much as to place or displace a steward. 5. Neither I,
June 1766
AN ANTI-METHODIST DEED
up three large skins of parchment, and so could not cost less than six guineas ; whereas our own deed, transcribed by a friend, would not have cost six shillings.
2. It is verbose beyond all sense and reason; and_ withal so ambiguously worded, that one passage only might find matter for a suit of ten or twelve years in Chancery.
It everywhere calls the house a meeting-house, a name which I particularly object to.
4. It leaves no power either to the assistant or me, so much as to place or displace a steward. 5. Neither I, nor all the Conference, have power to send the same preacher two years together.
To crown all, 6. Ifa preacher is not appointed at the Conference, the trustees and the congregation are to choose one by most votes!
And can any one wonder I dislike this deed, which tears the Methodist discipline up by the roots ?
Is it not strange, that any who have the least regard either for me or our discipline, should scruple to alter this uncouth deed ?
Wesley Covered with Mud Tues. June 24.—Before eight we reached Dumfries, and after a short bait pushed on in hopes of reaching
Solway-frith before the sea was come in.
Designing to call at an inn by the frith side, we inquired the way, and were directed to leave the main road, and go straight to the house which we saw before us.
In ten minutes Duncan Wright was embogged; however, the horse plunged on, and got through.
I was inclined to turn back: but Duncan telling me I needed only go a little to the left, I did so, and sunk at once to my horse's shoulders.
He sprung up twice, and twice sunk again, each time deeper than before.
At the third plunge he threw me on one side, and we both made shift to scramble
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Jury 1766 out.
I was covered with fine, soft mud, from my feet to the crown of my head; yet, blessed be God, not hurt at all.
But we could not cross till between seven and eight o'clock.
An honest man crossed with us, who went two miles out of his way to guide us over the sands to Skilburness ; where we found a little, clean house, and passed a comfortable night.
Sat. July 19.—I took a view of Beverley minster, such a parish church as has scarce its fellow in England.
It is a most beautiful as well as stately building, both within and without, and is kept more nicely clean than any cathedral which I have seen in the kingdom; but where will it be when the earth is burned up, and the elements melt with fervent heat?
About one I preached at Pocklington (though my strength was much exhausted), and in the evening at York.
Sun. 27.—As Baildon church would not near contain the congregation, after the prayers were ended, I came out into the church-yard, both morning and afternoon.
The wind was extremely high, and blew in my face all the time; yet, I believe, all the people could hear.
At Bradford there was so huge a multitude, and the rain so damped my voice, that many in the skirts of the congregation could not hear distinctly.
They have just built a preaching-house, fifty-four feet square, the largest octagon we have in England ; and it is the first of the kind where the roof is built with common sense, rising only a third of its breadth; yet it is as firm as any in England ; nor does it at all hurt the walls.
Why then does any roof rise higher?
Only through want of skill, or want of honesty, in the builder.
Tues.
29.—In the evening I preached near the preaching-house at Paddiham, and strongly insisted on communion with God, as the only religion that would
Auc. 1766 VERDICT FOR METHODISTS
availus.
At the close of the sermon came Mr. M.
His long, white beard showed that his present disorder was of some continuance.
In all other respects, he was quite sensible; but he told me, with much concern, "You can have no place in heaven without—a beard!
Therefore, I beg, let yours grow immediately."
Wesley Secures Justice for Methodists Sat. Aug. 30.—We rode to Stallbridge, long the seat of war, by a senseless, insolent mob, encouraged by their betters, so called to outrage their quiet neighbours.
For what?
Why, they were mad: they were Methodists.
So, to bring them to their senses, they would beat their brains out.
They broke their windows, leaving not one whole pane with glass, spoiled their goods, and assaulted their persons with dirt, and rotten eggs, and stones, whenever they appeared in the street.
But no magistrate, though they applied to several, would show them either mercy or justice.
At length they wrote to me.
I ordered a lawyer to write to the rioters.
He did so; but they set him at naught.
We then moved the Court of King's Bench.
By various artifices, they got the trial put off, from one assizes to another, for eighteen months.
But it fell so much the heavier on themselves, when they were found guilty; and, from that time, finding there is law for Methodists, they have suffered them to be at peace.
I preached near the main street, without the least disturbance, to a large and attentive congregation.
Thence we rode on to Axminster, but were throughly wet before we came thither.
The rain obliged me to preach within at six; but at seven on Sunday morning, I cried in the market-place, "The kingdom of God is at hand; repent ye, and believe the Gospel."
WESLEY'S JOURNAL _ Szpr. 1766
In the evening I preached in the street at Ashburton.
Many behaved with decency; but the rest, with such stupid rudeness as I have not seen, for a long time, in any part of England.
Mon.
September 1.—I came to Plymouth Dock, where, after heavy storms, there is nowacalm.
The house, notwithstanding the new galleries, were extremely crowded in the evening. I strongly exhorted the backsliders to return to God; and I believe many received
'the word of exhortation."
Tues. 2.—Being invited to preach in the Tabernacle at Plymouth, I began about two in the afternoon.
In the evening I was offered the use of Mr. Whitefield's room at the dock; but, large as it is, it would not contain the congregation.
At the close of the sermon, a large stone was thrown in at one of the windows, which came just behind me, and fell at my feet, the best place that could have been found.
So no one was hurt or frightened, not many knowing anything of the matter.
Gwennap's Famous Amphitheatre Sun. 7.—At eight I preached in Mousehole, a large village south-west from Newlyn.
Thence I went to Buryan church, and, as soon as the service was ended, preached near the church-yard, to a numerous congregation.
Just after I began, I saw a gentleman before me, shaking his whip, and vehemently striving to say something.
But he was abundantly too warm to say anything intelligibly.
So, after walking a while to and fro, he wisely took horse, and rode away.
Fri. 12.—I rode to St. Hilary, and in the evening preached near the new house on, '"' Awake, thou that sleepest."
In returning to my lodging, it being dark,
Serr. 1766 TWENTY THOUSAND LISTENERS 327
my horse was just stepping into a tin-pit, when an honest man caught him by the bridle, and turned his head the other way.
Sun. 14.—I preached in St. Agnes at eight.
The congregation in Redruth, at one, was the largest I ever had seen there; but small, compared to that which assembled at five, in the natural amphitheatre at Gwennap; far the finest I know in the kingdom.
It is a round, green hollow, gently shelving down, about fifty feet deep; but I suppose it is two hundred across one way, and near three hundred the other.
I believe there were full twenty thousand people; and, the evening being calm, all could hear.
Mon. 15.—I preached at Cubert, and next morning rode on to St. Columb.
Being desired to break the ice here, I began preaching, without delay, in a gentleman's yard adjoining to the main street.
I chose this, as neither too public nor too private.
I fear the greater part of the audience understood full little of what they heard.
However, they behaved with seriousness and good manners.
Hence I rode to Port-Isaac, now one of the liveliest places in Cornwall.
The weather being uncertain, I preached near the house.
But there was no rain while I preached, except the gracious rain which God sent upon his inheritance.
Here Mr. Buckingham met me, who, for fear of offending the bishop, broke off all commerce with the Methodists.
He had no sooner done this, than the bishop rewarded him by turning him out of his curacy; which, had he continued to walk in Christian simplicity, he would probably have had to this day.
Wed. 17.—I twice stopped a violent bleeding from a cut, by applying a brier-leaf.
The room at Launceston
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Nov. 1766 would not near contain the congregation in the evening to whom I strongly applied the case of the impotent man at the pool of Bethesda.
Many were much affected: but, O, how few are willing to be made whole } Wesley on a Country Life Mon. Nov. 3.—I rode to Brentford from London, where all was quiet, both in the congregation and the society.
Tuesday, 4.
I preached at Brentford, Battersea, Deptford, and Welling, and examined the several societies.
Wednesday, 5.
I rode by Shoreham to Sevenoaks.
In the little journeys which I have lately taken, I have thought much on the huge encomiums which have been for many ages bestowed on a country life.
How have all the learned world cried out, O fortunati nimium, sua si bona norint, Agricole | But, after all, what a flat contradiction is this to universal experience!
See that little house, under the wood, by the river side!
There is rural life in perfection.
How happy then is the farmer that lives there?
Let us take a detail of his happiness.
He rises with, or before, the sun, calls his servants, looks to his swine and cows, then to his stables and barns.
He sees to the ploughing and sowing his ground, in winter or in spring.
In summer and autumn he hurries and sweats among his mowers and reapers.
And where is his happiness in the meantime?
Which of these employments do we envy?
Or do we envy the delicate repast that succeeds, which the poet so languishes for >—
O quando faba, Pythagoree cognata, simulque Uncta satis pingui ponentur oluscula lardo |