[51b] Channing’s System of Exclusion.
[52] John Wesley was born in 1703.
[54] “I rode over to a neighbouring town,” says Wesley, “to wait upon a justice of peace, a man of candour and understanding; before whom I was informed their angry neighbours had carried a whole waggon load of these new heretics.” But when he asked, “what they had done,” there was a deep silence, for that was a point their conductor had forgot. At length one said, “Why they pretend to be better than other people, and besides they pray from morning till night.” Mr. S--- asked, “But have they done nothing besides?” “Yes, Sir,” said an old man, “an’t please your worship they have convarted my wife; till she went among them she had such a tongue, and now she is as quiet as a lamb.” “Carry them back,” replied the justice, “and let them convert all the scolds in the town.”—(Wesley’s Journal.)
[55] Watson’s Life of Wesley, page 484.
[56] Lackington.
[59a] “Who does as he would be done by, in buying or selling? particularly selling horses? Write him a knave that does not, and the Methodist knave is the worst of all knaves.”—Wesley’s Large Minutes, Q. 13.
[59b] Snuff-taking and drams are expressly forbidden.
[59c] In May 1776, an order was made in the House of Lords, “That the Commissioners of His Majesty’s Excise do write circular letters to all such persons whom they have reason to suspect to have plate, as also to those who have not paid regularly the duty on the same.” In consequence of this order the Accountant-general for household plate sent a copy of it to John Wesley. The answer was as follows:
Sir,
I have two silver teaspoons in London and two at Bristol: this is all the plate which I have at present, and I shall not buy any more while so many round me want bread.
I am Sir, your most humble servant,
John Wesley.
[61] “I used my prayers,” says the author of the ‘Bank of Faith,’ “as gunners do swivels; turning them every way as the cases required.” Wesley relates in his Journal that “By prayer he used to cure a violent pain in his head,” &c.