CONTENTS OF VOLUME I. OF HIS FAMILY AND THE EARLY PART OF HIS LIFE. I. Of his great Grand-Father and Grand-Fathers, Wesley II. Of his Parents and Sisters, IV. Of the Rev. John Wesley from his Birth to the Year 1729, 52 V. Of his Residence at Oxford, and of the first Methodist HIS JOURNÁL. NUMBER 1, From October 14, 1735, to February 1, 1738. NUMBER 2, From February 1, to September 16, 1738. His Arrival in London, and Interview with Peter Bohler, His Sailing for and Journey through Germany, and Visit- ing the Moravian Settlement in Upper Lusatia, NUMBER 3, From August 12, 1738, to November 1, 1739. His visiting Bristol and Bath, and beginning to Preach in Preaches at Gloucester to many thousands; and answers "A Accused of being a Papist, and therefore declares his Judg- Preaches to Vast Multitudes in Moorfields, Kennington- Visits and Preaches in sundry parts of South-Wales, 296 NUMBER 4, From November 1, 1739, to September 3, 1741. An Address to the Moravian Church in England, He preaches at Oxford, Bristol, Tiverton, and Exeter, 300 On the Doctrine of Justification by Faith, The Difference, in point of Doctrine; between the Methodists Brethren at Hernhuth, Controversy with Mr. Cennick and Mr. Whitefield, Conversation with Count Zinzendorf, and letters to the .356, 358 THE LIFE AND JOURNAL OF THE REV. JOHN WESLEY, A. M. CHAPTER I. OF HIS GREAT GRAND-FATHER, AND GRAND-FATHERS, WESLEY AND ANNESLEY. So far as we can trace back any account of the Family, Mr. Wes ley's ancestors appear respectable for learning, conspicuous for piety, and firmly attached to those views of Christianity which they had formed from the Sacred Scriptures. Bartholomew Wesley, his great grand-father, was educated in one of our Universities, and afterwards held the living of Allington in Dorsetshire. When the Act of Uniformity took place in 1662, he was ejected from his living, and enrolled on the list of fame with those illustrious names, who chose rather to suffer the loss of all things than violate conscience. While in the university, Mr. Wesley had applied himself to the study of Physic as well as Divinity; a practice which had been frequent, and not then fallen wholly into disuse. He was often consulted as a Physician while he held his living, and after his ejectment applied himself chiefly to the practice of physic, though he still preached occasionally. It is said that he used a peculiar plainness of speech, which hindered him from becoming a popular preacher. He lived several years after he was silenced; but the death of his son, John Wesley, of whom we shall next speak, affected him so much, that he afterwards declined apace, and did not long survive him.* JOHN WESLEY, M. A. of New-Inn Hall, Oxford, son of the abovementioned gentleman, was grand-father of the late Rev. JOHN WESLEY. We have no certain account of the time of his birth, nor of the year when he died. It pleased God to incline him to remember his Creator in the days of his youth, a circumstance which always affords comfort in the future part of life. He had a very humbling sense of sin, and a serious concern for his salvation when a schoolboy; and soon after began to keep a diary, in which he recorded the remarkable instances of providential care over him, the method of God's dealings with his soul, and how he found his heart affected un* See Nonconformist's Memorial, Vol. I. p. 441. der the means of grace, and the occurrences of providence, whether prosperous and pleasing, or afflictive. This method he continued, with very little intermission, to the end of his life.* During his stay at Oxford, he was taken notice of for his seriousness and diligence. He applied himself particularly to the study of the Oriental languages, in which he made great progress. Dr. John Owen, who was at that time Vice-Chancellor, had a great regard for him, which affords strong evidence both of his abilities and piety at this early period of life. He began to preach occasionally at the age of twenty-two, and in May, 1658, was sent to preach at Whitchurch in Dorsetshire. Soon after the Restoration, some of his neighbours gave him a great deal of trouble, because he would not read the Common Prayer. They complained of him to the Bishop of Bristol, and laid many heavy things to his charge. Mr. Wesley being informed that the Bishop desired to speak with him, he waited on his Lordship, and has recorded in his diary the conversation that took place on this occasion. Mr. Wesley's defence of himself turns chiefly on two points, His allegiance to the King; and, His right to preach the Gospel without being ordained according to the rites of the Established Church. With respect to the first, he solemnly assures the Bishop, that the things alleged against him were either invented or mistaken: that, whatever his bitter enemies might say against him, there were others who would give a different character of him; that Mr. Glisson had done it; and that Sir Francis Fulford, being his hearer, would acquaint his Lordship concerning him: that he did not think the old Non-conformists were his Majesty's enemies; and that he had conscientiously taken the oath of allegiance, and had faithfully kept it. With respect to the second point, the Bishop informs Mr. Wesley, that if he preached, it must be upon ordination, according to the order of the church of England. Mr. Wesley answers, that if he meant by ordination the sending spoken of Rom. x. he had it; that he had a mission from God and man; but he was not satisfied in his conscience concerning the ordination in the church of England. As to his abilities, he offers to submit to any examination his Lordship would appoint; to give him a confession of his faith, or to take any other method that might be required. He then states the reasons which satisfied him that he ought to preach. These are, 1. That he was devoted to the service from his infancy. 2. That he was educated for it, at school and in the university. 3. That, as a son of the prophets, after having taken his degrees, he preached in the country, being approved of by judicious, able christians, ministers and others. 4. That it pleased God to seal his labours with success in the conversion of several souls from ignorance and profaneness, to the power of godliness that such conversions had taken place wherever he had been called to preach; at Radpole, Melcomb, Turnwood, Whitchurch, and at sea. He declares, that if this were not found to be the case * I have taken (says Dr. Whitehead) some pains to discover whether this manuscript be any where preserved; but I have not any where obtained any satisfactory informa tion concerning it. The extracts from it have been preserved by Calamy. |