Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

things moved him, neither counted he his life dear unto himself, so that he might finish his course with joy, and the ministry which he had received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." Acts xx. 24. Firmly persuaded of the truth and divinity of the Bible; deeply impressed with the value of immortal souls, and how indispensably necessary it is, that men should be born again of the Spirit; and then as they had received Christ Jesus the Lord, that they should so walk in him; firmly believing that there will be a resurrection both of the just and of the unjust; and that those who live and die without knowing God, and obeying the gospel of Christ, will go away from the judgment seat of Christ into everlasting punishment, while all who live and die in him will be received into life eternal; that every man shall receive his own reward, according to his own labour; and that they who turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars for ever and ever; he was steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as he knew that his labour was not in vain in the Lord. To the Methodists especially, I may say, “Remember them who have had the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God; whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation; Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever." Heb. xiii. 7, 8.

The Author's aim in writing this Life, is to give a general and particular account of Dr. COKE, as a Man, a Christian, and a Minister; and more especially of the part he acted among the Methodists for so many years, and that with pre-eminent distinction. He had a very active and principal hand in every notable transaction among them for between thirty and forty years; and during that period the circumstances of their affairs, were often very interesting, In retracing, therefore, the steps of the Doctor, and giving an account of his spirit and conduct, it will be frequently proper and necessary to enter into a minute account of events in Methodism. And for this, I hope I am fully qualified. Sundry affairs, previous to and after the death of Mr. WESLEY, and all the principal occurrences since, will be faithfully described, and in some instances, probably, information, additional to what has been given in other publications, will be given to the reader. It is intended that this work, while it shall contain a biographical account of Dr. COKE, shall also contain a regular historical sketch of

Methodism, and particularly of the most remarkable events since the death of Mr. WESLEY. Brevity, perspicuity, truth, justice, rigid impartiality, and candour, will be studied; and the best endeavours will be used to render them apparent upon every subject, and in every paragraph. Neither Dr. Coke, nor the Methodists, shall be either abused or flattered. Endeavours shall be used so to speak the truth, as to commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. The Methodists shall have no sufficient cause to complain of slander or injustice: while others may rest assured of receiving such clear and certain information respecting Dr. COKE, and the affairs of Methodism, as will leave but little to be learnt elsewhere, and information in which they may place the utmost confidence.

As this Book may fall into the hands of some persons who are almost totally unacquainted with the Rise and Progress of Methodism, as well as with its Doctrines and Discipline, and especially as the Life of the Doctor is so inseparably connected with it, it appears to me to be highly proper to give, in an Introduction to the Life, a short historical account of Methodism, from its commencement to the time when he joined the body; as well as a definition of their doctrines, and an explanation of the various parts of their discipline. This may detain the reader a little longer before he enters upon what more immediately relates to the Doctor, but it will prepare him the better for understanding and profiting by what will follow. And as the most distinguished trait in the character of Dr. COKE, was his very great and zealous exertions in promoting Missions, it may be highly proper, and to many persons gratifying, to introduce the description of the Missions founded and promoted by him, with a brief account of the most remarkable Christian Missions of the present age as well as former ones. And as Dr. COKE's labours extended to sundry foreign regions, short geographical and historical accounts will be necessary sometimes, in order to throw the more light upon the subject. Care, however, will be taken, that the price and bulk of the Book, be not too much swelled, but, that notwithstanding the abundance and variety of the matter, it shall be as cheap and portable as possible. Not a paragraph, or a line, shall be inserted, for the mere purpose of augmenting the price.

I shall only add, that the occurrences among the Methodists, and the part which Dr. COKE took in them,

will oblige me repeatedly to touch upon the subject of Church Government, or Christian Discipline. And when that may be the case, care shall be taken to treat the point in a scriptural, rational, and candid manner. And by a fair appeal to the Law and the Testimony, I hope both myself and my Readers will get some good, and be more than ever determined to be governed by the Oracles of God. Nay, I hope that the reading of the whole of this publication will principally tend to make many read and love their Bibles more than ever; and to prove this love, by a greater practical conformity to that only and sufficient rule of the faith and practice of a Christian.

Reader, in perusing this account of a man, who was lately alive, and acting a conspicuous and important part in the Christian world, but who was called away very suddenly and unexpectedly; remember, there is but a step between you and death; that you know not what may be on the morrow; that your life is but a vapour, which appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. And this being the case, you out to get ready for a change of worlds, without any further delay; and always keep ready. The Lord give you Grace here, and Glory hereafter, and withhold from you no good thing!

INTRODUCTION

TO THE LIFE OF DR. COKE.

JESUS CHRIST having risen from the dead,

and ascended into Heaven, and having sent down the Holy Ghost, the Promise of the Father, whereby his disciples were endued with such power from on high as qualified them for the important and arduous undertaking assigned them, of going into all the world, to preach the gospel to every creature, they immediately commenced their Mission, beginning at Jerusalem, as our Lord had directed them. Three thousand were cut to the heart under one discourse of the Apostle Peter, on the day of Pentecost, and were immediately added to the Church. This was a very encouraging beginning. And the Apostles sallied forth, in all directions, going every where preaching the Word. Their success was so great, and the spread of the Gospel so extensive and general, that the Apostle Paul could say, about twenty-seven years after Christ's ascension, Rom. 10. 18, speaking of the spread of the Gospel, "their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world." Perhaps, Britain might here be included in the ends of the world, being at that time the farthest part to the Westward of which the Easterns had any knowledge. But of that, and when or by whom the Gospel was brought into this, Island, there is no authentic account in existence. Some have supposed, that as Britain was then a Province of the Roman Empire, and as some of the Roman Soldiers were Christians, the religion of Jesus might have been introduced here by some of

them. Others are of opinion, that it was introduced into this Island in a different way; and that it first obtained a footing in Wales. But which of these ideas is the true one, or whether they are both equally erroneous, I shall not pretend to determine. But I shall gratify the Reader by giving him an extract of a speech delivered at the formation of the Methodist Missionary Society, for the London District, December the 1st, 1814, by Dr. ADAM CLARKE.

"CHRISTIAN FRIENDS, AND BRETHREN,

"As we are met together to consult how we may most effectually communicate the blessings of the Gospel to those nations and people who are destitute of this heavenly treasure; it may not be amiss to enquire how we ourselves became possessed of so great a gift; and by what means, and at what time, our happy country, once full of gross darkness, became illuminated by this divine light?

"The information we have on these points comes, partly from tradition, and partly from authentic history. The latter does not reach so high as the former; nor is it so circumstantial; but they have been in early times so blended with each other, that with some, the genuine history has been confounded with uncertain trudilions, and so rejected; and the tradition has been by others, taken for authentic history, and all its extravagancies adopted. In these circumstances, we find it difficult to discern truth from falsehood; and are obliged to go to writers of other countries, for that information which we are afraid to receive from those of our own. "Where, however, the voice of tradition has been strong, unvarying, and continued; it is reasonable to suppose that it contains, at least, the outlines of truth; and it would be as absurd to reject all it utters, as it would be dangerous to receive all its amplifications and details.

"1. The trudition which is of the highest antiquity, and has been the most generally received by our ancient historians, and by the nation at large, is that which attributes the introduction of the Word of Life into Britain, to Joseph of Arimathea. The substance of this history is as follows: "About 63 years after the incarnation of our Lord, and 80 after his ascension, Joseph of Arimathea, who had buried our Lord's body in his own tomb, was furnished by Philip the Evangelist with eleven disciples, and sent into Britain to introduce the Gospel of Christ in place of the barbarous rites of the Druids. With these rites, as well as with the people, the Roman empire had become well acquainted through the writings of Julius Cæsar.

"These holy men, on their landing, applied to Arviragus, a British king, for permission to settle in a rude and uncultivated spot, called Ynswytryn by the British, Avalonia by thy Romans, and Glasting-byrig by the Saxons; and is still known by the name of Glastonbury. Their petition was granted, and twelve hydes of land were assigned for their support; and the place is to this day, denominated the twelve hydes of Glaston. Here, according to this tradition, the standard of the Cross was first erected; and a chapel made of wicker-work, was the first church, or oratory, of God in Britain! See Dugdale's Monastican, Vol. I.

"How famous this place became afterwards it is not necessary here to enquire; nor shall I stop to mention, much less confute, the silly legends

1

« AnteriorContinuar »