“4. That, till we have done this, we will not write or speak a syllable of it, to any other person whatever.
“5. That neither will we mention it, after we have done this, to any other person.
“6. That we will not make any exception to any of these rules, unless we think ourselves absolutely obliged in conscience so to do.
- “John Wesley,
- Charles Wesley,
- John Trembath,
- E. Perronet,
- J. Downes,
- Jonathan Reeves,
- Joseph Cownley,
- C. Perronet,
- Thomas Maxfield,
- John Jones,
- John Nelson,
- William Shent,
- John Haime.”[168]
Seven weeks later, another document, dated March 16, 1752, was drawn up and signed, chiefly through the influence of Charles Wesley.[169]
“We whose names are underwritten, being clearly and fully convinced, (1) That the success of the present work of God does in great measure depend on the entire union of all the labourers employed therein; (2) that our present call is chiefly to the members of that Church wherein we have been brought up;—are absolutely determined, by the grace of God, (1) To abide in the closest union with each other, and never knowingly or willingly to hear, speak, do, or suffer anything which tends to weaken that union; (2) never to leave the communion of the Church of England without the consent of all whose names are subjoined.
- “Charles Wesley,
- John Wesley,
- John Downes,
- William Shent,
- John Jones,
- John Nelson.”[170]
These are curious and important papers, showing that, to a great extent, suspicion had taken the place of confidence, and that Methodism was in danger from “false brethren.”
On Sunday, March 15, Wesley set out from London, on his long northern journey, which, with his tour to Ireland, occupied his time for seven months. All the way to Manchester, which he reached on March 26, he encountered a continued succession of storms of wind and snow, but was not deterred from preaching, even in the open air.
At Manchester, he went, on Good Friday, to the cathedral, where his old friend, Mr. Clayton, read the prayers “more distinctly, solemnly, and gracefully” than he had ever heard them read. He spent three days in a searching examination of the members of the Manchester society, and found reason to believe, “that there was not one disorderly walker therein.”