Saturday, December 4, 2010

Genuine instance of enthusiasm

Sat 4 Dec 1742: I was both surprised and grieved at a genuine instance of enthusiasm. John Brown, of Tanfield Lea, who had received a sense of the love of God a few days before, came riding through the town, hollowing and shouting, and driving all the people before him, telling them God had told him he should be a king, and should tread all his enemies under his feet. I sent him home immediately to his work, and advised him to cry day and night to God that he might be lowly in heart, lest Satan should again get an advantage over him.
Today a gentleman called and offered me a piece of ground. On Monday an article was drawn, wherein he agreed to put me into possession on Thursday, upon payment of thirty pounds.