parts adjacent; in Staffordshire, Cornwall, at Dublin, Cork, and other parts of Ireland. After this, having married Miss Sarah Gwynne, a lady of considerable family in the county of Brecon, South Wales, he chiefly divided his labours between London and Bristol, in which cities he was rendered useful in the conversion and spiritual profit of many souls. As a Preacher, he was mighty in the Scriptures, and possessed a remarkable talent of uttering the most striking truths with simplicity, force, and brevity. His discourses were not dry and systematic, but flowed from the present views and feelings of his own mind. And they were sometimes truly apostolic, forcing conviction on the hearers in spite of the most determined opposition.

As a Poet, he greatly excelled. It is of his poetical compositions that Mr. John W. says, in the Preface to his large Hymn Book, "In these hymns there is no doggerel, no botches, nothing put in to patch up the rhyme, no feeble expletives. Here is nothing turgid and bombast on the one hand, or low and creeping on the other. Here are no cant expressions, no words without meaning. me to say) both the purity, the strength, and the elegance of the English language, and, at the same time, the utmost simplicity and plainness, suited to every capacity."

Here are (allow

Mr. Charles Wesley wrote short hymns on most of the remarkable passages of the Old and New Testament, and very largely on some parts of both. His Hymns and Sacred Poems are an invaluable treasure. There is not a point of Divinity, doctrinal, experimental, or practical, which he has not illustrated in verse, that for purity, and often for sublimity, may vie with any thing in the English language. But they especially evidence that the mind of the writer was deeply impressed with his subject, and fully acquainted with the religion of the heart. In these short hymns, he has expressed his opinion on the leading doctrines of the Gospel, with great energy and beauty.

The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed.

Matt. xiii. 31.

"A GRAIN of grace may we not see,

This moment, and the next a tree?

Or Must we patiently attend,

To find the precious seed ascend ?

Our Lord declares it Must be so ;

And striking deep our root we grow,
And lower sink, and higher rise,

Till Christ transplant us to the skies."

The following comment on a much disputed passage, shews his humanity and benevolence.

To-morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me.
1 Sam. xxviii. 19.

"WHAT do these solemn words portend

A gleam of hope when life shall end:
< Thou and thy sons, though slain, shall be
To-morrow in repose with me! '

Not in a state of hellish pain,

If Saul with Samuel doth remain ;
Not in a state of damn'd despair,

If loving Jonathan be there."

His lively turn of thought did not leave him in his old as the following lines will testify.

age,

The Man of Fashion:

Written in 1784.

"WHAT is a modern man of fashion?
A man of taste and dissipation:
A busy man, without employment,
A happy man, without enjoyment:
Who squanders all his time and treasures,
On empty joys and tasteless pleasures;
Visits, attendance, and attention,
And courtly arts too low to mention,

Had Mr. Charles Wesley engaged in the higher walks of verse, there is no doubt but he would have been esteemed a considerable poet, even by those who now despise his hymns. He chose the most excellent way, the writing of hymns for the instruction and edification of the many, rather than devote all his life in attempts to please the fancy of the few. Some of his hymns are certainly among the best pieces in that species of composition.

Mr. Charles Wesley had a weak body, and a poor state of health, during the greatest part of his life. He laid the foundation of both, at Oxford, by too close application to study and abstinence from food. He rode much on horseback, which, probably, contributed to lengthen out life to a good old age. In his last sickness, his body was indeed reduced to the most extreme state of weakness. He possessed that state of mind which he had always been pleased to see in others, unaffected humility, and holy resignation to the will of God. He had no transports of joy, but solid hope and unshaken confidence in Christ, which kept his mind in perfect peace. A few days before his death, he composed the following lines. Having been silent and quiet for some time, he called Mrs. Wesley to him, and bid her write as he dictated :

"IN age and feebleness extreme,
Who shall a sinful worm redeem?
Jesus, my only hope thou art,

Strength of my failing flesh and heart:
O could I catch a smile from thee,

And drop into eternity!"

He died, March 29, 1788, aged seventy-nine years and three months; and was buried in April 5, in Marybone church-yard, at his own desire. The pall was supported by eight clergymen of the Church of England. On his tomb-stone are the following lines, written by himself on the death of one of his friends: they could not be more aptly applied to any person than to Mr. Charles Wesley.

"WITH poverty of spirit bless'd,

Rest, happy saint, in Jesus rest;
A sinner sav'd, through grace forgiv'n,
Redeem'd from earth to reign in heav'n!
Thy labours of unwearied love,

By thee forgot, are crown'd above;

Crown'd, through the mercy of thy Lord,
With a free, full, immense reward!"

"Mr. Wesley" (observes Dr. Whitehead) "was of a lively disposition; of great frankness and integrity, and generous and steady in his friendships. His love of simplicity, and utter abhorrence of hypocrisy, and even of affectation in the professors of religion, made him some times appear severe on those who assumed a consequence, on account of their experience, or, were pert and forward in talking of themselves and others. These persons were sure of meeting with a reproof from him, which some, perhaps, might call precipitate and imprudent, though it was evidently founded on a knowledge of the human heart. In conversation he was pleasing, instructive, and cheerful; and his observations were often seasoned with wit and humour. His religion was genuine and unaffected. As a minister, he was familiarly acquainted with every part of Divinity; and his mind was furnished with an uncommon knowledge of the Scriptures. As a husband, a father, and

a friend, his character was amiable. Mrs. Wesley brought him five children, of whom two sons and a daughter are still living. The sons discovered a taste for music, and a fine musical ear, at an early period of infancy, which excited general amazement; and are now justly admired by the best judges for their talents in that pleasing art.

From a review of the life of Mr. Charles Wesley, it will Appear evident, that the Methodists are greatly indebted to him for his unwearied labours and great usefulness at the first formation of the Societies, when every step was attended with difficulty and danger. And being dead he yet speaketh by his numerous and excellent hymns, written for the use of the Societies, which still continue to be the means of daily edification and comfort to thousands.

CHAPTER IV.

AN ACCOUNT OF

THE REV. JOHN WESLEY,

FROM HIS BIRTH TO THE YEAR 1739.

WHEN we view Mr. Wesley rising into public notice, from the bosom of a family which had long been venerable for Christian knowledge and piety, the mind feels a prepos session in his favour, and our expectation is raised of something great and good from him. As we proceed to examine his education, and the principles instilled into his mind, at an early period of life, we shall see a solid foundation laid of sound knowledge and genuine piety. But that every one may judge for himself in this matter, we shall endea vour to trace, step by step, the circumstances of his early life, during the period mentioned in this chapter.