"On the 25th his voice failed him, and nature seemed entirely spent; when, on my brother's asking, whether he was not near heaven, he answered distinctly, and with the most of hope and triumph that could be expressed in sounds, 'Yes, I am.' He spoke once more, just after my brother had used the commendatory prayer. His last words were, 'Now you have done all!' This was about half an hour after six, from which time, till sunset, he made signs of offering up himself, till my brother, having again used the prayer, the very moment it was finished he expired. His passage was so smooth and insensible, that, notwithstanding the stopping of his pulse, and ceasing of all sign of life and motion, we continued over him a considerable time, in doubt whether the soul were departed or no. My mother (who, for several days before he died, hardly ever went into his chamber but she was carried out in a fit) was far less shocked at the news than we expected, and told us, that now she was heard, in his having so easy a death, and her being strengthened so to bear it.

66 Though you have lost your chief reason for coming, yet there are others which make your presence more necessary than ever. My mother (who will hardly ever leave Epworth) would be exceeding glad to see you as soon as can be. She does not administer, so can neither sue nor be sued. We have computed the debts as near as can be, and find they amount to about one hundred pounds, exclusive of cousin Richardson's. Mrs. Knight, her landlady, seized all her quick stock, valued at above forty pounds, for fifteen pounds my father owed her, on Monday last, the day he was buried; and my brother this afternoon gives a note for the money, in order to get the stock at liberty to sell; for security of which he has the stock made over to him, and will be paid as it can be sold. My father was buried very frugally, yet decently, in the churchyard, according to his own desire. It will be highly necessary to bring all accounts of what he owed you, that you may mark all the goods in the house, as principal creditor, and thereby secure to my mother time and liberty to sell them to the best advantage. Chartas omnes et epistolas precipuas appositâ serâ in adventum tuum reservo.*

"All papers and letters of importance I have sealed up, and keep till you come."

you

be still, in some

How do I envy

"If you take London in your way, my mother desires would remember she is a Clergyman's widow. Let the Society give her what they please, she must degree, burdensome to you, as she calls it. you that glorious burden, and wish I could share in it! You must put me in some way of getting a little money, that I may do something in this shipwreck of the family for somebody, though it be no more than furnishing a plank.

66

My mother sends her love and blessing. We all send our love to you, and my sister, and Phill, and hope of meeting you all once more at Epworth.

"I should be ashamed of having so much business in my letter, were it not necessary. I would choose to write and think of nothing but my father. Ere we meet I hope you will have finished his elegy. Pray write, if there be time.

"I am your most affectionate brother.”

The Life of Mr. Wesley, sen., has been written by the late Dr. Adam Clarke, who, with an assiduity peculiar to himself, has explored almost every accessible source of information, and has done justice to the piety, learning, ministerial fidelity, and uprightness of this venerable man. There is, however, one publication that throws great light upon his character, which appears never to have come under the Doctor's notice. It is a long letter addressed to his Curate, and containing directions relative to the various branches of clerical study and duty. The writer makes several statements respecting his own proceedings as a parish Priest, and especially his manner of maintaining discipline among his people. In giving his opinion of the principal theological writers, whose works. should have a place in the clerical library, he introduces several curious and valuable notices concerning the leading men of his times, both Episcopalians and Non-conformists, with whom he was personally acquainted, and whose preaching he had attended. This very rare and interesting tract was published soon after the writer's death, and with a short preface, which was doubtless written by his son John. The publication is thus referred to in a letter from Samuel Wesley, jun., to Charles, under the date of August 7th, 1737 :-" John sent me down one of my father's 'Instructions to a Curate;' but it was so torn in the passage, that good

part was not legible. It is odd I should not have that." This is a sufficient authentication of the book.

The death of a beneficed Clergyman is generally the signal for the removal of his family, and often for its dispersion. So it was in the present instance. The Rector of Epworth had earnestly requested, in the event of his decease, that his son John would apply for the living. The chief reasons were, that the parishioners were strongly attached to him, and were therefore likely to profit by his ministrations; and that he would thus be able to keep the family together. John, however, was inflexible in his refusal; thinking that he should be more holy and useful as a College Tutor than as a parish Priest: but the true reason unquestionably was, though it did not appear even to his own mind, that God, in the wise arrangements of his providence, designed him to be, not the instrument of spiritual good merely to a parish, but to the world! The living of Epworth was therefore presented to another person, and the Wesley family was scattered. The widowed mother took up a temporary residence at Gainsborough, with her daughter Emily; and John and Charles returned to Oxford, where they remained till the following year, when they embarked as Missionaries for the infant colony of Georgia.

CHAPTER II.

As the history of the Wesleys is intimately connected with the colony of Georgia, a few brief notices concerning that settlement will not be deemed irrelevant in this place. It was formed under the sanction of a royal charter, which was granted in the year 1732, and comprehended the tract of country lying between the rivers Savannah and Alatamaha, on the American continent. The name of Georgia was given to it in compliment to George the Second, under whose auspices it was commenced. The management of the colony was vested in Trustees, who were required annually to report their proceedings to the Lord High Chancellor of England, and the Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas. The design of the undertaking was two-fold. It was to be an outlet to the redundant population at home, especially of London; and to be an asylum for such foreign Protestants as were harassed by Popish persecution. James Oglethorpe, Esq., a military man, who was afterwards raised to the rank of General, was made the Governor. He was also one of the original Trustees, and appears to have taken an active part in obtaining the charter. He was a humane man, public spirited, and of an enterprising character. Among the Trustees there were several pious Presbyterians, as well as Churchmen.

The scheme excited great attention at the time, and obtained very encouraging patronage. The Parliament voted a sum of money, to enable the Trustees to carry their designs into effect. The Trustees, who were themselves to receive no pecuniary benefit from the undertaking, called also upon the public for voluntary help. Dr. John Burton, Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, who was one of the Trustees, published a discourse in behalf of the project, entitled, “The Duty and Reward of Propagating Principles of Religion and Virtue exemplified in the History of Abraham. A Sermon preached before the Trustees for establishing the Colony of

Georgia, at their Anniversary Meeting, at the parish church of St. Mary-le-Bow, on Thursday, March 15th, 1732.”

"It remains," says the Preacher, "that I mention one circumstance relating to the establishment of our colony; and that is, the seasonableness of such a provision in these times; when we hear such complaining in our streets, of many unfortunate, distressed families; when we hear of so many thousand Protestants driven out of their country by the persecution of their Popish governors; in the literal sense pilgrims and strangers in the world; and in this respect resembling the circumstances of the wandering Patriarch, who is said to have been driven out from Ur of the Chaldees, for not conforming to the idolatry of his superstitious countrymen, the Chaldeans. Such circumstances of distress plead not only for private compassion, but national relief. Acts of humanity and charity to our persecuted brethren will best express the sincerity of our zeal for the Reformed religion. Without such expressions, what avails our boasted affection for the Protestant interest, for the Protestant religion? What are all our specious professions, but abused, noisy words, and upbraiding denominations? But if there be any sincerity in our professions, let the effects of it redound to the succour and support of persons groaning under the oppression of our common adversary. Let us rather remember that we are Christians; and that in the great day of retribution, when all personal distinctions and relations cease, our acts of charity will be particularly inquired into, and our good works shall then follow us.

"An opportunity is now offered of conferring at once a double benefit; a benefit both personal and public; both to the poor sufferers, whose necessities we relieve, and to the community, which will reap the benefit of an increasing, industrious people. We at once behold numbers of miserable men destitute of habitations, and an uncultivated country destitute of inhabitants. May this critical coincidence of circumstances be improved to the common advantage! "

Soon after the publication of this sermon there appeared a handsome quarto pamphlet, entitled, "Reasons for establishing the Colony of Georgia, with regard to the Trade of Great Britain, the Increase of our People, the Employment and Support it will afford to great numbers of our Poor, as well as