The Living Wesley. By J. H. Rigg, D.D. (Wesleyan Conference
Office.)—In writing this interesting little book, it has been the aim of Dr. Rigg to correct certain impressions about John Wesley which may have been made by recent works having him for their subject, the most important of these being Mr. Tyorman s well-known biography. Dr. Rigg insists, and he is unquestionably right, that there is no reason whatever to suppose that Wesley's youth was ever otherwise than virtuous. It is as clear concerning him as it can be concerning any man that he was always a good man, a man under the influence of the Spirit of God. This fact may not be quite easy to reconcile with another undoubted fact, what is called his conversion, or rather, with a theological theory founded upon it ; and it is a great merit in this book that it brings the difficulty into prominence, and shows that it was felt even by Wesley himself. Dr. Rigg tells us a good deal about Wesley's love !drabs, especially the one with the lady who was after- wards Mrs. Delany. He evidently has pleasure in representing Wesley under a more human aspect than other biographers have dotie, and we think he is right in believing that the character of his hero loses nothing in consequence. The spiritual force which was in Wesley is clearly indicated in this book. He was not an original theologian Within the four corners of the Church Catechism all his theology which will abide, and also, we may add, a theology deeper than hie, may be found. He was a great orator, an accomplished scholar, and a grout organiser. But his strength was in none of these things. His strength was in this,—that he believed with all his heart in a living and present God, a Saviour of sinners.
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