he was fincere in his religion. But his egregious hypocrify, in fome future fcenes, renders this at leaft highly problematical and it is much to be lamented, that a man, to whom nature had been fo lavifh of her favours, fhould fo grofsly have dishonoured himself, and done fo much injury to others.

Mr Samuel Wesley, however, was not to be deceived by appearances. He was too acute an observer, too refined a ftudent in men and manners, to give credit to his pretentions to fuperior fanctity; and, in a letter to John, gave his judgment, concerning him, in these remarkble terms: "I am fure, I may well fay of that marriage, it will not, cannot come to good. I never liked the man, from the first time I faw him. His fmoothnefs never suited my roughness. He appeared always to dread me as a wit and

a jefter, like Rivington. This, with me, is a fure fign of guilt and hypocrify. He never could meet my eye in full light. Conscious that there was fomething foul at bottom, he was afraid I fhould fee it, if I looked keenly into his eye. Charles fends me a bad account indeed. If you will allow Kezzy what was proposed, I will take her with me. Thus fhe will be delivered from difcontent, perhaps, or a worfe paffion."

But the intentions of this excellent brother were fruftrated. The defection of a man, who had engaged her tender eft affections, was a fhock, to her peace, too rude to be fupported; and involved her in a melancholy, that preyed upon her conftitution, and, in a little time, brought her to the grave, The unhappy man was, for many years, the fport of the most unruly paffions: and his adven

tures, in England and in foreign countries, were as various and eccentric, as was his own character.

Sometimes he

acted as a medical man, and fometimes as a clergyman; and, with equal eafe, exhibited in canonicals, or figured away with his fword and cane, and scarlet cloak. At length, having deferted his wife, and run off with his maid; having played a thousand freaks, and escaped a thousand dangers, he returned home, and was feen officiating in a church in London, where, not long before his death, he delivered an extemporary discourse from the first verfe of the 19th pfalm, which a gentleman, who heard it, fays, was inimitably elegant and pathetic. He was a man of great learning and ingenuity; and it is faid that, in his latter end, he gave full proof of contrition, and died in peace.

CHA P. II.

Of SAMUEL WESLEY the Younger.

HIS gentleman was the eldest fon

TH

of Samuel and Sufannah Wefley, and was born, at Epworth, about the year 1699. He was educated at Weftminster school, and from thence elected to Chrift Church. In both thefe places, fo defervedly eminent for polite learning, he distinguished himfelf by his compofitions, and acquired the reputation of an excellent claffic. His fkill in the languages and fcienes was accurate and extenfive; and, having taken the degree of Mafter of Arts, he was fent for, to offici

Not

ate as an ufher at Westminster. long after, under the aufpices of the celebrated Dr Atterbury, then Dean of Westminster, he took orders; and was univerfally esteemed, as an able preacher and a judicious divine. A diftinguished excellence of Mr Wefley, was his benevolence. He was humane and charitable, both by nature and from principle, and indefatigable in the fervice of the indigent. What he was incapable of alone, he frequently accomplished, by his influence upon others. Among other things of this kind, we are informed, that the first infirmary at Westminster was much forwarded, both in the defign and execution, by his induftrious charity.

He was held in high eflimation, by fome of the moft diftinguifhed characters' of the day. Oxford, Atterbury, and