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vice; to promote virtue; and to instruct and benefit that numerous class of people, who have a plain understanding, with plain common sense, little learning, little money, and but a small portion of time to devote to reading. A great degree of candour and liberality runs through all his publications; and in matters of mere speculation, he endeavoured to shew the necessity of christian love, and mutual forbearance among those who differ in opinion. He thought that we ought to contend for this christian temper and practice, much more earnestly, than for any specu-. lative notions, not essentially necessary to obtain them.

In all his writings these circumstances governed him: the distinguishing characters of his style being brevity and perspicuity. Mr. Wesley's notes on the New Testament are briefly explanatory and practical; but judicious and pertinent. His sermons in eight volumes were written with the same spirit, and with the same design as the notes. The first four volumes were published in the earlier part of Methodism; several of the sermons having been preached before the university of Oxford, while he held his fellowship. The subjects are important, and the discourses written with great animation and strength of language. The last four volumes were composed for the Arminian Magazine. These are generally more practical than the others; and have been admired for their composition, and for the simpicity, accuracy, and ease of style in which they are written.

His "appeals to men of reason and religion," have great merit. Mr. Wesley wrote them in the fullness of his heart, viewing and lamenting the wretched state of the world with regard to religion and morality.

The treatise on "Original Sin," is his most laboured performance. He knew and respected the abilities and

character of Dr. Taylor, his opponent. He bestowed much time and attention in a careful investigation of the subject; but avoided minute metaphysical disquisitions. He knew that nothing could be affirmed in this way of reasoning, however true, but what another might deny with some degree of plausibility. His treatise therefore is an animated defence of the orthodox doctrine, in a deduction from the actual state of morality in all ages, and under every kind of restraint from evil that has been imposed on mankind; or as he expresses it, "From scripture, reason, and experience."

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In none of his publications, are instruction and entertainment more happily combined, than in the work entitled, "A survey of the Wisdom and goodness of God in the creation." This was first issued in two volumes; it was afterwards enlarged, and published in five volumes, in 1784. In the fourth volume is a translation of a considerable part of Bonnet's "Contemplations de la Nature," a work highly elegant and instructive. In the fifth volume, Mr. Wesley has given an abstract of Mr. Deuten's "Inquiry into the origin of the discoveries attributed to the Moderns." This survey of the wisdom of God in the Creation, was not intended as a history of the present state of philosophy; but as a general view of the most useful and remarkable things in natural history, and an illustration, for common use, of the wisdom and goodness of the creator. Considered in this light, it is well entitled to public approbation : and the moral reflections which it contains, are distinguished as much by their justness and elegance, as by their utility.

He wrote a very great number of pamphlets on various subjects: among the rest, one entitled "Thoughts on Slavery." He was one of the earliest writers on this subject, and has treated it, in a moral and religious view; but with great spirit and impartiality.

In controversy, Mr. Wesley certainly excelled; he wrote like a christian, a gentleman and a scholar. Few have equalled him, either in skill, freedom from logomachy, or in the moderation which appeared on these occasions. It does not seem, that he was fond of controversy, at least for more than thirty years before his death. He calls it "Heavy work, yet sometimes necessary to be done." Among his controversial pieces, his "Predestination calmly considered," is of distinguished excellence. It is clear and cogent; concise and argumentative; and the more convincing, because the spirit in which it is written, is as amiable as the reasoning is irrefutable.

As an author, Mr. Wesley has been blamed for his numerous extracts from the writings of others. But he presumed that the works from which he selected were the property of the publick; and that the abridgements might be useful to the Methodists, who would probably never see the originals. And we can excuse it when we reflect that all the profits of his printing business were applied to the relief of the poor. His works have been published in thirty-two volumes. He was a laborious writer and if usefulness be excellence ; 1 if universal good be the chief object of attention in publick characters; and if the greatest benefactors to mankind be the most estimable, Mr. Wesley will long be remembered as one of the best, most diligent and most indefatigable of men.

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DISCOURSE

DELIVERED

AT THE NEW CHAPEL IN THE CITY-ROAD, LONDON,

ON THE NINTH OF MARCH, 1791.

AT THE FUNERAL

OF THE

REVEREND JOHN WESLEY.

And I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works follow them.-REV. xiv. 13.

BY JOHN WHITEHEAD.

II SAMUEL iii. 38.

Know ye not that there is a Prince, and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

I SHALL observe only on this passage of scripture, that the Hebrew word which is rendered prince, sometimes signifies a leader, and sometimes a person of superior or princely qualities. In this general sense the passage may be applied to that eminent servant of God, of whose character I am now to speak. This is all the use that I shall make of the words; I consider them as a motto only to the discourse which I intend to deliver.

When we consider the public character of the late Rev. Mr. WESLEY; the various opinions which have been entertained concerning him; the extent of his labours; the influence which he had over a large body

of people; and the prevalence of his sentiments, not in these only, but in other nations; it becomes a matter of some importance to inquire the leading features of his character, both as a man, and as a minister of the gospel.

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I. Although the acquisition of human learning has been little esteemed by some religious people; yet it is of very considerable service to a minister of the gospel. The knowledge of the languages, and of the arts and sciences is not only an ornament to the mind, but it enlarges the human faculties; it improves the understanding, gives a habit of thinking closely and reasoning justly; and prepares the mind, when under a proper direction, for great attainments even in religion. These advantages Mr. Wesley possessed in a high degree, and he knew well how to improve them to the most useful purposes in his ministerial labours. His mind was richly furnished with literature in its various branches: he was well read in the ancient, and several modern tongues. In the learned languages he was a critic; and must have studied them with peculiar pleasure in his youth, or he could not have made that progress in classical learning, which so justly raised him to a distinguished rank as a scholar. It has been acknowledged by men who were good judges, and no great friends to Mr. Wesley, that when at college he gave proofs of a fine classical taste and there are some poems which he wrote at that time, that shew that he had formed, his taste on the best models of antiquity. Those who were much in his company, and who heard his apt and pointed quotations from the Greek and Roman classics, on the various occasions which occurred in travelling and conversation, could not but be sensible that he read them as a critic, that he admired their style, and entered into their spirit, and was delighted with their beauties. He has selected some pieces from the Roman

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