Preaching to a wild, unbroken herd

Mon. 18 July 1774. I reached Brigg before eight and, by the request of the chief persons in the town, preached at nine in the market-place to a large and attentive congregation. Hence I went on to Tealby and preached near the church to a multitude of plain, serious country people. Very different from the wild, unbroken herd to whom I preached at Horncastle in the evening.

Both the horses laid down and died

Mon. 18 July 1743. I set out from Newcastle with John Downes of Horsley. We were four hours riding to Ferryhill, about twenty measured miles. After resting there an hour we rode softly on, and at two o’clock came to Darlington. I thought my horse was not well. He thought the same of his; though they were both young, and very well the day before. We ordered the hostler to fetch a farrier, which he did without delay. But before the men could determine what was the matter, both the horses laid down and died.

I hired a horse to Sandhutton and rode on, desiring John Downes to follow me. Thence I rode to Boroughbridge on Tuesday morning, and then walked on to Leeds.

My favourite congregation

Sun. 17 Jul 1743. I preached (as I had done the Wednesday before) to my favourite congregation at Plessey, on ‘Him hath God exalted with his own right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour.’ I then joined a little company of them together, who desire ‘repentance and remission of sins’.

Prayer of the Day: The Righteous Gentiles

[Although the phrase "Righteous Gentiles" has become a general term for any non-Jew who risked their life to save Jews during the Holocaust, it here appears to apply specifically to: Raoul Wallenberg [Swedish, d. 1947] Hiram Bingham IV [d. 1988, American]; Karl Lutz [d. 1975, Swiss]; C. Sujihara [Japanese]; and Andre Trocme [French]

God of the Covenant and Lord of the Exodus, by the hand of Moses you delivered your chosen people from cruel enslavement: We give you thanks for Raoul Wallenberg and all those Righteous Gentiles who with compassion, courage and resourcefulness rescued thousands of your children from certain death. Grant that, in the power of your Spirit, we may protect the innocent of every race and creed in the Name of Jesus Christ, strong Deliverer of us all; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.



[Sourced here]

The sun shining in my face was a little troublesome

Sat. 16 July 1774. I went to Epworth and preached in the market-place to a numerous and quiet congregation. Sunday 17, about eight, I preached at Misterton. The sun shining in my face was a little troublesome at first but was soon covered with clouds. We had an useful sermon at Haxey church. About one, I preached at Upperthorpe; and between four and five, the rain being stayed, I began in Epworth market-place. Such a congregation never met there before. And they did not meet in vain.

God ‘has a few names’

Thur. 14 July 1774. About nine, I preached at Wakefield, and in the evening at Doncaster. Here also God ‘has a few names’. On Friday 15, about eleven, I preached at Thorpe, and in the evening at Rotherham to a people who both understand and love the gospel.

Convinced by strong but artless words

Thur. 14 Jul 1743. I preached at the Lower Spen, seven or eight (northern) miles from Newcastle. John Brown had been obliged to remove hither from Tanfield Lea (I believe by the peculiar providence of God). By his rough and strong, though artless words, many of his neighbours had been much convinced, and began to search the Scriptures as they never had done before; so that they did not seem at all surprised when I declared, ‘He that believeth, hath everlasting life.’

A Perfectly Unanimous Conference

Friday, July 1, 1785. Most of our travelling preachers met, to confer together on the things of God. We began and ended in much peace and love, being all resolved not to ‘do the work of the Lord so lightly’. Sunday 3, we had a larger congregation than ever at St. Patrick’s, where many of our brethren found such a blessing that they will not easily be so prejudiced against the Church as they were in time past. Wed. 6. We concluded our Conference. I remember few such conferences, either in England or Ireland: so perfectly unanimous were all the preachers and so determined to give themselves up to God.

Prayer for the Week from Book of Common Prayer for this week

O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and may also have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
[from BCP]

Wesley and the ‘hundred forty and four thousand, standing with the Lamb on mount Zion’.

Tuesday 12 July 1774: was the Quarterly Meeting. It was a busy and yet a comfortable day. Many were refreshed both at the love-feast and while I was describing the ‘hundred forty and four thousand, standing with the Lamb on mount Zion’. Who is ambitious to be of that number?

Preaching to " the crowds of poor wretches"

Sun. 10 July 1743: I preached at eight on Chowdean Fell, on ‘Why will ye die, O house of Israel?’ Ever since I came to Newcastle the first time, my spirit had been moved within me at the crowds of poor wretches who were every Sunday in the afternoon sauntering to and fro, on the Sandhill. I resolved, if possible, to find them a better employ, and as soon as the service at All Saints was over, walked straight from the church to the Sandhill and gave out a verse of a psalm. In a few minutes I had company enough, thousands upon thousands crowding together. But the prince of this world fought with all his might, lest his kingdom should be overthrown. Indeed the very mob of Newcastle, in the height of their rudeness, have commonly some humanity left. I scarce observed that they threw anything at all; neither did I receive the least personal hurt. But they continued thrusting one another to and fro, and making such a noise that my voice could not be heard; so that after spending near an hour in singing and prayer, I thought it best to adjourn to our own house.

JW records the slaughter of Chickasaw Indians

Sat. 9 July 1737: Meeting with a Frenchman of New Orleans on the Mississippi, who had lived several months among the Chickasaws, he gave us a full and particular account of many things which had been variously related. And hence we could not but remark what is the religion of nature, properly so called, or that religion which flows from natural reason, unassisted by revelation. And that, even in those who have the knowledge of many truths, and who converse with their beloved ones day and night. But too plainly does it appear by the fruits that ‘the gods of these heathens too are but devils’.

The substance of his account was this:

Some years past the Chickasaws and French were friends. The French were then mingled with the Natchez Indians, whom they used as slaves, till the Natchez made a general rising and took many of the French prisoners. But soon after a French army set upon them, killed many, and carried away the rest. Among those that were killed were some Chickasaws, whose death the Chickasaw nation resented; and soon after, as a French boat was going through their country, they fired into it, and killed all the men but two. The French resolved on revenge, and orders were given for many Indians and several parties of white men to rendezvous on the 26th of March, 1736, near one of the Chickasaw towns. The first party, consisting of fifty men, came thither some days before the time. They stayed there till the 24th, but none came to join them. On the 25th they were attacked by two hundred Chickasaws. The French attempted to force their way through them. Five or six and twenty did so; the rest were taken prisoners. The prisoners were sent two or three to a town to be burned. Only the commanding officer and one or two more were put to death on the place of the engagement.

I (said he) and one more were saved by the warrior who took us. The manner of burning the rest was, holding lighted canes to their arms and legs and several parts of their bodies for some time, and then for a while taking them away. They likewise stuck burning pieces of wood into their flesh all round, in which condition they kept them from morning till evening. But they commonly beat them before they burn them. I saw the priest that was with us carried to be burned; and from head to foot he was as black as your coat with the blows which they had given him.

I asked him, ‘What was their manner of life?’ He said, ‘They do nothing but eat and drink and smoke from morning till night, and in a manner from night till morning. For they rise at any hour of the night when they wake, and after eating and drinking as much as they can, go to sleep again.’ 

John Wesley Preaches from his Father's tomb in Epworth

Sat 5 June 1742. I rode for Epworth. Before we came thither I made an end of Madam Guyon’s Short Method of Prayer and Les Torrents Spirituelles. Ah, my brethren; I can answer your riddle, now I have ploughed with your heifer. The very words I have so often heard some of you use are not your own, no more than they are God’s. They are only retailed from this poor quietist, and that with the utmost faithfulness. O that ye knew how much God is wiser than man! Then would you drop quietists and mystics together, and at all hazards keep to the plain, practical, written Word of God.

It being many years since I had been in Epworth before, I went to an inn in the middle of the town, not knowing whether there were any left in it now who would not be ashamed of my acquaintance. But an old servant of my father’s, with two or three poor women, presently found me out. I asked her, ‘Do you know any in Epworth who are in earnest to be saved?’ She answered, ‘I am, by the grace of God; and I know I am saved through faith.’ I asked, ‘Have you then the peace of God? Do you know that he has forgiven your sins?’ She replied, ‘I thank God, I know it well. And many here can say the same thing.’

Sun. 6. A little before the service began I went to Mr. Romley, the curate, and offered to assist him either by preaching or reading prayers. But he did not care to accept of my assistance. The church was exceeding full in the afternoon, a rumour being spread that I was to preach. But the sermon on ‘Quench not the Spirit’ was not suitable to the expectation of many of the hearers. Mr. Romley told them one of the most dangerous ways of quenching the Spirit was by enthusiasm, and enlarged on the character of an enthusiast in a very florid and oratorical manner. After sermon John Taylor stood in the churchyard and gave notice as the people were coming out, ‘Mr. Wesley not being permitted to preach in the church, designs to preach here at six o’clock.’

Accordingly at six I came, and found such a congregation as I believe Epworth never saw before. I stood near the east end of the church, upon my father’s tombstone, and cried, ‘The kingdom of heaven is not meats and drinks, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.’

At eight I went to Edward Smith’s, where were many not only of Epworth, but of Burnham, Haxey, Owston, Belton, and other villages round about, who greatly desired that I would come over to them and help them. I was now in a strait between two, desiring to hasten forward in my journey, and yet not knowing how to leave these poor bruised reeds in the confusion wherein I found them. John Harrison, it seems, and Richard Ridley, had told them in express terms, ‘All the ordinances are man’s inventions; and if you go to church or sacrament you will be damned.’ Many hereupon wholly forsook the church, and others knew not what to do. At last I determined to spend some days here, that I might have time both to preach in each town and to speak severally with those in every place who had found or waited for salvation.

Proud Grandparents praise be to God

Today Chris and I were made grandparents by our LORD and Candice and Andrew. Here are some pics of Caitlin at about 2 hours old.Can't work out how to rotate some of them

Granma (my Chrissy) and Caitlin

Aunty Abigail (our youngest daughter) and Caitlin

Dad Andrew and Caitlin

Wesley Hymn for the Season of Lent

O ‘TIS enough, my God, my God!
Here let me give my wanderings o’er;
No longer trample on thy blood,
And grieve thy gentleness no more;
No more thy lingering anger move,
Or sin against thy light and love.

O Lord, if mercy is with thee,

Now let it all on me be shown;

On me, the chief of sinners, me,

Who humbly for thy mercy groan;

Me to thy Father’s grace restore,

Nor let me ever grieve thee more!

Fountain of unexhausted love,

Of infinite compassions, hear;

My Saviour and my Prince above,

Once more in my behalf appear;

Repentance, faith, and pardon give,

O let me turn again and live!

A Wesleyan Resource for Lent

“I believe there is no liturgy in the world, either in ancient or modern language, which breaths more a solid, scriptural, rational piety, than the Common Prayer of the Church of England.”  John Wesley


With this in mind I wish to encourage all friends of JohnWesleyJournal to embrace the Book of Common Prayer, which JW turned to every day, as part of your discipline for Lent. You will find an extremely usable version at Daily Office.

Ash Wednesday

Prayer of the Day from Book of Common Prayer: Ash Wednesday

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
[Sourced from DailyOffice]

Prayer for last week after the Epiphany

O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
[Source]

John and Charles Wesley Day in Book of Common Prayer

Collect of the Day: John and Charles Wesley, Priests, 1791, 1788

Lord God, you inspired your servants John and Charles Wesley with burning zeal for the sanctification of souls, and endowed them with eloquence in speech and song: Kindle in your Church, we entreat you, such fervor, that those whose faith has cooled may be warmed, and those who have not known Christ may turn to him and be saved; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
[Sourced here]

Miraculous gift of money

I had been long desired to see the little flock at Norwich. But this I could not decently do till I was able to rebuild part of the Foundery there, to which I was engaged by my lease. A sum sufficient for that end was now unexpectedly given me, by one of whom I, had no personal knowledge. So I set out Monday 28 Feb 1757 and preached in Norwich on Tuesday evening, March 1. Mr. Walsh had been there twelve or fourteen days, and not without a blessing. After preaching I entered into contract with a builder and gave him part of the money in hand. On Wednesday and Thursday I settled all our spiritual and temporal business, and on Friday and Saturday returned with Mr. Walsh to London.