ligion, through the means of Methodism, has given in the severest afflictions,* and of the peace and contentment† which it has afforded to those who without it would have been forlorn and hopeless.Many, perhaps most of these conversions, were produced by field-preaching; and it is probable, therefore, that Methodism did more good in its earlier than in its latter days, when preaching in the open air was gradually disused, as chapels were multiplied. The two brothers, and the more zealous of their followers, used at first also to frequent Bedlam and the prisons, for the purpose of administering consolation to those who stood most in need of it. When Methodism was most unpopular, admission at these places was refused them, which occasioned Wesley to exclaim, "So we are forbid to go to Newgate for fear of making them wicked, and to Bedlam for fear of driving . them mad!" In both places, and in hospitals also, great good night be effected by that zeal which the Methodists possess, were it tempered with discretion. If they had instituted societies to discharge such

*In Dr. Coke's History of the West Indies, there is one remarkable instance, but it is too painful to be repeated.

Of this there is a beautiful example in a letter written to Mr. Wesley by one of his female disciples, who was employed in the Orphanhouse at Newcastle. "I know not," she says, "how to agree to the not working. I am still unwilling to take any thing from any body. I work out of choice, having never yet learned how a woman can be idle and innocent. I have had as blessed times in my soul sitting at work, as ever I had in my life; especially in the night-time, when I see nothing but the light of a candle and a white cloth, hear nothing but the sound of my own breath, with God in my sight and heaven in my soul, I think myself one of the happiest creatures below the skies. I do not complain that God has not made me some fine thing, to be set up to be gazed at ; but I can heartily bless him, that he has made me just what I am, a creature capable of the enjoyment of himself. If I go to the window and look out, I see the moon and stars; I meditate a while on the silence of the night, consider this world as a beautiful structure, and the work of an almighty hand; then I sit down to work again, and think myself one of the happiest of beings in it."

Both the feeling and the expression in the letter are so sweet, that the reader will probably be as sorry as I was to discover that this happy state of mind was not permanent. In a letter of Wesley's, written three years afterwards, he says, I know not what to do more for poor Jenny Keith, (that was her name.) Alas! from what a height is she fallen! What a burning and shining light was she six or seven years ago! But

thus it ever was.

first."

Many of the first shall be last, and many of the last

painful offices of humanity as are performed by the Sœurs de la Charité in France, and by the Beguines of Brabant and Flanders, the good which they might have effected would have been duly appreciated and rewarded by public opinion. It is remarkable, that none of their abundant enthusiasm should have taken this direction, and that so little use should have been made of the opportunity when the prisons were again opened to them. The Wesleys appear not to have repeated their visits after the exclusion. One of their followers, by name Silas Told, a weak, credulous, and, notwithstanding his honest zeal, not always a credible man, attended at Newgate for more than twenty years: his charity was bestowed almost exclusively upon condemned criminals. After his death, he had no successor in this dismal vocation, and the honour of having shown in what manner a prison may be made a school of reformation, was reserved for Mrs. Fry and the Quakers.

In estimating the effects of Methodism, the good which it has done indirectly must not be overlooked. As the Reformation produced a visible reform in those parts of Christendom where the Romish Church maintained its supremacy, so, though in a less degree, the progress of Wesley's disciples has been beneficial to our Establishment, exciting in many of the parochial clergy the zeal which was wanting.Where the clergy exert themselves, the growth of Methodism is checked; and perhaps it may be said to be most useful where it is least successful. To the impulse also, which was given by Methodism, that missionary spirit may be ascribed which is now carrying the light of the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth. In no way can religious zeal be so beneficially directed as in this.

Some evil also, as well as some good, the Methodists have indirectly caused. Though they became careful in admitting lay-preachers themselves, the bad example of suffering any ignorant enthusiast to proclaim himself a minister of the gospel, found numerous imitators. The number of roving adventur

ers* in all the intermediate grades between knavery and madness, who took to preaching as a thriving trade, brought an opprobrium upon religion itself; and when an attempt was made at last to put an end to this scandal, a most outrageous and unreasonable cry was raised, as if the rights of conscience were invaded. Perhaps the manner in which Methodism bas familiarized the lower classes to the work of combining in associations, making rules for their own governance, raising funds, and communicating from one part of the kingdom to another, may be reckoned among the incidental evils which have resulted from it; but in this respect it has only facilitated a process to which other causes had given birth. The principles of Methodism are strictly loyal; and the language which has been held by the Conference in all times of political disturbance, have been highly honourable to the society, and in strict conformity to the intentions of the founder. On the other hand, the good which it has done, by rendering men good civil subjects, is counteracted by separating them from the Church. This tendency Wesley did not foresee; and when he perceived it, he could not prevent it. But his conduct upon this point was neither consistent nor ingenuous. Soon after he had taken the memorable step of consecrating Dr. Coke as an

* One magistrate in the county of Middlesex licensed fourteen hundred preachers in the course of five years. Of six-and-thirty persons who obtained licenses at one sessions, six spelled "ministers of the gospel" in six different ways, and seven signed their mark! One fellow, who applied for a license, being asked if he could read, replied, “Mother reads, and I 'spounds and 'splains."

A writer in the Gospel Magazine says, concerning Lord Sidmouth's well-meant bill, "By the grace of God I can speak for one. If in any place I am called to preach, and cannot obtain a license, I shall feel myself called upon to break through all restrictions, even if death be the consequence; for I know that God will avenge his own elect against their persecutors, let them be who they may. The men that are sent of God must deliver their message, whether men will hear, or whether they will forbear; whether they can obtain a license or not. If God opens their mouths, none can shut them."-Every man his own Pope, and his own lawgiver! These are days in which authority may safely be defied in such cases; but there is no reason to doubt that the man who speaks thus plainly would not have been as ready to break the laws as to defy them. Had he been born in the right place and time, he would have enjoyed a glorification in the Grass-market.

American bishop, he arrogated to himself the same authority for Scotland as for America; and this, he maintained, was not a separation from the Church; "not from the Church of Scotland," said he, "for we were never connected therewith; not from the Church of England, for this is not concerned in the steps which are taken in Scotland. Whatever, then, is done, either in America or Scotland, is no separation from the Church of England. I have no thought of this: I have many objections against it He had been led toward a separation imperceptibly, step by step; but it is not to his honour that he affected to deprecate it to the last, while he was evidently bringing it about by the measures which he pursued.

In the latter end of his life, the tendency to separation was increased by the vexatious manner in which some Lincolnshire magistrates enforced the letter of the Toleration Act. They insisted, that as the Methodists professed themselves members of the Church, they were not within the intention of the act; they refused to license their chapels therefore, unless they declared themselves dissenters: and when some of the trustees were ready to do this, they were told that this was not sufficient by itself; they must declare also, that they scrupled to attend the service and sacrament of the Church, the Act in question having been made for those only who entertained such scruples. This system of injurious severity did not stop here. Understanding in what manner these magistrates interpreted the law, some informers took advantage of the opportunity, and enforced the Conventicle Act against those who had preaching or prayer meetings in their houses: the persons thus aggrieved were mostly in humble circumstances, so that they were distressed to pay the fine; and when they appealed to the quarter sessions, it was in vain; the magistrates had no power to relieve them. Mr. Wesley was irritated at this, and wrote to the Bishop of the diocese in a tone which he had never before assumed. 66 My Lord," said he, in his letter, "I am a dying man, having already one foot in the grave. Humanly speaking, I

cannot long creep upon the earth, being now nearer ninety than eighty years of age. But I cannot die in peace before I have discharged this office of Christian love to your lordship. I write without ceremony, as neither hoping nor fearing any thing from your lordship, or from any man living. And I ask, in the name and in the presence of Him, to whom both you and I are shortly to give an account, why do you trouble those that are quiet in the land,-those that fear God and work righteousness? Does your lordship know what the Methodists are? that many thousands of them are zealous members of the Church of England, and strongly attached, not only to His Majesty, but to his present ministry? Why should your lordship, setting religion out of the question, throw away such a body of respectable friends? Is it for their religious sentiments? Alas! my lord, is this a time to persecute any man for conscience sake? I beseech you, my lord, do as you would be done to. You are a man of sense; you are a man of learning; nay, I verily believe (what is of infinitely more value) you are a man of piety. Then think and let think. I pray God to bless you with the choicest of his blessings." These circumstances occurred a few months only before his death. His friends advised that an application should be made to Parliament for the repeal of the Conventicle Act. In some shape, it cannot be doubted but that relief would have been afforded, and several members of the House of Commons, who respected Mr. Wesley, would have stirred in his behalf. But his growing infirmities prevented him from exerting himself upon this business as he

would otherwise have done.

*In the life of Wesley, by Dr. Coke, and Mr. Moore, there is a letter upon this occasion, in a more angry strain. Probably Mr. Wesley upon reflection saw that he had written in an unbecoming manner, and substi tuted in its place that which I have copied from the life by Dr. Whitehead. The official biographers indeed had in their hands such private documents only, as had not been entrusted to the doctor