would undertake； for which they desired and 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 showing a meekness which no
injury could move。 If they were pushed； struck； or thrown about； 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 mainsail
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 sang on。 I asked one of them afterwards； 'Were
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。'〃Whitehead； Life of the Rev。 John Wesley； page 10。
Upon arriving in Savannah； Wesley for a short time abode with the Moravians；
and was deeply impressed with their Christian deportment。 Of one of their
religious services； in striking contrast to the lifeless formalism of the
Church of England； he wrote： 〃The great simplicity as well as solemnity of
the whole almost made me forget the seventeen hundred years between； and
imagine myself in one of those assemblies where form and state were not； but
Paul； the tentmaker； or Peter； the fisherman； presided； yet with the
demonstration of the Spirit and of power。〃Ibid。； pages 11； 12。
On his return to England； Wesley； under the instruction of a Moravian
preacher； arrived at a clearer understanding of Bible faith。 He was
convinced that he must renounce all dependence upon his own works for
salvation and must trust
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wholly to 〃the Lamb of God； which taketh away the sin of the world。〃 At a
meeting of the Moravian society in London a statement was read from Luther；
describing the change which the Spirit of God works in the heart of the
believer。 As Wesley listened； faith was kindled in his soul。 〃I felt my
heart strangely warmed；〃 he says。 〃I felt I did trust in Christ； Christ
alone； for salvation： and an assurance was given me； that He had taken away
my sins； even mine； and saved me from the law of sin and death。〃 Ibid。；
page 52。
Through long years of wearisome and comfortless striving years of rigorous
self…denial； of reproach and humiliation Wesley had steadfastly adhered to
his one purpose of seeking God。 Now he had found Him； and he found that the
grace which he had toiled to win by prayers and fasts； by almsdeeds and
self…abnegation； was a gift； 〃without money and without price。〃
Once established in the faith of Christ； his whole soul burned with the
desire to spread everywhere a knowledge of the glorious gospel of God's free
grace。 〃I look upon all the world as my parish；〃 he said； 〃in whatever part
of it I am； I judge it meet； right； and my bounden duty； to declare unto all
that are willing to hear； the glad tidings of salvation。〃 Ibid。； page 74。
He continued his strict and self…denying life； not now as the ground； but
the result of faith； not the root； but the fruit of holiness。 The grace of
God in Christ is the foundation of the Christian's hope； and that grace will
be manifested in obedience。 Wesley's life was devoted to the preaching of
the great truths which he had receivedjustification through faith in the
atoning blood of Christ； and the renewing power of the Holy Spirit upon the
heart； bringing forth fruit in a life conformed to the example of Christ。
Whitefield and the Wesleys had been prepared for their work by long and
sharp personal convictions of their own lost condition； and that they might
be able to endure hardness
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as good soldiers of Christ； they had been subjected to the fiery ordeal of
scorn； derision； and persecution； both in the university and as they were
entering the ministry。 They and a few others who sympathized with them were
contemptuously called Methodists by their ungodly fellow studentsa name
which is at the present time regarded as honorable by one of the largest
denominations in England and America。
As members of the Church of England they were strongly attached to her forms
of worship； but the Lord had presented before them in His word a higher
standard。 The Holy Spirit urged them to preach Christ and Him crucified。 The
power of the Highest attended their labors。 Thousands were convicted and
truly converted。 It was necessary that these sheep be protected from
ravening wolves。 Wesley had no thought of forming a new denomination； but he
organized them under what was called the Methodist Connection。
Mysterious and trying was the opposition which these preachers encountered
from the established church； yet God； in His wisdom； had overruled events to
cause the reform to begin within the church itself。 Had it come wholly from
without； it would not have penetrated where it was so much needed。 But as
the revival preachers were churchmen； and labored within the pale of the
church wherever they could find opportunity； the truth had an entrance where
the doors would otherwise have remained closed。 Some of the clergy were
roused from their moral stupor and became zealous preachers in their own
parishes。 Churches that had been petrified by formalism were quickened into
life。
In Wesley's time； as in all ages of the church's history； men of different
gifts performed their appointed work。 They did not harmonize upon every
point of doctrine； but all were moved by the Spirit of God； and united in
the absorbing aim to win souls to Christ。 The differences between Whitefield
and the Wesleys threatened at one time to create alienation；
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but as they learned meekness in the school of Christ； mutual forbearance and
charity reconciled them。 They had no time to dispute； while error and
iniquity were teeming everywhere； and sinners were going down to ruin。
The servants of God trod a rugged path。 Men of influence and learning
employed their powers against them。 After a time many of the clergy
manifested determined hostility； and the doors of the churches were closed
against a pure faith and those who proclaimed it。 The course of the clergy
in denouncing them from the pulpit aroused the elements of darkness；
ignorance； and iniquity。 Again and again did John Wesley escape death by a
miracle of God's mercy。 When the rage of the mob was excited against him；
and there seemed no way of escape； an angel in human form came to his side；
the mob fell back； and the servant of Christ passed in safety from the place
of danger。
Of his deliverance from the enraged mob on one of these occasions； Wesley
said： 〃Many endeavored to throw me down while we were going down hill on a
slippery path to the town； as well judging that if I was once on the ground；
I should hardly rise any more。 But I made no stumble at all； nor the least
slip； till I was entirely out of their hands。 。 。 。 Although many strove to
lay hold on my collar or clothes； to pull me down； they could not fasten at
all： only one got fast hold of the flap of my waistcoat； which was soon left
in his hand； the other flap； in the pocket of which was a bank note； was
torn but half off。 。 。 。 A lusty man just behind； struck at me several
times； with a large oaken stick； with which if he had struck me once on the
back part of my head； it would have saved him all further trouble。 But every
time； the blow was turned aside； I know not how； for I could not move to the
right hand or left。 。 。 。 Another came rushing through the press； and
raising his arm to strike； on a sudden let it drop； and only stroked my
head； saying； 'What soft hair he has！' 。 。 。 The very first men whose hearts
were turned were the heroes of the town； the captains of the rabble on all
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occasions； one of them having been a prize fighter at the bear gardens。 。 。 。
〃By how gentle degrees does God prepare us for His will！ Two years ago； a
piece of brick grazed my shoulders。 It was a year after that the stone
struck me between the eyes。 Last month I received one blow； and this evening
two； one before we came into the town； and one after we were gone out； but
both were as nothing： for though one man struck me on the breast with all
his might； and the other on the mouth with such force that the blood gushed
out immediately； I felt no more pain from either of the blows than if they
had touched me with a straw。〃John Wesley； Works； vol。 3； pp。 297； 298。
The Methodists of those early dayspeople as well as preachersendured
ridicule and persecution； alike from church members and from the openly
irreligious who were inflamed by their misrepresentations。 They were
arraigned before courts of justicesuch only in name； for justice was rare
in the courts of that time。 Often they suffered violence from their
persecutors。 Mobs went from house to house； destroying furniture and goods；
plundering whatever t