6

preach may be seen, in a work written by Mr. Benson, entitled, 'An Apology for the People called Methodists,' sect. 5. Thus by degrees, as they increased, and as necessity called for fresh supplies of preachers, he sent them to preach in different parts of the Nation-But in order to keep them together, he found it was necessary to establish certain rules, which he termed The Rules of the United Society,' (see Apol. sec. 8.) He appointed one of the brethren to preach to them, and sent others to preach in the neighbouring villages, who were called Local Preachers. A meeting was also appointed once a quarter, when the smaller societies within a few `miles round a central town, which was esteemed the centre of this little circuit, assembled there to join in what is termed a love-feast,' after the custom of the first Christians. None but those joined in society are permitted to be present, unless they have notes from one of the preachers, signifying that they are proper persons, seriously inclined, to be admitted. At this time, all who feel themselves at liberty so to do, declare their experience. It was found necessary, in order to watch over their moral conduct, to bring them to a closer union, by appointing small parties of ten or twelve persons, which they called a 'class.' One of this small assembly was fixed on to lead them, and he was in consequence called the class-leader. They meet for one hour; the business of the leader is to give out a hymn, to pray with them, to ask each concerning the spiritual state of his mind, and to reprove, encourage, and exhort them to proceed in the spiritual course, by endeavouring to keep a conscience void of offence both towards God and man. This wise leader found that this method succeeded in binding them together in closer union; and, in order to promote still further their growth in piety, other meetings of a more select nature, each consisting of four or five, were established. The persons forming these were supposed to be more experienced in the spiritual warfare, than the major part of those who met in class. This was called a band,' and these meetingsband-meetings.' In these lesser associations, the men and women do not meet together, but each sex has two distinct bands, the married and the unmarried. As all the societies, for some miles round the central town formed one great society quarterly, so from the different bands' a considera ble number assembled generally once a week after their evening service, called the body-band.' By these methods, the increase was so considerable, and the

subjects, which required deliberate investigation, so numerous, that it was found necessary to appoint a yearly meeting after the manner of the Quakers, which they call a Conference. These conferences were held in different towns successively; during the life of Mr. Wesley, at London, Bristol, Leeds, and Manchester; but since his death, they have been held at Sheffield and Liverpool. At these meetings he always presided, and did not usually permit any except the travelling preachers to confer, who each represented the societies in the circuit where he had been stationed the preceding year. The term Methodist was not first chosen by themselves, as may be seen in the Apology,' above mentioned, sec. i. p. 24. from which I make the following extract: 'This increasing strictness in their way of living, constancy in the use of the means of grace, and readiness to do every good work, drew down upon them still greater ridicule from the gentlemen of the University. Their common appellation now was, the Sacramentarians,' the Godly Club,' and by and by, they were termed 'Methodists.' This last title was given them in the first instance, by a fellow of Merton College, in allusion to an antient college of physicians at Rome, who were remarkable for putting their patients under regimen, and were therefore termed Methodists.'-As a religious society, they are the most numerous in the kingdom; the numbers now joined in Great Britain are 145,579; in Ireland 28,149; in, the West Indies 11,890; in Nova Scotia 1,390; and in America 170,000; total 357,155. The number of preachers in Great Britain are 677; in Ireland 125 in the British dominions in America and the West Indies 40; total of preachers 842, all travelling preachers, by which is understood, those who are given up to the service of the ministry. These numbers are taken from the minutes of the last conference held at Sheffield, July 29, 1811, being the sixty-eighth annual conference. The Methodists have also of late years been called Arminians, from Arminius, who separated from the Calvinists in Holland, because they hold the doctrine of general redemption. This is one of their principal tenets. They reject the doctrine of final perseverance, and say that a person, be he ever so high in the regenerate life, may fall finally, and after all be a cast-away. They receive the doctrine of justification by faith as defined in the Articles and Homi lies of the Church of England.".

t

They agree with the doctrines of the Church of England, and preach repentance, faith, and holiness of life,' in

con

conformity to those words of the Apostle, 'repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ;' and with the Church, thus, Repentance whereby we forsake sin, and faith whereby we stedfastly believe the promises of God.'It must be universally allowed that they have been peculiarly useful in prevailing on a great part of the population of these kingdoms to forsake the error of their ways. They have been the means of making the dissolute 'good husbands, good wives, affectionate parents, dutiful children, and faithful servants. They have conducted themselves in a peaceable manner; they are a charitable and an upright people;' and teach their converts to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with their God","

Out of these has arisen a new Sect, called the New Methodists; whose origin is thus deduced:

"The old Methodists are the genuine followers of the Rev. John Wesley, who originally professed to belong to the Church of England (as above), and regularly received the sacrament in the parish churches, which was the practice of this pious leader to the day of his death; for he did not permit it to be administered in the chapels. But, after his demise, some of their people remonstrated with the preachers concerning the hardship and impropriety of being obliged, though a distinct body from the Established Church,to attend and receive it from the ministers of the Establishment; and finally they petitioned at the conference, that they might receive it from their own ministers, in their own places of worship, as was the custom with other religious societies. This was over-ruled by the general body of the preachers, which created great opposition in various parts of the kingdom, and prepared the way for a separation.-Another cause of complaint was, that during the life of Mr. Wesley, no one but the travelling preachers was permitted to be present at their deliberations in the yearly conference, when any thing of an important nature was under consideration. These things finally produced a separation, and now they form two bodies, professing the same doctrines and opinions, but differing only as to the mode of church government. The first, or the immediate followers of Mr. Wesley, are termed the 'Old Methodists,' who do not admit any delegates from the societies, not being travelling preachers, to assist in their conference, but who themselves in conference, on account of their local knowledge, are the most competent judges,

to determine where chapels are wanted, and who recommend to the societies the adoption of proper means for defraying the expense; also for carrying into effect the result of their deliberations. The latter are called the New Methodists,' who approach nearer to theChurchgovernment of the Presbyterians."

This article shall be closed by an account of the Whitefieldiles :

"This famous reviver of the doctrines of Calvin did not adopt the rigid disci pline of the Methodists. He, like them, permitted those to preach who thought they were called to the ministry. This was one grand cause why they became so popular. But it is singular that two men, one preaching the doctrines of the Church of England, and the other those of Calvin, which two professions embraced nearly the whole population of England, should have been able to collect such multitudes into regular bodies, having chapels in almost every large town in the kingdom.-Some of his followers, however, seeing that the order established, which permitted the welldisposed among them to preach, who were not altogether qualified either in language or grammar, had not so good an effect with the intelligent part of the hearers, separated themselves under the patronage of the Countess of Huntingdon; who, while she lived, was the guardian of a connexion, which until this period had never obtained such consequence and respectability. The cause of this prosperity is obvious. The intelligent among them saw how necessary it was for the credit of religion, that their preachers should receive instruction; that men should not be permitted to preach, who, so far from understanding the original languages in which the Scriptures were written, did not even understand their own language, so as to deliver their sentiments with that grammatical accuracy which is absolutely necessary for a public speaker. This had long been considered a great evil among them, as it had a powerful tendency to injure the cause of religion in general.-Accordingly, by the exertions and generosity of the above-mentioned lady, a College was established at Cheshunt in Hertfordshire, for the reception of those who were intended for the ministry, where they go through a course of learning, which enables them to do credit to their profession. They have a superintendant, who is well qualified to instruct them in the various branches of useful and necessary learning.-When this pious lady came forward with her property and interest in support of this

laudable

Faudable undertaking, others in affluent circumstances followed her example. A place for public worship was purchased, capable of holding a great number, with a spacious house adjoining, where the ministers reside during the time they officiate. At this place they transact business relative to their societies in dif

ferent parts of England and Wales: it is considered as the centre of their connexion. This division of the followers of Whitefield has been always known as Lady Huntingdon's connexion. They use the Liturgy of theChurch of England. Those who have completed their studies at college, are sent to preach in various parts of the kingdom for a time, and are replaced by others. By this well-conducted plan, they have become a useful and a respectable body. It is said, that in Lady Huntingdon's connexion, there are upwards of 100,000, who regularly

attend divine service."

9. Beauties, selected from the Writings of the late William Paley, D. D. Archdeacon of Carlisle, alphabetically arranged; with an Account of his Life, and Critical Remarks upon some of his peculiar Opinions. By W. Hamilton Reid. 8vo. pp. 325. Sherwood. SELECTIONS from the nervous pen of Dr. Paley must be an acquisition to those who have not access to his writings at large, or leisure to devote to them. This Volume is embellished by a Head of the Archdeacon, engraved by Hopwood: and for some entertaining Biographical Anecdotes, the compiler professes himself indebted to Mr. Meadley's Memoirs of Dr. Paley.

The subsequent arrangement we shall describe from the Preface:

"While some passages in Dr. Paley's works before unnoticed are recommended, particularly his thoughts on the Millenium, proper attention has been paid to some judicious objections against other sentiments of his, supposed to stand in need of correction or censure. Upon the whole, the samples here produced sufficiently prove the richness and value of the ore at large, and evince, that, regardless either of pompous or polished periods, Dr. Paley continually administers matter for thinking."

10. Calamities of Authors. (Continued from Part I page 563. IN compliance with the request of more than one Correspondent, we shall continue our selection from these pleasing and popular Volumes; re

verting first to the character with which Johnson has appropriately dignified" the Booksellers (see Part I. p. 558.)-We perfectly recollect an expression of Johnson, respecting his friend Cave, " that he was a generous Paymaster; but, in bargaining for Poetry, he contracted for lines by the hundred, and expected the long hundred." This, to be sure, is a little like Tonson's bargain with Dryden. But, in the case of the "Lives of the Poets," which drew forth the encomium of Johnson, the case was somewhat different. The bargain was for "200 guineas," and the Booksellers spontaneously added a third hundred. -On this occasion, the great Moralist observed to the writer of this article, Booksellers were a generous set of "Sir, I always said the men. Nor, in the present instance, is, not that they have paid me too have I reason to complain. The fact little; but that I have written too much." The "Lives" were soon published in a separate Edition; when, for a very few corrections, the Doctor. was presented with another hundred guineus.

thors." Under the title of "Genius the Dupe of its Passions," is the following exquisitely drawn character of Sir Richard Steele:

To resume the "Calamities of Au

"Pope said that Steele, though he led a careless and vicious life, yet he had nevertheless a love and reverence of virtue. The life of Steele was not that of a retired scholar; hence his moral character becomes more instructive. He was one of those whose hearts are the dupes of their imaginations, and who despotic volition. He always preferred are hurried through life by the most his caprices to his interests; or, according to his own notion, very ingenious, but not a little absurd, he was always of the humour of preferring the state of his nind to that of his fortune.' The

result of this principle of moral conduct was, that a man of the most admirable abilities was perpetually acting like a fool, and, with a warm attachment to virtue, was the frailest of human beings.

In the first act of his life we find the seed that developed itself in the succeeding ones. His uncle could not endure a hero for his heir; but Steele had seen a marching regiment; a sufficient reason with him to enlist as a private in the horse-guards: cocking his hat, and putting on a broad sword, jack boots, and

shoulder

1

shoulder belt, with the most generous feelings, he forfeited a very good estate. -At length Ensign Steele's frank temper and wit conciliated esteem, and extorted admiration, and the Ensign be came a favourite leader in all the dissipations of the town. All these were the ebullitions of genius, which had not yet received a legitimate direction. Amidst these orgies, however, it was often pensive, and forming itself; for it was in the height of these irregularities that Steele composed his "Christian Hero," a moral and religious treatise, which the contritions of every morning dictated, and to which the disorders of every evening added another penitential page. Perhaps the genius of Steele was never so ardent and so pure as at this period; and in his elegant letter to his commander, the celebrated Lord Cutts, be gives an interesting account of the origin of this production, which none but one deeply imbued with its feelings could have experienced. I transcribe the passage:

Tower Guard, March 23, 1701. 'My LORD-The address of the following papers is so very much due to your Lordship, that they are but a mere report of what has passed upon my guard to my commander; for they were writ upon duty, when the mind was perfectly disengaged, and at leisure, in the silent watch of the night, to run over the busy dream of the day; and the vigilance which obliges us to suppose an enemy always near us, has awakened a sense that there is a restless and subtle one which constantly attends our steps, and meditates our ruin *'

a

"To this solemn and monitory work, he prefixed his name, from this honourable motive, that it might serve as standing testimony against himself, and make him ashamed of understanding, and seeming to feel what was virtuous, and living so quite contrary a life.' Do we not think that no one less than a Saint is speaking to us? And yet he is still nothing more than Ensign Steele ! He tells us that this grave work made him considered, who had been no undelightful companion, as a disagreeable fellow-and The Christian Hero,' by his own words, appears to have fought off several fool-hardy geniuses who were

for trying their valour on him,' supposing a Saint was necessarily a Poltroon.. Thus The Christian Hero,' finding himself slighted by his loose companions, sat down and composed a most laughable comedy, The Funeral;' and with all the frankness of a man who cares not to hide his motives, he tells us, that after his religious work he wrote the comedy, because nothing can make the town so fond of a man as a successful play +.' The historian who had to record such strange events following close on each other, of an Author publishing a book of piety, and a farce, could never have discovered the secret motive of the versatile Author; for what Author bad ever such honest openness of disposition? STEELE was now at once a man of the town and its censor, and wrote lively essays on the follies of the day in an enormous black peruke which cost him fifty guineas! He built an elegant villa; but, as he was always inculcating economy, he dates from The Hovel.' He detected the fallacy of the South-sea scheme, while he himself invented projects, neither inferior in magnificence nor in misery. He even turned alchemist, and wanted to coin gold, merely to distribute it. The most striking incident in the life of this man of volition was his sudden marriage with a young lady who had attended on his first wife's funeral-struck by her angelical beauty, if we trust to his raptures. Yet this sage, who would have written so well on the choice of a wife, united himself to a character the most uncongenial to his own; cold, reserved, and most anxiously prudent in her attention to money, she was of a temper which every day grew worse by the perpetual imprudence and thoughtlessness of his own. He calls her Prue' in fondness and reproach; she was Prudery itself! His adoration was permanent, and so were his complaints; and they never parted but with bickerings yet he could not suffer her absence, for he was writing to her three or four passionate notes in a day, which are dated from his office, or his bookseller's, or from some friend's house-he has rose in the midst of dinner to dis patch a line to Prue,' to assure her of his affection since noon .Her presence or her absence were equally painful to

required,