The life and letters of Benjamin Jowett, M. A., master of Balliol college, Oxford.

IO

Life of Benjamin Jowett

[CHAP. I

The preceding narrative has carried the reader into
the heart of English Methodism in its earlier stage.
The names of Whitefield and Wesley, of Henry Venn,
John Newton, Isaac Milner, Farish, Simeon, Robinson
of Leicester, are as household words to all this family.
The impression which the documents produce is irresistible-that in the immediate followers of Wesley and
Whitefield, personal religion was a very real thing. It
was the mainspring of conduct, affecting all relationships,
not in word only, but with power. Their theological
attitude had its limitations, certainly: 'conversion'
meant separation from 'the world ';-but it contained
a principle of expansion too. John Newton was not far
from the kingdom of universal brotherhood when he
wrote as follows in 80oo: 'I pray the Lord to bless you
and all who love His Name in Scotland, whether Kirk,
Relief, Burghers, Antiburghers, Independents, Methodists,
or by whatever name they choose to be called. Yea, if
you know a Papist, who sincerely loves Jesus, and trusts
in Him for salvation, give my love to him.' ' Christianity,'
he says elsewhere,' is not a system of doctrine, but
a new creature 2. If the religion of the 'Clapham sect'
appeared to cast a sombre colouring over social intercourse, this apparent sadness was lightened and relieved
in the case of many of them by the warmth of home
affections and by their devotion to music. The scene at
Newington Butts, where Mr. Latrobe of the Moravian
brotherhood introduces Haydn and Mozart to the lovers
of Handel, is suggestive of anything but gloom:1 'Come out from among them, tional Remarks, by the late Rev.
and be ye separate,' is a text of John Newton, Rector of St. Mary
which young converts thought Woolnoth, Lombard Street, Lonwith zeal and awe. don, I8o9.
2 See Letters and Conversa