History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

on so new a plan, he afterward suspended the execution of his purpose and weighed the whole for
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upward of a year." The reader will not fail to observe that this is in perfect accord with
observations already made, and they account for the year's delay here noticed. The significant portion
is in the words, not heretofore made salient by other annalists, "informed Dr. Coke of his design of
drawing up a plan of church government." It was held in abeyance for a year, and the reasons for this
have also been pointed out. The nature of this "plan of church government" it is impossible for any
man to divine. That it was matured and sent over with Dr. Coke as a part of his instructions and as
directions for the American societies is clearly implicated in Wesley's letter to Coke, Asbury, and
the "American brethren" of September 10, 1784, in these unmistakable words, "Some thousands of
the inhabitants of these states desire my advice; and in compliance with their desire I have drawn up
a little sketch." This little sketch, containing instructions to Coke and Asbury and advice to the
societies, was never permitted by them to see the light, and, not having been found among Coke's
literary effects by his executor and biographer, Drew, it is morally certain that Coke destroyed it. If
such a conclusion produces anything of a shock to the fine sensibilities of the reader, he will be
assured of its truth when the fact is recalled that Dr. Coke did not hesitate to instruct correspondents
to "burn" tell-tale letters, as will hereafter be seen; so that to burn such letters or instructions himself
without scruple, need not be doubted. There could be but one motive for the suppression of this
sketch — its instructions were violated. Further incidental reference will be made to it in the course
of this History.
During the year or two of Wesley's suspense, he gradually settled upon Dr. Coke as the most
suitable man to send to America. They often discussed it in private, and there are extant several
letters from Coke to Wesley upon the subject, both of which have already been given in the full text,
and to them the reader is referred back to Chapter Seventh of this work. Wesley, after vainly
endeavoring to secure the concurrence of brother Churchmen, such as his brother Charles and the
saintly Fletcher, in his plan for ordinations for America, finally made up his mind, and at the Leeds
Conference of July 25, 1784, the same Conference at which the Deed of Declaration was
promulgated, he announced his purpose to send Dr. Coke, Whatcoat, and Vasey to America. The
manner of its reception by the Conference has already been traversed; but Wesley had passed his
Rubicon, and when he read the plan of appointments these three were announced for the American
work. He evidently intended the ceremony, if any, to be simple and brief; for no man knew better
than himself that as an Episcopalian he had no right to formally ordain; but being convinced from
his reading of Lord King and Bishop Stillingfleet that presbyters and bishops were the same in order
in the primitive Church, he determined to exercise a Presbyterian authority and set apart these
brethren.
As soon as the Conference adjourned Coke repaired to London to make preparations for his
departure, and so it may be assumed did Whatcoat and Vasey, for their leaving was urgent. There
is a strong probability that Wesley would have dismissed them with the least infraction of canon law
possible; for he was loyal to his death to the National Church. Coke had all along plied him with
arguments, not only for ordination as presbyters for Whatcoat and Vasey, but for an ordination of
himself, though a presbyter equal with Wesley, such as would commend him to the American
brethren as, at least, a quasi-bishop, the ambition of his life, though he had no such modified views
of a three-order ministry as Wesley entertained. He must in some way secure it that he might be a
Bishop in America. Wesley was now eighty-one years of age. The contention is made for him that