Editor's Introductory Notes: 1771

[1] When Benson found it necessary to resign his position at Trevecca, he went to stay with his friend Walter Churchey near Brecon, whence he sent Wesley an account of what had happened. He had already written to John Fletcher, who replied on the same date as Wesley. Fletcher asked for further particulars, wrote to Lady Huntingdon, and visited Trevecca, where he found prejudice so strong that he resigned his position as President of the College. See next letter.

[2] Walter Churchey wrote to John Fletcher about the work at the Hay, where Joseph Benson had been preaching since he left Lady Huntingdon's College at Trevecca. Her students had preached Calvinistic doctrine at the Hay. Her ladyship thought an attempt was being made to introduce Wesley's preachers instead of her students, and she forbade them to preach there any more. Churchey sent a letter to Wesley, who forwarded it to Fletcher with this explanatory note. See the previous and following letters.

[3] Miss Ball tells Wesley on December 16, 1770: 'Since Mr. Furz has been here my soul has been built up in God.... The children meet twice a week, every Sunday and Monday. They are a wild little company, but seem willing to be instructed. I labour among them, earnestly desiring to promote the interest of the Church of Christ.'

[4] Lady Glenorchy had hired a disused Roman Catholic chapel, which was opened on March 7, 1770. Wesley's preachers were allowed to use it one night in the week. Richard De Courcy, an Irish Methodist of an ancient family educated at Trinity College, Dublin, was now a strong Calvinist, and became minister in February 1771. A few weeks later Lady Glenorchy 'dismissed Mr. Wesley's preachers from my chapel,' because all of them did not preach what she considered pure doctrine. A great change had taken place since her letter to Wesley on May 29, 1770. De Courcy wrote Wesley on February 9 from 'Mr. M'Nab's chamber [at Newcastle], with whom and Mr. Hanby I find great fellowship of spirit.'He was spending the week-end with them, and was to set out on Monday for Edinburgh, where 'Lady Glenorchy is particularly anxious for my speedy arrival.' See Arminian Magazine, 1784, PP. 278-9; Life and Times of the Countess of Huntingdon, ii. 156-8; and letter of February 17, 1770.

[5] Thomas Wride, a native of Salisbury, who in the Minutes of 1769 'remains on trial,' was in 1770 appointed Assistant at Whitehaven. A long letter of remonstrance against his employment as a preacher was sent to Wesley by 'a member of the Church of England' at Sarum on October 18, 1770, in which it is stated that the preachers at Sarum had put him out of Society 'as a person not fit for a Christian Society,' and that he had been 'very remarkable here and in London for laziness and running into debt.' He had offered himself as a preacher, and been sent by Wesley to Devonshire, where 'the Methodists of all the principal places in that circuit would not let him preach at all. Since that Mr. Wesley (not willing to lose so honourable a servant!) sent him to Rochdale in Lancashire, and now to Whitehaven.' Wride travelled at Grimsby, and Mr. George Stampe used to hear many queer stories from the older members about his doings and his quaintness and mimicry in the pulpit. He had gifts, and showed no lack of energy and zeal. He used to mend the clocks of his friends, and a skilful set of drawings for the construction of a timepiece has been preserved among his papers. He also devised an ingenious arrangement of the fire-irons to form an alarm-clock. He dabbled in medicine, and used some strange prescriptions.

[6] The Gospel Magazine in April reviewed Sellon's Answer to Elisha Coles, which it called 'a mite of reprobate silver, cast into the Foundery, and coming out thence with the impress of that pride, self-righteousness, and self-sufficiency natural to men in their fallen, unrenewed state.' In a later month Wesley's Minutes of 1770 are attacked.

[7] Benson had left Trevecca, and was soon to leave Oxford. Fletcher's discovery was his doctrine of 'Receiving the Holy Ghost,' which Wesley thought unscriptural and prejudicial to the spread of the truth. Wesley held that it was improper to separate the work of sanctification from justification, and that all who were justified had received the Holy Spirit. Benson had expressed Fletcher's view, though not altogether approving it. He was leaning towards the doctrine of Ultimate Universal Salvation, which he thought by no means contrary to Scripture. His son, in the manuscript Life, i. 217, says that he had a simple spirit, seeking after truth, but his ideas were confused.'

[8] Benson thought that Wesley regarded his views as a disqualification for associating himself more closely with Methodism, and had written to ask if this was so; hence this reply. From a letter Fletcher wrote on March 22, he seems to have wished to have Benson as his curate.

[9] Elizabeth Briggs was the daughter of William Briggs, of the Customs House, London, and of Elizabeth Perronet, of Shoreham. This letter is printed twice in the Works. It is given in full as No. 803 (xiii. 92-3) to E. B.; and as No. 540 (xii. 461) to Miss Briggs, beginning, You have great reason.' The original was given to Dr. William Nast by a lady who is not remembered. Dr. Nast also had a brief Note from Charles Wesley to Miss Briggs. She afterwards married the Rev. Peard Dickinson, M.A., one of Wesley's clerical helpers, who had been her grandfather's curate at Shoreham. She died at Walthamstow in 1822, aged seventy-one. See letter of June 19, 1785.

[10] Miss Stokes, the daughter of Joseph and Mary Stokes, of Bristol, joined the Quakers meeting in the Friars in the city. In 1777 she married Robert Dudley, of Clonmel, where Wesley met her on April 22, 1778. She was an intimate friend of Miss Elizabeth Johnson, of Bristol; and was buried at Bunhill Fields, London, in 1823. See Journal, vi. 185; Life of Mary Dudley (1825); and letter of August 10, 1772, to her.

[11] Fletcher wrote from Madeley on March 18, addressing his letter to Wesley At the Octagone, Chester.' He told him of his late visit to Trevecca, where he saw that the college was no longer his place, as Calvinism strongly prevailed.' He therefore told Lady Huntingdon that he resigned the place of Superintendent. He had defended Wesley's last Minutes. Lady Huntingdon was going to write to ask Wesley to explain them, that she and the college may see you are not an enemy to grace'; and Fletcher begs Wesley to give them all the satisfaction you can.'

[12] Robert Williams had sold his horse to pay his debts, and set off to join his friend Ashton, whom he had persuaded to go to America. Ashton paid the expenses of the voyage. The friends landed in New York before Boardman and Pilmoor. Williams became the Apostle of Methodism in Virginia, and died on September 26, 1775. John King also arrived in 1769, and was the pioneer of Methodism in Baltimore. Boardman arrived in America with Pilmoor on October 24, 1769, and on November 4 wrote Wesley from New York: Our house contains about seventeen hundred people. About a third part of those who attend get in; the rest are glad to hear without. There appears such a willingness in the Americans to hear the word as I never saw before.' Pilmoor also wrote from Philadelphia: I have preached several times, and the people flock to hear in multitudes.' When trouble arose with the Mother Country, he and Boardman returned to England. He travelled in various circuits; but in 1785 became minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Philadelphia. He was an Irishman, educated by Wesley at Kingswood; and his old fervour characterized him to the end. Asbury notes that he was still preaching three times a Sunday in March 1814, when he was Rector of St. Paul's, Philadelphia.

[13] Miss Briggs writes to Wesley on March 24: About a month ago I became acquainted with Miss Bolton, who encouraged me to be in earnest.' On March 20, when my aunt came, she told me what the Lord had done for her.' See next letter, and that of April 14 to Elizabeth Briggs.

[14] Miss Perronet wrote from Shoreham on March 16 about Miss Bolton's visit and her testimony as to the way God had blessed her. This had stirred her up to seek deliverance from sin. Jesus answered, "I will, be thou clean," and immediately I felt a mighty change through all my soul.' See Arminian Magazine, 1784, p. 445; and letter of April 15 to Ann Bolton.

[15] Miss Briggs was keeping the house of her grandfather, the Rev. Vincent Perronet, at Shoreham, and had recently paid a visit to London, which she tells Wesley on March 9 was an unspeakable blessing to me. Ever since, I have enjoyed a sense of the presence of God.' She adds, I seem as weak as helpless infancy.' See Arminian Magazine, 1784, p. 390; and letters of January 25 and March 30.

[16] Sarah Pywell replied from Stenton on January 17, 1772, after a long season': My faith is strengthened daily and hourly.... I feel nothing contrary to pure love. But when I am evil spoken of, I am kept in perfect peace.' See Arminian Magazine, 1785, pp. 115-16; and letter of January 22, 1772.

[17] Mrs. Bennis wrote on May 7: Since you left this, Brother Christian has preached regularly; his heart seems earnest for the work and people of God. The day you left town I met the women's bands; the Lord did wonderfully bless us together, and I find my heart closely united to them. Last Monday I went to the rooms, but none of them came. I do find it a heavy cross; yet by the grace of God I shall take it up.' Christian was converted at Waterford in 1771, and in 1772 was Assistant at Athlone. He held Calvinistic views, and retired about 1775. See letter of October 28.

[18] Wesley was in Waterford in June 1769. The Rev. George L. Fleury, who became Archdeacon of Waterford two years later, attacked him from the cathedral pulpit. Wesley was present, and sent one of his preachers next morning to suggest an exchange of letters. This Fleury declined. If anything was to be said against his sermon, he wished it to be done in public. Hence this letter. Wesley says, I had much rather it had been done privately.' Fleury regretted in after years this attack on Methodism, and said, I was but a novice and a greenhorn then.' See Crookshank's Methodism in Ireland, i. 245.

I labour for peace: but when I speak thereof, they make themselves ready for battle.'--Ps. cxx. 7.

[19] Stephen Proctor was the Assistant at Castlebar, and had evidently talked to Wesley about Mason's ideas of matrimony. Molly Penington was the daughter of one of Wesley's devoted preachers, who died in 1767 at Athlone. She was converted as a girl of fourteen under John Bredin's ministry; and married in 1785 Joseph Burgess, a Methodist Quartermaster, who became one of Wesley's preachers in 1790. Their son, the Rev. W. Penington Burgess, M.A., wrote Wesleyan Hymnology. Mason and How were probably leaders or local preachers. See Journal, vi. 407; W.H.S. v. 192; and letters of September 21, 1764, and June 25, 1771.

[20] This letter is addressed to Miss Bosanquet in Nightingale's Portraiture, p. 454; in Myles's Chronological History, p. 99; and in Tyerman's Wesley, iii. 112, who quotes from the manuscript letter. In Taft's Holy Women it is directed to Mrs. Crosby. It so appears in the Works; but the next letter, of the same date, is to her.

[21] Wride was Assistant at Whitehaven, with Joseph Garnet (a native of Barnard Castle who died in 1773) as his colleague. Richard Seed (whose obituary in 1805 describes him as 'an old, well-known preacher') was Assistant at Haworth. 12 12s. 11d. is given for Whitehaven in 1770, and 5 in 1771. Littledale was probably a steward there. For Colbeck, see letter of August 26, 1748.

[22] The Hon. and Rev. Walter Shirley had sent out a circular inviting those who disapproved of the Doctrinal Minutes of 1770 to meet in Bristol and go in a body to the Conference and insist upon a formal recantation of them. Wesley drew up and printed a clear account of the doctrines set forth in the Minutes. This he sent to his preachers and friends. At the head of this copy, which was addressed 'To Miss Bishop, Near Lady Huntingdon's Chapel, Bath,' he wrote the note dated July 20.

[23] Robert Costerdine and William Linnell were together in Cheshire South. At the Conference of 1771 Costerdine became Assistant in Staffordshire. Linnell went to Whitehaven, and ceased to travel in 1773.

[24] Mrs. Bennis told Wesley on July 7 that she had talked with Brother Christian, who preached at Waterford. He held Election, but not Reprobation, and that 'God is willing to save all, and that those whom He saves cannot finally fall. This doctrine, he says, brings great comfort to his soul; but as it might not have the same effect on others, he does not advance it, lest any should rest in it.' See letter of May 15.

She reported that 'Mr. Thompson comes on Sundays to hear, and is at times so affected as to run out of the house,' but that he kept close to his 'former Antinomian intimates.' He had, however, been to 'a general class-meeting for the first time these six months; he seems in earnest; the Lord grant him steadiness and resolution.'

[25] Everett, in his Methodism in Sheffield, p. 241, says: 'One of the most artless and touching monuments of filial affection and respect might have been raised to the memory of this good man.... The tender solicitude which he manifested for the salvation of his mother is almost inexpressible.' See letter of January 29, 1773, where Wesley sends a 'little draft' for his mother.

[26] Miss Ball writes on February 25, 1772: 'I exceedingly rejoice that my sister Ann has obtained the love that casteth out fear which hath torment. Her very face bespoke her happiness of mind and the praises of God. I felt a solid joy rest on my own soul. By the conversation I this day had with my mother, I cannot doubt her enjoying the liberty of the children of God.' See Memoir, p. 100.

[27] This letter is wrongly dated in Works, xii. 462; see Whitehead's Wesley, ii. 349. Lady Huntingdon had written a letter which was delivered to Wesley in Bristol on August 5, on the evening before the Conference met. It was read to the Conference by Shirley on the 8th. See Journal, v. 425; Tyerman's Wesley, iii. 98-9; Telford's Wesley, pp. 286-90.

[28] John Ellis was Assistant in Gloucestershire. He had great power in prayer and in exhortation. He opened the new chapel in Worcester on Christmas Day 1771, and died on January 5, when most of the Methodists went into mourning.

 

In the Wesleyan Methodist Magazine for 1826, p. 818, this letter is dated September 29.

[30] Hopper went to Newcastle in August 1771, and laboured there for two years 'among my dear friends and countrymen, whom I love for the truth's sake.' Hanson, who was now at Bradford, travelled for twenty-two years, and spent his last twenty at his native place, Horbury, near Wakefield. He was'a plain, honest, faithful, zealous man,' and died on October 18, 1804. See Wesley's Veterans, i. 148; and letter of October 13.

[31] The Memoir of Miss Ball, p. 98, says: 'Miss Ball writes to Mr Wesley, requesting an exposition of Ephesians iv. 30; which elicited the following reply.'

[32] 'Mr. Benson's mind was soon again brought under a cloud, which must chiefly be attributed to the erroneous views he at this time was led to entertain as to receiving the fullness of the Spirit. Mr. Wesley,' says the manuscript Life, i. 246, 'encouraged him by a few lines.' After leaving Oxford, Benson spent some time in the neighbourhood of Bristol, and then laboured for two or three months in Wiltshire, where Fletcher told him, 'your faith had a lift' (ibid. p. 248). In August 1771 he was appointed to the London Circuit, where he was popular. 'Now,' says Fletcher, 'temptations return to show you the need of that full assurance which nothing can give but the baptism, nothing can keep but the indwelling God.'

[33] William Collins was the newly-appointed preacher. Mrs. Bennis wrote on October 15: 'Mr. Collins has arrived. We do not doubt his abilities and good qualities; but we are rather cast down by having another married preacher with a young family sent to us before we could recruit our finances. We owe now a heavy debt, and the weekly collections are not equal to the weekly expenses.... Could we not have a single preacher at least every other year till we are out of debt' On April 28, 1773, Wesley found such congregations at Bandon as had not been seen there 'for twenty years, and the Society was near doubled within a twelvemonth. So had God blessed the labours of William Collins! Another proof that, at present, a prophet is not without honour even in his own country.' He died in 1797. See Journal, v. 504; Crookshank's Methodism in Ireland, i. 274.

Mrs. Bennis told Christian on March 29, 1772, that she did not see how he could find his 'mind clear to require or accept a travelling station among the Methodists while you hold any opinion contrary to our professed doctrines.'

[34] Twycross was one of the masters at Kingswood in 1770-2. He was ordained deacon on June 24, 1781, and priest by the Bishop of Chichester at his palace in December. He was licensed as Lecturer of St. Edmund the King on October II, 1786, and as Curate of St. Leonard's, Shoreditch, on March 21, 1792, at 60 a year.

[35] Lowes made and sold a valuable balsam. The Conference of 1770 had decided that preachers who engaged in trade should be excluded from the brotherhood. Lowes had retired in 1771, and was settled at Newcastle, supporting his family by his sale of balsam. It attained great celebrity, and was known by his name as late as 1857. See Laycock's Great Haworth Round, PP. 296-7.

[36] Valton was in delicate health. Wesley published in 1769 an extract of Dr. Tissot's Advice to People in General, which he regarded as 'one of the most useful books of the kind which has appeared in the present century.' See Green's Bibliography, No. 255.

[37] Samuel Wells was Assistant in the Oxfordshire Circuit. He was a native of Cheltenham, who became a preacher in 1770, and died in 1780. He was 'remarkably zealous for God, . . . and a strenuous exhorter of believers to go on to perfection.' See Atmore's Memorial, pp 449-52.

[38] Thomas Simpson, M.A., became Head Master at Kingswood in 1770. Wesley was greatly pleased with the spirit and behaviour of the children under his care in October 1787. See Journal, vii. 332.

[39] The Rev. S. L-- of Scilly, had consulted John Floyd, then a preacher in Cornwall west, as to the work in Scilly, and on October 14 acknowledges a letter from Wesley, whom he asks to send a preacher to help him there. He tells Wesley that if he could not succeed in getting some changes made he would think 'of quitting the place as soon as possible, when I shall be most extremely glad to have the honour of conversing with you.' See Arminian Magazine, 1784, pp. 667-9.

[40] On December 21 Wesley met James Hutton, whom he had not seen for twenty-five years. Their hearts were quite open, and they conversed as in 1738, when they were together in Fetter Lane. See Journal, v. 441; and for Francis Okeley, the Moravian minister at Bedford, letter of October 4, 1758.

[41] John Pawson was now Assistant in Bristol. His autobiography is in Wesley's Veterans, iv. 1-121. He was President of the Conference in 1793, and died on March 19, 1806, in his sixty-ninth year. Adam Clarke calls him 'this heavenly man.' He was one of the noblest and most trusted of Wesley's helpers.

Thomas Janes had been in Bristol the previous year, and had now settled as pastor of a Nonconformist chapel there. Atmore says, 'He was an able preacher, and had something peculiarly pleasing in his manner and address.' He died in 1773.

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