at Sevenoaks again, where our labour has not been in vain.
REV. J. WESLEY'S
[Jan. 1775.
Thur. Decrmper 1.—I preached at Dorking, and was much pleased with the congregation, who seented to "taste the good word."
Friday, 2. I returned to London.
Mon. 5.—I preached at Canterbury; and Tuesday, 6, at Dover.
As I was setting out thence on Wednesday morning, 2 wagon, jostling us, disabled our chaise.
Our coachman went back to procure another, saying, he would soon overtake us.
He did so after we had walked nine or ten miles, and brought us safe to Canterbury, where I spent a day or two with much satisfaction ; and on Saturday, returned home.
Mon. 12.—I opened the new House at Sevenoaks. Tuesday, 13. About noon I preached at Newbounds ; and in the evening at Sevenoaks again, where our labour has not been in vain.
Wed. 14.—I rode to Chatham, and found that James Wood, one of our Local Preachers, who, being in a deep consumption, had been advised to spend some time in France, had come back thither two or three days before me.
The day after he came he slept in peace: And two days after, his body was interred, all our brethren singing him to the grave, and praising God on his behalf.
I preached his funeral sermon to a crowded audience, on the text which he had chosen: " Let me die the death of the righteous; and let my last end be like his!"
Monday, 19, and the following days, I read with the Preachers what I judged most useful: And we endeavoured to " provoke one another to love and to good works."
Thur, 22.—I walked, with one that belongs to the family, through the Queen's house.
The apartments are nothing so rich as those in Blenheim House, but full as elegant.
Nor is any thing in Blenheim itself more grand than the staircase and the saloon.
But I was quite disappointed in the Cartoons; they are but the shadow of what they were: The colours are so entirely faded, that you can hardly distinguish what they were onee.
Sun. 25,—I buried the body of Esther Grimaldi, who died in the full triumph of faith.
"A mother in Israel'? hast thou been; and thy "works shall praise thee in the gates !"?
During the twelve festival days, we had the Lord's Supper daily ; a little emblem of the Primitive Church.
May we be followers of them in all things, as they were of Christ !
Sun. Janvary 1, 1775.—We had a larger congregation at the renewal of the Covenant than we have had for many years ;
Feb. 1775.] JOURNAL.
And I do not know that ever we had a greater blessing.
Afterwards many desired to return thanks, either for a sense of pardon, for full salvation, or for a fresh manifestation of his grace, healing all their backslidings.
Tues. 10.—I set out for Bedfordshire, and in the evening preached at Luton.
Wednesday, 11. I crept on through a miserable road to Bedford, but was well rewarded by the behaviour of the congregation.
Thur. 12.—We crossed over the country to Godmanchester.
The whole town seemed to be moved.
The people flocked together from all parts, so that the barn would in nowise contain them.
I found great liberty of speech among them, and could not doubt but God would confirm the word of his messenger.
Fri. 13.—Even at poor, dead Hertford was such a concourse of people, that the Room would not near contain them.
And most of them were deeply attentive while I explained these awful words, "I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God."
Sun. 29.—Finding many were much dejected by the threatening posture of public affairs, I strongly enforced our Lord's words, " Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith???
And of a truth God spoke in his word.
Many were ashamed of their unbelieving fears; and many enabled to " be careful for nothing," but simply to " make " all their " requests known unto God with thanksgiving."
Sun. Fesruary 5.—I saw a glorious instance of the power of faith.
Thomas Vokins, a man of a sorrowful spirit, used always to hang down his head like a bulrush. But a few days since, as he was dying without hope, God broke in upon his soul; and from that time he has been triumphing over pain and death, and rejoicing with joy full of glory.
Wed. 8.—I had a particular conversation with Mr. Ferguson on some difficulties in philosophy: He seemed throughly satisfied himself; but he did not satisfy me. I still think both Mr.
Kennedy and Mr. Jones have fully proved their several points.
Wed. 22.—I had an opportunity of seeing Mr. Gordon's curious garden at Mile-end, the like of which I suppose is hardly to be found in England, if in Europe.
One thing in particular I learned here, the real nature of the tea-tree. Iwas informed, 1. That the Green and the Boheaare of quite different species. 2. That the Bohea is much tendererthan the Green.