brother and me. If they asked me, I was to go. Accordingly we set out in the dark, and came to Francis Ward's, whence my brother had been carried last Thursday night. I found the brethren assembled, standing fast in one mind and spirit, nothing terrified by their adversaries. The word given me for them was, 'Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit yourselves like men, be strong.' Jesus was in the midst, and covered us with a covering of his Spirit. Never was I before in so primitive an assembly. We sang praises lustily, and with a good courage; and could all set to our seal to the truth of our Lord's saying, 'Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness' sake.'

"We laid us down, and slept, and rose up again; for the Lord sustained us. We assembled before day to sing hymns to Christ, as God. As soon as it was light I walked down the town, and preached boldly on Rev. ii. 10: 'Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer. Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.' It was a most glorious time. Our souls were satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and we longed for our Lord's coming, to confess us before his Father and his holy angels. We now understood what it was to receive the word in much affliction, and yet with joy in the Holy Ghost.

"I took several new members into the society, and among them the young man whose arm was broken; and (upon trial) MUNCHIN, the late captain of the mob. He has been constantly under the word since he rescued my brother. I asked him what he thought of him. Think of him!' said he: that he is a mon of God; and God was on his side, when so many of us could not kill one mon.'

'We rode through the town unmolested, to Birmingham, where I preached, and one received faith. I rode on to Evesham, and found John Nelson preaching. I confirmed his word, and prayed in the Spirit."

Having preached at Evesham, Quinton, Guthberton, and Cirencester, Mr. Charles Wesley came once more to Bristol, where he had spent only one day during the last six months. He preached a few times in the city, and to the colliers of Kingswood, gladdening their hearts by an account of the

success of the Gospel in various places; and then paid a visit to South Wales; acknowledging a signal interposition of Providence in crossing the Channel. "When we came to the Passage," says he, "the boatmen refused to venture in such a storm. We waited till four; then committed ourselves to Him whom the winds and seas obey; and embarked with Mr. Ashton, and faithful Felix Farley. The rest of the passengers stayed on the safe side. The waves of the sea were mighty, and raged horribly. When with much toiling we were come near the opposite shore, the storm caught the vessel; our sails were backed, and we were driving full on the black rock, where thirty-two persons lost their lives a few weeks since. But the answer of prayer, after much fatigue, brought us to the haven. O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness, and declare the wonders that He doeth for the children of men!' It was dark when we landed. However, we had a good Guide, (the darkness is no darkness to Him,) who conducted us through the heavy rain to the Rock and Fountain. I spoke a word in season to the poor young women servants, who dwell as in the confines of hell, in the midst of human devils.

"Nov. 1st. I took horse some hours before day, and by ten reached Cardiff. The gentlemen had threatened great things if I ever came there again. I called in the midst of them, 'Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by?' &c. The love of Christ constrained me to speak, and them to hear. The word was irresistible. After it one of our most violent opposers took me by the hand, and pressed me to come to see him. The rest were equally civil all the time I stayed. Only one drunkard made some disturbance; but when sober, sent to ask my pardon. The voice of praise and thanksgiving was in the society. Many are grown in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus. I passed an hour with the wife and daughter of the chief Bailiff, who are waiting as little children for the kingdom of God."

During this short stay in Wales Mr. Charles Wesley preached in the castle at Cardiff, where he made a collection for the prisoners, and distributed religious books among them. He also visited his faithful friend Mr. Hodges, the Minister of Wenvo, and preached in his church. In recrossing the Channel, on his return to Bristol, he says, "The

floods lifted up their voice; but Faith saw Jesus walking on the water, and heard his voice, 'It is I. eight minutes we were brought safe to rides in the whirlwind."

Be not afraid.' In land by Him who

About the middle of November he took leave of the societies in Kingswood and Bristol, and, preaching at Bath, Cirencester, Guthberton, Evesham, Quinton, in his way, came to London, where he concluded the year in happy intercourse with God, and with the lively societies, among whom he was a joyful witness of the power of religion. "I called upon Mr. Witham," says he, "given over by his Physicians; trembling at the approach of the king of terrors; and catching at every word that might flatter his hopes of life." On the day following he adds, "I prayed with him again, and found him somewhat more resigned." Eleven days afterwards he says, "I prayed in great faith for Mr. Witham, the time of whose departure draws nigher and nigher." The following statement closes this death-bed scene:- "At half-hour past seven in the evening he broke out, Now I am delivered! I have found the thing I sought. I know what the blood of sprinkling means!' He called his family and friends to rejoice with him. Some of his last words were, 'Why tarry the wheels of his chariot? I know that my Redeemer liveth. Just at twelve this night my spirit will return to Him.' While the clock was striking twelve he died like a lamb, with that word, 'Come, Lord Jesus.""

A case somewhat different occurred at Bexley, a few days afterwards, when Mr. Charles Wesley was on a visit to the pious Vicar of that place. "I heard," says he, "that one of our fiercest persecutors, who had cut his throat, and lay for dead some hours, was miraculously revived, as a monument of divine mercy. Many of his companions have been hurried into eternity, while fighting against God. He is now seeking Him whom once he persecuted; was confounded at the sight of me; much more by my comfortable words, and a small alms. He could only thank me with his tears."

It is a remarkable fact, that Mr. Egginton, the Clergyman of Wednesbury, died almost immediately after the beginning of the destructive riots of which he had been the principal

cause.

CHAPTER XI.

THE riots at St. Ives and Wednesbury were only a prelude to similar outrages in various parts of the kingdom; and to opposition the most systematic and determined, by which the Methodist Preachers and societies were harassed. The country was in a very unsettled state. It was at war with France and Spain; and was threatened with an invasion by the French, for the purpose of deposing the reigning Monarch, George the Second, and of placing upon the British throne the exiled representative of the house of Stuart; under whose government it was understood, should the project succeed, Popery and arbitrary power were to be restored. The people, of course, dreaded the loss of their liberty, civil and religious; and a feverish anxiety was generally prevalent.

The national danger was made a pretext for persecution the most bitter and undisguised. To rouse the popular vengeance against the Wesleys, and their fellow-labourers in the Gospel, it was only necessary to represent them as Papists, who were supported by the money of the Pretender, and were endeavouring to prepare the way for his assumption of the crown which his fathers had forfeited. This expedient was successfully adopted in various places. In several instances Magistrates and Constables interfered, not to protect an unoffending people, but to tear Methodist Preachers away from their families, and send them into the army. Mr. John and Charles Wesley were both of them subjected to unjust charges, and examined before the civil authorities: one in Cornwall, and the other in Yorkshire. Yet men of purer loyalty did not exist. There is no reason to believe that they received from their mother in early life any bias in favour of the Stuarts; and their attachment to the house of Brunswick, through the whole of their public life, was unimpeachable. In this emergency of the national affairs they used all their influence in support of the reigning family. They inculcated loyalty wherever they preached; and in the

principal societies under their care, they appointed weekly meetings of intercession with God for the maintenance of public tranquillity, and of the Protestant constitution. Both of them employed the press for the same purpose. Charles poured forth the feelings of his pious and loyal heart in sacred verse; and published a tract, which was very widely circulated, under the title of "Hymns for Times of Trouble." In these very spirited compositions the national sins are confessed and lamented; the mercy of God is earnestly implored in behalf of a guilty people; civil war is deprecated as a great and terrible calamity; the preservation of the Protestant religion, and a revival of its primitive spirit, are both solicited as the most important of all blessings; and the King is especially commended to the divine protection, not as the creature of the popular will, but as God's vicegerent, and his minister for good to the people.

It was upon this occasion that Mr. Charles Wesley wrote and published the two fine hymns, beginning,

The hymn on the 424th page of the Wesleyan general Collection was also written at this time :

Sinners, the call obey,

The latest call of grace;

The day is come, the vengeful day,

Of a devoted race."

As a specimen of the tract to which reference has just been made, the subjoined ingenious effusion is given. It represents the State as a ship in a storm; every individual sinner