But O! his tyranny is o'er!- Thy strange, thy unexampled, grace! Help me to show forth all thy praise! Fain would I spread through earth abroad The goodness of my loving God, And teach the world thy grace to prove ; Unutterably good thou art! Read, Jesu, read my panting heart; I only live to find thee there : In love anew my heart create: I know my struggling nought avails, The Potter thou, and I the clay; I need not urge my eager plea; Suffice it, Lord, I now believe: Hide it till all life's storms be o'er : O keep it safe against that day! Thy prayer be heard, I ask no more. CHAPTER VIII. THE difference of opinion between the Wesleys and the Moravian Brethren who met in Fetter-lane, respecting the ordinances of God, and which led to their separation, was quickly succeeded by disputes at Kingswood on the subject of predestination: one of the most perplexing questions, viewed in all its bearings, that ever vexed the Christian church. It was not to be expected that controversy on this topic could be permanently avoided in the religious societies which were now rising up in various directions. It had been mooted in some of the meetings of the young converts in London, when Mr. John Wesley was in Germany; but Charles opposed the Calvinian view with such firmness, as prevented all further attempts at that time to unsettle the minds of the people respecting the universality of God's love to men. He was not equally successful in Kingswood, where strenuous attempts were made, by a man whom the Wesleys themselves had invested with influence, to leaven the society with Calvin's bold and repulsive peculiarities. As Mr. Whitefield was the first that carried the truth to the Kingswood colliers; so a school for the instruction of their children was first proposed in connexion with his pious and disinterested labours there. He knelt down and prayed upon the spot, commenced the fund by means of subscriptions and congregational collections; and then, being on the point of leaving England, he resigned the whole concern into the hands of Mr. John Wesley, who took the entire responsibility upon himself. He completed the design under many discouragements, and with a considerable sacrifice of his own property; upwards of thirty pounds of the sum which had been contributed towards the building having been stolen by a young man, who confessed the fact when under sentence of death for another felony. "You call Kingswood your own house," said Dr. Church: "So I do," rejoined Mr. Wesley; "that is, the school-house there. For I bought the ground where it stands, and paid for the building it, partly from + the contribution of my friends; one of whom contributed fifty pounds; partly from the income of my own Fellowship." The school here intended was erected for the instruction of the colliers' children, and of such adults as chose to attend for the purpose of learning to read. The establishment which has long been known as Kingswood School, where the sons of Wesleyan Ministers are educated, was a distinct concern, and not built till several years afterwards. When the school for the colliers' children was opened, Mr. Wesley secured the best teachers that he could obtain; and he also used the place for preaching, the administration of the Lord's supper, and for society-meetings, as well as meetings for prayer. Among other persons whom he engaged to assist in the school was Mr. John Cennick, whom he also employed in visiting the sick, and, in the absence of the brothers, holding meetings for prayer and exhortation. Like Thomas Maxfield in London, he also soon began to preach, and was well received by the congregations. Cennick was a native of Reading; a man of sincere piety and zeal; of respectable education; and though not distinguished by extraordinary power of understanding, was possessed of useful talents. He visited the Wesleys in London in the year 1739; and having then written several hymns, the effusions of his devout feelings, Charles Wesley, pleased with the spirit of the man, corrected these compositions, and prepared them for publication. Cennick was in want of some useful employ; and hearing of the erection of the school at Kingswood, he applied to Mr. Wesley for the situation of master, and was accepted. When he made the application, he confesses that he was treated with great kindness. For some time things went on with smoothness and comfort. He was respected for his piety and usefulness; and the Wesleys especially regarded him with affection and confidence. On the 27th of July, 1740, Mr. Charles Wesley, preaching at Kingswood in his warm and strong manner on the subject of the universal redemption of mankind, declared to the people that John Cennick, whom they all esteemed and loved, was of the same mind with himself on this encouraging point of doctrine. Cennick confirmed this statement, and recited a hymn of his own composing in proof of his cordial belief of this animating truth. "Never," says Mr. Charles Wesley, "did I find my spirit more knit to him." Soon after, however, he began to waver, then became a decided Calvinist, and contradicted the tenets of the Wesleys in their own pulpit, so as to cause great strife and contention among the people. Mr. Charles Wesley remonstrated with him, and pledged himself to perserve an entire silence on the controverted points, if Cennick would do the same. To this proposal, which was certainly a great concession, considering the relative situation of the parties, Cennick would not accede. He attached so much importance to his new opinions, that he would publicly teach them at all hazards. The consequence was, what might be expected,-heart-burnings and unhallowed disputation in the society. case. On the 30th of November, says Mr. Charles Wesley, "I prayed Christ, our Teacher, to enlighten the people and me; and began my discourse with fear and trembling. The Spirit gave me utterance. I calmly warned them against apostasy, and spake with great tenderness and caution. But who can stand before envy, bigotry, and predestination? The strong ones were offended. The poison of Calvin has drunk up their spirit of love. Ann Ayling and Ann Davis could not refrain from railing. John Cennick never offered to stop them. Alas! we have set the wolf to keep the sheep. God gave me great moderation towards him, who for many months has been undermining our doctrine and authority." It is impossible to justify the conduct of Cennick in this His right to change his opinions, and to declare and defend his honest convictions, was indisputable; but to oppose the men to whom he had offered his services, and who had generously treated him as a brother, in their own house, and among their own people, attempting to alienate from them their spiritual children, was a course which Cennick himself, under other circumstances, would have indignantly condemned. Yet he wrote a letter to Mr. Whitefield in America, urging him to return without delay, to assist in maintaining the contest against the brothers, whose zeal in defending the doctrine of God's universal love, and in opposing that of absolute predestination, was ardent and uncompromising. Having stirred up the people to rail against the Wesleys, Cennick confesses that he was silent when he ought to have defended these his best friends. Matters at length came to a + уч crisis. Cennick, and those who entertained his views, formed themselves into a separate society, and held meetings apart from their brethren; and were thus evidently making arrangements for becoming a distinct people. After various warnings and expostulations, and bearing for some months with these mischievous irregularities, Mr. John Wesley met all the parties at the conclusion of a love-feast in Bristol. Here he complained of the practices which had been carried on, and produced a copy of the letter which Cennick had addressed to Mr. Whitefield; and Cennick accused the Wesleys of teaching Popery, because they asserted general redemption, and opposed the Calvinian doctrine of unconditional election to eternal life. Continued forbearance, in the present state of things, Mr. Wesley declared to be impossible; and called upon the people to make their choice between the society which had existed from the beginning, and that which had been formed out of it by Cennick and his friends. Cennick, and about half of the people present, withdrew. About fifty-two persons connected themselves with him, and upwards of ninety remained under the care of their former Pastors. From this time the Wesleyan and the Calvinistic Methodists became two distinct bodies. At this period Mr. Charles Wesley addressed the following characteristic letter to his unfaithful friend. It is a fine exhibition of the frankness and integrity which marked his spirit through life. "My dearest Brother, John Cennick,-In much love and tenderness I speak. You came to Kingswood upon my brother's sending for you. You served under him in the Gospel as a son. I need not say how well he loved you. You used the authority he gave you to overthrow his doctrine. You everywhere contradicted it. Whether true or false, is not the question: but you ought first to have fairly told him, 'I preach contrary to you. Are you willing, notwithstanding, that I should continue in your house gainsaying you? If you are not, I have no place in these regions. You have a right to this open dealing. I now give you fair warning. Shall I stay here opposing you, or shall I depart?' "My brother, have you dealt thus honestly and openly with him? No; but you have stolen away the people's heart from him. And when some of them basely treated their best |