TO

SHARON TURNER,

AUTHOR OF THE HISTORY OF THE ANGLO-SAXONS,

THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND,

&c. &c.

THESE VOLUMES ARE INSCRIBED,

IN THE HOPE

THAT THE OPINIONS WHICH THEY EXPRESS WILL NOT BE

DISAPPROVED BY HIS JUDGMENT;

IN THE CERTAINTY THAT

THE FEELING WHICH PERVADES THEM IS CONGENIAL WITH

HIS OWN;

AND IN MEMORIAL

OF TRUE RESPECT AND FRIENDSHIP:

PREFACE.

I HAVE had no private sources of information in composing the present work. The materials are derived chiefly from the following books:

Life of the Rev. JOHN WESLEY, A. M. including an account of the Great Revival of Religion in Europe and America, of which he was the first and chief Instrument. By Dr. COKE and Mr. MOORE. 8vo. London, 1792.

Life of the Rev. JOHN WESLEY, M. A. collected from his private Papers and printed Works, and written at the request of his executors. To which is prefixed, some account of his Ancestors and Relations; with the Life of the Rev. CHARLES WESLEY, M. A. collected from his private Journal, and never before published. The whole forming a History of Methodism, in which the Principles and Economy of Methodists are unfolded. Copied chiefly from a London edition, published by JOHN WHITEHEAD, M. D. 2 vols. 8vo. Dublin, 1805.

Memoirs of the late Rev. JOHN WESLEY, A. M. with a Review of his Life and Writings; and a History of Methodism, from its commencement in 1729 to the present time. By JOHN HAMPSON, A. B. 3 vols. 12mo. Sunderland, 1791.

Original Letters, by the Rev. JOHN WESLEY and his Friends, illustrative of his early History, with other curious Papers. Communicated by the late Rev. S. Badcock; to which is prefixed, an Address to the Methodists. By JOSEPH PRIESTLEY, LL. D. F. R. S. &c. Birmingham, 1791. 8vo.

The Works of the Rev. JOHN WESLEY. 16 vols. 8vo. London, 1809.

Sermons by the late Rev. CHARLES WESLEY, A. M. Student of Christ Church, Oxford. With a Memoir of the Author, by the Editor. Crown 8vo. London, 1816.

Minutes of the Methodist Conference, from the First held in London by the late Rev. John
Wesley, A. M. in the year 1744. 3 vols. 8vo. London, 1812.

Arminian Magazine, (now called the Methodist Magazine,) from its commencement.
A Chronological History of the People called Methodists, of the Connexion of the late Rev.
John Wesley, from their Rise in the year 1729, to their last Conference in the year
1802. By WILLIAM MYLES. 12mo. London, 1803.

A Portraiture of Methodism; or, the History of the Wesleyan Methodists, showing their
Rise, Progress and present State; Biographical Sketches of some of their most eminent
Ministers; the Doctrines the Methodists believe and teach, fully and explicitly stated ;
with the whole Plan of their Discipline, including their Original Rules and Subsequent
Regulations. Also a Defence of Methodism. By JONATHAN CROWTHER, who has been
upwards of thirty years a travelling Preacher among them. 8vo. London, 1815.
A Portraiture of Methodism being an impartial View of the Rise, Progress, Doctrines,
Discipline and Manners of the Wesleyan Methodists. In a Series of Letters, addressed
to a Lady. By JOSEPH NIGHTINGALE. 8vo. London, 1807.
Memoirs of the Life and Character of the late Rev. GEORGE WHITEFIELD, A. M. of Pem-
broke College, Oxford, and Chaplain to the Right Hon. the Countess Dowager of Hun-
tingdon; faithfully selected from his Original Papers, Journals, and Letters; illustrated
by a variety of interesting Anecdotes from the best authorities. By the late Rev. J.
GILLIES, D. D. Minister of the College Church of Glasgow. Second edition, with large
additions and improvements. 8vo. London, 1813.

The Works of the Rev. GEORGE WHITEFIELD, M. A. &c. Containing all his Sermons and Tracts which have been already published; with a select Collection of Letters, written to his most intimate Friends, and Persons of Distinction, in England, Scotland, Ireland, and America, from the Year 1734 to 1770, including the whole Period of his Ministry. Also, some other Pieces on important Subjects, never before printed, prepared by himself for the Press. 6 vols. 8vo. London, 1771.

The Two First Parts of his Life, with his Journals. Revised, corrected, and abridged, by GEORGE WHITEFIELD, A. B. Chaplain to the Right Hon. the Countess of Huntingdon. 12mo. London, 1756.

Memoirs of the Life and Character of the late Rev. CORNELIUS WINTER; compiled and composed by WILLIAM JAY. 12mo. London, 1809. (This volume contains a much

more interesting account of Whitefield than is to be found in any Life of him that has yet been published.)

The Ancient and Modern History of the Brethren, or a Succinct Narrative of the Protestant Church of the United Brethren, or Unitas Fratrum, in the remoter Ages, and particularly in the present Century. Written in German, by DAVID CRANZ, Author of the History of Greenland; now translated into English, with Emendations, and published with some additional Notes, by BENJAMIN LATROBE. 8vo. London, 1780. A candid Narrative of the Rise and Progress of the Herrnhuters, commonly called Moravians, or Unitas Fratrum, with a short Account of their Doctrines, drawn from their own Writings. To which are added, Observations on their Politics in general, and particularly on their Conduct whilst in the County of Büdingen, in the Circle of the Upper Rhine, in Germany. By HENRY RIMIUS, Aulic Counsellor to his late Majesty the King of Prussia, and Author of the Memoirs of the House of Brunswick. The Second Edition. in which the Latin Appendix in the first edition is rendered into English. 8vo. London, A True and Authentic Account of Andrew Frey: containing the Occasion of his coming among the Herrnhuters, or Moravians; his Observations on their Conferences, Casting Lots, Marriages, Festivals, Merriments, Celebrations of Birth-Days, Impious Doctrines, and Fantastical Practices, Abuse of Charitable Contributions, Linen Images, Ostentatious Profuseness and Rancour against any who in the least differ from them; and the Reasons for which he left them; together with the Motive for Publishing this Account. Faithfully translated from the German. 8vo. London, 1753.

1753.

A Solemn Call on Count Zinzendorf, the Author and Advocate of the Sect of Herrnhuters, commonly called Moravians, to answer all and every Charge brought against them in the Candid Narrative, &c.; with some further Observations on the Spirit of that Sect. By HENRY RIMIUS. 8vo. London, 1754.

The Moravians Compared and Detected. By the Author of the Enthusiasm of the Methodists and Papists Compared. 8vo. London, 1755.

An Extract from the Journal of Mr. JOHN NELSON, Preacher of the Gospel. Containing an Account of God's dealings with him from his Youth to the 42d Year of his Age. Written by himself. 24mo. London, 1813.

The Life and Death of Mr. THOMAS WALSH, Minister of the Gospel; composed in great part from his own Accounts. By JAMES MORGAN. 12mo. London, 1811.

The Life and Writings of the late Rev. WILLIAM GRIMSHAW, A. B. Minister of Haworth, in the West Riding of the County of York. By WILLIAM MYLES. 12mo, 1813. The Life of the Rev. THOMAS COKE, LL. D.; including in detail, his various Travels and extraordinary Missionary Exertions in England, Ireland, America, and the West Indies; with an Account of his Death, on the 3d of May, 1814, while on a Missionary Voyage to the Island of Ceylon, in the East Indies; interspersed with numerous Reflections, and concluding with an Abstract of his Writings and Character. By SAMUEL DREW, of St. Austell, Cornwall. 8vo. London, 1817.

Extracts of the Journals of the Rev. Dr. COKE'S Five Visits to America. 12mo. 1793. A History of the West Indies; containing the Natural, Civil, and Ecclesiastical History of each Island: with an Account of the Missions instituted in those Islands, from the Commencement of their Civilization: but more especially of the Missions which have been established in that Archipelago, by the Society late in Connexion with the Rev. John Wesley. By THOMAS COKE, LL. D. of the University of Oxford. 8vo. 3 vols. Vol. 1. Liverpool, 1808; Vol. 2. London, 1810; Vol. 3. London, 1811.

The Experience and Gospel Labours of the Rev. BENJAMIN ABBOTT; to which is annexed, a Narrative of his Life and Death; also, Extracts from the Journal of the Rev. John Wesley. By JOHN FFIRTH. 12mo. Philadelphia. Liverpool, (reprinted.) 1809. The Life of the Rev. JOHN WILLIAM DE LA FLECHERE, compiled from the Narrative of the Rev. Mr. Wesley; the Biographical Notes of the Rev. Mr. Gilpin; from his own Letters; and other Authentic Documents. By JOSEPH BENSON. 8vo. London, 1817. The Works of the Rev. JOHN FLETCHER. In 10 vols. 8vo. London, 1815.

The Works of AUGUSTUS TOPLADY, A. B. late Vicar of Broad Hembury, Devon. In 6 vols. Svo. London, 1794.

The Enthusiasm of Methodists and Papists compared. In three Parts. 2 vols. 12mo. London, 1754.

The Doctrine of Grace; or, the Office and Operations of the Holy Spirit, vindicated from the Insults of Infidelity, and the Abuses of Fanaticism; with some Thoughts (humbly offered to the Consideration of the Established Clergy) regarding the right method of defending Religion against the attacks of either party. In three Books. In the fourth Volume of Bishop Warburton's Works.

Various Volumes of the Gospel Magazine.

I am not conscious of having left any thing undone for rendering the present work as little incomplete as it was in my power to make it; and I have represented facts as I found them, with scrupulous fidelity, neither extenuating nor exaggerating any thing. Of the opinions of the writer, the reader will judge according to his own; but whatever his judgment may be upon that point, he will acknowledge that, in a book of this kind, the opinions of an author are of less consequence than his industry, his accuracy, and his sense of duty.