and to gain that true honour which cometh from him.—(5.) This is the most comfortable way. It is the way to have inward peace. Ps. 119, 165.-to have the Holy Ghost the comforter to abide with us-to fill the soul with joy under the sorest outward trouble-and to arrive speedily where the wicked shall trouble no more; where you shall have perfect rest, and fulness of joy for ever. Application. This consists of a great number of excel, lent cautions and directions, well worthy the attention of christians at all times, and of all descriptions: Among the Cautions, are these: Take heed lest you be offended, at the cross-by the falls and apostacies of hypocritical professors :-by the reproach cast on the way of the Lord and on those that walk in it :-by the prosperity of the wicked. Ps. xxxvii. 7, 8.-Take heed of such persons as these, by whom you may be turned out of the way :-Take heed of yourselves: beware of Satan: beware of false teachers: beware of worldly friends, who will counsel you to spare yourselves; such as savour not the things of God, but those that be of men. Among the Directions are the following: 1. Let the Spirit of Christ be your guide and principle. 2. Make the word of God your rule. 3. Let the example of Christ be your pattern: He always kept the way of the Lord. If you would do so, follow him, and walk as he walked. 4. Let the glory of God be your end. All these particulars are admirably illustrated, and would afford very useful extracts: But we shall only add what the author addressed to his people, with an immediate reference to the occasion of his leaving them: "I call God to witness, in whose name I have preached to you, that I have preached the way of the Lord sincerely and faithfully. I therefore beseech and intreat you, out of the hearty love I bear to you, as you tender the glory of God, your own peace here, and eternal happiness hereafter, or the eternal good of others, that you will remember how you have heard and received, and keep the way of the Lord: -keep it in your memories: in your judgments and consciences in your profession: in your hearts and affections; in your lives and conversations.-Fear God, and honour the King. Let nothing but conscience towards God hinder you at any time from yielding obedience to all the King's laws.And here, beloved, I shall take occasion to open my heart sincerely to you. You know what is required of me if I M 2 will will continue a minister in this kingdom. I hope no sober person can think me such a humourous perverse fanatic as to throw away my maintenance, much less my ministerial capacity (which is much dearer to me than livelihood, yea than life) out of a proud humour and vain-glorious fancy. In brief, therefore, as I shall answer it before the great God, the searcher of all hearts, and the righteous judge, did not conscience towards God forbid me, I would willingly do all the Act requires. But seeing I cannot declare an unfeigned assent and consent, I dare not (and from your love to me I know you would not have me) dissemble with God and men. I do therefore humbly choose to submit to the penalty rather than by a hypocritical conformity (for such it must be in me, if any) to dishonour my God, wound my own conscience, and dissemble with men; knowing assuredly that my God hath no need of my sin: and if he has any work for me in the public ministry, he will incline the king's heart to grant liberty and encouragement to me, with the rest of those who desire to be faithful in preaching the gospel which that the Lord may grant, I promise myself the help of all your prayers who have been favoured with any spiritual blessings thro' my ministry." WHITCHURCH [Canonicorum V. 30l.] Mr. JOHN SALWAY. He was afterwards minister of Rilmington, in Devonshire. The correction here made in his name is from Hutchins-" John Salway, Intruder."—" Samuel Locket, sequestered May 17, 1643. He was ordered to receive "Robert Tutchin, lecturer at Bridport, to be lecturer "here on Sunday morning:" probably the person mentioned at Newport, Hants. 66 WHITCHURCH [Winterborn + JOIN WESLEY, M. A. Of New-Inn-Hall, Oxf. Son of Mr. Bartholomew Wesley, of Charmouth, father of Mr. Samuel Wesley, rector of Epworth, in the diocese of Lincoln, [and grandfather to the late celebrated Mr. John Wesley.] It pleased God to incline him to remember his Creator in the days of his youth. He had a very humbling sense of sin, and a serious concern for his salvation, even while he was a school-boy, + There are two places of the name of Whitchurch, distinguished as above. That this last was the place from whence Mr. Wesley was ejected, and not the preceding, as before supposed, appears from Hutchins, who has this entry here: "JOHN WESLEY, M. A. 1658, ejected 1662." He He began to keep a diary soon after God had begun to work upon him, and not only recorded the remarkable events of providence which affected his outward man, but more especially the methods of the spirit of grace in his dealings with his soul; the frame of his heart in his attendance on the ordinances of the gospel, and how he found himself affected under the various methods of divine providence, whether merciful or afflictive. This course he continued, with very little interruption, to the end of his life. During his stay at Oxford, he was taken notice of for his seriousness and diligence. He applied himself particularly 'to the study of the oriental languages, in which he made great progress. Dr. Owen, who was at that time vice-chancellor, shewed him great kindness. He began to preach occasionally at the age of twenty-two, and in May, 1658, was sent to preach at Whitchurch. The income of this vicarage was not above 30l. per ann. but he was promised an augmentation of 100l. a year, tho' the many turns of public affairs which followed soon after, prevented his receiving any part of it. He married a niece of Dr. Thomas Fuller; and having a growing family he was necessitated to set up a school, that he might be able to maintain it. Soon after the Restoration, some of his neigbours gave him a great deal of trouble because he would not read the Book of Common Prayer. Dr. Gilbert Ironside, Bp. of Bristol, was informed, by some persons of distinction, that Mr. Wesley would not gratify those who desired him to use the liturgy; expressing their apprehension that his title to Whitchurch was not valid; and that for this and some other parts of his conduct, he might be prosecuted in a court of justice. Mr. Wesley being informed that the bishop was desirous to speak with him, took an opportunity to wait upon his lordship, and had the following conference with him, as it is recorded in his own diary: Bishop. What is your name?-Wesley. John Wesley. B. There are many great matters charged upon you. W. May it please your lordship, Mr. Horlock was at my house on Tuesday last, and acquainted me that it was your lordship's desire I should come to you; and on that account I am here to wait on you. B. By whom were you ordained? or are you ordained? B. By whom were you sent? W. By a church of Jesus Christ. W. The church of Christ at Melcomb. B. That factious and heretical church! W. May it please you, sir, I know no faction or heresy that the church is guilty of. B. No! Did not you preach such things as tend to faction and heresy ? W. I am not conscious to myself of any such preaching. B. I am informed by sufficient men, gentlemen of honour of this county, viz, Sir Gerrard Napper, Mr. Freak, and Mr. Tregonnel, of your doings. What say you? W. Those honoured gentlemen I have been with, who being by others misinformed, proceeded with some heat against me. B. There are the oaths of several honest men, who have observed you, and shall we take your word for it, that all is but misinformation? W. There was no oath given or taken. Besides if it be enough to accuse, who shall be innocent? I can appeal to the determination of the great day of judgment, that the large catalogue of matters laid to me, are either things invented, or mistaken. B. Did not you ride with your sword in the time of the committee of safety, and engage with them? W. Whatever imprudences, in matters civil, you may be informed I am guilty of, I shall crave leave to acquaint your lordship, that his majesty having pardoned them fully, and I having suffered on account of them since the pardon, I shall put in no other plea, and wave any other answer. B. In what manner did the church you speak of send you to preach? At this rate every body might preach! W. Not every one. Every body has not preaching gifts and preaching graces. Besides, that is not all I have to offer your lordship to justify my preaching. B. If you preach, it must be according to order; the order of the church of England, upon an ordination. W. What does your lordship mean by an ordination? B. Do not you know what I mean? W. If you mean that sending spoken of Rom. x; I had it. B. I mean that: What mission had you ? W. I had a mission from God and man. B. You must have it according to law, and the order of the church of England. W. I am not satisfied in my spirit therein. B. B. Not satisfied in your spirit! You have more newcoined phrases than ever were heard of! You mean your conscience, do you not? W. Spirit is no new phrase. We read of being sanctified in body, soul and spirit :-but if your lordship like it not so, then I say, I am not satisfied in conscience, as touching the ordination you speak of. B. Conscience argues science, science supposes judgment, and judgment reason. What reason have you that you will not be thus ordained? W. I came not this day to dispute with your lordship; my own inability would forbid me so to do. B. No, no; but give me your reason. W. I am not called to office; and therefore cannot be ordained. B. Why have you then preached all this while? W. I was called to the work of the ministry, tho' not to the office. There is as we believe, Vocatio ad opus, & ad munus. B. Why may not you have the office of the ministry? You have so many new distinctions! O how are you deluded! W. May it please your lordship, because they are not a people that are fit objects for me to exercise office-work among them. B. You mean a gathered church: but we must have no gathered churches in England; and you will see it so. For there must be unity without divisions among us: and there can be no unity without uniformity. Well then, we must send you to your church that they may dispose of you, if you were ordained by them. W. I have been informed by my cousin Pitfield and others, concerning your lordship, that you have a disposi-, tion inclined against morosity. However you may be prepossessed by some bitter enemies to my person, yet there are others who can and will give you another character of me. Mr. Glisson hath done it. And Sir Francis Fulford desired me to present his service to you, and being my hearer, is ready to acquaint you concerning me. B. I asked Sir Francis Fulford whether the presentation to Whitchurch was his. Whose is it? He told me it was not his. W. There was none presented to it these sixty years. Mr. Walton lived there. At his departure, the people desired |