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miserably for help, which extremely affected him; but his affliction was much increased, when he had several times attempted the stairs then on fire, and found they would not bear his weight. Finding it was impossible to get near him, he gave him up for lost, and kneeling down, he commended his soul to God, and left him, as he thought, perishing in the flames. But the boy seeing none come to his help, and being frightened, the chamber and the bed being on fire, he climbed up to the casement, where he was soon perceived by the men in the yard, who immediately got up and pulled him out, just in the moment of time that the roof fell in, and beat the chamber to the ground. Thus, by the infinite mercy of Almighty God, our lives were all preserved by little less than a miracle, for there passed but a few minutes between the first alarm of fire, and the falling of the house."

Mr. John Wesley's account of what happened to himself, varies a little from this relation given by his Mother. "I believe," says he, " it was just at that time when they thought they heard me cry, I waked: for I did not cry, as they imagined, unless it was afterwards. I remember all the circumstances as distinctly, as though it were but yesterday. Seeing the room was very light, I called to the maid to take me up; but none answering, I put my head out of the curtains, and saw streaks of fire on the top of the room. I got up and ran to the door, but could get no further, all the floor beyond it being in a blaze. I then climbed upon a chest which stood near the window: one in the yard saw me, and proposed running to fetch a ladder: another answered, there will not be time; but I have thought of another expedient. Here I will fix myself against the wall; lift a light man, and set him on my shoulders. They did so, and he took me out of the window. Just then the roof fell; but it fell inward, or we should all have been crushed

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at once. When they brought me into the house where my father was, he cried out, " Come neighbours! let us give thanks to God! He has given me all my eight children let the house go, I am rich enough!"

"The next day, as he was walking in the garden, and surveying the ruins of the house, he picked up part of a leaf of his Polyglot Bible, on which just those words were legible. Vade; vende omnia que habes, et attolle crucem, et sequere me. Go; sell all that thou hast, and take up thy cross, and follow me."

He received the first rudiments of knowledge from his mother, whose qualifications and success in this part of her maternal duties, were eminently conspicuous. In April 1712, he was afflicted with the small-pox, which he bore with much fortitude. Two years after that event he was placed under Dr. Walker at the Charterhouse, for which establishment he ever retained a strong predilection-being accustomed annually to visit it when in London. In his seventeenth year he was elected to Christ-Church, and during his stay in that College was much respected. His studies he pursued with alacrity; and by the excellence with which his compositions were distinguished, was soon pronounced to be a man of talents. The gaiety of his disposition, the liberality of his sentiments, and his knowledge of the languages, and logic, procured him the reputation of being an acute and sensible collegian. At this period, his great fondness for the sophistry of the logical art, was much noticed-he first puzzled his opponents with his shrewdness, and then ridiculed them on account of his conquest. But Mr. Wesley asserts, that he never opposed his own opinions on any topic. "It has been my first care for many years, to see that my cause was good, and never either in jest or earnest, to defend the wrong side of the question. And shame on me, if I cannot defend the right, after so much practice; and having been so

early accustomed to separate truth from falsehood, how artfully soever they were twisted together."

At Christ-Church, in conjunction with the more laborious studies, he cultivated his poetical talents, and in many of his compositions, which are animated and elegant, he manifested his classical taste: but they were considered by him as the effusions of a moment, hasty productions-and though it may be presumed that they never received a careful revision, they are highly creditable to his genius.

In the year 1724, he began to reflect upon the propriety of entering into orders:-the education which he had received and the good example exhibited by his parents, cherished his early disposition to a life of piety; but being dubious whether the motives which ought to influence a Christian minister were correctly fixed in his mind--he addressed his Father upon that subject-his answer is dated January 26th, 1725.

Dear Son,

"As to what you mention of entering into Holy Orders, it is indeed a great work. I am pleased to find you think it so: as well as that you do not admire a callous cleryman any more than I do. The principal spring and motive, to which all others should be only secondary, must undoubtedly be the glory of God, and the cdification of our neighbours. And wo to him, who with any meaner leading view, attempts so sacred a work. For this he should take all the pains he possibly can to qualify himself with the advice of wiser and older men, especially imploring the direction and assistance of Almighty God, with all humility, sincerity, and intention of mind. The knowledge of the languages is a considerable help in this matter, which I thank God all my three sons have. But then this must be prosecuted to the thorough understanding the original text of the

Holy Scriptures, by conversing with them long and constantly. You ask me, "Which is the best comment on the Bible?" I answer, the Bible itself. For the several paraphrases and translations of it in the polyglot, compared with the original, and with one another, are in my opinion, to an honest, devout, industrious, and humble man, infinitely preferable to any comment I ever saw. But Grotius is the best, for the most part: especially on the New Testament. By all this you see, I am not for your going too hastily into orders. When I am for your taking them, you shall know and it is not impossible, I may then be with you, if God so long spare the life and health of your affectionate father,

SAMUEL WESLEY.

P. S. Work and write while you can! You see, Time has shaken me by the hand, and Death is but a little behind him. My eyes and heart are now almost all I have left; and I bless God for them."

His mother repeated these sentiments in a letter written during the following month-upon which he soon commenced the study of Thomas á Kempis and Taylor's Rules of Holy Living and Dying. These authors strongly influenced his judgment and affections; and convinced him that the Christian religion operates upon the heart and life more extensively than he had before imagined. Being supported by his parents, and encouraged by a religious friend, he prepared to assume the ministerial character, and on the 19th of September 1725, was ordained Deacon by Dr. Potter, bishop of Oxford. He preached his first sermon at Southlye, in the vicinity of the university. A fellowship having become vacant in Lincoln college, his friends exerted all their influence to procure it for him, and after an arduous contest, he was elected Fellow on the 17th of March 1726.

He was employed in the summer of that year, to assist his Father in the discharge of his official duties :—

he preached twice on each Lord's day, and otherwise aided as circumstances demanded. He returned to Oxford in September, and resumed his studies. His literary character was now established, as he was chosen Greek Lecturer and Moderator of the classes on the 7th of November. Not having procured his Master's Degree, he was in some measure interrupted, and obliged to be attentive to the collegians. This interval was not however injurious to his religious impressions, which is evinced by the tenderness and piety of a letter to his mother, dated January, 1727.

"About a year and a half ago," says he, "I stole out of company at eight in the evening, with a young gentleman with whom I was intimate. As we took a turn in the aisle of St. Mary's Church, in expectation of a young lady's funeral, with whom we were both acquainted, I asked him if he really thought himself my friend? and if he did, why he would not do me all the good he could? He began to protest,-in which I cut him short, by desiring him to oblige me in an instance, which he could. not deny to be in his own power: to let me have the pleasure of making him a whole Christian, to which I knew he was at least half persuaded already. That he could not do me a greater kindness, as both of us would be fully convinced when we came to follow that young

woman."

"He turned exceedingly serious, and kept something of that disposition ever since. Yesterday was a fortnight he died of a consumption. I saw him three days before he died; and on the Sunday following did him the last good office I could here, by preaching his funeral sermon; which was his desire when living."

He was advanced to the rank of A. M. on the 14th of February 1727, and his exercises added considerably to the reputation which he had already acquired. His mode of study was very regular, and from the plan up

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