On Wednesday, 2, I set out in the machine and the
WESLEY'S JOURNAL
Jan. 1754 minutes, the fever in half an hour; and from this hour I began to recover strength.
The next day I was able to ride, which I continued to do every day till January 1.
Nor did the weather hinder me once; it being always tolerably fair (however it was before) between twelve and one o'clock.
Fri.
Dec.
14.—Having finished all the books which I designed to insert in the " Christian Library,"
I broke through the doctor's order, not to write, and began transcribing a journal for the press; and in the evening I went to prayers with the family, without finding any inconvenience.
Thur. 20.—I felt a gradual increase of strength, till I took a decoction of the bark, which I do not find (such is the pecularity of my constitution) will agree with me in any form whatever.
This immediately threw me into a purging, which brought me down again a few days, and quite disappointed me in my design of going out on Christmas Day.
1754.
Tues. Jan. 1.—I returned once more to London.
On Wednesday, 2, I set out in the machine and the next afternoon came to Chippenham.
Here I took a post-chaise, in which I reached Bristol about eight in the evening.
Fri. 4.—I began drinking the water at the Hot Well, having a lodging at a small distance from it; and on Sunday, 6, I began writing Notes on the New Testament; a work which I should scarce ever have attempted, had I not been so ill as not to be able to travel or preach, and yet so well as to be able to read and write.
Mon, 7.—I went on now in a regular method, rising at my hour, and writing from five to nine at night;
Aprit 1754 PREACHES AT SADLER'S WELLS 215
except the time of riding, half an hour for each meal, and the hour between five and six in the evening,
Thur. 31.—My wife desiring to pay the last office to her poor dying child, set out for London, and came a few days before he went home, rejoicing and praising
God.
Tues. March 19 (Bristol)—Having finished the rough draught, I began transcribing the Notes on the Gospels.
Tues. 26.—I preached for the first time, after an intermission of four months.
What reason have I to praise God, that he does not take the word of his truth utterly out of my mouth !
Wesley Retires to Paddington Mon. April 1.—We set out in the machine, and the next evening reached the Foundery.
Wed. 3.—I settled all the business I could, and the next morning retired to Paddington.
Here I spent some weeks in writing ; only going to town on Saturday evenings, and leaving it again on Monday morning.
In my hours of walking I read Dr. Calamy's * Abridgment of Mr. Baxter's Life."
What a scene is opened here!
In spite of all the prejudice of education, I could not but see that the poor Nonconformists had been used without either justice or mercy; and that many of the Protestant Bishops of King Charles had neither more religion, nor humanity, than the Popish Bishops of Queen Mary.
Mon. 29.—I preached at Sadler's Wells, in what was formerly a play-house.
Iam glad when it pleases God to take possession of what Satan esteemed his own ground.
The place, though large, was extremely crowded ; and deep attention sat on every face.
WESLEY'S JOURNAL
Oct. 1754
Wed. May 22.—Our Conference began; and the spirit of peace and love was in the midst of us.
Before we parted, we all willingly signed an agreement, not to act independently on each other: so that the breach lately made has only united us more closely together than ever.
June 2.,—(Being Whit Sunday.) I preached at the Foundery ; which I had not done before in the evening ; still I have not recovered my whole voice or strength ; perhaps I never may: but let me use what I have.
Persecuting the Methodists Mon. Sept. 9.—I preached at Charlton, a village six miles from Taunton, to a large congregation gathered from the towns and country for many miles round.
All the farmers here had some time before entered into a joint engagement to turn all out of their service, and give no work to any, who went to hear a Methodist preacher.
But there is no counsel against the Lord.
One of the chief of them, Mr. G , was not long after convinced of the truth, and desired those very men to preach at his house.
Many of the other confederates came to hear, whom their servants and labourers gladly followed.
So the whole device of Satan fell to the ground ; and the word of God grew and prevailed.
Wed. October 2.—I walked to Old Sarum, which, in spite of common sense, without house or inhabitants, still sends two Members to the Parliament.
It is a large, round hill, encompassed with a broad ditch, which, it seems, has been of a considerable depth.
At the top of it is a cornfield ; in the midst of which is another round hill, about two hundred yards in diameter, encompassed with a wall, and a deep ditch.
Probably before the invention of cannon, this city was impregnable.
Troy