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The Wesley F 1\Mil Y BIOGRAPHICi\L HISTORY OF THE WESLEY F 1\MILY, :\IORE l'ARTICUL\RT.Y ITS Ei\.RLIER BR1\NCJ-IES. JOHN DOVE. !CS& Such a. fianil!J I have never read of, heard of, ol' kno\vn ; nor ::.-incc i.he clays of ABRAHAM and SARAH, and Jo:-;El'H and MARY of Naza­ reth, has there ever been a family to which the human r-cJ.Ce hati hccn more indebted. DR. ADAM CL ..\RKE. LONDON: IIA.l\IILTON, AD.A.l\iS, & Co. PATI-:RNo:-;TEH.-Rnw. AND 1-1. W. "\VALKER, 27, BRIOGATE, LEEDS. MDCCCXL. PREFACE. - The eventful ~nd important Life of the venerable Founder of Arminian Methodism has been frequently laid before the Public; but there is reason to believe that the history of his Paternal and Maternal AN­ CESTORS is only partially known, even amongst the members of the Methodist Society. The late DR. ADAM CLARKE, pub­ lished in 1822, "Memoirs of the Wesley Family" in a large octavo volume, but ,vhich, on account of the introduction of a vast quantity of extraneous and un­ necessary matter, is not well adapted for general circulation. The Price also pre­ vented many from purcha~ing it. On these grounds the Compiler of the following Work is of opinion, that a con­ densed, and well arranged Memoir of the Wesley Family, at a moderate price, and written ",vith special reference to general • IV PREFACE. readers," ,vas still wanting. This convic­ tion led him to prepare the present Work, ,vhich he hopes contains all that is really interesting in Dr. Clarke's publication, together with a considerable quantity of new matter, collected from a great variety of sources. It has been his endeavour to free the narrative from all those details " which are comparatively uninteresting beyond the immediate circle of Wesleyan Methodism," and to adapt it to the perusal of the Public at large. This volume being designed as introduc­ wry to MR. W ATsoN's excellent Life of the Founder of Methodism, the Lives of MESSRS. JoHN and CHARLES WESLEY are not given; as all that is interesting to the general reader, respecting those eminent Ministers, is furnished with great judgment and pro­ priety by Mr. \Vatson, in his Publication. December 24th, 1832. The Publisher en1braces the opportunity, ,vhich a second issue of "the Wesley Fami­ ly" affords hin1, to state, that this work contains all that is really interesting in Dr. Clarke's Publication, mith a conside-rabk quantity of ncm rJW,ttefr, collected frcnn a g 1reat variety of sources :-and in particular re­ specting the Puruam; and Non-Conformists -' the Act of Unifor·niity'-' the Test and Corporatinn Acts'-and-w~at may be termed the Dissenting Ilistory of the Wesley Fami­ ly, which is but partially noticed in Dr. Clarke's ,vork. The present Issue also furnishes the Publisher with an opportunity of adding the opinions expressed by several of the Periodicals on the merits of the former Edition. METROPOLITAN l\L-\.GAZINR. "Had we sp~ to quote, we think that we could offer our readers as many, and as genuinely amusing anecdotes from this work, as from any that have lately issued from the press. We much like the Bio­ grapher's mann~r of relation. We have here a superabundance of facts, and no futile attempts at vain embellishment. That the W esleyans will read this volume with avidity, there can be 110 doubt: to them all recommendation would be superfluous ; but we assert, that, to all classes and persuasions, if this book be read, it will assuredly be found amusing, and, if read with a right feeling, instructive." . VI REVIEWS. THE GENTLEMAN'S MA<.;.\.ZDiB. " The vV esleys were remarkable for other circumstances besides their relationship to " the venerable foW1der of Anninian Methodism : " they were a family whose natural talents, and literary accomplishments were alike extraordinary.*** This is an i'Jtstruct.ive, as well as an entertaining work. The moderation with which the author expresses his religious and political sentiments is much to be commended." THE CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE. " The book before us shows that the "\V esleys proceeded from a ,wn-conformist stock. In this respect the founder of Methodism was a " Hebrew of the Hebrews." Of the origin of this noble-minded sect, and of the sufferings they endured for the sake of a good con­ science, Mr. Dove gives a brief, but faithful and forcible picture in an introductory chapter.*** Of the facts and histories at which we have glanced, the author gives a judiciously arranged, and weU digested account. He furnishes, moreover, interesting memoirs of DR. ANNESLEY and the members of his family, particularly of the flower of that family, the motlier of the W esleys, and of those of her chil­ dren who reached man's and woman's estate, (all of whom her care, in connection with the gifts of nature, had made more or less remark­ able for moral and intellectual worth, but the course of some of them was sadly strewn with thorns) exceping Messrs. John and Charles Wesley, whom Mr. Dove leaves, where he found ·,hem, in the hands of Mr. Watson, to whose excellent life of the former, this Biographi­ cal Sketch of the "\Vesley Family is intended to be introductory. " In this work is combined all that is really interesting in the large volume of the late Dr. Ad.am Clarke, at less than half its price, besides a great number of new facts., and much original matter. Mr. Dove has shewn himself exceedingly well qualified to illustrate the lives of eminent religious men, by the great number of curious and interesting notes which he has introduced into various parts of this volume, and some idea may be formed of his industry in this respect, when it is known that his "nominal inde(JJ" ( a capital feature) contains the names of more than one hundred prominent individuals who are noticed in the work." "The Wesleyan cannot put into his book-case a volume that will be more frequently taken out of it than this." LEEDS MERCURY. "This is a concise and popular Biography, abounding with materials of great interest, and Mr. Dove has performed his task with judgment, and produced an attractive volume, full of facts, and not open to the charge of containing" extraneous and unnecessary·matter." See ali:;o Westminste1· Review, Montldy Repository; Spectator, ifc. CONTENTS. CH.A.P. I. IN'rRODUCTION. The Origin of the Wesley Family.-The orthography of the name.-1\fr. Wesley's Ancestors Non-conformists.-The Act of Uniformity.-Archbishop Sheldon's intolerance.-The noble con­ duct cf · the ejected Ministers.-The Conventicle Act.-The Corporation Act. -The Test Act. - Sufferings of the Non- conformists ........................................................ ,.... 1-15 CHAP. II. BARTHOLOMEW WESLEY. Ejected from Charmouth, Dorset.-Practices as a Physician.­ Affected by the death of his son.-Anthony Wood's fl.otice of him. -Bishop Burnet's character of Wood..........•.•..•.....•... 15-19 CHAP. III. JOHN WESLEY, VICAR OF WHITCHURCH. Se~t to Oxford university, where he obtains the confidence of Dr. Owen.-Settles at Whitchurch, in Dorsetshire, and marries.­ His interview with Bishop Ironside.-l\1r. Wesley committed to prison for not reading the Book of Common Prayer.-His trial and answers to the judge.-Wishes to visit South America as a l\Iissionary.-.His further sufferings in the cause of Non-conformity. -His death and character.-His widow. .•...•...•.•....•. 19-32 . VI CONTENTS. CHAP. IV. DR. SAMUEL ANNESLEY. His birth and relationship.-His early piety.-Sent to the university of Oxford.- Settles at Cliffe, in Kent.-Preaches before the House of Commons.-Promoted to St. Paul's and St. Giles's Cripplegate.-Ejected by the Act of Uniformity.-Becomes pastor of a church in Little St. Helen's.-Has the chief management of the Morning Lecture.- Daniel de Foe and John Dunton attend his ministry.-Their account of Dr. Annesley.-His temperance. -His death.-His character by Dr. Williams, Baxter, and Calamy.-His works. ... .. .......... .. ... .. ....... ..... ...... 32--43 CHAP. V. DR. ANNESLEY'S CHILDREN. SAMUEL ANNESLEY JuN.-Goes to the East Indies.-Acquires a large fortune, but is suddenly cut off.-Mrs. Wesley's letter to him.-His widow's bequest to the ,Vesley family. Miss ELIZABETH ANNESLEY.-Marries John Dunton, the celebrated bookseller.-Their strong attachment to each other.-Her death and character. Miss JuDITH ANNESLEY.-Her personal appear­ ance and piety. Miss ANNE ANNESLEY.-Her character by Dunton. Miss St:SANNA ANNESLEY ...•••.•.•....•...•.....• 43-66 CHAP. VI. MATTHE\V ,VESLEY. Studies medicine.-Visits his brother at Epworth.-Mrs. \Vesley's account of that visit.-1\fatthew's mean-spirited letter to his brother.-Thc Rector's rcply.-Mrs. Wright's verses to the 1nemory of her uncle. .. ... .. .. .. .. 66-80 .. CONTENTS. vu CHAP. VII. SA:\iUEL ,VESLEY, RECTOR OF EPWORTH. Educated in a Dissenting academy.-Goes to the university of Oxford.-His reasons for leaving the Dissenters.-Writes against their Academics.-Marries Dr. Annesley's youngest daughter.­ Solicited to favour Popery by the friends of James IL-Writes in favour of the Revolution of 1688.-Presented to the Rectory of Epworth.-Mrs. Wesley and her husband differ as to the title of ,villiam 111.-The Rector proposed for an Irish bishoprick.­ Arch bishop Sharp a kind friend to him.-His letters to the Archbishop.-The Parsonage-house destroyed by fire.-Mrs• Wesley's account of that calamity.-Strange Phenomena in the Parsonage-house after it was rebuilt.-Dr. Priestley's opinion of these disturbances.-Mr. Wesley's Dissertations on the book of Job.-This book presented to the Queen by his son John.-The Rector's death, as detailed by his son Charles.-His character.­ Anecdotes respecting him.-His works ..........••.•.•..•..
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