ll gentleness. We find nothing but sweetness and hope in the letter
which Susanna Wesley was enabled to write to her son Charles:--"Your
brother was exceedingly dear to me in this life, and perhaps I have
erred in loving him too well. I once thought it impossible to bear his
loss, but none know what they can bear till they are tried. I rejoice in
having a comfortable hope of my dear son's salvation. He is now at rest,
and would not return to earth to gain the world. He hath reached the
haven before me, but I shall soon follow him. He must not return to me,
but I shall go to him, never to part more."

Many Christian friends continued to visit her at Moorfields; her
conversation was prized by all, and her presence on the scene and at the
centre of evangelism was a power for good. In true consistency with the
memorable season at Epworth, and her own institution of the Church in
the Home, Mrs. Wesley was privileged to give her testimony in favour of
lay-preaching. To John Wesley the field was now indeed "the world," and
his labours were multiplying past his strength. While he went from place
to place, Mr. Thomas Maxfield, "a young man of good sense and piety,"
took charge of the work at Moorfields. His appointed duty extended to
"the reading and explaining of the Scriptures to bands and classes;" but
Maxfield soon went the length of public preaching, which he did with
much ability and unction. John Wesley lost no time in coming home to
check this "irregular proceeding." But his mother urged:--"John, you
know what my sentiments have been. You cannot suspect me of readily
favouring anything of this kind. But take care what you do with respect
to this young man, for he is as surely called to preach as you are.
Examine what have been the fruits of his preaching, and hear him
yourself." This was done; and John Wesley said, "It is the Lord; let Him
do what seemeth Him good. What am I that I should withstand God?"

Thus fitly, as became her already historic part in it, Susanna Wesley
may he said to have launched the important institution of lay-preaching
in the Church that bears her name.

XII.

LAST DAYS AND DEATH.

The life at Moorfields, which had been, to this venerable mother in
Israel, of the character of a peaceful haven after a rough voyage, was
now drawing rapidly to a close. Her bodily illnesses much resembled
those of her husband's later years, and were, no doubt, to be in some
measure attributed to the penur