly, en- tirely," or the like : " 5. That the infpired writers almoft continually fpeak of or to thofe who were juftifiedj but very rarely, either of or to thofe, who were wholly fan8.i- fied: " 6. That confequently, it behoves us to fpeak in public almoft continually of the ftate of juftification : but more rarely, at leaft in full and explicit terms, concerning entire fanftification. Q. 3. " What then is the point wherein we di- vide ? /A. *' It is this : Whether we fhould expe6l lo be faved from all fin, before the article of death ? O. 4. '' IS there any clear fcripture promife of this ? That God will fave us from all fin ? A. " There is. Pfalm cxxx. 8, He Jloall redeem Jfrael fro7n all his fins, *' This is more largely expreiTed in the prophecy of Ezekicl : Then will I fprinkle clean water upon yoUy and you Jhall be clean ; from all your filthinef, and from d\\ your idols will I cleanfe you — I will alfo fave you from dXlyour uncleanneffeSyZ. xxxvi. v. 25, 29, No promife can be more clear. And to this the apoftle plainly refers in that exhortation, Having thcfe pro- mifes, lei us cleanfe ourfelveSy from allfilthinefsofflefh andfpirity p erf e cling hglinefs in the fear of God. 2 Cor, vii. 1. Equally clear and exprefs in that ancient promife, The Lord ihy God will circumcife thine heart and the heart of thy fee dy to love the Lord thy God zvith all thy heart ana with all thy foul, Deut. XXX. 6. Q. 5. " But does aD,y<7^r//o;/,anfwer;ible to. this, occur in the New Teftament ? ; " ' Q 3' A. "There 230 The life or the {.^747- A. " There does, and that laid down in the plaineil ternis. So St, John iii. 8. For this purpoje the Son of God was manifefted^ that he might deftroy the works of the Devil. The works of the Devil, without any limitation or reftriftion : but all fin is the work of the Devil. Parallel to which is that affertion of 6*/. Patily Eph.w. 25, 27. Chri ft loved the church and gave hirafelffor it — that he might prefeiit it to hiynfclf a glorious churchy not having f pot or zvrinkle or any fuch things hut that it JJjould be holy and without blcmifh, "And to the fame effeft is his affertion in the viiith of the Romans (v. 3, 4.) God fent his Son — that the righteoufnefs of thr law might he fulfilled in us, walk- ing not after the fejh but after thefpirit. Q. 6. *' Does the New Teftament afford any fur- ther ground, for expefting to be faved from all fm ? A. ** Undoubtedly it does, both in thofe prayers and commands which are equivalent to the (Irongeft affertions. O 7. " What prayers do you mean ? A. " Prayers for entire fanclification ; which, were there no fuch thing, would be mere mockery of God. Surb, in particular, are i. Deliver us from evil', or X2X\\tx, from the evil one. Now when this is done, when we are delivered from all evil, there can be no fin remaining 2. Neither pray I for thefe alone, but for them alfo which fball believe on me through their word: that they all may he one, as thou Father art in me and I in Thee, that they alfo may he one in us : I in the 7n and thou in me, that they may be made prrfeft in one. John xvii. 20, 21, 23. ** 3. 1 bozv my knees unto the God and fat her of our Lord jefus Chnfl — that he would grant you — that ye being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to com- prehend zvith all faints, what is the breadth and length and height : and to know the love of Chrifl which pafjeth knowledge^ that ye might be filled with all the fulnefs 1747-] R^v. JOHN WESLEY. 231 fnlnefs of God, Eph. iii. 14,16 — 19. 4. The very God of Peace Janclify you zuboily. And I pray God, your whole fpir it ^ fonly and body^ be prcfcrvedblamelefs^ unto the coming of our Li/ri Jefus Chrift. 1 'Theff, V. 23. 0.8. " What command is there to the fame efFe6l? A. " Be ye pcrfecf as your father zvbich is in hea- ven is perfeh. Matt. vi. ult. "2. Thou ffjalt love the Lord thy God with all thy hearty and zvith all thy foul^ and zviib all thy mind. Matt, xxii^ 37. Bat if the love of God fill all the heart, there can be no fin there. O. 9. ^' Bat how does it appear, that this is to be done before the article of death ? A. " Firft, from the very nature of a command, which is not given to the dead, but to the living. " Therefore^ Thoufhalt love God with all thy hearty cannot mean, Thou flialt do this when thou dieft, but while thou liveit. " Secondly, from exprefs texts of fcripture : ** 1. The grace of God that bringeth falvation hath appeared to all men ; teaching as, that having renoun^ ced {d^vr.rrxuzvoi) ungodliuefs and worldly lujlsy we fhould live fob erlxy right eoujly^ and godly in this prcfent world: looking for the glorious appearing of our Lord Jefus Chrift ; who gave hitnfelf for us^ that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himfelf a peculiar peoph\ zealous of God works. Tit. ii. 11 — 14. " 2. He hath raifed up an horn of falvation for us—^ ■to perform the mercy promifed to our fathers ; the oath which he fzvore to our father Abraham, that he would grant unto us, that zve being delivered out of the hands of our enemies^ fhould ferve him zvithout fear, in ho~ linefs and righteoufnefs before kim^ all the days of our iife, Luke i. 69, i^c, Q4 Q- 10. ^32 The LIFE of the [^747' Q lO. "Does not the hardily preachin^c^ perfec- tion tend to bring believers into a kind of bondage, or flavifh fear ? A. ** It does. Therefore we fiiould always place it in the moft amiable light^ fo that it may excite only hope, joy, and defire. Q. 11. " Why may we not continue in the joy of faiih even till we are made perfed ? A. " Why; indeed ? Since holy grief does not quench this joy: fmce even w^hile we are under the crofs, while we deeply partake of the fuilerings of ChriJ}^ we may rejoice wdth joy unfpeakable. Q. 12. " Do we not difcourage believers from rejoicing ever more ? A. " We ought not fo to do. Let them all their life long, rejoice unto God, fo it be with reverence. And even if lightnefs or pride fiiould mix with their joy, let us not ftrike 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. Q. 13. ** Ought we to be anxioully careful about perfe8,ion ? Left we Ihould die before we have at- tained ? A. ** In no wife. We ought to be thus careful for nothings neither fpiritual nor temporal. Q. 14. " But ought we not to be trouble dy on ac- count of the fiiiful nature which ftill remains 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 fhould only incite us, the more earncftly to turn unto Chriji every moment, and to draw light and life, and firength from him, that we may go on, conquering and to conquer. And therefore, when the fenfe of our fm moft abounds, the fenfe of his love fhould much more abound. Q. 15. "Will our joy or our trouble increafe as we srow m ^race ? A " Perhaps 1747-] R^^v. JOHN WESLEY. 233 A. " Perhaps. both. But without doubt our joy in the Lord will increafc as our love increafes. 0. 16. ** Is not the teaching believers to be con- tinually poring upon their inbred fin, the ready way to make them forget that they were purged from their former iins ? " A. " Vv^e find by experience, it is; or to make them under-vahie, and account it a little thing : whereas indeed (though there are ftill greater gifts behind) this is inexpreffibly great and glorious/' The controverfy with John Smithy now drew to- wards a conclufion : and here I fliall ftate one par- ticular in which I think it had fome influence on Mr. IVeJleys mind. Hitherto he had expreffed his no- tion of juflifyif^g faith, in the words of the church of England^ in her Homily on falvation. That it is, A jure triijl and confidence whith a man hath in God^ that his fins are forgiven^ and he reconciled to the favour of God, But in [uly he feems to have examined the fubje6l more clol'ely, and wrote to his brother Charles, as follows : " Dear Brother, " Yefterday I was thinking on a defideratwn among us, a Gencfs problem atic a ovLyi^i^ing faith. A f[s:eleton of it (which you may fill up, or any one that has leifure) I have roughly fet down. ** Isjuilifying faith a fenie of pardon? Negatur." It is denied. 1. *' Every one is deeply concerned tounderftand this quellion well : but preachers niofl of all : lead they either make them fad whom God hath not made fad ; or, encourage them to fay peace, where there is no peace. " Some years ago we heard nothing of juftifying faith, or a fenfe of pardon : fo that when we did hear 234 '^^^E LIFE OF THE L^7i7' hear of them, the theme was quite new to us ; and we might eafilv, efpeciallv in the heat and hurry of controverfy, lean too much either to the one hand or to the other. II. *' By j unifying faith I mean, that faith, which whofoever hath not, is under the wrath and the curfe of God. By a fenfe of pardon, I mean a dillinft, explicit affurance that my fins are forgiven. " I allow, 1. That there is fuch an explicit aflu- rance. 2. That it is the common privilege of real Chrifiians. 3. That it is the proper Chrifiian faith, which puriBeth the heart, and overcometh the world. " But I cannot allow, that juftifying faith is fuch an affurance, or neceflarily connefted therewith. III. '" Becaiifc, if juftifying faith necedarily implies fuch an explicit ailurance of pardon, then every one who has it not, and every one fo long as he has it not, is under the wrath and under the curfe of God. But this is a fuppolition contrary to fcripture, as well as to experience. ** Contrary to Scripture: to IfaiahX. 10. JVho is among you, that fearcth the Lord, that obeycth the voice of his fervanty that walkcih in darkncjs and hath no light ? let him trnjl in the name of the Lordy and fiay upon his God. ^* Contrary to A^s x. 34. Of a truth I perceivey that God is no refpefler of perfons ; but in every na- timty he that feareth God, arid worJzcih righteoufnefs is accepted "joith him. " Contrary to experience : for J. R. &:c. c^c. had peace with God, no fear, no doubt, before they had that fenfe of pardon. And fo have I frequently had. *^ Again. The alfertion, that juftifying faith is a {^x\{^ of pardon, is contrary to reafon : it is flatly abfurd. For how can a fenfe of our having re- ceived pardon, be the condiiion of our receiving it ? IV. " If 1747-] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 235 IV. '* If you objea, i. 'J,!:. St. Paul, 8cz. bad thisfenfe:' I grant they had; but they were jultihed before they had it. — 2. * We know fifteen hundred perfons who have this alfurance.' Perhaps fo : but this does not prove, they were not juflified till they received it. — 3. ' We have been exceeding- ly bleifed in preaching this do6lrine/ We have been blefl'ed in preaching the great truths of the gofpel ; although wc tacked to them, in the fimplicity of our hearts, a propolition which was not true. 4. ' But does not our church give this account of juftifying faith ?* 1 am fare (he does of faving or Chriftian faith : I think fhe does of juftifying faith too. But to the law and to the tcftimony. All men may err : but the word of the Lord fhall ftand for ever." In the fpring and fummer of this year, Mr. IVeJley^ and the Preachers were invited into many parts of Tork/hirCy Lancajhirey DcrbyJJoir^, and Chejhirey where they had not been before. Mr. John Bennef^y was a moft indefatigable and fuccefsful labourer, for fe- veral years, in thefe parts of the country. He was a man of found judgment, and of confiderable abi- lities as a preacher. From a letter which he wrote to Mr. lVefley\ 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 fupplied for want of Preachers. I think fome one fliould be fent to alTift me, otherwife we fhall lofe ground. — My circuit is one hundred and fifty miles in two weeks; during which time I preach publicly thirty-four times, befides meeting the focieties, vifiting the Tick, and tranf- afting the temporal bufinefs. I think the above is too much forme, confidering my weak conftitution." * Father of the late Rev. Mr. Bcuuet, Miuifter to a congrega- t'cn en the ftones in Moorficlds. This 23^ The LIFE of thz l^747' This was great labour ; but Mr. Wefley, and his bro- ther Mr. Cbarlesy laboured ftill more. They preached as often, did all the other bufinefs, and frequently tra- velled near treble the diftance in the fame fpace of time. Hitherto they had been enabled to labour, and form focieties with the affidance of the other Preachers, in mod parts of England, though fre- quently at the peril of their lives : but now their line was ftretched a little further. One of the Lay- Preachers had gone over to Dul^lin, and after preach- ing there for fome time, formed a fociety. He wrote an account of his fuccefs to Mr. Wejlcy, who determined to vifit Ireland imm.ediately. Accord- ingly, Auguit 4, he fet out horn BriJIol, and pa fling through IValeSy arrived in Duhlm on Sunday the 9th, about ten o'clock in the forenoon. Mr. V/cjley obferves. " Soon after we landed, hearing the bells ringing for church, I went thither diredly. — About three I wrote a line to the curate of. St. Mary's, who fent me word he (liould be glad of my afiiiiance. So 1 preached there, another gentleman reading prayers, to as gay and fenfelefs a congregation as ever I faw. After ferm on Mr. R. thanked me very affetlionately, and defired I v;ould favour him with my company in the morning. Monday 10, Be- tween eiglu and nine I went to Mr. R, the curate of 67. Mary's : he profelied abundance of good- will, commended my fermon in ftrong term.s, and begged he might fee me again the next morning. But at the fame time he expreiTed the moft rooted pre- judice againfl: Lay-Preachers, or preaching out of a church; and faid, tne archbifhop of Diiblin was refolved to furfer no fuch irregularities in his dio- cefe." Jn the coiirfe of the day Mr. IVeJley \j^ni to wait on the archbifhop; but he was gone out of town. The next day he waited upon him a.t New~Bridgt\ ten 1747-] R^^'- JOHN WESLEY. 237 ten miles from Dublin. He bad the favour of con- verfiiTg with the archbifhop two or three hours ; in which time be anfwered abundance of objections. In the evening he returned to Mr. L?meil's, at whofe houfe he was hofpitably entertained. On the i4th, Mr. IVcJiey obferves, *' I procured a genuine account of the great Ir(/h maOacre, in 1641. Surely never was there fuch a tranfa8:ioii before, from the beginning of the world ! More than two hundred thoufand men, women, and children, butchered within a few months in cool blood; and with fuch circumftances of cruelty as make one's blood run cold ! It is well if God has not a contro- verfy with the nation, on this very account to this day." — May the gracious Providence of God fuper- intend our public affairs in fuch a way as may pre- vent the return of a like calamity. Saturday the 15th, he ftaid at home, and fpake to all who came to him. " But fays he, I found fcarce any /r^/Z? among them. At leaft ninety-nine in an hundred of the native Ir(//jy remain in the religion of their fore-fathers. The ProtcJfantSy whether in Dub- lin or el fe where, are alm.oft ail tranfplanted from England, Nor is it any wonder, that thofe who are born PapiftSy generally live and die fuch ; w^hen the Protejlants can find no better ways to convert them, than penal laws and a&s of parliament." — I never un- derftood, that, penal Idzvs andaBs of parliament ^ were intended as the n^iCans of converting the Papifts ; but as means of preventing, or hinderingthem from break- ing the peace, from murdering their neighbours who think differently from them., and from making profe- lytes to opinions fubverfive of the government. The Bulls of the Popes, their Decretals^ and the oaths of the Romifj bifliops, taken even at prefent, will not allow us to doubt for a mom^ent, that principles 'fubver- five of everv Proteftarit government, enter into the c [fence 33^ ^ii^ LIFE OF THE C^747' effence of every eftablifhrnent of the Roman- Ca f bo- lie * religion ; and will infallibly produce their na- tural efFe6ls, as opportunities offer. And therefore the creed, or public profeffions of individuals in that church to the contrary, are of no avail ; they ought to weigh nothing with the legiflature in Protejiant countries, until the Pope of Rome annul, abrogate, and totally difavow the biillsy and decretals , which in- fringe on the rights of Kings, and of all civil go- vernors ; and change the oaths of the bifliops afting under his authority. — But, perhaps, Mr. JVeJIey in- tended no more, by the fentence quoted above, than a reproach either on the church or ftate, for not appointing proper methods of diffufmg knowledge among the native Jnjb ; moft of whom are kept by their Friefts in a {late of the grolfeil ignorance. The houfe wherein they preached at this time, was originally defigned for a Lutherayi church, and con- tained about four hundred people: but abundantly more might ftand in the yard. Mr. /Ff/Zn- preached morning and evening to many more than the houle could contain ; and had more and more reafon to hope, they would not all be unfruitful hearers. Monday the lyth, he began to examine the fociety, which" contained about two hundred and fourfcore members, many of whom had found peace with God. " The people in general, fays Mr. IVejlcy, are of a more teachable fpirit than in moft parts of England : but on that \c.xy account, they mull be watched over with the more care, being equally fufccptible of good and ill irapreffions." Mr. Wcjlcy proceeds. ** Sundav the 23d, I began in the evening before the ulual time ; yet were a multitude of people got together, in the houfe, yard, * There never was a more indecent abufe of words, than in the church of Rome alTaming the Title of the CaihaUc Church. and 17470 Rf^'- JOHN WESLEY. 239 and ilreet : abundantly more than my voice could reach. I cried aloud to as many as could hear. All things are ready ; eome ye to the marriage. Hav- ing delivered my meflkgc, about eleven I took fhip for Englandy leaving J, Trembath^ then a burning and a Ihining light, a workman that needed not to be afhamed, to water the feed which had been fown. Wednefday 26, about two in the afternoon we landed at Holyhead. Saturday 29, I preached at Garth, in BreekuockJJjirey in the evening, where I met my brother, in his way to Ireland"^, — The remaining part of this year, Mr. Wejley fpent in Brijlol, Lon- don, Salijbury, and the neighbouring places. The following letter, written in November, may fhew us how careful Mr. WeJlcy was, to guard the Preachers againfl a party fpirit in their public la- bours. " My dear brother, lays he, in public preach- ing fpeak not one word againd opinions of any kind. We are not to fight againfl notions, but fms. Lead of all ihould I advife you, once to open your lip> againfl Fredeftinaiion. It would do more mifchief than you are aware of. Keep to our one point, prcfcnt inward falvation by faith, by the divine evi- dence of fins forgiven." At this time, the work of God (^' It is no cant word, fays Mr. IVeJIe\\ it means tlie converfion of iinners from fm to holinefs'j was both widening and deepening, not only in London and Brijlol, but in mofl parts of England: there being fcarcely any county, and not many large tow^jis, wherein there were not njore or fewer wiiucffcs of it. Mean time the grcatcit numbers were brought to the great Shepherd of their fouls (next \o London ^nd Brijlol) in Con7Wall, th.e Vx^eft-Riding of I'orkjhire, and A^:^^- cajlle upon Tync, Bu_ itiil they were obliged in many * See vol. i. page 31;^. 240 The LIFE of the [^743- places, to carry their lives in their hands. Several inftances of this have ah'eady been related ; and many more might ftill be added. February 15, 1748, he left Briftol^ and proceeded through Wales on his way to Ireland, On the 24th, he reached Holyheady where he was detained about twelve days. He did not remain idle; but preached every day at fome place in the neighbourhood. " I never knew men, fays Mr. ]Vejley\ make fuch poor lame excufes, as thefe captains did> for not failing. It put me in mind of the epigram, ** There are, if rightly I may tliink, Five caufes why a man fhould drink. ** Which, with a little alteration would juft fuit them. ** There are, iinlefs my memory fail, Five caufes why we fhould not fail. The fog is thick : the wind is high It rains : or may do by and by : Or any other reafon why." } March 8, about one o'clock in the morning, they failed, and came to Diihlin in the evening, where Mr. IVefiey found his brother meeting the fociety. On the 16th, he inquired into the ftate of the fo- ciety. *' Mofl pompous accounts, fays Mr. WeJIeVy had been fent me from time to time, of the great numbers that were added to it ; fo that I confidently expefted to find therein, fix or feven hundred mem- bers. And how is the real fa8:? I left three hun- dred and ninety four members ; and I doubt if there are now, three hundred and ninety-fix ! *' Let this be a warning to us all, how we give into that hateful cuilom of painting things beyond the life. Let us make a confcience of magnifying or exaggerating any thing. Let us rather fpeak un- der than above the truth. We, of all men, lliould be 1748.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 241 be punftual in all we fay, that none of our words may fall to the ground." It is to be greatly lament- ed, that fome few of the Preachers have not given more attention to this caution, and to fome others Mr. IVeJley has left on record, concerning evil-fpeak- ing, than they feem to have done. I cannot con- ceive how any man can keep a good confcience, who does not religioufly obferve them. Wednefday the 23d, he preached to the prifoners in Nczvgate, On the 30th, he left Dublin^ and rode to Philip' 3 -Tow n^ the (hire town of the Kings-County^ The ftreet was foon filled with thofe who flocked from every fide. And even at five in the morning, he had a large congregation. After preaching he fpoke feverally to thofe of the fociety ; of whom forty were troopers. At noon he preached to a larger congregation than in Dublin-, and adds, " I am perfuaded, God did then make an offer of life to all the inhabitants of Philip' s-To^wn^' The following days he preached at I'ullamore^ Tyrrell' s-Pafs, Claro, Temple-Maqueteer^ Moat-, and on Saturday April 2d, came to Athlone, His bro- ther Charlesy had been here fome time before; thoudi \v was with the imminent hazard of his life. For within about a mile of the town, he was way- laid by a very numerous Popijb mohy who difcharged a fhower of flones, which he very narrowly efcap- ed *. " This, fays Mr. J, JVeJley, had an exceed- ing happy effeft, prejudicing all the Protejfants in our favour. And this feemed to increafe every day. The morning I went away, moil of the congregation were in tears. Indeed almoft all the town feemed to be moved ; full of good-will, and defires of falva- tion. But the waters were too wide to be deep. I found not one under flrong conviction, much lefs * See vol. i. page 321, Vol. IL R liad 242 The LIFE gf the [i74^« had any one attained the knowledge of filvation, in hearing above thirty fermons. Alter re-vifjting the towns I had feen before, on Tuclday the i6th, I returned to Dublin, Having (laid a few days there, I made another little excurfion through the country focieties. May the 14th, I returned to D/^Z'//;;, and had the fatisfadion to find, that the work of God, not only fpread wider and wider, but was alfo much deej. ened in many fouls. Wednefday the 1 8th, we took fliip, and the next day landed at Holy -Head," . Notwithftanding Mr. IVcjley^ daily employment in preaching, often morning, noon, and night, and his continual travelling from place to place; yet, he had fome years before this, formed the defign of making colle6lions from the mod approved waiters in the EngliJJj language, on the fubjetls of pra6lical divinity, and of printing them under the title ofj A Chriftian Library, The letter which Dr. Dod- dridge fent him, w^ith the lift of books he had rc- quefted, greatly facilitated his labour, and he had now large materials ready for the work. He wrote to a friend, and mentions an intention of immedi- ately executing the defign. " Are you, fays he, ftill prefTing toward the mark, the prize of your high calling? Is your hope full of immortality ? Do you continue to count all things lofs, for the excellency of the knowledge of Chrifi Jefus ^ Some time fince I was in much concern for you, left you fliould be fwallov/ed up in tb.e things of earth. But I truft God has wrought a great deliverance for you, and given you to choofe him for your God, and your all. O feck him with an undivided heart, till you fee him as he is ! *^ I have often thought of mentioning to you, and a'few others^ a dclign I have had for fome years, of printing a little library, perhaps of fourfcore, or one hundred volumes, for the ufe of thofe that fear God. 1748.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 243 God *. My piirpofe was to feleft whatever I had feenmoll valuable in the Englijh language, and either abridge, or take the whole Tra6b, only a little cor- reQed or explained, as occafion fliould require. Of thefe I could print ten or twelve, more or lefs, every }^ear, on a fine paper, and large letter, which (liould be caft for the purpofe. — As foon as I am able to purchafe a printing-prefs and types, I think of entering on this defign. I have feveral books now- ready ; and a Printer who defires nothing more tUan food and raiment. In three or four weeks I hope to be in London^ ^nd if God permit, to begin with- out delay." — He at length accompiiflied his defign in fifty duodecimo volumes. " June 2 4lh, fays Mr. lVcjlcy\ being the day v;e had appointed for opening the fchool at King/wood (that is for boarders) I preached there, on, ^rain up a ^ child in the zvay that hejbould go, and when he is old he zvill not depart from it. My brother and I then adminiftered the Lord's fupper to many who came from far." — The following is an abftraB: from Mr. IVeJIeys " Short Account of the School in King/wood^ near Brijioly" which was printed fome years after this period. " Our defign is, with God's affiftance, to train up children in every branch of ufeful learning. " The fchool contains eight clafies : *' In the firit clafs the children read inflruc- tions for children, and leffons for children; and be- gin learning to write. '* In the fecond clafs they read The Manners of the ancient Chriftians, go on in writing, learn the Short Engl ifli Grammar, the Short Latin Grammar, read Pr.^lecliones Pueriles : tranflate them into Eng- * It Is evident enough from Dr. Doddridge*^ letter, that the firlt intention was, the benefit of the Preachers. R 2 lilh. 244 TiiL LIFE OF THE [174^- li(h, and the In{lru6lions for Children into Latin : part of which they tranfcribe and repeat. " In the third clafs they read Dr. Cave's Primitive Chriftianity, go on in writing, perfeft themfelves in the Englifli and Latin Grammar; read Ccrderii Col- loquia Sclecia and Hifiorice Selecf^e : tranflate BiJIori^ Sele^fce into Englifli, and Leffons for Children into Latin: part of which they tranfcribe and repeat. " In the fourth clafs they read the Pilgrim's PrOgrefs, perfe^: themfelves in writing : learn Dil- worth's Arithmetic : read Caftellio's Kempis and Cornelius Nepos : tranflate Caflellio into EngliOi, and Manners of the ancient Chriflians into Latin : tranfcribe and repeat feleQ portions of moral and facred poems. ^* In the fifth clafs they read the Life of Mr. Ha- liburton, perfeft themfelves in arithmetic ; read Sele6l Dialogues of Erafmus, Phoedrus and Salluft : tranflate Erafmus into Englifli, and Primitive Chrif- tianity into Latin : tranfcribe and repeat fele6l por- tions of moral and facred poems. ** In the fixth clafs they read the Life of Mr. De Renty, and Kennet's Roman Antiquities ; they learn Randal's Geopraphy : read Caslar, Selecl Parts of Terence and Velleius Paterculus : tranflate Erafmus into Englifli, and tlic Life of Mr. Haliburton into Latin: tranfcribe and repeat fele6l portions of facred hymns and poems. " In the leventh clafs they read Mr. Law's Chrif- tian Perfe6lion, and Archbifliop Potter's Greek Anti- quities": they learn Bengelii Jntrodii&io ad Cbronolo- giar/iy with Marlhal's Chronological ^Tables: read Tully's Oflices and Virgil's ^^neid : tranfia-te Benge- lius into Engliih, and Mr. Law into Latin : learn (thofe who have a turn for it) to make verfes, and the Short Greek Grammar : read the Epiilles of St. 1748.] Rfiv. JOHN WESLEY. 245 St. fobn : tranfcribe and repeat feleQ portions of Milton. " In the eigrh clafs they read Mr. Law's Serious Call, and Lewis's Hebrew Antiquities: they ]earn to nva.kc Themes and to declaim: learn Voffius's Rhe- torick : read Tully's Tufculan Queftions, and Selena ex Ovidio, Virgilio, Horatio, Juvenale, Perfio, Mar- tiale : perfect themfelves in the Greek Grammar; read the Gofpels and Six Books of Homer's Iliad : tranflate Tully into Englifh, and Mr. Law into La- tin: learn the Short Hebrew Grammar, and read Genefis : tranfcribe and repeat Selena ex Virgilio^ Horatio, Juvenale. *' It is our particular defire. That all who are educated here, may be brought up in the fear of God : and at the utmod diflance as from vice in ge- neral, fo in particular from idlenefs and effeminacy. The children therefore of tender parents, fo called, have no bufinefs here: for the rules will not be bro- ken, in favour of anv perfon whatfoever. Nor is any child received unlefs his parents agree, 1. That he fliall obferve all the rules of the houfe, and 2. That they will not take him from fchool, no, not a day, till they take him for good and alL The Method obferved in the School is this; « The Firfl Clafs. Morn. 7. Read. 10. Write till eleven. Aftern. 1. Read. 4. Write till five. " The Second Clafs. M. 7. Read the Manners of the Ancient Chriilians : 8. Learn the Engliih Grammar: v/hen that is ended, the Latin Grammar. 10. Learn to write. A. 1. Learn to conftrue and parfe PrakHiones Pui" riles ; R 3 4. Tranflate 246 The life of the 174B.] 4. Tranflate into Englifh and Latin alternately. « Tfie Third Oafs. M. 7. Read Primitive Chriftianity : 8. Repeat Englifh and Latin Grammar alter- nately. Q. Learn Corderius, and when that is ended, Hijiorice Selecfa, 10. Write. « A. 1. Learn Corderius and Hijfori^ Selecfce. 4.' Tranflate. « The Fourth Clafs. M. 7. Read Tiie Pilgrim's Progrefs : 8. Repeat the Grammar : 9. Learn CaftelHo's Kempis, and when that is ended, Cornelius Nepos. 10. Write and learn Arithmetic : A. 1. Learn Kempis and CorneHus Nepos. 4. Tranflate, " The Fifth Ciafs- -M. 7.> Read Mr- Haliburton's Life. 8. Repeat the Grammars : 9, Learn Erafmus ; afterwards Phaedrus \ \\\(:\\ Salluft : 10. Learn Arithmetic : A. 1. Learn Erafmus, Phgcdrus, Salluft: 4. Tranflate. " The Sixth Clafs. ■M. 7. Read Mr. de Renty's Life : 8. Repeat the Grammars: 9. Learn Ccefar ; afterwards Terenc^ ; then Vel- lelus Paterculus ; 10. Learn Geography : A, X, Learn Ca.^fars Terence; Paterculus: 3. Read 174S.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 247 3. Read Roman Antiquities : 4. TranOate. " The Seventh Clafs. M. 7. Read Mr. Law's Chriftian Perfeftion.: M. W. F. Learn the Greek Grammar; and read the Greek Teftair.ent ; Tli. Th. Sat. Learn Tally ; afterwards Vir- gil: lO. Learn Chronology : A, 1. Learn Latin and Greek alternately, as in the morning : 3. Read Grecian Antiquities : 4. Tranflate and make verles alternately. The Eighth Clafs, M. 7. Read Mr. Law's Serious Call : M. Th. Latin. Tu. Frid. Greek. W. S. Hebrew : and fo at one in the after- noons : 10. Learn Rhetoric: A. 3. Read Hebrew Antiquities: 4. Mond. Thurf. Tranflate. Tuef. Frid. Alake Verfes: Wed. Make a Theme : Sat. Write a Declamation. " All the other claffes fpend Saturday afternoon in arithmetic, and in tranfcribing what they learn on Sunday, and repeat on Monday morning, Mr. JVeJley adds ; *' The following method may be obferved, by thofe who defign to go through a courfe of academical learning. R 4 " First 245 The life of the [1748, First Year. *' Read Lowth's Englifli Grammar, Latin > Grammars, Greek Hebrew- French Corn. Nepos, Salluft, Capfar, Tully's Offices, Terence, Ph^drus, ^Eneid, — - Dilworth, Randal, Ben- gel. VoiTius, Aldrich and Wailis's Lo- gic, Langbain's Ethics, Hutchinfon on the Paf- fions. Spanheim's Introdu6lion on the Ecclefiaflical Hiftory, PuffendorPs Introdu8.ion to the Hiftory of Eu- rope. Moral and Sacred Poems, Hebrew Pentateuch, with the Notes, Greek Teftament, Matt. A8:s, with the Notes. Xenophon's Cyrus,. Homer's Iliad, Bifhop Pearfon on the Creed, Ten Volumes of the Chriilian Library. Telemaquc.'' " Second Year, *' Look over the Gram- mars, Read Veil. Paterculus, Tufculan Queflions, Excerpta, Vidas Opera, LufusWeftmonaflerienfis, Chronological Tables, Euclid's Elements, Well's Traas, Newton's Principia, Mofhiem's Introdu6lion to Church Hiftory, Ufher's Annals, Burnet's Hift. of the Re-^ formation. Spenfer's Fairy Queen, Hiftorical Books of the Hebrew Bible, Greek Teftament, Homer's Odyftey, Twelve Volumes of the Chriftian Library, Ram fay's Cyrus, Racine," ** Third 1748.] Riiv. JOHN WESLEY, 249 *' Third ** Look over the Gram- mars, Livy, Suetonius, Tully de Finibus, Mufe Anglicanas, Dr. Burton's Poemata, Ld. Forbes* Tracls, Abridgment of Hutchin- fon's Works, Survey of the Wifdom of God in the Creation, Roilin's Ancient Hiftory, Y EAR. Hume's Hiftory of Eng- land, Neal's Hiftory of the Pu- ritans, Milton's Poetical Works, HcbrewBible,Job — Can- ticles, Greek Teftament, Plato's Dialogues, Greek Epigrams, Twelve Volumes of the Chriftian Library, Pafcal, Corneille." ^' Fourth Year, " Look over the Gram- mars, Tacitus, Grotii Hiftoria Belgica, Tully de Natura Deo- rum, Praedium Rufticum, Carmina Quadragefima- lia. Philofophical Tranfac tions abridged, Watt's Aftronomy, Sec. Compendium Metaphy- ficse, W^atts's Ontology, Lock's Ell'ay, Malebranche, Clarendon's Hiftory, Neal's Hiftory of New- England, Antonio Solis' Hiftory of Mexico, Shake fpear. Reft of the Hebrew Bible, Greek Teftament, Epidetus, Marcus Antoninus, Poetas Minores, End the Chriftian Li- brary, La Fauftete de \es Ver- tues humanes. Quef- nell fur les Evan to lave their own fouls, and them that hear them. And thofc to whom they minifter fpiritual things, willingly minirter to thejii of their carnal things ; fo that tliey have food to cat and raiment to put on^ and are content therewith. 2. " A competent proviiion is likewife made for the W'ives of married preachers. Thefe alio lack for nothing, having a weekly allowance over and above for their little children: fo that neither they nor their hufbands need be careful ah out many things ^ but may w^ait upo.n the Lord without diflraQ.ion. 3. " But one confiderable difficulty lies on thofe vlio have boys, when they grow too big to be un- der their mother's dire6lion. Having no father to govern and in{tru6l them, they are expofcd to a thoufand temptations. To remedy this, we have a fchool on, "purpofe for them, wherein they have all the inftruclion they are capable of, together with all things needful for the body, clothes only excepted. And it may be, if God profper this labour of love, they will have thefe too fliortly. 4. *' In whatever view we look upon this, it is one of the noblejfh charities that can be conceived. How reafonable is the inilitution? Is it fit that the children of thofe who leave wife, home, and all that is dear, to fave fouls from death, (liould want what is needful eiLhtcr for foul or body ? Ought not 174B.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 251 not we to fupply what the parent cannot, becaufe of his labours in the goJpel ? How exeellent are the effe6ls of this inllitution ? The Preacher eafed of this weight, can the more eafily go on in his liibour. And perhaps many of thofe children may hereafter fill up the place of thofe that fliall reft from their labours. 5. " But the expcricc of fuch an undertaking is very large; fo that although v, e have at prefent but thirteen or fourteen poor cliildren, we are conti- nually running behind, notwithftanding the yearly fu bfcription made at London and Briftol. The beft means we could think of at our late Conference to iupply the deficiency is, once a year to defire the aiTiftance of all thoie in every place who wifii well to the work of God; all who long to fee fmncrs converted to God, and the kingdom of Chrift fet up in all the earth." From this time a public colle61Ion has been made through all the focieties once in every year, for Kingfzvood-SchooL The lad vear, 1794, it amounted to twelve hundred and eighty-four pounds, eighteen fhillings and one penny ! July 18th, Mr. IVeftcy was at New c aft I e upon %yiie% and from thence proceeded Northv/ard, preaching at feveral places in his way, till he came to Berivick upon Tweed. Here he preached three or four times,- in a large green fpace, near the Governor's houfe. A little fociety had been formed at this place fome time before, which was now confiderably increafed : and feveral members of it, walked worthy of the vocation wherewith they were called. On the' 23d, after preaching at odier places on his way back, he returned to Newcaftle. During the fummer, there was a \?.)yc. increafe of thiC work of God, both in Norlburtiherland^ the county of Durham^ and TorkJLire : as alfo in the mofl 252 The life of the [1748. mofi ravage part of LancaJJoire ; though here in par- ti culrr the Preachers carried their lives in their hands. A fpecimen of the treatment they met with there, may be {^c^Vi in the foilov»'ing brief account. " On Auguft 26th, fays Mr. lVefle}\ while I w^as fpeaking to fome quiet people at Roiighley, near Coin in Lancajhiy(\ a drunken rabble came, the captain of whom faid he was a deputy conftable, and I niull go with him. I had fcarce gone ten yards, when one of his company (Iruck me in the face with all his might. Another threw his ftick at rnv head: all the refl; were like as many rampinfr and roaring lions. They brought me, with Mr. Griuijhaw^ the minifter of /Am'i>r//> ; Mr. Colheck o( Kighiry, and Mr. Macford oi Newcajlle (who never recovered the abufe he then received) into a public-houfe at Bar- Yuzvfordy a neighbouring village, where all their forces were gathered together. ** Soon after Mr. Hargravey the high conftable^ came, and required me to promife I would come to RGiighley no more. This I (latly refufed. But upon fayingj I will not preach here now, he under- took to quiet the mob. While he and I walked out at one door, Mr. GrimjloaWy and Colbcck, went out at the other. The mob immediately clofed them in, toffed them to and fro with the greateft violence, threw Mr. GrimJJjazv dowm, and loaded them both with dirt and mire of every kind. The other quiet harmlcfs people, who followed me at a diftance, they treated full as ill. They poured upon them (bowers of dirt and (lones, without any regard io age or fex. Some of them they trampled in the mire, and dragged by the hair of the head. Many thiey beat with their clubs without mercy. One they forced to leap from a rock, ten or twelve feet high, into the river. And when he crept out, w^et and bruifed, were hardly })erfuaded, not to throw him 1750.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 253 him in again. Such was the recompenfe we fre- quently received from our country-men, for our la- bour of love." I find nothing very remarkable during the follow- ing year, except Mr. Wejley^ perfeverance in his frequent journies, and inceffant labours. In the beginning of the year 1750, having been informed of the violence of the mobs at Cork^ againft both the preachers and people, and being in nothing terrified by the adverfaries, he determined to fet out for the fcene of riot. Accordingly, April yth, he embarked at Holyhead in the morning, and in the evening land- ed in Dublin, Here he received a full account of the (hocking outrages which had been committed at Corky for feveral months together; and which the good magiftrateshad encouraged rather than oppofed. At the Lent affizes, feveral depofuions were laid before the grand jury, againft the rioters: yet they did not find any of thefe bills ! But they found a bill againft a poor baker, who, when the mob were ^\U charging a fhower of ftones upon him, difcharged a piftol without ball, over their heads, which put them into fuch bodily fear, that they all ran away, without looking behind them. Having tarried ten or twelve days in Duhlin^ Mr. Wcjley began his journey through the country locie- ties, towards Cork^ where he arrived May the 19th. The next day, underftanding the houfe was fmall, he went out about eight o'clock, to Hammond' i-Marf/j : at that time a large open fpace, but fince built over-* Here he preached, to a large and deeply attentive congregation. In the afternoon, tv;o of the Preachers went to the mayor, and aficed, ifit would be difagree- able to hirn, that Mr. JVfJley fhould preach on the Marfti? He anfwered, "Sir, I will have no more mnbs and riots." One of them replied. Sir, Mr. IVfJIcy has made none. He then fpake plainlv, ■" siV, 25i The LIFE of the L^75^' " Sir, I will have no more preaching. And if Mr. JVeJJcy attempts. It, I am prepared for him/' Here was a chief magiftrate, who, if Mr. //''"^r^' attempted to preach and' inflruft the people in their duty to God and man, was determined to make a riot to hinder him ! The following is an abilraB from Mr. IVcjley^ journal, of what took place afterwards, at Corky and at Bandcn. " I would not the-'efore, attempt to preach on the Marfii, but bcgran in our own houfe about five (in the evening on the fame day, being Sunday). The good mayor, m^ean time, w-as walking on the Change, and giving orders to his ferjeants and the town drummicrs, who immediately came down to the houfe, with an innumerable mob attending him. They continued drumming, and I continued preach- ing, till I had finiflied my difcourfe. When I came out, the mob prelently clofed me in. Obferving one of the ferjeants ftanding by me, I defired him to keep the king's peace. But lie replied, * Sir, I have no orders to do that/ As foon as I came into the open ftreet, the rabble threw Vvhatever came to hand. But all went by me, or over my head ; nor do I rcm-ember that any thing touclied me. I walked ftr'aight through the miclfl: of the rabble, looking every maii -before me in the face; and they opened to the right and left, till I came near Dant's^ Bridge. A larg^ party had taken poilefTion of this : hut when I came up, they likewife fnrunk back, and I w^alked through them to Mr. Jenkins^ houfe. But a ftout Papift-woman flood juft within the door, and v;ould nor let me come in, till one of the mob, aiming I fuppofe at vu^ knocked her down flat. I then went in, and God reftrained the wild beafis, fo that no one attempted to follow mrc. " But many of the congregation were more roughly handled; particularly Mr. Jones, who was covered 1750.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 255 covered with mud, and cfcaped with liis life al- moft by miracle. Finding the mob were not in- clined to difpcrfe, 1 fent to Alderman Pemhrook, wko immediately defired Alderman Wcnthrop^ his nephew, to go down to Mr. Jenkins's : v.-ith who'^; I w^alked up the ftreet, none giving an unkind or dif- refpeclful word. ** All the following week it was at the peril of his life, if any Meihodift ftirred out of doors. And the cafe was much the fame, during the whole mayoraitv of Mr. Crone, But the fucceeding mayor, declared in good earned, * There fhall be no more moj^s or riots in Cork.' And he did totally fupprefs them. So that from th.at time forward, even the Methadi/fs enjoyed the fame liberty with the reft of his Maj ci- ty's fubjecls. " In the mean time the work of God wein on with little oppoiition, both in oxhcr parts of the county o^ Corky and at IVaterford^ and Li^nerick:, as well as in Mounimelick^ Atbloney Longford^ and moft parts of the province of Lcinftcr, In my return from Corky I had an opportunity of vifiting all thefe. And I had the fatisfaftion of obferving, how grcatlv God hadbleffed my fello\\^ -labourers, and how many fiimers were faved from the error of their ways. Many of thefe had been eminent for all m.anner^of fins : many had been Roman-Caihf/Uc s , And I fup- pofe the number of thefe [Rorfian-Catholics, con- verted) would have been far greater, had not thq * good ProtcJlantSy as well as the PopiJIj prieRs, taken true pains to hinder them." During Mr. Wejiey'?. ftay at Gr/:, and in its neigh- bourhood, he obferves, ** All this time God gave us great peace at BandoHy notwitliftanding .the un- wearied labours, both public and private ofDr. B., to (lir up the people. But Saturday 26, many were under great apprehenfions of what was to be done in 25^ The LIFE of the L^75^' in the evening. I began preaching in the main. ftrect at the uiual hour, but to more than twice the iifual congregation. After I had fpoke about a quarter of an hour, a clergyman, who had planted himfelf near me, with a very large flick in his hand, accord- ing to agreement opened the fcene. Indeed his friends allured me, * he was in drink, or he would not have done it.' But before he had uttered many words, two or three refolute women, by main ftrength pulled him into an houfe, and after expoftulating a little, fent him away through the garden. — The next champion that appeared, was a young gentleman of the town. — But his triumph too was Ihort : for fome of the people quickly bore him away, though with much gentlcnefs and civility. — The third came on with far greater fury : but he was encountered by a butcher of the town, not one of the Meiho- dijisy who ufed him as he would an ox, beftowing one or two heavy blows on his head. This cooled his courage, efpecially as none took his part. So I quietly finiflied my difcourfe.'' Mr. Wcjley continued his labours in Irelaiid^ till July 2 2, when he fet fail for BrifloL He (laid here only a few days, and then went on to vifit the fo* cieties through the Weil of Englandy as far as Corn- zvall'y in which fervice he fpent near fix weeks. Auguft 15, He obferves, ^' By reflefting on an odd book which I had read. in this journey, * The general delufion of Chriitians with regard to prophecy,' I was fully convinced of wliat I bad long fufpe6i:ed ; 1. That the Montanlfts^ in the fecond and third cen- turies, were real fcriptural.C6r//?/j7/j' : and 2. That the grand rcafon why the miraculous gifts wx^re fo foon withdrawn, was, not only that faith and holi- nefs were well-nigh loll, but that dry, formal, or- thodox men, began even then to ridicule whatever gifts 1750.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. ^r^j gifts they had not themfelves, and todiecry them all^ as either madnefsor impofturc.*" >1< On his return fropn Cor/iwaUy he, preached in the ftreet 2X Shafijhiiry\ but none made any noife, or fp-ake one word, while \\^ z-^W^dL.- the uoicked to for- fake his zvay. When he was r'eturi^<^d to:< the houfe where he lodged, a conftable caine, aiid) faid, " Sir, the mayor diicharges you from preaching in this borough any more." Mr.: ^/^/9.yxy\Vy on account of the impending dijfrefs : that is, on account of the perfecutions both from Jews and Gcnfi/es, which already threatened the churches ; when men and wo- men being dragged to prifon, or to death, it 'would be more eafy and convenient not to be entangled with the cares of a family. It does not appear however, that Mr. Wejley^ in writing that ^ra^^ had any reference to his own fituation in particu- lar; or, that he had formed a refolution never to marry. But had even this been the cafe, his mar- riage would only fhew the truth of the words of Horace^ Naturam expellas forca^ tamen ufqtie recur* ret. You may repel nature bv violence, but ftill fhe will return upon you. This is undoubtedly true of S 4 ' thofe 264 The LIFp of the t^75^' thofe propenfities which are purely natural, and con- genial to the human conftitution,. Juvenal^ indeed, aflerts nearly the fame thing of vitious habits, which form a kind of fecondary nature : amen ad mores naiin'a reciiri'it DamnaioSy jixa et miitari nejc'ia- This might perhaps be true, without the light of the gofpel, and the interpofitions of divine grace. March 27, Mr. V/eJley fet cut on his Northern journey. He travelled through the focieties as far as Whiieheaven, and April 20, came to Newcajlle, On the 24th, he fet out with Mr. Hopper^ to pay his firlf vifit to Scotland. He was invited thither by captain (afterwards colonel) Gahitiny who was then i^xidiXitxQd 2Ji'Mu[felbor€iigb. ^V I had no intention fays he, to preach in Scotland \ not imagining that there were any that defired I fiiould. But 1 w^as miftaken. Curiofity, if nothing elfe, brought abun- daace of people together in the evening. And whereas in the kirk, Mrs. Galaiin informed me, there ufed to be laughing and talking, and all the marks of the groifeit inattention ; it was far other- wife here. They remained as ftatues from the be- ginning of the fermon to the end. I preached again at fix in the evening, on. Seek ye the Lord while he Viciy be found. I ufed great plainnefs of fpeech to- wards high and lowland they all received it in love: fo that the prejudice which had been feveral years planting, was torne lip by the roots in one hour. After preaching, one of the Bailiffs of the town, with one of the Elders of tjie kirk, came to me, and begged I would ftay with them a while ; nay, if it were but two or three days, and they would fit up a far larger place than the fchool, and prepare feats for the congregations. Had. not my time been fixed, I ilaould gladly have complied. All that t75i'] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 265 that I could now do, was to give them a promife, that Mr. Hopper would come back the next week and fpend a few days with them. And it was not with- out a fair proipeft. The congregations were very, numerous : many were cut to the heart ; and feve- ral joined together in a little fociety." \ May 15, Mr. JVeJley came to Leeds, Here he held a Conference with about thirty of the Preachers. He inquired particularly into their qualifications, as to their grace and gifts ; and into the fruits of their labours ; and tells us he found no reafon to doubt, except of one only. Mr. JVeJley had now been married upwards of three months; and June the ift he refigned his feU lowfhip. His letter of refignation was, I believe, in the words of one of the eftablifhed forms of the college, for that purpofe. It was as follows. "Ego yohannes IVefley^ Collegii Lmcolnienjis in Academia, O X out e 7tfi Sozinsy quicquid mihi juris eft in prasdi8:a Societate, ejufdem Redori et Sociis fponte ac li- bere refigno : Illis univerfis et fmgulis, perpetuam pacem, ac omnimodam in Christo felicitatem ex- optans.'' CHAPTER III Of Mr. Wefley V minifterial Labour s^ and the Spread of Methodifm, //// /i?^ Conference in 1770: %mth an Extxa5i from the larger Minutes ; giving a Viez^ of various . Regulations refpc^ing the Prexichersi THE materials for this life are fo . abundant; without having recourfe to Mr. Wejley's print- ed works ; and the prelent volume begins to fill up fo 6S The LIFE of the [17 1. fo very faft, that I fliall be obliged in future to take but little notice of the journies of this laborious and fuccefsful mini Her of Cbriji. Many papers have been put into my hands fince the firlt volume of this work was publiflied. I fhall not, therefore, be able to do more in the remaining part of this volume, than print fuch extrafts from the materials before me, as may exhibit to our view the mofl ftriking features of this great man's charader, and of the work in which he was engaged. It has been ftated above *, that Mr. Charles WeJ- Ie)\ in the courfe of the prefent year, went into 7orkJhire^ with a commiffion to inquire more par- ticularly into the chara6l€r and moral conduct of the Preachers in their feveral Nations. He found one or two, who did not walk worthy of the Gof- pel ; and feveral more whom he thought utterly un- qualified to preach. In the execution of his com- miffion, Mr. John IVeJley wrote to him very fre- quently. The following are extraBs from fome of his letters on this occafion. July 17, "1 fear for C. S.- — and J, C. — more and more, I have heard they frequently and bit- terly rail againfl the church." — On this Mr. Charles puts the following query : " What affurance can we have, that they will not forfake it, at lead when we are dead ? Ought we to admit any man for a Preacher, till we can truft his invariable attach, ment to the church ?''' July 20. " The focieties both mud and fliall maintain the Preachers we fend among them, or I will preach among them no more. The leaft that I can fay to any of thefe Preachers, is, ' Give your- felf whofly to the work, and you fhall have food to eat, and raiment to put on.* And I cannot fee * Vol. I. page 3|3* thai 175^0 Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 267 that any Preacher is called to any people, who will not thus maintain him. — x^lmofl: every thing de- pends on you and me : let nothing damp or hinder us : only let us be alive, and put forth all our ftrength." July 24. ** As to the Preachers, my counfel is, not to check the young ones without ftrong necef- fity. If we lay fome afide, we muft have a fupply ; and of the two, I prefer grace before gifts." — Mr. Charles puts a query. ** Are not both indifpenfibly neceffary? Has not the caufe fuffered, in Ireland cfpecially, through the infufficiency — of the Preach- ers ? Should we not firft regulate, reform, and bring into difcipline, the Preachers v/e have, be- fore we look for more ? Should we not alfo watch and labour, to prevent the mifchiefs which the dis- carded Preachers may occafion ?" July 27. " What is it, that has eaten out the heart of half our Preachers, particularly thofe in Ireland^ Abfolutely idlenefs: their not being con- ftantly employed. / fee it plainer arid plainer. Therefore I beg you will inquire of each, * How- do you fpend your time from morning to evening?* And give him his choice, ' Either follow your trade, or refolve before God, to fpend the fame hours in reading, &:c. which you ufed to fpend in working/' Auguft 3. "I heartily concur with you, in deal- ing with all (not only with diforderly walkers, but alfo) triflers, /xaXaxa?, 7roAu7r/>ay(Uova?, the effeminate and bufybodiesy as with M, F — . I fpoke to one this morning, fo that I was even amazed at myfelf.'* Auguft 8. " We muft have forty Itinerant Preach- ers, or drop forne of our focieties. — You cannot fo well judge of this, without feeing the letters I receive from all parts." Auguft 15. " If our Preachers do not, nor will not, fpend all their time im ftudy and faving fouls, they 268 The LIFE of the L^75^' ihey mufl be employed clofe in other work, or pe- rifh." Auguft 17. " C. S — pleads for a kind of ^r/- fiocracyy and fays you, and I, fliould do nothing without the confent of all the Preachers ; other- wife we govern arbitrarily, to which they cannot fubmit. Whence is this?" Auguft 24. "O that you and I, may arife and ftand upright ! I quite agree with you : let us have but fix, fo we are all one. I have fent one more home to his work. We may truft God to fend forth more labourers; only be not unwilling to receive them, when there is reafonable proof that he has fent them.'* Auguft 21. Mr. IVejley wrote thus to a friend. ■*5 I fee plainly the fpirit o{ Ham if not of Corah, has fully pofTeffed feveral of our Preachers. So much the more freely and firmly, do I acquiefce in the determination of my brother, " That it is far better for us to have ten, or fix Preachers who are alive to God, found in the faith, and of one heart with us and with one another, than fifty of whom we have no fuch affurance." In Auguft, Mr. Charles WeJIey wrote to his bro- ther under great oppreffion of mind, and in. very flrong language. Wherever he faw fome things wrong his fears fuggefted to him, that there might be many more which he did not fee ; and the natural warmth of his temper, led him to ufe expreflions abundantly more fevere than the cafe required. But the Preachers againft whom he had no material charge, but want of qualifications for their office, had nothing more to do, than write to Mr. John Wejleyy a letter of humiliation and entire fubmilfion, and the matter was fettled with him, and he would give them frefh encouragement. This conduB; of Mr. John Wejley^ made his brother appear as an enemy 1751.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 269 enemy to the Preachers, and himfelf as their pro- teftor and friend ; which was another means of weakening the union that had long fubfifled between them. Being returned to London^ the two brothers went down to Shoreham^ in November, and talked the matter over in the prefence of Mr. Perronet. They both exprefled their entire fatisfaftion in the end which each had in view ; namely, th« glory of God, and the falvation of fouls. They both acknow- ledged their fincerity in defiring union between themfelves, as* the means to that end ; and after much converfation, they both agreed to a8: in con- cert with refped to the Preachers, fo that neither of them fliould admit or refufe any, but fuch as both admitted or refufed. — About fix weeks afterwards, they were at Shorcham again, and then figned the following articles of agreement. "With regard to the Preachers, We agree, 1. " That none fliall be permitted to preach in any of our focieties, till he be examined, both as to his grace and gifts ; at leaft, by the AiTiflant, who fending word to us, may by our anfwer admit him a local Preacher. " 2. That fuch Preacher be not immediately ta- ken from his trade, but be exhorted to follow it with all diligence. 3. " That no perfon (liall be received as a T^ra- *uelling Preacher, or be taken from his trade, by either of us alone, but by both of us conjointly, giving him a note under both our hands. 4. " That neither of us will re-admit a Travelling Preacher laid afide, without the confent of the other. 5. ** That if w^e ftiould ever difagree in our judg- ment, we will refer the matter to Mr, Perronet, 6. "That 270 The life of the [.^75^' 6. " That we will entirely be patterns of all we expe6l from every Preacher ; particularly of zeal, diligence, and pun6luality in the work ; by conftant- ly preaching and meeting the fociety ; by vifiting yearly, Ireianri, Cornwall, and the North ; and in general by fuperintending the whole work, and every branch of it, with all the ftrength which God fhall give us. We agree to the above written, till this day next year, in the prefence of Mr. Per- ronet, John Wesley. Charles Wesley*". Mr. John Wejley was prevailed upon, with fome difficulty, to fign thefe articles. But though he did at length fign them, they produced no good effeB. Mr. Wejley would not fubmit to any control in admitting Preachers into the connexion, in appoint* ing them to the different circuits, or in governing ihe focieties. It appears to me, that, after the firft difference with his brother, who difappointed his in- tended marriage, he made up his mind not to fuffer either afuperior or an equal in thefe refpefts. From that time he feemed determined to be, ant Ccefar attt mblL Mr. Charles, perceiving his brother's de- termination, and finding 'that the Preachers became more and more prejudiced againfl him, thought it moft prudent to withdraw from the aftive fituation he had hitherto held amongft them ,• referving to himfelf, however, the right of fpeaking his mind freely to his brother in a friendly correfpondence, on various occafions through the remaining part of life. * This and feveral other articles that will be inferted in this vo- lume, have been tranfcrlbed from Mr. Charles IVeJleys papers written in (hort-hand ; which were put into my hands after the iirll volume was publiflacd. About 1751.] Rf^^v. JOHN WESLEY. 271 About this time Mr. Wejley received a letter from the Reverend Mr. MilncYy who had been at Chefter^ and writes as follows, on the temper of the Bifhop towards the Methodijls. " The Bifhop, fays he, I was told, was exceeding angry at my late excurfion into the North in your company. But found his lordfhip in much better temper than I was bid to expe8: by my brother Graves, who was fo prudent, that he would not go with one fo obnoxious to the Bifliop's difpleafure, and all the florm of anger fell upon him. When he told me how he had been treated, for fpeaking in your defence, I was fully perfuaded all the bitternels was paft, and accordingly found it. — 1 told his lordfliip that God was with you of a truth ; and he feemed pleafed with the relation of the converfion of the barber at Bolton : and with your defign of anfwering Taylor's book on Original Sin. — I have made no fecret of your man- ner of proceeding, to any with whom I have con- verfed, fmce I had the happinefs of being in your company. And to the Bifhop I was very particu- lar in telling him, what an affembly of worfhippcrs there is at Newcajile : how plainly the badge of Cbrijiiam'ty, Love, is there to be feen. When his lordfhip talked about order, I begged leave to obferve that I had no where feen fuch a want of it, as in his own cathedral ; the Preacher fo mifer- ably at a lofs, that the children took notice of it : and the chorifters fo rude, as to be talking and ihrufting one another with their elbows. At laft I told him, there was need of fome extraordinary mef- fengers from God, to call us back to the doftrines of the Reformation ; for I did not know one of my brethren in LaticaJ/jire, that would give the church's definition of faith, and fland to it. — And alas, I had fad experience of the fame falling away in ChcJI^ire \ for one of his fon's curates would not let 272 The life of the ^753' let me preach for him becaufe of that definition of faith/' In the enfuing year, Mr. Wejley continued his labours and travels, with the fame vigour and dili- gence, through various pans of England ^X\A Ireland, February 1753> he makes the following obfervations. " I now looked over Mr. Prince s hiftory. What an amazing difference is there, in the manner where- in God has carried on his work in England^ and in A7nerica ! There above an hundred of the efta- blifhed clergy, men of age and experience, and of the greatell note for fenfe and learning in thofe parts, are zealoully engaged in the work. Here, al- moft the whole body of aged, experienced, learned clergy, are zealoufly engaged againll it : and few but a handful of raw, young men engaged in it, without name, learning, or eminent fenfe ! And yet by that large number of honourable men, the work feldom flourifhed above fix months at a time, and then followed a lamentable and general decay, be- fore the next revival of it: whereas that which Gbd hath wrought by thefe defpifed. inftruments, has continually increafed for fifteen years together : and at ^vhatever time it has declined in any one place, it has more eminently flouriflied in others/' In April, he fet out again {&r Scot land \ not in- deed for Muffc I borough, but tb Gtafgow^ to which place he was invited by the pious and laborious Mr. Gillies, miniller of the college-kirk. He flaid here five days, preaching to very large and atten- tive congregations. Soon after he left GltiigoiVy Mr. Gillies wrote to him as follows : — ** The finging of hymns here, meets with greater oppofition' than I expcfted. Serio\i:r people are much divided'. Thofe of better underftanding and education, are filent -, but many others are fo prejudiced^ efpecially at the finging publicly, that they fpeak opc-i^ly again ft it,- and I753-] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. SJ73 and look upon me as left to do a very Wrong Or iinful thing. I beg your advice, whether to an- fwer them only by continuing in the practice of the thing, with fuch as have freedom to join, looking to the Lord for a blefTmg upon his own ordinance: or, if I fhould publifh a flieet of arguments from reafon, and fcripture, and the example of the god- ly.— Your experience of the mofl efFeftual way of dealing with people's prejudices, makes your ad- vice on this head of the greater importance. " I blefs the Lord for the benefit and comfort of your acquaintance : for yt)ur important affift- aticc in my Hiftorical Colle^ionSy and for your edify- ing converfation and fermons in this place. May our gracious God profper you wherever you are. O my dear Sir, pray for your brother, that I may be employed in doing fomething for the advance- ment of his glory, who has done fo much for me, and who is my only hope." In July, after one of the Preachers had beert there for fome time, Mr. IVeJley zxo^z^ over from Porljmonth to the Ifle of Wight, From Cowcs^ they w'ent forward to Newporty the chief town of the Ifle. Here they found a little fociety in tolerable order; leveral of whom had found peace with God, and walked in the light of his countenance. At half an hour after fix he preached in the mar- ket-place to a numerous congregation : but many of them were remarkably ill-behaved. The children made fuch noife : and many grown perfons were talking aloud moft of the time he was preaching. ** There was, fays Mr. IVcJleyy a large congrega- tion again at five in the morning: and every perlbn therein, feemed to know that this was the word whereby God would judge him in the lafl day. In the evening the congregation was more numerous, and far more feriousthan the night before; only one Vol. II. T drunken 274 The LIFE of the Ci753- drunken man made a little difturbancc, but the mayor ordered him to be taken away. In 06lo- •ber, I vifited them again, and fpent three or four days with much comfort; finding thofe who had before profefTed to find peace, had w^alked fuitably to their profefiion/' To know the whole of a man's chara8:er, it is not fufficient to view him as he always ap})cars be- fore the public ; we wifli to fee him in his more retired moments, and particularly in his private correfpondence. The two following letters will fhew Mr. lVefley\ temper in anfwering charges that were privately brought againfl him, either from pre- judice or mifapprehenfion. " You give, fays he, five reafons why the Reverend Mr. P. — will come no more amongft us : i. * Becaufe we defpife the minifters of the church of England,' — This I flatly deny. I am anfwering letters this very poft, which bitterly blame me for juft the contrary. 2. * Becaufe fo much back-biting, and evil-fpeaking is fuffered amongft our people.' — It is not fuffered: all pof- fible means are ufed, both to prevent and remove it. 3. ' Becaufe I, who have ^vritten fo much againft hoarding up money, have put out (even hundred pounds to intereft.' — I never put fix-pence out to intereft fince I was born ; nor had I ever one hundred pounds together, my own, fince 1 came into the world. 4. " Becaufe our Lay- Preachers have told many ftories of my brother and me.' — If they did I am forry for them: when I hear the particulars I can anfwer, and perhaps make thofe afhamed who believed them. 5. * Becaufe we did not help a friend in diftrefs'. — We did help him as far as we were able. * But we might have made his cafe known to Mr. G — Lady H — , &c.' So we did more than once; but w^e could not pull money from them whether they would or no. Therefore 1753-] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 275 Therefore thefe rcafons are of no weight. — You conclude with praying, that God would remove pride and malice from amongft us. Of pride I have too much; of malice I have none: however the prayer is good and I thank you for it.'' The other letter from which I fhall give an ex- tra8:, was written apparently to a gentleman of fome rank and influence. " Some time fince, fays Mr. IVeJley^ I was confidering what you faid, concern- ing the want of a plan in our focieties. There is a good deal of truth in this remark. For though we have a plan, as to our fpiritual economy (the fe- veral branches of v;hich are particularly recited in the plain account of the people called Methodifts) yet it is certain, we have barely the firft outlines of a plan with regard to our temporal concerns. The reafon is, I had no defign for feveral years, to concern myfelf with temporals at all : and when I began to do this, it was wholly and folely with a view to relieve, not employ, the poor; except now and then,, with refpe8: to a fmali number ; and even this I found was too great a burden for me, as re- quiring more money, more time, and more thought, than I could poflibly fpare. I fay, than I could pofiibly fpare : for the whole weight lay on me. If I left it to others, it furely came to nothing. They wanted either underftanding, or induflry, or love, or patience, to bring any thing to perfeftion. " Thus far I thought it needful to explain my- felf with regard to the economy of our fociety. I am flill to fpeak of your cafe, of my own, and of fome who are dependent upon me. " I do not recoiled, for I kept no copy of my laft, that I charged you with want of humility, or meeknefs. Doubtlefs thefe rnay be found in the mo^fplendid palaces. But did they ever move a man to build a fplendid palace? Upon what mo- T 2 live 27^ The life of the [^75^*' tive you did this, I know not: but you are to an- fwef it to God, not to me. '' If your foul is as much alive to God, if your thirft after pardon and holinefs is as ftrong, if you are as dead to the defire of the eye and the pride of life, as you were fix or feven years ago, I rejoice; if not, I pray God you may; and then you will know how to value a real friend. " With regard to myfclf, you do well to warn me againft, * popularity, a thirft of pov;er, and of applaufc ; againlt envy, producing a fceming con- tempt for the conveniences or grandeur of this life; againft an affected humility ; againll fparing from myfelf to give to others, from no other motive than oftentation.' I am not confcious to myfelf, that this is my cafe. However, the warning is always friendly ; and it is always fcafonable, confide ring how deceitful my heart is, and how many the ene- mies that furround me. — What follows I do not un- derftand. You behold me in the ditch, wherein you helped, though innocently, to call me, and with a levitical pity, pafTmg by on the other fide." - — * He and you Sir, have not any merit, though Providence fliould permit all the'e fufferings to work together for my good/ — I do not compre- hend one line of this, and therefore cannot plead either guilty, or not guilty. 1 prcfume, tlicy are fome that are dependent on me, ' Who, you lay, keep not the commandments of God ; who fhew a repugnance to ferve and obey ; who are as full of pride and arrogance, as of filth and ijaftinefs ; who do not pay lawful debts," nor comply with civil ob- ligations; who make the waiting on the offices of religion, a plea for floih and idlencfs ; who after I had ftrongly recommended them, did not per- form their moral duty, but incrcafcd the number of thofe incumbrances which they forced on you, againit J7530 ^Ev. JOHN WESLEY. 277 againfl your will.' — To this, I can only fay, 1. I know not whom you mean; I am not certain that I can fo much as guefs at one of them. 2. Who- ever they are, had they followed my inflruftions, they would have a6led in a quite different manner. 3. If you will tell me them by name, I will re- nounce all fellowfhip with them." — This letter gives us a pleafing view of the command Mr. Wejlcy had acquired over his own temper : nothing but kindnefs and civility appear in it ; there is no keen retort for any charge brought againft himfelf ,• and nothing but tender concern for thole who had not aded w^orthy of the charad.er which he had given •them. 08:ober 19, Mr. IVeJlcy returned to London^ and the next day found himfelf out of order. In a Ihort time his complaint put on the appearance of .an ague. Before he was perfectly recovered, he once or twice catched cold, and was prefently threatened with a rapid confumption. November 26, Tix. Fothcrgill told him he muft not ftay in town one day longer : that if any thing would do him good, it muil be the country air, with reft, affes milk, and riding daily. In confequence of this advice he retired to Lewi/ham. Here, not ^nov/ing how it might pleafe God to difpofe of him, and wifhing *' to prevent vile panegerick'' in icafe of deadi, he wrote as follows ; ** Here lieth The body of John Wcjley\ A brand plucked out of the burning : Who died of a confumption in the fifty-firfl year of his age. Not leaving, after his debts are paid^ ten pounds behind him .: Praying, God be merciful to me an unprofitable fervant!" T 3 « He ^7^ The LIFE of the [^754' " He ordered that this, if any infcription, fhould be placed on his tomb-ftone." January i, 1754, he returned to London^ and the next day fet out for the Hot Wells, near Brtftol, to drink the water. On the 6th, he began writing notes on the New Teftamentj ** A work, fays he, I fhould fcarce ever have attempted, had 1 not been fo ill as not to be able to travel or preach, and yet fo well as to be able to read and write." — In April, he returned to London, and immediately re- tired to Paddington. Here he oblerves, ** In my hours of walking, I read Dr. Calamy^s Abridgment of Mr. Baxters Life *. What a fcene is opened here ! * Richard Baxter^ an eminent divine among the "Nfjiicotiformijis^ was born at 7?cT,c'^» \n Shropjhire^ November 12, 1615. He dif- tinguilhed himfelf by his examplary life, his pacific and moderate principles, and his numerous writings. Upon the opening of the long parliament, he was chofen vicar of Kidderminjier, When OU'ver Cromivell was made Proteftor, he would by no means com- ply with his m.eafures, though he preached once before him. He came to London ^w^ before the dcpofmg of Richard CrornnxcU^ and preached before the Parliam.ent, the day before they voted the return of King Charles II. who, upon his reftoration, appointed him one of his chaplains m ordinary. He aiTiftcd at the Confer- ence in the Sa^oy, as one of the commiffioners for Hating the fun- damentals in religion, and then drew up a reformed Liturgy. He was offered the bifnoprick of Hereford-, but this he refufed, de- liring no higher preferment than to be continued the minifter of Kidderminjier. He did not obtain, however, his humble requeil, being not permitted to preach there, above twice or thrice after the reftoration. In 1662, Mr. Baxter was married io Margaret CharletoN, the daughter of Francis Charleiony Efq. of the coun- ty of Salopy who was efteemed one of the beft juftices of the peace in the county. She was a woman of great piety, and fully entered into her hufoand's views of religion. — In 1682, he was feized for coming within five miles of a corporation : and in the reign of King James II. he was committed to the King's Bench prifon, and tried before the infamous Jejfrics for his para- phrafe on the KewTeftament, which, in the true fpirit of the times, was called ^Jcandalous and Jcditious book againft the go- v "V'nent, 1754-] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 279 here ! In fpire of all the prejudice of education, I could not but fee, that the poor Noitconformijis had been ufed without either juftice or mercy: and that many of the Proteflant bifhops of King Charles, had neither more religion nor humanity, than the PopiJIj bifliops of Queen Mary." — On reading IVIr. Baxter's hiftbry of the councils, Mr. IVejley ufcs very ftrong words indeed. ** It is utterly adonifhing, fays he, and would be wholly incredible, but that his vouchers are beyond all exception. What a company of execrable wretches have they been (one cannot give them a milder title) who have, alraofl in every age fmce St, Cy* priaUy taken upon them to govern the church! Hovv has one council been perpetually curhng ano- vernment. He continued in prlfon two years, when he was diff charged, and had his fine ' remitted by the king. — He died in De- cember 1691. Mr. Baxter was honoured with the friendfhip of fome of the greateil and beft men in the kingdom; as the earl of Balcarras, lord chief jullice Hales y Dr. Tillot/oTty &ic. He wrote above one hundred and twenty books, and had above fixty written againft him. The former, however, were greatly fuperior to the letter, fmce Dr. Barronvy an excellent judge, fays, that " His practical writ- ings were never mended, his controverfial feldom refuted." Mr. Granger fays, ** Richard Baxter was a man famous for weaknefs of body and ftrength of mind; for having the ftrongeft fenfe of religion himfelf, and exciting a fenfe of it in the thought- lefs and profligate. — He fpoke, difputed, and wrote with eafe ; and difcovered the fame intrepidity, when he reproved Cro-mnvell and expoftulated with Charles II. as when he preached to a con- gregation of mechanics. — He was juft the fame man before he went into a prifon^ while he was in it, and when he came out of it. This is a very imperfed .Iketch of Mr. Baxter's charader : men of his fize are not to be drawn in miniature." — Among his moll fam.ous works were, i . The Saint's Everlafting Reft. 2. Call to the unconverted, of which 20,000 were fold in one year; and it was tranflated, not only into all the European tongues, but into the Indian. 3. Poor Man's Family Book. 4. Dying Thoughts. 5. A Paraphrafe on the New T^ftament, His pradicai works have been printed in four volumes, folio. T 4 ther; 28a The LIFE or the • 1755.3 ther; and delivering all over to Satan, whether predecefTors or cotemporaries, who did not impli- citly receive their determinations, though generally trifling, fometimes falfe, and frequently unintelli- gible, or felf-contradi6lory ! Surely Mahometanijm was let loofe to reform the Chriftians ! I know not, but Conjlantinople has gained by the change." — It is 'natural to obferve here w^hat the hiftory of mankind uniformly fhews, that, where the people have no ba- lance of power in the government of the 'church, or of religious focieties, to be ufed as a check againft any undue influence of their teachers, the mini- flers, or preachers of the gofpel, become in the end haughty, tyrannical, and intolerant ; and their coun- cils, affemblies, or conferences, degenerate into mere combinations againft the natural rights and liberties of thofe over whcai they affume any authority. May 6, 1755, the Conference began at Leeds, " The point, fays Mr. If^eJIey, on which we dcfired all the Preachers to fpeak their minds at large, was, whether we ought to feparate from the church ? Whatever was advanced on one fide or the other, was ferioufly and calmly confidered: and on the third day we were all fully agreed in that general conclufion. That, whether it was laivful or not, it was no ways expedient," On the 13th, he rode on to Newcajlley where he did not find things in the order he expefted. " Many, fays he, were on the point of leaving the church, which fome had done already ; and as they fuppofed on my authority! O how much difcord is caufed by one jarring firing ! How much trouble by one man, who does not walk by the fame rule, and agree in the fame judgment with his brethren." . — It appears from thefc words, that fome unjufli- fiable arts had abeady been made ufe of» to un- fcttle the minds of the people. How infctlious is fuch 1756.] R£V. JOHN W£SLP:Y. 281 fuch a difeafe ! Yet I hope it has not become ep- Mr. IVefley proceeds. " Auguft 6, I mentioned to our congregation in London^ a means of increa- fmg ferious religion, which had been frequently praftifed by our forefathers, the joining in 2i Cove- iiant to ferve God with all our heart and with all our foul. I explained this for feveral mornings follow- ing; and on Friday many of us kept a faft unto the Lord, bcfeeching him to give us wifdom and llrength, that we might proinije unto the Lord our God and keep it. On Monday at fix in the even- ing we met for that purpofe, at the French church in Spitalfields, After I had recited the tenor of the covenant propofed, in the words of that blefled man, Richard Allen, all the people ftood up, in token of affent, to the number of about eighteen hundred. Such a night I fcarce ever knew be- fore. Surely the fruit of it fhall remain for everJ* • — The covenant has been renewed once every year, I believe, fince this period. January 1756. The general expe61ation of pub- lic calamities in the enfuing year, fpread a general ferioufnefs over the nation. " We endeavoured, fays Mr. JVeJley, in every part of the kingdom, to avail ourfelves of the apprehenfions which we fre- quently found it w^as impoflible to remove, in order to make them conducive to a nobler end, to that fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wifdom. And at this feafon I wrote, ' An Addrefs to the Clergy,' which, confidering the fituation of public affairs, I judged would be more feafonable, and more eafily borne, at this time than at any other." — February 6, " The faft-day was a glorious day, every church in the city was more than full : and a folemn ferioufnefs fat on every face. Surely pod heareth the prayer : and there will yet be a lengthening 282 Till: LIFE OF THE [^75^- lengtheni'fig-Cif our. tranquillity, — Even the Jews ob- ferved this day witli a peculiar folemnity. The form of prayer which was ufed in their fynagogue, began, ' Come and let us return unto the Lord ; for he hath torn and he will heal us ; and concluded with thole remarkable v/ords : * Incline the heart of our fovcreign lord King G(f^r^f, as well as the hearts of his lords and counfeilors, to ufe us kindly, and all our brethren the children of Ifrael : that. in his days and in .our ciays we may fee the reftoration of Judahy and that Ifrael may dwell in fafety, and the Redeemer may come to Zioiu May it be thy wall ! And we all fay Amen." In the latter end of March, he vifited Ireland again, arid alier feeing the focieties in Leinjlcr and MunftcTy went with Mr. IValJh into the province of Conn aught.. July 19, he fir (I fet loot in the pro- vince o^ Ulltcr, But feveral of the Preachers had been labouring in various parts of it for fome years, and had ieen much fruit of their labours. Many fmners had been convinced of the error of their w^ays ; m,any, truly converted to God : and a con- fiderablc number of thefe, had united together in order to fhengthen each others hands in God. Auguil 25, Mr. JVefiey came to Brifioly where he -found about fifty Preachers, who had come from various' parts of the country to hold a Confcrencey which was opened the next day. The rules of the fociety, the band rules, and the rules of Kir.gjwood- Schooly were feverally read and re-confidered, and it was agreed to obferve and enforce them. The hrfl: and leading principle in the economy of Methodifiny from its commencement to the pre- fent time, was not to form the people into a fepa- ratepart}- ; but to leave every individual member of the fociety at full liberty to continue in his for- mer religious connexion: nay, leaving every one under 1756.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 283 under a kind of necefTity of doing fo, for the or- dinance of baptifm and the Lord's i upper. Having eftablifhed their focieties on this principle, the Me- thodifis became a kind of middle liiik between all the religious parties in the nation, gently drawing them nearer together by uniting them all in the in- terelts of experimental religion and fcriptural holi- nefs. They formed a kind of central point, from which the rays of gofpel light i{Iiied forth, not in one direftion alone, to eradiate only one point of their circumference, but in all directions, equally enlightening every part of their periphery. But two or three of the Preachers, who had acquired fome influence with the people, had for fome time been diffatisfied wath this middle fituation ; the be- ing no party, but ftanding in an equal relation to all, d^sfellcw-helpers to the truth. We may obfervc, that this diffatisfaftion originated with a few ambi- tious Preachers, and from them fpread, like a conta- gious difeafe, to the people. This was the cafe at firft, and has ahvays been the cafe fince, wherever the people have defired any alteration in the original conltitution of the Meihodiji focieties. The me- thod of proceeding, even to the prefent time, to effeft their purpofe, is rather curious, and fhews to what wretched means men willfometimes reiort, to fupport a bad caufe. " For as foon as thefe Preachers had by various arts, iniluenced a few^ perfons in any fociety to defire to receive the Lord's lupper from them, they pleaded this circum fiance as a reafon why the mnovation iliould take place; pre. ending tiiey only wifhed to fatisfy the deiires of rhe people, not their own reftlefs ambition- As a vaii majority in thefe focieties were members of the church of Engl an dy fo the forming of the Meihodijis into a feparate party, was called a feparating; them from the church ; though it evidently implied a change in 284 The life of the C^ZS^- in their relative fituation to all denominations of Diflcnters, as much as to the church. The clamour, however, for a feparatiou from the church, had been raifed fo high by a few of the Preachers, that the fubjeft was fully difculled for two or three days together, at this Conference ; and Mr. JVeJJey ob- ferves, " My brother and I clofed the Conference by a folemn declaration of our purpo/e never to fe- par ate from the church," The regular clergy, v\'ho had embraced the lead- ing do6lrines of the Methodifts^ generally difap- proved of Lay-Preachers, and of the plan of itine- rancy; fearing, with the rell of the clergy, that in the end a large rent would be made from the eftablifhed church. In September, Mr. //'fy/ry- received a letter on this fubje6l from the reverend and pious Mr. Walker of 'TrurOy preifing him to get the ableft Preachers ordained, and to fix the reil in different focieties, not as Preachers but as readers, and thus break up the itinerant plan. Mr. IVeftey anfwered, " I have one point in view, to promote, fo far as I am able^ I'ital, pradical religion ; and by the grace of God, to beget, preferve, and increafe, the life of God in the fouls of men. On this fingle principle I have hitherto proceeded, and taken no Hep but in fub- ferviency to it. With this view^ when I found it to be abfolutely necedary for the continuance of the work which God had begun in many fouls (which their regular paftors generally ufed all pof- fible means to deiiroy) I permitted I'everal of their brethren, whom 1 believed God had called thereto, ai^d qualified for the work, to comfort, exhort, and inftrucl thofe who were athirft for God, or who walked in the light of his countenance. But as the pcrfons fo qualified were few, and thofe who wanted their afli dance very many, it followed that mofl of them were obliged to travel continually from ty^e.'] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 285 from place to place ; and this occafioncd feveral regulations from time to time, which were chiefly made at our Conferences. ** So great a blefling has from the beginning at- tended the labours of thefe itinerants, that we have been more and more convinced every year, of the more than lawfulnefs of this proceeding. And the inconveni^ences, moR of which we forefaw from the very firft, have been both fewer and fmaller than we expeQed. — But the quellion is, * How may thefe (Preachers) be fettled on fuch a footing, as one would wifh they might be after my death ;' it is a weighty point, and has taken up many of my thoughts for feveral years : but I know nothing yet. The fteps I am now to take are plain ; I fee broad light fliining upon them ; but the other part of the profpe8; I cannot fee : clouds and dark- nefs refl: upon it. " Your general advice on this head, ' To follow my own confcience, without any regard to confe- quences or prudence, fo called,' is unqueRionably right. And it is a rule which I have clofely fol- lowed for many years, and hope to follow to my life's end. The iirft of your />t7r//67iAir advices is, * To keep in full view the interefts of CJjrijrs church in general, and of praclical religion ; not confider- ing the church of Euglandy or the caufe of Metho^ difm^ but as fubordinate tliereto.' This advice I have punctually obferved from the beginning, as well as at our late Conference. Youadviie, 2. * To keep in view alfo, the unlawfulnefs of a ieparation from the church of England.' To this likewife I agree. It cannot be lawful to feparate from it, unlefs it be unlawful to continue in it. You ad- vife, 3. * Fully to declare myfelf on this head, and to fuffer no difpute concerning it.' The very lame thing I wrote to my brother from Ireland : and v;e have 286 The LIFE of the C^75^' have declared ouiTclves without referve. — Your lafl advice is, * That as many of our Preachers as are lit for it, be ordained ; and that the others be fixed to certain focieties, not as Preachers, but as readers or infpe6iors/ — But is that which you propofe a better way (than our itinerant plan?) This (hould be coolly and calmly confidered. " If I miftake not, there are now in tlie county of Cornzi'dlly about four and thirty of thefe little focieties, part of whom now experience the love of God J part are more or lefs earnellly feeking it. Four Preachers, Peter Jaco, Thomas Johnjoiiy IV. Crabby and IVilL Atwoody defign for the enfuing year, partly to call other Tinners to repentance ; but chiefly to feed and guide thofe few feeble flseep : to forward them, as the ability which God giveth, in vital, practical religion. Now fuppofe we can efFeft, that P, Jaco^ and T. Johnfoiiy be ordained and fettled in the curacies o^ Bury an y and -6*/. jnjl : and fuppofe IF, Crabby and JV, Aiwoody fix at Laiin.- cfjion or the Dock, as readers and infpe61ors ; will this anfwer the end which I have in view, fo well us travelling throuo;h the country? " It will not anfwer fo well, even with regard to tliofe focieties with whom P\ JacOy and T*. John- J'oriy have fettled. Be their la'ents ever fo great, thev will ere long, grow dead themfelves, and fo will moft of thofe who hear them. I know, were I myfelf to preacli one whole )'ear in one place, I fhould preach both myfelf and moft of my congre- gation afleep. Nor can I believe, it was ever the will of our Lord, that any congregation fliould have only one teacher. We have found by long and conftant experience, that a frequent change of teachers is bcft. This Preacher has one talent, that another. No one whom I ever yet knew, has all the talents which are needful for beginning, con- tinuing, 1756.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 287 tinning, and perfe6ling, the work of grace in a \fhole congregation. " But fiippofe this would better aTifv/er the end with regard to thofe two Ibcieties, would it anfwer in thofe where IV, Atwoody and /^F. Crabby were fetded as infpeftors or readers ? Firft, who fliall feed them with the milk of the v/ord ? The mi- niflers of their parifhes ? Alas, they cannot : tliev themfelves neither know, nor h've, nor teach the gofpel. Thefe readers ? C^ni tlien, either they, or I, or you, always find fomething to read to our congregation, which will be as exa6tly adapted to their wants, and as much bleffcd to them as owr preach- ing ? and there is another difficulty {Lill : what au- thority have I to forbid their doing what, I believe, God has called them to do ? I apprehend, indeed, that there ought, if poflible, to be both an outward and inward call to this work : yet if one of the two be fuppofed wanting, I had rather want the outward than the inward call. " But waving this, and fuppofmg thefe four fo- cieties to be better provided for than thev v/ere before; what becomes of the other thirty? Will they profper as well when they are left as fheep without a fhepherd? The experiment has been tried again and again ; and ahvays with the fame event : even the ftrong in faith grevv' weak and faint; many of the weak made fliipwreck of the faith ; the awakened fell adeep ; and fmners, changed for a while, returned as a dog to his vomit. And fo, by our lack of fervice, many fouls periflied for whom Chrift died. Now had we willingly withdrawn our fervice from them, by voluntarily fettlir.g in one place, what account of this could we have given to the great fliepherd of all our fouls. I cannot therefore fee, how any of thofe four Preachers, or any others in like circumftances, can ever, v.diile they 288 [The LIFE of the ^^75^* they have health and ftrength, ordained or unor- dained, fix in one place without a grievous \vound to their own confciejice, and damage to the general work of God." On the fame day, that he wrote the above let- ter, he alfo wrote to Mr. Norton, who, in a letter written about a week before, had charged him with 1. " Self-inconfiftency, in tolerating lay-preaching, and not tolerating, lay-adminiftering : and 2. With {hewing a fpirit of perfeaiiion, in denying his bre- thren the liberty of a&ing, as well as thinking, ac- cording to their own corifcience," With regard to the firft, Mr. Wejlcy allowed the charge, but denied the confequence. He declared, that he afted on the fame principle, in tolerating the one, and in prohibiting the other. " My prin- ciple, faid he, is this, I fubmit to every ordinance of man, wherever I do not conceive there is an ab- folute neccflity for acting contrary to it. Confid- ently with this, I do tolerate lay-preaching, becaufc I conceive there is an abfolute nccefhty for it, in- afmuch as were it not, thoufands of fouls would perifli ; yet I do not tolerate lay-adminiflering, be- caufe, I do not conceive there is any fuch necef- lity for it." With regard to the fecond, Mr. /^''^y/^j obferves, " I again allow the fact; but deny the confequence. I mean, I allow the fa6l thus far: fome of our Preachers who are not ordained, think it quite right to adminifter the Lord's fupper, and believe it would do much good. I think it quite wrong, and believe it would do much hurt. Hereupon 1 fay, I have no right over your confcience, nor you over mine : therefore both you and I mufl; follow our own confcience. You believe, it is a duty to admini- fter : do fo ; and herein follow your own con- fcience. 1 verily believe it is a fni ; which, confe- quently. 1756.] Riiv. jOliN WESLEY. 2-89 quently, I dare not tolerate: and herein I follow mine. Yet this is wo perfecution^ were I to feparate from our fociety, thofe who praftife what I believe is contrary to the word and dellruclive of the work of God." In December, Mr. IVeJley wrote to a friend as follows : " I do not fee that Diocefan epifcopacy is necejfaryy but I do, that it is highly expedient. But whether it were or no, the fpirit (hewn in thofe verfes, is wrong from end to end. " Neither J, E. nor any other feparatift, can ever be expe6led to own prejudice, pride, or in- tereft, to be his motive. Neverthelefs, I do and muft blame every one of them, for the a6l of fe* parating. Afterwards, I leave them to God. ** The Apoflles had not the LordJbipSy or the Re- venuesy but they had the office of Diocefan bifliops. But let that point fleep : we have things to think of, which are, magis ad nos. Keep from profelyting others; and keep your opinion till doomfday; ftupid, felf-inconfiftent, unprimitive, and unfcriptu- ral as it is. " I have fpoken my judgment concerning lay^ adminifieringy at large, both to C — P — and A^. Nor- ton, I went as far as I could with a fafe-confcience. I muft follow my confcience, and they their own. —They who diffuade people from attending the church and facrament, do certainly, " Draw them from the church.'' Mr. JVeJIefs travels and labours of love, in preaching the gofpel of peace through moft parts of the three kingdoms, were continued with the fame unremitting -diligence, wdiile the duties of his fituation in fome other refpefts, increafed every year upon him. New focieties were frequently formed in various places ; v;hich naturally called for an increafe of Preachers. Thefe, however, were more eafily procured, than a ftranger would Vot,. II. U imagine. 29^ The life of the [1760. i///r^/ Chriftianity, or true Chrif- iian experience ; any more than aL>,ainft found phi- lofophy. In the hiiiory of philofophers and of phi- lofophy, we find opinions maintained, as abfurd as the niofi illiterate enthufiaft in religion ever pub- )ifl"ied; nay as abfurd as tranfubilantiation itfclf. And when religion has had the misfortune to fall under the fole direction of thefe philofophers, and been conftrained by violence to put on their .pl;i- lofophic drefs, flie has liadjuft caufe to complain of as great an infult as ever {\iq experienced from the moil ignorant enthufiaft. So little jullice is there in the prOud claim of reafon in her prefent imperlcci ftaic, to affumc tlic whole direction of our moft holy religion ! And fo little caufe has (he, to triumph over the errors of a few miftaken pro- fcHors of Chriftian experience! Mr. 1763.] R£v. JOHN WESLEY. 299 Mr. JVefley did not^ at firft, refifl thefe extrava- gances with iUfficient firmnefs ; by which the per- Ions who favoured them aaily increafed in number. At length, however, he found it abfolutely ncccf- fary to give an efPeftual check to the party : but now it was too late to be done, without the rifk of a feparation in the fociety. This, being the leail of the two evils, accordingly took place : Mr. Ma-xfield withdrew from his connexion with Mr. IVejley, and carried near two hundred of the people with him. During this conteft, Mr. IVeJley being at Canter^ hi'.ryy wrote to Mr. Maxfeld, telling him very free- ly what he approved, and what he difapproved in his dotlrine or behaviour. Among a variety of other things, Mr». IVeJlty tells him, " 1 like your doclrine of perfe^ion\ or pure love. — I diflike the faying, This w-as not known or taught among us, till within two or three years/' — On this, I fhall ju(l obferve, that the "doctrine of pcrfe^ion, or perfefl love, was undoubtedly taught among the Mcthodifts from the beginning: but the manner in which it was nozo preached, .prefling the people to expetl what was called the deflruftion of the root of fin, in one moment, w^as mod certainly ncw^ I can find no trace of it before the period at wdiich I have fixed its introdu6lion *". At * It will be proper before we proceed any further, to givd~~a (hort account of that excellent man, and fuccefsful minifter of Chrijiy the Rev. Mr. Grinijhaiv. He v/as born in September 1708, ?iX Br'DidUy fix miles from Pr/'Jlo^/ in Lancajhire^ and edu- cated at the fchools of Blackburn and Hejhi?ry in the fame county. Even then, the thoughts of death and judgment made fome im- preffion upon him. At the age of eighteea he was fent to ChrijTs- College In Camhridge ; where bad example fo carried him away, that he utterly loft all fenfe of ferioufneft. In 1731, he was ordained deacon, and fcemed much aHecled with the importance cf 500 The LIFE of jnt L^7^3' At this time the focieties were fo multiplied, and fo widely fpread^ that they formed twenty-five ex- ten (ive of the minjfterial ofnce. This was increafed by converilng with fomt ferious people at Rochdale ; but on his removal to ^odmordeu foon after, he dropped his pious acquaintance, conformed to the world, followed all its diverfions, and contented himfelf with doing his duty on Sundays. About the year 1734, he began to think feriouily again. He left off all diveriions, began to catechife the young people, to preach the abfolute neceflity of a devout life, and to vifit his pa- fifhioners, toprefs them to feek the falvation of their fouls. At this period alfo, he began to pray in fecret four times a day : and the God of all grace, who prepared his heart to pray, foon gave the anAver to his prayer. Not indeed as he expedlcd : not in joy or peace, but by bringing upon him ftrong and painful convie- tions of his own guilt, helpleiTnefs, and mifery ; by difcovering to liim what he did not fufpe^l before, that his heart was deceiirul and defperately wicked ; and, what was more affll^ing ftill, that all his duties and labours could not procure him pardon, or give him a title to eternal life. In this trouble he continued more than three years, not acquainting any one with the diftrefs he fuffcred. Bat one day, in 1742, being in the utmoft agony of mind, he h-ad fo ilrong and clear a view of Jfjn^ Chnfi in hii yiediatorial charader, that he was enabled to believe on him 'with fh'! h^art u7tto righteovfricjs-^ and in a moment all his fears vanifned away, and he was filled with joy unfpeakable. '* I was now, faj's he, wiUiog to renounce myfelf, and to embrace Chrij} for my all in all." — All this time he was an entire ftranger to the people called Meihodifis, and alfo to their writings, till he came to Ha~ ijoarth. — Mr. Grimjhan.v was now too happy himfelf in the know- ledge of Chnf. to reft fatisfied, without taking every method he thought likely, to fpread the knowledge of his God and Saviour. For the fake of the very indigent, who wanted clothes to appear ^ecent at church in the day time, he contrived a lecture on the Sunday evenings, though he had before preached twice in the day. The next year he began a method, which he continued till £eath, of preaching in each of the four hamlets under his care, three times every month. By this means, the old and infirm, had the troth of God brought to their houfes. The fuccefs of his labours, foonbrooght many perfons from the neighbouring pariflies to attend on his miniftry ; and the benefit they obtained, brought >]pon him many earneft entreaties to come to their houfes, and expound the word of God to fouls as ignorant as they had been themfelves. This requell he did not dare to refufe \ fo that, while he 1764.] Rtv. JOHN WESLEY. 301 lenfive circuits in England, eight in Ireland^ four in Scotland^ and two in IVales : on whicb^ I fup- pofe, about ninety Preachers were daily employed in propagating knowledge and Chriftian experience, among the lower orders of the people. March 12, Mr. IVeJIey left London, and on the 16th came to Brijiol, where he met feveral ferious clergymen. He obferves, " I have long defired that there might be an open, avowed union, between all who preach thofe fundamental truths, original fin, and juftification by faith, producing inward and outward holinefs. But all my endeavours have been hitherto ineffeftual." — In April, however, he made one more attempt to promote fo defirable an union. He wrote the following letter, which after fome time he fent to between thirty and forty cler> gymen, with the little preface annexed. " Reverend Sir, ** Near tw^o years and a half ago, I wrote the following letter. You will pleafe to obferve, 1. That I propofe no more therein, than is the bounden duty of every Chriftian: 2, That you may comply with this propofal, whether any other does or he provided abundantly for his own flock, he annually found opportunity of preaching near three hundred times, to congre- gations in other parts. For a courfe of fifteen years, or upwards, he ufed to preach every week, ^fteen, twenty, and fometimes thirty times, befides vifiting the fick, and other occafional duties of his funtlion. — In fixteen years he was only once fufpended from his labours by fick- nefs, though he dared all v/eathers upon the bleak mountains, and ufed his body with lefs compaffion, than a merciful man would ufe his beaft. — He was exceedingly beloved by all his pariihioners, many of whom could not hear his name mentioned after his death, without {bedding tears. — Triumphing in Him who is the refur- rev5lion and the life, he died, April 7th, 1762, in the 54th year of his age, and the twenty -firft of eminent ufcfulnefs. not. 302 TfiE LIFE or THE [ij^i- not. I myfelf have endeavoured Co to do for many years, though I have been almoll alone therein ; and although many, the more earnelily I talk of peace the more zealoufly make themjelves ready for battle. I am. Reverend Sir, Your afFe61ionate brother, John Wesley." " Dear Sir, " It has plcafed God to give you both the will and the power to do many things for his glory, al- (hough you are often afhanied you have done fo little, and wifli you could do a thoufand times more. This induces me to mention to you, what lias been upon my mind for many years : and what I anl perfuaded would be much for the glory of God, if it could once be efl'ecled. And I am in great hopes it will be, if you heartily undertake it, trailing in him alone. ** Some years fince God. began a great work in 'England', but the labourers were few. At firft thofc few were of one heart : but it was not {o long. Firft one fell off, thei> another and another, till no two of us were left together in the w^ork, bcfides my brother and me. This prevented much good, and occafioned much evil. It grieved our fpirits, and weakened our hands. It gave our common ene- mies huge occafion to blafpheme. It perplexed and puzzled many fincere' Chriftians. It caufed many to draw back to perdition. It grieved the holy fpirit of God. ** As labourers increafed, difunion increafed. Of- fences were multiplied. And inftead of coming nearer 1764-] Rev. JOHN WESLEY, , 303 nearer to, they flood further and further off from each other: till at length, thofc who were not only bre- thren in Chrijly but fellow-labourers in his gofpel, had no more connexion or fellowfhip with each other, than Protcftants have with Papijls, " But ought this to be ? Ought not thofc 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 minifters of the church of England, Thefe are chiefly—Mr. Perrouety Romainey Newton^ Shirley : Mr. Downing, Jeff?, Adam : Mr. 'Talbot , RyJandy StilHngfleety Fletcher: Mr. Johnfon^ Baddeley,, An^ drezvsy Jane: Mr. Plarty Symes, Brown^ Roquet: Mr. SelloHy Venn, RichardJoHy Burnet ^ Farley , Crook: Mr. Eaftwoody ConyerSy Bentley, King: Mr. Ber ridge , Hicksy G. M\ J. JK a IV, yohn Richardfony Ben^ jamin Colley. — X'ot excluding any other clergyman, who agrees in thefe effentials, " I. Original lin. II. Juftification by faith. III. Holinefs of heart and life: provided his life be anfwerable to his do61rine. '" But ik:hai union w^ould you defire among thefe? Not an union in opinions. They might ag>ee or difagree, touching abfolute decrees on the one hand, and perfeftion on the other. — Not an union in ex- prejfions. Thofe may flill fpeak of the imputed right eoufnefsy and thefe of the merits of Chrift, Not an union with regard to outzvard order. Some may flill remain quite regular \ {om^ quite irregular \ and fome partly regular, 2iX\d partly irregular. But thefe things being as they are, as each is perfuaded in his own mind, is it not a mofl defirable thing, that we (]:iould, " 1. Remove hindrances out of the way? Not jud^e one another, not defpife one another, not en-vy one another ? Not be difpleajed at one another's 304 The life of the [1764^ gifts or fuccefs^ even though greater than our own ? Not zvait for one another's hahing, much lefs wijh for itj or rejoice therein ? — Never [peak direfpeQ- fully, flightly, coldly, or unkindly of each other : never repeat each other's faults, miftakes, or infir- mities, much lefs iiften for and gather them up: never fay or Ao any thing to hinder each other's ufefulnefs, either diretUy or indireftly. ** Is it not a moll defirahle thing, that we fhould, 2. Love as brethren f Think well of, and honour one another ? JViJ/y all good, all grace, all gifts, all fuccefs, yea greater than our own, to each other? Rxpe6i 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 refpe8:fully, honourably, kind- ly, of each other : defend each other's charaQer : fpeak all the good we can of each oiher : recom- mend one another where we have influence : each help the other on in his w^ork, and enlarge his in- fluence by all the honeft means we can. *' This is the union which I have long fought af- ter. And is it not the duty of every one of us fo to do ? Would it not be far better for ourfehes F A means of promoting both our holinefs and happinefs? Would it not remove much guilt from thole who have been faulty in any of thefe inftanccs ? And much pain from thofe who have kept themfelves pure? Would it not be far better for the people f Who fuffer feverely from the clafliings of their leaders ? Which feldom fail to occafion many unprofitable, yea hurtful difputes among them. Would it not be better for the poor, blind world, robbing them of their fport ? O they cannot agree among themfelves ! Would it not be better for the whole work of God, which would then deepen and widen on every fide ? 'But -1764.3 Rfev. JOIIiN WESLEY. 305 * Bat it will never be: it is utierly impoffible.' ** Certainly it is with men. Who imagines zve can do this? That it can be efFev:ted by any human power? All nature is againfl it, every infirmity, .every wrong temper and fajjioh ; love of honour and praii'e, of power, of pre-eminence; anger, refent- ment, pride; long-contra61ed habit, and prejudice, larking in ten thoufand forms. The 'Devil and his angels are againfl it. For if this takes place, how fllail his kingdom ftand ? All the worldy all that know not God are againft it, though they may feem to favour it for a feafon. Let us fettle this in our hearts, that -we may be utterly cut oflF from all de- pendence on our own ftrength or wifdom. " But furely zvith God all things are pq/Jtble. Therefore all things are pojjihle to him that helieveih. And this union is propofcd only to them that be- lieve, and lliew their faith by their works.-— I am, dear Sir, Scarborough, Your affe,6lionate fervant, April 19, 1764. J- ^V." This letter fhews Mr. lVeJley?> tolerant principles in a (Irong light. Happy would it have been for the profeffors of religion, had the fame fpirit of brotherly-love and mutual forbearance, prevailed in the hearts of all who preached the eflential doc- trines of the gofpel. But this was not the cafe : of all the clergymen to whom this defirable union was propofed, only three vouchfafed to returii him an anfwer ! Mr. Wejley continued his travels and labours, - with the lifual diligence and punRuality through all the focieties in Great-Britain, Ireland, and Wales ; and his health and ftrength were wonderfully pre- fcrved. In Odober 1765, he obferves, " I break- VoL. II. X failed 306 'The LIFE of the [1766. fafled with Mr. Whitefieldy who feemed to be an old, old man, being fairly worn out in his Mafter's fervice, though he ^as hardly feen fifty years. And yet it pleafes God, that I, who am now in my fixty- thirdyear, find no diforder, no weaknefs, no decay, no difference from what I was at five and twenty : only that I have fewer teeth, and more grey hairs!" — Soon after he adds, "Mr. Whiiefield called upon me. He breathes nothing but peace and love. Bi- gotry, cannot ftand before him, but hides its head wherever he comes." Mr. IVejley received fixty pounds per anniinjy from the fociety in Louden^ which is the falary that every clergyman receives, who officiates among them, But individuals in various places frequently gave him money ; legacies were fometimes left him, and the produce of his books, in the latter part of life was confiderable. It is well known, however, that he hoarded nothing at the end of the year. He even contracted his expences as much as poirible, and gave the furplus to the poor, and thofe who might, through misfortunes, be in want. His cha- ritable dipofition may appear from the following little circumflance, which ftrongly points out the tender feelings of his^mind, under a confcioufnefs that he had not given in proportion to the perfon's want. In -November 1766, a foreigner in diftrefs called upon him, and gave him a Latin letter, beg- ging fome' relief. Shortly after, Mr. Wejley, re- ileBlng on the cafe, wrote on the . back of the letter, " I let him go with five (hillings : I fear he is fiarving. Alas \" The v\^orld has feldom feen a man of flron^ powers of mind, of firft rate talents, who has not laboured under fome peculiar v/eaknefs, or mental infirmity; which men of little minds, capable only of obferving cjefefls, have frequendy made the ob^ 1766.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 307 je6l of ridicule. Numerous inllances might eafily be produced, bodi among philofophers and divines, Mr. JVcJlefs chief weaknefs was, a too great readi- nefs to credit the teftimony of oihers, when he be- lieved them fincere, without duly confidering whe- ther they had fufficient ability and caution to form a true judgment of ^ the things concerning which they bore teftimony.' In matters, therefore, which depended wholly on the evidence of other perfons, he was often miftaken. Mr. Charles Wejley, was in the oppofite extreme; full of caution and fufpi- cion. But he was fully fenfible both of his own, and of his brother's weaknefs, and in the prefent year, wrote to him as follows; "When you - fear the worft, your fears fiiould be regarded: and when I hope the beft, you may almoft believe me. — As to feveral of our Preachers, I fear with you, * The fait has loft its favour.' Where is their fingle eye now? Their zeal, humility, and love? And what dan we 6.0 with them, or for them?'' And again, fome years afterwards, " Your defe6l of mif- truft^ needs my excefs to guard it. You cannot be taken by ftorm, but you may by furprife. We feem defigned for each other. If we could and w^ould be oftener together, it might be better for both. — Let us be ufeful m our lives^ and at our death not divided." It was owing to the weaknefs above mentioned, that Mr. IVeJhy fo eafily believed ifioft of the ftories\ he heard, concerning witchcraft and apparitions. And though this is by many deemed a fubje61 of ridicule rather than of ferious argument, yer^ it is but juft to let Mr- IVeflcy plead his own caufe, and aftign the reafons of his faith in the perfons who have ftated the appearance of departed Tpirits as a matter of fa6^, of which they themfeives were the witneffes. This he did in 1768. After flating^ that X 2 iher^ 3o8 The LIFE of the [1768. there were feveral things in thefe appearances which he did not comprehend, he adds, ** But this is with me a very (lender objeftion. For what is it which I do comprehend, even of the things I fee daily? Truly not, ' The fmalleft grain of fand, or fpire of grafs/ — What pretence have I then to deny well- attefted fa8:s, becaufe I cannot comprehend them ? " It is true likewife, that the Englijh in general^ and mofl of the men of learning in Europe^ have g^ven up all accounts of witches and apparitions, as mere 'old wives' fables. I am for ry for it: and I willingly take this opportunity of entering my fo- lemn proteil againft this violent compliment, which fo many that believe the Bible, pay to thofe who do not believe it. I owe them no fuch fervice. I take knowledge, thefe are at the bottom of the outcry which has been raifed, and with fuch info- lence fpread throughout the nation, in dire8: oppo- fition not only to the Bible, but to the fuflPrage of the wifeft and bed of men in all ages and nations. They well know, whether Chriftians know it or not, that the giving up witchcraft, is in eflPeft giving up the Bible. And they know on the other hand, that if but one account of the intercourfe of men with feparate fpirits be admitted, their whole caftle in the air, Deifm, Atheifm, Materialifm, falls to the ground. I know no reafon therefore, why we Ihould fuffer even this weapon to be wrefted out of our hands. Indeed there are numerous argu- ments befides, which abundantly confute their vain imaginations. But we need not be hooted out of one: neither reafon or religion require this. ** One of the capital obje6lions to all thefe ac- counts^ which I have known urged over and over, i.> this, * Did you ever fee an apparition yourfelf ?* No : nor did I ever fee a murder. Yet I believe there is fuch a thing. — Therefore I cannot as a reafonable 1768.] Rev* JOHN WESLEY. 309. reafonable man deny the fa8: ; although I never faw it, and perhaps never may. The teftimony of unexceptionable v;itnefres fully convinces me, both of the one and the other/' I am very far from giving credit to the common" reports of apparitions. Many of them, no doubt, are the mere creatures of imagination. We may obferve, however, that no man ever did, or ever can prove by found argument, the iinpoffibility of difembodied fpirits appearing to men, or that they never have appeared to individuals. All then, which the mofl able and determined fceptic cari^ do, is, to oppofe his own dark and uncertain con- je6lures to the uniform teftimony of all ages and of all nations. He has not therefore, fo much caufe for triumph as he would have the world to fuppofe. — I cannot do better, than conclude this fubje8: with the words of Dr. John/on, in his Raf^ felaSy Prince oS. Abyffinia, " If all your fear be of ap- paritions (faid the Prince) I will promife you fafety : there is no danger from the dead \ he that is once buried will be feen no more. *' That the dead are {^^n no more (faid Imlac) I will not undertake to maintain againft the concur- rent and unvaried teftimony of all ages, and of all nations. There is no people, rude or learned, among whom apparitions of the dead are not re- lated and believed. This opinion, which prevails as far as human nature is diffufed, could become univerfal only by its truth : thofe that never heard" of one another, w^ould not have agreed in a tale^' which nothing but experience can make credible. That it is doubted by fmgle cavillers, can very litde weaken the general evidence ,- and fome who deny it with their tongues, confefsit by their fears." In September this year, Mr. JVcJJey wTOte the following letter to Mr. James Morgan, on a point X 3 of ^to The life of the [1768^ of do8:nne, " I have been thinking much of you, fays Mr. IVeJlcy, and why fliould I not tell you all I think and all I fear concerning you ? " I think all that you faid at the Conference, Upon the fiibjed at the late d-ebates, was right. And it amounted to no more than this : * The ge- neral rule is, they w^ho are in the favour of God^, know they are fo. But there may be fome-exeep- tions. Some may fear and love God, and yet not be clearly confcious of his favour; -at dealt they may not dare to affirm, that their fms are forgiven/ If you put the cafe thus, I think no man in his fenfes will be under any temptation to contradi6fc you. For none can doubt, but w^hoever loves God, is in the favour of God. But is not this a little mif-flating the cafe ? I do not conceive the queftion turned here. But -you faid, or was, ima- gined to fay, VAll penitents are in God's favour ; or ^ All who mourn after God, are in the favour of God/ And this was what many difliked : be- caufe they thought it wis unfcriptural, and unfafe, as well as contrary to what wc have always taught. That this is contrary to wdiat we always taught, is certain, as all our hymns as well as other writings tef- tify : fo that (whether it be true or not) it is with- out all quellion, a wfzc? do6lrine among the M England and Ireland^ repair to hondon^ within fix weeks. — Let them feek God by folemn failing and prayer. — Let them draw up articles of agreement, to be figned by thofe who choofe. to aft in con- cert.— Let thofe be difmiffed who do not choofe it, in the mod friendly manner pofrible^— -Let them choofe by votes, a committee of three, five, or feven, each of whom is to be moderator in his turn. — Let xhit committee do what L do now : propofc Preaclrers to be tried\ admitted^ or excluded : fix the place of each Preacher for the enfuing year, an-d the time of the next Conference. " Can any thing be done now, in order to lav a foundation for this future union? AVould it not ^ Mr. Wefiey, through the whole of this extract, fpeaks of the Preachers continuing in connexion with each other, oa the ori- ginal plan of Methadif?n. But \i fome among the Preachers, Ihould begin to ordain one another, to alter the relative fitup.tion of the focicties to the eftablifhed church, and all denominations of Dif- fenters. and form themfelves into an /V/vA'/r-Vc/c'?// body ; and if the other Preachers connive at this, and do not feparate from. them,, ia order to continue the (^r/i^/VW plan ; then it mayanfwerthe defigns of the ambitious, to preferve the connexion among the Preachei-s. though they feek earthly things, and their eye be not fmgle as at the beginning. f 1 hat is, upon the original plan of Meihod-fm, be' 314 The life of the ^Jl^'l be well for any that are willing, to fign fome ar- ticles of agreement, before God calls me hence ? Suppofe fomething like thefe: ** We, whofe names are underwritten, being tho- roughly convinced of the necefTity of a clofe union between thofe whom God is pleafed to ufe as in- ftruments in this glorious work, in order to pre- ferve this union between ourfelves, are refolved, God being our helper,. I. To devote our/elves entirely to God ; denying ourfelves, taking up our crofs daily, fteadily aiming at one thing, to fave our own fouls, and them that hear us. II. Tcspreach the old Meihodijl do&rincs^ and no other ; contained in the minutes of the Conferences. III. To ob- ferve and enforce, the whole Methodifl diJciplinCy laid down in the faid Minutes," — Thefe articlesj^ I believe, were then figned by many of the Preachers. But fome years afterwards, the myftery of innovations began to -work fecretly i'n the minds oF feveral of the Preachers, who hoped to exalt- themfelves above all that had been kno'von before among thern. They knew Mr. Wefley did, and would lett, or hinder, till he was taken out of the way : they had influence enough, however, to prevail upon him to relinquifli the prcfent plan, and leave the mode of union atiiong the Preachers after his death, to their own deliberations. Two Preachers had gone over to America fome time before ; though, I apprehend, not by Mr. Wef- ley s, authority. At the Conference, however, this year, he fent two, Mr. Boarajuan^ and PillmooTy to preach and take charge of the fooieties in America^ where M.ethodifn began foon to flourifii. Mr. IVefley faw the work in wllich he was en- gaged, fprcad on every fide. In 1770, he was able to. reckon forty-nine circuits in Eiiglandy Scot- landj Irclandy and fFales : and one hundred and twenty- i770.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 315 twenty-two itincnint Preacliers under his dircQion ; befidcs about double the number of local Preachers, who did not quit their ufual occupations. This year, the larger Minutes of Conference^ were primed. • The following ahjlraH: from them, will nearly complete our view of the economy of the Methodijl fo c i e t i e s . Q. 1. " Have our Conferences been as ufeful as they might have been ? A. " No : we have been continually flraitened for time. Hence, fcarce any thing has been fearched to the bottom. To remedy this, let every Confer- ence lafl nine days, concluding on Wednefday in the fecond week. Q. 2. " What may we reafonably believe to be God's defign, in railing up the Preachers called Metboclifts ? A. " Not to form any new fe8: ; but to reform the nation, particularly the church: and to fpread fcriptural holinefs over the land. O. 3. " Is it adviRible for us to preacli in as many places as we can, without forming any fo- cieties ? A. '' By no means ; we have made the trial in various places : and that for a confiderable lime. But all the feed has fldlen as by the highwav-fidc. There is fcarce anv fruit remaininix. 0.4. "Where fliould we endeavour to preach moll? A. 1: " W^here there is the greatefh number of quiet and willing hearers: 2. Where there is mod fruit. O. 5. '' Is field-preaching unlawful ? A. " We conceive not. We do not know^ that it is contrary to any law either of God or man. Q. 6. " Have we not ufed it too fparinglv ? 'a. " It ^i6 The life of the r^77^' A. '' It feems we have : i. Becaufe our call is, to fave that which is loft. Now we cannot expect them to feek us. Therefore we (liould go and feek them, 2, Becaufe we are particularly called, by gcij7g into the highwciys and hedges (which none elfe will do) to compel them to co^ie in, 3. Becaufe that reafon againft it is not good, * The houfe will hold all that come/ The houfe may hold all that come to the houfe; but not all that would come to the field. The greatefl hindrance to this you are to expeQ from rich, or cowardly, or lazy MethodijJs. But regard them not, neither ftewards, leaders, nor people. Whenever the weather will permit, go out in God's name into the rnoft public places, and call all to repent and believe the Gofpel : every Sunday, in particular; efpecially where there are old focieties, left] they fettle upon their lees. '* The ftewards will frequently oppofe this, left they lofe their ufual colleciion. But this is not a fufficient reafon againft it. Shall we barter fouls for money ? O. 7. " Ought we not diligently to obferve, in what places God is pleafed at any time to pour out his fpirit more iibundantly ? A. " We ouoht : and at that time to fend more labourers than ufual into diat part of the harveft. " But whence fiiall we have them ? 1. So far as we can afford it, we will keep a referve of Preachers at Kingfivood : 2. Let ah exa6l lift be kept of thofe who are propofed for trial, but not accepted. O. 8. " How often fliall we permit ftrangers to be prefent at the meeting of the fociety .? A. " At every otlicr meeting of the fociety in every place, let no ftranger be admitted. At othei" times they may; but the fame pcrfon not above twice or thrice. In order to this, fee that all in every 1770.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 317 every place fliew their tickets before they come in. If the ftewards and leaders are not exa8: herein, em- ploy others that have more refolution. Q. 9. *' Can any thing further be done, in order to make the meetings of the clafles lively and pro* fitable ? A. " 1. Change improper leaders: ** 2. Let the leaders frequently meet each other's claffcs. " 3. Let us obferve, which leaders are the mofi: iifeful, and let thefe meet the other clafles as often as pofTible. *' 4. See that all the leaders be not only men of found judgment, but men truly devoted to God. O. 10. *' How can we further afTift thofe under our care ? A. " 1. By meeting the m.arried men and women together, the firft Sunday after the vification ; the hngle men "and women apart, on the two following, in all the large focieties : this has been much ne- glecled. *' 2. By inflruQing them at their own houfes., What unfpeakable need is there of this? The World fay, * The Meihodijh are no better than other people/* This is not true. But it is nearer the truth, than we are willing to believe. " N. B. For 1. Perfonal religion either toward God or man, is amazingly fuperficial among us. ** I can but juft touch on a few generals. How little faith is there among us? How little commu- nion with God ? How little living in heaven, walk- ing in eternity, deadnefs to every creature ? How much love of the world? Defire of pleafure, of eafe, of getting money ? *^ How little brotherly-love ? What continual judging one another ? What goffipping, evil-fpeak- ing. 3i8 The LIFE of the [i77^» ing, tale-bearing ? Vv hat want of moral honefty ? To infiance only in one or two particulars. Who does as he would be done by, in buying and felling ? Particularly in felling horfes ? Write him knave that does not. And the Methodtfl knave is the word of all knaves. " 2. Family religion is fliamefully wanting, and almoft in every branch. *' And the Mcihodtfts in general will be little the better, till we take quite another courfe with them. For what avails pnhlic preaching alonCy though we could preach like angels ? ** We muft, yea every travelling Preacher, mufl infl;ru6l them frcm houfe to houfe. Till this is done, and that in good earncft, the Meihodif.s will be little better than other people. '* Let every Preacher, having a catalogue of thofc in each fociety, go to each houfe. Deal gently v/ith them, that the report of it may move others to de- fire your coming. Give the children, " the inftruc- tions for children," and encourage them to get them by heart. Lideed you will find it no eafy matter to teach the ignorant the principles of religion. So true is the remark of x^rchbifliop U/her. * Great Scholars may think this work beneath them. But they fhould confider, the laying the foundation fkiU fully, as it is of the grcateil importanc'e, fo it is the mafter-piece of the wifefi builder. And let the wifcft of us all try, whenever we pleafe, w^e fhall find, that to lay this ground work rightly, to make the ignorant underftand the grounds of religion, will put us to the trial of all our fkill.' " Perhaps in doing this it may be well ; after a feu^ loving words fpoken to all in the houfe, to lake each perfon iingly into another room, where von. may deal clofely with him, about his fin, and miferys and duty. Set thcfc home, or you lofe all your 1770.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 319 your labour : do this in- earneft, and you will foon find what a work you take in hand, in undertaking to be a travelling Preacher. - ' Q. 1 1. " How fliall we prevent improper peiTons from infinuating themfelves into the fociety ? A. " 1. Give tickets to none till they are recom- mended by a leader, with v^'hom they have met at -lead two months on trial. 2. Give notes to none but thofe who are recommended by one you know, or till they have met three or four times in a clafs. 3. Give them the rules the firfl; time they meet. Sec that this be never negle8:ed. Q. 1 2. " Should we infift on the band-rules ? Par- ticularly with regard to drefs ? A. " By all means. This is no time to give any encouragement to fuperfluity of apparel. There-, fore give no band-tickets to any, till they have left off fuperfluous ornaments. In order to this, i.Let every afliftant read the thoughts upon drefs, at leait once a year, in every large fociety. 2. In vifiting the clall'es, be very mild, but very ftritl. 3. Al- low no exempt cafe, not even of a married woman. Better one fuffer than many. 4. Give no ticket to any that wear calafhes, high-heads, or enormous bonnets. " To encourage meeting in band, 1. In every large fociety, have a love-feaft quarterly for the bands only. 2. Never fail to meet them once a "week. 3. Exhort- every believer to embrace the advantage. 4. Give a band-ticket to none till they have met a quarter on trial. " Obferve! You give none a band-ticke^, hcf.re he meets, but after he has met ? Q. 13. " Do not Sabbath-breaking, dram-drink- ing, evii-fpeaking, unprofitable converration, light- nefs, expenfivenefs or gaiety of apparel, and con-' JraGting debts without due caj-e to difcharge theuK 32^^ The LIFE of the L^77^' them, ftill prevail in feveral places? How may thefe evils be remedied ? A. " 1. Let us preach exprefsly on each of thefe hesds. 2. Read in every fociety the fermon on evil- fpeaking. 3. Let the leaders clofely examine and exhort every perfon to put away the accurfed thing. 4. Let the Preacher warn every fociety, that none Avho is guilty herein can remain with us. 5. Ex- tirpate I'muggling, buying, or Iclling uncuflomed goods, out of every fociety. Let none remain with us, who will not totally abibin from every kind and degree of it. Speak tenderly, but earneftly and frequently of it, in every fociety near the coafts. And read to them, and diligently difperfe among them, * The word to a fmuggler/ 6. Extirpate bribery, receiving any thing, direftly or indireftly, for voting in any clc8:ion. Shew no refpecl of per- ' fons herein, but expel all that touch the accurfed thing. Largely fhew, both in public and private, the wickednefs of thus felling our country. And every where read * The Word to a Freeholder/ and difperfe it with both hands. Q. 14, •* What (hall we do to prevent fcandal, •when ai-v of our members become bankrupt ? A. " Let the affillant talk with him at large. And if he has not kept fair accounts, or has been con- cerned in that bafe practice, of raifing money by coining 7iotes (commonly called the hill-tradr) let hina be expelled immediately. Q. 15. "What is the oflice of a Chriftian M/W- A. ** To watch over fouls, as he that muft give account. O. 16. ** In what view may wc and our helpers be confidered ? A. " Perhaps as extraordinary meflengers (/. ^Te7fed. Q. 35. "But are we not 'Diffcnters? A. " No. Although we call fmners to repent- ance hi all places of Gods dominion; and although we {xtG^^xwXy \)X^ extemporary prayer^ and unite to- gether in a religious fociety : yet we are not Dilfen- tcrs in the only fe,vife which our law acknowledges, namely thofe who renounce the fervicc of the church. We do not: we dare not feparate from Jt. ; We are not Seceders, nor do v/e bear any re- femblance to them. We fet out upon quite oppo- fite principles. The Seceders laid the very founda- tion of their work, in judging and condemning others. W^e laid the foundation of our work, in judging and condemning our/elves. They begin every where, with (hewing their hearers, how fal- len the church and minifters are. We begin every where, with (hewing our hearers, how fallen they are themjelves. What they do in America^ or what their minutes fay on this fubjecl, is nothing to us. We will keep in the good old v:ay, " And 334 ^H^ LIFE OF THE [^77^' " And never let us make light of going to church, either by word or deed. Remember Mr. Hooky a very eminent, and a zealous Papift. When I afked him, ' Sir, what do you do for public worfhip here, where you have no Romifn fervice?' He an- fwered, * Sir, I am fo fully convinced, it is the duty of everv man to worfhip God in public, that I go to church every Sunday. If I cannot have fuch worfhip as I would, I will have fuch wor- fhip as 1 can.' " But fome may fay, * Our own fervice is public worfhip.' Yes ; but not fuch as fuperfedes the church-fervice : it prefuppofcs public prayer, like the fermons at the univerfity. If it were deligned to be inflead of the church-fervice, it would \je effentially defedive. For, it-fe^dom has the four grand parts of public prayer, deprex:ation, petition, interceflfion, and thankfgiving. " If the people put ours in the room-of the ohurch- fervice, we buj^t them that flay with us, and rum them that leave us. For then they will go no where, but lounge the Sabbath away, without any public worfhip at all. Q. 36. " Nay, but is it not our duty,' to feparatc from the church, confidering the wickednefs b^oth-of the. clergy and the people ? Aj r« We conceive not, 1. Becaufe both the priefts and the people were full as wicked in the Jewifh church. And yet it was not the duty of the holy Ifraelites to feparate from them: 2. Nei- ther did our Lord command his difciples 10 fepa- rate from them: be rather commanded the contrary. 3. Hence it is clear, /bat could not be the mean- ing of St, Paul's words. Come out from among thern^ and be ye feparate, Q. 37. " But what reafons are there, why we (hould not feparate from the church ? A. " An"iong £770.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 335 A. *^ Among others, thofe which were printed above twenty years ago, entitled * Reafons againfl a Separation from the Church o^ England F' ** We allow two exceptions. 1. If the parifh minifter be a notorioufly wicked man: 2. If he preach Socinianifm, Arianifm, or any other effen- tially falfe dotlrine. Q. 38. *^ Do we fufficiently watch over our helpers ? A. " We might confider thofe that are with us as our pupils: into whole behaviour and ftudies we fiiould inquire every day. " Should we not frequently aflv each, Do you walk clofely with God ? Have you now ^GWow^iip with the Father, and the Son? At what hour do you rife ? Do you punftually obferve the morning and evening hour of retirement ? Do you fpend the day in the manner which we advife ? Do you converfe feriouHy, ufefully, and clofely ? — Do you life all the means of grace yourfelf, and enforce the ufe of them on alt other perfons ? Sec, Sec. Q- 39. " What can be done, in order to a clofer union of our helpers with each other ? A.."i. Let them be deeply convinced of the want there is of it at prefent, and the abfolute ne- cefTity of it : 2. Let them pray for a defire of union : 3. Let them fpeak freely to each other : 4. Wlien they meet, let them never part without prayer: 5. Let them beware how they defpife each other's gifts: 6. Let them never fpeak flightingly of each other in any kind : 7. Let them defend one ano- ther's charaBers in every thing, fo far as confifts wnth truth ; and 8. Let them labour in honour each to prefer the other before himfclf. O. 40. " How fliall we try ihofe who think they are m.oved by the Holy Gholl to preach ? A. '' Inquire, 33^ The LIFE of the [^770- A. " Inquire, i. Do they know God as a par- doning God ? Have they the love of God abiding in them ? Do they defire and feek nothing but God ? And, are they holy in all manner of converfation ? 2. Have ihcy gifts (as welf as grace) for the work? Have they (in fome tolerable degree) a clear, found underftanding? Have they a right judgment in the things of God? Have they a juft conception of falvation by faith ? And has God given them any degree of utterance ? Do they fpeak juftly, readily, clearly ? 3. Have they friiil P Are any truly convinced of fin, and converted to God by their Preaching^ ? " As long as thefe three marks concur in any one, we believe he is called of God to preach, Thefe we receive as fufficient proof, that he is moved thereto by the Holy Ghoft, Q. 41. " What method may we ufc in receiving a new helper? A. " A proper time, for doing this, is at a Con- ference after folemn fading and prayer. " Every perfon propofcd is then to be prefent ; and each of them may be aflvcd, " Have you faith in Chnft ? Are you going on to perfeflion ? Do you expeft to be perfeEled in love in this life ? Are you groaning after* it ! Are you refolved to devote yourfelf wholly to God and to his work ? Do you know the Mcthodiji plan ? Have you read the plain account ? The appeals ? Do you know the rules of the fociety ? Of the hands ^ Do you keep them ? Do you take no fnuff ? tobacco ? drams ? Do you conltantly attend the church and facrament ? Have you read the Minutes of the Con- ference ? Are you willing to conform to them? Have you confidered the rules of an helper? Efpe- cially the firft, tenth, and twelfth? Will you keep ihcm for confcience-fakc ? Are you determined to employ 1770.] Rbv. JOHN WESLEY. 337 employ «// your time in the work of God? Will you preach every morning and evening: endeavour- ing not to fpeak too long, or too loud ? Will yoU: diligently inltruft the children in every place ? Will you vifit from houfe to houfe ? Will you recom- mend fading, both by precept and example ? " Are you in debt ? Are you engaged to marry ? " (N. B. A Preacher who marries while on trial, is. thereby fet afide.) " We may then receive him as a probationer by giving him the minutes of the Conference infcribed thus ; To A. B. " You think it your duty to call fmners to re- pentance. Make full proof hereof, and we fiiall re* joice to receive you as a fellow-labourer. " Let him then read, and carefully weigh what is contained therein, that if he has any doubt, it may be removed. " Obferve ! Taking on trial is entirely different from admitting a Preacher. One on trial may be either admitted or reje8:ed, without doing him any wrong. Otherwife it would be no trial at all. Let every affiftant explain this to them that are on trial. " When he has been on trial four years, if re- commended by the affiftant, he may be receig^ed into full connexion, by giving him the minutes in- fcribed thus : ' As long as you freely confent to, and earneftly endeavour to' walk by thefe rules, we ffiall rejoice to acknowledge you as a fellow- labourer.' Mean time let none exhort in any of our focieties, without a note of permiffion from the affiftant : let every exhorter take care to have this renewed yearly : and let every affiftant infift upon it. Z Q. 4^, 33^ The LIFE of the C^770« Q. 42. *' What is the method wherein weufually proceed in our Conferences? A. " We inquire, ** 1. What Preachers are admitted^ ** Who remain on trial f . " Who are admitted on trial ? ** Who defjl from travelling ? " 2. Are there any objetlions to any of the Preachers ? W ho are named one by one. *' 3. How are the Preachers ftationed this year ? " 4. What numbers are in the fociety ? " 5. What is the King/wood colle6lion? ** 6. What boys are received this year ? '* 7. What girls are aflifted ? " -8. What is contributed for the contingent ex- pen ces ? " 9. How was this expended ? " 10. What is contribuie:d toward the fund, for fuperannuated and fupernumerary Preachers ? *' 11. What demands are there upon it? *' 12. How many Preachers' wives are to be pro- vided for ? By what focieties ? ''13. W^here, and when, may our next Conference begin ? Q. 43. *' How can we provide for fuperannuated and fupernumerary Preachers ? A. " Thofe who can preach four or five times a week, are fupernumerary Preachers. As for thofc who cannot, "1. Let every travelling Preacher contribute half a guinea yearly at the Conference. " 2. Let every one when firft admitted as a tra- velling Preacher pay a guinea. " 3. Let this he lodged in the hands of the ftewards. '* 4. Out of this let provifion be made firfl for tlie worn-out Preachers, and then for the widows and children of thofe that are dead. « 5. Let 1770.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 339 *' 5. Let an exa8: account of all receipts and dif- burfements be produced at the Conference. " 6. Let every afTiftant bring to the Conference, the contribution of every Preacher in his circuit. Q. 44. " Are not many of the Preachers' wives ftill flraitened for the neceffaries of life ? A. " Some certainly have been. To prevent this for the time to come. " 1. Let every circuit either provide each with a lodging, coals, and candles, or allow her fifteen pounds a year. " 2. Let the afliftant take this money at the quar- terly-meeting, before any thing elfe be paid out of it. Fail not to do this. Q. 45. " What can be done, in order to revive the work of God where it is decayed? A. "1. Let every Preacher read carefully over the life of David Brainard, Let us be followers of hiiUy as he was of Cbr/JI, in abfolute felf-devotion, in total deadnefs to the world, and in fervent love to God and man. Let us but fecure this point, and the w^orld and the Devil mufl fall under our feet. '* 2. Let both afliftants and Preachers be con- fcientioufly exa8: in the whole Meihodiji difcipline. " 3. See that no circuit be at any time without Preachers. Therefore let no Preacher, who does not attend the Conference, leave the circuit, at that tiiney on any pretence whatever. This is the mod improper time in the whole year. Let every affiftant fee to this, and require each of thefe to re- main in the circuit, till the new Preachers come. *' Let not all the Preachers in any circuit come to the Conference. ** Let thofe who do come, fet out as late and re- turn as foon as pofiible. ** 4. Wherever you can, appoint prayer-meetings, and particularly on Friday. Z 2 "5. Let ^^o The life of the [177^* " 5. Let a faft be obferved in all our focieties, the laft Friday in Augiift, November, February, and May. " 6. Be more a6live in difperfing the books, par- ticularly the fermon on, Tbe good Steward, on /«- dwelling Sin^ the Repentance of Believers^ and the Scripture -Way of Salvation, Every afliftant may give away fmall traQs. And he may beg money of the rich to buy books for the poor. " 7. Strongly and explicitly exhort all believers, to go on to perfeSiion. That we may allfpeak the favie thing, I afk once for all, Shall we defend this perfe6lion, or give it up? You all agree to defend it, meaning thereby (as we did from the be- ginning) falvation from all fin, by the love of God and man filling our heart. The Papijls fay, * This cannot be attained, till we have been refined by the fire of Purgatory/ The Calvinijis fay, ^ Nay, it will be attained as foon as the foul and body part.* The Old Methodijis fay, * It may be attained before we die: a moment after is too late/ Is it fo, or not ? You are all agreed, we may be faved from all fin before death. The fubftance then is fettled. But, as to the circum fiance, is the change gradual or inflantaneous ? It is both the one and the other. From the moment we arejuftified, there may be a gradual fan6lification, a growing in /^race, a daily advance in the knowledge and love of God. And if fin ceafe before death, there muft, in the nature of the thing, be an inflantaneous change. There mufl be a lafl moment wherein it does exifl, and a firfl moment wherein it does not. * But fhould we in preaching infill both on one, and the other ?' Certainly we mufl infill on the gradual change \ and that earneflly and continually. And are there not reafons why we fliould infifl on the inflantaneous alfo? If there be fuch a blcfied change before death. 1770.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 341 death, fhould we not encourage all believers to ex- pe6l it ? And the rather, becaufc conftant experience fhews, the more earneftly they exped this, the more fwiftly and fteadily does the gradual work of God go on in their foul : the more watchful they are againfl all fin ; the more careful to grow in grace, the more zealous of good works, and the more pun61ual in their attendance on all the ordinances of God. (Whereas jult the contrary efFe8:s are ob- ferved, whenever this expectation ceafes.) They are Jdved by hope^ by this hope of a total change, with a gradually increafing falvation. Deftroy this hope and that falvation Hands Hill, or rather d^creafes daily. Therefore whoever would advance the gra- dual change in believers, fhould flrongly infifl on the inflantaneous. Q. 46. ** What can be done, to increafe the work of God in Scotland'^ A. ** 1. Preach abroad as much as pofTible. 2. Try every town and village. 3. Vifit every mem- ber in the fociety at home. Q. 47. *' Are our preaching-houfes fafe? A. " Not at all : for fome of them are not fettled on truflees. Several of the trultees for others are dead. Q. 48. " What then Is to be done ? A. "1. Let thofe who have debts on any of the houfes give a bond, to fettle them as foon as they are indemnified. " 2. Let the furviving truftees choofe others with- out delay, by indorfing their deed thus : * We the remaining truflees of the Methodift preaching-houfe in ■ , do according to the power vefted in us by this deed, choofe ^to be truflees of the faid houfe, in the place of. ■ « * Witnefs our hands .* Z 9. « N. B. 342 The LIFE of the C^77^* " N. B. The deed muft have three new ftamps, and muft be inroUed in Chancery within fix months. Q. 49. " May-any new preaching-houfes be built? A. " Not unlefs, 1. They are propofed at the Con- ference : no nor 2. Unlefs two-thirds of the expenCe be fubfcribed. And if any coUeftion be made for them, it muft be made between the Conference and the beginning of February. Q. 50. " How may we raife a general fund for carrying on the whole w^ork of God? A. " By a yearly fubfcription to be propofed by every affiftant when he vifits the claffes at ChriftmaSy and received at the vifitation following. Q. 51. " We faid in 1744, * We have leaned too much low Txr di Calvinifm',' Wherein? A. "1. With regard to mans faithfulnejs. Our Lord himfelf taught us to ufe the expreffion, there- fore we ought never to be afhamed of it. We ought fteadily to affcFt upon His authority, that if a man is not faithful in the unrighteous mammon, God will not give him the true riches, ■ "2. With regard to working for life^ which our Lord exprefly commands us to do. Labour (ipyx^£(r^i) literally, work for the meat that endureth to ever- lafting life. And in fa8:, every believer, till he comes to glory, works for, as well as from life. " 3. We have received it as a maxim. That ' a man is to do nothing, in order to jujiification.' No- thing can be more falfe. Whoever defires to find favour with God fhould ceafe from evil and learn to do well. So God himfelf teaches by the prophet Ifaiah. Whoever repents fliould do works meet for repentance. And if this is not in order to find fa^ vour, what does he do them for ? '^' Once more review the whole affair : " 1. Who of us is nozv accepted of God? •^ He 1770.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 343 •' He that now believes in ChriJI, with a loving obedient heart. ** 2. But who among thofe that never heard of Chrift r " He that according to the light he has, fcareth God and worketb right eon fnefs, ". 3. Is this the lame with he that is JincereJ ** Nearly, if not quite. " 4. Is not this /ahation ly works t " Not by the weyit of works, but by works as a condition. " 5. What have we then been difputing about for thefe thirty years ? '* I am afraid, about woj'ds : (namely, in fome of the foregoing inftances.) " 6. As to merit itfeif, of which we have been fo dreadfully afraid : we are rewarded according to our wo7'-ksj yea hccaufe of our works. How does this differ from, for the fake of our works ^^ And how differs this from Secundum merit. i operum P Which is no more than, as our works defervef Can you fplit this hair ? I doubt, I cannot. " 7. The graiid objeftion to one of the pre- ceding proportions, is drawn from matter of fad. God does in fa£l juftify thofe, who by their own confeffion n^nh^v feared God, nor wrought righteouf- ntfs. Is this an exception to the general rule? " It is a doubt, whether God makes any except tion at all. But how are we fure that the perion in qucftion never did fear God and work righteouf- nefs ? His own thinking fo is no proof. For we know, how all that are convinced of (in, under- value themfelves in every refpeft. ** 8. Does not talking, without the proper caution, of a juftified or fanHified ftate^ tend to miflead men ? Almoft naturally leading them to trufl in what was done in one moment F Whereas we are every mo- Z 4 ment 344 The LIFE op the [^77^- ment pleafing or dijpleafing to God, according to our works? According to the whole of our prefent inward tempers, and outward behaviour. CHAPTER IV. Stating the principal Circumftances of My. Wefley's Life and Labours, 'till after the Conference in 1784; with a Continuation of the Hijiory of Mc- thodifm to that Period. SOME of the Preachers being now in Americay and feveral focieties having been formed, they carneftly folicited Mr. Wefley\ once more to crols the Atlantic and give them a vifit. In the begin- ning of this year, he wrote to Mr. Whitefield on this fubjeft, as follows : " Mr. Keen informed me fome time fince, of your fafe arrival in Carolina ; of which indeed I could not doubt for a moment, notwithftanding the idle report of your being caft away, which was fo current in London, I truft our Lord has more work for you to do in Europe^ as well as in America, And who knows, but before your return to England^ I may pay another vifit to the New World? I have been llrongly folicited by feveral of our friends in Nevj-Tork2iXid, Philadelphia. They urge many reafons ; fome of which feem to be of confiderable weight. And my age is no obje8.ion at all : for, I blefs God, my health is not barely good, but abundantly better, in feveral re- fpe6b, than when I was five and twenty. But there are fo many reafons on the other fide, that as yet, I can determine nothing ; fo I mull wait till I have further light. Here I am j let the Lord do 1770.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 345 do with me as feemeth him good. For the prc- fent, i muft: beg of you to fupply my lack of fer- vice : by encouraging the Preachers as -you judge bed, who are as yet comparatively young and un- ledge 1772.] Rev. JOHN WP:SLEY. 351 ledge of his fubjeft, and a mod happy manner of treating it. His letters were publifhed under the. title of, ** Checks to Antinomianifm," They exhibit a fine model for controverfy on religious fubjeQs, and will ever bear ample teftimony to the good- nefs of Mr. Fletcher s head and heart. It appears tQ me, however, that the propofitions as they ftand in the Minutes^ in fliort fentences without explanation, have a very fufpicious appear- ance. The exprefTions are too ambiguous, and might eafily have been exchanged for others more clear, and lefs liable to give offence. I cannot therefore commend, either the wifdom or prudence that diftated them ; notwithflanding- the abilities of a Fletcher could make them fpeak, clearly and ex- plicitly, the language o^ free-grace, Mr. Fletcher d]Qd in 1785, greatly lamented by thoufands who had been benefited by his animating and inftru6live miniftry, and by his pious conver- fation. The Reverend Mr. Gilpin has given us, the fined and mod intereding traits of this excellent man's character. In February 1772, Mr. IVcJIey fays, *^ I cafually took a volume of what is called, ^ A Jentimental journey through France and Italy.' Sentimental i What is that ? It is not Englijb. He might as well fay, Continental. It is not fenfe : it conveys no determinate idea. Yet one fool makes many ; and this nonfenfical word (who would believe it ?j is become a fafliionable one ! However, the book agrees full well with the title : for the one is as queer as the other. For oddity, uncouthnefs, and unlike- nefs to all the world befide, I fuppofe the writer is without a rival !" The Preachers met with no Viotous mobs to oppofe their progrefs in Scotland. Here, all ranks and orders of the people, from the highed to the lowed, had long been 352 The LIFE of the r 1772. been remarkable for a decent regard to religion and the minifterial charafter : and this religious decorumy had not yet been deftroycd by that degree of profanenefs which ftimulates the mind to v^eat the minifters of the gofpel with contempt and.^|.it- rage. But the Preachers foon found, that they iiad prejudices to contend with more difficult to be over- come than the violence of a mob. They found the Scots ftrongly intrenched within the lines of religious opinions and modes of worfhip, which almoft bade defiance to any mode of attack. Their fuccefs was therefore trifling, compared with what they had experienced in 'England and Ireland^ where their lives had often been in danger from the mob. Mr. JVejley, however, in his ftated journies through Scotlandy every where met with the moft flattering marks of rel'peO: ; both from the nobility (who often invited him to take their houfes in his way) from many of the eilabliflied minifters, and from the magiftrates of the cities. In April this year, being on his biennial vifit to Scotland^ he came to Perth y where the magiftrates as a token of their refpedful regard for him, prefented him with the freedom of the city. The diploma ran thus : ** Perth 1 vigefimo oftavo die menfis Aprilis, Anno Domini millefimo feptingentefimo feptuage- fimo fecundo. " Quo die, Magiflratuum Illuftris ordo, et Ho- norandus Senatorum csetus inclytae civitatis Pcrthc7i-> fis^ in debiti amoris et alfeftus TcJJeram erga Johan- vem Wejley Artium Magiftrum, nuper CoUcgiae Lincolnienfis Oxonias Socium, Imnuinitatibus prae- fatas Civitatis, Societatis etiam ac Fratcrnitatis ^.dilitiae privilcgiis — de omnibus a cive neceflario cxigendis ac prgeftandrs Donarunt," &e. This diploma was ft ruck off from a copper-plate upon parchment ; the arms of the city and Ibme of 1772 J Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 353 of the words were illuminated, and flowers painted round the borders, which gave it a fplcndid appear- ance. And for purity of the Latin, it is not perhaps ex^'^cded by any diploma,^ either from London or any otl •- city in Europe. 'Mr. Wefley now faw the religious focietics he had been the happy inftrument of forming, fpread rapidly on every fide; and the Preachers increafing in an almofl equal proportion. He became, therefore, every day more folicitous to provide for their unity and permanency after his deceafe, wifliing to preferve at the fame time, the original do8.rines and economy of the Meihodifts, He knew the views, the opinions, and the jcaloufies of the Preachers concerning each other, better than any other individual could poflibly know them, as he had perfons in all places who con- Itantly informed him of every thing of importance that was faid or done. From the beginning he had Hood at the head of the Connexion, and by the gene- ral fuffrao-e had a6led as Diofator. in matters relating to the government of the focieties. He had often found that all his authority was barely fufficicnt to preferve peace, aYid the mere external appearance of unanimit)^, and therefore concluded, that if his autho- rity wei-e to ceafe, or not to be transferred to another at his death, the Preachers and people would fall into confufion. In January 1773, being at Shorcham^ where no doubt he had confulted Mr. Perronet on the fubjeft, he wrote the following letter to Mr. Fletcher, " Dear Sir, " What an amazing work has God wrought in dicfc kingdoms, in lefs than forty years! And it not only- continues, but increafes throughout England^ Scotland^ and Ireland: nay, it has lately fpread into Nezv-Tork^ Pennfylvania^ Virginia^ Maryland^ and Carolina, But the Vol. IL A a wife 354 The LIFE of the T^773' wife men of the world fay, « When Mr. JVeJIey drops, then all this is at an end ! ' And fo it furely will, unlefs before God calls him hence, one is found to ftand in his place. For ' ^Cv-a ocyx^o]/ TroXvyiOip/xviV]' Etf ycoipocj/o^ if (a*, I fee more and more, unlefs there be one n/5ofrw?t, the work can never be carried on. The body of the Preachers are not united : nor will any part of them fubmit to the reft; fo that either there muft be One to prefide over all, or the work will indeed come to an end. " But who is fufficient for thefe things ? Qualified to prefide both over the Preachers and people ? He muft be a man of faith and love, and one that has a fmgle eye to the advancement of the kingdom of God. He muft have a clear underftanding; a knowledge of men and things, particularly of the Methodifi doSrine and difcipline ; a ready utterance ; diligence and afti- vity, with a tolerable fnare of health. There muft be added to thefe, favour widi the people, with the Methodifts in general. For unlefs God turn their eyes and their hearts toward him, he will be quite incapa- ble of the work. He muft likewife have fome degree of learning : becaufe there are many adverfaries learned as well as unlearned, whofe mouths muft be ftopp-ed.' But this cannot be done, unlefs he be able to meet them on their own ground. *' But has God provided one fo qualified ? Who is he ? Thou art the m.an ! God has given you a m^ca- fure of loving faith; and a fingle eye to his glory, "He has given you fome knowledge of men and things; particularly of the whole plan of MethGdiJm, You * It is not ^yood, that the fupreme power fhould be lodged In many hands: le\ there be One chief governor. The truth of the firll part of this fentence has been remarkably verified among the Metko- dip, fmce the death of Mr. IVtJIej ; to the no fmall injury of many Societies, t Who prefides over the reft. are 1773-] ^^^^' J^^^' WESLEY. 355 are blefled with fome health, activity, and diligence ; together with a degree of learning. And to all thefe, he has lately added, by a way none could have fore- feen, favour both with the Preachers and the whole people Come out in the name of God ! Come to the help of the Lord againft the mighty ! Come while I am alive and capable of labour — *' Dum fuperefl Lachefi quod torqueat, et pedibus me *' Porto mei.s, nullo dextram fubeunte bacillo*." Come while I am able, God ailifting, to build you up in faith, to ripen your gifts, and to introduce you to the people. Nil tmti. What poffible employment can you have, which is of fo great importap.ce ? " But you will naturally fay, ' I am not equal to the tafk : I have neither grace nor gifts for fuch an employment? You fay true; it is certain you have not: and who has ? But do you not know him who is able to give them ? Perhaps not at once, but rather day by day : as each is, fo fhall your ftrength be — ' But this implies, you may fay, a thouland croffes, fuch as I feel I am not able to bear ? You are not able to bear them 7iozv; and they are not now come. Whenever they do come, will He not fend them in due number, weight, and meafure ? And will they not all be for your profit, that you may be a partaker of his holinefs. " Without conferring, therefore, with fiefh and blood, come and ftrengthen the hands, comfort the heart, and fliare the labour of, your affeftionate friend and brother John Wesley." This w^arm and fmcerc invitation, to a fituation not only refpeded but even reverenced by fo large a * While Lachejis has fome thread of life to fpin, and I walk on my own feet without the help of a ftaff. Jwven, Sat, 3d, A a 2 body 35^ '^^^^ LIFE OF THE [^773* body of people, muft have been highly flattering to Mr. Fletcher; efpecially as it came from a perfon he moft fincerely loved; whofe liipenor abilities, learning, and labours, he admired; and to whofe fuccefs in the miniftry he wifhed to give every affiftance in his power. But he well knew the embarraffments Mr. IVeJJey met with in the government of the Preachers, though he alone, under the providence of God, had given exift- ence to their pre Tent charaQer, influence, and ufeful- nefs: he was alfo well acquainted with the mutual jealoufies tlie Preachers had of each other, and with their jarring interefl:s; but above all, with the general determination which prevailed among them, not to be under the control of any one man after the death of Mr. WejJey. Under thefe circumfl:ances, he faw nothing before him but darknefs, ftorms, and tem- pefts, with the moil threatning dangers, efpecially if he fhoul'd live to be alone in the office. He there- fore determined, not to launch his little bark on fo tempeftuous an ocean. Mr. Fletcher certainly a61ed according to the rules of prudence, with refpecl to himfelf. But as he died before Mr. IVejley^ the difficulties and dangers w^hich he fore faw, were much greater in appearance, than they w^ould have been in reality, had he accepted the invitation. I cannot, therefore, but lament that he did not accept it, as he would have done much good while he lived, and have prevented many of the evils which have fmce taken place. He w^ould at leafl, have prevented the influence which a perfon, fome years afterwards, acquired through the connexion, with talents very inferior to moft of the Preachers ; who has been the chief means of introducing innova- tions into the original plan of Methodifm^ which have already produced much mifchicf, and threaten much jnore in the ilfue : and whofe rafli and inconfiftent * condu6lj 1774-] ^^'-^ JOHN WESlJi^Y. 357 condaB^ on feveral occafions, has brought the whole body of die Preachers into difgrace, and embarraffed them with many diihcukies. Mr. IVeJley was now advancing in the fevcnty-firft year of his age, and found his health and ftrength almoft undiminilhed : he therefore continued his la- bours and travels, with tbic fame affiduiiy and punc- tuality as at the beginning. In June 1774, when he entered on his feventy-fecond year, he fpeaks thus of himfelf, "This being my birth-day, the firfl day of my feventy-fecond year, I was confidering, how is this, that I find juft the fame ftrength as I did thirty years ago .? That my fight is confiderably better now^, and my nerves firmer, than they were then ? That I have none of the infirmities of old age, and have lofl feveral I had in my yoiuh ? The grand caufe is, the good pleafure of God, who doth whatfoever pleafeth him. The chief ;;/^t?;7i are, 1. My conftantly rifing at four, for about fifty years : 2. My generally preaching at five in the morning, one of the moft healthy exer- cifes in the world : 3. My never travelling lefs, by fea or land, than lour thoufand five hundred miles in a year*" About this time died Mr. John Dozvns ^ who had been many years a Preacher among the Methodifts, He was a man of fincere unaffe61ed piety; of great afiiiftion, and of uncommon genius. Mr. Charles JVefley gives the following account of his death. " John DorcV7is has lived and died the death of the righteous. For feveral months paft, he has been gready alive to God, walked clofely with him, and yifibly grown ia grace. Ever fince the time that he refolved to preach again, he has preached as often as he really could, and with great iiiccefs. On Friday morning he rofe full of faith, ^nd love, and joy. He declared it was the happieft day of his life, and that he had not been A a 3 fo ^S^ The life or the [^775- fo well in body for years. He expreffed liis joy in fhow- ^rs of tears — He was led to pray for the people, fo as never before. Going out to the Chapel at PVeJl-Street' farming out his cuftoms to foreigners, the infolence of thofe farmers drew on them the refentment of t.\\ozovr of the Pope, is, and has been for ages, the power of granting par- dons for all fins paft, prefent, and to come! Butthofe who acknowledge him to have this fpiritual pow'er, can give no fecurity for their allegiance. Sec, 3. " The power of difpenfing with any promife, oath, or vow, is another branch of the fpiritual power of the Pope. And all who acknowledge his Jpiritual power^ muft acknowledge this: but w^hoever acknowledges this dijpeyifing power of the Pope, can- uot give fecurity for his allegiance to any Govern- ment— Nay, not only the Pope, but even a Frieft has poaver to pardon pmsl This is an eflential doctrine of the Church of Rome. But they who acknowledge this cannot poffibly give any fecurity for their alle- giance to any Government. " Setting then religion afide, it is plain, that upon principles of reafon, no Government ought to tole- rate men, who cannot give any fecurity to that Go- vernment for their allegiance and peaceable behaviour. But this no Romanift can do, not only while he holds that, ^ No faith is to be kept with heretics^ but fo long as he acknowledges either pricftly-ahjolution^ or the fpiritual power of the Pope." The letter, from which the above is only an ab- flraft, raifed feyeral adverfaries. But Mr. 0'Leary\ a Capuchin friar, in Dublin., having feen the letter in the Treemaiis Journal^ foon became the molt confpicuous of Mr. Wejleys opponents. Pie publifhed Remarks upon the letter, in the fame Journal; to which Mr. IVeJley replied. Mr. O'Leary continued his Remarks in five {xxQC^QdAwg Journals ; and Mr. Wejley publifhed a fecond reply. The Remarks were afterwards re- printed together in London^ with the following title, " Mr. O'Learys Remarks on the Rev. Mr. Wef,ey\ Letters in defence of the Proteftant Affociations in Endand. 384 The life of the ~ [17^0. England^ to ^vhich are prefixed Mr. Wefieys Let- ters." We have here a molt ftriking fample of Mr^ CLcarys difingenuity and artifice; if He gave this title to the pamphlet. For, 1. Mr. JVejJey had not written one line in defence of the Prctcjlant Aflbci- ations : and, 2. Mr. Wcjley\ two replies publiflied in the Freeman s jQurnal^ were fupprefi'ed, and a fpurious letter palmed on the public, as genuine, which Mr. Wejley declared he had never feen, before he faw it- in Mr. O'Learys pamphlet. Mr. IVeJJeys fecond reply to Mr. O'Leary^ contains the ftrength of his caufe ; and v;ith what has before been faid, will give the reader a full view of the fub- jecl: I fhall therefore infert the iubftance of it. " To the Editors of the Freeman s JoumaL '• Gentlemen, *' Some time ago, in a letter publiflied at London^ I obferved, ^Roman-Catholics cannot give thofe whom they account heretics^ any fufficient fecurity for their peaceable behaviour ! 1. Becaufe it has been publicly avowed in one of their General Councils, and never publicly difclaimed. That Faith is not to be kept with heretics, 2. Becaufe they hold the doBrine oS. prieftly- nhfolution: and 3. The do6lrine of Papal Pardons and Difpenfations. Mr. O'Leary^ has publifhed Remarh on this letter: nine parts in ten of which are quite wide of the mark. Not that they are wide of his mark, which is to intro- duce a plaufible panegyric upon the Roman-Catholics^ mixt with keen inveQives againfl the Frotcfumis ; \*A\(i' ther true or falfe it matters not. All lliis is admirably well calculated to infpire the reader with averfion to ?hcfe heretics^ and to bring tliem back to the holy, harmlefs, much injured Church of P.ome ! And I ihould iySo.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 385 fhould not wonder, if diefe fix papers fhould make fix thoufand converts to her. — Clofe arguing he does not attempt, but he vapours, and fl<.ips to and fro, and rambles to all points of the compafs, in a very- lively and entertaining manner. " iMy argument was. The Council of Confiance has openly avowed violation of faith with heretics. But it has never been openly dil'claimed. Therefore thofe who receive this Council, cannot be trufted, by thofe whom they account heretics — This is my immediate conclufion. And if the premifes be admitted, it will infallibly follow. " On this Mr. O'l^ary fays, ' A Council fo often quoted challenges peculiar attention. We fhall exa- mine it with all pofiible precifion and impartially. At a time when the broachers of a new doctrine' — as new as the bible— 'were kindling the fire of fedition, and fhaking the foundation of thrones arid kingdoms' — big words, but entirely void of trudi — 'was held the Council of Conftance. To this was cited John Htifs^ famous for propagating errors tending to wrefl the fceptre from the hand of kings.' — Equally true — ' He was obnoxious to the Church and State' — To the Churcli of Rome I not to the State in any degree — ' Hujs ftrikes at the root of all temporal power and civil authority. He boldly aflerts, That all Princes, Magiftrates, &c. in the ftate of mortal fm, are de- prived, ipfo faofo^ of all power and jurifdiBion. And by broaching thefe doctrines, he makes Bohe77ua 2l theatre of inteftine war. See the A6ls of the Council of Conftance in L! Abbe's colleftion of Councils' — I have Icen them, and can find nothing of this therein. But more of this by and by. ' He gave notice that he would Hand his trial. But he attempted to efcape' — No, never, this is pure invention. ' He was arrefled at Conftance^ and con- fined. His frie^^ds plead his fafc-condu^. The Coun- VoL. II. C^c cil 3^ The LIFE or the [17%^. ell then 'declared, No fafe-condu^ granted by the Enipe- ror^ or any other Trinces^ to Heretics, ought to hinder them from being punifhed as juflice Jhall require. And the perfon who has promifed them fecuirity, shall not BE OBLIGED TO KEEP HIS PROMISE, BY WHAT- EVER TIE HE MAY BE ENGAGED.' " Arid did the Council of Cdhfiance declare this? Yes, fays 'Mr. O'Leary, I defire no more. But be- fore I argue upon the point, permit me to give a little fuller account of the whole affair. " The Council of ConJIance was called by the Em- peror Sigifmund^ and Pope John the 23d, in the year 1414. Before it began, the Emperor fent fome Bohemian Gentlemen, to condu6l John Hufs to Con- fiance^ folemnly promihng, That he fliould ' Come and return freely,/ without fraud or corruption.' " But before he left Prague^ he waited on the Bifhop of Naza'reth^ Papal Inquifitor for that city and diocefe, who, in the prefence of many witnefTes, gave him the following teftimonial — ' We, Nicholas — do by thefe prefents, make known to all men, That " we have often talked with that honourable man. Mailer John Hufs^ and in all his fayings, doings, and behaviour, have proved him to be a faithful man > finding no manner of evil, finiiler, or erroneous doings in him, unto the prefent. Prague^ Augufl JOy 1414. ' " This was atteded by the hand and feal of the ' public notary, named Michael Pfnlhalietz — After this, Conrade^ Archbifliop of Prague^ declared befoVe all the Barons of Bohemia^ That 'He knew not t'hat John Hufs was culpable or faulty, in any crime or . offence whatever' — So neither the Inquifitor, nor tlie ,. Archbifliop, knew any thing of ' his making Bohemia' ] a tiieatre of intefline war.' ., ."In-the feventeenth" feflion, the fentence and con- demnation of John hlifs^ waij read and publifhed. The Eurperor 1780.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 387 Emperor then commanded the Duke of Bavaria to deliver him to the executioner; for which glorious exploit, he was thus addreded by the Bifliop of Lan- d)\ in the name of the Council: This moft My^ and goodly labour, was referved only for Thee, O moft noble Prince ! Upon thee only doth it lie, to whom the whole rule and miniftration of juftice is given. Wherefore thou haft eftabliflied thy praife and re- nown : even by the mouths of babes and fucklin^s thy praife fliall be celebrated for evermore ! " From the whole of this tranfaBion we may obferve, 1. 'Y\\.dXjohn Hujs ^2.^ gtiihy of no crime, either in word or aQion; even his enemies, the Archbifliop of Fragile^ and the Papal Inquifitor being judges. 2. That his real fault, and his only one, was oppofmg the Papal ufurpations. 3. That this mofl noble Prince^ was a bigotted, cruel, perfidious mur- derer; and that the Fathers of the Council deferve the fame praife, feeing they urged him to embrue his hands in innocent blood, in violation of the public faith, and extolled him to the flvies for fo doing: and feeing they have laid it down as a maxim that the moft folemn promife made to a heretic may be bro- ken. '•But, fays Mr. O'Leary^ 'This regards the pecu- liar cafe of Jafe-condu^s granted by Princes to heretics' — But what then? If the public faith with heretics may be violated in one inftance, it may be in a thou- fand — 'But can the rule be extended further?' — It may; it mult; VvC cannot tell where to ftop. Away then with your witticifms on fo awful a fubjeB. What! do you fport with human blood? I take burn- ing men alive to be a very ferious thing. I pray fpare your jefts on the occafion. — Again, ' What more abfurd than to infift on a General Council's difclaiming a dotlrine they never taught' — They did teach it: and that not by the bye, not incidentally; C>c 2- but 388 The LIFE of tki: [lySa but they laid it down as a ftatcd rule of a6lion. dic- tated by the Holy Ghoft — and demonftrated their fincerity therein by burning a man alive. And this Mr. O'Leary humouroufly compares to roafting a piece of beef ! With equal tendernefs, I fuppofe, he would compare the ' Singeing the beards of heretics !' that is thrufting a burning furze-bufli in their face, to the fingeing a fowl before it is roafted. — Now, what fecurity can any Romanifl give a Protefiant till this do8:rine is publicly abjured? If Mr. 0 Leary has any thing more to plead for this Council, I fhall follow him ftep by ftcp. But let him keep his w^ord, and ' Give a ferious anfwer to a ferious charge.' Drollery may come in, when we are talking of roafl- ing fowls, but not when we talk of ' roafting men.' " AVould I ' then wifli the Roman-Caiholics to be perfecuted ? I never faid or hinted any fuch thing. I abhor the thought: it is foreign to all I have preach- ed and written for thefe fifty years. But I would wifh the Romanifis in England (I had no others in view) to be treated ftill with the lame lenity that they have been thefe fixty years : to be allowed both civil and religious liberty, but not permitted to undermine Ours. I wifh them to (land juft as they did, before the late A8: was paffed: not to be perfecuted, or hurt themfelves ; 'but gently reftrained from hurting their neighbours. I am. Gentlemen, Your obedient Servant, jOHxN Wesley." " Chefler^ March 31, 1780. Notv/ithdanding the high praifes bellowed by fome perfons on Mr. & Leary ^ at the time of this contro- verfy, the impartial reader v;ill cafily obferve, that Mr.' IVeJley had gready the advantage in point of ar- gument. Mr. &Lcary^ to all intents and purpofes, allows 1780.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 389 allows the charge Mr.'^ H'^ejley brought againft the Council of Gmftance ; and yet afterwards affe6ls to deny it — Mr. Berrington wrote to Mr. Wefiey in de- fence of the fame Council; and in a private letter* obferves, " There never was a decifion made at Con- fiance tending to fhew, that, A^^ faith is to be kept with heretics. Tiie words of the Canon are not fufceptible of fuch a comment, unlefs tortured to it. At all events no Council, Pope, Bifliop, Prieft, or Lay- man of our Church, ever underftood them in the fcnfe of your interpretation — But every Catholic Divine has at all times^ in writing on the fubjeft, utterly reprobated the idea of breaking faith with heretics.^ as contrary to every didate of reafon and religion" — Thefe, undoubtedly, are very extraordi- nary aflertions, but there is no proof. With regard to the Council of Confi.ance^ if the words of the Canon are indeed ambiguous, which fome perfons do not think, yet, |he burning a man alive, in open viola- tion of the public faith, was certainly a very plain comment upon them, which can hardly leave a doubt behind — But what fhall we fay to the words that fol- low, " Every Catholic Divine has at all times utterly reprobated the idea of breaking faith with heretics^ I do not know that Mr. Wefley anfweredlhis letter, for there would be no end of anfwering groimdlefs alfertions. The modern rulers of the Church of Rome in Catholic countries, fpeak on this fubje6l in a ftrain very different from that of Mr. Berrington, In 1768, an oath of allegiance was in contemplation for Roman-Catholics of Ireland.^ wliicl-i, for the better fecu- rity of Government, contained a declaration of ab- horrence and deteftation of the doctrines, " That faith is not to be kept with heretics.^ and that Princes depri- ved by the Pope, may be dcpoicd or murdered by * I believe it was never publKlied. C c 3 their 3^0 The LIFE or the [1780. their fubje6ls." The Pope's legate at Brujfels^ Ghilm^ Archbifhop of Rhodes^ had then the fuperintendence of the Roinifh Church in Ireland, He wrote on this fubje6l, to the titular Archbifhop of DuMm^ and in his letter, treats the above claufes propofed in the oath, as abfolutely intolerable, Becaufe, fays he, ihofe doctrines are defended, and contended for, by mofl Catholic nations, and the Holy See has fre- quently followed them in practice. On the whole he decides, " That, as the oath is in its whole extent unlawful, fo in its nature it is invalid, null, and of no effeft, fo that it can by no means bind and oblige confciences." This letter was publifhcd by Thomas de Burgo (Burke) titular Bifliop of OJfory^ and public hiftoriographer to the Domtnican order in Ireland^ in his appendix to his Hihcrnia Dominicana^ printed in 1772; together with three fimilar ones to the other three titular metropolitans, and ftiled by the Bifliop, Liiene vere aurea cedroque dign^*. That fimilar decifions on the validity of oaths detrimental to the interefls of the Holy See, Vvcre uniformly made by fuccefTive Popes, whenever the affairs of the Church required them, is wtW known. I intended to have brought forward a few of them, but it is unnecefTary. What has been faid fully proves the charge Mr. IVeJley brought — " It is a maxim of the Church of Rome that faith is not to be kept with heretics.'" It has been taught again and again, by the firfh authority in this Church, that the RofnanXhtholics .are not bound to any engagements made with heretics, though confirmed by the mofl folemn oath that can polfibly be framed, when the good of the Church requires- they fliould break it. This was not only an ancient do8:rine of the Church in the times of great ignorance; but we have already * See Zrjkine^ Sketches and Hints of Church Kiilory, p. 131. feen ij8o,] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 391. feen that the modern rulers of it maintain the fame do6lrine and contend for it. And what wonder ? when we confider, 1. That the old fpirit of Popery is dill kept up, by the praQice of the Pope, to the prefent time : once every year, on Maiinday-Thurfday^ he excommunicates all heretics in the mofl awful and terrific manner; and thus keeps up a conftant fpirit of hatred in the minds of Catholics againfl iht Protejiants. And, 2, That the RomiJIo bifiiops take an oath at their confecration, totally inimical to every Protcftant Government, and which binds them to ufe every me- thod in their power to fubvert it — The following is a part of the oath: "The Roman Papacy, and the Royaldes of St. Peter^ I will, faving my own order, afiGil them (the Pope and his fucceffors) to retain and defend againfl every man. The rights, honours, privileges, and authority of the holy Roman Church, and of our lord the Pope, and his fucceffors afore- faid, I will be careful to preferve, defend, eyilarge^ and promote. All heretics^ Jchifmatics^ and rebels againfl our fedd lord, I will, to the utmofl of my power, perfecute (perfequar) and oppofe, and never lay down my weapons till diey are utterly brought under and rooted out" — The word perfequar^ is am- biguous, but Dr. IVilliam Hales^ of Trinity-College, Dublin^ in his Survey of die modern flate of the Church of Rome^ has proved, that the claufe, here- iicos pro pojffe perfequar^ et cxpugnaho^ is an obligation to perfecute heretics^ and oppofe them with temporal weapons; and that this appears the fenfe of the Church of Rome^ both from her decrees and prac- tice, and even from late inflanccs of perfecuting zeal in the Spanif/j and Portugucje Inquifition*. In the courfe of this year, fome perfons in America^ attaclied to the doQrines, and to the ritual of the * Erjh'uuh Sketches pages 133 and 228, C c 4 Church 392 The life of the [1780. Church of England^ wrote to Mr. Wejley^ re que (ling that he would get a young man ordained for them, by one of the bifliops in this country. They did not apply to the Society for propagating Chriflian Knowledge in Foreign Parts, becaufe they did not want pecuniary affiftance from that fund. Mr. IVeJley wrote to Dr. Lozvth^ Bifhop of London^ begging the favour that he would ordain a pious young man, for them. The bifliop refufed; and Augufl 1O5 Mr. Wejley fent him the following letter. " My Lord, " Some time fmce I received your Lordfhip*s fa- vour, for which I return your Lordfhip my fincere thanks — Thofe perfons did not apply to the fociety : becaufe they had nothing to aflc'of them. They wanted no falary for their Minifter : they were them- felves able and willing to maintain him. They therefore applied, by me, to your Lordfliip, as members of the Church of England^ and defirous fo to continue, begging the favour of your Lordfhip, after your Lordfnip had examined him, to ordain a pious man who might officiate as their Minifter. " But your Lordfliip obferv6s, ' There are tbrce Minifters in that country already ? True my Lord : but what are three, to watch over all the fouls in that extenfive country? — Will your Lordfliip permit me to fpeak freely ? I dare not do othcrwife. I am on the verge of the grave, and know not the hour when I fliall drop into it. Suppofe there were thrcefcore of thofe Miffionarics in the country, could I in con- fcience recommend thefe fouls to their care ? Do they take any care of their own fouls? If they do (I fpeak it with concern) I fear they are ahnoft the only Miffionaries in America that do. My Lord, I do not fpeak raflily: I have been in America; and fb have feveral with whom I have lately converfed. And 1780.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 393 And both I and they know, what manner of men the far greater part of thefe are. They are men who have neither the power of religion nor the form; men that lay no claim to piety, nor even decency. '^ Give me leave, my Lord, to fpeak more freely flill : perhaps it is the laft time I (hall trouble your Lordfhip. I know your Lordfhip's abilities and extenfive learning : I believe, what is far more, that your Lordfhip fears God. I have heard that your Lordfliip is unfafhionably diligent in examining the Candidates for Holy Orders: yea, that your Lord- fhip is generally at the pains of examining them yourfelf. Examining them! in what refpefts? Why whether they underftand a little Latin and Greek; and can anfwer a few trite queflions in the fcience of Divinity! Alas, how little does this avail! Does your Lordfliip examine, whether they ferve Chriji or Belial^ Whether they love God or the world? Whether they ever had any ferious thoughts about Heaven or Hell ? Whether they have any real dehre to fave their own fouls, or the fouls of others? If not, what have they to do with Holy Orders? and what will become of the fouls committed to their care ? " My Lord, I do by no means defpife learning: I know the value of it too well. But what is this, particularly in a Chriftian Minifter, compared to piety ? AVhat is it in a man that has no religion ? ' As a jewel in a fwine's fnout.' " Some time fmce I recommended to your Lord- fliip a plain man, whom I had known above twenty years; as a perfon of deep, genuine piety, and of unblamable converlation. But he neither under- ftood Greeks nor Latin : and he affirmed, in fo many words, that^ ' He believed it was his duty to preach, whether he was ordained or no.' I believe fo too. "What became of him fince, ,1 know not. But I fiippofe he received Prejhytcrian ordination: and I cannot 39^ The LIFE of the [1780. publicly, was too hard a ta(k for one who had lived above eighty years. " You have need to be thankful on another ac- count likewife; that is, that your prejudices againfi the Church of England are removing — Having had an opportunity of feeing feveral of the Churches abroad, and having deeply confidered the feveral forts of Diifenters at home, I am fully convinced, that our own Church, with all her blemiflres, is nearer the fcriptural plan, than any other in Europe. " I fmcercly walh you may retain you^, former zeal for God; only, that it may be a zeal according to knowledge. But there certainly will be a danger of your frnking into a carelefs, lukewarm ftate,^ without any zeal or fpirit at all. As you were furfeited with an irrational, unfcriptural religion, you may cafily Aide into no religion at all: or, into a dead form', that will never make you happy either in this world, or in that which is to come. Wifiiing every fcrip- tural bleffing, both to Lady 'Trelazaiey and you, I am, dear Sir, Your affectionate Servant, J. W." Notwithdanding Mr. JVeflcys itineranc)', his daily labour of preachin.g, vifiting ilte focieties, and exten- five correfpondence; yet he ftill found time to read many books. And, w4iat is rather^fmgular, he often met with books that arc. very fcarce, which many men of literature, with good libraries have never" fcen; an inftance of which will be given in fpeaking of the enlarged Edition of his Philofophy — He read, not only books of divinity, of natural hiUory, and moral philofophy, which came more immediately within the province of his profcllion, but books which treated of the moll remote antiquity. Here invefti- gation 1781.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 397 gation is difficult, the higheft degree of evidence to be attained, a bare probability, and the fubjeds diC- cuffed arc rather curious than ufeful in the conduft of life. Yet even thefe books Mr. Wejley read, with uncommon diligence and care, often coilefting the fubflance of them into a fmall compafs. The fol- lowing is an inftance of this kind — Sept. 1, 1781, He fays, " I made an end of reading that curious book. Dr. Par/on^ Remains of Japhet, The very ingenious author has ftruck much light into fome of the darkeft parts of ancient hiftory. And although I cannot fubfcribe to every propofition which he advances, yet I apprehend, he has fufficiently proved the m.ain of his hypothefis : namely, " 1, That after the flood, Shem and his defcend- eints peopled the greateft parts of Afia: 2. That Ham and his children peopled Africa: 3. That Europe was peopled by the two fons of Japhet^ Gomer and Ma- gog: the Southern and South- Weflern by Go77ter^ and his children : and the North and North-Weftern, by the children of Magog: 4. That the former were called Goviefians^ Cimmerians^ and Cimhrians ; and afterwards, Cf//^, Galata^ and Gauls: the latter were called by the general name oi Scythians^ SciMi^ and Scots: 5. That the Gomerians^ fpread fwiftly through the North of Europe^ as far as the Ci^nbrian Cherjonejus^ including Szveden^ Denmark^ Norway^ and divers other countries, and then into Ireland^ where they multiplied very early into a confiderable nation : 6. That fome ages after, another part of them, who had fu'il fettled in Spain^ failed to Irelaiid under Milea^ or Milefms^ and conquering the firll inhabitants, took poflelTion of the land : 7. That about the fame time the Gomerians came to Ireland^ the Magogians^ or Scythians^ came to Britain; fo early, that both fpake the fame language, and well underftood each other : 8. That the Irijlo fpoken by the Gomerians^ and the Welflj, 398 The life of the [17^2. IVelJh^ fpoken by the MagGgians^ are one and the fame language, exprefl'ed by the fame feventeen letters which were long after brouglit, by a Gomerian Prince, into Greece: 9. That all the languages of Europe^ Greek and Latin in particular, are derived from this : 10. That the Antediluvian language, fpoken by all till after the flood, and then continued in the family of Shem^ v/as Hebrew; and from this (the Hebrezv) tongue, many of the Eajiern languages are derived. The foregoing particulars, this fine writer has made highly probable. And thefe may be admitted, though we do not agree to his vehement panegyric on the Iri/h language; much lefs receive all the ftories told by the Irijb poets, or chroniclers, as genuine authentic hiftory." — Candour will readily acknowledge, and envy itfelf muft confefs, that a man in the feventy- ninth year of his age, who, in the midft of daily avocations which he deemed of the higheft import- ance to himfelf and others, could go through a work of this kind with fo much attention, and colleQ the fubftance of it into a few general heads, muft have polfeffed great ftrength of mind, and no common degree of the fpirit of inquiry. In February 1782, a perfon unknown propofed a few queftions to Mr. U ejley in writing, and begged the favour of unequivocal anfwers. The queftions and anfwers were as follow. " Is it your v/ifli that the people called Mcthodiflss fliould be, or become, a Body entirely fcparate from the Church?" Anfwer. No. "If not, where, that is, how often and where, I mean, upon what defcription of Teachers of the Eftablifliment, arc they to attend?" Anfwer. I advife them to go to church. '' More particularly, if the fall, the corruption, and natural impotence of man, his free and full redemption 1782.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 399 redemption in Chrift Jejus^ through faith working by love, fliould be taught and inculcated, and offered to the attention of all^ at the church of the parifii where they refide, are they thett in your opinion, bound in confcience tohear^ or may they at their own option, forbear r' Anfwer. I do not think they are bound in con- fcience, to attend any particular church. " Or if they are at liberty to abfent themfelves, are they at liberty, that is, have they a Chrijlian privi- lege^ to cenfure this do6lrine in the grofs, to condemn fuch Teachers, and boldly to pronounce them, blifid leaders of the blind F " Anfwer. No: by no means. *' Whenever this happens, is it through prejudice^ or rational piety? Is it through bigotry, or a Catholic fpirit? Is it confiftent with Chrijlian charity? Is if compatible with a (late of juftification? Or, is it even allowable in the high habit of evangelical per- feaion?" Anfwer. I think it is a fm." About the latter end of this year, a report pre- vailed, and gained credit, that Adminiftration had an intention to bring a Bill into the Houfe for embody- ing the Militia, and for exerciiing them on a Sunday. On this occafion, Mr. JVefley v/rote the following ler.- ter to a Nobleman, then high in office. " My Lord, ^' If I wrong your Lordfhip I am forry for it; but I really believe, your Lordfhip fears God: and I hope your Lordfhip has no unfavourable opinion of the Chrijlian Revelation. This encourages me to trouble your Lordfhip with a few lines, which other- wife I fliould not take upon me to do. " Above thhty years ago, a motion was made in Parliament, for raifmg and embodying the Militia, and for 40O The LIFE ot the [1782* for exercifmg them, to fave time, on Sunday. When the motion was like to pafs, an old Gentleman flood up and faid, ^Mr. Speaker, I have one objeftion to this: I be- lieve an Old Book, called the Bible.' The Members looked at one another, and the motion was dropped. " Muft not all others, who believe the Bible, have the very fame objection? And from what I have feen, I cannot but think, thefe are ilill three-fourths of the nation. Now, fetting religion out of the queftion, is it expedient to give fuch a ihock to fo many millions of people at once? And certainly it would fliock them extremely : it would wound them in a very tender part. For would not they, would not all England^ would not all Europe^ coniider this as a vir- tual repeal of the Bible? And would not all ferious perfons fay, ' We have little religion in the land now; but by this (lep we fliall have lefs Itill. For wherever this pretty, fliew is to be feen, the people will flock together; and will lounge avv^ay fo much time before and after it, that the Ctiurches will be emptier than they are already! " My Lord, I am concerned for this on a double account. Firft, Becaufe I have perfonal obligations to your Lordiliip, and would fain, even for this rea> fon, recommend your Lordfliip to the love and elleem of all over whom I have any influence. Secondly, Becaufe, I now reverence your Lordfliip for your office fake, and believe it to be my bounden duty, to do all that- is in my little power, to advance your Lordfhip's influence and reputation. " Will your Lordfliip permit me, to add a word in my old-fafhioned way? I pray Him that has all power in heaven and earth, to profper all your endea- voiu's for the public Good, and am. My Lord, Yonx Lordlhip's willing Servant, John Wesley." The 1782.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 401 The Methodijh had now fub filled under this appel- lation, about halC a century? Yet the public at large had very imperlctt notions of their principles, and fcarcely knew any thing of their internal economy. The moft candid writers in oppofition to them, were grofsly ignorant in thefe refpetls; and others did not fcruple a little mifreprefentation. If this was the caf,s at home, we cannot fuppofe that the reprefentations of them, would be more accurate abroad. The fo- reign Journalilfs would naturally copy from our own, and from thole who had exprefsly written againll them. This has been the fitiiation of moft denominations of Chrijhans^ who have been obnoxious to the rulers, either of an eftablifliment, or, of any very popular or powerful party. And from what has happened in our own time, we may well conjecture what has taken place in times paft, when ignorance and prejudice were much more predominant, and the means of accurate knowledge much lefs general. Thus, the accounts we now have of the ancient heretics^ are almoft wholly taken from the reprefentations of their avowed enemies, or from thofe who only retailed common reports. And fuch was the cafe at prefent, with refpeCl to the chara6ler of the Methodijls in foreign countries. In November, Mr. JVeJley received a letter irom Dr. Buyekhardt^ Paftor of the German Church at the Savoy. The DoQor informs him — That he had lately read in a German periodical publication, a moft ill-natured account of the Methodijls in England: that he thought it his duty to oppofe thefe prejudices in his own country, which he deemed injurious to the interefts of Chriftianity : that he intended to write a true hiftory of Methodiftn^ defcribing its origin, na- ture, progrefs, and prefent ftate, for the benefit of his countrymen : and, that he requefted Mr. JVeJley^ to direct him to authentic materials for fuch a work, Vol. II. Dd and 402 The LIFE of the [1782. and help him to procure them*. — The defign was can- did and liberal; but whether it was executed, or not, I cannot fay. It has already been obferved, that a party exifted among the Preachers, who wifhed the Methodifts to be ere^ed into an independent body, and a total repa- ration to be made from the eftabliflied church. One of this party was frequently about Mr. Wejley\ perfon ; and under various pretences fometimes led him into meafures, that offended the people and embarraffed his affairs, while the true author lay concealed, as much as poffible, behind the fcene. In December, Mr. IVejley received a letter from a friend, of which only a part has been prcferved; but this part throws fome light on the prefent fiate of things. " And firfl, fays the writer, I would advife you to fpeak com- fortably to the people, who are irritated to a high degree againfl you. The die is not yet caft : you are not yet in as bad a fituation as England is with regard * The original Letter is as follows: ** Viro fumme Reverendo J. Wesley, S. P. D. JoViiinnes Theophilus Burekhardt, Paftor Germ, ad sdeii: St. Mariae (Savoy) '* Legi nupcrrime, in libro quodara germanieo periodico, judi- cia perverfiirinia de ]\iethodiftis in Anglia, Mei itaque efle puto, iftiufmcdi pracconceptis opinionibus, quse funt rei chriitiana^ valde noxiae, in patria raea obviam ire, veramque M^//'i?^y>^/ hiftoriam, originem, naturam, fata ac ftatum praefentem popularibus meis enarrare ac defcribcre. Pcto igitur a Th, Vir Venerande, ut rTiil-.i, talom hiuoriam fcripturo, genuinos fontes indicare, atque fcripta fuppeditare velis, quibus ifta hiftoria jam pertrac^ata eft, et qux ad illudrandam illam faciunt. Piitius, unus ex prasdeceflbribus meis, fine dubio Tibi non ignotus fuit. Caet^rum, ex animo precor Deum, Patrer-i Domini nollri Jesu Christi, ut in commodum ecclefiae fuae, ienedutem Tuain juvenili robore induere atque ornare, Teqac diu inter nos in pollerum confervare velit. Vale, mihique lave ! Londini, in Savoy-Square, d. 28 Novbr. 1782. to 1783.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 403 to America. A few comfortable words, might }'et make them your own for ever. Let not your Ibn go down under a cloud. Stain not with dijgrace^^ every a6lion of your whole life. Leave the event to Pro- vidence: you cannot prevent a feparation of your Preacherst after you are gone to reft ; why fliould you fee it in your life -time? A door is open for you dX Briftol^ and a comfortable door too: why fhould you leave the word of God to ferve tables? at the inftigation of thofe, \v'ho would be glad to fee your head laid in the daft, if they might lit in your chair! One would think you might, with almoft half an eye, fee what fome of them arc- aiming at. May the God of peace open your eyes; and dire6l you to act in fuch a manner as will difappoint our grand adverfary of his unlawful prey. I am, Reverend Sir, Your well wiftier, and humble Servant, J. M." In June 1783, Mr. Wejley went over to Holland^ and fpent his birth-day, completing the eightieth year of his age, in this country. He feemed pleafed with his vifit, though die motives for making it are not very obvious. It is not probable, that the defign originated with himfelf; and ajiy conjeftures concern- ing the reafons why others put him upon it, might be falfe, and appear ill-natured or inviduous. * The writer of the letter had exprefled himfelf thus, " Stain not, as it v/ere with blood, every aftion," &c. This was very improper, having no analogy to the fubjed in hand. I have there- fore, left oijt the words, " As it v/ere," and changed the word blood, for^ di/grace, which feems to convey the writer's idea. Through an eagernefs to exprefs himfelf in the ftrongeft manner poffible, he fell into an impropriety of expreffion. + I fuppofe he means, from the Church. D d 2 The 404 'J"h£ LI'P'E of thr [17^4* The year 1784, brings us to the gxdiwA cUmaclerical year of Methodif}n. Not indeed, if we number the years of its exillence, but if we regard the changes which now took place in the form of its original Con- ftitution. Not that thefe changes deftroyed at once the original Conftitution o^Metbodifm: this would have been too great a (hock; but the feeds of its corrup- tion ar.d final diffolution, were this year folemnly planted, and have fince been carefully w^atered and nurfed by a powerful party among the Preachers. The changes to which I allude, were, 1. The Deed of Declaration ; and, 2. Ordination. Thefe undoubt- edly laid the foundation of a New Order of things among the Methodifts^ hitherto unknown; and we may eafily fuppofe, that thofe who favoured it, would make themfelves certain of fuccefs, by a little patience and good management. The Deed of Declaration, is dated the 28th of Feb- ruary. It is entitled, " The Rev. John Wesley's Declaration and Establishment of the Con- ference of the People called Methodists." And in the attefted Copy is faid to be, " Enroll'd in his Majesty's High Court of Chancery." — I fliall endeavour to (late the fiibftance of the Vreamhle to. this famous Deed, as concifely as poffible, to retain the fenfc complete — It fays, that, Whereas divers buildings commonly called Chapels with a Melfuage and Dwelling-Houfe — fituate in various parts of Great- Britain^ have been given and conveyed from time to tim.c bv the faid John VVefley^ to certain perfons and their heirs in each of the faid Gifts and Conveyances named — Upon Trust, that the tru flees in the feveral Deeds relpeftively named, and the furvivors of them — and the Trudees for the time being to be elefted as in the faid Deeds is appointed, fliould permit the faid John U'ejley^ 2X\^ fuch other perfons as he fliould for that ])urpofc nominate and appoint, at all times during his 1784.] Ri:v. JOHN WESLEY. 405 his life — to have and enjoy the free ufe and benefit of the faid Premiics — therein to preach and expound God's Holy Word : And upon further truji^ that the faid refpeclive Truftees, Sec. (liould permit Charles Wefley^ brother of the faid John IVejley^ and fuch other perfons as the faid Charles IVefley fliould for that purpofc — nominate and appoint, in like manner du- ring his life. And after the deceafe of the furvivor of them, the faid John and Charles IVeJley^ Then UPON FURTHER Trust, That the faid refpcdive Truilees, &c. fliould permit fuch perfons, and for fuch time and times as fhould be appointed at the I'early Conference of the People called Mcthodifts in Lon- don^ Brijlol^ or Leeds^ and no others, to have and enjoy the faid Prcmifes for the purpofcs afore faid : And whereas divers perfons have in like manner given or conveyed many Chapels, &c. htuate in various parts of Great -Br ilain^ and alfo in Ireland^ to certain Truilees, in each of the faid Gifts and Con- veyances rcfpeclively named, upon the like Trufts, and lor the fame Ules and Purpofcs as aforcfaid (ex- cept only that in fome of the laid Gifts and Convey- ances, no life ERatc or other intereft is thereby given and refer ved to the faid Charles IVefiey.) A n d whereas, for rendering effeftual the Trufts created by the faid ieveral Gifts or Conveyances, and that no doubt or litigation may arife with rcfpect to the interpretation and true meaning thereof, it has been thought expe- dient by the faid John IVeJIey^ on behalf of himfelf as Donor of the feveral Chapels, &c. as of the Donors of the faid other Ciiapels, Szc, — to explain the words I'early Conference of the People c/illed Methodifts^ con- tained in all the faid Trust Deeds, and to declare 'ochai Perfons are members of the faid Conference, and liow the fucceffion and identity thereof is to be conti- nued : Now therefore thefe Prefents zvitmfs^ that for accomplifliing the aforefaid purpofcs, the faid John D d 3 JVeJley 4o6 The LIFE of the [17^4- IVeJIey doth hereby declare, that the Conference of the People called Meihodijls^ in London^ Brijhl^ or Leeds^ ever fince there haih been any yearly Conference of the People called Mf//W//? J — hath always heretofore con- fided of the Preachers, commonly called Metbodijl Preachers, in connexion with, and under the care of the faid Jolm IVejley^ whom he hath thought expedient year after year to fummon to meet him — to advife with them for the promotion of the Gofpel of Chrifl^ to appoint the faid Perfons fo fummoncd, and the other Preachers alfo in connexion with and under the care of the faid John Wejlcy not fummoncd to the yearly Conference^ to the ufe and enjoyment of the faid Cha- pels— the nam.es of all whicb Perfons fo fummoned and appointed, with the Chapels I'o which they were fo appointed, together with the duration of fuch ap- pointments— with all other matters tranfacled at the laid yearly Conference^ have year by year been printed and publifhed under the title of Minutes of Confer- ence.— The Deed then goes on to ftatc the Declara- tion and Eflabliflmient of the Conference in the following v;ords, " And thefe Prefents further zvitnefs^ and the faid John U'cfley doth hereby aA'ouch and fur- ther declare that thefeveral Perfons herein-after named, to wit" — After mentioning by name one hundred of the Preachers, it furtlicr dates that thefe — " Being Preachers and Expounders of God's Holy Word, under the care and in connexion with the faid John Wefley^ have been, now are, and do, on the day of the date hereof, conRitutc The Members of the faid Conference^ according to the true intent and meaning of the faid feveral Gifts and Conveyances wherein the words, Conference of the People called Methodifts are mentioned and contained. And that the faid feveral Perfons before-named, and their fucceifors for ever, to be chofen as herein after mentioned, are, and fliall for ever be conftrucd, taken, and be. the Conference of the 1784.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 407 the People called Methodifts, Ncverthelcfs upon the terms and fubjecl to the Regulations herein-atter prc- fcribed; that is to fay, " Tirft^ That the Members of the faid Conference and their Succeffors for the time being for ever, fliall aflemble once in every Year, at London^ Briftol^ or heeds (except as after mentioned) for the purpofes aforefaid ; and the Time and Place of holding every fubfequent Qonference fhall be appointed at the pre- ceding one, fave that the next Conference after the date hereof, fhall be holden at Leeds^ in TorlijJme^ the lalt Tuefday in July next. ^'•Second, The A61 of the Majority in Number of the Conference affembled as aforefaid, fhall be had, taken, and be the A61 of the whole Conference to all Intents, Purpofes, and Conflruclions whatfoever. " mrd. That after the Conference fhall be affem- bled as aforefaid, they fliall firft proceed to fill up all the A^acancies occafioned by death or abfence, as after mentioned. " Fourth. No A61 of the Conference affembled as aforefaid, fliall be had, taken, or be the A61 of the Conference, until Forty of the Members thereof are aflembled, unlefs reduced under that number by death, fince the prior Conference or Abfence as after mentioned ; nor until all the Vacancies occafioned by death or abfence fhall be filled up by the Eledion of new Members of the Conference, fo as to make up the number One Hundred, unlefs there be not a fuflficient number of Perfons objects of fuch Election : and during the Affcmbly of the Conference there fliall always be Forty Members prefent at the doing of any AQ-, fave as aforefaid, or otherwife fuch Acl fliall be void. " Fifth, The duration of the Yearly Affcmbly of the Conference, fhall not be lefs than five Days, nor more than three Weeks, and be concluded by the D d 4 Appoint- 4o8 Tin- LIFE of the [17B4. Appointment of the Conference, if under twenty-one days; or otherwife the concUifion thereof fliall follow of courfe at the end of the faid twenty-one days.; the whole of all which faid time of the Affembly of the Conference fhall be had, taken, confidered, and be the Yearly Conference of the People called Metho- diJIs^ and all Acls of the Conference during fuch Yearly Afiembly thereof, fliall be the A6is of the Conference and none others. ^^ Sixth. Immediately after all the ^''acancics occa- fioned by Death or Abfence are filled up by the Election of new Members as aforelaid, the Confer- ence (liall choofe a Prefid^nt and Secretary of their Affembl)' out of tl^icmfelvcs, \vho fliall continue fuch until the Eleclion of another Prefident or Secretary in the next, or odicr fubfequeo-t Conference; and the faid Prefident fnall have the Privilege and Power of two Members in all Afts of the Conference during his Prefidency, and fuch other Powers, Privileges, and Authorities, as the Conference fliall from time to lime fee fit to hvtruR into his hands. " Seventh. Any Member of the Conference ab- fenting himfclf from the Yearly Afiembly thereof for two Years fuccefiively, without the confcnt or difpen- fation of the Conference, and be not prefent-on the firft Day of the third Yearly Afiembly thereof at the time and place appointed for the holding of the fame, fhall ceafe to be a Member of the Conference from and after the faid firfh Day of the laid third Yearly Afiem.bly thereof, to alj intents and purpofes, as though he was naturally dead. But the Conference fliall and may difjpenfe with or confent to the abfence of any Member from any of the faid Yearly Afiem- blies, for any caufe which the Conference may fee fit or neceflary, and fuch Member whofe Abfence fiiall be fo difpenfed with, or confented to by the Confer- ence, fliall not by fuch Abfence ceafe to be a Mem- ber thereof. " Eighth, 1784.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 409 '^Eighth. The Conference fliall and may expell and put out from being a Member thereof, or from being in connexion therewith, or from being upon trial, any Perfon Member of the Conference, admit- ted into connexion, or upon Trial, for any caufe which to the Conference may feem fit or necefTary ; and every Member of the Conference fo expelled and put out, fliall ceafe to be a Member thereof to all intents and purpofes, as though he was naturally dead. And the Conference immediately after the Expulfion of any Member thereof as aforefaid, fnall eletl ano- ther Perfon to be a Member of the Conference in the flead of fuch Member fo expelled. " Ninth. The Conference fhall and may admit into connexion with them, or upon Trial, any Perfon or Perfons whom they fliall approve, to be Preachers and Expounders of God's Holy Word, under the care and diretlion of the Conference, the name of every fuch Perfon or Perfons fo admitted into con- nexion, or upon Trial, as aforefaid, with the time and degrees of the admiflion, being entered in the Jour- nals or Minutes of the Conference. " Tenth. No Perfon (hall be elefted a Member of the Conference who hath not been admitted in con- nexion with the Conference as a Preacher and Ex- pounder of God's Holy Word, as aforefaid, for twelve Months. ''^Eleventh. The Conference fliall not nor may nominate or appoint any Perfon to the ufe and enjoy- ment of, or to preach and expound God's Holy Word in, any of the Chapels and Premifes fo -given or conveyed, or which may be given or conveyed upon the Trufts aforefaid, who is not either a Mem- ber of the Conference, or admitted into Connexion with the fame, or upon Trial as aforefaid ; nor appoint any Perfon for m.ore than three Years fucceffivcly to the ufe and enjoyment of any Chapels and Premifes already 410 The LIFE of the [i7^4- already given, or to be given or conveyed upon the Trufts aibrefaid, except ordained Minifters of the Church of England. ^^Tz^elfth. That the Conference fhall and may appoint the Plr.ce of holding the Yearly Aflembly thereof at any other City, Town, or Place than Lon- don^ Brijiol^ or Leeds, Vvhen it fliall feem expedient fo to do. " 'thirteenth. And for the convenience of Chapels and Premifes already or which may hereafter be givcR or conveyed upon the Trulls aforefaid, fituate in Ireland or other Parts out of the Kingdom of Great- Britain.^ the Conference fliall and may when and as often as it fhall feem expedient, but not otherwife, appoint and delegate any Member or Members of the Conference with all or any of the Powers, Privileges, and Advantages herein before contained or veiled in the Conference ; and all and every the ABs, Admif- iions, Expulfions, and Appointments whatfoever of fuch Member or Members of the Conference fo appointed and delegated as aforefaid, the fame being put into writing, and figned by fuch Delegate or Delegates, and entered in the Joiunals or Minutes of the Conference and fubfcribed as after mentioned^ Ihall be deemed, taken, and be, tlie ABs, Admiffions, Expulfions, and Appointments of the Conference, to all Intents, Conftru61ions, and Purpofes whatfoever, from the rcfpeBive Times when the fame Diall be done by fuch Delegate or Delegates, noiwithllanding any thing herein contained to the contrary. ^'^ Fourteenih. All Refohitionsand Orders touching Elections, Admiffions, Expulfions, Confents, Difpen- fations. Delegations, or Appointments an.d Acfs what- foever of the Conference, fhall be entered and written m the journals or Minutes of the Conference which fiiall be kept for that purpofe, public kly read, and then fubfcribed bv the Prefidcnt and Secretary thereof f(M' 1784.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 411 for the time being, during the time fuch Conference (hall be affembled; and when fo entered and fubfcri- bed, fliall be had, taken, received, and be the A6h of the Conference, and fuch Entry and Subfcription as aforefaid ffiall be had, taken, received, and be Evidence of all and every fuch A6ls of the faid Con- ference and of their faid Delegates without the Aid of any other Proof; and whatever fliall not be fo entered and fubfcribed as aforefaid, fhall not be had, taken, received, or be the A8: of the Conference: and the faid Prelident and Secretary are hereby re- quired and obliged to enter and fubfcribe as aforefaid every A 61 whatever of the Conference. " Lajlly. Whenever the faid Conference fliall be reduced under the number of Forty Mem.bers, and continue fo reduced for three Yearly Aflemblies thereof fucceflively, or whenever the Members there- of fliall decline or negled to meet together annually for the purpofes aforefaid, during the fpace of three Years, that then, and in either of the faid Events, the Conference of the People called MethodiJJs fliaU be extinguiflied, and all the aforefaid Powers, Privi-^ leges, and Advantages fliall ceafe, and the faid Cha- pels and Premifes, and all other Chapels and Premifes which now are, or hereafter may be fettled, given, or conveyed, upon the trufts aforefaid, flikll Vefl: in the Truftees for the time beinor of the faid Chapels and Premifes refpeftively, and their Suc- ceflbrs forever: Upon Trust that they, and the furvivors of them, and the Trufl;ees for the time being, do, fliall, and may appoint fuch Perfon and Perfons to Preach and Expound God's Holy Word therein, and to have the ufe and enjoyment thereof, for fuch time and in fuch manner as to them fliall feem proper." Before I make any obfervations on this Deed, the reader fliould be apprifcd, that, neither the delign of 412 Tii£ LIFE OF THE L^7^4' it, nor the words of the feveral claufes arc to be imputed to Mr. IVcjlcy. So far was he from forminii, any delign of a Deed of this kind^ that I have good evidence to allert, it was fome time before he could be prevailed upon to comply with the propofal : and, a;s in mod other cafes where he followed the fame guide, he foon found reafon to repent. That Mr. Wcfiey did aciually repent of ligning this Deed, is pretty evident from the following letter which he wrote about a year afterwards, aivJ committed to a friend to deliver to the Conference', at their hril meet- ing after his deceafe. " M Y D K A R B 11 E T H R E N , " Some of our travelling Preachers have expre (led a fear, that after my deceafe you would exclude them, either from preaching in connexion with you, or from fome other privileges which they now enjoy. I know no other way to prevent any fuch inconvenience, than to leave thefe my laft words with you. " I befeech you by the mercies of God, that you never avail yourfelves of the Deed of Declaraiimt^ "to affume any fuperiority over your brethren : but let all things go on, among thofe itinerants who ehoofe to remain together, exadly in the fame manner as when I was with you, fo far as circumftances will permit. " In particular I befeech you, if you ever loved me, and if you now love God and your brethren, to liave no refpe6l of pcrfons in (iationing the Preachers, in choofmg children for Kingswood-Scbool,^ in difpofing of the yearly contribution and the Preacher's fund, or any other public money: but do all things with a lingle eye, as I have done from the beginning. Go on thus, doing all things withotit prejudice or parti- ality, and God will be with you even to the end.'* But it would be improper in a work of this kind, to pafs over this Deed without making an obfervation or two upon it. Now the firft thing that ftrikes me, is. the i;84.] Ri^v. JOHN WESLEY. 413 the title itfelf. " J Declaration ami Eftahlijhment of the Conference of the People called Methodists." This furelv is a mod incongruous title. It is well known tliat the People called Methodijls^ never held a Conference fince Methodifm exifted. The Confircnce is an aHembly of itinerant Preachers only* ; and its mem- bers are not afTcmbled by any authority derived from the people. When fitting, it exercifes powers whicli are neither derived from the people, nor under any control by them. It ele6ls members into its ovrn bo- dy, or excludes them at plcafure : it makes regula- tions, or laws, not only for the itinerant Preachers, but for all ranks and orders of peribns in the Soci- eties: and while thefe thin^^s are iranfaclcd. neither Local - Preachers, Trullees of Chapels, Stewards, Leaders, or any of the people, \\c\\q a fmgle voice, or a iingle reprefentative in the Alfeinbly. The peo- ple have no check, no balance of power, againft any regulation or law the Conference may choofe to decree. It is difficult therefore to conceive, why this AfTcmbly of a few Preachers,, was called, ne Confertfice of the People called Methodifts ; unlefs it was to give tlie People a hint, that they ought to havey^;?/^ reprefcn- tatives in an Affembly w4iere laws are made, bv which they, as Methodifts^ are to be governed. The fecond obfer^'ation fliall be upon the words of die Deed in which it dates, that the one hundred Preachers therein named, " Have been, now are, and do on the day of the date hereof, conditutc I'he Mem- bers of the faid Conference, according to tiie true intent and meaning of the faid gifts and con\cyances wherein the w^ords Conference^ &c. are mentioned and con- tained." That is, thefe Preachers had been the Con- ference before the Deed of DeclapvAtion exided; and did aQually conditute it, on the day this Deed %vas executed: that the word Conference, in the old * Except two or three Clergvrr.en. Trud 414 The LIFE of the [1784. Truft Deeds of all the Chapels, meant neither more nor lefs, than the hundred Preachers mentioned by name in this Deed of Declaration! Now, every one of thefe aflertions is a notorious falfehood: there is not even the fhadow of truth in any one of them. But it feems there was a neccfiity for dating the matter thus, however falfe, in order to gwtfome colour of juftice and validity to this new Deed. For had it appeared on the face of it, that Deeds of Truft already exifted, in which the words Conference^ 8cz. meant either more or lefs than the hundred Preachers in this Deed named; it would have been evident at firft fight, that the Deed itfelf was nugatory and void to all intents and purpofes; as it could not poflibly annul, or do away the legality of Deeds already exifting and duly executed, without the confent of the feveral parties concerned, firft had and obtained under their refpec- tive fignatures. Thus we fee, that this famous Deed OF Declaration and Establishment of the Conference^ is founded on as gi-ofs a mifi'eprefentation of facts, as ever difgraced any public lnftrum.ent. This Deed affords ample fcope for many other obfervations: but having fhewn that it is altogether built on a mis-ftatement of fa6ls, I fl:iall ftop; as nothing more feems neceftary to be faid upon it at prefent : except perhaps, that Mr. IVejley^ in all pro- bability did not underftand the import of the feveral claufcs of it, as he never had patience to attend to any paper drawn up in the common forms of the Law. In thefe cafes he trufted to thole about him, who had examined it. The Deed of Declaration affected only the itine- rant Preachers : but when Mr. Wejley ordained fome of the itinerants, a foundation was laid for a change in the ancient conftitution of Methodijm^ of much more extenfive influence; and which in the end is likely to afte6l every member of the fociety. It has already 1784.] Rtv. JOHN WESLEY. 415 already appeared in this hiftory, that Mr. Wejley claimed the power or right of ordaining to the mi- niftry, but faid, it was not probable that he fhould ever exercife it. We have likewife feen, how ftead- ily for a long courfe of years, he refilled every mea- lure which tended to alter the relative fituation of the focieties to the eltablifhed Church, and to the various Denominations of Dilfenters to which any of the members might belong. It is not eafy to affign a fuf- ficient reafon why Mr. IVeJley^ in the eighty-fccond year of his age, fhould depart from a line of condu8: he had hitherto fo ftriclly obferved; efpecially if he a6ted according to his own judgment, and of his own free choice. However this may be, a plan was pro- pofed in private, to a fev/ Clergymen who attended the Conference this year at Leeds^ that Mr. ^Vejley fliould ordain one or two Preachers for the focieties in Atne- rica. But the Clergymen oppofed it. Mr. Fletcher was confulted by letter; who advifed, that a Bifhop (hould be prevailed upon, ifpoflible, to ordain them, and then Mr. IVeJley might appoint them to fuch ofri- ces in the focieties as he thought proper, and gi\-e them Letters Teftimonial of the Appointments he had given them. Mr. Wejley well knew, that no Biffiop would ordain them at his recommendation, and there- fore feemed inclined to do ithimfelf. \\\ this purpofe however, he appeared fo languid, if not w-avering, that Dr. Coke thought it neceflary to ufe Jome further means to urge him to the performance of it. Accord- ingly, Auguft 9, Mr. Wejley being then in Wales on his way to Brijiol^ the Doctor fent him the following letter. "Honoured and dear Sir, " The more maturely I confider the fubjecl, die more expedient it appears to me, thai the power of ordaining others^ fhould be received by me from you^ by the inipoiitioa 414 The LIFE of the [1784. Truft Deeds of all the Chapels, meant neither more nor lefs, than the hundred Preachers mentioned by name in this Deed of Declaration ! Now, every one of thefe aflertions is a notorious falfehood: there is not even the fhadaw of truth in any one of them. But it feems there was a neceffity for dating the matter thus, however falfe, in order to give fome colour of juftice and validity to this new Deed. For bad it appeared on the face of it, that Deeds of Truft already exifted, in which the words Conference^ Szc. meant either more or lefs than the hundred Preachers in this Deed named; it would have been evident at firft fight, that the Deed irfelf was nugatory and void to all intents and purpofes ; as it could not pofiibly annul, or do away the legality of Deeds already exifting and duly executed, without the confent of the feveral parties concerned, firft had and obtained under their refpec- tive fignatures. Thus we fee, that this famous Deed OF Declaration and Establishment of the Conference^ is founded on as grofs a mifreprefentation of facts, as ever difgraced any public Inftrument. This Deed affords ample fcope for m.any other obfervations: but having fhewn that it is altogether built on a mis-ftatement of faBs, I fl:iall ftop; as nothing more feems neceffary to be faid upon it at prefent: except perhaps, that Mr. Wejley^ in all pro- bability did not underftand the import of the feveral claufcs of it, as he never had patience to attend to any paper drawn up in the common forms of the Law, In thefe cafes he truft ed to thole about him, who had examined it. The Deed of Declaration affecled only the itine- rant Preachers : but when Mr. VVeJley ordained fome of the ithierants, a foundation was laid for a change in the ancient conftitution of Methodijm^ of much more cxtenhve influence; and which in the end is likely to affeft every member of the fociety. It has already S784.] Rtv. JOHN WESLEY. 415 already appeared in this hiflory, diat Mr. JVeJIey claimed the power or right of ordaining to the mi- niftry^ but faid, it was not probable that he fhould ever exercife it. We have likewife feen, how flead- ily lor a long courfe of years, he refifted every mea- lure which tended to alter the relative fituation of the focieties to the ellablifhed Church, and to the various Denominations of Diffenters to which any of the members might belong. It is not eafy to affign a ilif- ficient reafon why Mr. lVeJle)\ in the eighty-fecond year of his age, fhould depart from a line of conduct lie had hitherto fo ftriclly obferved; efpecially if he atted according to his own judgment, and of his own free choice. However this may be, a plan was pro- pofed in private, to a fev/ Clergymen who attended the Conference this year at Lceds^ that Mr. JVeJley fliould ordain one or two Preachers for the focieties in Ame- rica. But the Clergymen oppofed it. Mr. Fletcher was confulted by letter; who advifed, that a Bifhop (hould be prevailed upon, ifpofhble, to ordain them^ and then Mr. IVeJJey might appoint them to fuch offi- ces in the focieties as he thought proper, and give them Letters Teftimonial of the Appointments he had given them. Mr. IVejley well knew, that no Bifliop would ordain them at his recommendation, and there- fore leemed inclined to do ithimfelf. \\\ this purpofe however, he appeared fo languid, if not wavering, that Dr. Coke thought it necelTary to ufe fome further means to urge him to the performance of it. Accord- ingly, Auguft 9, Mr. Weflcy being then in Wales o\\ his way to Briftol^ the Doftor fent him the following letter. "Honoured and dear Sir, " The more maturely I confider the fubjecf, the more expedient it appears to me, that the pozver of ordaining others^ fljonld be received by me from yon.^ by the inipoiitioii 4i6 The LIFE of the [1784- impofition of your hands; and diat you fhould lay hands on brodier IVhatcoat^ and brother Va/ey^ for the following reafons: 1. It feems to me the moft fcrip- lural way, and mod agreeable to the pratlice of the Primitive Churches: 2. I 7/7^zy w^ant all the inihience in America^ which you can throw into my fcale. Mr. Brackenbury informed me at I^eds^ that he faw a letter in London from Mr. Ajhury^ in which he obferved, that he would not receive any perfon deputed by you with any part of the fuperintendency of the w^ork in- vefted in him: or words which evidently implied fo much. I do not find any, the lead degree of preju- dice in my mind againft Mr. Ajhury^ on the contrary, a very great love and efteem; and am determined not Lo ftir a finger without his confent, unlefs mere fheer neceffity obliges miC; but rather to lie at his feet in all things. But as the journey is long, and you cannot fpare me often, and it is well to provide againft all events^ and an Authority formally received from you will (I am confcious of it) be fully admitted by the people, and my exercifing the Office of Ordination without xhdii fo-nnal Authority may be difputed, if there be any oppofition on any other account: I could therefore earneftly wi(h you would exercife that power, in this inftance, which I have not the fhadow of a doubt but God hath invefted you with for the good of our Connexion. I think you have tried me too often to doubt, whether I will in any degree ufe the power you are pleafed to inveft me with, farther than I believe abfolutelv ncccffary for the profperity of the work. 3. In refpctl of my brethren (brother IVhatcoat and Vajey) it is very uncertain indeed, whe- ther any of the Clergy mentioned by brother Rankin^ will ftir a ftep with me in the work, except Mr. Jarrit ; and it is by no means certain that even he will choofe to join me in ordaining: and propriety and univerfal praclice make it expedient, that I fiiould have two Preft)yters 1784.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 417 Prefbyters with me in this work. In fhort, it appears to mc that every thing fliould be prepared, and every thing proper be done, that can poffibly be done this Jide the water. You can do all this in Mr. C 7/s houfe, in your chamber ; and afterwards (according to Mr. Fletcher's advice) give us Letters Teltimonial of the different Offices with which you have been pleafed to inveil us. For the purpofe of laying hands on brothers Whatcoat and Vajey,^ I can bring Mr. C down with me, by which you will have two Prefbyters with you. In refpe8: to brother Ranking argument, that you will efcape a great deal of odium by omitting this, it is nothing. Either it will be known, or not known; if not known, then no odium will arife: but if known, you will be obliged to acknowledge that I acled under your direction, or fufiPer me to fink under the weight of my enemies, with perhaps your Brother at the head of them. I fliall entreat you to ponder tiicfe things. Your mod dutiful, T. CokeV This letter affords matter for feveral obfervations, both of the ferious and comic kind: but I (hall not in- dulge myfelf on the occahon it fo fairly offers. The attentive reader who examines every part of it, will be at no lofs to conjeclure, to whofe influence we mull impute Mr. JVejleys conducl in the prefent bufi- nefs. That Mr. JVeJIey fhould fuffer himfelf to be fo far influenced, in a matter of the utmoft importance both to his own characler and to the focieties, by a man, of whofe judgment in advifmg, and talents in conducting any affair he had no very high opinion, is truly aflonifhing: but fo it was! — Mr. IVeJley came to * This letter is taken from an attefted copy of the Doflor's letter, in Mr. Charla Wejlcy^ hand writing. Vol. II. Ee BrijM, 4i8 The LIFE of the [1784, BrijloJ^ and September 1, every thing being prepared as propofed above, he complied with the Do8:or's earneft zvijh^ by confecrating him one of the Bifnops, and Mr. Whatcoat and Vafey Prefbyters of the new Methodiji Epifcopal Church in America. No doubt the three gentlemen were highly gratified with their new titles; as we often fee, both young and old children gratified with gilded toys, though clumfily made, and of no real v;orth or valuable ufe, except to quiet the cries of thofe for whom they arc prepared. The difficulties on the iirfl; entrance into this ncvo path being now overcome, and the opening profpecls being highly flattering to the human mind tutored under certain circumfiances, fome further progrefs became iiatural and eafy. Accordingly, it was not long before three more Preachers were ordained for Scotland; and afterwards at diiferent periods, feveral others were ordained : but all of them at firft, were laid under a reftriclion not to exercife their minillerial fun6lions in Englaitd. Since the death of Mr. Wejle)\ Hill further progrefs has been made, not only in the praftice of ordaining, but in the exercife of their nevv^ fun61ions, in various focieties in this kingdom. But hitherto this new order of things has produced the mod lamentable effefts, having caufed contention., and kindled the flames of party zeal. C PI A P T E R X, Opinims and Delates^ &c. on the NE^v Plant of Ordi- nation : Several Pay^ticulars of the lajl Tears of Mt. Wefley's Ltfe;^\\'ith an Account of bis Death in March 1791. HisLiJl Will, &c. THE following is part of a letter from one Preach- er to another, when the report that Mr. /f >aVv . had 1784.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 419 had ordained feme of die Preachers, firfl began to be circulated in the focieties. It may ferve to fhew us what opinion the uninfctled itinerants entertained of this ftrange bufinefs. '• Ordination — among Metho- diftsl Amazing indeed! I could not force myfelf to credit the report which fpread here, having not then feen the Minutes; but now I can doubt it no longer. And fo, we have Meihodift Parfons of our own ! And a new mode of ordination, to be fure — On the Prefhy- lerian plan? — In fpite of a million of declarations to the contrary ! I am fairly confounded — Now the ice is broke, let us conje6lure a little the probable ifTue of this. new thing in the earth — You fay, we muft rea- fon and debate the matter — Alas^! it is too late. Surely it never began in the midfl of a multitude of Counfellors; and I greatly fear the Son of Man was not Secretary of State, or not prefent when the bufi-- nefs was brought on and carried, I fuppofe, with very- few diffentient voices. — Who could imagine that this important matter would have y?''> ^^-'^"^^ '^^ Ocklam in Surry, See Encyclop. 3rit. * . ■ EL e '\ to 422 The LIFE of the [i7^4- to adminifter the Lord's Supper. Here therefore my fcruples are at an end : and' I conceive myfelf at full liberty, as I violate no order, and invade no man's right, by appointing and fending labourers into die harveft. " I have accordingly appointed Dr. Coke^ and Mr. Francis Afimy^ to be joint Superintendents over our brethren in North' America: as alfo Richard What coat ^ and nomas Vajey^ to aft as Elders among them, by baptizing and admxiniftering the Lord's Supper. And I have prepared a liturgy, little differing from that of the Church of England (I think, the bed conftituted national Church in the world) which I advife all the travellincr Preachers to ufe on the Lord's dav, in all the congregations, reading the Litany only on Wed- nefdays and Fridays, and praying extempore on all other days. I alfo advife the FJders to adminifter the Supper of the Lord on every Lord's da)\ "If any one will point out a more rational and fcriptural way of feeding and guiding thofe poor fheep in the wildernefs, I will gladly embrace it, At pre^ fent I cannot fee any better method, than that I have taken. "It has indeed been propofed, to defire the Englijh Bifhops, to ordain part of our Preachers for America. But to this I objeft, i. I dehred the Bifhop of London to ordain onlv one; but could not prevail : 2. If they confented, wc know the flownefs of their proceedings; but the matter admits of no delay. 3. If they would ordain them nozv^ they would likewiie expert to go- vern them. And how gricvouDy would this entangle us ? 4. As our American brethren arc now totally dif- entangled both from the State, and from the Englijh Hierarchy, we dare not entangle them again, either with the one or the other. They -are now at full liberty (imply to follow the Scriptures and the Primi- t5"- ^'Hnrch. And we judge it beft, that they (liould (land 1784.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 423 ftand fad in that liberty, wherewith God has fo flrange- ly made them free. John V/esley." Before we proceed any further, let us paufe a mo- ment ; and inquire, how far the general pofition laid down in this letter as the ground of Mr. JVeJleys pro- ceedings, agrees wdth his practice of ordination. He tells us, " Lord Kings account of the Primitive Church convinced me many years ago, that Bifliops and Prefbyters are the fame order^ 2iX\d. confequently have ih^fame right to ordain." But if this were even admitted, would it juftify Mr. /F^^/s practice on this occafion ? I apprehend not. Let us fuppofe, that Mr. IVefiey was as good an E7ri quae orrmium fufFragio et judicio fuerit cxaminatu. \' Thi^souotcd by Lord AT/V/p', p. 24. Edit. 1713. To 1784.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 429 To the fame purpofe fpeaks Clemens Romanus ; an Apojlolic man, who having been acquainted with the Apoftles themfclves, knew their culloms in all the Churches. He fliews us in his tirfl epidlc to the Corinthians^ that the cuftom was to ordain, o-u^rjc^oxvi- c-ao-^j? T-^f iy.yM(T\.o(.^ Trao-/??, 'With the conjent of the 'whole Church. So Origen fays, in his Stli Homily on Levi- ticus^ rcquiri in ordinando Sacerdotc, praefcntiam po- puli"^ : /;/ ordaining a Minifter the prefence of the people is rieceffary. The teftimonies of the ancient writers on this head are very numerous, and might eafily be produced, but the authorities already mentioned will hardly be difputed. It is indeed evident from the Apoftolical Confti tut ions., lib. 8. cap» 4. and other anci- ent teftimonies, that in the firft ages of the Church, the people generally chofe their ov;n Miniftcrs; and in every cafe of an ele8.ion, their confent and appro- bation was effentially neceffary. And this practice continued, even at Rome., in the eleftion of a Pope, till the beginning of the twelfth century, when Inno- cent II. cb.anged the ancient cuftom; though I cannot think him quite innocent in fo doing. In dired oppofition to the prafctice of the primitive Church, the ordinations among the Methodijls were performed in fecrct. The people were not affembled : they were not confulted; nor even fo m.uch as ac- quainted that Minifters were to be ordained among the Alethodijis as their proper paftors. The whole was performed by an arbitrary power, in the exercife of which, no regard was had to the rights of the people^ as having either judgment or choice in the matter — But Dr. Coke tells us, they have the fame qualifications for an Epifcopal Church, which the Church of Alex- -t7;/ir/j poifefled, " Our Bifhops, fays he, having been * See the note on the paiTage of Clemens Rom. above mentioned, in Le Clens Edition of Cotdcrm, torn. i. page 173. LLECTP.D, 430 The LIFE of the l^7^5- ELECTED, or receivcd^ by the fufFragc of the whole body of our Minifters through tlie Contment, aflem- bled m general Conference." — There were but two Bifhops, fo called, Dr. Coke and Mr. AJhury. The Doctor was ordained (or confecraied if the reader choofe) fecretly in England^ and received orders to ordain Mr. AJhury in America. Now thefe lurely were not elefted, in any fcnfe whatever, either by the Preachers or people. But, " They were elefted or received." — When a writer, thus links words together of different import, as though the meaning amounted to the fame thing, we have jufl caufe to fufpecl that he intends to deceive us, and lead us irito a fal(e notion of the fub- jecl he is difcufTmg — Received perhaps they might be, under a fyftem of arbitrary government, which leaves no alternative to the people, nor to many of the Preach- ers, but that of pqjjive obedience^ or to go about their bufmefs and quit the connexion. But their being received in any way, is nothing to the point in hand. It is indeed manifeii, that this whole affair, from firft to laft, bears no refemblance to the mode of ele6ling and ordaining Minifters in the purer ages of the pri- mitive Church. As ordination among the Methodifts forms a re- markable era in their hillory, it deferves to be fully examined, ^s to its validity and propriety. But before we proceed any further, let us fee what Mr. Charles Wejley has faid on the fubjeB. In his letter to Dr. Chandler^ ^ in the beginning of the year 1785, he fays '* I can fcarcely yet believe it, that in his eighty- fecond year, my Brother, my old intimate friend and companion, fhould have affumed the Epifcopal charac- ter : ordained Elders, confecrated a Bifliop, and fent him over to ordain our Lay-Preachers in America I I was then in Brijlol^ at his elbow : yet he never gave * One of the American Biihops, ordained in Engtatid* mc 1785.] I^Ev. JOHN WESLEY. 431 mc the lead hint of his intention. How was he fur- priicd into io radi an aciion ? He certainly perfuaded himfelf that it was right. " Lord Mansfield told mc lad year, diat ordination was reparation. This my biother does not, and will not fee : or, that he has renounced the principles, and pratlicc of his whole life; tliat he has atled contrary to all his declarations, proteftadons, and writings; robbed his friends of their boaftings; realized the Nag's-head ordination; and left an indelible blot on his name, as long as it fliall be remembered." In Auguf];, Mr. Charles took courage, and wrote to his brother on the fubjetl. " I have been reading, lays he, over again and again, your reafons againft a feparation — and entreat you in the name of God, and for Chrift's fake, to read them again yourfelf with pre- vious prayer; and (top, and proceed no further till you receive an anfwer to your inquiry, " Lord, what wouldefl; Thou have me to do?" — Every word of your eleven pages deferves the deepeft conlideradon : not to mention my teftimony and hymns. Only the feventh, I could widi you to read — as a prophecy, which I pray God may never come to pafs. " Near thirty years hnce then, you have flood againfi the importunate folicitations of your Preachers, who have fcarcely at lafi; prevailed. I was your natu- ral Ally, and your faithful friend : and while you continued faithful to yourfelf, zve two could chace a thoufand. If they had not divided us, diey could never have overcome you — But when once you began ordaining for Auierica^ I knew, and you knew, that your Preachers here would never reft, till you ordain- ed them. You told me, ' They would feparate by and by.' The Doelor tells us the fame. His ' Metho- dift Epifcopal Church at Baltimore^ v;as intended to htgQtdi' Me thodijl Epifcopal Church' here. You know' ■ho. comes armed vvith your authority to make us all Diflcnters, 342 Thk life of the [ly^S- DilTenters. One of your Sons afTured mc, that not a Preacher in Lo7ido7i would refufe orders from the Doftor. It is evident, that all feek their own, and prefer their own interefl to your honour j which not one of them fcruples to facrifice, to his own ambition. Alas! what trouble are you preparing for yourfelf, as well as for me, and for your oldell, and trueft, and beft friends ! Before you have quite broken down the bridge, ftop, and confider ! If your Sons have no regard for you, have feme regard for yourfelf. Go to your grave in peace ; atleaft fuffer me to go hrft, before this ruin be under your hand. So much, I think, you owe to my Father, to my Brother, and to me, as to ftay till I am taken from the evil. I am on the brink of the grave, do not pulh me in; or imbitter my laft moments. Let us not leave an indelible blot upon our memory, but let us leave behind us, the name and character of honejl men'' Mr. John Wejley immediately anfwered his Brother's letter. The anfwer is dated Flymouih^^ Augufl 19; in which he fays, '' I will tell you my thoughts with all hmplicity, and wait for better information. If you agree with me, well : if not, vvc can, as Mr. IVhiiefield ufed to fay, agree to difagree. " For thefe forty years I have been in doubt con- cerning that qucllion, ' What obedience is due to heatheniOi Prieils, and mitred infidels.' I have from time to time propofcd my doubts to the mod pious and lenfible Clergymen I knew. But they gave me no fatisfaftion : rather they feemed to be puzzled as well as me. Some obedience I alwavs paid to the Bilhops, in obedience to the laws of the land. But I cannot fee, that I am under any obligation to obey ihem, further than thofc laws require. * The printed copy of this letter is dated PIjmrjsh-Dock, ArnJ- nlan Mag. vol, ix. page 50. ' '^t 1785.] ^ Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 433 " It is in obedience to thofe laws, that I have never exerciled in. England^ the power which I believe God has given mc. I firmly believe, I am a fcriptural ETrtV^oTro?, as much as any man in England^ or in Eu- rope : for the iinintefrupted Siicceffion^ I know to be a fable, which no man ever did or can prove. But this does in no wife interfere with my remaining in the Church o[ England: from which I have no more defire to feparate, than I had fifty years ago. I ftill attend all the ordinances of the Church, at all opportunities. And I condantly and earneftly defire all that are con- nefted with me, fo to do. When Mr. Smyth preffed us to ' Separate from the Church,' he meant, go to Church no more. And this was what I meant feven and twenty years ago, when I perfuaded our brethren, ' Not to feparate from the Church.' But here another queftion occurs, ' Wliat is the Church of EnglandF ' It is not all the people of England. Papijis and Dijfenters are no part thereof. It is not all the people of England,. except Papifts and Dij[fent(^s. Then we fhould have a glorious Church indeed ? ' No : according to our twenti- eth Article, a particular Church is, 'a congregation of faithful jieople (Qrtiis credentium^ the words of our Latin edition) among whom the word of God is preached, and the facramcnts duly adminiftered.' Here is a true logical definition, containing both the eflence and the properties of a Church. What then, according to this definition, is the Church of England!* Does it mean, ' All the believers in England (except PapiJls and Diffenters) who have the word of God, and the facraments duly adminiftered among them?' I fear this does not come up to your idea of the Church oS. England. Well, what more do you include in that phrafe ? * Why, all the believers that adhere to the doftrine and difciplineeflabliflied by the Convocation under Queen Elizabeth' Nay, that'difcipliue is well nigh vaniflied awav, and the doftrine both vou and I adhere to. Vol. II. Ff ' "All 434 The LIFE of the C^7^5' " All thofe reafons, againft a feparation from the Church in this lenlc, I fubfcribc to ftilL What then are you frighted at ? I no more feparate from it now, than I did in the year 1758. I fubmit flill, though foraetimcs with a doubting confcience, to Mitred' inhdels. I do indeed vary from them in fome points of doctrine, and in fome points of difeipline : by preaching abroad, for inftance, by praying extempore^ and by forming focieties. But not a hair's breadth further than I believe to be meet, right, and my bounden duty. I walk ftill by die fame rule I have done for between forty and fifty years. I do nothing raflily. It is not likely I fhould. The high-day of my blood is over. If you will go hand in hand with me, do. But do not hinder me, if you will not help. Perhaps, if you had kept clofe to me, I might have done better. Howevei-, with or without help I creep on. And as I have been hitherto, fo I truft I fhall always be. Your affeftionate Friend and Brother.'' In September Mr. Charles V/efley replied to his Bro- ther's letter. " I will tell you my thoughts, fays hCy with the fame fmi}ilicity. There is no danger of our quarrelling, for the fccond blow makes the quarrel > and you are the lall man upon earth I would wifh to quarrel wnth. That juvenile line of mine, ' Heathen- ifli priefts and Mitred infidels,' I difov^^n, renounce,^ and with fhame recant. I never knew of more than- one Mitred infidel ; and for him I took Mr. Lazv?, word, ." I do not underftand what ^ obedien'ce to the Bifhops' you dread. They have let us alone, and left us to act juft as we pleafed for thefe fifty years. At prefent, fome of them are quite friendly towards us, particularly toward you. The Churches are all open to you : and never could there be lefs pretence for a feparation. ^^ That 1785.] Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 435 " That yQu are a fcriptural E7r