Wesley Corpus

xxi compelled to bear a testimony of his inno cence, and their own guilt ; denying their charges before all those to whom they had alleged them. It isjustice to the memory ofGeneral Ogle thorpe to mention that he became fully sen sible of his error, and endeavoured to repair it ; and having had full proof of the ability and integrity of his injured secretary, who had borne his wrongs so meekly, he anxiously sought to retain him, promised to build him a house, and supply him with a deputy in his ab sence, if he would remain in the province : he prevailed on him to delay his resignation till himself returned to England. Mr. Charles Wesley carried the dispatches over to the trustees, waited for the arrival of the General ; but foreseeing the impracticability of instruct ing the Indians in a state ofwar, the little good which could result from his residence in that divided colony, and unambitious of the ad vantages attached to his employment, he gave it up in 1738. The popularity of the brothers, on their return to their native country, raised a spirit of prejudice and persecution scarcely to be imagined in this age. The churches were so crowded that it was complained there was not room for the best of the inhabitants. They were charged with delivering new doctrines from the pulpit by strictly inculcating the old j and they waited on the Bishop of London to answer the complaints he had heard alleged against them respecting their preaching the absolute assurance ofsalvation. His Lordship's words were memorable : If by assurance you mean an inward persuasion whereby a Dr. Edmund Gibson : his learning recommended him to Archbishop Tennison, whom he succeeded at Lincoln before he was translated to London ; he governed his diocese with the most exact care, jealous of the least pri vilege belonging to the Church, a friend to toleration, but he opposed all repeals of the Test Act. His opposition to masquerades gave great umbrage at court, and impeded his further preferment. He was the author of many cele brated works, and equally remarkable for his economy and munificence.