man on horseback, with others, was ready to gnash upon me with his teeth, but my voice prevailed, and they retreated to their strong hold, the alehouse. There, with difficulty, they procured some butchers to appear in their quarrel; but they had no commission to approach till I had done. Then, in the last hymn, they made up to the table with great fury. The foremost often lifted up his stick to strike me, being within his reach; but he was not permitted. I staid to pray for them, and walked quietly to my lodgings. Poor Rabshakeh muttered something about the Bishop of Exeter; but did not accept of my invitation to Mr. Edwards's. The concern and love of the people were much increased, by my supposed danger. We joined together in prayer and thanksgiving as usual; and I slept in peace.”

Mr. Wesley's Journal gives us no further information of his labours, or of any of his proceedings, till the latter end of the year 1756. The number of LayPreachers was now greatly increased; and though very few of them had enjoyed the benefits of a learned, or even a good education in the common branches of knowledge, yet there were among them men of strong sense, and great power of mind, who soon became useful and able preachers of the Gospel. We may naturally suppose, that these, conscious of their abilities and usefulness, would begin to feel some uneasiness vnder the very humble character of a Methodist Preacher, which the public at that time held in great contempt. This seems to have been actually the case; for they wished to promote a plan, which no doubt they hoped might both be useful to the people, and give them a greater degree of respectability in the public opinion. To accomplish this purpose, they were desirous that the Preachers, or some of them at

least,

least, should have some kind of ordination, and be allowed to administer the ordinances to the people, through all the Societies. Both Mr. John and Charles Wesley opposed this attempt, as a total dereliction of the avowed principles on which the Societies were first united together. When they became Itinerant Preachers, and began to form Societies, they utterly disclaimed any intention of making a separate party in the nation they never intended that the Societies should be separate churches: the members were constantly exhorted to attend their respective places of worship, whether the Established Church, or a Dissenting Meeting; and the times of preaching on the Lord's Day were purposely fixed, to give them liberty so to do. They had no intention to separate any from their former church-membership, but to awaken persons of all denominations to a serious sense of religion; to call them back to their first principles, to be helpers of their faith, and to stir them up to work out their salvation with fear and trembling! Their leading object was, to bring persons of all persuasions to an experimental and practical knowledge of the fundamental truths of the Christian religion; to unite them together in brotherly love, while each retained his former religious connexion, and his peculiar opinions on church government and modes of worship. It is evident that the Methodist Societies were formed on these broad and disinterested principles, however narrow-minded and interested men may have misconstrued them, or endeavoured to pervert them. It was, indeed, a new thing in the world; but the two brothers were fully persuaded that this was the peculiar calling of the Methodists. They had been gradually led into this plan, under a concurrence of circumstances which appeared to them providential,

and many years' experience of its extensive usefulness, had confirmed them in this opinion. To separate the people, therefore, from their former connexions, and unite them into an independent body, they thought was departing from their proper calling, and quitting the station which God had appointed them for the benefit of the nation. This subject has often been discussed, but the question has never been fairly stated. It is not merely, whether the Methodists shall separate from the Church of England? but whether they shall separate from the Church, and from every denomination of Dissenters hitherto known in the king. dom, and become a body, distinct and independent of both. Thus far, they have been a kind of middle link, uniting the Dissenters, and members of the Church, in the interests of experimental religion, and in christian love and charity to one another. A separation therefore, would make the breach wider than ever it would overturn the original constitution of Methodism, and totally subvert the very spirit of it.*

The contagion, however, had gone forth: forth the plague was begun a division in the Society of Leeds, had already taken place, and the minds of many in different Societies were greatly unsettled, by a few of the Preachers. Mr. Charles Wesley was much affected with these proceedings. He considered the present attempts to separate those of the people from the Church, who had belonged to her, and the Dissenters among them from their former connexions, as

a partial

*This subject is here incidentially mentioned, as it gave rise to Mr. Charles Wesley's journey through many of the Societies this year. It will be considered more at length, in the latter part of the life of Mr. Wesley.

a partial evil only but he looked forward to the consequences, which would probably follow, when none were left to oppose them. While under these painful exercises of mind, the words of the Lord by the prophet, often gave him comfort: I will bring the third part through the fire. He often preached from these words in the journey we are going to describe; and would often mention them to his friends in conversation, even to the close of his life. He seemed to expect, that when he and his brother were removed hence, troubles would arise in the Societies; but that, after various struggles, a third part would be found to adhere to their ORIGINAL CALLING, and to the original simplicity of the Methodists.

September 17th. He left Bristol, and visited the Societies in Gloucestershire and Staffordshire, every where confirming the brethren in the truths of the Gospel, and in their peculiar calling as Methodists. On the 22d, he came to Nottingham, and spent the afternoon in taking down the names of those in the Society, and conversing with them. He adds, "We rejoiced to meet once more, after so long a separation. My subject both at night and in the morning, was, I will bring the third part through the fire. It was a time of solemn rejoicing. There had been, twelve months ago, a great revival and increase of the Society: but Satan was beginning again to sow his tares. My coming at this season, I trust, will be the means of preventing a division."-The next day he came to Sheffield. "Here also, (he says) I delivered my own soul, and the people seemed awakened and alarmed. I spake plainly and lovingly to the Society, of continuing in the Church: and though many of them were Dissenters and Predestinarians, none were offended."It is probable they understood his meaning, and

then

then there was no just cause of offence. By advising those who belonged to the Church, to continue in it, he advised the Dissenters to continue in their respective Meetings, or Churches. His object was, to dissuade the members of the Methodist Societies from leaving their former connexions, and uniting into a separate body. In doing this he sometimes mentioned the Dissenters, as well as the members of the Church of England, but not always, as in most places these formed the bulk of the Methodist Societies.

Passing through Huntslet, the Rev. Mr. Crook, Minister of the place, stopped him and took him to his house. Here he met with Dr. Cockburn, his old school-fellow and friend, who had waited for him near a week, to take him to York. Mr. Wesley spent a delightful hour in conversation with them, full of life and zeal, and simplicity, and then went on to Leeds. Sunday, September 26th, he preached at seven in the morning, then walked to Huntslet, and preached twice for Mr. Crook; in the evening he returned to Leeds, and preached a fourth time to a very crowded audience. In the Society, he observes, "I could speak of nothing but love, for I felt nothing else. Great was our rejoicing over each other. Satan, I believe, has done his worst, and will get no further advantage by exasperating their spirits against their departed brethren. They were unanimous to stay in the Church, because the Lord stays in it, and multiplies his witnesses therein. Monday the 27th, I breakfasted with Miss N. who was not so evil-affected toward her forsaken brethren as I expected. Nothing can ever bring such as her back, but the charity which hopeth all things, beareth all things, endureth all things.-I went to the Church-prayers, with several who have

been