The Oxford Methodists : $b Memoirs of the Rev. Messrs. Clayton, Ingham, Gambold, Hervey, and Broughton, with biographical notices of othersTyerman, L. (Luke)
History
The Oxford Methodists : $b Memoirs of the Rev. Messrs. Clayton, Ingham, Gambold, Hervey, and Broughton, with biographical notices of others
No one can find fault with Mr. Morgan’s letter. It was economical, and
yet generous. For want of judicious restraint like his, hundreds of young
Oxonians have been ruined. Too much money in a young man’s pocket is a
terrible temptation and danger. Besides, Morgan, though only nineteen
years of age, had hitherto evinced none of the sobriety of his elder
brother; but, on the contrary, had been a brisk, showy, gay young fellow.
Hence, his father’s description of him to Charles Wesley. After stating
that though he had left school at the age of sixteen, he was even then
“fit for the university, and at least as good a scholar as his brother
was when he went to Oxford;” Mr. Morgan adds,—
“Three years ago, I purchased an office for him in the law;
but, I fear, he has read very little of Greek or Latin since,
and that he has forgotten a great deal of what he had learned
at school; but I don’t think his parts very bad. He was
nineteen years of age last July, and is very lusty for his age.
I believe he is five feet ten inches high. He has been somewhat
gay, and gone to plays and balls; but addicted to no vice. He
has often wished rather to be put forward in his learning, than
to stick to an office; and I am now inclined to indulge him. If
it be advisable to put him in this new way of life, you may be
sure I can think of no other for his tutor but yourself.”
Charles Wesley, however, thought that the young man would be safer with
his brother than with himself; and, indeed, Morgan himself desired that
he might be entered a Gentleman Commoner of Lincoln College, and be
Wesley’s pupil. His father complied with this request; but the youth
soon became dissatisfied. Being under Wesley’s care, he was branded
with the name of Methodist; and, in a fit of mortified vanity, wrote
to his father, saying, he would rather return to his office in Dublin,
than suffer the sneers of his gay companions, in Oxford. Wesley became
acquainted with this, and immediately addressed to Mr. Morgan a letter,
which, though long, is too interesting and important to be omitted.
We have here a glimpse of the daily life of the Oxford Methodists, a
specimen of the contumely cast upon them, and a description of the
collegiate wickedness surrounding them. It will be seen that Wesley’s
letter was written within two months after the date of Mr. Morgan’s
letter just given.
“_January 14th, 1734._
“SIR,—Going yesterday into your son’s room, I providentially
cast my eyes upon a paper that lay upon the table, and,
contrary to my custom, read a line or two of it, which soon
determined me to read the rest. It was a copy of his last
letter to you; whereby, by the signal blessing of God, I came
to the knowledge of his real sentiments, both with regard to
myself and to several other points of the highest importance.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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