of New-York, to let her take my effigy in wax-work, She
Jan. 1774
WESLEY ELECTRIFIED
that I slept not a minute till near three in the morning.
On the following nine days I grew better.
Sun. 19.—I thought myself able to speak to the congregation, which I did for half an hour; but afterwards I found a pain in my left side and in my shoulder by turns, exactly as I did at Canterbury twenty years before.
In the morning I could scarce lift my hand to my head; but, after being electrified, I was much better ; so that I preached with tolerable ease in the evening ; and the next evening read the letters, though my voice was weak.
From this time I slowly recovered my voice and my strength; and on Sunday preached without any trouble.
Mon. Oct. 4.—I went, by Shepton-mallet, to Shaftesbury, and on Tuesday to Salisbury.
Wednesday, 6.
Taking chaise at two in the morning, in the evening I came well to London.
The rest of the week I made what inquiry I could into the state of my accounts.
Some confusion had arisen from the sudden death of my book-keeper; but it was less than might have been expected.
A Monster Elm Monday, 11, and the following days, I took a little tour through Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire.
Between Northampton and Towcester we met with a great natural curiosity, the largest elm I ever saw; it was twenty-eight feet in circumference; six feet more than that which was some years ago in Magdalen-college walks at Oxford.
1774. Mon. Jan. 24.—I was desired by Mrs. Wright, of New-York, to let her take my effigy in wax-work,
She has that of Mr. Whitefield and many others; but none of them, I think, comes up to a well-drawn picture,
WESLEY'S JOURNAL _—_ June 1774 Fri. May 20.—I rode over to Mr. Fraser's, at Monedie, whose mother-in-law was to be buried that day.
O what a difference is there between the English and the Scotch method of burial!
The English does honour to human nature ; and even to the poor remains, that were once a temple of the Holy Ghost!
But when I see in Scotland a coffin put into the earth, and covered up without a word spoken, it reminds me of what was spoken concerning Jehoiakim, ' He shall be buried with the burial of an ass |"
Wesley Arrested in Edinburgh Wed. June 1.—I went to Edinburgh, and the next day examined the society one by one. I was agreeably surprised.
They have fairly profited since I was here last.
Such a number of persons having sound Christian experience I never found in this society before.
I preached in the evening to a very elegant congregation, and yet with great enlargement of heart.
Sat. 4.—I found uncommon liberty at Edinburgh in applying Ezekiel's vision of the dry bones.
As I was walking home, two men followed me, one of whom said, "Sir, you are my prisoner.
I have a warrant from the Sheriff to carry you to the Tolbooth."
At first I thought he jested; but finding the thing was serious, I desired one or two of our friends to go up with me.
When we were safe lodged in a house adjoining to the Tolbooth, I desired the officer to let me see his warrant.
I found the prosecutor was one George Sutherland, once a member of the society.
He had deposed, " That Hugh Saunderson, one of John Wesley's preachers, had taken from his wife one hundred pounds in money, and upwards of thirty pounds in goods; and had, besides that, terrified her into madness; so that, through the
Jone 1774 PREACHING ON CASTLE HILL
want of her help, and the loss of business, he was damaged five hundred pounds."
Before the Sheriff, Archibald Cockburn, Esq., he had deposed, " That the said John Wesley and Hugh Saunderson, to evade her pursuit, were preparing to fly the country; and therefore he desired his warrant to search for, seize, and incarcerate them in the Tolbooth, till they should find security for their appearance." To this request the Sheriff had assented, and given his warrant for that purpose.
But why does he incarcerate John Wesley?
Nothing is laid against him, less or more.
Hugh Saunderson preaches in connexion with him.
What then?
Was not the Sheriff strangely overseen ?
Mr. Sutherland furiously insisted that the officer should carry us to the Tolbooth without delay.
However, he waited till two or three of our friends came, and gave a bond for our appearance on the 24th instant.
Mr.S. did appear, the cause was heard, and the prosecutor fined one thousand pounds, Wesley's Terrible Ride Sun. 5.—About eight I preached at Ormiston, twelve miles from Edinburgh.
The house being small, I stood in the street, and proclaimed " the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ."
The congregation behaved with the utmost decency.
So did that on the Castle-hill in Edinburgh, at noon; though I strongly insisted, that God
"now commandeth all men everywhere to repent."
In the evening the house was thoroughly filled; and many seemed deeply affected.
I do not wonder that Satan, had it been in his power, would have had me otherwise employed this day.
Mon. 20.—About nine I set out from Sunderland for Horsley, with Mr, Hopper and Mr, Smith.
I took Mrs,
WESLEY'S JOURNAL
June 1774 Smith and her two little girls, in the chaise with me.
About two miles from the town, just on the brow of the hill, on a sudden both the horses set out, without any visible cause, and flew down the hill, like an arrow out of a bow.
Ina minute John fell off the coach-box.
The horses then went on full speed, sometimes to the edge of the ditch on the right, sometimes on the left.
A cart came up against them: they avoided it as exactly as if the man had been on the box.
A narrow bridge was at the foot of the hill.
They went directly over the middle of it.
They ran up the next hill with the same speed ; many persons meeting us, but getting out of the way.
Near the top of the hill was a gate, which led into a farmer's yard.
It stood open.
They turned short, and run through it, without touching the gate on one side, or the post on the other.
I thought, '"' However, the gate which is on the other side of the yard, and is shut, will stop them": but they rushed through it, as if it had been a cobweb, and galloped on through the corn-field.
The little girls cried out, "Grandpapa, save us!"
I told them, " Nothing will hurt you: do not be afraid"; feeling no more fear or care (blessed be God !) than if I had been sitting in my study.
The horses ran on, till they came to the edge of a steep precipice.
Just then Mr. Smith, who could not overtake us before, galloped in between.
They stopped ina moment, Had they gone on ever so little, he and we must have gone down together !
I am persuaded both evil and good angels had a large share in this transaction: how large we do not know now ; but we shall know hereafter.
Tues. 28.—This being my birth-day, the first day of my seventy-second year, I was considering, How is this, that I find just the same strength as I did thirty years
Jury 1774. WESLEY AT SEVENTY-ONE
$97 ago?
That my sight is considerably better now, and my nerves firmer, than they were then?
That I have none of the infirmities of old age, and have lost several I had in my youth?
The grand cause is, the good pleasure of God, who doeth whatsoever pleaseth Him.
The chief means are:
1. My constantly rising at four, for about fifty years.
2. My generally preaching at five in the morning ; one of the most healthy exercises in the world.
3My never travelling less, by sea or land, than four thousand five hundred miles in a year.
A Collier's Remarkable Escape Sat. July 30.—I went to Madeley ; and in the evening preached under a sycamore-tree, in Madeley-wood, to a large congregation, good part of them colliers, who drank in every word.
Surely never were places more alike, than Madeley-wood, Gateshead-fell, and Kingswood.
Sun. 31.—The church could not contain the congregation, either morning or afternoon ; but in the evening I preached to a still larger congregation at Broseley ; and equally attentive.
I now learned the particulars of a remarkable story, which I had heard imperfectly before:
—Some time since, one of the colliers here, coming home at night, dropped into a coal-pit, twenty-four yards deep.
He called aloud for help, but none heard all that night, and all the following day.
The second night, being weak and faint, he fell asleep, and dreamed that his wife, who had been some time dead, came to him, and greatly comforted him.
In the morning, a gentleman going a hunting, an hare started up just before the hounds, ran straight to the mouth of the pit, and was gone; no man could tell how.
The hunters searched all round the pit, till they heard a voice from the bottom
WESLEY'S JOURNAL
Ocr. 1774
They quickly procured proper help, and drew up the man unhurt.
Tues. Aug. 2.—I preached at ten in the town-hall at Evesham, and rode on to Broadmarston.
Thur. 4.—I crossed over to Tewkesbury, and preached at noon in a meadow near the town, under a tall oak.
I went thence to Cheltenham.
As it was the high season for drinking the waters, the town was full of gentry: so I preached near the market-place in the evening, to the largest congregation that was even seen there.
Some of the footmen at first made a little disturbance; but I turned to them, and they stood reproved.
Sat. 6.—I walked from Newport to Berkeley-castle.
It is a beautiful, though very ancient, building; and every part of it kept in good repair, except the lumberroom and the chapel; the latter of which, having been of no use for many years, is now dirty enough. I particularly admired the fine situation, and the garden on the top of the house.
In one corner of the castle is the room where poor Richard II. was murdered.
His effigy is still preserved, said to be taken before his death.
If he was like this, he had an open, manly countenance, though with a cast of melancholy.
In the afternoon we went on to Bristol.
Wesley at Corfe Castle Mon. Oct. 10.—I preached at Salisbury; and on Tuesday, 11, set out for the Isle of Purbeck.
When we came to Corfe-castle, the evening being quite calm and mild, I preached in a meadow near the town, to a deeply attentive congregation, gathered from all parts of the island.
Wed. 12.—I preached to a large congregation at five, who seemed quite athirst for instruction.
Afterwards
Ocr.1774 A REMARKABLE METHODIST
we took a walk over the remains of the castle, so bravely defended in the last century, against all the power of the Parliament forces, by the widow of the Lord Chief Justice
Banks.
It is one of the noblest ruins I ever saw: the walls are of an immense thickness, defying even the assaults of time, and were formerly surrounded by a deep ditch.
The house, which stands in the middle, on the very top of the rock, has been a magnificent structure.
Some time since the proprietor fitted up some rooms on the south-west side of this, and laid out a little garden, commanding a large prospect, pleasant beyond description.
For a while he was greatly delighted with it: but the eye was not satisfied with seeing.
It grew familiar ; it pleased no more; and is now run all to ruin.
No wonder: what can delight always, but the knowledge and love of God ?
A Methodist Isaac Newton Monday, 31, and the following days, I visited the societies near London.
Friday, November 4.
In the afternoon John Downes (who had preached with us many years) was saying, "I feel such a love to the people at West-street, that I could be content to die with them.
I do not find myself very well; but I must be with them this evening."
He went thither, and began preaching, on, 'Come unto me, ye that are weary and heavy-laden."
After speaking ten or twelve minutes, he sunk down and spake no more, till his spirit returned to God.
I suppose he was by nature full as great a genius as Sir Isaac Newton. I will mention but two or three instances of it :—-When he was at school, learning Algebra, he came one day to his master, and said, " Sir, I can prove this proposition a better way than it is proved in the book."
WESLEY'S JOURNAL
Nov. 1774
His master thought it could not be; but upon trial, acknowledged it to be so.
Some time after, his father sent him to Newcastle with a clock, which was to be mended.
He observed the clockmaker's tools, and the manner how he took it in pieces, and put it together again; and when he came home, first made himself tools, and then made a clock, which went as true as any in the town.
I suppose such strength of genius as this has scarce been known in Europe before.
Another proof of it was this :—Thirty years ago, while I was shaving, he was whittling the top of a stick: I asked, " What are you doing?"
He answered, "I am taking your face, which I intend to engrave on a copperplate."
Accordingly, without any instruction, he first made himself tools, and then engraved the plate.
The second picture which he engraved, was that which was prefixed to the " Notes upon the New Testament."
Such another instance, I suppose, not all England, or perhaps Europe, can produce.
For several months past, he had far deeper communion with God, than ever he had had in his life; and for some days he had been frequently saying, '"'I am so happy, that I scarce know how to live.
I enjoy such fellowship with God, as I thought could not be had on this side heaven."
And having now finished his course of fifty-two years, after a long conflict with pain, sickness, and poverty, he gloriously rested from his labours, and entered into the joy of his Lord.
Sun. 13.—After a day of much labour, at my usual time (half-hour past nine), I lay down to rest. I told my servants, "I must rise at three, the Norwich coach setting out at four."
Hearing one of them knock, though sooner than I expected, I rose and dressed myself; but afterwards, looking at my watch, I found it was but
Nov. 1774
A BIG FIRE
half-hour past ten. While I was considering what to do, I heard a confused sound of many voices below: and looking out at the window towards the yard, I saw it was as light as day.
Meantime, many large flakes of fire were continually flying about the house; all the upper part of which was built of wood, which was near as dry as tinder.
A large deal-yard, at a very small distance from us, was all in a light fire; from which the north-west wind drove the flames directly: upon the Foundery ; and there was no possibility of help, for no water could be found.
Perceiving I could be of no use, I took my Diary and my papers, and retired to a friend's house.
I had no fear; committing the matter into God's hands, and knowing He would do whatever was best.
Immediately the wind turned about from northwest to south-east ; and our pump supplied the engines with abundance of water; so that in a little more than two hours, all the danger was over.
Wesley in the Fens Tues. 22.—I took a solemn and affectionate leave of the society at Norwich.
About twelve we took coach.
About eight, Wednesday, 23, Mr. Dancer met me with a chaise, and carried me to Ely. O what want of common sense!
Water covered the high-road for a mile anda half.
I asked, "How must foot-people come to the town?"
'Why, they must wade through !"
About two I preached in a house well filled with plain, loving people.
I then took a walk to the cathedral, one of the most beautiful I have seen.
The western tower is exceeding grand; and the nave of an amazing height.
Hence we went through a fruitful and pleasant country, though surrounded with fens, to Sutton.
Here many people had lately been stirred up: they had prepared