rooms in which the Societies at Bristol had hitherto met in Nicholas-Street, Baldwin-Street, and the Back-Lane, were small, incommodious, and not entirely safe. They determined, therefore, to build a room large enough for all the members, and for as many of their acquaintance as might be expected to attend: a piece of ground was obtained in the Horse-Fair, near St. James's church-yard, and there, on the 12th of May 1739," the first stone was laid with the voice of praise and thanksgiving." Wesley himself had no intention of being personally engaged either in the direction or expence of the work; for the property had been settled upon eleven feoffees, and upon them he had supposed the whole responsibility would rest. But it soon appeared that the work would be at a stand if he did not take upon himself the payment of all the workmen; and he found himself presently incumbered with a debt of more than an hundred and fifty pounds, which he was to discharge how he could, for the subscription of the Bristol societies did not amount to a fourth part of the sum. In another, and more important point, his friends in London, and Whitefield more especially, had been farther-sighted than himself; they represented to him that the feoffees would always have it in their power to turn him out of the room after he had built it, if he did not preach to their liking; and they declared that they would have nothing to do with the building, nor contribute any thing towards it, unless he instantly discharged all feoffees, and did every thing in his own name. Though Wesley

had not foreseen this consequence, he immediately perceived the wisdom of his friends' advice: no man was more alive to the evils of congregational tyranny; he called together the feoffees, cancelled the writings without any opposition on their part, and took the whole trust, as well as the whole ma

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nagement, into his own hands. Money," he says, "it is true, I had not, nor any human prospect or probability of procuring it; but I knew the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; and in his name set out, nothing doubting."

After he had been about three months in Bristol, there came pressing letters from London, urging him to return thither as soon as possible, because the brethren in Fetter-Lane were in great confusion, for want of his presence and advice. For awhile, therefore, he took leave of his growing congregation, saying, that he had not found such love," no, not in England," nor so child-like, artless, teachable a temper, as God had given to these Bristolians.

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CHAPTER VIII.

WHITEFIELD IN LONDON.

FRENCH PROPHETS.

EXTRAVAGANCIES OF THE METHODISTS.

DURING his abode at Bristol, Wesley had had many thoughts concerning the unusual manner of his ministering. He who had lately attempted with intolerant austerity, to enforce the discipline of the Church, and revive practices which had properly been suffered to fall into disuse, had now broken through the forms of that Church, and was acting in defiance of her authority. This irregularity he justified, by a determination to allow no other rule of faith, or practice, than the Scriptures; not, perhaps, reflecting that in this position he joined issue with the wildest religious anarchists. "God in Scripture," he reasoned, "commands me according to my power, to instruct the ignorant, reform the wicked, confirm the virtuous; man forbids me to do this in another's parish, that is, in effect, to do it at all, seeing I have now no parish of my own, nor probably ever shall; whom then shall I hear, God or man? If it be just to obey man rather than God, judge you; a dispensation of the Gospel is committed to me, and woe is me if I preach not this Gospel. But where shall I preach it upon what are called Catholic principles? Why not in any of the Christian parts of the habitable earth, for

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all these are, after a sort, divided into parishes?' This reasoning led him to look upon all the world as his parish. “In whatever part of it I am,” he says, "I judge it meet, right, and my bounden duty, to declare unto all that are willing to hear, the glad tidings of salvation. This is the work which I know God has called me to, and sure I am that His blessing attends it: His servant I am, and as such am employed (glory be to Him) day and night in His service; I am employed according to the plain direction of His word, as I have opportunity of doing good unto all men. And His Providence clearly concurs with His word, which has disengaged me from all things else, that I might singly attend on this very thing, and go about doing good."

Some of the disciples in London meantime, had pursued their master's fundamental principle farther than he had any intention of following it. A layman, whose name was Shaw, insisted that a priesthood was an unnecessary and unscriptural institution, and that he himself had as good a right to preach, baptize, and administer the sacraments, as any other man. Such a teacher found ready believers; the propriety of lay-preaching was contended for at the society in Fetter-Lane, and Charles Wesley strenuously opposed what he called these pestilent errors. In spite of his opposition, a certain Mr. Bowers set the first example. Two or three more ardent innovators declared that they would no longer be members of the Church of England. "Now," says Charles, in his journal,

"am I clear of them; by renouncing the Church, they have discharged me." Bowers, who was not obstinate in his purpose, acknowledged that he had erred, and was reconciled to Charles Wesley: but owing to these circumstances, and to some confusion which the French Prophets, as they were called, were exciting among the Methodists, it was judged expedient to summon John with all speed from Bristol.

Charles had been powerfully supported in these disputes by Whitefield and his friend Howel Harris, a young and ardent Welshman, who was the first great promoter of Methodism in his own country. The former had now taken the field here also the Vicar of Islington had lent him his pulpit, but the Churchwarden forbade him to preach there unless he could produce a licence; and Whitefield gladly interpreted this to be a manifestation of the divine pleasure, that he should preach in the church-yard, which, he says, his Master by his providence and spirit compelled him to do. "To-morrow I am to repeat that mad trick, and on Sunday to go out into Moorfields. The word of the Lord runs and is glorified; people's hearts seem quite broken; God strengthens me exceedingly; I preach till I sweat through and through." Public notice was given of his intention, and on the appointed day a great multitude assembled in Moorfields. This tract of land which is already so altered that Whitefield would no longer recognize the scene of his triumph, and which will soon be entirely covered with streets and squares, was originally, as its name