and spent an hour with a poor backslider of London,
WESLEY'S JOURNAL
May 1757 together, a debt of twelve hundred and thirty - six pounds.
Sun. Oct, 1o.—I preached to an huge multitude in Moorfields, on, '' Why will ye die, O house of Israel?"
It is field-preaching which does the execution still: for usefulness there is none comparable to it.
Wesley on Electricity as a Cure Tues. Nov. 9.—Having procured an apparatus on purpose, I ordered several persons to be electrified, who were ill of various disorders; some of whom found an immediate, some a gradual, cure.
From this time I appointed, first some hours in every week, and afterward an hour in every day, wherein any that desired it, might try the virtue of this surprising medicine.
Two or three years after, our patients were so numerous that we were obliged to divide them: so part were electrified in Southwark, part at the Foundery, others near St. Paul's, and the rest near the Seven Dials: the same method we have taken ever since; and to this day, while hundreds, perhaps thousands, have received unspeakable good, I have not known one man, woman, or child, who has received any hurt thereby: so that when I hear any talk of the danger of being electrified (especially if they are medical men who talk so), I cannot but impute it to great want either of sense or honesty.
1757. Tues. May 31.—I breakfasted at Dumfries, and spent an hour with a poor backslider of London, who had been for some years settled there.
We then rode through an uncommonly pleasant country (so widely distant is common report from truth) to Thorny
Hill, two or three miles from the Duke of Queensborough's seat; an ancient and noble pile of building, delightfully situated on the side of a pleasant and fruitful
June 1757
WESLEY IN GLASGOW
hill.
But it gives no pleasure to its owner; for he does not even behold it with his eyes.
Surely this is a sore evil under the sun; a man has all things, and enjoys nothing.
We rode afterward partly over and partly between some of the finest mountains, I believe, in Europe; higher than most, if not than any, in England, and clothed with grass to the very top.
Soon after four we came to Lead Hill, a little town at the foot of the mountains, wholly inhabited by miners.
In Glasgow Cathedral Wed. June 1.—We rode on to Glasgow; a mile short of which we met Mr.
Gillies, riding out to meet us.
In the evening the tent (so they call a covered pulpit) was placed in the yard of the poor-house, a very large and commodious place.
Fronting the pulpit was the infirmary, with most of the patients at or near the windows.
Adjoining to this was the hospital for lunatics: several of them gave deep attention.
And cannot God give them also the spirit of a sound mind?
After sermon, they brought four children to baptize.
I was at the kirk in the morning while the minister baptized several immediately after sermon,
So I was not at a loss as to their manner of baptizing.
I believe this removed much prejudice.
Fri. 3.—At seven the congregation was increased, and earnest attention sat on every face.
In the afternoon we walked to the college, and saw the new library, with the collection of pictures.
Many of them are by Raphael, Rubens, Vandyke, and other eminent hands ; but they have not room to place them to advantage, their whole building being very small.
WESLEY'S JOURNAL
June 1757 Sat. 4.—I walked through all parts of the old cathedral, a very large and once beautiful structure; I think, more lofty than that at Canterbury, and nearly the same length and breadth.
We then went up the main steeple, which gave us a fine prospect, both of the city and the adjacent country.
A more fruitful and better cultivated plain is scarce to be seen in England.
Indeed nothing is wanting but more trade (which would naturally bring more people), to make a great part of Scotland no way inferior to the best counties in England.
I was much pleased with the seriousness of the people in the evening ; but still I prefer the English congregation.
I cannot be reconciled to men sitting at prayer, or covering their heads while they are singing praise to God.
Wesley Sings a Scotch Psalm Thur. 9.—To-day '" Douglas," the play which has made so much noise, was put into my hands.
I was astonished to find it is one of the finest tragedies I ever read, What pity, that a few lines were not left out ; and that it was ever acted at Edinburgh !
Fri, 10.—I found myself much out of order, till the flux stopped at once, without any medicine.
But being still weak, and the sun shining extremely hot, I was afraid I should not be able to go round by Kelso.
Vain fear!
God took care for this also.
The wind, which had been full east for several days, turned this morning full west ; and blew just in our face : and about ten the clouds rose, and kept us cool till we came to Kelso.
At six William Coward and I went to the market-house.
We stayed some time, and neither man, woman, nor child came near us, At length I began singing a Scotch
June 1757
CUTTING EXPRESSIONS
psalm, and fifteen or twenty people came within hearing ; but with great circumspection, keeping their distance, as though they knew not what might follow.
But while I prayed, their number increased ; so that in a few minutes there was a pretty large congregation.
I suppose the chief men of the town were there ; and I spared neither rich nor poor.
I almost wondered at myself, it not being usual with me to use so keen and cutting expressions: and I believe many felt that, for all their form, they were but heathens still.
Mon. 13.—I proclaimed the love of Christ to sinners, in the market-place at Morpeth.
Thence we rode to Placey.
The society of colliers here may be a pattern to all the societies in England.
No person ever misses his band or class: they have no jar of any kind among them ; but with one heart and one mind " provoke one another to love and to good works."
After preaching I met the society in a room as warm as any in Georgia: this, with the scorching heat of the sun, when we rode on, quite exhausted my strength.
But after we came to Newcastle I soon recovered, and preached with as much ease as in the morning.
Thur. 16.—In the evening I preached at Sunderland.
I then met the society, and told them plain, none could stay with us, unless he would part with all sin; particularly, robbing the King, selling or buying run goods; which I could no more suffer than robbing on the highway. This I enforced on every member the next day.
A few would not promise to refrain: so these I was forced to cut off.
About two hundred and fifty were of a better mind.
Wed. 22.—In the evening and the following morning I preached at Chester-on-the-Strate.
Observing some very fine, but not very modest pictures, in the parlour
WESLEY'S JOURNAL
Jury 1757 where we supped, I desired my companion, when the company was gone, to put them where they could do no hurt.
He piled them on an heap in acorner of the room, and they have not appeared since.
"I Do Indeed Live by Preaching!"
Thur. July 28 (Sheffield).—I received a strange account from Edward Bennet's eldest daughter :
"On Tuesday, the 12th of this month, I told my husband in the morning, 'I desire you will not go into the water to-day, at least, not into the deep water, on the far side of the town ; for I dreamed I saw you there out of your depth, and only your head came up just above the water.'
He promised me he would not, and went to work.
Soon after four in the afternoon, being at John Hanson's, his partner's house, she was on a sudden extremely sick, so that for some minutes she seemed just ready to expire.
Then she was well in a moment.
Just at that time, John Hanson, who was an excellent swimmer, persuaded her husband to go into the water on the far side of the town.
He objected— the water was deep, and he could not swim ; and being much importuned to go in, stood some time after he was undressed, and then kneeling down, prayed with an earnest and loud voice.
When he rose from his knees, John, who was swimming, called him again, and treading the water, said, 'See, it is only breast-high.'
He stepped in, and sunk.
A man who was near, cutting fern, and had observed him for some time, ran to the bank, and saw his head come up just above the water.
The second or third time he rose, he clasped his hands, and cried aloud, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.'
Immediately he sunk, and rose no more."
One might naturally inquire, What became of John
Aue. 1757
STRANGE DEATHS
Hanson?
As soon as he saw his partner sink, he swam from him to the other side, put on his clothes, and went straight home.
About noon I preached at Woodseats; in the evening at Sheffield.
I do indeed live by preaching !
How quiet is this country now, since the chief persecutors are no more seen!
How many of them have been snatched away in an hour when they looked not for it!
Some time since, a woman of Thorpe often swore she would wash her hands in the heart's blood of the next preacher that came.
But before the next preacher came she was carried to her long home.
A little before John Johnson settled at Wentworth, a stout, healthy man, who lived there, told his neighbours, '"* After May-day we shall have nothing but praying and preaching: but I will make noise enough to stop it."
But before May-day he was silent in his grave.
A servant of Lord R was as bitter as him, and told many lies purposely to make mischief; but before this was done, his mouth was stopped.
He was drowned in one of the fish-ponds.
Wesley at Charterhouse Mon, Aug. 8 (London).—I took a walk in the Charterhouse.
I wondered that all the squares and buildings, and especially the school-boys, looked so little.
But this is easily accounted for.
I was little myself when I was at school, and measured all about me by myself.
Accordingly, the upper boys being then bigger than myself, seemed to me very big and tall; quite contrary to 'what they appear now when I am taller and bigger than them.
I question if this is not the real ground of the common imagination, that our forefathers, and in general men in past ages, were much larger than now;
WESLEY'S JOURNAL
Serr. 1757 an imagination current in the world eighteen hundred years ago.
Whereas, in reality, men have been, at least ever since the deluge, very nearly the same as we find them now, both for stature and understanding.
Fri. Sept. 2.—I rode to St. Agnes.
Sun. 4.—I. T. preached at five.
I could scarce have believed if I had not heard it, that few men of learning write so correctly as an unlearned tinner speaks extempore.
Mr. V. preached two such thundering sermons at church as I have scarce heard these twenty years.
Mon. 5.—I rode on to IIllogan; but not to the house where I used to preach: indeed his wife promised Mr. P., before he died, that she would always receive the preachers; but she soon changed her mind.
God has just taken her only son, suddenly killed by a pit falling upon him; and on Tuesday last, a young, strong man, riding to his burial, dropped off his horse stone dead.
The concurrence of these awful providences added considerably to our congregation.
Sat. 10.—We rode to the Land's End.
I know no natural curiosity like this.
The vast ragged stones rise on every side, when you are near the point of land, with green turf between as level and smooth as if it were the effect of art.
And the rocks which terminate the land are so torn by the sea, that they appear like great heaps of ruins.
Sun. 11.—I preached at St. Just at nine.
At one, the congregation in Morva stood on a sloping ground, rank above rank, as in a theatre.
Many of them bewailed their want of God; and many tasted how gracious he is.
At five I preached in Newlyn, to an huge multitude; and one only seemed to be offended—a very good sort of woman, who took great pains to get away, crying
Serr. 1757 WESLEY AND MR. MAYOR
aloud, " Nay, if going to church and sacrament will not put us to heaven, I know not what will."
Wesley Opposed by Mayor and Minister Wed. 21.—After spending an hour with a few friends in Truro, I rode forward to Grampound, a mean, inconsiderable, dirty village.
However, it is a borough town!
Between twelve and one I began preaching in a meadow, to a numerous congregation.
While we were singing, I observed a person in black on the far side of the meadow, who said, '*Come down; you have no business there."
Some boys who were on a wall, taking it for granted that he spoke to them, got down in all haste.
I went on, and he walked away.
I afterwards understood that he was the minister and the Mayor of Grampound.
Soon after two constables came, and said, "Sir, the mayor says you shall not preach within his borough."
I answered, ''*The mayor has no authority to hinder me.
But it is a point not worth contesting."
So I went about a musket-shot farther, and left the borough to Mr. Mayor's disposal.
Thur. 22.—I rode to Mevagissey, which lies on the south sea, just opposite to Port Isaac on the north.
When I was here last, we had no place in the town: I could only preach about half a mile from it.
But things are altered now:
I preached just over the town, to almost all the inhabitants; and all were still as night.
The next evening a drunken man made some noise behind me.
But after a few words were spoken to him. he quietly listened to the rest of the discourse.
Sat. 24.—At half-hour after twelve I preached once more, and took my leave of them.
All the time I stayed, the wind blew from the sea, so that no boat could stir out.
By this means all the fishermen (who
WESLEY'S JOURNAL
Ocr. 1757 are the chief part of the town) had opportunity of hearing.
At six I preached at St. Austle, a neat little town on the side of a fruitful hill.
Sun. 25.—At two I preached in St. Stephen's, near a lone house, on the side of a barren mountain; but neither the house nor the court could contain the people; so we went into a meadow, where all might kneel (which they generally do in Cornwall), as well as stand and hear.
And they did hear, and sing, and pray, as for life.
I saw none careless or inattentive among them.
Fire at Kingswood School Mon. Oct. 24.—I preached about noon at Bath, and in the evening at Escot, near Lavington.
Tues. 25.—In my return, a man met me near Hannam, and told me the School house at Kingswood was burned down. I felt not one moment's pain, knowing that God does all things well.
When I came thither, I received a fuller account: about eight on Monday evening, two or three boys went into the gallery, up two pair of stairs.
One of them heard a strange crackling in the room above.
Opening the staircase door, he was beat back by smoke, on which he cried out, " Fire! Murder!
Fire!"
Mr. Baynes, hearing this, ran immediately down, and brought up a pail of water.
But when he went into the room, and saw the blaze, he had not presence of mind to go up to it, but threw the water upon the floor.
Meantime one of the boys rung the bell; another called John Maddern from the next house, who ran up, as did James Burges quickly after, and found the room allin a flame.
The deal partitions took fire immedi-
Nov. 1757
FIRE AT KINGSWOOD
ately, which spread to the roof of the house.
Plenty of water was now brought ; but they could not come nigh the place where it was wanted, the room being so filled with flame and smoke, that none could go into it.
At last a long ladder, which lay in the garden, was reared up against the wall of the house.
But it was then observed, that one of the sides of it was broke in two, and the other quite rotten.
However, John How (a young man, who lived next door) ran up it, with an axe in his hand.
But he then found the ladder was so short, that, as he stood on the top of it, he could but just lay one hand over the battlements.
How he got over to the leads none can tell: but he did so, and quickly broke through the roof, on which a vent being made, the smoke and flame issued out as from a furnace: those who were at the foot of the stairs with water, being able to go no further, then went through the smoke to the door of the leads, and poured it down through the tiling.
By this means the fire was quickly quenched, having only consumed a part of the partition, with a box of clothes, and a little damaged the roof, and the floor beneath, In Norfolk and Suffolk Wed. Nov. 23 (Norwich).—I was shown Dr. Taylor's new meeting-house, perhaps the most elegant one in Europe.
It is eight-square, built of the finest brick, with sixteen sash-windows below, as many above, and eight skylights in the dome; which, indeed, are purely ornamental.
The inside is finished in the highest taste, and is as clean as any nobleman's saloon.
The communion-table is fine mahogany ; the very latches of the pew-doors are polished brass.
How can it be thought that the old, coarse Gospel should find admission here ?