distinguished success, have scarcely reached the point of mediocrity. The minister now, whose maxim is to expect little things, and attempt little things, mistakes the day in which he lives. What was knowledge, in the thirteenth century, is ignorance now. What was energy then is imbecility and stupidity now. As was said in another case, it becomes not our sacred profession, in this period of intellectual progress, like the ship that is moored to its station, only to mark the rapidity of the current that is sweeping by. Let the intelligence of the age outstrip us, and leave us behind, and religion would sink with its teachers into insignificance. Give to the Church a feeble ministry, and the world breaks from your hold; your main-spring of moral influence is gone.'

Such, my brethren, are some of the views with which suitable young men in other Churches are exhorted to commence the work of preparing for the labors of the Gospel ministry. And other things considered, can we doubt, for one moment, the influence which such views will have wherever they are indulged? They are just such views as, I would to God, were engraven upon the heart of every member in the Methodist Episcopal Church! And I think, I may add, that, from personal knowledge, I have given, in the foregoing remarks, the sentiments of the most enlightened, pious, and useful members, both of our ministry and membership, throughout the country.

There was certainly some similarity between the call of the apostles, and their qualifications for preaching the Gospel, and the call and qualifications of the first Methodist preachers, in the early days of Methodism. Wesley himself always believed that the work in which he was engaged was an extraordinary work; and hence he supposed the instruments by which it was principally carried on, unlettered as they were, were called and qualified in an extraordinary way, and not as the ministers of the Gospel are ordinarily called of God to preach His word.

But there is scarcely any perceptible similarity between the age in which we live now and that in which Wesley lived; as little, indeed, as there is to be seen between the manner of God's calling men into the ministry then, and the manner of His doing this now. The regular and ordinary ministers of Wesley's day were generally backslidden, or such as never possessed the life and power of godliness; and the same remarks will apply to the days of Christ. Hence God called men in an extraordinary way to do the work which others had left undone.

But it is not true, now, that the great proportion of ministers in this country, who believe the fundamentals of the Christian faith, and who have come into the ministry in the ordinary way, are destitute as many of their predecessors have been of the unction of the Holy Ghost. This is not the fact. Many of them, we know, have the Spirit of Christ. They are blessed in their labors with Scriptural revivals of religion; and their preaching is attended in the demonstration of the Spirit of God and with power, as much so as any Methodist preachers who have ever lived.

And I feel it a great pleasure in being able to say, that I am personally acquainted with not a few who have been inducted into the

ministry through some of the theological seminaries in this country, who would not suffer in a comparison of their spiritual habits, and devotion to God and his cause, with any ministers of any denomination, whom I ever heard proclaim the word of life.

And can we, my brethren, reflect for one moment on the character of the age in which we live-the power of the enemies we have to encounter-the wants of the heathen, who need missionaries among them capable of giving correct versions of the Bible,-nay, can we consider the progress of education, and intellectual knowledge, among all classes of people around us—and stand still, and pause, when God and His Church have claims so high!

It is as clear as the light of noon day, that, for the Methodist Episcopal Church to do her part toward evangelizing the world, she must advance in the education of her ministers. Nay, if we mean to do our part of the work, which is due from the Church of God to the people of these United States, we must advance in the education of our ministers. This is a new country; the moral and intellectual habits of the people are yet, in no small degree, to be formed. This must be done by education, by sanctified learning. Matter is moved by mind. And who will furnish the reading and the influence which is to mould and fashion the general character of this great and growing people? Those ministers who take the lead in promoting the means and blessings of sanctified learning will wield the future destinies of this powerful nation.

From the Wesleyan Methodist Magazine.

ANECDOTES OF THE LATE CHARLES WESLEY, ESQ. THE notice of Mr. Charles Wesley's death, inserted in the last number of the Wesleyan Methodist Magazine, brought to my recollection some particulars respecting that very excellent and remarkable man, which cannot fail to interest your readers. He was the eldest son of Mr. Charles Wesley, and the nephew of the founder of Methodism. The father was not more distinguished by his genius as a writer of hymns, than the son as an organist. The following account of his early life, and of the developement of his musical talents, was written by his father, and given to the honorable Daines Barrington, by whom it was published in his Miscellanies,' in the year 1781.

Charles was born at Bristol, Dec. 11th, 1757. He was two years and three quarters old when I first observed his strong inclination to music. He then surprised me by playing a tune on the harpsichord, readily, and in just time. Soon after he played several, whatever his mother sung, or whatever he heard in the streets.

From his birth she used to quiet and amuse him with the harpsichord; but he would not suffer her to play with one hand only, taking the other and putting it on the keys, before he could speak. When he played himself she used to tie him up by his backstring to the chair, for fear of his falling. Whatever tune it was, he always put a true bass to it. From the beginning he always played without study or hesitation; and, as the masters told me, perfectly well.

Mr. Broadrip, organist of Bristol, heard him in petticoats, and foretold he would one day make a great player.

Whenever he was called to play to a stranger, he would ask, in a word of his own, "Is he a musicker?" and if answered, "Yes," he played with the greatest readiness.

He always played con spirito. There was something in his`manner above a child, which struck the hearers, learned or unlearned.

At four years old I carried him with me to London. Mr. Beard was the first that confirmed Mr. Broadrip's judgment of him, and kindly offered his interest with Dr. Boyce, to get him admitted among the king's boys. But I had then no thoughts of bringing him up a musician.

A gentleman carried him next to Mr. Stanley, who expressed much pleasure and surprise at hearing him; and declared he had never met with one of his age with so strong a propensity to music. The gentleman told us, he never before believed what Handel used to tell him of himself, and his own love of music, in his childhood.

Mr. Madan presented my son to Mr. Worgan, who was extremely kind; and, as I then thought, partial to him. He told us, he would prove an eminent master, if he was not taken off by other studies. Mr. Worgan frequently entertained him with the harpsichord. Charles was greatly taken with his bold, full manner of playing, and seemed even then to catch a spark of his fire.

At our return to Bristol we left him to ramble on till he was near six; then we gave him to Mr. Rooke for a master; a man of no name, but very good natured, who let him run on ad libitum, while he sat by more to observe than to control him.

Mr. Rogers, the oldest organist in Bristol, was one of his first friends. He often set him on his knee, and made him play to him, declaring that he was more delighted in hearing him than himself.'

6

To this account Mr. Barrington adds, What follows contains the strongest and fullest approbation of Mr. Charles Wesley's manner of playing on the organ by the most eminent professors; to which commendation they who have the pleasure of hearing him at present will give the most ample credit.'

So perfectly was his mind absorbed in music, that he seemed incapable, through the greater part of his life, of directing his undivided attention to any other subject. During his boyhood he received the rudiments of a classical education under the tuition of his father; but he was only able to learn his Latin grammar by setting his lessons to music.

He had a younger brother of the name of Samuel, who now survives him. He exhibited the same propensities in early life; and excited great attention by his extraordinary musical compositions when very young. As the brothers advanced in life they acquired the highest celebrity as performers, and their concerts presented attractions to the first personages of the land. Their father cherished a full persuasion that music was their providential calling; but their uncle strongly expressed an opposite opinion.

King George the Third is well known to have been very fond of music, particularly of that of Handel; and as Mr. Charles Wesley excelled almost every other man in playing the compositions of that

great master, he became a special favorite with his majesty, and received many marks of kindness from him, and from other members of the royal family. At one time he offered himself as a candidate for the vacant situation of organist at St. Paul's cathedral, when he met with a painful repulse. On appearing before the ecclesiastics, with whom the appointment lay, and presenting his claims to their confidence, they said to him, with less civility than decision, 'We want no Wesleys here.' The king heard of this unseemly act, and was deeply grieved. He sent for the obnoxious organist to Windsor, and expressed his strong regret that he should have been refused in such a manner, and for such a reason; adding, with his own frankness and generosity, Never mind. The name of Wesley is always welcome

to me.'

·

After the king had lost his sight, Mr. Wesley was one day with his majesty alone, when the venerable monarch said, Mr. Wesley, is there any body in the room but you and me?' No, your majesty,' was the reply. The king then declared his persuasion that Mr. Wesley's father and uncle, with Mr. Whitefield, and Lady Huntingdon, had done more to promote the spread of true religion in the country, than the entire body of dignified clergy, who were so apt to despise

6

their labors.

6

Mr. Wesley was once dining with a venerable prelate, remarkable for his theological learning, and the zeal and ability with which he has defended the principles of Protestant Christianity. In the company was a young clergyman, who seemed desirous of attracting attention by the avowal of his partialities as a minister of the established Church. My lord,' said he, addressing the bishop, when I was passing through I saw a man preaching to a crowd of people in the open air. I suppose he was one of John Wesley's itinerants.' · Did you stop to hear him?' rejoined the bishop. O no!' said the clergyman; 'I did not suppose that he could say any thing that was worth hearing.' The bishop effectually ended the conversation, by saying, I should think you were very much mistaken, Mr. It is very probable that that man preached a better sermon than either you or I could have done. Do you know, sir, that this gentleman,' pointing to Mr. Wesley, is John Wesley's nephew?'

Mr. Wesley used to speak of George the Fourth as an admirable judge of music. He was very partial to Mr. Wesley, not only on account of his abilities as a performer; but because such was the tenacity of his memory that he scarcely ever had occasion to refer to his books. Whatever favorite composition his majesty might call for, Mr. Wesley was prepared to play, without delay or hesitation. In one of his visits to Carlton palace, one of the pages refused to admit him by the front entrance; and ordered him to go round, and seek admission by some less honorable way. He obeyed the king saw him approach, and inquired why he came to the palace in that direction. Mr. Wesley explained; and his majesty, sending for the page, gave him such a rebuke as he was not likely soon to forget; and commanded that, whenever Mr. Wesley visited the palace, he should be treated with all possible respect.

As a performer upon the organ Mr. Wesley has rarely been equalled, and perhaps never surpassed. Those who have never heard him

can form but a very inadequate conception of his powers. The instrument, under his hands, really seemed to speak, and to be endued with intelligence and feeling; while the entranced hearer appeared to be transported beyond the precincts of the material creation, and placed in those regions of purity and love where are heard thousands of blest voices uttering joy.' In every mind that was capable of being affected by hallowed sounds, he produced sensations of wonder and delight, resembling those which Milton cherished when he sung,

It does not appear that Mr. Wesley ever devoted much time to musical composition. A few of his pieces are known, and are admired by all competent judges for their correctness and beauty; but his principal attention, through life, was directed to the performance of the best productions of the great masters. In this he doubtless judged right; since few men have ever been known at once to excel in composition and in execution. One or two of his tunes have appeared in The Youth's Instructer;' and he corrected his uncle's Sacred Harmony,' for the use of the Methodist congregations. A new edition of this admirable collection of congregational music, revised by Mr. Charles Wesley, was published in the year 1821, with a beautiful preface, written by the late lamented Mr. Watson. perhaps the best original production of Mr. Charles Wesley's genius was the music which he composed to his father's fine Ode on the Death of Dr. Boyce,' written February 7, 1779. As that ode is at present little known, and shows the light in which the father and the son viewed the nature and uses of sacred music, it is here · subjoined :

'Father of harmony, farewell!

Farewell for a few fleeting years!
Translated from the mournful vale;
Jehovah's flaming ministers

Have borne thee to thy place above,
Where all is harmony and love.

Thy gen'rous, good, and upright heart,
That sigh'd for a celestial lyre,

Was tuned on earth to bear a part

Symphonious with that warbling quire,
Where Handel strikes the golden strings,
And plausive angels clap their wings.

Handel, and all the tuneful train,

Who well employ'd their art Divine,
To' announce the great Messiah's reign,
In joyful acclamations join,

And springing from their azure seat,
With shouts their new-born brother meet.

But