1 God brought that device to nought, and ordered by his Monday 28, Upon mention being made of my design to Sunday 14, Mr. G. assisted me at the Chapel, one who had then a deep sense of the goodness of God, in lifting him up from the gates of death, and delivering him out of all his troubles. Monday 22, After a few of us had joined in prayer, about four I set out, and rode softly to Snow-hill, where the saddle slipping quite upon my mare's neck, I fell over her head, and she ran back into Smithfield. Some boys caught her, and brought her to me again, cursing and swearing all the way. I spoke plainly to them, and they promised to amend. I was setting forward, when a man cried, "Sir, you have lost your saddle-cloth." Two or three more would needs help me to put it on; but these two swore at almost every word. Iturned to one and another and spoke in love. They all took it well and thanked me much. I I gave them two or three little books which they promised to read over carefully. Before I reached Kensington, I found my mare had lost ' a shoe. This gave me an opportunity of talking closely for near half an hour, both to the smith and his servant. I mention these little circumstances to shew, how easy it is to redeem every fragment of time (if I may so speak) when we feel any love to those souls for which Christ died. Tuesday 23, I came to Kingswood in the afternoon, and 1 in the evening preached at Bristol. Wednesday 24, I made it my business to inquire, concerning the truth of a strange relation which had been given me. And I found there was no possibility of doubting it. The plain fact was this: "The Rev. Mr. (I use the words of a gentleman of Bristol, whose manuscript lies by me) preached at two or three churches on these words, Having the form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. After shewing the different sorts of dissenters from the Church of England, who (as he said) had only the form of godliness, he inveighed very much against the novel sect, the upstart Methodists, (as he termed them) which indeed he was accustomed to do, more or less, in almost all his sermons. These are the men,' said he, whom St. Paul foretold, who have the form, the outside show of holiness, but not the power; for they are ravening wolves, full of hypocrisy within.' He then alleged many grievous things against them; but without all colour of truth: and warned his flock to turn away from them, and not to bid them God speed, lest they should be partakers of their evil deeds. "Shortly after he was to preach at St. Nicholas' church. He had named the above-mentioned text twice, when he was suddenly seized with a rattling in his throat, attended with a hideous groaning. He fell backward against the door of the pulpit; burst it open, and would have fallen down the stairs, but that some people caught him, and carried him away, as it seemed, dead, into the vestry. In two or three days he recovered his senses, and the Sunday following, died!" well as women The spirit of In the evening, the word of God was indeed quick and powerful. Afterwards I desired the men as to meet. But I could not speak to them. prayer was so poured upon us all, that we could only speak to God. Having found, for some time, a strong desire to unite with Mr. Whitefield, as far as possible; to cut off needless dispute, I wrote down my sentiments, as plainly as I could, in the following terms: "There are three points in debate, 1, Unconditional Election; 2, Irresistible Grace; 3, Final Perseverance. "With regard to the first, Unconditional Election, I believe, That God before the foundation of the world, did unconditionally elect certain persons to do certain works, as Paul to preach the Gospel :-That he has unconditionally elected some nations to receive peculiar privileges, the Jewish nation in particular :-That he has unconditionally elected some nations to hear the Gospel, as England and Scotland now, and many others in past ages:-That he has unconditionally elected some persons, to many peculiar advantages, both with regard to temporal and spiritual things :-And I do not deny (though I cannot prove it is so,).That he has unconditionally elected some persons to eternal glory. But I cannot believe, That all those who are not thus elected to glory, must perish everlastingly: or that there is one soul on earth, who has not, nor ever had, a possibility of escaping eternal damnation. With regard to the second, Irresistible Grace, I believe, That the grace which brings faith, and thereby salvation into the soul, is irresistible at that moment.-That most believers may remember some time when God did irresistibly convince them of sin :-That most believers do at some other times find God irresistibly acting upon their souls :-Yet I believe, that the grace of God both before and after those moments, may be and hath been resisted and, that, in general it does not act irresistibly, but we may comply therewith, or may not. "And I do not deny, that in some souls the grace of God is so far irresistible, that they cannot but believe and be finally saved. "But I cannot believe, that all those must be damned, in whom it does not thus irresistibly work :-or, that there is one soul on earth, who has not, and never had any other grace, than such as does in fact encrease his damnation, and was designed of God so to do. With regard to the third, Final Perseverance, I incline to believe, that there is a state attainable in this life, from which a man cannot finally fall :-That he has attained this, who can say, Old things are passed away; all things in me are become new." Thursday 25, My subject in the evening was, As ye have received the Lord Jesus Christ, so walk ye in Him. O what a season was this! I scarce remember such an hour, since the first stone of the house was laid. Friday 26, I set out for Cornwall. In the evening I preached at the Cross in Taunton, on The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. A poor man had posted himself behind, in order to make some disturbance. But the time was not come. The zealous wretches who deny the Lord that bought them, had not yet stirred up the people. Many cried out. "Throw down that rascal there; knock him down; beat out his brains." So that I was obliged to entreat for him more than once, or he would have been but roughly handled. Saturday 27, I reached Exeter in the afternoon; but as no one knew of my coming, I did not preach that night, only to one poor sinner at the inn; who after listening to our conversation for a while, looked earnestly at us and asked, "Whether it was possible for one who had in some measure known the powers of the world to come, and was fallen away, (which she said was her case) to be renewed again to repentance? We besought God on her behalf, and left her sorowing; yet not without hope. Sunday 28, I preached at seven to a handful of people. The sermon we heard at Church, was quite innocent of meaning what that in the afternoon was, I know not; for I could not hear a single sentence. From Church I went to the Castle, where were gathered together (as some imagined) half the grown persons in the city. It was an awful sight. So vast a congregation in that solemn amphitheatre! And all were silent and still, while I explained at large and enforced that glorious truth, Happy are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. I went thence to poor Mr. V—, the clegyman, lying under sentence of death. He had for some time acted the lunatic: but I soon put him out of his play; and he appeared to have wit enough in his anger. I designed to close in with him immediately; but two cruelly-impertinent gentlemen, would needs come into the room, so that I could say no more, but was obliged to leave him in their hands. Who The lad, who was to die the next day, was quite of another spirit. He appeared deeply affected while we were speaking, and yet more during our prayer. And no sooner were we gone, than he broke out into a bitter cry. knows but he might be heard by Him that made him? Monday 29, We rode forward. in the middle of the first, great, Launceston. About eight we were got quite out of our way. But we had not gone far before we heard Bodmin bell. Directed by this, we turned to the left, and came to the town before nine. About sunset we were pathless moor beyond. Tuesday 30, In the evening we reached St. Ives. At seven I invited all guilty, helpless sinners, who were conscious, they had nothing to pay, to accept of free forgiveThe room was crowded both within and without. But all were quiet and attentive. ness. Near Wednesday 31, I spoke severally with those of the society, who were about one hundred and twenty. a hundred of these had found peace with God. Such is the blessing of being persecuted for righteousness' sake! As we were going to Church at eleven, a large company at the market-place, welcomed us with a loud huzza: wit as harmless as the ditty sung under my window (composed, one assured me, by a gentlewoman of their own town) 66 Charley Wesley is come to town, To try if he can pull the churches down." In the evening I explained "the promise of the Father." After preaching, many began to be turbulent. But John Nelson went into the midst of them, and spoke a little to the loudest, who answered not again, but went quietly away. |