by that providential storm of thunder and lightning, is not
REV. J. WESLEY'S
(Oct. 1783.
Wednesday, 8. We took a wherry for the Isle of Wight.
Before we were half over, the sea rose, and the water washed over us.
However, we got safe to Watton-Bridge, and then walked on to Newport.
There is much life among the people: here ; and they walk worthy of their profession.
Thur. 9.—I went to Newtown, (two miles from Newport,) supposed to be the oldest town in the isle; but its glory is past!
The church lies in ruins, and the town has scarce six houses remaining.
However, the preaching-house was thoroughly filled; and the people appeared to be all of one rank; none rich and none extremely poor; but all were extremely serious and attentive.
Fri, 10.—I crossed over to Southampton ; and found two or three there also who feared and loved God.
Then I went to Winchester, and had the pleasure of dining with Mr. Lowth, and supping with Mrs. Blackwell. Her six lovely children are in admirable order ; it is a pleasure to see them.
A Clergyman having offered me his church, I purposed beginning at five; but the key was not to be found; so I made a virtue of necessity, and preached near the Cross-Street; probably to double the congregation which would have been in the church.
Many of the Dutch prisoners remaining here, I paid thema short visit. When they were brought hither first, one of them prayed with as many as desired it, and gave them a word of exhortation. Presently one found peace with God, and joined him in that labour of love.
These increased, so that they have now five exhorters : Many are justified, and many more convinced of sin.
About two hundred of them were met together when I came: They first sung a hymn in their own language ; I then gave them a short exhortation in English, for which they were extremely thankful.
Sat. 11.—Just at twelve (the same hour as at Bristol) I was. taken exceeding ili, and so continued till three.
I then took chaise, as I-had appointed, and was better and better every stage, and quite well when I came to London. j Mon. 13.—I preached at Wallingford.
Tuesday, 14. I went on to Oxford, and found both the congregation and society increased in zeal as well as in number.
Wednesday, 15. I came to Witney.
The flame which was kindled here by that providential storm of thunder and lightning, is not extinguished ; but has continued ever since, with no discernible
Oct. 1783.] JOURNAL:
intermission.
The preaching-house is still too small for the congregation, Thursday, 16.
I preached at High-Wycomb ; and on Friday returned to London.
Sun. 19.—I took the diligente for Norwich, and preached there the next evening, to more than the House would contain; and both this night and the following, we sensibly felt that God was in the midst of us.
Wednesday, 22. I went to Yarmouth.
Often this poor society had been well nigh shattered in pieces; first, by Benjamin Worship, then a furious Calvinist, tearing away near half of them; next, by John Simpson turning Antinomian, and scattering most that were left.
It has pleased God, contrary to all human probability, to raise a new society out of the dust; nay, and to give them courage to build a new preaching-house, which is well finished, and contains about five hundred persons.
I opened it this evening ; and as many as could get in, seemed to be deeply affected.
Who knows but God is about to repair the waste places, and to gather a people that shall be scattered no more ?
Thur. 28.—We went to Lowestoft, where the people have stood firm from the beginning. Observing in the evening, that forty or fifty people were talking together, as soon as the service was over, (a miserable custom that prevails in most places of public worship, throughout England and Ireland,) I strongly warned the congregation against it; as I had done those at Norwich and Yarmouth.
They received it in love; and the next evening, all went silently away. But this warning must be given again and again in every place, or it will not be effectual.
Sat. 25.—I preached in Lowestoft at five; at eight to an earnest, lively people at Cove; and at one to a more numerous, but not more lively, congregation at Loddon.
The most numerous was that at Norwich in the evening, many of whom were truly alive to God.
Sun. 26.—I gave the sacrament at seven; at nine I preached at Bear-Street, where I am in hopes considerable good will be done.
The most serious congregation in our House we had at two; but the most numerous at six ; though not above half of those that came could get in.
Those that could hear, did not lose their labour; for God " satisfied the hungry with good things."
Mon. 27.—I talked at large with M. F. Such a case I have not known before. She has been in the society nearly from the
264,
REV. J. WESLEY'S
[Nov. 1783. beginnizg.
She found peace with God five-and-thirty years ago; and the pure love of God a few years after.
Above twenty years she has been a Class and a Band Leader, and of very eminent use.
Ten months since she was accused of drunkenness, and of revealiig the secret of her friend. Being informed of this, I wrote to Norwich, (as I then believed the charge,) that she must be no longer a Leader, either of a band or aclass.
The Preacher told her further, that, in his judgment, she was unfit to be a member of the society. Upon this she gave up her ticket, together with the band and her classpapers.
Immediately all her friends (of whom she seemed to have a large number) forsook her at once. No one knew her, or spoke to her.
She was as a dead thing out of mind !
On making a more particular inquiry, I found that Mrs.
(formerly a common woman) had revealed her own secret, to Dr. Hunt, and twenty people besides.
So the first accusation vanished into air. As to the second, I verily believe, the drunkenness with which she was charged, was, inreality, the falling down in a fit. So we have thrown away one of the most useful Leaders we ever had, for these wonderful reasons !
Wed. 29.—I crossed over to Lynn, and found things much better than I expected.
The behaviour of Mr. G , which one would have imagined would have done much harm, had rather done good.
People in general cried, " Let that bad man go, they will do better without him." Andthe House was sufficiently crowded with serious hearers.
Novemser 1. I returned to London.
In the two following weeks I visited the classes both in London and the neighbouring societies.
Sunday, 16. Being much importuned, I preached in the evening at Mr. Maxfield's chapel.
But I dare not do so again, as it cannot contain one third of that congregation at the new chapel.
Mon. 17.—I preached at Sevenoaks, and on Tuesday, 18, at Mount-Ephraim, near Tunbridge-Wells.
Wednesday, 19, I came once more to the lovely family at Shoreham. A little longer that venerable old man is permitted to remain here, that the flock may not be scattered.
When I was at Sevenoaks I made an odd remark.
In the year 1769, I weighed an hundred and twenty-two pounds. In 1783, I weighed not a pound more or less.
I doubt whether such another instance is to be found in Great Britain.
Mon. 24.—I preached at Canterbury, and again on Wednes-
Jan. 1784.) JOURNAL.
day; on Tuesday, 25, at Dover; Thursday, 27, at Sheerness, where Mr. Fox read Prayers, and I preached on those words in the Second Lesson, "To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts."
Fri. 28.—I returned to London.
Tuesday, DecemBer 2.
I married Mr. Rutherford and Miss Lydia Duplex.
Wednesday, 8. I took a little journey into Hertfordshire ; and having preached at Hinxworth, and Wrestlingworth, on Friday, 5, I preached at Barnet, and on Saturday, 6, returned to London.
I now inquired more carefully and particularly into the strange case of poor Mr. M.
But the more I inquired, the worse the matter appeared to be.
It was plain, by the evidence of many unexceptionable witnesses, that he had told innumerable lies; affirming, denying, and affirming again!
And this man, who has lived above twenty years in a constant course of lying and slandering, tells you, he enjoys constant communion with God; and that nothing can make him happier, but heaven !
Thur. 18.—I spent two hours with that great man, Dr.
Johnson, who is sinking into the grave by a gentle decay.
Wednesday, 24. While we were dining at Mr. Blunt's, his servant-maid, ill of a sore throat, died.
Saturday, 27. £ dined at Mr. Awbrey's, with Mr. Wynantz, son of the Dutch merchant at whose house I met with Peter Béhler and his brethren, forty-five years ago.
Wed. 31.—We concluded the year at the new chapel, with the voice of praise and thanksgiving.
Thur.
January 1, 1784.—I retired for two or three days to Peckham.
Sunday, 4. Though it rained violently, we had, I believe, upwards of eighteen hundred people, at the renewal of the Covenant: Many found an uncommon blessing therein.
Iam sure I did, for one.
Tues. 6.—At noon I preached at Barking, and in the evening at Purfleet, to a people that were all alive.
Wednesday, 7.
I went on to Colchester; and on Friday, 9, returned to London.
Mon. 12.—Desiring to help some that were in pressing want, but not having any money left, I believed it was not improper, in such a case, to desire help from God.
A few hours after, one from whom I expected nothing less, put ten pounds into my hands.
Wed. 21.—Being vehemently accused, by a well-meaning man, of very many things, particularly of covetousness and
REV. J. WESLEY'S
[March, 1784. uncourteousness, I rcferred the matter to three of our brethren.
Truly in these articles, "I know nothing by myself.
But he that judgeth me is the Lord."
Sat, 24.—I began visiting the classes in the town and country.
Sunday, 25. I preached in the afternoon in St.
George's, Southwark ; a very large and commodious church.
Thursday, Vesruary 5. I went down to Nottingham, and preached a charity sermon for the General Hospital.
The next day I returned to London.
In the following week I visited the country societies.
Saturday, 14. I desired all our Preachers to meet, and consider thoroughly the proposal of sending Missionaries to the East Indies.
After the matter had been fully considered, we were unanimous in our judgment, that we have no call thither yet, no invitation, no providential opening of any kind.
Thur. 19.—I spent an agreeable hour with the modern Hannibal, Pascal Paoli; probably the most accomplished General that is now in the world.
He is of a middle size, thin, wellshaped, genteel, and has something extremely striking in his countenance.
How much happier is he now, with his moderate pension, than he was in the midst of his victories !
On Saturday, having a leisure hour, I made an end of that strange book, "Orlando Furioso."
Ariosto had doubtless an uncommon genius, and subsequent poets have been greatly indebted to him: Yet it is hard to say, which was the most: out of his senses, the hero or the poet.
He has not the least regard even to probability; his marvellous transcends all conception.
Astolpho's shield and horn, and voyage to the moon, the lance that unhorses every one, the all-penetrating sword, and I know not how many impenetrable helmets and coats of mail,—leaves transformed into ships, and into leaves again,—stoncs turned into horses, and again into stones,—are such monstrous fictions as never appeared in the world before, and, one would hope, never will again.
O who, that is not himself out of his senses, can compare Ariosto with Tasso !
Mon. Marcu 1.—I went to Newbury, and preached in the. evening toa large and deeply affected congregation.
Tuesday, 2, and Wednesday, 8, 1 preached at Bath, and on Thursday, 4, went on to Bristol.
Friday, 5. I talked at large with our Masters in Kingswood School, who are now just such as I wished for.
At length the Rules of the House are punctually observed, and the children are all in good order.
March, 1784.] JOURNAL,
Sat. 6.—I spent a few melancholy minutes at Mr. Hender-. son's with the lost Louisa.
She is now ina far more deplorable case than ever.
She used to be mild, though silly: But now she is quite furious.
I doubt the poor machine cannot be repaired in this life. d The next week I visited the classes at Bristol.
Friday, 12, being at Samuel Raynev's, in Bradford, I was convinced of two vulgar errors ; the one, that nightingales will not live in cages ; the other that they only sing a month or two in the year.
He has now three nightingales in cages; and they sing almost all day long, from November to August.
Saturday, 13. About nine I preached at Trowbridge, where a large congregation quietly attended.
Returning to Bristol, I lodged once more at E J 's, a genuine old Methodist.
God has lately taken away her only brother, as well as her beloved sister.
But she was still able to say, "It is the Lord: Let him do what seemeth him good."
Mon. 15.—Leaving Bristol after preaching at five, in the evening I preached at Stroud; where, to my surprise, I found the morning preaching was given up, as also in the neighbouring places.
If this be the case while I am alive, what must it be when I am gone?
Give up this, and Methodism too will degenerate into a mere sect, only distinguished by some opinions and modes of worship.
Tues. 16.1 preached in Painswick at noon, and at Gloucester in the evening.
The Room was full at five in the morning, and both the Preachers.and people promised to neglect the early preaching no more.
Wednesday, 17. We went to Cheitenham, which I had not seen for many years.
I preached at noon to half a houseful of hearers, most of them cold and dead. enough.
I expected to find the same at Tewkesbury, but was agreeably disappointed.
Not only the congregation was much larger, but I admired their teachableness.
On my mentioning the impropriety of standing at prayer, and sitting while we were singing praise to God, they all took advice ; kneeling while we prayed, and stood up while we sung Psalms.
Thur. 18.—We crossed over to Bengeworth, where Mr.
Cooper read Prayers, and I preached.
Friday, 19. Being informed that my chaise could pass part of the way to Broadmarston, I went boldly for a while, and then stuck fast.
I borrowed a horse, and went on. At five I preached in Pebworth church, and at five in the morning in our own chapel at Broad-