of the body founded upon it, the direct sanction of his Honour Mr. Vice-Chancellor Shadwell, and of the Lord Chancellor Lyndhurst: so that the opposisition then raised turned out, by God's overruling providence, to the fullest establishment of that godly order which it was intended for ever to sweep away. The names of John Burton, James Wood, John Marsden, James Fildes, and their brethren, the Trustees of the Oldham-street chapel in Manchester, and of Robert Newton, the Chairman of the District, against whom the suit was directed, and who stood forward with unflinching fidelity in the day of trial, resolved to stand or fall with Wesleyan Methodism,-will be transmitted with honour to posterity. In withstanding this attempt to subvert the goodly system of the body, these faithful men were efficiently assisted by the professional talent of their Solicitor, T. Percival Bunting, Esq., of Manchester, who was equally concerned with themselves to maintain the system inviolate.

There is another individual who in those times was specially singled out, by a licentious press, as an object of obloquy, for no other reason than this, that he was the ablest advocate of the true Wesleyan system. Enlargement upon this subject would be improper; for JABEZ BUNTING is still living: and long may he live as an ornament and pillar of the Connexion! It is, however, bare justice to add, that to him, more than to any other man since the death of Mr. Wesley, is the Methodist body indebted for carrying out its principles into practical effect, and for fixing its various institutions upon a permanent and liberal base.

There are about 3000 Wesleyan chapels in England, besides a vast number of other places where

God's word is regularly preached, and public prayermeetings are held. Several of the chapels are of very large dimensions, especially in the principal manufacturing towns, such as Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, and Huddersfield; and they are filled every Sabbath by willing crowds. In Leeds alone the chapels contain four thousand free sittings for the accommodation of the poor; and in many other places the spiritual necessities of the lower classes of society are met in the same liberal manner. The sum of money which Wesleyan Methodism has expended in providing chapel-room for the vastly increasing population of the country is almost incredible. The number of private members in religious society is 296,801. The number of Ministers, itinerant and supernumerary, is 1019, who are perfectly united together in the same mind and the same judgment on all the leading subjects of Christian theology. The important body of Local Preachers, we presume, cannot be fewer than 4000.

When the system of Sunday-school instruction was first introduced, it met with Mr. Wesley's cordial approval; and in this service the Connexion has continued to take an active part. Exclusive of Wales, where the system is extensively pursued, but from which no returns have been recently received, there are in Great Britain 3339 Wesleyan Sundayschools, including 341,442 children, and employing 59,277 Teachers, whose services are all gratuitous. In the support of these institutions the sum of about £17,800 is annually expended. Many of them are furnished with libraries, from which the senior scholars, and the families to which they belong, are supplied with books of a pious and useful character. Many excellent Day-schools have also been formed

in connexion with Methodist chapels: and their number is increasing every year.

In most of the larger towns, as well as in several villages, there are also Wesleyan Tract Societies, conducted upon the loan system. Visiters are appointed to different districts, whose office is to call at every house in order, offering to the families the loan of a religious tract for a given period, and receiving those that were left at the time of the last visit. By this means divine light is diffused among careless and ungodly people; neglected children are often introduced to Sunday-schools; and whole families are sometimes induced to sanctify the Sabbath, and attend the house of God.

The Naval and Military Bible Society was originally formed by a small number of Wesleyan Methodists, in the year 1779. George Cussons, of Wardour-street, London, took an active part in devising the plan and in directing its first operations. It afterwards obtained high patronage; and has been of incalculable benefit to the brave men who form the army and navy of England.

The monthly Magazine which Mr. Wesley instituted about sixty years ago, is still carried on, and widely circulated. It is conducted upon its original theological principles, though it is less polemical in its character than it was in his hands, the circumstances of the times being changed. It is still employed in repelling unjust attacks upon the body, for which, unhappily, the calls are too frequent. To this periodical, the oldest of the kind now in England, there have been added, since Mr. Wesley's death, four others,-the Missionary Notices, the Youth's Instructer, the Cottager's Friend, and the Child's Magazine,--all of which are very extensively

read. To the invaluable works of Mr. Wesley and Mr. Fletcher there have also been added those of Mr. Benson, Dr. Adam Clarke, Mr. Watson, Mr. Sutcliffe, Mr. Edmondson, Mr. Treffry, and those of his late gifted and lamented son; with a vast number of biographical and other publications, adapted to private and family reading. The literature of the Connexion, now somewhat voluminous, and in several of its departments extremely rich aud valuable, finds its way into many villages and hamlets where other books are little known. The Bible, with one or more of the Wesleyan Commentaries, and other books from the Wesleyan press, constitute many a well-read cottage library.

It

Upwards of fifty years ago the Benevolent or Stranger's Friend Society was instituted by some individuals belonging to the Wesleyan body. appears to have been commenced about the same time both in London and Manchester; and its principles and plan were speedily adopted in most of the large towns of the kingdom. Its design is to afford relief to strangers in the season of want and sickness; and the administration of pecuniary relief is always accompanied by spiritual instruction and prayer. The visiters, male and female, are generally persons of deep piety, well-instructed in the things of God, and of admirable zeal and patience. Not a few of them, it is believed, have died by contagious fevers, caught in their enterprise of charity. Many a profligate wanderer from God and righteousness have these messengers of mercy led to the compassionate Saviour of men; and many a valuable life have they been a means of preserving by the timely supply of food and medicine. Parents dying of want have been snatched from the yawning grave,

and spared to protect and bless their children. In London this Society is liberally supported by other denominations of Christians: and he must possess a heart of stone who can read in its annual Reports the record of its operations, without tears of sympathy with the sufferers, and of gratitude for the help afforded to them.

In some instances the generous anxiety of the societies and congregations to provide accommodation for themselves, and for the people by whom they were surrounded, has led them to erect chapels of larger dimensions, and of a more costly kind, than their means would justify; and hence debts were accumulated to an amount which excited just and general alarm. To relieve the cases of distress which were thus created, funds have within the last few years been formed, for the purpose of calling forth and assisting local exertion; and the last Report of the General Chapel Fund contains the following intelligence :"The Committee are greatly rejoiced to be able to state, that the actual debt upon chapels, now extinguished by the operation of the present Loan Fund, is £93,398; which, added to £51,000, liquidated by the former loan system, makes a grand total of £147,398. For the removal of so great impediments as most of these debts were found to be to the prosperity of the work of God, by the general and steady efforts of the friends of Wesleyan Methodism, the Committee cannot but express their gratitude to the Great Head of the church, who has so graciously disposed the hearts of his people to devise liberal things." These funds have been greatly indebted to the sound discretion and unwearied zeal of Messrs. Thomas Marriott, James Heald, John Fernley, Robert Wood, Francis A. West, and Jona