CHAPTER I.
TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO—1640–1665.
PAGE
Convocation in 1640,[1]
Divine Right of Kings,[1]
Civil Wars Commenced,[2]
Ejected Clergymen,[3]
Ecclesiastical Outrages,[4]
Sports Suppressed,[4]
New Sects,[4]
Assembly of Divines,[5]
Church of England during the Commonwealth,[6]
Cromwell’s “Triers,”[7]
Morals of the Nation,[8]
Restoration of Charles II.,[10]
Persecutions,[12]
Archbishop Usher’s Scheme,[12]
“The Healing Declaration,”[13]
Meeting to Revise the Liturgy,[14]
Solemn League and Covenant,[15]
Act of Uniformity,[16]
Alterations in Book of Common Prayer,[17]
St Bartholomew’s Day,[19]
Three Classes of Conforming Ministers,[20]
Nonconforming Ministers,[21]
Conventicle Act,[25]
Five-Mile Act,[25]
CHAPTER II.
PARENTAGE—1600–1670.
Bartholomew Wesley,[28]
His Attempt to Arrest King Charles,[29]
His Ejectment and Death,[32]
John Wesley’s Birth,[32]
John Wesley at Oxford,[33]
John Wesley’s Appointment to Preach,[34]
John Wesley’s Dialogue with Bishop of Bristol,[36]
John Wesley’s Arrest and Trial,[43]
John Wesley’s Ejectment and Persecutions,[46]
John Wesley’s Friend, Joseph Alleine,[47]
John Wesley’s Character and Portrait,[50]
“The Patriarch of Dorchester,”[51]
Thomas Fuller,[52]
CHAPTER III.
SCHOOL DAYS—1662–1683.
Dorchester School,[55]
National Events during S. Wesley’s Youth,[55]
Titus Oates,[57]
National Immorality,[62]
Great Men,[64]
S. Wesley intended for Dissenting Ministry,[65]
S. Wesley sent to London,[65]
Edward Veal,[65]
Charles Morton,[66]
Morton’s Pupils,[68]
Rev. Thomas Doolittle,[69]
Wesley writes Lampoons,[70]
John Biddle,[71]
Charges against Dissenting Ministers,[73]
Wesley’s School-fellows,[74]
Daniel De Foe,[75]
CHAPTER IV.
UNIVERSITY DAYS—1683–1688.
Why S. Wesley left the Dissenters,[77]
Wesley goes to Oxford,[79]
Exeter College,[80]
Wesley a “Servitor,”[81]
Wesley publishes his “Maggots,”[82]
Pope’s “Dunciad,”[84]
John Dunton,[84]
Wesley’s Life at the University,[86]
King James’s Visit to Oxford,[89]
Birth of Prince of Wales,[91]
“Strenæ Natalitiæ,”[91]
Wesley’s Poem,[92]
His Feelings towards King James,[92]
His Defence of the Revolution of 1688,[93]
CHAPTER V.
NATIONAL AFFAIRS—1685–1688.
Charles II.,[94]
Argyle and Monmouth’s Invasion,[95]
Judge Jeffreys,[96]
King James’s pro-Papistical Acts,[98]
King James’s Declaration of Indulgence,[98]
National Patience Exhausted,[99]
Deplorable Treatment of Dissenters,[100]
Disobedient Clergy,[101]
Story respecting S. Wesley Refuted,[102]
S. Wesley’s Opinion of King James’s Indulgence,[103]
Trial of Seven Bishops,[105]
Flight of the King and Queen,[106]
Accession of William and Mary,[107]
Description of London,[107]
State of the Country,[108]
Religion and Morals,[111]
CHAPTER VI.
ORDINATION AND MARRIAGE—1688, 1689.
Hardships at College,[113]
Ordained a Deacon at Bromley,[113]
Bishop Sprat,[114]
Ordained a Priest in Holborn,[114]
Bishop Compton,[114]
Distinguished Clergymen,[115]
Distinguished Dissenters,[117]
Other Distinguished Men,[117]
Wesley’s First Curacy,[118]
Dr Annesley,[119]
Samuel Annesley, jun.,[121]
The Father of Mrs Annesley,[122]
Susannah Wesley,[125]
CHAPTER VII.
THE “ATHENIAN GAZETTE”—1690–1695.
South Ormsby,[128]
The Rural Clergyman,[129]
Dunton projects the Athenian Gazette,[131]
Lacedemonian Mercury,[133]
Elkanah Settle,[133]
Wesley and the Swearer,[134]
Richard Sault and the Second Spira,[135]
John Norris,[136]
Nahum Tate,[137]
Jonathan Swift,[137]
Sir William Temple,[138]
Mrs Rowe,[138]
Charles Gildon,[138]
History of Athenian Society,[138]
Gildon’s Character of Wesley,[139]
Questions Answered in Athenian Gazette,[141]
Wesley’s Opinions of Quakers,[143]
Wesley’s Theological Opinions,[143]
Wesley’s Opinion of Churchmen and Dissenters,[148]
CHAPTER VIII.
MORE LITERARY WORK—1692, 1693.
“The Young Student’s Library,”[150]
Its fantastic Frontispiece,[150]
Contents of Young Student’s Library,[151]
Wesley’s Article on Hebrew Points,[152]
Wesley’s Essay on all sorts of Learning,[155]
Wesley’s “Complete Library,”[158]
Wesley’s “Life of Christ,”[160]
Opinions for and against it,[160]
The Engravings in it,[163]
William Fairthorn,[163]
Extracts from the “Life of Christ,”[164]
CHAPTER IX.
WILLIAM AND MARY’S REIGN—1689–1702.
Touching to Cure the King’s Evil,[167]
Non-jurors,[169]
William Sherlock,[169]
George Hickes,[170]
Jeremy Collier,[170]
Henry Dodwell,[170]
John Kettlewell,[171]
Charles Leslie,[171]
The Seven Non-juring Bishops,[171]
The Act of Toleration,[172]
The Comprehension Bill,[173]
Commission to Revise the Liturgy, &c.,[173]
Convocation in 1689,[175]
High Church and Low Church,[177]
Samuel Wesley not a High Churchman,[177]
His Opinion on the Union of Churchmen and Dissenters,[178]
King William the Head of the Low-Church Party,[180]
Episcopacy Abolished in Scotland,[180]
Position occupied by Socinians and Papists,[181]
Character and Death of George Fox,[182]
Wesley’s Comparison of Quakers with Papists,[183]
Archbishop Tillotson,[184]
Death and Character of Queen Mary,[185]
Great Men flourishing in the Reign of William,[187]
Character and Death of William,[188]
CHAPTER X.
LAST DAYS AT SOUTH-ORMSBY—1694–1696.
Wesley’s Elegies on the Queen and Archbishop,[191]
Epworth Living obtained through the Queen,[193]
Tillotson refuses to Recommend Wesley to an Irish Bishopric,[194]
Marquis of Normanby,[195]
Wesley, his Chaplain, in doubt how to Act,[197]
Wesley’s Fidelity obliges him to leave Ormsby,[198]
Children born at Ormsby,[199]
Emilia Wesley,[199]
Susannah Wesley,[200]
Mary Wesley,[200]
CHAPTER XI.
EPWORTH AND CHRISTIAN SOCIETIES—1696–1699.
Isle of Axholme,[203]
Epworth Parsonage,[203]
Mehetabel Wesley,[204]
Character and Death of Mrs Dunton,[207]
Timothy Rogers,[208]
Wesley writes Mrs Dunton’s Epitaph,[209]
Dunton quarrels with Wesley,[210]
Wesley’s Sermon on Reformation of Manners,[213]
Society for the Reformation of Manners,[213]
Dr Anthony Horneck and Mr Smithies,[213]
William Beveridge,[214]
Young Men Converted,[214]
Form Themselves into Societies,[215]
Religious Societies give birth to Reformation Societies,[218]
Daniel Defoe on the Wickedness of the Age,[219]
Wesley on do.,[220]
History of Society for Reformation of Manners,[221]
History of Religious and of Methodist Societies,[224]
Samuel Wesley’s hearty Approval of Religious Societies,[227]
CHAPTER XII.
DEBT AND DILIGENCE—1700–1704.
Wesley unfortunately turns Farmer,[229]
Letter to Archbishop Sharpe,[229]
Explanations,[231]
Archbishop Sharpe’s Application for a “Brief,”[234]
Wesley declines it,[235]
Wesley helps his Mother,[235]
A few Children born,[236]
Archbishop Sharpe,[236]
“The Pious Communicant,”[237]
Wesley’s Opinions on Transubstantiation and Baptism,[237]
John Wesley’s Re-publication of his Father’s Discourse,[239]
Wesley’s Epistle on Poetry,[239]
Its Preface,[239]
Impurity of the Press,[241]
Macaulay on do.,[242]
Account of Epistle on Poetry,[243]
Wesley’s History of Old and New Testament,[244]
John Sturt,[245]
Quotations from History of Old and New Testament,[246]
CHAPTER XIII.
CONVOCATION—1701, ETC.
Description of Convocation,[249]
Wesley elected a Member of Convocation,[250]
Exaggerated Anecdote,[251]
Convocation of 1701,[253]
Convocation of 1702,[258]
Queen Anne,[258]
Duke of Marlborough,[258]
Queen Anne a Bigot,[259]
Occasional Conformity Bill,[260]
Queen Anne’s Bounty,[260]
Lord Halifax’s Motion in Parliament,[261]
The Act to prevent the Growth of Schism,[261]
John Wesley’s Character of Queen Anne,[262]
Increase of Club-houses, &c.,[262]
The Fashionable Classes,[263]
Bully-beaus, &c.,[263]
National Superstition and Ignorance,[265]
CHAPTER XIV.
DISASTERS AND DISSENTERS—1702–1705.
Wesley in Debt,[267]
His House on Fire,[267]
His Friends help Him,[268]
His Letter on Dissenting Academies,[270]
Secret History of the Calves-head Club,[271]
Clarendon’s History of the Rebellion,[274]
Samuel Palmer,[277]
Robert Clavel,[278]
Palmer’s Defence,[279]
Wesley’s Defence,[280]
Sacheverell’s Sermon on Political Union,[282]
Dissenter’s Demands as expounded by Defoe,[284]
Defoe’s Shortest Way with Dissenters,[286]
Defoe’s Arrest and Punishment,[288]
Defoe attacks Wesley,[289]
Other attacks on Wesley,[290]
CHAPTER XV.
THE IMPRISONED FATHER—1705–1709.
Wesley’s Missionary Scheme,[295]
Parliamentary Election in 1705,[297]
The Mob at Epworth,[297]
Wesley deprived of his Military Chaplainship,[299]
Duke of Marlborough,[299]
Wesley’s Poem on Marlborough,[299]
Wesley in Lincoln Castle,[300]
Letters to Archbishop Sharpe,[300]
Wesley’s Release,[304]
Archbishop Sharpe’s Kindness,[304]
Horrible Death of one of Wesley’s Enemies,[304]
A Prayer,[305]
Letters to S. Wesley, jun.,[307]
Wesley’s Passion for Music and Poetry,[311]
More Letters to S. Wesley, jun.,[312]
Wesley’s Reply to Palmer’s Vindication,[316]
More Letters to S. Wesley, jun.,[319]
Wesley the Teacher of his Children,[322]
Anne Wesley,[322]
Martha Wesley,[322]
Kezziah Wesley,[325]
Wesley’s Confidence that all his Children would be Saved,[325]
CHAPTER XVI.
FIRE AND FURY—1709–1712.
The Burning of Epworth Parsonage,[326]
A Rescued Hymn,[327]
Wesley’s Account of the Fire,[328]
Unjust Accusation,[329]
Outrages in the Isle of Axholme,[331]
Family Destitution,[333]
The New Parsonage,[333]
Dr Adam Clarke at Epworth,[333]
Henry Sacheverell,[334]
Sacheverell’s Sermons at Derby and at St Paul’s,[334]
Sacheverell’s Trial,[338]
Sacheverell’s Defence written by Wesley,[339]
Great National Excitement,[342]
The New Parliament and Convocation in 1710,[343]
Wesley at Convocation, and Events at Epworth,[345]
CHAPTER XVII.
PRETERNATURAL NOISES—1716, 1717.
Belief in Ghosts,[348]
Witchcraft,[349]
Wesley’s Remarks on Apparitions,[349]
Samuel Badcock,[350]
Wesley Papers and Dr Priestley,[350]
Account of Noises at Epworth Parsonage,[350]
Divers Opinions respecting them,[357]
The Noises really Preternatural,[359]
Why Permitted,[360]
Effect produced on Emilia Wesley,[361]
John Wesley’s firm Belief in Witchcraft, &c.,[362]
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE LAST TWENTY YEARS—1714–1735.
The Pretender,[365]
The South Sea Bubble,[366]
Bishop Atterbury,[367]
Social, Moral, and Religious Condition of the Country,[368]
Eminent Divines in the Church of England,[369]
Eminent Dissenting Ministers,[370]
Other Eminent Men,[370]
Wesley’s Dissertations on the Book of Job,[371]
His elaborate Preparations,[371]
His Helpers,[372]
Maurice Johnson,[372]
Roger Gale,[372]
John Romley,[373]
John Whitelamb,[373]
The Titles of Wesley’s Dissertations,[377]
Wesley’s Portrait,[378]
Lord Oxford,[379]
Subscribers to Wesley’s Dissertations,[379]
Dedication to Queen Caroline,[380]
Opinions respecting the Dissertations,[380]
Samuel Badcock,[380]
Bishop Warburton,[380]
Alexander Pope, &c.,[381]
Wesley’s Letter to a Curate,[381]
Wesley on Christian Ministers,[382]
Wesley on Reading Prayers,[383]
Wesley on Books to be Studied,[384]
Wesley on Sermons,[386]
Wesley on Catechising,[387]
Wesley on the Administration of Sacraments,[387]
Wesley on Church Discipline,[387]
Wesley obtains the Rectory of Wroot,[388]
CHAPTER XIX.
LETTERS—1725–1735.
Advices to his son John about Entering Orders,[391]
Wesley and his Wife differ in Opinion,[392]
Wesley on Thomas à Kempis,[393]
Wesley’s son John Ordained a Deacon,[396]
Wesley’s Designs to Publish a Polyglot Bible,[397]
Wesley Pinched for Want of Money,[399]
John Wesley at Epworth and Wroot,[399]
Wesley’s Love for his Children,[399]
Wesley’s Journey from Wroot to Epworth, &c.,[402]
Mrs Wesley thought to be Dangerously Ill,[403]
Wesley on Oriental Languages,[404]
Two fair Escapes from Death,[405]
Wesley’s Advices to his son Charles,[406]
Wesley’s Letters on the First Methodist Meetings at Oxford,[407]
Wesley’s Dedication of his Dissertations to the Queen,[409]
Wesley’s Dissertations nearly Completed,[410]
Wesley a strict Disciplinarian,[411]
Letters on Doing Penance,[412]
A Difficulty about his Churchwardens,[414]
Wesley nearly Killed by being
thrown out of his Waggon,[416]
Wesley writes to his son Samuel on Family Affairs,[417]
S. Wesley, jun., declines Epworth Living,[419]
Wesley learns to Write with his Left Hand,[419]
Wesley’s Benevolence,[420]
Letter to the Lord Chancellor respecting J. Whitelamb,[420]
Wesley Visits his Sons at Oxford,[422]
John Wesley Refuses to be his Father’s Successor,[422]
His Father’s Reply to his Objections,[422]
Two Papists at Epworth,[424]
Wesley’s Kindness to a Fatherless Boy,[424]
General Oglethorpe,[425]
Wesley’s Letter to Oglethorpe on his Return from Georgia,[425]
Proposed Special Sacraments for his Friends,[427]
Would have gone to Georgia if ten years younger,[428]
Inquiries respecting Georgia,[429]
John Whitelamb’s wish to go to Georgia,[430]
The Missionary Spirit a Trait of the Wesley Family,[431]
A Family Letter written by Proxy,[432]
Matthew Wesley and his Visit to Epworth,[435]
He unjustly Accuses his Brother,[436]
S. Wesley’ s Reply to his Brother’s Accusation,[437]
CHAPTER XX.
DEATH AND CHARACTER—1735.
Declining Health,[443]
Last two Sermons,[443]
John Wesley’s Account of his Father’s Death,[444]
Charles Wesley’s ditto,[444]
Notice of Death in Gentleman’s Magazine,[447]
His Tomb,[447]
His Elegy, by his son Samuel,[448]
His Poetry,[448]
Eupolis’s Hymn,[449]
Wesley’s Wit and Pleasantry,[451]
The Miser’s Feast,[451]
The Epworth Parish Clerk,[452]
Two Letters written by Wesley’s Granddaughter,[453]
Snuff and Tobacco,[455]
Dr Whitehead’s Critique on Wesley,[456]
J. Hampson’s ditto,[457]
Adam Clarke’s ditto,[457]
Success of Wesley’s Labours,[458]

APPENDICES.

Titles of Poems in Wesley’s “Maggots,”[461]
List of Pamphlets published at the Revolution of 1688,[462]
List of Books Condensed in “The Young Student’s Library,”[464]

THE LIFE AND TIMES

OF

SAMUEL WESLEY.

CHAPTER I.
TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO—1640–1665.

Samuel Wesley was born a little more than two hundred years ago; and a brief review of the state of the nation and of the Church at that period will be useful in illustrating some parts of his history.