attention, and he was frequently from home several days together, when in the distant parts of the circuit. It was an unspeakable comfort at those times to know that his children were under the care of one who felt for them little less than a mother's solicitude, and who was at once disposed and qualified to train them up in the fear and love of God.

Although by the grace of God the habit of looking chiefly on the bright side of things, and numbering even his crosses and afflictions among his mercies, had long been established, so that my father was remarkable for his habitual cheerfulness and placidity;-and although, under the afflictive bereavement with which he was now visited, he was generally enabled to derive consolation from such considerations as have been adduced in the preceding pages, and was invariably preserved from all disposition to murmur and repine;-yet there were seasons when his sense of the heavy loss sustained was so keen as almost to overwhelm

him.

Stoical insensibility forms no part of the religion of Him who wept by the grave of his deceased friend Lazarus: this is not one of the elements of the mind that was in Christ. The Holy Spirit-the Spirit of love-does not transform man into a stock or stone, but takes away the heart of stone, and gives a heart of flesh. He refines our feelings, and puts a keener edge upon them; while at the same time he purifies and regulates, and brings them under the control of reason and of grace.

The power and comfort of religion were exhibited in an edifying and attractive manner at this period of my father's history. Exquisite sensibility in combination with perfect self-control,- -a keen sense of the irreparable loss sustained, in union with sweet submission to the Divine will,-attested the presence and power of God.

A few extracts from his diary, in which he was accustomed to lay open his heart before the Lord, will disclose his sorrows, his self-resignation, his Divine supports, and the hallowing influence of the discipline by which he was now exercised.

"April 15th.-Early this morning I entered on my thirty-eighth year. I awoke very early in the spirit of prayer: began with deep humiliation for my past omissions; made renewed applications to Divine mercy; and resolved in future to have only one business. Many serious and painful reflections, occasioned by late events, occupied my mind. During the last year the Lord has

showed me great and sore troubles. By these prunings, no doubt the vine-dresser designs to make me fruitful. I am this day in new circumstances on my birth-day. My dearer self is torn from me, and my heart is left bleeding. I am left with six children-half-orphans. I feel the importance of the duties incumbent on me. O may I obtain mercy of the Lord to be found faithful!

"I was graciously assisted in preaching at Sparrowpit in the morning, at Tideswell in the afternoon, and at Buxton in the evening. In my way from Tideswell to Buxton, a sense of the heavy loss I have sustained in the removal of my dear wife, almost overwhelmed me. I felt my extreme weakness, and cried to God for help.

"Thurs. 19th.-Walked to Manchester: much engaged and blessed in meditation and prayer: affected by the sympathy of friends. Took coach to Leeds, where I arrived to-night. Hope I was of some use to one of the pas

sengers.

"Sat. 21st. Thorner.-Here I sit in the room in which my ever dear wife and I have enjoyed many comfortable hours in social converse, both before and after marriage, in her father's house. On my arrival here, I was deeply affected, almost overwhelmed with grief; yet resigned. O Lord, look upon me in great mercy.

"June 23d.-Floods of sorrow on the recollection of the loss of my dear wife almost overwhelmed me, this week. Yet I hope it has been sanctified. In public I have been peculiarly assisted, and my heart has been generally engaged in Divine things.

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London, July 28th.-A week of constant bustle; partly in travelling, and partly in the business of the Stationing Committee; yet my mind has been much engaged with God in prayer. Sometimes my heart has been filled with grief on the recollection of my ever dear wife. Formerly when at Conference, I had her to write to, and hear from; but I am bereaved! My heart bleeds! But it is the Lord; I will not complain. Though he slay me, I will trust in him."

The term of my father's ministerial labours in the Macclesfield circuit was now drawing to a close. To himself it had been the most eventful and afflictive period of his life. But the discipline to which he had been subjected had yielded the peaceable fruit of righteousness. To the circuit it was by no means an unprosperous period. The numbers in society had increased, the piety of the people had been deepened, and a division of the circuit had been peacefully

effected,-Congleton being detached at the close of his first year, and constituted the head of a new circuit, with two preachers and four hundred and eighty members.

CHAPTER IX.

LONDON AND ROCHESTER.

1804-1808.

AT the Conference of 1804, Mr. Entwisle was appointed to London. After the death of his beloved wife, he felt an increasing concern about the proper Christian education of his children; and being deprived of her assistance, he wished for a retired situation and a contracted circuit, in which he might be much at home, and have time and opportunity for the cultivation of their minds. Several times Mr. Butterworth, seconded by Mr. Bunting, urged his going to London. The former wrote to him officially, as the organ of the quarterly-meeting. To this he had objections. He did not like the bustle of the city; he was averse to publicity, and longed for solitude. However, at the Conference, various circumstances occurred to satisfy him that London was the station assigned to him by Divine Providence. He therefore yielded to the judgment of his brethren, and removed with his motherless children to Spitalfields.

This was an affecting time: never before had he removed under such circumstances. But he soon found himself at home and comfortable among his poor and pious neighbours at Spitalfields.

The London circuit then included the present eight London circuits, with Deptford, Hammersmith, &c.-To labour among this dense population, only five preachers were appointed: Joseph Taylor, Thomas Rutherford, Joseph Entwisle, Jabez Bunting, and Joseph Hallam.* It may easily be imagined, that so large an area, covered with a dense population, would find ample occupation for the time and talents of all the five preachers stationed there. In addition to which Mr. Entwisle was appointed Missionary secretary this year;-the first appointment to that important office made by the Conference.† These employments,

* Mr. Creighton was appointed the reader at City-road; Mr. Benson, editor; George Story, manager of the printing-office; Robert Lomas, book-steward; George Whitfield, assistant book-steward ; and Richard Rodda, supernumerary.

The Missionary operations of the Wesleyan Connexion were commenced in 1769. At the Conference held in Leeds that year, Mr.

with a constant change of scene, afforded relief to his wounded mind, which by degrees recovered its former cheerfulness. The Lord also was with him. His soul pros

Wesley said, "We have a pressing call from our brethren at NewYork, who have built a preaching-house, to come over and help them. Who is willing to go?" Richard Boardman and Joseph Pilmoor immediately offered themselves for this service. No sooner was this offer made than the ministers assembled in Conference made a collection among themselves, amounting to £70; out of which £50 were voted to the reduction of the debt contracted at New-York, and £20 were reserved for the passage of these two missionaries. This was the first Wesleyan missionary collection ever made.

Messrs. Boardman and Pilmoor, having bid adieu to their friends and relatives at Kirby-Moorside, set out on their mission, and arrived in York on a Saturday evening. There they were requested to preach on the Sunday in the old chapel in Peaseholme Green. It was also agreed that a collection should be made on Sunday evening, to assist them on their passage to New-York. This was done; and the amazing sum of ten shillings was collected that night. The York friends thought this such a good collection, that it was agreed that a meeting for thanksgiving should be held at five o'clock on Monday morning, and for prayer that the Lord would bless and preserve his servants, and prosper their enterprise. Such was the commencement of the Wesleyan missions. Truly "the kingdom of heaven is like unto a grain of mustard seed," &c. (Matt. xiii. 31, 32.)

In 1775, at the Conference previous to the American Declaration of Independence, the number of missionaries had increased to 11, and the members under their care to 3,148. In 1784, after the termination of the American war, the Methodist societies in the United States became a separate Connexion, with above 14,000 members, leaving only NovaScotia and Newfoundland as stations occupied by Wesleyan missionaries from this country. In 1787, the year in which Mr. Entwisle commenced his itinerancy, 6 stations were occupied in British North America and the West Indies, by 11 missionaries, with 2,952 members under their care. In 1790, at the Conference before Mr. Wesley's death, there were 11 stations, 19 missionaries, and 5,350 members in society. Nine ministers were appointed that year as a committee for the management of missionary affairs.

At the first Conference after Mr. Wesley's death, 1791, there were 16 stations, 23 missionaries, and 6,525 members. The Rev. Messrs. Mather, Pawson, T. Taylor, H. Moore, S. Bradburn, J. Rogers, R. Rodda, and J. Bradford, were appointed the missionary committee. In 1796, two missionaries were sent to Western Africa. At the Conference of 1804, held in London, Dr. Coke was re-appointed to the office of "General Superintendent of our missions;" a "Committee of Finance and Advice" was also appointed, consisting of all the London ministers. Of this "Committee," Dr. Coke was president, Mr. Entwisle the secretary, and Mr. Robert Lomas the treasurer. It was then also agreed, that collections in support of the missions should be made in all our congregations in every circuit in Great Britain. The income that year was £2,212. 16s. 1d.; the number of stations 15, of missionaries 34, and of members 15,862. In 1816,-sometimes erroneously stated as the commencement of the Society's operations,-the Wesleyan Missionary Society received its present organisation. At that date,

pered; and he was graciously assisted and encouraged in his work.

For some weeks, indeed, after his arrival in London, he was the subject of severe temptation, and endured painful mental exercises with respect to his public work; but these were succeeded by richer communications of grace, and brighter manifestations of the Divine glory. The following extracts from his diary refer to these conflicts, and may interest and edify the reader.

"Nov. 2d.-For several days I have enjoyed unusual nearness to God. Much profited in meditation upon a single eye. Yesterday I lived in the spirit of the subject, and in the evening preached on it (Matt. vi. 22) at the New Chapel; but I seemed left to myself, and it was with difficulty I could either pray or preach. At the same time I was assaulted by the most painful temptations. I returned home under great depression of mind. As I went through the streets, I loathed and abhorred myself, and humbled myself before God. I do not know how to account for this. I am not conscious of any thing indulged even in thought for a moment, which should occasion such a change of frame.

"Nov. 30th.-For a week last past, my exercises have been so great that I have almost sunk under them. The frame and temper of my mind have been unusually spiritual; I have walked before God in deep humility; but it hath pleased him to try me. With regard to my work as a preacher and the success of my labours, I have suffered constant depression; and have found so little liberty and power in preaching, that I have retired from the pulpit ashamed before God and man, and have returned home through the streets, humbling and abhorring myself. At times I have been exceedingly discouraged, and have had scarcely any hope of success. Yet I know that the success

there were 65 stations, 117 missionaries, 21,007 members in society, and the income was £12,565. Os. 9d.

From the above statement, it will appear that the Wesleyan missions come next in order of time to those of the Moravians, and are of much earlier date than those of the Baptist Missionary Society, which was founded in 1792, and sent out their first missionaries in June, 1793; the London Missionary Society, formed in 1795, and whose first missionaries sailed in September, 1796; or the Church Missionary Society, established in 1801. At the present time, the number of stations occupied by the Wesleyans is 361, the missionaries 465, the members in society 108,286, besides 5,424 on trial for church membership, and the annual income £105,381. 19s. 6d. The sum expended by the Wesleyans on the missionary work, during the last fifty years, has been £2,729,270. 19s. 2d.