John Wesley and the Religious Societies
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JOHN WESLEY AND THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES JOHN WESLEY AND THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES BY JOHN S. SIMON, D.D. AUTHOR OF * A SUMMARY OF METHODIST LAW AND DISCIPLINE,' * THE REVIVAL OF RELIGION IN ENGLAND IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY,' ETC. LONDON THE EPWORTH PRESS J. ALFRED SHARP First edition, 1921 PREFACE Canon Overton, in his Life in the English Church, 1660- ' 1714, says that there is no doubt that John Wesley intended his Societies to be an exact repetition of what was done by Beveridge, Horneck, and Smythies sixty-two years before.' ' He continues : How it was that the Methodist Societies took a different course is a very interesting, and, to a church- man, a very sad question.' In this book I have given descrip- tions of the first Rehgious Societies, and have shown their development under the influence of Dr. Woodward and John Wesley. From those descriptions my readers wiU be able to judge the accuracy of Canon Overton's statement concern- ing John Wesley's intentions. There can be no doubt, how- ' ' ever, that the relationship between the Religious Societies ' ' and the United Societies of the People called Methodists was so close that the latter cannot be understood without an intimate knowledge of the former. In writing this book, I have kept the Methodist Church in view. My eyes have been fixed on John Wesley and the England in which his greatest work was done. We can never understand the revival of religion which glorified the eighteenth century until we see Wesley as he wls, and get rid of the false impressions created by writers who have had an imperfect acquaintance with him and his evangelistic work. It is impossible for me, in this place, to express my obliga- tions to all those who have helped me to write this book. I am deeply in their debt. While acknowledging my indebted- ness to those who have preceded me in the study of Methodist history, I must make special reference to the editor and the annotators of the Standard Edition of The Journal of John Wesley. That book has been my constant guide. I am also indebted to my fellow-workers of the Wesley Historical Society for the kindly Hght they have shed on many difficulties. The Publications and the Proceedings of the Society have been invaluable. To Mr, Arthur WaUington, who has read the proofs, and to the Rev. John Elsworth, who has compiled the Index, my special thanks are due. J. S. S. August, 1921. 5 894684 CONTENTS CHAP. - 1. THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES . 9 II. WESTLEYS AND ANNESLEYS 28 III. SAMUEL AND SUSANNA WESLEY . 46 IV. OXFORD IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY 64 V. JOHN AND CHARLES WESLEY AT OXFORD 75 * ' VI. THE HOLY CLUB 89 VII. GEORGIA . 106 VIII. THE VOYAGE TO GEORGIA 115 IX. FIRST DAYS IN GEORGIA 126 X. WORK IN GEORGIA 140 XI. LAST DAYS IN GEORGIA 157 XII. THE GREAT CHANGE . 174 _XIII. A NEW RELIGIOUS SOCIETY 194 XIV. OXFORD AND GERMANY 201 XV. CHARLES WESLEY 213 ~- XVI. CONFLICTS WITH THE LAW 223 XVII. THE APPROACHING CRISIS 239 XVIII. GEORGE WHITEFIELD . 249 XIX. BRISTOL IN I739 264 XX. JOHN WESLEY'S FIRST VISIT TO BRISTOL 280 XXI. DECISIVE DAYS . 296 XXII. THE WEST OF ENGLAND 308 XXIII. A NEW SOCIETY . 322 INDEX 335 THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES In the London Magazine for 1760 a letter from John Wesley appears. It was written in answer to an attack on him by one of his numerous literary antagonists, and its purpose was to give his assailant a clearer knowledge of the people whose proceedings had roused his anger. The letter contains sen- tences which shed light on the origin of the Methodist Church. ' Wesley says, About thirty years since I met with a book written in King WiUiam's time, called The Country Parson's Advice to His Parishioners. There I read these words : "If good men of the Church will unite together in the several parts of the kingdom, disposing themselves into friendly societies, and engaging each other, in their respective combinations, to be helpful to each other in all good Christian ways, it will be the most effectual means for restoring our decaying Christianity to its primitive life and vigour, and the supporting of our tottering and sinking Church." A few young gentlemen, then at Oxford, approved and followed the advice. They were all zealous Churchmen, and both orthodox and regular to the highest degree. For their exact regularity they were soon nicknamed Methodists. Nine or ten years after many " others united together in the several parts of the kingdom, engaging, in hke manner, to be helpful to each other in all good Christian ways." . Their one design was to forward each other in true Scriptural Christianity.'^ Wesley was mistaken in supposing that the book which had ' made so deep an impression on him was written in King William's time.' It was first published in 1680, in the reign of Charles II. It bears no author's name. In 1701, the year before King WiUiam died, a second edition was issued, and this was the book to which Wesley referred. It was carefully read ' and industriously distributed by the members of the Holy Club ' at Oxford. ^ Wesley's Works, liii., 350, 351, 8vo ed. 9 XO . THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES The date of the first publication of the book is suggestive. * About the year 1678, during the reign of Charles II, through the influence of Dr. Anthony Horneck and Mr. Smithies, a number of young men in London who were seeking to lead a holy life began to meet together once a week in order that ' they might apply themselves to good discourse and to things wherein they might edify one another,' Two years after the commencement of these Religious Societies The Country Parson's Advice to his Parishioners appeared, and it is natural to suppose that the idea contained in his book was suggested by his knowledge of the work the Societies were doing in Westminster and elsewhere. It is certain that Wesley was aware of the existence of these Societies, and was familiar with their organ- ization. The origin, purpose, and character of the Methodist Societies can only be understood by bearing that fact in mind. We are indebted to Dr. Josiah Woodward's Account of the Rise and Progress of the Religious Societies in the City of London, &c., for the fullest information obtainable on the subject of the Rehgious Societies. The fourth edition, enlarged, is dated 1712, and from it much knowledge can be derived. As we wish to show the affinities between the Religious and the Methodist Societies we will avail ourselves of information not contained in Woodward's little book. It is necessary to understand the character of the first Societies, those formed under the direction of Dr. Horneck. We confine ourselves to one point. It is well known that he was chosen as the adviser of several of them. He drew up the following rules for the regulation of their meetings : 1. All that enter the Society shall resolve upon a holy and serious life. 2. No person shall be admitted into the Society until he has arrived at the age of sixteen, and has been first confirmed by the bishop, and solemnly taken upon himself his baptismal vow. 3. They shall choose a minister of the Church of England to direct them. 4. They shall not be allowed, in their meetings, to discourse of any controverted point of divinity. ^ Care must be taken to distinguish between the first Religious Societies and the ' regulated Societies.' Overton's Life in the English Church, 1660-1714, contains some valuable information concerning the origin of the Societies. See 207-13. Woodward's Account of the Rise and Progress of the Religious Societies, 22. THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES ii 5. Neither shall they discourse of the government of Church or State. 6. In their meetings they shall use no prayers but those of the such as the and and other Church, Litany Collects, prescribed prayers ; but stUl they shall not use any that peculiarly belongs to the minister, as the Absolution. 7. The minister whom they choose shall direct what practical divinity shall be read at these meetings. 8. They may have liberty, after prayer and reading, to sing a psalm. 9. After aU is done, if there be time left, they may discourse with each other about their spiritual concerns ; but this shall not be a standing exercise which any shall be obliged to attend unto. 10. One day in the week shall be appointed for this meeting, for such as cannot come on the Lord's Day ; and he that absents himself without cause shall pay threepence to the box. 11. Every time they meet, every one shall give sixpence to the box. 12. On a certain day in the year, viz. Whit-Tuesday, two stewards shall be chosen, and a moderate dinner provided, and a sermon preached, and the money distributed (necessary charges deducted) to the poor. 13. A book shall be bought, in which these orders shall be written. 14. None shall be admitted into this Society without the consent of the minister over it shall who presides ; and no apprentice be capable of being chosen. 15. If any case of conscience shall arise, it shall be brought before the minister. 16. If any member think fit to leave the Society, he shall pay fivQ shillings to the stock. 17. The major part of the Society shall conclude the rest. 18. The following rules are more especially recommended to the members of this Society, viz.