at Bolton ;where the people seemed to be on the wing, just
REV. J. WESLEY'S
[May, 1781. at Kidderminster, to a numerous congregation.
With much difficulty we reached Salop in the evening, and found the people waiting.
There has been no tumult since the new House was built.
So far God has helped us.
Thur. 17.—I preached at Whitchurch and Nantwich; Friday, 18, at eleven, in the chapel near Northwich ; and in the evening at Manchester.
Sunday,.20. I found much enlargement in applying to a numerous congregation the lovely account given by St.
James of " pure religion and undefiled."
In the afternoon, I preached a funeral sermon for Mary Charlton, an Israelite indeed.
From the hour that she first knew the pardoning love of God, she never lost sight of it fora moment.
Eleven years ago, she believed that God had cleansed her from all sin; and she showed that she had not believed in vain, by her holy and unblamable conversation.
Mon. 21.—I went over to Warrington, and preached in the evening.
Fearing many of the congregation rested in a false peace, I endeavoured to undeceive them, by closely applying those words, " Ye shall know them by their fruits." Tuesday,
22. About eleven, I preached at Chowbent, and in the evening at Bolton ; where the people seemed to be on the wing, just ready to take their flight to heaven.
Wed. 23.—Having appointed to preach at Blackburn, I was desired to take Kabb in my way.
But such a road sure no carriage ever went before.
I was glad to quit it, and use my own feet.
About twelve I found a large number of plain, artless people, just fit for the Gospel.
So I applied our Lord's words, " If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink."
In the evening I preached in the new House at Blackburn.
Thur, 24.—I went on to Preston, where the old prejudice seems to be quite forgotten.
The little society has fitted up a large and convenient House, where I preached to a candid audience.
Every one seemed to be considerably affected: I hope in some the impression will continue.
Fri, 25.—We went on to Ambleside; and on Saturday, to Whitehaven.
Sunday, 27. I preached, morning and evening, in the House; in the afternoon, in the market-place.
But abundance of people went away, not being able to bear the intense heat of the sun.
Wed. 30.—I embarked on board the packct-boat for the Isle of Man.
We had a dead calm for many hours: However, we
June, 1781.] JOURNAL.
landed at Douglas on Friday morning.
Both the Preachers met me here, and gave me a comfortable account of the still increasing work of God, Before dinner, we took a walk in a garden near the town, wherein any of the inhabitants of it may walk.
It is wonderfully pleasant ; yet not so pleasant as the gardens of the Nunnery, (so it is still called,) which are not far from it.
These are delightfully laid out, and yield to few places of the: size in England.
At six I preached in the market-place, to a large congregation ; all of whom, except a few children, and two or three giddy young women, were seriously attentive.
Sat.
June 2.—I rode to Castleton, through a pleasant and (now) well-cultivated country.
At six I preached in the market-place, to most of the inhabitants of the town, on,
"One thing is needful."
I believe the word carried conviction into the hearts of nearly all that heard it.
Afterwards I walked to the house of one of our English friends, about two miles from the town. All the day I observed, wherever I was, one circumstance that surprised me:—In England we generally hear the birds singing morning and evening ; but here thrushes, and various other kinds of birds, were singing all day long.
They did not intermit, even during the noon-day heat, where they had a few trees to shade them.
June 3.—(Being Whit-Sunday.) I preached in tne market-place again about nine, to a still larger congregation than before, on, " I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ."
How few of the genteel hearers could say so!
About four in the afternoon, I preached at Barewle, on the mountains, to a larger congregation than that in the morning.
The rain began soon after I began preaching ; but ceased in a few minutes. I preached on, " They were all filled with the Holy
Ghost ;" and showed in what sense this belongs to us and to our children.
Between six and seven I preached on the sea-shore at Peel, to the largest congregation I have seen in the island : Even the society nearly filled the House. I scon found what spirit they were of.
Hardly in England (unless perhaps at Bolton) have I found so plain, so earnest, so simple a people.
Mon. 4.—We had such a congregation at five, as might have been expected on a Sunday evening.
We then rode through and over the mountains to Beergarrow ; where I enforced, on
REV. J. WESLEY'S
[June, 1781. an artless, loving congregation, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink." A few miles from thence, we came to Bishop's Court, where good Bishop Wilson resided near threescore years.
There is something venerable, though not magnificent, in the ancient palace; and it is undoubtedly situated in one of the pleasantest spots of the whole island.
At six in the evening I preached at Balleugh; but the preaching-house would not contain one half of the congregation; of which the Vicar, Mr. Gilling, with his wife, sister, and daughter, were a part. He invited me to take a breakfast with him in the morning, Tuesday, 5; which I willingly did.
He read family-prayers before breakfast, in a very serious manner.
After spending a little time very agreeably, I went on to Kirk-Andrews.
Here also I was obliged to preach in the open air; the rain being suspended till I had done.
In the afternoon we rode through a pleasant and fruitful country, to Ramsay, about as large as Peel, and more regularly built.
The rain was again suspended while I preached to well nigh all the town; but I saw no inattentive hearers.
Wed. 6.—We had many of them again at five, and they were all attention.
This was the place where the Preachers had little hope of doing good. I trust they will be happily disappointed.
This morning we rode through the most woody, and far the pleasantest, part of the island ;—a range of fruitful land, lying at the foot of the mountains, from Ramsay, through Sulby, to Kirkmichael.
Here we stopped to look at the plain tomb-stones of those two good men, Bishop Wilson and Bishop
Hildesley ; whose remains are deposited, side by side, at the east end of the church.
We had scarce reached Peel before the rain increased ; but here the preaching-house contained all that could come.
Afterwards, Mr. Crook desired me to meet the singers.
I was agreeably surprised.
I have not heard better singing either at Bristol or London.
Many, both men and women, have admirable voices ; and they sing with good. judgment.
Who would have expected this in the Isle of Man?
Thur. 7.—I met our little body of Preachers.
They were two-and-twenty in all.
I never saw in England so many stout, well-looking Preachers together.
If their spirit be answerable to their look, I know not what can stand before them. In the
June, 1781.] JOURNAL.
afternoon I rode over to Dawby, and preached toa very large and very serious congregation.
Fri. 8.—Having now visited the island round, east, south, north, and west, I was thoroughly convinced that we have no such Circuit as this, either in England, Scotland, orIreland.
It is shut up from the world ; and, having little trade, is visited by scarce anystrangers. Here are no Papists, no Dissenters of any kind, no Calvinists, no disputers.
Here is no opposition, either from the Governor, (a mild humane man,) from the Bishop, (a good man,) or from the bulk of theClergy. One or two of them did oppose for a time ; but they seem now to understand better.
So that we have now rather too little, than too much, reproach; the scandal of the cross being, for the present, ceased.
The natives are a plain, artless, simple people ; unpolished, that is, unpolluted ; few of them are rich or genteel ; the far greater part, moderately poor; and most of the strangers that settle among them are men that have seen affliction.
The Local Preachers are men of faith and love, knit together in one mind and one judgment.
They speak either Manx or English, and follow a regular plan, which the Assistant gives them monthly.
The isle is supposed to have thirty thousand inhabitants.
Allowing half of them to be adults, and our societies to contain one or two and twenty hundred members, what a fair proportion is this!
What has been seen like this, in any part either of Great Britain or Ireland?
Sat. 9.—-We would willingly have set sail; but the strong north-east wind prevented us. Monday, 11. It being moderate, we put to sea: But it soon died away into a calm; so I had time to read over and consider Dr. Johnson's " Tour through Scotland."'
I had heard that he was severe upon the whole nation; but I could find nothing of it.
He simply mentions (but without any bitterness) what he approved or disapproved ; and many of the reflections are extremely judicious ; some of them very affecting.
Tues. 12.—The calm continuing, I read over Mr. Pennant's "Tour through Scotland."
How amazingly different from Dr. Johnson's!
He is doubtless a man both of sense and learning.
Why has he then bad English in almost every page?
No man should be above writing correctly.
Having several passengers on board, I offered to give them a sermon; which they willingly accepted.
And all behaved