A true and complete portraiture of Methodism; or, The history of the Wesleyan Methodists: including their rise, progress, and present state: the lives and characters of divers of their ministers: the doctrines the Methodists believe and teach, fully and explicitly stated: with the whole plan of their discipline. The different collections made among them, and the application of the monies raised thereby; and a description of class-meetings, bands, love-feasts, &c. Also, a defence of Methodism, &c

Front matter

I

■ W m I m

Qass__L

CHAPTER I. A short History of Methodism

page Account of Mr. Wesley's ancestors - - 13

< Bartholomew Wesley - - 13

John Wesley, sen. - - 13, 14

Dr. Annesley - - - 15

Matthew Wesley - - - 16

■ Samuel Wesley ih.

Mrs. Susanna Wesley - - 18

Mrs. Wright - - - - 10

Mrs. Hall 20

■* Samuel Wesley, jun. - - ib„

— , Rev. John Wesley - - 22

his early education 23

, his piety at Oxford ib.

— — — origin of the term Methodist - - ib. 24

~ ■ — goes to America. - 25

' account of the Germans

his fellow-voyagers 26 arrives at Savannah ib*

Moravians' manner of electing bishops - 27

Mr. Wesley labours in America - - ib.

Returns to England 28

Account of his labours in various places - 29, 30

Goes to Hernhuth in Germany 30

Returns to England 31

Account of several Conferences - 33, &c.

Interesting letter from Dr. Doddridge *> 34

Persecution of the Methodists at Cork - 35

Another in Staffordshire and other places 36, 39 Death and Character of John Jane, one of the first

Methodist preachers - - 39 Marriage and separation of Mr. Wesley from his

Page Letter from Mr. Whitefield - - - 41

Mr. Wesley's epitaph on himself 42

Revival of religion in Ireland 43

Letter from Mr. Wesley to Mrs. Fletcher, on female

preaching - - - - 45

Numbers of the Methodists in 1 767 - ib.' 46

Progress of Religion in America - - ib«

Vindication of Mr. Wesley's minutes - 47

Mr. Wesley executes the deed of declaration 49

Dr. Coke's address to the Methodists in Great Britian and Ireland, on the settlement of preaching-houses 50

Attested copy of the deed of declaration, and establishment of the Methodist conference 53, 62 Dr. Coke and Mr. Asbury appointed superintendents of the Methodists in America * 63 In what cases service is allowable in church-hours ib. Mr. Wesley ordains preachers for England only 64 Numbers of the Methodists in 1 790 - 65 Death of Mr. Wesley ib.

His character, talents, qualifications, and usefulness considered - - - 66, 76 His person, and dress - - - 76 His private life, and liberality - - 77, 78 His disinterestedness - - - 79 Remarks on his opinions ^ - - 80 Account of sundry conferences, subsequent to Mr.

Wesley's death - - 81 Differences on the subject of religious liberty ib. Disputes at Bristol 82 Secession of Mr. Kilham and others - 83 Address from the Irish to the English conference 84 Numbers of the Methodists 1 799 - - 85 Proceedings of the fifty-ninth annual conference ib. 86 of the sixtieth to the sixty-sixth conference - - - - ib. 88 Decree of the Master of the Rolls, relative to the

Brig-house chapel - - ' - 90

Comparative numbers of the Methodists, from 1 770

Page Account and character of Mr. Charles Wesley 92, 94

of the Rev. Mr. Fletcher - 94, 100

his epitaph - - - ib„

new anecdots of Mr. Fletcher 101, 102

of the Rev. Mr. Grimshaw, and his ministerial labours - - 102 — 114

k of Thomas Maxfield - 1 1 4—1 1 5

- of John Nelson - - 115—125

. of Christopher Hopper - 1 25—1 29

of Joseph Cownley - 129—133

of Thomas Hanby - 133—137

of Captain Webb - - 137—138

of Thomas Mitchell - 1 38—1 42

CHAPTER II. The Doctrines believed and taught by the Methodists

On the object of worship - - - - 143 Extract from Mr. Wesley's sermon on the Trinity • 143—145

The authenticity of 1 John v. 7. examined 145, 146

ipn the divinity of Christ - - - 146,148 Extract from Dr. CokeTs sermon on the same 148 — 151

The creation 151,152

The fall of man, and original sin, and Mr. Wesley's

sentiments thereon - - - 152—- -155

Salvation only through Christ - ib.

Mr. Wesley on the righteousness of Christ - 156

. — on the plan of salvation - 158—160

on the nature of faith - 161, 162

- — - on the nature of justification and saac-

tification 163 — 164

* — - on the privileges of believers - 1 65

on the witness of the Spirit 166 — 1 70

on the fruits of the Spirit 170 — 172

the nature of the new birth, sanctification? and good works> illustrated 1 72 — 1 79

S CONTENTS*

Fag€ The Bible the only rule of practice - - 1 79

Sundry controverted doctrines - - - 180 Absolute and unconditional election denied 131

Mr. Wesley on predestination - - 181 — 1'83

Doctrine of the Methodists on general redemption 183

* on the falling of the regenerate ib. 1 84

Mr. Wesley on the perseverance of the saints 185-189 The covenant of grace explained - 189—191

Doctrine of the Methodists on marriage , ib.

on obedience to the government - ib.

— on the observance of the sabbath - 192

on the visible church of Christ - - ib.

— on baptism - - - - - 193

- on the Lord's Supper - - - 194

— on separate spirits - - - - 195

Mr. Wesley on hell torments - - 195 — 20a

& — . the day of judgment - 201—203

CHAPTER. III. The Discipline of the Methodists

Origin of the Society's rules - - 203

Copy of the rules of the united societies 204 — 207

of additional rules - - 207

Receiving members into the society - 208

Excluding members from the society - ib.

On strangers being present at society-meetings, and

love-feasts - 209

Of service in church-hours - - - ib.

Administration of baptism, & the Lord's supper 210—21 1 Of conformity to the world, and sabbath-breaking - - 211—212 Marrying with unbelievers - - 212 Bankruptcies - ib.

Loyalty to the King and government - - ib. Days of fasting - 213 Rules relating to the officers of the societies - ib. Appointment or change of stewards and leaders ife,

Page.

Local preafchers a^d their meetings - - 214 Concerning trustees - - - - - ib.

Quarterly meetings, and their business - - 215 On taking usury - ib.

Rules of the band societies - 216 — 218

General mode of public worship - - 213 223

Prayer-meetings 223

Meeting of the penitents .... 224

Admission into the society - ib.

Class-meetings - .... 225

Form of the class-paper - ib.

Appointment and office of class-leaders - 226

Stewards' and leaders' meetings - - 227

Quarterly meetings ----- 228

Local preachers, their qualifications and office 229

Travelling preachers, their qualifications, and duties - 230—233 Advices to them - - - 233—235 The office of a superintendent - 235 — 237 General office of a preacher - - 237 Giving of the tickets - - - ib.

Forms of the class and band-tickets - - 238 Love-feasts - 239 Watch-nights ... 240 Circuits, districts, and district meetings 240—244 The duties of the stationing committee - 244 Conferences, their meetings and business 245— -249 Preachers' salaries - 249 — 250 Preachers' fund - - - 250 — 252 The general collections ib.

Collection for Kingswood school - - ib. Nature of that institution - • 253 Yearly subscription - - 254 Collection for the missions - - 255 Subscription to the preachers' fund - - ib. Trustees - - - - - 256 Settlement of chapels - - - - 257 Rules, observed in the building of chapels - 258 Outlines of the trust-deed - - 258—260 Committee for guarding the priviliges of the Methocjists - • * - 260

Page Miscellaneous supplemental regulations 261— 264

The book-trade - - - 264

Mr. Wesley's last will and testament 266 — 268

Catalogue of Books, published chiefly by Mr. Wesley - - - - 269—278 Number of the Methodist chapels 278—279 Chronological list of the present itinerant preachers - - - - 280—288 Alphabetical list of preachers who have died in the

_ — of preachers, who departed from the

work, or were expelled - - 290~295

Chapter IV

Methodism defended; being an answer to some objections to the Methodists, with remarks on Toleration, and a vindication of the principle of universal and equal liberty in matters of Religion.

■ c

Objections against Methodism refuted - 297

1. Its necessity demonstrated - - ib. 29$

2. The preachers shown to be duly qualified and ap-

3. And sufficiently learned - - 302 — 303 Discussion of the necessity of classical literature ib.-ib. List of books, recommended to preachers - 303 How far regular education is needful - 304 — 308

4. Usefulness of the Methodic t preachers 308 — 309 The Methodists do not oppose the Established

Curious anecdote of a clergyman - - ib. note Anecdotes of the loyalty and bravery of some Methodists .... 311—312 Demonstration of impolicy of governments indulging

any species of persecution - 312 — 31 5

Considerations on religious liberty - * - 315 Toleration defined - ib.

Force unsuited to the propagation of religion 31 (i

CONTEXTS. 11

Page Intolerance, a disgrace to any natioa - 316-317 Illustration of the nature of toleration - 318 — 320 The right of free religious worship, asserted 320 &c. Extract from Magna Charta - - - 320

Remarks on the impiety of one clause thereof ib.

The rights of civil governors defined - 321- — 323 Remarks on Lord Sidmouth's bill - - 324

Refutation of the inconsistent charges, brought by the

clergy against the methodfets - - 326

Their doctrines are those of the established church 327 The alarm, on the increase of Methodism, proved to be

unnecessary - 327 — 329

Impolicy of Lord Sidmouth's bill, proved - 32&

Its oppressive tendency shown - 330 — 331

On the influence of Methodism, - - ib.

1 . On its own members - - ib.

2. It contributes to promote mental improvement 332

3. And to improve the temporal circumstances of

those who embrace it - ib.

4. 5. Its influence on society at large - ib.

6. Benevolent institutions among the Methodists 333 Strangers' Friend, and Preachers' Friend Societies,

and Sunday Schools - - - ib.

7. Beneficial moral effects on the united kingdom 334 Interesting anecdote of his present Majesty *. ib.

Appendix

Letter from the General Committee to the Superintendents - - - - 336—34Q

Archbishop of Canterbury's Speech on Religious

Toleration - - 340 — 341

Mr. Perceval's Letter to Mr, Butterworth 342 — 343

The Judgment of Lord Ellenborough in the Court of King's Bench, &c. ... ib. — 347

Letter from the General Committee, to the Superintendents - - 347~349

Mr. Rosenhagen's Letter to Mr, Butterworth ib.

X% CONTENTS.

Letter of Thomas Allen, Solicitor, to Mr. Perce-

Resolutions passed by the General Committee, 352—35 7 Letter from Mr. Butterworth - - 357—360

Letter from the General Committee to the Superintendents ..... 362—374 Act, passed 29th July 1812, relating to religious wor* ship, &c. ... . 375—383

TRUE AND COMPLETE PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM.