had provoked_Mr. John Wesley writes to Lady Huntingdon, who
intimates that he is either dishonest, or in his dotage-Mr. Fletcher
answers Shirley's “ Narrative "_Richard Hill, Esq., engages in the
controversy, but soon proposes to destroy all that he had written, if Mr.
Fletcher would do the same_He retires from the controversy with Mr.
Fletcher, and is succeeded by the Rev. Rowland Hill, Mr. Berridge,
and Mr. Toplady-Mr. Madan affords secret help to Mr. Fletcher's
opponents—The Messrs. Hill and Toplady assail Mr. John Wesley's
personal character, to the grief of the more respectable Calvinists—Dr.
Haweis's testimony in his favour-Charles Wesley's epigrams on the
slanderers of his honoured brother--Thomas Olivers--Mr. Fletcher's
character as a polemical writer-Unjust censures upon him by Lady
Huntingdon's biographer, the Rev. Edwin Sidney, &c.—Mr. Charles
Wesley's decided concurrence in the judgment of Mr. Fletcher on
the questions at issue, and advice in the entire controversy - Lady
Huntingdon regrets the part which she had acted towards her earliest
religious friend, Mr. John Wesley .......... ............ Pages 243_296

CHAPTER XXIII.

Removal of Mr. Charles Wesley's family to London-Letter from Mr.

Fletcher-Mr. John Wesley's dangerous illness in Ireland_Report of

his death_Mr. Fletcher's letter to Charles, urging him to take his bro-

ther's place, and offering his aid-Letter from Mr. Perronet-Case of

King Charles I.-Mr. Fletcher's dangerous illness-Charles Wesley's

hymn of prayer for his recovery-Death of Charles Perronet_Letter

from his father-Case of Dr. Dodd-Mr. Charles Wesley visits him,

with his brother, in prison-Hymns on his condition- Verses on his

execution—Letters of Charles Wesley to his wife and daughter-

Prayer for his brother's life-_" The Protestant Association "_Lord

George Gordon-Riots of 1780— Letters from Mr. Charles Wesley,

describing the scenes of outrage—He publishes a Poem on the occasion,

and several Hymns-Conference of 1780_Charles Wesley's fears lest

the Methodists should leave the Church ..... ........... Pages 297–328

XXIV.

Mr. Charles Wesley's children-Musical genius of his two sons—Sketch

of the early life of Charles-Mr. Kelway_Dr. Boyce_Elegy on the
Doctor's death-Handel -- Early life of Samuel Wesley-Character of
the two brothers—Their select concerts, The Earl of Mornington-
General Oglethorpe--Letter of spiritual advice from Mr. Charles
Wesley to Mr. Kelway_Letter from the Earl of Mornington_Death
of that Nobleman-Charles and Samuel Wesley singularly unsuccess.
ful in their attempts to obtain lucrative situations as musicians-Anec-
dotes of George III., and George IV.-Bishop Burgess-Letters to
Charles, from his uncle and his father-Letter to Samuel from his
father-Mary Freeman Shepherd-Samuel embraces the tenets of
Popery- The Duchess of Norfolk discloses the fact to his father_Mr.
Charles Wesley's deep distress, expressed in several hymns-Mr. John

the particulars of her father's illness and death-The funeral Conse-

William Marriott_Hymn descriptive of his feebleness and altered
character-Departure of Mr. John Wesley from London-His letters
his brother Charles's death_Mr. John Wesley's letter to his
bereaved sister-in-law Miss Wesley's letter to her uncle, containing

Wesley's letter to the unhappy youth_Letter to his nephew Charles
on the subject of Samuel's Popery_The spirit of the Church of Rome
-Samuel Wesley deeply injured by his godfather Madan-Miss
Sarah Wesley—Mr. Charles Wesley's intimacy with Lord Mansfield,
Dr. Johnson, &c.—He was not the Sabbath-breaking Clergyman,
whom Cowper has satirized under the name of Occiduus-Mr. Madan
was most probably designed by that name

.Pages 329_376

CHAPTER XXV.

Mr. John Wesley gives an identity to the Conference by the “ Deed of

Declaration "_Offence taken by some parties at this important instru-

ment_Mr. Fletcher at the Conference of 1784_State of the Method-

ists in America when the war of independence had ceased-Dr.

Seabury-Dr. Coke-Mr. John Wesley appoints the Doctor and Mr.

Asbury joint Superintendents of the Methodist Church in America,

and ordains Mr. Vasey and Mr. Whatcoat Elders_He also ordains

three of his Preachers to administer the sacraments in Scotland_The

principles by which he was guided in these acts_Views of Mr.

George Lawson on the alleged episcopal succession—Charles Wesley

is greatly offended with his brother's ordinations-His letter to Dr.

Chandler on the subject_Correspondence with his brother-Remarks

upon it-Mr. John Wesley ordains several others of his Preachers at

the Bristol Conference of 1786, and in certain cases allows the opening

of Methodist chapels in Church-hours-Mr. Charles Wesley writes from

this Conference Mr. La Trobe, the Moravian Minister in London

-He mistakes the character of the Preachers generally-Discrepancy

between his theory of Churchmanship, and his practice-He was an ad-

vocate of lay-preaching–His strong censures upon ungodly Clergymen

-Becomes less hostile to his brother's proceedings-Mr. John Wesley

confesses his inability to keep the whole of his people in union with

the Church, in consequence of the character and doctrine of several of

the Clergy-He ordains three of his Preachers to administer the sacra-

ments in England_Mis.statements of Dr. Pusey and the Messrs.

Wilberforce-Some of the Rev. Edwin Sidney's misrepresentations

Pages 377–423

XXVI.

Character and death of the Rev. Henry Piers, Ebenezer Blackwell, and the

Rev. Vincent Perronet- Letters to Miss Briggs_Death of the Rev.
John Fletcher—Mr. Charles Wesley's health begins to decline-His
ministry at the close of life_Regard for malefactors-Letter to Mr.

answered

to his brother and to Miss Wesley-Charles's increasing weakness
The last hymn that he wrote Mr. John Wesley's letters concerning

crated ground_Letter of Mr. Bradbum on the character and death of
Mr. Charles Wesley_Various letters from Mr. John Wesley to his
sister-in-law and his niece-Mr. Charles Wesley's manuscripts
Unjust censure upon the Methodists by Mr. Wilberforce-Mr.
Charles Wesley's family-Mr. John Wesley's intended Life of his
brother Charles's epitaph

„Pages 424_455

CHAPTER XXVII.

Mr. Charles Wesley's personal appearance—Scholarship, Power as

satirist-As a translator of verse-Epitaphs on his friends-Cordiality
of his friendships_Undeviating friendship for his brother-Exemplary
kindness in the domestic relations—Loyalty to the House of Bruns-
wick_Character as a Preacher-Peculiarity in his mental constitution
-Character of his Methodism and Churchmanship_He was the first
that administered the holy communion to the Methodists separately-
Advocacy of lay-preaching—Attachment to the Methodists—Self-
denial after he ceased to itinerate_Literary accomplishments—General
character of his poetry_Occasionally adopted the thoughts of other
writers-Dr. Brevint, and Dr. Young-Peculiarities of his versifica-
tion-Comprehensive range of his subjects—The evangelical character
of his hymns— Their influence upon the Methodist body—Superior to
those of Dr. Watts—Are adapted to all occasions, field-preaching,
social parties, rural scenery, birth-days Are introductory to the songs
of the blessed

.Pages 456_492

APPENDIX.

498

BURNING OF THE PARSONAGE-HOUSE AT EPWORTH

493

THE WELLESLEY FAMILY

The Rev. SAMUEL WESLEY'S LETTER TO A CURATE.

THE LIFE

OF

THE REV. CHARLES WESLEY, M.A.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Mrs. CHARLES WESLEY was the mother of eight children. It may therefore be supposed that she could not long accompany her husband in those very extensive journeys to which he had been accustomed. His labours indeed became gradually limited, till they were almost exclusively confined to London and Bristol. As it was requisite that he should spend much time in the metropolis, and the family residence was in Bristol, he was often separated from her. During their absence his letters to her were numerous; and they were uniformly characterized by tender affection and fervent piety. Many of them have been preserved ; but unhappily scarcely any are fully dated, so that it is impossible to ascertain the time at which they were written. A few selections will show the spirit of the writer to great advantage. They are equally honourable to the man, the husband, and the Minister of Christ.

“The Foundery, May 10th. I had not time the last post to tell my dearest Sally what comfort I had in doing the last office to an old child of mine, who came this week to the grave as a ripe shock of corn. From her grave I hastened to preach our Lord's ascension; and we shared in his triumph, and rejoiced in hope of receiving all the gifts He has received for us.

“Our meeting of the Leaders was a most solemn assembly. VOL. II.

B

The Lord is surely teaching us how to worship Him. All perceived, they were met in his name. All were bowed down at his feet. His Spirit made intercession for us, and for you. For one blessed hour our flesh did indeed keep silence before Him.

“ This morning I strongly insisted upon selling all, if we would buy the pearl. Mr. Venn breakfasted with me at Mrs. Boult's, and comforted my heart by assuring me that Mr. Madan is entirely clear of predestination; that one Mr. Hawes, a Hutchinsonian, preaches in a church, in Oxford, Christ crucified, with amazing success; both townsmen and gownsmen flocking in crowds to hear him.

“I administered the sacrament to one who has been long confined to his restless bed of pain and death ; but happy in the midst of all his sufferings, and patiently waiting for the consummation of his bliss.

“My next stage was to brother Hammond's; a poor wandering sheep, that did run well for years, but left us upon his marriage, and Christ too. The last time I was in town I persuaded him, after twelve years' interruption, to come to Spitalfields chapel. He came; and the Lord laid hold of him again, and brought him back to the fold. Since then he has constantly attended every ordinance with his old companions; and we have, I trust, received him for ever.

“I met poor Miss Dyer, that was, who has gone through a sea of sorrows since her fatal marriage to Mr. Cayley. Relly and Wheatley confirmed him in his Antinomian principles. He soon acted up to his principles; and discarded his wife with all aggravations of the blackest ingratitude. I took great delight in mourning with her.

“I have been praying with Mrs. Chambers, who draws nearer and nearer her end. She was quite calm, and even desirous to depart. We have often wrestled for her, and cannot doubt."

“My ever dearest Sally,-Your illness would quite overwhelm me, were I not assured that it shall work together for your good, and enhance your happiness through eternity. How does this assurance change the nature of things!

• Sorrow is joy, and pain is ease,

If thou, my God, art here !