take the Derbyshire road to Manchester. We baited at an
Aprit 1755 WESLEY PRESCRIBES NETTLES 217
was ; but now it is vanished away, and nothing left but " the stones of emptiness."
Thur. 3.—I rode to Reading, and preached in the evening.
Observing a warm man near the door (which was once of the society), I purposely bowed to him; but he made no return.
During the first prayer he stood, but sat while we sung.
In the sermon his countenance changed, and in a little while he turned his face to the wall.
He stood at the second hymn, and then kneeled down.
As I came out he catched me by the hand, and dismissed me with a hearty blessing.
Fri. 4.—I came to London.
On Monday, 7, I retired to a little place near Hackney, formerly a seat of Bishop Bonner's (how are the times changed ?), and still bearing his name.
Here I was as in a College.
Twice a day we joined in prayer.
The rest of the day (allowing about an hour for meals, and another for walking before dinner and supper) I spent quietly in my study.
Wesley's Prescriptions 1755. Mon. April 7 (Wednesbury).—I was advised to take the Derbyshire road to Manchester. We baited at an house six miles beyond Lichfield.
Observing a woman sitting in the kitchen, I asked, ' Are you not well?" and found she had just been taken ill (being on her journey), with all the symptoms of an approaching pleurisy.
She was glad to hear of an easy, cheap, and (almost) infallible remedy—an handful of nettles, boiled a few minutes, and applied warm to the side.
While I was speaking to her, an elderly man, pretty well dressed, came in.
Upon inquiry, he told us he was travelling, as he could, towards his home near Hounslow, in hopes of agreeing with his creditors, to whom he had surren-
WESLEY'S JOURNAL
ApriL 1755 dered his all.
But how to get on he knew not, as he had no money, and had caught a tertian ague.
I hope a wise Providence directed this wanderer also, that he might have a remedy for both his maladies.
Mon. 14.—I rode by Manchester (where I preached about twelve) to Warrington.
At six in the morning, Tuesday, 15, I preached to a large and serious congregation; and then went on to Liverpool, one of the neatest, best-built towns I have seen in England: I think it is full twice as large as Chester; most of the streets are quite straight.
Two thirds of the town, we were informed, have been added within these forty years.
If it continue to increase in the same proportion, in forty years more it will nearly equal Bristol.
'The people in general are the most mild and courteous I ever saw in a seaport town; as indeed appears by their friendly behaviour, not only to the Jews and Papists who live among them, but even to the Methodists (so called).
The preaching-house is a little larger than that at Newcastle.
It was thoroughly filled at seven in the evening ; and the hearts of the whole congregation seemed to be moved before the Lord, and before the presence of his power, Wesley and the Sunshine Thur. 24.—We rode in less than four hours the eight miles (so called) to Newell Hay [from Bolton].
Just as I began to preach the sun broke out, and shone exceeding hot on thesideof my head. I found, if it continued,
I should not be able to speak long, and lifted up my heart to God.
In a minute or two it was covered with clouds, which continued till the service was over.
Let any who please, call this chance: I call it an answer to prayer,
May 1755 AN IMPORTANT CONFERENCE
Fri.
25.—About ten I preached near Todmorden.
The people stood, row above row, on the side of the mountain, They were rough enough in outward appearance ; but their hearts were as melting wax.
One can hardly conceive anything more delightful than the vale through which we rode from hence.
The river ran through the green meadows on the right.
The fruitful hills and woods rose on either hand.
At three in the afternoon I preached at Heptonstall, on the brow of the mountain, The rain began almost as soon as I began to speak. I prayed that, if God saw best, it might be stayed, till I had delivered his word.
It was so, and then began again.
But we had only a short stage to Ewood.
Tues.
May 6.—Our Conference began at Leeds.
The point on which we desired all the preachers to speak their minds at large was, '' Whether we ought to separate from the Church?"
Whatever was advanced on one side or the other was seriously and calmly considered; and on the third day we were all fully agreed in that general conclusion—that (whether it was lawful or not) it was no ways expedient.
Mon. 12.—We rode (my wife and I) to Northallerton.
Wed. 21.—I preached at Nafferton, near Horsley, about thirteen miles from Newcastle.
We rode chiefly on the new western road, which lies on the old Roman wall.
Some part of this is still to be seen, as are the remains of most of the towers, which were built a mile distant from each other, quite from sea to sea.
But where are the men of renown who built them, and who once made all the land tremble?
Crumbled into dust!
Gone hence, to be no more seen, till the earth shall give up her dead!
WESLEY'S JOURNAL
June 1755 June 2.—We rode to Thirsk, where I met the little society; and then went on to York.
The people had been waiting for some time.
So I began preaching without delay, and felt no want of strength, though the room was like an oven through the multitude of people.
Sat. 7.—One of the residentiaries sent for Mr.
Williamson, who had invited me to preach in his church, and told him, "Sir, I abhor persecution ; but if you let
Mr. Wesley preach, it will be the worse for you."
He desired it nevertheless; but I declined.
Perhaps there is a providence in this also.
God will not suffer my little remaining strength to be spent on those who will not hear me but in an honourable way.
The Room Was Like an Oven Sun. 8.—We were at the minster in the morning, and at our parish-church in the afternoon.
The same gentleman preached at both; but though I saw him at the church, I did not know I had ever seen him before.
In the morning he was all life and motion; in the afternoon he was as quiet as a post.
At fivein the evening, the rain constrained me to preach in the oven again.
The patience of the congregation surprised me.
They seemed not to feel the extreme heat, nor to be offended at the close application of those words, " Thou art not far from the kingdom of God."
Mon. 16.—I preached in the evening at Nottingham, and on Thursday afternoon reached London.
From a deep sense of the amazing work which God has of late years wrought in England, I preached in the evening on those words (Psalm cxlvii. 20), " He hath not dealt so with any nation"; no, not even with Scotland or NewEngland.
In both these God has indeed made bare his arm ; yet not in so astonishing a manner as among us,
Sepr. 1755
EFFECTS OF METHODISM
This must appear to all who impartially consider, 1. The numbers of persons on whom God has wrought: 2. The swiftness of his work in many, both convinced and truly converted in a few days: 3. The depth of it in most of these, changing the heart, as well as the whole conversation: 4. The clearness of it, enabling them boldly to say, 'Thou hast loved me; thou hast given thyself for me": 5. The continuance of it.
Tues. 24 (London).—Observing in that valuable book, Mr. Gillies's '* Historical Collections," the custom of Christian congregations in all ages to set apart seasons of solemn thanksgivings, I was amazed and ashamed that we had never done this, after all the blessings we had received: and many to whom I mentioned it gladly agreed to set apart a day for that purpose.
"This is no Mazed Man"
Sun. Aug. 31.—At five I preached in Gwennap, to several thousands ; but not one of them light or inattentive.
After I had done, the storm arose, and the rain poured down, till about four in the morning: then the sky cleared, and many of them that feared God gladly assembled before him.
Mon. Sept. 1.—I preached at Penryn, to abundantly more than the house could contain.
Tues. 2.—We.went to Falmouth. The town is not now what it was ten years since: all is quiet from one end to the other.
I had thoughts of preaching on the hill near the church; but the violent wind made it impracticable: so I was obliged to stay in our own room.
The people could hear in the yard likewise, and the adjoining houses ; and all were deeply attentive.
Wed. Sep. 3.—After preaching again, to a congregation who now appeared ready to devour every word, I
WESLEY'S JOURNAL __ Szpr. 1755 walked up to Pendennis castle; finely situated on the high point of land which runs out between the bay and the harbour, and commanding both.
It might easily be made exceeding strong; but our wooden castles are sufficient.
In the afternoon we rode to Helstone, once turbulent enough, but now quiet as Penryn.
I preached at six, on a rising ground, about a musket-shot from the town.
Two drunken men strove to interrupt; but one soon walked away: the other leaned on his horse's neck, and fell fast asleep.
About noon, Friday, 5, I called on W. Row, in Breage, in my way to Newlyn.
'' Twelve years ago," he said, 'I was going over Gulval Downs, and I saw many people together ; and I asked what was the matter ; and they told me a man was going to preach: and I said,
'To be sure it is some mazed man': but when I saw you, I said, ' Nay, this is no mazed man': and you preached on God's raising the dry bones; and from that time I could never rest till God was pleased to breathe on me, and raise my dead soul."
Slandering Wesley in the Pulpit I had given no notice of preaching here; but seeing the poor people flock from every side, I could not send them empty away.
SolI preached at a small distance from the house; and besought them to consider our
"great High Priest, who is passed through into the heavens": and none opened his mouth; for the lions of Breage too are now changed into lambs.
That they were so fierce ten years ago is no wonder; since their wretched minister told them, from the pulpit (seven years before I resigned my fellowship), that 'John Wesley was expelled the College for a base child, and
Sept. 1755
A STRANGE APPARITION
had been quite mazed ever since: that all the Methodists, at their private societies, put out the lights," &c.; with abundance more of the same kind.
But a year or two since, it was observed, he grew thoughtful and melan choly ; and, about nine months ago, he went into his own necessary house, and hanged himself.
Sat. 6.—In the evening I preached at St. Just.
Except at Gwennap, I have seen no such congregation in Cornwall.
The sun (nor could we contrive it otherwise) shone full in my face, when I began the hymn: but just as I ended it, a cloud arose, which covered it till I had done preaching.
Is anything too small for the providence of him by whom our very hairs are numbered ?
Sun. 7.—Last year, a strange letter, written at Penzance, was inserted in the public papers.
To-day I spoke to the two persons who occasioned that letter.
They are of St. Just parish, sensible men, and no Methodists.
The name of one is James Tregeer, of the other, Thomas Sackerly.
I received the account from James, two or three hours before Thomas came: but there was no material difference.
In July was twelvemonth, they both said, as they were walking from St. Just church town toward Sancreet, Thomas, happening to look up, cried out, "James, look, look!
What is that in the sky?"
The first appearance, as James expressed it, was, three large columns of horsemen, swiftly pressing on, as in a fight, from south-west to north-east; a broad streak of sky being between each column.
Sometimes they seemed to run thick together ; then to thin their ranks.
Afterward they saw a large fleet of three-mast ships, in full sail toward the Lizard
Point.
This continued above a quarter of an hour: then, all disappearing, they went on their way.
The
WESLEY'S JOURNAL
Serr. 1755 meaning of this, if it was real (which I do not affirm), time only can show.
Extraordinary Coincidence Sat. 13.—I preached once more at St. Just, on the first stone of their new society-house.
In the evening, as we rode to Camborne, John Pearce, of Redruth, was mentioning a remarkable incident:
While he lived at Helstone, as their class was meeting one evening, one of them cried, with an uncommon tone, " We will not stay here: we will go to" such an house, which was in a quite different part of the town.
They all rose immediately, and went; though neither they nor she knew why.
Presently after they were gone, a spark fell into a barrel of gunpowder, which was in the next room, and blew up the house.
So did God preserve those who trusted in him, and prevent the blasphemy of the multitude.
Mon. 15.—We walked an hour near the sea-shore [at Cubert], among those amazing caverns, which are full as surprising as Pool's Hole, or any other in the Peak of Derbyshire.
Some part of the rock in these natural vaults glitters as bright and ruddy as gold: part isa fine sky-blue; part green; part enamelled, exactly like mother-of-pearl; and a great part, especially near the Holy Well (which bubbles up on the top of a rock, and is famous for curing either scorbutic or scrofulous disorders), is crusted over, wherever the water runs, with an hard, white coat like alabaster.
Tues. 23.—We walked up to Glastonbury Tower, which a gentleman is now repairing.
It is the steeple of a church, the foundation of which is still discernible.
On the west side of the tower there are niches for images ; one of which, as big as the life, is still entire.
The hill on which it stands is extremely steep, and of an
Nov. 1755 AN EXTRAORDINARY STORM
uncommon height ; so that it commands the country on all sides, as well as the Bristol Channel.
I was weary enough when we came to Bristol; but I preached till all my complaints were gone; and I had nowa little leisure to sit still, and finish the *" Notes on the New
Testament."
Wed. Nov. 5.—Mr. Whitefield called upon me;— disputings are now no more; we love one another, and join hand in hand to promote the cause of our common
Master.
"Macbeth" and Thunder at Drury Lane Mon. 17.—As we were walking towards Wapping, the rain poured down with such violence, that we were obliged to take shelter till it abated.
We then held on to Gravel Lane; in many parts of which the waters were like a river.
However, we got on pretty well, till the rain put out the candle in our lantern.
We then were obliged to wade through all, till we came to the chapelyard.
Just as we entered it, a little streak of lightning appeared in the south-west.
There was likewise a small clap of thunder, and a vehement burst of rain, which rushed so plentifully through our shattered tiles, that the vestry was all ina float.
Soon after I began reading prayers, the lightning flamed all round it, and the thunder rolled just over our heads.
When it grew louder and louder, perceiving many of the strangers to be much affrighted, I broke off the prayers after the collect, *' Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord"; and began applying, "The Lord sitteth above the water-flood ; the Lord remaineth a king for ever.'
Presently the lightning, thunder, and rain ceased, and we had a remarkably calm evening.
It was observed, that exactly at this hour, they were