us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." The hymns on the last day are characterized also by the same unflinching faith, which, rejoicing in the smile or the Judge, defies the wild uproar of elements, and the general conflagration itself. In several of these, Mr. Charles Wesley has admirably Christianized "the just man" of Horace, dreadless, amidst the ruins of a world:

"Si fractus illabatur orbis

Impavidum ferien! ruinæ ;"

placing the same fine thought in various aspects, and illustrating it by different circumstances. His hymns of invitation are sweet and persuasive; and those on justification by faith, admirably illustrative of that important doctrine. Of the value set upon this hymn book by the Methodist congregations, this is a sufficient proof, that above sixty thousand copies are sold yearly in the United Kingdom alone. The number in the United States of America, must be considerably larger.

"I retired to Peckham, and at leisure hours read part of a very pretty trifle, the life of Mrs. Bellamy. Surely never did any since John Dryden study more

To make vice pleasing, and damnation shine.' than this lively and elegant writer. She has a finc imagination, a strong understanding, an easy style, improved by much reading; a fine, benevolent temper, and every qualification that could consist with a total ignorance of God: but God was not in all her thoughts. Abundance of anecdotes she inserts, which may be true or false. One of them, concerning Mr. Garrick, is curious: she says, 'When he was taking ship for England, a lady presented him with a parcel, which she desired him not to open the same title of "Hymns and Sacred Poems," each bearing that date. The hymn book now in use was compiled by Mr. John Wesley out of the preceding hymn books, of different sizes and editions, and from his brother's "Festival Hymns,' Scripture Hymns," &c. The whole underwent his severe criticism, and he abridged and corrected them with a taste and judgment which greatly increased their value.

Few persons ever wrote so much poetry of the sacred and devotional kind, as Mr. Charles Wesley. It amounts to forty-eight distinct publications of different sizes, from the duodecimo volume, to the pamphlet of one or two sheets. Besides what is published, several thick quarto volumes of poetry in MS. remain, chiefly consisting of brief illustrations or paraphrases of the leading texts in the Gospels and Acts of the Apostles, and not inferior to his "Short Hymns on the chief passages of the Old and New Testaments," which have passed through several editions. A few of his poems are playful, a few others are keenly satirical. He satirized his brother's ordinations, and the preachers; but, high churchman as he was, he is very unsparing in the use of his poetic whip upon the persecuting and irreligious clergy. Of this, some of his published, and several of his unpublished paraphrases, on passages of the Gospels, and the Acts of the Apostles, in which the persecuting deeds of the Scribes and Pharisees are recorded, afford some caustic specimens; and sufficiently indicate that he did not bear the con- With reference to his brother's poetry, a remark tumely and opposition of his high church brethren is incidentally, and somewhat oddly introduced by with the equanimity and gentleness of his brother Mr. Wesley, in his Journal of 1790, Jan. 28: John. He also took a part in the Calvinistic controversy, by writing his hymns or poems on God's universal love. But by far the greater part of his poetry was consecrated to promote the work of God in the heart. Never were its different branches, from the first awakening of the soul out of the sleep of sin, to its state of perfected holiness, with all its intermediate conflicts and exercises, more justly or scripturally expressed; and there is, perhaps, no uninspired book from which, as to the deep things of God," so much is to be learned, as from his hymn book in use in the Methodist congregations. The funeral hymns in this collection have but little of the softness of sorrow-perhaps too little; but they are written in that fulness of faith, which exclaims over the open tomb, "Thanks be to God, who giveth Hymn Book, are now become scarce, and in a few years may not be forthcoming to correct the error. For this reason it may also be noticed that Mr. Montgomery has inserted in his collection several hymns by Charles Wesley as the composition of "authors unknown." These, too, are found in the early editions of the Wesley hymns and poems, and in some later ones, as, "Come, let us who in Christ believe," "Come, O thou all-victorious Lord;" Fountain of being, source of good;" "God of my life, whose gracious power;" 'Jesus my strength, my hope;" "Jesus, the name high over all;" "Leader of faithful souls, and guide;" "O that thou wouldst the heavens rent;" Spirit of truth, come down;" "Thee, O my God and King;" "Thy ceaseless, unexhausted love;" and, "When quiet in my house I sit." There are two ways of accounting for Mr. Montgomery's want of information as to these hymns:—that he was not in possession of the early editions of hymns published by John and Charles Wesley ;-and that some of the hymns in the hymn book in use amongst us, which he has ascribed to authors unknown, are parts of longer hymns, and were selected by Mr. John Wesley from his brother's poetry, sometimes from the middle or end of a piece, so that the first lines would not be found in the old indexes when consulted. Mr. Charles Wesley's hymns have not been unfrequently claimed for others, without any design to be unjust. In the Christian Observer, a few years ago, that exquisite production of one of his happiest moments,, Jesus lover of my soul," was assigned to Mr. Madan, although published by Mr. Charles Wesley in the year 1743; and the translation from the French, "Come, Saviour Jesus, from above," is found in the poetical works of Dr. John Byrom, published in 1773, although it appears in the Wesley "Hymns and Poems" of 1739. The probability is, that a copy of it was found among Byrom's papers, and so the editor of his poems concluded it to be his. A correct list of the different editions of the Hymns and Sacred Poems published by the Wesleys will be found in the last volume of Wesley's works, recently completed. The editions of 1739 are scarce, and it ought to be noticed that there are two distinct works published under

* As almost all the family were poets, so they were all characterized by a vein of satire. This they appear to have inherited from their father, whose wit was both ready and pungent. The following is an instance, copied from the gentleman's Magazine, for the year 1802:

"The authenticity of the following extempore grace by the Rev. Samuel Wesley, (father of the Rev. John,) formerly rector of Epworth, may be relied on. It is given on the authority of the late William Barnard, Esq. of Gainsborough, whose father, the preserver of John from the fire of 1707, was present at the time it was spoken, at Temple Belwood, after dinner. Mr. P., at whose house they dined, was a strange compound of avarice and oddity; many of his singularities are still remembered:

"Thanks for this feast, for tis no less
Than eating manna in the wilderness:
Here meagre famine bears controlless sway,
And ever drives each fainting wretch away.
Yet here, (0 how beyond a saint's belief!)
We've seen the glories of a chine of beef;
Here chimneys smoke, which never smoked before,
And we have dined, where we shall dine no more.'"

The design of this odd extemporaneous effusion, we are bound to believe, was not to indulge in a levity, but to convey a useful reproof.

As the number of hymns in this book, adapted for mixed congregations and festival occasions, was not thought sufficient, a supplement is now added; containing about an equal number of hymns, by Mr. Charles Wesley, and by other authors. Some of the best hymns he ever wrote are found in this smaller collection, chiefly on the festivals.

till he was at sea. When he did, he found Wes- | passed through the East Riding of Yorkshire, to
ley's Hymns, which he immediately threw over-Hull: preaching in every place as on the brink of
board.' I cannot believe it. I think Mr. G. had eternity. He also visited Epworth, and various
more sense. He knew my brother well. And he
knew him to be not only far superior in learning,
but in poetry, to Mr. Thomson, and all his theatri-
cal writers put together: none of them can equal
him, either in strong nervous sense, or purity and
elegance of language. The musical compositions
of his sons are not more excellent than the poetical
ones of their father."

The last end of the truly venerable John Wesley was now also approaching. He was on his regular pastoral visit to Ireland, when he entered his eightyseventh year, on which he remarks in his Journal. "This day I enter on my eighty-seventh year. I now find I grow old. 1. My sight is decayed, so that I cannot read a small print, unless in a strong light. 2. My strength is decayed, so that I walk much slower than I did some years since. 3. My memory of names, whether of persons or places, is decayed, till I stop a little to recollect them. What I should be afraid of is, if I took thought for the morrow, that my body should weigh down my mind, and create either stubbornness, by the decrease of my understanding, or peevishness, by the increase of bodily infirmities; but thou shalt answer for me, O Lord my God!"

parts of Lincolnshire; and, upon attaining his
eighty-eighth year, has the following reflections:-
"This day I enter into my eighty-eighth year.
For above eighty-six years, I found none of the in-
firmities of old age; my eyes did not wax dim, nei-
ther was my natural strength abated; but last Au-
gust, I found almost a sudden change my eyes were
so dim that no glasses would help me; my strength
likewise now quite forsook me, and probably will
not return in this world; but I feel no pain from
head to foot: only it seems, nature is exhausted,
and, humanly speaking, will sink more and more.
till

'The weary springs of life stand still at last.'"

at length was

This," says Dr. Whitehead,
literally the case; the death of Mr. Wesley, like
that of his brother Charles, being one of those rare
instances in which nature, drooping under the load
of years, sinks by a gentle decay. For several years
preceding his death, this decay was, perhaps, more
visible to others than to himself, particularly by a
more frequent disposition to sleep during the day,
by a growing defect in memory, a faculty he once
possessed in a high degree of perfection, and by a
general diminution of the vigor and agility he had
so long enjoyed. His labors, however, suffered lit-
tle interruption; and when the summons came, it
found him, as he always wished it should, in the
harness, still occupied in his Master's work!"

Notwithstanding these infirmities, we find him still acting under the impression-"I must be about my Father's business." "Although in comparison of his former rapidity of movement, he crept rather than ran; it was still in the same ceaseless course of service. After holding the Irish conference in Still his Journal records his regular visitation of Dublin, and the English conference at Leeds, in the principal places where societies existed, and exAugust, he returned to London; from thence he hibits the same variety and raciness of remark on set out to Bristol, and proceeded on his usual tour men and books, and other subjects, although writing through the west of England and Cornwall. Not-must, at that time, have become exceedingly diffiwithstanding his regular visits to Cornwall, he ap-cult to him from the failure of his sight. This most pears, from some reason, not to have turned aside interesting record of unparalleled labors "in the to Falmouth, since the time of his preaching there gospel" was, for this reason, it is presumed, disconforty years before when he met with so violent a tinued, and closed, on Sunday, October 24th, 1790, reception. He now paid that place a visit, and re- when he states that he preached twice at Spitalfields marks "The last time I was here, about forty years church. He continued however, during the auago, I was taken prisoner by an immense mob, gap- tuinn and winter, to visit various places till Febing and roaring like lions; but how is the tide turn-ruary, continually praying, "Lord, let me not live ed! High and low now lined the streets from one to be useless." The following account of his last end of the town to the other, out of stark love and days is taken from the memoir prefixed to the edikindness, gaping and staring as if the king were tion of his works by the Rev. Joseph Benson, and going by. In the evening I preached on the smooth is there inserted as a proper close to his Journal:top of the hill, at a small distance from the sea, to the largest congregation I have ever seen in Cornwall, except in or near Redruth; and such a time I have not known before, since I returned from Ireland. God moved wonderfully on the hearts of the people, who all seemed to know the day of their

visitation."

From Cornwall he returned by way of Bristol and Bath to London. In the early part of the next year, we find him again at Bristol; from whence he proceeded, preaching at several of the intermediate towns, to Birmingham; and from thence through Staffordshire to Madeley, where we find the following affecting entry in his Journal:

"At nine I preached to a select congregation on the deep things of God; and in the evening on, 'He is able to save unto the uttermost of all them that come unto God through him.' Friday, 26, I finished my sermon on the Wedding garment;' perhaps the last that I shall write. My eyes are now waxed dim. My natural force is abated; however, while I can, I would fain do a little for God, before I drop into the dust."

The societies in Cheshire, Lancashire, and the North of England, once more, and for the last time, saw the man, to whom, under God, they owed their religious existence. On his return southward, he

"He preached, as usual, in different places in
London and its vicinity, generally meeting the so-
ciety after preaching in each place, and exhorting
them to love as brethren, to fear God, and honor the
king, which he wished them to consider as his last
advice. He then usually, if not invariably, con-
cluded, with giving out that verse-

O that, without a ling'ring groan
I may the welcome word receive;
My body with my charge lay down,

And cease at once to work and live.'
"He proceeded in this way till the usual time of
his leaving London approached, when, with a view
to take his accustomed journey through Ireland or
Scotland, he sent his chaise and horses before him
to Bristol, and took places for himself and his friend
in the Bath coach. But his mind, with all its vigor
could no longer uphold his worn-out and sinking
body. Its powers ceased, although, by slow and al-
most imperceptible degrees, to perform their sun-
dry offices, until, as he often expressed himself,

'I the chief of sinners am,
But Jesus died for me.'*

"One said, 'is this the present language of your heart, and do you now feel as you did then?' He replied 'yes.' When the same person repeated, 'Bold I approach the eternal throne,

evening, preached at Chelsea, from "The king's hearty amen showed that he perfectly understood business requires haste," although with some diffi- what was said. About half an hour after, he said, culty, having a high degree of fever upon him. In-there is no need of more; when at Bristol my deed he was obliged to stop once or twice, inform- words were, ing the people that his cold so affected his voice as to prevent his speaking without those necessary pauses. On Saturday he still persevered in his usual employments, though, to those about him, his complaints seemed evidently increasing. He dined at Islington, and at dinner desired a friend to read to him four chapters out of the book of Job, viz. from the fourth to the seventh inclusive. On Sunday he rose early, according to custom, but quite unfit for any of his usual Sabbath-day's exercises. At seven o'clock he was obliged to lie down, and slept between three and four hours. When he awoke, he said, "I have not had such a comfortabie sleep this fortnight past." In the afternoon he lay down again and slept an hour or two. Afterwards two of his own discourses on our Lord's sermon on the mount were read to him, and in the evening he came down to supper.

And claim the crown, through Christ, my own;' and added, "tis enough. He our precious Immanuel has purchased, has promised, all;' he earnestly replied, He is all! He is all? After this the fever was very high, and at times affected his recollection; but even then, though his head was subject to a temporary derangement, his heart seemed wholly engaged in his Master's work. In the evening he got up again, and, while sitting in his chair, he said, how necessary it is for every one to be on the right foundation!

"I the chief of sinners am,
But Jesus died for me!'

Monday, the 21st, he seemed much better; and though his friends tried to dissuade him from it, he would keep an engagement, made some time before, to dine at Twickenham. In his way thither he Monday, the 28th, his weakness increased. He called on Lady Mary Fitzgerald: the conversation slept most of the day, and spoke but little; yet that was truly profitable, and well became a last visit. little testified how much his whole heart was taken On Tuesday he went on with his usual work, preach-up in the care of the societies, the glory of God, and ed in the evening at the chapel in the City-road, and the promotion of the things pertaining to that kingseemed much better than he had been for some days. dom to which he was hastening. Once he said, in On Wednesday he went to Leatherhead, and a low but distinct manner, there is no way into the preached to a small company on, "Seek ye the holiest, but by the blood of Jesus.' He afterwards Lord while he may be found; call ye upon him inquired what the words were from which he had while he is near." This proved to be his last ser- preached a little before at Hampstead. Being told mon here ended the public labors of this great they were these, 'ye know the grace of our Lord minister of Jesus Christ. On Thursday he paid a Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your visit to Mr. Wolff's family at Balham, where he sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty was cheerful, and seemed nearly as well as usual, might be rich he replied, that is the foundation, till Friday, about breakfast time, when he grew very the only foundation; there is no other.' This day heavy. About eleven o'clock he returned home, Dr. Whitehead desired he might be asked, if he extremely ill. His friends were struck with the would have any other physician called in to attend manner of his getting out of the carriage, and still him; but this he absolutely refused. It is remarkmore with his apparent weakness when he went up able that he suffered very little pain, never comstairs and sat down in his chair. He now desired plaining of any during his illness, but once of a pain to be left alone, and not to be interrupted by any one, in his left breast. This was a restless night. Tuesfor half an hour. When that time was expired, day morning he sang two verses of a hymn: then some mulled wine was brought him, of which he lying still, as if to recover strength, he called for drank a little. In a few minutes he threw it up, pen and ink; but when they were brought, he could and said, 'I must lie down.' His friends were now not write. A person said, 'let me write for you, alarmed, and Dr. Whitehead was immediately sent sir: tell me what you would say.' He replied, for. On his entering the room, he said, in a cheer-nothing, but that God is with us.' In the forenoon ful voice, doctor, they are more afraid than hurt.' Most of this day he lay in bed, had a quick pulse, with a considerable degree of fever and stupor. And Saturday, the 26th, he continued in much the same state; taking very little either of medicine or nourishment.

Sunday morning he seemed much better, got up, and took a cup of tea. Sitting in his chair, he looked quite cheerful, and repeated the latter part of the verse, in his brother Charles' Scripture Hymns, on 'Forsake me not when my strength faileth,' viz.—

'Till glad I lay this body down,
Thy servant, Lord, attend;
And, O! my life of mercy crown
With a triumphant end.'

Soon after, in a most emphatical manner, he said,
our friend Lazarus sleepeth.' Exerting himself to
converse with some friends, he was soon fatigued,
and obliged to lie down. After lying quiet some
time, he looked up, and said, 'speak to me; I can-
not speak.' On which one of the company said,
'shall we pray with you, sir?' He earnestly re-
plied, yes. And while they prayed, his whole soul
seemed engaged with God for an answer, and his

he said, 'I will get up.' While they were preparing
his clothes, he broke out in a manner which, consi-
dering his extreme weakness, astonished all present,
in singing,

'I'll praise my Maker while I've breath,
And when my voice is lost in death,

Praise shall employ my nobler powers.

:

At the Bristol conference in 1783, Mr. Wesley was taken very ill neither he nor his friends thought he could recover. From the nature of his complaint, he supposed a spasm would seize his stomach, and, probably, occasion sudden death. Under these views of his situation, he said to Mr. Bradford, "I have been reflecting on my past life: I have been wandering up and down, between fifty and sixty years, endeavoring, in my poor way, to do a little good to my fellow-creatures: and now it is probable, that there are but a few steps between me and death; and what have I to trust to for salvation? I can see nothing which I have done or suffered, that will bear looking at. I have no other plea than this,

'I the chief of sinners am,
But Jesus died for me.'"

The sentiment here expressed, and his reference to it in his last sickness, plainly show how steadily he had persevered in the same views of the gospel.