THE LIFE

OF THE

REV. JOHN WESLEY, A.M.

BOOK THE SIXTH.

CHAPTER I.

OF THE LABOURS OF MR. WESLEY AND OF HIS BROTHER, MR.

C. WESLEY, AND OF THE PREACHERS IN CONNECTION WITH THEM IN IRELAND, WITH THE PERSECUTIONS THAT FOLLOWED-MR. C. WESLEY'S MARRIAGE.

MR. WESLEY evidently seems to have had but one design from the commencement of his ministry, and which he invariably pursued till his spirit returned to God, viz., To be as useful as possible to his fellow-creatures, especially with regard to the salvation of their souls. He, therefore, never said, upon any success which he met with, "It is enough.” In this respect also, he forgot the things behind, and reached forth to those before. The same he continually inculcated upon those who laboured with him. Accordingly, one of the charges which he gave them at their admission, as I have already noted, was, "Observe! It is not your business to preach so many times, and to take care of this or that Society, but to save as many souls as you can; to bring as VOL. II.

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many sinners as you possibly can to repentance, and with all your power to build them up in that holiness, without which they cannot see the Lord."

Agreeably to this, they have from the beginning gone from place to place; and having formed Societies of those who turned to God, (for they take charge of none else,) they immediately visited new places, beginning to preach generally in the open air, on a horse-block, or on whatever offered. At length one of the preachers, a Mr. Williams, then zealous for God, crossed the channel, and began to preach in Dublin. Multitudes flocked to hear; and for some time there was much disturbance, chiefly, though not wholly, from the lower class, who are mostly Romanists. He soon formed a small Society, several of whom were happy witnesses of the truth which they had heard, viz., That God does now also give the knowledge of salvation by the remission of sins,' to those who repent and believe the Gospel.

Mr. Williams wrote an account of his success to Mr. Wesley, who determined to visit Ireland immediately. Accordingly, on Tuesday, August the 4th, 1747, he set out from Bristol, and passing through Wales, arrived in Dublin on Sunday, the 9th, about ten o'clock in the forenoon. A circumstance almost instantly occurred, which he considered as a token for good.' I shall relate it in his own words:

"Soon after we landed, hearing the bells ringing for church, I went thither directly. Mr. Lunell, the chief member of the Society, came to the quay just after I was gone, and left word at the house where our things were,

He would call again at one.' He did so, and took us to his house. About three, I wrote a line to the Curate of St Mary's; who sent me word, He should be glad of my assistance.' So I preached there, (another gentleman reading prayers,) to as gay and senseless a congregation as I ever saw. After sermon, Mr. R. thanked me very affectionately, and. desired I would favour him with my company in the morning.

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Monday, the 10th. I met the Society at five, and at six preached on, Repent ye, and believe the Gospel.' The room, large as it was, would not contain the people, who all seemed to taste the good word.

"Between eight and nine, I went to Mr. R., the Curate of St. Mary's. He professed abundance of good-will, commended my sermon in strong terms, and begged he might see me again the next morning. But at the same time, he expressed the most rooted prejudice against lay-preachers, or preaching out of a church; and said, the Archbishop of Dublin was resolved to suffer no such irregularities in his diocese.

"I went to our brethren, that we might pour out our souls before God. I then went straight to wait upon the Archbishop myself; but he was gone out of town.

"In the afternoon a gentleman desired to speak with me. He was troubled, that it was not with him as in times past. At the age of fourteen, the power of God came mightily upon him, constraining him to rise out of bed, to pour out his prayers and tears, from a heart overflowed with love and joy in the Holy Ghost. For some months, he scarce knew whether he was in the body, continually walking and talking with God. He has now an abiding peace; but cannot rest, till the love of God again fills his heart."

The house, then used for preaching, was situate in Marlborough-street, and was originally designed for a Lutheran Church. It contained about four hundred people; but four or five times the number might stand in the yard, which was very spacious. An immense multitude assembled there to hear him, on Monday evening; among whom were many of the rich, and ministers of all denominations. He spoke strongly and closely on, The Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe; and observes, that no person

seemed offended. All, for the present at least, seemed convinced, that he spake as the oracles of God.'

The next day he waited on the Archbishop. They conversed for two or three hours, in which time he answered an abundance of objections. He continued to preach morning and evening to large congregations, and had more and more reason to hope, they would not all be unfruitful hearers.

Having examined the Society, which then consisted of about two hundred and eighty members, and explained at large the Rules, (already mentioned,) he sailed for England, leaving Mr. Williams and Mr. Trembath to take care of this little flock. Many of these, he observes, were strong in faith, and of an exceeding teachable spirit; and therefore, on this account, should be watched over with the more care, as being almost equally susceptible of good or ill impressions.-Soon after this, he published an Address to the Roman Catholics: A very small tract, but clearly stating the points wherein we agree, and wherein we differ; and equally conspicuous for argument and temper.

The Society in Dublin enjoyed their sun-shine but for a little time. A persecution commenced, on which Mr. Trembath, in a letter to Mr. Wesley, makes the following observations: "I believe this persecution was permitted for good, that we might not trust in an arm of flesh. We thought that the Magistrates would do us justice; but in this we were disappointed. It likewise drives us all to prayer and watchfulness, and also causes us to love each other better than ever; so that we are like sheep driven by the wolf into the fold. When we went out, we carried our lives in our hands; but all this did not hinder us once from meeting together at the usual hours. The Society still increased, and those who had the root in themselves stood like marble pillars; and, by the grace of God, were resolved rather to die with Christ, than to deny him. All the city was in an uproar: Some said, It is a shame; the men do no harm:' Others said, The

dogs deserve all to be hanged.' Blessed be God, we walk unhurt in fire! Now we can literally say, we live by faith: And the less we have of human help, the more we shall have of divine."

Mr. C. Wesley, meantime, continued his labours in Bristol, London, and the places adjacent, till August the 24th, when, at the request of his brother, he set out for Ireland, taking with him Mr. Charles Perronet, son of the venerable Vicar of Shoreham, and brother of Mr. Edward Perronet, already mentioned. On the 27th, they reached Mr. Philip's, in Wales; and on the 28th, he observes in his Journal," Mr. Gwynne came to see me, with two of his family. My soul seemed pleased to take acquaintance with them. We rode to Maismynis church, where I preached, and Mr. Williams, after me, in Welsh. I preached a fourth time, (the same day,) at Garth. The whole family received us as the messengers of God; and if such we are, they received him that sent us.”

August 29. Mr. John Wesley, who had just arrived from Ireland, came to them at Garth. On the 30th, Mr. Charles Wesley preached on a tomb-stone in Builth church-yard, and again in the afternoon: In the evening he preached at Garth, on the marks of the Messias, from Matthew xi, 5.—Sept. 3, their friends left them: On the 4th, early in the morning, Mr. C. Wesley and his companions set out for Holyhead, which place they reached the next day at seven in the morning, having travelled on horseback twenty-five hours.-Sunday, September 6, he sent an offer of his assistance to the minister, who was ready to beat the messenger. He preached, however, at the request of some gentlemen, who behaved with great propriety-September the 9th, they reached Dublin in safety.

Dublin had long been remarkable for a bad police. Frequent robberies, and sometimes murder, were committed in the streets, at an early hour in the evening, with impunity. The Ormond and Liberty mob, (that is, the butchers of