CHAPTER II.

LABOURS OF MR. WESLEY, AND HIS ASSISTANTS IN SCOTLAND CONTROVERSY RESPECTING MR. HERVEY'S LET

TERS RECENT REVIVAL OF THAT CONTROVERSY BY DR. ERSKINE'S BIOGRAPHER.

It has been already stated, that in the month of April, 1751, Mr. Wesley first visited Scotland, accompanied by Mr. Christopher Hopper, after having had some correspondence with Mr. Erskine on the subject. Colonel Galatin, then in quarters at Musselborough near Edinburgh had pressed him to pay him a visit. Mr. Wesley having mentioned this to Mr. Whitefield, he replied, "You have no business there: for your principles are so well known, that if you spoke like an angel, none would hear you. And if they did, you would have nothing to do but to dispute with one and another from morning to night." He answered, "If God sends me, people will hear. And I will give them no provocation to dispute : For I will studiously avoid controverted points, and keep to the fundamental truths of Christianity. And if any will begin to dispute, they may: But I will not dispute with them."

He went. Hundreds and thousands flocked to hear: And he was enabled to keep his word. He avoided whatever might engender strife, and insisted upon the grand points, the religion of the heart, and salvation by faith, at all times, and in all places. And by this means, he cut off all occasion of dispute.

At Musselborough especially, he was kindly received. He had given them a promise, that Mr. Hopper should come back the next week, and spend a few days with them. Mr.

Hopper did accordingly return at the time appointed, and preached morning and evening to large congregations, who heard with the greatest attention.

In April, 1753, Mr. Wesley again visited Scotland. He now entered it on the side of Dumfries. In passing the sands which lie between Bonas and that town, the innkeeper who guided him, asked with great simplicity, "How much a year he got by preaching thus ?" This gave him an opportunity of explaining, to his guide, that kind of gain to which he seemed an utter stranger. He appeared to be quite amazed, and spoke not one word, good or bad, till he took his leave.

When he arrived at Glasgow, that excellent man, Dr. Gillies, received him in a truly christian spirit; and invited him to preach in his church. Upon this Mr. Wesley remarks, "Surely with God nothing is impossible! Who would have believed five-and-twenty years ago, either that the minister would have desired it, or that I should have consented to preach in a Scotch Kirk !"-He preached also at the prison; and then returned by Edinburgh and Tranent to England. Not long after, Mr. Wardrobe, Minister of Bathgate in Scotland, the twin-soul of Dr. Gillies, preached at Mr. Wesley's chapel in Newcastle, to the no small amazement and displeasure of some of his zealous countrymen. Some time after this, Mr. Wesley received from Dr. Gillies the following account of the death of that excellent man :

"Mr. Wardrobe died last night. He was seized on Sabbath last, just as he was going to the Kirk, with a most violent cholic, which terminated in a mortification of his bowels. The circumstances of his death are worthy to be recorded. With what pleasure did he receive the message, and depart in all the triumph of a conqueror! Crying out, My warfare ' is accomplished'; I have fought the good fight: My victory 'is completed! Crowns of grace shall adorn this head, (tak'ing off his cap,) and palms be put into these hands. Yet a little while, and I shall sing for ever. I know that my

• Redeemer liveth. When he was within a few moments of his last, he gave me his hand, and a little after said, Now lettest 'thou thy servant depart in peace; for mine eyes have seen thy * salvation.' Were I to repeat half of what he spoke, I should write you three hours. It shall suffice at this time to say, that as he has lived the life, so he died the death of a Christian. We weep not for him; we weep for ourselves. I wish we may know how to improve this awful judgment, so as to be also ready, not knowing when our Lord cometh.”

Yet a little

Mr. Adams, Minister of Falkirk, wrote thus: "On Friday night, about ten, I witnessed Mr. Wardrobe of Bathgate's entrance into the joy of his Lord. But, Ah! who can help mourning the loss to the church of Christ? His amiable character gave him a distinguished weight and influence; which his Lord had given him to value, only for its subserviency to his honour and glory. He was suddenly taken ill on the last Lord's-day, and from the first moment believed it was for death. I went to see him on Thursday evening, and heard some of the liveliest expressions of triumphant faith, and of zeal for the glory of Christ and the salvation of souls, mixed with the most amiable humility and modesty. 'while,' said he, and this mortal shall put on immortality. Mortality shall be swallowed up of life: This vile body fash•ioned like to his glorious body! O for the victory! I shall 'gct the victory. I know in whom I have believed. Then with a remarkably audible voice, lifting up his hands, he cried out, O for a draught of the well of the water of life, that I 'may begin the song before I go off to the church triumph'ant! I go forth in thy name, making mention of thy righteousness, even thine only. I die at the feet of mercy.'Then stretching out his arms, he put his hand upon his head; and with the most serene, steady, and majestic eye I ever saw, looking upwards, he said, Crowns of grace, crowns of grace, and palms in their hands! O Lord God of truth, into thy hands I commend my spirit! After an unexpected

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revival, he said, 'O, I fear his tarrying, lest the prospect 'become more dark! I sometimes fear he may spare me to live, and to be less faithful than he has helped me to be ' hitherto.' He said to me, "You that are ministers, bear a proper testimony against the professors of this age, who have ' a form of godliness without the power.'-Observing some of his people about the bed, he said, May I have some seals ' among you! O where will the ungodly and sinners of Bathgate appear? Labour to be in Christ.-Then he stretched out his hand to several, and said, Farewell, farewell! And ' now, O Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee !'--Once or twice he said, 'Let me be laid across the bed to expire, 'where I have sometimes prayed and sometimes meditated 'with pleasure." He expressed his grateful sense of the assiduous care which Mr. Wardrobe of Cult had taken of him: And on his replying, Too much could not be done for so < valuable a life,' said, 'O speak not so, or you will provoke • God! Glory be to God, that I have ever had any regard 'paid me, for Christ's sake!'-I am greatly sunk under the event. O help by your prayers, to get the proper submission and improvement !"

choose the

Not only

The Lord was pleased, in Scotland also, to foolish things of the world' to carry on his work. such men as Dr. Gillies, Mr. Wardrobe, and Mr. Wesley, but sometimes soldiers in quarters, or on recruiting parties, or tradesmen who went thither to get employment, were the instruments of turning many to God, who had before sought death in the error of their ways.

The first Societies were those of Musselborough and Dunbar; many of whom, at Mr. Wesley's next visit, in the year 1757, could rejoice in God their Saviour. During this tour he preached in the open air in every place, and remarks that he was agreeably surprised at the simplicity and teachableness of many who attended his ministry. Steadiness, indeed, he looked for in the people of North Britain; and he rejoiced to find also those other pleasing qualities in many.

He visited Scotland again in 1761, and found the labours of the preachers were not in vain. Mr. Hopper met him at Edinburgh, where the preaching was now well attended. From thence he went to Dundee and Aberdeen. At the latter place he was treated with much respect by the Principal and other eminent persons of the University. He preached first in the college-close, and then in the hall, which was crowded even at five in the morning! In every place some desired to unite with him, (according to the rule,) to meet together weekly, to provoke each other to love and to good

works."

An anecdote, which, I doubt not, will be pleasing to my readers, is mentioned by Mr. Wesley on this occasion: "May 4.-About noon," said he, "I took a walk to the King's College in Old Aberdeen.

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It has three sides of a square

handsomely built, not unlike Queen's College in Oxford.

Going up to see the hall, with several gentlemen. another; after which one came to me. He said, We came last night to the collegeclose, but could not hear, and should be extremely obliged 'if you would give us a short discourse here.'-I knew not what God might have to do, and so began without delay, on 'God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself. I believe the word was not lost. It fell as dew on the tender grass.

we found a large company of ladies They looked, and spoke to one of the gentlemen took courage, and

The work of God now prospered much. Many were brought to the knowledge and love of God by the preaching of Mr. Roberts and Mr. Hanby at Edinburgh, Dundee, and Aberdeen. But Satan was not idle. He made even a good man the cause of unspeakable evil. The late Mr. Hervey, of whose grateful sense of Mr. Wesley's fatherly kindness towards him, when he was his pupil at Oxford, I have inserted such strong testimonies, was persuaded by a Mr. Cudworth, an Antinomian teacher, to write a pamphlet against him.