the Methodist Conference, and securing the chapels built for the use of the Wesleyan Methodist Connection. Respecting this portion of the Works, we extract, in regard to the Journal, the following graphic passage from the pen of the eloquent WATSON :

"His Journals present a picture of unwearied exertion, such as was perhaps never before exhibited, and in themselves they form ample volumes, of great interest, not only as a record of his astonishing and successful labours, but from their miscellaneous and almost uniformly instructive character. Now he is seen braving the storms and tempests in his journeys, fearless of the snows of winter and the heats of summer; then, with a deep susceptibility of all that is beautiful and grand in nature recording the pleasures produced by a smiling landscape, or by mountain scenery:-Here turning aside to view some curious object of nature; there some splendid mansion of the great ; showing, at the same time, in his pious and often elegant, though brief reflections, with what skill he made all things contribute to devotion and cheerfulness. Again, we trace him into his proper work, preaching in crowded chapels, or to multitudes collected in the most public resorts in towns, or in the most picturesque places of their vicinity. Now he is seen by the side of the sick and dying, and then, surrounded with his societies, uttering his pastoral advices. An interesting and instructive letter frequently occurs; then a jet of playful and good, humoured wit upon his persecutors, or the stupidity of his casual hearers; occasionally, in spite of the philosophers, an apparition story is given as he heard it, and of which his readers are left to judge; and often we meet with a grateful record of providential escapes, from the falls of his horses, or from the violence of mobs. Notices of books also appear, which are often exceedingly just and striking; always short and characteristic ; and, as he read much on his journeys, they are very frequent."-Life of Wesley, p. 206.

The remaining volumes contain MR. WESLEY'S Miscellaneous Works and Letters. These are of such great variety and interest, that nothing short of a regular and thorough perusal of them will afford the reader a just conception of their entertaining instructiveness, and solio worth. The two Letters numbered eight hundred and eighty-seven and eight hundred and eighty-eight, were never before published, either in any preceding edition of these Works, or in any other form.

A few of the tracts in these latter volumes, will be found to be of a political character, having been written by MR. WESLEY either at the approach, or during the heat, of the revolutionary war between Great Britain and America. They were written and published by him, however, not as a politician, but in view of the high moral considerations which, as a Christian minister, he conceived to be involved in that stormy contest. In this he doubtless acted conscientiously, although

as American Methodists have ever believed, erroneously in judgment. If then it be asked, why we still retain these tracts in an American edition of his Works,-our answer is, Because we wish to furnish a fair and full history of this extraordinary man,—of his defects and errors, (for what mere man was ever wholly exempt from these,) as well as of his great and various excellencies. It is thus that the Bible, the most perfect model of biographical history, presents to our view its most distinguished characters. It is true to nature. And hence its inimitable beauty, and the wonderful conviction which its own internal evidence every where impresses upon the ingenuous mind. It is in such a light that we wish to present our great Founder to the public, as he was. His Works, complete, will best do this: besides that, in such circumstances and with such views, the republication of the tracts above alluded to will now be as perfectly harmless as the publication, at this day, of the secret correspondence of cabinet statesmen of former times. And whilst we connect with their republication, as we do, our explicit declaration of dissent from any sentiments contained in them adverse to our most happy and unrivalled political constitution, or to the hard earned and well merited fame of our revolutionary statesmen and heroes, it will serve to show, that, as Methodists, we implicitly follow no man; and that, in this sense, we call not even the venerated WESLEY, Rabbi, master. Indeed, he himself lived to see, and magnanimously to acknowledge, the error into which he had fallen, in regard to our revolutionary struggle. He confessed that it was "GOD" who had so strangely freed us, both from the English state and hierarchy; and advised us to stand fast in that liberty.

For the beautiful, and indeed elegant, last London edition, to the publication of which America is much indebted for that of the present, great praise and thanks are due to the excellent editor, the REVEREND THOMAS JACKSON. That no literal or verbal inaccuracies had escaped his observation, he frankly remarks, is not pretended. Such of these as we have noticed in a careful reading, have been corrected in this edition; and yet, so far do the most finished productions of the typographical art, even in its present high state of improvement, partake of the imperfection of all human works, that we cannot flatter ourselves that we may not have fallen into new errors of our own. This, however, the reader is assured, we have been at great pains to guard against, and we trust not altogether unsuccessfully.

In some portions of these Works, MR. WESLEY has occasionally introduced quotations from other writers; or from some previous treatise or essay of his own. In such cases, where whole paragraphs of this character have occurred, and in a few instances when they have been introduced or interspersed also with a few original remarks, we have adopted a type somewhat smaller than that used in the general

original matter. By this means the reader will be able readily to distinguish such passages, and also be presented, at the same time, with an agreeable variety in the typography.

The translations of passages in the ancient or other foreign languages left untranslated by MR. WESLEY, and made expressly for this edition, are numerous, and some of them of considerable length; of which a specimen may be seen in the conversation held with COUNT ZINZENDORF, volume iii, pp. 219-222. A few passages of this class are still left untranslated: but they are such as were obviously intended for the learned reader only; the reason of which he will readily perceive as they occur.

With respect to our translations in general, it will be observed that we have preferred plain prose, to the mere gingle of rhyme; and the true import of the passages quoted, without addition or diminution, to the license of poetry, which often expresses more, and as often less, than the original; and not unfrequently something wholly different. With fidelity in translating, we have aimed to combine brevity, perspicuity, and chasteness. That we have in all instances succeeded, to an extent to defy the fastidiousness of criticism, we have not the vanity to assure ourselves; yet, whether we have not given satisfactory evidence of careful pains to conform to the principles prescribed for our guidance, and of some reasonable share of success, we cheerfully submit to the liberal decision of the ingenuous and learned reader.

The valuable notes of the English editor have been retained in this edition, and a considerable number of others, specially prepared for it by ourselves, have been added in their appropriate places. In this portion of our work we have studiously endeavoured, on one hand, to avoid swelling the volumes with needless and unimportant matter, and on the other, to furnish American readers with an edition peculiarly adapted to our own country. With all the acknowledged various and great excellencies of MR. WESLEY'S Works, some passages in them rendered this course in a high degree necessary. For a specimen of the manner in which this part of our task has been executed, we refer to volume vii, pp. 188-190.

The original translations and notes inserted in this edition, are uniformly enclosed in brackets, thus, []. Those of the English editor have the letters "EDIT.," in small capitals, annexed; and those of MR. WESLEY himself, appear in the usual manner. without any distinctive mark. To this remark, however, the exception must be made, that, in regard to the Sermons, whatever translations or notes have been added by ourselves, are appended at the close.

In regard to the suggestion of the English editor, that the debt due to MR. WESLEY'S memory "will never be fully cancelled until the tracts which he abridged from other writers shall be republished; and espe

cially until a uniform edition of his poetical works, and those of his gifted brother, shall be given to the world," it is not overlooked, nor will it be forgotten. We shall be happy to see such a complete and standard edition, of the poetical works especially, of these extraordinary brothers, officially issued from the London Conference press; and are persuaded that, in such an event, our own press will not be long in arrear in contributing its share toward the payment of the same debt.

When our preface to this edition was promised, that prepared for the last London edition, and published with the last volume, had not come to hand. The reception of this has superseded the necessity of a large portion of the task which we had proposed to ourselves. And although it would be easy to enlarge our own preface with matter not wholly uninteresting or unprofitable, yet, we prefer rather, for other valuable information respecting these Works in general, to refer the reader to the excellent one which follows this, by the Reverend English editor.

The very liberal patronage which has already been bestowed upon this edition, in anticipation of its publication, is a sufficient pledge of the eager and extensive desire which exists for its appearance in the American community; and that the calculations on which we have relied, in stereotyping a work of such magnitude, on the credit of MR. WESLEY'S name, will not be disappointed. With our grateful acknowledgments to the Giver of all good, for making us the honoured instruments in commencing it, and in bringing it to a successful termination, we commend it to his blessing, and to the reader's favour,-not aoubting that it will constitute another inestimable auxiliary, with the means already in operation, for the spreading of vital Christianity and of Scriptural holiness over these lands; and that the rich and happy fruits of it will be known and gathered fully-only in eternity.

NEW-YORK, November 7, 1931.

J. EMORY.