others are so prejudiced, especially at the singing publicly, that they speak openly against it, and look upon me as left to do a very wrong or sinful thing. I beg your advice, whether to answer them only by continuing in the practice of the thing, with such as have freedom to join, looking to the Lord for a blessing upon his own ordinance: or, if I should publish a sheet of arguments from reason, and scripture, and the example of the godly.-Your experience of the most effectual way of dealing with people's prejudices, makes your advice on this head of the greater importance.

"I bless the Lord for the benefit and comfort of your acquaintance: for your important assistance in my Historical Collections, and for your edifying conversation and sermons in this place. May our gracious God prosper you wherever you are. O my dear Sir, pray for your brother, that I may be employed in doing something for the advancement of his glory, who has done so much for me, and who is my only hope."

In July, after one of the Preachers had been there for some time, Mr. Wesley crossed over from Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight. From Cowes, they went forward to Newport, the chief town of the Isle. Here they found a little society in tolerable order; several of whom had found peace with God, and walked in the light of his countenance. At half an hour after six he preached in the market-place to a numerous congregation but many of them were remarkably illbehaved. The children made much noise: and many grown persons were talking aloud most of the time he was preaching., "There was (says Mr. Wesley) a large congregation again at five in the morning: and every person therein, seemed to know that this was

the

the word whereby God would judge him in the last day. In the evening the congregation was more numerous, and far more scrious than the night before ; only one drunken man made a little disturbance, but the mayor ordered him to be taken away. In October, I visited them again, and spent three or four days with much comfort; finding those who had before professed to find peace, had walked suitably to their profession."

To know the whole of a man's character, it is not sufficient to view him as he always appears before the public; we wish to see him in his more retired moments, and particularly in his private correspondence. The two following letters will shew Mr. Wesley's temper in answering charges that were privately brought against him, either from prejudice or misapprehension. "You give (says he) five reasons why the Reverend Mr. P.- will come no more amongst us: 1. Because we despise the ministers of the church of England.'-This I flatly deny. I am answering letters this very post, which bitterly blame me for just the contrary. 2. Because so much back-biting, and evil-speaking is suffered amongst our people.'-It is not suffered all possible means are used, both to prevent and remove it. 3. Because I, who have written so much against hoarding up money, have put out seven hundred pounds to interest.'-I never put six-pence out to interest since I was born; nor had I ever one hundred pounds together, my own, since I came into the world. 4. Because our LayPreachers have told many stories of my brother and me.'-If they did I am sorry for them: when I hear the particulars I can answer, and perhaps make those ashamed who believed them. 5. Because we did not help a friend in distress.'-We did help him as

far

far as we were able.

'But we might have made his case known to Mr. G-, Lady H-, &c.' So we did more than once; but we could not pull money from them whether they would or no. Therefore these reasons are of no weight.-You conclude with praying, that God would remove pride and malice from amongst us. Of pride I have too much; of malice I have none: however the prayer is good and

I thank you for it."

The other letter from which we give an extract, was written apparently to a gentleman of some rank and influence. "Some time since, (says Mr. Wesley) I was considering what you said, concerning the want of a plan in our societies. There is a good deal of truth in this remark. For though we have a plan, as to our spiritual economy, (the several branches of which are particularly recited in the plain account of the people called Methodists,) yet it is certain, we have barely the first outlines of a plan with regard to our temporal concerns. The reason is, I had no design for several years, to to concern myself with temporals at all: and when I began to do this, it was wholly and solely with a view to relieve, not employ, the poor; except now and then, with respect to a small number; and even this I found was too great a burden for me, as requiring more money, more time, and more thought, than I could possibly spare. I say, than I could possibly spare for the whole weight lay on me. If I left it to others, it surely came to nothing. They wanted either understanding, or industry, or love, or patience, to bring any thing to perfection.

"Thus far I thought it needful to explain myself with regard to the economy of our society. I am still

to

to speak of your case, of my own, and of some who are dependent upon me.

"I do not recollect, for I kept no copy of my last, that I charged you with want of humility, or meekness. Doubtless these may be found in the most splendid palaces. But did they ever move a man to build a splendid palace? Upon what motive you did this, I know not; but you are to answer it to God,

not to me.

"If your soul is as much alive to God, if your thirst after pardon and holiness is as strong, if you are as dead to the desire of the eye and the pride of life, as you were six or seven years ago, I rejoice; if not, I pray God you may; and then you will know how to value a real friend.

"With regard to myself, you do well to warn me against, popularity, a thirst of power, and of ap plause; against envy, producing a seeming contempt for the conveniencies or grandeur of this life; against an affected humility; against sparing from myself to give to others, from no other motive than ostentation,' I am not conscious to myself, that this is my case. However, the warning is always friendly; and it is always seasonable, considering how deceitful my heart is, and how many the enemies that surround me. What follows I do not understand. You behold me in the ditch, wherein you helped, though innocently, to cast me, and with a levitical pity, passing by on the other side.He and you Sir, have not any merit, though Providence should permit all these sufferings to work together for my good.'I do not comprehend one line of this, and therefore cannot plead either guilty, or not guilty.I presume, they are some that are dependent on me, Who, you say, keep not the commandments of God; who

shew

shew a repugnance to serve and obey; who are as full of pride and arrogance, as of filth and nastiness; who do not pay lawful debts, nor comply with civil obligations; who make the waiting on the offices of religion, a plea for sloth and idleness; who after I had strongly recommended them, did not perform their moral duty, but increased the number of those incumbrances which they forced on you, against your will.'-To this, I can only say, 1. I know not whom you mean; I am not certain that I can so much as guess at one of them. 2. Whoever they are, had they followed my instructions, they would have acted in a quite different manner. 3. If you will tell me them by name, I will renounce all fellowship with them." This letter gives us a pleasing view of the command Mr. Wesley had acquired over his own temper nothing but kindness and civility appear in it; there is no keen retort for any charge brought against himself; and nothing but tender concern for those who had not acted worthy of the character which he had given them.

October 19, Mr. Wesley returned to London, and the next day found himself indisposed. In a short time his complaint put on the appearance of an ague. Before he was perfectly recovered, he once or twice catched cold, and was presently threatened with a rapid consumption. November 26, Dr. Fothergill told him he must not stay in town one day longer: that if any thing would do him good, it must be the country air, with rest, asses milk, and riding daily. In consequence of this advice he retired to Lewisham. Here, not knowing how it might please God to dispose of him, and wishing to prevent vile panegyric" in case of death, he wrote as follows:

6.6

Here