Chapter I: Front Matter

Transcriber’s Notes

Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected. All other spelling and punctuation remains unchanged, except inconsistencies in hyphenation.

Italics are represented thus _italic_, superscripts thus^x.

From a scarce Print by Bland, published in the year 1765, and approved
by M^r. Wesley.
Engraved by J. Cochran.
New York, Harper & Brothers.]

THE

LIFE AND TIMES

OF THE

REV. JOHN WESLEY, M.A.,

Founder of the Methodists.

BY THE

REV. L. TYERMAN,

AUTHOR OF “THE LIFE AND TIMES OF REV. S. WESLEY, M.A.,”
(_Father of the Revds. J. and C. Wesley_).

IN THREE VOLUMES.

VOL. II.

NEW YORK:
HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS,
FRANKLIN SQUARE.
1872.

GENERAL CONTENTS.

VOL. II.

1748.
PAGE

Narrow Escapes—Bristol Chapel—Murderous Persecutions in Ireland—Dublin Society—A Carmelite Friar—First Methodist Chapel in Dublin—London Conference—“Thoughts on Marriage”—Kingswood School—Journey to the North—William Grimshaw—Thomas Colbeck—Horrible Outrages at Roughlee and Barrowford—A Popish Renegado—Grimshaw’s Answer to White—Stoning at Bolton—Wesley among Unitarians—“Drummer Jack”—Whitefield and Wesley—Countess of Huntingdon—Whitefield in Trouble—Bishop Lavington in a Rage—An Unknown Friend—“Christian Library”—Ebenezer Blackwell—Converted Convicts—Sarah Peters—Publications—Wesley on Quakerism 1-31

1749.

Horace Walpole on Methodism—Whitefield and the Wesleys, a Threefold Cord—Wesley gives Lectures to Seventeen Preachers—Charles Wesley Married—Wesley in Ireland—Slanderous Falsehoods—Terrible Persecutions in Cork—Butler, the Ballad Singer—Letter in _Bath Journal_—John Bennet—Whitefield’s Letter to Bennet—The First Methodist Agitator—Grace Murray—Wesley’s Courtship with Grace Murray—Coquetry—Rival Lovers—Wesley’s Reasons for Marrying—A Wedding—Painful Scenes—Who was Blamable?—A Fire Put Out—Rough Usage in Lancashire—Wesley again in Trouble with Moravians—Original Letter by Wesley—Moravian Balderdash—Wesley’s Publications—Elocution—Dr. Conyers Middleton—Wesley on the Clergy and Learning—“The Christian Library” 32-67

1750.

Fraternization—Whitefield—“The Impostor Detected”—Rev. Charles Manning—Earthquakes—London in Sackcloth—Bishop Sherlock’s Warning—Hymns on Earthquakes—Death of (Mehetabel Wesley) Mrs. Wright—John Jane—Jonah on Board—An Overgrown Brute leading a Drunken Rabble—Roger Ball—Lætitia Pilkington—Wesley in Ireland—Rev. Richard Lloyd—Renewed Outrages in Cork—Drunken Parson at Bandon—Long Rides—Two Termagants—Letters on Irish Methodism—On Preaching—Complaints against Preachers—The “Gifted Itinerants” in _Bristol Weekly Intelligencer_—Wesley in the West of England—Zinzendorf—Spitalfields Chapels—Publications—Logic—Rev. Mr. Bailey, of Cork, Castigated—Bishop Lavington’s Vulgar Outpourings—Wesley’s Reply to Lavington 68-94

1751.

Moravianism—Abominations at Leeds and Bedford—“The Contents of a Folio History of the Moravians”—Zinzendorf and the British Parliament—Letter by John Cennick—Wesley’s Marriage—Mrs. Vazeille—A curious Episode—Wesley’s Marriage a great Blunder—Wesley Resigns his Fellowship—Wesley’s Wife and Brother—Connubial Sorrows—Foolish Correspondence with Sarah Ryan—Jealousy and Cruelty—A manly Letter—Original Letter by Wesley’s Wife—Wesley on the Wing—A Bolton Barber—Rev. J. Milner—Benjamin Ingham—Wesley’s First Visit to Scotland—Scottish Methodism—Conference at Leeds—Kingswood Troubles—James Wheatley Tried and Expelled—Strange Proceedings at Norwich—Wheatley condemned to do Public Penance—Number of Itinerant Preachers—A Serious Sifting—Wesley’s Complaints—An Agreement—Mischievous “Gospel Preachers”—Whitefield becomes a Slaveowner—Wesley at Tiverton—John Downes—Wesley on Languages—Calvinistic Fallacies 95-136

1752.

Written Covenants—Journey to the North—Richard Ellison—Rough Reception at Hull—Pocklington—Cursed at York—Maniac at Osmotherley—Mrs. Armstrong at Wickham—Fire Engine at Barnard castle—Extracts from Todmorden Circuit Book—Bedroom at Mellar Barn—Horses—Persecution at Chester—Printing—Letters from Ireland—Charles Wesley charged with being a Calvinist—The first Irish Conference—Philip Guier—A Note of Discord—Publications—Predestination—Rev. John Gill, D.D.—Lavington, the Lampooning Bishop—A marvellous Epitaph 137-153

1753.

Letter from Howel Harris—Whitefield’s Tabernacle—Moravian Debts—Peter Bohler—Zinzendorf charged with Falsehood—Fanatical Fopperies—Letters of Defence—Moravianism at Bedford—Marshalsea Prison—Scenes of Suffering—Benjamin Franklin—Electricity—Wesley’s Electrifying Machines—Advice to Preachers—Incidents—Rev. John Gillies—Alnwick—First Methodist Quarterly Meeting at Newcastle—Conference at Leeds—Original Letter to Whitefield—Minutes of Conference—Methodism at Leicester—Methodism in Isle of Wight—Rioting at Bristol—Wesley Ill—Stephen Plummer—Wesley and his Friends—Dr. John Fothergill—Wesley’s Epitaph—Dangerous Illness—Whitefield’s loving Letter—Circular of Wesley’s Book Stewards—Thomas Butts—William Briggs—Publications—Dr. John Parkhurst—“Principles and Preaching of the Methodists considered”—“Hymns and Spiritual Songs”—“The Complete English Dictionary”—Wesley a Lover of Plainness 154-183

1754.

Wesley’s “Notes on the New Testament”—Wesley an Invalid—Rev. Henry Venn—Rev. Samuel Furley—Annual Conference—Conference Preaching Plan—Society Ticket—Wesley’s First Visit to Norwich—Chapel at Trowbridge—“The Mechanic Inspired”—Publications—Satirical Poem 184-193

1755.

“Theron and Aspasio”—Journey to the North—A Dance at Hayfield—Methodism in Liverpool—“A Gentleman’s Reasons for his Dissent from the Church of England”—Conference at Leeds—Faithful Dealing—Separation from the Church—Unpublished Letters—Extracts from C. Wesley’s shorthand Diary—Original Letter by C. Wesley—A Poetical Epistle—Letter to Rev. Mr. Baddiley—Other Letters—Rev. Samuel Walker—Rev. Thomas Adam—Whiston Cliff Phenomenon—Rev. John Langhorne, D.D.—Wesley’s Review of the Work of God in England and America—Richard Tompson—“An Apology for the Clergy”—“A Dissertation on Enthusiasm”—Wesley in London, and in Cornwall—A Sunday’s Work—Rev. John Fletcher—Wesley catechizes Zinzendorf—Earthquake at Lisbon—“Catholic Spirit”; “Notes on the New Testament” 194-227

1756.

Whitefield in Long Acre—“History of Modern Enthusiasm”—Another hostile Publication—Letter to Joseph Cownley—Methodist Soldiers at Canterbury—Dr. Dodd—Christian Perfection—Threatened Invasion of the French—Methodist Volunteers—Wesley, and Bristol Election—Visit to Howel Harris—Wesley in Ireland—The Palatines—Methodism at Lisburn—Conference at Bristol—Methodists becoming Dissenters—“The Mitre”—Letters on Separation from the Church—C. Wesley, and his Northern Mission—Original Letter—Proposal to Ordain Preachers—Further Correspondence on Separation from the Church—Debt Incurred—Forbidden Marriages—Wesley on the French Language—Hutchinsonianism—Wesley criticises “Theron and Aspasio”—Fletcher Ordained—Fletcher on Methodist Sacraments—Publications—Baptismal Regeneration—Jacob Behmen—William Law, a Behmenite—Controversy—“Address to the Clergy”—Hostile Pamphlets 228-270

1757.

C. Wesley ceases to Itinerate—Whitefield Mobbed in Dublin—Sabbath Work in London—The first Methodist Mayor—Wesley in Liverpool, and in Huddersfield—David Lacy—A Woman at Padiham threatens Wesley’s Life—Grand Service at Haworth—Wesley in Scotland—Three Weeks at Newcastle—Return Southwards—Death of Persecutors—Conference in London—Rev. Mr. Vowler—Correspondence on Separation from the Church—Wesley on Methodist Worship—Rev. Martin Madan—Sarah Ryan—Rules for Kingswood School—Wesley’s Wife leaves him—Miss Bosanquet’s Home, at Leytonstone—Wesley in Cornwall—Fire at Kingswood School—Fine Chapels—Hostile Pamphlets—_London Magazine_—Wesley’s Publications—John Glass and Robert Sandeman—“Doctrine of Original Sin”—Letter to Dr. Taylor 271-296

1758.

African Converts—Nathaniel Gilbert—Sermon at Bedford Assizes—Rough Journey—“Dame Cross”—Rev. Francis Okeley—Wesley in Ireland—Conference at Bristol—Christian Perfection—Methodism at Warminster—Rev. John Berridge—Remarkable Scenes at Everton—Rev. John Newton—Rev. Augustus Montague Toplady—Leeds Society—Wesley’s Publications—Separation from the Church—“Preservative against Unsettled Notions in Religion”—Rev. Dr. Free 297-322

1759.

Great National Excitement—Prayer-Meetings at Lady Huntingdon’s—Methodist Clergymen—Rev. Thomas Jones—Norwich Methodism—Journey to the North—Methodism at Stockport—Methodism in Sunderland—A Fisherwoman at Newcastle—Trances at Everton—Letter from Berridge—Conference in London—Norwich Methodists—Rev. Thomas Goodday—Rev. Richard Conyers, LL.D.—Rev. Walter Shirley—Ecclesiastical Dress—French Prisoners—Methodism at Bedford—Wesley, on the Work at Everton—First Lovefeast for the _whole_ Society—Savage Onslaught by Rev. John Downes—Wesley’s Publications—Suicides—“Advices with respect to Health”—Christian Perfection 323-347

1760.

Letter to _Lloyd’s Evening Post_—Wesley on the Wing—Wesley and John Newton—Strange Incident in Ireland—General Cavignac—Methodism in Ireland—Wesley mobbed at Carrick upon Shannon—A Tour of thirteen Weeks—Racing against Time—Letters—A Lawsuit—Original Letter by Walter Sellon—A noble Scheme—Wesley in Cornwall—Catechumen Classes at Bristol—Death of George II.—John Newton declines to become a Methodist Preacher—Execution of Earl Ferrars—Dastardly Attack on Methodism by Samuel Foote—Hostile Publications—Separation from the Church—C. Wesley in a Frenzy—Queries in _Lloyd’s Evening Post_—Wesley’s Publications—Dress—Results 348-392