An order of lay preachers grew up, associated with the Methodist Society. One of the first of these, Thomas Maxfield, Mr. Wesley was ready to stop; but his mother said to him, "John, this lay preacher is as truly called of God to preach as you are." He listened to him and became convinced that his gifts were from above. With lay preachers beseeching men to flee from the wrath to come, and with Whitefield and the Wesleys gathering crowds everywhere, the country was in a ferment. And religious persecution was resorted to, in which not only Churchmen but Dissenters joined. These Dissenters were themselves "under the ban." Nevertheless, with the single exception of the Quakers, all classes of religious people so called, as well as of irreligious people, joined in the persecution of these newfangled Methodists. Of course we can understand why strolling players, and all who gained their livelihood through providing amusement for the people, should violently oppose them, for with their preaching the playhouses began to be deserted and "the hope of their gains was gone;" but why should Baptists and Congregationalists and Presbyterians join in this unholy crusade? The spirit of the age sanctioned it. And so it was. An extract from Charles Wesley's description of one of his own personal experiences will be of interest, showing as it does the characteristics of the man and the life of daily death he was called to lead. "At seven o'clock I walked quietly to Mrs. Phillips' and began preaching a little before the time appointed. For three quarters of an hour I invited a few listening sinners to Christ. Soon after, Satan's whole army assaulted the house. They brought a hand engine. The constable came, and seizing the spout of the engine carried it off. They hurried off to fetch the larger engine." Then he goes on to tell how the Mayor was sent for, but he left the town in the sight of the people, giving great encouragement to those who were already wrought up by the Curate, and the gentlemen of the town, particularly Mr. Sutton and Mr. Willy, Dissenters, the two leading men. He adds: "The rioters now began playing the larger engine, which broke the windows, flooded the rooms and spoiled the goods. We were withdrawn to a small upper room in the back of the house, seeing no way to escape their violence. They first laid hold on the man who kept the Society house, dragged him away and threw him into the horse pond, and it was said broke his back. We gave ourselves unto prayer, believing the Lord would deliver us-how or when we saw not, nor any possible way of escaping. We therefore stood still to see the salvation of God. * In less than an hour, of above a thousand wild beasts, none were left but the guard. "Upon their revisiting us we stood in jeopardy every moment. Such threatenings, curses and blasphemies I have never heard. They seemed kept out by a continual miracle. I remembered the Roman Senators sitting in the Forum when the Gauls broke in upon them, but thought there was a fitter posture for Christians and told my companions they should take us off our knees. We were kept from all hurry and discomposure of spirit by a Divine power resting upon us. "They were now close to us on every side, and over our heads untiling the roof. A ruffian cried out, "There they are behind the curtain.' And I said, 'This is the crisis.' In that moment Jesus rebuked the winds and the sea and there was a great calm." The silence lasted for three quarters of an hour. Mr. Wesley was then promised a safe deliverance, provided he would promise never to preach again in that town. His answer was, "Ishall promise no such thing; I cannot come again at this time, but I will not give up my birthright as an Englishman of visiting what place I please of his Majesty's dominions." "The hearts of our adversaries," he goes on to say, "were turned. Whether pity for us or fear for themselves wrought strongest, God knoweth." In such labors Charles Wesley continued with his brother, during most of his remaining years until his death in the year 1788, when he was nearly fourscore years of age. Eight clergymen of the Church of England carried his body to its last resting place. On his tombstone to-day may be read the following lines: With poverty of spirit blessed, A sinner saved, through grace forgiven, By thee forgot, are crowned above; Crowned, through the mercy of thy Lord, And now as to Charles Wesley's hymns. Our own poet Whittier once wrote, "A good hymn is the best use to which poetry can be devoted." As a religious poet, as a writer of hymns, Wesley is unsurpassed. He wrote them at all hours and upon all occasions; on horseback, and in bed. When he died he left behind him more than six thousand hymns of his own composition, some of them among the best in the English language. When you and I wish to sound the Advent note we cry with Charles Wesley, aided by John Cennick: Or, in other language, we sing with him: 48 Come, Thou long-expected Jesus, From our fears and sins release us; When we wish to give utterance to our feeling of Christmas joy, it is Charles Wesley who shouts for us: 51 Hark! the herald angels sing, Glory to the new-born King; When we wish to lift up our Easter praise, Charles Wesley being dead, yet speaketh, as he says: III Christ the Lord is risen to-day, Sons of men and angels say: Raise your joys and triumphs high, From the Mount of the Ascension we are taught by him to say: It was Charles Wesley, too, who taught the world to sing: 330 Blow ye the trumpet, blow The gladly solemn sound; Let all the nations know, To earth's remotest bound, The year of jubilee is come; Return, ye ransomed sinners, home! And those other words also, so sweet and uplifting: 432 Love divine, all love excelling, Joy of heaven, to earth come down; Fix in us Thy humble dwelling, All Thy faithful mercies crown. Jesus, Thou art all compassion, Pure, unbounded love Thou art; Visit us with Thy salvation, It was Charles Wesley who first cried aloud: 439 Oh for a heart to praise my God, A heart that's sprinkled with the blood |