Upstarted light, the beggar blind,
He sprang the healing touch to meet,
Cast all his filthy rags behind,
And groan’d for faith at Jesu’s feet.
“But here (says he) it may be needful, in order the better to understand some particulars which will be hereafter related, to premise [♦]a few things relative to this preacher, and the people to whom he belonged, 1st, he was one of the people called Methodists, and a member of the church of England. 2dly, This people began to preach Christ, and justification thro’ his blood, about the year 1738, having had their beginning at Oxford, in the Rev. Mr. John and Charles Wesley; the former a fellow of Lincoln College, and the latter, student of Christ Church. These two brothers having obtained mercy themselves, were called of God to publish his love to others likewise, by preaching the gospel of the kingdom, to every creature that would hear the joyful sound. Accordingly, out they go into the lanes and highways, crying in the voice of wisdom to the sons of men, beseeching and compelling sinners to turn to God, to come to that feast of marrow and fat things, which he hath prepared for all who will but accept of life and salvation.”[¹]
[♦] duplicate word “a” removed
[¹] See Luke xiv. 16–24. Proverbs viii. 1–5. and compare with Proverbs i. 24.
“After these servants of God had been thus employed for some time, it pleased their divine Master, to send forth other labourers also into his harvest, to assist in the same blessed work: not indeed such as human wisdom would have appointed, the great or wise men of this world; but quite the contrary: the poor (for the most part) and as St. Paul says, the base and weak, that thus, leaving no room for boasting or glorying in man, whoso glorieth might glory in the Lord.”[¹]
[¹] 1 Corinthians i. 25–31.
“Some of these, after preaching the gospel in the streets and highways, to their own countrymen, brought the glad tidings to Ireland also; where, going about from place to place, thro’ cities and villages, they freely declared, what they had so freely received, to every one that would hear. And glory be to God, their labour of love was not in vain. He that sent them, gave their word his blessing, so that many received it gladly; and having felt its power, to this day bring forth fruit with patience; the fruit of righteousness, to the glory of God.”