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CHAPTER II,

Mr. Wesley's Mission to Georgia.

ON Tuesday, the 14th of October 1735, Mr. Wesley embarked for Georgia, on board the Simmonds at Gravesend. His companions were Mr. Ingham of Queen's College, Mr. Delamotte, and Mr. Charles Wesley: General Oglethorpe was a passenger in the same vessel. He wrote to his brother Samuel on the following day, informing him that he had presented his father's commentary on Job to the Queen. In this letter he declares his sentiments concerning the use of the heathen poets in large schools. "The uncertainty of having another opportunity to tell you my thoughts in this life, obliges me to tell you what I have often thought of, and that in as few and plain words as I can. Elegance of style is not to be weighed against purity of heart; purity both from the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eye, and the pride of life. Therefore, whatever has a tendency to impair that purity, is not to be tolerated, much less recommended for the sake of that elegance. But of this sort are most of the classics usually read in great schools: I beseech you therefore, by the mercies of God, who would have us holy as he is holy, that you banish all such poison from your school, that you introduce in their place such Christian authors as will work together with you in building up your flock in the knowledge and love of God.

"So many souls are committed to your charge by God, to be prepared for a happy eternity. You are to instruct them, not only in the beggarly elements of Greek and Latin, but much more in the gospel. You N

are to labour with all your might to convince them that Christianity is not a negation, or an external thing, but a new heart, a mind conformed to that of Christ; faith, working by love."

Every judicious Christian will here join with Mr. Wesley; and it must be regretted, that in most of our academies those authors which are introduced as the means of instruction in the language, tend only to vitiate the mind, and usurp the place of those works, which if studied, would contribute to the highest moral improvement. Ovid, Horace, some parts of Virgil, Terence, and others of the poets, are very improper school books; and yet they are generally preferred to the historians and the moralists.

The vessel remaining in the river, he preached without notes, and administered the Lord's Supper upon deck, on Friday the 17th. He had once before departed from the usual practice: this happened when he upon some occasion attended at Allhallows' to hear Dr. Heylin the Doctor not coming, Mr. Wesley was requested to supply for him—and being unprovided with a sermon, delivered his address extempore.

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Having sailed from Gravesend they reached the Downs on the 21st."Now," says Mr. Wesley, "We began to be a little regular. Our common way of living was this from four in the morning until five, each of us used private prayer. From five until seven we read the bible together, carefully comparing it with the writings of the earliest ages. At seven we breakfasted-at eight were the public prayers-from nine to twelve I usually learned German, and Mr. Delamotte, Greek. My brother wrote sermons, and Mr. Ingham instructed the children. At twelve we met to give an account to one another of what we had done since our last meeting, and of what we designed to do before our next. About one we dined. The time from dinner to four, we spent in reading to

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those of whom each of us had taken charge, or in speaking to them severally, as need required. At four were the evening prayers: when either the second lesson was explained, or the children catechised and instructed before the congregation. From five to six we again used private prayer. From six to seven I read in our cabin to two or three of the passengers, and each of my brethren to a few more in theirs. At seven I joined with the Germans in their public service; while Mr. Ingham was reading between the decks, to as many as desired to hear. At eight we met again, to exhort and instruct one another. Between nine and ten we went to bed, where neither the roaring of the sea nor the motion of the ship could take away the refreshing sleep which God gave us." The heavy gales and contrary winds usual at that season of the year retarded them until the 10th of December, on which day they departed from Cowes.

On Thurday, the 15th of January 1736, complaint being made to Mr. Oglethorpe of the unequal distribution of water to the passengers, new officers were appointed, and the old ones were highly exasperated against Mr. Wesley, who as they supposed, had made the complaint. From the 17th to the 25th, they had violent storms, the sea going frequently over the ship, and breaking the cabin windows. On these occasions he found the fear of death brought him into some degree of bondage: at the same time he could not but observe the lively victorious faith which appeared in the Germans, and which kept their minds in a state of tranquility and ease, to which he and the English on board were strangers: "I had long before observed the great seriousness of their behaviour. Of their humility they had given a continual proof, by performing those servile offices for the other passengers which none of the English would undertake; for which they desired, and

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would receive no pay; saying, "It was good for their proud hearts, and their loving Saviour had done more for them." And every day had given them occasion of shewing a meekness, which no injury could move. If they were pushed, struck, or thrown down, they rose. again and went away; but no complaint was found in their mouth. There was now an opportunity of trying whether they were delivered from the spirit of fear, as well as from that of pride, anger, and revenge. In the midst of the psalm wherewith their service began, the sea broke over, split the main-sail in pieces, covered the ship, and poured in between the decks, as if the great deep had already swallowed us up. A terrible screaming began among the English. The Germans calmly sung on. I asked one of them afterwards, "Was you not afraid?" He answered, "I thank God, no." I asked, "But were not your women and children afraid? He replied mildly, "No, our women and children are not afraid to die."

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The following anecdote is preserved as an excellent trait in the character of Mr. Wesley. He hearing an unusual noise in the cabin of general Oglethorpe, stepped in to inquire the cause of it: on which the general immediately addressed him," Mr. Wesley you must excuse me, I have met with a provocation too great for man to bear. You know, the only wine I drink is Cyprus wine, as it agrees with me the best of any. I therefore provided myself with several dozens of it, and this villain Grimaldi," his foreign servant, who was present, and almost dead with fear," has drank up the whole of it. But I will be revenged of him. I have ordered him to be tied hand and foot, and to be carried to the man of war which sails with us. The rascal should have taken care how he used me so, for I never forgive."" Then, I hope sir," said Mr. Wesley, looking calmly at him, "You never sin," The gene

ral was quite confounded at the reproof; and putting his hand into his pocket, took out a bunch of keys which he threw at Grimaldi, saying, "There villain, take my keys, and behave better for the future."

They saw the land on the 4th of February 1736, and on the morning of the 6th, landed on a small island in Savannah River; immediately after their landing they all prostrated themselves and returned thanks to God for his goodness manifested to them during a perilous passage. Whilst at sea Mr. Wesley discontinued the use of flesh and wine, confining himself to vegetables, rice and biscuit, he also desisted from eating suppers, and slept upon the floor of the cabin, his bed having been wetted, without inconvenience. February 7, Mr. Oglethorpe returned from Savannah, with Mr. Spangenberg, one of the German Pastors. "I soon found," says Mr. Wesley, "what spirit he was of; and asked his advice with regard to my own conduct. He said, "My brother, I must first ask you one or two questions. Have you the witness within yourself? Does the spirit of God bear witness with your spirit, that you are the child of God?" I was surprised and knew not what to answer. He observed it, and asked, "Do you know Jesus Christ" I paused and said, I know he is the Saviour of the world. "True; replied he ; but do you know he has saved you?" I answered, I hope he has died to save me. He only added, "Do you know yourself?" I said, I do. But I fear they were vain words."-On the 14th, some Indians. came to them, and shook them by the hand, one of them saying," I am glad you are come. When I was in England, I desired that some would speak the great word to me, and my nation then desired to hear it; but now we are all in confusion. Yet I am glad you are come. I will go up and speak to the wise men of our nation; and I hope they will hear. But we would not

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