Holt's room, and begin by
converting Mr. and Mrs. Baxter, the Methodists in the top floor front.
So this was what he did.
These good people received him with open arms, and were quite
ready to talk. He was beginning to convert them from Methodism to
the Church of England, when all at once he found himself embarrassed
by discovering that he did not know what he was to convert them
from. He knew the Church of England, or thought he did, but he knew
nothing of Methodism beyond its name. When he found that, according to
Mr. Baxter, the Wesleyans had a vigorous system of Church discipline
(which worked admirably in practice) it appeared to him that Wesley
had anticipated the spiritual engine which he and Pryer were
preparing, and when he left the room he was aware that he had caught
more of a spiritual Tartar than he had expected. But he must certainly
explain to Pryer that the Wesleyans had a system of Church discipline.
This was very important.
Mr. Baxter advised Ernest on no account to meddle with Mr. Holt, and
Ernest was much relieved at the advice. If an opportunity arose of
touching the man's heart, he would take it; he would pat the
children on the head when he saw them on the stairs, and ingratiate
himself with them as far as he dared; they were sturdy youngsters, and
Ernest was afraid even of them, for they were ready with their
tongues, and knew much for their ages.
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