at them or you. I return not cursing, but blessing." A candid, unprejudiced man, cannot but admit the truth of these statements. Mr. Wesley, it must be confessed, in all his tracts, wrote like a christian, a minister, and a gentleman.

On August 5th, the thirty-fourth Conference was begun in Bristol. A report having been widely circulated that the Methodists were a fallen people, Mr. Wesley made particular inquiry whether there was any foundation for such a serious charge. The allegation was proved to be utterly false. It was evident that they were still what they ever had been. Nevertheless, one of the preachers, named John Hilton, being, as he himself imagined, the happy subject of superior illumination, said, he must withdraw from the connexion, for he saw, what none of the rest could see, that the Methodists were really fallen from their primitive state. With the exception of this "jarring string," Mr. Wesley tells us "the Conference concluded in much love."

The practice of recording in the Minutes the names of the preachers who died in the work, was commenced this year,

1778. On January 1st, Mr. Wesley began to publish a monthly periodical which he called The Arminian Magazine: consisting of extracts and original treatises on Universal Redemption." He continued to publish this valuable work till his death, and it was carried on afterwards under the direction of the Conference.

On August 4th, the thirty-fifth Conference was commenced in Leeds. It was asked, "Are there

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any objections to any of our preachers?" Answer. Examine them one by one.—' -This was carefully done, and two were set aside." Tuesday 4th, our Conference began," says Mr. Wesley." So large a number of preachers never met at a Conference before. I preached morning and evening, till Thursday night; then my voice began to fail; so I desired two of our preachers to supply my place the next day. On Saturday the Conference ended."

On November 1st, Mr. Wesley opened the new chapel in City Road, London.

1779. On August 3rd, the thirty-sixth Conference was begun in London. Directions were given to secure, if possible, a revival of the work of God in Scotland. Methodism did not flourish

among the Scotch.

It was asked, Q. "Shall any assistant take into the society any whom his predecessor has put out? Answer. Not without first consulting him." The assistant, alias superintendent, had but little difficulty in Mr. Wesley's days of getting rid of a refractory member. He had the power of cutting off a stubborn or rotten branch without first having the opinion of a dozen other persons that the branch was really stubborn or rotten, and therefore needed cutting off. He acted according to his own will and judgment in the matter; and this power was retained and exer. cised by the assistants, alias superintendents, until some years after Mr. Wesley's death.

During the year there had been much murmuring against the king and government, and

Mr. Wesley, whose loyalty was unbounded, was determined to stop this "speaking evil of dignities," as far as his own preachers were concerned. So at this Conference the following minute was adopted:"Q. How can we stop this evil speaking? Answer. Suffer none that speak evil of those in authority, or that prophesy evil of the nation, to preach with us. Let every assistant take care of this?" Mr. Wesley was not only loyal himself, but he required loyalty in all who served him. Through his exertions, and those of the Conference after him, may be imputed, at least in a great measure, the reason why the Methodist preachers and people generally have ever been distinguished for genuine patriotism, ardent loyalty to the constitution, and devoted attachment to the throne.

Towards the latter end of this year, Mr. Wesley published the large hymn book, with a most admirably written preface, dated "London, Oct. 20th, 1779." This "Collection of hymns for the use of the people called Methodists" was undoubtedly superior to every other collection of hymns in the English language. It is a complete and systematic body of doctrinal, experimental, and practical divinity. The views of divine truth and the representations of the progress of religion in the soul of man, which are contained therein, are remarkable for force and clearness. The language is chaste, pure, and strong; and the poetry eminently beautiful. Most of the hymns were composed by that prince of sacred poetsMr. Charles Wesley.

The number of Members in Society in this year, 1779, stood as follows:

CHAPTER XI.-From the year 1780 till 1790.

1780. In the early part of this year, Mr. Wesley was engaged in a controversy with Father O'Leary, a Capuchin friar in Dublin. This controversy was originated in consequence of a letter written by Mr. Wesley to the printer of the "Public Advertiser" wherein he contended that Roman Catholics ought not to be tolerated while it was a standing and acknowledged maxim, with them that "no faith is to be kept with heretics;" and while the pope and priests can dispense with all obligations, and forgive all sing. In this combat, Mr. Wesley displayed an unusual measure of that vigour and keenness, which he always more or less displayed in controversy. His friends, thinking it might be dangerous for

him to go over to Ireland after such an encounter, dissuaded him from paying his usualvisits to that country for a few years, until the fiery resentment of the bigoted papists, because of his powerful attacks upon them, had cooled or died away. When Mr. Wesley did again go over to Ireland, he had the pleasure of taking breakfast with his old antagonist, Father O'Leary. On August 1st., the thirty seventh Conference began at Bristol. The large Minutes which contained the whole Methodist discipline, were at this Conference, revised and solemnly confirmed. Mr. Wesley says in his journal, "We have been always hitherto straitened for time. It was now resolved, 'For the future we allow nine or ten days for each Conference, that everything relative to the carrying on of the work of God may be maturely considered.' Wednesday 9th. We concluded the Conference in much peace and love."

1781. On June 7th., Mr. Wesley being in the Isle of Man, met the local preachers, who were 22 in number. Mr. Crook had introduced Methodism there, in the year 1775. How greatly had the work of God prospered since that time!

On August 7th, the thirty-eighth Conference was commenced at Leeds. It was decided that it was doubtless the duty of bankrupts to pay their whole debts, if ever they were able; and that if they did not do so they ought not to continue in the society. It was also agreed that no preacher should print or reprint anything, until it had been corrected by Mr. Wesley.