Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typ...os. Excerpt from book: Southey, and others who have fancied a plan of separation in Mr. Wesley's mind from the beginning, though followed cautiously and with policy " step by step," have shown a better acquaintance with the facts of the progress of Me. thodism; though they have been most unjust to the pure and undesigning mind of its founder; who walked " step by step," it is true, but only as Providence by an arrangement of circumstances seemed to lead the way; and would make no change but as a necessity, arising from conscientious views of the prosperity of a spiritual work, appeared to dictate. Had he looked forward to the forming of a distinct sect, as an honour, he would have attempted to enjoy it in its fulness during his life; and had he been so skilful a designer as some have represented him, he would not have left a large body unprovided for, in many respects essential to its prosperity and permanence, at his death. He left his work unfinished, and knew that he should leave it in that state; but he threw the final results, in the spirit of a strong faith, upon the care of Him whose hands he had seen in it from the beginning. CHAPTER VII. We have now to follow these apostolic men into still more extended fields of labour, and to contests more formidable. They had sustained many attacks from the press; and some frowns from the authorities of the Church. By mobs they had occasionally been insulted both in England and Wales. But in London, some riotous proceedings, of a somewhat violent character, now occurred at their places of worship. With respect to these, the following anecdote is curious, as it shows that Mr. Wesley's zeal was regarded with favour in a high quarter: " On the last day of 1742, Sir John Ganson called upon Mr. Wesley, and said, ' Sir, you have no need to suffer these r...Detailed info »« Brief info