“‘Mr. Voltaire sent for Monsieur Tronclils, first physician to the Duke of Orleans, (one of his converts to infidelity,) and said to him, “Sir, I desire you will save my life. I will give you half my fortune, if you will lengthen out my days only six months. If not, I shall go to the devil, and carry you with me.”’ “This is the man to whom a crowned head pays such a violent compliment! Nay, this is the man whose works are now publishing by a divine of our own Church; yea, a chaplain to his majesty. Pity but the king should know it. If the publisher of that poor wretch’s works writes a panegyric upon him or them, I shall think it my duty to show the real value of those writings. “I am, sir, your humble servant, J. WESLEY.” No man was a more determined opponent of evil than Wesley was; and, at the same time, no man was a more faithful friend. The following is illustrative of this. The Methodists know something, and might be told a great deal more, respecting William Shent, the Methodist barber of the town of Leeds. Poor William was now in not undeserved embarrassment; his friends forsook him; but not so Wesley. Hence the following, hitherto unpublished, letter to the Methodist society in Keighley. “LONDON, _January 11, 1779_. “I HAVE a few questions, which I desire may be proposed to the society at Keighley. “Who was the occasion of the Methodist preachers first setting foot in Leeds? William Shent. “Who received John Nelson into his house at his first coming thither? William Shent. “Who was it that invited me, and received me when I came? William Shent. “Who was it that stood by me while I preached in the street with stones flying on every side? William Shent. “Who was it that bore the storm of persecution for the whole town, and stemmed it at the peril of his life? William Shent. “Whose word did God bless for many years in an eminent manner? William Shent’s. “By whom were many children now in paradise begotten in the Lord, and many now alive? William Shent. “Who is he that is ready now to be broken up, and turned into the street? William Shent. “And does nobody care for this? William Shent fell into sin, and was publicly expelled the society; but must he be also starved? Must he with his grey hairs and all his children be without a place to lay his head? Can you suffer this? Oh, tell it not in Gath! Where is gratitude? Where is compassion? Where is Christianity? Where is humanity? Where is concern for the cause of God? Who is a wise man among you? Who is concerned for the gospel? Who has put on bowels of mercy? Let him arise and exert himself in this matter. You here all arise as one man, and roll away the reproach. Let us set him on his feet once more. It may save both him and his family. But what we do, let it be done quickly.