As an instance of the diversity of opinions existing among them, we may refer to the proceedings of the society in the case of Hannah Barnard, a celebrated speaker from Hudson, in North America. For her avowed sentiments respecting the Jewish wars, the doctrine of the miraculous conception of Christ, and the miracles recorded in the New Testament, she was silenced in this country, and afterwards disowned in America. All the circumstances connected

with this intrepid woman are detailed in various publications, which cannot fail to interest the reader. The principal among them are the following:-In behalf of Hannah Barnard, "An Appeal to the Society of Friends on the Primitive Simplicity of their Christian Principles and Church Discipline,” &c., in three parts, with a "Sequel ;” “A Vindication of Scriptural Unitarianism and some other Primitive Christian Doctrines," &c. in reply to 'Vindex;' and "Christian Unitarianism Vindicated," in reply to John Bevan, Jun., by Verax (Thomas Foster). On the other side of the question appeared, "Some tracts relating to the Controversy between Hannah Barnard and the Society," written under the

for the "Abolition of the Slave Trade," Wordsworth beautifully says:

"O true yoke-fellow of Time,

With unabating effort, see, the palm

Is won, and by all nations shall be worn.
The bloody writing is for ever torn,

And thou henceforth shalt have a good man's calm,
A great man's happiness; thy zeal shall find
Repose at length, firm friend of humankind."

signature of 'Christiana;'"An Examination of the First Part of an Appeal," by Vindex; and "A Defence of Christian Doctrine of the Society of Friends, against the Charge of Socinianism, and its Church Discipline Vindicated," in answer to Verax, by John Bevan, Jun.

Mr. Foster was disowned because, having been "questioned on some important points of doctrine, he decidedly refused to answer;" and because his questioners alleged that "they had strong ground to believe his opinions to be at variance with those of the society." In order that his readers might be able to form their own judgment, he published, "A Narrative of the Proceedings of the Society called Quakers, within the Quarterly Meeting for London and Middlesex, against Thomas Foster, for openly professing their Primitive Doctrines concerning the Unity of God."

The Friends feel it to be their solemn duty to abstain altogether "from profuse and extravagant entertainments-from the unnecessary frequenting of taverns and public-houses-from excess in eating and drinking-from public diversions-from the reading of useless, frivolous, and pernicious booksfrom gaming of every description, and from vain and injurious sports (as hunting and shooting for diversion) from unnecessary display in funerals, furniture, and style of living-from unprofitable, seductive, and dangerous amusements (among which are ranked dancing and music)—and generally from all such occupations of time and mind as plainly tend to

levity, vanity, and forgetfulness of our God and Saviour.*"

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The reader may consult Sewell's "History of the Quakers,"-Gough's "History of the Quakers," Clarkson's "Portraiture of Quakerism," "Summary of the History, Doctrine, and Discipline of Friends," 1790,-"The Principles of Religion as professed by the Society of Christians usually called Quakers," by Henry Tuke,-The various writings of Joseph John Gurney.

METHODISTS.

THE WESLEYAN METHODISTS.

THE members of this sect are followers of the Rev. John Wesley, than whom a more extraordinary man, a man whose influence on society has been more extensive, or is likely to be more permanent, has seldom appeared. He was born at Epworth in Lincolnshire, on the 21st of June, 1703. His father was vicar of the parish.

In the year

* Gurney on the "Peculiarities of Friends," p. 279. When he was about six years old, the parsonage at Epworth accidentally took fire, and was burnt to the ground. His escape on this occasion was most extraordinary. In an early print of him is the representation of a house in flames, with a motto, "Is not this a brand plucked out of the burning!" There is extant a letter from his mother to a clergyman in the neighbourhood, containing a minute account of all the circumstances. It cannot be read without

interest. It is dated August 24th, 1709. "On Wednesday night, February the 9th," says she, "between the hours of eleven and twelve, some sparks fell from the roof of our house, upon one of the children's (Hetty's) feet. She immediately ran to our chamber, and called us. Mr. Wesley, hearing a cry of fire in the

1729, whilst Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford, he established private meetings in connexion with his brother Charles, and one or two other under-graduates. In the course of a short time they were street, started up, (as I was very ill he lay in a separate room from me,) and opening his door, found the fire was in his own house. He immediately came to my room, aud bid me and my two eldest daughters rise quickly and shift for ourselves. Then he ran and burst open the nursery-door, and called to the maid to bring out the children. The two little ones lay in the bed with her; the three others in another bed. She snatched up the youngest, and bid the rest follow, which the three elder did. When we were got into the hall, and were surrounded with flames, Mr. Wesley found he had left the keys of the doors above stairs. He ran up and recovered them a minute before the staircase took fire. When he opened the street-door, the strong north-east wind drove the flames in with such violence, that none could stand against them. But some of our children got through the windows, and the rest through a little door into the garden. I was not in a condition to climb up to the windows; neither could I get to the garden-door. I endeavoured three times to force my passage through the street-door, but was as often beaten back by the fury of the flames. In this distress I besought our blessed Saviour for help, and then waded through the fire, naked as I was, which did me no farther harm, than a little scorching my hands and my face."

When Mr. Wesley had seen the other children safe, he heard

the child in the nursery cry. He attempted to go up the stairs, but they were all on fire, and would not bear his weight, "Finding it impossible to afford any help, he kneeled down in the hall, and recommended the soul of the child to God."

This child was John Wesley. The other particulars will be best given in his own words. "I believe it was just at that time I waked, for I did not cry, as they imagined, unless it was afterwards. I remember all the circumstances as distinctly as though it were but yesterday. Seeing the room was very light, I called to the maid to take me up. But none answering I put my head out of the curtains, and saw streaks of fire on the top of the room. I got up and ran to the door, but could get no farther, all the floor

joined by some other members of the University, among whom were the Reverend James Hervey, author of "Meditations among the Tombs ;" and the celebrated George Whitfield. These persons employed themselves in the diligent cultivation of personal religion, in visiting the abodes of poverty and sickness, and in carrying relief and comfort to the cell of the prisoner; and they became remarkable for the moral strictness of their lives. It was from this latter circumstance that they obtained the name of Methodists: some one having said of them,— in allusion to the ancient body of physicians who bore that name, because they had endeavoured to reduce the science of medicine to some regular order,

"Here is a new sect of Methodists sprung up!" In the year 1735, John Wesley, accompanied by his brother Charles and two other gentlemen, embarked for Georgia, in order to preach the gospel to

beyond it being in a blaze. I then climbed up on a chest, which stood near the window: one in the yard saw me, and proposed running to fetch a ladder. Another answered, 'There will not be time, but I have thought of another expedient. Here I will fix myself against the wall; lift a light man, and set him on my shoulders. They did so, and he took me out of the window. Just then the whole roof fell in; it fell inward, or we had all been crushed at once. When they brought me into the house, where my father was, he cried out, Come neighbours! let us kneel down! let us give thanks to God! he has given me all my eight children let the house go, I am rich enough!'"

The next day, as he was walking in the garden, and surveying the ruins of the house, he picked up part of a leaf of his Polyglot Bible, on which just these words were legible: Vade! vende omnia quæ habes; et attolle crucem, et sequere me. "Go! sell all that thou hast; and take up thy cross, and follow me!"