Sunday, February 28, 2010

A peculiar blessing

Sun 28 Feb 1762: We had a peculiar blessing at Spitalfields while I was enforcing, "Now is the day of salvation." Indeed there is always a blessing when we cut off all delay, and come to God now by simple faith.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Advise the Methodists not to leave the Church

Sat 27 Feb 1748: Mr. Swindells informed me that Mr. E. would take it a favour if I would write some little thing to ‘advise the Methodists not to leave the Church and not to rail at their ministers’. I sat down immediately and wrote A Word to a Methodist, which Mr. E. translated into Welsh and printed.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Translator

Fri 26 Feb 1768. I translated from the French one of the most useful tracts I ever saw, for those who desire to be ‘fervent in spirit’. How little does God regard men’s opinions! What a multitude of wrong opinions are embraced by all the members of the Church of Rome? Yet how highly favoured have many of them been!

Thursday, February 25, 2010

No packet-boat, so I'll preach

Thur. 25 Feb 1748. No packet-boat being come, I gave notice of preaching in the evening. The hearers were many more than the room could contain. And they all behaved with decency.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Wapping

Wed 24 Feb 1790: I preached once more at Wapping, to a crowded audience; and the next evening at the new chapel, thoroughly filled.

On wild deer and buffaloes and the king of Denmark

Wed 24 Feb 1773: A very remarkable paragraph was published in one of the Edinburgh Papers:—
"We learn from the Rosses, in the county of Donegal, in Ireland, that a Danish man-of-war, called the North Crown, commanded by the Baron D'Ulfeld, arrived off those islands, from a voyage of discovery towards the Pole. They sailed from Bornholme, in Norway, the 1st of June, 1769, with stores for eighteen months, and some able astronomers, landscape-painters, and every apparatus suitable to the design; and steering N. by E. half E., for thirty-seven days, with a fair wind and open sea, discovered a large rocky island, which having doubled, they proceeded W. N. W., till the 17th of September, when they found themselves in a strong current, between two high lands, seemingly about ten leagues distant, which carried them at a prodigious rate for three days, when, to their great joy, they saw the main land of America, that lies between the most westerly part of the settlements on Hudson’s River and California. Here they anchored, in a fine cove, and found abundance of wild deer and buffaloes, with which they victualled; and sailing southward, in three months got into the Pacific Ocean, and returned by the Straits of Le Maine and the West India Islands. They have brought many curiosities, particularly a prodigious bird, called a contor, or contose, above six feet in height, of the eagle kind, whose wings, expanded, measure twenty-two feet four inches. After bartering some skins with the country people, for meal, rum, and other necessaries, they sailed for Bremen, to wait the thaw, previous to their return to Copenhagen.
"February 24, 1773."
If this account is true, one would hope not only the King of Denmark will avail himself of so important a discovery.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Silence

Tue 23 Feb 1768: I rode to Shoreham and preached at five in Mr. Perronet’s house. But the next day, I preached in the church, being St. Matthias’s Day. I then rode back to a large room which is taken in Rotherhithe, above three miles from London Bridge. Although the people were strangely squeezed together, yet they appeared to be all attention. Not a cough was to be heard. I strongly exhorted them to ‘call upon the Lord while he is near’. And when I had concluded, no one offered to move, but everyone stood still in his place till I had passed through them.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Sitting for my Picture

Mon 22 Feb 1790: We had a comfortable opportunity at West-Street; and another on Tuesday evening at the new chapel, where we had also a solemn meeting of the Leaders. I submitted to importunity, and once more sat for my picture. I could scarce believe myself;—the picture of one in his eighty-seventh year!

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Rather speak under than above the truth

Sun 21 Feb 1779: I returned to Norwich and took an exact account of the society. I wish all our preachers would be accurate in their accounts and rather speak under than above the truth. I had heard again and again of the increase of the society. And what is the naked truth? Why, I left in it two hundred and two members—and I find one hundred and seventy-nine!

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Manifestations of the Spirit

Sat 20 Feb 1742: I preached at Weavers’ Hall. It was a glorious time. Several dropped to the ground as if struck by lightning. Some cried out in bitterness of soul. I knew not where to end, being constrained to begin anew, again and again. In this acceptable time we begged of God to restore our brethren who are departed from us for a season; and to teach us all to ‘follow after the things that make for peace’ and the ‘things whereby one may edify another’.

Friday, February 19, 2010

No Interruptions

Fri 19 Feb 1742: I went to Bath. Many threatened great things. But I knew the strength of them and their god. I preached on, ‘He shall save their people from their sins,’ none disturbing or interrupting me.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

At the Barracks

Thur 18 Feb 1768: Having been importunately pressed thereto, I rode (through a keen east wind) to Chatham. About six in the evening, I preached at the barracks in what they call ‘the Church’. It is a large room in which the chaplain reads prayers and preaches now and then. It was soon as hot as an oven through the multitude of people, some hundreds of whom were soldiers. And they were ‘all ear’, as Mr. Boston says, scarce allowing themselves to breathe. Even between five and six the next morning, the room was warm enough. I suppose upwards of two hundred soldiers were a part of the audience. Many of these are already warring a good warfare, knowing in whom they have believed.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

A great awakening among youth and children

Wed 17 Feb 1779: I went to Yarmouth and preached to a large and serious congregation. On Thursday I preached at Lowestoft, where is a great awakening, especially among youth and children, several of whom, between twelve and sixteen years of age, are a pattern to all about them.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Put all my little things in order.

Tues 16 Feb 1790: I retired to Balham for a few days, in order to finish my sermons, and put all my little things in order.

Monday, February 15, 2010

The Class Meeting

Mon 15 Feb 1742: Many met together to consult on a proper method for discharging the public debt. And it was at length agreed, (1) that every member of the society who was able should contribute a penny a week; (2) that the whole society should be divided into little companies or classes, about twelve in each class; and (3) that one person in each class should receive the contribution of the rest, and bring it in to the stewards weekly.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Christian Perfection

Sun 14 Feb 1762: I buried the remains of Thomas Salmon, a good and useful man. What was peculiar in his experience was, he did not know when he was justified; but he did know when he was renewed in love, that work being wrought in a most distinct manner. After this he continued about a year in constant love, joy, and peace; then, after an illness of a few days, he cheerfully went to God.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

The meeting of the penitents

Sat 13 Feb 1790: The meeting of the penitents in the evening was exceeding solemn; as indeed it generally is.

Friday, February 12, 2010

A Dangerous Calling

Fri 12 Feb 1748: After preaching at Oakhill about noon, I rode to Shepton [Mallet] and found them all under a strange consternation. A mob, they said, was hired, prepared, and made sufficiently drunk, in order to do all manner of mischief. I began preaching between four and five; none hindered or interrupted at all. We had a blessed opportunity, and the hearts of many were exceedingly comforted. I wondered what was become of the mob. But we were quickly informed. They mistook the place, imagining I should alight (as I used to do) at William Stone’s house, and had summoned by drum all their forces together to meet me at my coming. But Mr. Swindells innocently carrying me to the other end of the town, they did not find their mistake till I had done preaching, so that the hindering this, which was one of their designs, was utterly disappointed.
However, they attended us from the preaching-house to William Stone’s, throwing dirt, stones, and clods in abundance, but they could not hurt us; only Mr. Swindells had a little dirt on his coat, and I a few specks on my hat.
After we were gone into the house they began throwing great stones, in order to break the door. But, perceiving this would require some time, they dropped that design for the present. They first broke all the tiles on the penthouse over the door, and then poured in a shower of stones at the windows. One of their captains, in his great zeal, had followed us into the house and was now shut in with us. He did not like this and would fain have got out, but it was not possible. So he kept as close to me as he could, thinking himself safest when he was near me. But staying a little behind when I went up two pair of stairs and stood close on one side, where we were a little sheltered, a large stone struck him on the forehead, and the blood spouted out like a stream. He cried out, ‘Oh, sir, are we to die tonight? What must I do? What must I do?’ I said, ‘Pray to God. He is able to deliver you from all danger.’ He took my advice and began praying in such a manner as he had scarce done ever since he was born.
Mr. Swindells and I then went to prayer, after which I told him, ‘We must not stay here; we must go down immediately.’ He said, ‘Sir, we cannot stir; you see how the stones fly about.’ I walked straight through the room and down the stairs, and not a stone came in till we were at the bottom. The mob had just broke open the door when we came into the lower room, and exactly while they burst in at one door, we walked out at the other. Nor did one man take any notice of us, though we were within five yards of each other.
They filled the house at once and proposed setting it on fire. But one of them happening to remember that his own house was next, with much ado persuaded them not to do it. Hearing one of them cry out, ‘They are gone over the grounds,’ I thought the advice was good. So we went over the grounds to the far end of the town, where Abraham Jenkins waited, and undertook to guide us to Oakhill.
I was riding on in Shepton Lane, it being now quite dark, when he cried out, ‘Come down; come down from the bank.’ I did as I was bid, but, the bank being high and the side very near perpendicular, I came down all at once, my horse and I tumbling one over another. But we both rose unhurt. In less than an hour we came to Oakhill, and the next morning to Bristol.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

National Fast

Wed 10 Feb 1779: Today was the National Fast. So solemn a one I never saw before. From one end of the city to the other there was scarce anyone seen in the streets. All places of public worship were crowded in an uncommon degree, and an unusual awe sat on most faces. I preached on the words of God to Abraham, interceding for Sodom, ‘I will not destroy the city for his sake.’

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Building

Tue 9 Feb 1748: I met about sixty of the society in Bristol, to consult about enlarging the Room, and indeed securing it, for there was no small danger of its falling upon our heads. In two or three days two hundred and thirty pounds were subscribed. We immediately procured experienced builders to make an estimate of the expense. And I appointed five stewards (besides those of the society) to superintend the work.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Interruptions

Mon 8 Feb 1742: I rode to Bath, and in the evening explained the latter part of the seventh of St. Luke. Observing many noisy persons at the end of the room, I went and stood in the midst of them. But the greater part slipped away to that end from which I came, and then took heart, and cried aloud again. I paused, to give them their full scope, and then began a particular application to them. They were very quiet in a short time, and I trust will not forget it so soon as some of them may desire.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Robert Windsor

Sun 7 Feb 1790: I preached the funeral sermon of that saint of God, Robert Windsor, many years a burning and a shining light. He was born a few months after me; was a prudent, serious, diligent man, full of mercy and good fruits; without partiality, and without hypocrisy. He seemed on the brink of death some months ago; but was suddenly raised up again; praised God without ceasing a few days; and then laid down, and died.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Warning against enthusiasm

Fri 5 Feb 1762: I met at noon, as usual, those who believe they are saved from sin, and warned them of the enthusiasm which was breaking in, by means of two or three weak though good men, who, from a misconstrued text in the Revelation, inferred that they should not die. They received the warning in much love. However, this gave great occasion of triumph to those who sought occasion, so that they rejoiced, as though they had found great spoil.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Who can labour with the Methodists

Thur 4 Feb 1742: A clergyman lately come from America, who was at the preaching last night, called upon me, appeared full of good desires, and seemed willing to cast in his lot with us. But I cannot suddenly answer in this matter. I must first know what spirit he is of. For none can labour with us unless he ‘count all things dung and dross that he may win Christ’.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

All sorts of Preachers

Tue 2 Feb 1773: Captain Webb preached at the Foundery. I admire the wisdom of God, in still raising up various Preachers, according to the various tastes of men. The Captain is all life and fire: Therefore, although he is not deep or regular, yet many who would not hear a better Preacher flock together to hear him. And many are convinced under his preaching; some justified; a few built up in love.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Assurance of Salvation

Mon Feb 1 1748: I received an account of Mr. Towers of Leeds, who had even prayed that he might not know his sins forgiven (as believing it was the highest presumption). But notwithstanding this, as he lay one night upon his bed he did receive the knowledge of salvation by the remission of sins. And he declared it boldly, to the confusion, at least, if not conviction, of those who denied the truth.