At the time to which the above extracts from his Journal refer, Mr. Wesley had, however, no.reason to complain of any want of respect, or of a due appreciation of his labors by the serious of all parties, although he regarded it not with improper exultation, but passed through "honor," as he had passed through "dishonor" in the former years of his life, as "seeing Him who is invisible." This period of his life must have been to him, on a much higher account, one of rich reflection. In his Journal of 1785, March 24, he observes-"I was now considering how strangely the grain of mustard seed, planted about fifty years ago, had grown up. It has spread through all Great Britain, and Ireland, the Isle of Wight, and the Isle of Man; then to America, through the whole continent, into Canada, the Leeward Islands, and Newfoundland. And the societies, in all these parts, walk by one rule, knowing that religion is in holy tempers, and striving to worship God, not in form only, but likewise in spirit

try: and that even very many of themselves have
sprung from families where Methodism first lighted
the lamp of religious knowledge, and produced a
religious influence. It will indeed provoke a sinile,
to observe what effort often discovers itself in writers
of this party, when referring to the religious state
of the nation in the last and present century, to keep
this apostolic man wholly out of sight, as though he
had never existed; feeling, we suppose, that be-
cause he did not conform to the order of their
church in all particulars, it would be a sin against
their own orthodoxy even to name him as one of
those great instruments in the hands of God, who, in
mercy to these lands, were raised up to effect that
vast moral and religious change, the benefits of
which they themselves so richly enjoy. This may
be attributed not only to that exclusive spirit which
marks so many of the clergy of this class, even be-
yond others, notwithstanding their piety and gene-
ral excellence, but to the Calvinism which many of
them have imbibed. The evangelical Arminian-and in truth."
ism of Wesley has been forgiven by the orthodox
dissenters; but, by a curious anomaly, not by the
Calvinistic party of the church. It is probably bet-
ter understood by the former.*

And here, not only candor and equity, but a just sense of the constitution of Christ's church, compels me to draw a marked line of distinction between those whose religious assemblies are supplementary, as it were, to our own establishment, offering spiritual comfort and instruction to hundreds unable to find it elsewhere, and those organized communities which exclude from their society any that communicate in the blessed sacrament of the Lord's supper with the national church.

"Of the former I would not only think and speak mildly, but in many cases I would commend the piety and zeal which animates them, full of danger as it is to depart from the apostolic ordinance, even in matters of outward discipline and order. The author and founder of those societies (for he was careful himself to keep them from being formed into a sect) was a regularly ordained minister, a man orthodox in his belief, simple and disinterested in his own views, and adorned with the most amiable and distinguished virtues of a true Christian. He found thousands of his countrymen, though nominally Christians, yet as ignorant of true Christianity as infidels and heathens; and in too many instances (it is useless to conceal or disguise the fact) ignorant, either through the inattention of the government in not providing for increased numbers, or through the carelessness and neglect of those whom the national church had appointed to be their pastors.

He must, indeed, have been insensible to the emotions of a generous nature, had he not felt an honest satisfaction, that he had lived down calumnies; and that where mobs formerly awaited him,

*The following passage from a sermon lately preach- taken his impressions from Southey's life of the founder
ed in his diocese, by Bishop Coplestone, may be quoted of Methodism, although somewhat modified by better
both as a better specimen of the spirit of a churchman views of spiritual religion. The moral destitution of the
than that above referred to, and as, perhaps, the only country, and the negligence of the church, are acknow-
instance in which any thing approaching to a due esti-ledged, as well as the important effects produced by Mr.
mate of Mr. Wesley's character, and the value of his la- Wesley's labors, at least in their early stages; and yet
bors, has been suffered publicly to escape the lips of a these results are spoken of as somewhat of a religious
prelate. It was dictated evidently by a candid and libe- calamity! The beginning of "schism," as to church
ral feeling, though not without being influenced by some order, is compared to the letting out of water; and a
of those mistaken views which will be corrected at the fearful "breach" out of the established church completes
close of this account of Mr. Wesley's life:
the picture. How little does this sensible and amiable
bishop know of the facts of the case!-as, for instance,
1. That the Methodist societies were in great part ga-
thered not out of church-goers but church-neglect-
ers. 2. That the effect was generally, for many years,
to increase the attendance at church, and to lay the
foundation in a great number of places, especially in the
more populous towns, of large church congregations
which have continued to this day. 3. That the still
more extensive and ultimate result was, after persecution
or silent contempt had been tried in vain, and when it
was found that obstinate perseverance in neglect would
not be
was be any longer tolerated, that the establishment
into an activity by which it has doubtless
been greatly benefited as far as respects its moral influ-
ence, the only influence of a church which can be per-
manent or valuable. 4. That very few of the Methodists
of the present day would in all probability have been, in
any sense which Bishop Coplestone would value,
church-people; and so this supposed loss of ecclesiasti-
cal members affords but an imaginary ground for the
regrets with which he seems to surround it. The inti-
mation of Mr. Wesley's ambition is imitated from Sou-
they. But of this enough has been said in refutation.
Bishop Coplestone, indeed, regards it mildly as an infir-
mity, which he would charitably cover with Mr. Wes-
ley's numerous and eminent virtues. That is kind; but
Mr. Wesley himself would have taken a severer view of
this "weakness," had he been conscious of the passion
of ambition, in the sense in which it is here used. One
might ask this respectable prelate to review the case,
and say where Mr. Wesley, allowing him his conscien-
tious conviction that he was bound to incessant activity
in doing good to the souls of men, could have stopped?
how he could have disposed of his societies, in the then
existing state of the church? And whether, if he had
this" ambition" to be the head of a sect, his whole life did
not lay restraints upon it, since, from nearly the very first
outset of his itinerancy and success, it has been shown
in this work by extracts from the minutes of his first
conferences, that he took views of ecclesiastical polity
which then set him quite at liberty, had he chosen it, to
form his societies into a regular church, to put himself at
their head, and to kindle up a spirit of hostility to the
establishment, and of warm partizanship in his own
favor, throughout the land? A vicious ambition would
have preferred this course. But it is not necessary to
anticipate the remarks which will follow on these sub-
jects.

But the beginning of schism, like that of strife, is as when one letteth out water. The gentle stream of piety and benevolence in which this practice originated, irrigating only and refreshing some parched or barren lands, soon became a swelling and rapid torrent, winding as it flowed on, and opening for itself a breach which it may yet require the care and prudence of ages to close. And even the pious author himself was not proof against that snare of Satan which, through the vanity and weakness of human nature, led him in his latter years to assume the authority of an apostle, and to establish a fraternity within the church, to be called after his own name, and to remain a lasting monument of his activity and zeal. But over errors such as these let us cast a veil; and rather rejoice in reflecting on the many whom he reclaimed from sin and wickedness, and taught to seek for salvation through the merits of their Saviour.

"Of such, I repeat, wherever a like deficiency of religious means is found, we ought to speak not only with tenderness, but with brotherly love and esteem.'

It seems pretty obvious that Bishop Coplestone has

stant exercise and change of air? 2. To my never having lost a night's sleep, sick or well, at land or sea, since I was born? 3. To my having sleep at command, so that whenever I feel myself almost worn out, I call it, and it comes, day or night? 4. To my having constantly, for above sixty years, risen at four in the morning? 5. To my constant preaching at five r. the morning, for above fifty years? 6. To my having had so little pain in my life, and so little sorrow or anxious care ?-Even now, though I find pain daily in my eye, temple, or arm, yet it is never violent, and seldom lasts many minutes at a time.

"Whether or not this is sent to give me warning that I am shortly to quit this tabernacle, I do not know: but, be it one way or the other, I have only to say,

he met with the kind and cheering attentions of the | pleases to continue me therein: and next, subordimost respectable persons of all religious persua-nately to this, to the prayers of his children.-May sions, in every part of the country. But, more than we not impute it, as inferior means: 1. To my conthis, he could compare the dearth and barrenness of one age with the living verdure and fertility of another. Long-forgotten truths had been made familiar; a neglected population had been brought within the range of Christian instruction, and the constant preaching of the word of life by faithful men;-religious societies had been raised up through the land, generally distinguished by piety and zeal; -by the blessing of God upon the labors of Mr. Whitefield, and others of his first associates, the old dissenting churches had been quickened into life, and new ones multiplied; the established church had been awakened from her lethargy; the number of faithful ministers in her parishes greatly multiplied; the influence of religion spread into the colonies, and the United States of America; and above all, a vast multitude, the fruit of his own ministerial zeal and faithfulness, had, since the time in which he commenced his labors, departed into a better world. These thoughts must often have passed through his mind, and inspired his heart with devout thanksgivings, although no allusion is ever made to them in a boastful manner. For the past, he knew to whom the praise belonged; and the future he left to God, certain at least of meeting in heaven a greater number of glorified spirits of whose salvation he had been, under God, the instrument, than any minister of modern ages. That "joyful hope" may explain an incident, which occurred towards the close of life, at the City-road chapel, London. After prayers had been read one Sunday afternoon, he ascended the pulpit; where, instead of announcing the hymn immediately, he, to the great surprise of the congregation, stood silent, with his eyes closed, for the space of at least ten minutes, rapt in thought; and then, with a feeling which at once conveyed to all present the subject which had so absorbed his attention, gave out the hymn commencing with the lines:

'Come, let us join our friends above,

Who have obtained the prize," &c.

It was also his constant practice to preach on All Saints' Day, which was with him a favorite festival, on communion with the saints in heaven; a practice probably arising out of the same delightful as sociation of remembrances and hope.

On his attaining his eighty-fifth year, he makes the following reflections:

"I this day enter on my eighty-fifth year. And what cause have I to praise God, as for a thousand spiritual blessings, so for bodily blessings also! How little have I suffered yet, by 'the rush of numerous years! It is true, I am not so agile as I was in times past: I do not run or walk so fast as I did. My sight is a little decayed. My left eye is grown dim, and hardly serves me to read. I have daily some pain in the ball of my right eye, as also in my right temple, (occasioned by a blow received some time since) and in my right shoulder and arm, which I impute partly to a sprain, and partly to the rheumatism. I find likewise some decay in my memory, with regard to names and things lately past; but not at all with regard to what I have read or heard, twenty, forty, or sixty years ago. Neither do I find any decay in my hearing, smell, taste, or appetite, (though I want but a third part of the food I once did,) nor do I feel any such thing as weariness, either in travelling or preaching, and I am not conscious of any decay in writing sermons, which I do as readily, and I believe as correctly, as ever.

"To what cause can I impute this, that I am as I am? First, doubtless, to the power of God, fitting me for the work to which I am called, as long as he

'My remnant of days
I spend to his praise,
Who died the whole world to redeem :
Be they many or few,
My days are his due,

And they all are devoted to Him!""

And, referring to some persons in the nation who thought themselves endowed with the gift of prophecy, he adds, "If this is to be the last year of my life, according to some of these prophets, I hope it will be the best. I am not careful about it, but heartily receive the advice of the angel in Milton,'How well, is thine; how long, permit to heaven.'"

CHAPTER XIV.

THE brothers, whose affection no differences of opinion, and no conflicts of party, could diminish, were now to be separated by death. Of the last days of Mr. Charles Wesley, Dr. Whitehead gives the following account:

"Mr. Charles Wesley had a weak body, and a poor state of health, during the greatest part of his life. I believe he laid the foundation of both at Oxford by too close application to study and abstinence from food. He rode much on horseback, which probably contributed to lengthen out life to a good old age. I visited him several times in his last sickness; and his body was indeed reduced to the most extreme state of weakness. He possessed that state of mind which he had been always pleased to see in others-unaffected humility, and holy resignation to the will of God. He had no transports of joy, but solid hope and unshaken confidence in Christ, which kept his mind in perfect peace. A few days before his death he composed the following lines. Having been silent and quiet for some time, he called Mrs. Wesley to him, and bid her write as he directed.

In age and feebleness extreme,

Who shall a sinful worm redeem?
Jesus, my only hope thou art,

Strength of my failing flesh and heart;
O could I catch a smile from thee,
And drop into eternity!'

The

"He died, March 29th, 1788, aged seventy-nine
years and three months; and was buried, April 5th,
in Marybone churchyard at his own desire.
pall was supported by eight clergymen of the church
of England. On his tomb-stone are the following
lines, written by himself on the death of one of his
friends: they could not be more aptly applied to
any person than to Mr. Charles Wesley:-

'With poverty of spirit bless'd,
Rest, happy saint, in Jesus rest;

A sinner sav'd, through grace forgiven,
Redeem'd from earth to reign in heaven!
Thy labors of unwearied love,
By thee forgot, are crown'd above;
Crown'd through the mercy of thy Lord
With a free, full, immense reward!'

sible of the value of the gift. Their taste has been formed by this high standard; and, notwithstanding all the charges of illiteracy, and want of mental cultivation, which have been often brought against them, we may venture to say, there are few colleetions of psalms and hymns in use in any other con"Mr. Charles Wesley was of a warm and lively gregations, that would, as a whole, be tolerated disposition, of great frankness and integrity, and amongst them;-so powerful has been the effect generous and steady in his friendships. In conver-produced by his superior compositions. The clear sation he was pleasing, instructive, and cheerful; and his observations were ofter. seasoned with wit and humor. His religion was genuine and unaffected. As a minister, he was familiarly acquainted with every part of divinity; and his mind was furnished with an uncommon knowledge of the Scriptures. His discourses from the pulpit were not dry and systematic, but flowed from the present views and feelings of his own mind. He had a remarkable talent of expressing the most important truths with simplicity and energy; and his discourses were sometimes truly apostolic, forcing conviction on the hearers in spite of the most determined opposition. As a husband, a father, and a friend, his character was amiable. Mrs. Wesley brought him five children, of whom two sons and a daughter are still living. The sons discovered so fine a taste for music, at an early period of life, that they excited general astonishment; and they are now justly admired by the best judges for their talents in that pleasing art. The Methodists are greatly indebted to Charles Wesley for his unwearied labors and great usefulness at the first formation of the societies, when every step was attended with difficulty and danger. And being dead he yet speaketh by his numerous and excellent hymns, written for the use of the societies, which still continue to be the means of daily edification and comfort to thousands."t

For the spiritual advantages which the Methodists have derived from his inestimable hymns, which are in constant use in their congregations, as well as for his early labors, the memory of Mr. Charles Wesley indeed deserves to be had in their everlasting remembrance; and they are not insen

and decisive character of the religious experience which they describe; their force, and life, and earnestness; commended them, at the first, to the piety of the societies, and, through that, insensibly elevated the judgment of thousands, who, otherwise, might have relished, as strongly as others, the rudeness of the old version of the Psalms, the tameness of the new, and the tinsel metaphors and vapid sentimentalisms which disfigure numerous compositions of different authors, in most collections of hymns in use. It would seem, indeed, from the very small number of really good psalms and hymns which are adapted to public worship and the use of religious societies, that this branch of sacred poetry has not been very successfully cultivated: and that the combination of genius, judgment, and taste, requisite to produce them, is very rarely found. Germany is said to be more abundant in good hymns than England: and some of the most excellent of the Wesleyan hymns are imitations of German hymns admirably versified. But in our language the number is small. Hymns, indeed, abounding in sweet thoughts, though often feebly expressed, and such as may be used profitably in the closet or the family circle, are not so rare. But the true sacred lyric, suited for public worship, and the select assemblies of the devout, is as scarce as it is valuable. From the rustic rhyming of Sternhold and Hopkins, to the psalms and hymns of Dr. Watts, the advance was indeed unspeakably great. A few, however, only of the latter, in comparison of the whole number, are unexceptionable throughout. When they are so, they leave nothing to be desired; but many of Dr. Watts's compositions begin well, often nobly, and then fall off into dulness and puerility; and not a few are utterly worthless, as being poor in thought, and still more so in expression. The piety and sweetness of Doddridge's hymns must be felt; but they are often verbose and languid, and withal faultly and affected in their metaphors. The Olney collection has many delightful Mr. Moore seems to think that my father preferred hymns for private use; but they are far from being rest to going about to do good. He had a rising family, generally fit for the public services of religion, and and considered it his duty to confine his labors to Bristol are often in bad taste; not even excepting many of and London, where he labored most sedulously in mi- Cowper's. This may be spoken without irreverence, nisterial offices; and judged that it was incumbent upon for the greatest poets have not proved the best hymn him to watch over the youth of his sons, especially in a makers. Milton made but one tolerable psalm; and profession which nature so strongly pointed out, but which was peculiarly dangerous. He always said his still more modern poets of note have seldom fully brother was formed to lead, and he to follow. No one redeemed the credit of their class. The fact seems ever more rejoiced in another's superiority, or was more to be, that when the mind is very rich in sentiment willing to confess it. Mr. Moore's statement of his ab- and imagery, those qualities are usually infused into sence of mind in his younger days, was probably cor- sacred song in too large proportions. Sentiment and rect, as he was born impetuous, and ardent, and sincere. genuine religious feeling are things quite distinct, But what a change must have taken place when we were born! For his exactness in his accounts, in his and seldom harmonize; at least, though they may manuscripts, in his bureau, &c., equalled my uncle's. sometimes approach to the verge of each other, they Not in his dress, indeed; for my mother said, if she did will not amalgamate; and exuberance of metaphor not watch over him, he might have put on an old for a is inconsistent with strong and absorbing devotion, new coat, and marched out. Such was his power of and proves too artificial to express the natural lanabstraction, that he could read and compose, with his children in the room, and visitors talking around him.guage of the heart. The talent of correct and vigorHe was near forty when he married, and had eight ous versification is, for these reasons, more likely children, of whom we were the youngest. So kind and to produce the true "spiritual song" than luxuriamiable a character in domestic life can scarcely be imagined. The tenderness he showed in every weakness, and the sympathy in every pain, would fill sheets to describe. But, I am not writing his eulogy; only I must add, with so warm a temper, he never was heard to speak an angry word to a servant, or known to strike a child in anger-and he knew no guile!" † Whitehead's Life.

Miss Wesley, a lady of eminent talents, and great excellence, died September 19, 1828.

It would be improper to withhold, as I have them before me, in the unpublished letters with which I have been favored, some incidental remarks of the late Miss Wesley, on the character of her father :

ance of imagination and great creative genius, provided the requisite theological and devotional qualities be also present. A hymn suitable for social worship ought to be terse and vigorous; and it is improved when every verse closes with a sense so full and pointed as frequently to make some approach to the character of the ancient epigram; or,

as Mr. Montgomery has happily expressed it, "each delight to hear." No others are to be named with stanza should be a poetical tune, played down to these sweet singers of the spiritual Israel; and it is the last note."-The meaning ought also to be so probable that, through the medium of their verse obvious as to be comprehended at once, that men chiefly, will the devotions of our churches be poured may speak to God directly, without being distracted forth till time shall be no more. No other poets ever by investigating the real meaning of the words put attained such elevation as this. They honored God into their lips. And when metaphor is efficiently in their gifts, and God has thus honored them to be employed, it must be generally such as the Scrip- the mouth of his people to him, in their solemn astures have already sanctioned; for with their ima-semblies, in their private devotions, and in the struggery we are all familiar, and it stands consecrated gles of death itself. to the service of the sanctuary by inspired authority. Yet even this ought not to be adopted in an extended form, approaching to allegory; and is always more successful when rather lightly touched and suggested, than when dwelt upon with particularity. Cowper's fine hymn on Providence is greatly improved by omitting the stanzą:—

"His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;

The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower."

It would be an unprofitable task to compare the merits of these two great psalmists. Each had excellencies not found in the other. Watts, however, excels Mr. Charles Wesley, only in the sweeter flow of his numbers, and in the feeling and sympathy of those of his hymns which are designed to administer comfort to the afflicted. In composition he was, in all respects, decidedly his inferior-in good taste, classic elegance, uniformity of excellence, correct rhyming, and vigor. As to the theology of their hymns respectively, leaving particular doctrines out of the question, the great truths of religious experience are also far more clearly and forcibly embodied by Mr. Charles Wesley than by Dr. Watts. Most justly does his brother say of them in his preface to The Collection of Hymns for the use of the people called Methodists," of which, only a few are his own, and almost all the rest from the pen of Mr. Charles Wesley-"In these hymns, there is no doggerel, no botches, nothing put in to patch up the rhyme, no feeble expletives. Here is nothing turgid or bombastic, on the one hand, or low and creeping on the other. Here are no cant expressions, no words without meaning. Here are (allow me to say) both the purity, the strength, and the elegance of the English language; and, at the same time, the utmost simplicity and plainness, suited to every capacity."

This is a figure not only not found in sacred inspired
poetry, but which has too much prettiness to be the
vehicle of a sublime thought, and the verse has
moreover the fault of an absurd antithesis, as well"
as a false rhyme. Many modern hymns are, indeed,
as objectionable from the character of their imagery,
as from the meagreness of their thoughts; and there
are a few somewhat popular, which, leaving out or
changing a few sacred terms, would chime agreeably
enough to the most common sentimental subjects.

To Dr. Watts and to Mr. Charles Wesley the largest share of gratitude is due, in modern times, from the churches of Christ, for that rich supply of " Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs," in which the assemblies of the pious may make melody unto the Lord, in strains which "angels might often

In this collection, beside a few hymns by Mr. John Wesley, there are four or five from Dr. Watts. Several are translations by the Wesleys: one from the Spanish, "O God, my God, my all thou art," &c.: one from the French, "Come Saviour Jesus, from above:" and the others from the German hymns of the Lutheran and Moravian churches. Several of these translated hymns Mr. Montgomery has inserted in his "Psalmist," and marked "Moravian." They appear indeed in the Moravian Hymn Book, but in departments there, in which are also found the hymns of Dr. Watts and other English authors. The preface of the edition of 1754, the first authorized collection of the English Moravians, and which embodies their former unauthorized publications, acknowledges "the foregoing labors of Mr. Jacobi and the Rev. Mr. Wesley," in the translation of German hymns of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, besides extracts of English ones of the eighteenth, from Watts, Stennett, Davis, Erskine, Wesley," &c.; which acknowledgment was no doubt overlooked by Mr. Montgomery. The hymns translated by the Wesleys, and said by Mr. Montgomery in his collection to be "Moravian, are, "Thou hidden love of God, whose height;" "Thee will I love, my strength, my tower;" "Shall I for fear of feeble man;" "O thou who camest from above;" Now I have found the ground wherein;" "My soul before thee prostrate lies;" and "Holy Lamb, who thee receive." Now all these were published by the Wesleys before the Moravian Hymn Book of 1754, in which the "foregoing labors of Mr. Wesley," in translating from the German, are acknowledged; and indeed most of them appear in the very first hymn books published by John and Charles Wesley, two of which bear date so early as 1739, fifteen years previous to the publication of the authorized Moravian collection. As translations, they are not therefore " Moravian ;" and, when they are translated from" the German," it does not follow that they all have a Moravian original, though some of them may; for the Moravian German book, like the English, as we learn from the preface to their English Hymn Book, consists as well of hymns out of preceding church collections of their neighbors, as of others composed by themselves." The hymn, "High on his everlasting throne," marked "Moravian" by Mr. Mont

46

gomery, and mentioned also in his preface, is a Moravian German hymn; but the translation is by Mr.Charles Wesley; whilst "Give to the winds thy fears," also marked Moravian, is a German hymn of the Lutheran church, and the translation is Mr. Charles Wesley's. Ot this hymn there is a version in the Moravian English Hymn book; the last stanza of which, when placed beside Mr. C. Wesley's, will show with what strength of internal evidence his translations distinguish themselves:

WESLEY'S.

Thou seest our weakness, Lord,
Our hearts are known to thee:
O lift thou up the sinking hand,
Confirm the feeble knee!

Let us in life and death,
Thy steadfast truth declare;
And publish with our latest breath
Thy love and guardian care.

MORAVIAN.

O Lord, thou seest our weakness,
Yet knowest what our hearts mean
Against desponding slackness,
Our feeble knees sustain.
Till, and beyond death's valley,
Let us thy truth declare:
Yea, then emphatically,

Boast of thy guardian care.

Some other comparisons might be made between Mr. C. Wesley's translations from German hymns and those from the same originals found in the Moravian Hymn Book, which would sufficiently show that the Moravians then at least, had no translator into English verse at all comparable to him; and indeed they have sufficient taste generally to adopt his translations in preference. But this is no reason why he should lose the credit of his own admirable performances in this department. Respect to literary justice has drawn out this note to so great a length; and it was the more necessary to state the matter correctly, because Mr. Montgomery's "Psalmist" might in future mislead. The first editions of the hymns and sacred poems, by the Wesleys, viz., those of 1739, 1743, and 1745, in which most of the above hymns are found, with several others in the Moravian