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"My Lord,

"Several persons have applied to me for Baptism, "It has pleased God to make me instrumental in "their conversion. This has given them such a pre"judice for me, that they desire to be received into "the Church by my ministry. They choose likewise "to be baptized by immersion, and have engaged me to give your Lordship notice, as the Church "requires."

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"November 2. I received a summons from Oxford, "to respond in Divinity Disputations; which, together with other concurrent providences, is a plain "call to that place."

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On the 6th Mr. Wesley's Journal breaks off, and does not commence again till March 14th, 1740. Mr. John Wesley informs us, that he and his brother left Oxford on the 15th of November, and taking Bristol in their way, they arrived at Tiverton on the 21st, a few days after the funeral of their brother Samuel. Having preached at Exter during their short stay in these parts, they returned to Bristol on the 28th of the same month.

March 14th, 1740, Mr. Wesley came to Gloucester, in company with Thomas Maxfield, who travelled with him most part of this year. The next day he went to Bengeworth, in hopes of seeing his old friend, Mr. Benjamin Seward. But here he met with: a disappointment, which he did not expect. Mr. Seward had been ill of a fever. His relations taking advantage of his situation, had intercepted all his letters: they called his fever madness; and now, when he was recovering, placed his servants over him as spies, to prevent any Methodist from coming to him. His brothe

*He mentioned the name of seven persons,

brother, Mr. Henry, came to Mr. Wesley and gave him plenty of abuse, calling him scoundrel, rascal, pick-pocket, &c. Mr. Wesley made little reply, but ordered notice to be given that he would preach next day, March 16th, at the usual place, which was near Mr. Seward's house. Mr. Henry came to him to dissuade him from attempting it, telling him that four Constables were ordered to apprehend him if he came near his brother's wall. Mr. Wesley however, was not to be deterred from his purpose by such threatenings, and when the time of preaching drew near, walked forward towards the place. In his way thither, a Mayor's officer met him, and desired he would go with him to the Mayor. Mr. Wesley answered, that he would first wait on his LORD, and then on the Mayor, whom he reverenced for the sake of his office. Mr. Henry now met him with threatenings and revilings. Mr. Wesley began singing, "Shall I, for fear of feeble 66 man," &c. This enraged Mr. Henry, who ran about raving like a madman, and quickly got some fellows fit for his purpose. These laid hold on Mr. Wesley, who asked, by what authority they did it? Where was their warrant ? Let them shew that and he would save them the trouble of using violence. They said they had no warrant, but he should not preach there, and dragged him away amidst the cries of the people. Mr. Henry cried out, "Take him away, "and duck him." "I broke out (says Mr. Wesley) "into singing, with Thomas Maxfield, and suffered "them to carry me whither they pleased. At the "bridge in the lane they left me: then I stood out of "the Liberty of the Corporation, and gave out,

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"Some hundreds followed, whom they could not "hinder from hearing me, on, "If God be for us, "who can be against us ?"-Never did I feel so "much what I spoke, and the word did not return "empty."

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"I then waited on Mr. Mayor, the poor sincere

ones following me trembling. He was a little warm "at my not coming before. I gave him the reason, "and added, that I knew of no law of God or man, "which I had transgressed; but if there was any such law, I desired no favour. He said, he should not "have denied me leave to preach, even in his own "yard; but Mr. Henry Seward, and the Apothecary, "had assured him, it would quite cast his brother "down again. I answered, it would tend to restore "him. Here a Clergyman spoke much-and nothing. "As far as I could pick out his meaning, he grumbled "that Mr. Whitefield had spoken against the Clergy "in his Journal. I told him, if he were a carnal "worldly-minded Clergyman, I might do what he "would call railing, I might warn God's people to "beware of false Prophets. I did not say, because I "did not know, he was one of those Shepherds who "fed themselves, not the flock; but if he was, I was 66 sorry for him, and must leave that sentence of

Chrysostom with him, "Hell is paved with the souls. "of Christian Priests."-I turned from him, and "asked the Mayor whether he approved of the treat"ment I had met with? He said, by no means, and "if I complained, he would bind the men over to 86 answer it at the Sessions. I told him, I did not "complain, neither would I prosecute them, as they "well knew. I assured him, that I waited on him, not from interest, for I wanted nothing; not from "fear, for I had done no wrong; but from true respect,

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and

"and to shew him that I believed, "The powers that "be, are ordained of God."

March 17th, He preached again, when a troop poured in upon him and the quiet congregation, and made much disturbance. "I enjoyed (says he) a sweet "calm within, even while I preached the gospel with "much contention. These slighter conflicts must fit "me for greater."-The next day, before preaching, he received a message from the Minister, informing him that if he did not immediately quit the town, Mr. Henry Seward could easily raise a mob, and then he must look to himself. Mr. Canning, and others of his friends, dissuaded him from going to the Society, for his enemies were determined to do him a mischief, which they thought he should avoid by going out of the way for a while. But Mr. Wesley was not intimidated by threatening. He adds, He adds, "I went, and set

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upon the opposers. I bid them to rejoice and glory, "for now they had terrified me; I was really afraid-to "leave Evesham: I durst no more do it, than forsake

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my Captain, or deny my Master, while any one of "them opened his mouth against the truth. No man answered a word, or offered to disturb me in my "following exhortation.I received great comfort "from those words in the first lesson," Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that "he may die, because he hath cast down the altar of "Baal-and Joash said unto all that stood against "him, Will ye plead for Baal? If he be a god let "him plead for himself, because one hath cast down "his altar." In the afternoon there was none to plead "for him, or to molest me in the work of God, while "I shewed God's method of saving souls; "For he "maketh sore and bindeth up; he woundeth and his hang

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"hand maketh whole." The tears that were shed gave comfortable evidence that I had not laboured in vain."

Mr. Wesley went from hence to Westcot, Idbury, and Orford, where he laboured with his usual success. He then returned to Evesham, saw his friend Mr. Benjamin Seward, and preached without molestation. April 3d, he arrived in London, and preached at the Foundery, on, "The kingdom of God is not meat and "drink, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy "Ghost." He observes, "My heart was enlarged in prayer for the infant Society."

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The Society in London was at this time terribly distracted with foolish and hurtful disputations. Mr. Bray, one Bell, and several others who had influence among the people, had imbibed a notion from one Molther, that there are no degrees of faith; that he who has any doubt, has no faith at all: that there are no means of grace, but Christ; that a believer is under no obligation to use the ordinances: that an unbeliever ought to be still, and neither read the Scriptures, nor pray, nor use any of the ordinances; because he cannot do these things without trusting in them, and that would hinder him from receiving faith, &c. Mr. Wesley opposed these teachers with great firmness and perseverance. His Journal, during his stay in London, is filled with disputations on these subjects, which we shall not transcribe. The following particulars, as they throw some light on the state of things at this time, and on the success of Mr. Wesley's ministry, seem worthy of being preserved.

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April 16th, He received the following letter.

" I

beg leave to ask your opinion about my state. I do "not doubt myself; for through the grace given me, "I am confident, God for Christ's sake has forgiven

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