, ft. r,i ppji4'', YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 1938 THE METHODIST MANUAL: OR, A SHOMT HISTORY OF THE WESLEYAN METHODISTS, INCLUDING THEIR RISE, PROGRESS, AND PRESENT STATE: COMPKISINC ALSO, THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF THE REV. MR. GRIMSHAW, MINISTER OF HAWORTH : THE DOCTRINES THE METHODISTS BELIRVE AND TEACH, CONCISEL-?, YET FULLY AND EXPLICITLY STATED; ' THB WHOLE PLAN OF THEIR DISCIPLINE, INCLUDING THEIR ¦ ORIGINAL RULES, AND SUBSEQUENT REGULATIONS; EVERY OFFICE AMONG THEM, v/na THE DUTIES AND RULES Of EACH STA.TliD AJJD EXPLAINED; THE SALARIES OF THE TRAVELLING PREACHERS; THE DIFFERENT COLLECTIONS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATp MADE AMONG THEM, AND THE APPLICA TION OF THE MONIES RAISED THEREBY; A DESCRIPTION OF CLASS-MEETINGS, BANDS, AND LOVE-FEASTS; WITH A FULL AND PARTICULAR ACCOUNT OK THE DISTRICT-MEETINGS, AND THE ANNUAL CONFERENCES. BY JONATHAN CROWTHER, V^ho hu been more than 30 Years a Member, and above 25 Years a Travelling Preacher among thein, Halifax : PRINTED FOR J. WALKER, 16, OLD MARKET-FLACE, BY P. K. HOLDEN. 1813. h -H 5 '"¦ '- THE .- ' L METHODIST MANUAL,' CHAPTER I. A SHORT HISTORY OF METfilODiSM. HE father and founder of Methodism 'was Mr. John. Wesley. He was son of the Rev. Samuel Wesleyj Rector of Hepworth, in Lincolnshire, and was born the 17th of June, old style, in the year 1703. I have heard hina say, that he was christened by the name of John Beirjamin; that his mother had buried two sons, one called John and the other Benjamin, and that she united their names in him. But he never jnade use ofthe second name. He was educated for the church : and in 1720, he entered a student, at Christ Church College, in Oxford, and not long after, took his degree of Bachelor of Ait^. He was ordained Deacon, September 19, 1725, by Dr. Potter, Bishop of Oxford. March 17, 1726, he was elected Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxfords Feb ruary 14, 1727, he took his degree of Master of Arts. September 22, 1728, he was ordained Priest, by the same Bishop by whom he had been ordained Deacon. He soon became very thoughtful and pious. This was considerably promoted by reading Bishop Taylor's Rules and Exercises of Holy Living, and Mr. Law's ¦Serious Call to a Holy' Life. His example and advice, under Crod, induced Ws brother Charles, who was also at « -THE METHODIST MANUAL. at College, to become pious too. They gave great " attention to reading" books of piety, prayed much and fei'vently, and receivtsdjthe Lord's supper every week. Others imbibed the same spirit, and associated with tljlerp rfor the pjjriposes, of^ piety> They, regulatect theii* time and employments by certain rutes. It was this which accidentally got them the nick-name of Miethodi£d& . Theit exact re^lanLy. induced, a^^oung Student to say, " There is a new set of Methodists sprung up ;" alluding to some physicians, who began to flourish at Rome<, abouV \he time of the Emperor Nero, and continued for several ages. The name took, and ever^after cleaved^ to_ them and their followers. And as the disciples df Christ were first caHed Chris tians in Antioch, so John Wesley and his fplj^jvers, were first cajlfd Methqdist§i at t|i.e IJiyye^ity of Oxford. In. 1732, thj^ piou§ company were jqi(]ied by Mr, ^lijarain Ingham, and soon after, Mr. James Hervey findMi"' George Whitfield were added to tl^e number. These were all Collegians, and naust be considered as Xlne first Methodists. But how greatly has tl^is grain of mustard-seed grown and spread! Mr. Wesley says, "In 1729, my brother and I reading the Bible, saw inward and outward holiness therein^ follp wed a^ter it, and incited others so to do. In 1737, we saw that this holiness comes by faith, and that men are justified beforfe they are sanctified. But still holipess was our poii4, inrvard and pufwqr^ holiness." His first sermon delivered e^tjenapiii'firy, was in All-Hallow's Church, Lombard-Street,' ii>ndpn/in tjys beginning of the year 1735. 4t that tinae, §iid t^ years after, to prealch without a book was considered 3s a very wondertul thing, In 1735, he was prevailed uppp to go as a njig- sionary to Georgia, in Americ;^. '"'fa the sfelp in whigh be crossed the Atlapt^c Oceap, l^, b.qcaipe ac^ua.i;aied wit^ THE'METHODISTlirANtJAL. 7 'tvith the'Mdr'aviaiis. "By tbem he was taught the way of the Lord^ore perfectly, pattieuldrly, that holiness ^ttifes by faith. .. f ¦"¦ 'lN'hltfwasneveff at. The "ft^^h-qpihidB? he-"had conceived of The Minama'nfiJ^- ''^Win,nSM.idi toducdd him to pay th^u a visit in their.own country. February, 1738, he returned to:'Engiaj^ : but he never prayed in public or in company without a 'form,' fell Mflrdh 27, 'this^^ygar. On that da/heJprayed extempore with a convict in the prison at Oxford, ffiAftei«"'pfayferjthe:m'air>s^id, "lam rdadyto die." ItN 1739', Mr.' Wesley being denied the-Juse'of the "dhurchies in'Bristbl, preached for the-tirst time in the '^apetPMVi oh'an enainenfee in the suburbs of that .diy. And the same year, the churches being shut-againStibim in London also, he took his stand in Moorfields and "^Mbei'firblie places. 0ntheT2th of May/this year, the '^'fli-st'stotie V«?as laid in -Bristol,* of 'the first^iMethoifist chafpel in England. November 1 1, this same yisar, he -'^began to preath in a building* ifliMooi^lds, London, in which the King's cannon had formerly been «j|st, and was many years after this known by the name of - ^h4 FdMridfy. If was just at this time, that class- -"tneetings Were in'stittitedj as we learn from the intro- ''dnttion to the rules of the society. However, it appears this institution did not get properly organizedi^nd; es tablished till the year 1742. ApRiii 9, 1742, the firsf ^sCtch-tiight wais heldirt ^'-'libtidon. ' -The cO^om' originated with the" colliers' of ¦ KiAgswood,-liear<3B^isk)l,' who had been in the habit ' -when 'slaves to' sin,'of spefiding ^ery Satorday-iright at § THE METHODlST MANUAL. at the ale-house. They now devoted that time to prayer . and singirig of hymns. Mr. Wesley hearing of this, resolved td make something like it general. At first, he ordered watch-nights to be once a month, when the moon was at the full, and then fixed them once' a quarter. In this year also, began the quarterly visitation of the classes, which has been constantly and universally at tended to ever since. At this visitation each lAember receives a new ticket. ' '.',:•- It was on the 26th of May, 1 742, that Mr. Wesley arrived at Birslal, in the West Rwlina^ of Yorkshire, having been invited thither by, that faithful and useful man, John Nelson. V3 , 1743, THE rules of the society were first published. In June, 1744, the first conference was held 'in London. It consisted of six clergymen and a few lay- preachers. But tliere was no ah^iuat publication ofthe ininutes of' the. conference till the year 1763. Qn christmas-day, 1744, Mr. Wesley drew up the rules,of the bands. . -, ;, August 1, 1745, the seciond cpnferencewas held in Bristol. May 13, 1746, the third conference was held' in the same city. It (^onsi^ed of the two Wesleys, ' two other plergymen, aftcl of five liy- preachers. .^ ' ' .¦^'l: ' ;;¦'''; June 16, 1747, the fourth conference was held in London. It consisted of fonr clergymen and two lay- preachers. In this year Methodism began in Ireland, in the city of Dublin. June 22, 1748, the fifth conference was held in Bristol. If cannot be gathered with certainty, either froni Mr. Wesley's Journals, or any other source of information,, that there was a conference every year from this lime till 1763, and yet it appears that in sovie THE METHODIST MANUAL.' 9 some of those years there were two conferences. This year Kingswood school was opened, for the education of preachers' children and others, though now it is wholly confined to the former. 1750. In February, this year, a riotous and cruel persecution commenced against the Methodists in the city of Cork. The mob was headed by one Bideri a ballad-singer, who was secretly encouraged by some ofthe magistrates. The Grand Jury, at the next assizes, presented Mr. Charles Wesley, seven travelling preachers, and Mr. Sullivan, wlio received the preachr ers into his house in Cork, as persons of ill-fame, and prayed that they might be transported. But when the assizes came, the judge dismissed them all, in the most honourable manner, without attempting to try them, \ In giving a history of the Methodists, however brief, something more must be said about the persecutions they have endured. And be it observed, that all per?- secution does not consist in acts of vioiepce. A man maybe persecuted by b^ing slandered, defamed, and degraded. Of tliis species of persecution, Mr. Wesley, his colleagues and adherents, have liad a,3 great abundance as perhaps ever was bestowed upon any people upon earth. And though they are now belter known, and tlie prejudices of many are removed, or at Jeast softened, yet it may still be said with great truth, ¦ " As for this sect it is every where spoken against." But the Methodists are neither surprized nor dismayed ^wifhthis. Rather, they consider it as an evidence df their being the people of God. They remember the words of their Saviour, who said, " Woe unto you, when all men speak well of you 1" and, "Blessed are ye when men revile, and persecute, and say all man ner of evil of you falsely." They know that as long as the seed ofthe woman, and the seed of the serpent have each an existence upon earth, there will be en mity between them ; and that " they who are after the flesh will persecute them who are after the spirit." 1 B ' And 30 THK METHODIST MANUAt. And the persecuting spirit has frequently broke out into acts of violence against the Methodists. One very remarkable instance of this was at, and near Wed- nesbury, in Staffordshire. In 1743, a numerous and riotous mob comraitted acts of violence, injustice and cruelty, for several days together, and were encouraged so to do by the magis trates. Men, women with child, and even children. Were evil-treated, and knocked down, and abused with savage fury. Houses were stripped of their fur niture, vast quantities of goods were carried off, fea ther beds were cut in pieces and strewed in the streets. They broke open houses, pulled off some of the roofs, and destroyed many windows. A Reverend Gentleman said to the mob at Darlaston, after they had com mitted these outrages, " Well, my lads, he that has done it out of pure zeal for the -Church, I do not blame him. But, my lads, I hope you will let us settle our affairs in our own parish ourselves : but if these men should come, and they should follow them, then your help toiil be needful." During all this, none of the neighbouring magistrates would exert their authority, to quell these mobs, or protect the Methodists. And when Mr. John Wesley came into that country, the Darlaston mob beset tlie house in which, he was, and cried, " Bring out the minister." After some time he went out, and said, " Here I am ; what do you want with me ?" They said, " To go with us to the justice." He told them, " That I will, with all my heart." So he walked before, and two or three hun dred of them ibllowed after, first to one justice and then to another, but the justices made excuses and would not be seen. Possibly one principal reason for this was, they kuevv the mob had no real accusation against Mr. Wesley, and therelore an appearance be fore a jubwce mubt.huve ended in his release and the: dispersion of the rioters. Tliis mob began to disperse, when he fell into the hands of another mob from Waisal, which came pouring in like a flood. They dragged THE M2TH0DIST MANUAt." IJ dragged hlin along, and when he attempted to go into a house, they pulled him back by the hair of the head, into the midst of the mob, who were as so raany romping and roaring lions. At length he was wonder fully delivered, and received far less injury than might have been e^Spected ; so wonderfully did Providence watch over and defend him. A MAN of tlie name of Thomas Baard, guilty of nothing but being a Methodist, was pressed, and dragged away from his family, and marched to New castle-upon-Tyne, where, through fatigue and abuse, he fell sick of a fever. He was sent to the hospital, where he was bled ; his arm mortified and was cut off; and in two or three days he died. It was about the same time that John Nelson was cruelly pressed for a soldier ; was marched along with the army for many weeks, and sometime put into a dungeon ; and all this for no other crime, real or pretended, but that he was a Methodist. The first check that was given to this mobbing, I believe was in London. Sir John Ganson, chairman ofthe Middlesex justices, waited on Mr. Wesley, in the name of his brethren, to say. That the justices had " orders from the government to do him and his friends justice whenever they should apply; his majesty be ing determined, that no man in his dominions should be persecuted for conscience sake. This reflects great honour upon the sovereign. But it was become ab solutely necessary that something should be done to quell the increasing tumults. Of this necessity ev^en the enemies of the Methodists were made sensible. In Staffordshire the mob turned upon .their employers, and threatened, unless they gave them money, to serve them as theyiiad done the Methodists. And if they saw a stranger, whose appearance did not please them, they immediately attacked him. A Quaker 13 THE M^IHODISt manual. A Quaker happening to ride through Wedtle^- bury, they swore he was a preacher; pulled him off his hors'e, dragged him to a coal-pit, and were with difficulty prevented froili throwing him in. But he jarosecuted them at the assizes, and from that time the tumults in Staffordshire subsided. After some years of ill-treatment and oppression, and gathering courage from gaining some trials, they bfegan to be more peremptory in demanding redress.' But at the quarter sessions they were frequently dis appointed. However they traversed and appealed to the higher courts. They often succeeded at the assizes, and almost always at the king's bench. And by de-- grees it became understood, that the Methodists had a right to liberty and protection, as well as their fellow- subjects, and that they were determined to claim these privileges. But a little before Mr. Wesley's death, vigorous attempts were made, in different parts of the kingdom to prosecute the Methodists under the Con venticle Act. And through the genuine spirit of per*- secution, several preachers were fined twenty pounds for preaching in unlicensed places, and even in the open air : aud oome vvere fined five shillings a head for hearing them preach. However, as tliis fort was not tenable, this mode of persecution did not make pro gress. In the year 1793, there was an outrageoiis and unprovoked per£eculion at Great Bardfield, in Essex, for which several persons were tried before Judge Lawrence, at Ci)-!msford, m l^Jay, ITO-i, when the csuse of re!i^,ii.fus liberty Uiumpicd c\ty the spirit of perEf'Cution. There is much excelkiice in the laws of Enrb:iJ, aiid perhaps '..otuing is so pure among us, as the adniiuisUuilou of justice 'di the assizes. It would be !mpo.'--.sii)le, especially in the narrow linVits ] i-ef^e; ihesi to this Manbal, to give a full and ex- phc'H uew of pv.roccistiov), as endured by the Meiliod- isls. T'rfE METHODIST MANUALj 14 tets. A full and particular account of the lives of the preachers, properly written by themselves, would hav0 contributed most completely to this end. A few of them wrote short accounts of themselves, which were toblished in some of the first volumes ofthe Arminian Maga^ii*6. Tiiese give us many tragical accounts of the dangers they have been exposed to, and the cruelties they have endured from- savage brutalityj bigotry and misguided zeal. Not a few persecutors, however, have been brought, like Saul of Tarsus, to preach, and many more to embrace, the faith they toiice persecuted. What still awaits the Methodists they know not. Flesh and blood would pray to be excused froin perse^ cution. But steadj', w^ell-grounded faith, aided by lote td God, and a good hope of heaven, will not shrink froin, or faint in, any tribulation or distress for the sake of Christ. This year, 1750, the seventh conference was held in Bristol. And the eighth conference was held in the same place, 1751. And it was in the sprins; of this year, that Mr. Wesley paid his first visit to Scotland, being accompanied by Mr. Christopher Hopper, It was also in this same year, that the first disputes were among the societies, concerning the propriety, or im propriety of separating from the Church of England. 1752. October 16, this year, the ninth confer ence was held in Bristul. It was al this couicrtnce that it was first determined, that the preachers should each have a salary of twelve pounds a year, to provide themselves clothes, bocks, &c. Their meat vya^ pro vided for theui where ti.ey laboured. Few men are more straitened and embanasscd in their circuins^-ctuces than some preachers sometimes have been, it is well that God knows their wants. 1753. May 22,, the tenth conference began in Leeds. All the former annual conferehces were held - either 14 THE MZTMODIS^T MANUAL. either in London or Bristol. About thirty preacher* were present upon this occasion, who were nearly th© whole of the preachers at that time. May 22, 1754, the eleventh conference was held in London. During the preceding year, a breach had been" made in the connexion, by Samuel Larwood, ^ Jonathan Reeves, John Whitworth, Charles Skelton, and John Edwards, forming independent congrega tions, in different parts of England. May 6, 1755, the twelfth conference began in Leeds. The lawfulness and erpijd/ency of separating from the Cliurch, was seriously and calmly considered: and on the third day, they all fully agreed in the gen eral conclusion, that whether it was lawful or not, it was no ways expedient. This year the practice of re- jiewing the covenant with God, was first begun by Mr. Wesley, in London. August 26, 1756, the thirteenth oonference, consisting of abbut fifty preachers, began in Bristol. They again considered the point about separating, and Mr. Wesley and his brother Charles closed the confer ence, with a solemn declaration of their purpose, never to separate from the Church. 1757. . There were"^ two conferences -held this year, ^ little one at Keighley, May 21, between Mr. Wesley land the preachers in that neighbourhood ; and the reg^- ular annual one, begun August 4, in London. We shall not number (hat held at Keighley, but call that held iu London the fourteenth conference. It was a conference of love and harmony. It was at this time, that the first fixed allowance was made to preachers' wives. It was first allowed to Mrs. Mather, and the ^ijjiual sui>i was ten pounds: and that would have gone further thtH, than twenty pounds will now. Augusts, 1759, the sixteenth conference began in London. This couferenpe was particularly remark ably T'HE MKTHOniSt SJAtiTU'AL'. "tS able for a strict examination into the spirit and lives of the preachers. August 29, 1760, the seventeenth conference began in Bristol. This year was remarkable for a great revival of reliirion, and especially on account of a great nuraber of persons who professed to be cleansed frond all unrighteousne.ss, and to be made perfect in lovei Bat it was disgraced by some of those following im pulses and mental impressions more than the bible; using irreverent and improper expressions in prayer ; pretending to the gift, of the discernment of spirits, and of fore-telling future events; and in pronouncing uncharitable and harsh censures against those who disapproved of their enthusiasm. The connexion was disturbed, and a considerable number of the society in London, left Mr. Wesley's connexion, with Mr. Maxfield and George Bell at their head. 'o^ September the 1st, I76I, the eighteenth confer ence began in London. At this time the work of God swiftly increased : and there was also an increase of what was not justifiable. Mr. Wesley laboured hard, to guard the people against extremes on both sides, and in some measure succeeded. His religious sent iments were both rational' and scriptural. He was always an enemy tp rant and enthusiasm. 1762. This year the nineteenth conference was held in Leeds, beginning on the 9th of August. God was graciously present, and it was a^ood conference. 1763. In July this year, the twentieth conference was held in London. The different resolutions of former conferences, respecting discipline, were now published. This was a very important conference : the design and state of Kingswood school were drawn up; Mr. Wesley got the deed of trust drawn up by three eminent law yers; and it was agreed earnestly to request all the societies to contribute to the yearly collection, which had 1(5 THE METHODI-SX MAJfUALi had only beeh made in a few ofthe societies hitherto. The number of the circuits was, in England, 20; in Scotland, 2; in Wales, 2; in Ireland, 7; total, 31. This conference iivalit,uted ihe preachers' fund. August 16, 1764, the twenty-first conference began in Bristol. Twelve clergymen made thf ir ap pearance at this conferenoe, to endeavour to prevail Jjipon Mr. Wesley to give up the societies under his care tothesuperinteadence of those ministers in every place who were pious and preached the gospel. And Mr. CharJes Wesley, whocea. and strengthened at the; conference in 1770, and again in 1804. . August l,.i 1769, the twenty^sixth Uoriference commenced in Iieeds. And the preachers had the' pleasure of being informed, that Methodism bad began tO;,tak0 root in the vast continent of America. A. pre»chiQg. there is no church at a|l within two or three miles. And we advise every one who preaches in the church hours, to read the psalms and lessons with part of the church prayers. It was at this conference that Mr. ^Yesley ap- poit^ted Dj-. Coke to visit the British Dominions in Atn^rica. But t^ie Doctor, and the two missionaries destined THE METHODIST MANUAL. fi destined for Newfoundland, were constrained by con trary winds, to steer for the West Indies, and landed in Antigua, on christmas-day. Dr. Coke very properly considered his being drivenlto the West Indies as pro vidential : and subsequcht events hav^ proved it most eminently so. This was the grand introductory cir cumstance which paved the way for those missionary labours;in. those Islands which have befen so abund antly pvpued and blessed of God. He left the two mis- siqnarii^^ wh^ wereinttended forNeWfouhdliind to labour* in th^se, Islands, p Since that time' the Wb^k has greatly increased there. ; ;;;«:;i -• ' The 9lh of August,; HiSe, Mr. WesFey^^aida second visit to Holland, > aiid. deturnedSepferhber the 6tlr., .His. forraer visit was in 17S&. He thtJre fdutid some truly pious, peopleii to whom 'he preached Several Unaes, and rejoiced to fijid; that genuine Christianity Was essentially ihe same in all eountrifeg. ¦ ' ¦'"* July 31, and soine' f61Io^irtg day*, 1787, t^ forty-fourth confeffnce Was, held in Mkaehester.. ¦ ' . ' , v> h ¦.¦•;.: '¦ '"" ' • About this time Mr. s Wesley ordained some preaphers for England dnly. It seems as if he camie' at last to this settled opinion, that from the great va riety of opinion among both preachers- and people, as well as from the behaviour of many'of the clergy, tit would he'^expedieiit as A^ell as lanful, that the ordinan ces should be administered to them who desired them. Meantime he topk these steps,* that there might be, after all, as nea'r a confdrmity to the Church of Eng land as circumstances would adnijt. He was this year convinced, for llie first time, that it was the safest way. to licence all our chapels and travelling preachers. ikiARCH 29, 1788, died Mr. Charles Wesley, lie was a pious man, an able and useful pi-eacher, and a most admirable writer of sacred poeti'y. The chief part: of Our ihy mfa* were winiHen by him; 11 1788. 24 THE METHODIST MANUAL. 1788. The 29th of July, this year, the forty-fifth conference began in London. July 28, 1789, the forty-sixth conference began in Leeds. The most painful , buf^iness of this conference was, respecting the chapel at Dewsbury. The trustees resisted the conference, and the conference resisted the trustees, till we lost the chapel, and religion re ceived a wound in that place, though we got' a new chapel. It was an unfortunate affair, and I think the trustees were greatly to .blame;' and perhaps the busi ness might have been managed better. - July 27, 1790, and ff^lowiiig days, the forty- seventh conference was held in Bristol. This was the last at which Mr. Wesley was present. There was nothing very remarkable at this conference, except that one of the preachers was fined J020, for preaching out of doors in p, neigbbouriuig village. To every lover of Methodism, and especially to all who venerate the memory of Mr. Wesley, it will be interesting to see the state of our connexion at the time that he was taken from us, and received to his great reward. The state of Meihodism stood thus : ' In England, - - - - In Ireland, - - . - ' In Wales, ----._ In Scotland, - - . _ Ito the Isle of Man, In the Norman Isles, In the West India Isles, In the British Dom-) iuions in America, f In the United States) -,_ ,^^ of America, j ^^ 198 43,265 Circuit!. Preacher). Memfcert. 65 195 52,832 29 67 14,106 3 7 566 8 18 1,086 1 3 2,580 2 4 49S 7 13 4,500 6 800 Total, 216 6U 120,233 On THE. SIKTIIODIST MANUAL. 35 Qn Wednesday^ March 2, 17U1, at tka .o'clock in the forenoon, Mr. Wesley departed this life, anii entered into the joy of his Lord, whom he had so long, loVed and served. The request he had so ofteu offered to God was fiilly granted. Often had he sung, and that With all his soul, " Till glad I lay this body dovim, Thy servant. Lord, attend ; '.i •! And O ! my life of mercy crown, With a triumphant eod." r 0>^ It would seem- as if his Lord had said to him, "!6e it unto thee even as thou wilt." The expiring Patriarch Joseph, said, " I die, but Crod shaii -be with y cm :" but Mr. Wesley's last words- were, " The best of all is, Grod is vvith us." And t; ese words are now the motto upon the ofiicial seal of the conference. '' ' •- • ^-i ;• - , A MAN of a more extraordinary character thaci Mr. Wesley probably never lived upon this earth. He- was a person of sincere, unaffected and, exemplary piety. And for more than fifty years successively, his great and variegated labours were most astonishing^ His travels, his studies, and his various ministerial la bours, were each of them, when taken separately, al-' moiSt more than snfi^cient for any ordinary man. Few men could have endured to travel so much as he did, without either preac'iing, writing, or reading. Few could have endured to pireach as often as he did, sup posing thtey had neither travelled nor written books.* And very few men could have written and published $0 many books as he did, thongii tliey had always avoided! both preaching and travelhng. That which I think most peculiarly characteristic of him, was his freedom from various ex.;emes, and his every excellence having its proper bounds. Hence, 1 ¦ D (1.) he 20 THE METHODIST MANUAL. (1.) he was neither a Pharisee nor an Antinomianj bi|l his personal religion, and his religious system, were both evangelical and moral. (2.) He was neither a LStitudinarian nor a Bigot. His own principles were fixed ; and yet he was candid and liberal towards men whose sentiments were different from his. (3.) There was in him an admirable mixture of the wisdom of the serpent and the harmlessness of the dove. (4.) He possessed, practised, and propagated, a religion that was neither formal nor superstitious, but both spiritual ao^ rationale (5.) Some persons are meek but not courageous > others are courageous but deficient in meekness; but tie was both- courageous and meek, and it is hard to say, which of these virtues he most excelled in. ; (6.) Some people's gravity sinks into dulness, while the vivacity of others degenerates into levity ; but he was cheerful without being light, and grave without being sad. (7.) His zeal was tempered With moderation, while his moderation was inspired with zeal. He was always employed, yea, always abounding in the work of the Lord, yet so managed himself and his work, as ihat he was still able to do to-morrow as he bad done to-day, and this with very little variation, for more than half a century. I>f point of great, extensive and long-continued usefulness, I believe no history furnishes a character equal to that of Mr. Wesley. And were it necessary, the truth of this testimony would be attested by thpu- sands^ THE METHODIST MANUAL. 27 stands, and tens of thousands, from among the miners in Cornwall, the colliers about Kingswood and New castle-upon-Tyne, and other reformed and regenerated sinners, in alraost every city, town, aud village in the United Kingdora. Many have done excellently, but he excelled them all. Andthe laid such a foundation for the continuation ofthe work, that it is already more than doubled. July 26, 1791, the forty-eighth conference as sembled at Manchester, according to the appointment of the last conference. Mure than two hundred preachers were present : and every one . seemed sensi ble of the loss the connexion had sujstained. Mr. William Thompson was chosen president, and Dr. Coke, secretary. The sticklers, for what was called the Old Plan, having printed and circulated their opinions and wishes, and yeheraently urging a conforraity to thera, naturally provoked replies from those in different places, who wished to see something more conformable to their ideas of christian liberty. Thus a dispute Was created which continued for several \ ears to convulse the societies, and to perplex and distress the preachers. To supply the want of Mr. Wesley's general -super- intepdence, the plan of districts were a:dopted, making a number of .circuits to compose a district; there being mostly not less than three, nor more than eight circuits in a distri.ct ; in general there were five. England was divided, into seventeep districts, Ireland iqtofive, Scot land into two, and Wales formed but one. The Lord was better to us than ;Our fears, and almost exceeded what we had ventured lo hope. We broke up in peace and harmony, and w'th cheering prospects, and thank ful hearts. On the 31st of July, 1792, our forty-ninth con ference began in London ; Mr. Mather, president, and Pr. 2S THE METHODIST MANUAL. Dr. Coke, secretary. Several circumstances contrii biited to make this an uncomfortable conference. One , was the dispute with Dr. Whitehead, about writing the hfe of Mr. Wesley. After much of what was very un- ple isant, the business ended in the publication of two separate lives of Mr. Wesley, one by lyi: Whitehead, and ihe other by Dr. Coke and Mr. Mooi'e. At this time there was niuch uneasiness in the corinexion, occasioned by contentions about the propri- etv or impropriety of having the service in Church-* hours, and tile Lords supper administered among us in soitie places. Touching this last particular, the con ference was much embarrassed. It was at last agreed to decide the matter by lot : nnd this decided, that tlie Lord's Supper should not be administered in the societies for that year. This was raade knc^wn to the people by an address, and was the first instance of the conference addressing the people. This has been done repeat- ly since, and sometimes with good success. The rules of the preachers' fund were considered, enlarged, and somewhat altered; meantime the, annu al Subscription Of each preacher to the fund was raised from half-a*guinea to a guinea. Our fiftieth conference met in Leeds,, and began business July 29, 1793; Mr. Pawson, president, and Dr. Coke, secretary. This ci nference came to the determination, that the societies should have the Lord's Supper where they unanimously desired it. July 28, 1794, and some following days, the fifty-fiist conference was held in Bristol : Mr. Hahby, presidentj and Dr. Coke, secretary. Several things caused this to be an unpleasant conference. Trustees from many of the principal societies assenibled in Bristol at the same time as the conferisnce. THE METHODIST MANUAL. 2^ conference. Their addresses, and the negociations we thought proper to enter into with them, were proi ductive of many difficulties. During the ensuing year, the connexion was generally and greatly convulsed. The chief part of these agitations sprung, either immediately, or remote ly, frora the following circiims;ance. The trustees of the Old Room, and of Guiriea-street chapel, in Bristol, were exceedingly averse to any deviation from what was termed The Old Plan. The Lord's Supper, and service in Church-hours, had been recently introduced, in a' new place called Portland Chapel, in the suburbs of the city. And one of the preachers appointed for that circuit, being believed to l July 30, 1804, the sixty-first conference began in London : Mr. Moore, president, and Dr. Coke, secretary. This year a committee was appointed to manage the mission?, whereas formerly they had been 2 E chiefly 34 THJ; METHODIST MANUAL. chiefly managed by Dr. Coke : and the Doctor was appointed General Superintendent of all out missions. This conference was convinced, that petitioning for preachers, had a direct tendency to destroy, gradually, the itinerant plan. July 29, 1805, the sixty-second conference began at Sheffield : Dr. Coke, president, and Mr. Benson, secretary. This wa". a notable conference, and made some excellent rules, and some of an inferior nature. (Seethe businessof a conference in the Chapter on Dis cipline.) It was agreed, that the district committees should not meddle with stationing the preachers; that no letters concerning stations should be regarded, ex cept what came from a majority at a re,gular quarterly meeting : and that letters coming from committees should have no more attention paid to them than those coming from individuals; but that letters from the quarterly meetings should be read in the stationing committee, and then in the conference. This conference commiserated poor preachers with families, stationed in poor circuits, and recom mended all the circuits to give them a regular weekly board. This conference concluded above ^800 iu debt. July 28, I8O6, the sixty-third annual conference began in Leeds: Mr. Adam Clarke, president, and Dr. Coke, secretary. The most notable transaction of this conference was the expulsion of Mr. Joseph Cook. He had been accused at the conference preceding this, of holding and preaching unsound doctrines, partic ularly respecting the Nature of Faith, and the Witness of the Spirit. A year was given him to re-consider these things in; then he was to give in his sentiments j and in the mean time he was to keep his peculiar no tions to himself, which he promised to do. But in a few months after, he publislied two sermons on these subjects. Many still wished to save him ; but he was THE METHODIST M.\MUALi 3.* was so stiff, that without great inconsistency and im propriety, the conference could not continue to em ploy him. He settled in Rochdale. July 27, 1807, the sixty-fourth conference began ih Liverpool, which was the first tim-e^ of a conference. beilig held there, as the last conference but one, vvas the first instance of one being held in Sheffield. It was not one of our worst conferences, nor one of our best. It was expected that we should have seriously and maturely considered, a great deal which the differ ent districts had said on the subject of a plan for edu cating the young preachers; and also respecting ar ticles of faith, or a summary of our doctrines,' which it was proposed to prepare and publish. But for these things we found no time. This conference wisely enforced a former rule, '^That no charge brought by one preacher against another in the same district, shall be heard in the conference, unless previously explained at the district meeting, if the matter alledged in such charge was then in existence ; and that all charges shall be previ ously announced, personally or in writing, to the brother against whom they are directed." It was agreed at this conference, also, that a col lection should be made in all our congregations for the support of that excellent institution, The BRITISH and Foreign Bible Society, which was done according ly, and amounted to about ^1,300. See Magazine for 1808. July 25, 1808, the sixty-fifth conference com menced its labours in Bristol. This conference was a very laborious one to tiiose who took the most active part in its business. We sat close; we were about two hundred and fifty preachers ; and some part ofthe time the weather was extremely hot, But a conference more 36 THE METHODIST MANUAL. more free from all undue influence and party-spirit, where more impartiality, free discussion, good temper, and general satisfaction prevailed, we never had. On Monday, July 31, 1809, our sixty-sixth con ference began in Manchester, and continued till Thursday, August the 17th. We had many things which called fbr thankfulness : but upon the whole it was rather a trying, as well as tedious conference. Mr. Thomas Taylor was the president, and Mr. Ben^ son the secretary. This conference came to some good resolutions, and some, perhaps, that may admit of amendment. The stale jof our finances was truly alarming, as we found a deficiency in the contingent fund of ^3,019 1 6. This gave occasion to the confer-. ence to resolve, that no larger sum than thirty pounds^ shall ever be allowed for furniture to any one house y that the yearly subscription, after being made as usual in the classes, shall be- mentioned in our principal con^. gregations, that sucti of our hearers as are not in soci ety, and wish to be fellow-helpers to the truth, may have an opportunity ; and that before the defici- encievs biojight from any circuit be paid at the district meeting, euquirv shall L'e made whether such circuit has c^mptieii with our rules respecting contributions, by raisii.j^ on the average, one penny per week, and one bhiliiiig pi i q'.'ai'er !i/r each member. Ifit appear that tSic w.lti have not been complied with, the pay- mn)t of the delicieiacies must, be suspended, and the case be sijbiiiiiled lu tiie decision of the coiiference. It \v;;s r,f;revi] al;o, lli.it the district meetings shall present a plan tu the cojiieicnce lor stationing the children, to eiioble the ciiifereiice to deiermitie what ii!.uril.iu- of juxv.chers' chiidun r.huil be supported by each circuit. To THE MBT0ODIST MANUAt, 37 To prevent any local preacher from getting licensed with a view to escape parish-offices and the militia, the conference determined, that any person who applies for a license, without the previous know ledge and consent of the superintendent and his col leagues, and of the local preachers, or quarterly meet ing, of the circuit in which he resides, shall not be suffered to preach among us. The conference, also, strongly recommended to all Methodist families, to set apart some time eveiy Lord's Day, for catechising and instructing their children. The comparative increase of the members of the societies, and that of the itinerant preachers, during the last thirty-nine years : Years. Preachers. Members. 1770 120 . 29,406 1780 171 44,830 1790 291 71,568 1799 400 107,752 1809 650 331,090 N. B. 159,500 of these members are in the Unit ed States of America: the rest in Great Britain and other parts of the British Dominions. Note also, that the itinerant preachei's in the United States of Amer ica are not numbered. These, I presume, will amount at least to 600. What hath God wrought ! Having finished the brief chronological sketch of the History ofthe Methodists, I think it may be neither improper, unpleasant, nor unprofitable to many of my readers, to have sorae Characteristic, as well as His torical accounts of preachers, who, having finished their course, are gone to receive that crown of righte ousness which fadeth not away. I HAVE 38 THE METHODIST MANUAL. I HAVE already given a short character, as well as history of Mr. Johii Wesley. 1 shall now give A short account of Mr. Charles Wesley. He was born, the 18th of December, jn the year 1708, being about five years younger than his brother John, and about sixteen younger than Samuel. He was born several weeks before the proper time, and appeared rather dead than alive. He neither cried, nor opened his eyes. He was kept wrapt up in soft wool until the time when he sfioidd have been born, and then he opened his eyes and cried. He received the first rudiments of his learning at home, from his mother, as all her other children did. In 1716, Mr. Charles Wesley was sent to West minster School, and placed under the care of his brother, who was Usher there. Samuel was a High- Churchman, and instilled the same principles into Charles. During his stay at school, a gentleman of large fortune in Ireland wrote to his father, and asked if he had any son named Charles, arid said, if he had he would make him his heir. And for several years Charles's education was regularly paid for by a gentle man in London, doubtless by order of this Irish Mr. Wesley. One year, a stranger called to see liim, prob ably this gentleman himself, talked hugely with him, and asked him if he was willing to go to Ireland. — Charles wrote to his father, who iefc him to his own choice. He chose to stay in England. The genlle- niau then found and adopted another Charles Wesley. From tiiis root sprang the present family, who by soui$ aileratiou, are denominated W — 11 — si — 's. In 1721, Charles was admitted a scholar at St. Peter's-College, Westminster. As he advapced in age * and THE METHODIST MANUAL. 39 and learning, he sometimes acted dramas. In 172o, he was elected to Christ's-Church, Oxford, at the same time that his brother John was Fellow of Lincoln- College. " My first year at Collejre," said he, " I lost in diversions; the next I set myself to study. Diligence led me into serious thinking : 1 went to the weekly sacrament, and persuaded two or three youni? students to accompany me, and observe the method of study, prescribed by the University. This gained me the harmless name oi Methodist.'" Does it not appear from these words of his, that the term Methodist, really originated in their rigid adherence to this method of study. It was easy and natural, to give the termination ist to melJtod, and so to denominate the observers of method, Methodists. Meantime the natural associ ation of ideas would bring to remembrance, at least in those readers of Roman History whose memories were tenacious and quick, that description of Physi cians who were called Methodists. But I incline to think this was but the secondary idea. Had this, thought occurred at the time, I should have mentioned it in the proper place in the historical chapter. It was in the year 1728, and in the twentieth year of his age, that he began to apply more closely to study, and to be more serious and circumspect in his general deportment. He became zealous for God, and in his endeavours to do good to men, and that both to their bodies and souls. He proceeded to be Master of Arts, in the usual course, and thought of nothing but of spending all his days at Oxford, as a tutor in the University. Entering into Holy Orders he exceedingly dreaded. But in 1735, his brother John had such influence over hira, as to pre vail upon him to receive ordination, and to accompany him to Georgia, in North America. Afterwards, he was chiefly employed in travelling with his brother, through different parts of Britain, Wales,' and Ireland ; or at -Jeast in labouring in conjunction with him, in preach ing. 40 THE METHODIST MANUAL. ing, and assisting to form, govern, and instruct the several Methodist societies. His preaching, especially in his younger days, was frequently attended with extraordinary power, and Many hundreds, if not thousands, were convinced of sin, and brought truly to repent and savingly to believe. He married Miss Sp,rah Gwynne, a person of consid erable family connexions, in the county of Brecon, in South Wales ; and after this, he chiefly divided his time between Bristol and London, where he was very useful in the conversion^and spiritual profit of many souls. As a preacher, he was mighty in the scriptures, and possessed a remarkable talent of uttering the most strik ing truths with simplicity, brevity, and energy. As a poet, he was most excellent. He wrote the chief part of the hymns that are in our large Hymn Book, and in general use in our congregations, and many volumes of Sacred Poetry besides. He enjoyed but a poor stale of health during raost of his life. He brought this on by too much study and abstinence at Oxford. In his last sickness he was reduced to most extreme weakness. But he was filled with humility and resignation. He had no transports of joy, but a good hope and unshaken confidence in Christ, which kept his mind in perfect peace. He died, March 29, 1788, aged seventy-nine years and three months. When near death, and when scarcely able to articulate his words, his poetic spirit raade its last effort in the foflowing lines, which Mrs. Wesley wrote as he dictated : " In age and feebleness extreme, . Who shall a sinful worm redeem ? Jesus, my only hope thou art. Strength ot my failing flesh and heart : O could I catch a smile from thee, And drop into eternity.'' The THK METHODIST MANUAL. 41 The Character of the Rev. Mr. Fletcher , Has been given by Mr. Wesley in a book wrote soon after his death. Afterwards Mr. Gilpin wrote some notes on his character. And lately, Mr. Benson has compiled a life of him, from all that had been pub lished before, with much additional matter. He was, indeed, a most extraordinary man; a christian to whom the world has seldom seen an equal ; and a preacher, and especially a writer, whose transcendent excellencies my pen cannot fully describe. He was born atNyon, in Switzerland, September iS, 1729, of an an cient and honourable family. He was ordained for the christian ministry in 1757; was made Vicar of Madeley, in Shropshire, in the year 1760; and died there, August 14, 1785, where his name will be had in pious and lasting remembrance. The writer of this publication, spent two years at and about Madeley, comraencing about twelve years after his death; and he found that his narae was still as ointment poured forth. And as every thing is inter esting that respects Mr. Fletcher, I shall be' excused for inserting a few lines about him, especially as what I shall write will be additional to all that has been published before. I had my information from tiie very best authorities. Some of the Methodists at Coalbrook-Dale told me, that their chapel was made about twice as large as at first, about the time of Mr. Fletcher's death. The morning they began to get the stones for the enlarge ment, he came by the quarry just as they were begin ning to work. He ivould have the honour of doing soraething in this business of enlarging the House of Prayer. " But first," said he, " let us pray." So, they all kneeled down upon the rock ; Mr. Fletcher pray ed like himself ; and then he assisted them in get ting stones, till more urgent concerns called him to depart. 2 F I WAS '42 THi METHODIST MANUAR. I 'WAS also very credibly informed, at BroseTefy about three miles from Madeley, that about the time Mr. Fletcher was writing his Checks to Antinomianism, the Baptist minister of that town, declared in the pulpit, he .vi^ould go over to Madeley, to this great i\rminian, and confound and vanquish hira by argu ment. He went accordingly to Mr. Fletcher's house, and told him his errand. Mr. Fletcher did not decline the combat, but only proposed they should first have a little prayer. After prayer the argumentation com menced and proceeded. And Mn Fletcher not only maintained his ground^ but made a considerable im pression on his heroic assailant. What with his malclv less piety, his loving and amiable spirit and temper^ aod the strength and clearness of his arguments, he made a brea.ch in the wall of this Calvinian fortress. The minister returned home, full of admfration, and the praises of Mr. Fletcher ; and was never afterwards able so to preach as to satisfy his Calvinistic auditors^ that he remained orthodox. One more anecdote, I must insert, and then hasten to a conclusion. I had it from the best authority, and I knew the surviving branches of the family. One^ Sunday, after the morning service, Mr. , a gentleman fareaer, insulted Mr. Fletcher very grossly as he came out of the church, evincing great enmity against a faithful ministry and genuine piety. Before Mr. Fletcher concluded his sermon in the afternoon, he told the congregation, he had a powerful impres sion upon his mind', that before the next Sabbath, the Lord would display a signal mark of his displeasure against the enemies of his cause and truth. The week drew almost to a conclusion, and nothing remarkable happened. But, on the Saturday evening, Mr. » returning from the market, in a state he should no| have been in, fell from his horse, and instantly expired upon the spot. This anecdote was kept back fromi publication out of tenderness to the family. But it does not appear to rae that there is any sufficient reason for THE METHODIST MANUAL.* 43 for suppressing for ever, such a notable instance of God's displeasure against the opposers of his truth, and of Mr. Fletcher's prophetic spirit. Since Mr. Fletcher's death, that most excellent, woman, his widow, has been astonishingly useful in carrying on the good work, so happily begun in his days. 1 formed a very high idea of her piety. Her religion is human nature cured and elevated. She has strong sense, and an easy, natural, and almost irresist- able method of drawing up thej[ninds of all about her to heaven and heavenly things. She has, for many years, been the great counsellor apd director of the parish of Madeley ; and that frequently as well in temporals as spirituals. In fact, ever since Mr. Fletchers death, , she has been little less than the Vicar of the parish. She has never quitted the Vicarage- House, though she pays a low annual rent for it; and the Vicar will, I helicTe, employ or dismiss any Curate at her request. The Rev. Mr. Grimshaw, Is a name well known to the religious world. This eminently good and useful man, was a clergy- man of the Church of England. He was born at Brindie, near Preston, in Lancashire, in September, 1708 J was ordained in 1751, but for some time afterwards wasyain and trifling, the reverse of all seri ous godliness. ' At this time he was minister of Tod- mordeu, nine miles north of Rochdale. However, iri two or three years he became more thoughtful ; and in 1742, he became a genuine christian, a zealous preach er of the gospel, and an undaunted and active pub* lisher of the whole counsel of God. In May, that same year, he became niinister of Haworth, in the parish of Bradford, in Yorkshire. — Haworth is one of those obscure places, which like those fishing towns on the coast ofthe Sea of Galilee, where opr Saviour bestowed so much of his time and labuurs, 44 THE METHODIST MANUAL. labours, owes most of its celebrity to the preaching of the gospel. Its name would scarcely have been known, had it not been connected with the name of the cel ebrated Grimshaw. The bleak and barren state of the adjacent country, was no improper emblem of the slate of the inhabitants, who, when he went first among them, were in general very ignorant, careless, and wicked, having little more sense of religion than their cattle, and were wild and " uncultivated like the rocks and hills which surrounded them. But by the blessing of God upon his zealous and abundant labours, very many were awakened out of their sinful sleep, were brought to fear God, to live godly, righteous, and sober lives^ and were filled with peace and joy in believing* His lively, striking, and impressive method of preach ing, was soon much talked of, and attracted great numbers to hear hira, from every part of the surround ing country, and often from 1a great distance. Nor was this raerely during the period of novelty, but con tinued through more than twenty successive years. As the poor make their want of better clothes an excuse for not coraing to divine service in the day time, lie established, chiefly for their sakes, a lecture, or sermon, on Sunday evenings; after preaching forenoon and afternoon. And he began a raethod in 1743, which he continued to the end of his life, of preaching in each of the four haralels under his care^ three times every month. By this, the old and the infirm, who could not attend the church, had the truth 6f God brought to their houses ; and many who were so care less as scarce ever to go to the church, were thus al lured to hear. It was not long, before the holiness of his life, the zeal and diligence with which he instructed the people of his charge, and the great good which many from the neighbouring parishes had obtained by attending his ministry, caused him to have many invitations to preach at the houses of diverse persons in other parishes. And THI METHODIST MANUAL. 43 And when these petitioners, like the man of Maced onia, cried, "Come over and help us," he believed it to be his duty to go. And thus, while he provided abundantly for his own flock, he annually preached near three hundred times to congregations in other parts. He formed two circuits for himself, which, with some occasional variations, he traced every week altern ately. One of these, he pleasantly termed his idle week i because during that he seldom preached more than twelve or fourteen times. In \\\s working week, he often preached twenty-four, and sometimes thirty times. An itinerant clergyman was a strange thing : and Mr. Grimshaw, was perhaps the first minister in Yorkshire, whose zeal prompted him to preach in other parishes, without obtaining consent from the ministers belonging to them. From the year 1745, he maintained a close union with the Methodists, and acted as Mr. Wesley's assist ant, in some parts of Yorkshire and Lancashire. The parts then formed what was called, the Haworth Circuitt of which Mr. Grimshaw was considered as being the perpetual superintendent. He visited the classes quarterly, and renewed their tickets ; attended quart erly meetings, and frequently preached upon those occasions ; and often presided at love-feasts in the Methodist societies. And he attended the conference, when held at Leeds, and always preached. At that time, the conference was held at London, Bristol, and L^eds, alternately, and at no other place. His em ployments would not allow him time to go lo either of the other.places : but though he' was never there, he Jiad a great name, and many friends in London. He lived in strict friendship with the Methodist preachers; they lodged at his house, and preached in his kitchen ; and he regularly published in his church when the preaching would be in his house. And he was so far from envying the talents, popularity, or success ofthe preachers, that he greatly rejoiced in their labours. He heard even the weakest of them with- great and humbitj 4S THE METHODIST MANUAL. •» ^ humble attention, and many of thera he prefered iri honour to himself One timei, after William Shent had been preaching in his kitchen, he fell down before him, saying, " I am not worthy to stand in your presence.^' And.at another tirae, when Benjamin Beanland had been preaching in the sarae place, he embraced him, and said, " The Lord bless thee Ben, this is worth a a hundred of ifly sermons." Mr. GriMSHaw's was a very extensive circuit, and though they travelled much on horseback, it required three or fouir preachers, besides him, to supply it. But he regularly supplied his own church on the Sundays. Hisho«se and church were ever open to Mr. Whitfield, or* any other gospel minister, who might occasionally visit' those parts; but in respect to di^ciplitne, and doctrines in general, he held the sarae sentiments as Mr. Wesley. The Lord gave great success to his labours. It is true, his manner of life excited much envy, jealousy, and displeasure in many of his clerical brethren ; but none of these things moved him, nor did he count his ' character, or even his life, dear unto himself; but went on, testifying the gospel of the grace of God. Nor did he meet with any serious and determined marks of disapprobation from his superiors in the church. But he was opposed by some who hated to be reformed. — At Cplne, a riotous mob, hired for the purpose, and headed by the Parson, disturbed him while preaching, Mr. "White's proclamation for inlisling men into the mob, raised against the Methodists, ran as follows : "Notice is hereby given. That if any man ;be mindful to inlist into" his Majesty's service, under the command ofthe Reverepd Mr. George White, Com mander in Chief, and John Bannister, Lieutenant-Gen eral of his Majesty's forces, for the defence of the Church of Eingland, and the support ofthe manufac-- tory THE METHODIST MANUAL. 47 tory in and about Colne, both which are now in danger, let him repair to the drum-head, at the Cross, where each man shall have a pint of ale for advance, and other proper encouragements." This Mr. White, was educated at Doway, in France, for Orders in the Church of Rome ; but, upon his recantation, was noticed by Archbishop Potter, and by him recommended to the Vicar of WhaUey, who appointed him minister of Colne. He was not devoid of either parts or literature, but childishly igrtorant of comraon life, sharaefully inattentive to his duty, which he frequently abandoned for weeks together to such accidental assistance as the parish could procure. On one occasion he is said to have read the funeral service more thatj twehkty tiraes in a single night, over the dead bodies which had been interred in his absence. With these glaring imperfections in his ovvn character, he sought lo distinguish himself by a riotous opposition to the Methodists. But, in his last illness, it is said he sent for Mr. Grimshaw, to get the assistance of his instruc- . tions and prayers, being now fully convinced of the impropriety of his former conduct. This minister also preached and published a Sermon against Mr. Grimshaw and the Methodists. — This gave occasion to the only publication Mr. Grim shaw ever favoured the world with. It was printed ii> 1749, and entitled, "An Answer to a Sermon publish ed against the Methodists, by the Reverend Mn George White, M. A. Minister of Colne and Marsden, in Lan cashire. By the Reverend William Grimshaw, Min- -isler of Haworth, Yorkshire." Mr. Myles has done a real service to the public, by re- publishing this pamphlet, in connexion with his valuable life of Mr Grimshaw. The pamphlet fills about 80 pages, twelves, and is a very good defence of Methodism, particularly as circumstances then stood. But it had aeajrly been los\ to the world ; for it was with 48 THE METHODIST MANUAL. with difficulty, after a considerable search, that a copy of it was procured to re-print it from. When Mr. Wesley or Mr. Whitfield visited Ha worth, the custom was, after the prayers had been read in the church, to go through a window upon a scaffold erected for the purpose, in the church-yard, and after preaching to congregations consisting of thousands, they returned into the church, and administered the Lord's Supper to great numbers. This often took up a good while ; and in the meantime, a preacher con tinued preaching out of doors. These were times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, and many drew wat^fer with joy out of the wells of salvation. ¦/• ¦ It was a constant custom of Mr. Grimshaw's to attend the feasts arid wakes, kept in the neighbouring villages, accjampanied by two or three local preachers, whoim he invited to assist him. And after these men had preached, one after another, he concluded the service by preaching hiraself. This plan produced the most happy effects ; many were hereby kept frora fol lowing the multitude to do evil, and from contracting ;jel has "come, not in word only, but also in pOweir," or efficacy ; efficaciously influehtitig the heart and life, "atid in the Ho^ly Ghost, attd in much as surance :" that such a trt'e beliiever, is not only per- Ku^adled of the truth and importance of the gospel, but trembles at its threalenirigs, embraces its promises, and yieMis obedience to its 'cdvtinands. But, (2.) They be lieve, the principal act ofthe faith that briugs Salvation is to come to Jesus Christ; to receive and put him on in all his mediatorial 'offi'ces, trusting ill him, and tlie promises of G6d throngh him, fPr juslifioaliin, sancli- litatiPn, and eternal life, according lo the new coven- 4mf, or covenant of grace through his incarnatioh, suf- lering'Sj and merits. One of the first sermons which Mr." Wesley pub lished, he ejBtitled "Salvation by Faith," Thetextis, Eph. ii. '8, "By -grace are yie saved through faith," H^ enquires, I. What THI METHODIST MANUAL. 77 I. What faith it is through which we are saved. 1. It is not barely the faith of a heathen. God re quires a heathen to believe. That God is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. A Greek or Roman heathen, was without excuse if he did not believe the being and attributes of; God, a future state of rewards and punishments, and the obligatory nature of moral virtue. 2. It is not the faith of a deVil, though that goes much farther than the faith of a heathen. No doubt, the devil believes, not only the being and attributes of God, that Jesus, Christ is the Son of God, and the Saviour of the world; and also the troth and divinity of the holy scriptures, Luke iv. 34. James ii. 19. Acts xvi. 16 — 18. 3. The faith, whereby we are saved,- is not barely that which the apostles themselves had while Jesus was yet upon earth, tliOMgli they so believed on him as to forsake all and follow him ; and had power to work many miracles. 4. The faith whereby we are saved, is, (1.) A faith in Christ; Christ, and God through Christ, are the proper objects of it. This differs from the faith of a heathen : /aroar/»2a/that are saved, but especially of those who expli citly believe in hira. Marriage. — Loyalty. — The Sabbath. — The visible Church. — Baptism, and the Lord's Supper. XI. Touching sundry other raatters, which can not so fully be reckoned among the essential doctrines of the gospel, the Methodists believe as follows: — That is to say, 1. Respecting marriage, they believe it- to be be tween, owe man and one woman, and that it was ordained for the mutual help of both parties, and for the legiti mate aiid regular increase of mankind ; that it is. law ful and honourable; but that it is not lawful for any man to have more than one wife, nor for any woman to have more than one husband at the sarae time. And christians ought to ma'rry only in tlie Lord, and there fore should not be united in wedlock" with Infidels, Jews, Mahometans, or Heathens, l^either should atrue christian marry a person who is only a christian in name, but should take care if he or she do marry, not to be unequally yoked together with such as do not believe in, fear, worship, and serve God. 4 / P 2. The 114 nit, METHODIST MANUAL. 2. The Methodists believe, that God, the supreme Lord and King of the whole world, hath ordained civil magistrates to be, under him, over the people, for his own glory, and the pubhc good : and that they should be for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do wpll. Hence, it is lawful for christians to accept and execute the office of magistrates, when duly called thereto. And it is the duty of the people to pray for their rulers, and all magistrates, superior and subordinaie, to honour their persons, to pay them tribute, and other dues, to obey -their lawful com mands, and to be subject to their authority for con science sake. They believe also, that the King hath the chief power in the united kingdora of Great Britain and Ire land, and his other dominions; unto whom the chief government of this empire appertains; and is not, nor ought lo be, subject lo any foreign jurisdiction. 3. They believe it to be their duty to keep the first day of the week as a sabbath.. This before Christ, was on the last day of the week ; but from the time of his resurrection, was changed into the first day of the wtek, and is in scripture called " The Lord's Day," and is to be continued to the end of the world as the christian *'sabbath. This they believe to be set apart by God, and for his worship, by a positive, moral, and perpetual commandment. And they think it to be agreeable to the law of nature, as well as divine institu tion, that a due proportion of time should be set apart for the worship of God. And, perhaps, no proportion could have been so proper as that of one day out of seven. Less might have been too little, and more might have been more than could have been spared from other employments. This day ought to be kept holy unto the Lord, and men and women ought so to order their affairs, and prepare their hearts, that they may not only have a holy, THE METHODIST MANUAL. 115 holy rest on that day, from woridly employments, words, and thoughts, but spend the day in the public and private duties of piety. No part of the day should be employed in any other way except in works of mercy and necessity. On this day, they believe it to be their duty to worship God, and that not only in form, but at the same time in spirit and in truth. Therefore, they employ themselves in prayer and thanksgivinjj, in read ing and raedit^ing on the scriptures, in hearing the public preaching of God's words, in singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, in christian conversation, and in comraemo'rating the dying love of the Lord Je sus Christ. And they believe and remember, that no part of religious worship, now under the gospel, is con fined lo, or raade raore acceptable, by any particular place in which it" raay be performed, whether built and set apart for worship or otherwise. And with them it is a prevailing idea, that God raust be worshipped in spirit, daily, in private families, and in the closet, each one alone, and if possible, still more so in the public as semblies. 4. They believe The visible cliurch of Christ, to consist of a nuraber of believing and obedient peo ple, araong whom the word of God is preached in pu rity and with fidelity, and who walk, not only in the commands, but in all the ordinances of Christ; that the church is not confined to one nation, as under the law, but is universal, and will continue, and increase, to the end ofthe world. 5. They believe baptism to be an ordinance ap pointed by Christ ; not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible church, but also to be to him a sign or emblem of regeneration, and of his presenting himself tp God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in newness of life. It is also a covenant of grace, and by Christ's own appointment, is lo continue in the church to the end of the world. The person is to be baptized in water, by a christian minister, in the name of 116 TILE METHODIST MANUAL. ofthe Father, and ofthe Son, and of the Holy Ghost. And baptism may be rightly administered, either by iraraersion, or by pouring, or sprinkling water upon the person. This ordinance of baptism ought to be admi nistered, nol only lo adult believers, but lo all infants, whose fathers or mothers are true christians. Bat be cause proselyting was enjoined as previous to baptism, in our Saviour's charge to his apostles, when he sent thera out lo christianize the worid, sorae have infered that infants are not to be baptized. But if the argu ment was as strong as they suppose it to be, it would follow, that infants cannot be saved : for it is declared, ** he that believeth not shall be daraned." But, the truth is, that both Mark xvi. 15, and Mat, xxviii. igr, QO. raust be interpreted according to the subjects treat ed of in them, which ar6 plainly adult persons; and therefore no argument can be drawn thence concerning either the baptism or salvation of infants. They who conclude that infants are not capable of baptisra, be cause they cannot believe, must conclude also that they cannot be saved; faith being more expressly required to salvation than baptism. " He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved ;" but though he says, " he that believeth not shall be damned," he does not say, " He that is not baptized shall be daraned." Bap tisra is the sarae under the christian dispensation, that circuracision was under the dispensation of Moses: and all the arguments against infant baptism would have been equally conclusive against infant circumcision. Circumcision was a sign and seal of a covenant entered into with God: and baptism is intended to be the same. Yet, though baptism ought not lo be neglected, grace and salvation are not so inseparably^ annexed unto, or connected with it, as that na person can be regenerated or saved without it, or that all vvho are baptized are certainly regenerated. Lastly, This ordinance is lo be administered only once to any oue person. 6. In the same night that Jesus was betrayed, he instituted the ordimance termed "The Lord's Supper," or THE METHODIST MANUAL. 117' or the sacrament of the body and blood of Christ. This he ordered his followers to do in remembrance of him. The Methodists believe that it ought to be ob served by the church, lo the end pf the worJd, in re membrance of his sacrifice of himself in his death and passion, for the spiritual benefit of believers; to engage them more strongly lo love and serve him ; as a bond of union among themselves; and as a sign of their mutual trust in and love to Christ; and of their mutual hope of being with him hereafter. " Is it not the com munion of the body and blood of Christ ?" All true christians have felbwship with him, especially in this ordinance, as to his grace, sufferings, death, resurrec tion and glory ; and being united with each other in love, they have communion in each other's gifts and graces, and are obliged to the performance of such duties, public and private, as conduce to their mutual good, whether in matters temporal or spiritual. They are bound, especially, to maintain a holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God, and all such spiritual exercises as tend to their mutual edification. And they ought to help one another in temporal things according to their several necessities and abilities, which communion as far as we have opportunity, isno be ex tended to " all those who in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jesus." But this communion, not withstanding, which the saints have with each other, doth not take away or infringe the title or propriety which each man hath in bis goods or possessions. State of separate Spirits. — Day pf Judgment, — Hell and Heaven. XII. The Methodists believe in a state of separate 'spirits after death, a general resurrection, a day of judgment, and a state of eternal happiness and eternal misery. 1, They believe in a state of separate spirits. The bodies of men, after death, return to dust and see cor ruption; but their souls neither die nor sleep, but have an 118 THE METHODIST MANUAL. an immortal subsistence, and immediately " return to God who gave them." The souls of the righteous, being raade perfect, are received into paradis§, where they are with Christ in unspeakable felicity, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies. The souls of the wicked, iraraediately after the death of their bodies, lift up their eyes in hell, being in torments, Luke xvi. 23. to be reserved to the day of judgment. 2. The Methodists believe hell to be a dark bot tomless pit, full of fire and brimstone ; that the wicked will spend their time there in weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth; that every part of both body and soul will be tormented at once: that their bodies will be tormented by lying and burning in flaming fire; that their souls will be tormented by a sense of the wrath of God ; by pride, self-will, malice and envy ; hy grief, desire, fear, rage, and despair; that their tor mentors will be their own consciences, the devils, and one another; that they will have no rest from torment day or night; and that this torraent wiU never never have an end. But so far as it respects the body it can not take place till the day of judgment. And as the wicked go to hell when they die, so the righteous are carried by angels into Abraham's bosom, or heaven. Mr. Wesley published a sermop on The Torments of Hell. The text is Mark ix, 48. " Where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." He observes, every revealed truth is of importance: yet some are of greater importance than others. And we raay judge of their special importance frora the cir cumstance of their being frequently mentioned in the bible. This is the case with the awful truth now be fore us. Our Lord, who uses no vain repetitions, re peals it over and over in the same chapter. And the consideration of these terrible truths is not proper merely for enormous sinners, Read Luke THE METHODIST MANUAL, 119 Luke xii, 1 — 4, It behoves even those who fear and love God, to consider what is said in the bible about a stale of future punishments. The punishment of those who will have their portion with the devil and his angels, will consist of what they lose, and what tliey feel. I, Wliat they lose. This punishment of loss, com mences the moment the soul is separated from the body. In that instant, the soul loses all the pleasures of the senses. The smell, the taste, the touch, delight no more. The organs that ministered to them are spoiled, and the objects that used to gratify them are removed far away. All the pleasures ofthe imagination are at an end. There is no f^randeur, or light, or novelty, in those dark abodes. There is no music, but that of groans and shrieks, of weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth; of curses artd blasphemies against God, or Cutting reproaches of one another. Nor is there any thing to gratify the sense of honour : they are the heirs of everlasting shame and" contempt. Thus are they totally separated from all the things they were fond of in this world. And they will lose all the persons they here loved. They are torn away frora their nearest and dearesff relations, every friend, and all the plea sures they yielded thera. But there will be a loss still greater than any, or all, of these : they will lose their place in the paradise of God. They will then understand the value of what they have vilely cast away. And paradise is only the porch of heaven. It is there is the fulness of joy and pleasures^r evermore. They will then know and feel, that God alone is the centre of all created spirits ; and that a spirit can have no rest out of him. It would, seem the apostle had this in view, 2 Thes. i. 8, 9- Ba nishing from the presence of the Lord, is the very es sence of destruction to a spirit that was raade for God. And if that banishment lasts for ever, it is everlasting destruction. But, II. Their 120 THE METHODIST MANUAL. II. Their punishment from what- they will feel or endure. (1.) There will be inworm that will not die. This will include a guilty conscience, self condemna tion, sorrow, shame, remorse, and a sense of the wrath of God. What is any anguish in this world, yea, even that of a wounded spirit, when compared with this. Their souls will be wholly awakened, to feel all the wrath of an angry God, And, add to all this, what -they will feel frora unholy passions, from fear, rage, and despair; and from unholy lerapers, envy, jealousy, malice, and revenge. To these we may add, hatred of God, and all his creatures. Thus will their worra tor ment them. And ikiefire is Jiot quenched. Perhaps the mean ing is, the fire will be essentially the same, to all who are tormented therein: only perhaps more intense to sorpe than others, according to their degree of guilt. ¦Bat their worm will not, cannot be the same. It will be infinitely varied, according to their various kinds; as well as degrees of wickedness. This variety will arise partly from the just judgment of God, rewarding every man according to his ivorks. Variety of punish ment will likewise arise from the very nature of the thing. The more wickedness a man brings to hell, the more misery he will find there. And his misery will be varied according to the various kinds of his wicked ness. It was therefore proper to say the fire, in general; but their wcrrm in particular. Some have questioned whether there be any fire, that is, material fire, in hell. But if there be any fire, it must, be material. For what is immaterial ^re^ The sarae as iraraaterial water or earth 1 Both the one and the other is absolute nonsense, a contradiction in terms. We must therefore affirm this fire to be material, or else deny its existence. But suppose there should be no fire, what would sinners gain by that, seeing all allow il is either fire or something worse ? And our Lord speaks of it as if it were real fire. This none can deny Some THE METHODIST MANUAL. 121 Some aver, " It is not possible that fire should burn always, For by the, immutable laws of nature, it con sumes whatever is thrown into it. And by the same law, as soon as it has consumed its fuel, it is itself con sumed,, and goes out." In the present constitution pf things, and during the present laws of nature, all this is true. But, the present laws of nature are not immutable. With the present conslitdlion of things, the present laws of na ture will cease. Afterwards, nothing will dissolve, or consume, any more. And thereftare, were it true, that fire consumes all things now, it does not follow, that it would do so after the whole frame of nature has undert* gone a vast and universal change. And has not God already given some proof of what will be hereafter ? Is not the Unum asbestum, the incombustible flax, known in most parts of Europe ? If you take a tow.el or handkerchief made of this, (one pf which may- now be seen in the British Museum,) you may throw it into the hottest fire, and when it is taken out again, it will be observed, upon the nicest experiment, not to have lost one grain of weight. We will consider, HI. Two or three circumstances attending the never-dying worm, and the unquenchable fire, (l.) Con sider the company that will surround every one that gets into that place of torment. In our public prisons, -even condemned criminals often exclaim, " They wish they were hanged out of the way, rather than be plagued with the wretches round about them." But what are the raost abandoned wretches compared to the inhabitants of hell? None of the inhabitants of earth are yet perfectly emptied of all good : certainly will not be so during life; and perhaps notitill the day of judgment. But the damned in heU have no good remaining in them, but are totally, and iu the highest degree, wicked. 4 a (2.) All 122 THE METHODIST MANUAL. (2.) AU these torments, of body and soul, are with out intermission. They have no rest, dav or night, but the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever. According to the present constitution ofthe worhl, God has wisely and graciously ordained, that day and night should succeed each other. And the very extremity of pain, suspends or mitigates it. But nol so in hell. (3.) Of this duration there is no end. Nothing but eternity is the terra of this torment. And who can count the drops of rain, or the sands of the sea, or the days of eternity ? Every suffering is softened, if there be any hope, though distant, of deliverance from it. But here " Hope never comes, that' comes to all ! From that place of torment there is no rederaptionv" TC conclude, what a guard should these consider ations be, against any teraptations from pleasure,? Will you lose for any of these poor earthly, sensual plea sures, the pleasures of heaven, the society of angels, the company of the spirits of just raen raade perfect, of Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, and of God the judge of all ? What folly, what madness equal to this! Are you tempted by pain either of body or mind? Corapare things present with things future^ What is any pain of body, or of raind to the worm that never dieth ? Lastly, let us be thankful, that we who have so .much deserved it, are not already plunged into it. And let us take care that we never come into that plaG& of torraent. The 80th hymn in oiir large hymn book is on the terrible subject of hellish torraents It runs ihQs :, 1 " Terrible thought, shall I alone. Who may be saved, shall I,. Of all, alas ! whom I have knovirn,, Through sin for ever die? 2 While THE METHODIST MANUAL. 123 S While all my old companions dear, With whom I once did live, Joyful at God's right hand appear, A blessing to receive. 3 Shall I, amidst a, ghastly band, Dragg'd to the judgment seat. Far on the left with horror stand, My fearful doom to meet ? i Ah ! no, I still may turn and live ; For still his wrath delays ; He now vouchsafes a kind reprieve, And offers me his grace. I will accept his offers now, From every sin depart : Perform my oft repeated vow. And render him my heart," . &c. ¦ 3. The Methodists believe heaven to be a place of light and glory ; that good men will live there in joy and happiness greater than they can now desire or think ; that they will suffer nothing there; will have spiritual bodies ; that their chief happiness will lie in the enjoyment of God, that is, in knowing, loving, and seeing God face to face; that they will spend their time in singing praise to God; and that this happiness will last for ever and even 4. They believe God has appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by -Christ Jesus. The _ Judge will be the Son of God and the Saviour of raan; he will corae accorapariied by angels, and with flaming fire; the dead will be awaked andmade to rise; they will stand before the judgment- seat of Christ; the books will be opened, and every work will be brought into judgment with every secret thing; and the Judge, at the conclusion, will say to the righteous, who will stand on his right hand, "Come y-e! blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you." And he will say to the wicked, who will stand upon his left hand, '^' Depart, ye cursed into ever lasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels," The IS* THE METHODIST MANUAL* The chief end for which Giod hath appointed this day, is the manifestation of the glory of his perfections, as of his power itt raising the dead, and collecting the universe of his rational creatures to his bar; his wisdom in knowing all the actions, words, dispositions and thoughts of all mankind, with the various circumstances and qualities of each ; his'holi7iess anA justice in hating and punishing sin, and his mercy and love towards his believing and obedient children. For then shall the righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that fulness of joy and gladness, which shall proceed from the perfect vision and enjoyment of him. But such as in the days of their flesh "knew not God, and obeyed iiot the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power." But while Christ would havens to be fully assured that there will be a day of judgment, both to deter men from sin, and for the greater consolation of the righte ous in their aflnlictions; so he will keep the exact pe riod of time, when that day shall be, unknown to men, that they may shake off all carnal security, and be always ready and watchful, not knowing at what hour the Lord will corae; and may be always pre pared to meet him, and to say, " Corae Lord Jesus, corae quickly." Mr. Wesley preached at the assizes in Bedford, on March I0,i 1758. His text was, Rom. xiv. 10. " We shall all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ." After a suitable introduction, he enquired, (and the sermon has long been published,) I, The chief cir-curastances which will precede the great judj^nient, (1.) "God will shew signs in the earth beneath," Acts ii, 19. Luke xxi. 11. Rev. xvi, 20, Joel ii, 30, 31, Luke xxi. 25,26. Joel iii. 15. Thes, IV. 16. Rev. XX. 13. 1 Cor. xv. 53. {%) The THE METHODIST MANUAL. 125 {%.) The Son of man shall send forth his angels over the earth, Mat. xxiv. 31, &c. The Lord shall come with clouds, in his glory. Mat. xxv. 31. And before him shall be gathered all nations, and the dead, small and great, shall stand before God; And the books will be^opened, (a figurative expression, plainly refering to the manner of proceeding among men,) and the dead shall be judged out of the things written in the books, according to their works. He considers, II. The judgment itself And (1.) The Judge: that man ivhom he hath ordained, the Son of man, and yet the Son of God; the gracious Redeemer of man kind, (2.) The day: it is emphatically stiled the day of the Lord. The present time is our day:, but when time shall be entled, then will come the day of the Lord. How long it will last, we cannot tell. From the eXpre^ion of Peter, 2 Pet. iii. 8. " One day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day," some of the ancient fathers infered, that the day of judgment would be a thousand years. And it seems they did not go beyond the truth : nay, pro bably they did not come up to it. For if we consider the number of persons to be judged, and the things to be enquired into, it would ' appear, that a thousand years will hardly be sufiicient for the transactions of that day. Probably it may comprise several thousand years. But God shall reveal this in its season. {§.) As to the /)/fi!c^ of judgment, the scripture gives no explicit account. Some, yea, many have sup posed it will be on earth, where the works were done, and that in order that there may be sufficient room, the Lord will employ the angels of his strength, " To smooth and lengthen out the boundless space. And spread an area for all huraan race." But 126 THE METHODIST MANUAt, Sut it is more probable that it will be in the clouds, 1 Thes. iv. 16, 17. {4.) ^he persons to be judged will be as countless as the drops of rain, or the sands of the sea : a great multitude which no man can number. Every man, woman, and child, since the world beganl*till time shall be no more. And the common supposition is, which does not seem absurd, tliat the earth bears at no one ' time, less than four hundred millions of living human beings. In a succession of generations, for seven thou sand years, what a congregation will this make ? (5.) The account to be given. Every work shall be brought into judgme7it, with evei-y secret thing, whetiier it be good, or nhether it be evil. Words as well as works, yea, the very secrets ofthe heart, will then be brought into judgment. God will bring to light tlie hidden things of' dark7iess, and the very thoughts and i7ttents of the heart. In that day shall be discovered every inward working of every human soul: every ap petite, passion, inclination, and affection with the vari ous combinations of them, with every temper and dis position that constitute the whoJe complex character of each individual. (6.) "The King Avill say to .them on his right hand. Come, ye blessed of my Father," &c. All the goad they did upon earth, will be recited before men and angels. All their good desires, intentions, thoughts, . and dispositions, will also be remembered. And all their sufferings, for the name of Jesus, for righteousness sake, aud for the testimony of a good conscience. (7.) Many believe that the mil deeds of those who die in the Lord will not then be brought forward, and refer to Ezek. xviii. 21,22. Jer.xxxi. 34, Heb. viii, 12. But tlie full display of the glory of God, aud the clear and perfect manifestation of his wisdom, justice, power, and mercy towards the heirs of salvation, seems to ren der TIIE METHODIST MANUAL. 127 der it necessary, that all the circumstances of their lives should be placed in open view, together with all their tempers, desires, thoughts and intentions of their hearts. Otherwise^it would not appear from what a deptli of sin and misery the grace of God had delivered them. It will be sufficient for them, that " their sins will be re membered no more" to their condemnation: and this is the plain meaning of the promise, Jer. xxxi. 34. (8.) After the righteous are judged, the King will turn to them on the left hand, and judge them also ac cording to their works. And not only their works shall be judged, but also their words, desires, affections, tem pers, thoughts, and designs. Consider, III. Some circiimsrtances which will follow the judgment. (1.) The execution of the sentence pro nounced on the evil and the good. " These shall go away into everlasting pvmishment, but the righteous into life eternal." The same word is used in both cases : it follows, that either the punishment lasts for ever, or the reward too will come to an end. (2.) The heavens will pass away, and being on fire will be dissolved, Rev. xx. 11. 2 Pet. iii, 12.— v. 10. (3.) New heavens, and a new earth Avill succeed, 2 Pet. v. 13. Isa. Ixv. 7. Rev. xx. 1, 3, 4. — xxii, 3, 4. 128 THE METHODIST MANUAL. CHAPTER III. THE DISCIPLINE OF THE METHODISTS. X HE rules of discipline were not made all at once, but almost every conference has made some addition, as circumstances have been supposed to require. Hence they are very numerous, and in some few instances do not perfectly harmonize. And perhaps a greater ser vice could not be rendered to the connexion than that of digesting and simplifying- the rules. Soraething of this ^kind is attempted in this chapter, and the attempt might :be further extended, only that in professing to give a faithful accomit of a people, matters must be stated as they really exist. •'- Some ofthe rules were made to suit circumstances, which in their own nature were but temporary; some originated in causes that no longer exist; and some few were made without being duly considered, or their ef fects being properly anticipated. The candid reader, who considers the vast variety of circumstances in which Methodism hasbeen placed, during its existence through more than seventy years, the many peculiar difficulties which have occurred; together with the vast mental variety, and that both in point of disposition and inform ation which Methodism has displayed will allow, that the greatest wonder is, that so much uniform consist ency has been maintainedf and that so little can be found even in rales made under the impression of a momen tary impulse, which requires expunging or altering. And rules that were found inconvenient or imperfect, were often rectified by some subsequent resolution. The ¦|^ THE METHODIST WtANUAL. 129 The rules ofthe society, drawn up, and signed by Messrs. John and Charles Wesley, May 1, 1743, in the yer^- infancy of Methodism, and which rules still remain in force, fuvnish us with the most early, authentic, and. important docmueiit respecting the discipline of the Methodists. The next in poin' of authenticity, and which may be considered as a continuation of the rules, dl" a supplement, is contained in what has been added to the original rules, by the order of the conference, and stands connected with the old rules in the printed copy. To leave room for an additional quantity of new matter, especially remarks on the meditated and alarm- IJig attempts to abridge the liberties hitherto allowed by the act of toleration, I forbear to insert the general rules of the society, and also the band rules. Rut those who wish for them may get the former for a penny, an.d the latter fpr a half-penny, fi'om almost any of the preachers. " The general rules ofthe societies" may be sum med up i|i four articles, viz. — 1. That all our private members, leaders, &c. shall pay due attention to our re^ gulations. — 2. That they sliall carefully and conscienci- ously abstain from sin. — 3. That as they have opportunity, they shall do, good unto all men, and especially to them who are of the household of faith.— 4. That they shall se riously and constantly use all the means of grace. The substance of the band rules is much the same, only en tering more into the detail of the minutia o+" practice hi sundry points of inferior importance, though deserving- of attentive consideration. The rule respecting giving or taking things on usury, i. e. unlawful interest, was made against giving or taking things in pawn; and that was before pawn- broking was legalized by act of parliament. I have jiever known any person called to account for this in thirty years. What is here said about spiiHtuous liquors, I heard Mr. Wesley explain at the last conference be fore his death.. When asking the preachers, who were , 5 ¦ R going 130 THE METHODIST MANUAL. going to be received into full connexion, " Do you drink any drams'?" he said; " I mean what I caW dry drams, that is, spirits alone, or unmi^xed with water. ' A little spirit and water you may sometimes have occasion for. Only here it will be needful to take great care." Dr. Eothei'gill said he had made many drunkards. He had advised giersons in certain complaints to drink a little spirit and water. But what they used at first as medicine, they continued to use from contracted taste and habit. Admission into the Society. In general, no person is admitted into society, no not so much as upon trial, except recommended by some person acquainted with them, and after meeting once or more in some class. The superintendent has power to admit on trial persons recommended by a leader with" whom they have met, and to give notes of admittance or permission to love-feasts, of his own mere authority. " Yet in all doubtful cases, prudence directs him to consult such as are most likely to 'furnish him with the necessary information. But before any person received* a quarterly society ticket, our rules require that the case be mentioned at the leaders' meeting, and that a majority of the leaders present avowedly or tacitly agree, that is, that rtiey do not object to such person's being admitted a member of the society. Every per^ son admitted into the society, is not only to conform to the rules just before inserteji, but is required to meet in the class to which he or she belongs, at every oppor tunity. Class-Meeting. A Class-meeting opens by singing a few verses .of a hymn, and by the leader making a short prayer. He then says a few words as ^o his experience as a christian. Having ended what he chooses to say in reference to his own rehgious exercises, he then speaks to THE METHODIST MANUAL. 131 to each member of the class in the order in which their names stand in the paper, generally asking one, or two, or more pertinent questions respecting their religious affections and practice, while he gives to each such in structions, cautions, reproofs or encouragements, as his or her case seems to require. And these meetings are generally of the highest advantage to those who attend them. They afford advantages for teaching and learn ing religious truths, for quickening languishing piety, stiiTing up persons who are inclining- to grow weary and faint in their luiiius, for encouraging feeble and discon solate spirits, as well as promoting christian affection and union, beyond what few would imagine who had not attended these little assemblies. The meeting «loses wilh another hymn and prayer. TJie Appointment and Ojffice of Class-Leaders. A Class-Leader is regularly appointed to his «ffice. In forming a new society, consisting of only one class, it is th^ province of the superintendent of the circuit to appoint the leader. But he fixes upon one, according- to tlie best of his judgment, who will be most suitable for the office, as well as agreeable to the people who now join. Nearly the same may be said respect ing the appointment of a new leader to any society con sisting of one class only. But where there are several classes belonging to the same society, leaders are apy pointed at the leaders' meeting, the su^perintendent hav ing the sole jxiwer of nominating such as may be ap pointed, while the majority of the leaders enjoy the power of negativing any one thus nominated, whom they do not choose to have made into a fellow leader. But it is- but very' seldom that tliere is any contest re specting these appointments. A Leader's office consists in meeting his class as above, in visiting those who absent themselves from the class, -and the sick members belonging to it; iu receiv ing the weekly contributions before-mentionjed, in at- tendinw 132 THE METHODIST I|CANUAL. tiending the leaders' , meetings, and at those meetings, paying the class-money into tlie hands of the stewards of the society ; giving his vote upon any proposal for* the exclusion or admision of a member of society, or the appointment of nevr stewards for that society; to which we must add, that he must shew his class-paper to the officiating preacher, and answer questions put to 4iim respecting any Avho neglect to meet in his class, or any whose characters are rendered doubtful, or may be the subjects of enquiry. A PERSON appointed to be a leader of a class, is sup posed to be not only moral but tnily pious ; of sound judgment,, zealous for the salvation of souls, of good • conduct and character, and apt to teach, according to the nature and design of class-meetings. And he should state to his class the propriety of contributing to the support ofthe cause of God, according to our rules, and their power. See 1 Cor. xvi, 2, 2 Cor. ix. 6, 7. — He is to attend the leaders' meeting at the times ap pointed, unless in case of sickness, distaince, or any other eniergency ; in which case he is to .send a repre sentative who is approved of by the meeting. He is particularly requested to see that each member in his class has the rules of the society, in order that no one jnay be ignorant of them, and to read and enforce them in bis class once in every quarter. He is desired to re- ^gulate his class-paper. in the following manner. If any member of his class be absent al the weekly meeting, he is requested to enquire into the cause, and if the per son be distant from home, to place opposite his name. a D, if sick an S, if business has prevented, a B; if there be reason to conclude it has been neglect, an N; and if no reasoTi can be assigned at the time, an A. He is also requested to write tha nanies of those persons who Jire on trial on the back of his class-paper, where they art; to remain liU the, next qiiartevly visitation; .when i] ¦(>¦:.(• xAiO are then a])proved of maybe received as iiienibt I s of the society. No leader is to receive a nitiiiber iiciii another class without die consent.of the ¦ preacher THE METHODIST MANUAL. 133 preacher and his former leader, nor put any member out of his own class himself. Leaders' Meetings. A leaders' meeting is for the purpose of paying in the weekly class-money, paying the preacher his weekly boai'd, looking over the class-papers, conversing and determining respecting persons proposed for admission into society, or any whose continuance in society is ren dered doubtful, whether through neglecting to meet their classes, or any charges brought against their con duct, .Stewards. A steward of the society and a circuit steward are two distinct offices, and are but seldom in the sanae hands. But there is no nile against a man's filling both offices at the same time. The ofiice of a steward of the society, is to attend the leaders'-meeting, and there to receive from each leader, what class-money he has in hand, to pay the of- iiciating preachers their weekly board-Wages, and any other just and commonly-allowed demand. At these meetings, the stewards are not only the cashiers, or treasurers, but generally the secretaries also. They are required to keep regular and just accounts of all mo nies received by them, and to shew their accounts to the superintendent when required. It is the business of •the stewards to make the necessary preparations for holding the quarterly-meetings and love4easts, and to take care that none get into the love-feasts, but those who are members of society, or who have notes of ad mittance from the preachers. Lastly, at such places as have district-meetings, oi: conferences, held at them, it is the business of the stewards to make the necessary preparations, and to pay, for the society, all expenses incurred by such assemblies, which have not been dis charged by the preachers so assembling. The 134. THE METHODIST MANUAL. Tn^iffice of a circuit steward is to receive and pay all monies at the quarterly-meetings, and to keep a fair account of the whole ; to assist in making regula tions concerning the income and expenditure; to lend the money that may be wanted ; to pay all proper and allowed demands, and to pay to the preachers their tra velling expenses to and from the district-meetings arid conferences; and also to advance to the preachers, when leaving the circuit, a reasonable sum of money to take theta and their families to their new appointment. But it frequently happens, the finances of the circuit are so low, that the stewards cannot advance money for these re movals, or what will but partly do . And in such cases, the deficiencies, as far as judged reasonable, and the funds will allow, are paid at the next conference. But some times, when a preacher is able, he makes no claim, but beai's the loss. QvMrterly-Meetings. A auARTERLY-MEETiNG is composed of the tra velling preachers stationed in the circuit where such meeting is held, the stewards of such circuit, the stew ards of the different societies in the circuit, and some times other, particular friends, members of society, who may be invited, or who raay wish to attend, are present. There is generally a plain dinner, and, in mo^ places, those who dine pay a shilling, except the preachers, or some poor brother. The business of the quarterly-meeting is, to re ceive the quarterly-income from the stewards of the dif ferent societies in the circuit, \and to pay the preachers the quarterly-allowances for clothes, &c. And also the usual allowances to a married preacher for his vrife, liis children, and servant. At this meeting also, there are frequently demands for sundry other things. And it is nol unusual at these meetings to take into coiisidei'atiori any proposed impro^ements in the circuit; sometimes the p!0|irielY of dividing the circuit, having an addi tional THE MEliHODlST MANUAL. 135 tJonal preacher, or the case of any local preacher in that circuit,' who may be proposed for recommendation to the ensuing district-meeting and conference, as a suit able person to become an itinerant pre^icher. The quarterly-meeting is also the proper time and place, for changing or re-appointing the circuit stew ards. It is the sole and exclusive business of the super intendent to name who he thinks would be proper to fill the office. But if the person so nominated be ob jected to, by the majority ofthe meeting, he must name another, and should they object again, he must nomi nate another, till he shall fix upon one whom the ma jority of the persons present agree to the appointment of. And it is agreeable to a rule of the conference, that no steward of a circuit, or of a society, shall continue such more than one year, except re-appointed to the office. And it is recommended, that, as far as practi cable, one of the two stewards shall be changed each year. The money received and paid by the circuit- stewards at the quarterly-meetings, is raised chiefly by the contributions of the meetings of the different soci eties at the time of the quarterly-renewal of the tickets. There is not only a weekly-cdntribution, but a quarterly- contribution also in most circuits, and ought to be in all. For distinction sake, the former is often called class-money, and the latter ticket-money ; not that the tickets are sold, or any thing required for them, but be cause it is usual, and has been so from the commence ment of- Methodism, to contribute something', mOre or iess, at the time of receiving the quarterly-tickets. The •original average contribution was, that each member, taking rich and poor together, should contribute as many pence weekly, and as many shillings quarterly, as they were in number. And this was when money was more than twice the value it is now. Yet many sociefles do not now contribute so many pennies and shillings. — Some few, however, do more than this. Had the orig inal 136 THE MET-HQDIST MANUAL. inal average contribution been raised in every circuity -with some small addition, as money decreased in value, tiiose diflSculties, those embaiTassmeuts, and distresses, the conference has had so often to contend with, had never existed, nor would so many preachers have had to groan under pinchiag circumstances. Op late years, many quarterly-meetings have taken to themselves the authority of discussing the question of what preachers would be proper for their circuit the next year, and who the conference should be requested t© send to their circuit. We have, indeed, no positive rule, eifherfor or against this practice: only the preach ers are positively required by the conference, not to go out ofthe quaiterly->.meeting during the investigation of these thing-s, and especially when themselves are more immediately concerned; see minutes of 1806. Andthe conference has equally deterrained, that no letier cora ing from a quarterly-meeting, shall have any attention paid to it, except it be signed by a majority present at such meeting. Local Preachers. In general, they are a veiy valuable and useful branch of the Methodist societies. Many of them la- bdm- much; and scai'cely one of them ever receives any reward in this world. After being employed six days in their own business, they deny themselves the rest of the sabbath, and travel a number of miles, preach once or more, and often return home tired and weary. Ge nerally they get a little bodily refreshment, at the ex pense of the people to whom they preach, and in some cases the hire of the horse which they have found it ne cessary to engage for the jomiiey. But the expenses of turnpike-g-ates, and sometimes horse-hire itself, when they ridcj are all the ofispring of their own generous good-will. Yet unenviable as the ofiice ig, we do not allow any man to act as a local preacher among us, ex cept he be a member of the society, believed to be a man. THE METHODIST MANUAL. 137 man of piety, of good sense, who has a competent know ledge of the scriptures in general, and the doctrines of the gospel in particular; unless he be able to speak in public w'ith tolei-able ease and readiness ; and after due examination, be approved of by the local and travelling preachers in the circuit whrare he resides. It would be au easy, and not an unpleasant task, to mention many local preachers of great abilities, whose labours would do honour to any community. Travelling Preachers. From among the local preachers are -selected those who ai-e appointed to circuits as itinerants. These cannot always be ehosen with mere reference to theii" preaching abilities : for some of the local preachers are not willing to travel; and with some of them, circum stances are such, that they cannot. And the embarrassed state which the connexion is too frequently in respect ing pecuniaiy supplies, obliges the conference tp prefer those who are sins^ie to those who are married. But ~ . 1 . still the greatest care is used, in respect to. those who are sent out to travel. But what are the general quali fications required in a man who may be admitted lo be a travelling preacher among the Methodists ? I an swer, 1. Except in some veiy rare and extraordinary cases, when a minister of the established church, or a dissenting minister, may join us, every person admitted to be a travelling preacher, has been some time, and generally for some years, a member of our society. If his piety be doubtful, nothing more need be said about him : all idea of employing him is banished. Yet as we neither profess to be omniscient nor infaliibie, tliere is a possibility that the conference in sorae instances may be imposed upon. But after long acquaintance with this subject, and close observation, I am convinced that this does but very seldom happen. And when it does, the man is soon unmasked, and discarded. And & S sometimes 133 ,THE METHODISjT MANUAL. sometimes even before sufficient time has been allowed for this, he finds the office and employments he has got- into, so unpalatable and disagreeable to flesh and blood, that he sliapes some excuse and quits the field. 2. It is required that they have a clear sound un derstanding. It is not required that they should be what are tenned extraordinary geniuses. Yet should any be such they will not be objected to on that account. And many of uncommon natural powers, have been, and still are among the itinerant preachers. Indeed, it may readily be allowed, that to speak extempore, upon such subjects, and before such congregations, mu.st require as^ .large a portion of natural endowments* as fall to the general share of men. 3. Il is not required as a pre-requisite for admission as a preacher among us, that a man be Avhat is termed a scholar. Yet the Methodists neither despise nor neg- , led learning. Some of the preachers had much learn ing, and some had a little, when they became itinerants, and many of them have greatly improved in learning since that time. Yet they can see nothing, either in the scripture, or in the nature of the employment, that de mands that all preachers should be learned men. To have a, fern profound scholars may be very convenient and useful on many accomits.. But, as much may be .learnt and taught in our. motlier tongue, as any people need to know, to malie them wise unto salvation; and, indeed, a great deal more than is either taught or known by many who are so often talking, they hardly know wha-t, about learning. But though the Methodists do not require that a preacher should understand Latin and Greek, they do require what is infinitely more essential to the ofiice, namely, that he should understand the .things of God, and that cleai'ly, having a just concep- , tion of the analogy of faith, and of the whole plan of salvation. The preachers are required to be well ac quainted with the doctrines of the gospel, and with all that is necessary for teaching others the way of salva- . ¦ tioiij THE METHODIST MANUAL. 139/ lion, and all those tniths which are after godliness. And it is enjoined by rule, that every preacher shall give attendance to reading and to meditation,, or study. They are required, 4. To have a ready utterance. For let a mau know whatever he may, his knowledge cannot profit othiers, any further than he is able to communicate it by words. But, o. Before we admit a person as a travelling preach er, we enquire " whether he has had any fruit of his la bours, during the time he has been a local preacher!^" " Whether any sinners have been reformed by his la bours?" " Have any of the children of God been edi fied and built up by his preaching ?" " Are his talents ef that description as may make him generally useful?'.' 6. Our rales will not admit of their being sent out; (1.) Till they have been proposed at, and approved by, a- majority of the quarterly-meeting in the circuit in which they respectively reside. - (2.) The like proposal must be made, and the same sanction obtained at the annual meeting of the district in which their circuit is. Nay more, ihey must attend the district-meeting, and undergo an examination re specting their religious experience, knowledge, motives, sentiments, and their willingness to conform to the rules of our discipline. (3.) And when at the conference, as is sometimes the case, we have not a sufficient number of persons who have gone through this process, and are obliged to select from among the other local preachers, and put them down for circuits, it is done only provisionally; and subject to a similar process. Though they should be put down for circuits, and their names be printed in the copy of the stations, still they must not go to their circuits till the quarterly-meeting has concurred as above- 140. THE METHODIST MANUAL. above-mentioned, and till three superintendent preach ers, or three preachers, each of whom shall not have tra velled less than ten years, shall have examined them, as others are examined at the district-meetings. (4.) After this, they are eraployed four years upon trial, before we receive thera into full connexion, and admit them to all the privileges of the body. Ahd should any serious doubts arise, at the expiration of these four years, respecting theirpiely,abilities, or pro bable usefulness, they will either be dismissed, or have the time of their probation prolonged. (5,) During the time of their probation they are not allowed to marry : and should they do so, they must not expect the conference to employ them any more. But the conference can dispense with the rule, and al low a person, upon sorae extraordinary occasion, upon due application, to marry before the end of the four years. This has been done iu a few cases, and but a few. (6.) If a preacher should become superannuated be fore the term of his probation be ended, he is not enti tled to any annual allowance from the preachers' fund. The following twelve rules belong to all the preachers, but are particularly denominated, " The Twelve Rules of an Helper ;" that is, a preacher who does not fill the ofiice of superintendent. But the being a superintendent does not set aside the obligation to at tend and conform to them. "1. Be diligent. Never be unemployed a mo ment. Never be triflingly employed. Never while away lime: neither spend anymore time at anyone place than is strictly necessary. , 2. Be serious. Let your motto be holiness to the Lord. Avoid all lightness, jesting, and foolish talking. 3. Converse THE METHODIST MANU^At* 141 3. Converse sparingly and cautiously with wo men : particularly with young woraen in private. 4. Take nd step towards marriage without first consulting with some of your brethren, 5. Believe evil of no one ; unless you see it done ; take heed how you credit it. Put the best construction upon every thing: you know the judge is always sup posed to be on the prisoner's side. 6. Speak evil of no one: else your word especially would eat as doth a canker: keep your thoughts within your own breast, till you come to the person con cerned. 7. Tell every one what you think wrong in him, and that plainly, and as soon as may be: else it will fester in your heart. 8. Do not affect the gentleman. You have no more to do with this character, than with that of a dancing- master. A preacher of the gospel is the ser* vant of all. 9. Be ashamed of nothing but sin: not of fetching wood (if time permit) or drawing water : not of clean ing your own shoes, or your neighbours. 10. Be punctual. Do every thing exactly at the time: and in general, do not mend our rules, hut keep them : not for wrath, but for conscience-sake. 11. You have nothing to do but to save souls. Therefore spend and be spent in this, work. And go always, not only to those that want you, but to those that want you most. Observe, it is not your business to preach so many tiraes, and lo take care of this and that society : but to save as many souls as you can, lo bring as many sinners as you possibly can to repentance, and with 143; THE M'E'THODIST MANUAL. , with all your power to build thera up in that holiness, without i^fCh they cannot see the Lord. And remem ber! a Methodist preacher is to mind every point, great and small, in the Methodist discipline. Therefore you will need all the sense you have, and to have all your wits about you, 12. Act in all things, not according to your own will, but as a son in the gospel. As such it is your du ty lo eraploy your time in the raanner which we direct:. partly in preaching and visiting from house to house : partly in reading, meditation and prayer. Above all, if you labour with us in our Lord's vineyard, it is need ful that you should do that part of the work which we advise, and at those times anA places which we- judge most ftir his glory." Respecting these truly golden rules it may be proper to observe respecting " affecting thegentleraan," this rule was not designed to countenance clownish- nessi or any thing contrary to true christian courtesy. And when it is said " a preacher of the gospel is the servant of all," it certainly was not meant to insinuate, that a preacher was to be set to do the lowest and most slavish drudgery which any person could find for him to do. I presume the servant of God is " the servant of all" in gospel labours, and in nothing else. And though he may not be ashamed of "cleaning his own shoes, or the shoes of others," yet, I apprehend, they ought to be " ashamed" who would expect or suffer him sd lo do, especially such as are instructed and profited by his ministerial labours. And surely they ought to feel some shame also, who would suifer the preacher to go from place to place, day after day, wilh his shoes and boots uncleaned. And as to what is said in the twelfth rule about doing that part of the work, an-d at the iirnes and places advised, it is needful to observe, this rule was made in Mr. Wesley's time, and early in Methodism. Mr. THE METHODIST-MANUAL. ^^43 Air. Wesley superintended the whole connexion. The preacher in. each circuit, to whose care the circuit was committed, was called The Assistant, because he assist ed Mr. Wesley in the government of the societies and the preachers. And the other preachers were called Helpers, because they helped the assistants in the ge neral work, though still under his care aud direction. — What the spirit of the rule now requires, is. That each superintendent, or the preacher who has the chief care of a circuit, and whose name stands the first in the printed minutes, shall act in subordination to the rules and orders of the conference; and that the other preacher or preachers in the circuit shall act in con formity to his directions, in all their labours so long as he requires nothing contrary tq the rules of the con ference. And this i§ a matter of great importance. Opposition to the superintendent, and forming a party against him, raight be productive of very great evils. And for a superintendent to lord it over his brethren ; capriciously to exercise his delegated authority, or to assume more authority than the conference had con ferred upon him, or the bible would warrant, would also be a very injurious and improper thing. The Office of a Superintendent. It is "To see that the pther preachers in the cir cuit behave well, and want nothing." In other words, he is to watch over the conduct and characters of his helpers, both as christians, as preachers, and as itinerant Methodist preachers. And he is to use his best endea vours, that all their reasonable temporal wants be sup plied,, and also the wants of their families; if they have families., It is also the office ofthe superintendent to make and alter the plan ofthe circuit, and that both for the local and travelling preachers. .And it is chiefly by acting according lo5'2^cA. plan, that they do that joarf of the work, and at the times and places required, in literal conformity to the twelfth rule. It is also the province of the superintendent to fix the order of renewing the society M'Sf THE METHODIST MANUAL. society tickets, and to give them all himself, if he be so inclined. But this he seldom does : and in many places ¦it would be very inconvenient and difficult, if not alto gether impracticable. The other preachers therefore, take a share: and this has now been sanctioried by long and general custom. It is his business to propose per sons for admission into, and exclusion from the society j to propose persons to be admitted as local preachers? to propose new society and circuit stewards; to propose at the quarterly-meeting and district-meeting, persons to be taken out as travelhng preachers. It is his of fice to fix the time ofthe love-feasts, and watch-nights ; to require the society and circuit stewards to shew him how their accounts stand, at least once every year ; to send to our book-steward for such books as are want ed in his circuit, and lo account for them. Also to fix the tirae, and arrange the methods, with his help ers, for making all the usual collections; viz. that for Kingswood-school, the yearly-collection, that for the missions, and that for the preachers' fund. And to account for the money raised by each collec tion. And if any chapel in his circuit be to be collected for in any other circuit or circuits, it is his business to go and raake such collection, or prevail upon his helper or helpers to supply his lack of service. It is his busi ness also, upon divers occasions, to meet the trustees of the different chapels, and sometimes to examine their accounts. Also to give certificates, or testimonials, to persons removing into other circuits. To regulate the bands, and also the raeetingof what is called The Body Ba7ids, or. The Bands, and also the Select Bands. He is to take a list of all the societies in his circuit at the end of each year, and to leave his successor a regular account thereof. To fix the time of the quarterly- meetings, and lo preside at those meetings. And to lay before the district- meeting the deficiencies of his circuit, if there should be any. The most important and necessary qualifications for a superintendent, are,That he walk closely with God, and have his work' greatly at heart; and that he understand and love discipfine, and THE METHODIST" MANUAL. 145 and especially that of the Methodist societies. To these we may add, that a good natural understanding, a thorough knowledge of the history and the doctrines of Methodism, a cojisiderable knowledge of men, and great self-command, will be of vast advantage to him in his office. And he should possess and exercise in variable and imraoveable impartiality. Lastly, he should unite in himself great firmness, great prudence, a peaceable disposition, and genuine piety. The general Office of a Preacher, Is, 1. To preach. And in general, a Methodist preacher preaches twice or three limes every Sabbath- day, and once, and sometimes twice on most other days. 2. Besides this, he has to travel. He has not only to leave his circuit, and travel to a new appointment, •]at the end of every year, or every two years, at the most, but he has lo travel from place to place in his circuit, sometiraes riding and sometiraes walking. 3. After he has done preaching, he frequently stops the society, and delivers such reproofs, advices, inforraation (respecting' the affairs of the society), and encouragements as he thinks proper. Giving of the Tickets. In December, March, June, and September, the ticjcets are renewed. And in the large circuits, espe cially, this is a considerable labour, yet a work of im portance, and general advantage to the societies. The tickets are printed at our own press in London, wilh a text of scripture upon thera, which is varied each quarter, and a letter of the alphabet, going regularly through, and, then beginning again. Two out of every ten have a small b upon them in addition to the other 5 T letter. 14,5 THE METHODIST MANUAL. letter, and , these are, designed to be given to such as meet in )3anA, The tickets are the sarae each quarter, all- over the connexion. At the tirae of giving the tickets, the preacher throws his eye over the class- paper, to see by the usual marks, whether they have met well or ill ; and if ,they have not met well, he en quires into the cause. He speaks to each person re specting his or her religious experience, much in the way that a leader speaks to each meraber in his class. He blots'out the names of any who have left the so ciety, or any who have been judged Unfit to be con tinued members; and also sets down the names of new members. In some places the preacher has to meet the bands after he has done preaching. This raeeling con sists of such as raeet in band. A bandseldora consists of more than three or four persons. These persons are supposed to be nearly in the same state of grace, or, iji other words, their attainraents in religiou are supposed to be nearly equal. And the bands do not consist of men and women together, as in many of the classes, but raen only, and woraen only, are in the bands. , Now the meeting called " The Bands," or, " The Body-Bands," consist^, of as many persons as choose to stop, belonging to any or all the bands in that society. Besides a little time spent in .singing and prayer, the rest of the time is employed in speaking religious ex perience, airspeaking just what they think proper. Foi* at these meetings the people are not spoke to, one by one, as jat a class-meeting, but every one speaks, or remains sileijt, as disposed. The meeting of the bands is almost the same as a love-feast, only upon a smaller scale, with these two points of difference; that is,'at the bands there ought lo be none but those who meet in band, and there is no brea4 or water., The official* ing preacher presides at the meeting ofthe bands. I Love- THE METHODIST MANUAL. 147 Lpve-Feasts. In the principal societies, there is a love-feast every quarter. In many smaller places it is hot more than twice, or perhaps only once a year; ahd in raany little places not al all. To get adraission into a love- feast, the different persons raust shew the last ticket they received to the person or persons standing at the' door, and the ticket raust nol have been received above three months before. Without this, the door-keepers are not to let any come in. Only, should they have lost, or forgotten their tickets, the preacher, ujion being applied to, may give them a note of admittance, which they deliver up tb the dbor-keepier upon being admit ted. The preachers also frequently give notes of ad mittance to sorae persons who are not members of society, but who may come recommended by a leader; or some other well-known and respectable member of society. Only we have' a positive rule, that no pfersori hot a member of the society, shall be adrtiitled mor6 than once to a love-feast. The Methodists think, that love-feasts were of apostolic institution. They are mentioned in the 12th verse of the epistle of Jude, " These ate spots in yotir feasts of love," or love-feasts. And some think that the true reading of 2 Pet. ii. 13. is, " Sporting themselves in their love-feasts." In modern tiraes, the Moravians and Methodists are the only Christians, at least in this part of the globe, who hold love-feasts. Among the Moravians, the general refreshraent made use of by them, at love-feasts, is tea. And upon these occasions they read the accounts of the success of their missions in the different parts of the World. The Methodists, at these meetings, take only bread and water. The love-feast is both begun and ended by singing and prayer; a travelling preacher presiding. The time 4s chiefly taken up in relating christian experience. And 148 THE METHODIST MANUAL. Any person may speak that chooses. They are gen erally very agreeable, edifying, and refreshing, sea sons. They tend lo promote piety, mutual affection, and zeal. A collection is raade, the first object of which is, to pay for the bread bought for the occasion; and the surplus is divided among the poor members of the society where the love-feast is held. Watch-Nights. It may be proper lo give some account of a watch-night. When these are kept according to their original design, and the practice of Mr. Wesley, they do not conclude till the clock strikes twelve at mid night. In many placesj^ however, latterly, something that has been so called, has begun and concluded ear lier. A watch-night, that is held till raid- night, usually begins about half past eight o'clock. And what fre quently goes by the sarae narae, but which generally concludes at or near ten o'clock, begins at seven. — Originally the servide at a watch-night, consisted of a short suitable serraon, and then the rest of the time was occupied in alternate singing and prayer. For this service we have an appropriate set of hymns. Now, however, it is not uncommon, but rather very common, in addition to the sermon at the beginning, for sorae other preacher, or preachers, to give a word of exhorta tion at intervals. These seasons are generally very solemn and impressive. Circuits, Districts, and District-Meetings. A Circuit consists of a nuraber of places, at each of which generally there is a society. These circuits are sometimes tmaller and sometimes larger, in sorae cases having two, in some three or four, and in some very rare cases, five preachers. In these circuits, the preachers go round iu rotation, according to a fixed plan. in tcine part of the circuit, and generally where there is the larijest society, reside the families of the married preachers. THE METHODIST MANUAL. 149 preachers. This is generally what is termed the head place in the circuit, or circuit-town. The whole cir cuit generally goes by the name of this place. For in naming the circuits in our minutes, we do nol hfiention all the places, but only 07ie place iu a circuit. In some cases, one preacher's family resides at one place, and another at another in the same circuit. A District comprises several circuits, sometiraes more, and sometiraes fewer, but frequently about half a dozen. In each district,' there is a chairman, chosen at and by the conference, by ballot, after all the names of the preachers in- such district are read over. AH the preachers of the district form a committee. Except in extraordinary occurrences, each comraitlee does but meet once a year, that is, a few weeks before, or irarae diately after, the midsumraer quarterly-meeting. In case any preacher should have any serious accusation brought against him, or any thing very important hap pening in any circuit in the district, which cannot well be settled without the committee being convened, the chairman fixes the tirae and place of raeeling, and in forms each member of the committee accordingly. When trustees, &c. accuse a preacher of immorality, preaching false doctrine, or acting contrary to the rules of discipline, they have a power of convening a district- meeting, as will be shewn in some of the following pages. Both at these extraordinary, and also at the annual district-meetings, in all disputed cases, a ma jority of votes is decisive; only all the decisions ofthe district-meetings are laid before the ensuing yearly conference; and there are confirmed, rejected,^ or modified. The chairman of the district presides at these meetings: and a secretary is chosen by ballot, at the tirae, to record all the determinations, one copy of which is taken to the conference, ai:^d another is in scribed in a book kept in each district for the purpose. These meetings hold a day, a day and a half, two days, or sometimes, though very seldom, something more. At l^Pl THE. M^T^opiSpr, MAjNUAL. At these times, the same as at the conferepcej. there is. preaching both eveuiug and morning. The order of business at the districfc-meetings is partly the same as that of the conferences,. -After singing 'and prayer, the chairman takes the chair to preside, a secretary is immediately chosen, a.nd then we put down the name of each preacher present. This beipg done, we proceed to enquire, 1. Are there any objections fo any of the preach ers in this district as to their morals and piety, the doc trines they preach, or on the score of discipline? Then every preacher's name is pronounced in orde;r, pausing between eachj to allow tirae for objections to be brought fojrwardj if there be any. 2. What preacher ip this district have finished their years of probation, and are to be received into full connexion? This ^eing settled, 3. Who remain on trial? And how long have each travelled who thus remain on trial? And if any have died the la^t year, or desisted from travelling, or are to be superannuated, the proper question and an swer are now inserted. We then proceed to enquire, in the sitting after dinner, on the first day, 4. What is the amount of the yearly collection ? And this being taken down, in detail, vve next ask and put down, 5. What are the ordinary deficiencies ? This in cludes all deficiencies in the usual allowances for preachers' quarterage, quarterly alloyvance for preach ers' wives, chiljlren, servant, house-rent, coals and can dles. In the sitting of the afternoon, on the first day qf this meeting, these ordi7iary deficiencies are paid to those *tHE Methodist ma'nual. 151 those who are ehtitled to them. At this sittirig the stewards of all' iKe cirbutts in the district are allowed td be present, during bbth'thepkying in of' the yeiarly collection, and the payment of the deficiencies. If the yearly collection ambbht to more thkn the deficiencies, the surplus is paid in by the chairman iat the conference; and if the deficiencies exceed the amount of the collection, suCh deficiencies are- claimed at the conference. 6. The committee next enquire, what deficiencies of an extradrdi7iary natme there' are in the district. Tills i'hClndes all demand^ for' removals which were not paid the Idst yfear; cases of affliition, that h«iVe not been properly attended to in the circuits ivhere' thfey have occurred, through'^ poverty or inattention,* &c. Here come in sundries,'?uch- as little helps towards fur nishing houses for preachers in sorae poor circuits, and such like things. The district-misfeting is hot allowed to pay any o( thesi: extraordinaries,ihoQoh there should be money lliat would do it. But they are entered in the minutes of the district,' and submitted to the decision ofthe conference. 'Generally the conference pays the siims proposed by the district-meetings, and perhaps would almost always do so if there was a sufficiency of money. ?• It is asked what boyS, sons of preachers, in this district, are to go to Kingswood-school ? This question being answered, and the answer entered, 8. What boys, that rfo no^fg-o to the school, are to receive the usual allowance fi'om the collection ? This also being ascertained; and entered in the' minutes, it is''aSked, 9. What giris, daughters of preachers; in this dis trict, are to receive the allowance from the collection fof ' feiflgsWOod-isChooH ¦ And in both cases we put down 152 THE METHODIST MANUAL. . down whether it be the, 1st, 2nd, 3rdj 4th, 5th, or 6th year iof their receiving it : because neither boys nor girls re ceive this for any more than six years. We then en quire, 10. What chapels are to be built in this tlistrict the ensuing year ? This answered, 11. What chapels in this district do we recom mend to the conference to allow collections to be made . for the ensuing year ? and in what circuits ? Then, if any circuit be proposed to be divided, it is considered and determined upon : only none can be actually divided without the sanction of the conference. And now, if we have any new rule to propose to the conference for adoption, or any remarks to make upon any thing in our economy, it is brought forward, discussed, and either agreed upon or thrown out. Then, it is asked, 12. Who of us are to attend the conference? This settled, and the names written down, 13. Who is to go as our delegate to thecomraittee for drawing up the rough draft of the stations for the ensuing year? Each sitting of the district-coraraittee be gins and ends^with prayer. The first sitting, each day, is from six o'clock to eight. The second from nine to twelve or after; and the third from two o'^clock to near five. And in this the district-meeting is an exact resemblance ofthe stationing committee, and ofthe con ference. District-meetings have authority, 1. To try and suspend preachers who are found immoral, erro neous in doctrine, or deficient in abilities. 2. To de cide conceraing the building of chapels. 3. To exa mine the demands from the circuits, respecting the sup-' port of the preachers and their farailies. 4. Tq elect a representative to the coramittee to prepare a draft of the stations for the ensuing year. But the districts have not authority, THE METHODIST MANUAL. ¦ 153 authority, 1. To make any new rule, 2, To expel a preacher. Nor, 3. To station the preachers. But, at the Bristol conference, 1S08. It was agreed, That tiiose preachers, who have completed the usual period of probation, without any complaint being brought against tliem, and whora their district-committee, after a strict examination, shall unanimously recoraraend, shall be deemed as virtually received into full connex ion, without attending the conference. But they may be publicly received at the district-raeetings, ifit shall be deemed expedient. In the General Minutes, page 41, it is declared ; that, " Ifit appear on just grounds to any superintendent, that the chairman of the district has been guilty of any crime, or that he has neglected to call the district, when there were sufficient reasons for calling it, such super intendent shall have authority in that case to call a meet ing of the district, and to fix the time and place of meeting. The district thus assembled, shall have powei-, if they judge necessary, to try the chairman, and if found guilty, to suspend him from being a travelling preacher till the next conference, or to remove him frpm, the office of stiperintendent, or to depose him from the chair, and to elect another in his place. Minutes shall be taken of their proceedings, which shall be laid before the next conference." I believe this rule has never been either repealed or superseded, and therefore re mains in full force. And in the plan of pacification contained in the Minutes of 1795, it will be found, That if the majority of trustees, or of the steward and leaders of any place think a preacher to be immoral in his conduct, erroneous in his doctrine, deficient in abilities, or that he has bro ken some of our rules, they themselves may summon all the preachers of the district to assemble al that place, and that they, and every other trustee, steward and leader in that circuit may assemble with them upon the trial, and eveiy one of these shall have a single vote in de- 5 U cidinar 154 tHE METHODIST MANUAL. ciding on the accused preacher's innocence or guilt, being in respect to voting upon a level with every preacher present, except the chairman, who may, when the votes are equal, give the casting vote to decide the business. Any preacher refusing" to be tried in this way, wijil subject hiraself to suspension till the next conference. And in all cases of accusation a preacher may claim the benefit of such a trial. The Stationing Committee, Consists of one preacher frora every district ii* England, Scotland, Wales, and the Norman Isles, chosei} by ballot at the district-meetings. The presi dent of the last conference presides at the meeting of of these delegates, or representatives, who meet five days before the beginning of tlie conference. A BOOK is prepared with the head place in each circuit written down in it, in the same order as in the printed Minutes of our conferences, with large spaces between the names of the circuits, for inserting the names of the preachers, who may be thought proper to be appointed ijiither, and for inserting the names of others, and still others, when any change in the appoint ment is agreed upon. This committee weighs well the eases ofthe circuits and ofthe preachers. Requests from different circuits, for certain preachers to be appointed for them, are here read, and every inquiry is made, that Cvei-y place and eveiy preacher may have the most suitable appointment that can be made. Here a great many considerations of various kinds, are to be weighed and balanced, as well as possible. To suit every preacher, according to his views and wishes, and at the same time to please eve7:y person among all our thousands in our numerous circuits, would be a task fit only for something more than human. Petitions for, and remonstrances against certain preachers, create the greatest difficulties this committee has to grapiple with. There seems to i be THE METHODIST MANUAL. l.jj be hardly any alternative, but that either the people must relinquish the benefits of the plan of itinerancy; or leave the fixing of the stations entirely to the conference. This committee of delegates, is dissolved as soon as the conference begins, and has no right to meet any^ more but by Special order. Tlie Conferences. The conference begins the last Monday in July every year. Its meetings are in London, Sheffield, Leeds, Liverpool, Bristol, and Manchester, in regular rotation. The sittings begin at six o'clock in the morn ing, preaching being each morning at five. As soon as the chapel is cleared of the congregation, the president takes the chair, and gives out a hymn. After prayer, the business is proceeded upon. At the first sitting on the first day, we fill up the hundred who constitute the legal conference, as made by Mr. Wesley, February 28, 1784, and enrolled in his Majesty's High Court of Chancery. Vacancies, more or fewer, occur every year. The hundred is filled up from the other preach-, ers according to seniority. The hundred only vote iii the choice of the president and secretary. Tlie elec tion in both cases is done by ballot. The votes being counted, the president of the last conference (who al ways fills the chair, till his successor be chosen) declares who is duly elected, and quits his seat, which the new presideiat takes possession of. Prayer is then made to God, to entreat him to assist and bless us in the busi ness we have to go through. We then choose treasurers and clerks for the differ- entfunds, or collections, viz. the yearly collection, thatfor Kingswood-school, and the preachers' fund. We also choose several committees for the expediting of the bu siness of the conference, viz. 1 . a committee to examine and digest the minutes of the district-meetings. 2. A committee for book affairs. 3. A committee for the af fairs of Kingswood-school. 4. A committee to consi der. 156 THE METHODIST MANUAL. der our temporal affairs, and devise ways and means, so that the expenditure may not exceed the income. ^ 5. A committee to arrange the plan of collecting for chapels. 6, A committee for missions. This part of our preliminary business being set tled, we proceed to enquire and detei-mine, 1. What preachers are admitted into full con nexion? 2. Who remain on trial ? At the same time speci fying how long*each one has travelled. 3. Who are admitted on trial ? 4. Who have died during the last year, that is, what travelling preachers? 5. Are there any objections to any ofthe pi'eachers ? Every preacher's name is then called, and time given for objections to be produced : while the question is asked respecting each preacher in order. But it may be observed, that the district-meeting is now the principal pl^ce for the examination of characters. Hence the old form of doing this at the conference, might perhaps be dispensed with. The districts rai ght be taken in order, and each chair man be called upon to read that part of the Minutes of his district which relates to the characters. To this, in sorae cases, additional inquiry might be made, whether any thing had transpired since the meeting of the dis trict committee, which required the consideration of the conference. This plan would be more consonant to reason, and the general usages of men, and would save a considerable portion of our best time. When the old method of calling over every preacher's name was in stituted, and for almost half a century after, we had no di.strict-meetiiigs. Consequently, the conference was tlie only time for the proper examination of the preach ers' THE METHODIST MANUAL. 157 ers' characters. — But this observation is merely my own private opinion. Ie any be expelled by the vote of the conference, or desist by their own choice, their nkmes are mentioned in answer to the next question, viz ; 6. Who desist, or have desisted from travelling? Though it is not unifoi-mly the next business done by the conference, yet it is uniformly put the next m the printed Minutes, viz : 7 How are the preachers stationed this year? The next question to determine is. How many preachers' wives are to be provided for, and by what cii cuits ? The next question is easily answered by the su perintendents of the respective circuits, naraely. What members are there in the society ? Then comes on the consideration of the new re gulations proposed by the different district-meetingfi, as recorded in their • respective Minutes. And now, the committee appointed to read, arrange, and digest the whole, come forward and read their papers. ^ Some part, perhaps the chief of the extracts are proposed to become the standing rules of the connexion. If there be any difference of opinion as to the propriety of this, it is put to the vote, and a majority of the conference de- temiine Which way it shall be. The various committees bring in their reports, and among the rest, the committee appointed to deter mine what collections for chapels siiali be made the en suing year, and in what circuits. Our book-steward appears with his accounts, and details the present state of the concern, aud specifies How ISt THE METHODIST MANUAL. How much money he can spare us to add to the yearly- collection, towards paying those parts of the ordinary de ficiencies which were not paid at the different district- meetings; the paying the extraordinary deficiencies xe- commended by the districts; and lastly an]^ expenses of removals, &c. which could not be ascertained at the time' the 'districts met. This is often a time of trial, especially to some of the poorer brethren, who it may be, have little debts to discharge, and to start upon a journey, and sometimes a long one, to a new circuit, with a pocket nearly empty. Novr come on miscellaneous matters, such as ad dresses from societies or individuals on peculiar sub jects; the address from the Irish conference; the consideration of the stale of Kingswood-school, and va rious othe? tliino's. Then, and at other times, certain alterations will be proposed and made iu the stations of the preachers. At last, often tired and jaded out, the conference bre£;ks up, amidst the exercises of prayer and praise, and mu tual and affectionate farewells. And perhaps no in stance ever happens that they all live to meet again. Some have to go fifty, a hundred, two hundred, some three, or four hundred miles, to their families, to pack up their little matters, bid farewell to their friends, and late neighbours, and depart; in some few cases, to cir cuits they know but little about, and among people who give them no very hearty welcome. But in most places they meet with an affectionate reception. The people had need get great good from the constant change ofthe preachers ; for to the preacliers it is productive of many inconveniences and painful cxeici:;es. Preachers' Salaries. WiiiliE a travelling preacher endures all this la bour and toil, mingled with these trials, and raany more. What pecuniary reward or salary does he get? Vhat THE METHODIST MANUAL. 159 What sums of money does he receive ? It is proper to state, 1. A preacher gets his victuals at the different places in his circuit where he raay be labouring. And if a married man, he messes at home with his family when he has no where to go. 2. In most circuits a weekly board is allowed by the society araong whora the preacher's family lives. In some few places this is veiy good; in some but mid- ling; and in too many very small. There is no fixed standard for this allowance; aud the variations are so numerous, that it might be improper to mention any specific sum. In very many cases, no person would board the preacher for the sum allowed. 3. He receives ^16 16s. Od, per annum, to buy cloalhs and books, &c. with for himself. 4. A married preacher receives £\Q 16s, Od. to feed and clothe his v, ife with, and to furnish her with pocket-money. 5. He receives something, sometimes more, and sometimes less, to7vards finding meat and paying wages to a servant. But this may be termed a gi-atuity. 6. He is allow^ed jC6 6s. Od. a year to feed and clothe each of his children with. Till very lately the annual allowance was only jE4. % It is proper, and perhaps necessary to remark, that a Methodist preacher does not make any bargain or agreement for any fixed salaiy, with the people among whora he labours; that what he receives is raised by voluntary contributions; and that if the stewards should at any lime withhold from him any part, or even the whole of his usual allowances, he has no redress in law. On these accounts, I am fully of opinion, his in come 160 THE METHODIST MANUAL. come is not taxable. It is not in either the letter Of spirit of the law respefcting income, to tax voluntary contributions or donations. N. B. If I have been less explicit upon the article of SALARY than some might expect, it has not been fi-om any selfish consideration, but from reasons which, at a proper time, I shall not be ashamed or backward to ex plain. The reader will observe, the preacher has the above allowance^, so long as be is "strong to labour." But when he is no longer able to do the work, which none are fully adequate to but men in health and vigour,- he finds himself in circumstances far less comfortable. A clergyman of the Church of England, or a dissenting minister, however incapacitated for labour, enjoys his salary to the end of life. With a Blethodist preacher it is not so. When no longer able to do the work of a circuit, he is put upon short allowance. All the allow ances above stated, exgept in some cases that for chil- dzen, now come to an end. It is certain? however, that a man in the decline of life, especially a debilitated man, needs an increase, rather than a diminution of in come. ' The Preachers' Fund. The chief dependanceofaworn-Qutpreacher, under God, is on the preltehers' fund. Each man sacrificing a guinea out of his 16 annually, a little fund is raised, outof which eveiy worn-out preacher receives a small annuity. And when the raan is in very necessitous circumstances, soraething more than the fixed annuity may be allowed as AN Acpr OE MERCY, fiom what is so generously con tributed to the preachers' fund, by some of our more wealthy and liberal people in different parts, of the con nexion. Independent of acts of mercy, and which can not be much abounded in, 1. Eveiy THE METHODIST MANUAL. 161 1. Every travelling preacher, in full connexion, ¦who is declared to be supernumerary, or superaimuated, by the conference, shall receive from the preachers' fund tlie sum of twenty-four guineas per anniun, the payment to be made every six months, and to commence from the time he is superannuated, or made a supernunie- rary. ^ 2, Should he die, and leave a widow, such widow shall receive an annuity of twenty-four guineas, under certain regulations hereafter to be mentioned. But, 3. Every annuitant shall subscribe one guinea annually to the support of the fund, at the time of the conference. But, 4. No preacher shall be considered as a supernu merary or superannuated preacher, except declared such by the conference, after being satisfactorily convinced of his labouring under some bodily or mental infirmity which unfits him for the labours of a circuit. But again, 5. If any preacher, above fifty-five years of age, marry a woraan under forty, she shall not, when left his widow, have any benefit from this fund. 6. A preacher, expelled by the conference, or who shall voluntarily desist frora travelling, or if worn out, shall not continue a member of the Methodist society, shall be excluded from all benefits arising from this fund, and forfeit what he has paid to it. 7/ Every member admitted into this fund, shall pay five g-uineas upon his admission. But, S. Every preacher who has travelled twenty years in this connexion shall, on being superannuated, or made a supernumerary, be entitled to thirty guineas per an num, in half-yearly payments. But let it be observed, 6 X That 163 THE iWETHODISt MANUAL. That the widow of any preacher, married to him after he had travelled twenty years, shall not be entitled to the annuity of thirty guineas, \t.i\\ she shall have paid ten guineas into thisfund, above what her husband had paid; but she will be permitted to pay these ten guineas by instalraents 6f.two or raore guineas per annum, above her annual subscription of one guinea. Again, '' 9. If any preacher die, before he shall have travel led te7i years, his widow shall not be entitled lo the annuity of twenty- four guineas, till she shall have paid ten guineas into this fund, only she may be allowed to pay it by instalments as in the preceding rule. N. B. This fund, thus raised by the subscriptions ofthe preachers, and thus regulated by them, is distinct "and separate from that raised by the subscriptions of the people. , This latter is devoted to cases of particu lar distress. But if any thing should be in hand, after relieving these, it is then given to the other fund. This is just, were it only on this account, that formerly thousands ofpounds, at different limes, were taken out of the preachers' fund, to help to pay the comraon ex penses which should have been borne by the people. Add to this, raany people subscribe to the preachers' fund, under a general idea, without knowing any thing about the above distinction and difference, and who would specifically subscribe to what is called the legal ized fund were they solicited. It should be reraarked, that a man may be juperannuattd, who may have a wife, and some children too old to be entitled to any allowance. Yea, this may be the ctise, and sometimes 'is so, wiitn he is entitled to only twentyfiour gui77eas a year. With this he must retire, with A sick or ieeble body, and pay house -rent, and find focd aud rain.ent for llis family and himself, out of twent'y-four or thirty guineas a 3 ear. Again, a widow may be, and s^ome- times is Icif, with children who receive nu allowance, ty subsist upon the same sum. , All THE METHODIST MANUAL. 163 All the General Collectio7is. While I am upon the subject of money- matter?, I will detail the particulars of all the general collections made among the Methodists. The weekly collection in the classes is applied to pay the preachers' board, and to Other incidental expenses; all the particulars of which are regularly entered in the steward's books. The collections made at sacraments and love- feasts, are solely applied to the i^elief of the sick and poor members of the society, after the expenses are paid. The quarterly-collection in the classes, or what is commonly called quarterage, at the visitation, is ap plied to pay the preachers' salary or quarterage, the wives and children, servants' allowance, and travelling expenses in the circuit. The quarterly-collection made in the cfeapels is added to the weekly and quarteriy-contributiohs, with out which, in raany places, the work of God could not be supported. On these occasions, our respectable friends who are not in society, have an opportunity of contributing to the support of that.rainistry by which they are edified. Collection for Kingswood- School. 1. About November, according to a late rule of conference, we raake a public collection for KingsWood- flchool. Kingswood, where this school stands, is about three miles from Bristol, near the higher or right-hand road to Bath. This school was erected by Mr. Wesley, with the help of the benevolent, and opened in 1748. He designed it to be a school for the children of the Methodists in general, as well as for children of the preachers. 164 THE METHODIST MANUAL. preachers. It was employed in this way for some years. But in process of time, the school became in capable of receiving both the increasing nuraber of the children of the preachers, and those of our increasing friends. The school therefore became wholly appro priated lo the education of the children of our itinerant preachers. But it was deemed improper to have both boys and girls there. The preachers' girls, therefore, have no right to the school. But as the daughters are us near akin to the preacher as the sons, and have the same right to any privileo;es he is a cause of support ing, it is deemed equitable, that the girls should have some allowance from the collection raade for the sup port of that institution, (or raore properly for the edu cation of the children of the preachers) for the sarae Duraber of years the boys are allowed to receive their education, board, and clothes gratis, at the school. The terra in both cases is for six years, from eight to four teen years of age. And since the preachers are so prodigiously swelled in number, and their children in proportion, the school is not capable now of receiving all the boys. Some of them are al a vast distance. It would cost much to take them thither; and should they be taken ill, it would cost a parent a great deal to go and see his child in a dangerous affiiction. And some boys labour under bodily complaints, such as render it very im proper lor them to mingle with others in a school such as that at Kingswood. Lastly, there are other pecu liar reasons, of apparent weight, at least to parents, which make them wish to have their children near thera. Accordingly, it is allowed, when a preacher's son, of the proper age, does not go to the school, the parents shall be allowed twelve pounds ayeartowacdS feeding, clothing, and educating hira. And this is a Teal saving lo the school and to the collection, b^iit a loss lo the preacher. This schoo? is entirely supported by the public annual collection. The children are taught there reading writings accounts, and other and higher THE METHODIST MANUAL. 165 higher branches of learning, and in general, the an cient as well as modern foreign languages. But a school, the oldest scholar at which, is not above four teen years of age, cannot be expected to turn out raany scholars of vast literary attainments. Yet several might be mentioned to their own honour and that of the school. A good foundation may be laid, and fre quently is, at this school. And the conference in 1808, made a rule. That in case of a boy displaying an un common disposition and aptitude for learning, it should be lawful to let him stay at the school a year longer than the usual term. One of Mr, Wesley's rules for this school was, " That the children must never play ; and that a master must always be with them." In stead of play, he wished them to learn husbandry or sorae mechanic art. Yearly- Subscription. 2. At the meeting of the classes, once a year, in sorae circuits at Christmas, and in others ip the spring, we mention to each class, what we call " The Yearly- Subscription." There is a column on purpose for the entrande of this, on the right-hand side of every printed class-paper. In this column we note down what each one proposes giving. We do nol receive it at the tirae of putting il down; but rather desire the leader lo col lect it in about six weeks, or the raiddle of the quarter, that two collections may not be at, nor too near the sarae tirae. The uses to which this collection are ap- pliedare various. In sorae few very poor circuits, the preachers can hardly get food and rairaent. In sorae other circuits^ though they get their food and raiment, if one of thera should have a wife, he cannot get the usual allowances for her. Some other circuits have two preachers wives and families in them, and can only do foe one, or for one and a part of the other. And in some circuits, there are three families when the circuit only supports two. In raany circuits they support all the families they have, except in some few particulars. Great 166 THE METHODIST MANUAL. Great affliction sometiraes seizes a^preacher, or some part of his family, the expenses of which cannot be borne by the circuit in which he is stationed. And there are some long and unavoidable removals of a preacher and-his family, the expenses of which are not, and cannot be borne by the circuit he goes from, Otherwise, it is our rule, that the circuit in which the preacher was last, shall pay his expenses to his next appoin'raent. It is an essential part of the office of a circuit-^steward to seeto this. But, "where it cannot be had, the King loses his right."- But it is not rea sonable that a preacher and his family should make long removals at his expense. " Who goeth a warfare at bis own charge ?" Indeed in divers cases they could not muster money for this. All deficiencies, in these seve ral raatters, are paid out of the yearly-subscription, at the district-raeetings and al the conference: that is, as far as this ^collection will go in doing this. Sometiraes it will hardly defray half the demands. We add to it all the profits of our book trade, and then pay all de ficiencies as far as the whole will go. And after all, the conference sometiraes breaks up in much debt. And wlioever considers the vast number of the preach ers, and the very considerable number of families be longing to them, and the many contingent expenses inevitably arising out of the itinerant plan, need not wonder at what I say. Rather, upon due consideration, he may justly wonder that the deficiencies are not greater. Collection for the Missions. Sometime in the j^ear, we annually make a col lection for the foreign and home missions. The foreign missions include those to the British dominions ih North America, Newfoundland, the West Indies, and Gibral- ter. These are very expensive, were it only on account cf the. high price of their passage to and from parts distant, especially in tirae of war. And so many preachers dying *in the West India islands increases the T^E METHODIST MANUAL. i6t the expenses, others having to be sent to supply their places. The success, however, has been abundant, and the money has been gloriously laid out, O blessed cha rity of assisting to save souls from sin and hell! The home missions, properly speaking, include those among the poor benighted Roman catholics in Ireland, those |in Wales, who preach in Welsh, and those in different dark, neglected, and very wicked parts of England. Great good has been done by each of these missions ; and every christian, vvho has ability, ought to be truly thankful for an opportunity of shew ing his love to God and man, by assisting to promote them. The mission collection is sometimes made only in public, sometimes only in private, and some tiraes both way.s: whereas the yearly-subscription has hitherto been made only in private, in the classes; and the collection for Kingswood-school is made xmly in public. , The Subscription to the Preachers' Fund, Each year, just before we set off to the confer ence, we make in private, the subscription for the preachers' fund. But we do not mention this to the people in general, as we do the yearly-subscription, but confine it chiefly to a few of the more wealthy and li beral. Many give to it both liberally and cheerfully. This collection is laid out, in allowing annuities to those worn-out preachers who are still alive, but who never were members of the new legalized fund ; and in al lowing annual relief to the widows of such preachers as never were members of the new fund; and in allowing extra relief to those who belong lo the new fund, but who labour under greater indigence and embarrass ments than can be sufficiently relieved by the other fund. These cases are numerous, and often call for prompt and bountiful relief. And can there be a greater charity, than succoring a feeble debilitated minister of Christ, who has spent his health and strength 168 THE METHODIST MANUAL. Strength in the service of God and his church ; or than displaying our affectionate and grateful remem brance of such a man, by shewing kindness to his dis consolate widow. Many of these widows raade great sacrifices in becoming the wives of preachers, and have passed through many trials during their itinerant life. Trustees. TniiRE is one description of persons among us whom I have not yet found an opportunity of noticing in this manual : I mean Trustees. When Mr. Wesley was erecting his first building for preaching in, he was ignorant, it seems, about the be^t mode of having it settled. This was what was long called the new roora, but now the old roora, in the Horse-fair, Bristol. He at first settled it on eleven feoffees, but being convinced by a letter frora Mr. Whitfield, that, as these raen had the power of appointing the preachers, they could turn even him out, if what he said and did should not please them, he called them together, told them the error he had committed, with their consent cancelled the writings, and took the whole manageraentof the build ing into his own hands. But after sometime, he got the form of a trust-deed drawn up by three eminent counsellors, for the proper settlement of chapels. And it is in this form, with such additions as circumstances have rendered necessary, that still continues of general use araong us. See page 70, large minutes. It will be seen by the form, that trustees of our chapels are not proprietors of thera, but put in trust lo see to it that the chapels remain unalienated frora their original pur pose. They are put in trust to permit such persons as the conference shall send to preach in the chapels for which they are trustees; in trust, to take proper care that 710 other persons preach in such chapels; and in trust to in terfere in case any preacher should not preach the true Methodist doctrines, though unawares sent by the con ference. They have power lo choose from among them selves a steward, treasurer, &c. to receive all seat-rents^ and TrfS METHODIST MANUAL. 169 and to make a proper application of the money. In case of necessity, they have power to mortgage the premises, till the debt be paid off. And if it should be determined to build a more convenient one, they may sell the foirmer chapel, and apply the money towards the new chapel. Suppleme7it. ' As there are divers other particulars relatingto the discipHne ofthe Methodists, but which I could not well bring under any of the foregoing heads, and I wished as far as possible to phrsue a regular plan. I shall now gather ufp a setection of the fragments that remain. Na travelling or fbcal preacher, trustee, steward, or leader, shall distnrb the peace of a society by speak ing for or against the introduction of the Lord's Supper in our societies; or the old or new platft, so called. Should they do so, they shall be subject lo the trial and penalties before-mentioned^ 1795. No preacher shall 8(9 required to administer the Lord's Supper against his own raind. And should it be allowed by the conference, where all the preachers of the circuit are unwilling to adrainisler it, the super intendent shall invite a suitable preacher from a neigh bouring circuit to give it. General minutes, page 5Q. -Any new rule, made to bind the societies at large, if objected to at the next quarterly-meeting, in any circuit, the major part present, and also the preachers, thinking the observance of such rule would be injurious to that circuit, it shall not be enforced that year. But should a second conierence con&rm the rule, it will then be binding ^pon the whole connexion. In such dis puted cases, only peaceful methods shall be pursued^ 6 Y ? Mr. Wesley's 170 , THE METHODIST MANUAL. Mr. Wesley's deed of declaration requires tjiat no preacher shall be stationed in the same circuitfor more than three years together, except a clergyman of the Church of England. But by a resolution of the conference, it is determined, that no preacher shall be stationed in the same circuit for more than two years together. And, by another resolution of conference, it is determined, that no preacher shall be re-appointed to any circuit, tillhe shall have been eight years away from it, 1799 and 1807. It was also fixed by the conference, and remains unaltered, and is never lost sight of in choosing a pre sident, that no president shall be chosen again to that office in less than eight years. A MEMBER of our society removing into some other circuit, is not to be received into another society. unless he takes with him a certificate from the superin tendent, in these words, " A. B the bearer is now a member in our society, in I believe he or she has a sufficient cause for removing." Disperse the " word to a smuggler ;" expel all who do not leave off Smuggling ; and silence every preacher who attempts to defend it, 17t)8. No person shall be continued a meraber of our society, who learns, or performs, the military exercise, as a volunteer, on the Lord's-day. But, meeting on the parade, in order to attend divine service, shall not be cbnsidered an infringement of this rule. And any per son shall be excluded our society, who alter proper adraonition, will, on the Lord's-day, continue a specta tor ofthe exercise ofthe volunteers, 1782. In general, worfien ought not to preach araong us. (l.).BLcause a vast raajority of our people are opposed to it. [^Z.) Becaufee.their prt aching doeb not at all seem necessary, there being a sufficiency of preachers, whom God THE METHODIST MANUAL. 171 Gdd has accredited, to supply all the places in our connexion with regular preaching. But if any woraan araong us think she has an extraordinary call from G(jd to speak in public, (and we are sure it must be an extr^aordinary call that can authorize it,) we are of opinion that she should in general, address her oion sex, and those only. And upon this condition alone, should any woman be permitted to preach in any part of our connexion, and when so permitted, it should be under the following regulations: 1. They shall not preach in the circuit where they reside, until they have obtained the approbation of the superintendent and a quarterly-meeting. 2. Before they go into any other circuit to preach, they shall have a written invitation from the superin tendent of such circuit, and a recommendatory note from the superintendent of their own circuit, 1803. A Preacher going on a mission to the West Indies, or the British dominions in North America, is nol lo return home in less than six years. But should his health require it, he raay pay a visit to the United States, or the island of Bermuda, Nova Scotia, or New Brunswick, 1802. i , If any member of our society apply to the quarter sessions for a licence to preach, without being approved of as a preacher, at the quarterly- meeting, as expressed hy the seventh section of the general rainutes, he shall be expelled frora our society. And if any person may have already obtained a licence, contrary to the above resolution, and attempt to claim exception frora parish- offices, &c. by virtue of such licence, such person shall be expelled frora the society. The regularly appointed local-preachers, though a respectable and useful body of raen, are not wholly set apart for the ministry, and therefore it is not con- silent 172 THE METpOpiST MANUAL. sistent wifti the spiiit of the act of toleration, that they should claim any advantage in point of exemption from offices, &c. becajuse they are licenced, 1803 and 1809. • ' Ijet the sums necessary to afibfd the usual allow ances to the preachers' children, be furnished by ihe several circuits on a regular and eqii^itable plan : aiid, in order to this, let the children in future be stationed on the circuits as well as the wives, 1804 and 1809. No person shalf be permitted to receive the Lord's §lupppr among us, who is not a member of our society, without a note from the supemjtpndent, which note must be rencAved quarterly, 1805. No prpacher shall marry during the time of his probatiou; but when is that probation to be considered as terminated"!* Wlien he is received into fiiil con nexion, either formally at the conference, or virtually by being so entered on our minutes, 1806. Or, after being received into full connexion at tfee-districtT-meetr ings, 1808. Every local preacher shall meet in class, and conform to all our rules of discipline. In this respect, let none be excused. Let no local preacher keep love-feasts, without the consent of the superintendent, nor in any wise interfere with the business of the su- perintetident. Let every one keep his own place, and attend to the duties of his station. General minutes, page 13 and 14. Every preacher shall be considered as a super- ijumerary for four years after he is no longer able to take a circuit, and after that shall be deemed superan nuated. Ibid page 55. ^ Every superintendent shall be at liberty to attend the conference or not. But in case of absence, he shall send THE METHODIST MANUAL. 173 send all necessary papers by the representative of his disitrict. Ibid page 55. No circuit shall be divided without the consent of the quai'terly-raeeting, the district-meeting, the com mittee of delegates, and the conference. Ibid page 55. Every preacher, prior to liis being admitted into full connexion, shall write an account of his life, and give it to the editor of our books- Jfit^-page 56. At the conference, all letters not directed to, or belonging to the president, or the committee of dele gate, are to be paid for by the circuits from which the preachers corae. And the keeping of ail the horses are to be paid for in the same way. Ibid page 6Qi CHAPTER 17* THE METHODIST MANUAL. ¦ CHAPTER IV. JHETHODISM DEFENDED*, Being an Answer to some Objections to the Methodists, and containing Re7narks on TOLERATION, gnd Lord ' Sidmouth's intended Bill. .ND, now, reader, after perusing this^ccount of the history, t!ie doctrines, and discipline of the Me thodists, what do you think? what is there lo excite disgust, or blame ? "'Well," you will say, "at any rate, many people say a great deal against thera." And was' there ever a pious people upon earth, of whom the world did not say a great deal of evil? It is one awful proof, as well as fruit, of the fall and depravity of hu man nature. " The carnal mind is at enmity against God," and therefore against the things, and the people ol God, Men would be shocked at the sight of them selves, and one another, were they to avow themselves the enemies of God, It would be rather too gross and bare-faced, for men to declare their hatred of that holi ness, which is according to the image and coraraands of God. And, it is but here and there, that ?ve can meet with a person who has impious courage enough to enter his protest against the word of God. The whole strength, therefore, of their ungodly malignity of heart, is reserved for.lhe people of God. Against thera, the carnal mind of the enemies of God, and of all ge nuine righteousness, vents itself, in reviling, evil-speak ing, and persecution. But, it ought ,to be observed, that the ungodly part of mankind, never reproach and persecute the children of God ^* such; they doit under some other^pretence. They charge them with crimes, follies, and absurdities, which they are not guilty ot, aud THE METHODIST MANUAt. XlS and then clamour against them as evil-doers. If they did this in the green tree, surely they will do it much more in the dry. The enemies of Jesus Christ, laid to his charge things that he knew not; then seized him as an enemy to God and man, and under the double cryof "CuURCH AND King," condemned him to die, hastened him to Calvary, and crucified and slew him. One party cried out. That he was " an enemy to Moses," in other Words, to their established church, of which Moses was the founder. Another party exclaimed. That he was "an erferay to Cgesar," that is, the government, of which Caesar, or the Roman emperor, was the head, as Ca naan was then reduced to a Roman province. And in reading theiVcls of the Apostles, we may constantly observe, that the outrages, and bitter perse cutions raised against the first christians, and the first christian preachers especially, were uniformly under false accusations. They were charged wilh being ene mies lo the established religion, both in Judea, at Ephe sus, and various other places, where they preached the gospel. These messengers of the true and living God, were termed " pestilent fellows, sowers of sedition," / disturbersof the public tranquillity, wilh being irregular, and as disseminating new and dangerous doctrines. Some of the calumniators of the Methodists, I c|o not doubt, do it ignorantly, like Saul of Tarsus, and probably like him, think they are doing God service. For the sake of these, as well as many others, I shall proceed to answer a few objections which have been made to this numerous denoraination of christians. In the forraer periods of Melhodisra, the outcry was, that so much praying, hearing of sermons, &c. promoted idleness; and that this, and what they con tributed in support of religion, would beggar and luin .those who followed this way. But, matter of fact, has "* so 176 THE METHODIST MANUAt. SO constantly and uniformly proved this charge to be a false one, jbhat so much is not said upon this head as formerly: though it is still repeated in some places where Methodism is but little known. 1. Some "object to Methodism, that " it is need less, seeing We have a very good Protestant church, in wbieh is sound doctrine, as the artieles, homilies, and liturgy, testify; and also, that attached to this church, as its ministers^ there is a large body of clergy, l^JXKi, or more, who are very learned men, and were regularly appointed to the office. To this I answer, we have a church, and, for a national one, I believe it to be one of the very best churches in the world. And I believe the doctrines contained in the articles, homilies, and liturgy, per haps as firmly as any church-man whatsoever; and much more firnily than many of the clergy do. In my younger days, for year succeeding- yeaii*, I attended the service of the ehiireh as constantly as any person in England. And to this day, when I have opportunity. It gives me pleaisare, to attend the service of the church. And that pleastire is much heightened, when I find the pulpit atid the reading-desk haitmonize iu doctrines and language. But alas ! I have too frequently found, that while the reading-desk still " held fast the forra of sound words," the pulpit had " erred and strayed like a lost sheep." But for this apostasy of the pulpit, it is probable that Methodism, so called, had never had att existence, at least not in i*s present form. For what was its origin ? Why, a few young men, educated for the ministry in the Chwrch of England, became truly pitensif, and very zealous. They brought forward, and pro claimed aloud, the ajmost-forgotten doctrines ©f the Church of England. But these doctrines were not only out of fashion, but were greatly offensive to the ttifain bod'y of ffhe eltergy. They shnt the doors of the chufches agaiust these pious, zealoas, and soundly- orthodox THE TVIETHOBISt MANUAL. 177 orthodox clergymen. The consequence was, they must either retreat to places of worship their friends were willing to build theui, preach in the open air, or both occasionally, or give up preacliing altogether. But, believing that a dispensation of the gospel was committed to them, and that woeful consequences wordd follow their departure from their heavenly call ing, they preached where Providence opened the way for them. 1 But, what could bring about, in the Church of England, this departu^re from her original doctrines, and tliis aversion to theu* being preached ? Every ef fect has a cause. What is the main cause, or what are the chief causes of what I am stating '^ I believe the first cause to be, a most capital defect in the appoint ment of men to the ministerial office. It is but too seldom remembered, that no raan can become a proper christian minister, without first becoming a christian. Learning, and other qualifications may be good in their place, but nothing can supply the want of piety. It is true, the clergy are all christians iu name: and '*ome of them, I hope many of them, are not only almost, but altogether christians. But is this universally or even generally the case 'P There are many, whose morals may be very decent, but who yet seem to have no sense of religion upon their minds. They carry about them no savour of piety ; and are no way fitted to watch over souls as they who must give an account. If they do duty, as il is called, and that as a dry task, it is as much as can be looked for. Secondly, the way by which clergymen, very frequently become possessed of benefices or livings, operates strongly to the injury of the church. They are neither chosen by the people, to whom they are to minister in holy things, nor by their ministerial brethren. But rather, they are presented to the living, either by a single- clergyman, (the bishop,) or a single layman, (the patron,) the Lotd Chancellor, or the Prime Minister 6 Z , of 17$ THE METHODIST MANUAL. of State. If some of the Livings are bestowed by the Universities, still it is in such a way as does not materi ally mend the matter. In presenting a clergyman to a benefice, some times, no doubt, it is done, as it onght to be, on account of his piety, talents, and suitableness for the situation. But, will any person, who is sufficiently acquainted with these things, say, that this is generalh/ the case ? Thirdly, the discipline of the Church is so no toriously and deplorably defective, as to countenance, or connive at evils innumerable. Many are the instances of immorality, want of piety, and deficiency in duty, among the clergy ; and yet, how seldom, are any of them brought to any serious account for their conduct ? What a rare thing for any of these to get any serious reproof from their superiors, and still more rare for one of them to be deposed fi-om his office ! What I mean to say, is, that these are, in my judgment, the principal causes ofthe Church being in ite present state, andthe chief things that rendered Method ism necessary, and furnish a defence of our proceedings^ 2. Some object to Methodism, " That the preach ers are not regularly appointed to the work of the ministry ; nor yet possess sufficient qualifications for th^ work." I answer, (1.) With regard to their appoint- m'nt to the work, it is, I think, more scriptural than that of the Established clergy. Read the statement I have given, in the chapter on disciphne, of the appoint ment of local and travelling preachers. Of one thing we may be absolutely certain, and that is, that God never called a wicked marj to the work of the ministry, " To the wicked, saith God, what hast thou to do to take m.y law into thy mouth; whereas thou hatest to be reformed, and hast cast my words behind thee ?" The ministers of Christ are termed ambassadors, 2 Cor. 5, 20. But did ever any sovereign in the world, employ a person THE METHODIST MANUAL. 173 person in an embassy, whom he knew hated him, and was much more attached to the cause and interests of those to whom he was sent, than to those of his master!^ Whoever, then, has a regular call to the ministry, it is not a sinful or unregenerated man. As to ordination itself, the Methodist preachers have at least all the essantial parts. They undergo an examination, both as to their characters and qualifica tions for the ministry, < far more suited to the nature of the office, than those pass through who are niost loud in urging this objection. Had t/iey to pass through such a process before they could obtain deacons' orders, as a preacher among the Methodists does prior to his admission on trial, some of them would never be ordain ed deacons. And had they after that, to wait four years before they could obtain priests' orders, and then go through such an examination as our preachers do before they are admitted into full connexion, many a deacon would never be made a priest. Our ordination, (as the adhdissions above-mentioned may be very properly term ed, ) is not deficient in any point, except in the point of laying on of hands. And though this was practised by the apostles, yet it is not declared to be necessary, inor is it enjoined for general observation. Nay, it will admit of dispute, whether the ceremony of laying on of hands was any way iparticularly connected with ordination to the ministry. It was used upon such occasions by the apostles, at least sometimes. But it is not certain it was always used when men were set apart for that sacred office : while it is very certain, they laid hands upon other persons without any such appointraent. This was done when the seven were appointed "to serve tables," and to look after the " widows" and othe/heedy persons " in the daily ministrations" of temporal assist ance. Acts vi. 1 — 6. Peter and John laid their hands on these people of Saraaria, whora they baptized, after they " had received the Avord of God," Acts viii. 7,' Ananias " put his hands upon Saul," but it is expressly said ihat he did this that he might receive his sight. Acts 180 THE METHODIST. MANUAL. ix. 12, 17. Hands were laid upon Saul and Barnabas, at Antioch ; but this was not so much an appointraent lo the ministry, as a setting apart for a particular mission. Tliey had been preachers a good while, and had " taught much people," for " a whole year" at Antioch, Acts xi. 26, — xii. 1 — 4. Paul laid his hands upon certain dis ciples at Ephesus, whom he baptized " in the name of the Lord Jesus," and who had before been baptized "into John'k baptism," Acts xix. 1 — 7. Paul "laid his hands on" Publius, the chief man of the dslaind of Melita, or Malta, and " prayed with hira," and " healed him," These instances suffice to shew what is meant by " the doctrine of laying on of hands," Heb. vi.- 2. But, whatever may be said about the absolute necessity ofthe laying on of hands, at appointments tp the gospel ministry, I feel no inclination to dispute the propriety of it, A number of us have received this from men whom we think as much authorized to confer ordination- as any bishop in Christendom. And should the con ference so determine, it may easily be imparted to all the preachers now in our connexion, and all succeeding ones upon tiieir being received into full connexio7i. It Avill be found a much easier task to put hands upon a man's head, than to: put mental qualificatioris j'jito it. And it is to be feared, that " mitred heads" sometimes lay " hands on skulls that cannot teach, and will not learn." Nor is this defect confined to Episcopalians, as the following anecdote seems to intimate. At a certain ordination in Scotland, when the time came for putting hands upon the candidate's head, one minister was observed to keep his distance and stretching out his hand, laid the end of his stick upon the young min ister's head. Being afterwards sp6ke to upon this strange act, he pleasantly observed, " He thought timber to timber formed a very proper union." I SHALL only add, that I am satisfied, there are many clergymen belonging to the Church of England, of good natural parts, of useful, as well as ornamental learning, and a goodly and increasing number, who * ' have THE METHODIST MANUAL. 181 have both the forra and the power of genuine godliness. And exceedingly glad should I be, were I able to say, I believed this touching the whole of them. As to qualifications, (2.) The Methodists require, that a man should be able to pray and preach, and that without a book. Whereas, had they had nothing to do but to pray by a form, which was made long before they were born, and to read sermons, made pferhaps by others, no qualification would have been necessary, but the bare ability to read. While these gentry are talking about " imqualified and insufficient teachers," survey the comparative difference between the men thus slan dered, and vast numbers of their own orde^r. Take both of them to a pidpifc. These " unqualified and in- sitfficient teachers," can pray, and preach, and that in a wayi^that at once finds its way both to the understanding and affections of the congregation. Meantime, this gen tleman, who talks about his being regularly bred to the rainistrj-, and who thinks himself duly qualified and amply sufficient for the work, how does he acquit him self ? Why, he convinces us that he has learnt to read, and this is all Ave can fairly gather frora his performance. But take his cratches from him, and let him pray ajid preach without book. We iwdl not require him to do this in his boasted Latin and Greek ; these, he may say, and perhaps A'ery truly, that he has in a great measure forgotten. But let him speak in good sterling English, for an hour, in such a way as to give satisfaction to the major part of a common congregation. — But alas! he is utterly at a loss ! He does nothing, and ca« do nothing, but put us in mind of Isa. Ivi. 10. " They are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark." Again, a sick man wants somebody to pray with him. The clergyman is sent for. After a little con versation, perhaps not much calculated to edify, he puts on his spectacles, pulls out a book, and reads a short prayer by the bed-side of the dying person. This being finished, he perhaps tells the afflicted person. he hopes he 182 THE METHODIST MANUAL. he will soon be better, and bids him farewell. And in this manner does he give his parishioners " ghostly coun sel," and assist and comfort them when they lie on the bed of affliction. In such cases, it frequently happens, that a Methodist preacher is afterwards sent for, and his labours are found to be of a more suitable and profit able sort. But the objector urges, \S!) That " these preachers have not had a regular classical education." I answer, education is a very good thing, and a classical education is not held in contempt by the Methodists. But it is not a thing iiidispensibly necessary to a proper and usieful discharge of the work. of the ministry. Such an education may be convenient and useful, and, at any rate, ornamental. But, a man, of only a common education, may leai-n and teach all that is necessary to salvation; all that is needful to teach men the knowledge of every essential doctrine of the gospel; every branch of religion, whether speculative, experimental, or practical. What knowledge is there in the world, either needful, or useful,. lipon the subject of religion, that cannot be found in English authors ? Nay, what knowledge have nineteen out of twenty, yea, ninety-nine out of a hundred, of these very clergymen, in matters of religion, but what might have been ob tained, and even in greater perfection, from authors whose works are published in the English language 'P Allow rae to ask this plain question, Is what is not essen tially necessary, to be set above what is so emphatically needful ? and is .shadow to supersede, and triumph over substance ? Besides, there are some Methodist preachT ers who Avould sustain no injury to their reputation, by a comparison with many clergymen in point of learning. Did the preaching of 4he gospel, consist chiefly of learned criticisms, the advantage of a classical educa tion would be greater than it is; more especially, if the whole, or a considerable part ofthe people, were clas- fcical scholars also. And except this be the case, how ])reposterous it is, to hear a preacher quoting scraps of Latin, THE METHODIST MANUAL* 133 Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, in his sermons, which, per haps not two persons in the congregation understand ? And should he not under-itand some of these scraps himself, it will not make the least difference in such cases. Ttie edification of thepeople will be just the same, and his fame, as a linguist, will not be at all tar nished, at least, when not a single linguist is present. All therefore, who are ambitious of this tinsel, bastard sort of fame, must garnish their discourses with paltry scraps of the learned languages, particularly among ¦country farmers, mechanics, ahd village peasants. Waving the languages in which the classics were written, what remarkable advantages may be obtained from the matter contained in them ? Is that such as is particularly calculated to promote a spirit of christian piety ? Has it some very powerful tendency to stimu late to an imitation of Jesus Christ, in temper and con duct? Does it specially instruct a man how to instruct others in geauine godliness and true Christianity ? — Would not the classical authors, most proper to be put in the hands of men about to becorae rainisters of Je sus Christ, be, in addition to the bible, the Epistles of the Apostolical Fathers, a well-written History of the Church of Christ, since the death of the twelve apostles, especially a History of the Waldenses, and Albigenses ; Fox's Book of Martyrs; the History of the Popes, and the Papacy; Burnet's History of the Reformation; the Sufferings qf the Protestants in France, especially in the reign of Lewis the I4th ; Neal's History of the Puritans; and ithe Histories of the Church of Scot land, in the reigns of Charles the 2nd, and James the 2nd. To these I would add, as christian classics, the works of archbishops Leighton, TillotsQn, and Seeker j bishops Newton, Home, and Porteus; of Mr. Baxter, and various others of the puritanical and non-conformist writers, especially those of Dr. Watts, and Dr. Dod dridge, as well as the writings of Mr. Whitfield, Mr. Wesley, and Mr. Fletcher. Many others might be men tioned, especially Shuckford's and Prideaux's Connex ions . 1 " <" 18* THE METHODIST MANUAL. ions. A few good Commentaries on the Old and New Testamentsi, should be a distinguished part of the ministerial classics, as well as a History, Diction ary, and a Geography of the Bible. And also the Lives oi Eminent Christians, raore particularly the Lives of Eminent Ministers of Christ. A DILIGENT perusal of these books, would be much more likely to contribute to prepare a raan for the christian ministry, than readjng books constituting what is comraonly termed The Classics, A surprising circumstance, indeed, that a man should h^ thought not sufficiently instructed to preach the glorious gospel of peace, light, life, and iraraortahty, without being sent to the polluted heathenish schools of Greece and Rotiie,read by some of these classical authors, to have his judgment perverted, and the bias of his soul directed to, and inflamed with a thirst after the desire of the eye, the desire of the flesh, and the pride of life; to be brought to admire, and alraost adore, what is earthly, sensual, and devilish ; to have his imagination fired, al most beyond all bounds, with ideas of lust and de bauchery, < war, and slaughter, robbery, and devasta tion ! Would it not have been a much belter prepara tion for declaring the truth as il is in Jesus, and the whole coiinsel of God, to have Ifeen able to say, you had diligently studied the whole bible, and especially the New Testament, and that both for your own di rection and to qualify you to instructOthers,and that you had accompanied this reading with much prayer; that you had read, and deeply studied the books raentioned above, with raany raore of a sirailar description; above all, that you truly feared and loved God, saw and felt the va^ue of immortal souls, the evil of sin, the necessity of holiness, the fallen state of human nature, the plan of salvation in Jesus Christ, and the solemn and infinite importance of eternal things ? Many persons have startled at the bare idea of^ a man attempting to preach who had not been regularity ediicaled THE METHODIST MANUAL. 185 educated for the. purpose. But does the New Testa ment, or any part of the bible, lay any stress upon such education as is here meant, or even so rauch as ever once mention it? There is nothing in the wordoi God, or iu the actions oi God, that sanctions this notion. None of the apostles chosen by our Lord, when upon earth, were classical scholars. And though Paul was afterwards made an apostle, it does not appear to have been because he was a man of acaderaical learning, but though he was such, seeing he was now become a sin cere and zealous christian. And henceforth, he held his classical learning, coraparatively, in contempt. Al luding to this,, he says, he became a fool for Christ, counted it but dung and dross, when contrasted with the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, and resolved, henceforth, to know nothing but Jesus Christ, and him crucified. As to the prophets, which of them were men of literature, according to the sense commonly affixed to the term ? Perhaps not one of them. I apprehend, had they been such, it raight not have prevented their appointment to the office : but their beingcalled to the office without this quaUfication, proves that it was not absolutely necessary, and also, how little value God at taches to it. But, perhaps it will be said, that we read of " The sons of the prophets," who are supposed to have been students in divinity. 2 Kings, chap, ii, and chap. V. But what they really were, is very uncertain. One thing is certain, that an establishment of any seminary, called " TTie Schools of the Prophets." or any thing of the kind, did not form any branch of the institutions of Moses. And it is equally certain, that Jesus Christ neither established, recomraended, sanc tioned, nor ever once mentioned any thing bearing a resemblance to any such establishment. What do we read of these "sons of the prophets," who came forth to meet Elisha, that is interesting ? What they said to him was so useless, that he would 6 2 A not 186 THE METHODIST MANUAI,« not listen to them, but said, " Hold ye your peaceT* And as he would not let them speak, so neither would heletthern act. ¦ They foolishly proposed to send fifty men to search for. Elijah, who was gone to heaven, on the tops of mountains, and in vallies; but he rebuked their foljy. If these •' sons of the prophets" bad been of any great value, and had possessed special qualifi cations for the prophetic office, one might have .sup posed one of them would have been chosen to succeed Elijah, instead of such a blow being given \o academ ical pride, by the calling of the new prophet from the plough-tail, while these youths were deemed so " un qualified and insufficient," that they were not allowed either to speak or act. iIt is worthy of observation, that we have no ac- cbunt, that the priests under the law, no not even the high-priests, ever had any thing that Could be called a classical education. We have no information that Da vid had ever undergone such a literary drilling at any college; nor yet Solomon, the wisest of men. Yet which of our collegians can write so as to deserve to be compared to them ? And there is neither proof nor probability that any of the prophets, or David, or Solo mon, were linguists. And if it be said our Saviour made his apostles linguists, I answer, the reason is.plain, they were to "go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature," publishing the gospel of the king dom in all nations. But as many different languages were spoke in the different countries, and the people of .each region understood only their own lapguage, it was absolutely necessary, that they who were to preach to every creature in all the different nations, should be able to speak in the language of each. And if those clergymen who talk so much about languages, will stir ifip their zeal, and go as missionaries to the East Indies, China, Japan, Africa, Turkey, or any part of the Con tinent of Europe, it is admitted it will be necessary for them to understand and speak the languages of the people they preach to. And if it be said, the know ledge « THE METHODIST MANUAL. 187 ledge of Hebrew and Greek is necessary to the proper understanding of rhe scriptures, seeing those are the la'nj^uages in which the sacred volume was written; I repiv, it is paying but a poor compliment lo the English translators of the bible, the authors of after- translations, as well as to all our commentators and scripture critics, to suppose that a man cannot still sufficiently understand the bible, both for his own di rection and the instruction of others. If all these put together are not sufficient to convey to my mind proper and sufficient ideas of the doctrines, and Other raatters contained in holy writ, what hope can I indulge that I shall be able, (should God spare rae to the age of Me thuselah, and I spent all my days in studying Greek and Hebrew,) sufficiently to, understand the bible, either for the instruction of others, or ray own direction. Per haps it will be deemed wandering from the point, when I say, that neither Noah, Enoch, Abraliam, Isaac, Jacob, nor Joseph, though such very eminent men, could either write or read. For there is neither proof nor probability, that letters were in use till the time of Moses. Could Joseph have written, we may 'rest as sured, he would have sent a letier, by the hand of his brethren, to his aged and much-loved father, to have invited him to come down into Egypt. But nothing of the sort is mentioned or implied. Perhaps it may be a thought worth inserting here, that there is no reason to believe, that those ancient authors whose writings constitute what are now called the classics, were themselves classical scholars, in the academical sense of the term. But am I then arguing against learning? No! I allow it its proper Worth; but I am arguing against what I may call, till I can think of a better terra, the POPERY of learning. For learning, or a prelence of learning, or a little of both, is now in England, atterapted to be made to answer the same ends, that the supremacy and infallibility of the Pope, sham miracles, &c. were made to answer in former days. In many respects, and lo a considerable extent. 1S3 THE METHODIST MANUAL. * extent, it is mere dust thrown in the eyes of the people. Learning, in itself, is-not an evil. But, when under pre tence of it, a sort of literary popery is attempted to be established, and men in squai'e caps and other antiquated habiliments, would seize the imaginaiy keys of the pretended successor of St. Peter, common sense, and indignation against imposition, in whatever shape it may come, impel me to enter my protest. Whatever may be wanting in our literary en dowments, is amply compensated for in laboriousness and 'usefulness. In tiiese at least, the Methodist preach ers are nol; a whit behind the very chief of our modern apostles. Every Methodist preacher, upon an average, goes through nearly three times as much labour as the generality oi other ministers, whether of the establish ment, or among the different denominations of dissenters. There are a few exceptions, but not many. And as to Ksefwlness, which of our regular and learned gentlemen will stand the comparison ? I would ask, whether more careless sinners have not been reformed, during the last seventy years, by the labours of Methodist preachers, who, in a national point of view, have cost nothing, than by all the labours of more than eighteen thousand clergy, who have cost the nation so many millions of money? It is allowed indeied, that great and extensive good has been done, and this they would have been glad of, only it has not been done in the Church. I can only say, if God had been disposed to work in and by the Church, the Methodists would not have been a hind rance, but would have rejoiced, and aided and assisted with all their might. Wheuever any clergyman has shewn a disposition to do good, and to be eminently useful in his day and generation, the Methodists have been the first to rejoice at the sight, and to give him every encouragement and assistance in their power. And in this, they have often overlooked difference of opinion, and even sometiiing of an unfriendly disposition on THE METHODIST MANUAL. 189 on the side of such clergymen. And, we may ask, and not without surprise, what causes the antipathy to the Methodists, which we so frequently witness inloaany cler gymen, and even in some, who, on account of apparent superior piety, zeal, and their preaching agreeably to the Articles, Homilies, and Liturgy, are themselves nick-named Methodists ? This question deserves a serious answer. The fact is notorious : but what can be the causes ? The Methodist pi'eachers, in conse quence of their labours, do not get any share of the Church-livings, nor cause any deductions ivflm the salaries of the clergy. And as they do not do it now, so they have no intention, desire, or expectation, of ever obtaining any part of these emoluments. It has never been an object of Methodism, to op pose or hinder the labours of the clergymen of the Established Church, but quite the contrary. Much less have the Methodists ever wished to deprive the clergy of their lives, liberty, or property. The Method ist preachers inculcate the doctrines of the Church, and frequently use the Liturgy in their own chapels. And it would please them much *o see the Church in true and abundant prosperity. For this they have long hoped and prayed. But the conduct ofthe clergy, par- ticidarly towards the Methodists, makes them almost despair of ever seeing this desire of their hearts accom plished. Nothing sinks their hopes, and excites their fears and griefs, like the following lamentable and un deniable circumstance. Many of the clergy, are far more zealous against Methodism than they are against sin. A man may live in rioting and drunkenness, chambering and wantonness, or other heinous sins, and perhaps neither in private nor in public, does his parson say any thing to Avarn him to turn from the evil of his ways. Here would be a fair occasion, not only to press horae the grand concenis of the soul and eternity, but to represent to the sinner The danger of the Church, and that whether as to its purity, honour, or durability; should its members act so contrary to the gospel of Christ. 190 THE METHODIST MANUAL. * , Christ. In some very remarkable case, a fetv neigh bouring clergy raight go in a body to some notorious sinner, to admonish, warn, and instruct hira : and if he would let them, they might pray with him. But, how jofteii is this done? But, let such a man, become tboughtful and serious, read pious books, frequent -the Methodist chapel, and learn to pray, and there is a great display of zeal to turn him from his new plan. And should a similar change take place, in a goodly number of persons in the same neighbourhood, the cry is The Churc^ is in danger : and every exertion is made to prop her by stopping the growing evil ! But why all this stir ? You yourself cannot but acknowledge, that the man, at least, is in far less danger than he was ; and the Church herself would be farther reraoved frora dan ger did her sons make the best use of such reformations. At any rate, a very large majority ofthe population of the country, and of almost every parish, if not every one wdthout exception, remains untincturedwith Method ism. If some have left the Church, (though many of the Methodists attend it better than they did before they became such,) lei the minister sally out, and recruit his congregation from among those who hardly ever, if ever at all, enter any place of worship. Oi' all the adult inhabitants of England, how many, or rather how feAv, ever go to any place of worship of whatever description ? Suppose one in three attend pub lic worship, two thirds spend the Sabbath in idleness, visiting, working, in journeys of pleasure, and some in committing more sin on that day, than. on all the other days of the week. Noav, here is a noble field for the exertion of clerical zeal and talents? Let them " return from following their brethren," 2 Sara. ii. 26. who are gone to the Methodists and Dissenters, and let them go after those who remain in ignorance, carelessness, and sin, bring them to their churches, and warn them, teach them, and lead them to Christ, to holiness, and heaven. The Methodists will not oppose tbem, but greatly re joice to see so much good done, wliatever may havebeen THE METHODIST MANUAL. 191 been the first stimulus to such laudable and useful labour. By such conduct as this, Ihey may safely keep a large majority ofthe people iu their favour and interests ; and so long as this is the case, the Church cannot be in any danger, even in their own sense ofthe words. And be- heve me, there is work enough for all the clergy, the Dissenting ministers, and all the Methodist preachers in England. Should the objector say, " Every defection from the Church, will increase a parlyj who either are, or may be, disaffected to the state," I answer, the Method ists have proved themselves as good and as loyal sub jects as any in the King's dominions. There has never been one person, belonging to the Wesleyan Methodists, executed for high treason, transported, or otherwise punished for sedition, or tried, or imprisoned, under any such charge. And whenever there has been a fair - occasion for displaying it, their attachment to the gov ernment, has been conspicuous. This was the case in Ireland, during the late rebellion; in the West India Islands when threatened by the French, some few years ago : to which I may add, the untarnished and distin guished reputation those Methodists have maintained who have been in the army and the navy. At the battle of Fontenoy, John Hairae, and a few other Methodists, greatly distinguished themselves by their com'age and conduct. John Hairae was a man of veracity, was after his discharge frora the army a travelling preacher, and died the death of the righteous, at Whitchurch, in Hampshire, August 18, 1784, in the 78tli year of his age. In the published account of his life, written by himself, he says, " On May 1, 1745, we had a full trial of our faith at Fontenoy.- — This day Gqd was pleased to prove our little flock, and to shew them his power. They shewed such courage and boldness, in the-fight, as made the officers as well as soldiers amaz ed.-^ When William Clements had his arm broken by a musket-ball, they would have carried him out of the battle. , 192 THE METHODIST MANUAI.i^> battle. But he said, ' No : I have an arm left to hold my sword : I will not go yet.' When another shot broke his other arm he said, ' I am as happy as I can be out of Paradise.' John Evans, having both his legs taken off by a cannon-ball, was laid across a cannon to die : where, as long as he could speak, he was praising God with joyful lips." " For my own part," says John Haime, " I stood the hottest fire of the enemy for seven hours. But I told my comrades, • the French have no ball made, that will kill me this day.' After about seven hours, a cannon-ball killed my horse under me. An officer cried out aloud, ' Haime, where is your God now ?' I answered, 'Sir, he is here with me ; and he will bring me out of thiB battle.' Presently a cannon-ball took off his head. I was exposed both to the enemy and to «ur own horse ; but that did not discourage me at all : for I knew the God of Jacob was with me. I had a long way to go through all our horse, the balls flying on every side. The hotter the battle grew, the more strength was given me." WiLUAM Clements wrote to Mr. Wesley, say ing, " We lay on pur arms all night. In the morning the cannon began at half past four o'clock ; and the Lord took away alt fear from nie, so that I went into the field with joy. The balls flew on either hand, and men fell in abundance ; but nothing touched me till about two o'clock. Then I received a ball through my left arm, and rejoiced so much the more. Soon after I received another in my right, which obliged me to quit the field. But I scarce knew, whether I was on earth or heaven. It was oue of the sweetest days I ever enjoyed." The grand effectual check that was given to the late dreadful rebellion in Ireland, was very much owing to Mr. Michael M'Cornick, a Methodist. He had formerly been in the army, and still possessed both the courage ' ' THE METHODIST MANUALi 193 courage and skill of a good soldier. It was very much through him that the rebels were so sigpially defeated and broken at the battle of Ross. His activity, skill, and courage astonished. the beholders: and it is said, he slew on that niemorable day, raore than tw^ty rebels with his own hand. There was a small company of Methodists on board the Victory, Lord Nelson's ship, at the battle of Trafalgar. An officer, who particularly watched them, declared they were the best sailors in the ship; and expressed his astonishment, that not one of them was either killed or wounded. Finally, did ever a single Methodist desert from either the array or navy? I believe not. Dese^rs are almost always Churchmen. And if any thing should ever cause any deviation, or abatement, in this respect, among the Methodists, it would be oppression and persecution: it would be precisely what these alarmists about ihe danger of the church, are labouring to bring on. Copious people ever became inimical to the government under which they lived, but through cruel treatment. It has only been when their lives have been made bitter. by reason of cruel bondage, or uut merited affliction, like Israel in Egypt, that they have ever been brought to breathe the spirit of the posterity of that people, when they said, " What portion have we in David? Neither have we inheritance in the son Of Jesse : to your tents, O Israel : now see to thine own house, David," 1 Kings, xii. 16. The case ofthe family of the Stuarts is exactly in point here. This family was hurled from the throne of Britain, and obliged to take refuge in foreign coun» tries, after oppressing the people, and cruelly persecut* ing them, especially on account of religion. As yet, the Methodists have not only refrained from complaining, but have been content and thauks- 7 2B ful. 194 THE METHODIST MANUAt. ful. They revere and love ifche King, and have great - confidence in his justice and friendly protection. But it is said, " Sonrtething must be done to check the alarming spread of Methodism." If Method|sra be an evil, it ought to be checked ; but if it be a good thing, no raan can attempt to check it, without being found fighting against Godw And " let the potsherds strive with the potsftierds df the earth," let one earthly brittle government go to w'ar wilh anpther; but " woeto man, who contendeth with his Mkker," by opposing the instruction, reformation, and salvation of raankind, through the instrumentality of a preached gospel. And what right have you to say. This ought to be done only in a church? Shew me the passage of scripture, that gives the slightest countenance to such an idea. For any^thirig written in the biblie, the Methodist preach ers have as much. solongbeen the asyluraof civil and religious liberty, w^ho are forging chains for the most harmless, peace able, and useful body of people in the nation. And it is to be attempted, it seems, in strict conformity to the pi n of all persecutors of ancient times, naraely, to guard religion against what would injure or disgrace it! Tiiey have put on the face of a lamb; but if they can succeed in their enterprise, the act will bc' that of a lion. " Somethitig," say they, " is needful to be done; hut we intend nothing contrary to a wise and enlight- -ened toleration." Pt^RSONS of this description, seem to act upon the principle of the people at large, being raere appendages to the soil, a sort of cattle belonging to the land, and ihat whoever can get into the saddle of office and power, in church or state, beCome the proprietors of these live-stock. Yea, that the clergy of an establish- «»fnt have a property in, and authority over the inha bitants of the country. Much has often been said lipoh the subject of Toleration. Let us take a fair look at this celebrated thing. To worship God in any particular way, must be either 7'ight or wrong. If it be right, it must be agreeable to God. And when a thing is agreeable to God, is your displeasure, or the want of your license, or toleration, sufficient to make it wrong ? Presump tuous, sinful mortal I And, it is fairly implied, that even God* himself shall not have rendered to him what is right, axiA agreafele to him, without your permission ! Ti e idea of toleration looks both to the zoorshipper and zvorshipped. Had this always been attended to, some acts of toleration would have struck men with horror. Sup pose, for instance, some hearty, but unthinking friend toxeligiousliberty, in the present circumstances,{lSlO,) should If6 THE METHODIST MANUAL. should rnove in Parliament, for leave to bring in a bill, to tolerate Almighty God, to be worshipped in build ings unconsecrated by bishops, and to allow him to be prayed to, and spoken of, indwelling-houses, and even in the high-ways, and the streets and lanes of cities and towns ; who would nol be struck with horror at the profaheness of such a motion ! Yet, this is iraplied, di rectly or indirectiy, in all proposals for toleration in matters of religion. Upon due consideration, it would appear, that there really have been men who have seriously conceived the idea of confering favours and liberties upon the Al mighty, in matters belonging to religious worship, — Look into the celebrated Magna Charta, or The Great CAarfer of England, made in the ninth year of King Henry the third, and confirmed by King Edward the first, in the five and twentieth year of his reign. Co pied from "Statutes at Large." vol. i. The fatter part of the preamble, says, " Know ye, that we, unto the honour of Almighty God, and for the salvation of the souls of our progenitors and successors. Kings of Eng land, &c. of our mere and free-will, have given and granted these liberties following : — " First ; we have granted to God, and by this our present Charter have confirmed, for us and for our heirs for ever, that the church of England shall be free, and shall have all her whole rights and liberties in violable." Is not every man struck with horror at the arro gancy of a poor sinful worm taking upon himself, in the plenitude of his bounty and condescension, to make GRANTS unto the Author of. his being and every bless ing, the high and the lofty one; who inhabiteth eternity ! And if the blasphemous presumption of man, can in duce hira to think, that he has confered favours upon, or made GRANTS to Alraighty God, then surely he must expect the Almighty will one day acknowledge the ob ligation and returnhim thanks. Having THE METHODIST. MANUAL. 197 Having said thus much as to tolerating what is right, what shall we say about tolerating what is wrong ? Will toleration legitimate and sanctify, what in itself is wrong ? Surely not. They who could thus indulge an idea that it was necessary to tolerate what in itself was right, or that their toleration would be a sufficient authority to do what in itself is wrong, must bear a strong resemblance ofthe character raentioned, 2 Thes. ii, 4. "Who opposelh and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped ; so that he is as God sitting in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God ?" To oppose, by statutes, and pains, and penalties,, what is right is persecution ; and to assume a power to authorize what is evil, and therefore con trary to the will and word of God, is to be partakers of other, men's sins; and presuming to dispense with God's laws, is to claim a superiority over God. Our Saviour's well-known words are decisive in this case; "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God, the things that are God's." Casar, or the, Roman em peror, was their suprerae civil governor, and included all the subordinate governors, as they all derived their authority from him, and acted under him. — And what things were his, and what things are belonging to civil governors in general ? Why, 1. They have a right to " tribute," or taxes. — As they have to pay the expenses of governing and pro tecting their respective empires, which government and protection were instituted for the general benefit of the inhabitants, it is right that they should each pay a rea sonable share ofthe expenses. And I will venture to say, that the Methodists pay their share of taxes, at least as faithfully and cheerfully as any church- people, in the same ranks and circumstances of life. 2. As money alone will not enable Caesar, or the civil power, to govern and protect the empire, men bearing arms will also be wanted. And do the Me thodists refuse to take their share in the regular or lo cal 198 THE METHODIST MANUAL. cal militia ? And' do they not, in this branch of public sfervice, acquit themselves with as much care and pro priety as any Churchmen ? And, I must observe, 3. That whether they go tb church or not, though many of them do goj they do not refuse to pay tythes, or other Church rates ; and tliat thfey have no sort of scheme or design to abolish Or alienate these revenues of the clergy. Can Caesar desire any thing more ? Can he demand any thing* more, without demanding "the things which are God's?" jHere il is needful to observe, first. The civil govern ment has no right to command what is contrary tb the commandments of God, even in what relates to the Body, our fellow creatures, and the present world. Se condly, Civil governors have no right at all to interfere between God and the souls of men. Civil government and religion, are IwO things Which ought to be totally separate and independent of each other. Yet, if govei*- nors choose to have a certain religion of their own, and to call it the religion of the nation, I shall not' oppose them, and hope they will allow me the same liberty they claim foi- themselves. Were I a governor,! -should want nothing more from my subjects. And if they were subjects who are now governors, I believe Ihey would want nothing less than what X am contend ing for as a general right. Will the persons who want to presci-ibe to me what opinions I shall believe, the fomi in which I shall worship God, and the rules of Chm*ch government, by which they wish me to be regulated, undertake to an swer for me at the day of judgment, and to ensure my eternal salvation, provided I comply with their wishes? And, if they should unde7-tahe this, can I, with confi dence and due security, leave the matter in their hands? Let human governors " sludg fo be quiet and mind their own business," and rest assured that the Al- Biighty will mind his. Let them rule in the tear of the Lord> THE METHODIST MANUAI.L. ISS Lord, in civil affairs, and prove themselves to be the ministers of .God ;for good. Meantime, without theii: obtrusive interference, the ark of God will be iupheld, the heavenly King will rule in Zion, and the world will witness, ithat die that keepeth Israel neither slum-, bereth nor sleepeth. If, from the day of Pentecost to the present time, Christianity had been left to itself and its Author, un- helped as well as unhindei-edhy \\n\nan authority, what would have been the state of the church of Christ, and of the world at large this day ? Human authority in matters of religion has, in ten thousand instances, been the worm at the root of the gourd. And in how many instances :has it been of any real service to religion ? Who hath required this interference in matters, per taining only to' God and the souls of men, at your hands ? Keep your own place, and do not fear for the church of God. Its government is aipon Almighty shoulders, Isa. vi. 9. Let God and the. devil, truth ana error, fight it fairly out, ,and victory will declare itself on the ri^ht side. It is of importance to remark, that while our Saviour's apostles, in imitation of their master, " render ed to Caesar the things. that were Caesar's," they paid no attention to iCffisar in matters of religion. Nay, they never so much as waited or sought for an act of tolera tion, or a license from any court, to qualify tli^, to " go into all the world, to preach the gospel to every creature," either in Judea, (where there was an estabhsh- ed church, and one established by God himself,) at An- *tioch, at Ephesus, Corinth, or any other place which they visited. Had such an act of government existed, and been eonforrned to, in Judea, and the other countries where the gospel was planted by the apostles, as that which sorae have mentioned, the glad tidings of salvation had never been published to the world. Head the New^ Testament, «00 THE METHODIST MANUAL. Testament, and the Acts of the Apostles especially, and then say, whether the gospel could haye been pror pagated at all, 1. If no person -had beert allowed to preach, but those who did nothing else, the apostle Paul hiraself must have been silent; for he often wrought at tent-making. 2: If no person had been " allowed to preach to mo-re than 07ie congregation," nor to that without a license, the gospel could not have been propagated, and the world had still remained iri darkness andthe shadow of death. 3. Had a certificate of their cliaracter been re quired, and a petition for their license to preach, and that even before they had preached in any place, they could never have gone " into all the world, aud preached the gospel to every ¦creature. The apostles had no certifi cate from the rulers at Jerusalem, nor did they seek Ibr any such authority. The case would have been the same, if it had been enacted, " that there shall be no preaching except in sorae place built for the purpose," Hardly ever did the apostles preach in a place of this description : no ; not Jesus Christ, except a few times. Enraged as the devil was, at the first spread of truth and righteousness, and numerous aud active as priests were, both Jewish and Pagan, it is smprising ihat no person was employed to carry such an antiohristian plan tetO'^ecutioD. The person who introduced the subject the last -session of Parliament but one, said. So many unfit -persons took up'on them to. preach, that he feared for the understanding of the country. But, . I appeal to the nation at large, whether those who have attended ihe preaching of the Methodists, be increased or de creased in understandhig : and whether they are inferior or superior in understanding, to 'Church people in the same ranks in society, and of the same degrees of edu cation. I a-sk-this especially, as it respects understand ing THE METHOIilST MANUAL. 201 ing on spiritual subjects : for if this preaching has dark ' ^ened or perverted the understanding ofthe hearers of it in any thing, it must be upon that subject which these preachers confine all their attention and discourse to. Can you bring forward an equal number of Church peo ple, ofthe same ranks in society, and ofthe sarae degrees of education, who will be found more able to converse upon all the essential docb-ines ofthe christian religion? The Methodists, with all their reputed ignorance, have notiiing to dread from a comparison of this nature. The way in which some statesmen and divines speak upon the subject of toleration, conveys the idea, that they think it a special act of indulgent kindness, to permit any thing in religion but what they fully ap prove df. But, liberty of conscience, is the common and equal right of all. This ought not to be consider ed as a thing enjoyed upon me;re sufferance. There are some foot pat^s, and other roads, that are used upon mere sufferance, but which the proprietors may stop when they choose : while common turnpike roads, and many other roads, are equally the property of all who choose to travel them. Now the path of unrestrain ed liberty of conscience, touching religious opinions, forms of worship, and every thing pertaining to Chm-ch discipline, is a coramon public road, which all have an equal right to. It is no road to be travelled upon raere si^epmce. Let those who think otherwise prove their opinion from the scriptures. Should any one say, " that even upon the most public roads, there are turnpike-gates, which the travel ler must wait at, and pay for the opening of;" I an swer, that is'in consequence of certain persons under taking to improve the roads, and keep them in repair. But, the road to heaven cannot be improved, nor can any man undertake to keep it in repair. Besides of this road, no " cominissioners" have been appointed, nor gaite-tenters engaged. Here is a strait gate, and a narrow way ; but no persons have been employed to 7 2C tend 202 THE METHODIST MANUAL. tend the one or raend the other. , Meantime, persons of different sentiments, modes of worship, and rehgious connexions, may enter the gate, and walk in the way. And no authority can be proved from scripture, lo be long to a minister of an Established Church, as a survey or, or controller of the way, any more than to any other ministers. Rather, we might say, they are all equally excluded. The road is made; it never wants mending; and it has no surveyor, controller, or superintendent, but He who is the WAY, as well as the truth and the life. But, flowing from Hira, there is a way, and an high way, and it 'shall be called The way of holi7iess. Whatever absurdity or impropriety there may be attached to the idea of toleration, no reproach or blame will belong to the present royal faraily of Bri tain. The Toleration Act Was passed into law between twenty and thirty years before the house of Hanover ascended the throne of these realras. At the tirae of enacting that statute, and also before and after that period, the universal equal right of liberty touching re ligion, was but imperfectly understood. It is greatly to the hunourof the reigning family, that they have never manifested the smallest desire to infringe upon reli gious liberty ; and that any changes which may have taken place upon this point in the laws of the land, have . all been on the favourable side. And the Methodists, especially, are very sensible of, and grate-. ful for, the never- failing attention of the King to their rights, when application has been made to him. As circurastances were when the Brunswiclr-famiiy began their reign in England, and have continued since, they could nol well have atterapted to do more in favour of unrestrained liberty of conscience than they have done, without provoking what might have made matters worse. ' The Methodists are thankful for toleration ; for Ihey think tolerance much preferable to intolerance, because toleration is tolerable, whereas intolera7ice is utterly intolerable. The THE METHODIST MANUAL. 203 The inconsistency of the charges of the clergy against the Methodist preachers must not pass totally unnoticed. They have generallyand long pretended to despise the Methodist preachers, as being few, but especially as being sainsignificant, so ignorant^ and everyway unqualified and insufficient to make any great infipres- sion upon the public at large, or ever obtain any great and general influence. But the present general outcry seems lo bespeak a great change of sentiment. The idea perpetually held up to the public, and vociferated from Dan to Beersheba, is. That the Methodist preach ers are so formidable, and so rapidly becoming more and more terrific to these learned, and duly qualified gentlemen, that unless the temporal sword come forth ^to their assistance, very shortly a few persons, which they call " ignorant mechanics," or "insufficient and unauthorized teachers," will lay all the power, ho nours and influence, of archbishops, bishops, and 18,000 clergyraen, which they represent as the most pious, rational, learned, and valuable men in the world, in the dust. But, if either of thesp ideas be true, if the Methodist preachers be so contemptible from their want of abilities, or if so numerous a body as the clergy, be so very respectable, and every way fitted for the work of the ministry, and permanent influence, this alarm must be ill-founded. Let them then take the- side ofthe argument they like the best: but both sides they cannot take without flagrant contradiction. There are nearly forty times as raany clergy of the Established Church in England as there are itinerant Methodist preachers. Surely forty learned and rer spectable clergymen, aided by thetempOral sword, raust be more than a match for one Methodist preacher. Had the doctrines of the Methodists been con trary to those of the Church of England, and even con trary to the bible, no person or persons can shew any scriptural 204 THE METHODIST MANUAL. scriptural authority for interfering in religious opini ons, nor even in modes of worship. And should they saf. Truth ought lo be defended, and error opposed, I ask. Who made them rulers or judges in such matters ? God has not appointed the magistrate to superintend his church. To insist upon the contrary is to have re- ' course to the arguments, or rather the fallacies of the church of Rome, in opposition to every branch and stage of the reformation. Scripture alone ought to be appealed to, and every raan be allowed the right of forniing his own opinion as to its genuine meaning. It is true, if they form different opinions, all these opinions cannot be right. But unless gome human beings did really possess what the Pope has so long falsely pre-r tended to, naraely, infallibility, anA'^the keys of the king dom of heaven, no man has a right to dictate to another. In this point of privilege, " no one is before or after another." And as every man must give an account oi himself, so every man should judge for himself. Before the Parliaraent was prorogued in June, 1810, Lord Sidmouth reminded the House of LordSj that towards the conclusion of the last Session, he had moved for certain returns of licensed preachers and teachers, araongst those who dissented frora the Estab lished Church. He had signified his intention to bring the subject under consideration. He thought it a sub ject of importance; but he had been induced to refrain hitherto from proposing any resolutions, on account of considerable delicacy being involved in the discussion'; and from those who were most competent to judge, he was dissuaded this session from carrying his intention into effect. He complained, that as the law now stood, every person taking certaih*oaths, was authorized to preach what doctrines he pleased from the bible, with out regard to age, capacity, or character. To prevent the improper grant of licenses, and place a salutary restraint upon those self-appointed preachers, he in tended lo have brought the subject under their Lord ships' consideration this session, but should postpone it to THE METHODIST MANUAL. 205 to the next. _ And in consequence of some remarks from Lord Staniiope, Lord Sidmouth said. The chief object he had in view was to require from the person acting under such a license, a certificate from the con gregation to whom he belonged, that he was a compe tent person, in their opinion, to the discharge of the duty of al preacher, and that it was by their recommend ation he applied for the license. Many observations naturally suggest themselves. I shall endeavour to view the business with fairness and candour. 1. It would appear that Lord Sidmouth, his em ployers, advisers, and coadjutors, are very much at a loss in what way to proceed. They want to do some thing, and a serious something too, but they know not how to go about it without exciting au alarm. They fear the effect which such a measure might produce, especially in such times as the present. There can be little doubt that this has been the chief, if not the sole reason, for not bringing the matter forward this last session of Parliament. It has been a very tempestuous session, and much ferment and discontent have been in the nation, frora an idea entertained by some people, that our civil liberties were ip danger of being abridged. And to have attacked our religious liberties, might have thrown oil on the flarae. I think il highly probable that Providence perraitted the convulsion we have wit nessed for the preservation and protection of his own people.' The sarae sort of weapon has been formed against them, it is believed, several times during the Jast ten or fourteen years. .BiA soraething has always happened to fill the hands of those who were ready to" strike, with oilier work, and their hearts with doubtful apprehensions, so that the business was still postponed. And if the pious will still cry day and night unt,o the Lord, he who saved Israel from the execution of the cruel designs of Haman and his associates, will screen them from all the crafts and assaults of men and devils. Here iO& THE METHODIST MANUAL, Here is the great and effectual resource of the true christian when threatened with danger. Trust in God, and " continue in prayer," and " no weapon forraed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises in judgment He shall condemn." 2. His Lordship's motion is apparently narrowed and frittered down from what we were before led to ex pect. The whole measure, in all its original parts, was probably deemed impracticable, especially at the pre sent. But when this softened measure shall have toler ably settled upon the stomach, something more may be done under pretence of araending and strengthen ing the former act. But, it is evident, there is a great unwillingness to be explicit as to the intended raeasure. His Lordship did not say that the above was all he aimed at, but that il was " the c/n'i?/' object he had in view." There raay, therefore, and probably are, other objects in view, which to others may appear of greater magnitude than what his Lqrdship condescended to ex plain. But he said, 3. " He was the last man to disturb the right of toleration ; and so far from his having any thing inimical lo the interests of Dissenters, he believed th^ measure he had in contemplation met the general approbation of that religious body." Upon this I ob serve, ' • ¦ (I.) It has been the general practice of those who have exerted themselves against religion, in all ages and nations, to do this under the prelence of zeal and friend'ship for religion. Good and liberal souls! they pretended they only wanted to check growing and dan gerous evils, and to secure orthodoxy and regularity. (2.) If Lord Sidmouth do indeed feel such a friendly disposition to the Dissenters, I think he would give bet ter proof of it by letting them alone, than by meditat ing, session after session, to abridge their present liber ties. THE METHODIST MANUAL. 207 ties. Have they petitioned the Parliaraent for thq, passing of such an act as this? No: there has been nothing of the kind. Have they expressed any such sentiment at any general meeting of their ministers, or* others? Or, has a single individual among, them by any delegated authority, published such sentiment in print in any part of the empire ? 1 believe not. Such declarations may be thought convenient for. allaying suspicion, and lulling the intended victims asleep, till the chains be quite ready for putting on, and the mincv ready for springing. \ (3.) At any rale, there can be no truth in the de claration in any other sense than this, that some one denomination of Dissenters would be glad for sorae re strictions to be put upon other denominations. Sup pose,, for instance, those whose rainisters pass uniformly through an academical training, and all those who have a settled ministry among, them, might possibly, ^t least some of thera, be pleased to see a law passed to pro hibit every thing of a different description. And if the meditated design be carried into execution, it is highly probable one sort of Dissenters will be left untouched, and perhaps be even flattered, till the others be bound hand and foot. Dissenters of every denomination should be aware of this, and unitedly, yet legally, op pose every infringement upon the act of toleration, yea, even in such points as may affect only some of them. If an infringement take place in one instance, it will then be very easy to raake another and another, till toleration exist only in name. (4.) If Lord Sidmouth, or any other person, b'e really desirous of preventing an-1 removing impro prieties in the christian ministry, let them turn their first attention to the clergy of the Established Church. Are there no defects there as to " age, capacity, or character ?" Physicia7i, heal thyself. " First cast the beam out of thine own eye, and then thou shalt see -jclearly to cast the mote out of thy brother's eye." (1.) As 208 THE METHODIST MANUAL. (1.) Asloo^iie. The New Testament fixes no par ticular |ige under which a man raay not preach. And if it be said. The law of Moses said soraething- upon this head, I answer, I apprehend that is not binding upon christians. And, at any rate, it was full as per emptory respecting being too old as too young. And therefore a priest was not to officiate after he was fifty years old. C^ain it is, that being very young, is far more tolerate than being too old. The young man will be mending of his imperfection eveiy day, while the old man's defects will every day increase. And if we adopt the above regulation under the Mosaic econo my, insuperable objections will be raised against most of those who are made bishops. Few of these put on the mitre till more than fifty years of age. If it be said " They do not attempt to preach much;" I answer. So much the worse. XJp-reaching prelates have always been considered by the wisest and best of men, as great improprieties and serious evils. I think the examining candidates for the ministi-y, rejecting improper ones, and ordaining proper persons, as important as any thing done by the priests in the tabernacle or temple, and that it needs raore strength of intellect. Are not many parishes just about as well of as if they had no minister, from the age and debility of the incumbent ? (2.) As to capacity. Even the feeblest among the Methodists and Dissenters, number for number, may be compared with some ofthe clergy of the Church. What ability do a majority of the clergy of the Establishment display.'* Why, they prove that they can read, and they prove nothing else. Meantime, the preachers amongst the Dissenters and the Methodists prove that they can speak without book, as well as read, and some of them do the latter far better than some Church ministers. And should a case be produced of a preacher that could not read, though I do not recollect sueh an instance, yet even that would not incapacitate him so much for the work of the ministry, as an inability to preach or pray but by mere reading. He might get others to read to him so as THE METHODIST MANUAL 209 as effectually to answer the purpose of reading himself. But, how can a man employ, another to preach for him, and yet be the preacher himself. (3.) As to character. Hardly ever does any per son atterapt to becorae a preacher araong either Me thodists or Dissenters, who is pot a man of superior morals. And, in general, when such an attempt may be made, it is frustrated. And if a man who has got into the sacred office, be afterwards discovered to have been a deceiver, or to have degenerated into an immoral man, he is almost certain to be expelled, or almost totally deserted. ' (4.) "The chief object," he says, "he has in view, is to require from a person intending to act under such a license, a certificate from the congregation or sect to whom he belongs, that he is a competent person, in their opinion, to the discharge of the duties of a preacher, and that it is at their recommendation he applies for the license." It is easy to see, that all this is intended for the purpose of throwing checks and obstacles in the way of Dissenters. It is, true, it would be easy for most ofthe persons who would apply fbr licenses to ob- -tain such certificates. But the whole scheme implies such an acknowledgment of human authority in matters of religion as sorae would think not warranted by the word of God. And might we not say, That if dissent ing preachers should have such a certificate in order to be licensed, ought not candidates for episcopal orders to have something similar? And ought not all who are made vicars,rectors, &c. to have sueh a certificate from the body of the public to whom they are appointed to minister in holy things? The day after Lord Sidmouth had delivered the speech upon which I have just made remarks, on the third reading of the bill for augmetiting the inferior church-livirigs, or " The Appropriation Bill," his Lord ship observed upon the great and increasing evil which 7 2D aroje |10 TH^ METHODIST MANUAL arose from t|ie wajjt of 9. sjj^eient number of places of worship of tbe l^stabUshed Church, and the want of means of accommodation for communicants of that church in populous parishes, in consequence of which, he said, " many persons of the establishment were in duced to attend dissenting meeting houses rather thaa not attend any place of worship. The increase of meet ing houses beyond that of places pf worship of the Establishe,d* Church, might be attributed to' several causes. The former were erecteid for a, less sumj and in addition? difficulties frequently occurred respecting the latter, relative to the right of presentation. A facility also arose in the former case, frora the dissent ing ministers having other occupations, and therefore being satisfied with less for their services at the meeting houses tliaj^ could support a clergyman of the' Estab lished Church.-T-He therefore moved an address to his Majesty, praying that the archbishops and bishops be directed to lay before the ^^ouse, a statement of the number pf pl^ce^ pf worship of the Established Church in parishes having a population of lOQO, and upwards^ with the number of persons snch places of worsbip axe capable pf containing ; and also the number of Dissent ing meeting houses in i^uch parishes," See Courier, June 20, 18J.0. It is pretty clear, from this speech, what sort of love his Lordship has to IDissenters, and how zealous he IS for their welfare, or rather their destrucliou, or at least their^ depression. He assigns some such reasons for the increase of Disseiiters, as perhaps it never before entered into the heart of man to conp^ive. 1. " Meeting houses," he says, "may be built fior less money than churches." How so? Will not the same quantity of stone, mortar, timber, and work, amount to the sajpe money in both cases? J^nd there is nothing mofe wanfied in a church tha,n in a meeting house, except a r,e3,f}ing desk, a font, the tables contain ing the tep comHaandments, the creed, and the Lord's prayer, THE METHODIST MANUAL. 211 |)rayer, and perhaps a steeple and a bell or two. And when Ave consider that in building churches all the persons in the parish, dissenters not excepted, are obliged to pay a proportionable share, whereas in bu'iM- ing meeting-houses, or. dissenting chapels, it is all vo luntary, and therefore generally confined to a few, it is easy to see the hollowness and fallacy of this observa tion. 2. As to "the right of presentation," "there could not be so very great " difficulties," if the raain ends of the christian rainistry were allowed to have their due in fluence. If this were attended to, the diflSculties would be much fewer in the Church than among the Dissent ers, though among the latter serious difficulties often bccm-. 3. His Lordship says, Dissenting ministers ai-e satisfied with less for their services than would support a minister of the Established Church ; and he accounts for this by saying, they have other occupations. To this I answer, 1. Dissenting ministers, yea, those of the greatest eminence, and first-rate abilities, most certainly are satisfied with a Vast deal less than what supports many rectors and vicars ; while they labour more abundantly than all the Episcopalian ministers in their respective neighbourhoods. 2. Many clergymen of the Established Church have " other occupations," and some of them very lu crative ones. Some of them have actually shares in commercial concerns; some of them are farmei-s; an^ many of them have schools, and some of these very beneficial boardinff-schools. '& But,- where i^ it that the churches are so crowded, that many persons cannot get seats, and so are driven to dissenting chapels ? I have travelled from Berwick- upou-Tweed .212 THE METHODIST MANUAL. ¦ upon-Tweedio the Land's-End, from Whitehaven to Harwich, and frora Chester to Hull, and I think I never heard of this inconvenience before. Men of Lord Sidraouth's stamp will not see, . or at least will not admit, the real chief cause of the increase of Dissenters and Methodists. This will be 'Jbund in what was said before, about making men chris tian ministers who are not christians ; the improper methods of fixing them in their respective charges ; and the lax discipline which so generally prevails. It is apparent that a serious and alarming infringe ment upon our religious liberties is in contemplation. It behoves us to prepare for the threatening danger ; to reply to misrepresentations and calumnies ; and to study and assert our rights as men and as christians. But above all, " by prayer and supplication, with thanks giving, to let our requests be made known unto God." Pekhaps some ma,y expect me to say something on the influence of Methodism. And 1. Its influence on those Avho have become Methodists. And here re mark, (1.) Its influence on their morals. Out of the thousands, and tens of thousands, who have become Methodists, I believe there has not been one instance of any person becoming less moral in consequence of being a Methodist. There may have been a few instances of persons who have crept in among the Methodists who have not been moral, antl some very rare instances, of persons who have gone among the Methodists from un righteous motives ; but this was not the fault of Method ism. It was not an effect of which Methodism was the cause. In forty-nine out of fifty, yea, ninety-nine out of a hundred, the change in morals for ihe better has been visible, and in many instances most remarkably striking. A KoBLE Loed dolorously observed, what an aflecting ftighi il wag to see so many insufficient teachers apply to the THE METHODIST MANUAL. 213 die quarter sessions for licenses. But, if he would have *proved Methodism to be a real and an alarming evil, he should have been able to tell, what an astonishing number of Methodists were to be tried for riots, thefts, and other offences against the public safety and welfare at the quarter sessions, and also at the assizes'. But, alas ! he could not have mentioned this, without awak ening the general reflection, That scarcely was there ever a Methodist brought to trial for felony, burglary, or grand or petty larceny, since Methodism had an existence. Sorae few persons of this offending descrip tion, and but a very few, may have had the name of being Methodists. But, in such cases, with hardly .a single exception, the name has either been given them wrongfully altogether, or they have been backsliders from both God and Methodism. Chiefly, and alraost wholly, they are neither Methodists nor Dissenters, who fill our prisons, stand al the bar for trial at quarter ses sions and assizes, swing upon our gallowses, dwell on board the hulks, and are sent to people New Holland. Among culprits, Methodists are scarcely ever, if eVer at all found ; while among all the promoters of every in stitution for the public good, they frequently constitute the majority. (2.) Methodism contributes generally to promote mental improvement. 'The Methodists very generally improve in useful knowledge, of other descriptions as well as religious. And as to the silly charge of Me thodism turning people mad, it scarcely deserves notice. There is no- denomination of people, but have some insane people among them ; witness the Quakers, who have a large mad-house near York, called " The Friends' Retreat," in which are many patients. But, of all the mad people in England, I durst almost venture to affirm, that ninety-nine out of every hundred are neither Methodists nor Dissenters.^ And in general, it was not religion, but something much worse than even enthusiasm, that brought on the delirium. It is not in the nature and tendency of true piety to make its votaries go S14 THE METHODIST MANUAL. go mad, but rather to promote a sound mind and a good understanding. (8.) Methodism has powerfully tended to improve tlQse who have embraced it, in their tempotUl circum stances. This has happened naturally and almost ne cessarily. The religion inculcated by the Methodists, tgrtds at o>nce to promote industry and frugality. The truly godly man sees the sinfulness of sloth ; and he cfanrtM nOv/, as formerly, spend his money in sinful gratifications, nor even in what may, by sorae, be Mtottght innocent trifles. He considers himself as being dnly a steward of the property he has in his hands, and tliltt he must shortly account to God for it. And Siough his contributions to support and propagate re^ M^On inay amount to something, yet that something is stltiiost nothing vphen compared with the temporal ad vantages which he derives from religion. Hence, it ife a fact, which cannot with truth be denied, that the Methodists in general, are more rich, or at least less ^oor, than they were before they became such, (4.) Methodism, when it has existed in parents, has had a very beneficial effect in inducing them to re strain their children from wild and foolish conduct, as #ell as in setting them a good example and instilling into them religious instruction. In many cases, the ^arae remark vt'ill apply to Methodist masters and servants. (5.) The attention of the Methodists has not been wholly confined to their families. They have done more than h.11 the other denominations^ of christians, in establishing, supporting, teaching, and encouraging Sunday schools. ' (6.) They have not only been among the first to rtid e\ cry chdrity of previous establishment, but they haA^e instituted new ones, and especially The Benevblent Society, for therelief of the sick poor in numerous places, and THE METHODIST MANUAL. 215 :^nd *' The Stranger's Friend Society," for the relief of poor destitute strangers. (7.) Methodism has had a great, ^nd very bene ficial effect upon the morals ofthe inhabitf^itsof Eng land at large, as well as Ireland. It has §iccomplishp4 already, an extensive reformation. This has not been equal in all parts. But the greatest enemies cannol d(eny, that a grea,t change for the better has takeft place where Methodism ha^s prevailed the most. And as the places which have been most reforraed by Ma- thodism, were some of the most notorious for every vice, and as vice is perpetually progressiye, it is impos sible to form an adequate conception of the desperate state of wickedness they might h^ve arrived at by this time, had it not been for this very .efficacious remedy provided by a gracious God 1 And is the natioj? arrived at §uch a pitch of refor mation and piety, that there is no more occasion for the labouirs of men who h^ve been so usefjjl fn the hand of God ? Is there such general purity, such godliness, righteousness, and sobriety, ainong all rap^s and de grees of men, from the least even t^jito the greatest, that gospel-labours, which have been so successful, ^nd might be more so, oyght to be restrained and abolishedjt or at least, greatly contracted? In this "clojidy and dark day," this " day ofthe trumpet and alarm," is it sea sonable, is it wise or politic, to atterapt to crush, or fet ter, those who cry day and night to God, not only in their own behalf, but in behalf of their neighbours, the King and government, as well as the nation at large ? Most people will tolerate prayer, and other acts of religion, during affliction, and great danger whethisr by sea or land, however avers^ they may be to piety at other tiraes. O ye governor's, and great raen of our land ! is this a time to turn your special attention against those, however insignificant in the eyes of men, w ho have never ceased to pray for your preservation and welfare ? 216 THE METHODIST MANUAL. ,^ welfare ? 'Will England thus " fill up the measure of her iniquities?" It is with pleasure I this moraent re collect the following anecdote : — Not many years ago, when a certain person told our good King, that persons who were not church people prayed for him ; thp King answered, "I can assure you I place more confidence in the prayers of my people, than in my fleets and ar mies." When there is A disposition existing in a coun try to persecute its best friends and inhabitants, it is an unspeakable blessing to have a King breathing such a spirit. In such cases, kings may be said to be nursing fathers, and queens, nursing raothers of the church of Christ. And, upon every occasion, thus far, the King has proved hiraself our firra friend, and has laid us under obligations to love hira and pray for hira. But -our cAz'e/" dependence must be upon a higher Being. — While we are duly upon the watch as to the scheme which fs hatching, and while we look up to the King, with all due confidence in his justice, and piety, we must reraeraber who it is that says, " Trust not in pri7ices, nor in any child of man; for there is 7io help zn them." Then, while we fear only God, and duly honour and pray for the King, and live a life of faith, and coramit our cause to him who is "King of ki7jgs and Lord of lords," we have the best assurance of being able to ising, "The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God OF Jacob is our refuge." Amen. APPENDIX. APPENDIX. The Nature, Design, and General Rules of thh Ifniieii Societies, in London, Bristol^ Kingswood, and New castle-upon-Tyne, ^c. 1. XN the latter end of the year 1739, eight or ten per* sons carae to rae in London, who appeared to be defeply convinced of sin, and earnestly groaning for re demption. They desired, (as did two or three raore the next day,) that I would spend some time with them in prayer, and advise them how to flee from the wrath to come, which they saw continually hanging over their heads. That we might have more time for this great work, I appointed a day when they raight all come to* getherj which, from thenceforward, they did every week; viz. on Thursday in the evening. To these, and as many more as desired to join with them, (for their number increased daily,) I gave those advices from time to time which Ijudged most needful for them ; and we always concluded our meetings with prayer suitable to their several necessities. 2. This was the rise ofthe United Society, first in London, and then in other places. Such a society is no other, -than " A company of men having the form, and seeking the power of godliness: united, in order to pray together, to receive the word of exhortation, and to watch over one another in love, that they may help each other to work out their salvation." 3. That it may the more easily be discerned, whe* ther they are indeed working out their own salvation* 7 , a E each ii ^ APPENDIX. each society is divided into smafler companies, cdlled classes, according to their respective places of abode. — There are about tvi>«lve persons in every class; one of whom is stiledihe leader. It is his business, I. To see each person in his class, once a week at leaeta in order to enquire how their souls prosper ; to advise, reprove, comfort, or exhort, as occasion may re- quirej to receive what they are willing to give, towards the support of the gospel, II. To meet the minister and the stewards of the Society once a week, in order to inform the minisier of any that are sick, or of any that walk disorderly, and wiil not be reproved. To pay to the stewards what they have received of their several classes in the week prfeceding: and to shew their accounts of what each person has contributed. 4. There is one only condition previously required of those who desire admission into these societies, viz. "a desire to flee from the wrath to come, and be saved from theiir sins :" But wherever this is really fixed in the soul, it will be shewn by d*s fruits. It is therefore expected of all who coBtinue therein, that th«y srhonld contiuQe to evidence (Aieir desite of salvation: First, By doing no hanii> by avoiding evil of every kind: especially that which is most g;eoerally practised. Such as the taking the name of God in vain : the pco- fanin'gihe day of the Lord, either by doing ordinary work thereon, or by buying and selling: drunkenness; buying or selling spirituous liquors, or dri7iking them, un less in cases of extreme necessity: fighting, quarrelling^ brawling; brother ^^ozh^ to law with brother ; return ing euzY/orejpzV, or raili7igfor railing ; the using many words in buying or selling : the buying or selling uncus tomed, goods : the giving or taking things on v^iry, i. e. unlawful interest: uncharitable or unprofitable convex- sation; particularly speaking evil of magistrates or of APPENDIX. iii ef ministers. Doing to others as we would not they should do unto us ; doing wh?it we know is nM foy the glory of God : as, the putting on of gold ar cQstly a^arel : the taking such diversions as cannot be used in the name of the Lord Jesus : the singing those san^ or readhig those books, that do not tend to the kpow- ledge or love of God : softness, and needless self-indul gence: laying up treasm-e on earth : borrowing witb'^ out a probability of paying : or taking up goods with out a probability of paying for them. I 5. It is expected of a,ll who continue in these societies, that they shpuld continue to evidence their desii-e of Sialvation : lBBCONBi.y, By doing good, by being in every kind merciful after their power, as they have opportn- nity : doing good of every possible sort, and as far as possible to all men ; to their bodies, of the ability that God giveth, by giving food to the hungry, by clothing the naked, by visiting or helping them that are sick^ Qr in prison : to their souls, by inslructingv reproving, or exhorting all we have any intercourse with ; trampling under foot that enthusiastic doctrine of devils, that, " We are not to do good, unless our hearts be free to it." By doing good especially to them that are of the house hold of faith, or groaning so to be : employing them preferably to others, buying one of another, helping- each other in business : and so much the more, because the world will love its own, and them 07ily. By all pos ¦ sible diligence and frugality, that the gospel be not blamed. By running with patience the, race that is set before them, denying themselves, a7id takirig up their cross daily ; submitting to bear the reproach of Christ ; to be as the filth and off-scouring of the world ; and looking that men should say all manner of evil of them falsely for the Lord's sake. 6. It is expected of all who desire to continue in these societies, that they should continue to evidence their desire of salvation : TniRDliY, iv ' I APPENDIX. Thirdly, By attending on all the ordinances of God : such are, the public worship of God : the minisr try of the word, either read or expounded : the supper ofthe Lord : family and private prayer ; searching the scriptures : and fasting or abstinence, 7. These are the general rules of our societies; all which we are taught of God to observe, even in his written word, the only rule, and the sufl&cient rule both of our faith and practice. And all these we know his Spirit writes on every truly awakened heart. If there be any among us who observe them not, who habitually break any of them, let it be made known unto them, who watch over that soul, as they that must give an ac- coiint. We will admonish him ofthe error of his ways : we will bear with him for a season. But then, if he re-r pent not, he haj;l]| no more place among us. We have delivered pur own souls, J. AND C. 'WEStEY, May 1, 1743 ^ mPEx, XJVIDBX. CHAPTER I. A SHORT HISTORY OF THE METHODISTS, Page. Mr. Wesley's Birth, and younger Days ' 5 He goes to America as a Missionary 6 Class meetings and Watch-night? instituted 7 Some ofthe first Conferences S Persecution in different Places '...' 9 George Bell and Mr. Maxfield 15 Female Preaching IS Methodism planted in America , 17 Minutes of 1770, and tlieir Vindicatipn ,., 18 Methodism introduced into the Isle of Man 19 Mr. Wesley's Deed of Declaration ,. , 21 Service, when allowed in Church Hours 22 The West India Missions commenced ibid Preachers ordained for England only 23 The Death and Character of Mr. John Wesley 25 Disputes about the Old Plan &c .• 27 A Preacher expelled from Chapels by an Attorney's Letter ... 29 The Expulsion of Alexander Kilham, &c. 30 Distresses occasioned by the Irish Rebellion 31 The Expulsion of Joseph Cook , 3* ^ Collection for The Bible Society , 35 Comparative Statement of the last 39 Years 37 Account of Mr. Qharles Wesley 38 Character of Mr. Fletcher 41 Life and Character of Mr. Grimshaw 43 CHAPTER IL THE DOCTRINES BELIEVED AND T»1UGHT BY THE METHODISTS. God, his Attributes, and the Trinity : 59 TJie Divinity of Christ , 6^ Th& li INDEX. Page. The Creation , 68 The Fall df Man 69 Salvation only through Christ 73 The Plan of Salvation 75 Privileges of Believers , 84 The New-Birlh, Sanctification, and good Works 92 TheBible, the only Rule. of Eaitfr aad Practiqe 100 Controverted Doctrines, viz. Predestination, &c. 101 The Perseverance of the Saints 105 The Covenant of Grace , Ill Marriage 113 Loyalty , 114 The Sabbath '....,... ibid The Visible Church 1 15 Baptism .:,..^..... ...........; ibid The Lord's Supper US' State of separate Spirits ,. 117 Toteent^of HeU ^ 118 iJ6ys of Heaven « ..^,., I^ Pay of Judgmeot .,„..,...., i , ibti CHAPTEB III. THE DISCIW.INI1 OF THE M:BTH0DISJ^. Substance of the Rules of the S<»ei?lti«s ...,„„. ,,.,.. „.»• J29 Admission into the Society , i.. 130 Class-Meetings „„.,.,.,. ,.,,.. ibJ4 The Appointment and Office, of Qlggs Leaders 131 ieader s Meetings ,.,,..,........., 133 .Stewards ...> ,..,.,....,. ibi4 Quarterly-Meetings 134 Local Preachers , 136 "Travelling Preachers ,..,,......» , 137 The Twelve Rules of a Helper ,. „...., 140 The Office of a Superinteqdenk ........,,,......, „.......,. 143 The General Office of a Prej.Qljpr , 145 Giving of Tickets jbld tove-Feasts , , 147 Watch-Nights 14-S Circuits, Districts, and Dist,rict-M^eliiB|s, ibid The Stationing Committee 154 The Conferences 155 Pk-eaehers' Salaajes , , , 158 The Preachers' Fund 160 The Rules belonging to that Fund 161 Collection for Kingswood School , 163 Yearly Subscription 165 Collection for the Missions 166 The- INDEX. HI Page. The Subscription to the Preachers' Fund 167 Trustees '..... 168 Supplement , 169 CHAPTER IV. METHODISM DEFENDED. Causes of the present State of the Church 177 Ordination and Mmisterial Qualifications 179 Classical Education 1S2 Laboriousness and Usefulness of the Methodist Preachers 188 Methodists good Soldiers and Sailors 191 Remarks on Toleration 195 The idea of making Grants to God 195 The things bdonging to Caesar and to God ., , 197 Lord Sidmouth's Speeches, June 1810 204 The Influence of Methodism 212 The Conclusion '. 215 Appendix 217 ERRATA. Page 11, line 4, instead of romping, read ramping. 21, — 21, -. Chapel, Chapels. 21, — 33, at — at Tunbridge- Wells. 23, Newfoundland, — Nova-Scotia. 35, after line 8, add, Mr. Barber was President, ar^d Dr. Coke Secretary. 36, after line 3, add, Mr, James Wood was President, and Dr. Cpke Secretary. 84, — 8, expunge "As." — — 99, — 7, instead of L, II. 14.6, — 24, Body-Bands. — Body-Band. 200, — 22, not, nor. 208, — 17, Up-rcachingj Un-preaching. P. K. HaUeB, Printer, Halifei. AN EXTRACT FROM THE JOURNAIi OF Mr. JOHN NELSON, Preacher qf the Gospel: CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF GOD's DEALING WITH HIM FROM HIS YOUTH TO THE FORTV- SECOND YEAR OF HIS A,GE. WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. Blessed be God, even the Fattier of our Lord. Jesus Christ , the Father of mercies, and the God qf all comfort; who com- forteth Its in all our tribulation, that tire may be able fq confort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith our selves are comforted of God. , LORDi THOU HAST LED THE BLIND BY A WAY THAT HE KNEW NOT. ¦Manchester : ^ PRINTED BY J. PLANT, AND SOLD BY J. WALKJEK, HALIFAX. 1812. TO THE REABER; HE following Journal was written al divers times, for my own satisfaction. About twenty years ag&, having transcribe it, seyeral of my friends ^a\t it> aiad begged it might be priai^f d ^ which I refused at th^t' tim^* . ¦ - V • Sic^^e, tiiiie s^i^t^ Mm Tboipj^ ton, of Leeds, a very particular Mend dt rnine, desiring to see it, thought, as rtiy case had been a means of stirring up many to hear the word, this might be of use to comfort some ^ iv who are in trouble, and so ad vised me to put it to the press withput delay. But I still de clined it, till he shewing it to several more of my friends, who were of the same opinion, I at last complied. What is wrong may the Lord pardo^ ! And that no one may be hurt by me, or any thing I have written or preached, is the sincere prayer of their unwor thy servant, for Christ's sake, ^ JOH^ NELSON. AN Eijctract FROM John Nelson's Journal. X JOHN NELSON, was born in the Parish of Birstal), in the West-Riding of tl)e County of York, in October, 1707, and brought up a Mason, as was my Father before mc. , When I was between nine and ten years old, I was horribly terrified wiih th^ thoughts of death and judg^ nient, whenever I was aliane : one Sunday night as I sat on ijie ground, by the side of my father's chair, while he was reading the twentieth chapter of the Revelation, the word came with such light and power to nay soul, that it made me tremble, as if a dart was shot at my heart; I fell with nay face on the floor, and wept till die place was as wet where I lay, as if water had been poured thereon. As my father proceeded, I thdaght I saw every thing he read about, though my eyes were shut-: and the sight was so terrible, I wJis about tof stop my ears, that I migiit not hear, but I durst not j for as soon as I put my fingers to my ears, I pulled them back again. When he came to the 1 ith. veirse, the words made me cringe, and my flesh seemed to creep on my bonies, while he said, "And I saw a great ^hite Throne, and Him that sat thereon, from whose face the heavens and the earth fled away, and there was found no place for them : and I saw the dead, small ahd great, stand before GOD, and the Books were opeaed; and ano- ther book was opened, which is the Book of Life; and the, dead were ji*dged out of those things that were written in the books, according to tfretf wBftrs," O what a scene was opened to my mind ! It was as if I had seen the Lord Jesus Christ sitting en his throne, with the twelve Apostles below him; and a large book opened at his left hand, and as it were a bar fixed about ten paces ftreiai the thfone, to which the children of Adam came up; and every one, as he approached^ opened his breast, as quick as a man could open the bosom of his siair^ ; ori ©ne leaf of tie took was written the charafler of the children of God, and on the other, tbe charafter of those that should not enter into the kingdom- of heaven. I thought,^ neither the Lord nor the Appstles, said any thing, but everjp sttul, as he can^e up to the bar, compared his conscience. with the book, aiid wierit awly to his'own place; cwhef sirtgirtg, ttrd^ cryittg ^»d' howling. Tii ten years old;' and* whtnevdr I ftdi dtttnihitted kii|f l^flto'iM^ sin,' eiihef Against God- or mart, 1 u^d to fee sa iseyrifieti aftfcrwards, tftat I shcd-^ftry feats irt private? yet When I cawie to my cofflpantoite, I wipetf ttit feee and yei\t 6ti sgih it\ sin anA' folly; bflf O F the he'll ^ fetiri M^hich I thought was for my wickedness; yet at thait 1(ifl^e, viJe as I \?as, I prayed earnestly that God iwQuJfi j^Jj?' him for tlie sake of my mojther and the jiOWOg ^bijdrehj aiwi let me die ih his stead; But the Lpj-.dj wowJd not regard my prayer. Three day^ befoEe he died, be s^id to my mother, " Trouble: no* thyself for me ; for I know that my pe&ce. is nwde with God, £md he will provide for thee and the cbildreo..? I was guic^tly. sjirprised at, his words, wondering how he couW, kfflQy hjs g«a€ie vas madfr with God. , iiiiOi^Qf my tin»es of tfauble I was in a stajMcj and ^1^ iijtfls-a sl.«mber, I drieamt I prayed dbat.God ljlpgJdj»Wsatd to" my wife, "I carihot live" here." So I set off for London again, ordering her to Bllbw me in the waggon. 'We bSthgbt we|l there, and' lived in a good wiy (as the world call It)' that is, in peacfe'arid plenty, arid love to each other. ""^^ '¦ '''¦ -ii|ifersortie^^time^ I had a sorfe fit of illness ;¦ then' ^y cbhscience was alarmed, aVidlexpeHed td die, Shd pe- rfsbbody and^ouJin helL' 'O the 'distress ! was iri,,not throngh fear *of death,- so mucb as of thejiidgenient that 'sfiofuld follow !' But ^fe LoVd^'rebiiked thefever, ^rid restored We to perfe6t health'. ' ¦"-' ^^ ' "^A'ftei* residing '^Oiiie yiears in London, my Wife Had not Her' health, therefore we agreed j that she should take our t\lto chtldrenf and go intb the country, and I would foilb'jr at a detain season ; accordingly I did ; but I cpuld hot rest^lgfit or da^.' I Saidi I niust^o to Lbndort agaid;' •'' Several a&efd me wKy I would go again^ since I 'riSight liVe at home as well as iny where in ther world? TMy answer was J -I have soraetbing to learn that I have ribtjyte^^eai-rieit': btH I did no^ know, fhat it was thfe great :^9oiit^Pl(&ye to God and ihan. ,When I got there, I fell to' 'ytdtk presently,- and ^11; things prospered that I piirsded. I theii began to^'consider what I wdhted tb jdiake 'me liappy ; for I Was yet &S a inanftia barren wiJiderqess, tb^t tpiildfiriS no way oHtVIsaid'to mysdfi wlat' cart I df^iiire that- I have notji T enjby^s gbbd Malth as Jpif 'Dsian-cah dd ; -'I' have as agreeable k Wife ia* 10 I can wish for ; I am clothed as well as I can desire > I have, at present, more gold and silver than I have need of; yet still I keep wandering from one part of the kingdom to another^ seeking rest and cannot find it ;: then Lcried out, O I that I had been a cow, or a sheepr; for I looked back to see how I had spent aboye thirty years; and thought, rather than live. thirty. years more so, r wo,uld choose stra-ngling. But when I considered that after such a troublesopae life, I must give an account before God, of the deeds done in the body, whp knew all my thoughts, \yords5 and aftions, I cried out,, O that I had never been born; for I feared my.day of grace was over, because I had niade sp many resolutions and broken theiri all; yet I thought I would set out once more, fori said,, surely God never made man to be such a riddle to himself, and to leave him so : there must be sainetbing in religipn, that I am unacquainted with, to satisfy the fempty mind of man, or he is in a^ worse state thaji the beasts that perish. In all these troubles, I had none to open piy mind to, so I wandered up and dowti the fields when I had done my work, meditaiing what course to take tp save. my soul. -/,', - I went from Church to Church,; but found no ease : one Minister at St. Paul's preached about man doing his duty' to. Go;d and his neighbour, and when such came to lie upon a dteath-bed, what joy they would find in-their own breasts, by looking back , on their well spent life. But that sermon had like to have destroyed my ^oul , for I looked b^ck, and cquld not sec one day in all aw life, wherein 1 had npt left undone spmething which I oiight to have done, and wherein I had not done many things wrong ; th^t I was.so far from having a well-spent life to .reflea upon, th?it I saw, if one day well ,s,p!?nt would save my soul, I must be damned for ever. /O what a stab was that sermon to my wounded souMIt made nae wish my mother's wonab had been mygtave. After that I heard another, sermon,, vl^herein the Preacher summed up all tlie.Qhristi^n duties ;^but he said, man, since the f»ll, cfuld not perTeaiy fulfil the will of his Maker ; but God required; him to doall he could,. and 11 Christ would make out the rest; but if man did not do all he could, he must- unavoidably perish; for he had no right to expefl any interest in the merits of Christ, if he had not fulfilled his part, and dorie all that lay in his power. Then I thought, not only I, but every soul must be damned : for I did not believe that any who had lived to years of maturity, had done all they could, and avoided all the evil they might. Therefore I con* duded that none could be saved but little ehifdren. O what deadly physic wai that sort of doSrine to my pooP Mfl-sick soul. - r-, ' I thought J wouid try others ; and went to hear Dis senters of divers denommations, but to no purpose. I went to the Romans, but was soon surfeited with their way of worship. "Then I went to the Quakers, and L prayed that God woirld not suffer the blind to go out of the way, but join me to the people that wor- ishipped bim in spirit a^d in truth: I cared not what. they were called^ nor what I suffered upon earth, so that my^ou^ might, be saved at last.' • I ibelieve i heard them £very Sunday' for three months : what made me continue so .long was, the expectation of some help by hearing them-i for there was one, almost at my firsr going, that spoke soineii^ing that ^ariy suited ^e stale tif- my soul was in; but neshewed no rem'edy. I had now tried all but the Jews, and I diougbt it ', and spendmy Jeisure houri^'injrQ3dingitbf(ScripiH.i:e8» . /Btx^ sometimes asl w,a.i. readjijg, ,Ii tho^ght5 ifiwbat I i-ead (is true, ^i?cl;if none ar^s Chri^tianiS, butjsuch ji's St, J^hp and St, Pjaul de^ribe t9;be ,Gpd'» pfiPplCj Xdo not know any iperson thatis a.jChristi^ri eijh0.r ib ttiwrijor country: .1, said, if .ihingiibeso, I amijUbriiore a chris tian i.han the devil; and my ho;pe of ever feeing ond .vv^as vei;y st^all. ,,,In this struggle i I. had but little sleep;: if i slept four hours outof twenty-four, I thought U a great deal; sometimes I stared a^ jfj J Wjis /felling intOi&ome horribly placp; at other times I dreamed I was fighting wit^ Sat'fin, and.wh.en I, awaked, 1 was sweating and) as 'fatigued a? if I bad,;beerv really fighting. nYet alldiis ,titne Iwas as capable of working, both in understand ing (and strength, aseyerlwas in life; and this was an jEncpurageinent. to me. Ip tall this time J did not opea ¦ my mind;;gither by , word on letter; ^ut } wasJikeik .wanderiijg birdj^GajSti.' out of the 'nest, til^; Mj. John ."VVesley caipe to preach his first sermon tin Mctsrfidd&b .,0 that w^s a blps:sed morning to .my soul! As ^oohas he got; upipn the .stand,- he : stroked, back hisibai?,f arid turned ihis face tow'ard,s \ybere I^^stood, a:ndl.:thi0tight lie fj^ed hi^^yes qn roCij^his c'auatenarieejsJrmrk guch an ^wfujl dread upon me, b^fcase I heard ihim, speak, that it made nay Jift^rx. beat, like the^pcndulum of a. clock; and .whf^ he. did.? peak,. I tboiught. his whoJe. discourse; was aimed at Hie;, when he* had done,J said, this man can tell the s^crpts of my heart; hp haih not left me there, . for he ha.th.shewed me the remedy, even the blood of Jesus, Then was my ¦ soul filled with consolation throiigh. hope, that God for Christ's sake, would save me ; neither did I doubt in such a manner any more, till within twenty-four hours of the tiiiie, when the Loid wrote a pardon on my heart. Though it was a littie after Midsummer that I heard him, and it was three weeks after Michaelmas .before I found the true peace pf God; Jyet I continued to hear as often as I could^ but not to neglect my, work. I had many flashes of iS lave under t)^e Mwid, when I was af priVatK pray^f, andac die table of the Lord; but ihey we're short, aA'd often some sore t'ampt^uoris followed.^ " ¦: ' t :. iNowall'my ac'qitaintance set uprsn me, td pferstiadt frie not to! go* too' fai- in 'religion, lest it should unfit me for my businesif^iarid' so bring poverty and distress iin ,my faraily;and said they wished I-had nevcf hieaird Mr*. We^ley^far they. were ;^fraiid it* would be the tli in of hie/ vl told them I had reason^ tp' bless God that ever he (wa^ born^ for by hearing :him, I was sensible-that my; buBioess ' in this wbild was to get well out of &; and asi fon my trade, heal tli, wisdom, and all thin^sain the' world,, they were no blessing.^ "tb ri^^^ anyi farjheri than* as so miany: instruments, 'to heTp hie by tKb: grace of" God to work out nay salva" tion;; : .T ten they said they were sorry for' iriej and should I'be glad to knock Mr- Wesley's bi^iris'buti for >he would be the rufti of many fatnihes, if he \»«;rfe allowed! to lire, and go on ashe did. jSome bf'tlJem said theyi woidd not hear hini for 50I. But I told theitt I hiad reason-to. bless; God that ever I heard hifn, ^i^d'i intended to hear hina as often as I could, foi" I beljeVcd bim to be 'God's niiessebger j and if I did not s^efc to be borw, again, and experience that spiritual birth, I cbuld not .enter into the kingdom of heaven, y^hich was the doGtr-iosi he preached. ' . ' • ' : ' • A little after Michaelmas I had many trials again, and passion got advantage over nie : then I thought it was to no -purpose for; me to strive any longer, for every: one endeavoured to provoke me, tfnd I cbukJ h; for they sunk deep into my mind, and made me cry, more - earnestly, that God would work the same change in my heart. I found myself much refreshed at (he sa crament on the Sunday after, and mightily encotrraged under Mr. Wesley's serraop iu the afternoon; all the week after I felt an awful sdnse of God rest upon me; and I had a great watchfulness oven my words, and several short visits of love, having, great hope that I had got a complete vitbary over my besetting sin : but passion was yet too strong for me: for that night I Tell again, and crying out, immediately, '* I am undone, I have lost all hopes of mercy." All the night I was. as .if I had been given up to Satan. In the morning. One prayed with me, but I found no answer; for my heart was as hard as a rock. When I went to my lodging at nopn,,d'5nner:was ready ; and the gentlewoman said, " Come, sit down, you have need of your dinner, for you have eaten nothing to day ;". but when I looked on the meat, I said, ** Shall such a wretch as I devour the good creatures of God in the state I am now in! No, I deserve to be thrust into helL" I then went into my chamber, .shut the door, and fell down on my koeeS, crying,' " Lord, save, or I perish." When J had prayed till I coilld pray no more, I got up, 'and walked to and fro, being resolved I would never eat nor drink, till Ihad found the kingdom of God.> I fell down to prayer ag$in, but found no relief; got up and walked again ; then tears began ,t!9 flow from my eyes, like greatsdfops of rain, and I 16 fell on my knees a thit-d time ; but now I wa.s as dumb as a beast land could not put up one petition, if it would have saved my soul. I kneeled before the Lord .?ome tinve, and saw mySelf a criminal ' before the judge : then I said, " Lord, thy will be done, dartn or save." That mooient Jesus Christ was as evidently sei before the eye of my mind, a^ 'crucified for my sins, as if I had seen him with my bodily eyfes : and in that irislaYit: iwy* heart was set at liber.tyfifrom guilt and tormenting fear, and filled with a calm and serene peace. <^ I could tbo'ithoU wast angry with' me, thi'ne anger is ttfrneda-' \fe*y,f and tboii cotnfortest' me- • Beh.bldi' Gbd • is friy'^al - ' vaiiohj J:wiil trust and npt be afV.aid^ fbi^ tfrc L^ird Jehovah is my strength and' m'y song ; acnd 'h^'- also is Becorad my salvation." My Heart Was filledlvith loVe' tb= ©bdand s^ery soul' of man ; and nfext to my Wife and; children, my mother, brethren and sistet-s,'rriy greatest? eiheimieshad'ati interest in my prayers : arid j criedi,'-* G L^id^give me to'^ee.my desire' on thenb ,:" lei -them ex* perienci thy redecilifhg love." '! :^ fe', ''¦ '- ??< -'i^'' '' --.In the aftern<5bri,J 1 opened chfebtebk whert it-is safid, «*(UntQ fejm iihaclOiised us,' aiid wiished iis frbrii'' oiir sins 'inhis own blood,", with which I wag^d "affefledi thafi cotald not'rei|d for *ne iiigkt;"for'-hei?' huSibdhd^'*^^ afraia'sf«toe"^is-'' n thief ivould ooirifi eititer on dtcm or nie<, with .so. much , prayjsig atid fuss a»..I HJ»de aibmij jrclig^Pti. 1^14, cbom-I .^$•oBJd ' cowtf; tm Wedtjc^sy .night, .'and p^y wbat lowed tbeoj, apd ,5Jtch»T|y clothes iiway, piayiiij| that God «xMiW,rB;w,a«d tj»ff,m,fflr the i^ndiiess jbey^ba^ sbe^ycsj^.BW J' .jfar i ha4 bad* ferier..i|» tlie bpu^; .and WMselynb oneoottld sljeivojotie OTp»s8kmtQaitrattg«ar tfeim.they didfa mc at tibiu tbi^e. ,, ..'. ^ Qa W«dncsday oigljt (according to ,.my, promiise).? weiBE.to.triy oI4.1odg:^g,.aind ipjijdrwfait;^! owed jiberip,. and fpt my. ci^vthes .msdy to. hsring ^.way; ^c^. having, forgot^ dome^hing, I , stept , ba^k mt q i he ,Tpbm to look fjiat ir^vAi d«e mem ti»^ the. roan said tp his wjfe, * Suftpose John' jdj^puld be. right .a^d- wj: .wyoog, it will isiea sad tl|iti§.^ .ciim him.. 04sit of doors." Wi^ j-.wfaen'^e. woman wias msdepartaf iuei- ai&c £a«$cr.grace:.;ia0fl J^faope, tpmeisttbefi.bi^, in.teaven. ..--j. '¦ .'.'v-'-. >- ¦ '-¦.¦¦;'.., - Oq abe : Satcrxday foBow'tngV ;4bf iddi^OB; sfiaod r(s»^f , te.devToBf; ra)5 .neiwr^orn .sou< .;. foe my. master's. ;Gb|Bf foreman came to me, saying, "John Ne1sB«i|,,yoBqi»|^ loe^ after sjiid».8Rd -msih.vaen ^vraorrQwi there,*? a pwsse c^wisarEto bie,e Ltxrd of ^ EKchcquer; trail beiiereomA paj«jcial^..dtty,'by. vibicb te«i&it:««i>« *>e' edm^pl«l^^" ;%i ;II,i]^4«s'd,.'*!;|^ liaivei&»^|c$'y»ot. ,the -^gf l|B»iusp8fe*et iqnised JK(sise,abd: Jt^wa^^x^rampn tp.waq^ Bra^S'i"*^'^ for bis Mja^£S8£y/»|!^Q!a^y tbiiig «»« i^onicive^vtib.^.!! told bim i^ wo^d ,n0t an(^fc npmi $j^Si#bntlt|Gtr ijny msKn iu E'l^sb^d, ^^ccept^ sfas t^ ffi|iitqilixi;ir%tBgf(MBe- Ig thing that required the sarae immediate help, lie said^ Religion has mide you a rebelagainst the King. 1 ariswered, " No, Sir, it bath made me a better subject than ever I was before; but 1 told him, the greatest enemies the King bad were the Sabbathbreakers, swear ers, drunkards, and whoremongers ; for these poll down God's judgements upon both King country." Then he said, if I would not obey bim, 1 should lose my business, I replied, *' I cannot help it ; though it may be ten pounds put of way to be turned out .of my work at this titiie of the year, I will not wilfully offend God ; for I would mioch rather want bscad; nay, would ra ther see my wife and children beg their bread barefoot to heaven, than ride in a coach to hell." He swore, if I went ori a while, I should be as mad as Whitcfield ; arid said. What hast thou done, that tbou needest make so rirocb about salvation? I always took thee to be as honest a man as any I have in the work^ and could have trlisted thee with ^ve hundred pounds. I answered, so yoil might,and nothave lost one penny by me. He said, *' What hast thou killed somebody, or c&mmittcd adul tery, tliat thou art so, much afraid of being daraned ? I replied, "God takes the will for-tbe deed; and tho' clear from those acts, Ideserve to be daraned tenfold for other crimes; for if I sin wilfully against God, after he hath shewed me jsuch mercy, I may expect to have the hottest bell." He said, "I have a worse opinion of thee now than ever." I replied, *'Masterj I have the odds of you ; for I have a much worse opinion of myself, than you can have," At night when I went to receive my wages, he afked meif I was still obstinate ? I answered, '^'l am determined not to break the Sabbath , for I will run the hazard of wanting bread here, before I will run the hazard of wan ting water hereafter." He said Wesley has made a fool . of thee, aud thou wilt beggar thy family. I had a glo rious Sabbath that day ; for God blessed my soul won- dtrfully, both under the word, and at th? sacrament, I went on Monday mprning to the Exchequer, tb take care »f my tools| not expeSingtp w«rk there any more. But Cod hath the hearts ofall raen !h his own hand ; for he that was sp wroth with mc on the Saturday, now fave me gbod words, and bade trie set the men to work. 'rom that time he craved better for me thain before.:' neither did he set any man to work on the Sabbath as he said he would. — So I see it is good to obey Gbd, and ca-.t our care upon him, ¦vi.'ho will order all things well ; for if we refuse to join with the wicked, it will be a restraint to them. ' • la the time'ofray convidions, T never let my wife know of my trouble ; but now I could not eat my mor sel alone"; for I wrote to her and all my relatioas,' to seek the same mercy that I had ft>und. Hwwever, all I wrote seenied as idle tales tb most of them. ¦ - Some weeks after, three gentlemen (professed Deists) fell upon me, and reasoned with me for about an hpur ^ but the Lord put such words into my mouth, that made them say, Mr. Wesley had taught me His o»wn lessbn ; and I was sunk so deep in Enthusiasm, that I was past recovery. Nevertheless^ I see it is bad for weak believer^ to reason with men of cort.upl principles ; for after somd time the enemy brought tbeir ' words tp my mind, anid began to reason w^th me iii this manner, " Suppose JesUs Christ shoiild be an iinpostbr (as these men sayheN is) thou art lost for ever, " O! the distress I wasinfbra sHdrttime. But I made a istop and said, "If Jesus Christ be riot the 'Son of God and my Saviour, j will be damiied, for Jwill have no other." "Then the clolid broke, and my soul was so filled with love, that I tbbughtj if all the wbrld, yea, and the devils in hell, were to set on me, they could hot make rae -disbelieve that Jesus Christ is the veryari^ true God, and riiy Redeemer. i daily reproved all that sinned in the work where I was : so that none of them would swear in my presence. Biit 'having no" christian friend tb converse with, I kept ' close to 'God in prayer, and read the Bible aj all opppr- turiities, and heard one of the Mr. Wesley s every l^un- day, and stirred up many others to go to hear them : and though I had many trials, I was so kept by the power of God, that nothirig disturbed my peace again for sonie time. .-Onaa, however^ as t was residing ia' the: Bible sjgen- tlewpman (tfejat livied in p^ttiof the house), brought rae a book,, and said ." Ypu are oFtenreading the Bjble : ifyoj* please I will lend^you this book v-my motb&r, she added, took, delight in reading, tlierein." I ibaubed berafwi tegarv to rea^. For. some pages it was agreeable to ^many things .1 hadejcpeBiencgd inthp time of conviftion ; but it was nou at all.coi:res|:Qndent tp my experience, as to my conversion ; pleading for sin- after conversion i& keep the seiitl^ humble,: and making God the auihpr ofall sin. " - ;,; ; , .^.Thea the, enemy began to reason '?ritj* me,/ that I ought not to reprove Mn any mor«; From that tim^ ray love begj^n to cool both unto God and man, and my ze^] for.the..8aLvatiaa;ofpthers abated; and though the ?he more I read,, the worse I was, yet I was tempted to .tead it tlirough. i.- .. ,.,<.. -,y]|eR)rp I read iiithat.bpcfk,! did not know there-was 0, man in ^bc, wforld who held such an opinion j for in .-my trials,'! believed eveiy threatening iathis^Bibiewa^ ^|ainst the disebcdieni, evf^y procaine to tlwse ,ihatturn - to God. But now. I wasatEenipted|q think 1 was safe, po vvhatever.I would., yet { siiU praj^ed, " Loipe^.let me die, tsfther ;than live to. %in. ag^iH.«t ih.^J' • ¦. , . 1 h^d rie\5er spoken to A»Ir: Wesley io e^y life, nos coaversftd* wjtE any experienced man, abbut religioni I tonged tp'find one taiaik with> bt^t I sought in vaifu, fpr r coii^ liiiid fvene, ... • ¦. One time -a?. I was reasoning a.bo>ut.what Ihad read T opened the Bible on tbjCge' words, H If a,n.y raan lack . T^'isdooi, let thenv aft of.Gody who giveih. Uberal.lry.ai4 upbi-aidQthnot :"! then played, '^ 6 Lord, vvh^ I Itnov notd.a thou teach n»e." And I tHou^,i I would wait Upon the Lord in iksting and prayer, tili be revea,led Ms 1 Vdl xo me.: and I did, for several wee;ks fast foom Thursday night to ei^ght o'clock on Saturday moffting, .(spending the. time. I- W»s off ray work)"eitl^ar>ufoo my .Jinees/ at prayer,, oc in searching the .Saifjiasuirfes;.: and .fccfore r opcGed the Bible, 1 prayed that .Gold wouM' - opeji my trnderstacdiBg: ta^ comprehend what T read^ i think the ft^ Sc«ptuje Ah^ , was applied tw-iB^. ivas. *' As y^ have received the L^^d Jjesus, 39 walk in biiji ;" thetir I remembered wba.t stjite my soul, W**.ip- whe,n I fi.r.'st received hi)* s|>iFi6,.in ; my heart ;, that. . it: was^. filled Wfjth love to every soiiI„and I could. f>rayfp«.ail py eaenfties as WielU'^ tnyi€llfi=biif tb® book had furned ine out ©f th^^tbWssed state } was in, by:jseu|ng,nri!^. to, ti^- son about O'pinjpn^ that I t>eyer heard Qf in.my U,fe,jtiU ; jK?Yeral wecM %fter Lbftd received tb^ love of Christ: ^l^sefp-re I ,si^d ini_my Hn^^¥l^ kt it be right ot-j^^iioiig, ft isftot necessary for ^yaStiern,,;^! fowjad-thf; Lord.to'be nay SayiouT, befqre; \ knew, there, vfa^Jt ]ma,H in .tb® world of that opinion ; and before I read of it, I loy©d Iwith Gc^. and, nHW better tlgin I ba\je dpvue isince, and was^tBOfe useful i^ reproving ^nd dpijaig good than I ant jsow. -1 tbe^ ^^ypd that Ood W0t;t)d give; me tba| sJH>- plicity and godly sineerity that: I- walked in, v^i^m be Sffsit. tevealed Christ in, my b$a(rt., . And be aasvife^d m*^ in a.wo|)devfi(d manner } S9 ,lha( |ia.y tongfiC ¥a% loosed ior r<^0ve^ and. m,y hfaf^.a^aJQ^ eftiaiged to ,pray fetr fverysqulQf maiu •. , i; .r^ ; i - , . 1- now. 'Went on .my rej^ieinig for some days : amd had ;S» mtiif^. > of the, L^rd ^11 the ^y.. long» that my ^p^l %eerinted^ to breathe its M^ in God as naturally as my p9A^ breathed Ufe in, tbe cQmmDii,air., JBttt ,Qne day I .n^0yed a man fot; s^t^earittg, vihea. he told me he was piredies:tiaa;ted ito it,, and did not t£OMl!>k. bim^lf about it at all, for if be w^ .orje of the eteft^e, should be •SJfeVed : butif not, alLhe^e^uld do, would. not alter God's ;df,Ciee} SQ: tbiati^lL I saui? to bim» seemed to vaks ik> .npiorexboId.Qf bi*»» tbanjf I bad throwA *.i«fttb^B be*ll against a rock. I thought God was' very good, ^me, •;who^.^ meigoE^rfiit efihqse'&pwiofls.till Lknevtf my -part ^^;^atQRi»g bl^docli ^f Ii.ie9re^ if. I bad b^!vc4 ,.s^eb things,: in .^.tiK^e of mydisx-iresS| theyvt^Oi^ld have t)(?eft,tbe de«H'i*ctio(fi of Hfiy body ^i^ soajh-; Jet I d#fst-ppt .ssay and.thing against fcbwopioipn, but wished :I, bajd .-sonie e^xperienced , nfiant to coijyerse- with; about it,,for ¦! was. bP9t>gbt:agifciBin.to)ieayiue!SS by pspsojtlng, b^t, i^asi; oott^C; could I'findi '. -fi-- -. „¦ ;. ¦ 2S 1 still continued tb wait on the Lord, with fasting and prayer; and one' Fast-day, being greatly perplexed, I opened the book on these words, *' As I live saith the Lord,' I have no pleasure in th^ death of a sitmer.'? Then iHy heaft was set at liberty ; and I cried out, *' Glory be to thee, O Lord, for thou hast given me thy word, and thy oath, and thy Spirit in rniy heart, to bear witness that thou art no re-spefter of pefisons.'' Now I found such a desire for the salv-atibn of spulg, that I hired one of the inen to go and hear M|f. Wesley preach, who, hath .since Void rae, it was tjie best thing beth for Him and his wife, that ever man did for them': ' •¦.¦'¦'' ¦ ' " .' ...•....-' Al^ that hard winter, I still fasted from Thursday night to Saturday morning ; and give away the riiea't that I should have eaten to tfiepoor, spending iny time in praying and reading the SiffipturCis. • ' • " " About this time several came to see rae, who finding me at work, Ibbked at ^ach othei* like men'aniazcd, and said they were glad to see me So well. I tbld them I. bad not had one day's sickness for six months. They said, "A man that worked at the Treasury with you, tbld us, you had been heariiig that false prdphet, Wesley ; and he had itiadeybugb'mad, and incapable ofworking." '•"Well, said I, here is my master, he can testify that I Have n&t lost one daV'S' work this half year, nor was I ever better able to db any work" in all my life; but J iiave heard Mr. Wesley, and have reason to bless God I for it, for he is God's messenger for my good." Some 'words that I spoke seemed to .stick in them ; so that I hope Satan will lose ground by- that false and ill-groundea rieport. '' . ¦¦ ' '•.'•-' The enemy, however, now came upon me with other temptations, and prepared such instruments to destroy my soul, that I feared I should be overcome, and perish at last ; for wherever- 1 went, the snare was laid for me, and my soul was so harrassed with my wicked dreams, that I have often awaked and found mv pillow wet with tears, after thinking that the enemy vvould reason with mc abeui sofiae sin I had committed in my dream, bat 23 this drove roe more to prayer, and shewed me my cor rupt nature m such a light, that 1 abhorred myself, and thought the Lord neVer undertook to save one more like the devil in nature than I was ; and it was often im pressed on my mind, that if I held out to the end, I should have great reason to sing loiuler in the Redeemer's praise than any other soul in heaven. l I would fain have known whether any one that had the grace of God in bim; was tempted day and night as I was ; but my business being altogether, at the cpurt end of the town, I had no one to open, my mind tp. Then I took up the Bible, after praying, I happened on these words of St. James, "Blessed is the mai> that endureth temptation; for when he is tried be sliall receive the crown of glory, which the Lord hath pro mised to them that love him." One night, after a day of fasting, I dreamt, that I was in .Yorkshire, in my working clothes, going hbme; and as I went by Paul Champion's, I hiekrd a mighty cry, as of a multitude of people in distress; and I saw in my dream, the large court behind John Rhodes' ; as full of people as they could stand by one another. All on a sudden, they began to scream and tumble one over another; I asked what was the niatter; and they told me Satan was let loose among them, and begged of me to get out of the way, for he was coming ; but I said, " By the grace of God, I will not turn to the right hand or to the left for him." Then I thought I saw him in the shape of a red bull, that, ran through the people, as a beast runs through i^he standing corn, yet did not offer to gore any of them, but made direflly at me, as if he would run his horns into my heart; then I cried out, " Lord help me 1" and immediately caught him by the horns,' and twisted him. on his back, setting my right foot on his. neck, in the presence of a thousand people; and I bade them cry to Jesus, as suring them that what they had seen me do, he, would enable them to do. When J awoke,.! was in a sweat, and my body as much fatigued, as, if I ;had been ^t hard labour, but my soul ^yasfiUpd with, joy* '.^^ , A I i tile lfer» litis, as t waf 'ir^adir^ -'tbff mriptares, 8 fetter caiiSe tbmeM «awit wasitdtfroainfmy wife then'l said, '" i feat here his 'bad rnfe ws.'' Upon ctpening it, f fouridiPtt'y da'c^terwas-disad, !Wiitim'I formerly idioJiaedi my 'smi-wfts so iH-*h^t bisSife wa»;disi^tred o£'j -mywife hai'f^feft^om a horse andjwsK.lam«d:Hiyfastten-inriaw was dead, and my naotherwassick. ; It then jcame tw nsy mind, irftet when I wsasat the Sacrament,' 1 had made a &ee'wiil'*»i'e«nWg tb the Lordj of tny 'bodyj and wrA^ •M^fe affl>(3 ' dsiWrdfi, 'aftd alt-that insas near and .dear lo mc | ¦ feult I dtougbt, bow isteall I bear ity .inow; the LomI has tftken Aeiii »t liiy-lhaiKS.' I WQ«tta'prsp^er,and found"' uhy heart "who^ily designed to the 'wili of Godv Then ft. ¦citflie t'O me, *' Let ttee- dead bory thed'r skad 5 bnEitlbllo** ' tfeba 11*6," f &egan t-o r^d ^ajn, and the pesatple ecaD^-L did- noitwcep^ wfm^ my feamds, miigmn^- as ^^ey did,; at tfec-loss-ibf a dhM; «ijriag? I " *as a 4iaid-hsarted .febeF,.' f icpliodi ** tkstnvt9t tdihow t^ «b06e whki is be«&; but Gdd •cifiiiot'err." '• ' ' '¦¦- ..¦-¦"¦ < The May fctlowing I^aeordemd to-take sr8)«ne«iiim aM)iA go t'O l2o4-d*Onsk)w'''S, nearGuiJford, io Sarry^ to d» a^^ietse^of W0i4 that W-puld la)* all tjie euixuncr., : This #ak heavy tidingis ; for I'^s^gihtl 'wa« \»ot d XRd ouffwraidcnetiiies; and be wa«'graoioiiis!to me, eoabtiac me 'M>':f-eptrove'i&ll iha\ sJBiifcd in my presertOs;; «otbjB?a •Jr-Wfeki.g gentlewan 'said fo s*ne>«!f tbrmeo, "Of. ««ritat ri^ig^h is' yew*- fotftman? Ib fee a- Ba^stt^m b«? a-fekeri^Tlsey- replied, «* No, fir^iie m^^.jim <;^;u¥cfe of ©ri_^lMid7" He anid; **4*snsay iscilyuja «©»; but'lie is- nt> "Chu««*s«ta!B t leer- we can- hardlf *p«w^5«t uiblcjljBt'be is pef)tK9<«sj,^ «s -. .•atjd if tie wys %«« ^mt \\ or d we 'csit29)^ pfei#ijllifl|!ii^ vestupe, whose fac^ slione litee the sum, standing, at the- fot^-y ofmybed, wl|o saidu^tome, " Arise, s^ndprai^fthil- Lord," I thought a great light shone TQWd iwy b€>d^ : hy which I saw myself defiled from tfte t<^of n*^ he^Lti-tp thf sole ofniy foot; and answered," How c^n such an unclean creatfire shew forth tfte prai^s of 0Qd ?" Then I thought,bf shew^d-me a river, mr cic!^ as crystal, with fine gre^n grass growing, at-th^- hi^tif}^ the^epf,in which hp bad^^me wash amd b€^cieaB- I thought I r^ejnt at his bid4iBgj; itnd^^s soon as my feet were dipped in the water, the filth dropped from 2D my whole body,- nevertheless the .water, was not de-. filed by it, at which I was surprised ,• but' wlien I came to the middle of the water it wa^ deeper than I vi^as high, and I knew I eould^not swim, yet my soul was so filled with the sense of God's love that my head was kept aboye water, I then th'O'Ught I spread my hands/ like a man who is goifig to swim, and as- I laboured to swim, I rose up out of the water, and was carried as on the wings of an eagle ahove the clouds, and cried, " Hosannahto thefcin'gof heaveit," And tho' asleep, I sung so loud, that I waked, the people of the bouse* I now resolved; to^ reprover again, and seemed to do it with more authority than before, and my wo'rds began to stidi to some, aii^d cause them to reform their lives. . ' ' Abotit Michaelmas I eame back to London ; and several that used to attend Mr, Wesley's preacMn^ at Kennington-Common and Moorfields, who had also joined with him in the Foundery, came to see me : at whieh 1 was surprised, havihg nd correspon- dfenee with th6m, any further than speaking one to anpther, as we weAt froin place to plaed to hear him preach. At thei? first coming, I thought i* was thfe thing I longed for ; often wishing that^I had some christian friends to converse with. They said they heard I was come to town, and the love they bore me, made them come to see mer. I answered, " I thank you; pray how does my good friend Mr. Wesley do?" They replied, *'We do not know ; poor dear man, he is wandering in the dark ; hut we hope our Savi our will open his eyes, and let him see that he is a blind leader of the blind.!" Their words were as a sword rtmning through my Ifvei* ; and made me cry out, "Lord, have mercy upon him! What is the matter with him?" They answered), " Poor dear man, he is under the law, and does not know the privilege ofthe gospel himself; therefore he preacTiqs law and works." I said, "Then he is strangely al- teced since I left London ; for when I was in town he preached repentance towards God, and faith in S7 our Lord Jesus ; teaching the necessity bf both a^ iclearly frpm Scripture, as apy man in England coiild, and shewing the fruits of faith as plain as possible fpr ajty man to do ; and I found his word to be mpire .blessed, to me, than any man's. I ever heard in my life." They told me that "I had neyer lieard the gospel ia my life, except I had heard the Brethren, sthat preached' in Fetter Lane ; for they were the men that, were to come to lead them into true still- ness.'*^ I said •" What do you ^neau by true stilhless ?" Th^y repliec^, " It is tp cease from our own works, such as festing .and prjayq.r, reading the Bible, and prunniijg to chureh and sacrament ; and wholly to rely jpn the blood and woiinds of the Lamb." I said, " I ,do not know that I ever heard eitljer of the Mr. Wesley's bid any man trust in prayer, pf reading, going to sa.crament, or giyijjg of alms, ipr salvation, ^either in whole pr in part." But they .answered. Why dotfai he leach men to do ^hese things, if they . ^re not to be save/^ by .them ?'' \ replied, " If I un derstand Mr.. .Wesjey rights, he only speaks of thenji ^s Christ and hjs Apostles spake pf them, that is, to wait iij them jas ja beggar waits fojra iporsel at qi man's dpor, 1 never spoke to Mr^ Wesley in my Jife ; therefore I know not jyhat. he believes, arty farther tbanhy his preaching. They told me, thaf; f;'^ most of the ppopl^ who had followed hirp befpre I left London had forsaken him, .and werq become bappy sinsers apw j .and wisjied I would go ajjd jiiear the Br^thrpn, for' Mr. >f esley was pnly a ' John Baptist to, go befpre and prp^par^ them for ,the Brethren to build up,: .adding, "If. you go tp Jiear him; be will bring ypu into bondage ; aud you will never be happy t^i yo.u are ftee from the law ; for we, were 4ever happy till we left l)im a^d went; to hear Mr. Molther ; aqd till then, we were unr der the law." I replied, " Pray, were you npt converted before you left Mr. Wesley ?'? They an swered, '^' Yes, we. had gone through agrea,! deal of trouble, and found great jieace and joy, k^pwing ^8 Ptir sins were forgiven: but when w,e Jieard Mr. Molther, we found we were yet under the law: for he shewed the privilege ofthe gospel,^ and "we fpudd we had not such a privilege ; for if vre broke the law in any little matter we were quite unhappy ; or if ¦we neglected to pray, or missed a sermon or two, then Vfe w^^e uneasy ; but now we are happy, for the Lamb hath done all for lis." I said, though he hati^done this part, yet the Apostle teaches us to Mork put Pur salvation with, feat and trembling ; and we are bid to pray always and search the scriptures. And St, Paij'l iks^ied often, and kept his body in subjeetipft, lest when' he had preached to others, himself should be a castaway '• bu^ you are become lyiSei^ than the Apostle, and have got another go;|- pej : though he said, if he pr art a^gel, from heaven Shpuld preach another gospel, let him be accursed. I am afraid you are deceived, and are seeking a happiness that is separated fr6m hpliness ; if so, yoii Site led away by a deceiving spirit '? for i,f you com^ mit sin, and break the righteous law of God, anc^ still Continue happy? 'without any conviction that God is oflfended with ypu, your consciences are seared as with a hot iron. They said, " You are a pooi- unhappy man, and as blind as Mr, Wesley ;" and so lej^ itne without either playing with me or forme. When I came to- reason about "j^^hat they had said, and to compare \t with the words of oiir Lord and' his Apostles, I saw their schenie of JBalvatipn was as con-. trary to that of Christ, as darkness is to light. This drove me to prayer, and ma^e me double mydili- ^^ce in reading irty Bible, In a few days after, t^Yo niQre, that were a little acquainted with me, came to see me, I asked thena |iow Mf. Wesley was ? The said they did not knpvr,; fbl'th'ey did not hear liim now. lasked^ " Why dq yottnot?'* Theyreplyed, "He denieth thefai^hof ^e gospel." I said, " I am sorry for it ; but J hope ypii afe only W«nf infprmed," Then they answered. 29 ^* We bave heard ourselves," » J. replied, " What do you callthe fa^th of the gospel ?" they said, " Pre- destinatiPn and Election," I told them, I thought tliat was not the faith pf the gospel ; jjpt it was rather for every one to believe in his heart, that he is a fal len spirit, by na^aire a child of wrath, and by practice an heir of ^ell; and that the eternal Spnof God, put pf love to me .a poor helpleiss and bell de serving creature, laid his glory bj, and.fo'i'^ ™J iSake, fulfilled all righteousness, at last giyi'ng .his body fp;r my body, and his soul for my soj.xl ; and that God, for the sake pf his pbedience and blood shedding, hath forgiven ail my pins. 1 said, according to , the Jight I haye, this" is the faith pf the gospel ;, and he that is, partaker of this faith, hath received the spirit of pow7 er, of love, a^d of a sound mind j ppwer to d0ny UU'^ godliness and wprdly lustfe, and to live a godly, righ^ teoUs and sober life, I added, " Pray under whom were ypu cpnyerted ?'' They botli replied, under Mr. Charles Wesley, " Did he then preach what you now call the gospel, ?" they replied No. ''Did God then reveal that to you \o he the fiiitb of the gospel, as soon as he wrote pardon pn your hearts?" They said, '^Np : when we' were in our first love, 'we believed as Mr. Wesley, believes ; but now we see better, and hopts his eyes will be opened shortly." I said, " I fear yours are become dimi for I think ypu are more light and un watchful than ypu used to be ; and you own you have lost your first Ipve, ' P remember, Christ bids.ypu repent and do your first works, or he will renjove your c^ndljer. stick." But thmr told me. Do what they would, they cduld not finally fall. I answered, that as far as t could leamby their words artd behaviour, they were. already fallen : and I wished they did not make a. Cbrisf of. their opinipns : for though I allow, many gqpd men hold these opinions, yet I judge, all thai, were ponyerted under the two Mr, Wesleys, were ^t first filled with Ipve to every jgcjan, and a perfect, hatred to fill sin, and were inspired with a zeal fof so "GodV glory, and 4he i^elfare of all mankind, ¦*' Was not this your state pnpe ?" They owned it was, till they heard-Mr, Sawyers ; and it was by him they saw into the electing love of God, I replied, " I "fear you have sinned against light and-lpye; and instead of going b^ck tptpie Lor A, by true repen tance, and seeking a fresh pardon in the blood of Christ, you h^ve been gadding about to' seek new^ opinions : you afe gone puLt of the high way of holiness, and have npw got intp. the devil's pinfold; you are' not seeking tp perfect holiness in the fear of God, bat are resting in opinions, that give y6u liberty tp jive after ^he flesh : and if yo« continue so to live, you are sa'fje ut this hold, out of which ydu wilf be brpifght ttj the slaughter," "They told me I was as stupid as Mr, Wesley. I rer ¦plied; Satan had p.reached that dpctrine tp me be fore they did : and God had ai*nie4 me against botl| liim and them Then they left nie in my blind estate, as they calledit J i^nd I prayed, that I might hevcr turn outof the way that Gpd had called me into, ¦ On Sunday I had the opportunity of' hearing Mr^ J^ohn Wesley once more : and his word was precious food to my soul. Thep i blessed the Lord, .that had still kept his servant, as an iron piUar, in th,e same spirit in which I left him ; but J 6bserv.ed a grea| part pf the Congregation were' strangers ^o ipe, for snariy ofthe old hearers were .gone, apd others come th. . Whert I found tha^t some had turned to the dermans, and «ome tp the Predesiinariaps, I said-j "i" O Lord, I wilj praise thee, for thou dost all things ¦^efl: thou by thy provldcrtce didst send me out of town, ¦^vhen the enemy was rending thy flock to' pieces, and iShiitdby thy seryant hath escaped the snare*' A few weeks after I was at St. Paul's, ¦where Mr» John Wesley also was: and I contrived to walk with him after' sacrament : for I had often wislied X could speak with him, thei-efore I seized this op-; jptortunity : so tve continued in discourse all' the way 31 from St, Paul's to the farther end of Upper- Moor fields ; and it was a blessed Cf-ifercnce to mei When , we parted, he took hold of my hand, and looking; me full. in the iiice, bade me take pare I did not q^uench the Spirit. I had not stjick an opportunity again white I stayed in London, either with hi mi or his brother ; but 1 kept^close to God by fasting and prayer ; and the Lord helped me through many trials. , . . ' ,One night after I had been delivered frpm, griev ous temptations, my Soul Was filled with such a sense of God's love, as-^na^e me weep before him. In the night I di-eanied I was in YoEkshir.e going from firp-* riiersail Hill Top, to, Cleck Heaton ; and about, tlie middle of the lane,, I ^thought I saw Satan coming th meet me in the shape of a tall black man, and the h4ir of his head like snakes : but I thought I was not afraid at all : and I siaid, " Standby me, O Lord, and I will net turn to the right liand or to the left j'^ yet I thought I would not stand tp fight with h^m as _I used to do: when he ca.me w;ithin about j&ve paces of me^ he stood : but I went on, ript open my clothes, and shewed him my naked breast, saying, " See here is the blood of Christ :" then I thought he fled from me as fast as-a hare Could run, I was still attacked by the Moravians on one side,^ . and the Predestinarians bu the other ; but the Lord enabled me to .stop their mouths, aiid to shew them they had Ipst their first love : yet they seemed to be hardened and past all conviction ;. and the more I read the Scriptures, the more t:was co;ofirra-* ed that they were, fallen into carnal security : which made me pray more earnestly, that God would pre serve me froni all the snares of the devil,. About ten days before C|iristmas, I went to St. Paul's, and while I was at the cpmmunipn table, I felt such an awful sen,se of, God rest upon me, that my heart was like melting, wax before him^; and all my prayer was. "Thy will be done; thy vyill.he. done!" I was so 'dissolved into tears of love, that I 33 ciould scarce take the bread; and after t had re ceived, it was. impressed on my mind, "I must go into Yorkshire, directly;" But I said in tpyself, "If I do it will be ten pounds out of my way," I determined to go at l^y-Day ; but I thought, to stay for the sake o i money would be w rong, when I believed it was the will of God I should go. iSo I paclted up my' clothes and set out. I foand'mixch of the Lord's presence all, the. way I went ; but I had no more thought pf preaching tlian I had of eating fire; 'f^*" , When I: got home, I was greatly disappointed ; foi" I expected to find many ot my relations converted, as I understood they attended Mr! Ingbam's>preach-» ing. But- when I explained to them what itwastq be converted^ they said they never heard of such a, thing in their i\1res. * I told theni, I; knew those things by happ3^ experience. But they begged, 1 would not, tell anyone that my sins were forgiven; for no one would believe me; and they should be ashamed to shew their faces in the street,' I answer^ ed,I should not be ashamed to tell wbat' God had dptte fqr my soul, if I could.speak loud enough f(*r alF the men' in the world to hear me at once. My mother said^. Your head is turned. I replied, "Yes, and my heart top, I thank the Lord." My wife told me, she was ashamed to put her head out of doors, for. every one was tailing about me, and upbraiding her whhi my, sayings ; and she wished I had stayed in London: for she could not live, with me, if I went on as Ldid : for wJnch reason, she de sired, that I would leave off abusing my neighbours, or go back to London. I answered, I did . not" care ¦what all the people could say : for I was determined toteprove arty one that sinned in my presence. Then she cried, and said, I did not love her so well as I usied to do. I replied, " Ifes, I love thee better thaxt eVer I did in my life: and thou hast no rea- sbn to dispute my love ; for I have been careful to provide for thee, whether I was at home or abroad; 33 and wo hate been happy in each other upwards of twelve years ; but if thou wilt seek^redemption in the blood of Christ, we shall be tell times happier than ever.'' She then .said, "Nay, my happiness with Ihce is over; for according to thy words, I am a child ofthe devil, and thou a Cliild of God," Then she wept and said, " I cannot live with tliee," I said, " W^hy.so? Thou shalt never want while I ara able> by honest endeavours, to provide for tliee. Nay, I continued, if thou wilt not go to heaven with me, I v/ill do the best I can for thee ; only I will not go to hell with thee for company ; but rbelieve^ God will hear my prayer, and convert thy soulj and make thee a blessed companion for me in the way to hea,'*' yen." After this, my wife began to be concerned about the salvation of her soul, A few days after I got home^ Dftyid Taylor come to preach in our town, in Mr. Ingham's society, whert I worit to hear him: and a dry morsel his sermon was. Several that wei-c acquainted with him tbllbw ed mo, and wanted to know how I liked the discourse. I was baekward to tell them, but they pressed harS on me, and sai- bed me; yet he could not rest ti;l he went to hear Mr. Wesley at London. Then he fouhd what 1 said was true ; and ho came down to Sheffield, and into i'>erbysbire, preaching what he called Mr^ Wesley's} doctrine, and awakened and converted many scores of people, till the Gormans got tp him, and made hiirt deny the law of God : then ho became again as salt without savour. 1 went afterwards to a iiieciing i>i" Mr, Ingham's, where one read in an old book for '" . ' E ' . 34 near an hour ; then sUng a hymn, and read' a form of prayer. I told tliem, that way wouldnever con vert sinners; and begartto relate ,soine of my expe dience ;, and several were struck with convictions ' ^hile I was speaking : some of whom are witnesses ofthe same grace that God shewed me, o In a little time, all I said was noised abroad ; and .people of all denominations (?anie to dispute with me. As soon as I came home from work, ray house was filled with people, which made my wife uneasy ; for' she could do no work, and did not yet believe v.hat I said was true, , i Generally when I came in and, sat down, some one would ask me a question, and others would be gin to dispute with me, while others stood to hear. When any began to cavil, I commonly asked what church they belonged to ? And if they said, the Church of England; then I replied, " Do you know your sins are forgiveii ?" Several said, " No, nor never expect to know it in this world," Then I ..said, " You are no members of the Church of Eng land, if you have not a full, trust and confideece, that God for Christ's sake hath f6i«;iTen vou. Bead the Homilies of the Church, and you will see what I say is true." I used to have the Bible and Com- ¦ mon Prayer Book by me ; and I shewed them the articles of the Church, saving, " You deny inspira tion; and the church you profess to belong to, says^ Before the grace of Christ, and^the inspiration of his •spirit, no good works can be done." So if the Church speak right you must be inspired by the spirit of iChcist to enable you to bring fortii good fruit, pr you must be the fuel of hell. And how dare' you pray to have your thoughts cleansed by the inspiration of God's Holy Spirit, if youdb not lielieve there is any such thing to be attained in this wprld ?- O ! dp. not mock God any more, by asking for things wi|ij|i your mouths, when you do not believe in yo^r hearts he will grant them. But one said, he had fcee^ with, a yery learned clergyman of a neighboujrjng churc|^ .35 and. he told him, there were no such things to be attained in this life. 1 said, "I think you have mistaken him, for I was at that Church, last Sunday, and heard him declare all I have:said to you." He said, " I was there, and heard no such thing mentipned." I replied, " No ! did yoU not hear him affirm that God had given power and com mandment to his ' ministers, 'to:declare and pro nounce to.his .ppople, being penitent, theabsolution pf their. sin^?, 'And he farther declared,^ that God pardoned and absolved all those, that truly repent, and unfeignedly . believe his gospel. — ^Therefore, it js plain, you.neA'er did repent, nor urtfeignedly be-> lieve his gospel, if God has not pardoned and ab solved you from your sins.. Else both he and all that; arein PriestV orders in England;: are false. witiles-' ses before God .and man. And how many time^ bave you besought Godto give you truerep^tance ;'[ and tb forgiye you all your sins, negligences and ig- jiorances: and. to. endue you with the graces of his : holy.Spirit, that .you might amend your ways accpxd-.' ing to his holy iWord? .And now you say there is no' such thing! though: you may reirieniber Mr; R,- said, , '- Let us beseech God to grant us true repentance, , apiid his holy Spirit, that those things, may please bim, which we do at this present : aud that the rest-' of our lives may he pure and holy," i, --By tbese discourses^ many were pricked to the heart, and durst not, offer the sacrifice of fools any ^ more ;, but prayed in good earnest for God tp par don their 'sins, and to answer them in the joy of theff.heairts> Wh(fci any said they were of the Church of Scot land, I asked them, if they did notknpw their sins forgiven? they tpld me that they did not; nay, farther, they thought it presumption for any one to pretend to. know it, or to expect such high attain ments as I spoke of, ?indthey told me I was a pa pist, or I would not talk as I did. I said, I know ntit what you think of me : but 1 think, you neither 36 krto^w what a ^papist nor presbytcrian is: .for your own mouths declare, that yau are no members of tho church of Scotland ;' that Christ disowns you; iox none are allowed members thereof, but those thai arOi effectually called: and they that are^effectually called, do-in this I'rfe partake of justilication, adopr tion, and .sanctification. And the same Churchsaith, thatfj.usti fication is an act of God's free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins; adoption is au act of God's free grace, by which we are received into the number, have a right to ali the priviiegei* of God's sons; and that sanctification is the w¦ Qne night I went to Advaltoc, to hear Mr. IiTg- ham preach. As soon as I got into- the house, he called me into the parlour, and desired the company that was v/ith hira, to go out, for he had something to say. When they went out, he rose up, barred the door, then sat down by me, and asked me how ray wife did } When I had told hira, he said, " Do you know your own heart, think you?" I said, not righdy; but I know Jesus Christ ; he knows and hath taken possession of it; and though it be de ceitful yet 'he can subdue it to himsell'; and I trust he will, lie said, " Hare you not deceived jourself with thinkiua: that your sins are fortriven, and that you are in a state ot grace ?' I was three years seeking before I found him." I said, " Suppose you were, do you confine God to be three years in converting every soul, because you were so long? God is as able to convert a soul .fa three days now, as he was to cmyert St, Paul 1700 years ago." I 38 then began to tell him what I had seen ac London , tinder Mr. Wesley's preaching. He said, he pitied ofmot Mr. Wesley ; for he was ignorant of his own .sjtate; and he spoke as if he believed Mr. Wesley, stolsc au unconverted man j at which words my cojt rupt nature began to stir. . -i .^But it came to my mind. The wrath of man work eth not the righteousness* of Gbd: and I lifted up my heart to the Lord, andttiiy mind was calm in a ^nhohient. He said,. ^' Yonought not to tellpepple, » As I was explaining the 7th chapter ofthe RomaPSi my mother fell in to deep convictions, and cried,,^'- 1' am alostsinner*" Iwent to prayer with her ; ^g^rtd she neither ate pleasant bread, nor took natural rgstj till she found redemption through the blood of Chrast. Then she came to me with tears of joy, and said, *' Thank God on my behalf, for he hath dealt bouiisti- fully with me. When thou wast a lad, I had mp»e trouble with thee than any other child,* but God has more than rewarded me for all my trouble, in that fie has raised thee up to show me the way of sah ation." She lived about six mPnths after, and then died in the triumph of faith. She wasthe first ripe fruW that God gave me of my labour. .- , . ,^ <-- Soon' after, another of my brothers, my aunt, and two cousins, were converted ,• though still 1 did not attempt to preach, but read .some part of the Scrip ture, then exhorted thjem tp observe what they had heard ; and so ended with prayer. Artd God wrought in a Wonderful manner ; for six or . seven were con- yerted in a week, for several week.s together. All this time I bad no one to converse with, except such as wanted to turn meoutpf the narrow path : neither had:I any correspondence with Mr. Wesley ; but still I was as one set to labour in a field alone.., After some time Peter Bohlercame into Yorkshire, and laboured while Mr. Inghara went tb; Londp»,^^;-J beard him, and he pleased me well ; for at that time he spoke to the purpose. When he had done I went 40 and took him by the hand, and thanked him fen* his wholesome exhorlation. He asked me my name ? 1 told bim ; He kissed me, and said, " My brother, I am glad to see yotj ; for I have just now been talkr^ ing with some, that told me they were. converted by you : and I like them better than any souls I have conversed wiih, since! came into Yorkshire." And he added, " I will call to see you when I come to Bfiital." So he did, and stayed with me all night, and encouraged me to speak on, and spare none } for he added, " The Lord hath called you to labour in his -vinyard ; and if you do not labour he will call you to judgment for it." I told him, that Mr. Ingr-. ham had forbidden me ,• but he said, " He will be back from London in three weeks, then I will .speak tP him ; for I know that God is with you ; and 1 will canon you, whenever I come through this town." So he did at that season, and his conversation vftm profitable to ine, for he then .spoke as contrary to th«? Moravians, -who are in London, as black is to white. God blessed his word ; for many were awakened by ' him, at his first coming into Yorkshire. When Mr. Ingham came back from London, he Came to brother Mitchell's in our town, and sent for me. He came and kissed me as .soon a^s I came in, and desired me to sit down by him : and saitt, " John, I believe God hath called you to .^peak his word : for I have spoken with several since I came back from London, who I believe have received grace since I went : and I see God is working in a shorter manner than he did with us at theboginning; and I should be sorry to hinder any one frPm doing good." He said also to the Brethren and Sisters," Before you all, I give John leave to exhort in all my Societies ;" and betook me by the hand, saying,, " Johrt, God hath given you great honour, in that he hath made use of you, to call sinners to the blood of our Sa viour : and I desire ymi to cxlvort in all my Societies^ as often as you can." 41 I did so ; and many were struck to the heart, and were made to cry put, " Lord, save, or we pe rish !" So that nine Or ten in a wfek, were brought to experiencie the dying love;,i5)f Jesus. Those that were of the Churcli of England, I es|iorted tpikeep clv)se to the Church and Sacramept ; and the Dis senters, to keep to their ,own tnectings> and to let their light shine before thpse of their cornniunity. I found bv some, that ^r. Ingham advised the contrary, and several began to stay at home pp the; Sabbath, which made me very uoea^. One night I had been disputing with seyeral pf them, about, their aegljactiug the ordinances, end about their speaking against inward holiness, as we were going to hear Peter Bohler at Gharle^ Sjim- merscale's; an^ whe;i h(?had got up, he look two verses of the tenth chapter of St. Matthew's Gps: pel;" .Whosoever therefore ^hall confess rae be fore men, him will I confess before my J^ather, which is in he^yen ; V»ut. Whosoever shall deny nuS: before rae^i, hira also will I deny before my Father, which is in heaven." I thought l^f he ha^d heard all that I had S3,id, an.d had laboured to justify every word I. had spoken, he cquldinpt haye preachr r.d more to the purpose; for he said, to confess Jesus, was> to live to, him and to honour him, with body, soul, and ^ubst3.pce: and to deny bim, was td liye to ourselves, by refusing to dp wba,|; l^,cprn'- maaded, because it was not agreeabl.e to nature, and did not m#ke for ortr tteniporal interest; and he added, if aiiy one /did so much as keep th^ tip of his little finger, to commit. sin with, it would damn both his body and soul in hell. ¦ . My adversaries npwhung downtheir heads; and and complaint wag made to Wit. Telchig, that h^ preached Wesley's doctrine: agd, he was, sent tp London soorf after. jHecain^re back in, three weeks' time ^ but such a change foi- the wprsci did I ne ver sec in mortal rtian: for he that profcssjed t^ love me as his own .4oiil, durst not come neai: io ' " IP 42 the door of my house, nor converse with me at all : ahd his word was^j^s chaff, in comparison to what it used to be. Then I saw what was coraing on me, and. the people God had given me. This made me weep •in secret places before the Lord : and I desired to die, rath«r than live, to seethe children devour ed by the btfifS out of the German wood.— I saw many deluded by their soft words, and fair speeches ; and T thought I would exhort no more; for I was begettJHg children, and they slew them among the smooth stones of the brook: and they had better never have known ^be way of salvation, thaB after knowing it,* be turned thereout. ,But Samuel Mitchell urged me to speak, and not to Spare. Yet I found great backwamlness ; and of ten said, when I went out of my door, "^ l^frrd, thou knowest I had rather be hanged on that trecj than goto preach, but that I believe thou dost require it at my hand." And many a time i have said, " Except some one be conv;p:rted this time, I will take it for granted, that I may leaye off speaking in thy name." But O the condescension of the Most High ! For he so far bore v/ith my weakness, that sorae were converted as sure as I asked the token. For all that, I acted the pSrt of Jonah, and fled into the fields by a wood side, when a great congregation was' gathered together, and begged me to preach to them. But the band of the Lord was upon me : and I fell fiat on my face on the ground; and thought that if ever a living man tasted the cup of the damned, I did : I then cried out. " Lei me die ? let me die ! for why should I live to.see the destruction of my people ? Or wherefore should I ever speak in thy name ? and by thy word beget children for the slaughter ?" I ley about an hour with my face on the grass : but O th§ anguish my soul was in : the sufferings of our Lord were brought to my mind, and his apos tles, whose cup I had once desired at the Lord's 43 han^. But now, when it was in a smart degree put into my h.and> I chose rather to die than drink it. I now began to be ashamed before the Lord, when I had considered how wonderfully he had dealt with me ; so that the tears began to flow, and my heart was broicen within me. Then I saifcd, " I am not my own, but thine ; therefore thy will be done in me, bnrme, and by me." In that instant the cloud broke and the Sun of Righteousness arose on my soul : so that I cried out. " Lord continue with me, as thou art now, and I am ready to go to hell to preach to devils, if thou requirest it." Then I c,ame home, expecting the people to be gone; but tlie^ were waiting about the door of%iy liouse. I got up and preached to„ thein, and that night two men declared that God far Christ's Sake had for given all their sina. I thought, after I had done, if I had 101. I would have given it for one hpur's conversation with Mr. John. Wesley; but' I despaired of Wer having an opportunity, except I went to London on purpose; and said I am not worthy of an upright jnan to converse with : therefore. I am encompassed a.bout with briers and thorns. After some time, I was told, that there were twen ty preachers came to the Smith-Hous^ ; and that four or. five of them were clergymen who had. been with Mr. Wesley ; but they were now convinced of his errors, and cpntentto be poor sinners; and hoped J should see my error in a little tjme, and come. to the Brethren; for all of them, they said, had been as blind as I was, and as much bigotted to Mr. Wes ley's notions, t told them, that what they called light, I believed to be gross darkness ; for it did not pgree with what the Scriptures shewed to be the way to heaven. One of their exhorters said to me, that there w^re several of the Moravian preachers could write as good Scriptures as the Bible ; that tJie very power that tho Apostles had did rest on the Moravian preachers. I told him I did not believe 44 a Word of it : I believe iliera to be a fallen people s and I praye^ GPd that they might repent, aud do their first workSi I said, '^ I am sorry for Mr. Ing ham; for he never will do fialf so niuch good as he has doHe hurt, by bringing them into this country, for they do not labour to con.vert sinners, but to, turn saints ;Out of the way that leads to heayert." But he said, it was I that was n^rong, for ^hey were the moist experienced men in. the worid: anc^itwas belieyed by many, that Count Zinzendorf was so fa miliar with the Lamb,- that mjiny hundreds who were novv in hell, would be saved by his pr^yersi A few days after, they were. tp have a great meet ing at Gomersal-Field house ; and one came and told me, that Mr. Inghani desired rae to be ther?. Accordingly I went, but cpuld not get into the house where they were reading the tetters, nor near the .send him to heaven at pnce, than to turn him out of the way, and to destroy both bcdy and soul ; never theless, let us pray for him and them." So Ave went to prayer: and when we arose from our knees, I took the Bible, requesting Gbd to speak to me by his word ; I opened on the 49th chapter of Isaiah, and the 9th verse. " For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land of thy destruction, shall eyen now be too narrow,' by reason of the inhabitants nnd they that swallowed thee up, .shall be far away 47 thy children, which thou shalt have after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in thine ears, The place is too strait for me : give place to me that 1 niay dv/ell. Then shalt thou say in thine heart. Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive removing to and fro 4 and who hath brought up these ? Behold, I was left alone ; these, where had they been ?" At the reading of which words, I and all that were in the house were so affected, that we burst into weep ing: and God gave jne one child, in answer to my^ prayer that night. It was sooii spread abroad, that Mr. Ingham and Nelson had differed: and many said, ^' We shall now see an enckof his new religioa!" Several of them, who once professed to love me as their pwn lives, now became my open enemies, and laboured to draw all from me they could — — They said, I made my Bible my God; and would take it up in a scornful manner, saying, "Th's is John Nelson's God 1 poor man he hurts himself much by .reading in it: it would be better for him if he would let it alone, and abide by his heart." Then I said, '' Woe is me that my mother ever bare me, to be a man of, strife to all that /are about me: but Lord, Icommit my cause to thee!" : - So I went on preaching repentance towards God^, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ ; insisting that those who believed, should be careful to maintain good w«KksI^ 'But many, that once said they might bless God they ever heard roe, now called me legal: and told me to my. face, that I never knew the gos- ^el liberty,- nor what it was to enjoy the poor sinner- ship. I replied, " I do not desire to know it ; I on ly want to know the perfect and acceptable will oB God, and power, to do "the same." But they cried out they had nothing to do, for the Lambhad done all for them. ' . . After their next morathly meeting, one that htd exhorted, came and calkd me out of my house. 48 sawinff, be wanted to speak will me. I went out ; ^en he told me the Brethren had sent him j ailil *hey ted -the same power as the Apostles had : all ihat withstood them were soon miserable. I answer ed, " What do yoq hobble' at in your speech ? If you come to tell me they had given me up into tlie hands of the devil, speak out, Michael ?" Me said they had. I defiled, I hope I shall pray forthemas long as I live : but do you go back and tell them^ I have the detviliwider my heel ; and he can never hurt me, as iangias I haye the ^race of God* ' -' Soon after I met With anotherj that had got into ihe' poor sinnership, who held his neck on one side, and talked as if he had been. bred up upon tlte borders of Bohemia: He said, the Brethren were sorry-forme: nay, he heard'some of thein.say, they would take care of my wife and, children: I tola him, I would see niy wife and children -die on a «lunghill,^beif6re I Would sell mj .soul, and the souls of niy country people. 't still kept close to Gpd by prayer, and fasting; and'Was daily . refreshed with a sense of his love: He also opened my mouth more and more^to speak his word, so that sinners were daily converted. Samuel Mitchell encouraged me much, and wenf with me, -almost every night that I went out of town; often ;four or five ipiles, after we had done our work : and we used to come back together the same night in all sorts of weather. One night, after a day of fasting, I dfeamt that Mr. John and Mr. Charles' Wesley were both sit ting by my fireside, and that Mr; John said, I will stay but a few days now: for I must go into the i\oTth,iand rete-rn at such a time, and then, stay WitiryPu-a week. The. next day when 1 tPld it, one said, " If thouhast dreamt so, they will certainly come." I replied,. I no more expect them than I expect the king to come. But in a few months af ter, they came, and sat in the very posture I dream- ^•d; and Mr. John Wesley spoke the very words A9 1 was ilesired 6rtce more to go tcf Gpraersal Fr^d He'ad,,tp speakto.Mr. fiigbain: Svhenf 1 got there, David TaUor was with liini in the' parloiar, and spoke kindly to me; but when Mr, Tayfpr waiS grfue", he begsjh to talk to me about making division among the Brethren, t told him I did n'ot want to make divi.s'^on: I Wanted t\i& people to be sftv^v But he said, " We cannot receive you or Mr. Wes;Iey into our community, till lie publicly de clares he has printed false doctrine, and \ou declare you have preached false.-" I said, " Wherein ?" He ' then burst p'ut into laughter and said, "In telling the people that they may live' Witho'tit committing sin," I replied," Do you call that false doctrine ?'' He answered,"" I do; I do;, and Mr.. Wqsley fias written false doctrine, teaching the same errors." He quoted sorae words: then I saidj,"They are npt Mr. Wesley's but iSt; John's wprds': it is^, St. ,)fohn says, " Let no man deceive ypu; He^ttet doeth righteousness, is righte'otis: and hie that eolniffitteth sin, is ofthe devil." So if St. John be right, every one that preachetb contrary to what Mr. Wesley lias Avriitpn here, and what I have preached, isa defieiver and betrayer of souls. " If that be your opinion, said Mr. Inghiam, We canrtot receive yoii into our church." r.dpn't vvartt to be one of you ; for I am,a memher of the Clidrch 6f England." , He answered, " The Church of England is no Church ; we a,re the Church." I said, " who do you mean ? He replied, '^ I and the Moravian Brethren." I said, " I baye no desire tp have any fellowship with yoi^or them; it has been better for my own soul, since I have beCn wholly separated from you, and God has bles sed my labours more, since I was told they had de livered me up tp Satan, than ever before: there fore I think it better tp liaye their curse, than ^o have, cpmmuBioh with them," He replied, "Ifybu think so, i have no more to say to you." And then' turned his back on me." .j > , i ; When I went home, I inet with one that had got '3 . fx 50 into the liberty ; and he told me that ihe Devil had sent me into Yorkshire, to hinder thf> Brethren from having thie country to themselves. I answered, " If Satan sent me, he is divided against himself, for you know by iny preaching, many are tiirrted that were grossly wicked, to live a righteous life." He said, " No mert should be damned, but for their own righteousness;" and when I nientioried! any Scrips ture, he laughed me to scorn, saying, " You will never be^appy till you leave of those Scripture no- ' tidi^, and 'cpme to your own heart, and be a p'oior Uinner." Now a trial came upon rae from another quarter ; some of them came to itiy house, w hen I was from horae, and' talked with my wife, stirring her up a- gaihst m^> so that-ste'*^ temjrtexjl to go to them, and leave me^ anSl the'stemptatib'n was so strong, that she got out of hed^^msfm^-t&'^cfjto them ; *nay^'^ the mtire.^I reasprti^ with Her 'fr&i«uSeripture, 4n' evdr so Ibvtn^ a manner^ ^^hie' mPr(g.she?was set a^airtstnle'; then I hdAlaOim but iiiy-cild refuge, to get to' God '- by prayer and fasting ; and the Lord ¦fookcithe inattfer into his own hafid, ahd shelved her, Whereiii she had befen deceived, and hiadeiffir a stafi' in ray hand, and a support to tny soul.a^in. -'About this tinie oneof rtiy neighbours, th?it used to hear me preach, was going to London, and skid, *' I should be glad tP see Mr- John Wesley,' whom you call your father in the gospel." I replied, "If you will carry a feW lin^k to him'^froin'me, you may see and hear him too," In this letter I desired Mr, Wesley to Write to me ; and as he."was my father in the gospel, to give me sorae instructidns how to pro ceed in the work that God had begun by ' such an tuipollished tool as me. When he got to London, he wrote to me, that he had seen Mr, Wesley artd ^ven him the letter; who read it, and asked him some questions about me, and said," Do 30U write by this nighfs post, and tell him I shall be at his house on Thursday next, (if God permit.)" I got the 51 letter on Sunday, and was melted into tears be fore the Lord. That day the Lord blessed our souls niuch, while we were praying, that. he Would c.pnduet his servant in safety tons, and bless hi« coming amongst us : but he was detained on the road, so that it was '. Wednesday at nine o'clock in the forenoon when be arrived at Birstal. He sent .for me to the Inn, from whence I Conducted him to my house, and he sat down by my ti reside, iq the very posture J^had dreamed aboutfoftr months before; and spoke Jthe same words I dreamed he spoke. ' Before he w^pt tO; Newcastle, large corapanies df those that had ],eft me, caip!^ to hear him ; seytjral of whom said theyaever hea^}) such a sermon in their Jives ; nor ever felt ^ n^uch of the powder, of (Jod under apy n^an's preaphifig- r. ;n,„ . ": Some sp.id, when Mr. Ingham came fir.st, he was ¦ often telling of thi.s My. Wesley, saying, he believed he never talked with lyin but it w^S a blessing to his soul, and extolled him above apy man that ever they heard him talk, of ; and now they thought fie exceeded all that Mr. Ingham had said about hirti; but they were greatly surprised, that Mr,.lng}iani shpuld go through Birstal Jvaiid not.call.to i^e. Mr, Wesley,' ' • '':'¦,' .¦ -.; .-.- > . ¦:'; • , When Mr, Wesley came frqm* Npw^^asitle, their minds were changed ; for they did not come to hear him • 1 aske^ s^eyi^ral of themthe reasqn ; and .they told me Mr. Inghaii^ declared h?, preaiphed false doctrine, and it was not safe tp hear him, , 3. /i However he did not; preach in.yjain; fpr^od blessed his word, and his comipg was a great bles sing to my soul, I said |o him, " Sir, you iiaay mafe:e use of Jacob's words^ The children thou hasi be gotten in Egypt befpre are mine; \ioj,. I |re:ely deli ver them to your care." , , ,., :. . ': ¦:u:-.>in ¦ ,;. ..; .¦ h- ¦:- ^j^,. After he had,spentaboutajsveek,jhej]l^^:in^; and 1 now, they; that stayed >witb me werj%.ce^fijt^nied. igi jthe truth they had received ; and many were convinced of the necessity of being born again, so that greater tudm than ever canae to hearj ^nd ^pyeral^| ^erj^' c^yerted. ''.'.' ;¦ . *,,, ;i li ;.;i ..iiD.cHiiW.Jj ^1 «^j(ji,,^turday nighf, there camp^a number .gfpeoT ¦pfei'that were halting between flie*Gc;rmap.s and me;^ pM^^ preached to thpni, my iiiouth ,wa.s a|mosJ; Stpfig^l, an^ ail tfie time it appe^r^d; fo ine as if I Waf ^soughing upon a rock : hevertliei,css, when I^ had^fie, and got' td tl^e fire-side, /he people difl . noi qipfer? ta-go a^'^^y? but. stood JJ.S beggars that wa nt- ^ e^ l&j.^T^'^fm^^ bread. I thefj' ^ook up the Bible, ^^ artd op^en^t^f^o|he IJjqphecy of Isaiah,, wlierja ijt ^ saith^ %|-h^Cm^|fette|o}i|.thy tra a cloud, and tb^ ainst as a thiel^^lpud : !^fiirH >untp me,|ar;V yeth^-y# the' " thi ^th#;'^ And I sftijt, *i; H^nr ^¦pyfiaf^j So I read thei^'.^ords" td ! ^d came a^ a nugh4',^ip.d? artH fpanyj;, "tTfe?!'.] ^ t^n4 h|!|ieaM bur cry,jsp that ^v'en testified tl^^d4>r ¦ChViJH'sake bad. blotted rii^j :. and most o| t|jpni(,toldmej ti^^ ***^^- pr^oseJ^ to hear me that, nigh|, a^nd to l^aye^gpne t^j the Germans the next day^ ' a v . ''^''t.^! '.<^ t ^ Now the people from eyery quarter flocked, tp, Bir|tal.op the »Sabbath, -but as yet tliere «aine pqly ^ three from Leeds, Mary Shent, and two other wo- ' ^tj^as, about May when Mf.;;|phi|* )Vg|ley 0^1^ intd .Yqrkshire, and towa|;4s^|4ibha^lpjas that Mi*-' jbl^^r|fs Wesley ^rid Mr. :Cha,ft§s, Greavps' cam^ . THey^^eclafewdays^ then wen|%tq NewC|kst|el. with, ,^^rtt^|; lip return in afortrt^h#;'Sjt th^ Lf^ll ^ pp^^UR^IIjlf h: a door in ^ha* place.^-that Mr. Wesfey gmyg^i8^jns>;time longer. Mr. Greayes caqlp at the 4ay>i^fi^int^, and the. Lord blessed h^ coming tp W^^'-Wm '\-^^W^^^' ?ne iiight at'>' . J..,, ..^^i^ • a-' ff'f-ai >.,:-' r- .--»-- -if Arnvley he'nr^afOTlW^^pa: M^h^fthfe had done I^aye an ex- jioj-tatiEJii^ il^' the L^^^ the virtue pf his 53 pi;ecipU9 hlood ^p many souls Iliat night; twp ihw pext morning, and for a \vhplc week together there were spm^ that fylt the fitqqing bipod of Jesu^ Christ, . " •' • , ' ¦ When Mr. Charles Wesley came baspk from New castle, 'ihe Lordl was with hira in such a nianner, tliiit thepillars of hell seenied tp tremble, ni^ny that were fa nipus for .supporting the devil'."^ kingdom, fell tp the grpund, while he was preaching, as iflhey had been thunderstruck, Onp.day he ha"4 preached four times, andpne tljat had^hden a"i9"o*t the peo ple all the {lay, said at n'^d, twenty-two had re ceived the forgiveness of their sins that day, r think, from the tinie of Mr. (^harlps Wesley's and Mr. Greaye's first coming, pud their leaving Yorkshire, after their return from Newcastle, which was abouta month, thdre Svere adtte^ totlie trqe be lievers near fpurscord. Then ithcy began to cry out, "Tbep^aefe:is too 'st^it for us, wc should have a greater house !" So that the words of ]|saiah that I opened on, whep thd' Germans bereaved me of^ my formor cliildren,, were ful^Iled. - About tb is time William Shent was cou verted,' ' arid there began tp be aq rtproav in LeCdsi, about lie k^ew his .sins were forgiven. So^ie, however/ be- ifeved his report, and liad a desire to hear for them selves ; ,'neitlier cpuld' he be cohteht to eat h's morsel alpne, foi? llis heart pfipted forthe salvation o^f alt his neighbqurs, . . The Christmas, foi Ipwijiig he desired nae to go and preach at Leeds; but when I gaye notice of it. td the Society, they advisjpd, me not t<{ go til| we liad l^ept a jflay of fasting arid'p|ay0r. Sp w^ lMimbleifI.^af- selves before the Ldrdp^ l^riAay, and on Sph- d^ night. I. went to-Lee;reat Common, a little behind Huddersfield, a dog leaped out of the Heath and came and snielled at my leg, and walked by my side for near a mile:,he then went to the houses that were a little out of the way, and bit several dogs, and came running after me again, so walked by my side till he. saw anpther house, .wiiere he fought with a dog, then folldvred' me again; thus he went on for above five miles, and went with me into .the Inn, at Mai-sden, when he sat down by .my 'side.' There were several men in the hoqse, whom •I asked if any of them knew whose, dog jt was, bpt none of theui could tell. 1 said, I thhik Ji5 is mad : but ihey laughed hie td scorn. , Soon after another dog came' in, aud he went and bit hilu directly, .and ran o»tt.and bit fouivmore, when the men pursued and killed him. . Vyiieji I saw, .th^t God kept mein such immediate, danger, 1 was greatly huriibled be fore him, :'. :,' , f- th^ out-run us: when I called arid said, " Stay, Gentleriien, for we cannot get through the people as fast as you." But the people crowded about us' in such a manner, that we saw the constable no more, A fterwards we rode to Jonathan Holme's. That night we had a blessed meeting;' and the-LoM was much with us, all the time I stayed in those parts, iSoon after Mr, John Wesley came into Yorkshire again ; and the Lord blessed his coming to many souls. When he set out for Newcastle, he desired me to go 16 Grimsby in Lincolnshire, and spend a few days there, among some people that bad once run well, but. were turned outpf the way, by one"" that had conie down from London, who bad got into the poor pinnership, and was made freefromlhe laws of Cod, arid frorti all ordinances and gbod Works. He brought many of therti into his own liberty, so that they sold tlieir player books, left off reading and praying, arid followed the motions of their own minds, which they called Ihj la nib in their hearts: but orie or two re mained under the law as they called it, that is, they 57 .^till cantinued tojeart the Bible,, and duc|trK>t leave off prayer, nor any qtherprxlinanqe that .(^hrisjtj had appointed. These came to Epworth to .seek the pure gospel; and when they hpard,Mr. Wesley, they said his word was as sweet w''ie.to, a thirsty soul. I set out with a grdat sense of ipy own weakness, and ^vas ffeady to turri b.ick : then I opened my Bible, where these Words are wriftpn* " Iwas afraid, .and wpnt and hid my talpnt in the ground.''- I cried out, Lofd, give nie strength anji uiiders|tanding fpr,the wpr.k, if tliPuhastcallejd rae tp it. . I opened my book .again, on .the I4th chapter of Isaiqh, and |st'yf,rse,v" For the Lord will" haye. mqrcy on ..Jacob,,, and wiWryet choose Israel, and s;?t them, in their o^% land, and the Tstrangers pliall the. joined lyith them." That night I came to Hepwoi-^kj anjd; preacheii-to a ip.rge congregation,,, " . ^,^5 .-^^j, ;. ;» , ..- . Next mor^irig, l,^n^.^ man that belonged to Grin!.sby, andfaboy abpjfttiwelve yearp of age, set out . on foot . fp.r iGrinijSby , bMt night qame upon us ;^hen w;e were l^ve. hiiles ^hort of i|,.and there. being no public-house: near,; wq went'tOrseveral faVm- hquse§ .14 asjttfpr lodging, hpt;Coul4j get none. Then we went,, t(» », popf hpuse, where, J^preyailed with the peppletp Ipt'the boy, lie with two of their own boys! and I said (othq V^^P^f ".:X*et us go and seek' a, J^e(|, somewhere else, pr a stable Jfeo> lie in." ,.^s we, went in the dark,.we;sErvy a Ugbtat a small distaricej and vve wept oyer a field j^ it. I l^npcked at the door, and tbpy bade us come in ; there were foip" men, ^ree. women,. and two lioys> sitting by the fire, . As soon as I e^te^qd, I said, " Peace be tp this house;, at which words the people .-started up as if I had thrown fife at them. ; I 1^ id, we are two way faring men, and if you will entertain usfor alight, we will satisfy y9U, :They got us a gpod supper, and made qp a ;bed,i . I talked ,tq them about the way of ^alvatioii, and went to ^.Tayer with them, aha they Ayere sp.affe(ptedi-that the, master and mis tress talked to me two hours after we Were, in bed, "H ' " 58 The next morning after breakfa,st, I werit to pay the Woman : but she said her husband chargeft her to take nothirig, but ort the corttrary, to give us some money to suppprt us on the road; but I replied, " Not one farthirig will wo have, if you Will not take ouir riioney, I pray God reward you with everlasting consoTatidn." We then went •where we had left; the boy, and paid the Jieople for hiirt, and set ortt for Grihisby, ivhich we reached by tep o'clock. The people soon h^ard ihat I wascome, arid flocked to me directly, when I ip rayed with them, and began to exhort, birt irtart^ of them despised my word&, saying, 1 was too legal for thiem, I then took up my Bible, and said, ^^Hear ye the word of the Lord." So I read two or three verses, and bade them try themselves by that standard ; then I read in another place, and said, •' If you will compare your conscience with these Scriptures, you may ^e what state yortr souls are in." One wdriian turned pale and began to' tremble, say- Irig, " I clearly see We are deluded, and that what Vte called the lamb in our hearts h nothing but the detil. Then she cried out, *' Alas! alas ! what must we do I what riiust we do 1" We went to prayer again, ahd God riiade ihe kirtgdolrt of Satan to shake dtice more in that place. , The s^to'rid night a s'cboolmasteir sent me word that hewduld give me leave to preach in his school, which Would hdld several hundreds of people: but those that had fallen into the poor sinneirship told me, if I did, they durst not go to hear me, for they sliould be niofalbed/and I should be killed, I said, "As the gieritlertKin has made me the offer, I will "accept it, and by the grace of God will preach, i€ there were as riiany devils in it as there are tiles on it." Accordingly I Went, and it was well filled from side to ^ide, and the, people behaved well; I fourid great liberty in speaking, and when I had done, several cried out, .« This is the way of salva- tibn." S9 When Icame back to brpther Blob's, tjiose that had been shofn of their strength, cpnf^jsedi ^heir fearfulness, and sajd. " While we continued in ih^ spirit in which we were .converted, we were as bOJi.d as lions." Ohj whatshall ye dp tp recover our strength f I told them tp humble themselves befpre the Lord with prayer and fasting, and he >yould snatch thepi out pf tlic snare ofthe devil, and give ih^m back their first Iovjb. i preached again the next morning, and set ont fpr Epworth ; in my way I stopped at Ferry, where I preached ^t four in the afternoon, and got to Ep worth by seyeia tliat evening. When 1 came there, such a large cqmpi^ny was ga- thered together th?it I could npt get intp the hpuse, npr yet one third of the people, .though it was dark and snoiyed: liowever, f desired them to hand ine out a chair; so I stood up in the snow, arid preachec^, and they .behaved as well as ever I knew a dougrega,- tion in iny life ; and it appeared that God qlessed his word to piany sOuU that night. When I went home I founi;! God h^d opened the mouth pf Jojfiathan Reeves, ipd blessed his word ip numbers about JBirstal ; and we laboured together for some months, till I returned again into Mr. Beh cet's round, • , I went into the Peak to preach at Monyash, whe,n a clergyman, with ^ great company of nien, that worked, in the lead groves, ^|l p^ihg in liquor, came in jmt as I began to give out tlie hymn : as sppn as 1^(6 ,^qgan to sing, he began to bolloo.agd shout, as if Jie was rjinning with a pack of hounds, an^ so continued all the tigae'we sang, Vyhen | be gan to pray, he atterapted to overturn the chair that ,I,stood on, but he could not, although he struck ^o vioiently with his foot, that he hfoke pne ofthe arms of the chair quite off. When Ibegan to preach, ^e .called on his comjianiqns to pull me down ; but they repiied^ " No, Sir, the man says nothing but the ^rnth : pray hold your peace, and let us hear what 60 he has to say ?" He then came himself, took me by the collar pf my shirt, and pulled rae down ; then he tore down my coat cuffs, and attempted to tear it down the back, then took me by the collar and shook me; Isaid, " Sir, you and I niust shortly sfppear at the bar pf God to give an iaqcpurit of this night's ¦work." He replied, '? What! must you and I ap pear before God'? bar together ?" I said, ^' A s sure ^S we Ipok one another in the face now,'' Ho let go my tbroat, took niy bible out ofray hand,arid turn ing it over and over, said, '", It is a right bible ; arid if you preach by the Spirit of God, let me hear yoti preach from this text:" which was, " Wisdorii strengtheneth the wise, more than ten mighty inen in the city ;" I got rip and began to' speak from this text, and when any offered to make a noise, the grovers said, " Hold your jjeace, or we will make ydu, and let us hear what he w ill make of the par son's text.*' ' As I went on, the parson said, " That is right ; that is true:" after awhtle he looked round, and.. saw many in tears;' then he looked at*" me arid ¦went away, leaviiig me to finish my discourse in peace. All the rest of the circuit I had peaceable meetings ; and the Lord still kept adding to the number of his children, ' " > ' At my return, 1 began to preach in the open street, at brother Sheuf's door in Leeds, and great compa nies floche'did hear me, Tlie first time I>tood dp in the street, 1 was struck on the head with anegg and two potatoes, bqt that jieither hindered me frdki speaking, nor therii'from" hearirig, I heard "that se yeral sel ions people, as spoiias 1 had done, went to an old Clergyman,' to ask his advice about the doe- irine 1 had preached, and tpld him' as much of the serraon as they could ; he answered," he hoped no one had distivrbed me for preaching that doctrine; they told him some had thrown potatoes at me, and spoiled my wig arid coat with a rotten egg ; he said he would rather lose his arm than throw at any man for preaching such doctririe ; for that was tlie niar- 61 . TOW of the gospel. Many Id.^t their prejudice by his word, and embraced the truth with joy; so that I preached in the streets at Leeds, every other Sunday morning, with very little disturbance. After some time 1 went, again, into Lincolnshire; and the congregation was so large at Giinisby, that 1 was obliged to stand upon a table at brother BloW's back-doorfor severaldayslogether. As Iwaspreach- inji'i tlie Minister and three men came to play at quoits iis near the people a,s they could get; but with alt their playing and shquting, they could, not draw any one from hearing. : Some friendsfrdm Vetney and Clearthorps prevailr pd with rae to go to a shepherd's house, near the sea coast. There was a large company gathered toge ther in that desert, and I operied my book on Gal, i. 3. "Grace be unto you, and peace froni God the: Fa ther, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, who gavfe himself for our sins, vtliat he. might deli ver u§ from thig pr^esent evil world, according tp the will of God and our Father.'' I felt irtucli of the Jiprd's presence, and the power of God was so great jimpng us, that the people fell flat on their faces, pf kneeled down on their knees, so that there was not ope standing, and their cry was so great, that my voice could: nOt be heard ; then I fell on my kness, and called upon ihp Lord to heal the- bones that vv ere broken, and I believe ipany will praise God fop that meeting to all eternity. In my return to JEp worth, I was desired to go by Hainton, and several from Grimsby went with me. When we got there, William Fenwick told mp, there was a company of men at the. bowling-green, who had made them.selves almost dyunk, on purpose to kill i&e.: I answered, that God was my defence, and I belived he vvould deliyer xne from theni all. As soon as .theyiiieardl wjas cpme; they all left the bowls and came to William Feriwick's, many! of them with sticks about two feet long, and as tliicfef as a man's wrist : some of them began to sing.a,psalirig. and others to curse artd swear ; but I reproved them, and they liad no power to meddle with me. At the appointed hour I Went into the street, and spoke to them in the name ofthe Lord ; and Grod puta bridle in th^ jaws of the wicked, so that they stood patiently to hear, while I wa« reasoning with them about the necessity of being made holy here, that we may not be damned fiternally. A lustyj red faced gentleman exclamed aloud, " 1 am a Papist, and believe I shall beclearir sed in .purgatory." When I had done, I said, "I appeal to a\l yoi^r consciences, that t have' not spokea my own words, but the words, of the Lord." A gens- ilcriian answered, " We allow all yon say is true ; syet you deserve to be set in the stocks for delivering it in the street," As I went into the house, one hit rae with an egg ©n my head,' and the people crouded so fast into the Ibonse that J could scarcely turn me ; at last I got to tit upon a dresser, and spoke to them for an hour, and God began to work on several of tbem ; but as soon as thev began to tremble and cry out, " Lord, save, or we perish,", otliers made all the haste ihcy we must live by feith," When we stood awhile, J said, " Lsit m.go- 64 fo yonder bouse, where the stone porch is, and .ask for something ;" so wp did, and the woman said,) " We have bread, butter, and milk, and good hay for your.hor.se,.'' When we had refreshed our-selves, I gave the woman a shilling ; but she said, she did. not dare desire -any thing; I said, ^',1 insist upon it," We got to Bodmin that night ; but it was late be fore Mr, Wesley and Mr, Shepherd arrived, having lost the path on the twelve-mile common, aiid found the: way again by the sound of the bells. The next day we got to Gwenap, and the day after to St Ives. The following day I worked atmy own business, and continued to work; for several days. When I liad.dane myjob of work, I went to St,; JTust, and pceaebed at the cross to a la,rge' company of well-behaved people. Then I wentto the Land's End, and preached the same evening. Next morn ing, which Was Sunday, I came to Morva church : after service I preached therej and in the evening at Zunnor. ,* , , When I had been out a week, I returned tq St. Ives, and found brother Downs in a fever, so that he was not able to preach at all. Alt that time Mr, 'Wesley and I lay on. the floor ; he had my great coat for his pillow, and I bad Burkitt's Notes on the New Testamerit for mine. After being here near three weeks, one raorning about three o'clock, Mr. Wesley turned over, and finding -me awake, clapped me on the side, saying, " Brother Nelson, let us be of good cheer, J haye one whole side yet, forthe skin is but off one side." *fWe usually preaclied on the Commons going from one Common to another, and it was but seldom any one asked us to eat or drink. ¦ ¦. One day we had been at St. Hillary Downs, and :Mr. Wesley had preached from Ezekiel's vision of .dry bones, . 'and there was a shaking among the peo ple, as he preached. As we returned, Mr, Wesley stopped: his. horse to pick blackberries, saying, "Brother Ji(elson, we. ought to be thankful that 6$ there is plenty df blackberries : ^ f li" this is the best sountry I ever saw forgetting a stomach, but the worst that ever I saw for getting food ; do thepeo ple think we cari live by preaching?" I said, " I know iiot what they may think: but one asked ine to eat something as 1 Came from Sti Just, when I eat heartily of barley-bread and honey." He said, you was' well off: I had a thought of begging a crust of br<^ad ofthe Svoman, where I met the people at Mbrva, bilt forgot it till I had got some distamce froiri the house." ^ One Sunday, haying 'been at the Land's End in the morning, and at Morva at noon, I came to Zun nor to preach at nightj and got there before the af ternoon service began. In the sermon the Minister said, " Here is a people^ that hold that damnable popLsh doctrine of Justificatipn by faith ; therefore I beg yoii not to hear thenij" After the servicu Was. over, I went about two hurtdred yards from the church, and got upon a rock, where I began to sing a liyniri, and I believe the Whole congregation came . to bear me. According to the light I had, I shewed what was the faith of the g'ospel, and what the faith of th'^ Church of Rome. ' ; "^ ' I stayed a forinight after Mr, Wesley Was gone, and I found my soul much blessed among-the people. When Mr, Wesley arrived at Bristol, he wrote to me, and desired rae to Qall at three different places to preach, in tay way to'BristoL' When I -left Captain Hutchius', I Was benighted on the twelve mile comraon, and was wet to the skin, but by the providence of God 1 came to the house, where! had called ingoing down. 1 knocked at the door, and the woriian knew my. voice, and said, " The Lord bless you ! conie in." As soon as I werit iri^ the house they pulled off my wet clothes, arid.put trie on dry ones, and got me something warm foir supper: they took my vvet clothes out of my bags, which they rinfed, dried and ironed. We sang ¦a bjfriar^ went to lirayei*, and I gave thera an (Bxhor- m tation that pight. The next m.onrin^, the man arose up, and alarmed that and another viil^gp, so that by sevien O'Clock I had about three hundred to preach .to, who all seemed to receive the word witl,» joy, I I heard ac«}n afterwards, that the man and his wife, who received us, had received the Lord that sent us. _ ' The next night I came to Sticklepa(h, and preach ed to a large congregation m a field. As 1 was. speaking, a woman, who'lb.ad been brought up a Quaker, began to tremble, and in a little tiriie suqk -down upon the gr?tss, and laid tilll had done. Then they brought her to Mr. Bridgood's, where I wa's : aud I prayed .with hqrr Although most of the com pany were Quakers, yet they desired me to sing, and read several of our hymns. The next morning before I began to preach, the won:au that fell down, with tvfo more, came into the- room where I was, and said, " I had no rest in the night, the anguish of iuy~soul was so great, andi desire thoe to pray with me." We went to prayer, iafld'wh.eu.ni.e rose up,,slie said, " O praise the Lord, ;for to-day is the. day of Pentecost with me." , After I had done preaehingv.an Exciseman, who came'fromCrockern Wells, told me, that if was gi ven out for, me to preach there at ten o'clock that forenoon, and he wa.s tp;Condu,ct me. '' So we setqiit directly, and I preached in an orchard. Anioog the rest of the pepple were a CLergyinau aad his wife. All behaved well. Almost as soon as I^alighted at tl»e jQxford-Inn, in Exeter, a,: nian came to cooduct me to the place, iwliere I was to preach. There was a Clergym.:4n in tlie next I'oora, who soon came into the room Where I was, and asked me how the two Mr.. Wesleys. did, a»d insisted upon my supping witli him^. J to|d him, I aiusjl; go ta preach fi.rst. He said h^ wou.ldgo with me, which he did. As I was preaching, th^ Clepfe of a pajrish felljaown, and after, him another man «nd wcpiuan : they did not cry out, biit lay igroftning 67 for mCfCy, After I had 4one, and the greater part of the people gone, I went to prayer with theni> tlwit we're in distress. As we went back tp the Inn, the Clergyman said^, ** I dare not pray as you did to-night: you prayed that God Would give you sortte fruit in that place, as he had done in others ; I have been a preacher for many years, and I canuot say ihat I have any fruit, that any one has been converted b^ my preaching in. ^11 my life." i replied, " If yoabe^not corivefted yourself, arid have npt a greater comnliAsion than ti^an cart give you, yen may preach all ;^urdays, and never convert one soul." "• When we Were ^ stqiper, he asked me how Mr. Wesley Went on : and when he heard how he lived, and how he was treated by wicked men, he said, v If thatbetheway to hea fen, I think I shall never gel therej my flesh is not brass, nor my bortes iron." ' I replied, ** You do not know what you can bear, till you come to be tried." He said, " Well, I believe Mr. Wesley is the greatest man in the kingdomt, but I thi^ifc be uses too much austerity," We talked till eleven o'clock, thert parted in idve. I saw him no more, but have heard since that he receives Mr. Wes ley to pr<;ach in his church, and that God hais ma4^o him an instrument of converting sinners. I preached the nejft morning, and then sat out for Axminster, where I preached in the open street, at threeln the afternoon, t<> a well-beliaved people, th^' it was the second day of their Fair. The next day I went to Thorngrove, near Middle- sej^,— That B^h^ God blessed his word to many, as appeareiiaf('e*'Wards, One gentlewoman wasconvinc- ed that n^ht, who four years after sent my wife four guineas, which eariie in good tiirie j for she had bor rowed foir^tllrteaa of a neighbour to buy a cow, arid the time fb]^^a|went was corae, and she had notmd- rtey to pay. ' Wbe 1 1 goft to Bristol,! found my soul much bless ed, amfeg the people, arid in tho.fe tert days there were several that found tl^e Lord, as In rtiy return home, I preached at •Stoudi' ajid ser veral other places in my way to Wedneabury, wlii-; ther I came not long after the people had been mob bed in such a pruel manner. I preache«i in an open yard; to very large congregations of people, several times: s'qme of the tqobbers cametphere me, butalj behaved well ; so he, who slops the raging ofthe S.ea, can stay the madness of the people, • After spending a few days there, I set out for Not tingham, and stayed there two days.: I preaclied at the^Malt-Cross on the Sabbath, to a large congrega tion, in great peace ; bu^ Monday heirtg a rejoicing day, they had bonfires in the M^tkeiplace, and some came wilh squibs to distqrb me asl was preaching, Oije of them threw a squib, on fire, close to my heels, but a woman kicked it away ; the man caugNt it up again to throw at, me, but it burst in his hand, and he wentaway shaking hi^ bead. Another came on the low side of the Cro^ with a design tp throw. one in my face ; but I did not turn my face that way as soon as he expected, tq tha^ it hnrst in his own band..)> As soon as Ihad done, a sei^^ant in the army came io me with tears in his eye?) an<^ said, ^-' In the presence of Gpd, and all this pedple, Ibegyqur par-. don ; for I came on purpose to mobyou^ but wbeii I could get no one to assist met, I stood to heaF.you, and am convinced ofthe deplorable state f^ysoul was in, and I believe you are a, servant pf, the living God," He then kissed nie, and went fiway weeping. When I got home, I found my wife much better, though nevei' likely tp rpcpver her former strength ; owing to the persecution she met w ith at Wakefield, when Mr. Lafwood was mobbed ^ber^* After they had a^bused him, she with some w^meq §et put for Birsttii, a mob followed them into the fields • Avheq they overtook thera, she turned about and spake to them, upon which all thetricn returned without touchy ing them ; but the woman followed them till they came to a gate, where they stopt thein : they damr i?cd her^ saying, "You are Nelson's wife, an^ he^-e vpy, 69 sbaU die- ' They saw she wa? big with child, yet beat her on her < body ao cruelly, that they killed the cftfld in hei" womb, ami she wenthqme and miscar-. rjed direptly ; $his trett-tnient^slie has reason to re J' member tp lipr life's end ; but God niofe than made it up tp her, by filling hpr heart with peape and love. Theie bad been some disturbance at Leeds, and I was the first that stoqd up after, - at Brother Slient's (door. ^ A number of meq had protected to pull dpwn the first man. that ajttempted tq preach there : but if the fear of Qod, cpuld pot restrain them, the fear of the Magistrates did, so th^-t tfeey did not meddle with me; only soiqe boys |,hrew about a peck of turnips_at me, but not one of them hit nie? Thatwasablessied piorning to many souls : two that had. been enemies, "lyere struck tq the groqiid, aqd cficd out fqr the dis quietude "ftf their souls. I preached often after wards yyil^h little distutbanc^, ^nd believers were mul tiplied ip Leeds. ^ After I had stayed a few months iq Yorkslpre, I wentathird time into Lincolnshire. As I wentthrpugh Epworth, we hsfd peaceable aiid blessed meetings ; hut when I came tp Qrimsbyj the Minister got a man to beat the town druin through the town, and went before the drum, and gathered alltherahble hecpuld, giving then^ liquor to .go with bim to fight for the Church. Whpn they caqie to Mr- Blow's door, they setup threehuz^as, and the Parson cried out, " PuU down the house, pull down the house !" But no one offered to touch the house till I had done preaohing: then they ^rplve tlie windows, till they had ispt left one wliole square about the house : and as the people went put, they ^bqfed theni, till some of tlie mob began to fight tlieif fellows for abusing the woraen, s.p that mostof thepeople got away while they were fighting one with anpther. Not long after, the Minister ga thered thein ^together again, and gave them niore drink ; then they came and broke the stanchions of the windrows, pulled up the paying in the streets, .^bich t,liey threw in at the windows, and broke the 70 hbusehold goods in pieces, the Parson crying, out, " If they will not turnout the villain, that we may^ put him in the Mack ditch, puM down the house." - When they were drurtimiDg, cursing and swearing, fighting and breaking the goods, one of* the neigh- boqrs, wlio was not a hearer went to an Alderman, and gaid,. "Some order must be taken with these men, , for if they be suffered to go oa as they do, the^v'wrll rriin Wilfelrt Blow, andi fear they will kill soine~ body." But the gObfl Alderman said he would do ^ nothing but lend them his mash tub to puikp the Prea- qher in. Then the mob fell out again one with ano ther, and dispersed, when they liad laboured from se ven till almost twel ve at n*ght. The Parson said to the drummer, "I will rew'ard you for your pains, bi%t besure to come at five in the rHorniitig,jrorthe villain will be preaehinga gain then." So the draaittier did, and began to beat, just as I was going t« give out the hymn. When he had beat for near three' qitarters of an hour, and saw it did not disturb. uft, he laid down his drum, and stood to hear i'or himself, arid the tears presently ran down his cheeks. When I had end«d, he expressed great Sorrow for what he had done to disturb us. As he and: some others went up the town, ^he ParsOrirtief them, and bade them be sure to come at seven o'clock; He said, "No, Sir, I wHI. never beat the druni to disturb yonder people any more, ^hile breath is in my body." So that we had great peace iri our shattered house that n^tit, and Godli presence amongst us. The next day I went to Hainton : and when I had done preaching, a grave elderly gentleman came to me and said; " Your doctriHe is sound, but it would far better become a church.^' I said, <' Sir,^ if a man was hungry in the midst of a desert, andwrhqleWmo food was brpoght him, he would not refuse to eat, because he was not in the dining room.'* Me repii-t cd, " You are right, you are right. I thartk you kindly, and wish you well, and that rifiuchgood may be done by you wheresoever you prcadi, for good is good, wherever it is eaten," 71 When I got to Epworth, I was told tlie Clerk waji drunk, and had been sweariijg he would pull down the Picacher, and take him to such an alehouse, where the Ciirate and some other men were drinking. In the evening, as 1 was preaching, lie came stag gering, and rasbed in araong the pepple, crying:, "Stand out of the way : for I musthave the Preach- .^rr : he must go before my master, that is in such an alebduse.'' One asked him were his warrant Was ? he said he had none, but his master.bad sent hijn,, and he would make me go with him. The people bade him hold his peace, pr, go about his business! and, when he began to be rude, one toOk him up in his arms, and laid hirii dovvu upon adunghil and there left him. After I got home, it was much impressed upon me, that some trial was. coming npon rae : and several times' when I was preaching, I have said, ".Hiereis a cloud gathering, and it wnl hurst pver my head ; O pray for me !" Afteif thi$/ I stayed spme time in Yorkshire, . and sinners w^e daily turning from their evil ways; s^o that several alehonselcijepers cursed me to my face, and told me I ought to be transported, for 1 preached so much. hell arid dainnation,that I terrified the people SO, that they durst not spend sispeace with a neigti* hour. Some time after, I met a.gchtlcmart asl was riding to Leeds whp said something about the weather, T answered, "TheLoitl orders all things well,^' He pi-ese.ntly said, "I know you, for I haye heard you preachjbutl do not like you : jou lay a wrong foundr ation for salvation : dp yon .think, that the blood pf another map will s^vp toe'" I. replied, "St, Paul s.aithj ptliei: fouridatiqu can'noman lay but'Christ Je sus: but you ^y that is a wrong fountiatipn ; upon wliat teriris do you expect to be saved," He said, "By good works." I answered, "You will be the first that gpt to heaven that way ; but, suppo.se you iould, w^at would you do When ypucairie therq ?" lie ij n : said, "What do others do there ;" I answered, "tli'y sing glory to God that sitteth on the thrpne, and tii the Lamb for ever and eyer, that was slain^and hath redeemed us by his blood;" but your sOng willbe, Glory IP myself: for I have quickened my own soul^ and qualified myself for hCavcn. O Sir, what a scan dalous song willypu have tP siiig ? It will make dis cord in heaven. lie turned pale, and said nothing for some time. Wheri he had rode a while he said, " All the Lord requires of us is, to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly With God "; I answered, " Do you expect to starid or fall by that Scripture^" He said, " 1 do f" then I replied, " You are lost for ever, if"you are to^oto heaven for doing justly, for loving mercy, and walking humbly with God : I ap peal to your conscience, if you have nOt come s|iort in. every one of these duties : have you dealt with every man, as you would have him do to yon, in all circumstances ever since you knew gOod'from evil ? Suppose you ha,d, havpyou dealt jpstly with God, and employed every talent that he has committed to y«mr charge, <0 his glory, both timfe, wisdom, ^^^d learning; house, land, health^ and trade? If you have used any one talent, and not to the glory, of God, you have robbed, him." Then I spoke of the 'other two. He said. There is repentance : but I re plied. Not for you : for you are to be saved by do- ingjustly, for loving mercy, and walking humbly with God : if you come short of these duties, you must bedatrined. " He replied, " Lord, have mercy on me ! you are enough to make any man despair." Yes, I. said, of saving himself, that he may come to Jesus Christ arid be saved. He argued rto more : ;' but heard nie patiently, and parted friendly. One Sunday I was at a chapel, where the minister labbured much to persuade the people that there was no such thing as the fprgiveness of sins in this world ; when he had done, he sent the clerk tO desire m;^ io call upon him .'I did so, arid he told me, he under.- stdod I was he that went a^orit tp delude the peoplej 7S..-^ ". ^ w 1 ^teljing tbem they mi^ht know their siiwi forgiven in- this world, and there, is no silch thing ;^ the said he did not know his awn sins were forgiven, and he had talked with Several divines, and there.Mas not one of them that did ; and several believed they must, never knpw it^ till the day of judgment. j,I janswer- ed, ** Sir, what ! wili beaorae of their^oyls tilJ then ; ¦•riM they lie ia heaven- or hell?" He said i " It was, an unfair qu«s(iOn." I replied, " Sir, ifwliatyou^ say 'be true, every time .vae^use tihe Ctjureh prayer.*, we'6ffer the sacrilitjt; ofi tools, aijd mock Gpdto bis- face: for tliis day yau,' and all the cogregatlon in my presence, prayed that God wpuld forgive jpu, all your sins, negUgeficea^.and ignorances : and jpu afiirraed, in the presence of Godj that he pardoneth and abwlveth all them that truly repent and unfeign- edly believe the gospel : if he do not, you ara a fals? witness and a ddceiver of the pepple : yea, and a contemner of the'word of God; for St. Peter saith, " To bim gaveail'the prophets witness, that whoso ever believeth in hira, shall receive forgiveness pf thlgiTsiris, And St. Paul saith, " By him; all that believe are justified from all things," He doth npt Say they shall be justified at the day of judgment, but all that believe are, justified.— And St. John saith, *' I write Unto you little children, because your sins are forgiven for his Name's sake.'? He said, " You take some part of Scripture." 1 answered, J leave all the rest to ypu to contradict ine if you caUr For this day you have denied the faith of the Church you call yourself a Minister of; as she saithy Before the grace of Christ, and the inspi.rat^on of his holy Spirit, no good work can be done. But you say there is no such thing as inspiration to be expect ed in th is age. And yet you prayed, that God would c'eanse the thoughts of yonr heart by tbe inspiratipn, of his holy Spirit " Then he said, " You haVe tpo g9od a memory for me : Landlady, bring us a pint of ale."— So i left him. ?.¦ • ' One man in our town'i,imt had ran w^Ufor a sea« .' ¦ K " -, 74'*'-'' s6ri, but had turned ftoni us, and was brcome;;* hap* py sinner, how invited the Germ.ans to preach «t his house. : One of their chief Preachers camo,a'»d saiil,?: ("after preacbing)lhe had been asking tlw»ir Sitviourj about preaching in Bris.tai, and the Lamb, bad made . it plain to them, the time was come tha* Ihey shosild have a chhrch in Bristai: which whi&n one came and told me, I said, ** Gbd hath shewed me to the con- . t»ary, and yoU- may go and tell the preacher, thiit Lamb that told them soisaliar."^ The came seve- • ral weeks together-, but to iio jtoi^o.se. ., Then the preacher' said, " it is not the Lamb's will that they should come anv nwre," When they tpld ine, I, re-; plied, "Their Lamb is much given to .change: he, hath not eoi^tiuued in one mind for three months. ¦ After this, as I was going to Stairicliff to work at rtiy business.^ about five in the morning, I met witli a Dissenting minister ; fee stopped mc, and said, John, you go often this way; I wpuld. have you come an spend an hour with us, for I want to talk with you." 1 answered, " I have not an hour to spare, for 1 go to my woricat fi..¥e in the morn ing, j^iid work till six at night ; then I have always somewliere to go and preach ; so that I have scarce tmie to read a chapter in the Bible, but at my dinner hour ; and Sometimes 1 have to preach in that hour," He said,.. " What do you aw'an by redemption r Do you mean thdtChrist hath died for all ?" 1 replied, ',' 1 do be lieve he did, or he catunot judge all : for Truth itself cannot condemn any man, because he will not be lieve a lie." He sajd, " What do you aiean^' I answered. " Every raan is bound to believe tbwt by riatqre he is- a child of wrath : and by wilful s.in, ^n heir of hell ; aiul that while he was ui that lost con dition, the eternal Son of God, for his sake, took ttpon him our nature; and did in that nature fulfil all righteousness for him, and at the last gave his Sioul an offering (Or sin ; he must consciously believe that the I Lord Jesus Christ, loved hin*, and gave himself for him., pr he vakst be djamned elernally. 73 »Ai|f4 Sftflie Lord did riot give himself for Wiri, he niust be 'damned, beeau.se he does not believe a lie. t' But y0u( know it is said, he by tbegraceof God tststed" death farevery man : and he gave hiraself rau- Sorae for all^ to be testifietl indue season. And St, John saith, "He is the propitation for ©ur suis only, but for t4e sins of tli« whole world," Sir, tliere, are numberless Scriptures that say he did die for all ; -bat shew me one that saith- he did not die for all, .;;-» Me siiid, " If :he;died for all, why ax* not all, saved,?'.^ 1 replied," Lnt tKe- Lord answer for himself: .Ve will not come uato moj that, you might have life." He then .sa¥d, "j You sny is of him that willeth ''- I Answered, " It is Christ that so-ith, ye will not come W-rae.''. • Do not pretend to be wisei* than the Lord that^riiade yoa. (You say you will have no its ; but i'-iayj-If-you give the promise* without the condition, God will take your name oritof the book of life. J iiopeyou wiib.wetgh these things ; I shall be glad to converse witb.jjouat some Other opportunity, for my time is now expired, " . /n; . 4:jj**'. ¦ ? Almost every .day 'some woald, come to dispute •>»ith rae as I was at wOiTk-JiAlid I saw every .day -more clearly, that he that insists on men being saved from their sins by Christ in this worhl: is like .a i6p meif I was right I should come to m\&tti; for (hey we:re*tlM; only pople that had spiri tual 'Worship amongst thetn. <.,They talked much- •76 y- ¦ .' about George Fox and ^William Petm^ and ^mii^t " Wbat thinkest thou df them r" I ansA^epcd^ " I think ¦\^'ell of them,' but their ^graees will profit, you riothiogi «'/xcept the same change be wrought jnjyour heart.«, i-as was in them? neither do 1; sfee that you are God's people any more than th6se that go iO Church ; for the Lord hath, seta mark upoji; his chil* dren, audit will rest on them aa lqng-«» the world endureth.* They asked," What is_ that mark ?" I Replied, " The are hated of all men that know not God : for they that live after the spirit must be per secuted by those that live after the flesh, I do not see that this is your cascy any more than those that go totrtiurcb: your forefathers had thai spot of God'* GhildrCrt: but yott bavelnstitaiiSrauchiasitbe church-" Then one of therti trirned pa le^ rfnd said/*' DoyoU feeliei-e that Gbd hath no people, in the land but tht IV.lethfc»dis;ts2 I replied, '"I did not sayao." ilnr ]., i* 'l^ Belaid," They are the only. peopidllMit are-peT*- spcuted {iiOWi*^ They then went, .-ajjviiy e seemingly much discontented. .1 .'. - q:'.C: Acn^n;. <>^ ' AiB.t wa.s passing through part of Lancashilre, I #foUrid 1h« Lord re*ivinghit any nlan can live witbout committing sin ?" I answered, " I cannottell whetiier i can ihk'keyou believe it or not: but this I <:an t^ll you, by the authorty of God's word,; tha,t if you^are not saved from your sins here, you iriust be liamned.." " Well, he said,! caire not what you say j for po man can ftve vt'itlioutcoinmrtting sin one day." . I replied. *• By yoUi- falkj it is as necessary fpr a man tp coinnult slrii*^8 t'O eat: for you say, he cartrtot live without it. NuW ddth it k«pp his body or soul alive? Or do yojj believe' that all manhiindare to live in >ia, ajid die 78 witbout perfecting holin*,sS in the fear of God, arid sej be daraned without hope or heli)f" He answefedi ** No; Godforbid." Then Isaid, "You mnstbelievt neighbours: but I told them, I durst not leave off •prea^ohing, fir any tiring that raan could do unto me. They replied," You should consider that you have a •wife and children, andtbatyour wife is no.w big with child; and if yow betaken from them, what can thj *poOr wom:in t!o, oV how must she provide for her children ? I said. Let God -look to that: ;if wicked men be suffered to take away my life, for calling 'smnerK to the blood of Jesus ; the Lord, who.so , sip If- '-vant I am, will be a husband to the widow, and a *fether 'to thg. farthorJess: And. vtere 1 assureij, I •should 'bo banished or put to death for prec}f:hing, • flTid my wiVe'ajidchildren beg their bread bai^Coot, >: J durst not leave off: for the words of our Lord-^rr •«n#! me, "Hfe'that loveth father,, or mother, wife or -chiidren, or his own life, more than ine, is not wprtW '^ !«»D:V844dhe.that would save bi,V li.ii',.shaU,lpW i^: 7^ apdbc tliat will k^ehis life fo« my sivke shall save ft.'*' Therefore pray for inc. but do not tempt me tpisift) agaiiLst my own soiii, , , , , . ^ A few days after Iwent to Pudsey ; btvt wlieiul got there, the people of the house durst not Ictiiie preach; they told ipe the coivstable had orders to press nje, and desired me npt to light, but go back' directly. I rode dpwn. to ap'iiblic house, ^werethe constable and some others. met together, and talked with them, and the peaj>le said, he had orders to pross-m«; but he said, "1 will not ; for you do not "appear to be a vagrant, ami my warrant runs for- none but vagrants." Many of the people followed me into the lanes and I sat on horseback, cxorting thera to keep close to God by prayer,, apd the Lord "would build the walls of Jcrusalam,..in these trouble some times - ' ¦Soon af.'er I went to preach at Leeda. When I got there, I was told that two Constables bad order.s. to. press, me,, if I proHched that night. I said, "If the people will venture to hear. I dare not but preach:" and imniediately I went to the place, where a large congiegatian gathered together,, to whom I preached : and a blessed season it was. Thes two constables. gave great heed to what was spoken.. and never offered tx» disturb me„ or any of the peo ple; but wentaway like, men that feared Gpdj, I still kept hewing sto4ie in the day time, and preaching every night. One day as I was. at work, the .same Dissentiug minister, that bad stopped me one morning came to me and began to ask me many questions. .He seemed offended with my answers, and said, he would have none nf niy ifs aiwl huts. I answered»"Sir; they are none of mine, they arc the words of tlie Lord Jesus ; and who is he, that darev put asunder \yhat tlve Lord hath joined together ?" Then he replied,." I>o you think Gpd would cut you pff^ if you were: to cpinmit as great a S'o as ever you. eomniitted in jouv liie?" I said, "T sliould thcre- ¦W cut myself oil' fi;orai God ; for tlie p|&t0|(it<^.s«itli. '^YbtiFsIns have separated between you atid your" God';'' aiid God saith, *' My people hnve commitled . tw» evils I, for they hnve forsaken me the fqiirttaia of living water, and bewn oiit to themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that will hold no water." Now;/Sir, God would not have said, They have forsaken nie,'if they had never been acquainted with him ; and I be lieve, that one of the eisterns which they he Wed to ' themselvCsj was the opinion you have in vour h«ad, that sin will not separate the sortl from God." He said, ** You do nol understand the nature of God's decree: for God doth not look upon sin in the elect : he ciid not behold iniquity in Jacob, nOr see kin in Israel" Isaid, •' No, Sir, he did not : while Jiacob was upright and God was his glory ; at that time God rejoiced over him, to do him good, with his whole heart, and bis whole soul ; but when he committed whoredom with the daughters of Moab and began tp bow to their idols, then God's anger- was kindled against Israel, and he cut off 24,000 of j-. thein in liii* wrath, even the very people which Ba laam had pronounced blessed." Theri his brother-in-law, who was by bim, began to curse and swear, and lifted up his stiek, saying, ho could find in his heart to knock rae down, and call ed me a damned dog ; and said, " Canst thou have the impudence to talk so to a Minister? Thou deser- vest thy brains beat out." Isaid, "Sir, here is an evidence of what I said, for you can be aagry with me for preaching righteousness by Jesus Christ, but you do not reprove this man for plaspheming ihe holy name of God*" Then they went away, and left me to my work. A little lime after, as I was at work, a man came to me, and »-aid, he had called at a public-house for a pint of ale^'a little way froin Birstal, and he heard the landlord Offer to lay five pounds with some that were drinking that John Nelson would be sent for a soldier, before ten days. Were past : I said, •' The will «f the Lord be done: if God permit it lo be so, tliis 91 also^;sha,ll turn tp the furtherance of the gospel,'* He said, "I^ would have you take Care, for evil is determined against you," I replied, " I am noi my own, but the Lord's, he that lays hands on me, will burn his own fingers, and God will deliver me after he bath tried rae," , Soon after, as I was at my work at another place, three gentlemen came to me, and one of them began to' speak strongly against perfection, I gave him no answei'. Then another began to talk about build ing; and, said, " Hewing of stone is a fine art," I replied, " Sir it was a fine art ortce, when there were 80,,00d together, so skilled in the art, thatevery man's stones were perfectly fitted for the places that the" were to have in the temple, before they were brought off the mountain,- so that vvhen they came to Jeru salem, there was not one strolce to strike at thera, nor the sound of. a tool heard in the building: Sir, you will allpw those men to be workmen that needed not to be asliamed ; for their work was perfect before it came to Jerusalem," The gentlemen said," You are right, ypu are right; I will never speak against holiness, beiug. perfected in this world again; for certainly thatliouse of God, at Jerusalem, was a type of the house eteirnal in the heavens,' and every stone of that must be fitted perfectly for its place in this world, or it must not be adraitted into that new Jerusa lem." He added, "I thank you: and wish that all our Preachers may so square their work after the rule of Gjd's word, that they may not be ashamed when they come to., give up their accounts to hiin that is Lord of the work." %Yherever I went to preach, fpr ten days together,, I was told that the constables had orders to press me. My answer was, " The will of the Lord be done : for the fierceness of man shall trim" to his praise.^' On Friday, as I was hewing stone, it was in my ipirid, that trouble was near at hand; but the words qf Isaiah ^ere a stay to me : " I, even I, am he that c^mfqrteth youj yyho art thou, that thou shoUjldst " :' . ¦ ¦ ' L " be afraid of mah that shall dicj Or of the sori df taati, ¦which sliall be made as grass : and again it caine to' nie, " Feiir thou not, for I arn with thee, be not dis mayed, for I am thy God : I will strengthen "thefe,» 3'^, l^ill help thee r yea,' I will uphold theq With the righthand' of my righteousness ; behold all they tliat were incensed agaiiist thee, ^all be asliamed and cdiifounded, they shall be is nothing, and they ' thkt strive withthee, shall perish." At night I was iriet, as I was goirfg to Adwaltori, byorietliat told ihe, that the Parson and' Alehdusfe- keepers had, agreed to press me that night, alidtP* sfenci riie i-^viy the riext iiiorning: for the Cormiiis- sioriers were to ,sit at Halifax, and, they Would dis patch Hie before I could get any one- to appiear in rtiy behalf. ' And she said, " 1 would have yori trtrn back : for there is ofle Alehouse keeper thkt .swfeaHi he will press you, if his arra rots frOin his shoulder." Isaid, " 1 cannot fear; for God is dn my side^ and his word hath added Strength to tiiy soul this day: and -if I fall into the hkrtds of wicked riicri ; God shall be glorified thereby, arid khen he halh' provibd me in the furnace, lie will bHii^ me forth as gbld." Accordingly I went to Adwalton, and expounded at jdhi^ Booth's to a well behaved congregation. when I had done, Joseph Gibson, tire €)bnslable'S' deputy, (an Alehouse keeper, avIio fourtd his craft was iri danger) pressed me fbr a sojdier. I afekedl' him,by whose order? He said, Several of tbeinhabi- tiiiits of the town, who did not like so much preach ing:, and, by his own talk it aplpeared, they were those of his'owh crafti and the Cfergyriian whohrid, agi'eed together, ; "^ ile9arised me to go to the White Hart, whither Mr , Charles vrorth arid Mr, Holmes, of Sike-housCi and several i^^e, went with us, rind Mr. Chairfe- wprth offered 50G1, bail for me till next day; but no bajljwasto he taken for a Medhodist (so Called). > He protested Ishould go to bis house. . I madeW 33 ifcsist^nce, but went, and several of qqr pAOplf with rts ; and we sang a hymn, and prayed together, ^nd .so parted. Next rnqrwirsg several pCppJc came to .$ee nie be fore we went from Adwaltjon- Herp I was kept ten hours before the warrant came into his hoitse : when the Constable c^me, lie said, " If he l^d been there, he would have prevented wha-t Gibson had done," K Between eight and nine I wentto Birstal, to my house : and after I had changed my clothes. We s^ out for Hajifi^x, When I was bro,ugl>t be^pr.*? ithe commissioners, they smiled one at another, as soon as they saw me. They bade t?lie doorkeeers not to let any man come in: but Mr. Thorti,as Br.cjiofei^Oi^ HI with nif-; and tliey said, Th'*t is one. of bis episii- verts. .Then they called Joseph Gibson and asked, *^ How many men bsifve you brought?'' He .sa-idV " '^One" '* Well, aad wfeat have ypu c^ai^nist Mai ?" Why* g'^l'^^'l^'rteo, ®a4,d 1«^, I have nothing tQ say agai^nsfet. hiia, but he pre^chep^ to the people : an(| spme of ouTtownsineH don't likesorau^hpir^afching'. They broke out in laughter; and one 0|f ,i^li€Bti swotrej 1 was fi;t to go for a> soldier, for there I miight have preaching enpiugh. I said to him, " Sir,, you ought not to S;weaF.'' " Well, Saiid they to jthe, you haye no licence to preach,. and you shall gp for a 9oldie;F," 1 answered," Sir, I haye surely as mueh right tp. prench, as you ha.vetp swear,'' He said totfee Cap-. tain,= Capiaifl,is he fi-tfor you ?" Yes, he answered;. "Then, lalte- him- away." But I said, " tjepe are severafl of my honest neigh bours ; you ought to give me the liberty- of auo-*. ther man, and. hear what tliey say of me,, wbet?lierTt am i^ucha one as the vvarrant mentaonsy03*.no," They aBswered, " Hsere i* your minister, ^pne-etftih« com-i ^i^iqaers^ a|nd he has told us of your character, anJ. wf» will heiWf'no more." go I found I was coiidemn- edi before the qpftnrt-issioners saw me. Then Mr. Brooks latid the petitions, befoirethemy ««nt i^ne by neigliiboij-ripg gentlemen, which testified 84 I had doiie no rvil, but bad behaved myself well in my neighbourhood, and had always maintained my family very well : and they desired thera to set me al liberty. And Mr. Brooks said, " Gentlemen, you see he iis not such a man as is mentioned in the warrant." . But they bade him hold bis peace, and said, " You are one of bis puhils, and ought to go with him." — He answered, " Why do you not send me then ? for you have as rauch right to spnd me ai ' him." ' Then our minister spoke, and said," Young Brooks lives with a woraan of the worst character in ©ur town." When I heard him speak against his neighbours such notorious falsehoods as these, I thought it would be to no purpose for Mr. Brooks to say any raore : so I desired him to be silent. Then they read the papers sent on my behalf; and pne of the company asked if be must put them on the file ; but the answer to him by several was, " No, for if they are called for, tliey will make against us." '• So, said I, Gentlemen, I see there is neither law nor justice for a man that is called a Methodist 5 but all is lawful that is done against me, I pray Xrod forgive you, for you know noi what you dp," They answered,'^ Surely your Minister must be a better •judge of you than awy other man, and he has told us enough of you and your preaching,'' — "Well, said I, Mr, C-—, what do you know of me that is evil? Whom have I defrauded ? Or where have I contracted a debt that I cannot pay ?" He said, *f You have no visible way of getting your living." I answered, " I am as able to get my living with my hands, as any man of the trade in England is, and ypu know it ; and have I not been at work yesterday, and all the week before'?' but ^bey bade the Cap- lain take me away, so he came and said, " We will lake you off your preaching soon,'' J answered, '< You must first ask my Ma.sW's leave." But he said, " We will make you give over,'* I replied, t' It is out of your power." Then he thru.st me into •-83 a corner of the room, and said, I should have com pany presently. Afterwards seyeral were brpaght to the Commis sioners, and three condeinned to go with me, and four or five acquitted. But all had their neigh-' hours to speak for t^tiem, except me ; for what need was there of any other witness. Glory be to God on high 1 He kept my soul all ^his time in perfect peace.: and I could say tp him, frpm my heart ; Whilst thou, O my God, art nigh. My soul disdains to fear; Sin and Satan I defy, Stiil impotently near : jEarth and hell their wars may wage, Calm I mark their vain design, :,. Smile to see them idl^' rage, : •; Against a child of thine, Then the Captain read the Articles of War to us that were condemned, and said, "You hear -your doom is death if you disobey us-" I answered, " I do- not fear the man that can kill me, any more than I ilo him that can cut down a dog-standard For I know my life is hid with Christ in God; and he will judge between yon and me one day j but I beseech him not to lay this sin to your charge," And to Mr. O-^, I said, " Sir, I pray God forgive you, for you hare given me such a character, as not another man in England will, that knows me," I was greatly surprised to see men sit on the judg ment seat, and drink and swear as they did ; aiid a' man that had a commission from God to reprove all that do such things, could hear and see, and yet never speak in God's cause. It made me cry out to the Lord, *' Take the matter into thy band, O God, for righteousness is fallen in the streets, and iniiquity bears rule." But I could ri,ot bear io hear tli^^n. iwear, but must speak to theiri, although they mock ed at my reproof, 'jfhen we were guarded to Halifa:^ ; -but the keep er would not let us come into his gaol: we were then taken to the pfficer's quarters, and kept till six at night: Avhere John Bhpdes and Thomas, Charles- worth, of Little';,GfomersaH, came to sec me, and carded for my soul, as if they had been my mother's sons.. O my God, remember them for good* and give them and their houses, and all that wish' well to our SiOn, to rejoiee in the gladness, of thy people. At six we set out for Bradford, and mg-ny ofthe inhabitants of Halifax prayed fbr me, and wept to see me in the hands of unrighteous and cruel men. But I said, " Fear not j God hath his way in the whirl wind, an.dhje will plead my qai*se: Only pray for me, that my faith fail not." When we were about halfway between Halifax and Bradford, one ofthe soldiers said to irie, " Sir, I am sorry for you ; f o r the Captain is. ardeired by the Commissioners to put you in the dungeon : but I will !^,ake to him, and if he will let me have the care-of you, ypu. shall lie witrh me, for the dungeon is as Ipatb- wme a place as esver I saw*'* I thanked' him for his. offer: but when wegptto- Btadford, we were Unawn. up. in. the street where the Cross stood, and the Cap tain went, and fetched the keeper ofthe duBgetni, and sjaid, " Take this man,, and ^.ut him, into the (ilung,e- on: and take this,G,ther^along with you." (A poor harmless man, all the qlothe? upoi^ whose baclv we.ra notworth one shilling ; neither did they lay any. thing to bis charge, when he was ordered, for a soldser.) But when we., ca,rae to the dungepn door, the spl- dier who spoke to. me by the way, went to, the cap-^ tain, and said, '* Sjr, if you will giveme cbaa^ge over. Mr'^6,lsoq, my life for his, besliall be forth com- .ing. in tlie morning." But the Oaptain thrratened tq.breaJshlsjhead,. if he spolfe.aboutme any moee. Hecanieto us before 1 went down, and X asked ^7. htm, "Sir, what have I done that I rtmst gd to the dungeon? If you are afraid of irie, that I ^houbl riiin'away. Set a giiai-dover me ina t-poiri, arid I will pay theui." He ariswferted, " My' brdct is tO put ^ou irt tlie dungeon." So i see my Lord's word is ful-fil- h?d, ^' The servant Is riot above his Master."-^ For those, who were accused of thieving, and great evils which they had done in the neighbourhood, must eat arid drink, tfnd lie oti feather beds ; but I only desired a little Water, and it was tfef used nie by the eaptkiu, although 1 had nPthirtg all day except a lltee tea in the niPrriing, But iriy Master never seod^ his servants a 'Warfare at their oWn charge. He gives strength according lo our day. For, whert I ctoieJwto the dungeon, that stunk worse than a liogsty, or liltle-housfe, by reason of tht blop'cl aiitd tilth w-hich sunk froni the butchers who kill dveV it, my Soul wafe Sb filled with the lOve of God, that it i*^as a pai^ise to me; Then «ould I cry out, Othe glorious, liberty "of* th'^-sfcifeof God ! arid! fell down bii my knee's, and give God thanks, that he counted rrie worthy to put itito a durt'geon for the Truth's sa^e ; and prayed that iriy-enemies ttiight be saved fi-otti the W'Tath tO cOme,' I think, with -as much desire, as I corild feel for my own riiother's child reii. 1 wished they Werfe as happy in their own lioriffeS, aS I Sviis in thfe dungeon; . • Aikmt ten, ige*veral of the people cSmt fo the dil4igeOW-door, arid brotigfct me soriie candles, and' put riie some meat and water hi tlirough the hole of th*e-tido5r. When I bad oatcri and ^Irunk, L^ve Godthariks; and we .^ang hymns almost all night, they withOtJt and i withrii, ¦The aairte night, a man that livies at Bradford, cairte to the dungeon, and thoiigli he was^n eneiliy 10 the Methodists, so calle'd, w'lieri he ^'rtie'lt the ill sayoul^ of the place, he said, " Huriia'nity moves ifee;" He went away direclly, and about eleven «a^e agaiii, andjsaid; "1 wiH amtre you*l am not 88 in^your way of thinking ; but for all that I have been, with your captain, and offered lOl, bail for you, and myself as prisoner, if he- would let you lie in a bed, but all in vain, for I can get nothing of him but bad words. If the Justice was in toWn, I would have gone to hina, and would soon have fetched ypu out : but since it is as it is, I pray God plead your cause." O my God, let not him that would give a cup of cold water to thy servants, lose his reward : but do thou bless him, and thy people : and I beseech thee to have mercy on our enemies, and let not thy heavy judgments fall upon them; but be thou glorified in their conversion, not in their destructions The poor man that was with mej might have starved, if my friends had not brought me meat ; for when they had locked us up, they went to their lodgings, and took no more thought of us that Rigut.~ Here we had not so much as a stone to sit on. / When the man and I were laid down on a little stinking straw, "Pray you. Sir, (said he) are all these your kinsfolk, that they love you so well ? I think they are the lovingest people that ever I saw in my life."! answered, " By this you may know that they are Jesus Christ's Disciples ; for this is the mark he himself has. given, whereby all men might know his Diciples from the unbelieving world," At four in the morning, my wife and several more came to the dungeon, and spoke to me through the hole ofthe door, and I said, •• Jeremiah's lot is fallen upon me." Then it came to my reraemb»rance, that when I was about 13 or l-iyears old, I often thought if God would make me like Jeremiah, to stand and speak his words to the people in the streets, as he did, I should not mind who cast dirt at me. And now I am in some raeasure, treated as he was, for persuading raen to flee from the wrath tp come. My wife said," Fear not, the cause is God's, for which you are here, and be will plead it himself.^ 89 Therefore be not concerned about me ajqd ^^ cliil- drcn ; for be that feeds the young ravens will be rojiidful of us. He will give you strength foir your day; and afte,r we have suffered awhile, he •will perfect th-it which is lacking in our squ|s, and then bring us where the wicked cease from, ti^oubling, ajifi wbcre the weary are at rest," So said they all that were with her at th5,door. I .Was^reatly r^fceshed at finding my wife i^ strong in ,faith, when she. iwas like, to, be left witli two children j and big with apother at^tl'':e sa^pie time ,: .and said^ ."I cannot fear eithe;r m,an oV.deyil^ sp Jong as I fipd the love of God as I do now : for he has cheered my .heart a,s with. sweet wine,, ejv^r since he suffered me io be cast intp prison., O tha^t I may be faithful un to d^ath, and I shall receive t;he crpwn of life ! For not one word .qf, Jesus sha 11 fall^tp the, ground till all be accorapli&hed," , -V,< ,.¦--., '*^l Abput fiye;in the niorning,.they took rap put, and ,we were gua^^ded to Leeds,, and stood in the streeti; .till ten. Hundreds flocked to see me. .Some said, ^'. It is a sharae to send a man for a soldier for speak ing the truth : ^ for many of our neighbours that fql- Jqw the Metbpdisfs, and were as wicked before as any people in the itown, are dow like new creature^; .for we don't hear an ill word come out of their iqqutlis." .Others cried, "I vvish they were all hanged out of the way, for they make people go inad : and wP -cannot get drunk or swear", but every fool , raust correct us, as if we were to be taught by thera. But I. hope tliey will now be brought to npQoht, for that is orie of the worst of thera." As I was stamling, a jolly well dressed womaU capia up to me, and put her face almost to mine, and .Sfiidj, " Now, Nelson, where is thy God : thou saidst at-Shent's door, gs thou wast preachjng, thou wast np more afraid of his pt'omise failing than tliou .wast of dropping, through the heart of llie earth," I replied, " Look ' iqto the. 7th chapter of Micah, and the 8th and I Oth verses. M 90 cb'rtie ii5f sfeVerkl times to see me, I thortght bfth^- Flippy 'fr^ress : for"* hpnclrfeds of p^Ofilfe in ilie sii'e^tiitihd'iM looked at me througli ^fie'ifbn grate, and were reajiy'to fight about ine.' 'Several wofild have given bail fot irie, if they W'ould let me h'ut; buti was told that a hundred pounds was re fused, vvhich was offered ;by a slfariger' for trie'/ .1 aril tod notorious a crimihal to be allowed such fri4ours* for christiariity is a critrte which the world can he- 'yei-fbi^ve;''- ¦; ' '/^¦- . -^'-^i^ ¦-,>¦> '^-^oi ^ '^At night, l believe, a hundi-ted of our tViefitts were withVthe^ ih the gaol 'together We sairg a hymn, Arifl .gcay"^^, ' I gave an exhortatiqn/' and parted.^ JfeiMK Wi^was riot willing I should Ijebri stitk^ irig straWj^ ani^ sent me a bed to lie ori, I firid tlife jiim^ Is 'rijbl'V^t come for me to be hated of all riien *lr iChi'kt'i^^k'e, 1 I pray God to give irie 'stretigtb ^^ thal^<5^y ! ^1% be to his holy Namts, hithem t grafee ife sm@tttfent for me!, and .1 baring uprin •his pydrnisefo'r streri'^h in my riext trials • ' ^ ' At fiVeon Monday inorning, I was let Out of gaol^ Sn^'we' marched off 'fbr York directly : mariyof Out ^i-ifends wC'rit, with Us out *of the town near three but when I came to take my leave, they ^nridi-riWd as onetbat had lost his first-born. I spokie cbirifoVtablie words to them, and bade thein, "Stand fast, in riothirig terrified by your adversaries: wliich ^S to theirt an evident token of perdition, but to ybu of salvation, and that of God. So the peacc,of God he With you all. ' ¦ " - ' .? .We came to York by three, and were brought be fore several of the officers, at the Black-Swan, iri Coney -Street, who'seemed to rejoice as men that had taken great SJioil, and saluted me with riiany a grie-- vou^ oath. It brought something to my mind, Which 1 had spoken in the fields to the Lord,' when he had brpken a great cloud that was on liiy soul^ 91 tlirqqgh, my r.pfu|ing to p^-eacli when many desirjed llie, aiid I had tiipe, but consulted witV ifqsh aqd blood, aiicl, Jonah like, flccl from the presence ofthe Lord, down in|p a valley iaear the .si^e of a wood, where God laid his hand on me' and brought mjj* soul iiitp such distress, that I threw myself ori the grourid and requeisted for deatp '• seeing it.niore agreeable. to . flesh and blppd tp be a shepliprd's. dqg th^p 1^9 bp a preacher qf thp gospel ; for his hand js agajrist every man, and eVery man's hand against nirii. , B|pt'at tlie reinembrance of the Prophets an,d ApqsJt,l|es, a^id Christ himself, wbat contri^dictions and tribiila,- tion they a.ll met \j/hh, the cloud brok^, and niy spril •was so ref resiled with the love of God, that. I, cf iec( out, "My Lprd and ray Gqii,! fi'oyv thou ha^t given me strength, fprsake iqe not;_ ^rid if th.pusend iqe tp hell, to preach tq devils, I am ready ^p go.' , . When I .was befpre these pfScer^, and heard such lariguage, I thought hell cbrild riot be much yrir^e than thjC company I was in, , J asked theui, ' ' J)q you heljeve there is a God,.a0e have; for there are but few like thera in the world. They ordered me a rqqnv Kud a bed to nijself. Blessed be God, who gives me. ^5 favour in the sight of th^ Egyptians, who hai^e heeh so'used by'thoseof our ownChurch. TheSe people ^Vere professed Papists; who, I might imagine, would shew no more mercy to a man that preached salvation by faith, than they would do to a maddog-; yet- 1 see it is not the in art that makes the christian, bnt the mind that was in Christ : aiid whosoiever batfi this mind in him, he is a christian, let' the world caM liirti what they Will. I came toMarg;aretTownshend's, and met with my wife and sister Mitchell, who' rejoiced to sfeertiyfei^t bnceinbrfe oiitof prison : we sang .praises to God for ¦llis greatriaerciesto me at this time, and passed the af*> 'ternoon in encouraging each other. Next niorrting 1 sent tbem outof town, ririd went, as I Wa^ orderetl, to parade at the Blile Boar, in Castlegate, where the ofiiCers ordered Corporal W'' — to fetich me agurt an& pther warlike instruments, and tho' be seemfed to shudder at the task, -he was forced to obey: and when he brought them^' and was girding thein aboivt •me-, ¦•he tremDled a^ if he had the ^afey. I asked why they girt rae with these Warlike habil^- 'irtents, for la m a-maii averse to War, and shall ricS; 'fightbut under the Prince of Peace, the Captain (rf tny salvation : arid the ^eapoifslhe gives me are not carnal likethe^e. Well, said they, but youmustbeaV •these, till you can 'get your discharge. "As you put thein Ofl me, L answered, I will bear theni as a cross, and use therti as far at I can, without defiling iny conscience: but that I wilt riot do for riny irian on earth." The officers bade them march us of to Epworth- "raoor, to learn the ej^erciseof a soldier; but Corporal W*-^seenied as tender of me as if he liad been my own fetlier, and carried the gurt for me to the field. And when he caine to teach me th'cir exercise, his heart iseemed to fail him, and he bade rae lay dowrt thegtin> and we fell intodiscour.se, Ifoundhehad the fear of God before his eyes, and the Lord had shewn him the light of his countenance. But he wi s ,96 as- a sparro>y ajpno on the house 'top; none cared for' his conversation; but they all despised him, be cause he would npt met drunk and swear as they did. ;0,; my God, reuiember hini for good alway, I be seech thee, , ; Next day I was ordered to the field, and others must teach me the. warlike ;exercise, who also be^ haved civilly to nie-r-I had more to see me than all the rest, and it caused the truth to break out, the more, and removed prcj udice from mauy. I- fpund the people at York looked upon, one that is, called a Methodist, as one that hadthe plague, and, infects all that he comes near; and they blessed God, thpt none had come to preaeh there. But if I was bound, the word of God was not bound ; for if qnyblasphem- .ed, I reproved them, whethettrich or poor, and fell into many disputes with them; and God gave mo words, sucli,,as they could not resist. My dis- !CQu rses had such ap effect qn them, that they said, they wished Mr. Wesley wouhi come and preach there. 1 gave them several of our little boofcs; so by hearinsi and reading, tliey found out the doctrine to be only the plain word of God. Andnow several attended my coming to the field : not to see me as before, but to ask^qnestioiis, and. to knpw of the new •doctrine (as some were pleased to. call it ) , Surely by all these things shf 11 the gespel be spres^d. The Lord is in llie tenipest,and it sh^ll turn to bis glory ? Satin doth but whet a knife to cut his own throat. One day as I was talking to, the people, a man came and feigned himself to be concerned ajbout hi^i soul. As he was coming, jt was impressed upon my mind, that he was a deceiver ; as soon as he ap- proaoheil, I said, " You are a wicked man, and Satan haih sent you with a lip in your mouth, ,but God will not be mocked." He went away as one condemned ; before he had got 100 yards, he fell dowri and broke a limb, and dislocated his shouldei"; then he roared like a bear, saying, It was a just 97 judgment frqm God on him, and desired me to pray fqr hini. On Sunday the I3th,I went to Cpney-street church, and the Lordnaanifested himself to me in great love at the sacrament. At night Hannah Scolefield and I, and our brother Houghton, from Manchester, with two or three more, went out into the fields, thinking to retire: but some had seen us, and told otliers that we were gone to sing hymns. In a few minutes we had near a hundred, to keep us company. We sang two hymns, and I gave them an exhorta tion : they receiyed my word with meekness, and wished to hear rae again. We went a mile another way ; but there were people walking there also, who know me, and flock ed to, us, and desired to Irear what sort of doctrine it is we preach, which causes all men tq hate us. I said, " it is the, doctrine of Jesus Christ which -made all men hate him ; and ye are sensible our great Shepiherd said, " Ye shall be hated of all men for my sake." But they said, " This is a Christian land, and ,it is not so now," Well, said I, then. you raust say the gospel is not an everlasting gospel, or you de clare us blest, and almost all the people pf England curst. They said, " \yhat, dp ye pojnt the blessings to you, and the, curse to all the rest?, We think it is the other way," Thiep, said I, " You do not think as Christ spake : for he said. Blessed are ye, when all men speak evil of you, and hate you for my sake, and the gospel's : rejoice and be exceed ing glad , for so they did to the prpphets of old. Bujt W.oe unto you when all raen speak well of you : for so they spake of the false prophets," Upon this they were silent, but wished tney could hear me Ibeqi&slves, then they could judge better, iBythis time a great company was corae together, desiring to hear me, and God gaye me to spake plain, and to their hearts. When I had done, several of them jaid, they would go ten niiles to hear such another N 98 discourse. The prejudice seemed taken ©ut of their minds at a stroke; and they cried, This is the doc trine which ought to he preached, let men say what they will against it. As we carae back one of the company said, " I wonder the dCvil cannot perceive, that this striving to suppress the gospel is like .striving to quench the fire by casting oil into it. As God spake, so it is I see this day. His servants are like brands of fire cast into dry stubble. Surely God will be glorified in your captivity : only let us watch and pray, that the enemy get no advantage over us." * The day following I went as before, to exercise, when many cairie to talk with me, sorae to dispute, and some Who earnestly desired to be saved. Among the disputers was a Clergyman : I knew him : fori had seen hirfi in his gown thre6 days before. When several, who appeared as gentlemen, disputed hotly against all the poweir of religion, I shewed them from the articles, homilies, and prayers of our own Church, that those who spake as they did, were no meiribers ofthe CliurCh of England : for to be a real member of Christ's Church, is to feel Christ in us; to knew that he died for his Church, and tha!tby his death we are delivered from death eternal : to find that spirit which raised him from the dead, raising us from the death of sin, that our bodies may be the undefiled teiriples of the living God, a holy habi tation of God, through his Spirit dwelling in us. For as many as have the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God, and if any man have not this spirit of Christ, he his none of his. Nay, if you know not, I added, that Christ is in you, you are now in a state of reprobation. " So," said they, " You have condem ned us all at a stroke." I answered, " I bavfe con demned no man ; for I have not spoken iriy own, but the words of God, as I appeal to your consciences, you that have ,ever read them." When they were put to silence, the Minister be- 99 gan to explain the Spirit of God out ofthe world : as what could not be felt or perceived at all, neither Was it necessary, now we had the Scriptures to go by. I said, " It is highly necessary, if the Scriptures be true : for they tell me. If I have not the Spirit of Christ, I am none of his ; and if I am not his, I raust -belong to the devil : for they two share the world be-' tween tbem. Besides, if their be no such thing as re ceiving the Holy Spirit now a days, as you Say, then he who repeats the prayers of the Church, offers to God the sacrifice of fools." Here he stormed at me, and called me an Enthusiast, and said, " To talk of the Spirit was all a delusion." Hold, Sir, I rec plied, or I shall expose you before the people, which I did nqt design to do. How could you affirm, be fore God and the congregation, that you were in wardly nioved by the Hply Ghost to tabe upon you the office •f a Deacon ; and now testify there is no such thing ^s being moved by tlie lloly Ghost?" He said, " Djd I say so ?'' "¦ Yes, Sir, I answered, yoa did, when ypu received holy borders." He turned, pale, spake not ten words more, but went away; I have met him several times sLnCe, and he speaks kindly to me. I had some every day to dispute with me : and every night some to converse with inCi who wanted to know the way to Sion. The people nqw cried out, •^ When will Mr. Wesley corae ? for here are thou sands in this town would gladly hear hira." Indeed I found a great desire in them to know the way of salvation : yea, and they seemed willing to be saved in God's own way : that is, from their sins, not in them. Surely the Lord will be mindful of them, and give them teachers after his own heart, / ^, The second Sunday I went to' church, and ray heart was comforted again by the love of God in the^ Sacrament. God I find, will raeet with us in our jewn ways : O may we never forsake them ! 100 •ibis Week r had several of the brethren to see me, arid we were comforted together. Our brother Ash brought rile some little books, which I gave to the people who came to see me : so that by speaking and their readirtg, many began to be alarmed, arid sent for -me to their houses to enquire, " How can these things be, which you affirm ? for if these things are as you say, and Mr, Wesley has here written, then we are not Christians " I told them, " I will prove those things to be true, both frora our Own churcb and from the written word of God : and if yOu firid ybu have not these inward marks of faith, such a peace, jby, love^ and the witness ofthe spi rit, you are no Christians yet ; but that is no reason why you should not become such ; for Christ has comriiarided repentance and remission of sins to bte preached to every soul in bis Name : aud he doth ac tually pardon and absolve all them that truly repent, and unfeignedly believe his holy Gospel. Therefore seek, and you shall find ; for the truth of God binds liira to give tO every one that asketh. The people attended my going into the fields all this week, and ¦when 1 Went along the streets they came out of their .houses to stare at me, as if I had neen a monster, I have read that they wOuld rtot suffer any one to buy or sell iri the city, unless they had the mark ofthe beast ; but here, without his mark, we caimot so much as pass the streets, O my God, why is thy servant as a speckled bird in this which is called a Christian country! Called after thy most sacred name; which, whosoever nameth must depart from iniquity? How is the faithful city become an harlot, and thy people taken captive by the enemy at his will ! It is time for thee. Lord, to lay to thine hand, for they have destroyed thy laW ! One day this iveek, after" ray exercise on the Moor, there came a gentleman in gold lace, and a minisr ter in disgriise, and began asking me questions ; which I answered according to the ability God gave , me, Many flocked round about us lo hear, for our 101 dispute was long and hot on their sides, I believe we had talked -half art hour before I perceived he was a Minister ; for I took him for a lawyer, and such a one as believed there was no God : for if I spake of the Scriptures, he threw up his head, and called me a fool, and bade me hold my nonsease, I ^aid, " That which you call nonsense, I callthe highest wisdom," When I spake any thing of the Spirit of God, he heaved his cane at mc, as if he Would have struck me : but God gave rae perfect peace in my soul, and words that made him start, and convinced the bystanders of the truth. He was so enraged, that he foamed at the raouth like a horse that is hard rid, , . ' But when I understood that he was a Minister, I said, " Hold, Sir, let rae speak a little, by your leave. You call yourself a Minster of the 'Churcli of Eng land, do you not?" "I do," "Pray then, STr, what doctrine do you preach? for you make the Word of Crod of none effect, and you deriy all iaspira- tioh." He replied, "So I do deny all inspiration." How dare you then pray for the inspiration of God's Spirit, when ypu do not believe there is any such thing?" When he had raged awhile, he said, "I believe you have read the. book of Job, and raade it aU your own." I answered , " I have need of patience, who have men of such principles as you to talk with, that regard not what they say to provoke one; but I thank God, you have not done it _) et.'-' He replied, " My reason for speaking so is, because you canaot be quiet with your nonsense and inspiration. And I hear yoq have preached several times since you came, and have filled the heads of many in this town with your new doctrine." I told him, " I had not'preach- ed publicly since I came, but I did not know how soon I might," Then he shook bis stick, stampt, and said in anger, "If you do preach publicly, we shall take an order with you, which shall be worse than sending you for- a soldier,'' "Let God look to that, J aqswefed J foT by Iris grace, I can love all 102 men, but fear none that can kill the body only. I assure you it is nqt trip fear of man which sjiall hin der me frora preaching: for where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." When he began to calm a , little I asked him, "Sir, suppose you had been in-, wardly moved by the Holy Ghost to preaph the gos pel; if the outwa^-d ordination was refused you,* when you.beHeved yourself called according to the will of Christ to preach, would you forbear preach ing? that is, would ypu obey manor God?" "I suppose, said he, you think you have, put a hard ques tion to me ?" But hard or easy, he never ansvyered it ; and I cannot renieraber that I ever saw him since. Just as he went away, he challenged me to gp into a room with hira ; but I said, "I have done fighting," Sir." , , On Saturday, several desired rae to preach on Sun^ day mprning. I told thera I should take a walk out to the Moor at half an hour after seven. According- * ly. 1 did so, and fpund thrice as many as I expected, , and preached to about three hundred well behaved peop,Je,,who enti-eated rae to preach to thera at night, I answered some of them, I did not know but I might: yet I gave no public notice : but one told another, and it spread through the city. I went to the Mi|iister, and heard the Bishop preach, and received the blessed sacrament at his bands. At seven in the cvenina; I went to the Moor, and found an unexpected congregation, I believes six thousand people. But there yvas nothing prcr, pared for me to stand on, great part of the soldiers were there almost drunk, ahd began to quarrel with, the people that crowded me ; so that I saw there was likely to be mischief done, and prevented it by withdrawing. If I had preached, I believe they ¦would have behaved very quietly, for they seeined tq have a great desire to hear what this doctrine was, I hqd not the opprotunity of .satisfying them at this time; but they that heard iiithe raorning told otliers, and inflauied them the mpre with a desire to hear 103 . . for themselves. Several sent for rae tp their houses, and others came to me: so 1 see God will work, and who shall hinder? Lord open their understanding, tha,t they may know the things which belong to their everlasting peace ! '¦* , On Monday 1 heard, that some Clergymen Were with the officers : and, at night, one of the officers sent for rae, and said; "What you' cannot leave oft* preaching yet ; but we raust be blamed about you. — But if ever you preach publicly more, you shall be severely whipped." My answer was, "1 am not careful in this matter. It is better to obey God than man! I believe it is the will of God that I should preach: and I have not taken man to please in any thing that will offerid my God." With raany threats he bade me go, but I made no promise to obey him, neithei"did I intend it in this case ; for I had promised to go to Achani, a village about a mile out of York : the next evening, accord ingly I went and preached to almost all the inhabi tants, in a field. The Lord gave me to speak his word freely, and sent it with power to their hearts: the rock was struck, and the water gushed out. All whom 1 saw behaved well : many said they hoped I would come again: " For let riien say what tliey will of this people, this is the tFuth;<'and so we shall find itoneday." <" ' ^'- As I carae down the street, an Alderman pf York and his wife who hadbeen to hear rae were standing at the gate of his house, and he calkd me, and isaid, "If you please to accept of. a g!a. ter to die than todispbey God." *' Well but if that be allj he replied^ this is no-crirae; for when you baire done your duty I do not care if you preach evejy night in. a house, or any private place out of the town ; but I wouldnot hare you. raake any mobs." " That, said I, is far from my design." "Well, said. he, you m^y go home to;ypurjquartei8j; and if I have a convenient time, I will i^nd- for you^ and hear yen myself; fbr I wish all men were like yow.'' Here my adversaries hung down.tbeir bdads, and' left off smiling. As 1 went to sister Towiashend'sJtheardthat we were ta leave York, on Thursiday:!, at four in tlie morning, and march to Sunderland. I had a great desire tq*see my wife first; but she did not get my letteirsoon enough. Many of the people.' came and said^ " We are sorry you. are going so soon frqnu- York: but if you get your liberty, we hope both you and Mr. Wesley Will c^me; for. we have need of such plain: dealings aad tlwuisands in.tlle^city 107 would be glad to hear. You see what a po^pulous, wicked place it is : pray do not forget us, but think of us, when you see us not. We expected some df you two or three years 'ago ; but you had no regard for our souls, till God brought you by force. Surely you was not sold hither, but sent for our good ; there to re ^forget Us not." O tlie lendepncss which this people shewed, and •desire for the word of God ! It moved me to cry out, 4jord have inepcy on them, and let them hear thy Gospel, and 'find 'it thy power unto salvation : lor why should thy people perish for lack of knowledge ? On Tliui^day Trttwning we stood two hours in the street's, before we set out of town. We marched to Easingwold ihat cay, and when we were dravyrt rip in the street, the people perceived me to be the Metho dist Preacher they had read of in the Newspapers. They told one another, awd flocked about me, as if the soldiers liad brought a monger into the town. When we had %tayed near an hour in the street,! and five more werebilletted at one house, where the people were so poor, they had not six seats for to to sit on, nor any beds ; so We came ba«k to the officer's quarters, and thfey ordered four of us to another house. . / God gave me to speak plain to them, and several of their neighbours, who came to see the Metho dist. And they said, "If this be the Methodist's doctrine, we pray God we may have it preached in this town, for hundreds would be glad to hear you." In the evening the head man ofthe town came in. He was a professed Papist, but a moral, honest man, and one who bears a good character in his neighbour hood. He asked me mtny questions, and God gave me to answer him to his satisfaction. Indeed I neyer saw a man of his rank so teachable and humble: his gold lace did not make him above listening to the gospel: he seemed a man of sound reason, as well as of a liberiil education. I spake near an hour, to 1Q8 prove the doctrine of justification by faith, and fhat both from the Old and New Testament: I shewed the fruitsof that justifying faith, and the necessity of every iqari's ha.ving it, that he may escape the damnation of hell. The wotd had such an. effect upon hini, that his eyes dispoyered the tenderness of his heart : arid when I ended, he said, I think no man in his senses would dare to hinder you fcpm instruct ing sinners in the way of salvation : as for my own part I shall be glad tq,see you at liberty ; and if you get clear of these men, and come this way, I wpuld have you call on me, > 1 was amazed to find such a man among the Pa pists, having met with very few, either teachers or hearers, of our own church, but what hold Popish principles ten times stronger than this man, who- calls himself a PapiS,t, . When he went away, be forced two shillings into ray hand, which I would have re turned, telling hira I receiyed no money, and needed none;^ but. he Would not take it again, saying, he could afford it, and I might have the occasion for it on my journey. O God be raerciful to him, that gives a cup pf cold water to thy servants. .. , Next mornin*^t two,, the drum beat, for us to march out of town. By eleven on Friday, we got to- Northallerton ; arid by twelve settled in quarters. I went into the market-place, and .spoke, to those I found there, of the way of salvation ; Ibppe nottin vain. Afteriyards, as I was , sitting alone, there came a shop-keeper, and said. If I woufd-go to bis house, he would give me''a glass of any liquor I pleased to drink: I told him, I did not drink any strong liquor: "Well, but said be, I desire your company if you please, for half an hour." I went to his house, and drank tea with him and his faraily, and spake plainly to thera : they receiyod my ex hortation with thankfulneL,s, and said, "We" have heard much qf you befpre; several of you have pas sed through this town, and we wonder they have 109 \ " \ never preached here., If yoii come again, wc hope ¦you willcall and see us." I gave tjioni a book, and returaed to ray, quarters. : . * Next mornirig at one^ 'the druni beat for ils to march, and Sve got to Darlington by nine. 'Here I was known to several, and by thera made knowii to almost all the town, Many came to' my quarters to talk with me; and others sent for me. Whence this famine in our land ? I find the people hunger after the word, as if there were no bibles in the na tion. ,,,.¦,-.'.;¦¦,;.•' , We rested here on Sunday,; and I had rftany io see me. When they heard what our doctrine was, ihey cried, "It is a shame to send a man for a Roldier for speaking the truth: for let all man say what they will, this is the gospel of Jesus Christi In the evening, one ofthe officers came to me, and said, "Well, Sir, Why was you not at church to day?" I answered, "I was Sir, and if you had b€>eri there you might have seen me; for I never miss going, when i have art opportunity." "Well, iSir, he ad ded, have you preached since you came hither?" "Not publicly yet," I replied. He swore he wished I would, that he might punish me severely. But, Sir, (I told him) if you do not repent; and leave off' thathabit of swearing, you will be worse punished than you are able to punish me. He said, "I wilt make you mind your firelock, and leiive offyoiir preaching." Yes, Sir, I answered, when f leave off speaking. This was he that put me in pri.son at York for preaching. As Saul hunted David, so has this man hunted my soul :, biit I trust that the same God that delivered David will disliver me from cruel men, lie called foroiie of the soldiers, and took the cock ade out of his hat, putting it in mine, and swore he Ayould make mc wear it: this cau,sed a sore tempta tion to arise in me, to think that an ignorant wicked man should thus torment rae in the streets, and pri- lla «qn, and I was able to tie hishead and heels together. i found an old man's hone in me,; but the Lord lift ed up a standard, when anger, was coming in like a Svod, else I should have wrung his head io the ground, and set my foot upon bim ; which wouM have brought a reproach upon the gospel, and wound ed my own soul; but God his good to me, for he shewed me my danger and delivered me from it in a moment: then cOiild I look on him with pity, an* prayed for him from the ground, of my heart. I gave several books away in this town also; which we left next inorning. I was rauch surprised at the good nature ofthe sol diers in all this march, for I believe twenty offered to carry the gun for me, or any thing else I had, God, I found, supported me wonderfully in all these trials; for I could travel 15 or 20 miles fasting, as well as those who ate or drink two or three times by the way. Surely man doth not livebybread alone ; but the, Lord is the strength of I^ael, tlie defender ofall them that put their trust in him, O God, be thou" my guide unto death! We got to Durham by nine on Monday ; but in our way we had a river to cross, and were obliged to wade through it. The day was very hot ; so that I had sweat much, and caught cold immediately. I found myself rauch out of order when we got to Dur- ha:n, and desired I might lie down a little. Corpo ral W ,¦ lay down with me, and fell asleep. At twelve 1 awoke suddenly, as if some man had called me, and said to the Corporal, 1 must go to the niarkot place directly, for what I know not, nei ther which way to go to it. Nor T, said he; but I will go with you, and we can inquire the way. Ac cordingly we did : and just as we got thither, my brother Westell was inquiring for me among the sol diers, "Well, said Mr. W , I never saw such a thing in all my life, that you should thus awake, and «ome to meet your friend the minute he came to seek for you." Ml We were miiGh comforted together: he told ni« that Mr. John Wesley would be at Durham soon af ter four o'clock . I gave God thanks for that newsi We went to a common about a mile fVom the town, and there we met Mr. Wesley : My heart rejoiced to see hira ; and great reason have I to give God thanks that I ever saw him, who was an instrument in God '& hands of plucking me as a brand out of the fire. And I have found him God's messenger fof my good ever since. We'came to- the sign of the Angel;, and had some conversation together. He exhorted, me to watch and pray;. and did not doubt but my captivity would turn to the glory of God, and the furtherance ofthe gospel. At six I went to answer my call, and JIKL^. Wesley went into the Minister. Afterwards- I, and Thomas Beard, my fellow, prisoner, met Mr, Wesley; and our brother Erring- ton, and went with them to4he inn, and stayed till nine. Mr, Wesley said, "Brother Nelson, lose rto time ; speak and spare not, for God ha,th work for you to do in every place where your lot is cast: and when you have fulfilled his good- pleasure, he will break your bonds asunder, and we shall rejoice to gether.'' When we had prayed together, we eOiia- mended each other to the graee of God, and so part ed in body, but not in spirit, , Next morning the drum beat at one, and we were called up in the market-place, and caused to siand till three, and "then marched off for Sunderland, which we reached by nine. When we were brought up into the tow^i, 1 heard several of the inhabitants say one to aaotherj "That his the Meliodist men- tionedJintbe Newspapers*: for his looks-arenot like other m«i's." O my God, why am Land my fellows beieome men that are wondered at ? > While we stoodj a landlord come to us, and said; Sir, I wish youiwould quarter at my bouse; for I' ex • p®et two, aivdishall be glad, to liayeiyoti^for onei and lis whom' you choose for a comrade, I cho.se Corporal W. , and askedifor a billet as the mart desired, but could not get it; yet 1 believe we got the best quarters we could in Sunderland. Thus 1 see, if we acknowledge God in all our ways, he will direct our paths. When Iwent to exercise, many carae to see me, and I fell into discourse. with them, but could get no hold of them ; for they assented and consented to all I said ; and were so full of what the world cajls good manners, that all I spake v.as written on the sand, "though I talked with them .several days ; yet sorae, I trust, will be mindful of their everlast-. ing welfare. ¦¦.¦'-'. ^ On Saturday night I was ordered to stand centry on tire Sunday following, but I desired I might stand aoother day, or pay for my guard., I bctieve ten raea offered to stand for me, but all in vain ; for the Eiisign, who had shewn hatred agasinst me all along, was the officer .ofthe guard that day ; and he pro tested he would make me do it myself. J asked. Sir, what have I dpnq, that I. cannot have the same li- barty as another man ? He answered, "You love the church too well; and I will, keep you from it, and make them go who; do not lifee. to go !" Keep me, O my God, from all anger or ill will ; for thi^ man is set to prove me! I went to the guard house,: and many came to talk withrae: but I did not stand contry till six on Monday morning. The Ensign saying in the street, I should not go to church, because 1 loved it, drew many ofthe people to me: apd will turn, I am persuaded, to the furtherance ofthe gospel, . The week after Mr. M came. He had heard what the Ensign had done, and came to me, and asked me how 1 did: and said, I am informed Mr. A— -^-: — hindered you from going to churcir: but I will assure you, you shall nqt be hindered again as long as you are with us. 1 have found soraething good in this man ever since I knew bini. 113, He will hear reason and seems to make a conscience both of his words and actions. I was near an hour in his chamber, apd he asked me of the principal points of our doctrine. I made them as plain tp him as I could, and he heard me with great candour, and laid, he had no fault at all to find with it. He told me, "The first time that ever I saw you : I saw you was no vagrant ; but it would be a scandal to all who were concerned in Bending or receiving such a one, for the act of parliament does not reach such as you ; but the rest »i the officers said they could not help it, for you were delivered to us as a soldier by the Justices, and they are the rogues." No, Sir, I answered-, the Jnstices are in no fault, for I was ne ver before any of them yet. He said, "Who sent you then?" I replied, ''The , XprtiraissionerB.'' What evidence had they against you? The accusa tion against me, by the constable's deputy was, "He preaches to the people :" and be also confessed that he knew nonther evil of me. "Well, but the Act of Toleration clears ypu from that being a crime.: what, had you no nmn to speak for you ?" Yes, se veral were ready, but none were suffered to do it; ^either were, the papers regarded, which my hprtest neighbours and gentlemen ;Sent on my behalf ; for one of the Coraraissioners was the Parson of our parish, and he was the evidence against me, and they said, they would, hear no other. Nay, said Mr. M , it is no wonder they treated you so, if the Priest was concerned ; for they haye been at the head of all persecutions for reli gion which have been since the world began, I see them so wicked, that ,1 do not mind religipn at all. But this is my religion ; I believe there is one God;, and that Christ his son died for the world : I strive to do honestly to all men: and to do a good turn to the meanest if I can ; and I think my religipn is better than theirs, who preach one thing and do another ; for I have seen so much of thetn, that I assure you, I would hear you as soon as any in the land. P 114 He said, he could like to read some of our books ; «o I made him a present of. An earnest Appeal, The Character of a Methodist, and a Sermon, Awake thou that Sleepest. He has since told me, that he has read therti, and likes them well. This day he procured me a furlough to go to New-* castle, for seven da^s; and I found I did not go up without the Lord : for my soul, and those of the peo ple, were refreshed with the love of God: several of the soMiers came io hear me preach, and gave great attention to the things that were spoken. I found great freedom to speak to the children, whom God has called out of the evil world, to serve him in this place; Watch over them, O my God, for good, and be thou their guide unto d^th. On Tuesday my time was out to go back, I preached at Fainshee in the afternoon, to an atten tive congregation, and got to Sunderland by seven at night. This week I received a letter from Mr. Charles Wesley, that the E. of S. had assured the Lady Huntingdon, that I should be set at liberty in a few days. I said, " The Lord hath not forgotten to be gracious, for he hath taken my cause in hand, andit shall turn to his glory: for he alone hath done the work, when all human raeans seemed to fail. My enemies cried. We have made his bonds strong and none can deliver him out of oui* snare: for we have put it out of the officer's power to dis charge him for any price. Lord I beseech thee open their eyes, and let them see the snare which Satan hath laid for their souls-, and escape by speedy re*" pentance, and faith in thy blood." This week I was much outof health by the surfeit I got in marching ; but found present ease by being M^d. The week followirig I was sent for by the captain to the storehouse ; and be insisted on m^- going though I was so ill. When I came there, lie aud three more officers came and qsked me how I did; I told them; and they said, "Here is a good coat for yow^ -to keep you from the cold, that yon 115 .may recover your health." I said, " 1 haye coats enough, if that would do ; I need none of yoijirs.'' They said, " They would make me wear it, and jadl other cloathing belonging to a soldiqr." I an- , swered, " You raay array nie as a man of war, but 1 shall never fight.'' They asked me» "What is your rea,son ?" My answer was, " I cannot see any .thing 'in this world worth fighting for- I want neither its riches nor honours, but the honour that cometh from God pnly : I regard neither its smires nor its frowns ; and have no business in it, but t(t get well out of it." Then they ordered the serjeant io pull off my coat, and put a red on me : when he had done it, .they fiufned rae round and rejoiced over me : I said, " You sqe the scripture cannot be broken, where it ^ saith. If they do- this in the green tree, what vvill they do in the dry ?" What do you mean by that, they asked? I answered, " The soldiers took Jesus and stripped himj and put a scarlet rpbe upon him, and mocked hira, as you have treated me, his servant, this day, for speaking his words. He in deed bath the greater condemnation who delivered me into your hands : but I pray God forgive you all.'' These words turned their countenances and behaviour towards me, and one pf tliem laboured much from that time to find sorae way for me to be set at liberty. During my three .weeks illness, many of the brethren and sisters from ' Newcastle, Biddick, and Painshee, came to see me^ and Gpd was pleased at that time to give spme the knowledge of salvation by the remission of their sins ; and to comfort all our hearts with his love. O may we eyer keep his commandments, that we may continue in his love, even as he hath kept his Father's commandments, and continued in bis Ipve, On Friday, July g7, John Graham, pf Sunderland, came to me with an opeq letter in his hand, and said, .."Cpme my friend, I bavegot good news for thee: 116 Cod hath heard the prayers of his people in thy be- hajf, and gent theedtJliVerance : here, read the lettei*, which the Major hath sent to the Captain on thy ac count," It was on this wise, "I hav« received an or der from the Earl of S, to discharge John Nelson, who was pressed from Birstal, in the West-Riding df Yorkshire: .therefore take Ins arms and cloathing from him whiqh he has received, and let me kriowif he has had any pay sirtce be came, and send him to me with a furlough." Accordingly I delivered' all things I had belonging to them, to Lieutenant M— — , who said, he was glad that I was released, aiid wished me well wheresoever I went : I had a fur lough given me, and set out in the afternoon with some that were come from Newcastle to see me ; and got there by seven. All the Society gave God thanks on my behalf, ris soon as they saw me; for they had knowledge of my deliverance before I had. Next morning I went to the Major's quarters about nine ; when I had waited about an hour, I was ordered to corae at half an hour past eleven : I did so, and waited another houi*: then the Major called to me, and bade me come at half an hour after two, and he wouldspeak to me; I came again as he ordered me, and when I stayed near ao hour, orte of the Captains called to me, and said, "The Major wqs gone to dine with the Mayor of the town, and you will hardly see him to night; 5> but you, will be sqre to find him to.'^morrow mornin_ I told him that would not do for rae, for my'business was not to b« done on the Sabbath," Near six in the evening, I saw the Major go along the street, and followed him to his lodgings; he saidj. " I have bad orders from Lord S — to discbarge you," He sent for the Adjutant, and ordered him to bring two printed discharges with him. He came, and three n^ore ofthe officers with hira, and filled up the discharge: when he had done, be said, " 1 wish all the men in our regiment would behave as well as! Mr, Nelson had, done since' he has beeq 117 among us, it wbuld be better for us andtherii too." Then our Lieutenant said, " Indeed he has done mucb good since he came among us, for we have not had one third of the cursing and swearing in the regiment, which we" had before he came ; attd lie has given me several private exhortations, and some of their books, and I thank him for thera, and for his adyice, for they are good." Then the Major said," "1 wish I had a regiraent of such raen as he is in all respects,- save that one, his refusing to fight, I would not care what eneray I had to meet, or where my lot was cast," "^ Sir, if you fear God, I said, you have no need to fear any thing else ; for they that f*ar him depart from evil, and seek to do his will, and not their own ; they know that in his hands are the issues of life and death : therefore they fear not hira that can kill the body only, but hiin who can destroy both body and soul ia hell. And every one that has this fear is truly wise ; and he that dares corarait sin, his wisdom is the foolishness of folly : for he is pulling destruction on his own bead, and fitting hiraself for the fuel of •bell fire. But he that IS wise unto salvation is bold as a lion, and is more noble than to comtend for the honour which cometh of men : fbr having bread to eat, and raiment to put on,, he knows, that is all this world can afford him. He pities the great ones of the earth, who feeds on husks, and can be content with the empty title of Bight Honourable ; while, by sin, they debase themselves down to hell : but by these thing* the god of this world blinds their eyes, so that very few of them see the way fo heaven, as it is pointed out in the word of God,'' ¦" Well," said the Major, " if you are so scru pulous about fighting; what must we do ?'' I an swered, " It is your trade, and if you had a better it might be better for you." — But somebody, he"ie- lilied, must fight. I said, "If all men lived by faith on the Son of God, wars would be at an end.'^ That is true, he answered, if it was so, we should Jcarn war no more. 118 But there is one thing, said he, I desire to know; tell rae, "Do you make your serraons before you go to preach, or do you speak of hand ?" I do not study what to say, but speak as the Spirit of God enables me. "Well,^' said he, "I cannot tell what you mean by the Spirit of God." The more is the pity, I an swered, that you should have lived so long in the world, and know nothing of God yet: for we do»not know God but by his own Spirit given unto us ? and till we have received that Spirit, we are without God in the world : and no man can have this gift and not know it ; for thus saith the Lord Jesus, "At that day ye shall know that I am in my father, and yen in me, and I in you." So tliat if God be true, we must know that Christ is in us, or we are none of hi*: for as many as are led by the Spirit of God they ^ are the sons of God : but if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his : he is no Chris tian, no more 'than a Turk Or Pagan is, unless, he has the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead, to raise hira in this world frora the death of sin. Here orte ofthe Captains spake: "You said, one day, if we have not the Spirit of God, we are dead while we live." "Did 1 so?" "Yes, you did." "Then I will prove it both from the doctrine of tlie Church of England, (of which I profess myself a member,) and from, the word of God." God ^Ve rne to speak plainly from both for about twentjr minutes : none contradicting me, but they both stood as dumb men. Then the Major said, "Here is such a discharge for you, as I never gave before, but once: and put it into ray hand." I told them, *T have now delivered my own soul, and am pure from the blood of you all: for 1 have npt spared either poor or rich, since I carae among ypu, but have set life and death before you all, as you carae in my way. I have declared unto you, that the wicked shall be turned into hell, and all ,tlie people that forget God : and contrari wise, the blessed ^tate of them that repenl, and obey 119 the gospel of Christ our Saviour: and I pray God" to give you all to understand the things which belong to youp everlasting peace, and bless you in turning every oneof you from your iniquities: then shall we meetanother day to part no more," The Major said^ " I w*ish you well wherever you go : for I believe you IVJ^thodists are a well-meaning people ; and so iaid they all. I gave them a book,, and took my leave of them. I went to^^^he room, and pleached' that night, and had several ofthe soldiers .to hear me, who gave at-^ tention to what I said ; tlien I took my leave of them, but seme of them wept, and desired me to pray for them, and said, "We are glad you are set at liberty, but sorry to part with you,?' I commerided them to God, and to the word of hi* grace, and trust they will mind tlie exhortation, and become soldiers of Jesus Christ. * On the S8th day of July, 1 was set at liberty to go wheresoever I thought was raost to God's glory, who had delivered me from my bonds: for he hath done the wOrki and to him the glory is due. What am I, that he should care for me ! But he is a God that heareth prayer: and the cries of his people inclined him to take my cause in band. Praise ¦the Lord O my soul, who has kept thee in a,ll thy trials,. and hath not sufltered thee to faint ia sore temptations. , Now I find the words true which Mr. John Wes ley wrote me at York ; "Well, ray brother, is the God whom you serve able to deliver you ; and "do you; find him faithful to his- word? Is his grace still suffi cient for you? I doubt it not. He will not suffer you to be weary or faint in your mind. But he had work for you to do, which you knew not of, and thus- his counsel was to be fulfilled I O lose no time? Who knoWs liow many souls God may by this means deli ver into your hands. Shall not all these thingsr be for the furtherance of the Go-spel ! And is not ther time coming when we shall cry out together. Nay, in- all these things vve are more than cwuqiierore throflffh hire that loved us?" 120 On the 29th of July, 1774, the day aftpr I was re leased from my captivity, I pre,achcd at the room in Newcastle ; and the power of the Lord was present ; several more were converted that week, and my own soul refreshed araongst thera. The week after 1 set out for horae ; and brother Tinkler assisted me with his horse as far as Ferry- biH, where we commended each other to the grace pf God, and I set out on foot. The day after I met brother Ash, aqd two more near Boroughbridge, coming to meet me with my mare. We stopped and sang praises together unto God, who had broken my bonds, and preserved them in many dangers. . - It was given out for me to preach at Leeds that night; and I preached in an open yard, to a large company of rich and poor, that did not attend our preaching before I was sent for a soldier: thus we see that what the enemies ofthe Lord Jesus do to hinder his gospel helps to enlarge his.kiii^om*^ So it is, that he turns the fierceness of raen toinis praise, and they remainder of it he restrains: for not one in Leeds opened his mouth against me, but hundreds said they were glad to see rae at liberty again. When I got home I found my wife and children well, and we praised God together. But when I came to converse with the pepple, my soul was dis tressed within me, for those that had shewed great love before I went, by their behaviour and counte nance, now seemed to wish I bad not come back; for Mr. Viney, who had been with the Moravians, had got among thera in my absence, and had preach ed to them another gospel. They now told rae they did not want the law, or work-prfiacbing any more, but- that they wanted to be fed ; and that neither Mr., Wesley nor I knew how to build up souls as well as Mr, Viney did. But 1 found that they were built up in! an unholy faith; for they .said, to tell the peo ple that they raust be holy in this world, was Mr. Wesley's error and raine, and we kept soids in bood-r 3ge, by preaching as we did ; some of them, in- 121 deed, shewed their liberty, by trampling under foo^ the law of God and man. When I saAv such havock made amongst the flock hy his soft words and speeches, my soul was distres sed within me, so that I could not eat my bread. I threw myself on the ground, and requested for death, saying. Lord, why hast thou suffered me to come back to see this evil ? When I preached, many stood like stocks or stones, and others smiled at one another : so that my preach ing was like a feather thrown against a rock, or as water spilt upon the ground, except to a few stran gers, who were affected. Isaid, ''Woe is me! for .my children flee from me, as if I had brought the plague among them !" I humbled myself before God, and begged for light that I might know his will ; and I opened the book on these words, *' Bring forth therefore fruit* meet for repentance: and think not to say withiq yourselves. We have Abrahara for our Father, for L say unto you, that God is able, of these stones, to raise up children unto Abraham' : and now also the axe is laid unto the root of the tree ; therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn doWn, and cast into the fire." 1 went out and stood upon actable, and preached from these words to a large congregation, who seemed to be as a people that never heard the gospel before, and there began to hea trerabling araongst them, when raany fell to to the ground, and cried out, "Lord, save, or I perish !" Many came to me weeping, and said. We have been deluded by the German song ; O pray for us, that God may give us back that tender conscience which we have lost since you left us. Then Mr. Viney went out ofthe congregation, hanged down his head, and owned us no more; but my soul re vived again, for sinners were converted, and others restored to the simplicity of the gospel, who had been wise above what is written ; but some continue tothis day in theirliappy sinnership. I met with one 123 of thein the other day, so drunk, that he could not keep the cart-road. I asked him what he thought of himself now, if death was to sei2;e him in that wretched condition ? He said, That he was, not afraid to die, for he was as his Saviour would h^ve him to be; antlio\e that Jesus Christ died for irty feins, and ro.se again for my ju.slilication,; that he died for ine, thai his,]ij'e , might be manifest in,;my mortal f^^sh ; that I might not live to myself,, butto him who died for me : aud thisfaith kindles a flarae of love in the lieait of those -that receive it, to God and every soul of man; and I, would not give a straw for. any thing called t:iitb, short, of this. . Tbe same Apostle sait!i,.that his Gpramissiou to theipeople; and.tothe Gentiles was, to open tjieir.eyes, and to turn them from, darkness tu light, and from tlie. pciwer of Satan to God; that they might'; receive, forgiveness of sins,. and an inherLtajneeamon^,tlKMiitliat are sanctified by faith, in Jesus Christ :» but there, is'. not one word of Repr/ibation in his commission.; and if any. come to preatsh iqnoiher gospel, let him be accursed.". He stormed .at.me, andk cail-ed.ime a -muddy^-headed creature several tiiiies. . 1 answered, "My head is riuiddy, or your. doctrine i-siun^ilean,'/ If you clear Gati,.'amL nor raakt^him a liJar, nor guilty of per»- july, nor tiie author of all >, Andyou have affirmed, that it i.Si God's pleasure, to leave the greatest partof luaiakkiJ to an unmerciful devil, to govern therrt here, aad torment them hereafter.: nay, you alfiriij^ that lit is his ^lobd .pica«ure to damn infants from tlieir riaiotlier'.s womb. O Sir, beware what- you say agaiiist; tiie God of love : for you have raade him Worse than Moloch: by your, words, that man is as BiiKiu doing the will of God, that cuts h is father'i^ throat, and thaij ravi&heih his own mother,^ as he that feedeth .the hungvv and clotheth the naked. O Sir, R 130 is this the GOd that was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself.? No, he is loving to every man, and his mercy is over all his works ; and St. John saith. He that loveth is born of God; and knoweth God, for God is love." Then he raade a noise like a butcher in the bear-garden. When I could be heard, I said, " Sir, if ever you preach again, 1 must look upon you either as a fool or knave." He asked, "Why so?" I replied, " You say the elect was chosen from eternity, and the rest set apart for misery : and that the decree cannot be broken ; and if you think one, of tbe chosen can be lost for want of preaching, or one of the reprobates can be saved by your preaching, you must be void of reason, and .something worse, if you believe the thing is fixed, and that preaching will aggravate the torment of the lost, and the greatest part of your hearers are lost, who help to maintain you as a gentleman, only" to increase their damnation." He looked at rae with a stern countenance, and said, 1 was as bad as Mr. Wesley hiraself. 1 replied, "Sir, why do you find fault?" If what you say be true, God hath decreed me to think as I do ? And how can I break the decree ? He" said, " I hate to hear you talk so.'' I answered, " Do you want God to break his de cree ?" Then heVent away in a rage. Another preacher of the same sort heard of our dispute, and told me, he would put a question to me, that would drive me from inherent righteous ness : viz. "If the white rairaent, that those ap peared in before the throne of heaven, was not the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ ?'' I said, " No, Sir." But he affirraed it was. I then said, " It is almost blasphemy, in my opinion, to say so." He said, "What do you raean?" I answered, " The Scripture saith, that they came out of great tribulation ; and washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb": I never heard that his life was stained hy sin ; neither man nor deyil could accuse him thereof ;,his righteousness had no need of washing ; it is blasphemy to say that it didt 131 for shame ; go home and read the Scriptures, and you will see, it is the blood of Jesus Christ that cleanses from all sin, but cloaks none : when a soul appeai-s iu that company, it is not like a dunghill covered with sno%y, but really pure, and is, by the power of Jesus Christ's spirit, restored to the image of God, in which it was at first created : and then, and not till then, can it enter in at the gates of the New- Jerusalem, and join the angels and the archan gels, and spirits of just nien raade perfect, to sing an eternal antliem of the Great Three One." He said, " You shall never make rae think as Wesley and you do." I replied, " If you don't in this world, you will in the next ; for if you die defiled and un clean, you must be cast into a lake that burneth with fire and brimstone ; so you had better begin now yourself, and advise your hearers to cry out. Create in rae a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within rae, O Lord : for none but the pure in heart can see God.'' — He said, " I do not care what you can say, for ray salvation was completed when,.Christ hung on the cross." I replied, " Not so," for he did not repent for you : you must repent for yourself, or eternally perish, after all he hath done aud suf fered for you : and if you do not believe that he died fbr your sins, and rose again for your justifi cation : Nor was he risen again when he bung on tbe cross, Avhich yet was a necessary part of the work which he came to do :. Nor was be born again for you, for you must be born again, or you can never enter into the kingdora of heaven; and be as really raade a partaker of tbe divine nature by re generation, or you have no more right to call God your father, or heaven your inheritance, than I have to call King George my father, and bis throne mine." He said, "You are a strange set of people;" and left me. O my God, take the matter into thy own hand, and put a stop to the antichristian doc trine, that is spreading as a flood in our land ; and o^ive the people to see the truth as it is in Jesus : and 132 create such an hungering and thirsting after inward holiness, that they^maypaTit as the litarl paule4li after the water-brooks, till all that is in them be riiade holiness to the Lord. ' - , I was in hopes that 1 had done with that sort of people, but a third came lo me soon after in a rage, and said, that I Was an enemy lo tbe gospel. ; f asked, "Wherein.'^ Sir, he i(])licd, "In saying that Christ died for all: and in denying imputed,- righteousness." 1 answered, " Faith in Christ, is imputed for righteousness, lo every soul tliatbe- lieA'eth! and they are freely forgiven for bis sake, received into G«d's favour and fartiily, and are made partakers of the same spirit, that raised our Lord' from the dead: whereby they arc enabled to deny ungodliness, and Worldly lu.st.s, and to live a godly, righteous, and sober life, in this present evil world: and to perfect holiness in the fear of God,'^ In the Scripture seiiscj these live not, but Christ liveth in them ; and he doth actually destroy the works ofthe devil j and reinslamp the image of God' in theii souls; and I read ofno other qualification to fit a Soul for God's corapany," H^ said, "You are stupid; and so are all those that follow Wesley: but I believe as I say, and so do many better men than either he or you." I answered, "Ifyou and all the Preachers in England were to believe so, 1 will not give you credit unless Ihe word of God expressly says, that Christ dki not die for all ; but it saith se-' verai times, that he did die tor all: but not once that he did not die for all : and how you came to be wise above what is written, I krtovv not ; neither do I want such wisdom.'' I .added, "Tell me. Sir, did you' evrr feel the love of God in your own .soul? Ifydii did. I appeal to your coiiscienee, that at that time you fovriid love to every sonl of man: now this was not your nature, but the nature of God ; and if one drop- of the bucket could so swell your soul, Avhat niu.st- tbat ocran be from WhcncC it came? But 1 canriot help thinking, that you of that principal never knCw 1 rto Cod, or il' you had known him, you hare forgotfeo him; for you make him worse than Moloch." Ori this he fell into a rage With me. 1 said, be not an gry with me, but rather be consistent with yourself: and if 1 could believe as you do, I would not have so Ibnq: troubled the pei)ple with preaching: for you say. '; Not oue of them that Christ died for can perish, nor the rest be saved,'' 'j'hen why do you and I beat the air ? For Christ Avill have his, you say, and the Deyil must have his ; therefore let each have their own quietly: and do not torment the poor creatures be fore the lime. He then went away in haste, and sent for arguments to those of his own starap in London,' to put' a stop to universal redenrtption and inward holiness: but never yet broue:ht thiem to rae. Soon after, I met with a Ronian Catholic, who began to condemn all sects and parties, saying, ''They must all perish, that die out qf the pa;le of the church: that there is but One true church, and that the church of Koine is it." I replied, " Whatever the church of Rome is, you do not belong to Christ's chiirch yet ; for you curse and swcjar, and get drunk, and break the Sabbath: and while you continue to do sP, you belong to the .synagogue of Satan."— But he said, "Oiir Priests have Peter's power, and could arid would forgive the sins of all that belong to our cbmmnnity." I answered, " Not so- for one wicked riiaii cannot forgive another, nor forsake his own sins ; no: it is God that is offended, artd it is he that is offended that must forgive the offender : one rebel cannot forgive anothar; it is the King that must for give both, or both raust suffer. You .say also, that the Wafer is the real body and the wine is the real blood of Christ, after consecration ; then according to you, whosoever is a partaker of it hath eternal life abid ing in hiin; but the Scripture saith, that no whore monger, or drunkard, or blagphenier, hath eternal life abiding in him; and you know, that many of your church, that are partakers of the Eucharist, a re such, Kay, St. Paul tells us, in the Sth chapter of 134 the Galatians, of seventeensorts of sinners, that shall not inherit tbe kingdom of God ; therefore be not de ceived, neither cast away the reason God hath given you. Now bring your wafer and set it before a swine, an ape, or a bear, and they will devour it, how can you dare to say that is divine; if it be so, these brutes must be raised up at the last day, as well as you." He gave me bad words. And another of them said, "If he might have his will on me, he would have me boiled in oil ;" then they left me. Ob, my God, rend away the veil of ignorance frora that people, and let all nations see thy salvation. On ray journey to tiie place where I was going to preach, 1 called at a gentleman's house, where was much corapany; and he insisted I should stay and dine with thera. I desired to be excused. He said, " What is your reason? You have tirae enough on your hands." I replied, "Sir, I don't care to affront you in your own house!'' "What do you mean?" he said. I answered, "If I affront the gentlemen at your table it will affront you ; and I do not expect to sit at the table to day, but I shall here the name of the Lord blasphemed, tho' tliere are two Clergymen in the company; and if I do, I must re prove them, or carry a guilty conscience home, which I ^^ill not do fpr all you have." He said, "I insist on you to dine with me : aud you are welcome to reprove sin; and if I be guilty, reprove me first." 1 said, "You, Sir. as soon as any one, or I should not love your soul as well as another's." When we" were set down, I bad scarce time to eat one morsel, before I had occasion to reprove ; for one gentlemen AvaS a Roman Catholic, and he scarce spoke three words, but one Avas an oath. I said to the master of the feast, " There is one thing too deep forme; I cannot fathom it." He asked, "What is that?" 1 au.ytvered, " When I see a man endcAved with reason, ai»d of a liberal education, run himself out of breath for no prize.'' He said, " What do JOU ra,:;an?'' I replied, "When such an one 'avIII 135 damn his soul with swearing and cursing, it is like running for no prize. If he damn his soul to gra tify his vain and foolish desires, he hath a sort of pleasure, though it is brutish : but the other brings neither pleasure nor credit." Then said the gentle- roan, Peter swore. I replied, "He did so; but when he had done he Avent out and wept bitterly : and I do not suppose he ever swore again, Sir, I ¦Avishyou would doashedid.'' He answered. "Well, I own it is not right to swear ; but here arc some of your clergy, as you call yourself a churchman, that Avill swear as mu<;h as I, when they are hunting." I said, "Sir, I am sorry to hear that : but it will not justify you or me, if we sAvear, because your priest and ray rainister Avill sWear." Then another said, "Do you think that Mr. John Wesley would not jwear a vain oath for a hundred pounds ?" I an swered, "I believe he would not swear a vain oath to save his neek from the gallows: if I was sure he would, I would turn my back on him for ever." The Roman Catholic said, I neither care what jou nor he saith ; for hunt I will, and I have as good a pack of fox-dogs as is in the kingdom, and a couple of as good horses to follow them : which do but cost me about two hundred pounds a year, and 1 can Avell afford it. But I replied, "Sir, Iioav will you answer for sperid- ing two hundred pounds' a year, when you come tq give an account of your stewardship?" He an swered; "it is my own; I ara not a steward." I re plied, "You are but a steward. Sir ; for the earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof; so are the cattle on a thousand hills. He says. The gold is raine, and the silver is mine ;" and he will say to you, " Thou hast taken, my gold and my silver, and spent it on thy dogs, and horses, and fighting-cocks, in the room of feeding the hungry, and clothing the naked; or as being a husband to the widow, or as a father to the fatherless, or as eyes to the blind, or legs to the lame. O' Sir, consider, it is but a little while, before God will my to you, Come and give an account for your stew- 13G . ardship, for thou, must be no longer steward • Then you Avill wish, all that you have spent in yoluptuous,- ness and vain pleasures, had been given to the poor and needy." Then the two C'iergymen Avhispered together ; aud the whisper went round to llie Rfniiau Catholic, and he said, " Why did God make dogs of such a naturcj if it was not for gentlemen's diver sion !" I answered, "Who dares say, that God made them so?'' He said, " Did not God make thein ?'' Yes, Sir, I replied, and you too; bat not us you are. He said, " What dp you mean?" I re plied, "When God had finished theiCreation, he pronounced every thing good : and there was no death iq any creature. But when sin entered into Ithe world, then death entered into the world by sin : but before raan sinned against his Maker, there was nothing in one creature that would take the life of another: no, the h*re would as soon have hunted the hound, as the bound the hare. At that tiqie the larab would as sopn have killed the lion, as the lion the lamb : and the pigeon the hawk, as the hawk the pigeon. But since the fall, the earth is cursed for man's sins, and every thing it produces ; nay, it is all a curse to qi an, till it issanctified to him by prayer. And I do not believe, that you or any one .that is here^ go to your knees to desire God to give his blessing on your vindertakings, Avhen you go a hunting, and to eu.ible you to use the hounds and horscs.to his g';lory ; jiot believing, that you can do anything that will please, hiuiibetter.',' He said, "I have heard that Weslpyiiiad taught you the art of reasoning ; and I find he has," 1 replied, "Sir, if you er any man that is present, can disprove what I say, let them do it now." , After my return fo Leeds, I went to Wakefield, and preached to a small, but serious congregation; The nextmorning 1 set out for Kirk-Heatori ; 'and in ray way, 1 called to breakfast with a friend in Horbury ; but before I had been there half an hour, the house was beset with almost the Avhole town, 137 men, women and children, cried out, with one voice, " Bring hira out, that we may put hira into the river," 1 went out to them, and said, " What do you want?'' They damned rae, and said, "You, you Methodist dog," I replied, " What have I done to you : I am not going to preach here now," Then the Parson's son swore, " You shall never preach more, for we Avill drown you in the river this day," And I found that almost the whole town had agreed together, that all the jourrteyraen and ap prentices should leave work, as soon as the next preacher came into the town, and put a halter about his neck, and drag bim into the river, and drown him, that the town might be quit of them for ever ; and the Parson 'fs son was the captain of the mob, who had prepared a crazy man to put the halter about my neck : and he stood with one in his hand, and a'butcher with a rope to help to hale me along: but while my voice could be heard, they had not poAver to touch me : then tliey went to the clerk's house, and got six large hand bells, and carae and rung them round me, so that my voice could not be heard ; then the madman, who was aibqut six feet higli, put the halter to my throat, but I put ray- hand hetween my throat and it, and pushed it back, and the man fell to the ground as if be had been knocked down with an axe; and the butcher stood trembling, and touched me not. The constable then carae with his staff in his hand : upon which the mob cried, "Here is the constable; let him come, and he will put the rope on him now ; for be will help us," He came to me, and I said, " Are you the constable!" He answered, "Yes, I am; and that I ivill let you knoyv," I repliedy^ " I ara glad ypu are come ; and I charge you in the King's name to do your office," He asked, " What is my oflSce ?" I answered, " It is toquell this mob ; and to deliver me out of their hands: and if I have done any thing contrary to the law, to carry me before a ^lagistrate : and let me be punished by the law.' ¦ S 138 He turned pale, and said, "Where are you going ?'•' I answered, "I was going to the stable to get my horse, but was stopped by this mob," He bade them be silent; and said, " Follow me," He wertt to the stable and led out my horse, arid held the stirrup, while I got on: he then led , mle quite . through the crowd, and bade me-go on in the name of the Lord. O, my God! hitherto thou hast help- • ed me! When I got to my place, we had a coirifortable meeting ; for the power of the Lord was present to heal; and one that had waited long, was set at liberty : and all praised the Lord on my behalf,, for his delivering me from the hands of the ungodly. I went once more to York, in Passion, week ; aud preached ori Good Friday, at Hepworth Moor, to a serious, peaCeable people ; and gave out. to preach there qn Easter Sunday, at eight in the morning : then I went to a village about three, miles • from York, where I preached to a very large and well- behaved congregation. On Easter Sunday 1 went to Hepworth Moor at the time appointed, and found two comparties. of people assembled : the one carae to hear the word, and the other to mob. After we had sung a hymn and prayed, I opened my boOk on these wor4s : " God having raised up his Son Jesus Christ, and sent him to bless ^you, in. turning every one of you fromyour iniquities ;" and I went^pn to prove that this was his business in this preseiift evil world, ac-. tually to save all true believers from their sins; and 'that it Avas neither sect, party, nor opinion, that made a man a real member of Christ's church : but the real christians are thOse that are sayed from their sins, by Jesus Christ, both from omitting and committing:; and every thing short of this, Avas not Christianity; therefore, I said, "Be not deceived; fOr whatsdever is defiled or unclean, cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven, but must be cast into the lake that burri- eth with fire and brimstone :" and as this day is ko^t 139 in the remembrance of God's raising his Son .up to bless .us, let every one cry out, " Lord, bless me, and turn rae from ray iniquities." Then a gentlemar., a papist, that brought the rebels to mob, cried, " Knock out the brains of that mad dog ;" and per fectly gnashed Avith his teeth. Immediately a shoAver of stones. came, aud hit many of the people, and they continued to throw, till not. one could stand to hear rae; nevertheless not one stone hit me, tho' I stood as a mark on the table, when all were fled from me, and I talked to the mob; but when I got down and Avas going away, one hit me with a piece of a brick on the hack of my bead, and I fell flat on my face, and must have lain for soraetirae, had riot two men lifted me up; but I could. not stand for sometime. The blood ran down my back quite into ray shoes, and tbe mob followed me thro' the city, swearing that they would kill rae, when they got me out of it, I said, unto.the Lord, " Lord, thou wast slain with out the gate, and thou canst deliver me from tho hands of these bloodthirsty men," When i Avas got over the bridge, a gentleman came and took me by the hand, saying, "What is the matter you bleed so ?" Some ofthe mob answered, ''That is but littie to what we will do. to him." Then the gentleman pulled me into his house; and told the mob if they did not disperse inimediately, some of them should be in the castle before an hour was at an end. Then they fled away: 'and be sent tor a Surgeon tp dress my head, I lay dowri awhile ; apd brother Slaton .came Avith my horse-, and I rode to Ackham, Avhere I Avas to have preached at five in the afternoon ; but just at that tiirie, there came about ten young 2:entlenif n. Some in the coach, some on the box, and behind the coach ; who began to sing the songs ofthe drunkards, and to throw rotten eggs at the Women. i and two more Avere in a little field by the house, AA'alkina, Avhen there came two big men, one of Avhora swore, " Here he is ; J will kill hira if there Avas not 140 another man alive," I told him that be had not any reason to kill rae, for I had done him no Avrong ; nor any one in the town. Then lie pulled off his bat and wig, and gaye thera to the other man, saying, " If I do not kill him, I will be damned,'' Then he cariie as fiercely to me as he could with an intent to run his head against the pit of my stomach, but I stepped aside, and he pitched on his head. When he got up, I spoke to bim again, and asked hira, Wbat I had done araiss to hira: he gaye me no answer, but ran again, and caught hold of the collar of my. shirt, which rent in pieces, and he fell down at my feet again ; then he got up, and came lo me the third time; and, as I made no resistance, he threw nic down, and leaped Avith his knees on ray belly several times, till he had beat the breath out of me, and set my head a bleeding again. He then Avent to the gentlemen that had hired hira and the other to kill me, and said, "Gentlemen, I have killed tbe preach er; he lies dead in the croft," And then be took one of our friends; and threw him against the corner of a wall, and broke two of his ribs. The parson's bro^ ther said, "Well, Ave will see ourselves ; Ave will not take your word." Upon Avhich be and about twenty more carae to me; but ray breath was coine again, and I was turned on my face, and lay bleeding on the ground. One of them said, "He vvill get his deaili if he lies there awhile." Then they lifted me up, and said, "We Avill h^lp.you into the house," When I could speak, I said, "Your mercy is only to make Way for more cruelty ; Ge|itlemen, if I have done any thing contrary tp the law, let me be punished by the law; I am a subject to King George, and lo his laAv I appeal; and I am willing to go before my Lord Mayor, as he is the King's Magistrate," But they cursed me, and the King too, saying, he Avas as bad as Avp,or he would have hanged us all like dogs before noAv. One actually damned him, and said, <' Ji he was here, avc would serve him as bad as you.'' The Piirson's brother, cursed ine, and said, ,f' Ac- 141 eordiiig to your preaching, you would prove our Mi nisters to be blind guides, and false prophets ; but we .will kill you, as fast as you cpme.'' One said, " If Wesley comCs On Tuesday, he shall not live another day in this world." When I was got into the street, they set up a huzza, and a person caught bold of my right hand, and gave mc a hasty pluck : at the same •tlirte, another struck me on the left side of my head, and knocked me down. As I got up, they knocked me down eight times : and Avlien I lay on the ground^ not being able to get up, they took me by the hair of my head, and dragged me upon the stones for near twenty yards, some kicked me on my sides and thighs with their feet, as the others dragged me along ; and six of them got on ray body and thighs, lo tread the Holy Ghost out of rae, as they said. Then they let me alone a little while, and said One to another, "We cannot kill him." One said, "I have heard, that a cat has nine lives ; but I think he hath nine score." Another said, "If he has, he shall die this day.'* -A third said, " Where is his horse, for he shall qriit the town immediately." And they said to nie,;"C^der your horse to be brought to you ; for you 'shaft go before we leave you." I said, " I vvill not, for you intend to kill me in private, that you may escape justice ; but ifyou do murder me it shall l|e in public; and it may be, that the gallows may' bring you to repentance, and your souls may be saved from the wrath to come." Then one swore, if I would not go, they avouM put mc into the draw- well ; and the lifted up the lid ofthe well, and drag ged me toAvards it; but a Avoinan, big with chihL stood by the well, and pushed several of them down, so that they could not get me to it. Then two gen- llewomen, who came out of the city, called the gen tlemen by their nanies, that Avere striving to put rae in; who all let rae go, and turning to the gentle women, they looked as men confounded. In the mean lime, sortie friends got me up, and helped me up into the house. Then all the mob set out for the m city, singing debauched songs. This was on Easter Sujiday. I heard one of them say, as he got into the coach, " It is impossible for him to lire : and if John Wes ley comes on Tuesday, we will kill him : then we shall be quite rid of the Methodists for ever ; for no one will dare to come, if they two be killed." When they were gone, I sent for something to sweat me ; and I sweat so violently, that in the morn ing my shirt was, as if it had been stained wtth raw heef. But I was not so sore, as I expected ; for I set out to meet John Wesley, and was enabled to ride forty miles that day- I met him at Osraotherly, and heard him preach on a tombstone in the churchyard, to a large and serious congregalion. 1 found his word to come with power , to my soul, and was cpnstrained to cry out, " O Lord, I will praise thee for thy goodness to me: for thou hast been with rae in all my trials ; thou hast brought me out of the jaws of death ; and tho' thou didst per mit them to ride over my head^ and laidst afflictions on my loins, yet thou hast brought me thro' fire and water into a wealthy place!" And indeed in all my persecutions, my soul was kept in peace, so that J neither felt fear nor anger. So far, Lord, I ara thy witness ,' for thou dost give fitren.gth for our day, according to thy word, and grace to help in tirae of need, O my dear Redeemer, how shall I praise thee as thou oughtest to be prais ed ? O let my life be a living sacrifice to thee ; for it is by thee alone, that I escaped both temporal and eternal death ! When I had told Mr. Wesley of the treatment I had mot with, he blessed God for my deliverance. However, I advised him not togo to York at that time, but go to Leeds ; and God"blei*ed his word to many sou Is at Leeds tli;U week. Thus far I can say, "The Lord, is my helper; O, may 1 never grieve his Spirit; then will he be my guide unto death, and my portion for ever." 143 Tlus is a plain narrative of the dealings of God and man with me, from my youth to the forty-i^econd year of my natural life. A HYMN. O For a thousand tongues to sing My dear Redeemer's praise ! The glories of my God and King, The triumphs of his grace ! My gracious Master, and my God, Assist me to proclaim, To spread through all the earth abroad The honours of thy narae. Jesus, the name that eharms our fears. That bids our sorrow cease ; 'Tis music in the sinners ears, ... v(^ 'Tis life, and health, and peaCe. . He breaks the power of cancell'd sin. He sets the prisoner free : His blood can make the foulest clean. His blood avail'd for me. He speaks, and listening to his voice. New life the dead receive ; The mournful, broken hearts rejoice. The humble poor belieye. 144 Ijear bim, ye deaf, his praisej ye dumb. Your loosen'd tongues employ ; Ye'blind, behold your Saviour come. And leap, ye larae, for joy. Look unto hira, ye nations ; own Your God, ye fallen race ; Look, and be sav'd through faith alone, Bejustified by grace! See all your sins on Jesus laid : The Lamb of God was slain ; His soul was once a offering made. For every soul of man. Harlots, and publicaris, and thieves. In holy triumph join! Sav'd is the sinner that believes, From crimes as great as mine. Drunkards, and all ye hellish crew, Blacken'd Avith lust and pride ; Believe the Saviour died for you, And feel his blood applied. Awake from guilty nature's sleep, And Christ shall give you light: o-lEast all your sins into the deep, y? And wash the iEthiop white. With me (your chief) ye then shall know. Shall feel your sins forgiven ; Anticipate your heaven below. And own that love is heaven, FINIS. 3 9002 00751 0663 lit mm 1 ) 1 > J