Editor's Introductory Notes: 1743

 

 

[1] Valton had been ordered to Purfleet in December 1763 to do duty at the King's Magazines. Mrs. Edwards, the wife of an officer and the only Methodist in that part of the country, showed him special kindness. He left off his 'grosser sins,' but 'began to despair of salvation.' 'At length, encouraged by my friends, I unbosomed my whole heart to Mr. Wesley in an anonymous letter, soliciting his advice. The answer I beg leave to transcribe for the benefit of those who may be in the same state.' Valton says: 'This letter seemed fraught with impossibilities, and I should have misconstrued the whole had not Mrs. Edwards explained it, and very much to my satisfaction.' See Wesley's Veterans, vi. 6-9; and letter of March 1, 1769, to him.

[2] Mrs. Freeman's husband had much to do with the erection of the chapel in Gravel Walk, Dublin. He died of fever caught when visiting a member of his class. His wife became one of the pillars of the Dublin Society. See Crookshank's Methodism in Ireland, i. 239, 254; W.H.S. xiv. 56; and letter of June 7, 1762.

[3] Miss Bosanquet had moved from Hoxton on March 24, 1763, to The Cedars, Leytonstone, with her friend Mrs. Ryan, who wrote to Wesley on March 6, 1764: 'Honoured and Dear Sir, I have often heard you do not take those persons to be real friends who reprove or tell you what they think wrong; but cleave to those who always give praise and respect, though sometimes only from the teeth outward.' She says: 'I am nearly concerned for your prosperity, because I have received more good through you than any other person in the world, and likewise on account of our Lord's glory in the world and among His people, whom my soul loveth.' Her intimate description of 'how our Lord deals with my own soul' explains Wesley's questions. As to her charge, he knows not the men who thus flatter him. She replied on April 5: 'Your questions are very weighty, and such as are not to be answered without deep consideration.... I have not lost that child-like, holy affection which I have ever felt for you. God knoweth I regard you more like a natural parent.' See letter of April 23 to her.

[4] In 1764 Thomas Hartley, Rector of Winwick, Northants, published Paradise Restored: or a Testimony to the Doctrine of the Blessed Millennium, or Christ's Glorious Reign with His Saints on Earth. To which is added A Short Defence of the Mystical Writers, written against The Doctrine of Grace, issued by Bishop Warburton in 1763. Hartley was a friend of Lady Huntingdon, a scholar, and a devout Christian. Wesley began to read his work on February 5, and gives his impressions in the Journal, v. 46. See Tyerman's Wesley, ii. 518-25; and letter of November 26, 1762.

[5] Wesley says in his Journal for April 19, 1764: 'I wrote a letter to-day, which after some time I sent to forty or fifty clergymen, with the little preface annexed.' A list is given in the Journal, v. 63n; and also, on pages 63-6, the answers received from Richard Hart, Vicar of St. George's, Bristol, W. S. (Walter Sellon [Edward Perronet says it was Walter Sellon]), and Vincent Perronet. At the Conference in Leeds on August 4, 1769, Wesley read a paper in which he says: 'Out of fifty or sixty to whom I wrote, only three vouchsafed me an answer. So I give this up. I can do no more. They are a rope of sand; and such they will continue.' Edward Perronet says the original letter was sent to Lord Dartmouth; and this is confirmed by the one to Lady Huntingdon. See Minutes, i. 87-9; Wesleyan Methodist Magazine, 1849, p. 1297; and letter of August 4, 1769.

[6] The previous letter was sent by Wesley the next day to Lady Huntingdon, with a special opening and closing paragraph. Six names are added to the list of clergy: -- Madan, Haweis, Hartley, Baddiley [See letter of Oct. 31, 1755,] (of Hayfield), Crook, Eastwood. Four are omitted: Newton, J. Richardson, Rouquet, B. Colley. Symes is probably the Sims of the Huntingdon letter. For the full letter, which differs in some details, see W.H.S. xii. 29-34.

[7] In answer to Mrs. Ryan's letter of April 5 Wesley sent another set of questions. See letter of March 25.

[8] Mrs. Ryan replied on May 4: 'From the day I wrote last to you my time has been a time of love indeed.... I do love God with all my heart. My will and affections never wander from Him; and He does give me a direct witness that He has saved me thus. I first received this near eight years ago; but through my inexperience of human nature it has not always remained unclouded, though it is so now.' She answers wisely as to lowness of spirits and wandering thoughts. Then she turns to Wesley: 'You are apt to worship God in His children. I mean you cleave too much to those whom you believe to be dear to God. You do not let the help you receive from them raise your heart to God Himself, that, while you love for His sake, you may be free from them, finding Jesus nearest to your heart.... I think you should not speak of yourself but to real friends and such as know the temptations you are exposed to.' In a letter on October 31 she says, 'The depth of your questions surpasses my understanding'; and replies concerning lowness of spirits and wandering thoughts.

[9] Elizabeth, only daughter of John Harvey, Vicar of Finningley, six or seven miles from Epworth, was from her 'early years a model of every virtue.' She had been well trained by her aunt, Miss Harvey, of Hinxworth, near Biggleswade, to whom Wesley paid many visits, and at whose house he met Charles Simeon. Her niece married Gervase Woodhouse, of Owston, three miles from Epworth. Wesley preached several times in Finningley Church, and gives an interesting account of 'Mr. Harvey's domain' in the Journal, vii. 414. See Sutcliffe's manuscript History of Methodism, p. 973; W.H.S. v. 203; and letter of December 26, 1789.

[10] Cradock Glascott, M.A., afterwards Vicar of Hatherleigh, Devon, was probably the son of Thomas Glascott, of Cardiff, who was present at the Conferences of 1746 and 1756, and brother of John Glascott, who found peace at Kingswood School in 1768. See Journal, ii. 294d, iii. 241n, v. 259; and letter of December 6, 1739.

John Crosse, son of Hammond Crosse, a Middlesex magistrate, was converted under the preaching of Alexander Coates in London, and joined the Society at West Street. He went to Oxford, then in 1765 travelled for three years on the Continent with John Thornton, cousin of the Clapham philanthropist; afterwards he was Curate of Cross Stone and Todmorden, then ten years at Whitechapel, in the parish of Birstall, near Leeds. In 1784 his father purchased the advowson of Bradford, and he was vicar there till 1816. See Wesleyan Methodist Magazine, 1844, pp. 1-9, 89-105; W. Morgan's The Parish Priest, 1841.

This letter was given in 1833 to the Wesleyan Church at Stroud by the Rev. Thomas Glascott, son of Cradock Glascott.

[11] Wesley had sent his letter of April 20 to Lady Huntingdon. The Conference referred to met in Bristol on August 6. Wesley writes in his Journal, v. 91: 'The great point I now laboured for was a good understanding with all our brethren of the clergy who are heartily engaged in propagating vital religion.' John Pawson says: 'Twelve of those gentlemen attended our Conference in Bristol, in order to prevail with Mr. Wesley to withdraw the preachers from every parish where there was an awakened minister; and Mr. Charles Wesley honestly told us that if he was a settled minister in any particular place we should not preach there. To whom Mr. Hampson replied, "I would preach there, and never ask your leave, and should have as good a right to do so as you would have." Mr. Charles Wesley's answer was in a strain of High Church eloquence indeed! But I leave it. His prediction was never accomplished, nor can be. However, these gentlemen failed in their attempt that time; Mr. Wesley would not give up his Societies to them.'

[12] Wesley had found no supply of his books in Edinburgh, and takes immediate steps to repair what he deems a grave omission. The words and figures in brackets were written by Errington to show what numbers he had in stock. See letter of September 11, 1765.

[13] Miss Lewen, whom Wesley met on May 2, 1764, is described in his Journal as 'a remarkable monument of divine mercy. She is about two-and-twenty, and has about six hundred pounds a year in her own hands. Some months since, God spoke peace to her soul while she was wrestling with Him in private prayer. This was never entirely taken from her, even while she was almost alone. But she was often dull and faint, till she broke through all hindrances and joined heart and hand with the children of God.' She gave Wesley a chaise and a pair of horses, and was his devoted friend till she died at Miss Bosanquet's in Leytonstone on October 30, 1766. See letters of July 9 (to his brother Charles) and November 7, 1766.

Wesley here gives his friend the same careful advice as he once gave Ann Granville and was now giving Samuel Furly. See also letter of September 8, 1781, to his niece Sarah Wesley.

[14] Miss Darcy Brisbane married Sir Walter Maxwell, Bart., of Pollock. Her husband died two years after, and six weeks later she lost her son and only child. Wesley became acquainted with her in 1764. He was in Edinburgh on May 27, and again on June 16.

[15] Thomas Bryant had been ordained by a Greek bishop in 1760, and wore a gown in the pulpit. This offended some Sheffield Methodists. Miss Moore and her mother, with whom Bryant lodged, warmly espoused his cause. James Eastwood writes to Miss Moore on July 23: 'It gives me pleasure to hear that the people are recovering their senses.' The case led to a division of the Society. Bryant left Sheffield in March 1765; and when Wesley came there on the 21st, he found 'the little differences which had been for some time among the people were now easily adjusted.' The tranquility was soon disturbed, for Bryant returned to Sheffield on May 22. His friends rallied round him, and built a chapel in Scotland Street, where he ministered for more than thirty years. See letter of December 8.

[16] Wesley inserted this letter in his Journal, v. 83-5, with the words: 'To-day I wrote the following letter, which I desire may be seriously considered by those to whom it belongs.' It is a powerful and moving appeal for membership in the Society.

[17] Wesley had been at Bradford on June 30. His admirable counsels to his young friend agree well with his own plan for securing clearness and simplicity. Bird's monument to Sir Cloudesley Shovel in Westminster Abbey with its huge periwig of flowing curls was severely censured by Horace Walpole and Addison. The lines from Pope are the closing ones of the Elegy to an Unfortunate Lady, published in 1717. Mrs. Weston, sister to Viscount Gage, was separated from her husband; but the quarrel was adjusted by the poet's influence. The variations from the original show that Wesley was quoting from memory. See Spectator, No. 26; letters of March 6 and October 11; and Works, xi. 418, for his estimate of Prior in 1782.

[18] Rankin was appointed Assistant for Cornwall at the Conference of 1764. William Penington, a Yorkshireman, became a preacher in 1760, married Miss Teare of Athlone, and died in that city of a fever in 1767. Wesley used to stay with the two widows, Mrs. Teare and Mrs. Penington, when he visited Athlone. See letter of May 30, 1771.

William Roberts was born in the parish of Elogan, Cornwall, in 1728. He became an itinerant about 1750; but afterwards entered into business at Tiverton, where he died on December 8, 1797, esteemed and loved by all. A sermon of his led Thomas Olivers to 'believe more fully than ever.' He also made John Murlin a class-leader. See Atmore's Memorial, pp. 346-56; Wesley's Veterans, i. 214, ii. 158.

[19] Lady Maxwell was brought up in the Established Church of Scotland, but had now written to tell Wesley that she had decided to join the Methodist Society.

[20] The Rev. Henry J. Foster, in W.H.S. Vii. 73-7, brings together many scattered references to 'Mrs. W.,' but is not able to identify her. Six letters from her in 1761 to Wesley are printed in the Arminian Magazine, 1781, pp. 52-7, 109. She signs herself 'M. W.,' and on May 2, 1761, refers to Wesley leaving town, which he did on March 9. She speaks of her daughter Jenny going to town and returning next evening. Many were blessed under her prayers, including her mother in London, her son, and others. 'My house is a heaven upon earth.' She goes by stage to Henley to see about boarding her son with Mr. Neal. Wesley adds a note to the last letter: 'I can no more doubt of her then really experiencing what she then wrote than I can doubt of her vilely casting it away.' Edward Perronet, to whom she refers as visiting her on April 29, calls her Mrs. Garbrand, 'late of Brentford, since dead, a visionary enthusiast and devotee.' Wesley met her at Bath on September 14, 1763, and again at Combe Grove near Bath on September 17 and 19, 1764. He says her prayer was 'like a flame of fire. Every sentence went through my heart, and I believe the heart of every one present. For many months I have found nothing like it.' See Journal, v. 30, 94, 97; and letter of December 23, 1762.

[21] Wesley writes on October 1, 1764: 'I left Bristol with joy, having seen the fruit of my labour.' He was not there again till August 28, 1765. His inability to visit them for so long led him to write this powerful pastoral address. For his feeling about elections, see Journal, vi. 40; and also letter of March 4, 1756. The pressure of debt was now keenly felt. In London on November 4 the Society set themselves to clear off the debt of £900 on the chapels in London.

[22] James Hervey's The Scriptural Doctrine of Imputed Righteousness Defended led Wesley to publish A Treatise on Justification: Extracted from Mr. John Goodwin, 1765, which set forth what he regarded as 'the real Scripture doctrine.' Goodwin was a London vicar at St. Stephen's, Coleman Street, 1633-45. See Green's Bibliography, No. 226.

[23] John Catermole became a preacher about 1763; but he was of a gloomy disposition, and retired about 1768. He opened a school at Portsmouth Common, and preached occasionally. He died about 1799.

Wesley thought Rankin might cure Darney of his eccentric ways. 'For a season he behaved pretty well, and was ready to be advised; but he relapsed into his former conduct, and advanced opinions in public contrary to the Methodist doctrine and discipline: so that we were obliged,' says Rankin, 'to call in a young man to labour in his place, and dismiss him from the circuit, and that by Mr. Wesley's express approbation. The greatest hurt he did was in the Society at Plymouth Dock, where he nearly divided the people.' See Wesley's Veterans, vi. 159.

[24] Wesley encloses the letter to the Mayor and Corporation of Bristol, dated December 20, which he wishes his brother to show to these friends, who had showered kindnesses upon them. Charles Wesley writes on October 4, 1777: 'T. Lewis takes care to send me home in a coach. Who would take so much thought for me in London' Lewis died in April 1782. On July 17, 1783, Charles Wesley tells his daughter, 'I do not wonder at your partiality for Bristol. Had Thomas Lewis lived, I should have passed my last days and laid my bones there.' He wrote some memorial verses (Poetical Works, vi. 349-52):

Rugged howe'er his manners seemed,

His manners were by all esteemed,

Who truth preferred to art....

A father to the sick and poor,

For them he husbanded his store.

For them himself denied.

Mrs. Anne Davis was one of Charles Wesley's most intimate friends in Bristol. She lived for some time in London, and died on November 5, 1775. She seems to have been blind:

The long dark hour is past,

And, lo, to sight restored,

She gains the dazzling prize at last,

And sees her smiling Lord.

This letter is packed with details. John Witherspoon's (1722-94) Serious Inquiry into the State of the Stage, 1757, was suggested by Douglas, a tragedy written by John Home, a minister of the Church of Scotland, who became President of Princeton, New Jersey, in 1768. Simonides of Ceos spent his last days at the Court of Hiero, tyrant of Syracuse, who begged him to explain the being and nature of the Deity. Simonides asked for a day to reflect, and when the question was repeated on the morrow he asked two more days, then four, and so on: Hiero grew weary of waiting, and wanted to know the reason for his strange behaviour; Simonides replied, 'The longer I deliberate, the greater obscurity I find.' Susanna Wesley, widow of Richard Ellison, died in London in December 1764, aged sixty-nine; the Voyseys were her descendants. John Richardson had become Wesley's clerical assistant in 1763, and buried him in 1791. The Tabernacle at Norwich was taken by Wesley in 1758. In the Preface to his Extract of Goodwin's Treatise on Justification (see letter of November 2) Wesley says, 'All that is material in letters just published under the name of Mr. Hervey is answered.'

[25] Bryant wrote Miss Moore on March 8, 1765, from Shepton Mallet, 'Mr. Wesley has not written to me, nor I to him, since I received my discharge.' He refers to the trouble about Darney: 'What a mercy I was kept out of that fire!' Darney's name appears in London at the Conference of 1765. Bryant says Rankin and others 'preached perfection, &c., to such a degree that the people will not suffer either of them to enter the preaching-house more.... Richard Houghton, one that received ordination with me in London nearly two years since, left London for debt, fled to Plymouth, and Mr. Wesley, not knowing the case, suffered him to preach at the Dock; he was well received by the people, with William Darney, but has since been taken up, and is now in Exeter jail.' See Everett's Methodism in Sheffield, PP. 190-1; and previous letter. ]

[26] Charles Wesley wrote from Blackheath on July 17, 1783: 'When Miss Freeman is here, we should strongly recommend Dr. Turner, as the first man of the Faculty for hitting the patient's case and for healing with very little physic. I have reason to praise one who, under God, has added thirty years to my life.' Mark Davis became a preacher in 1756. Thomas Walsh calls him 'a wise and good man.' Wesley visited his 'old friend' on January 5, 1790, and January 13, 1791, apparently at Leyton. See Journal, iv. 275n; viii. 36, 121.

[27] 'This week,' says Wesley in his Journal, v. 104, 'I wrote an answer to a warm letter, published in the London Magazine, the author whereof is much displeased that I presume to doubt of the modern astronomy. I cannot help it. Nay, the more I consider, the more my doubts increase; so that, at present, I doubt whether any man on Earth knows either the distance or magnitude, I will not say of a fixed star, but of Saturn or Jupiter, yea, of the Sun or Moon.' The Compendium of Natural Philosophy was published in 1763. See Green's Bibliography, No. 220.

 

 

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