Whitefield arrived from America in the month of May; in June set out on a tour to Wales and the west of England; and in August to the north and to Scotland. The last six weeks of the year he spent in London, and began to take steps towards the erection of the Tabernacle in Moorfields. He was considerably annoyed at the publication of Wesley’s tract on final perseverance, and, on February 5, wrote as follows: “Poor Mr. Wesley is striving against the stream. Strong assertions will not go for proofs with those who are sealed by the Holy Spirit even unto the day of redemption.”[167] Several of Wesley’s itinerants began to be disloyal to their chiefs; and this led to the following document being signed with the names appended. “January 29, 1752. It is agreed by us whose names are underwritten,— “1. That we will not listen, or willingly inquire after any ill concerning each other. “2. That, if we do hear any ill of each other, we will not be forward to believe it. “3. That, as soon as possible, we will communicate what we hear, by speaking or writing to the person concerned. “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.”