commodious chapel in the town of St. Peter, in which a large congregation regularly attended.

Mr. De Queteville, a native of Jersey, was also very useful in the midst of great persecution in the Island of Guernsey, particularly in the country parts, where the French language alone is spoken.

In the beginning of the year 1787, Mr. Clarke* visited the Isle of Alderney. When he arrived, he knew not where to go: he had no acquaintance in

VOL. II.

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Mr. ADAM CLARKE -It may not be unacceptable to note here, that he is a native of the North of Ireland—that at an early period, he closed in with the offers of divine mercy; in 1782, gave himself up to the ministry, and continues to labour with uncommon acceptation, and is greatly acknowledged by his Lord. During his time of officiating in Dublin, in the year 1790, he was the means of instituting a Philanthropic body, which is fitly styled, The STRANGER'S FRIEND SOCIETY. Several Annual Accounts of the nature and design of this Institution have been presented to the public; nor have Benefactions been solicited in vain, and by the merciful contributions of the humane, thousands of deserving objects of every deno mination, (except Methodists) are seasonably rescued from the extreme of human wretchedness. No doubt, the blessing of those who were ready to perish, has, and shall come upon the founder, conductors, and supporters of this God-like charity! Since the above period, similar bodies have been formed by most of the large Methodist Societies in Great Britain and Ireland.

That Mr. Clarke's usefulness has not been confined to the specified duties required of an Itinerant Preacher, still further appears, from those Publications to which his name is prefixed, viz I. A correct translation of The demand for this has been Sturm's Reflections, in 4 neat volumes. very considerable-a new edition has just made its appearance. II. A Pamphlet on the Abuse of Tobacco, Tea, Coffee, and Spirituous Liquors. III. An edition of Baxter's Christian Directory abridged. IV. An edition corrected and enlarged, of the Abbe Fleurey's History of the Ancient Israelites. The good Bishop Horne strongly recommends this Work. V. A Letter to a Methodist Preacher on his entrance into the Work of the Some Ministry, &c. VI. A Sermon entitled the Christian Prophet interesting Scraps from his pen, have also appeared in the Methodist Magazine. A Society has been lately established in Manchester, of which he is supposed to be the principal, called a PHILOLOGICAL SOCIETY; the members whereof are composed of none but moral characters, and those of every religious persuasion.

the Island, nor had any person invited him thither. For some time he was perplexed in reasoning on his situation, till that word of the God of Missionaries powerfully impressed his mind, "Into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, peace be to this house,-and in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give." Luke 10. 5-7.

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On this he took courage, and proceeded to the town, which is about a mile distant from the harbour. After having walked some way into it, he took particular notice of a very poor cottage, into which he found a strong inclination to enter. He did so, with a Peace be to this house!" and found in it an old man and woman, who, as soon as they understood his business, bade him, "welcome to the best food they had, to a little chamber where he might sleep, and, what was still more acceptable, to their house to preach in." He now saw clearly the hand of Providence in his favour, and was much encouraged. The Lord owned his labours while he staid on the Island; after this, the native Preachers, raised up in Jersey and Guernsey, visited it, and by their means a chapel has been erected, a large society formed, and many. souls brought to an acquaintance with God. Since that time, a society has been formed in Sark, and religion flourishes in them all.*

The Methodists had hitherto one form both of Worship and Discipline in every place; but an extraordinary Providence, the Independance of America, confirmed by the peace of 1783, occasioned an extraordinary change in this respect. During the war, the

Societies on that Continent were deprived of the Ordinances of God, Baptism, and the Lord's Supper, the Clergy of the Church of England having been generally

*For a more circumstantial account, see Benson's Apology.

generally silenced, or having fled to England. From the time of the peace, the new Civil Government was universally acknowledged; but no Ecclesiastical anthority of any kind was either exercised or claimed by any person or persons whatsoever. In this situation, the Societies desired Mr. Wesley's advice; and, as he observes, "his scruples being at an end, he -conceived himself at perfect liberty to exercise that right which he doubted not God had given him."

He accordingly, soon after the Conference, ordained Dr. Coke,* and through him, Mr. Asbury, to be joint Dd 2 Superintendants

Rev. THOMAS COKE, L. L. D. well known from his indefatigable and successful labours and writings, being for some years a conspicuous character for zeal and usefulness among the Methodists, and much concerned in the events of this chapter, it may be interesting to introduce him here to the reader. Of his family and connexions, the compiler of this edition knows nothing. It has been said by a person of great veracity, that had he continued to officiate in the Established Church only, from his inAuence with Lord North and others, he might with confidence have expected promotion. On the 13th of August, 1776, we find he first joined Mr. Wesley, who, in his eighteenth Journal, page 23, speaks thus of this incident: "Being at Kingston, near Taunton, I found a Clergyman, Dr. Coke, late Gentleman-commoner of Jesus College, in Oxford, who came twenty miles on purpose.

I had much conversation with

him, and a union then began, which I trust shall never end." Though he relinquished his situation at this time, in the Church, in the West of England, joined the Methodist connexion, and was appointed to labour in London, his name did not appear in the Minutes till the year 1778. Since that time, he has been unremittingly and actively employed, at the request of his venerable friend, Mr. Wesley, who esteemed him, as the great apostle did Timothy, his son in the Gospel. Doctor Coke continued to visit the Societies in different parts, during Mr. Wesley's life; he has presided at Conferences in Ireland, when it was judged inexpedient that that man of God should cross the water; and that he has fully answered the OPINION formed of him by Mr. Wesley, must appear obvious, even to those enemies, whose puny efforts, so strenuously engaged to tarnish his character, have but tended to strengthen the Methodist Societies and all liberal minds, in that OPINION. So preposssed are the members of the Irish Conference in behalf of Dr. Coke, that since Mr. Wesley's death,

they

Superintendants over the brethren in North America: as also with the assistance of Dr. Coke, and the Rev. Mr. Creighton, Richard Whatcoat, and Thomas l'asey, to act as Elders among them. He likewise abridged the Liturgy of the Church of England, and advised all the Travelling Preachers to use it on the Lord's day, in all their congregations: and the elders to administer the Lord's Supper every Sabbath, according to the same ritual.

As

they have made it a constant request, that the English Conference, would indulge them, by granting, that their affectionate friend should preside at their annual meetings--at which he has for the most part accordingly presided; and under God, has proved a great blessing: the following extracts from the Minutes of the Irish and English Conferences in 1805, prove the latter assertion.

"Your readiness of mind to comply with our request, so often made, for our greatly respected friend and brother, Dr. Coke, convinces us still more, of your affection towards us. We do, therefore, with confidence, unanimously request, that he may be appointed our President the enfuing year. It will, we believe, afford you pleasure to be informed, that our love and respect for him increase every year; so that we were ready to look upon ourselves as orphans, when contrary winds delayed his coming so long; but we made prayer to God for him, and our gracious Lord sent him to us, (in Dublin,)- the evening before our Conference began !"

"In compliance with your request, we appoint the Rev. Dr. Coke, to be the President of the next Irish Conference, to be held in Dublin, on the first Friday in July, 1806. He has been long to us, "a greatly beloved friend and brother;" and we pray, that he may meet you, in all the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Peace."

It is deserving of note, and a manifest display of a divine appointment, that when, at the non-arrival of Dr. Coke to preside at this Conference, a considerable degree of anxiety prevailed; to the inexpressible joy of his numerous friends, just on the eve of the day appointed, he arrived in Dublin from Youghall, at which place he was put on shore from a vessel in which he sailed from America.

For the particulars of his labours in travelling, we refer to sundry parts of this Work, but principally to his, own printed Journals; and that his Missionary Plan is likely to be crowned with ample success, is evinced from a perusal of Benson's Apology, also from a small Pamphlet published by himself, consisting of copies of letters from the Missionaries, the Annual Minutes of Conference, and the Methodist Magazine.

As this circumstance forms a new Epoch in the history of Methodism, it is necessary to consider what Mr. Wesley says upon the subject, also the effect it had upon the American brethren. In the 20th Journal, page 71, he says, Wednesday September 1, being now clear in my own mind, I took a step which I had long weighed, and appointed three of our brethren to go and serve the desolate sheep in America, which I verily believe will be much to the glory of God." In the Minutes of the Conference for

1786, he says, "Judging this (the state of the So

cieties

It is justly observed, by the Doctor, that the Mission to the native Irish, is of great importance, even in a political point of view, and that to the whole Empire. If it continue to be successful, as it promises, it will effectually eradicate the seeds of confusion and rebellion, and will do more to establish subordination to lawful authority, tranquility and peace, than the wisest laws and regulations can effect, while ignorance and vice possess the hearts and lives of the inhabitants. The salvation of men's souls, however, is principally to be considered, and who, that believes the truth of Christianity, but must rejoice at such a prospect of helping forward the design on which the Son of God came into the world, by seeking and saving so many that to all appearance were lost. At a Conference held in Dublin, in 1805, eight Missionaries who speak the English and Irish language fluently, were appointed to traverse the entire kingdom; and as Providence may give them access to the ungodly inhabitants, to use the privilege granted them, to the best of their judgment.

The high opinion formed of Dr. Coke, by the Methodist Societies in Great Britain, induced the Preachers to depute him, in conjunction with Mr. Henry Moore, immediately after Mr. John Wesley's deccase, to draw up an epitome of his Life, with an account of the great revival of Religion in Europe and America, of which he was the first and chief instrument ! This Work has passed through two large editions.

The English Conference afterward, in the year 1792, made a request, that Doctor Coke would compile a Commentary of the Bible, for the use of the connexion: this Work, which does honour to his head and heart, is now (in 1805,) almost accomplished, in six quarto volumes; and though a large edition has been printed, its excellency has obtained it such circulation amongst all ranks of Nobility, Clergy and Laity, as to render it probable, that a second edition will shortly be called for.