New-York daily tribune., 1846-01-21
THE TRIBUNE.
Methodi.n, ut the Fountain.


.orsry Events ard Characters. BY THOMAS JACK
son. Newfotk. ls4a.
This is a reprint of a London work athoughit does
m, so appear on the title page We have lately
,,sa !, in connection with another very interesting
hook. Clarke's Memoirs of the Wesley Family
and have been led FAR deeper interest in this great
s-sam of religious thought and feeling, by nearer
approach TO its fountain head.
The world at large takes its impression of the
wesleys from southey. A humber historian has
scarce chance to be heard beside one so rich IN
earnipg and talent. Yet the Methodis,s themselves
are not satisfied with this account Of their revered
Shepherds which though fair in the intention, and
,oeraby fair in the arrang OF facts, tails 10
convey the true spiritual sense and does not to the
flock present picture OF the fields where they
were first satisfied with the food of mmortals
better likeness if not SO ably painted may, in
deed be found in chronicles written by the dsci
ples Of these great and excellent men, who, as char
acters full of affection less than intellect need
also 10 be aiecona,ey, no less than intellectually
discerned in order to true representation OF their
deeds and their influence.
The books we have named and others which re-
late to the Wesleys extremely interesting apart
from a consideration of the men and what their
lives were leading to, from the various and impor-
unt documents they furnish illustrative OF the symp-
IONS and obscurer meanings of their times
In the account of the family life of the Recory of
Epwortb where John and Charles Wesley passed
their boyish years, we find great deal that is vaa
able condensed And we look upon the picture of
home and its government with tenfold interest be
of ,l,o oh, irbnr
lied in straight line the gifts of the Spirit through
their parentage, rather than were taught by angels
that visited them now and then unawares, or re-
ceived the mantle from some prophetwho was pass
hr rbv. as we more commonly find 10 have been the
ease in the histories of distinguished men. This is
delightful for we long to see parent and child link
ed to one another By natural piety-kindred in mind
10 less than by blood
The father of the Wesleys was worthy so TO be
II this, that he was lervcnt lover of the Right
;hough often narrow and hasty in his conceptions ot
it, He was scarce less, however, by nature, lover
Of having his own will. The same strong will was
tempered in the larger and deeper character Of his
son John 10 that energy and seadastnees of purpose
which enabled him TO carry out plan OF operations
50 extensive and cxhaus,ing through so long Sc
ries of years and into extreme old age
This wilfuness and the disposition TO tyranny
which attends it, the senior Mr.. Wesley showed on
the famous occasion when he abandoned his wife
because her conscience forbade her TO assent 10 his
prayers for the then reigning monarch. and was only
saved from the consequences of his rash resolve by
the accidentof King w lillian happening die short
yaier Still more cruel, and, this time, fatal, was the
II inJ,cad ono of bic
against her viii aud Judgment TO n man whom she
did mot love and who proved TO be entirely unwor
lbyo her. The sacrifice Of this daughter, the fair
es, and brightest of his family seems most strange
Fand wickcdly wifu and ii is impossible to read
lhc letter she addressed 10 him on the subject with
CUt great Indignation against him, and sadness TO
sehow not long ago The habit of authority and obe
dence could enable man 10 dispense with the need
I'D claim OF genuine reverence.
Ye, he was in the main, good and his influence
spol his children good, he sincerely sought, and
.srolraged them TO seek, the one thing necdful.--
Hewas a father who would never fail 10 give noble
,iyce in cases of conscience and his venera,ion
y intellect, and its culture only inferior 10 that
be cherished for piety.
As has been generally the case, however with
superior men, the better part. both OF inheritance
md guidance came from the mother Mrs Susan
nab Wesley was rs things go in our puny society,
an extraordinary woman, though, we must believe
precisely what would be- in healthy and natural
order, the ordinary type of woman. She was
endowed with a large understanding, the power
Of reasoning aud the love of truth, animated by
warm and generous affections, Her mental devel-
opnent began very early so that, the age OF hr-
eea, she had made and on well considered grounds.
change in her form Of theological faith The pro
sress so early begun, did not that account stop
early but was continued and with increasing ener-
s' throughout her whole life. The manifold du
'es Of tolsome and difficult outward existence
!" Which |, is enough 10 say that she was the mo-
~e' Of nineteen children, many of whom lived 10
s''" up the wife of poor man, and one whose
einpef drew round him many dif.icu,iesl only
&c. ana iurthered her Improvement by the manifold
"'as'ons thus afforded for thought and action. In
ae' PRIME she was the teacher and cheerful compan
Dn Of her children, in declining years at once their
S7eed monitor and willing pupil. Indeed. she
vas one that never ceased to grow while she STAYED
spoa this earth, 10 foster and sustain the growth
all round her Even the little pedan,ries of her
aey were full of her own individuality And i,
Sood seem 10 be from the bias thus given that her
has acquired the tendency which. even in early
years, drew TO them the name of Me;hodists. How
inch too may no, be inferred from the revival ef,
'sed BY her in her husbands parish during his alb
Sa'e IN so beautiful and simple manner How
sS Impressions of that period have been stamped
- 'ae minds of her children, and aid
a whenever on similar occasions the universal
wee should Summon Them iodeyiatc from the usual
~ Prescribed course, and the pure s!mpalhies
sSened by their efforts be the sole confirmation
y. ls's wisdom How wisely and ,emperateIy
' Ueends herself to her husband, winning the
-''a' even Of tha, somewhat narrow and arbitrary
:. .4p With wisdom even SO tempered by a heart
wa eaaf''y and 6orbearance did John and Charles
s.' ssey maintain agans, the world OF customs the
~ :, and original methods which the deep emotions
,,,a el souls dictated to them, and won its asscn,
INK tha