per;" he saw that, as his brother was bent upon conciliation, any thing he could say would only endanger the mutual confidence between him and his preachers, and he held his peace. He himself believed that a formal separation of the body of preachers and people from the church would inevitably take place after his brother's death, and thought it best to bring on the crisis before that event. "You," says he, to his brother, "think otherwise, and I submit." The fact has been, that no such separation as he feared, that is, separation on such principles, and under such feelings of hostility to the established church, has yet taken place.

The following letter written by Mr. Wesley in 1782, to a nobleman high in office, shows how much his mind was alive to every thing which concerned the morals and religion of the country, and is an instance of the happy manner in which he could unite courtesy with reproof, without destroying its point. A report prevailed that the ministry designed to embody the militia, and exercise them on a Sunday.

66

MY LORD,

"If I wrong your lordship I am sorry for it; but I really believe, your lordship fears God; and I hope your lordship has no unfavourable opinion of the Christian revelation. This encourages me to trouble your lordship with a few lines, which otherwise I should not take upon me to do.

"Above thirty years ago, a motion was made in parliament, for raising and embodying the militia, and for exercising them, to save time, on Sunday. When the motion was like to pass, an old gentleman stood up and said, 'Mr. SpeakI have one objection to this: I believe an old book, called the Bible.' The members looked at one another, and the motion was dropped.

er,

"Must not all others, who believe the Bible, have the very same objection? And from what I have seen, I cannot but think, these are still three fourths of the nation. Now, setting religion out of the question, is it expedient to give such a shock to so many millions of people at once? And certainly it would shock them extremely: it would wound them in a very tender part. For would not they, would not all England, would not all Europe, consider this as a virtual repeal of the Bible? And would not all serious persons say, C we have little religion in the land now; but by this step we

shall have less still. For wherever this pretty show is to be seen, the people will flock together; and will lounge away so much time before and after it, that the churches will be emptier than they are already!'

66 My lord, I am concerned for this on a double account. First, because I have personal obligations to your lordship, and would fain, even for this reason, recommend your lordship to the love and esteem of all over whom I have any influence. Secondly, because I now reverence your lordship for your office' sake; and believe it to be my bounden duty to do all that is in my little power, to advance your lordship's influence and reputation.

"Will your lordship permit me to add a word in my old fashioned way? I pray Him that has all power in heaven and earth to prosper all your endeavours for the public good, and am,

"My lord,

"Your lordship's willing servant,

"JOHN WESLEY."

In 1783 Mr. Wesley paid a visit to Holland, having been pressed to undertake this journey by a Mr. Ferguson, formerly a member of the London society, who had made acquaintance with some pious people, who, having read Mr. Wesley's sermons, were desirous of seeing him.

The following are extracts from his journal: and they will be read with pleasure, both as exhibiting his activity at so advanced an age, and as they present an interesting picture of his intercourse with a pious remnant in several parts of that morally deteriorated country :

"Wednesday, June 11, I took coach with Mr. Brackenbury, Broadbent, and Whitefield; and in the evening we reached Harwich. I went immediately to Dr. Jones, who received me in the most affectionate manner: about nine in the morning we sailed; and at nine on Friday 13, landed at Helvoetsluys. Here we hired a coach for Briel; but were forced to hire a wagon also, to carry a box, which one of us could have carried on his shoulders. At Briel we took a boat to Rotterdam. We had not been long there, when Mr. Bennet, a bookseller, who had invited me to his house, called for me. But as Mr. Loyal, the minister of the Scotch congregation, had invited me, he gave up his claim, and went

with us to Mr. Loyal's. I found a friendly, sensible, hospitable, and I am persuaded, a pious man.

"Saturday 14. I had much conversation with the two English ministers, sensible, well bred, serious men. These, as well as Mr. Loyal, were very willing I should preach in their churches; but they thought it would be best for me to preach in the episcopal church. By our conversing freely together many prejudices were removed, and all our hearts seemed to be united together.

"Sunday 15. The episcopal church is not quite so large as the chapel in West-street: it is very elegant both without and within. The service began at half past nine. Such a congregation had not often been there before. I preached on, 'God created man in his own image.' The people 'seemed all, but their attention, dead.' In the afternoon the church was so filled, as (they informed me) it had not been for these fifty years. I preached on, 'God hath given us eternal life; and this life is in his Son.' I believe God applied it to many hearts. Were it only for this hour, I am glad I came to Holland.

"Monday 16. We set out in a track-skuit for the Hague: by the way we saw a curiosity;-the gallows near the canal, surrounded with a knot of beautiful trees! so the dying man will have one pleasant prospect here, whatever befalls him hereafter!

"At eleven we came to Delft, a large, handsome town; where we spent an hour at a merchant's house; who as well as his wife, a very agreeable woman, seemed both to fear and to love God. Afterwards we saw the great church, I think, nearly, if not quite, as long as York Minster. It is exceedingly light and elegant within, and every part is kept exquisitely clean.

When we came to the Hague, though we had heard much of it, we were not disappointed. It is indeed beautiful beyond expression. Many of the houses are exceedingly grand, and are finely intermixed with water and wood; yet not too close, but so as to be sufficiently ventilated by the air.

"Being invited to tea by Madam de Vassenaar, (one of the first quality in the Hague,) I waited upon her in the afternoon. She received us with that easy openness and affability, which is almost peculiar to Christians and persons

of quality. Soon after came ten or twelve ladies more who seemed to be of her own rank, (though dressed quite plainly,) and two most agreeable gentlemen: one of whom, I afterwards understood, was a colonel in the Prince's Guards. After tea I expounded the three first verses of the thirteenth chapter of the first epistle to the Corinthians: Captain M. interpreted, sentence by sentence. I then prayed, and Colonel V. after me. I believe this hour was well employed.

ແ Tuesday 17. We dined at Mrs. L-'s, in such a family as I have seldom seen. Her mother, upwards of seventy, seemed to be continually rejoicing in God her Saviour. The daughter breathes the same spirit; and her grandchildren, three little girls and a boy, seem to be all love. I have not seen four such children together in England. A gentleman coming in after dinner, I found a particular desire to pray for him. In a little while he melted into tears, as indeed did most of the company. Wednesday 18. In the afternoon Madam de Vassenar invited us to a meeting at a neighbouring lady's house. I expounded Gal. vi. 14, and Mr. M. interpreted as before.

"Thursday 19. We took boat at seven. Mrs. L., and one of her relations, being unwilling to part so soon, bore us company to Leyden, a large and populous town, but not so pleasant as Rotterdam. In the afternoon we went to Haarlem, where a plain good man and his wife received us in a most affectionate manner. At six we took boat again: as it

was filled from end to end, I was afraid we should not have a very pleasant journey. After Mr. Ferguson had told the people who we were, we made a slight excuse, and sung a hymn: they were all attention. We then talked a little, by means of our interpreter, and desired that any of them who pleased would sing. Four persons did so, and sung well after awhile we sung again; so did one or two of them; and all our hearts were strangely knit together, so that when we came to Amsterdam, they dismissed us with abundance of blessings.

"Friday 20. At five in the evening we drank tea at a merchant's, Mr. G―s, where I had a long conversation with Mr. de H., one of the most learned as well as popular ministers in the city; and I believe (what is far more important) he is truly alive to God. He spoke Latin well, and seemed

to be one of a strong understanding, as well as of an excellent spirit. In returning to our inn, we called at a stationer's, and though we spent but a few minutes, it was enough to convince us of his strong affection even to strangers. What a change does the grace of God make in the heart! Shyness and stiffness are now no more!

Sunday 22. I went to the new church, so called still, though four or five hundred years old. It is larger, higher, and better illuminated than most of our cathedrals. The screen that divides the church from the choir, is of polished brass, and shines like gold. I understood the psalms that were sung, and the text well, and a little of the sermon; which Mr. de H. delivered with great earnestness. At two I began the service at the English church, an elegant building, about the size of West-street chapel; only it has no galleries, nor have any of the churches in Holland. I preached on Isaiah lv. 6, 7, and I am persuaded many received the truth in the love thereof.

"After service I spent another hour at Mr. V's. Mrs. V. again asked me abundance of questions concerning deliverance from sin, and seemed a good deal better satisfied with regard to the great and precious promises. Thence we went to Mr. B., who had lately found peace with God. He was full of faith and love, and could hardly mention the goodness of God without tears. His wife appeared to be of the same spirit, so that our hearts were soon knit together. From thence we went to another family, where a large company were assembled: but all seemed open to receive instruction, and desirous to be altogether Christians.

"Wednesday 25. We took boat for Haarlem. The great church here is a noble structure, equalled by few cathedrals in England, either in length, breadth, or height: the organ is the largest I ever saw, and is said to be the finest in Europe. Hence we went to Mr. Van K's, whose wife was convinced of sin, and brought to God, by reading Mr. Whitefield's sermons.

"Here we were at home. Before dinner we took a walk in Haarlem wood. It adjoins to the town, and is cut out in many shady walks, with lovely vistas shooting out every way. The walk from the Hague to Scheveling is pleasant; those near Amsterdam more so; but these exceed them all.