XIX. METHO DISM. provement, but shunned all other intercourse; and CHAP. they received various nicknames in derision, such as Sacramentarians, from their taking the Eucharist weekly; Bible Moths, from their constant reading of the Scriptures; and finally, from their living by rule and method, Methodists; a by-word which they themselves afterwards adopted. When John Wesley returned to Oxford, they all readily followed his guidance; but in spite of their peculiarities, no idea of separation from the Church was entertained, and several of this little society soon left it to go forth into the world. The two Wesleys, full of zeal for the conversion of the heathen, embarked for the new settlement of Georgia. But the dissolute habits of the Colonists were a strong bar to the propagation of the pure faith which they professed. When the Missionaries pressed Tomo-Chichi, an Indian chief, to become a Christian, the poor savage exclaimed: -" Why these are Christians at Sa"vannah! Christian much drunk! Christian beat "men! Christian tell lies!"- It is very strange, however, that Wesley never appears to have taken any step to acquire the language of these Indians; a neglect which, in a man who never spared himself, cannot possibly be imputed to any want of ardour or activity, but which may perhaps be explained by some unfavourable omen; for we find that, when doubtful on any resolution, he used to try drawing lots, and call the result "the answer A A 2 CHAP. XIX. METHO DISM. "of God;" a superstition precisely similar to those of sortilege and ordeal in the darkest ages. In the spirit of those ages also were his monkish austerities; at one time he entirely left off meat and wine; he attempted to sustain life by bread only ; he thought it meritorious to sleep on the floor rather than in a bed. * Yet let me observe, that these errors cannot fairly be imputed to Wesley's own maturer years, or, still less, to the great body of his followers at that time. In 1738, Wesley returned to England after an absence of above two years. Meanwhile, the little society he had left at Oxford had continued to grow and thrive. It had even struck root in London, and an association, formed on its principles, used to meet in Fetter Lane. Whitefield, having been ordained by Bishop Benson, soon attracted much notice by the eloquence, the enthusiasm, and the indiscretion of his sermons; and the same path was followed by Wesley with equal zeal and superior abilities. The first instance of field-preaching was by Whitefield to the colliers at Kingswood, near Bristol. These poor men had been left without any place or means of religious worship, so that to address them from the summit of a green knoll instead of a pulpit was scarcely a matter of choice. Well might the preacher's heart exult when he found, in a few weeks, twenty * Wesley's Journal, October 20. 1735, January 30. 1736, &c. XIX. thousand people gathered round him from their CHAP. coal-pits*, and saw, as he says, the white gutters made by the tears which plentifully fell down their black cheeks! Negligent indeed must have been the DISM. reapers, where there was left so much to glean! says The practice thus begun from the want of a Church was soon continued from a different necessity; when the extravagancies of the new preachers caused most of the regular pulpits to be closed against them. "I could scarce, Wesley, "reconcile myself at first to this strange way." He still earnestly wished to adhere to the Church; in fact, both he and his brother Charles had at this time so much horror of schism as to form a project (most properly checked by the Bishops) for the re-baptizing of Dissenters! But the fever of fanaticism was now upon him, and transported him to many things of which his calmer reason disapproved. Like all enthusiasts, he began to consider the most ordinary and trifling occurrences as miraculous manifestations of a special Providence. Thus, for example, on one of his journies, dining at Birmingham, he omitted, as was his wont, to instruct the servants who had attended him, and a violent hail-storm having ensued when he left the town, he believed it a divine reproof Whitefield's Journal, March 25. 1739. ↑ Journal, March 29. 1739. But on the 1st of next April, he observes, that "our Lord's Sermon on the Mount is a pretty "remarkable precedent of field-preaching." METHO * CHAP. for his neglect! When, on the contrary, a shower XIX. DISM. passes by him, Wesley repeatedly interprets it as a METHO Special Providence in his behalf. Any thing seemed to him more probable than that the elements should roll on their appointed course for the regulation of seasons, and the sustenance of millions! Any thing seemed more probable than that there should not be a miracle! At this period, also, Wesley lent his ear to certain convulsions and ravings that began to seize some of his hearers, especially the female portion of them. They used to fall prostrate to the ground, to gnash their teeth, to rave and struggle, and in some cases to declare themselves possessed by evil spirits; and Wesley believed it! Many instances of this kind are recorded in his Journals. On another occasion, whilst he was preaching, great laughter prevailed amongst the congregation. This he thought clearly supernatural. "Most of our brethren and sisters "were convinced, that those who were under this strange temptation could not help it. Only "Edith B. and Anne H. were of another mind, being still sure any one might help laughing if "she would. This they declared to many on Thursday, but on Friday God suffered Satan to "teach them better. Both of them were suddenly "seized in the same manner as the rest, and 66 66 laughed whether they would or not, almost with"out ceasing. Thus they continued for two days, * Wesley's Journal, March 16. 1738. 66 a spectacle to all, and were then, upon prayer CHAP. "made for them, delivered in a moment."* Charles Wesley, however, was less credulous; and sometimes detected an imposition, where his brother could only see a miracle. Once, when he was preaching at Kingswood, he saw a woman distorting herself, and calling out as if in agony; he quietly told her that he did not think the better of her for it, and she immediately became quite calm. Another woman, at Bristol, when he questioned her in private, respecting her frequent fits, at length owned that they were for the purpose of making Mr. Wesley take notice of her. many other cases, the convulsions were no doubt real and unfeigned; the effect of austere fasting or of ignorant fanaticism; of an empty stomach, or an empty brain. In Moreover, almost from its birth, the new society was rent asunder by a violent schism. It had hitherto acted in communion with the Moravians, a sect recently founded in Germany, but whose English followers had engrafted fresh singularities on the parent stock. From an extremity of religious zeal, these Moravians had come round to the same point as those who lack it altogether. They made a jest of religious observances, such as going to church or to the sacrament; for they argued, he who has not faith ought not to use these things, and he who has faith does not want them. * Wesley's Journal, June 21. 1740. XIX. METHO- |