Wesley Corpus

mencement of his itinerant labours, experi enced the same persecution as his brother from the infuriated populace, both in England and Ireland. He was reviled, insulted, as saulted with stones ; houses were pulled down which he entered, and the poor inhabitants plundered and wounded, even women and children were maltreated ; facts too well known to be controverted. Often his invin cible meekness and intrepid composure would disarm the ringleader : sometimes one of the rioters more humane than the rest would es pouse his cause, and effect a division that preserved his life, which was always hazarded when the tumult began. Surely the reformers of such a class merit the praises of posterity, especially if it be con sidered that these ministers had every thing to lose, reputation, health, and fair prospects in the world ; and nothing to gain but outrage and insult from the mob, great bodily fatigue, and general contempt. If it should be here remarked that enthu siasra inspires fortitude, some higher cause must be assigned for that unwearied charity which persisted in such hazardous efforts to promote the eternal welfare of their persecu tors, for that unshaken attachment to the church to which they belonged, and the re spect they ever inculcated towards their cle rical brethren. Providence crowned their ministerial labours with astonishing success. The effects of civilization soon appeared amongst the colliers, and many in the same station ; while numbers in a higher rank were led to consider the importance of a .religious life, and the truths of Christianity, 'who never before employed their thoughts upon the subject. They-out lived enmity and prejudice.; many of the pulpits of the clergy were open to them in their latter years, and they received every mark of respect from all denominations, The political sentiments of popular men are of importance to the state. The Wesleys were strenuous advocates for monarchy, and