to be found in the different histories of Methodism which have been published, and in the Minutes of the various Conferences. Many were the prophecies that the work would not outlive the man; or that its character, and the manner of conducting it, would be greatly, if not entirely, chang ́ed. His own opinion was, that there would be " a great shaking;" and that a considerable part of the Preachers would separate. He thought that about one-third would continue to act as they had been called; while the others would either get preferment in the Church, or take some chapels and Societies to themselves, and thus act in the Independent way. He told me, as indeed he intimates also in several parts of his writings, and as I have declared in his Memoirs, that he was resolved to do every thing in his power, during his life, to prevent this ;-to prevent that which was a work of God from being secularized. With this view he consented to form and enrol the DEED OF DECLARATION in the Court of Chancery; by which, if it should be confirmed by that Court, the principal chapels (all those which were settled according to his mind) would be secured to those Preachers who should continue to act in the same way as they had done while he was at their head.

The New Chapel, (still so called,) in the CityRoad, which was built by himself, when he was

obliged to give up the Foundery, and for which he had personally made collections in every part of the three kingdoms, he had settled in a particular way; not giving to the Conference the power of appointment after his death, as in the Deeds of the other chapels; but to twelve persons,-four of them Clergymen of the Church of England, who had served him as sons in the Gospel for some years, and for whom he thus made provision; and eight Preachers. The Clergymen were to continue, as they had work enough in that, and in the other chapels in London; while the Preachers, so appointed, were, by the most sober interpretation, to succeed each other; so that one of them should be always there, together with a number of the other Preachers: And at the decease (not before) of these twelve men, the Conference should have the power of appointment, as in the other chapels.

By this Deed he hoped to secure what has been called the Head Quarters of Methodism, to that part of the Preachers whom he supposed would continue to act according to the way he had led them; and, as he believed, according to the will of God. Accordingly, he appointed in his last Will, (as the Deed of the chapel empowered him to do,) those eight Preachers whom he believed would cordially act with the Clergymen; and also with those other Preachers who should continue

to act in the way which he, by the grace of God, had set before them, and which the Lord had so greatly owned and prospered.

These Preachers were not remarkable for splendid gifts; but, as he believed, for a true attachment to Methodist doctrine and discipline. Notwithstanding my youth, I was placed the third in this list; and was ordained by him and two of those Clergymen, a short time after he made his last Will, which, in his usual condescending love, he gave to me to read and to consider; and, to my astonishment, he even desired to have my thoughts upon it. I then undertook to fulfil the trusts committed to me; with respect to which I hope I have not been unfaithful.

At the first Conference after the decease of our father in the Gospel, much of our fear was dissipated. We had Elders among us who had grown up and old with him; and their steadiness had a good effect upon the junior brethren. The declaration that 66 we would take up, and adhere to, the plan which he had left us, and thus devote ourselves afresh to what we all believed to be the work of God," was unanimously made, and with every appearance of ardent and grateful affection.

His Will was then considered; and here was the first jar that appeared among us. The settlement of the New Chapel, in London, the mother Church, being so different from the others, pro

duced an uneasiness quite contrary to the general composure and solemnity of the meeting. Several of the Elders just mentioned, whose names were omitted in the list of Preachers who were to occupy that chapel during their lives, seemed surprised and offended; especially as some who were much their juniors were, in that particular, seemingly preferred before them. It was thought that I could perhaps explain the difficulty; and I was called upon to do so. I laid before them the mind of Mr. Wesley, so far as I knew it, and assured them it was not his intention to make any distinction that might prevent our oneness; but to secure this chapel, which was peculiarly his own, for those who should continue to labour in the same way as they had done while he was at their head; that our present happy unanimity forbade all fear of the contrary; and I thought the Conference might appoint Preachers for London, (the whole of which, with upwards of twenty miles around it, was then, and for several years after, one circuit,) as for the other circuits, without taking any special notice of that chapel. This seemed very much to quiet them; but the jealousy was not wholly removed. The four Clergymen who were constantly in turn to occupy that chapel, in reading Prayers and administering the sacraments, and preaching on the Sunday forenoon, might certainly, with the concurrence of the Trustees,

(whose power, if the trust thus given by Mr. Wesley were set aside, would be absolute,) assume the sole occupancy of it, instead of ministering in the other chapels, which were certainly in that day very inferior. In that case, our Rules, so long established, could not be enforced; as the Clergymen were wholly unused to that part of our economy, and the people not used to be met or directed by them. There was also some jealousy remaining concerning the Preachers who were appointed in like manner, lest they should unite, and appoint each other for that chapel, and for the chapel at Bath; and thus become independent of the Conference during their lives. This was certainly possible, and could not be prevented, if they should be so minded; and I was fully sensible of the danger, in both its parts. After some painful discussion, I was asked if an agreement might not be entered in the Journal, to the same effect as the declaration which I had just made, without violating the Will of Mr. Wesley, or weakening the trust? I answered, that I was very willing to enter into such an agreement, provided the trust should remain in full force. I added those words,-"If at any time there should be an attempt to act contrary to that design of our father in the Gospel, and that there should not be any of those Preachers, so appointed by his Will, in London,-one of them, if not more, must hasten thither, let them be stationed where they may;