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affection: Spoke mildly of Mr. Whitefield; cautioned us to give no more umbrage than was necessary for our defence; to forbear exceptionable phrases; to keep to the doctrines of the Church.-We told him, we expected persecution would abide by the Church till her Articles and Homilies were repealed.-He assured us, he knew of no design, in the Governors of the Church, to innovate; and neither should there

be any innovation while he lived. He avowed justification by faith alone; and signified his gladness to see us, as often as we pleased." The Archbishop also warned them, as Mr. John Wesley informed me, to preach and enforce only the essentials of religion. Other things," said he, “time and the providence of God only can cure." Mr. Wesley never forgot this.

"From him," continues Mr. Wesley, "we went to the Bishop of London; who denied that he had condemned us, or even heard much concerning us. He said Mr. Whitefield's Journal was tainted with enthusiasm, though he himself was a pious well-meaning youth. He warned us against Antinomianism, and dismissed us kindly.

"March 28th.-We strove to dissuade my brother from going to Bristol, to which he was pressingly invited, from an unaccountable fear that it would prove fatal to him. He offered himself willingly to whatever the Lord should appoint. The next day he set out, recommended by us to the grace of God. He left a blessing behind him. I desired to die with him.”

THE LIFE

OF

THE REV. JOHN WESLEY.

BOOK THE FOURTH.

CHAPTER I.

THE CAUSES WHICH LED TO THE INTRODUCTION OF ITINERANCY AND FIELD-PREACHING. THE STATE OF THE NATION AT THAT TIME, WITH RESPECT TO RELIGION.

We are now come to the period when those devoted servants of God were called to follow Him, in a new and untried way, the way of Itinerancy. To give the reader a view of that which led to the adoption of this strange way of being more entirely conformed to the Son of God, it will be needful to state some particulars. It has been well observed by Mr. Watson, an able apologist of Mr. Wesley, and of Methodism, "That it would be difficult to fix upon a more interesting spectacle than that which is presented in the progress of the mind of Mr. Wesley, through all its deep and serious agitations, doubts, difficulties, hopes, and fears, from his earliest religious awakenings, to the moment when he found that steadfast peace which never afterwards forsook him, but gave serenity to his countenance, and cheerfulness to his heart, to the last moment of a prolonged life. These great considerations must force themselves upon all but the lightest minds, when the history of a heart so impressed and influenced is candidly and honestly laid open. Many persons have been the subjects of these inward conflicts, but they have been seldom brought forth from the recesses of the hearts which they have so variously agitated. It is, however, an important truth, allowed by that people who call that eminent servant of God, their Father in the Gospel, that all such accounts are to be carefully subordinated to the Holy Scriptures; but they often prove instructive and invaluable comments upon them."

Mr. Wesley has made this full disclosure, and it is the true key, not to his theological system only, but also to his public conduct. The range of his inquiry in his search after truth, and after that happiness which he knew, from the Holy Scriptures, was only to be found in God, is truly astonishing. His appointment to be a Fellow of Lincoln College, which, according to its foundation, was instituted "to educate and support ministers who should pull down all heresies, and establish the Catholic faith," seems strikingly appropriate to such a character. In this great and comprehensive inquiry, one great principle fixed itself in his mind," Without holiness NO MAN shall see the Lord." The love of God, by the power of the Holy Ghost, through the Divine atonement,

is the true and only principle of this holiness; and with this love, the love of the world, (which is as natural to fallen man as breathing,) is totally incompatible. We have seen his efforts to conquer, and even root out this love, while surrounded by those things which naturally feed it; and we have seen, that even those great efforts were incompetent to the task. The wilds of America offered a refuge from this hitherto unconquerable evil; and he hoped, in the sincerity of his heart, that such an abandonment would prove its destruction. But he found the truth of the old heathen's remark, " Cœlum non animam mutant, qui trans mare currunt."* And like the Fathers, who retired into the desert, he was forced to lament, "Alas! I have left all the world, but I find I have brought my old heart with me."

But a mind so sincere could not be forsaken. The Lord led him, while making this sacrifice, into the company of some who had found the true way of overcoming this evil disease,-not by forcing it out of the soul, and thus vainly attempting to form a vacuum in the spirit of man, but by "bringing in the love of God, as having first loved us,"-the spirit of health, peace, and victory, purchased for us by the Divine atonement of the Son of God, and to be now received in "that new and living way," the "way of faith." Decision of character must be allowed him, even by superficial observers. Even while groaning under the spirit of bondage, he could say with the Apostle, "I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound; every where and in every thing I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, to abound and to suffer need.” How much more, when "delivered out of the horrible pit," and with "his feet set upon the rock, and his goings established," he could say,

"I nothing want beneath, above,
Happy, happy in thy love"

It could not be that such a faith, "the faith of God's elect, the faith that overcometh the world, and that worketh by love," could look upon the perishing children of men, but "with the bowels of Jesus Christ, the author of that faith." The word of the Lord was as a fire within him, and "the love of Christ, constrained him, while he" also "thus judged, That if One died for all, then were all dead, and that He died for all, that all who live should not live unto themselves, but to Him who died for them and rose again."

Mr. Southey has indulged what might be called a sneer at the supposition, that eminent men, in the various religious communities, were raised up by a special providence. But even when, in any given case, the fruits and effects have not warranted the supposition,-still what a small mistake is this, when compared with that cold, and, in many cases, that infidel philosophy, that would exclude the Governor of the world from the care of his creatures or represent the Divine Redeemer, upon whose shoulders is that government, as set down indeed on the eternal throne, after" having trod the wine-press of the wrath of God" in our behalf,-yet, like the God of Epicurus, the idol of man's slothful imagination, no longer concerned for the souls of men," which he had purchased with his own blood!"—Or that would, like Warburton, represent the Divine Spirit, as having given us a book containing perfectly" the truth as it is in Jesus;" yet leaving the application of that truth to the fallen spirit of man ;-to "that carnal mind which is enmity against God, which * They change their climate, not their mind, who pass over the sea.

is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.". Such readers of the lives of such men of God, may indeed judge that truth which shall judge them; but others will joyfully adore the wisdom and love of Him who has never "left himself without witness;" who still "draws us with the cords of love, and with the bands of a man ;” who did not suffer such a burning and a shining light to be hid in the wilds of Georgia; who said to his servants, thus prepared, "Behold I have set before you an open door, and no man shall shut it." This word has stood the test of more than fourscore years, and its fruits testify its origin. This door the Lord had given him eyes to see, and also a heart to encounter all the bars and fences which enclosed and surrounded it. The eyes and heart with which he contemplated the work thus set before him, with its attendant dangers, will be best seen and appreciated, by giving the account in his own words. In his "Appeal to men of Reason and Religion," while contending for the truth against almost the whole nation, he thus speaks :

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"Although it is with us a very small thing to be judged of you, or of man's judgment,' seeing we know God will make our innocency as clear as the light, and our just dealing as the noonday;' yet are we ready to give to any that are willing to hear, a plain account both of our principles and actions: As having renounced the hidden things of shame, and desiring nothing more, than by manifestation of the truth to commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.'

6

"We see, (and who does not?) the numberless follies and miseries of our fellow creatures. We see, on every side, either men of no religion at all, or men of a lifeless, formal religion. We are grieved at the sight, and should greatly rejoice, if by any means we might convince some, that there is a better religion to be attained, a religion worthy of God that gave it. And this we conceive to be no other than LOVE; the love of God, and of all mankind; the loving God with all our heart, and soul, and strength, as having first loved us, as the fountain of all the good we have received, and of all we ever hope to enjoy ; and the loving every soul which God hath made, every man on earth, as our own soul.

"This love we believe to be the medicine of life, the neverfailing remedy for all the evils of a disordered world, for all the miseries and vices of men. Wherever this is, there are virtue and happiness, going hand in hand. There is humbleness of mind, gentleness, longsuffering, the whole image of God, and at the same time, a peace that passeth all understanding, and joy unspeakable and full of glory.

Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind;

Each prayer accepted, and each wish resigned;
Desires composed, affections ever even,

Tears that delight, and sighs that waft to heaven.

"This religion we long to see established in the world, a religion of love, and joy, and peace, having its seat in the heart, in the inmost soul, but ever showing itself, by its fruits, continually springing forth, not only in all innocence, (for love worketh no ill to his neighbour,') but likewise in every kind of beneficence, spreading virtue and happiness all around it.

"This religion we have been following after for many years, as many know, if they would testify: But all this time, seeking wisdom, we found it not; we were spending our strength in vain. And being now under full

conviction of this, we declare it to all mankind: For we desire not that others should wander out of the way, as we have done before them; but rather that they may profit by our loss, that they go (though we did not, having no man to guide us,) the straight way to the religion of love, even by faith.

Now faith (supposing the Scripture to be of God,) is payparav έλεγχος 8 βλεπομένων, the demonstrative evidence of things unseen, the supernatural evidence of things invisible, not perceivable by eyes of flesh, or by any of our natural senses or faculties. Faith is that Divine evidence, whereby the spiritual man discerneth God, and the things of God. It is with regard to the spiritual world, what sense is with regard to the natural. It is the spiritual sensation of every soul that is born of God.'

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"Perhaps you have not considered it in this view; I will then explain it a little farther. "Faith, according to the Scriptural account, is the eye of the newborn soul. Hereby every true believer in God, seeth Him who is invisible.' Hereby, (in a more particular manner, since life and immortality have been brought to light by the Gospel,) he seeth the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ; and, beholdeth what manner of love it is, which the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we (who are born of the Spirit,) should be called the sons of God.'

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"It is the ear of the soul, whereby a sinner hears the voice of the Son of God and lives;' even that voice which alone wakes the dead, Son, thy sins are forgiven thee.'

"It is, (if I may be allowed the expression,) the palate of the soul: For hereby the believer tastes the good word of God,' and 'the powers of the world to come;' and hereby he both tastes and sees that God is gracious, yea and merciful to him a sinner.

"It is the feeling of the soul, whereby a believer perceives, through the power of the Highest overshadowing him,' both the existence, and the presence of Him, in whom he lives, and moves, and has his being ;' and indeed, the whole invisible world, the entire system of things eternal. And hereby in particular he feels 'the love of God shed abroad in his heart.'

"By this faith we are saved' from all uneasiness of mind, from the anguish of a wounded spirit, from discontent, from fear, and sorrow of heart, and from that inexpressible listlessness, and weariness, both of the world and of ourselves, under which we had so helplessly laboured for many years; especially when we were out of the hurry of the world, and sunk into calm reflection. In this we find that love of God, and of all mankind, which we had elsewhere sought in vain. This, we know and feel, and therefore cannot but declare, saves every one that partakes of it, both from sin and misery, from every unhappy and every unholy temper.

Soft peace she brings wherever she arrives,
She builds our quiet as she forms our lives;
Lays the rough paths of peevish nature even,
And opens in each breast a little heaven.

If you ask, 'Why then have not all men this faith? All at least who conceive it to be so happy a thing? Why do they not believe immediately?'

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