History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

Friday night nearest the full moon either before or after was selected that those from any distance
might have its light returning home. The service was held from half-past eight to a little past
midnight. The New Year's watch-night afterward took its place.
Wesley's lay helpers were "expounders" and "exhorters" only, but Maxwell, one of the most
gifted, while in charge at the Foundry during his absence was led to "preach." Wesley heard of it at
Bristol, and hurried back to arrest this irregularity. He first, however, consulted his widowed mother,
who was living in the parsonage adjoining the Foundry, and she had heard Maxwell preach. She
warned him not to interfere, "He is as surely called of God to preach as you are." Instead, therefore,
of silencing Maxwell, he was himself silenced, and he became the first of a host of itinerant
lay-preachers, the stalwart pioneers of a free grace and Spirit-witnessing gospel in England and
America. Lady Huntingdon also added her approval after hearing Maxwell, and thus to two godly
women Methodism is indebted for a return to New Testament methods. The sainted mother died July
23, 1742, her dying request being, "Children, when I am gone sing a psalm of praise to God." He and
five of her daughters who stood around her bed complied with the request at the moment of her
peaceful departure. His lay ministry of the itinerating class now numbered some twenty-three,
besides local preachers. They were distributed among the societies, moving from place to place,
Wesley in the lead supported by his brother Charles, in ever enlarging circuits. He revisited Epworth,
and, being denied the use of the church of his father's long rectorship, he preached upon his
tombstone to a vast audience, on one occasion for a week continuously. The United Societies had
greatly multiplied, and chapels built at Bristol, London, Kingswood, and Newcastle. More clearly
defined and uniform terms of membership seemed demanded, and a bond of union established
between the numerous societies. The two brothers Wesley framed the memorable "General Rules
of the Society." They are sufficiently familiar. They are date May 1, 1743. The fearful scenes of riot
and personal violence with marvelous deliverances through which the brothers passed and their lay
helpers would make a volume. Satan and emissaries were in extremity over the moral revolution
being sought among the colliers of Kingswood and the townsfolk everywhere. The numbers now in
Society cannot be ascertained, but in London alone there were over two thousand; while as the year
1743 closed there were forty-five itinerants in the field and many local preachers, all under the
military-like direction of Wesley in storming the kingdom of darkness.
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