History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

his faculties were undimmed and showed no decay even down to the close of life, and as to
preaching and administration, everything of routine order, there are no signs to the contrary; but that
he was in a mood to be influenced unduly when the suggestions seemed to favor his own bias, and
his near advisers pressed him, there is more than one instance. Coke, above all others about him, was
insinuating, plausible, and diplomatic. All these traits are now alert — it is the emergent period of
his official career. As already noticed, within six days after the Leeds Conference adjourned, he
writes to Wesley the famous letter of August 9, 1784, from London. The reader will keep the Chapter
Seventh open before him while the promised analysis is made.
Its opening is an appeal, "The more maturely I consider the subject the more expedient it appears
to me that the power of ordaining others should be received by me from you by the imposition of
your hands, and that you should lay hands on brother Whatcoat and brother Vasey." Is it not clear,
as Tyerman suggests, that up to this late hour Wesley had not made up his mind to have any
ceremony akin to an ordination? Coke urges it for "reasons," and what are they? "1. It seems to me
the most scriptural way, and most agreeable to the practice of the primitive churches. 2. I may want
all the influence in America which you can throw into my scale." How is this fortified? "Mr.
Brackenbury informed me at Leeds that he saw a letter in London from Mr. Asbury in which he
observed that he would not receive any person deputed by you with any part of the superintendency
of the work invested in him, or words which evidently implied as much." Who exhibited this letter
from Asbury? Who but Shadford, his only confidential correspondent in England besides Wesley.
It was not the last thing he disclosed out of the correspondence showing Asbury's predetermination
to be Primate in America and to disown Wesley's authority so soon as opportune. "I do not find any,
the least degree, of prejudice in my mind against Asbury; on the contrary, a very great love and
esteem, and am determined not to stir a finger without his consent, unless mere sheer necessity
obliges me, but rather to lie at his feet in all things." Nothing could be more adroit than this "If" and
"But" position. Wesley was not ignorant of the scheming of both Coke and Asbury. They were
personally unknown to each other, as Asbury went to America five years before Coke became a
follower of Wesley; but by reputation they knew each other; so that Coke was quite well posted as
to Asbury's characteristics and Asbury as fully as to Coke's. Asbury had largely reinstated himself
in Wesley's confidence, and, knowing the aspirations of Coke, the danger of a conflict between them
was probably about Wesley's only serious trouble as to sending Coke to America; so that these
averments of Coke answered a good purpose in quieting his fears. The shrewd strategist continues:
"But as the journey is long, and you cannot spare me often, and it is well to provide against all
events, and an authority formally received from you will (I am conscious of it) be fully admitted by
the people, and my exercising the office of ordination without that formal authority may be disputed;
if there be any opposition on any account, I would therefore earnestly wish you would exercise that
power in this instance, which I have not the shadow of a doubt but God hath invested you with for
the good of our connection. I think you have tried me too often to doubt whether I will in any degree
use the power you are pleased to invest me with, further than I believe is absolutely necessary for the
prosperity of the work. In short, it appears to me that everything should be prepared, and everything
proper be done, that can possibly be done this side the water." Could Wesley have foreseen the use
that would be made of his "setting apart" as history subsequently shows, he would have been spared
the tears of repentance he shed in after years over this act into which he was betrayed by
over-persuasion and misapplied confidence. In no unduly offensive sense the procedure of Coke has
been characterized as playing "successfully the role of the little magician." The consummate moves