PREFACE. IF to write a book involves a responsibility, it also confers a privilege. The Author speaks to thousands, and, surviving himself, lives when dead, to instruct posterity. Husband-like he sows broadcast; and, if the seed that he casts into human minds and hearts, have in it the immortality of truth, the harvest which he reaps is not confined to one season, but continues year after year the rich and grateful reward of his labours. Small as our publication is, and almost lost amid the teeming issue of the fruitful press, we have the satisfaction of knowing that thousands of readers have received, or have had confirmed, views of truth calculated to ensure to them, if embraced, "the life that now is, and that which is to come." Milton's sentiments, as recorded in his "Speech for the Liberty of Unlicensed Printing," one of the noblest of his noble prose works, are worthy of being engraven on the memory of our readers. "Books are not absolutely dead things, but do contain a progeny of life in them to be as active as that soul whose progeny they are; nay, they do preserve as in a vial the purest efficacy and extraction of that living intellect that bred them. I know they are as lively, and as vigorously productive, as those fabulous dragon's teeth; and being sown up and down, may chance to spring up armed men. As good almost kill a man as kill a good book: who kills a man, kills a reasonable creature, God's image; but he who kills a good book, kills reason itself, kills the image of God, as it were, in the eye. Many a man lives a burden to the earth; but a good book is the precious life-blood of a master-spirit, embalmed and treasured up on purpose to a life beyond life. It is true no age can restore a life, whereof, perhaps, there is no great loss; and revolutions of ages do not often recover the loss of a neglected truth, for the want of which whole nations fare the worse. We should be wary, therefore, what persecutions we raise against the living labours of public men, how we spill that seasoned life of man, preserved and stored up in books; since we see a kind of homicide may be thus committed, sometimes a martyrdom; and if it extend to the whole impression, a kind of massacre, whereof the execution ends not in the slaying of an elemental life, but strikes at the etherial and fifth essence, the breath of reason itself; and slays an immortality rather than a life." The WESLEY BANNER was started for the purpose of promoting the purity and stability of genuine Wesleyanism, of defending ministers of Christ against the dishonourable attacks of the dominant party in the Methodist Conference, and of furnishing a large class of readers with a cheap, interesting, instructive, and useful periodical. These objects have been kept constantly in view. Our conviction at this moment is, that no sentiment has appeared in our pages opposed to the spirit, conduct, and writings, of the sagacious, laborious, and generous Founder of Methodism. Of the proceedings of the Manchester Conference, in 1849, our views are unchanged. After all that we have suffered, we should be prepared to act precisely as we did on that occasion, if placed in similar circum stances. We cannot see how we could have acted differently, without defiling our conscience, abandoning great principles, opposing the rules and usages of the Connexion, and violating the laws of Him who is Head over all things to the Church. Our expulsion was unrighteous and illegal. Charity obliges us to believe that the men who perpetrated the wrong regret it, and will not soon repeat it. Their conduct has been condemned by the evangelical churches, and has led to the decrease of some eighty thousand of their own members. Questions of a controversial nature we have but rarely discussed. Information of the progress of the Movement has been obtained from other publications. We have been anxious to furnish our readers with topics calculated to elevate, hallow, and tranquillise, amid the din of battle, and the excitement of contest. With the "brother of low degree" we sympathise. For the myriads around us we would provide. We despise not the apex, but we know how to value the basis and lower ranges of the pyramid of society. We have endeavoured to inspire the bosoms of working persons with love of pure religion-with principles of self-reliance—with a zeal to promote social order, and to advance the progress of society-with a habit of observation of what transpires in the world of Nature -that smitten with the love of science, they may pass from his works up to the great Architect. This has been our aim; and often have we been encouraged to continue, amid the inconveniences of travel, the work of our pen, by knowing that a saint has been comforted, an office-bearer cheered, a young student stimulated, or an hour, else, perhaps, thrown away, usefully employed in consequence of the WESLEY BANNER being at hand at the critical moment. And now I bring these labours to a close. Since the expulsion in 1849, I have travelled a distance equal to twice the circumference of the globe, and addressed hundreds of thousands of attentive hearers. In July last, I wrote to my three worthy colleagues: 1. That I felt it to be a duty which I owed to myself and family, to terminate the incessant travelling. 2. That from the sayings and doings of the dominant party in Conference, there was not the shadow of a probability that any concessions would be made to the people. 3. That I was convinced the evils deplored chiefly arose from the system; that there was nothing in the New Testament that bore a resemblance to a Methodist Conference; that it was not the design of Christ Jesus the Lord that any corporate body should legislate for his Churches; and therefore that I could not be a party to the formation of another Connexion, nor unite with any of the existing branches of the Methodist family, but considered it my duty to connect myself with the Congregationalists. Within the last few days I have accepted of a unanimous invitation from the Congregational Church, Garden-street, Sheffield, and expect to enter on my ministerial duties next Sabbath. From my The Subscribers of the WESLEY BANNER have my hearty thanks. altered position, it is now transferred to other hands. A new Editor will conduct it; but MR. KING will continue to be the Publisher. As it is to be conducted on the same principles, my hope is, that its circulation will be more extensive, and its usefulness greatly increased. SHEFFIELD, November 22, 1852. SAMUEL DUNN. MEMOIR OF THE REV. CHARLES WESLEY. SIXTY-FOUR years have passed away since this Sweet Singer of Israel ascended from our cloudy, inclement, and polluted sphere, to the region of brightness, serenity, and purity. He was one of the nineteen children of the excellent Samuel and Susanna Wesley; and was born at Epworth, in Lincolnshire, December 18, 1708. His first rudiments of learning he received from his inestimable mother. In 1716 he was sent to Westminster School, and placed under the care of his brother Samuel, then an usher in that renowned establishment. Charles was exceedingly sprightly and active; very apt to learn, but arch and unlucky, though not ill-natured. About this time Garret Wesley, Esq., a gentleman of large fortune in Ireland, wrote to the Rector of Epworth, inquiring whether or not he had a son named Charles, and stating that it was his wish to adopt a youth of VOL IV, P that name as his heir. By this gentleman the expenses of his education were defrayed; but when Charles declined going to Ireland, Garret Wesley made Richard Colley, of Dublin, his heir, who afterwards became the first Earl of Mornington, and was grandfather to the Marquis Wellesley and the Duke of Wellington. In 1726 Charles Wesley removed to Oxford, and became a student of Christ Church College. His brother John says, "He pursued his studies diligently, and led a regular, harmless life; but if I spoke to him about religion, he would warmly answer, What, would you have me to become a saint all at once?' and would hear no more." But in 1729, while his brother was at Epworth, Charles and two or three other young men became deeply serious; and the exact method with which they attended to the Lord's Supper and other religious duties, occasioned a young gentleman in the college to say, "There is a new sect of Methodists sprung up," alluding to some ancient physicians who were so called. Charles became a college tutor, and regularly proceeded to his degree of A.M. In 1735 he went to Frederica, as Secretary to Governor Oglethorpe, but returned to England in about two years. On Whit-Sunday, May 21, 1738, he believed with his heart unto righteousness, and was filled with peace, and love, and joy. His conversation, his preaching, his visits to the felons in Newgate, were now attended with extraordinary success. He was instant in season and out of season; in reproving, rebuking, exhorting with all long-suffering and doctrine. He preached in churches, private houses, and in the open air, exposed to the summer's sun and winter's snow. He shunned no labour, and feared no opposition; he hailed reproach, and welcomed shame; he travelled through the length and breadth of the land; and hundreds of the miners in Cornwall, the colliers of Kingswood, the keelmen of Newcastle, and the Papists of Ireland, felt the Gospel which he delivered to be the power of God unto their salvation. April 8, 1749, he rose at four, spent three hours and a half in prayer and singing, and at eight was married, by his brother, to Sarah, the daughter of Marmaduke Gwynne, Esq., of Garth, in Wales. She was agreeable in her person, temper, and manners, of good sense and piety, and a good singer. She became the mother of eight children, in consequence of which the labours of her husband became gradually limited, till they were almost exclusively confined to London and Bristol. In the beginning of the year 1788, he was reduced to a state of great weakness, but still kept to his rule of going out every day. A few days before his death, having been silent and quiet for some time, he called his wife, and requested her to write the following lines:: "In age and feebleness extreme, Who shall a sinful worm redeem? Strength of my failing flesh and heart; Oh, could I catch a smile from thee, He died March 29, 1788, in his eightieth year, and was interred in the churchyard, of St Marylebone, near his own residence in Chesterfield-street. 66 Thy brow a radiant circle wears, His wife and three children survived him. Mrs. Wesley died December 28, 1822, aged ninety-six years. Sarah, their daughter, died September 19 |