deavour it. 6. For this we were represented both from the pulpit and press, as introducing Popery, and raising sedition. Yea all manner of evil was said both of us, and of those who used to assemble with us. 7. Finding that some of these did walk disorderly, we desired them not to come to us any more. 8. And some of the others we desired to overlook the rest, that we might know whether they walked worthy of the gospel. 9. Several of the clergy now stirred up the people, to treat us as outlaws or mad dogs. 10. The people did so, both in Staffordshire, Cornwall, and many other places. 11. And they do so still wherever they are not restrained by fear of the magistrates.

"Now what can we do, or what can you or our brethren do, towards healing this breach? Desire of us any thing which we can do with a safe conscience, and we will do it immediately. Will you meet us here? Will you do what we desire of you, so far as you can with a safe conscience?

"Do you desire us, 1. To preach another, or to desist from preaching this doctrine? We cannot do this with a safe conscience.

"Do you desire us, 2. To desist from preaching in private houses, or in the open air? As things are now circumstanced, this would be the same as desiring us not to preach at all.

"Do you desire us, 3. Not to advise those who meet together for that purpose? To dissolve our societies? We cannot do this with a safe conscience; for we apprehend many souls would be lost thereby.

"Do you desire us, 4. To advise them one by one? This is impossible because of their number.

"Do

you desire us, 5. To suffer those who walk disorderly, still to mix with the rest? Neither can we do

this with a safe conscience: for evil communications

corrupt good manners.

"Do you desire us, 6. To discharge those leaders, as we term them who overlook the rest? This is, in effect, to suffer the disorderly walkers still to remain with the rest.

"Do you desire us, lastly, to behave with tenderness, both to the characters and persons of our brethren the clergy? By the grace of God, we can and will do this: as indeed we have done to this day.

"If you ask, what we desire of you to do? We answer, 1. We do not desire any of you, to let us preach in your church, either if you believe us to preach false doctrine, or if you have the least scruple. But we desire any who believes us to preach true doctrine, and has no scruple in the matter, not to be either publicly or privately discouraged from inviting us to preach in his church.

2. "We do not desire, that any who thinks it his duty to preach or print against us, should refrain therefrom. But we desire, that none will do this, till he has calmly considered both sides of the question : and that he would not condemn us unheard, but first read what we say in our own defence.

us.

"We do not desire any favour, if either Popery, sedition, or immorality be proved against But we desire you would not credit without proof, any of those senseless tales that pass current with the vulgar: that if you do not credit them yourselves, you will not relate them to others: yea, that you will discountenance those who still retail them abroad.

4. "We do not desire any preferment, favour, or recommendation, from those that are in power, either

in

in church or state. But we desire, 1. That if any thing material be laid to our charge, we may be permitted to answer for ourselves. 2. That you would hinder your dependants from stirring up the rabble against us, who are certainly not the proper judges in these matters and, 3. That you would effectually suppress and discountenance all riots and popular insurrections, which evidently strike at the foundation of all government, whether of church or state.

"Now these things you certainly can do, and that with a safe conscience. Therefore till these things be done, the continuance of the breach, if there be any, is chargeable on you, and you only."

In June Mr. Wesley paid another visit to Cornwall, where the preachers were continually persecuted, only not unto death; both by the great vulgar and the small. They shewed a little more courtesy to him, till July 4, when he went to see a gentlewoman in Falmouth, who had been long indisposed. "I had scarce, (says he) sat down when the house was beset with an innumerable multitude of people. They quickly forced open the outer-door and filled the passage, there being now only a wainscot-partition between us. Among them were the crews of some privateers, who being angry at the slowness of the rest, thrust them away, and setting their shoulders to the innerdoor, cried out, Avast, lads, avast! Away went all the hinges at once, and the door fell back into the room. I stepped forward into the midst of them and said, Here I am; which of you has any thing to say to me; I continued speaking till I came into the middle of the street, though I could be heard by few only. But all that could hear were still and quiet. At length, one or two of their captains turned and swore, Not a man shall touch him." A clergy

man

man then came up and asked, Are you not ashamed to use a stranger thus ?"-He was seconded by some gentlemen of the town, who walked with Mr. Wesley to a friend's house. They then sent his horse by a person to Penryn, and sent him thither by water: the sea runing close by the back-door of the house where he was.

On this occasion he makes the following observations: "I never saw before, no not even at Walsal, the hand of God so clearly shewn as here. There I received blows, was covered with dirt, and lost part of my clothes. Here, although the hands of hundreds of people were lifted up to strike or throw, yet they were one and all stopped in the midway; so that not a man touched me with his fingers: neither was any thing thrown from first to last, so that I had not a speck of dirt upon my clothes. Who can deny that God heareth prayer? Or that he hath all power in

heaven and earth?"

August 1, and the following days, Mr. Wesley held the second Conference, with as many of the preachers as could conveniently be present. They reviewed their doctrines, and added such rules of discipline as the increase of the work required, or prudence suggested. These will all be laid before the reader as soon as they forin something like a complete system.

In October, he was at Newcastle upon Tyne, where the English army lay, to oppose the progress of the rebels. Observing with great concern, the drunkenness, and profane swearing that prevailed among the soldiers, he wrote the following letter to Alderman Ridley; which is highly characteristic of his zeal for the propagation of Christian knowledge, and Christian piety and virtue, considered as a national blessing.

VOL. II

. SIR,

"SIR,

"The fear of God, the love of my country, and the regard I have for his Majesty King George, cons strain me to write a few plain words to one who is no stranger to these principles of action.

66

My soul has been pained day by day, even in walking the streets of Newcastle, at the senseless, shameless wickedness, the ignorant profaneness of the poor men to whom our lives are intrusted. The continual cursing and swearing, the wanton blasphemy of the soldiers in general, must needs be a torture to the sober ear, whether of a Christian or an honest infidel. Can any that either fear God or love their neighbour, hear this without concern? Especially if they consider the interest of our country, as well as of these unhappy men themselves? For can it be expected, that God should be on their side who are daily af fronting him to his face? And if God be not on their side, how little will either their number, or courage, or strength avail !

"Is there no man that careth for these souls? Doubtless there are some who ought so to do. But many of these, if I am rightly informed, receive large pay, and do just nothing.

I would to God it were in my power, in any degree, to supply their lack of service, I am ready to do what in me lies, to call these poor sinners to repentance, once or twice a day, while I remain in these parts, at any hour or at any place. And I desire no pay at all for doing this: unless what my Lord shall give at his appearing.

"If it were objected, that I should only fill their heads with peculiar whims and notions! That might easily be known. Only let the officers hear with their own ears and they may judge, whether I do not

preach