[304] The words in the original are given in full.
[305] See memoirs of Toplady, prefixed to his works, 1857
edit.
[306] _Christian Miscellany_, 1849, p. 84.
[307] Memoirs of Benson, by Macdonald, p. 75.
[308] _Methodist Magazine_, 1814, p. 508.
[309] Manuscript.
[310] _Methodist Magazine_, 1788, p. 383.
[311] Wesley’s Works, vol. xii., p. 296.
[312] _Christian Miscellany_, 1850, p. 54.
[313] _Methodist Magazine_, 1785.
[314] _Methodist Magazine_, 1788, p. 608.
[315] Wesley’s Works, vol. xiii., p. 33.
[316] _Methodist Magazine_, 1823, p. 134.
[317] Wesley’s Works, vol. iv., p. 107.
[318] Ibid. vol. xii., p. 407.
[319] Taylor was opposed to the magazine. In his
unpublished diary, he writes: “1777. December 14--I
wrote a long letter to Mr. Wesley concerning the
_Arminian Magazine_, which I am persuaded will do
hurt, and no good.”
1779.
Age 76
The year 1779 was one of national alarm. The remarkable trials of
Admiral Keppel and Sir Hugh Palliser occasioned fierce debates in
parliament. Lord North and his colleagues were accused of being
intermeddling, shortsighted, and incapable. American agents were
busy with Irish malcontents; and armed associations, not the most
loyal, were formed in Dublin and throughout the country. The Spanish
ambassador quitted London, after delivering to the secretary of state
a hostile manifesto. The ministry proposed, that the militia should
be doubled. Press warrants were issued in all directions, and press
gangs actively employed in increasing the navy. France was jubilant.
England rang with reports of invasion, and of new Spanish armadas,
more terrible than that sent against Queen Elizabeth. Gibraltar was
threatened; and so was Jersey. Paul Jones, at the head of a squadron
manned by French and Americans, and desperadoes from various other
countries, menaced the whole of the eastern coast of England, from
Flamborough Head to the Frith of the Tay. Lord North’s parliamentary
majorities were dwindling. George III. had no decisive victories
to report. It was asserted that the American war had already added
sixty-three millions to the national debt; and Charles Fox declared
that treachery, and not ignorance, must have prevailed in the national
councils to reduce the country to its present miserable condition.
England throughout was in a panic.
In this emergency, as in all others, Wesley was among the foremost to
evince his loyalty. On February 8, he wrote: “Finding many serious
persons were much discouraged by prophets of evil, confidently
foretelling very heavy calamities which were coming upon our nation,
I endeavoured to lift up their hands, by opening and applying Psalm
xliii. 5, 6.” Two days later was the national fast, when he preached
on Abraham interceding for the city of Sodom. To quiet the panic
at Newcastle, he took for his text, “The Lord sitteth above the
waterfloods; the Lord reigneth a king for ever.” In a letter to
Bradburn, he says:
“It is the judgment of many, that, since the time of the
Invincible Armada, Great Britain and Ireland were never in such
danger from foreign enemies as they are at this day. Humanly
speaking, we are not able to contend with them, either by sea
or land. They are watching over us as a leopard over his prey,
just ready to spring upon us. They are mighty and rage
horribly; but the Lord that dwelleth on high is mightier; and
now is the time, at this awful crisis, for the inhabitants of
the land to learn righteousness. I make no doubt, but you
improve the important opportunity, and lift up your voice like
a trumpet. Who knoweth but God may be entreated of _us_, as He
was for Nineveh? Our brethren, in various parts of England,
have set apart an hour in a week for prayer (namely, from eight
till nine on Sunday evening), in behalf of our king and
country. Should not the same be done in Ireland too?
particularly at Cork and Bandon? Those who have not opportunity
of meeting, at the time, may pray part of the hour in private.
Meantime, there is a text for _you_: ‘I will not destroy it for
_ten’s_ sake.’”[320]
Besides this weekly prayer-meeting by the English Methodists, a
Methodist fast was observed in connection with the annual conference.
Thomas Taylor writes: “July 30--This day was observed as a fast on
account of public affairs. We met in the morning at five; and, after
the sermon, we continued in prayer till nine o’clock. At one, we
met again, and received the sacrament. In the evening, we kept a
watchnight, and I gave an exhortation. But the people do not stay at
watchnights in London, as they do in the country.”[321]
A few days later, we find Wesley holding a noonday prayer-meeting,
at Haverfordwest, to intercede for the king and country. At Bristol,
he preached on David’s prayer, “Lord, turn the counsel of Ahithophel
into foolishness”; and, in October, wrote again to Samuel Bradburn as
follows.
“LONDON, _October 10, 1779_.
“DEAR SAMMY,--The alarm has been general in England as well as
Ireland; particularly in the maritime parts. But it has done
abundantly more good than harm to the work of God. The children
of God have been greatly stirred up, and have been more instant
in prayer. And many men of the world have been greatly
awakened, and continue so to this day. Most of those who have
the fullest intercourse with God believe our enemies will never
be permitted to land in England. And, indeed, God has already
given abundant proof of His hearing prayer: first, in their not
landing at Plymouth, where they stayed gaping and staring for
eight-and-forty hours, while they might with all ease have
destroyed both the dock and the town; secondly, in the
malignant fever which has broken out in their fleet, and
already destroyed several thousands of men.”[322]
Infidelity will sneer at this; but religion, recognising a ruling
Providence, will reverentially bow its head. The crisis was terrible.
Sixty-eight French and Spanish ships of the line, and many frigates and
smaller vessels, all commanded by D’Orvilliers, appeared off Plymouth.
The British fleet did not exceed thirty-eight sail of the line, and
was absent at sea, under the command of Admiral Hardy. Where was the
difficulty of seizing Plymouth? Wesley writes: “They might have entered
it with perfect ease. The wind was fair; there was no fleet to oppose
them; there was scarce any garrison, and the few men that were there
had no wadding at all, and but two rounds of powder; and only two of
the cannon were mounted.” And yet the combined fleet, nearly twice the
size of Hardy’s, contented itself with a pompous parade in front of
the unprotected town. No wonder that Wesley, with grateful exultation,
preached from texts like the one he took at Newcastle: “The Lord
sitteth above the waterfloods; the Lord reigneth a king for ever.”
Before we track Wesley’s wanderings in 1779, there is another matter
which deserves mention. On the 30th of May, 1778, Voltaire died in
Paris, in the eighty-fifth year of his age. His death was what the
death of an arch infidel might be expected to be. The subjoined
anecdote respecting it has long been widely published, but, perhaps,
never so nearly traced to its source as now. Wesley had been informed
that one of the chaplains of George III. was about to publish
Voltaire’s pernicious works in a collected form; and, in a fit of godly
indignation, he wrote the following unpublished letter.
“_January 4, 1779._
“SIR,--In September last, a gentleman, near Bristol, showed me
a letter, which he had received from the Rev. Mr. Fletcher, at
Paris. I desired him to give a transcript of one part of it,
which he immediately did. It was as follows:
“‘Mr. Voltaire sent for Monsieur Tronclils, first physician to
the Duke of Orleans, (one of his converts to infidelity,) and
said to him, “Sir, I desire you will save my life. I will give
you half my fortune, if you will lengthen out my days only six
months. If not, I shall go to the devil, and carry you with
me.”’
“This is the man to whom a crowned head pays such a violent
compliment! Nay, this is the man whose works are now publishing
by a divine of our own Church; yea, a chaplain to his majesty.
Pity but the king should know it. If the publisher of that poor
wretch’s works writes a panegyric upon him or them, I shall
think it my duty to show the real value of those writings.
“I am, sir, your humble servant,