one quarter of what it cost,) the only alternative left to Mr. Wesley and the conference was,-either to sue for the chapel or to build another. The latter course was preferred as the most peaceable and christian. And as nearly the whole of the Dewsbury Society, and many in the circuit espoused the cause of the Trustees, the two preachers who had been stationed there were withdrawn, at the Conference of 1788, and the societies and members who still adhered to Mr. Wesley were connected with the Birstal Circuit. The Trustees elected John Atlay, Mr.Wesley's book-steward, as their minister; and he chose William Eells, as his assistant or curate,-a preacher who at the last Conference had, by mistake, been left without a circuit. Mr. Atlay had for some time been in secret correspondence with the Trustees, and from the subsequent testimony of some of their number, appears to have been the chief instigator of the whole mischief.

Most unhappy was the state of things in that part of the Birstal Circuit, when my father entered upon his labours. Envy, strife, uncharitableness, evil-speaking, and almost every evil work abounded. Many were turned out of the way, and many more hindered in their spiritual progress. He used, in after life, to compare the moral desolations he witnessed in Dewsbury and the neighbourhood, to the field of battle, after a sanguinary engagement, many slain, and many mortally wounded. Of the Dewsbury Society only two members, a good man and his wife, of the name of Drake, adhered to Mr. Wesley. Many were scattered; some of whom went into the world, and never returned; and the rest continued for a time under Mr. Atlay, who with the assistance of Mr. Eells and others, formed societies at Newcastle, Shields, and other places. These societies, however, dwindled away, and came to nothing.

The chapel at Dewsbury, after passing into the hands of various parties, none of whom prospered there,-a blight seeming to rest upon every undertaking,—was at length offered to the Conference by the surviving Trustees, a few years ago, when it again became the property of the Connexion.

Mr. Entwisle was a man of peace; he hated strife, and was greatly distressed with the existing state of

F

things. He had, in common with his Superintendent and colleague, to preach out of doors at Dewsbury, until another place could be obtained, and a new chapel built. In this they were assisted by Mr. Pawson and Mr. Mather, the Superintendents of the Leeds and Wakefield Circuits. It was painful to be thus in open opposition, -Methodists against Methodists. In a letter to Mr. Reece, dated Nov. 22, 1788, he thus expresses himself:

"Messrs. Atlay, and Eells are come to Dewsbury, have got possession of our chapel there, and are opposing with all their might Mr. Wesley and the Conference. Trials these of the first magnitude. Were it not that Providence has placed me here, I should have forsaken the circuit ere now. Wherever we are, we must be tried. O how well it is to make God our all! These trials, as well as my mercies, I bless God, lead me up to the source of immutable felicity."

Amidst surrounding strife and contention, he endeavoured to secure the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit: looking above the distressing events which encompassed him, he strove to fix his eye upon the Great First Cause; and depending upon Jesus for his gracious aid, he laboured on with a calmly-fervent zeal, and not without success. He was encouraged by frequent conversions under his ministry: and even at Dewsbury, his most trying scene of labour, God was with him and his brethren, so that during the first three months, the number of members increased from two to twenty-six, chiefly by conversions out of the world.

He thus writes to his friend Mr. Reece, in the letter from which the preceding quotation is taken.

"A quiet, peaceable disposition is absolutely necessary for those who would make proficiency in knowledge and holiness. When the mind is recollected, it is capable of continual improvement, by observation, reading, hearing, conversation, and meditation. The more I live in this peaceable region, the more rapid is my progress in knowledge and piety.

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God has undoubtedly a sovereign right to dispose of our every concern according to his good pleasure. If so, the least degree of uneasiness in our station, is, in the same degree, a resisting of his will, whose hand none

can stay. How much, then, does it become creatures, especially such as we are, who have such circumscribed views, to learn subjection to the will of our Sovereign. Nay, ought we not to rejoice that it is the will of our Father, who is infinitely wise, powerful, and good. The Lord reigns, let the earth, more especially the children of God, rejoice. But, what creatures we are; how apt to despise infinite and exalt finite wisdom, or more properly, perfect ignorance. O unbelief! thou most unreasonable reasoner, when wilt thou be totally destroyed! "Your 'congregations are large.' So are ours. is sufficient for these things? No doubt, my brother feels with me his unfitness. O may this drive us nearer the fountain. We have, blessed be God, had some awakened. This supports me, with the testimony of a good conscience, under the trials we are at present exercised with in this circuit."

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Who

The careful reading of Baxter's "Reformed Pastor," and of the lives of certain eminent Christians about this period, was of great advantage to him; he was led to propose to himself a high standard of ministerial qualification and duty; and although in measuring himself by this standard, he was greatly humbled, and sometimes depressed, under a sense of his defects, yet he was much quickened and encouraged in the pursuit of those gifts. and graces which he saw to be essential to success in his work. His examination of himself was close, searching, and faithful; and the results were habitually recorded in his diary with the utmost honesty and candour. The following are instances in point:

"Frid. Nov. 28.-By reading Baxter's 'Reformed Pastor,' I am convinced, 1. Of my want of zeal for the glory of God and the good of souls. I fear I have too much preached for myself: I have been more concerned to spend an hour with applause (O that I could write it with tears of blood!)-to be esteemed a good preacher, than to glorify God and profit the people. Oh! how much pride is mixed with my private studies and public ministrations. 2. Of mis-spending time. I ought to be labouring constantly for the good of souls: but oh! how many hours have I lost. 3. Of the necessity of greater spirituality and more unreserved devotedness of heart and life to God. On these accounts I would humble

myself at Thy feet, and with the keenest sensations of grief, I would confess my sins. Oh! how ungrateful have I been to thee, O Lord. How justly mightest thou take thy word utterly out of my mouth. I do now solemnly engage myself to be thine. Through thy grace I will eat no more than will support nature: I will only sleep enough to refresh a weary body: I will spend no time in company but what is necessary to recruit my wasted spirits, or profitable to the people among whom I labour. I will employ all my time and talents,— all I have and am,—in the service of souls, and for the advancement of thy kingdom in the world, I am conscious that in this course I shall meet with much opposition from Satan, my own wicked heart, and lukewarm professors. But as I am embarking in thy cause, I will look for thy help. Lord, make and keep me humble and disinterested. Give me to feel the importance of my work and the value of immortal souls. O Thou Searcher of hearts! am I not sincere? Am I not willing to give up all for Thee? Search me, and try me; and if any thing be wrong, though dear as a right eye or hand, O give me strength to pluck it out, or cut it off.

"Birstal, Feb. 18, 1789.-This morning I feel almost overwhelmed with a sense of my unfitness for the work I am engaged in. How little do I know of God or myself; how little of men and things; nay, how little of the Holy Scriptures. O when shall I be filled with knowledge and holiness.

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Thurs. 19.-Peculiarly assisted this forenoon in my studies. When God is present to help, all goes on well: when he is absent, all goes on heavily.

Frid. 20.-Much depressed this morning. I fear I am of little use in the world. O what an unprofitable servant! Lord, what steps shall I take to be useful? Only shew me the way, and help me to walk in it. If my heart does not deceive me, I would be such a one as Thou wouldst have me to be. O Lord, if I am too clamorous for gifts, keep me down. If I am too eager in pursuit of knowledge, forgive my folly.

"Sun. 22. Birstal. This has been a good day to my soul, and I trust many others. I have enjoyed peculiar nearness to God in secret. This forenoon I felt unusual longings after holiness. O for greater spirituality, and

heavenly-mindedness, and unreserved devotedness to God. I want to be all of a piece: always recollected, at home or abroad. But how few are in such a state. Many times when I fall into company with persons who have long been in the ways of God, who have long sustained public offices in his church, instead of being edified and instructed, I am hurt by them. O how vain and trifling is the conversation of many professors! and how often have I drank into their spirit. Lord, have mercy upon

me."

The preceding quotations evince an earnest desire for ministerial gifts with a view to ministerial usefulness. A constant reference to this end regulated all his studies: he did not consider himself at liberty to consult inclination in the choice of books, or the employment of his time, but was governed by a conscientious regard to what would most conduce to the great end of his ministry. Thus when urged by one of his intimate friends to engage in the study of the languages, he replied;-"I have not yet made any attempt to learn the languages, because, 1. I have not time: having so often to preach to the same people, my time is taken up chiefly with the study of divinity, in which I feel my deficiency. 2. I have no teacher. 3. The learning of languages is not so perfective of the understanding as some other studies. I would advise you to read Norris on the 'Conduct of human life with reference to learning and knowledge.' You won't grudge your labour. It is in the 8th Vol. of Wesley's Works."* Some time after, however, being convinced that it would be of great advantage to be able to read the New Testament in the original, and regarding a knowledge of the Latin language as necessary in order to the attainment of the Greek, he determined to commence the study of the former without delay. The spirit in which he entered upon this pursuit, appears in the following extract from a letter to the Rev. R. Reece, dated April 4, 1789.

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I have begun to learn the Latin tongue. Providence seemed to point out my way to it. A friend advised me to study it, made me a present of some books, and offered

*The 12mo. edition in 30 vols. is here refered to: it is not in the modern editions, but may be found in the Christian Library, 8vo. edition, vol. 30. p. 36-68.