cerning each other. a
me.) ay ) XVII
JOHN BENNET
THERE is a gap in John Wesley's Journal between the dates December 22, 1751, and March 14, 1752; but the editor of the latest edition has rescued from oblivion a few facts that will help us.
At this point we will refer to one of them.
On January 29, 1752, an important agreement was made between the Wesleys and some of the lay preachers.
The document was written by John Wesley, and it was signed by him, Charles Wesley, John Trembath, Edward Perronet, Jonathan Reeves,
Joseph Cownley, Charles Perronet, Thomas Maxfield, John Downes, John Jones, John Nelson, William Shent, and John
Haime.
When we recall the circumstances of the time we shall recognize itsimportance.
Those who signed the document agreed as follows :
1. That we will not listen, or willingly inquire after, any Ill concerning each other. a 2. That if we do hear any IIl of each other, we will not be forward to believe it.
3. That as.soon as possible we will communicate what we hear, by speaking or writing to the Person concerned.
4. That till we have done this, we will not write or speak a Syllable of it to any other Person whatsoever.
5. That neither will we mention it, after we have done this, to any other Person.
6. That we will not make any exception to any of these Rules, unless we think ourselves obliged in Conscience so to do.
On Sunday March 15, 1752, John Wesley preached at West Street Chapel in the afternoon.
A great storm was blowing.
He says that it was one of the most violent he remembered.
He had got to ' the midst of the sermon' when ' a huge noise' was heard.
The people were startled, but retained their selfpossession.
They found out afterwards that a great part of a 1 See facsimile of the Agreement, Journal, iv. 9.