VII. Formulation of a Doctrinal riatfurm. — The doc- trinal platform of the Wesleyan societies was formulated, at least in its essential outlines, at this first conference. Wesley himself had, after diligent study while at Ox- ford, conclusively accepted the Arrainian theory of gen- eral redemption, and learned to regard the doctrines of election and reprobation, as held by Calvin, with very deep abhorrence. His adhesion to what he believed to be the teaching of Holy Writ had brought him into an unpleasant conflict with Cennick, his lay helper at Bris- tol, and with his friend and fellow-evangelist White- field. The latter, having while in New England become enamoured with its then prevailing Calvinism, took grave offence at a sermon preached by Wesley in 1740 on "free grace," and protested against it verj* severely in a letter to Wesley, which Whitefield's friends pub- lished in England. Cennick espoused the opinions of the letter, and, though in Wesley's employ, sowed the seeds of dissension in the Bristol society. The conse- quence was Cennick's separation from Wesley, White- field's temporary estrangement from his old friend, and the division of Methodism into two branches, the Calvin- istic and the Wesleyan. Subsequently^ the two friends " agreed to differ," though they henceforth wrought in separate paths. But during this controversy the creed of the coming Wesleyan Church was practically settled ; and when Wesley assembled his first conference, and its members conversed two days on " what to teach," they found themselves in substantial agreement on the atonement, election, justification by faith, the witness of the Spirit, entire sanctification, and other leading doctrines. Thus Wesley's theological views became the accepted platform of the great ecclesiastical sj-stem which he was unconsciously organizing.
VIII. Development of Weslefs Work. — During the five years preceding this first conference great things had been accomplished. Starting from London and Bristol as the centres of his movement, Wesley had traversed the country from the Land's End to Newcastle, and had formed societies in numerous towns and cities. In Lon- don alone those societies numbered not less than two thousand souls. Their number elsewhere is not known, but it must have been several thousands. Forty-five preachers, including two ordained clergymen, were la- boring under his direction. Unnumbered thousands were accustomed to listen to the quickening words which fell with unwonted power from his lips, and from those of his devoted and laborious helpers. They had much bitter opposition and harsh persecution to con- tend with, and very little public sympathy to encourage them. The lower orders were steeped in brutality, the upper classes were hardened by scepticism and devoted
to pleasure. The clergy were frozen amid the formali- ties of the Establishment. The Dissenting churches, with their ministers, were too lukewarm to breast the swelling tide of immorality which overttowed the land. They were, as Isaac Taylor remarks, "rapidly in course to be found nowhere but in books." And the peculiar characteristic of the English nation was, to use the words of Weslej% "universal, constant ungodliness." Against this triumphant wickedness Wesley, with his brother Charles, a handful of spiritual clergymen, and his little band of lay helpers, inspired by heroic faith, had entered the lists, determined to overthrow it and to establish the reign of scriptural holiness in its stead. It looked like an unequal and hopeless strife. But he threw himself with more than a hero's daring into the midst of the fray, and led the van of a host which, if it did not wholly purify England, wrought a great refor- mation in public morals, poured fresh tides of spiritual life into both the Established and Dissenting churches, raised up that great body of spiritual men and women who finally constituted the Wesleyan Church, and ef- fected a reformation which broke the sceptre of ungod- liness and made England a comparatively godly nation.
IX. Weslefs Extensive Labors. — In leading this great reformation, Wesley did herculean work. His evange- listic tours, annually enlarging, soon extended into all parts of England, to Wales, to Scotland, and to Ireland. Ever on the wing, travelling some four thousand five hundred miles every year, he preached from twice to four times nearly every day. His audiences were gen- erally large, sometimes vast, and in many places were disturbed by riotous mobs which, like hungry beasts, thirsted for his blood. He also met the societies, the classes, and the official boards whenever opportunity offered or necessity required. The erection of thousands of chapels, the collection of funds to pay their cost, and the choice of suitable trustees constantly required his attention. The care of all his preachers was upon him. His correspondence was immense. He had a heavy pub- lishing business to manage. His journej-s, mostly on horseback until the feebleness of advanced age compelled him to use a carriage, were long, tedious, tiresome, often perilous, and were pursued in sunshine and in storm, through the heat and rain of summer, and the frosts, winds, and snows of winter. Not unfrequently, espe- cially during the beginning of his career, they involved manj' privations, severe hardships, and much physical suffering. He usually read while travelling, even when on horseback, and thus kept himself thoroughly ac- quainted with the current literature of his times. He also wrote several original books and numerous pam- phlets on passing e>vents. He edited, wrote, translated, or abridged not less than two hundred miscellaneous publications, which he published and sold through his preachers for the benefit of his societies. Every public movement for the improvement of society, such as the Sunday-school, the abolition of slavery, the circulation of tracts, charitable associations, popular education, and the like, occupied his thoughts, moved his sympathies, called forth his co-operation, and exhausted his purse. His eyes were open to every detail, no matter how mi- nute, that concerned the growth of his societies or the increase of the kingdom of God. He was ahva3's at work when awake, yet was never in a hurry. His in- dustrj' and activitj' never were, never can be, exceeded. It is estimated that during the fiftj' years of his itiner- ant ministry he travelled over a quarter of a million miles, and preached more than forty-two thousand ser- mons.