“I cannot but wish,” wrote Shirley, “that the recantation of the Circular Letter may prevail as an example for the recantation of the ‘Minutes.’ If I should be unhappily disappointed in this respect, I shall feel myself bound in conscience to yield my public testimony against such doctrines as these, which appear to me subversive of the fundamentals of Christianity.”[245]
And, once more, the apology, such as it was, was sent too late, for Fletcher had already written his “Vindication” of Wesley’s “Minutes;” the manuscript had been sent to Wesley, and Wesley had revised it, and committed it to the press.
The war was begun, and we must follow it to its termination, so far as Fletcher is concerned; for it is impossible, in a work like this, to notice all the pamphlets that were published. Those who wish for further information may turn to the “Life and Times of Wesley.”
205. Benson’s “Life of Fletcher.“
206. Benson’s “Life of Fletcher.“
207. Wesley’s “Life of Fletcher.“
208. Fletcher’s Works, vol. viii., p. 257.
209. “Minutes of the Methodist Conferences,” vol. i., p. 97.
210. It is said that when Shirley sent her ladyship a copy of Wesley’s Doctrinal Minutes, she burnt it. (Bogue and Bennett’s “History of Dissenters.“)
211. “Life and Times of the Countess of Huntingdon,” vol. ii., pp. 106–109.
212. Fletcher’s Works, vol. i., p. 209.
213. Wesley’s “Sermon on the Death of Whitefield,” p. 26.
214. Lady Glenorchy opened a number of chapels, both in Scotland and England, and did her utmost to supply them with evangelical ministers. She was, in fact, the Lady Huntingdon of Scotland.
215. “Life and Times of the Countess of Huntingdon,” vol. i., p. 111.
216. Macdonald’s “Life of Benson.”
217. Benson’s “Life of Fletcher.”
218. A clergyman, who, professing to be under serious impressions, had been permitted by her ladyship to stay a few weeks at the college; but was neither master nor student. Fletcher termed him “a bird of passage.”
219. “Life and Times of Wesley,” vol. iii., p. 88.
220. Wesley was at Wem only three days before this letter was written.
221. The day Wesley was at Wem, namely, March 15.
222. Wesley says he “spent the day in fasting and prayer.” (Wesley’s Works, vol. vii., p. 416.)
223. Benson’s Life, by Macdonald.
224. After many unhappy contentions, and much forbearance on Wesley’s part, Thomas Maxfield seceded from Wesley in 1763. Maxfield has been far more highly honoured in Methodist histories and biographies than his merits warranted.
225. I have failed in my endeavour to ascertain what is meant by the “Brecknock division.” There can be no doubt, however, that Wesley met with great annoyance in that part of Wales. Previous to the opening of Trevecca College, he wrote:—
“1767. September 2.—I found the work of God in Pembrokeshire had been exceedingly hindered, chiefly by Mr. Davies’s preachers, who had continually inveighed against ours, and thereby frightened abundance of people from hearing or coming near them. This had sometimes provoked them to retort, which always made a bad matter worse. The advice, therefore, which I gave them was:—1. Let all the people sacredly abstain from backbiting, tale-bearing, evil-speaking. 2. Let all our preachers abstain from returning railing for railing, either in public or in private, as well as from disputing. 3. Let them never preach controversy, but plain, practical, and experimental religion.”
A year and a half after Fletcher left Trevecca, Wesley wrote again in his journal:—
“1772. August 14.—About noon, at the request of my old friend Howell Harris, I preached at Trevecca, on the strait gate, and we found our hearts knit together as at the beginning. He said, ‘I have borne with these pert, ignorant young men, vulgarly called students, till I cannot in conscience bear any longer. They preach barefaced reprobation, and so broad antinomianism, that I have been constrained to oppose them to the face, even in the public congregation.’ It is no wonder they should preach thus. What better can be expected from raw lads of little understanding, little learning, and no experience?”
226. This letter is inserted in the “Life and Times of Wesley,” where it was published for the first time. It is reproduced here, because Fletcher’s life would not be complete without it.—L. T.
227. “Life and Times of Wesley,” vol. iii., p. 93.
228. The letter of the Countess, dated “August 2, 1771,” in substance was an apology for the apparently presumptuous way in which she and her friends had proposed to invade Wesley’s Conference; accompanied with an excuse founded on the fact that they regarded Wesley’s “Minutes,” of 1770, as “repugnant to Scripture, the whole plan of man’s salvation under the new covenant of grace, and also to the clear meaning of our Established Church, as well as to that of all other Protestant Churches.” Shirley’s letter was to the same effect. (See Shirley’s “Narrative of the Principal Circumstances relative to the Rev Mr. Wesley’s late Conference, held in Bristol, August 6, 1771.”)
229. It is a notable fact that Wesley had spent the three previous days with Fletcher. Hence the following from Wesley’s Journal:—
“1771. Friday, July 26. I went on to Shrewsbury, where Mr. Fletcher met me.—Sunday, 28. I preached at Madeley, morning and afternoon. The church would not near contain the congregation; but the window near the pulpit being open, those without could hear as well as those within.—Monday, 29. I went on to Worcester.”
Probably Wesley took Fletcher’s manuscript away with him.
230. Wesley’s Journal.
231. Shirley’s “Narrative.”
232. Shirley’s “Narrative.”
233. Ibid.
234. Whitehead’s “Life of Wesley,” vol. ii., p. 350.
235. That there might be no misunderstanding between them, Fletcher, on the same day, sent Wesley “the substance, and almost the very words,” of this letter to Shirley.
236. The Rev. Tobias Crisp, D.D., a divine of the Church of England, born in London in 1600, and who died in 1643. He was educated at Eton, thence he removed to Cambridge, and afterwards to Oriel College, Oxford. At the age of twenty-seven, he was appointed Rector of Brinkworth, in Wiltshire. Early in life, he was a favourer of the doctrines of Arminianism; afterwards, he became the champion of Antinomianism. His sermons, in three volumes, were printed after his death. It is said that, though the tenets he embraced seem to be a plea for licentiousness, he himself was remarkable for the purity and modesty of his manners.
237. A few years ago, Shirley had published “Twelve Sermons, preached on several occasions,” 12mo., 189 pp.
238. Lady Huntingdon.
239. This was published in the Gospel Magazine, in the same month as Wesley’s Conference was held. It was signed “Cleon,” and dated “London, June 17, 1771.” Speaking of Wesley, “Cleon” says,—
240. Thomas Olivers, who for several years, corrected proof sheets for Wesley.
241. In 1769, Toplady published “The Doctrine of Absolute Predestination Stated and Asserted. Translated, in great measure, from the Latin of Jerome Zanchius; with some Account of his Life prefixed.” 8vo. 134 pp. An impious production, in the garb of piety.
242. Wesley was in Ireland from March 24 to July 22, 1771. It was during this period that Shirley sent forth his offensive “Circular Letter.”
243. Whitefield, who died September 30, 1770.
244. Shirley’s “Narrative.”
245. Shirley’s “Narrative.”