Theol ogy i brary SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY AT CLAREMONT California PREFACE.
A Few words will suffice to explain the origin of this volume. The French Methodists being unprovided with any standard Life of Wesley, the French Conference threw open the subject to competition, offering a prize for the best production. By the unanimous consent of the adjudicators the palm was awarded to the Rey. Matthieu
Several Lives of Wesley have recently appeared in this country, but it has been thought that the present little work will have a place and a value of its own. The best authorities have been consulted in its compilation, and great pains taken to ensure accuracy of statement. The writer has succeeded in setting before his readers a condensed, yet clear and graphic, history of a man whose memory he deeply reveres, and whose character he knows how to measure at its true altitude. The numerous particulars lately given in the Life by the Rey. Luke
Tyerman, while intensely interesting, as everything must be that refers to Wesley, do not modify in any essential feature the portrait here given. Indeed, his character was so transparently genuine that, the more thorough
A2 ly Preface. the investigation, the stronger will be the conviction of its intrinsic excellence and completeness. None the less, however, should it be touched tenderly and discreetly by those whose business it may be to describe it. To this happy combination in the biographer of impartiality and reverence every page of this volume bears witness. If it shall inspire into some of Wesley's followers a fuller appreciation of, and affection for, their venerable Founder, and a more earnest desire to tread in his steps, the aim of the author and of the translator alike will have been abundantly accomplished.
Aad. ie, Lake House, near South Shields.
(1703—1738.) Cuarter I.—Tur Epworta ParsonaGe, 1703—1714.
The Isle of Axholme—Birth of John Wesley—His Ancestry— Character of Samuel Wesley, his Father—Susanna Wesley : her Character— Family Education: its Principles and Methods— Domestic Trials—Fire at the Rectory—Providential Deliverance of John Wesley—His Early Piety . Ps : : - Pacus 1—9
CuHdpter II.—Tue University or Oxrorp, 1714—1735.
Wesley at the Charterhouse School—Wesley at Oxford—His Course of Study— His Talents—His Loneliness — Distressing Questions—Maternal Counsels—The Imitation of Jesus Christ— Works of Jeremy Taylor and William Law—Theological Views—
Wesleyin Deacon's Orders—Fellow of Lincoln College—Professor of Greek Literature—Charles Wesley—Band of Students—Called Methodists —John Wesley at Epworth— Desires Retirement— Returns to Oxford—Influence on his Friends—Asceticism and Activity —George Whitefield — Opposition— Wesley's Illness —
Spiritual State . : ' A A 4 4 - Pagus 9—1i8 Cuaprer III.—Mission ro Amertca. 1735—1737.
Offer of a Living: Wesley's Refusal—Mission to Georgia— The Voyage—Bodily Austerities—Economy of Time—The Moravians —Their Behaviour in the Midst of Danger--Their Example— Arrival—Conversation with Spangenberg—A Moravian Community
—LEvangelization of the Indians—Hindrances to Success—HEvangelization of the Colonists—Formation of Societies—W esley's Influence—
Causes of Failure—Violent Opposition—Wesley's Departure.
Paces 18—26 A3 vi Contents.
Cuarter 1V.—Conversion. 1738.
Wesley's Dejection of Mind—Need of Conversion—Interviews with Bohler—Rapid Progress—Seeks Deliverance—Circumstances attending Conversion — Development of Spiritual Life —Conversion of Charles Wesley and Whitefield—Wesley Visits the Moravian Settlements—His Interviews with Zinzendorf—Impressions of Herrnhuth
—Christian David—Methodism and the Moravians. PacEs 26—36 CuapreR V.—Morat anpD ReELicIous ConpiTion oF ENGLAND AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
Incompleteness of the English Reformation—Church and State —Puritanism—England in the Eighteenth Century—Outward Prosperity—General Corruption among the Upper Classes—Venality,
Dissipation, Infidelity—Infidelity a la mode— Degradation of the Lower Classes—Power of the Mob—The Mohawks—Drunkenness,
Superstition, and Ignorance— Attempts at Reformation— The Essayists—Society for the Reformation of Manners— Religious Societies—The Anglican Clergy: their Indifference and Immorality —LExceptions—General Character of their Preaching—Testimony of Pious Churchmen—The Nonconformists—Criticisms of Voltaire—
Voltaire and Wesley . : : ; : . Paces 36—53 BOOK IL.
THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE WORK.
(1738—1744.) CHAPTER J.—BirtH oF THE MovemuEntT. 1738—1739, The Moravian Societies in London—Wesley Preaches in the Churches—The Pulpits Closed—Wesley among the Prisoners—
New-Year's Day, 1739—Whitefield Preaches in the Open Air at Kingswood and Bristol—Wesley Follows his Example—Wesley at Contents. Vil Bristol— Foundation of the '' United Societies" —The First Chapel—
Kingswood School— Features of. his Itinerancy— Remarkable Conversions-—Physical Manifestations—Wesley at Moorfields— Charles Wesley before the Archbishop of Canterbury—John Wesley before the Bishop of Bristol —Close of the Year 1789. Pacrs 54—69
CHaprter II.—IntTERNAL Divisions: EXTERNAL PROGRESS.
Errors of the Moravians—Wesley's Separation—The Foundery— Fruitless attempts at Reconciliation—Various Feelings of the People towards Wesley—Mobs at Bristol and London—Wesley's
Courage—The Clergy— Progress of the Bristol Society—Growth and Extension of the Societies—Their Liberality—Difference between Wesley and Whitefield concerning Predestination—Disputes among the Members—The Sermon "On Free Grace ""»—Whitefield's Reply
—Separation from Wesley—Results of the Division. Paces 69—80 Cuapter I1].—Lay Preacnine. THe Nortu. 1742.
A. Difficult Problem—Lay Helpers—Thomas Maxfield—Influence of Susanna Wesley at this Crisis—Development of this Agency— The London Classes—Labours of Nelson in the North—Wesley Sets out for the North—Wayside Adventure—Wesley at Birstal—
Wesley at Neweastle—Vast Assemblages—Formation of a Society— Wesley at Hpworth—Preaches on his Father's Tombstone—The Methodists and the Magistrate— Death of Susanna Wesley.
PacEs 80—89 CHAPTER, IV.—ConFruiicts AND PrrsecuTions. 1743-1744.
Wesley in the North—Investigation of the Physical Manifestations —Formation of Circuits—Wesley's Visit to Placey— Disturbances in London—Intervention of the Magistrates—Charles Wesley
Attacked by the Mob— Privations in Cornwall— Wesley among the Wednesbury and Walsall Mobs—His Fearlessness in Danger— Conversion of a Ringleader—A Lost Sheep Restored to the Fold— More Persecutions in Staffordshire—Connivance of the Magistrates and Clergy—Impressment of the Preachers— Public Opinion respecting Wesley Paces 89—102 vill Contents.