good works as following justification, and being the proper evidences of it, some have been made Antinomi-ans in theory rather than practice; particularly in the time of King Charles. "But, (said the Bishop,) there "is a very heavy charge brought against us, Bishops, "in consequence of your having re-baptized an adult, "and alleged the Archbishop's authority for doing it." Mr. John Wesley answered, that he had expressly declared the contrary, and acquitted the Archbishop from having any hand in the matter; but added, "If a person dis"satisfied with Lay-Baptism, should desire Episcopal, "I should think it my duty to administer it, after having acquainted the Bishop, according to the "Canon." "Well (said the Bishop,) I am against it "myself, when any one has had Baptism among the "Dissenters." The Bishop here shews that he possess

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ed a candid and liberal mind.-Mr. Charles Wesley adds, "My Brother enquired whether his reading in a religious Society made it a Conventicle. His Lord"ship warily referred us to the Laws: but on urging "the question, "Are religious Societies Conven"ticles?" He answered, " No, I think not however.

you can read the Acts and Laws as well as I; I deter"mine nothing." We hoped his Lordship would not, "henceforward, receive an accusation against a Pres"byter, but at the mouth of two or three witnesses. "He said, "No, by no means; and you may have free 66 access to me at all times." We thanked him, and

"took our leave."

Tuesday, November 14th, Mr. Charles Wesley had another conference with the Bishop of London, without his Brother: "I have used your Lordship's permis❝sion, (said he,) to wait upon you. A woman desires me to baptize her, not being satisfied with her bap"tism by a Dissenter. She says, sure and unsure, is

❝ not

<6 not the same." He immediately took fire, and interrupted me. “I wholly disapprove of it: it is irregu"lar." My Lord, (said Mr. Wesley,) I did not expect your approbation; I only came in obedience, to give you notice of my intention. "It is irregular; I never receive any such information, but from the "Minister." My Lord, your rubric does not so much as require the Minister to give you notice, but any discreet person. Ihave the Minister's leave. "Who gave

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you authority to Baptize?" Your Lordship, and I shall exercise it in any part of the known world.. "Are re you a licensed Curate?" I have the leave of the proper Minister. "But do you not know, that no man "can exercise parochial duty in London, without my “leave? It is only sub silentio." But you know, many do take that permission for authority; and you yourself allow it. "It is one thing to connive, and an"other to approve; I have power to inhibit you." Does your Lordship exert that power? Do you now inhibit me ? "O why will you push matters to an ex

treme? I do not inhibit you." Why then, my Lord, according to your own concession, you permit, or authorise me. "I have power to punish and to for"bear." To punish: that seems to imply that I have done something worthy of punishment; I should be glad to know, that I may answer. Does your Lordship charge me with any crime? "No, no, I charge you " with no crime." Do you then dispense with my giving you notice of any Baptisms in future? "I nei"ther dispense, nor not dispence." He censured Lawrence on Lay-Baptism; and blamed my brother's Sermon as inclining to Antinomianism. I charged Archbishop Tillotson with denying the faith; he allowed it, and owned they ran into one extreme to avoid another. He concluded the conference, with "Well ‹‹ Sir,

See above, page 11.

"Sir, you knew my judgment before, and you know it now; good morrow to you.”

November 22nd, Mr. Wesley set out in the coach, to visit his friends at Oxford. We may observe, that he was, in the first part of his Ministry, very much alone; having preached the Gospel fully and boldly in many of the Churches, in Newgate, and at Islington; while his Brother was in Germany, and Mr. Whitefield in America. He had met with little opposition, except from some private friends, and at Islington; where the polite part of his congregation, had sometimes shewn a want of regard to decency in their behaviour, and many had frequently gone out of the Church. He now clearly saw, that a faithful discharge of his duty, would expose him to many hardships and dangers: and though he generally had great confidence in God, yet he had also his seasons of dejection, when he was ready to sink under the pressure of his difficulties; which made him fully sensible of his weakness, and that he must be supported in his work by a power not his own. On the 25th, at Oxford, he experienced great depression of mind; "I felt, (says he) a pining desire to die, fore"seeing the infinite dangers and troubles of life." But as he was daily engaged in the exercise of some part or other of his ministerial office, the times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, frequently returned upon him; his strength was renewed, and he was again enabled to go on his way rejoicing,

Mr. Whitefield was at this time, at Oxford, and was earnest with Mr. Wesley to accept a College Living. This gives pretty clear evidence that no plan of Itinerant preaching was yet fixed on, nor indeed thought of: had any such plan been in agitation among them, it is very certain Mr. Whitefield would not have urged

this advice on Mr. Charles Wesley, whom he loved as a brother, and whose labours he highly esteemed.

December the 11th, Mr. Wesley left Oxford, and coming to Wickham in the evening, took up his lodgings with a Mr. Hollis, to whom, we suppose he had been recommended. "He entertained me, (adds Mr.

Wesley,) with his French Prophets, who in his ac"count, are equal, if not superior, to the Prophets of "the Old Testament. While we were undressing he

fell into violent agitations and gabbled like a Turkey"Cock. I was frightened, and began exorcising him, "with, Thou deaf and dumb devil, &c. He soon re"covered from his fit of inspiration.-I prayed and "went to bed, not half liking my bed-fellow; nor did "I sleep very sound with Satan so near me.” He escaped, however, without harm, and came safe to London the next day, where he heard a glorious account of the success of the Gospel at Islington, some of the fiercest opposers being converted.

January 5th, 1739, Mr. Wesley gives us another convincing proof, that no plan of becoming Itinerants was yet formed. He says, "My brother, Mr. Seward, "Hall, Whitefield, Ingham, Kinchin, and Hutchins, "all set upon me to settle at Oxford."-But he could not agree to their proposal, without being more fully satisfied that it was the order of Providence. This advice, however, and a similar instance above-mentioned, plainly shew, that their views at present extended no farther than to preach the Gospel in the Churches, wherever they had opportunity.

About this time some persons being greatly affected under the public prayers and preaching, fell into violent convulsive motions, accompanied with loud and dismal cries. This gave great offence to many and

occasioned

occasioned disputes. Mr. Charles Wesley mentions this circumstance in his Journal on the 10th of January. "At the society, (says he) We had some discourse "about agitations: no sign of grace in my humble " opinion."

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February 21st, Mr. Wesley and his brother, thought it prudent to wait on Dr. Potter, then Archbishop of Canterbury, to prevent any ill impression which the various false reports of their proceedings might produce on his mind. "He shewed us, (says Mr. Wesley,) great affection: spoke mildly of Mr. Whitefield; cautioned us to give no more um"brage than was necessary for our own defence: to forbear exceptionable phrases; to keep to the "doctrines of the Church.-We told him, we expected "persecution would abide by the Church till her Ar"ticles and Homilies were repealed. He assured us, "he knew of no design in the Governors of the Church, "to innovate; and neither should there be any inno"vation while he lived. He avowed justification by "faith alone; and signified his gladness to see us, as "often as we pleased.

"From him we went to the Bishop of London: "who denied that he had condemned, or even heard "much concerning us. He said Mr. Whitefield's Jour"nal was tainted with enthusiasm, though he himself was a pious well-meaning youth. He warned us against antinomianism, and dismissed us kindly." March 28th, "We dissuaded my brother from going "to Bristol; from an unaccountable fear that it would prove fatal to him. He offered himself willingly, "to whatever the Lord should appoint. *The next day

he

* This exactly accords with Mr. John Wesley's printed Journal. See his Works, vol. 27. page 64.