prevent them from breaking the fabbath, by treading the hens on Sundays. I have a few more obfervations to make on this remarkable fect, but fearing I have already tired you, fhall referve them for my next. "Seeming devotion doth but gild the knave, "It makes a hero like an angel shine," LETTER XXVIII. "Under this ftone rests Hudibras, "Whether he was more fool than wife; "He pray'd and preach'd, and preach'd and pray'd." BUTLER'S Pofth. Works. DEAR FRIEND, It is very remarkable that while I was writing the last five lines of my former letter to you, on Wednesday the 2d of March 1791, I received the news of the death of Mr. John Wesley, who I am informed, died that morning at his own houfe, in the City-road, Moorfields, in the Eightyeighth year of his age. He had no illness, but the wheels of the machine being worn out, it ftopt of course. As I am on the fub ject ject of methodifm, I hope you will not deem it impertinent, if I devote a few lines to this great parent of a numerous fect, whom I well knew, and feel a pleasure in fpeaking of with fome refpect. Several days preceding his interment, being laid in his coffin, in his gown and band, he was expofed to the view of all who came, and the public; and I fuppofe that forty or fifty thousand perfons had a fight of him. But the concourfe of people was fo great, that many were glad to get out of the crowd without feeing him at all; and although a number of conftables were prefent, yet the pick-pockets contrived to ease many of their purfes, watches, &c. To prevent as much as poffible the dreadful effects of a mob, he was interred on Wednesday March the gth, between five and fix o'clock in the morning, in the burial ground behind his own chapel in the Cityroad. After which Dr. Whitehead (the physician) preached his funeral fermon; but notwithstanding the early hour, many thoufands attended more than the chapel would hold, although it is very large. As foon as it was known that Mr. Wesley was deceased, a number of needy brethren deemed it a fair opportunity of profiting by it, and each immediately fet his ingenuity to work to compose what he chose to call a life of him; and for fome weeks fince the funeral the chapel-yard and its vicinity has exhibited a truly ludicrous fcene, on every night of preaching, owing to the different writers and venders of these hafty performances exerting themselves to fecure a good fale; one bawling out, that his is the right life, a fecond with a pious fhake of the head, declares bis the real life, a third protefts he has got the only genuine account; and a fourth calls them all vile cheats and impoftors, &c. fo that between all thefe competitors, the faints are so divided and perplexed in their opinions, that fome decline purchafing either; others willing to try all, and keep that which is "to good," buy of each of these respectable venders of the life and laft account of that celebrated character; while the uninterested passenger is apt to form a conclufion that the houfe of prayer is again become a den of thieves. Thus we fee thofe holy candidates for heaven are fo influenced by self-intereft that it "Turns meek and fecret fneaking ones To Raw-heads fierce and bloody bones." HUDIBRAS. I cannot help thinking that Mr. John Wefley, the father of the methodists, was one of the most respectable enthusiasts that ever lived; as it is generally thought that he believed all that he taught others, and lived the fame pious exemplary life, that he would have his followers practise. The fale of his numerous writings produced nett profits to the amount of near TWO THOUSAND POUNDS per annum; and the weekly collection of the claffes in London and Weftminfter amounted to a very large fum; befides fums were collected, at the facra this, great ments |