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
We purposely refrain from following Whitefield in his wondrous
wanderings; but it may be interjected here, that, during the year,
when at Rotherham, the town crier was employed to give notice of a
bear baiting, it being understood that Whitefield was the bear; and,
accordingly, when he began to preach a mob surrounded him, and a row
ensued. In Cumberland, his enemies injured his chaise, and cut off the
tail of one of his horses. At Ulverstone, a clergyman, looking more
like a butcher than a minister, charged a constable to arrest him. But
none of these things checked his triumphal march. People, by thousands,
flocked to hear him. At a single sacramental service, Grimshaw’s
church, at Haworth, was thrice filled with communicants. From his
leaving London to his reaching Edinburgh, he preached ninety times,
to about a hundred and forty thousand people. At Lady Huntingdon’s,
he seemed to think himself at the gates of paradise. He writes:
“October 11.—For a day or two, her ladyship has had five clergymen
under her roof. Her house is indeed a Bethel. To us in the ministry,
it looks like a college. We have the sacrament every morning, heavenly
conversation all day, and preach at night. This is to _live at court_,
indeed.”[87]
Wesley began the year by preaching, in London, to a large congregation
at four o’clock in the morning. At the end of the month, he paid a
visit to Canterbury, where a society had been already formed; and,
during three days, preached in the butter market,[88] and other places,
including an antinomian meeting-house, situated in Godly Alley.
The introduction of Methodism into the city of Canterbury was opposed
not only by mobs, but by parsons. Hence the issue of the following
furious effusion: “The Impostor Detected: or, the Counterfeit
Saint turned inside out. Containing a full discovery of the horrid
blasphemies and impieties, taught by those diabolical seducers, called
Methodists, under colour of the only real Christianity. Particularly
intended for the use of the city of Canterbury, where that mystery
of iniquity has lately begun to work. By John Kirkby, rector of
Blackmanstone, in Kent.” London: 1750. 8vo, 55 pages.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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