and preached to a more numerous and serious congre-
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to Mr. M ; twenty years ago a zealous and useful magistrate, now a picture of human nature in disgrace ; feeble in body and mind ; slow of speech and of understanding.
Lord, let me not live to be useless !
1764.
Mon. Jan. 16.—I rode to High Wycombe, and preached to a more numerous and serious congregation than ever I saw there before.
Shall there be yet another day of visitation to this careless people ?
A large number was present at five in the morning: but my face and gums were so swelled I could hardly speak.
After I took horse, they grew worse and worse, till it began to rain.
I was then persuaded to put on an oil-case hood, which (the wind being very high) kept rubbing continually on my cheek, till both pain and swelling were gone.
A Difficult Crossing Between twelve and one we crossed Ensham Ferry.
The water was like a sea on both sides.
I asked the ferryman, "'Can we ride the causeway?"
He said, "Yes, sir; if you keep in the middle."
But this was the difficulty, as the whole causeway was covered with water to a considerable depth.
And this in many parts ran over the causeway with the swiftness and violence of a sluice.
Once my mare lost both her fore feet, but she gave a spring, and recovered the causeway: otherwise we must have taken a swim; for the water on either side was ten or twelve feet deep.
However, after one or two more plunges more, we got through, and came safe to Whitney.
Mon. Feb. 6.—I opened the new chapel at Wapping.
Thur. 16.—I once more took a serious walk through the tombs in Westminster Abbey.
What heaps of unmeaning stone and marble!
But there was one tomb
WESLEY'S JOURNAL = Marcu 1764 which showed common sense; that beautiful figure of Mr. Nightingale endeavouring to screen his lovely wife from Death.
Here indeed the marble seems to speak, and the statues appear only not alive, Fri. 24—I returned to London.
Wednesday, 29.
I heard "Judith," an oratorio, performed at the Lock.
Some parts of it are exceedingly fine ; but there are two things in all modern pieces of music, which I could never reconcile to common sense.
One is, singing the same words ten times over; the other, singing different words by different persons, at one and the sams time.
And this, in the most solemn addresses to God, whetuer by way of prayer or of thanksgiving.
This can never be defended by all the musicians in Europe, till reas 1 is quite out of date.
Wesley at Birmingham, Walsall, and Derby Wed. March 21.—We had an exceeding large con gregation at Birmingham, in what was formerly the playhouse.
Happy would it be, if all the playhouses in the kingdom were converted to so good an use.
After service the mob gathered, and threw some dirt and stones at those who were going out.
But it is probable they will soon be calmed, as some of them are in gaol already.
A few endeavoured to make a disturbance the next evening during the preaching; but it was lost labour; the congregation would not be diverted from taking earnest heed to the things that were spoken.
Fri, 23.—I rode to Dudley, formerly a den of lions, but now as quiet as Bristol.
They had just finished their preaching-house, which was thoroughly filled.
I saw no trifler ; but many in tears.
Mon. 26.—I was desired to preach at Walsal.
James Jones was alarmed at the motion, apprehending there
Marcu1764
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would be much disturbance.
However, I determined to make the trial.
Coming into the house, I met with a token for good.
A woman was telling her neighbour why she came: "I had a desire," said she, 'to hear this man; yet I durst not, because I heard so much ill of him; but this morning I dreamed I was praying earnestly, and I heard a voice, saying, 'See the eighth verse of the first chapter of St. John.'
I waked, and got my Bible, and read, 'He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.'
I got up, and came away with all my heart."
The house not being capable of containing the people, about seven I began preaching abroad; and there was no opposer, no, nor a trifler to be seen.
All present were earnestly attentive.
How is Walsal changed! How has God either tamed the wild beasts, or chained them up!
Tues. 27.—We rode to Derby.
Mr. Dobinson believed it would be best for me to preach in the marketplace, as there seemed to bea general inclination in the town, even among people of fashion, to hear me.
He had mentioned it to the mayor, who said he did not apprehend there would be the least disturbance; but if there should be any thing of the kind, he would take care to suppress it.
A multitude of people were gathered at five, and were pretty quiet till I had named my text.
Then "the beasts of the people" lifted up their voice, hallooing and shouting on every side.
Finding it impossible to be heard, I walked softly away.
An innumerable retinue followed me; but only a few pebble-stones were thrown, and no one hurt at all.
Most of the rabble followed quite to Mr. D s house ; but it seems, without any malice prepense ; for they stood stock-still about an hour, and then quietly went away.
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Aprit 1764 Sat. 31 (Rotherham).—An odd circumstance occurred during the morning preaching.
It was well, only serious persons were present.
An ass walked gravely in at the gate, came up to the door of the house, lifted up his head, and stood stock-still, in a posture of deep attention.
Might not "the dumb beast reprove" many who have far less decency, and not much more understanding ?
"No Law for Methodists "
At noon I preached (the room being too small to contain the people) in a yard, near the bridge, in Doncaster.
The wind was high and exceeding sharp, and blew all the time on the side of my head.
In the afternoon I was seized with a sore throat, almost as soon as I came to Epworth; however, I preached, though with some difficulty; but afterward I could hardly speak.
Being better the next day, Sunday, April 1, I preached about one at Westwood Side, and soon after four, in the market-place at Epworth, to a numerous congregation.
At first, indeed, but few could hear ; but the more I spoke, the more my voice was strengthened, till toward the close, all my pain and weakness were gone, and all could hear distinctly.
Mon. April 2.—I had a day of rest.
Tuesday, 3, I preached, about nine, at Scotter, a town six or seven miles east of Epworth, where a sudden flame is broke out, many being convinced of sin almost at once, and many justified.
But there were many adversaries stirred up by a bad man, who told them, "There is no law for Methodists."
Hence continual riots followed; till, after a while, an upright magistrate took the cause in hand, and so managed both the rioters and him who set them at work, that they have been quiet as lambs ever since.
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Thur. 5.—About eleven I preached at Elsham.
The two persons who are the most zealous and active here are the steward and gardener of a gentleman, whom the minister persuaded to turn them off unless they would leave '"' this way."
He gave them a week to consider of it; at the end of which they calmly answered, " Sir, we choose rather to want bread here, than to want 'a drop of water' hereafter."
He replied, "Then follow your own conscience, so you do my business as well as formerly."
Fri. 6.—I preached at Ferry at nine in the morning, and in the evening; and, about noon, in Sir N. H.'s hall, at Gainsborough.
Almost as soon as I began to speak, a cock began to crow over my head; but he was quickly dislodged, and the whole congregation, rich and poor, were quiet and attentive.
Wesley Unhorsed Sun, 8.—I set out for Misterton, though the common road was impassable, being all under water; but we found a way to ride round. I preached at eight, and I saw not one inattentive hearer.
In our return, my mare rushing violently through a gate, struck my heel against the gate-post, and left me behind her in an instant, laid on my back at full length.
She stood still till I rose and mounted again; and neither of us was hurt at all.
Tues. 10.—The wind abating, we took boat at Barton, with two such brutes as I have seldom seen.
Their blasphemy, and stupid gross obscenity, were beyond all I ever heard.
We first spoke to them mildly; but it had no effect.
At length we were constrained to rebuke them sharply ; and they kept themselves tolerably within bounds, till we landed at Hull.
I preached at five, two
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May 1764 hours sooner than was expected ; by this means we had tolerable room for the greatest part of them that came; and I believe not many of them came in vain.
Mon. 16.—At six I began preaching in the street at Thirsk.
The congregation was exceeding large.
Just as I named my text, "What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" a man on horseback, who had stopped to see what was the matter, changed colour and trembled.
Probably he might have resolved to save his soul, had not his drunken companion dragged him away.
Wesley on Holy Island Mon. May 21.—I took my leave of Newcastle; and about noon preached in the market-place at Morpeth.
A few of the hearers were a little ludicrous at first ; but their mirth was quickly spoiled.
In the evening I preached in the Court-house at Alnwick, where I rested the next day.
Wednesday, 23. I rode over the sands to Holy Island, once the famous seat of a Bishop; now the residence of a few poor families, who live chiefly by fishing.
At one side of the town are the ruins of a cathedral, with an adjoining monastery.
It appears to have been a lofty and elegant building, the middle aisle being almost entire.
I preached in what was once the market-place, to almost all the inhabitants of the island, and distributed some little books among them, for which they were exceeding thankful.
In the evening I preached at Berwick-upon-Tweed ; the next evening at Dunbar; and on Friday, 25, about ten, at Haddington, in Provost D.'s yard, to a very elegant congregation.
But I expect little good will be done here; for we begin at the wrong end: religion must not go from the greatest to the least, or the power would appear to be of men.