"Well, whoever may disagree to-morrow, let you and I live to-day. I am, "Dear Richard, "Your affectionate friend and brother, "J. WESLEY." This was a time of trial with many who laid it to heart. It was to be feared that part would continue a society, or form again under Mr. Wesley, independent of the Methodist Episcopal Church in America. Others, having seen their way clear to enter fully into the ministry, and having administered the ordinances to many, under the direction of Mr. Wesley, in the name of the Holy Trinity, and thought it not sacrilege, dared not think of relinquishing the authority. Many felt like being scattered, when the shepherd had received so heavy a blow from his friends. For the division "of Reuben" there was great searching of hearts. Br. Whatcoat's opinion and counsel were sought by many, as will appear from the letters left among his papers, and his replies. "Dear Sir, "I have looked over thine, which I received last Sabbath, as no answer was asked. I show thee a more excellent way: when men revile you and persecute you, and say all manner of evil of you falsely, for Christ's sake, rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven.' Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should follow his steps; who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, threatened not; but committed himself to Him that judgeth righteously.' "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, hath promised to them that love Him.' Thy soul is more to thee than all the Churches in the world, and the government of thy spirit, than all the disputes in Church and State ! "Need I ask thee, whether thy soul is as happy as it was before the separating Spirit was raised? As to myself, I thank God that I am what I am.May heavenly wisdom guide us through this world. to the blissful regions of bright eternity. Shall I say thine, the least of all the saints, In this time of troubles and disputes, it was, that Dr. Coke thought of forming an union with the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, as his fears had increased from common report; it was said that Mr. Asbury had said, "that Mr. Wesley was like Cæsar, he could admit no equal; and that he was like Pompey, would know no superior." These and the like reports in circulation had a tendency to make Mr. Asbury appear as a factious man, seeking his own glory at the expense of as virtuous characters as his own; having a desire to bury them before they were dead; so as to appear himself the only Father of the Methodists in America. Such were the opinions of some of the preachers in America, and the assertions of some in England; which Mr. Asbury remarked in his farewell address, and may be seen in Moore's Life of Wesley; but the friends of Mr. Asbury believed these censures unfounded and unjust; and that those who made such assertions had not judged righteously. Nevertheless, the standing of the Methodist ministers was very uncertain; as there was no ground of a hope for support for themselves or families, if they were not able to labour and toil continually; but that they must return to some worldly employment, was the only prospect for the aged and worn-down minister, as soon as they could not do efficient duty as itinerants. Dr. Coke foresaw this, and felt sensibly on the occasion; and, had his income been sufficient, no worn-out preacher, widow, or orphan need to have been afraid of want, or his family suffering. His charity was diffuse; his death proved his zeal for the cause of Christ. * He was willing to make every sacrifice for the interest of the Redeemer, and such men as had left their all to preach his gospel. With these warm feelings, and under the impression that the cause of the Redeemer might be advanced through the doctrine revived and preached by Wesley and his preachers, he proposed a junction with a friendly bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in America, knowing that Episcopacy could be no other than moderate in the United States. He feared a deviation from the form would lead to confusion and fanaticism. Another reason might have been thought of by Dr. Coke, in his proposed union with the Protestant Episcopal Church in America,— that of a more general spread of the Gospel; Dr. Coke had passed several times through the States, from Georgia to New-York; he had seen much of that district of country, laid out in parishes, and a church and glebe to every parish; all which, or nearly all, were without ministers, or even supplies. The Church property was not then sold by a legislative act; nor never would have been, if they had been occupied; for it was through some difficulty, * He died in the Indian Ocean, leading out Missionaries to the Indostan Indians. that an act was obtained to sell the churches in Virginia, and to put the money into the treasury; therefore the sooner they were occupied, the better for their security. It would certainly have been so. For, as by Providence those fine buildings had been set apart for divine service, it was just that they should be kept sacred, not be left a rendezvous for bats and boys, and finally sold as bricks and timber. Many spacious brick buildings (especially the nearest church to General Washington's house) were sold as public property, with the land round them. Now, if it causeth a sigh to hear this, how much more, to know that the men whom the adorable Redeemer had in a special manner qualified, and sent to preach the word of life, and to bind up the broken-hearted, should be obliged to leave the word of God, on account of poverty and family concerns: all which Dr. Coke foresaw would certainly take place, if something was not done to prevent it. The Virginian Conference was desired to join in a petition to the legislature for the sale of the unoccupied churches, some time before the act passed; but always refused. Some of our most distinguished ministers had been obliged to locate, and, of course, to leave their charges as ministers, and take care of a family of children, or an old father or mother. The plan laid by Dr. Coke might have prevented all these things, and many more, according to human probability; and might have been a lasting blessing to many generations, by establishing that excellent doctrine of the Remonstrants. There was, in all the southern states, much to invite such an union. The same articles, the same creed, the same baptism, the same liturgy, the same faith, the same people, engaged to build up the old waste places. Dr. Coke had the experienced men, and the Protestant Church the means. But Dr. Coke, though an intrepid man, was soon diverted from this purposed union. After he had gotten all his papers ready, and showed them to one of the preachers, on his saying it would grieve Mr. Asbury and some others, he destroyed them, and gave up his intentions at once; not that he thought it would be a crime, or a renunciation of his former consecration, even to be consecrated by the bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church on this occasion for if valid baptism was not thought invalid by being repeated, nor a sacrilegious renunciation of what had been before performed, neither might a reordination be thought a renouncing of former ordination. But since then, these things have been much controverted, and settled in a different point of light from what they were viewed at that day to do good was the design of good men at all risks; but the right way is to be preferred at all times, that the good may not be evil spoken of. The After Dr. Coke's departure for Europe, his contemplated union with the Protestant Episcopal Church was used to his great disadvantage. preacher to whom he opened his mind on the subject, informed Mr. Asbury; which, with the letter Mr. Wesley sent to Mr. Whatcoat, gave Mr. Asbury much grief, dejection, and sorrow; but he was not neglected by his old friend Whatcoat, who was with him in all his troubles, so that his bow abode in strength, and he continued to superintend the work through the country, and to encourage the young preachers in the work of the Lord: and to hear and settle all their troubles to the utmost of his power, often supplying their wants by sparing them some of * In the minutes of 1784, Dr. Coke thought good to repeat baptism for conscience' sake. |