С НА Р. Г.

OF THE ORIGIN OF METHODISM.

WE

E have feen the principles on which Mr Wefley entered into holy orders. As he was not ordained to any cure, but as a fellow of his college, he refided there till the year 1735, having feveral pupils, and officiating as Greek lecturer and moderator of both the claffes. In this capacity, he discovered that love of ftrictness and difcipline, by which he has ever fince been distinguished. He was as vigilant over the morals of his pupils, as he was anxious for their improvement in literature; and he expected from them an obedience which,

we are authorized to fay, was without a precedent in the univerfity. He requi. red that they fhould rife very early in the morning; that they fhould read no books but fuch as he approved; and that in their general conduct, and in every thing that refpected their private ftudies, as well as the ftatutable exercises, they fhould implicitly fubmit to his directions.

It is faid, and we are not difpofed to doubt, that he was an excellent tutor. His difcipline could fcarcely be without it's ufe. The time of the young men would be well filled up, which, at an university, is a principal thing: and being totally excluded from gaming and hunting, and a variety of other amusements, not too friendly to learning, they could make the most of the advantages of that illuftrious feminary.

Every one knows, that fome of the first characters in the universe have been form

ed there; and that, with the previous education at fchool and a good capacity, whoever refides at college the ufual time, muft either be a man of learning or of invincible indolence.

During his refidence at Lincoln, Mr Wefley became particularly ferious and religious; and feveral of his friends and pupils, having the fame difpofitions, they formed into a kind of fociety, which at firft, in November 1729, confifted of the two Mr Wefleys, Mr Morgan of Christchurch, and one more; into which were admitted, fome time after, Mr Clayton of Brazen-nofe, Mr Hervey, Mr Whitefield, and feveral others. At first, they read the claffics every evening but Sunday, and on that day fome book in divinity; but in a little time it is probable,

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that their religious meetings were more

frequent.

Mr Wesley afcribes his firft religious impreffions at Oxford to Bishop Taylor's Rules for holy Living and Dying, which fell in his way; and thofe impreffions were confirmed and increased by reading Stanhope's Kempis, and the Serious Call and Christian Perfection of Mr Law. In reading these books, he tells us, that he found fuch comfort as he had never felt before; and that, meeting with a religious friend, he began to alter "the form of his converfation, and to set out in earnest upon a new life." He faw, as he observes, more and more of the value of time; fhook off all his trifling acquaintance; applied himself more closely to ftudy; watched against actual fins, and advised others to be religious, according to that fcheme of religion by

which he modelled his own life. In a little time, fays he, "I was convinced more than ever of the exceeding height and breadth, and depth of the law of God." The light flowed in fo mightily upon my foul, that every thing appeared in a new view. I cried to God for help, and refolved not to prolong the time of obeying him, as I had never done before. And by my continued endeavour to keep his whole law, inward and outward, to the best of my power, I was perfuaded, that I fhould be accepted of him, and that I was even then in a state of falvation."

The fociety, with which he was connected, to an unusual ftrictnefs of deportment, and frequent meetings with each other, foon added a more diffufive fcheme of utility. The principal and most active among them was Mr Morgan. By his advice and example,