sequence of this advice he retired to Lewisham, to the house of his friend Mr. Blackwell, the banker. Here, not knowing how it might please God to dispose of him, and wishing "to prevent yile panegyric" in case of death, he wrote as follows:

HERE LIETH

THE BODY OF JOHN WESLEY,

.A BRAND PLUCKED OUT OF THE BURNING:

WHO DIED OF A CONSUMPTION IN THE 51ST YEAR OF HIS AGE; NOT LEAVING, AFTER HIS DEBTS ARE PAID, TEN POUNDS BEHIND HIM; PRAYING,

God be merciful to me an unprofitable servant!

He ordered that this inscription, if any, should be placed on his tombstone.

Mr. C. Wesley was roused by his brother's illness, and exerted himself to supply his place. Sunday, July 14, he came to Norwich, and at seven o'clock in the morning took the field. He preached on Hog-hill to about two thousand hearers, his brother standing by him, then in some degree amended in his health. A drunkard or two were troublesome, but more out of mirth than malice. They afterward went to church; and the people, both in the streets and at the cathedral, were remarkably civil. He adds, "The lessons, psalms, epistles, and gospel, were very encouraging. The anthem made our hearts rejoice: O pray for the peace of Jerusalem. They shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces! For my brethren and companions' sake will I now say, Peace be within thee! Because of the house of the Lord our God, will I seek thy good.'-We received the sacrament at the hands of the bishop. In the afternoon I went to St. Peter's, and at five o'clock to Hog-hill, where it was computed that ten thousand persons were present. Again I preached repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. They listened with great seriousness-their hearts were

plainly touched, as some showed by their tears. Who could have thought the people of Norwich would ever more have borne a field preacher? It is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes. To him be all the glory, who saith, 'I will work, and who shall hinder?" "

"The

May 6, 1755, the conference began at Leeds. point," says Mr. Wesley, "on which we desired all the preachers to speak their minds at large was, Whether we ought to separate from the Church? Whatever was ad⚫vanced on one side or the other was seriously and calmly considered; and on the third day we were all fully agreed in that general conclusion, That, whether it was LAWFUL or not, it was no ways EXPEDIENT." In a multitude of counsellors there is safety.'

-

Mr. Wesley proceeds: "August 6.—I mentioned to our congregation in London a means of increasing serious religion which had been frequently practised by our forefathers, the joining in a covenant to serve God with all our heart and with all our soul. I explained this for several mornings following, and on Friday many of us kept a fast unto the Lord, beseeching him to give us wisdom and strength that we might promise unto the Lord our God and keep it.'On Monday, at six in the evening, we met for that purpose at our chapel in Spitalfields. After I had recited the tenor of the covenant proposed in the words of that blessed man, Richard Alleine, all the people stood up, in token of assent, to the number of about eighteen hundred. Such a night I scarce ever knew before. Surely the fruit of it shall remain for ever."-The covenant has been renewed once every year since this period. The practice is now become general.

Whoever seriously considers the foregoing pages, will readily conclude that the work carried on by Mr. Wesley and his assistants was really of God. The great concern for religion, which was evident in many thousands who were

before careless or profane; the impression made on their minds of the importance of eternal things; their being so deeply convinced of the number and heinousness of their own sins, from which conviction sprung 'fruits meet for repentance; their being made happy partakers of 'righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost,' and walking in all holiness, were demonstrable proofs of this. For is there any name given under heaven, whereby men can be thus saved, but the name of Christ alone?

But the Lord, at sundry times and in divers places, poured out his Sprit in a remarkable manner. This religious concern, these divine impressions, and their consequent fruits, attended the preaching of God's word in so great a degree upon those occasions, that more were converted in a few months, or even weeks or days at such times, than for several years before. Many parts of these kingdoms have been thus favored at different seasons; but especially about the year 1760, and for some years after. In London particularly this revival of religion was great and conspicuous; many hundreds were added to the societies, and the word of the Lord was glorified among them.

The city of London had been highly favored from the commencement of Mr. Wesley's labors. He usually resided there during the winter months. There were now several chapels in it under his direction. In some of these, on eve ry Lord's day, the service of the Church of England was performed, and the Lord's supper administered. Mr. Maxfield, whom we have already mentioned, was ordained by Dr. Barnard, then bishop of Londonderry, who resided for some time at Bath for the benefit of his health. The bishop received him at Mr. Wesley's recommendation, saying, Sir, I ordain you, to assist that good man, that he may not work himself to death." He did assist Mr. Wesley for some years, and was eminently useful.*

66

*He subsequently separated from Mr. Wesley.-Compiler.

The doctrines of the Bible, of the Reformation, and of the church of England, were now preached in almost every part of the land. Present salvation by grace through faith, and universal obedience as the fruit thereof, urged on the consciences of men, caused practical Christianity again to revive: and to use the words of a pious and elegant writer,* "Leaning on her fair daughters TRUTH and LOVE, she took a solemn walk through the kingdom, and gave a foretaste of heaven to all that entertained her." "She might," says he, "by this time have turned this favorite isle into a land flowing with spiritual milk and honey, if Apollyon, disguised in his angelic robes, had not played, and did not continue to play, his old (Antinomian) game."

6

"Many assert that the clothing of the king's daughter is of wrought gold:' but few, very few, experience that she is all glorious within :' and it is well if many are not bold enough to maintain that she is all full of corruptions. With more truth than ever, we may say,

Ye different sects, who all declare,

Lo! here is Christ, or Christ is there!
Your stronger proofs divinely give,

And show us where the Christians LIVE!
Your claim, alas! ye cannot prove,

Ye want the genuine mark of LOVE.

Mr. Wesley had from the beginning borne a faithful testimony against this delusion. In his sermon preached before the university of Oxford, so early as the year 1738, he admitted that the doctrine of salvation by faith was often thus abused. "Many," says he, "will now, as in the apostles' days, 'contínue in sin that grace may abound.' But their blood is on their own head. The goodness of God ought to lead them to repentance; and so it will those that are

*The late Rev. Mr. Fletcher, Vicar of Madeley, Salop.

sincere of heart." After a trial of more than thirty years he was abundantly confirmed in this sentiment.

CHAPTER VII.

From the Conference in 1770, to the death of Mr. Wesley, March 2nd, 1791.-21 years.

To raise a bulwark against this overflowing of ungodliness, (described in the close of the preceding chapter,) and to prevent it from spreading among the people under his care, the evil principle which occasioned it was taken into consideration, in the conference of the year 1770. Minutes of this conference were soon after published, in which were inserted the following propositions.

"Take heed to your doctrine."

"We said in 1744, We have leaned too much toward Calvinism.'-Wherein ?

"1. With regard to man's faithfulness. Our Lord himself taught us to use the expression, therefore we ought never to be ashamed of it. We ought steadily to assert, upon his authority, that if a man is not faithful in the unrighteous mammon, God will not give him the true riches.'

"2. With regard to working for life, which our Lord expressly commands us to do. Labor' (spyages, literally work,) for the meat that endureth to everlasting life.' And in fact, every believer, till he comes to glory, works for as well as from life.

"3. We have received it as a maxim, that A man is to do nothing in order to justification.' Nothing can be more false. Whoever desires to find favor with God, should cease from evil, and learn to do well.' So God himself teaches by the prophet Isaiah. Whoever repents, should 'do works meet for repentance.' And if this is not in order to find favor, what does he do them for?