Front matter
ANECDOTES
£zfo.<t,
OF
Preface
There is a story related of a man who opened the door and put his head into Paradise, and, seeing many strange faces there, said, " Gentlemen, I hope I do not intrude ; if I do, I can walk out again." So, in presenting this book, I hope I do not "intrude if I do, "I can walk out again" — the reader can lay it down and select some other volume more congenial to his taste.
I am aware there are those who undervalue anecdotes, and others who ridicule them. Men may ridicule them till they are gray, but the people will read them. There are persons who, if they wish to eulogize a preacher, will say, "he never tells any stories in the pulpit; he relates no anecdotes." So preached not the Wesleys, or Whitefield, or Coke, or Asbury, or M'Kendree. They all related anecdotes and incidents in the pulpit.
The late Judge M'Lean highly commends the practice. He says, " Some preachers are opposed to what they call story-telling in their sermons. This was practiced in the early age of Methodism, and it was admirably suited to those times; and, if more practiced, it would
Preface.
be found just as well suited to the present times."
Some time ago I was in company with the Bishops, and Bishop Morris (our archbishop) said, " I must return to the method of the fathers, relating anecdotes and incidents in preaching;" and Bishop Ames said, "Take away the stories from the Bible, and what have we left."
The anecdotes in this volume have been obtained from all the biographies of the Wesleys ; from Tyreinan's "Life 'of Samuel Wesley, Sen. ;" Kirk's "Mother of the Wesleys;" Jackson's "Life of Charles Wesley;" Adam Clarke's "Wesley Family;" John Wesley's "Works," particularly his Journals, which contain his best biography ; the Arminian and Wesleyan Magazines; and from hundreds of volumes and pamphlets. Some of them were never published before.
It is singular we have books of anecdotes of poets and painters, of heroes, philosophers, and statesmen, and have hitherto had no volume of Anecdotes of the Wesleys.
For over twelve years I have been gathering these anecdotes, and it is with confidence I submit this book to the public, believing it will detract nothing from the fame of the Wesleys, but will awaken a desire to know more concerning them, and will be read with interest when the writer sleeps in the dust.
Introduction
" The history of men who have been prime agents in those great moral and intellectual revolutions which from time to time take place among mankind^is not less important than that of statesmen and conquerors. There may come a time when the name of Wesley will be more generally known, and in remoter regions of the globe, than that of Frederick or Catharine. For the works of such men survive them, and continue to operate, when nothing remains of worldly ambition but the memory of its vanity and its guilt." So wrote Eobert South ey fifty years ago. The "time" for the fulfillment of his prediction has arrived earlier, doubtless, than he dreamed. There is now no land in which the name of Wesley is not known to more persons than those of Frederick and Catharine. And the fragrance of that name grows richer with the lapse of time.
Introduction.
The glory of John Wesley has, to a large extent, been shared by all his family. But they were a rare breed, for two or three generations at least, nearly all distinguished for wit, intelligence, and accomplishments.
The present volume is a contribution, in a new form, to our knowledge of these rare Wesleys. From the old Greek days, anecdotes of eminent persons have always been held to be one of the most delightful forms of composition. Anecdotes delight us by gratifying our natural curiosity to know something of the more private ways and thoughts of people whose public lives have been distinguished. It is, moreover, often the case that " an apparently insignificant anecdote throws an entirely new light on the history of the most admired works, or the most brilliant actions." *
Mr. "Wakeley has been happily inspired in the conception of this book of anecdotes. The execution of his task is also felicitous. The public will owe him gratitude for this contribution not merely to their entertainment but to their instruction.
* Edinburgh Review, xxxiii, 302.
Book I. Samuel Wesley, Sen., M.a
Page
Eev. Samuel Wesley, Sen., M.A 19
Samuel Wesley's First Parsonage 21
Samuel Wesley's Description of his Wife 21
Samuel Wesley and the Profane Officer 22
Samuel Wesley and Queen Mary 23
Samuel Wesley's Life of Christ 25
Samuel Wesley and his Persecutors 26
Samuel Wesley and Archbishop Sharpe 27
Samuel Wesley and the Chief Man of the Town 31
Samuel Wesley and the Eescued Hymn 32
Samuel Wesley and his Advisers 32
Samuel Wesley and the Dishonest Parmer 33
Samuel Wesley and his Dying Parishioner 34
Samuel Wesley and the Mysterious Noises at Ep worth 34
Samuel Wesley and his Comical Clerk 37
Samuel Wesley and the Miser 38
Samuel Wesley and his Curate 39
Samuel Wesley reproved by his Son 40
Samuel Wesley and his Son John 41
Samuel Wesley and John Dry den . , 42
Samuel Wesley and his Son Charles 42
Samuel Wesley and the Pellow of Lincoln 43
Samuel Wesley on Eidicule 43
Samuel Wesley and Fine Sermons , 44
Samuel Wesley's Great Loss 44
Samuel Wesley, his Sons and the Prisoners 45
Samuel Wesley's Dissertations on the Book of Job 46
Samuel Wesley's Dying Predictions 48
Archbishop Sharpe and the Highwayman 29
Contents.
book n.
SUSANNA WESLEY.
Page
Susanna Wesley 53
Susanna "Wesley and her Sister 57
Susanna "Wesley and Socinianism 58
Susanna Wesley and Crying Children 55
Susanna Wesley and Family Government 58
Susanna Wesley and her eldest Child 59
Susanna Wesley, her Husband, and Sammy 59
Susanna Wesley and the Education of her Children 60
Susanna Wesley and her Son John 61
Susanna Wesley and her Daughter Emilia 62
Susanna Wesley and her Daughter Martha 63
Susanna Wesley and the Archbishop of York 64
Susanna Wesley and her Husband 64
Susanna Wesley and the Unauthorized Meetings 65
Susanna Wesley, her Husband and Brother 67
Susanna Wesley and her Bereaved Brother . 68
Susanna Wesley and Amusements 68
Susanna Wesley, Charles, and Samuel 69
Susanna Wesley and her Grandchildren 70
Susanna Wesley, John, and Charles 70
Susanna Wesley, John, and his Mission 71
Susanna Wesley, John, and Thomas Maxfield 71
Martha and her Brothers 63
Martha and Samuel Johnson « 65
Book III
EEY. JOHN WESLEY, A.M.
John Wesley, A. M 75
J ohn Wesley and the Eire 73
John Wesley at the Charter-house School 80
John "Wesley and Dr. Henry Sacheverell , 81
John Wesley and his Brother Samuel 82
John Wesley and the Poor Maid . 83
John Wesley and the Serious Man 84
John Wesley and the Holy Club 85
Page
John Wesley on Eeason 86
John Wesley and William Law 87
John Wesley and Apostolical Nostrums 88
John Wesley and his Fellow Tutors 89
John Wesley and Plain People 89
John Wesley and Queen Caroline 90
John Wesley and the Storm at Sea 91
John Wesley and Eeligious Quixotism 92
John Wesley and General Oglethorpe 92
John Wesley and Spangenberg 95
John Wesley and the Indian Chief 96
John Wesley's early Promise and Sir Edward Seaward 97
John Wesley and the result of his Mission 98
John Wesley .and Peter Boehler . . 99
John Wesley's Conversion 101
John Wesley and his Host 102
John Wesley and the Bigot 104
John Wesley and the Bishop of Londonderry 105
John Wesley and the Ungrateful Young Man 106
John Wesley and Thomas Westell 106
John Wesley and Bobert Ainsworth — 107
John Wesley's Eirst Extemporaneous Sermon 108
John Wesley and the Prince Boyal 109
John Wesley and Extempore Prayer 110
John Wesley and Charles Simeon Ill
.John Wesley and Martin Madan 113
John Wesley and J ohn Nelson 114
John Wes]ey and Nelson's hard Bed . 115
John Wesley and William Bramwell 116
John Wesley and his Traveling Companion 116
John Wesley and the Young Quaker 117
John Wesley and John King 118
John Wesley and the Polite Audience 120
John Wesley and his Sister Emilia 120
John Wesley, John Hampson, and the Mob 121
John Wesley and the Young Preacher 122
John Wesley and the Eenowned Pugilist 123
John Wesley and the Old Servant 126
John Wesley and the Curate Eomley 127
John Wesley and Dr. Priestley 130
John Wesley and Bishop Lavington 130
John Wesley and Bishop Warburton 131
John Wesley and Beau Nash 131
John Wesley and the Ladies of Bath 133
John Wesley and the Subdued Mob 134
I o Contents,
Page
John Wesley and Doctor Gibson 134
John Wesley and the Plain Man 135
John Wesley and Mr. Bailey 135
John Wesley and the Mayor of Cork 136
John Wesley and the Irish Justice of the Peace 137
John Wesley and the Babble 133
John Wesley, the Persecuted Methodists, and the King 139
John Wesley and Whitefield's Will 142
John Wesley and the Young Critic 143
John Wesley and Mr. Whitelainb 144
John Wesley and the Slandering Woman 146
John Wesley and the Ostler 146
John Wesley and the Benevolent Lady 151
John Wesley and James Hervey 157
John Wesley and the Eleven Letters of James Hervey 15S
John Wesley and Sir Eichard Hill 159
John Wesley and the Earl of Huntingdon 161
John Wesley and the Inquiring Lady 163
John Wesley's Begard for Walsh 172
John Wesley and the Captain's Excuses 177
John Wesley and the Young Lady 178
John Wesley and the Music Master 180
John Wesley and the Quaker's Dream 181
John Wesley's Bule of Living 182
John Wesley and the Eich Methodists 184
John Wesley and Lady Huntingdon 184
John Wesley and Eobert Dodsley 185
John Wesley's Christian Library 186
John Wesley and Philip Doddridge 187
John Wesley on Homer 188
John Wesley on Style 189
John Wesley on Music 190
John Wesley and his Patients 190
John Wesley and Eoyalty 192
John Wesley and his Epitaph 194
John Wesley and Bishop Lowth 196
John Wesley and the Hard-hearted Officer 19 S
John Wesley and the Beggars 199
John Wesley and the Wag 200
John Wesley and the Conscientious Man 201
John Wesley and the Will 201
John Wesley and the Swine-herd 202
John Wesley and the Attentive Hearer 202
John Wesley and the Apostate 203
John Wesley and James Watson 2"3
Page
John Wesley and the Female Impostor 204
John Wesley and the False Prophets 204
John Wesley and the Keformed Drunkard 205
John Wesley and the Notorious Drunkard 206
John Wesley and Silas Told 215
John Wesley and Dr. Johnson 217
John Wesley and the Eedemption of Time 218
John Wesley and Edward Bolton 218
John Wesley and Grace Murray 219
John Wesley and Mrs, Vizelle 221
John Wesley and the Legacy 222
John Wesley and the History of England 224
John Wesley and Poor Louisa 225
John Wesley and Sophia Coke 227
John Wesley and the Little Child 229
John Wesley and Matthias Joyce 229
John Wesley and the Little Boy 230
John Wesley and the Inquiring Preacher 230
John Wesley and the Little Girl 231
John Wesley and the Children 231
John Wesley and Mr. Cordeux 234
John Wesley and the Woman who was a Sinner 235
John Wesley and the Criminal 237
John Wesley and the Anxious Man 238
John Wesley and the Discouraged Minister 238
John Wesley and the Egg Man 238
John Wesley and the Commissioners of Excise 240
John Wesley and Thomas Holy 245
John Wesley and Johm Hilton 246
John Wesley and the Dyspeptic Clergyman 247
John Wesley and the Archbishop of Canterbury. . . < 248
John Wesley and Father O'Leary 249
John Wesley and the Persecuting Papist 250
John Wesley and the Roman Catholic Woman 250
John Wesley and Joseph Lee. 251
John Wesley and the " Lending Stock" 252
John Wesley and the Wonderful Prophecy 253
John Wesley and the Ship upon a Rock 254
John Wesley and the Providential Shower 255
John Wesley and John Downes 255
John Wesley and Dictators 256
John Wesley and Croakers 257
John Wesley and Robert Young 257
John Wesley and the Son of his Friend , 258
John Wesley and George Osborn 261
Page
John Wesley's Condescension 261
John Wesley and the Landscape 262
John Wesley and the Tea Party 263
John Wesley and the Gayer Family 264
John Wesley and John Allen 266
John Wesley and the Deed of Declaration 268
John Wesley and his Successor 270
John Wesley and Apostolical Succession 272
John Wesley and Joseph Bradford 273
John Wesley, Adam Clarke, and the Horse 276
John Wesley and the Land's End 277
John Wesley and the Gout 278
John Wesley and Doctor Beattie 279
John Wesley and Wrestling Jacob 279
John Wesley and Kobert Hopkins 280
John Wesley and the Befractory Trustees 283
John Wesley and the Economical Man 286
John Wesley and Joseph Entwisle 288
John Wesley and the Poet Crabbe 290
John Wesley and Jonathan Crowther 296
John Wesley and William Jay 297
John Wesley and the Courageous Woman 303
John Wesley at City Boad Chapel 317
Backslider, the 208
Blustering Man, the 167
Cathedral, the 196
Civil Authorities at Bristol, the 170
Comedians, the , 174
Conscience and Interest , 233
Contrast between John and Charles Wesley 309
Disputant, the 164
Drunkard and his Wife, the 206
Enraged Man, the 207
Entvvisle and the Stumbling Horse 289
Fault-finder, the * 910
Field Preaching 140
Fletcher as Mediator 269
Friendly Man, the -. 165
Harmless Ditty, the 168
Highwayman, the 175
Honest Enthusiast, the 166
How to Perpetuate Methodism 265
Ingenious Man, the 207
Ingenious Beproof 126
Justice of the Peace, the 176
Page
Kingswood School 143
Learned Man, the. 165
Liberal Clergyman, the 181
Lord of the Stable, the 203
Mayor of Shaftesbury, the 169
Mayor of Tiverton, the 163
Oglethorpe, General, and the French Prince 94
Origin of Class-meetings, the 110
Parish Priest, the 169
Preaching Three Times a Day 314
Power of Habit 318
Profane Officer, the 125
Quaker's Testimony, the 191
Relics -.. 317
Reproachful Man, the , , 167
Reputation of the Methodists, the 291
Rich Banker, the 193
Samuel's Poetical Epistle 83
Sermon Hard to Understand, a 183
Sharp Comment 133
Sharp Retort 200
Sir John Ganson 168
Slanderer, the « 145
Stennet, Doctor 176
Sun-Dial, the 150
Surreptitious Letter, the , 141
Thomas Walsh 171
Tomb-stone Sermon, the 129
Unwise Reprovers, the 198
Virtue of Silence, the 166
Walsh's Scholarship 171
Walsh's Gravity and Wesley's Cheerfulness 172
Washington and Wesley 119
Watch-Nights 150
Wesley and Adam Clarke 319
Wesley and Dr. Dodd. . s 211
Wesley and Elijah Bush 242
Wesley and Evil Report and Good Report 300
Wesley and Garrick 294
Wesley and Henry Moore 305
Wesley and his Power 209
Wesley and his Youthful Escort 301
Wesley and Horace Walpole 282
Wesley and Howard 287
Wesley and Irish Methodism 310
Page
Wesley and Itinerancy 282
Wesley and John Brown 293
Wesley and John Standering 313
Wesley and Joseph Burgess 293
Wesley and Low Spirits 241
Wesley and Eankin 285
Wesley and Kobert Walpole 281
Wesley and Shakspeare 318
Wesley and the Belligerent Boys 244
Wesley and the Burglars 306
Wesley and the Despairing Man 284
Wesley and the Disappointed Lady 291
Wesley and the Drunken Papist 292
Wesley and the Itinerancy 300
Wesley and the Hasty Minister 299
Wesley and the Offended Lady 298
Wesley and the Silver Medal 295
Wesley and the Superannuated Organ 303
Wesley and the Zealous Papist 292
Wesley, Boardxnan, and Pilmoor 118
Wesley, Bradburn, and Olivers 242
Wesley, Bradford, and the Angel 275
Wesley, Bradford, and the Chaise 274
Wesley Leading Class 310
Wesley, Moore, and the Communion 306
Wesley on u the Sessions " 296
Wesley, Pool, and Whitefield 141
Wesley Preventing a Eiot , 197
Wesley Taking the Collection 315
Wesleys, the, Oglethorpe, and the Officers 93
Wesley, the Young Woman, and the Snow-storm 222
Wesley's Advice to Samuel Bradburn 341
Wesley's Countenance 304
Wesley's Farewell to Ireland 312
Wesley's Pinal Interview with Thomas Walsh 173
Wesley's First Sermon in the Fields. 149
Wesley's Investment. 151
Wesley's Laconic Advice to Henry Moore 307
Wesley's Last Sermon in Ireland 311
Wesley's Last Years 316
Wesley's Notes on the New Testament 195
Wesley's Prayer for Fletcher 271
Wesley's "Primitive Physic" 191
Wesley's Eough Journey. 210
Wesley's Sermon on Slavery 280
Page
Wesley's "Wise Counsel on Marriage 243
Whitefield and the Uncharitable Minister 143
Whitefield' s Mission to America 139
Worldly Wisdom 299
Zinzendorf, Count 177
Book IV
REV. CHARLES WESLEY, A.M.
Eev. Charles Wesley, A.M 323
Charles Wesley and Lord Mansfield 325
Charles Wesley . and his Diary 326
Charles Wesley and his Uncle « 327
Charles Wesley and George Whitefield 328
Charles Wesley and the Narrow Escape 330
Charles Wesley and the Drunken Captain 330
Charles Wesley and William Law 333
Charles Wesley and Peter Boehler 334
Charles Wesley and Mrs. Turner 336
Charles Wesley and the Unjust Man 337
Charles Wesley and the Presentment 338
Charles Wesley and the Magistrate at Kingswood 338
Charles Wesley and the xlrchbishop of Canterbury 340
Charles Wesley and the Highwayman 341
Charles Y\ r esley's Servant and the Eobbers 341
Charles Wesley and the Mob , . 342
Charles Wesley and the "Fanatic , 342
Charles Wesley and Primate Eobinson 343
Charles Wesley Indicted 344
Charles Wesley accused of Treason 347
Charles Wesley and the Officer 348
Charles Wesley and the African Princes 350
Charles Wesley and the Maniac 351
Charles and Mrs. John Wesley 352
Charles Wesley and the Passionate Lady 352
Charles W T esley and the Tempting Offers 353
Charles Wesley and Vincent Perronet 354
Charles Wesley and the Blasphemer , 355
Charles Wesley and Harmless Diversions 356
Charles Wesley and Lord Ferrers 356
Charles Wesley and the Thunder-storm 360
Charles Wesley and Young's Night Thoughts 362
Page
Charles Wesley and Virgil 364
Charles "Wesley and the Colliers 365
Charles Wesley at the Land's End 366
Charles Wesley and the Stone-quarry Men 367
Charles Wesley and the Sailors 368
Charles Wesley and the Theatrical Woman 369
Charles Wesley and Handel 370
Charles Wesley and James Hervey 371
Charles Wesley and Lady Huntingdon 373
Charles Wesley and the Eich Banker 374
Charles Wesley and Dr. Thomas Coke 375
Charles Wesley and Adam Clarke 376
Charles Wesley and the Young Preacher 377
Charles Wesley and Wilberforce 377
Charles Wesley and " The Man of Fashion" 378
Charles Wesley and the Music Seller 379
Charles Wesley and his Sister, Mrs. Wright 381
Charles Wesley and his Sister Martha 382
Charles Wesley and his Sister Kezziah 382
Charles Wesley and his Daughter Sarah 383
Charles Wesley, his Daughter, and the Prisoners 384
Charles Wesley's Last Hymn 386
Charles and his Brother's Eequest 361
Charles and John Wesley on Eeputation 380
Habits in Old Age 362
Ludicrous Scene 328
Mrs. Charles Wesley's Singing 385
Perilous Voyage, the 359
Persecutor, the 364
Poetical Eccentricities 361
Eare Volume, a 379
Sermon Completed, a 350
Slanderer, the 347
Wellesleys, the . . . 325
CHAELES WESLEY, JUK
Charles Wesley, Jun., and King George III 387
Charles Wesley, Jun., and King George IV 388
Charles Wesley, Jun., and his Sister Sarah 390
Charles Wesley, Jun., and his Uncle John 391
Bishop's Rebuke, the 339
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