r -y "'-'' I'/ J.B.I.onqacre. es — — — : — — » OF THE REV. JOHN WESLEY, A. M. SOMETIME FELLOW OF LINCOLN COLLEGE, OXFORD, AND FOUNDER OF THE METHODIST SOCIETIE& BY RICHARD WATSON. 'Ev x&rroig irepiccrortpoyg. NEW-YORK STEREOTYPED BY JAMES CONNER. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY S. HOYT & CO. FRANKLIN BUILDINGS. Sold by CoMbs & Hannay, Collins & Co., White. Gallaher & White, J. Leavitt, G. &C&H. Carvill, E. Bliss, H. C. Sleight, John C. Totten ;—Philadelphia. J. Gr\ge\—Baltimore) W. & J. Neal, J. J. Harrod ; Boston, Richardson, Lord & Holbrook ; Providence, A. S. Beckwith ; New-Haven.A. H. Maltby ; Albany, O. Steele ; lthaca,}>lsick & Andrus ;— Utica, Hastings & Tracy. W. Williams ;—Rochester, Hoyt, Poller & Co. ;—Norfolk, E. P. Nash & Co. ;—Richmond, R. I. Smith ;— Charleston, S- C O. A. Roorbacb- 1831. ADVERTISEMENT. Various Lives or Memoirs of the Founder of Me- thodism have already been laid before the public. But it has been frequently remarked that such of these as contain the most approved accounts of Mr. Wesley, have been carried out to a length which obstructs their circulation, by the intermixture of details com- paratively uninteresting beyond the immediate circle of Wesleyan Methodism. The present Life, therefore, without any design to supersede larger publications, has been prepared with more special reference to ge- neral readers. But, as it is contracted within moderate limits chiefly by the exclusion of extraneous matter, it will, it is hoped, be found sufficiently comprehensive to give the reader an adequate view of the life, labours and opinions of the eminent individual who is its sub- ject ; and to afford the means of correcting the most material errors and misrepresentations which have had currency respecting him. On several points the Author has had the advantage of consulting unpub- lished papers, not known to preceding biographers, and which have enabled him to place some particulars in a more satisfactory light. London, May 10, 1831. — CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. JJ/V. Wesley's 'Parentage—Mrs. Susanna Wesley— Samuel Wesley, jun.—Mr. Wesley at School and Col- lege—Religious Impressions and Inquiries— Ordina- tion—College Honours—Charles Wesley's early Life —Methodists at Oxford—Origin of the name Meth- odist Pages 1 — 12. II. The Wesleys at Oxford— Their efforts to do good—Op- position— Correspondence with Mr. Wesley, sen.—Mr. Samuel Wesley, and Mrs. Wesley—Mr. John Wesley refuses to settle at Epworth—Remarks—Death of Mr. Wesley, sen.— The Wesleys engage to go out to Geor- gia—Letter of Mr. Gambold. Pages 12—30. III. The Wesleys on their voyage—Intercourse with the Mo- ravians— Conduct, Troubles, and Sufferings in Geor- gia—Affair of Miss Hopkey—Mr. Wesley returns to England Pages 30 42. IV. Mr. Wesley's review of his religious Experience— Trou- ble of mind—Interview with Peter Bohler—Receives the doctrine of justification by Faith—Preaches it— Mr. Charles Wesley's religious Experience—Re- marks Pages 42 56. V. State of Religion in the Nation—Mr. Wesley's Visit to Germany—Return to England—His Labours in Lon- don—Meets with Mr. Whitefield—Dr. Woodward's So- cieties—Mr. Charles Wesley's Labours—Field Preach- ing—Remarks Pages 56—70. — CONTENTS. vi CHAPTER VI. Messrs. Wesley and Mr. Effect of the Labours of the ' Bath—* Whitefield at Kingswood—Mr. Wesley at the Statement of his doctrinal views—Separates from Moravians in London—Formation of the Methodist Society—Mr. Wesley's Mother— Correspondence be- tween Mr. John and Mr. Samuel Wesley on Extraor- dinary Emotions, and the doctrine of Assurance-^ Remarks— Enthusiasm—Divine Influence— Difference between Mr. Wesley and Mr. Whitefield— Their Re- conciliation—Mr. Maxfield—Mr. Wesley's defence oj his calling- out Preachers to assist him in his work-^ Remarks Pages 70—94. VII. Persecution in London—Institution of Classes—Mr. Wesley charged with being a Papist—His labours in Yorkshire, Northumberland, and Lincolnshire—Deat^ Persecutio of Mrs. Susanna Wesley—Labours and of Mr. Charles Wesley in Staffordshire and Yorkshire —Increase of the Societies—Mr. Wesley's danger am escape atWednesbury— Hisfirst visit to Cormcall-Riots in Staffordshire—-Preaches for the last time before the University of Oxford— Correspondence with the — His sermon on " ,4 Catholic Spi- Rev . J. Erskine r it»—First Conference held—Remarks. Pag. 94— 1 16. VIII. Mr. Charles Wesley's Labours in Cornwall, Kent, Staf- fordshire, and the North of England—Persecution at Devizes—Remarks—Mr. Wesley at Newcastle—His Statement of the Case between the Clergy and the Me- thodists—Remarks—Labours in Lincolnshire, $c.-* Persecutions in Cornwall— Count Zinzendorf—Dr. Doddridge—Mr. Wesley a writer of Tracts—His sen- timents on Church Government—Extracts from the Minutes of the early Conferences—Remarks—Mr. Wes- ley's Labours in different parts of the Kingdom—JBS» zeal to diffuse useful knowledges-Mobs in Devonshire-* Visits Ireland—Succeeded there by his brother-—Perse- cutions in Dublin Pages 116 146, — • CHAPTER IX. Labours of the Preachers—Doctrinal conversations of the Conferences—Justification—Repentance—Faith—As- surance—Remarks—Fruits of justifying Faith—Sanc- tifcation— Witness of the Spirit—Remarks—Spirit in which Mr. Wesley sought truth—Miscellaneous Ex- tracts from the minutes of the early conferences—Noti- ces of the deaths of Preachers—Remarks. Pag. 146—184, X. Early List of Circuits—Mr. Charles Wesley in "London— Earthquake there—Differences between Mr. Charles Wes- ley and the Preachers—Remarks—Respective views oj the Brothers—Air. Wesley's marriage—Mr. Perronet— Jiingswood School—Remarks—Mr. Wesley visits Scot- land—Letters—Sickness—Mr. Wliitefield's Letter to him in anticipation of his Death—Mr. Wesley's Remarks on Books—His address to the Clergy—Remarks— Ilervey's Letters Pages 184—204. XI. Methodism in America—Revivals of Religion—Remarks —Mr. Wesley''s Laborers—Notices of Booksfromhis Jour 17 70 — nals—Minutes of the Conference of Remarks Mr. Shirley's Circular—Mr. Wesley's " Declaration'1 '' — Controversy respecting the Minutes—Remarks—In- crease of the Societies—Projects for the management oj the connexion after Mr. Wesley's death. Pages 204-231. XII. Mr- Wesley's sickness in Ireland—Letter to the Commis- sioners of Excise— Visit to the Isle of Man— Opening of City-Road Chapel—" ArminianMagazine"—Disputes in the society at Bath—Mr. Wesley's Letter to a Noble- man—His visit to Holland—" Deed of Declaration"— Remarks Pages 231 —245. CONTENTS. viii CHAPTER XIII Ordination of Super- State of the Societies in America— Societies—Re- intendent and Elders for the American Wesley i marks—Dr. Coke—Mr. Asbury—Mr. Charles Remonstrances— Ordinations for Scotland—Remark, His Labours n — Mr. Wesley's second Visit to Holland— Isles—Return ft England, Ireland, and the Norman London—Remarks—Extract from a Sermon by Bishq Coplestone—Mr. Wesley's Reflections on the progress 3 \ear. the Work, and on entering his eighty-fifth Pages 245—275 XIV. His Character— Death of Mr. Charles Wesley— H\ Hymns—Remarks—Mr. Montgomery's " Psalmist"-* Mr. Wesley^ Anecdote of the Rev. Samuel Wesley, sen.— continued Labours—Reflections on entering his eight* eighth Year—Last Sickness—Death—Funeral—Ep{ by different Writers. taph—Sketches ofJ his Character 1 Pages 275—310 XV. Mr. Wesley and the Church—Modem Methodism arid tty Church— Charges refuted—Mr. Wesley's Writings-* his death, and ai Extent of the Methodist Societies at 310—328. the present time— Conclusion. Pages ; THE LIFE OF THE REV. JOHN WESLEY, A. M. CHAPTER I. John and Charles Wesley, the chief founders of that religious body now commonly known by the name of the Wesleyan Methodists, were the sons of the Rev. Samuel Wesley, rector of Epworth, in Lincolnshire. Of this clergyman, and his wife Mrs. Susannah Wes- ley, who was the daughter of the Rev. Dr. Annesley, as well as the ancestors of both, an interesting account will be found in Dr. Adam Clarke's " Memoirs of the Wesley Family," and in the " Life of Mr. John Wesley" by Dr. Whitehead, and the more recent one by Mr. Moore. They will be noticed here only so far as a general knowledge of their character may be necessary to assist our judgment as to the opinions and conduct of their more celebrated sons. The rector of Epworth, like his excellent wife, had de- scended from parents distinguished for learning, piety, and nonconformity. His father dying whilst he was young, he forsook the Dissenters at an early period of life and his conversion carried him into high church princi- ples, and political toryism. He was not however so rigid in the former as to prevent him from encouraging the early zeal of his sons, John and Charles, at Oxford, although it was even then somewhat irregular, when tried by the strictest rules of church order and custom; and his tory- ism, sufficiently high in theory, was yet of that class which regarded the rights of the subject tenderly in prac- tice. He refused flattering overtures made by the adhe- rents of James II., to induce him to support the measures 1 ; 2 LIFE OF WESLEY. of the court, and wrote in favour of the revolution of 1688 admiring it, probably, less in a political view, than as res- cuing a protestant church from the dangerous influence of a popish head. For this service, he was presented with the living of Epworth, in Lincolnshire, to which, a few years afterwards, was added that of Wroote, in the same county. He held the living of Epworth upwards of forty years, and was distinguished for the zeal and fidelity with which he discharged his parish duties. Of his talents and learn- ing, his remaining works afford honourable evidence. Mrs. Susannah Wesley, the mother of Mr. John Wesley, was, as might be expected from the eminent character of Dr.