lished an Address to the Roman Catholics: A very small tract, but clearly stating the points wherein we agree, and wherein we differ; and equally conspicuous for argument and temper. The Society in Dublin enjoyed their sunshine but for a little time. A persecution commenced, on which Mr. Trembath, in a letter to Mr. Wesley, makes the following observations: "I believe this persecution was permitted for good, that we might not trust in an arm of flesh. We thought that the Magistrates would do us justice; but in this we were disappointed. It likewise drives us all to prayer and watchfulness, and also causes us to love each other better than ever; so that we are like sheep driven by the wolf into the fold. When we went out, we carried our lives in our hands; but all this did not hinder us once from meeting together at the usual hours. The Society still increased, and those who had the root in themselves stood like marble pillars; and, by the grace of God, were resolved rather to die with Christ, than to deny him. All the city was in an uproar: Some said, 'It is a shame; the men do no harm: Others said, The dogs deserve all to be hanged.' Blessed be God, we walk unhurt in fire! Now we can literally say, we live by faith: And the less we have of human help, the more we shall have of divine." Mr. C. Wesley, meantime, continued his labours in Bristol, London, and the places adjacent, till August the 24th, when, at the request of his brother, he set out for Ireland, taking with him Mr. Charles Perronet, son of the venerable Vicar of Shoreham, and brother of Mr. Edward Perronet, already mentioned. On the 27th, they reached Mr. Philip's, in Wales; and on the 28th, he observes in his Journal, "Mr. Gwynne came to see me, with two of his family. My soul seemed pleased to take acquaintance with them. We rode to Maismynis church, where I preached, and Mr. Williams, after me, in Welsh. I preached a fourth time, (the same day,) at Garth. The whole family received us as the messengers of God; and if such we are, they received him that sent us." August 29th.-Mr. John Wesley, who had just arrived from Ireland, came to them at Garth. On the 30th, Mr. Charles Wesley preached on a tombstone in Builth churchyard, and again in the afternoon: In the evening he preached at Garth, on the marks of the Messias, from Matthew xi, 5.-Sept. 3, their friends left them: On the 4th, early in the morning, Mr. C. Wesley and his companions set out for Holyhead, which place they reached the next day at seven in the morning, having travelled on horseback twenty-five hours.-Sunday, September 6, he sent an offer of his assistance to the minister, who was ready to beat the messenger. He preached, however, at the request of some gentlemen, who behaved with great propriety.-September the 9th, they reached Dublin in safety. Dublin had long been remarkable for a bad police. Frequent robberies, and sometimes murder, were committed in the streets, at an early hour in the evening, with impunity. The Ormond and Liberty mob, (that is, the butchers of Ormond market, and the weavers of the Liberty, a part of Dublin so called,) would sometimes meet, and fight till one or more persons were killed. On one occasion, the mob had beat a constable to death in the street, and hung the body up in triumph! There was no vigour in the Magistrates, and their power was despised. It is no wonder, that the Methodists, at their first coming, were roughly handled in such a place as this; but it is wonderful, that they so soon got a firm footing, and passed through their sufferings with so little injury. On Mr. C. Wesley's arrival here, he observes, "The first news we heard was, that the little flock stands fast in the storm of persecution, which arose as soon as my brother left them. The Popish mob broke open their room, and destroyed all before them. Some of them are sent to Newgate; others bailed. What will be the event we know not, till we see whether the Grand Jury will find the bill.”—He afterwards informs us, that the Grand Jury threw out the bill, and thus gave up the Methodists to the fury of a licentious Popish mob. He says, "God has called me to suffer affliction with his people. I began my ministry with. Comfort ye, comfort ye, my people,' &c-September 10, I met the Society, and the Lord knit our hearts together in love stronger than death. We both wept and rejoiced for the consolation. God hath sent me, I trust, to confirm these souls, and to keep them together in the present distress." 6 Mr. C. Wesley spent no time in idleness. He was daily employed in preaching, expounding, visiting the people, and praying with them.September 20, after commending their cause to God, he went forth to the green adjoining to the barracks, believing the Lord would make bare his arm in their defence. He called, in his Master's name and words, Come unto me, all ye that are weary,' &c. The number of hearers was very great, and a religious awe kept down all opposition. He spoke with great freedom to the poor Papists, and, like St. Paul at Athens, quoted their own authors to convince them, particularly Kempis and their Liturgy. None lifted up his voice or hand to oppose; all listened with strange attention, and many were in tears. They expressed general satisfaction, especially the Papists, who now maintained that he was a good Catholic. At this early period of the work, the two brothers, and the preachers, suffered great inconveniences at the places where they lodged, even in large towns; and it was worse in the country Societies. The rooms, also, where they assembled when they could not preach in the open air, began to be much too small for the number of people who attended. This being the present state of things in Dublin, Mr. Charles Wesley purchased a house in that part of the town called Dolphin's barn. The whole ground-floor, which was a weaver's workshop, was forty-two feet long, and twenty-four broad. This was to be turned into a preachinghouse, and the preachers were to be accommodated in the rooms over it; but before he completed the purchase, he wrote to his brother for his opinion on the matter. His letter is dated October 9; in which he says, one advantage of the house was, that they could go to it immediately; and then adds, "I must go there or to some other lodgings, or take my flight; for here I can stay no longer. A family of squalling children, a landlady just ready to lie in, a maid who has no time to do the least thing for us, are some of our conveniences! Our two rooms for four people, (six, when J. Healy, and Haughton, come,) allow no opportunity for retirement. Charles and I groan for elbow-room in our press-bed; our diet answerable to our lodgings; no one to mend our clothes and stockings; no money to buy more. I marvel, that we have stood our ground so long in these lamentable circumstances. It is well I could not foresee, while on your side of the water."-October 17, he observes, "I passed the day at the house we have purchased, in Dolphin's Barn, in writing and meditation. I could almost have set up my rest here: But I must not look for rest on this side eternity." Mr. C. Wesley continued his labours in Dublin, till February 9, 1748, when he took an excursion into the country. The few preachers who were in Ireland, had already introduced the Gospel into several country. towns. Mr. C. Wesley came to Tyrrel's Pass, where he met a large and well disposed congregation. Few such feasts," says he, "have I had since I left England; it refreshed my body more than meat or drink. God has begun a great work here. The people of Tyrrel's Pass were wicked to a proverb; swearers, drunkards, Sabbath breakers, thieves, &c, from time immemorial. But now the scene is changed; not an oath is heard, nor a drunkard seen among them; aperto vivitur horto.* They are turned from darkness to light, and near one hundred are joined in Society." February 11.-Mr. C. Wesley, J Healy, and five others, set out for Athlone, where, it is probable, notice had been given of their coming. On the road some persons overtook them, running in great haste, and one horseman riding at full speed. It soon appeared, that the Papists had laid a plan to do them some violent mischief, if not to murder them, at the instigation of their Priest, Father Terril, who had sounded the alarm the Sunday before. They spoke of their designs with so much freedom, that a report of them reached Athlone, and a party of dragoons, being quartered there, were ordered out to meet Mr. C. Wesley and his friends on the road, and to conduct them safe to the town. But of this they were ignorant; and being earlier than was expected, the Papists were not assembled in full force, nor did the dragoons meet them at that distance from the town which was intended. They rode on suspecting nothing, till within about half a mile of Athlone, when, rising up a hill, several persons appeared at the top of it, and bid them turn back. "We thought them in jest," says Mr. C. Wesley, "till the stones flew," one of which knocked Mr. J. Healy off his horse, and laid him senseless on the ground; and it was with great difficulty the Papists were hindered from murdering him. The number of these barbarians was soon greatly increased; and, though the Protestants began to rise upon them, they kept their ground till the dragoons appeared, when they immediately fled. Mr. C. Wesley and his little company, their wounded friend having recovered his senses, were now conducted in safety to Athlone, where the soldiers flocked about them with great affection, and the whole town expressed the greatest indignation at the treatment they had met with. J. Healy was put under the care of a surgeon, and at length recovered of his wounds. February 15, Mr. C. Wesley returned to Dublin, and continued his labours with great success, the Society being greatly increased, and many testifying publicly, that they had received the knowledge of salvation by the remission of their sins,' under his word.-March 8, his brother, Mr. John Wesley, arrived from England, which gave him a release from his present situation. He did not, however, leave Dublin *They live in the open garden. till the 20th, when he entered the packet-boat at two o'clock in the afternoon, and by three the next day reached Holyhead: from whence he wrote to his brother as follows: "Teneo te Italiam! Per varios casus, per tot discrimina rerum.' "In twenty-five hours exactly, as before, the Lord brought us hither. To describe our voyage were renovare dolorem. † But here we are, after all, God be praised, even God that heareth the prayer! Thanks, in the second place, to our praying brethren: The Lord return it into their bosom! But let them pray on for us, and we for them. And I pray the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to send down his blessing and his Spirit on all you who are now assembled together, and hear this read. Peace be unto you, even the pe ce that passeth all understanding. Look for it every moment! Receive it this-and go in peace to that heavenly country, whither we are hastening to meet you!” Intending to visit Mr. Gwynne's family at Garth, in Wales, he took horse the next morning, and by three in the afternoon came to Baldon Ferry. Here he observes, "We overfilled the small old boat, so that Gemuit sub pondere Cymba sutilis, et multam accepit rimosa paludem."‡ The wind being strong, and the waves high, in the middle of the channel his young horse took fright, and they had a very narrow escape from being overset. But a gracious Providence attended him; he came safe to land, and on the 25th, in the evening, reached Garth; but great fatigue, bad weather, and continual pain had so weakened him, that when he came into the house, he fell down totally exhausted. Mr. C. Wesley had already conceived a great regard for Mr. Gwynne's family, and particularly for Miss Sarah Gwynne. A kind of embryo intention of making proposals of marriage, had dwelt in his mind for some time. He had mentioned it to his brother in Dublin, who neither opposed nor encouraged him in the matter. During his present stay at Garth, this intention ripened into more fixed resolution; but still he thought it necessary to take the advice of his friends. After he had been a short time in London, he went to Shoreham, and opened all his heart to Mr. Perronet, who advised him to wait. Much prayer was made, and every prudential step was taken which his friends could suggest; and here the business rested for the present. § August 13.-Mr. C. Wesley arrived again in Dublin, and on the 17th set out on horseback for Cork, which he reached on the 20th, notwithstanding the incessant rains, the badness of the roads, and wretched accommodations at the inns. The next day, being Sunday, he went out to the Marsh at five in the morning, and found a congregation of some thousand persons. He preached from Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer,' &c. They devoured every word with an eagerness.beyond description. "Much good," he says, "has already * Do I embrace thee, my country! Through various perils, through such diversity of trials! To renew the suffering 6 The frail patched vessel groaned under the weight, and, being leaky, took in plenty of water. When Mr. Gwynne went first to meet him in Wales, he had a mittimus ready in his pocket, to send him to jail. However, he thought it right to hear him first, when the Lord so changed his heart, that he invited Mr. C. Wesley to his house, had him to preach in the church, and at length became his father-in-law. been done in this place: Outward wickedness has disappeared, and outward religion succeeded it. Swearing is seldom heard in the streets, and churches and altars are crowded, to the astonishment of our adversaries. Yet some of our Clergy, and all the Catholic Priests, take wretched pains to hinder their people from hearing us. 6 "At five in the evening, I took the field again, and such a sight I have rarely seen. Thousands and thousands had been waiting some hours; Protestants and Papists, high and low. The Lord endued my soul, and body also, with much strength to enforce the faithful saying, That Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.' I cried after them for an hour, to the utmost extent of my voice, yet without hoarseness or weariness. The Lord, I believe, hath much people in this city. Two hundred are already joined in a Society. At present we pass through honour and good report. The chief persons of the town favour us. No wonder, then, that the common people are quiet. We pass and repass the streets, pursued only by their blessings. The same favourable inclination is all round the country: Wherever we go, they receive us as angels of God. Were this to last, I would escape for my life to America.* "I designed to have met about two hundred persons, who have given me their names for the Society; but such multitudes thronged into the house, as occasioned great confusion. I perceived it was impracticable, as yet, to have a regular Society. Here is, indeed, an open door; such as was never set before me till now: Even at Newcastle, the awakening was not so general. The congregation, last Sunday, was computed to be ten thousand. As yet there is no open opposition. The people have had the word two months, and it is not impossible but their love may last two months longer, before any number of them rise to tear us in pieces. "I met a neighbouring Justice of the Peace, and had much serious conversation with him. He seems to have a great kindness for religion, and determined to use all his interest to promote it.For an hour and a half, I continued to call the poor blind beggars to JESUS: They begin to cry after HIM on every side, and we must expect to be rebuked for it.-Waited on the Bishop at River's Town, and was received with great affability by himself and family. After dinner, rode back to Cork, and drank tea with some well disposed Quakers, and borrowed a volume of their dying sayings: A standing testimony, that the life and power of God was with them at the beginning; as it might be again, were they humble enough to confess their want of it." We have here an instance of true candour in Mr. C. Wesley.-The extravagant manner in which Baptism and the Lord's Supper were spoken of, when the first Quakers appeared the people being generally taught at that time, that those who had been baptized, and afterwards received the Sacrament, were true Christians, and had a sure title to eternal life-induced those zealous men to think, that the most effectual way of resisting this delusion, would be the totally laying aside these ordinances! Thus one extreme produced another, neither party being 'under the law to Christ.' *Is then persecution, or even contempt, absolutely necessary? Must we always be helped to live to God by the sin of others? Rather is not this to be considered as the remains of his old mystic theology? Aut pati, aut mori !—(Let me suffer, or let me die!) A dread, however, of any thing that would soften his spirit, and unfit him for his work, was the ruling principle. |