Wesley should go, but vehemently opposed the design of Charles to accompany him. But his opposition had no effect, for Mr. Charles engaged himself as Secretary to Mr. Oglethorpe, and also as Secretary to Indian affairs, and in this character he went to Georgia, A little before they left England, Dr. Burton suggested that it might be well if Mr. Charles Wesley was ordained before he left this country. His brother John over-ruled his inclination in this thing also, and he was ordained Deacon by Dr. Potter, Bishop of Oxford; and the Sunday following, Priest, by Dr, Gibson, Bishop of London.* * SECTION II.. Of Mr. Charles Wesley's Voyage to Georgia: his Situation there, and return to England in 1736. THEY HEY sailed from Gravesend the 22d of October 1735, but meeting with contrary winds, they did not leave Cowes till the 10th of December. Mr. Charles Wesley preached several times, while they were detained here, and great crowds attended his ministry. His brother Samuel, who was violently against his going abroad, observes, that he hoped Charles was convinced by this instance, that he needed not to have gone to Georgia to convert sinners. After a stormy passage H. 2 • His letter to Dr. Chandler, they ministry till March Simon's Island, and "No sooner did I enthan God gave me a of Bishop Hall, they arrived in Savannah river Feb. 5th, 1736, and Mr. John Wesley was appointed to take charge of Savannah; Mr. Charles of Frederica; waiting for an opportunity of preaching to the Indians. Mr. Charles Wesley did not enter on his 9th, when he first set foot on his spirit immediately revived. ter on my ministry, (says he) new heart; so true is that saying "The calling of God never leaves a man unchanged; neither did God ever employ any in his service whom he did not enable for the work."-The first person that saluted him on landing, was his friend Mr. Ingham: "Never (says he) did I more rejoice to see him; especially when he told me the treatment he had met with for vindicating the Lord's day." This specimen of the ignorance and unteachable temper of the people among whom he had to labour, was unpromising, but he little expected the trials and dangers which lay before him. Like a faithful and diligent pastor, he immediately entered on his office; not with joy at the prospect of a good income, but with fear and trembling, at the views which he had of the importance and difficulty of the ministerial office. In the afternoon he began to converse with his parishioners, without which he well knew, that general instructions often lose their effect. But he observes on this occasion, "With what trembling should I call them mine." He felt as every minister of the gospel ought to feel when he takes upon him to guide others in the ways of God. In the evening he read prayers in the open air, at which Mr. Oglethorpe was present. The lesson was remarkably adapted to his situation, and he felt the full force of it, both in the way of direction and encouragement. "Continue instant in 66 prayer, 66 prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving "withal. praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance to speak the mystery of “Christ, that I may make it manifest as I ought to "speak. Walk in wisdom toward those that are "without, redeeming the time-Say to Archip pus, take heed to the ministry which thou hast "received of the Lord that thou fulfil it."-After the labours of the day, he returned and slept in the boat. The colony was at this time very scantily provided with accommodations. There was no place erected where the people could assemble for public worship: for on March 10th, between five and six in the morning, Mr. C. Wesley read short prayers to a few persons, before Mr. Oglethorpe's tent, in a hard shower of rain-He afterwards talked with Mrs. W. who had come in the ship with him and his brother, and endeavoured to guard her against the cares of the world, and to persuade her to give herself up to God; but in vain. In the evening he endeavoured to reconcile her and Mrs. H. who were greatly at variance, but to no purpose. Some of the women now began to be jealous of each other, and to raise animosities and divisions in the colony, which gave a great deal of trouble to Mr. Oglethorpe. Mr. Wesley's serious and religious deportment, his constant presence with them, and his frequent reproof of their licentious behaviour, soon made him the object of hatred; and plans were formed either to ruin him in the opinion of Mr. Oglethorpe, or to take him off by violence. We shall see these plans open by degrees. March the 11th, at ten in morning, he began the full service to about a dozen women whom he had got together, intending to continue it, and only to read a few prayers for the men before they went to work. work. He also expounded the second lesson with some degree of boldness, which he had done several times before; and it is probable that he did this extempore. After prayers he met Mrs. H.'s maid in a great passion and flood of tears, at the treatment she had received from her mistress. She seemed determined to destroy herself, to escape her Egyptian bondage. He prevailed with her to return, and went with her home. He asked Mrs. H. to forgive her; but she refused with the utmost roughness, rage, and almost reviling. He next met with Mr. Tackner, who, he observes, made him full amends: he was in an excellent temper, resolved to strive, not with his wife but with himself in putting off the old man, and putting on the newIn the evening he received the first harsh word from Mr. Oglethorpe, when he asked for something for a poor woman-The next day he received a rougher answer in a matter which deserved still greater encouragement. I know not, says he, how to account for his encreasing coldness. His encouragement, he observes, was the same in speaking with Mrs. W. whom he found all storm and tempest; so wilful, so untractable, so fierce, that he could not stay near her. This evening Mr. Oglethorpe was with the men under arms, in expectation of an enemy, but in the same ill humour with Mr. Wesley. "I staid (says he) as long as I could, however unsafe, within the wind of such emotion; but at last the hurricane of his passion drove me away." Mr. Wesley's situation was now truly alarming; not only as it regarded his usefulness, but as it affected his safety. Many persons lost all decency in their behaviour towards him, and Mr. Oglethorpe's treatment of him shewed that he had received impressions greatly to his disadvantage; at the same time he was totally ignorant of his accusers, and of what he was accused. But being conscious of his own innocence he trusted in God, and considered his sufferings as a part of the portion of those who will live godly in Christ Jesus, especially if they persuade others to walk by the same rule.— Sunday March 14th, he read prayers, and preached with boldness in singleness of intention, under a great tree, to about twenty people, among whom was Mr. Oglethorpe. "In the Epistle, (says he) I was plainly shewn what I ought to be, and what I ought to expect. "Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed, but in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of Christ; in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distress, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings," &c. At night he found himself exceedingly faint; but had no better bed to lie down upon than the ground; on which he says, "I slept very comfortably before a great fire, and waked next morning perfectly well.” He spent March 16th wholly in writing letters for Mr. Oglethorpe. He had now been six days at Frederica and observes, "I would not spend 'six days more in the same manner for all Georgia." But he had more than six days to spend in no better a situation, without being able to make any conditions. Mr. Charles Wesley, as well as his brother John, was so fully convinced at this time, that immersion was the most ancient mode of baptizing, that he determined to adhere strictly to the rubric of the church of England in relation to it, and not to baptize any child by sprinkling, unless it was sickly and weak. This occasioned some contention among the people, who were governed chiefly by their passions, and a spirit of opposition. However, by perseverence and mild persuasion, he prevailed with some of them to con sent |