rich Methodists-Methodism in Norwich and London-Rev. Jacob Chapman-Dr. Byrom-Increase of Methodism creates a Diffi- culty-Erasmus and his Ordination-Wesley and Dr. Ruther- Whitefield in Ill Health-The half insane Watchmaker-Blandford Hervey's "Eleven Letters to Wesley "- Old Friends divided— Quarrelling and its Results-Letters to Thomas Rankin-Method- - Methodism at High Wycombe-A Long Tour-Alexander Knox, Esq. Methodism at Huddersfield-Important Letter to Rev. H. Venn- Disgraceful Scene in Devonshire-Faults of Cornish Methodism— Professors of Sanctification-Captain Webb-Methodism in Kent -A serious Accident-" Mumbo Chumbo"-"The Scripture Way Methodism at Yarmouth-A quadruple Alliance-Horace Walpole on Wesley-Methodism in Bath, Cheltenham, Burton on Trent, Nottingham, and Sheffield-Christian Perfection—Unpublished Letters by Fletcher and Wesley-Methodism at Warrington- Trust Deed of Pitt Street Chapel, Liverpool-Chapel Architects- Wesley in Scotland-An Adventure-A mad Woman in Weardale -Letter to the Dean of Ripon-A vindictive Parson-An odd Mistake-Methodism at Pateley Bridge, Bradford, Halifax, and Haworth Coolness between Wesley and his Brother - Are Methodists Dissenters ?- Methodist public Worship-Wesley's autocratic Power-An unflattering Picture of the Methodists- Pastoral Visitation-The Way to make Useless Preachers Useful- Conference of 1766-A Mob Defeated-Methodism at Helstone- Whitefield-Letter to C. Wesley-Wesley and Dr. Dodd-Irish Superstition-Wesley in Ireland-Methodist Success-Letter to Lady Maxwell-Wesley defending the Methodists-First Methodist Missionary Collection - First Methodist Chapel in America- Methodist Statistics in 1767-Yorkshire Methodism—“ Primitive Methodism "-Conference of 1767-Chapel Debts-Wesley on the Wing-Methodism in Sheerness - "Methodism Trium- THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE REV. JOHN WESLEY, M.A. 1748. WES ESLEY writes: "January 1, 1748.-We began the year at four in the morning, with joy and thanksgiving. The same spirit was in the midst of us, both at noon and in the evening." On January 25, he set out for Bristol, and at LongbridgeDeverill, three miles from Warminster, by being thrown from his horse, had a narrow escape from an untimely death. These dangers and escapes were numerous and remarkable. Near Shepton-Mallet, while descending a steep bank, he had another accident of a similar kind to the former, his horse and himself tumbling one over the other, and imperilling the lives of both. And, a few weeks later, when in Ireland, his horse became restive and "fell head over heels." With almost literal exactness might Wesley have made the apostle's language his own: "In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness; besides those things that are without, that which cometh upon us daily, the care of all the churches." The chapel at Bristol, though built only nine years ago, was in great danger of falling upon the people's heads; and, moreover, it was now too small to accommodate the congregation attending. Accordingly, Wesley took instant steps to repair VOL. II. B 1748 Age 45 1748 and to enlarge the building, and obtained a subscription of Age 45 £230, towards defraying the expense. While here, he also made a visit to Shepton-Mallet, where a hired and drunken mob pelted him and his companion, Robert Swindells, with "dirt, stones, and clods in abundance"; broke the windows of the house in which they were staying, took it by storm, and threatened to make it a heap of burning ruins. Still, the Methodist revival spread. Writing to his friend Blackwell, under the date of February 2, Wesley says:-" Both in Ireland, and in many parts of England, the work of our Lord increases daily. At Leeds only, the society, from a hundred and eighty, is increased to above five hundred persons."1 Charles Wesley and Charles Perronet had been in Ireland for the last six months, and, on the Moravians being ejected from the chapel in Skinner's Alley, had become the tenants of that building. They had made an excursion to Tyrrell's Pass, and, from among proverbial swearers, drunkards, thieves, and sabbath breakers, had formed a society of nearly one hundred persons. At Athlone, a gang of ruffians knocked Jonathan Healey off his horse, beat him with a club, and were about to murder him with a knife, when a poor woman, from her hut, came to his assistance, and, for her interference, was half killed with a blow from a heavy whip. The hedges were all lined with papists; the dragoons came out, the mob fled, Healey was rescued, and was taken into the woman's cabin, where Charles Wesley found him in his blood, and attended to his wounds. A congregation of above two thousand assembled in the market; Charles Wesley preached to them from the window of a ruined house; and then the knot of brave-hearted Methodists marched to the field of battle, stained with Healey's blood, and sang a song of triumph and of praise to God. Having completed his business at Bristol, Wesley, on the 15th of February, started for Ireland, but the weather was such, that three weeks elapsed before he was able to set sail from Holyhead. Winds were boisterous, and snow lay thick upon the ground; but, on the way, besides preaching in 1 Wesley's Works, vol. xii., p. 158. |