manners of the people, and to beget in them a reverence for the public worship. But, though she was satisfied of the propriety of her own conduct, she thought it her duty to abide by the decision of her husband. He had already written to her on the subject: and though he made some objections, yet, upon the whole, he seemed to approve of the meeting. But Mr. Inman, the curate, and two or three of his companions, highly disapproved of it, and wrote to Mr. Wesley, complaining heavily, calling it a conventicle, &c. These representations had such an effect upon Mr. Wesley's mind, that he wrote to his wife in a tone of disapprobation which he had not used before. Her answer, which is dated the 25th of February, is worthy of herself and of the cause in which she was engaged. "Some few days since," says she, “I received a letter from you, I suppose dated the 16th instant, which I made no great haste to answer; because I judged it necessary for both of us to take some time to consider, before you determine in a matter of such great importance. I shall not inquire how it was possible that you should be prevailed on, by the senseless clamours of two or three of the worst of your parish, to condemn what you so very lately approved; but I shall tell you my thoughts in as few words as possible.. I do not hear of more than three or four persons who are against our meeting, of whom Inman is the chief. He and Whitely, I believe, may call it a conventicle; but we hear no outcry here, nor has any one said a word against it to me. And what does their calling it a conventicle signify? Does it alter the nature of the thing? Or do you think, that what they say is a sufficient reason to forbear a thing that has already done much good, and, by the blessing of God, may do much more? If its being called a conventicle, by those who know in their conscience they misrepresent it, did really make it one, what you say would be somewhat to the purpose; but it is plain, in fact, that this one thing has brought more people to church, than ever any thing did in so short a time. We used not to have above twenty or twenty-five at evening service, whereas now we have between two and three hundred; which are more than ever came before to hear Inman in the morning. "Besides the constant attendance on the public worship of God, our meeting has wonderfully conciliated the minds of this people towards us, so that we now live in the greatest amity imaginable; and, what is still better, they are very much reformed in their behaviour on the Lord's Day and those who used to be playing in the streets now come to hear a good sermon read, which is surely more acceptable to Almighty God. "Another reason for what I do is, that I have no other way of conversing with this people, and therefore have no other way of doing them good; but, by this, I have an opportunity of exercising the greatest and noblest charity, that is, charity to their souls. "Some families who seldom went to church, now go constantly; and one person who has not been there for seven years, is now prevailed upon to go with the rest. "There are many other good consequences of this meeting, which I have not time to mention. Now, I beseech you, weigh all things in an impartial balance: on the one side, the honour of Almighty God, the doing much good to many souls, and the friendship of the best among whom we live ; on the other, (if folly, impiety, and vanity may abide in + the scale against so ponderous a weight,) the senseless objections of a few scandalous persons, laughing at us, and censuring us as precise and hypocritical; and when you have duly considered all things, let me know your positive determination. "I need not tell you the consequences, if you determine to put an end to our meeting. You may easily foresee what prejudices it may raise in the minds of these people against Inman especially, who has had so little wit as to speak publicly against it. I can now keep them to the church; but if it be laid aside, I doubt they will never go to hear him more, at least those who come from the lower end of the town; but if this be continued till you return, which now will not be long, it may please God that their hearts may be so changed by that time, that they may love and delight in his public worship so as never to neglect it more. "If you do, after all, think fit to dissolve this assembly, do not tell me that you desire me to do it, for that will not satisfy my conscience; but send me your positive command, in such full and express terms, as may absolve me from all guilt and punishment for neglecting this opportunity of doing good, when you and I shall appear before the great and awful tribunal of our Lord Jesus Christ." Inman, the Curate mentioned above, was something of an original. Upon Mr. Wesley's return from London at one time, a complaint was made concerning his Curate, "that he preached nothing to his congregation, except the duty of paying their debts, and behaving well among their neighbours." The complainants added, "We think, Sir, there is something more in religion than this." Mr. Wesley replied, "There certainly is: I will hear him myself." He accordingly sent for Inman, and told him, that he wished him to preach the next Lord's day, adding, "You could, I suppose, prepare a sermon upon any text that I should give you." The Curate replied, " By all means, Sir." "Then," said Mr. Wesley, "prepare a sermon on that text, Heb. xi, 6. • Without faith, it is impossible to please Him, i. e. God." When the time arrived, Mr. Wesley read the prayers, and Inman ascended the pulpit. He read the text with great solemnity, and thus began "It must be confessed, Friends, that faith is a most excellent virtue; and it produces other virtues also. In particular it makes a man pay his debts as soon as he can."-He went on in this way, enforcing the common social duties, for about a quarter of an hour, and then concluded. "So," said Mr. J. Wesley to me, 66 my father saw it was a lost case."-I think neither Mr. Southey, nor Bishop Lavington, would have entertained any fear of this man becoming an Enthusiast. Mrs. Wesley continued to discharge the duties of a wife and parent with the greatest diligence and punctuality. The letters she wrote to her sons, when at Oxford, and after they had left it, show her in the most amiable light, both for knowledge and piety. In 1735, she lost her husband, and afterwards divided her time between her children, till about the year 1739; from which period, she resided chiefly in London. It appears from all we have seen of Mrs. Wesley, that she was a woman really devoted to God; but it does not appear that she had a clear notion of justification, as distinct from sanctification. On the contrary, she seems to have confounded them together; and this hindered her from enjoying that full assurance of her state, and the peace and joy consequent upon it, which otherwise she would have had. When her two sons, Mr. John and Charles Wesley, began to preach the doctrine of justification by faith, in 1738, and many professed to be so justified, and to know the time when this change in their state took place, she mentions their notions as new, in a letter she wrote to her son Samuel, in November this year ;* but she had not then conversed with them on the subject, and therefore did not know what doctrines they taught, except from report. It has indeed been said, that she "lived long enough to deplore the extravagance of her sons ;" and this assertion was founded on the letter above mentioned. But the following extracts from three of her letters to Mr. Charles Wesley, will show us her opinion of the doctrine and conduct of her sons, more clearly than any thing which has yet appeared in print. "October 19, 1738. gave "IT is with much pleasure I find your mind is somewhat easier than formerly, and I heartily thank God for it. The spirit of a man may sustain his infirmity, but a wounded spirit who can bear?' If this hath been your case, it has been sad indeed. But blessed be God, who you convictions of the evil of sin, as contrary to the purity of the Divine nature, and the perfect goodness of his law! Blessed be God, who showed you the necessity you were in of a Saviour to deliver you from the power of sin and Satan, (for Christ will be no Saviour to such as see not their need of one,) and directed you by faith to lay hold of that stupendous mercy offered us by redeeming love! Jesus is the only physician of souls; his blood the only salve which can heal a wounded conscience. It is not in wealth, or honour, or sensual pleasures, to relieve a spirit heavy laden and weary of the burden of sin: These things have power to increase our guilt, by alienating our hearts from God; but none to make our peace with Him, to reconcile God to man, and man to God, and to renew the union between the Divine and human nature. -No, there is none but Christ, none but Christ, who is sufficient for these things. But blessed be God, he is an all-sufficient Saviour! And blessed be his holy name, that thou hast found him a Saviour to thee, my son! Oh! let us love him much, for we have much to be forgiven. "I would gladly know what your notion is of justifying faith; because you speak of it as a thing you have but lately obtained." The second letter is dated December 6th, 1738. In it she says, "I think you are fallen into an odd way of thinking. You say, that, till within a few months, you had no spiritual life, nor any justifying faith. Now this is, as if a man should affirm he was not alive in his infancy, because when an infant, he did not know he was alive. All, then, that I can gather from your letter is, that till a little while ago you were not so well satisfied of your being a Christian as you are now. I heartily rejoice that you have now attained to a strong and lively hope in God's mercy through Christ. Not that I can think you were totally without saving faith before; but it is one thing to have faith, and another thing to be sensible we have it. Faith is a fruit of the Spirit, and is the gift of God; but to feel, or be inwardly sensible, that we have true faith, requires a farther operation of God's Holy Spirit. You say you have peace, but not joy, in believing. Blessed be God for peace; may this * Printed in Dr. Priestley's Collection. 1 peace rest with you. Joy will follow, perhaps not very closely, but it will follow faith and love. God's promises are sealed to us, but not dated. Therefore patiently attend his pleasure; he will give you joy in believing. Amen." The third letter is dated December 27th, 1739, after she had come to reside chiefly in London. Here she enjoyed the conversation of her sons alternately, the one being always in town while the other was in the country. She now attended on their ministry, conversed with the people of their Society, became more perfectly acquainted with their whole doctrine, and seems heartily to have embraced it. Charles was in Bristol when she wrote this letter to him. She observes, "You cannot more desire to see me, than I do to see you. Your brother,whom I shall henceforward call Son Wesley, since my dear Sam is gone home, has just been with me, and much revived my spirits. Indeed, I have often found that he never speaks in my hearing, without my receiving some spiritual benefit. But his visits are seldom and short; for which I never blame him, because I know he is well employed; and blessed be God, he hath great success in his ministry. "But, my dear Charles, still I want either him or you. For, indeed, in the most literal sense, I am become a little child, and want continual succour. 'As iron sharpeneth iron, so doth the countenance of a man his friend.' I feel much comfort and support from religious conversation, when I can obtain it. Formerly I rejoiced in the absence of company and found, the less I had of creature comforts, the more I had from God. But alas! I am fallen from that spiritual converse I once enjoyed; and why is it so? Because I want faith. God is an omnipresent unchangeable good, "in whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." The fault is in myself; and I attribute all mistakes in judgment, all errors in practice, to want of faith in the blessed Jesus. O! my dear, when I consider the dignity of his person, the perfection of his purity, the greatness of his sufferings; but above all, his boundless love, I am astonished and utterly confounded. I am lost in thought; I fall into nothing before him! Ó how inexcusable is that person who has knowledge of these things, and yet remains poor and low in faith and love. I speak as one guilty in this matter.* "I have been prevented from finishing my letter. I complained I had none to converse with me on spiritual things; but for these several days, I have had the conversation of many good Christians, who have refreshed, in some measure, my fainting spirits. And though they hindered my writing, yet it was a pleasing, and I hope not an unprofitable, interruption they gave me. I hope we shall shortly speak face to face; and I shall then, if God permit, impart my thoughts more fully. But then alas! when you come, your brother leaves me. Yet that is the will of God, in whose blessed service you are engaged; who hath hitherto blessed your labours, and preserved your persons. That he may continue so to prosper your work, and protect you both from evil, and give you strength and courage to preach the true gospel, in opposition to the united powers of evil men and evil angels, is the hearty prayer of dear Charles, your loving mother, S. W." *She now began to feel the want of living faith. This conviction always precedes that divine gift. This letter gives full evidence that Mrs. Wesley cordially approved of the conduct of her sons, and was animated with zeal for the success of their labours. She continued in the most perfect harmony with them till her death. Attending on their ministry, and walking in the light of God's countenance, she rejoiced in the blessed experience of the truths she heard them preach.—An account of her happy death shall be given in the proper place. Mrs. Wesley had taken great pains with all her children, to furnish their minds with useful knowledge, and to instil into them the principles of religion and virtue. The daughters were by no means neglected; they shared their mother's care with the sons. Many of their letters are now before me, in which there is much strong sense, lively wit, and accurate language; though they were written on common subjects, and without any expectation that they would be preserved. Most of them had a fine genius for poetry: But Mrs. Wright shone the brightest in this walk of elegant amusement; and to her I shall chiefly confine my observations, in speaking of the daughters of these venerable parents. Mrs. Wright was her mother's tenth or eleventh child; and it has been said, that when she was eight years old, she could read the Greek Testament. From her infancy she was gay and sprightly, and extremely addicted to wit and humour. As she grew up, she indulged herself in these dispositions so far, as to give great uneasiness to her parents. About the year 1724, or the beginning of 1725, a gentleman, respectable both for his abilities and situation in life, paid his addresses to her, and she had a sincere regard for him. But, from some circumstance, he and her father disagreed, and the affair was broken off. From a concurrence of circumstances in the end of the year 1725, she was induced to marry a person not at all adapted to make her happy; being rude in address, and much inferior to her in understanding: he also proved an unkind husband. Her situation preyed upon her mind, her health and strength gradually wasted away, and at length she sunk into a degree of melancholy that made her truly wretched. Most of her verses which have been preserved, are beautiful, and written in the true spirit of poetry; but they are saddened with an air of deep distress. The following address to her husband will give some notion of his character, and show the true cause of her wretchedness. VOL. I. MEHETABEL WRIGHT TO HER HUSBAND. THE ardent lover cannot find Then what should hinder but that I, O thou! whom sacred rites design'd $7 |