The Life of the REV. John Wesley (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. Progress Of Religion, With Its Attendant Sufferings ?Mr. Wesley's Expostulation With The Opposing Clergy His Advice To The People Respecting Their Persecutors. The Rebellion being now crushed, Mr. C. Weslcv proceeded, in 1746, to Cornwall, and was cheered by the steadiness of the flock there in those troublous times. The laymen were found useful on this occasion. He observes, " Monday, June SO.?Both sheep and shepherds had been scattered in the late cloudy day of persecution; but the Lord gathered them again, and kept them together by their own brethren; who began to exhort their companions, one or more in every Society. No less than four have sprung up in Gwennup. I talked closely with each, and found no reason to doubt that God had used them thus far. I advised and charged them, not to stretch themselves beyond their line, by speaking out of the Society, or fancying themselves public teachers. If they keep within their bounds, as they promise, they may be useful in the church: And I would to God, that all the Lord's people were prophets like these."?It is highly probable, England would have tasted before this time the horrors of the French Revolution, if it were not for this teaching. The common people were then ripe for any mischief. They are now taught better. " July 3.?At Lidgeon, I preached Christ crucified, and spake with the classes, who seem much in earnest. Shewed above a thousand sinners, at Sithney, the love and compassion of Jesus towards them. Many who came from Helstone, a town of rebels and persecutors, were struck and confessedtheir sins, and declared they would never more be found fighting against God?July 6. At Gwennup, near two thousand persons listened to those gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth, ' Come unto me, aU ye...