The Young People's Wesley

MY sole object in the preparation of this little volume has been to meet what I regard as a real want--a Life of John Wesley which shall include all the essential facts in his remarkable career, presented in such a comprehensive form as to be quickly read and easily remembered by all; not so expensive as to be beyond the reach of those of the most limited means, and not so large as to require much time, even of the most busy worker, to master its contents. I have sought to give my readers a faithful view of the man--his origin, early life, conversion, marvelous ministry, what he did, how he did it, the doctrines he preached, the persecutions he encountered, and his triumphant end.

This revised and enlarged edition will be found to contain many interesting features not found in the first edition. I have added, also, a brief account of the introduction of Methodism into America, as well as John Wesley's influence at the opening of the twentieth century. For this interesting chapter I am indebted to Rev. W. H. Meredith, of the New England Conference, who kindly consented to assist me, in view of the pressure to get the manuscript ready on time.

It will appear, from all that has been said, that Mr. Wesley was the most remarkable character of the last century; and the influence of his life is more potent for good to-day than ever before, and must continue to augment--if his followers are true to their trust--till the end of time.

WILLIAM MCDONALD.

CONTENTS.

Page. PREFACE, 5 INTRODUCTION, 9 CHAPTER. I. BORN IN TROUBLOUS TIMES, 13 II. THE WESLEY FAMILY, 20 III. WESLEY'S EARLY LIFE, 32 IV. EPWORTH RAPPINGS, 41 V. ORIGIN OF THE HOLY CLUB, 49 VI. WESLEY IN AMERICA, 58 VII. WESLEY'S RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE, 71 VIII. WESLEY'S MULTIPLIED LABORS, 83 IX. WESLEY'S DOMESTIC RELATIONS, 93 X. WESLEY'S PERSECUTIONS, 101 XI. WESLEY AND HIS THEOLOGY, 115 XII. WESLEY AS A MAN, 132 XIII. WESLEY AS A PREACHER, 136 XIV. WESLEY AS A REFORMER, 144 XV. WESLEY AND AMERICAN METHODISM PRIOR TO 1766, 153 XVI. WESLEY AND AMERICAN METHODISM, 161 XVII. WESLEY APPROACHING THE CLOSE OF LIFE, 173 XVIII. WESLEY AND HIS TRIUMPHANT DEATH, 179 XIX. WESLEY'S CHARACTER AS ESTIMATED BY UNBIASED JUDGES, 185 XX. THE GREATER WESLEY OF THE OPENING CENTURY, 193 CONCLUSION, 203

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PORTRAIT OF JOHN WESLEY, Frontispiece FACING PAGE AN UNUSUAL VIEW OF THE EPWORTH RECTORY, 16

THE WESLEYAN MEMORIAL CHURCH, EPWORTH, ENGLAND, 32

JEFFREY'S ATTIC ROOM, WHENCE THE MYSTERIOUS NOISES CAME, 48

WESLEY'S ARMCHAIR, 64

WESLEY'S CLOCK, 96

SAMUEL WESLEY'S GRAVE, UPON WHICH JOHN PREACHED HIS FAMOUS SERMON, 112

WESLEY'S TEAPOT. WESLEY'S BIBLE AND CASE, 144

ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH AT EPWORTH. EPWORTH MEMORIAL CHURCH AT CLEVELAND, O., 160

THE ROOM IN WHICH WESLEY DIED, 176

JOHN WESLEY'S GRAVE, 192

INTRODUCTION.