and destroy the goods of the Methodists.

One would

think (says Mr. Wesley) there was no King in Israel. There is certainly no Magistrate, who will put them to shame in any thing. Mr. Constable offered to make oath that their lives were in danger, but the Justice refused it, saying that he could do nothing. Others of our complaining brethren met with the same redress, being driven away with revilings. The Magistrates do not themselves tear off their clothes and beat them, they only stand by and see others do it. One of them told Mr. Jones, it was the best thing the mob ever did, so to treat the Methodists; and he himself would give five pounds to drive them out of the country. Another when our brother Ward begged his protection, delivered him up to the mercy of the mob, who had half murdered him before, and throwing his hat round his head, cried, huzza boys, well done, stand up for the church."-Such Magistrates, sworn to maintain the public peace, and such defenders of a national church, are a lasting disgrace to any government. Mr. Wesley adds, "No wonder that the mob, so encouraged, should say there is no law for the Methodists. Accordingly, like outlaws they treat them, breaking their houses, and taking away their goods at pleasure: extorting money from those who have it, and cruelly beating those who have it not. February 4th, I spoke with those of our brethren who have lost this world's goods, and found them entirely resigned to the will of God; all thoughts of resistance, blessed be God, are over. The chief of them said to me, "Naked came I into the world, and I can but go naked out of it." They are resolved, by the grace of God, to follow my advice, and to suffer all things. Only I wished them to go round again to the Justices and give information of their danger. Mr. Constable said he had just been

VOL K

with

with one of them, who redressed him only by bitter reproaches, that the rest were of the same mind, and could not plead ignorance, because the rioters had the boldness to set up papers inviting all the country to rise with them to destroy the Methodists.-At noon I returned to Birmingham, having continued two days in the lion's den unhurt."

Mr. Wesley now set out for Nottingham, where he arrived on the 6th, and found that here also, the monster persecution was lifting up its destructive head. "Our brethren (says he) are violently driven from their place of meeting, pelted in the streets, &c. and mocked with vain promises of justice by the very man who underhand encourages the rioters. An honest Quaker has hardly restrained some of our brethren from resisting evil: but henceforth I hope, they will meekly turn the other cheek."

Mr. Wesley and his friends at Nottingham sent a person to Litchfield, to get intelligence of what mischief had been done in Staffordshire, by the rioters in their threatened insurrections. He returned on the ninth, and Mr. Wesley gives the following account. "He met our brother Ward, who had fled thither for refuge. The enemy had gone to the length of his chain all the rabble of the county were gathered together, and laid waste all before them. I received a note from two of the sufferers, whose loss amounts to two hundred pounds. My heart rejoiced in the great grace which was given them; for not one resisted evil; but they took joyfully the spoiling of their goods. We gave God glory, that Satan was not suffered to touch their lives: they have lost all besides, and rejoice with joy unspeakable."

Mr. Wesley now went on to Newcastle, preaching every where as he had opportunity. The year forty

four,

four, was considered as a time of public danger. There was much talk of the Pretender, and the French threatened an invasion in support of his pretensions to the Crown of England. In this critical situation of affairs, it was thought proper by many, that Mr. John Wesley should write an address to the King in the name of the Methodists. This address was accordingly drawn up but not delivered. On the 6th of March Mr. Charles Wesley, wrote to his brother on this subject, as follows. "My objection to your address in the name of the Methodists, is, that it would constitute us a sect: at least it would seem to allow that we are a body distinct from the National Church; whereas we are only a sound part of the Church. Guard against this, and in the name of the Lord address to morrow." -March 14th, being at Birstal, a person informed him there was a Constable who had a warrant in which his name was mentiond. Mr. Wesley sent for him, and found it was, "To summon witnesses to some treasonable words said to be spoken by one Wesley." He was just leaving Birstal when this information was given him; but he now determined not to go forward for London as he intended, thinking it better to appear be fore the Justices at Wakefield the next day, and look his enemies in the face. Accordingly, he rode to Wakefield the next morning, and waited on Justice Burton at his Inn, with two other Justices, Sir Rowland Wynn, and the Rev. Mr. Zouch. He informed Mr. Burton, that he had seen a warrant of his, summoning witnesses of some treasonable words, said to be spoken by one Westley: that he had put off his journey to London, that he might answer whatever should be laid to

See Mr. John Wesley's Works, vol. xxviii, page 209, where the Address itself is inserted.

his charge. Mr. Burton replied, he had nothing to say against him, and he might depart. Mr. Wesley answered, "That is not sufficient without clearing my character, and that of many innocent people, whom their enemies are pleased to call Methodists." "Vindicate them, said my brother Clergyman, that you will find a very hard task." I answered, as hard as you may think it, I will engage to prove that all of them, to a man, are true members of the Church of England, and loyal subjects of his Majesty King George. I then desired they would administer to me the oaths'; and added, I wish, gentlemen, that you could send for every Methodist in England, and give them all the same opportunity you do me, of declaring their loyalty upon oath. Justice Burton said, he was informed that we constantly prayed for the Pretender in all our Societies, or nocturnal meetings, as Mr. Zouch called them. I answered, the very reverse is true. We constantly pray for his Majesty King George, by name. Here are such hymns (shewing them) as we sing in our Societies. Here is a sermon which I preached before the University, and another preached there by my brother. Here are his Appeals and a few more tracts, containing an account of our principles and practices. Here I gave 'them our books, and was bold enough to say, I am as true a church of England man, and as loyal a subject as any man in the kingdom. They all cried that was impossible. But it was not my business to dispute, and as I could not answer till the witnesses appeared, -I withdrew without further delay.

"While I waited at a neighbour's house, the Constable from Birstal, whose heart the Lord had touched, was brought to me by one of the brethren. He told me he had summoned the principal witness, Mary

Castle,

Castle, on whose information the warrant was granted. She was setting out on horseback when the news came that I was not gone forward to London, as they expected, but had returned to Wakefield. Hearing this she turned back, and declared to him that she did not hear the treasonable words herself, but another woman had told her so. Three more witnesses, who were to swear to my words retracted likewise, and knew nothing of the matter. The fifth, Mr. Woods, an Alehousekeeper, is forth-coming, it seems, in the afternoon. I now plainly see the consequence of not appearing here to look my enemies in the face. Had I gone on my journey, there would have been witnesses enough, and oaths enough, to stir up a persecution against the Methodists. I took the witnesses' names, and copy of the warrant as follows,

West Riding of Yorkshire.

To the Constable of Birstal, of the said Riding, or Deputy,

"THESE are, in his Majesty's Name, to require and command you to summon Mary Castle, of Birstal aforesaid, and all other such person or persons' as you are informed can give any information against one Westley, or any other of the Methodist Preachers, for speaking any treasonable words or exhortations, as praying for the banished, or the Pretender, &c. to appear before me, and other of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the said Riding, at the White Hart in Wakefield, on the 15th of March instant, by ten o'clock in the forenoon, to be examined, and to declare the truth of what they and each of them know touching the premises; and that you likewise make a

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