The life and times of the Rev. John Wesley, M.A., founder of the Methodists. Vol. 2 (of 3)Tyerman, L. (Luke)
History
The life and times of the Rev. John Wesley, M.A., founder of the Methodists. Vol. 2 (of 3)
Tyerman, L. (Luke)
Methodism; Wesley, John, 1703-1791
It has been already stated, that Charles Wesley contemplated marriage
early in the year 1748. In the month of August following, his brother
was seized, at Newcastle, with what seems to have been a bilious
attack, and which, to some extent, disabled him, though, during its
six days’ continuance, he managed to preach at Biddick, at Pelton, at
Spen, at Horsley, and at Newcastle. Grace Murray attended him during
his sickness. When he was somewhat recovered, he proposed to marry her.
She seemed amazed, and said, “This is too great a blessing for me; I
can’t tell how to believe it. This is all I could have wished for under
heaven!” From that time, Wesley regarded her as his affianced bride.
In a week or ten days after making his proposal of marriage, Wesley was
obliged to leave Newcastle for the south. The night before he started,
he told Grace Murray that he was fully convinced God intended her to
be his wife; and that, though they must part at present, he hoped when
they again met, they would part no more. The young widow begged they
might not separate so soon, saying it was more than she could bear.
Upon this, Wesley took her with him through Yorkshire and Derbyshire,
where, he says, “she was unspeakably useful both to him and to the
societies.” Here they parted, Grace Murray being left with Bennet, and
Wesley making his way to London.
Is it unfair to suspect some dishonourable collusion here? Let us see.
A year before, John Bennet, for twenty-six weeks, was an invalid in
the Orphan House, at Newcastle, and was nursed by widow Murray. From
that time, they carried on an epistolary correspondence. Meanwhile,
Wesley had proposed marriage, and his proposal had been ardently
accepted. Grace Murray was so deeply smitten, that she was unable
to bear the thought of Wesley leaving her. To satisfy and give her
pleasure, he, perhaps indiscreetly, took her with him; but, on reaching
John Bennet’s circuit, he was permitted to proceed alone, and she
contentedly remained with a man whom she had nursed in sickness for
half a year, and with whom she had corresponded ever since. Added
to all this, no sooner had Wesley left the loving couple, than they
both wrote to him; Bennet desiring his consent to marry her; and she
declaring that she believed it was the will of God she should. Wesley
was “utterly amazed, but wrote a mild answer to both, supposing they
were married already.” Further correspondence followed. For six months,
immediately succeeding, she coquetted between the two. When she heard
from Wesley, she resolved to live and to die with him. When Bennet
wrote, she replied to him in the tenderest terms. In February, 1749,
she sent to Bennet the intelligence, that Wesley had requested her to
accompany him to Ireland; that, if he loved her, he must meet her at
Sheffield; and that, if he failed in this, she could not answer for
results. Bennet determined to go to Sheffield; but, at the last moment,
was prevented by the death of a relative.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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