CHRISTIAN LEADERS OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY

  ( JOHN WESLEY-THE MAN )  -  { PT.  2 } - Those who want more must look elsewhere. John Wesley was born on June 17,  1703, at Epworth, in North Lincolnshire, of which parish his father was rector, or pastor. He was the ninth of a family of nineteen children ( nine died in infancy ). The oldest son, Samuel, was for some years director of Westminster School, was a close friend of the famous Bishop Atterbury, and died as headmaster of Tiverton School. The second son, John, was founder of the Methodist communion. The third son, Charles, was John's companion and fellow laborer throughout almost his entire life. John Wesley's father, Samuel, was man of considerable learning and great activity of mind. As a writer, he was always bringing out something either in propose or in verse, but nothing, unhappily, which was ever acceptable to the reading public, or is much cared for in the present day. As a politician, he was a zealous supporter of the Revolution that brought the House of Ora

[ CHAPTER  5 ]  -  ( JOHN WESLEY--THE MAN )  -  { PT.  5 }   The second person on the list of English Reformers of the eighteenth century whose history I want to consider is a man of worldwide reputation--the famous John Wesley. The name of this great evangelist is probably better known than that of any of his fellow laborers a hundred years ago. This, however, is easily explained. He lived to the ripe old age of eight-eight and for sixty-five years, he was continually before the eyes of the public, doing his Master's work in every part of England. He founded a new religious denomination, remarkable to this very day for its numbers, activity, and success, and rightfully grateful for its extraordinary founder. The story of his life has been repeatedly written by his friends and followers, his works have been constantly reprinted, and his precepts and maxims have been reverentially treasured up and preserved, like Joseph's bones. In fact, if ever a good Protestant has been practi