The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-08-28
Wesley.

The period of Wesley's noted public
ministry is before us,-a sub ect of intense
interest. Yet We can but glance over its
cventful scenes. Think as we may of the
wisdom of his system or the truth of his
doctrines, We must all allow that he was n
true soldier of the cross, and shrank from
no opportunity of serving his Masters cause.
Nothing in history is more remarkable than
his conduct i'm the midst of mobs that sough,
his life; and no scenes in the progress of
Christianity are more touching than some
that may be chosen from his career Of itin-
erancy. lie never quailed before the most
Infatuated mob, and almost always lulled
the storm to rest. Upon these transactions
SOuthey is more eloquent in the preachers
praise than even Moore or Watson.
"ln one case, when the house was beset
by great crowd, who cried out for him,
and declared that they would have him.
Bring out the minister, we will have the
minister he simply desired one Of his
friends to invite the captain Of the mob into
the house. The fellow came, and was so
worked upon-whether soohed or awed-
as to seem an entirely dilIeren, person and
by the charm of Wesley's address, two or
three of the mans companions went through
the same change. Wesley afterwards went
out, and, standing upon a chair, addressed
the mob. The cry now was very unlike
the former one - The gentleman is an
honest gentleman, and they that seek foI
his blood must spill ouIs first In another
instance, he had been seized and bruised by
a mob. He appealed to them to give him a
hearing, and obtaining at length, a moment S
silence, Immediately in that clear and NOV
ing voice Of his, began 10 pray. The man
who had headed the rabble, and who had
been prize fighter at bear garden, was so
wrought upon as to turn and say:-'Sir, !
will spend my life for YOU Follow me,
and not one here shall touch hair Of yom
head
why should the popuace have been so
enraged at a movement so pacific as thu OF
Methodism! In part, probably, on account
of the rebuke applied to prevalent SINS and
in part from the novelty and strangeness OF
the meetings. There was, undoubtedly,
some offence against good taste. in the ex-
citing method Of the preachers; but an
English mob has never shown any great
horror of bad rhetoric OF OF over much ve,
hemence. Ii was the conversion Of then
friends and neightors that stirred up the
wrath of the crowd. Once in a while.
moreover, some siraitlaced Tory was found
connlving at the outrage Of the rabble.
Wesley tells a curious story Of the arrest oil
a score of MethOdis,s, who were immediate,
ly put into a wagon, and dragged to the
Justices. Their accusers were asked TO
state the ground of their complaint. and
seemed at this TO he struck dumb III last,
one of them cried OUT Why, they pre-.
bend to be better than other people; and
besides, they pray from morning I'LL night.
The magistrate asked if they had done nothing
else. Yes sir, said an old man, they
have conrarted my wife. an, please yom
worship. Till she went among them, she
had such tongue And now she is quiet
as lamb Garry them back, carry them
back, said the magistrate, and let them con
vert all the scolds in town. - Christian
Examiner.