CHAPTER IV. LABOURS AND OPPOSITION IN THE ISLE OF MAN-SECESSION OF AN EMINENT PREACHER-PROTESTANT ASSOCIATIONMR. WESLEY'S LETTER ON THAT OCCASION TO THE BISHOP OF LONDON, AND TO SIR LAWNEY-THOUGHTS HIS LETTER HARRY TRE ON "DR. PARSON'S REMAINS OF JAPHET -CURIOUS QUESTIONS PUT TO MR. WESLEY-HIS LETTER RESPECTING THE SABBATH-DAY, ADDRESSED TO ONE OF HIS MAJESTY'S MINISTERS CURIOUS FRAGMENTMR. WESLEY'S VISITS TO HOLLAND. In the year 1776, the Methodist Preachers visited the Isle of Man,* The year before, a Local Preacher from Liverpool, * This island is mentioned by several ancient authors. Cæsar calls it Mona; but the Mona of Tacitus can only be applied to Anglesey. Pliny calls it Monabia: And in Ptolemy, we find Monaida, that is, the farther or more remote Mön. Orosius styles it Menavia; and tells us, that it was extremely fertile. Bede, who distinguishes clearly two Menavian Islands, names this the Northern Menavia, bestowing the epithet of Southern upon Anglesey. Alured of Beverly also speaks of it as one of the Menavian Islands. The Britons, in their own language, called it Manaw, more properly Main au, that is, “a little island,” which seems to be Latinized in the word Menavia. All which proves, that this small Isle was early inhabited, and as well known to the rest of the world, as either Britain or Ireland. The Isle of Man was, for a long time, an independent State, governed by its own Princes. At length, however, they became feudatories to the Kings of England, resorted to their Court, were kindly received, and had pensions bestowed upon them. Upon the demise of Magnus, the last King of this isle, without heirs male, Alexander III, King of Scots, who had conquered the other isles, seized likewise upon this; which, as part of that kingdom, came into the hands of Edward I. who directed William Huntercumbe, Warden of that isle for him, to restore it to John Baliol, who had done homage to him for the kingdom of Scotland. But it seems there was still remaining a Lady named Austrica, who claimed this sovereignty, as nearest of kin to the deceased Magnus. This claimant being Mr. John Crook, had paid them a visit, and spent some time with them. He repeated his visit this year, and Societies were already formed in seven different places, and they reckoned 157 members in the Island. It happened here, as in most places of Great Britain and Ireland, that the first preaching of the Methodists produced no commotions or riots among the common people. I am, indeed, fully convinced, that the lower orders of the people would never become riotous on account of religion, were they not excited to it, under false pretences, by persons who have some influence over them, and who endeavour to keep behind the scene. Preachers, however, did not long enjoy peace. three ill-minded persons, of some influence in the island, formed a plan of opposition, which, in such cases, is but too often successful. These persons, to give greater weight to their opposition, so far prejudiced the mind of the Bishop against these new comers, that he wrote a pastoral letter, directed to all the rectors, vicars, chaplains, and curates within the isle and diocese of Man. The Two or In this letter his Lordship states the ground of his oppo able to obtain nothing from John Baliol, applied herself to King Edward, as the superior Lord. He, upon this application, by his writ, which is yet extant, commanded both parties, in order to determine their right, to appear in the King's Bench. The suit, it seems, was successful; for we know, that this lady, by a deed of gift, conveyed her claim to Sir Simon de Montacute; and after many disputes, invasions by the Scots, and other accidents, the title was examined in Parliament, in the seventh of Edward III. and solemnly adjudged to William de Montacute; to whom, by letters patent dated the same year, that monarch released all claim whatsoever. It descended afterward to the Duke of Athol, from whom the English Government purchased it, in the year 1765, the Duke retaining his landed property. The manorial rights and emoluments, the patronage of the Bishopric, and other ecclesiastical benefices, are unalienably vested in the Crown, and the Island subjected to the regulations of the British excise and customs. The inhabitants of the Isle are of the Church of England, and the Bishop is styled, Bishop of Sodor and Man. By an Act of Parliament, the thirty-third of Henry VIII. this Bishopric is declared to be in the province of York. Encyclop. Brit. sition thus: "Whereas we have been informed, that several unordained, unauthorised, and unqualified persons from other countries, have, for some time past, presumed to preach and teach publicly, and hold and maintain conventicles; and have caused several weak persons to combine themselves together in a new society, and have private meetings, assemblies, and congregations, contrary to the doctrines, government, rites, and ceremonies of the Established Church, and the civil and ecclesiastical laws of this Isle. We do, therefore, for the prevention of SCHISM and the re-establishment of that UNIFORMITY in religious worship which so long hath subsisted among us, hereby desire and require each and every of you, to be vigilant and use your utmost endeavours to dissuade your respective flocks from following, or being led and misguided by such incompetent teachers," &c. &c.-After expatiating a little on this part of his charge, he tells his clergy that if they could not prevail with the people by persuasion, they must get a knowledge of the names of such persons as attended at "these unlawful meetings," as he calls them, and especially of such as enjoyed any office or privilege by episcopal licence, and present them to his Rev. Vicars General, or to some of them. He then requires every one of his clergy, to repel any Methodist Preacher from the sacrament, if he should offer himself at the table to receive it. He further directs, that this pastoral letter should be read, plenâ Ecclesiâ, in full church, the next Sunday after the receipt thereof. The storm now became violent, and Methodism was threatened with a total shipwreck on the island. The preachers and people, however, weathered it out; and in the end of May, 1777, Mr. Wesley paid them a visit, and was received in a very friendly manner by a few persons of respectability and influence. At Peele-Town, Mr. Corbet said, he would gladly have asked him to preach in his church, but the bishop had forbidden. On this occasion Mr. Wesley observes, "Is any clergyman obliged, either in law or conscience to obey such a prohibition? By no means. The will even of the King does not bind any English subject, unless it be seconded by an express law. How much less the will of a bishop? But did not you take an oath to obey him? No: Nor any clergyman in the three kingdoms. This is a mere vulgar error. Shame that it should prevail almost universally!" Before Mr. Wesley's next visit, the Bishop was dead. His successor was a man of a very different spirit; and has proved a blessing to the Island. When Mr. Wesley arrived, all was peace. Before his departure, he made the following remarks, with which I shall conclude this account: "Having now visited the Island round, East, South, North, and West, I was thoroughly convinced, that we have no such Circuit as this, either in England, Scotland, or Ireland. It is shut up from the world: And having little trade, is visited by scarce any strangers. Here are no disputers; no opposition, either from the Governor, (a mild, humane man,) from the Bishop (a good man) or from the bulk of the Clergy. One or two of them did oppose for a time: But they seem now to understand us better. So that the scandal of the cross seems to have for the present ceased. The natives are a plain, artless, simple people; few of them are rich or genteel; the far greater part moderately poor. And most of the strangers that settle among them, are men that have seen affliction." The word of the Lord has therefore free course, and the fruits of righteousness and peace have increased to this day. About the time of the Conference this year, a Travelling Preacher, the late Mr. J. H., who had been well received by the people, and who had enjoyed a large share of Mr. Wesley's confidence for several years, withdrew from the Connexion, and went among the Quakers. There had been a misunderstanding between them, for some time before he took this step; and soon afterwards he wrote his determination to Mr. Wesley. Mr. Charles Wesley was in the habit of corresponding with this preacher, and happening to see the letter, requested his brother to let him answer it. The request was granted; and as the answer is written with candour, contains some good observations on young converts, and points out one striking trait in Mr. John Wesley's character, I shall insert it. The date is October, 1777.* “I thank you,” says he, "for your affectionate letter.† It confirms and increases my love towards you. Your phrase and dress make no difference to us. Let us abide in the love of Jesus, and we must continue to love one another.-Out of true impartial love to you both, I long for peace between you and my brother. brother. But alas ! you do not love each other so well as I do: Mutual confidence is lost, and then what union can there be? I submit to the permissive will of Providence. "If I know my own heart, I have nothing there but tender disinterested love for him and for you: And it is, and must be, a serious grief to me that you are not cordially affected to each other. But we might part friends, who can never part.—I wished to see you; I should not have said one word against your religion; but I should have taken the liberty of giving you a friendly caution or two, lest Satan get an advantage over you, or us. "You know, when a man leaves one religious party or society, it is a theme both to him and them. Those of his old friends who loved him merely as a member of their society, will cease to love him on that account: Those who have little or no grace, will partly treat him as a deserter, and express their anger or ill-will by speaking against him. This stabbing a man in the back, as soon as he turns it upon us, 1 abhor and protest against; and discourage to the utmost of my power. One, who forsakes his former friends, will be * This letter is taken from Mr. Charles Wesley's papers in short hand, |