preaching at West Street in the afternoon, there was one
WESLEY'S JOURNAL
ApRIL 1752 men from Edinburgh.
I know not why any should complain of the shyness of the Scots toward strangers.
All I spoke with were as free and open with me as the people of Newcastle or Bristol; nor did any person move any dispute of any kind, or ask me any question concerning my opinion.
I preached again at six, on, 'Seek ye the Lord, while He may be found."
I used great plainness of speech toward them; and they all received it in love: so that the prejudice which the devil had been several years planting was torn up by the roots in one hour.
After preaching, one of the bailies of the town, with one of the elders of the kirk, came to me, and begged I would stay with them a while, if it were but two or three days, and they would fit up a far larger place than the school, and prepare seats for the congregation.
Had not my time been fixed, I should gladly have complied.
Wesley's Remarkable Vitality 1752.
Sun. March 15 (London).—While I was preaching at West Street in the afternoon, there was one of the most violent storms I ever remember.
In the midst of the sermon great part of an house opposite to the chapel was blown down.
We heard an huge noise, but knew not the cause; so much the more did God speak to our hearts: and great was the rejoicing of many in confidence of his protection.
Between four and five I took horse, with my wife and daughter.
The tiles were rattling from the houses on both sides; but they hurt not us.
We reached Hayes about seven in the evening, and Oxford the next day.
Thur. April 16.—I walked over to Burnham. JI had no thought of preaching there, doubting if my strength would allow of preaching always thrice a day, as I had
Aprit1752,
A RICH MAN'S DESIRE
done most days since I came from Evesham.
But finding an house full of people, I could not refrain.
Still the more I use my strength, the moreI have.
I am often much tired the first time I preach in a day; a little the second time; but after the third or fourth, I rarely feel either weakness or weariness.
Wed. 22.—I rode to Grimsby.
The crowd was so great in the evening, that the room was like an oven.
The next night I preached at the end of the town, whither almost all the people, rich and poor, followed me; and I had a fair opportunity of closely applying that weighty question, '"' Lord, are there few that be saved?"
Fri. 24.—We rode by a fine seat ; the owner of which (not much above fourscore years old) says he desires only to live thirty years longer; ten to hunt, ten to get money (having at present but twenty thousand pounds a year), and ten years to repent.
O that God may not say unto him, * Thou fool, this night shall thy soul be required of thee!"
When I landed at the quay in Hull, it was covered with people, inquiring, ''Which is he?
Which is he?"
But they only stared and laughed; and we walked unmolested to Mr. A 's house.
I was quite surprised at the miserable condition of the fortifications ; far more ruinous and decayed than those at Newcastle, even before the rebellion.
It is well there is no enemy near.
A Crowded Coach I went to prayers at three in the old church—a grand and venerable structure.
Between five and six the coach called, and took me to Mighton Car, about half a mile from the town.
An huge multitude, rich and poor, horse and foot, with several coaches, were soon gathered
WESLEY'S JOURNAL
June 1752 together ; to whom I cried with a loud voice and a composed spirit, "« What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"
Some thousands of the people seriously attended ; but many behaved as if possessed by Moloch.
Clods and stones flew about on every side; but they neither touched nor disturbed me.
When I had finished my discourse, I went to take coach ; but the coachman had driven clear away.
We were at a loss, till a gentlewoman invited my wife and me to come into her coach.
She brought some inconveniences on herself thereby; not only as there were nine of us in the coach, three on each side, and three in the middle ; but also as the mob closely attended us, throwing in at the windows (which we did not think it prudent to shut) whatever came next to hand.
Buta large gentlewoman who sat in my lap, screened me, so that nothing came near me.
Wesley Sleeps in a Cellar Mon. May 25.—We rode to Durham, and thence, through very rough roads, and as rough weather, to Barnard Castle.
I was exceeding faint when we came in: however, the time being come, I went into the street, and would have preached ; but the mob was so numerous and so loud, that it was not possible for many to hear.
Nevertheless, I spoke on, and those who were near listened with huge attention.
To prevent this, some of the rabble fetched the engine, and threw a good deal of water on the congregation ; but not a drop fell on me.
After about three quarters of an hour, I returned into the house.
Tues. June 9.—My lodging was not such as I should have chosen; but what Providence chooses is always
Junz1752
'TROUBLE WITH HORSES
good.
My bed was considerably under ground, the room serving both for a bed-chamber and a cellar.
The closeness was more troublesome at first than the coolness: but I let in a little fresh air, by breaking a pane of paper (put by way of glass) in the window ; and then slept sound till the morning.
Mon. 15.—I had many little trials in this journey, of a kind I had not known before.
I had borrowed a young, strong mare, when I set out from Manchester.
But she fell lame before I got to Grimsby.
I procured another, but was dismounted again between Newcastle and Berwick.
At my return to Manchester, I took my own: but she had lamed herself in the pasture.
I thought, nevertheless, to ride her four or five miles to-day ; but she was gone out of the ground, and we could hear nothing of her.
However, I comforted myself, that I had another at Manchester, which I had lately bought.
But when I came thither, I found one had borrowed her too, and rode her away to Chester.
Sat. 20.—I rode to Chester, and preached at six, in the accustomed place, a little without the gates, near
St. John's church.
One single man, a poor alehousekeeper, seemed disgusted, spoke a harmless word, and ran away with all speed.
All the rest behaved with the utmost seriousness, while I declared "the grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ."
Round Chester Walls Mon. 22.—We walked round the walls of the city, which are something more than a mile and three quarters in circumference.
But there are many vacant spaces within the walls, many gardens, and a good deal o pasture-ground : so that I believe Newcastle-upon-Tyne,
WESLEY'S JOURNAL __ Serr. 1752 within the walls, contains at least a third more houses than Chester.
The greatest convenience here is what they call "the Rows "; that is, covered galleries, which run through the main streets on each side, from east to west, and from north to south; by which means one may walk both clean and dry in any weather, from one end of the city to the other.
I preached, at six in the evening, in the square, to a vast multitude, rich and poor.
The far greater part, the gentry in particular, were seriously and deeply attentive ; though a few of the rabble, most of them drunk, laboured much to make a disturbance.
One might already perceive a great increase of earnestness in the generality of the hearers.
Tues. Aug. 25.—I preached in the market-place at Kinsale.
The next morning, at eight, I walked to the fort.
On the hill above it we found a large, deep hollow, capable of containing two or three thousand people.
On one side of this, the soldiers soon cut a place with their swords for me to stand, where [ was screened both from the wind and sun, while the congregation sat on the grass before me.
Many eminent sinners were present, particularly of the army; and I believe God gave them a loud call to repentance, Sat. Sept. 23.—We reached Cork.
Sunday, 24. In the evening I proposed to the society the building a preaching-house.
The next day ten persons subscribed an hundred pounds ; another hundred was subscribed in three or four days, and a piece of ground taken.
I saw a double providence now in our not sailing last week.
If we had, probably this house had never been built ; and it is most likely we should have been cast away.
Above
Ocr.1752 PREACHING BY MOONLIGHT
thirty ships, we were informed, have been lost on these coasts in the late storm.
The wind being contrary still, on Monday, Oct. 2, I rode once more to Bandon.
But though I came unexpected, the house was too small to contain one half of the congregation ; so I preached in the street, both this evening, and at five on Tuesday morning ; the moon giving us as much light as we wanted, till the sun supplied her place. I then returned to Cork. On Friday, 6, the ship being under sail, we took boat, and came to Cove in the evening.
All the inns being full, we lodged at a private house; but we found one inconvenience herein: we had nothing to eat; for our provisions were on board, and there was nothing to be bought in the town ; neither flesh, nor fish, nor butter, nor cheese. At length we procured some eggs and bread, and were well contented.
A Boiling Sea Sun. 8.—We were called early by the pilot, and told we must rise and go on board.
We did so, and found a large number of passengers: but the wind turning, most of them went on shore.
At eleven I preached to those that were left.
About six it blew a storm: but we were anchored in a safe harbour; so it neither hurt nor disturbed us.
Mon. 9.—Finding there was no probability of sailing soon, we went up to Mr. P 's, near Passage.
I preached there in the street about four, to most of the inhabitants of the town.
They behaved very quietly ; but very few seemed either convineed or affected.
Tues. 10.—We had another violent storm: it made Mr. P 's house rock to and fro, though it was a new, strong house, and covered on all sides with hills, as well
WESLEY'S JOURNAL
Ocr. 1752 as with trees.
We afterwards heard, that several ships were lost on the coast.
Only one got into the harbour, but grievously shattered, her rigging torn in pieces, and her main-mast gone by the board.
Wed. 11.—I rode to Cork once more, and was very fully employed all the day.
The next morning we returned to Cove, and about noon got out of the arbour.
We immediately found the effects of the late storm, the sea still boiling like a pot.
The moon set about eight, but the Northern Lights abundantly supplied her place.
Soon after, God smoothed the face of the deep, and gave us a small, fair wind.
Fri.
13.—I read over Pascal's "Thoughts."
What could possibly induce such a creature as Voltaire to give such an author as this a good word; unless it was, that he once wrote a satire?
And so his being a satirist might atone even for his being a Christian.
Sat. 14.—About seven we sailed into Kingroad, and happily concluded our little voyage.
I now rested a week at Bristol and Kingswood, preaching only morning and evening.
Wesley's Forgiveness Sunday, 29, was an useful day to my soul.
I found more than once trouble and heaviness; but I called upon the name of the Lord ; and he gave me a clear, full approbation of his way, and a calm, thankful acquiescence in his will.
I cannot but stand amazed at the goodness of God.
Others are most assaulted on the weak side of their soul; but with me it is quite otherwise; if I have any strength at all (and I have none but what I have received), it is in forgiving injuries; and on this very side am J assaulted, more frequently than on any other.
Fes. 1753 WESLEY AND ELECTRICITY
Yet leave me not here one hour to myself, or I shall betray myself and Thee!
In the remaining part of this (November), and in the following month, I prepared the rest of the books for the "Christian Library" ; a work by which I have lost about two hundred pounds.
Perhaps the next generation may know the value of it.
1753Sat. Jan. 20.—I advised one who had been troubled many years with a stubborn paralytic disorder, to trya new remedy.
Accordingly, she was electrified, and found immediate help.
By the same means I have known two persons cured of an inveterate pain in the stomach ; and another of a pain in his side, which he had had ever since he was a child.
Nevertheless, who can wonder that many gentlemen of the faculty, as well as their good friends, the apothecaries, decry a medicine so shockingly cheap and easy, as much as they do quicksilver and tar-water P
Sat. Feb. 3.—I visited one in the Marshalsea prison ; a nursery of all manner of wickedness.
O shame to man, that there should be such a place, such a picture of hell, upon earth!
And shame to those who bear the name of Christ, that there should need any prison at all in Christendom!
Thur. 8.—A proposal was made for devolving all temporal business, books and all, entirely on the Stewards; so that I might have no care upon me (in London at least) but that of the souls committed to my charge.
O when shall it once be!
From this day?
In the afternoon I visited many of the sick ; but such scenes, who could see unmoved?
'There are none such to be found in a pagan country.
If any of the Indians in Georgia were sick (which indeed exceeding rarely happened, till they learned gluttony and drunkenness
WESLEY'S JOURNAL
APRIL 1753
from the Christians), those that were near him gave him whatever he wanted.
O who will convert the English into honest Heathens !
On Friday and Saturday I visited as many more as I could.
I found some in their cells under ground ; others in their garrets, half starved both with cold and hunger, added to weakness and pain.
But I found not one of them unemployed, who was able to crawl about the room.
So wickedly, devilishly false is that common objection, "' They are poor, only because they are idle."
If you saw these things with your own eyes, could you lay out money in ornaments or superfluities ?
Thur. 15.—I visited Mr. S——, slowly recovering from a severe illness.
He expressed much love, and did not doubt, he said, inasmuch as I meant well, but that God would convince me of my great sin in writing books ; seeing men ought to redd no book but the Bible.
I judged it quite needless to enter into a dispute with a sea captain, seventy-five years old.
Fri. March 16.—I returned to Bristol ; and on Monday, 19, set out with my wife for the north.
Sat. 31.—I preached at Boothbank, where I met Mr.
€ , late gardener to the Earl of W.
Surely it cannot be!
Is it possible the earl should turn off an honest, diligent, well-tried servant, who had been in the family above fifty years, for no other fault than hearing the Methodists ?
Sun. April 15.—I preached in the afternoon at Cockermouth, to well nigh all the inhabitants of the town.
Intending to go from thence into Scotland, I inquired concerning the road, and was informed, I could not pass the arm of the sea which parts the two kingdoms, unless I was at Bonas, about thirty miles from Cockermouth, soon after five in the morning.
At first
Aprit 1753
CLEAN SCOTCH INNS
I thought of taking an hour or two's sleep, and setting out at eleven or twelve.
But, upon farther consider a tion, we chose to take our journey first, and rest afterward.
So we took horse about seven, and having a calm, moonshiny night, reached Bonas before one.
After two or three hours' sleep, we set out again, without any faintness or drowsiness.
The Pay of Preaching Our landlord, as he was guiding us over the Frith, very innocently asked, how much a year we got by preaching thus.
This gave me an opportunity of explaining to him that kind of gain which he seemed utterly a stranger to.
He appeared to be quite amazed, and spake not one word, good or bad, till he took his leave.
Presently after he went, my mare stuck fast in a quagmire, which was in the midst of the high road.
But we could well excuse this ; for the road all along, for near fifty miles after, was such as I never saw any natural road, either in England or Ireland; nay, far better, notwithstanding the continued rain, than the turnpike road between London and Canterbury.
We dined at Dumfries, a clean, well-built town, having two of the most elegant churches (one at each end of the town) that I have seen.
We reached Thorny Hill in the evening.
What miserable accounts pass current in England of the inns in Scotland!
Yet here, as well as wherever we called in our whole journey, we had not only everything we wanted, but everything readily and in good order, and as clean as I ever desire.
Tues. 17.—We set out about four, and rode over several high, but extremely pleasant, mountains, to
WESLEY'S JOURNAL
Apri 1753 Lead Hill; a village of miners, resembling Placey, near Newcastle.
We dined at a village called Lesmahaggy, and about eight in the evening reached Glasgow.
A gentleman who had overtaken us on the road sent one with us to Mr. Gillies's house.
Wesley in Glasgow Wed. 18.—I walked over the city, which I take to be as large as Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
The University (like that of Dublin) is only one College, consisting of two small squares ; I think not larger, nor at all handsomer, than those of Lincoln College, in Oxford.
The habit of the students gave me surprise.
They wear scarlet gowns, reaching only to their knees.
Most I saw were very dirty, some very ragged, and all of very coarse cloth.
The high church is a fine building.
The outside is equal to that of most cathedrals in England ; but it is miserably defaced within; having no form, beauty, or symmetry left.
At seven in the evening Mr. G. began the service, at his own (the College) church, It was so full before I came, that I could not get in without a good deal of difficulty.
Thur. 19.—At seven I preached about a quarter of a mile from the town; but it was an extremely rough and blustering morning; and few people came either at the time or place of my preaching: the natural conséquence of which was, that I had but a small congregation.
About four in the afternoon, a tent, as they term it, was prepared ; a kind of moving pulpit, covered with canvass at the top, behind, and on the sides.
In this I preached near the place where I was in the morning, to near six times as many people as before; and I am persuaded what was spoken came to some of their hearts, "not in word only, but in power,"
May 1753.
AT ROBINHOOD'S BAY
Fri. 20.—I had designed to preach at the same place ; but the rain made it impracticable.
So Mr. G. desired me to preach in his church ; so I began between seven and eight.
Surely with God nothing is impossible!
Who would have believed, five-and-twenty years ago, either that the minister would have desired it, or that I should have consented to preach in a Scotch kirk ?
Apprenticeship Customs Wed. 25.—We canie to Alnwick on the day whereon those who have gone through their apprenticeship are made free of the corporation.
Sixteen or seventeen, we were informed, were to receive their freedom this day, and, in order thereto (such is the unparalleled wisdom of the present corporation, as wellas of their forefathers), to walk through a great bog (purposely preserved for the occasion; otherwise it might have been drained long ago), which takes up some of them to the neck, and many of them to the breast.
Tues. May 8.—I rode [from Stockton] to Robinhood's Bay, near Whitby.
The town is very remarkably situated: it stands close to the sea, and is in great part built on craggy and steep rocks, some of which rise perpendicular from the water.
And yet the land, both on the north, south, and west, is fruitful and well cultivated.
I stood on a little rising near the quay, in a warm, still evening, and exhorted a multitude of people, from all parts, to "seek the Lord, while he may be found."
They were all attention; and most of them met me again at half an hour after four in the morning.
I could gladly have spent some days here; but my stages were fixed: so, on Wednesday, 9, I rode on to York.
WESLEY'S JOURNAL
Jury 1753 Sun. July 8 (London).—After preaching at the chapel, morning and afternoon, I took horse with Mr. P——.
We had designed to ride only two or three hours, in order to shorten the next day's journey.
Buta young man, who overtook us near Kingston, induced us to change our purpose.
So we only rested about half an hour at Cobham; and leaving it between nine and ten, rode on softly in a calm, moonshiny night, and about twelve came to Godalming.
We took horse again at half an hour past four, and reached Portsmouth about one.
After a little rest, we took a walk round the town, which is regularly fortified ; and is, I suppose, the only regular fortification in Great Britain or Ireland.
Gosport, Portsmouth, and the Common (which is now all turned into streets), may probably contain half as many people as Bristol: and so civil a people I never saw before in any sea-port town in England.
I preached at half an hour after six, in an open part of the Common, adjoining to the new church.
The congregation was large and well-behaved; not one scoffer did I see, nor one trifler.
In the morning, Tuesday, 10, I went on board an hoy; and in three hours landed at Cowes, in the Isle of Wight; as far exceeding the Isle of Anglesey, both in pleasantness and fruitfulness, as that exceeds the rocks of Scilly.
We rode straight to Newport, the chief town in the isle, and found a little society in tolerable order. Several of them had found peace with God.
At half an hour after six I preached in the marketplace, to a numerous congregation: but they were not so serious as those at Portsmouth.
Many children made much noise, and many grown persons were talking aloud, almost all the time I was preaching.
It was
Nov. 1753
VISITS CARISBROOK CASTLE
quite otherwise at five in the morning.
There was a large congregation again; and every person therein seemed to know this was the word whereby God would judge them in the last day.
In the afternoon, I walked to Carisbrook castle; or rather, the poor remains of it.
It stands upon a solid rock on the top of an hill, and commands a beautiful prospect.
There is a well in it, cut quite through the rock, said to be seventy-two yards deep; and another in the citadel, near an hundred.
They drew up the water by an ass, which they assured us was sixty years old.
But all the stately apartments lie in ruins.
Only just enough of them is left, to show the chamber where poor King Charles was confined, and the window through which he attempted to escape.
Cornish Smugglers On Wednesday, 25, the Stewards met at St. Ives, from the western part of Cornwall.
The next day I began examining the society; but I was soon obliged to stop short.
I found an accursed thing among them ; well-nigh one and all bought or sold uncustomed goods.
I therefore delayed speaking to any more till I had met them all together.
This I did in the evening, and told them plain, either they must put this abomination away, or they would see my face no more.
Friday, 27.
They severally promised so to do.
So I trust this plague is stayed.
Mon. Nov. 12.—I set out in a chaise for Leigh, having delayed my journey as long as I could.
I preached at seven, but was extremely cold all the time, the wind coming strong from a door behind, and another on one side; so that my feet felt just as if I had stood in cold water.
WESLEY'S JOURNAL
Nov. 1753
Tues.
13.—The chamber wherein I sat, though with a large fire, was much colder than the garden; so that I could not keep myself tolerably warm, even when I was close to the chimney.
As we rode home on Wednesday, 14, the wind was high and piercing cold, and blew just in our face, so that the open chaise was no defence, but my feet were quite chilled.
When I came home, I had a settled pain in my left breast, a violent cough, and a slow fever ; but in a day or two, by following Dr. Fothergill's prescriptions, I found much alteration for the better; and on Sunday, 18, I preached at Spitalfields, and administered the sacrament to a large congregation.
Wesley Writes his Epitaph Mon. 19.—I retired to Shoreham, and gained strength continually; till about eleven at night, on Wednesday, 21, I was obliged by the cramp to leap out of bed, and continue, for some time, walking up and down the room, though it was a sharp frost.
My cough now returned with greater violence, and that by day as well as by night.
Sat. 24.—I rode home, and was pretty well till night; but my cough was then worse than ever.
My fever returned at the same time, together with the pain in my left breast; so that I should probably have stayed at home on Sunday, 25, had it not been advertised in the public papers, that I would preach a charity sermon at the chapel, both morning and afternoon.
My cough did not interrupt me while I preached in the morning ; but it was extremely troublesome while I administered the sacrament.
In the afternoon I consulted my friends, whether I should attempt to preach again or no.
They thought I should, as it had been advertised.
Nov. 1753. WESLEY'S OWN EPITAPH
did so; but very few could hear.
My fever increased much while I was preaching: however, I ventured to meet the society; and for near an hour my voice and strength were restored, so that I felt neither pain nor weakness.
Mon. 26,—Dr. F.—— told me plain, I must not stay in town a day longer; adding, "If anything does thee good, it must be the country air, with rest, asses' milk, and riding daily."
So (not being able to sit an horse) about noon I took coach for Lewisham.
In the evening (not knowing how it might please God to dispose of me), to prevent vile panegyric, I wrote as follows: ere lieth the Body OF
JOHN WESLEY,
A BRAND PLUCKED OUT OF THE BURNING:
WHO DIED OF A CONSUMPTION IN THE FIFTY-FIRST YEAR
OF HIS AGE,
NOT LEAVING, AFTER HIS DEBTS ARE PAID,
TEN POUNDS BEHIND HIM:
PRAYING,
GOD BE MERCIFUL TO ME, AN UNPROFITABLE SERVANT!
He ordered that this, if any, inscription should be placed on his tombstone.
Wesley his own Doctor Wed. 28.—I found no change for the better, the medicines which had helped me before, now taking no effect.
About noon (the time that some of our brethren in London had set apart for joining in prayer) a thought came into my mind to make an experiment.
So I ordered some stone brimstone to be powdered, mixed with the white of an egg, and spread on brown paper, which I applied to my side.
The pain ceased in five