play, but dress themselves as clean as they can, to
WESLEY'S JOURNAL = Marcn1761 being narrowly observed, and kept separate from the men: nor is any woman of the town now admitted, no, not at any price.
6. All possible care is taken to prevent idleness: those who are willing to work at their callings are provided with tools and materials, partly by the keeper, who gives them credit at a very moderate profit; partly by the alms occasionally given, which are divided with the utmost prudence and impartiality.
Accordingly, at this time, among others, a shoemaker, a tailor, a brazier, and a coachmaker are working at their several trades.
7. Only on the Lord's day they neither work nor play, but dress themselves as clean as they can, to attend the public service in the chapel, at which every person under the roof is present.
None is excused, unless sick ; in which case he is provided, gratis, both with advice and medicines.
8. And in order to assist them in things of the greatest concern (besides a sermon every Sunday and Thursday), they have a large Bible chained on one side of the chapel, which any of the prisoners may read.
By the blessing of God on these regulations the prison now has a new face: nothing offends either the eye or ear; and the whole has the appearance of a quiet, serious family.
And does not the keeper of Newgate deserve to be remembered full as well as the Man of Ross?
May the Lord remember him in that day!
Meantime, will no one follow his example?
Ian, Sir, " Your humble servant,
" JoHN WESLEY."
Sat. March 14.—I rode (from Birmingham) to Wednesbury.
Sunday, 15.
I made a shift to preach within at eight in the morning; but in the afternoon I knew
Marcu 1761
PREACHING DIFFICULTIES
not what to do, having a pain in my side, and a sore throat.
However, I resolved to speak as long as I could.
I stood at one end of the house, and the people (supposed to be eight or ten thousand) in the field adjoining.
I spoke from, "I count all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord."
When I had done speaking, my complaints were gone.
Mon. 16.—I intended to rest two or three days; but being pressed to visit Shrewsbury, and having no other time, I rode over to-day, though upon a miserable beast.
When I came, my head ached as well as my side.
I found the door of the place where I was to preach surrounded by a numerous mob. But they seemed met, only to starve.
Yet part of them came in; almost all that did (a large number) behaved quietly and seriously.
Preaching in the Inn Yard Tucs. 17.—At five the congregation was large, and appeared not a little affected.
The difficulty now was, how to get back.
For I could not ride the horse on which I came.
But this too was provided for.
We met in the street with one who lent me his horse, which was so easy that I grew better and better till I came to Wolverhampton.
None had yet preached abroad in this furious town; but I was resolved, with God's help, to make a trial, and ordered a table to be set in the innyard.
Such a number of wild men I have seldom seen ; but they gave me no disturbance, either while I preached, or when I afterwards walked through the midst of them.
About five I preached to a far larger congregation at Dudley, and all as quiet as at London.
The scene is changed, since the dirt and stones of this town were flying about me on every side.
Q74
WESLEY'S JOURNAL
May 1761 Sat. May 2 (Aberdeen).—In the afternoon I sent to the Principal and Regent to desire leave to preach in the College Close.
This was readily granted ; but as it began to rain, I was desired to go into the hall.
I suppose this is full an hundred feet long, and seated all around.
'The congregation was large, notwithstanding the rain ; and full as large at five in the morning.
Wesley Preaches at Aberdeen Mon. 4.—About noon I took a walk to the King's College, in Old Aberdeen.
It has three sides of a square, handsomely built, not unlike Queen's College in Oxford.
Going up to see the hall, we found a large company of ladies, with several gentlemen.
They looked, and spoke to one another, after which one of the gentlemen took courage and came to me.
He said, "Wecame last night to the College Close, but could not hear, and should be extremely obliged if you would give us a short discourse here."
I knew not what God might have to do; and so began without delay, on, "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself.'
I believe the word was not lost: it fell as dew on the tender grass.
In the afternoon I was walking in the library of the Marischal College, when the Principal, and the Divinity
Professor, came to me; and the latter invited me to his lodgings, where I spent an hour very agreeably.
In the evening, the eagerness of the people made them ready to trample each other under foot.
It was some time before they were still enough to hear; but then they devoured every word.
After preaching, Sir Archibald Grant (whom business had called to town) sent and desired tc speak to me.
I could not then, but promised to wait upon him, with God's leave in my return to Edinburgh.
May 1761
INSANITARY EDINBURGH
Tues. 5.—I accepted the Principal's invitation, and spent an hour with him at his house. I observed no stiffness at all, but the easy good breeding of a man of sense and learning.
I suppose both he and all the Professors, with some of the magistrates, attended in the evening. I set all the windows open ; but the hall, notwithstanding, was as hot as a bagnio.
Wed. 6.—At half-hour after six I stood in the College Close, and proclaimed Christ crucified.
My voice was so strengthened that all could hear ; and all were earnestly attentive.
Wesley's Criticism of Edinburgh Mon. 11.—I took my leave of Edinburgh for the present.
The situation of the city, on a hill shelving down on both sides, as well as to the east, with the stately castle upon a craggy rock on the west, is inexpressibly fine.
And the main street, so broad and finely paved, with the lofty houses on either hand (many of them seven or eight stories high), is far beyond any in Great Britain.
But how can it be suffered, that all manner of filth should still be thrown even into this street continually?
Where are the magistracy, the gentry, the nobility of the land?
Have they no concern for the honour of their nation?
How long shall the capital city of Scotland, yea, and the chief street of it, stink worse than a common sewer?
Will no lover of his country, or of decency and common sense, find a remedy for this ?
Holyrood House, at the entrance of Edinburgh, the ancient palace of the Scottish Kings, is a noble structure.
It was rebuilt and furnished by King Charles the Second.
One side of it is a picture-gallery, wherein are pictures of all the Scottish Kings, and an original one of the
WESLEY'S JOURNAL
June 1761 celebrated Queen Mary: it is scarce possible for any who looks at this to think her such a monster as some have painted her; nor indeed for any who considers the circumstances of her death, equal to that of an ancient martyr.
A Busy Week Mon. June 15.—I rode to Durham, having appointed to preach there atnoon. The meadow, near the river side, was quite convenient, and the small rain neither disturbed me nor the congregation.
In the afternoon I rode to Hartlepool; but I had much ado to preach; my strength was gone as well as my voice; and, indeed, they generally go together.
Three days in a week I can preach thrice a day without hurting myself; but I had now far exceeded this, besides meeting classes and exhorting the societies.
I was obliged to lie down good part of Tuesday : however, in the afternoon I preached at Cherington, and in the evening at Hartlepool again, though not without difficulty.
Wednesday, 17.
I rode to Stockton, where, a little before the time of preaching, my voice and strength were restored at once.
The next evening it began to rain just as I began to preach; but it was suspended till the service was over: it then rained again till eight in the morning.
Fri. 19.—It was hard work to ride eight miles (so called) in two hours and a half; the rain beating upon us, and the by-road being exceeding slippery.
But we forgot all this when we came to the Grange; so greatly was God present witn His people.
Thence we rode to Darlington.
Here we were under a difficulty again: not half the people could come in, and the rain forbade my preaching without.
But at one (the hour of preaching) the rain stopped and did not begin again till past
June 1761 ON A TABLE IN THE MARKET 277
two; so the people stood very conveniently in the yard ; and many did not care to go away.
When I went in, they crowded to the door and windows, and stayed till I took horse.
At seven I preached at Yarm, and desired one of our brethren to take my place in the morning, Wesley and Impositions Sun. 21.—I rode to Osmotherley, where the minister read prayers seriously, and preached an useful sermon.
After service I began in the church-yard:
I believe many were wounded and many comforted.
After dinner I called on Mr. Adams, who first invited me _ to Osmotherley.
He was reading the strange account of the two missionaries who have lately made such a figure—in the newspapers, I suppose the whole account is just such another gross imposition upon the public as the man's gathering the people together to see him go into the'quart bottle.
'* Men seven hundred years old! "
And why not seven yards high?
He that can believe it, let him believe it.
Mon. 22.—I spoke, one by one, to the society at Hutton Rudby.
Ateleven I preached once more, though in great weakness of body, and met the stewards of all the societies.
I then rode to Stokesley, and, having examined the little society, went on for Guisborough.
The sun was burning hot; but, in a quarter of an hour, a cloud interposed, and he troubled us no more.
I was desired by a gentlemen of the town to preach in the market-place; and there a table was placed for me, but it was in a bad neighbourhood ; for there was so vehement a stench of stinking fish, as was ready to suffocate me, and the people roared like the waves of the sea; but the voice of the Lord was mightier; and in a few
WESLEY'S JOURNAL
1761 minutes the whole multitude was still, and seriously attended while I proclaimed " Jesus Christ, made of God unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."
Tues. 23.—I began about five, near the same place, and had a great part of the same audience; yet they were not the same.
The change might easily be read in their countenance.
When we took horse, and just faced the sun, it was hard work for man and beast; but about eight the wind shifted, and blowing in our face, kept us cool till we came to Whitby.
In the evening I preached on the top of the hill, to which you ascend by an hundred ninety and one steps.
The congregation was exceeding large, and ninety-nine in an hundred were attentive.
When I began, the sun shone full in my face; but he soon clouded, and shone no more till I had done.
Wed. 24.—I walked round the old Abbey, which, both with regard to its size (being, I judge, an' hundred yards long), and the workmanship of it, is one of the finest, if not the finest, ruin in the kingdom.
Hence we rode to Robin Hood's Bay, where I preached at six in the Lower Street, near the quay.
In the midst of the sermon a large cat, frighted out of a chamber, leaped down upon a woman's head, and ran over the heads or shoulders of many more; but none of them moved or cried out, any more than if it had been a butterfly.
Thur, 25.—I had a pleasant ride to Scarborough, the wind tempering the heat of the sun.
I had designed to preach abroad in the evening ; but the thunder, lightning, and rain prevented: however, I stood on a balcony, and several hundreds of people stood below: and, notwithstanding the heavy rain, would not stir till I concluded.
Jury 1761
LEGAL ABSURDITIES
Fri. July 3.—We returned to York, where I was desired to call upon a poor prisoner in the castle.
I had formerly occasion to take notice of an hideous monster, called a Chancery Bill; I now saw the fellow to it, called a Declaration.
The plain fact was this:
Some time since a man who lived near Yarm assisted others in running some brandy.
His share was near four pounds.
After he had wholly left off that bad work, and was following his own business, that of a weaver, he was arrested, and sent to York gaol; and, not long after, comes down a Declaration, "that Jac.
Wh had landed a vessel laded with brandy and Geneva, at the port of London, and sold them there, whereby he was indebted to his Majesty five hundred and seventy-seven pounds and upwards."
And to tell this worthy story, the lawyer takes up thirteen or fourteen sheets of treble stamped paper.
A Monster Called a Declaration O England, England! will this reproach never be rolled away from thee?
Is there any thing like this to be found, either among Papists, Turks, or heathens ?
In the name of truth, justice, mercy, and common sense, I ask, 1. Why do men lie for lying sake?
Is it only to keep their hands in?
What need else, of saying it was the port of London, when every one knew the brandy was landed above three hundred miles frbm thence? What a monstrous contempt of truth does this show, or rather hatred to it!
2. Where is the justice of swelling four pounds into five hundred and seventy-seven?
3. Where is the common sense of taking up fourteen sheets to tell a story that may be told in ten lines?
4. Where is the mercy of thus grinding the face of the poor? thus sucking the blood of a poor, beggared prisoner?
Would not
WESLEY'S JOURNAL
Jury 1761 this be execrable villainy, if the paper and writing together were only sixpence a sheet, when they have stripped him already of his little all, and not left him fourteen groats in the world ?
Sun. 5.—Believing one hindrance of the work of God in York, was the neglect of field-preaching, I preached this morning at eight, in an open place, near the city walls.
Abundance of people ran together, most of whom were deeply attentive.
One or two only were angry, and threw a few stones; but it was labour lost; for none regarded them.
Sun. 12._I had appointed to be at Haworth; but the church would not near contain the people who came from all sides: however, Mr. Grimshaw had provided for this by fixing a scaffold on the outside of one of the windows, through which I went after prayers, and the people likewise all went out into the church-yard.
The afternoon congregation was larger still.
What has God wrought in the midst of those rough mountains!
Some Impudent Women Mon. 13.—About five I preached at Paddiham, another place eminent for all manner of wickedness.
The multitude of people obliged me to stand in the yard of the preaching-house.
Over against me, at a little distance, sat some of the most impudent women I ever saw: yet Iam not sure that God did not reach their hearts ; for They roar'd, and would have blush'd, if capable of shame,
Fri. 24.—About one I preached at Bramley, where Jonas Rushford, about fourteen years old, gave me the following relation :
'About this time last year I was desired by two of our neighbours to go with them to Mr. Crowther's at
Jury 1761
REMARKABLE SECOND SIGHT
Skipton, who would not speak to them, about a man that had been missing twenty days, but bid them bring a boy twelve or thirteen years old.
When we came in, he stood reading a book.
Seen in a Looking-glass '¢ He put me into a bed, with a looking-glass in my hand, and covered me all over. Then he asked me whom I had a mind to see; and I said, ' My mother.'
I presently saw her with a lock of wool in her hand, standing just in the place, and the clothes she was in, as she told me afterwards.
Then he bid me look again for the man that was missing, who was one of our neighbours.
And I looked and saw him riding towards Idle, but he was very drunk ; and he stopped at the alehouse and drank two pints more, and he pulled out a guinea to change.
Two men stood by, a big man and a little man; and they went on before him, and got two hedge-stakes; and when he came up, on Windle Common, at the top of the hill, they pulled him off his horse, and killed him, and threw him into a coal-pit.
And I saw it all as plain as if I was close to them.
And if I saw the men, I should know them again, 'We went back to Bradford that night; and the next day I went with our neighbours and showed them the spot where he was killed, and the pit he was thrown into; and a man went down and brought him up.
And it was as I had told them; his handkerchief was tied about his mouth, and fastened behind his neck."
Is it improbable only, or flatly impossible, when all the circumstances are considered, that this should all be pure fiction?
They that can believe this, may believe a man's getting into a bottle.
WESLEY'S JOURNAL _— Nov. 1761
Mon. July 27.—I preached at Staincross about eleven; about five, at Barley Hall; the next morning, at Sheffield.
In the afternoon I rode on to Matlock Bath.
The valley which reaches from the town to the bath is pleasant beyond expression.
In the bottom of this runs a little river, close to which a mountain rises, almost perpendicular, to an enormous height, part covered with green, part with ragged and naked rocks.
On the other side, the mountain rises gradually with tufts of trees here and there.
The brow on both sides is fringed with trees, which seem to answer each other.
Wesley at Matlock Bath and Boston Many of our friends were come from various parts.
At six I preached standing under the hollow of a rock, on one side of a small plain; on the other side of which was a tall mountain.
There were many well-dressed hearers, this being the high season; and all of them behaved well, But as I walked back, a gentleman-like man asked me, "' Why do you talk thus of faith?
Stuff, nonsense!"
Upon inquiry, I found he was an eminent Deist.
What, has the plague crept into the Peak of Derbyshire ?
Thur. Aug. 13.—I took a walk through Boston.
I think it is not much smaller than Leeds ; but, in general, it is far better built.
The church is indeed a fine building.
It is larger, loftier, nay, and rather more lightsome, than even St. Peter's at Norwich: and the steeple is, I suppose, the highest tower in England, nor less remarkable for the architecture than the height.
Sat.
Nov.
14.—I spent an hour with a little company near Grosvenor Square.
For many years this has been the darkest, driest spot, of all in or near