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"Out of the first money which arises from the sale of Books, I bequeath to my dear sister Martha Hall, (if alive) 40l., to Mr. Creighton, aforesaid 40%., and to the Rev. Mr. Heath 60%.

"And whereas I am empowered by a late Deed to name the persons who are to preach in the New Chapel at London, (the Clergymen for a continuance,) and by another Deed to name a Committee for appointing Preachers in the New Chapel at Bath, I do hereby appoint John Richardson, Thomas Coke, James Creighton, Peard Dickenson, Clerks, Alexander Mather, William Thompson, Henry Moore, Andrew Blair, John Valton, Joseph Bradford, James Rogers, and William Myles, to preach in the New Chapel at London, and to be the Committee for appointing Preachers in the New Chapel at Bath.

"I likewise appoint Henry Brooke, Painter, Arthur Keen, Gent. and William Whitestone, Stationer, all of Dublin, to receive the annuity of 51. (English) left to Kingswood School by the late Roger Shiel, Esq.

"I give 67. to be divided among the six poor men, named by the Assistant, who shall carry my body to the grave; for I particularly desire there may be no hearse, no coach, no escutcheon, no pomp, except the tears of them that loved me, and are following me to Abraham's bosom. I solemnly adjure my Executors in the name of God, punctually to observe this.

"Lastly, I give to each of those travelling Preachers who shall remain in the Connection six months after my decease, as a little token of my love, the eight volumes of sermons.

"I appoint John Horton, George Wolff, and William Marriott, aforesaid, to be Executors of this my last Will and Testament, for which trouble they will receive no recompence till the Resurrection of the Just.

"Witness my hand and seal, the 20th day of February, 1789. "JOHN WESLEY." (seal.)

"Signed, sealed, and delivered, by the said Testator as for his last Will and Testament,

in the presence of us

"WILLIAM CLULOW,

"ELIZABETH CLULOW."

“Should there be any part of my personal Estate undisposed of by this my Will, I give the same unto my two Nieces E. Ellison, and S. Collet, equally.

"WILLIAM CLULOW,

"JOHN WESLEY."

“ELIZABETH CLULOW.”

"Feb. 25, 1789.

"I give my Types, Printing-Presses, and every thing pertaining thereto to Mr. Thomas Rankin, and Mr. George Whitfield, in trust, FOR THE USE Oof the Conference.

"JOHN WESLEY."

CHAPTER IV.

A REVIEW OF MR. WESLEY'S LABOURS AS A WRITER, and AS A MINISTER OF CHRIST.-TESTIMONIES OF EMINENT MEN CONCERNING HIM.-CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS ON THE FELLOWSHIP AND DISCIPLINE ESTABLISHED IN THE

SOCIETIES.

THOSE who have hitherto considered Mr. Wesley as a writer, have fallen under great mistakes. There was a unity in his character, of which they were either totally ignorant, or not sufficiently sensible; and without this it was not possible to do him justice. In the year 1725, he tells us, he made a resolution, to dedicate all his life to God,-all his thoughts, words, and actions; being thoroughly convinced there was no medium; but that every part of his life, not some only, must either be a sacrifice to God, or to himself, that is, in effect, to the devil.

It is in this light, his writings, as well as all his labours, are to be viewed. His design in writing and in preaching was the same, viz., that he might be faithful to every talent committed to him, and that all might issue in bringing glory to God, and peace and good-will to men. But he was careful never to suffer this subordinate talent to interfere with his higher call to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ. Woe unto me if I preach not the Gospel, seemed to be always before him. He knew this was especially God's ordinance; and he received the Apostle's word to Timothy, not in word only but in power. I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing, and his kingdom, preach the word-be instant in season, out of season; convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and teaching.”

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Mr. Wesley's writings, therefore, as they were subordinate to his Ministerial duties, so they were in perfect unison with them; enforcing and confirming the same divine truths; and as it was thus his one aim to do all the good he could, it would have been strange, if, in a life of eighty-eight years, he had not produced many books. The number, great and small, amounts to some hundreds.

We are assured in the Holy Scriptures, that the path of the just is as the shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day.' This promise, for such it is, according to the Gospel-covenant, was fulfilled in Mr. Wesley. He began his religious course, as all sincere persons do, who are convinced of sin, with placing the Holy Law of God before him, and striving to bend his Spirit to its sacred precepts; resolving even to risk the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.' His Brother Samuel well describes him in his Poetical Epistle of April 20, 1732,* to Mr. C. Wesley,

Does John seem bent beyond his strength to go,

To his frail carcase literally foe?

Lavish of health, as if in haste to die,

And shorten time, to ensure eternity?

His first publication, of any note, was his Edition of Kempis, elegantly printed in Octavo, in the year 1735, while he was yet at Oxford, by his friend Mr. C. Rivington, already noted. He was dissatisfied with Dean Stanhope's translation, and determined to give a full view of the self-denying purity of his favourite guide. He methodized this admirable treatise of "THE IMITATION OF JESUS CHRIST," as he did the Holy Scriptures, when, as he informs us, He "began not only to read, but to study the Bible." This Edition of Kempis now lies before me, and clearly shews not only his great attention to the truths which it contains, but his admirable skill in

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putting into order, and thus illustrating, its high and invaluable sentiments. This Book was his constant companion, and when his mind at all revolted at the strait path, he seemed to say, in the words of his author, "Thou dust, learn to obey." I need not, however, inform my Readers, that in the increase of light which the Lord gave him, he, like the great Apostle, became dead to the law; his self-confidence being utterly slain by the commandment. The faith which brings in a new creation was then placed before him, and he was not disobedient to the heavenly calling. The righteousness of the law was fulfilled in him, walking, not after the flesh, but after the spirit, by faith in Christ Jesus.'

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His first sermon preached on January 1, 1733, before the University, on The Circumcision of the Heart, (Rom. ii. 29.) when he was emerging into the light of the Gospel, is a most admirable picture of the state of his own mind. It exhibits the perfection of the Christian Character, which he was then ardently pursuing. But it was deficient respecting the inward life, peace, and power, of which true Faith is the root. Of this defect he was unconscious in that day: He could not attain to it, till he claimed it as the gift of God; and this could not be while he sought it not by faith, as a condemned sinner, through the infinitely perfect atonement of the Son of God.

His second and third Sermons, preached before the University, on June 18, 1738; and on July 25, 1741, though diversified in the structure, have the same design. They exhibit the new creature, with the simple and only way of attaining that blessed state-by faith. The learned assembly, who had listened with some complacency to the fair, though somewhat rigid, portrait of a Christian, in his first discourse, delivered while he resided among them, were amazed at the new and living way' of thus entering into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.' They felt that they were considered by the preacher as sinners, and, as such, condemned men. Their character as learned and wise, they saw, if this were true,

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