CHAPTER III.

CONTINUANCE OF MR. WESLEY'S LABOURS-HIS VISIT TO IRELAND ACCOUNT OF THE WORK OF GOD IN THE FRENCH ISLANDS MR. WESLEY'S VISIT TO THEM-LATTER DAYS AND DEATH OF MR. CHARLES WESLEY-A REVIEW OF HIS

CHARACTER.

DURING the latter years of Mr. Wesley's life, he was a wonder unto many. To see a man, at the age of fourscore years and upwards, persevering in daily labours, from which even the young and vigorous would recede, as from an intolerable burden: To see him rising in the morning at four; travelling often from thirty to sixty or seventy miles a day; preaching daily two, three, or four, yea, sometimes five sermons; reading, writing, visiting the sick, conversing with his friends, and superintending the societies wherever he came: And, in all this labour and care, to see him a stranger to weariness, either of body or mind:-This was a new thing in the earth, and excited the admiration of mankind.

I have already noted the observations which he made on his birth-day, in Holland, in the year 1783, that, "by the mercy of God, his eyes were not waxed dim, and what strength of body or mind he had thirty years before, the same he had then." And we find similar remarks yearly in his Journal till the year 1787.

In that year, he visited Ireland; and, passing through the North of that kingdom, he called upon a respectable Clergyman, whose kind attentions in his sickness at Tandragee, in the year 1775, had laid him under obligations. After he had quitted this agreeable family, reflecting on some painful deviations which he had observed, he sent the Clergyman the following letter. It will serve, as one instance, to shew that faithfulness for which he was so remarkable.

“Rev. and DEAR SIR,

"I have obligations to you, on many accounts, from the time I first saw you; particularly for the kind concern you shewed, when I was ill at Tandragee. These have increased upon me every time that I have since had the pleasure of waiting upon you. Permit me, Sir, to speak without reserve. Esteem was added to my affectionate regard, when I saw the uncommon pains you took with the flock committed to your care; as also, when I observed the remarkably serious manner wherein you read prayers in your family. Many years have passed since that time; many more than I am likely to see under the sun. But before I go hence, I would fain give you one instance of my sincere regard; the rather, because I can scarce expect to see you again till we meet in a better world. But it is difficult for me to do it, as I feel myself inferior to you in so many respects. Yet permit me to ask a strange question, Is your soul as much alive to God as it was once? Have you not suffered loss from your relations or acquaintance, that are sensible and agreeable men, but not incumbered with religion? Some of them, perhaps, as free from the very form, as from the power of it. O Sir, if you lose any of the things which you have wrought, who can make you amends for that loss? If you do not receive a full reward, what equivalent can you gain? I was pained, even at your hospitable table, in the midst of those I loved so well. We did not begin and close the meal in the same manner you did ten years ago! You was then, contrary to almost universal custom, unfashionably serious in asking a blessing and returning thanks. I know many would blame you for it: But surely the Lord said, Servant of God, well done! Wishing you and your lovely family every blessing,

"I am,

"Rev. and dear Sir,

"Your obliged and affectionate Brother and Servant,

"J WESLEY."

On his return, he notes in his Journal::-"For seventy years I have observed, that England abounds with prophets, who confidently foretel many terrible things. They generally believe themselves, but are carried away with a vain imagination; and are seldom undeceived, even by the failure of their predictions, but still believe, they will be fulfilled some time or other.”—Such was the constant sobriety of his mind, and so did he reprove the pestilent spirit of curiosity, too common even among good men.

The following paper is without date; and though it was probably written before this period, I shall insert it here, omitting an observation or two, which could not now be considered interesting. The style is truly Wesleyan, and the thoughts may be of use even in our day. We have still men in the nation, both pious and learned, who are as fanciful as Mr. Hutchinson himself.

"To the Reverend Dean D.

"REV. SIR,

"When Dr. Bentley published his Greek Testament, one remarked, Pity but he would publish the Old; then we should have two New Testaments!" It is done. Those who receive Mr. Hutchinson's emendations certainly have two New Testaments! But I stumble at the threshold. Can we believe, that God left his whole Church so ignorant of the Scripture till yesterday? And if He was pleased to reveal the sense of it now, to whom may we suppose He would reveal it? All Scripture,' says Kempis, must be understood by the same Spirit whereby it was written.' And a greater than he says, Them that are meek will He guide in judgment, and them that are gentle will He learn his way.' But was Mr. Hutchinson eminently meek and gentle ?

"However, in order to learn all I could from his works, after first consulting them, I carefully read over Mr. Spearman, Mr. Jones's ingenious book, and the Glasgow Abridg

ment. I read the last with Mr. Thomas Walsh, [already mentioned,] the best Hebræan I ever knew. I never asked him the meaning of an Hebrew word, but he would immediately tell me, how often it occurred in the Bible, and what it meant in each place! We then both observed, that Mr. Hutchinson's whole scheme is built upon etymologies; the most uncertain foundation in the world, and the least to be depended upon. We observed, Secondly, that if the points be allowed, all his building sinks at once: And Thirdly, that, setting them aside, many of his etymologies are forced and unnatural. He frequently, to find the etymology of one word, squeezes two radices together; a liberty never to be taken, where a word may fairly be derived from a single radix.

"But may I hazard a few words on the points? Mr. H. affirms, they were invented by the Masorites, only thirteen or fourteen hundred years ago, in order to destroy the sense of Scripture. I doubt this: Who can prove it ? Who can prove they were not as old as Ezra; if not co-eval with the language? Let any one give a fair reading, only to what Dr. Cornelius Bayley has offered in the Preface to his Hebrew Grammar, and he will be as sick of reading without points as I am; at least, till he can answer the Doctor's arguments, he will not be so positive upon the question.

"As to his Theology, I first stumble at his profuse encomiums on the Hebrew language. But, it may be said, Is it not the language which God himself used? And, is not Greek too the language which God himself used? And did he not use it in delivering to man a far more perfect dispensation, than that which he delivered in Hebrew? Who can deny it? And does not even this consideration give us reason at least to suspect, that the Greek language is as far superior to the Hebrew, as the New Testament is to the Old? And, indeed, if we set prejudice aside, and consider both, with attention and candour, can we help seeing, that the Greek

excels the Hebrew, as much in beauty and strength as it does in copiousness? I suppose, no one from the beginning of the

world wrote better Hebrew than Moses. But does not the janguage of St. Paul excel the language of Moses, as much as the knowledge of St. Paul excelled his?

"I speak this, even on supposition that you read the Hebrew, as I believe Ezra, if not Moses, did with points. For, if we read it in the modern way without points, I appeal to every competent judge, whether it be not the most equivocal." The paper has been partly destroyed.

In the countries which have hitherto been considered, (the Isle of Man excepted,) the English language has been universally spoken. But Divine Providence led Mr. Wesley, with the Preachers in connexion with him, into an unexpected line of usefulness, promising the happiest results.

The Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, and Alderney, are situated in St. Michael's Bay, near the coast of Normandy. They are the only remains of the Norman dominions annexed to Great Britain by William the Conqueror. The inhabitants, in general, (those of the two principal towns excepted,) speak only French.

Jersey was known to the ancient Romans under the name of Cæsarea. It is twelve miles in length, and contains about twenty thousand inhabitants. Guernsey is seven or eight miles long, and contains about fifteen thousand people. These two islands are exceedingly fertile and healthy. Alderney is about eight miles in circumference, and has about three or four thousand inhabitants.

In a regiment of soldiers, which was sent over to Jersey in the French war, before the Revolution, there were a few serious Christians who had heard the Gospel in one of the sea-port towns of England. These men, finding no help for their souls in the island, wrote to Mr. Wesley, treating him to send them a Preacher. Mr. Bracken