I do not think one man among them could read a sermon, without spelling a good part of it; and would that edify the rest? Nor has any of our family a voice strong enough to be heard by such a number of people.

"But there is one thing about which I am much dissatisfied; that is, their being present at family prayers. I do not speak of any concern I am under, barely because so many are present. For those who have the honour of speaking to the great and holy God, need not be ashamed to speak before the whole world, but because of my sex. I doubt, if it be proper for me to present the prayers of the people to God. Last Sunday I would fain have dismissed them before prayers; but they begged so earnestly to stay, I dared not to deny them."

Mrs. Wesley, although satisfied of the propriety of her own conduct, determined to abide by her husband's decision. Inman the curate and some others highly disapproved of it, and complained to Mr. Wesley of this conventicle; and the representations which were made, induced him to write to her in terms of strong disapprobation. Her answer is dated February 25th.

"Some few days since," says she, "I received a letter. from you, I suppose dated the 16th instant, which I made no great haste to answer; because I judged it necessary for both of us to take some time to consider, before you determine in a matter of such great impor tance. I shall not inquire how it was possible that you should be prevailed on, by the senseless clamours of two or three of the worst of your parish, to condemn what you so lately approved: but I shall tell you my thoughts in as few words as possible. I do not hear of more than three or four persons who are against our meeting, of whom Inman is the chief. He and Whitely,,

I believe, may call it a conventicle; but we hear no

outcry here, nor has any one said a word against it to me. And what does their calling it a conventicle signify? does it alter the nature of the thing? or do you think that what they say is a sufficient reason to forbear a thing that has already done much good, and by the blessing of God may do much more? If its being called a conventicle by those who know in their conscience that they misrepresent it, did really make it one, what you say would be somewhat to the purpose: but it is plain in fact, that this one thing has brought more people to church than ever any thing did in so short a time. We used not to have above twenty or twenty-five at evening service, whereas now we have between two and three hundred; which are more than ever came before to hear Inman in the morning.

"Besides the constant attendance on the public worship of God, our meeting has wonderfully conciliated. the minds of this people towards us, so that we now live in the greatest amity imaginable; and what is still better, they are very much reformed in their behaviour on the Lord's day; and those who used to be playing in the streets, now come to hear a good sermon read, which is surely more acceptable to Almighty God.

"Another reason for what I do, is, that I have no other way of conversing with this people, and therefore have no other way of doing them good; but by this I have an opportunity of exercising the greatest and noblest charity, that is, charity to their souls.

"Some families who seldom went to church, now go constantly; and one person who has not been there for seven years, is now prevailed upon to go with the rest.

"There are many other good consequences of this ineeting, which I have not time to mention. Now I beseech you to weigh all things in an impartial balance : on the one side, the honour of Almighty God, the doing

much good to many souls, and the friendship of the best among whom we live; on the other, if folly, impiety, and vanity may abide in the scale against so ponderous a weight, the senseless objections of a few scandalous persons, laughing at us, and censuring us as precise and hypocritical: and when you have duly considered all things, let me know your positive determination.

"I need not tell you the consequences, if you determine to put an end to our meeting. You may easily foresee what prejudices it may raise in the minds of these people against Inman especially, who has had so little wit as to speak publickly against it. I can now keep them to the church, but if it be laid aside, I doubt they will never go to hear him more, at least those who come from the lower end of the town; but if this be continued till you return, which now will not be long, it may please God that their hearts may be so changed by that time, that they may love and delight in his public worship so as never to neglect it more.

"If you do, after all, think fit to dissolve this assembly, do not tell me that you desire me to do it, for that will not satisfy my conscience: but send me your positive command, in such full and express terms, as may absolve me from all guilt and punishment for neglecting this opportunity of doing good, when you and I shall appear before the great and awful tribunal of our Lord Jesus Christ."

The meeting was continued until Mr. Wesley returned to Epworth.

Mrs. Wesley appears in the most amiable light in her behaviour to her sons while at Oxford-After the death of her husband, she divided her time between her children, until 1739, when she removed to London and resided chiefly in that city.

Mr. Wesley gives the following account of his mother's death: "I left Bristol in the evening of Sunday the 18th July 1742, and on Tuesday came to London. I found my mother on the borders of eternity. But she had no doubt or fear; nor any desire, but as soon as God should call, to depart and to be with Christ.

She

"Friday the 23rd, about three in the afternoon, I went to my mother, and found her change was near. was in her last conflict; unable to speak, but I believe quite sensible. Her look was calm and serene, and her eyes fixt upward, while we commended her soul to God. From three to four the silver cord was loosing, and the wheel breaking at the cistern: and then, without any struggle or sigh or groan, her soul was set at liberty! We stood round the bed, and fulfilled her last request, uttered a little before she lost her speech; "Children, as soon as I am released, sing a psalm of praise to God."

"Sunday, August 1st. Almost an innumerable company of people being gathered together, about five in the afternoon, I committed to the earth the body of my mother, to sleep with her fathers. The portion of scripture from which I afterwards spoke, was, I saw a great white throne and him that sat on it; from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away, and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead small and great, standing before God, and the books were openedAnd the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. It was one of the most solemn assemblies I ever saw, or expect to see, on this side of eternity.

"We set up a plain stone at the head of her inscribed with the following words

grave,

"Here lies the body of Mrs. Susannah Wesley, the youngest and last surviving daughter of Dr. Samuel Annesley.

"In sure and stedfast hope to rise,
And claim her mansion in the skies,
A Christian here her flesh laid down,
The cross exchanging for a crown.

True daughter of affliction she
Inur'd to pain and misery,

Mourn'd a long night of griefs and fears,
A legal night of seventy years.

The Father then reveal' d his son,

Him in the broken bread made known.
She knew and felt her sins forgiv'n
And found the earnest of her heav'n.

Meet for the fellowship above,

She heard the call," arise, my love;"
"I come" her dying looks replied,
And lamb like, as her Lord, she died."

Mr. Samuel Wesley, junior.

Samuel Wesley, the eldest son, was born about 1692, a year or two before his father removed to Epworth. Until he entered upon his fifth year, he never spoke, which produced a fear that he was deficient in his understanding: but his answer to a question which had been proposed to another person concerning him in his presence, very much surprized all his auditors, and he found no difficulty from that time. He received his education at Westminster, thence removed to Christ Church Oxford, and in both institutions was reputed to be an excellent classical scholar. Having taken his Master's degree he was called to officiate as usher of Westminster; and not long after, under the patronage of Atterbury appeared in orders proving, himself to be an able preacher, and a judicious divine. He was a man of great honour and integrity; humane and charitable. ina high degree, being indefatigable in the service of the indigent to him the Westminster infirmary is much