One of the most zealous, charitable, and devout of all the Oxford Methodists was Mr. Morgan. He it was who first visited the felons and debtors in the prison, and the poor in their habitations, and then induced his brethren to follow his example. He used also to collect together the children of the neglected peasantry in the neighbouring villages, giving them religious instruction, and distributing among them books of piety, with such small sums of money as he had saved, and were at his disposal. Having prevailed upon the little band with whom he was united to join in these honourable labours, he sickened, sunk into a state of deep mental depression, the effect of disease, retired to Ireland, and at length died in great peace and resignation. After his death, his father, who had in his correspondence greatly blamed him

for being "righteous overmuch," accused Mr. John Wesley télé du of having contributed to shorten the days of the deceased? youth by excessive fasting. Mr. Wesley defended himself very successfully in a letter which he published; and Samuel Wesley, the younger, wrote a spirited poem on the death of Mr. Morgan, in a strain of unqualified eulogy.

Mr. Morgan died on the 25th of August, 1732. The letter which Mr. Wesley addressed to the father of this excellent youth bears the date of October 18th. We may well suppose that a death so peaceful would deeply impress the minds of Mr. Morgan's companions, and stimulate them to a renewed application to that course of pious labour and self-denial upon which they had entered. When the requisite explanations were given, the father of Mr. Morgan was so satisfied with the conduct of the Wesleys, that he placed his surviving son under the care of Charles at Christ-Church. The youth, however, was very different from his deceased brother. He was neither pious nor governable; so that Charles was glad to transfer him to the care of John, who was deemed better qualified to subdue his untractable spirit, and train him to scholarship and virtue.

The Wesleys, father and sons, were all poets; but Charles was by far the most distinguished of the four. The first specimen of his versification with which we are acquainted is an epistle to his sister Martha, on the subject of her intended marriage with Mr. Hall. She lived with her uncle Matthew Wesley in London, and there, without consulting the family,

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engaged herself to Mr. Hall, a man of agreeable manners, and good property, who had been religiously educated, and a pupil of her brother John at Oxford. In the mean while he visited the family at Epworth, where he gained the affections of her sister, Miss Kezzy Wesley, and promised forthwith to make her his wife. He left Epworth, returned to London, and renewed his acquaintance with Martha, to the grief and astonishment of the family, who knew nothing of the prior engagement between the parties. Kezzy's friends were indignant at the baseness of Mr. Hall; and they were scarcely less offended with Martha, for receiving the addresses of a man to whom they thought her sister had the first and exclusive claim. Under the influence of these views and feelings Charles sent a letter of expostulation to Martha, which must have for ever prevented her union with Mr. Hall, had he not previously gained her affections; and had she not been solemnly betrothed to him before he had made any proposals to her sister. This composition, which was never intended for the public eye, has been inserted by Dr. Adam Clarke, in his "Memoirs of the Wesley Family." It is a striking specimen of Charles's power as a poet; and, viewed in connexion with the general tenor of his life, is no less striking as a display of his integrity and uprightness. He had an instinctive abhorrence of everything mean and dishonest. His invectives against Hall are equally just and appalling. Those against his sister are misapplied. When the case was explained, the lawfulness of her marriage with Hall was acknowledged; though its expediency was more than doubtful, considering the scandalous and unmanly part which he had acted in courting both the sisters at the same time. No alliance should have been formed with a man who was capable of such villany. Her mother and uncle, however, gave their full consent, and Kezzy herself was reconciled to the match. Bitterly, however, had Martha occasion to repent of this step. Her husband, though sustaining the clerical office, became one of the most profligate and immoral men that ever disgraced the human form. He assumed the character of an infidel and a libertine.

To some of these occurrences reference is made in the following letter, which was addressed by Charles to his brother Samuel, now removed from Westminster to Tiverton,

being preferred to the head-mastership of the GrammarSchool there. The letter, it will be observed, was written before Mr. Hall had abandoned Miss Kezzy.

"Christ-Church, July 31st, 1734. Dear Brother,—I cannot excuse my brother's mentioning nothing of Epworth, when he was just come from it. Taciturnity, as to family affairs, is his infirmity, but not his fault; for I dare say there is no malice prepense in it. It was much he told me they were all well there; for he does not use to be so communicative. It was by mere accident I heard of John Whitelamb's having written; for though my brother had been there, I had known nothing of it till this day, but for my journey to London. My father, they say, is a little dissatisfied at my aunt Nancy's leaving the thousand pounds (where it can be got) to my mother during life. Sister Kezzy made a considerable conquest when my brother was at Epworth of Mr. Hall, I mean, who accompanied him. All parties are pleased with the match, but Mr. Hall's mother; and for want of her consent there it rests.

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"My brother has been much mauled, and threatened more, for his Jacobite sermon on the 11th of June. But he was wise enough to get the Vice-Chancellor to read and approve it before he preached it, and may therefore bid Wadham, Merton, Exeter, and Christ-Church, do their worst. The last week he passed at London, chiefly in consulting Mr. Law about one of his pupils; but he found time, notwithstanding, to dispatch three sheets of Job while there, and still goes on with much more expedition than my father did while upon the spot. Mr. Morgan is in a fairer way of becoming a Christian than we ever yet knew him. Pray give our love to sister and Phill.

"I am your affectionate brother." It would appear from this letter, that Mr. John Wesley assisted in conducting through the press his father's very learned and elaborate work on the Book of Job, the printing of which was not quite finished in the spring of the following year, when the estimable author was called from the labours of mortality.

The year 1735, which witnessed the disastrous marriage of Mr. Hall and Martha, deprived the Wesley family of its head. The venerable Rector of Epworth died, on the 25th

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of April. His sons John and Charles were present; and the scene was one of deep and solemn interest. The aged Minister, worn out with domestic care, pastoral duties, and hard study, was cheered and strengthened by the truth and grace of God in his last moments, and presented an edifying example of Christian hope and resignation. His intelligent and pious wife, too, in the prospect of widowhood, when the hour of separation arrived, was calm and submissive. Often had he taught his sons how to live; and now they learned from his example how to suffer and die. They felt deeply; and some years afterwards John, when preaching in Georgia, repeated the dying sayings of his father in such a manner as to show that they had made a permanent impression upon his heart.

The fact is, that, at the close of life, the father was far in advance of his sons, both in evangelical knowledge and spiritual attainments. He enjoyed the Christian salvation, the nature and method of which neither John nor Charles at that time understood. When their views of divine truth were corrected and matured, and the love of God was shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost which was given unto them,-when their preaching produced such mighty effects in every part of the land,—they simply taught what their venerable parent experienced and testified upon the bed of death. Mr. John Wesley, therefore, some years afterwards, writing to an anonymous opponent, who assumed the name of Smith, says, "My father did not die unacquainted with the faith of the Gospel, of the primitive Christians, or of our first Reformers; the same which, by the grace of God, I preach, and which is just as new as Christianity. What he experienced before, I know not; but I know that, during his last illness, which continued eight months, he enjoyed a clear sense of his acceptance with God. I heard him express it more than once, although at that time I understood him not. The inward witness, son, the inward witness,' said he to me; this is the proof, the strongest proof, of Christianity.' And when I asked him, (the time of his change drawing nigh,) Sir, are you in much pain?' he answered aloud, with a smile, 'God does chasten me with pain, yea, all my bones with strong pain; but I thank him for all, I bless him for all, I love him for all!' I think the last words he spoke, when

I had just commended his soul to God, were, 'Now you have done all.' And, with the same serene, cheerful countenance, he fell asleep, without one struggle, or sigh, or groan. I cannot therefore doubt but the Spirit of God bore an inward witness with his spirit, that he was a child of God."

Five days after his father's death, and when the funeral had taken place, Charles addressed the following letter to his brother Samuel :

"Epworth, April 30th, 1735. Dear Brother,-After all your desire of seeing my father alive, you are at last assured you must see his face no more till he is raised in incorruption. You have reason to envy us, who could attend him in the last stage of his illness. The few words he could utter I saved, and hope never to forget. Some of them were, 'Nothing too much to suffer for heaven. The weaker I am in body, the stronger and more sensible support I feel from God. There is but a step between me and death. Tomorrow I would see you all with me round this table, that we may once more drink of the cup of blessing, before we drink of it new in the kingdom of God. With desire have I desired to eat this passover with you before I die.'

"The morning he was to communicate, he was so exceeding weak and full of pain, that he could not, without the utmost difficulty, receive the elements; often repeating, 'Thou shakest me; thou shakest me:' but immediately after receiving, there followed the most visible alteration. He appeared full of faith and peace, which extended even to his body; for he was so much better, that we almost hoped he would have recovered. The fear of death he had entirely conquered, and at last gave up his latest human desires, of finishing Job, paying his debts, and seeing you. He often laid his hand upon my head, and said, 'Be steady.' 'The Christian faith will surely revive in this kingdom. You shall see it, though I shall not.' To my sister Emily he said, 'Do not be concerned at my death. God will then begin to manifest himself to my family.' When we were met about him, his usual expression was, 'Now let me hear you talk upon heaven.' On my asking him, whether he did not find himself worse, he replied, 'O my Charles, I feel a great deal! God chastens me with strong pain; but I praise him for it; I thank him for it; I love him for it.'