CHAPTER X.

TEACHING IN PUBLIC.

CONFUSION as to dates was very common in the early part of the eighteenth century. From force of habit people computed their time according to the Old Style; but on formal occasions, or when they thought of it, the New Style was adopted. This may probably account for the fact that the Rector of Epworth is said to have left behind him an unsatisfactory locum tenens when he went to Convocation in November 1710, but that the correspondence it led to between himself and his wife is dated February 1712.

The incident has hitherto been treated by every biographer of the Wesley family in a purely religious light, and the case has been stated as though the curate left to do duty in the church and parish had been a formalist of the driest order, and the congregation has invariably been described as longing to hear the "full Gospel" to which it had been accustomed when the Rector himself occupied the pulpit. This savours very much of the phraseology of "the

people called Methodists," and, indeed, of the party who in later times have styled themselves Evangelical. But when we read that the curate, who was named Inman, preached perpetually to the flock on the duty of paying their debts and behaving well among their neighbours, it is impossible to forget that Mr. Wesley had not always been able to pay his debts, and was at that very moment terribly hampered by them; that unseemly brawls had at exciting times disturbed the peace of the little town; and that for political reasons, added to perpetual impecuniosity, the Wesleys were not over-popular in the parish. The better disposed among the people very possibly complained that the curate's preaching was not in good taste, and it cannot have been pleasant to Mrs. Wesley that her family and servants should be obliged to listen to him. This is at least as likely as that his ministrations were considered "barren," and the flock craved for "fuller privileges." Whichever explanation of the situation be accepted, certain it is that Mrs. Wesley began to hold a service every Sunday evening in the rectory kitchen for the benefit of her own children and servants. A serving-man told his parents, who asked permission to come; others followed their example till forty or fifty assembled; and, whether the motive were mere curiosity, or an ardent desire to participate in the instruction given, it is said that the numbers increased so rapidly that, by the end of January 1711, two hundred were present at the home service, and many were obliged to go away because there was not even standing room. This is the universally received account, based on Mrs. Wesley's own statements in a letter to her husband.

Good woman though she was, perhaps she exagge

rated a little, or perhaps when her congregation became so large she adjourned to the barn or granary, or some other roomy outbuilding. Certain it is that the rectory kitchen remains the same size as it always was; and a very ardent Wesleyan, who has spent his life in collecting particulars respecting the various members of the Wesley clan, recently stood in it, and expressed his opinion that it could not have accommodated even forty persons. In summer-time, with open windows, many might have stood outside and joined in the service going on within; but in the depth of winter that was impracticable. The story goes that when Mr. Wesley returned, his parishioners complained of the curate's shortcomings, and he thereupon requested him to prepare a sermon for the following Sunday morning on the text, "Without faith it is impossible to please God," saying that he should make a point of being present to hear it. Sunday came, and Mr. Inman began: "Friends, faith is a most excellent virtue, and it produces other virtues also. In particular it makes a man pay his debts." In this strain he proceeded for a quarter of an hour, and the Rector considered the case fully proven. Possibly this conduct was intentional impertinence; possibly, as cash was scarce, Mr. Inman's stipend was in arrears; but the situation was an extremely unpleasant one for all parties. Mrs. Wesley took matters into her own hands in conducting her home services, at which she always read a sermon, and she distinctly told her husband that reading the account of the Danish mission to Travancore stirred her up to endeavour to do something more for the parishioners as well as for her own family. He certainly wrote from London remonstrating with her, and her reply is characteristically clear and lucid :

"Epworth, February 6th, 1712.

"I heartily thank you for dealing so plainly and faithfully with me in a matter of no common concern. The main of your objections against our Sunday evening meetings are, first, that it will look particular; secondly, my sex; and lastly, your being at present in a public station and character; to all which I shall answer briefly.

"As to its looking particular, I grant it does; and so does almost everything that is serious, or that may anyway advance the glory of God, or the salvation of souls, if it be performed out of a pulpit, or in the way of common conversation; because, in our corrupt age, the utmost care and diligence have been used to banish all discourse of God or spiritual concerns out of society, as if religion were never to appear out of the closet, and we were to be ashamed of nothing so much as of professing ourselves to be Christians.

"To your second, I reply that as I am a woman, so I am also a mistress of a large family. And though the superior charge of the souls contained in it lies upon you, as head of the family, and as their minister, yet in your absence I cannot but look upon every soul you leave under my care as a talent committed to me, under a trust, by the great Lord of all the families of heaven and earth. And if I am unfaithful to Him, or to you, in neglecting to improve these talents, how shall I answer unto Him when He shall command me to render an account of my stewardship?

"As these and other such-like thoughts made me at first take a more than ordinary care of the souls of my children and servants; so, knowing that our most holy religion requires a strict observation of the Lord's

day, and not thinking that we fully answered the end of the institution by only going to church, but that likewise we are obliged to fill up the intermediate spaces of that sacred time by other acts of piety and devotion, I thought it my duty to spend some part of the day in reading to and instructing my family, especially in your absence, when, having no afternoon service, we have so much leisure for such exercises; and such time I esteemed spent in a way more acceptable to God than if I had retired to my own private devotions.

"This was the beginning of my present practice; other people coming in and joining us was purely accidental. Our lad told his parents-they

first desired to be admitted; then others who heard of it begged leave also; so our company increased to about thirty, and seldom exceeded forty last winter; and why it increased since I leave you to judge, after have read what follows."

you

Here comes in the account of finding the book about the Danish Missions, and the result of perusing it which have been previously quoted.

"With those few neighbours who then came to me I discoursed more freely and affectionately than before. I chose the best and most awakening sermons we had, and I spent more time with them in such exercises. Since this our company has increased every night, for I dare deny none that asks admittance. Last Sunday I believe we had over two hundred, and yet many went away for want of room.

"But I never durst positively presume to hope that God would make use of me as an instrument in doing good; the farthest I ever durst go was, 'It may be: who can tell? With God all things are possible.