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
On September 20 they went, with Christopher Hopper, to Hineley Hill.
Hopper was made their confidant. In his presence, they renewed the
contract they had made in Dublin; after which he was despatched to
Chinley, in Derbyshire, to try to satisfy John Bennet. Wesley himself
went forward to Whitehaven; his betrothed being left behind to examine
the women bands in Allandale.
Meanwhile, Wesley had written to his brother Charles at Bristol.
Charles was shocked at the thought of his brother marrying at all, and
especially of his marrying a woman who had been a domestic servant; and
believed, that it would break up all their societies, and put a stop to
the work of God. Instead of replying to his brother’s letter, Charles
hurried down to Leeds, and thence posted to Newcastle, where Jeannie
Keith informed him that, in consequence of his brother’s contemplated
marriage, the town was in an uproar, and all the societies ready to
fall in pieces. He hastened to Whitehaven, and told his brother,
that all their preachers would leave them, and all their societies
disperse, if he married so mean a woman. Wesley weighed the reasons
alleged against his marrying. He acknowledges that, at the age of seven
and twenty, he was persuaded that “it was unlawful for a priest to
marry”; and that, soon after, he was brought to think that there was
some degree of taint upon the mind, necessarily attending the marriage
bed. Further inquiry, however, had led him to alter his opinions. The
meanness of Grace Murray’s origin was no objection, for he had regarded
her, not for her birth, but for her qualifications. She was remarkably
neat; nicely frugal, yet not sordid; gifted with a large amount
of common sense; indefatigably patient, and inexpressibly tender;
quick, cleanly, and skilful; of an engaging behaviour, and of a mild,
sprightly, cheerful, and yet serious temper; while, lastly, her gifts
for usefulness were such as he had not seen equalled. His conclusions
were: (1) “have scriptural reason to marry. (2) I know no person so
proper as this.”
Next morning his brother left him, and proceeded to Hineley Hill.
Meeting the intended bride, he kissed her, and said, “Grace Murray, you
have broken my heart.” By some means, he persuaded her to ride behind
him to Newcastle, where John Bennet was awaiting their arrival. She
fell at her lover’s feet, acknowledged she had used him ill, and begged
he would forgive her. Within a week, the two were made man and wife in
St. Andrew’s church.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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