Effect of the Labours of the Messrs. Wesley and Mr. White- field at Kingswood-Mr. Wesley at Bath-Statement of his doctrinal Views-Separates from the Moravians in London-Formation of the Methodist Society-Mr. Wesley's Mother-Correspondence between Mr. John and Mr. Samuel Wesley on extraordinary Emotions, and the Doctrine of Assurance-Remarks-Enthusiasm— Divine Influence-Difference between Mr. Wesley and Mr. Whitefield-Their Reconciliation-Mr. Maxfield— Persecution in London-Institution of Classes-Mr. Wesley charged with being a Papist-His Labours in Yorkshire, Northumberland, and Lincolnshire-Death of Mrs. Susanna Wesley-Labours and Persecutions of Mr. Charles Wesley in Staffordshire and Yorkshire—In- crease of the Societies-Mr. Wesley's Danger and Escape at Wednesbury-His first Visit to Cornwall-Riots in Staffordshire-Preaches for the last time before the University of Oxford-Correspondence with the Rev. Mr. Charles Wesley's Labours in Cornwall, Kent, Stafford- shire, and the North of England-Persecution at Devizes -Remarks—Mr. Wesley at Newcastle-His Statement of the Case between the Clergy and the Methodists- Remarks-Labours in Lincolnshire, &c.-Persecutions in Cornwall-Count Zinzendorf-Dr. Doddridge-Mr. Wesley a Writer of Tracts-His Sentiments on Church Government-Extracts from the Minutes of the early Conferences-Remarks-Mr. Wesley's Labours in differ- ent parts of the Kingdom-His zeal to diffuse use- ful Knowledge-Mobs in Devonshire-Visits Ireland Labours of the Preachers-Doctrinal Conversations of the Conferences-Justification-Repentance-Faith-Assur- ance- -Remarks-Fruits of justifying Faith-Sanctifica- tion-Witness of the Spirit-Remarks-Spirit in which Mr. Wesley sought Truth-Miscellaneous Extracts from Early List of Circuits—Mr. Charles Wesley in London- Earthquake there-Differences between Mr. Charles Wesley and the Preachers-Remarks-Respective Views of the Brothers-Mr. Wesley's Marriage—Mr. Perronet -Kingswood School-Remarks—Mr. Wesley visits Scot- land-Letters-Sickness-Mr. Whitefield's Letter to him in Anticipation of his Death—Mr. Wesley's Remarks Methodism in America—Revivals of Religion-—Remarks— Mr. Wesley's Labours-Notices of Books from his Jour- nals-Minutes of the Conference of 1770-Remarks— Mr. Shirley's Circular-Mr. Wesley's " Declaration ”- Controversy respecting the Minutes-Remarks-Increase Mr. Wesley's Sickness in Ireland-Letter to the Commis- State of the Societies in America-Ordination of Superin- tendents and Elders for the American Societies-Re- marks-Dr. Coke-Mr. Asbury-Mr. Charles Wesley's Remonstrances-Ordinations for Scotland-Remarks- Mr. Wesley's second Visit to Holland-His Labours in England, Ireland, and the Norman Isles-Return to London-Remarks-Extract from a Sermon by Bishop THE LIFE OF THE REV. JOHN WESLEY, A. M., &c. 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. Susanna Wesley, who was the daughter of the Rev. Dr. Annesley, as well as of the ancestors of both, an interesting account will be found in Dr. Adam Clarke's 66 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 descended 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 principles, 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 Toryism, sufficiently high in theory, was yet of that class which regarded the rights of the subject tenderly in practice. He refused flattering overtures made by the adherents of James II., to induce him to support the measures of the Court, and wrote in favour of the Revolution of 1688; admiring it, probably, less in a political view, than as rescuing 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 learning, his remaining works afford honourable evidence. Mrs. Susanna Wesley, the mother of Mr. John Wesley, was, as might be expected from the eminent character of Dr. Samuel Annesley her father, educated with great care. Like her husband, she also, at an early period of life, renounced nonconformity, and became a member of the Established Church, after, as her biographers tell us, she had read and mastered the whole controversy on the subject of separation; of which, however, great as were her natural and acquired talents, she must, at the age of thirteen years, have been a very imperfect judge. The serious habits impressed upon both by their education did not forsake them; they feared God, and wrought righteousness;" but we may perhaps account for that obscurity in the views of each on several great points of evangelical religion, and especially on justification by faith, and the offices of the Holy Spirit, which hung over their minds for many years, and indeed till towards the close of life, from this early change of their religious connexions. Their theological reading, according to the fashion of the Church-people of that day, was now directed rather to the |