The Wesley memorial volume ; or, Wesley and the Methodist movement

Front matter

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THE

Wesley Memorial Volume ;

Preface

WHEN a traveler over the mountains of California first sees at a distance those great trees, which, on their discovery, astonished the world, he experiences a sense of disappointment. They are only trees— large trees, it is true, and well proportioned, but yet only trees. But after he has stood in the midst of the grove — after he has walked for more than three hundred feet close around a single trunk, and looked up to branches as high above him — or perchance has walked upon some fallen tree a hundred feet above the ground, with a trunk so wide that along it a team might be driven ; then, and not till then, does he realize their immense magnitude.

So is it with great men. First seen they are only men — common men in their appearance and habits. Not until we study their movements, record their labors, follow them in critical moments, consider their decisions, look out on their broad views, and feel the throbbings of their hearts, do we comprehend their greatness. The one grand and only perfect character our world has ever seen was not recognized by his own age. He had no " beauty that they should desire him," and " they esteemed him not." But after eighteen centuries he towers above all other characters.

In some measure, such was the life of John Wesley. No man of his time was less understood. He was singular, because he fixed his eye upon and followed only the truth. He was maligned and traduced. Pulpits denounced him, the press satirized him, and every year pamphlets and volumes attacked his doctrines and movements, and impugned his motives. But, unmoved, he kept steadily to his purpose, and went about doing good. To-day nearly a century has passed ; the names

6 Preface.

of many of his detractors have perished, but every-where he is associated with the great thinkers and glorious workers of the world. His name to-day is upon more lips, in more lands, than is that of any other man of his times.

It was a happy thought of the editor of this volume to secure different writers, from different Churches, and from different stand-points, to present their estimates of Mr. "Wesley's life and works. For Wesley was many-sided, and from many points of view his characteristics are worthy of record.

To us, two elements in him are pre-eminently conspicuous. First, his unwearying labor and perseverance : second, his entire dedication of himself to Christ and his work. He planned his work skillfully, and did it thoroughly. It has been said of him that " he read more, wrote more, preached more, and traveled more, than any minister, if not than any man, of his times." His long life, spanning nearly a century, gave him great opportunities, and they were well improved. Two entries in his journal illustrate his life : " Here I rested for two weeks, that I might write up my notes, preaching only every morning and evening." And in his eighty-third year, preparing Mr. Fletcher's life, he says : " To this I dedicated all the time I could spare till November, from five in the morning till eight at night. These are my studying hours : I cannot write longer in a day without hurting my eyes." He knew no rest till he found it in the grave.

He early read, translated, published, and took into his own heart and life, the little book of Thomas a, Kempis, called the Imitation of Christ. To be like Christ, to think Christ's thoughts, to speak Christ's words, to carry out Christ's plans, to do, as far as man might do, Christ's works, was the one grand ambition of his life. Hence those broad ideas of toleration, Christian fellowship and unity, which the Christian world is slowly embracing. He heard the Master say, " The field is the world ; " and his heart echoed back, " The world is my parish."

A PREFATORY POEM.

QEE God's witness unto men !

U Faithful through all the earnest years,

As though, from old anointed seers, One had been bid to earth again

For ordered work among his peers.

Kindle as ye read the tale,

The thrilling tale of duty done,

Of gospel triumphs, nobly won By Truth, almighty to prevail, —

By Love, unselfish as the sun.

They to holy missions born,

Who shed a bloom upon the days, And work for Christ in loving ways ;

For them the envious blasts of scorn But scatter seeds of future praise.

Time the great avenger is

Of patient souls with lofty aim ;

For whom the blind to-day hath blame,

The wiser morrows hoard the bliss, And fill the ages with their name.

Who themselves for others give, Need not to slander make reply, Nor falter in their purpose high ;

For God hath willed that they should live, While all the proud self-seekers die.

True hearts wish no flattering songs ;

They humbly bow in holier fane ;

Men do not bless the clouds for rain.

The music of the lyre belongs

To the skilled hand which wakes the strain.

8 A Peepatoey Poem.

Service is its own reward

If the deep love but prompt the deed.

All heaven-sent souls can ask or need Folds in the favor of the Lord ;

Their guerdon this — their highest meed.

Praise we then our God alone,

Who made his servant thus complete !

And pour we, in libation sweet,

Our wealth of spikenard — each his own — In tribute at the Master's feet.

Contents

PAOB

PREFACE 5

Eev. M. Simpson, D.D., LL.D., Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church.