OF

THE REV. CHARLES WESLEY, M. A.

THESE abilities are the inspired gift of God, rarely bestowed; and are of power to allay the

perturbations of the mind, and set the affections in right tune; to celebrate in glorious
and lofty hymns the throne and equipage of God's Almightiness, and what He works,
and what He suffers to be wrought, with high providence, in His church.-MILTON.

LONDON:

PUBLISHED BY JOHN MASON,
AT THE WESLEYAN CONFERENCE OFFICE, 14, CITY-ROAD;

AND SOLD AT 66, PATERNOSTER-ROW.

LONDON:

PRINTED BY JAMES NICHOLS,

HOXTON-SQUARE.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XVIII.

SPECIMENS of Mr. Charles Wesley's letters to his wife_His pastoral duties

in London-Intimacy with Mr. and Mrs. Venn-Mr. Venn's religious

history-The evangelical Clergy benefited by the Messrs. Wesley and

Whitefield_Letter from Mr. Whitefield on the erection of the Taber-

nacle in Moorfields Death of the Rev. John Meriton-Hymn on the

occasion-Mr. Charles Wesley visits Cornwall-Letters from thence

to his wife_The hour of secret prayer observed by the Wesleys, father

and sons Admonitory letter from Mr. John Wesley to his brother-

Dangerous illness of Mr. John Wesley_Charles's visit to him in

London--Affecting interview between them-Deep concern manifested

by the public-Mrs. Charles Wesley seized with the small-pox-

Kindness of Lady Huntingdon-Letters of sympathy from Mr. White-

field-Illness and death of Mr. Charles Wesley's only son-Hymns on

the occasion, and on the recovery of his wife-Mr. John Wesley retires

to the Bristol Hot-well, and writes his Notes on the New Testament

-Retirement of Charles Skelton from the itinerancy ............Pages 1-45

XIX.

Mr. Charles Wesley visits Norwich with his brother-Wickedness of

James Wheatley_Charles Wesley's ministry in that city-Death and
character of Grace Bowen-Hymn on the occasion_Letter from Mr.

Whitefield in America Difficulties of the Wesleys with respect to the

established Church-Attempt to introduce the Lord's supper into the

Methodist chapels-Mr. Charles Wesley's alarm, and resistance of this

measure_Letters to Mr. Sellon on this subject-John Hutchinson,

and the Rev. George Stonehouse- The Wesleys closeted together at

Birstal, where they canvass Towgood's book on Dissent Conference at

Leeds, Thomas Walsh, Joseph Cownley, and the Perronets, engage

to desist from administering the Lord's supper-Charles Wesley's

abrupt departure from the Conference-Publishes a poetical “ Epistle

to the Rev. John Wesley "_Letters from Mr. John Wesley to Charles

concerning the Church_Correspondence with the Rev. Mr. Walker

and Mr. Adam on the same subject_Mr. Charles Wesley visits Mar-

gate and Canterbury-Hymn for the Rev. George Stonehouse-Para-

lytic seizure of Wright, the brother-in-law of the Wesleys-Marriage of

Mr. Stonehouse, and of Miss Degge_Earthquake at Lisbon-Threat-

ened invasion of England-Charles Wesley's manuscript Epistles

to Howell Harris, Mr. Whitefield, Count Zinzendorf, and others.

Pages 46498

CHAPTER XX.

Calamitous state of Great Britain in the year 1756_Charles Wesley pub-

lishes Hymns for the Fast-day-The Conference held in Bristol-Mr.

Charles Wesley visits the societies in Staffordshire, Yorkshire, and

Lancashire Uneasiness in various places on the subject of the sacra-

ments, and service in Church-hours-Mr. Crook, of Hunslet_ Division

in the society at Leeds by Mr. Edwards-Charles Wesley at York-

Mr. Ingham-Mr. Grimshaw-Mr. Whitefield_Titus Knight_John

Whitford-John Byrom—Unsettled state of the society in Manchester

-Letters of Charles Wesley to Mr. Grimshaw, and the society at

Leeds, concerning the Methodists and the Church-Mr. Clayton_Mr.

Charles Wesley returns by Wednesbury to Bristol-Roger Ball and

James Wheatley_Remarks on Methodism and the state of the Church

-Several Methodists in Yorkshire and Lancashire, being denied the

sacraments in their own chapels, become Dissenters............Pages 99.134

XXI.

Mr. Charles Wesley desists from his itinerant ministry_The probable

reason of this determination-Unfavourable effect upon his own mind-
Mr. John Wesley publishes his “ Reasons against Separation from the
Church”-Charles's hymnis on the subject-Serious accident-Illness
of Thomas Walsh_Charles Wesley unjustly accused of unkindness
towards him_Letters from Mr. Walsh–His death_Hymns on the
occasion_Mr. Charles Wesley visits the daughter of his brother
Samuel, at Barnstaple_Letters from thence to Mrs. Wesley_Samuel
Wesley's widow-Charles Wesley publishes “Hymns of Intercession
for all Mankind ”_Specimens of that publication-He publishes his
“Funeral Hymns ”_Hymn on the death of young Westley Hall-
On Mr. Lampe Death of the Rev. James Hervey_His “ Eleven
Letters "_Lines on refusing to write an epitaph on him-Renewed
alarm of invasion_Hymns on the subject_Victory over the French
fleet-Murder committed by Earl Ferrers upon his steward_Letter
from his brother, the Rev. Walter Shirley-Charles Wesley's kind-
ness to him and his sister_The trial of the Earl_His obduracy, and
execution—Three of the Methodist Preachers begin to administer the
sacraments at Norwich-Mr. Charles Wesley's distress on the occasion
-His letters to Nicholas Gilbert, John Johnson, John Nelson, Chris-
topher Hopper, and Mr. Grimshaw, upon the occasion-Mr. Grim-
shaw's answer_Extreme views taken by him and Charles Wesley-
The licensing of the Preachers and chapels-Desire of the Methodists
to have the Lord's supper among themselves, and divine service in
Church-hours-Charles Wesley's desire to get the Preachers episco-
pally ordained_Letter to him by Joseph Cownley on the subject

Moderation of Mr. John Wesley-Letter from Mr. Perronet to Mr.

Charles Wesley, when ill at Bath ............................... Pages 135--198
CHAPTER XXII.

Mr. Charles Wesley publishes his “ Short Hymns on Select Passages of

Scripture” _Specimens of that work—Matthew Henry-Dr. Gell-

Bengelius Spiritual darkness-Christian perfection—Irregularities in

the London society, caused by George Bell and others. Mr. John

Wesley's views of Christian perfection_He disapproves of his bro-

ther's altered opinions_Letter from Mr. Perronet, intimating that

Charles was too severe in his censures--Death of Mrs. Perronet-

Death of Mr. Grimshaw-His character_Death of Lady Selina

Huntingdon-Letters from Mr. Perronet on the mischief done by

Maxfield in London Letter from Mr. Whitefield, in America~Mr.

John Wesley's letters to his brother, urging him to diligence-

Charles's labours and usefulness in London_He publishes his

“Hymns for Children"_His “Hymns on the Trinity " Specimen-

Unjust censure upon Mr. John Wesley, by the Rev. William Jones,

of Nayland-Charles Wesley's “ Hymns for the Use of Families”

Specimen_Death of his son John James Consolatory letter addressed

to his wife_Anxieties respecting Samuel ..................... Pages 199_242

XXII.

Letter from Mr. Whitefield, in America-Death and character of that

eminent man—Charles Wesley's “Hymns of Preparation for Death”
-Mr. John Wesley cautions his Preachers concerning their doctrine
at the Conference of 1770_Publishes various doctrinal propositions in
the Minutes-Lady Huntingdon is offended with them, and dismisses
Mr. Benson, the Classical Tutor in her college-Mr. Fletcher retires
from the presidency of that institution--Mr. John Wesley writes a
letter of admonition to her Ladyship, which she resents—Under her
direction Mr. Shirley publishes a Circular Letter, inviting Churchmen
and Dissenters to assemble in Bristol, at the time of the next Confer-
ence, and demand of Mr. Wesley and his Preachers a recantation of
the Minutes Haughty letter of Lady Huntingdon to Mr. Charles
Wesley, enclosing the Circular-He is justly offended with her pro-
ceedings and spirit Advises his brother immediately to publish
something in opposition to the peculiarities of Calvinism-Churchmen
and Dissenters refuse to obey the summons contained in the Circular-
Lady Huntingdon and Mr. Shirley send letters of submission to Mr.
Wesley-A few of her dependents and personal friends attend the Con-
ference with his permission-Mr. Wesley and the Preachers sign a
“ Declaration,” disavowing the sense which had been erroneously
affixed to the Minutes_Mr. Shirley apologizes for his conduct, and
confesses that he had mistaken their true meaning – This affair misre-
presented by Lady Huntingdon's biographer- Publication of Mr.
Fletcher's “ Letters to Mr. Shirley ” _Thomas Olivers-Mr. Wesley
vindicated in putting his friend's “ Letters ” to the press_Misleading
statements of Lady Huntingdon's biographer corrected_Mr. Fletcher
is encouraged in his authorship by Charles Wesley_Mr. Shirley pub-
lishes his “ Narrative," and then retires from the controversy which he