From May 2 to August 2, he was incessantly travelling, writing, and preaching in the sister island. Coming to Londonderry, he knew no one, nor where the preacher lodged; but while he stood musing how to act, a gentleman, on horseback, asked his name, and took him home with him. This was Alexander Knox, Esq., a member of the corporation and a Christian, whose son for thirty years carried on a correspondence with Bishop Jebb.
After Thomas Williams, the first Methodist itinerant in Ireland, was discarded by Wesley, he visited Londonderry, became popular as a preacher, formed a society, fell into sin, married, and then went off, leaving his wife behind him. This was in 1764. Two of Williams’s members wrote to Dublin for a preacher, and James Clough was sent.[612] This was the preacher whom Wesley wanted, when he was met by Mr. Knox. Wesley’s host took him to the church, and led him to a pew, where he was placed next the mayor. He gave him hospitable entertainment for a fortnight, and he and his wife became members of Wesley’s society; and, though he ultimately left the Methodists, yet, as will be seen hereafter, to the end of life, he retained the profoundest respect for his friend.
During his stay with Mr. Knox, Wesley wrote as follows:—
“Londonderry, May 14, 1765.
“Dear Sir,—You have admirably expressed what I mean by an opinion, contradistinguished from an essential doctrine. Whatever is ‘compatible with love to Christ, and a work of grace,’ I term an opinion. And certainly the holding particular election and final perseverance is compatible with these.
“‘Yet what fundamental errors,’ you ask, ‘have you opposed with half that fervency as you have opposed these opinions?’ I have printed near fifty sermons, and only one of these opposes them at all. I preach about eight hundred sermons a year; and, taking one year with another, for twenty years past, I have not preached eight sermons in a year upon the subject. But ‘how many of your best preachers have been thrust out, because they dissented from you in these particulars?’ Not one, best or worst, good or bad, was ever thrust out on this account. Two or three voluntarily left us, after they had embraced those opinions; and two I should have expelled for immoral behaviour; but they withdrew, and pretended not to hold our doctrine. Set a mark, therefore, on him that told you that tale, and let his word for the future go for nothing.
“‘Is a man a believer in Jesus Christ, and is his life suitable to his profession?’ are not only the main, but the sole, inquiries, I make, in order to his admission into our society. If he is a Dissenter, he may be a Dissenter still: but if he is a Churchman, I advise him to continue so.
“I think on justification, just as I have done any time these seven-and-twenty years; and just as Mr. Calvin does. In this respect, I do not differ from him an hair’sbreadth.
“I am, dear sir, your affectionate brother and servant,
“John Wesley.”