Wesley and his friends: illustrating the religious spirit of their times

Front matter

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

John Wesley.

WESLEY

Preface

In collecting the materials for this work, the author has assured himself of their authenticity, even to the slightest incidental illustration ; and he has attempted to present them in a style adapted to the youngest and not distasteful to the oldest reader.

It will be seen that the arrangement of the matter of the volume is somewhat topical; while the chronological order of events is, it is hoped, sufficiently indicated. The adoption of this course has much increased the labour of compilation, but we think it will add to the interest and impressiveness of the work.

The author is aware of the difficulty of presenting a sketch of Wesley so as to give an outline of his character and the im-

6 PREFACE.

portant facts of his long and eventful life, yet not obtrude offensively upon the honest sentiments of those who differ from him in some points both of doctrine and practice. With a full conviction of these difficulties, he has written right on, aiming to speak candidly, and presuming upon the candour of his readers.

He now sends forth the results of his labour on its errand of love, earnestly desiring that to the mature Christian it may be a voice of encouragement, to the young convert a stimulus to diligent labour, and to all a source of interest and instruction.

Chapter I. Ancestors

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Wesley's ancestors — Bartholemew "Wesley — John Wesley the First — Anecdote of his Bishop — Suffering for conscience* sake — The two John Wesleys alike in character — The faithful minister — Dr. Samuel Annesley 13

CHAPTER II. Wesley's parents

Ep worth — Samuel Wesley, Sen. — His college life — Classical attainments — Poetry — Susannah Wesley — Her education — Method of teaching her children to read — Family government — The religious training of her children — Influence over her sons while they were in college — The offended curate — A revival — Mrs. Wesley's defence of it — Remarkable traits of her character 21

Chapter III. Forming-period Op Wesley's Character

The old parsonage at Ep worth — The rescue — The mother's feelings in view of this rescue — Brothers and sisters — Samuel — Charles — Emily — Susannah — Mary — Mehetabel — Anne — Martha — Keziah — The Charter- House School — Wesley enters Oxford — Moral dangers

of college — An ambitious student 31

Chapter IV. Wesley A Resident Graduate At Oxford

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An awakened conscience — Parental advice — Ordination — College "Fellowship" — Choice of companions — Submission to parents — Systematic study — Wesley at Wroote — Renewed convictions for holiness — Charles Wesley— The despised band — John Wesley the leader of the band — The aims and practices of the band — An anecdote — A simple style of writing and speaking formed — Names of reproach — Sickness of Wesley's father — Wesley requested to succeed his father at Epworth 40

Chapter V. A Sea-voyage

An important proposal — The Wesleys decide to go to Georgia — Their object — Employment of time — Anecdote of John Wesley — Feelings during a storm — Arrival at Savannah 52

Chapter VI. Incidents Op Two Years In America

An interesting interview — Wesley at Savannah — The Moravians — Severe discipline — Plain preaching — Labours for the children — Charles Wesley at Frederica — His sufferings — He returns to England — John Wesley — General Oglethorpe and Wesley — Miss Hopkey and Wesley — Wesley prosecuted — His proposed return to England 56

Chapter VII. A New Era

On shipboard — Renewed convictions — Sad reflections — Peter Bonier: a friend in need — Salvation by faith

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alone — Self-renunciation — Doubts removed — Seeking salvation through faith — Charles Wesley — His conviction — A beautiful hymn — The Pearl found — The immediate fruit — A hymn of praise — A brief review 62

Chapter VIII. Incidents Op A Tour In Germany

Unexpected opposition — Distracting sentiments — Wesley starts for Germany — A profitable interview — Count Zinzendorf — The Moravians at Marienborn — Hernhuth — The missionary spirit of the Moravians — Suggestions and encouragement — Wesley's return to England — Charles Wesley — A pleasant meeting of the brothers.... 71

Chapter IX. Field-preaching

Just commencing — George Whitefield — His college career — His first sermon — The spiritual state of England at this time — The pulpits denied to the Reformers — The "Societies" — The first thought of field-preaching — "A memorable watch-night" — Whitefield at Kingswood — The first field-sermon — Its effects — The Wesleys at London — Charles Wesley at Islington — Whitefield and John Wesley at Bristol — Wesley's prejudices against field-preaching — His first field-sermon — Whitefield at Moorfields — Wonderful effects — Charles Wesley "abroad." 79

Chapter X. Some Of The Immediate Effects Of Field-preaching

Charles Wesley at Bristol — The first Methodist chapel — A school for the children — Charles Wesley and the mob — John Wesley in Wales — The world Wesley's parish 94

CHAPTER XL

NOBLE WOMEN.

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The rich and noble — The Duchess of Buckingham — The Countess of Suffolk — The Prince of Wales — Pious noblemen — Lady Hastings — Countess Huntingdon — Her faithfulness after conversion — Intimacy with the Wesleys — Her usefulness — Miss Bosanquet — Lady Glenorchy — Her talents and labours — Lady Maxwell — Her labours for the poor — An important truth 106

Chapter XII. Folds For The Lambs

Separation — " The Old Foundry" — An important suggestion — Class-meetings — The rules of the societies — if Quarterly meetings" — "Love-feast tickets" — Whitefield's " Tabernacle" — His societies — Mr. Ingham — Lady Huntingdon's connection — Character of her authority — Her mode of government — Society usages — Lady Glenorchy's societies — The necessity for these Folds 114

Chapter XIII. The Shepherds

Co-labourers — Their relations to each other — Philip Doddridge — Dr. Isaac Watts — William Romaine — Henry Venn — Henry Piers — Vincent Perronet — Johu Berridge — John Fletcher — Fletcher's choice of a parish — President of Lady Huntingdon's theological school — Mr. Venn's opinion of Fletcher 123

Chapter XIV. "the Helpers."

The necessity for more labourers — Maxfield, the first lay-preacher — The offence of his preaching — His final ordi-

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nation — John Nelson — His first public efforts — David Taylor — Mr. Thorpe — Character of the " helpers" — Unfortunate disagreement — The reconciliation 131

Chapter XV. In Perils

Opposition from the clergy — Charles Wesley prosecuted — A ludicrous accusation — More serious opposition — The mobs of "Wednesbury — The leaders subdued — A visit to the magistrates — The Walsal mobs — Wonderful moral power — A happy retreat — Charles Wesley on the field of contest — An appeal to law — Impressment of the Methodists — John Nelson seized — His heroic bearing — He persists in preaching while a soldier — His release throwgh Lady Huntingdon's influence 139

Chapter XVI. Divine Chastenings And Human Infirmities

Bereavements — John Wesley and Grace Murray — A painful disappointment — John Wesley's marriage — James Wheatley — Debate concerning the Lord's supper — Consequent meeting of the Conference — Charles Wesley and this Conference — The renewal of the Calvinistic controversy 150

Chapter XVII. Extended Itinerating

Wesley's visit to Newcastle — Great wickedness — Visits Epworth — Death of Wesley's mother — Scotland — Wesley's visit to that country — An incident — Ireland — Wesley's first visit — Persecutions — Thomas Walsh — Whitefield — Organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church — Dr. Coke in the West Indies — Provisions for the transfer of Wesley's authority 157

Chapter XVIII. Saving And Giving

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"We belong to God" — Lady Glenorchy's benevolence — Anecdote of Mrs. Fletcher — Berridge's habits of giving — Lady Huntingdon and her fortune — Wesley — His economy — His donations — His plans of usefulness to the poor — The last entry on his accounts — Anecdote concerning his plate — A poor man relieved 169

Chapter XIX. Further Illustrations Op Character

Abundant labour — An interesting question — Early rising — His value of time — His punctuality — Habits of order — Private prayer — Severity and brevity of speech — Incidental illustrations — A refractory "helper" — Sharpness and relenting — Reputation given to God — An Incident 178