the advice of those who were older and wiser than himself, how he ought to proceed. This appears from a letter which he wrote to his father in June 1731, in which he says, "On Whitsunday the whole College received the sacrament, except the servitors (for we are too well bred to communicate with them, though in the body and blood of Christ) to whom it was administered the next day; on which I was present at church, but with the canons left the sacrament to those for whom alone it was prepared. What I would beg to be resolved in is, whether or no my being assured I should give infinite scandal by staying, could sufficiently justify me in turning my back on God's ordinance. It is a question my future conduct is much concerned in, and I shall therefore earnestly wait for your decision." Mr. Charles Wesley proceeded Master of Arts in the usual course, and thought only of spending all his days at Oxford as a tutor; for he exceedingly dreaded entering into Holy Orders.* In 1735, Mr. John Wesley yielded to the pressing solicitations of Mr. Oglethorpe, Dr. Burton, and some others, to go to Georgia as a missionary, to preach to the Indians, and he prevailed on his brother Charles to accompany him. Their brother Samuel consented that Mr. John Wesley should go, but vehemently opposed the design of Charles to accompany him. But his opposition had no effect, for Mr. Charles engaged himself as Secretary to Mr. Oglethorpe, and also as Secretary to Indian affairs, and in this character he went to Georgia. A little before they left England, Dr. Burton suggested that it might be well if Mr. Charles was ordained before he left this country. His brother John over-ruled his inclination in this thing also, and he was ordained Deacon, by Dr. Potter, Bishop of Oxford; and the Sunday following, Priest, by Dr. Gibson, Bishop of London.t On the 22d of October, this year, 1735, they sailed from Gravesend, and from this time the two brothers were perfectly associated in their designs, labours, and dangers. Their lives, therefore, are so closely connected, and the events of the one so much involved in those of the other, that, as it certainly would not be consistent with our plan in this work, so it does not seem necessary to proceed any further with a detailed account of the life of Mr. Charles Wesley. Many important and interesting circumstances of it will occur in Mr. John Wesley's Journals, which commence from this period. And those who wish for further information, may have recourse to Dr. Whitehead's memoir of him, published in his Life of Mr. John Wesley, which memoir, perhaps, may hereafter appear in a separate publication. Suffice it then for us to add the following particulars. After his return from America, he for many years chiefly travelled with his brother through various parts of Britain and Ireland, preaching the word of life, and helping to form and visit the societies. His word, especially in those his younger days, was frequently attended with a very extraordinary power, and was a mean of awakening many hundreds, if not even thousands out of the sleep of sin, and bringing them to experience and evidence repentance towards God, His Lettor to Dr. Chandler. + Ilis Letter to Dr. Chandler. and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the case, especially at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Sunderland, and the parts adjacent in Staffordshire, Cornwall, at Dublin, Cork, and other parts of Ireland. After this, having married Miss Sarah Gwynne, a lady of considerable family in the county of Brecon, South Wales, he chiefly divided his labours between London and Bristol, in which cities he was rendered 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 truths with simplicity, force and brevity. His discourses were not dry and systematic, but flowed from the present views and feelings of his own mind. And they were sometimes truly apostolic, forcing conviction on the hearers in spite of the most determined opposition. As a Poet, he greatly excelled. It is of his poetical compositions that Mr. John W. says, in the Preface to his Large Hymn Book, "In these hymns there is no doggerel, no botches, nothing put in to patch up the rhyme, no feeble expletives. Here is nothing turgid and bombast on the one hand, or low and creeping on the other. Here are no cant expressions, no words without meaning. Here are (allow me to say) both the purity, the strength, and the elegance of the English language, and, at the same time, the utmost simplicity and plainness, suited to every capacity." Mr. Charles Wesley wrote short hymns on most of the remarkable passages of the old and New Testament, and very largely on some parts of both. His Hymns and sacred Poems are an invaluable treasure. There is not a point of Divinity, doctrinal, experimental, or practical, which he has not illustrated in verse, that for purity, and often for sublimity, may vie with any thing in the English language, But they especially evidence that the mind of the writer was deeply impressed with his subject, and fully acquainted with the religion of the heart. In these short hymns, he has expressed his opinion on the leading doctrines of the Gospel, with great energy and beauty. The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed. "A GRAIN of grace may we not see, Or MUST we patiently attend, To find the precious seed ascend? Our Lord declares it must be so; And striking deep our root we grow, Till Christ transplant us to the skies." The following comment on a much disputed passage, shews his humanity and benevolence. To-morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me. VOL. I. 1 Sam. xxviii. 19.. "WHAT do these solemn words portend? A gleam of hope when life shall end: "Thou and thy sons, though slain shall be Not in a state of hellish pain, His lively turn of thought did not leave him in his old age, as the following lines will testify. The Man of Fashion: Written in 1784. "WHAT is a modern man of fashion? A busy man, without employment, Who squanders all his time and treasures, "In sleep, and dress, and sport and play, But takes from leading Beaux the ton; Had Mr. Charles Wesley engaged in the higher walks of verse, there is no doubt but he would have been esteemed a considerable poet, even by those who now despise his hymns. He chose the most excellent way, the writing of hymns for the instruction and edification of the many, rather than devote all his life in attempts to please the fancy of the few. Some of his hymns are certainly among the best pieces in that species of composition. Mr. Charles Wesley had a weak body, and a poor state of health, during the greatest part of his life. He laid the foundation of both, at Oxford, by too close application to study and abstinence from food. He rode much on horseback, which, probably, contributed to lengthen out life to a good old age. In his last sickness, his body was indeed reduced to the most extreme state of weakness. He possessed that state of mind which he had always been pleased to see in others, unaffected humility, and holy resignation to the will of God. He had no transports of joy, but solid hope and unshaken confidence in Christ, which kept his mind in perfect peace. A few days before his death, he composed the following lines. Having been silent and quiet for some time, he called Mrs. Wesley to him, and bid her write as he dictated; "IN age and feebleness extreme, Strength of my failing flesh and heart: He died, March 29, 1788, aged seventy-nine years and three months; and was buried in April 5, in Marybone church-yard, at his own desire. The pall was supported by eight clergymen of the Church of England. On his tomb-stone are the following lines, written by himself on the death of one of his friends: they could not be more aptly applied to any person than to Mr Charles Wesley. "WITH poverty of spirit bless'd, Rest happy saint, in Jesus rest; A sinner sav'd, through grace forgiv'n, By thee forgot, are crowned above; on "Mr. Wesley" (observes Dr. Whitehead) "was of a lively disposition; of great franknesss and integrity, and generous and steady in his friendships. His love of simplicity, and utter abhorrence of hypocrisy, and even of affectation in the professors of religion, made him sometimes appear severe on those who assumed a consequence, account of their experience, or, were pert and forward in talking of themselves and others. These persons were sure of meeting with a reproof from him, which some, perhaps, might call precipitate and imprudent, though it was evidently founded on a knowledge of the human heart. In conversation he was pleasing, instructive, and cheerful; and his observations were often seasoned with wit and humour. His religion was genuine and unaffected. As a minister, he was familiarly acquainted with every part of Divinity; and his mind was furnished with an uncommon knowledge of the Scriptures. As a husband, a father, and a friend, his character was amiable. Mrs. Wesley brought him five children, of whom two sons and a daughter are still living. The sons discovered a taste for music, and a fine musical ear, at an early period of infancy, which excited general amazement; and are now justly admired by the best judges for their talents in that pleasing art. From a review of the life of Mr. Charles Wesley, it will appear evident, that the Methodists are greatly indebted to him for his unwearied labours and great usefulness at the first formation of the Societies, when every step was attended with difficulty and danger. And being dead he yet speaketh by his numerous and excellent hymns, written for the use of the Societies, which still continue to be the means of daily edification and comfort to thousands. CHAPTER CHAPTER IV. AN ACCOUNT OF THE REV. JOHN WESLEY, FROM HIS BIRTH TO THE YEAR 1729. WHEN we view Mr. Wesley rising into public notice, from the bosom of a family which had long been venerable for Christian knowledge and piety, the mind feels a prepossession in his favour, and our expectation is raised of something great and good from him. As we proceed to examine his education, and the principles instilled into his mind, at an early period of life, we shall see a solid foundation laid of sound knowledge and genuine piety. But that every one may judge for himself in this matter, we shall endeavour to trace, step by step, the circumstances of his early life, during the period mentioned in this chapter. He was the second son of Samuel and Susannah Wesley, and born at Epworth in Lincolnshire, on the 17th of June, 1703, O. S. There has, indeed, been some variations in the accounts given of his age by different persons of the family; but the certificate of it, sent him by his father a little before he was ordained Priest, to satisfy the Bishop of his age, puts the matter beyond a doubt. The original lies before us, and the following is a faithful copy. EPWORTH, August 23, 1728. "JOHN WESLEY, M. A. Fellow of Lincoln College, was twentyfive years old the 17th of June last, having been baptized a few hours after his birth, by me, "SAMUEL WESLEY, Rector of Epworth. When he was nearly six years old, a calamity happened, which threatened the whole family with destruction, and him in particular; his parents for a short time believing, that he was actually consuming in the flames of their house. But his mother's letter to the Rev. Mr. Hoole, will be the best account of this matter. It is dated August 24, 1709, and is as follows: "REV. SIR, "My master is much concerned that he was so unhappy as to miss of seeing you at Epworth; and he is not a little troubled that the great hurry of business about building his house will not afford him leisure to write. He has, therefore, ordered me to satisfy your desire as well as I can, which I shall do by a simple relation of matters of fact, though I cannot, at this distance of time, recollect every ca |