WESLEYAN HERITAGE LIBRARY Biographies THE LIFE OF JOHN WESLEY By John Telford, B.A. “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” Heb 12:14 Spreading Scriptural Holiness to the World © 1998 Wesleyan Heritage Publications THE LIFE OF JOHN WESLEY. By JOHN TELFORD, B.A., Author of "Wesley Anecdotes," etc. NEW YORK: HUNT & EATON CINCINNATI: CRANSTON & CURTS THE LIFE OF JOHN WESLEY. By JOHN TELFORD, B.A. CONTENTS. FRONTISPIECE—Facsimile of Letter to William Law; INTRODUCTION CHAPTER I. ANCESTRY AND PARENTAGE. Bartholomew Wesley—The First John Wesley—His Marriage—Sufferings and Labour—Samuel Wesley—His Life at Oxford—The Mother of the Wesleys—Troubles at Epworth CHAPTER II. CHILDHOOD AT EPWORTH. Birth—Epworth and its Parsonage—Home Life—Mrs. Wesley's School—The Rector's Enemies—Saved from the Fire—Results of that Trouble—Religious Training—Mrs. Wesley's Services—Wesley's Childhood—A Reason for Everything—Affection for Epworth CHAPTER III. GOWN-BOY AT CHARTERHOUSE. Nominated by the Duke of Buckingham—Founder of the School—Historic Associations—Schoolmaster, Usher, Pensioners, and Master of the Charterhouse—Incident of School Life—Attachment to the Place—An Old Schoolfellow—Visit to Dr. Sacheverell—Religious Life—Dinner on Founder's Day, with Bill of Fare. CHAPTER IV. EARLIER YEARS AT OXFORD AND CURACY AT WROOTE. Description of Wesley—A Family Letter—Health and Income—Religious State—Preparation for Orders—Wins a Convert—Ordination and First Sermons—Fellow of Lincoln College—Charles Wesley at Christchurch—Work and Surroundings at Lincoln College—The other Fellows of Lincoln, Regulations, and Allowances—Choice of Friends—Early Rising—Curacy at Wroote—Summoned to Oxford CHAPTER V. OXFORD METHODISM. Wesley as Tutor—Charles Wesley's Seriousness—Gambold's Account of Wesley—The Name Methodist—Life of the Members—Works of Charity—Samuel Wesley's Advice—The First Methodists—Whitefield Joins Them—Wesley's Charity—School and Prison Work—Visits Epworth and London—Wesley's Labours and University Sermons—The Epworth Living—His Father's Death CHAPTER VI. MISSION TO GEORGIA. Account of the Colony—Wesley Asked to Go—His Companions—Life on Board—The Moravians—Wesley's Interview with Spangenberg—Description of Savannah—Blessing on Wesley's Ministry—Heavy Work—Miss Hopkey—Charges against Wesley—Leaves Savannah—Income and Health—Voyage Home—Heart-searching CHAPTER VII. PREPARATION FOR THE GREAT REVIVAL. Reception in England—Peter Böhler—Visits Oxford—Extempore Prayer—Convinced of Unbelief—Society at Fetter Lane—The Brothers Find Rest—Scene at Mr. Hutton's—Resolves to Visit Hernhuth—Law's Influence on the Wesleys—Correspondence with Law—Subsequent Relations to Him—Visits the Moravians in Germany—Hernhuth—Return to London—Charles Wesley's First- fruits—Wesley's Theology—His Life-purpose CHAPTER VIII. BEGINNING OF THE GREAT AWAKENING. Condition of England—Drunkenness and Violence—Whitefield Returns from Georgia—Lovefeast at Fetter Lane—Whitefield Shut out of Churches—Calls Wesley to Bristol—Wesley's First Field- preaching—First Preaching-place Built—Strange Convulsions—Charles Wesley's Feeling about Them—Wesley's Encounter with Beau Nash—Confusion at Fetter Lane—Preaches at Black-heath—Death of his Brother Samuel CHAPTER IX. MORAVIAN AND CALVINISTIC CONTROVERSIES. Wesley Secures the Foundery—Congregation and Services—Molther's Teaching—Wesley's Interview with Him—Withdraws from Fetter Lane—Forbearance—James Hutton's Account—Protest against Moravian Errors—Interview with Zinzendorf—Calvinism—Wesley's Views and Sermon on Free Grace—Whitefield's Letter—Wreck at Kingswood—Proposed Conference with the Moravians CHAPTER X. THE METHODIST SOCIETIES. The Religious Societies of the Church of England—Rise of Methodism—Meeting at Fetter Lane—Not a Moravian Society at First—Wesley's own Society—Classes Formed—Discipline and Leaders—Effect of this Arrangement—Bands, Tickets, Lovefeasts—Forms Societies where He Preaches—Stewards—Watchnight Service—Advice about Elections—Smuggling—London Methodism CHAPTER XI. EXTENSION OF THE WORK. Labours up to 1742—Visit to Newcastle—Carries a Blessing Everywhere—Preaches on his Father's Tomb—An Eventful Week—His Mother's Death—Her Last Years and Burial—The Work in Newcastle—Builds the Orphan House—Its History—Beauties of Newcastle—Growth of Methodism—Visits to Lincoln College—Last University Sermon—Resigns Fellowship CHAPTER XII. ENCOUNTERS WITH THE MOB. Bristol Rioters—Scenes in London—George II. and Sir John Ganson—Trouble at Wednesbury—Wesley's Narrow Escape—Cornish Rioters—The Bolton Mob—Experiences in Ireland—Tact and Resource—Disturbers Silenced by the Crowd—Wesley's Chaise- boy—Attempts to Drown Wesley's Voice—His Caution—Muscular Christianity—A Letter to a Disturber—Appeals to Law—Attitude of the Magistrates CHAPTER XIII. WESLEY AS A TRAVELLER. The Pedestrian—Wesley on Horseback—Accidents—Trying Journeys—A Bold Traveller—Stages Fixed—A Loose Rein—Wesley's Carriage—Long Journeys—The Fen Roads—In the Coach—Punctuality—Runaway Horses—Wesley as a Sailor—Waiting for the Wind—Wesley on Board Ship—Pleasant Services on Deck CHAPTER XIV. WESLEY'S PREACHERS. Horse and Saddle-bags—Troubles—Poverty—Kingswood School—First Lay-preachers—Thomas Maxfield Begins to Preach—Leaves Wesley—John Nelson's Conversion—Early Labours—Privations in Cornwall—John Downes' Genius—Thomas Walsh: Saint and Scholar—John Jane's Poverty—Wesley Reads with his Preachers—Inquiry into Character—Preachers' Work—Care of their Health—The First Sir Robert Peel—Wesley's Power—The Annual Conference—Rules of a Helper—Memorial to Thomas Walsh—A Preacher's Horse Released by a Young Lady's Ribbons CHAPTER XV. LOVE AND MARRIAGE. Robert Kirkham—Varanese—Miss Betty Kirkham—Mrs. Delany—Wesley's Correspondence with Her—Its Close—Letter to Miss Granville—Burke's Tribute to Mrs. Delany—Her Feeling as to the Wesleys in Later Life—Grace Murray—Wesley Engaged to Her—His Brother Interferes—Interview in Old Age—Wesley's Letter and Poem—Marriage to Mrs. Vazeille—Her Warmth and Bitterness—A Husband's Letter—Mrs. Wesley's Death and Character CHAPTER XVI. WESLEY'S JOURNALS. Various Interest—Begins his Diary—Literary Criticism—Wide Range of his Reading—Historical and Poetical—Reading on Horseback—Art Critiques—Illustrations of English Life—Growth of Towns—The Land's End—The Abbey and the British Museum—Curious Experiments—Noble Mansions—Lord George Gordon—John Howard—Genius and Second-sight CHAPTER XVII. EVENTS UP TO THE DEATH OF WHITEFIELD. Charles Wesley Ceases to Itinerate—Wesley's Consumption—Visits Ireland and Scotland—John Fletcher—Bell and Maxfield—Rent in the London Society—The Irish Palatines—American Methodism—Chapel Debts—Whitefield's Death—Funeral Sermon CHAPTER XVIII. FROM THE DEATH OF WHITEFIELD TO THE DEATH OF CHARLES WESLEY. The Calvinistic Controversy—Wesley's Minutes—Lady Huntingdon's Opposition—Fletcher's "Checks"—Wesley Leaves his Reputation to God—Charles Wesley Removes to London—Illness in Ireland—City Road Chapel—The Work in America—Wesley's Ordinations—The Deed of Declaration—Illness at Bristol—Charles Wesley's Death—Wesley's Care for his Brother's Family CHAPTER XIX. WESLEY'S CHURCHMANSHIP. The High Churchman—Wesley's Practices in Georgia—Change on his Return—Shut out of the Churches—Lord King's Book—Crisis of 1755—Reasons against Separation—Ordinations for America, etc.—Methodist Societies and the Church—Administration of the Sacraments in the Methodist Chapels—Wesley and the Clergy—Methodist Organisation Perfected—Some Clerical Coadjutors: Grimshaw, Fletcher, Berridge, Perronet, Coke, and Others CHAPTER XX. PREACHER, WRITER, AND PHILANTHROPIST. Simple Language—First Extempore Sermon—Wesley's Voice—Influence of his Preaching—Pungency and Applications—Choice of Subjects—Length of Sermons—Number of Sermons Preached—Service to Popular Literature—First Publications—His Hymns—Sermons—Other Publications—Effect of his "Appeals"—Controversial Writing—Bishop Lavington and Dr. Taylor—Tracts—Literary Activity—Wesley's Charity—Relieves those in Distress—Provides Work and Clothing—Begging for the Poor—Lending Stock—Interest in Medicine—His Dispensary—"Primitive Physic"—Gives some Remedies to a Woman near Gloucester CHAPTER XXI. WESLEY'S LAST YEARS AND DEATH. Visits Holland and the Channel Islands—General Honour—Last Visit to Ireland—Last Visit to Cornwall—His Health—Feebleness—Escorted by the People—Scenes at Colchester and Lowestoft—Last Field- preaching—Ceaseless Labour—Last Sermons—Letter to Wilberforce—Death-bed—Burial and Funeral Sermon—Wesley's Will CHAPTER XXII. WESLEY'S APPEARANCE, CHARACTER, AND WORK. Character and Work—Appearance—Neatness and Punctuality—A Pleasant Companion—Dr. Johnson—Cheerfulness—Wesley in the Home—Mr. Knox's Description—Love of Children—A Perfect Gentleman—His Niece's Tribute—The Charge of Ambition—Wesley as a Statesman—Numerical Position of Methodism THE LIFE OF JOHN WESLEY. By JOHN TELFORD, B.A. INTRODUCTION. THE greatest historian of the eighteenth century, who has brought to his task clear insight and unlimited resources of learning, has devoted one of his most interesting chapters to "The Religious Revival." He thus expresses his deliberate judgment on the far-reaching results of Methodism:—"Although the career of the elder Pitt and the splendid victories by land and sea that were won during his ministry form unquestionably the most dazzling episodes in the reign of George II., they must yield, I think, in real importance to that religious revolution which shortly before had begun in England by the preaching of the Wesleys and Whitefield."[1] Mr. Lecky's verdict is substantially approved on all hands. The late lamented J. R. Green [2] says: "The Methodists themselves were the least result of the Methodist revival. Its action upon the Church broke the lethargy of the clergy. But the noblest result of the religious revival was the steady attempt, which has never ceased from that day to this, to remedy the guilt, the ignorance, the physical suffering, the social degradation of the profligate and the poor." No one can tell what the fate of England would have been but for the Great Revival.