ed, and that if persisted in, it would oblige him to give up the work in which he had been engaged, and which he believed to be the work of God; or to separate from the Established Church. He loved and reverenced the King, and all who were in authority under him but he could not behold this masterpiece of wisdom from beneath without detestation, Esteeming it his duty to expostulate with those who were most zealous in this work, he this day wrote the following letter to a prelate, in whose diocese this kind of persecution most abounded.

"My Lord,

"It may seem strange, that one who is not acquainted with your lordship, should trouble you with a letter: but I am constrained to do it; I believe it is my duty both to God and your lordship. And I must speak plainly; having nothing to hope or fear in this world, which I am on the point of leaving.

"The Methodists, in general, my lord, are members of the Church of England. They hold all her doctrines, attend her service, and partake of her sacraments. They do not willingly do harm to any one, but do what good they can to all. To encourage each other herein, they frequently spend an hour together in prayer and mutual exhortation. Permit me then to ask, Cui bono ? For what reasonable end would your lordship drive these people out of the Church? Are they not as quiet, as inoffensive, nay, as pious, as any of their neighbours? Except, perhaps, here and there, a hair-brained man, who knows not what he is about. Do you ask, "Who drives them out of the church? Your lordship does: and that in the most cruel manner. They desire a license to worship God after their own conscience: your lordship refuses it; and then punishes them for not having a license! So your lordship leaves them only this alternative: Leave the Church, or starve.' And is it a Christian, yea, a Protestant Bishop, that so persecutes his own flock? I say, persecutes: for it is persecution to all intents and purposes. You do not burn them indeed, but you starve them and how small is the difference! And

your lordship does this under colour of a vile, execrable law, not a whit better than that, de Hæretico comburendo!* So persecution, which is banished out of France, is again countenanced in England!

"O my lord, for God's sake, for Christ's sake, for pity's sake, suffer the poor people to enjoy their religious as well as civil liberty! I am on the brink of eternity! Perhaps so is your lordship too! How soon may you also be called to give an account of your stewardship, to the great Shepherd and Bishop of our souls! May he enable both you and me to do it with joy! So prays,

"My lord,

"Your lordship's dutiful son and servant, "JOHN WESLEY.

"Hull, June 26, 1790."

About the same time he stated the case thus to a friend, through whose influence with those in power, he hoped redress might be obtained. "Last month a few poor people met together in Lincolnshire, to pray, and to praise God, in a friend's house: there was no preaching at all. Two neighbouring justices fined the man of the house twenty pounds. I suppose he was not worth twenty shillings. Upon this, his household goods were distrained, and sold to pay the fine. He applied to the Quarter-sessions: but all the justices averred, The Methodists could have no relief from the Act of Toleration, because they went to church; and that, so long as they did so, the Conventicle Act should be executed upon them.'

"Last Sunday, when one of our preachers was beginning to speak to a quiet congregation, a neighbouring justice sent a constable to seize him, though he was licensed: and would not release him till he had paid twenty pounds; telling him his license was good for nothing, because he was a churchman!

"Now, Sir, what can the Methodists do? They are liable to be ruined by the Conventicle Act, and they have no relief

* Concerning the burning of Hereticks.

from the Act of Toleration! If this is not oppression, what is? Where then is English liberty? The liberty of Christians, yea, of every rational creature? who, as such, has a right to worship God according to his own conscience. But, waving the question of right and wrong, what prudence is there in oppressing such a body of loyal subjects? If these good magistrates could drive them, not only out of Somersetshire, but out of England, who would be gainers thereby? Not his Majesty, whom we honour and love: not his ministers, whom we love and serve for his sake. Do they wish to throw away so many thousands of friends, who are now bound to them by stronger ties than that of interest? If you will speak a word to Mr. Pitt on that head, you will oblige me," &c.

The paper from which the above is taken is only a copy: and there is some doubt, whether Somersetshire be not inserted for Lincolnshire, before mentioned in the same paper. However this may be, Mr. Wesley wrote to the Bishop of the following letter a few months before the above was written.

"My Lord,

"I am a dying man, having already one foot in the grave. Humanly speaking, I cannot long creep upon the earth, being now nearer ninety than eighty years of age. But I cannot die in peace, before I have discharged this office of Christian love to your lordship. I write without ceremony, as neither hoping nor fearing any thing from your lordship, or from any man living. And I ask, in the name and in the presence of him to whom both you and I are shortly to give an account, Why do you trouble those that are quiet in the land? those that fear God and work righteousness? Does your lordship know what the Methodists are? That many thousands of them are zealous members of the Church of England? and strongly attached, not only to his Majesty, but also to his present ministry? Why should your lordship, setting religion out of the question, throw away such a body of respectable friends? Is it for their religious sentiments? Alas, my lord, is this a time to

persecute a man for conscience' sake? beseech you, my lord, do as you would be done to. You are a man of sense : you are a man of learning: nay, I verily believe (what is of infinitely more value) you are a man of picty. Then think, and let think. I pray God to bless you with the choicest of his blessings.

"I am, my lord," &c.]

Monday 28, This day I enter into my eighty-eighth year. For above eighty-six years I found none of the infirmities of old age, my eyes did not wax dim, neither was my natural strength abated: but last August I found almost a sudden change, my eyes were so dim that no glasses would help me: my strength likewise now quite forsook me, and pro bably will not return in this world: but I feel no pain from head to foot, only, it seems, nature is exhausted, and, humanly speaking, will sink more and more, till

"The weary springs of life stand still at last."*

Tuesday 29, I crossed over through Epworth to Owston, and passed a comfortable day with many of the preachers. This, which was one of the last societies in the circuit, is now become first, in grace as well as number. The new preaching-house not being able to contain one half of the congregation, I preached abroad in the calm, mild evening, and I believe God applied his word to many hearts.

Thursday, July 1, I went to Lincoln. After dinner we took a walk in and round the Minster, which I really think is more elegant than that at York, in various parts of the

*"This, at length, was literally the case; the death of Mr. Wesley, like that of Charles, being one of those rare instances in which nature, drooping under the load of years, sinks by a gentle decay. For several years preceding his death, this decay was, perhaps, more visible to others than to himself; particularly by a more frequent disposition to sleep during the day; by a growing defect in memory, a faculty he once possessed in a high degree of perfection; and by a general diminution of the vigour and agility he had so long enjoyed. His labours, however, suffered little interruption, and when the summons came, it found him, as he always wished it should, in the harness, still occupied in his Master's work ! "

DR. WHITEHEAD.

structure, as well as in its admirable situation. The new house was thoroughly filled in the evening, and with hearers uncommonly serious. There seems to be a remarkable difference between the people of Lincoln and those of York. They have not so much fire and vigour of spirit, but far more mildness and gentleness, by means of which, if they had the same outward helps, they would probably excel their neighbours.

Some miles short of Lincoln, our post-boy stopped at an inn on the road, to give his horses a little water. As soon as we went in, the inn-keeper burst into tears, as did his wife, wringing her hands and weeping bitterly. "What,” he said, "are you come into my house? My father is John Lester of Epworth." I found both he and his wife had been members of our society. We spent some time in prayer together, and, I trust, not in vain.

Friday 2, About eleven I preached at Newton: but the preaching-house would not contain half the congregation. No rain fell during the time of preaching, but it rained both before and after. 1 was struck with the preaching-house at Gainsborough: (one of the handsomest towns in Lincolnshire) so neat, so elegant, just taking up one side of a small neat square. I found uncommon liberty of speech, and received it as a token for good. Surely this poor society which has been so miserably depressed, will again lift up its head. Saturday 3, I reached Epworth, and after preaching in the evening met the society, and reminded them of what they were some years ago, and what they are now; scarcely retaining the shadow of their former zeal and activity in all the ways of God.

Sunday 4, I went over to Misterton, where likewise the work of God was exceedingly decayed. The house being far too small to contain the multitude of people, I stood under a spreading tree, and strongly exhorted them to strengthen the things that remained, which were ready to die. Thence I hastened back to Epworth, but I could not reach it till the church service was begun. It was observed, Mr. Gibson read the prayers with unusual solemnity. And, I believe, he was not displeased to see five times as many at