Indeed there is always a blessing, when we cut off all delay, and come to God now by simple faith. Friday, March 5, I had a long conversation with Joseph Rule, commonly called the White Quaker. He appeared to be a calm, loving, sensible man, and much devoted to God. Monday 8, I retired to Lewisham, to answer Dr. Horne's ingenious sermon on Justification by Works. O that I might dispute with no man! but if I must dispute, let it be with men of sense! Thursday 11, I buried the remains of Mary Ramsey, a true daughter of affliction, worn out by a cancer in her breast, with a variety of other disorders. To these were added, for a time, great darkness of mind, the body pressing down the soul: yet she did not murmur or repine; much less charge God foolishly. It was not long before he restored the light of his countenance: and shortly after, she fell asleep. Friday 12, The national fast, was observed all over London with great solemnity. Surely God is well pleased even with this acknowledgment, that he governs the world: and even the outward humiliation of a nation, may be rewarded with outward blessings. Monday 15, I left London, though not without regret, and went slowly through the Societies to Bristol. Saturday 27, I heard a large account of the children near Lawford'sgate, which has made so much noise here. The facts are too glaring to be denied: but how are they to be accounted for? By natural, or supernatural agency? Contend who list about this. Monday 22, I came to the New-Passage a little before nine. The rain and wind increased much while we were on the water: however, we were safe on shore at ten. I preached about twelve, in the New Room at Chepstow. One of the congregation was a neighbouring clergyman, who lived in the same stair-case with me at Christ-Church, and was then far more serious than I. Blessed be God, who has looked upon me at last! Now let me redeem the time! In the afternoon we had such a storm of hail, as I scarcely ever saw in my life. The roads likewise were so extremely bad, that we did not reach Hereford till past eight. Having been well battered both by hail, rain, and wind, I got to bed as soon as I could, but was waked many times by the clattering of the curtains: In the morning, I found the casement wide open: but I was never the worse. I took horse at six, with William Crane, and Francis Walker. The wind was piercingly cold, and we had many showers of snow and rain: but the worst was, part of the road was scarcely passable. So that at Church-Stretton, one of our horses lay down, and would go no farther. However, William Crane and I pushed on, and before seven reached Shrewsbury. A large company quickly gathered together, many of them were wild enough: but the far greater part were calm and attentive, and came again at five in the morning. Wednesday 30, Having been invited to preach at Wem, Mrs. Glynne desired she might take me thither in a postchaise but in little more than an hour, we were fast enough. However, the horses pulled, till the traces broke. I should then have walked on, had I been alone, tho' the mud was deep, and the snow drove impetuously but I could not leave my friend. So I waited patiently, till the man had made shift to mend the traces. And the horses pulled amain : so that with much ado, not long after the time appointed, I came to Wem. : I came but the person who invited me was gone: gone out of town at four in the morning. And I could find no one who seemed either to expect or desire my company. I enquired after the place where Mr. Mather preached: but it was filled with hemp. It remained only to go into the market-house: but neither any man, woman, nor child cared to follow us; the north-wind roared so loud on every side, and poured in from every quarter: however, before I had done singing, two or three crept in, and after them, two or three hundred. And the power of God was so present among them, that, I believe, many forgot the storm. The wind grew still higher in the afternoon, so that it was difficult to sit our horses. And it blew full in our faces, but could not prevent our reaching Chester in the evening. Though the warning was short, the room was full: and full of serious, earnest hearers; many of whom expressed a longing desire for the whole salvation of God. : Here I rested on Thursday. Friday, April 1, I rode to Park-gate, and found several ships: but the wind was contrary. I preached at five in the small house they have just built and the hearers were remarkably serious. I gave notice of preaching at five in the morning. But at half an hour after four, one brought us word that the wind was come fair, and Captain Jordan would sail in less than an hour. We were soon in the ship, wherein we found about threescore passengers. The sun shone bright, the wind was moderate, the sea smooth, and we wanted nothing but room to stir ourselves: the cabin being filled with hops, so that we could not get into it, but by climbing over them, on our hands and knees. In the afternoon we were abreast of Holyhead: but the scene was quickly changed: the wind rose higher and higher, and by seven o'clock blew a storm. The sea broke over us continually, and sometimes covered the ship, which both pitched and rolled in an uncommon manner: so I was informed; for being a little sick, I lay down at six, and slept with little intermission, till nearly six in the morning. We were then near Dublin-Bay, where we went into a boat, which carried us to Dunlary. There we met with a chaise just ready, in which we went to Dublin. I found much liberty of spirit in the evening while I was enforcing, Now is the day of salvation. The congregation was uncommonly large in the morning; and seemed to be much alive. Many children, I find, are brought to the birth. And shall there not be strength to bring forth? It was at this time that Mr. Grimshaw fell asleep. He was born, September 3, 1708, at Brindle, six miles south of Preston in Lancashire, and educated at the schools of Blackburn and Heskin, in the same county. Even then the thoughts of death and judgment made some impression upon him. At eighteen he was admitted at Christ's-College in Cambridge. Here bad example so carried him away, that for more than two years he seemed utterly to have lost all sense of seriousness which did not revive till the day he was ordained deacon, in the year 1731. On that day he was much affected with the sense of the importance of the ministerial office. And this was increased by his conversing with some at Rochdale, who met once a week to read, and sing, and pray. But on his removal to Todmorden soon after, he quite dropped his pious acquaintance, conformed to the world, followed all its diversions, and contented himself with "doing his duty" on Sundays. But about the year 1734, he began to think seriously again. He left off all his diversions: he began to catechise the young people, to preach the absolute necessity of a devout life; and to visit his people, not in order to be merry with them as before, but to press them to seek the salvation of their souls. At this period also, he began himself to pray in secret four times a day. And the God of all grace, who prepared his heart to pray, soon gave the answer to his prayer: not indeed as he expected; not in joy or peace, but by bringing upon him very strong and painful convictions of his own guilt, and helplessness, and misery: by discovering to him what he did not suspect before, that his heart was deceitful and desperately wicked; and what was more afflicting still, that all his duties and labours could not procure him pardon, or gain him a title to eternal life. In this trouble he continued more than three years, not acquainting any one with the distress he suffered; till one day, (in 1742) being in the utmost agony of mind, there was clearly represented to him, Jesus Christ pleading for him with God the Father, and gaining a free pardon for him. In that moment all his fears vanished away, and he was filled with joy unspeakable. "I was now," says he, "willing to renounce myself, and to embrace Christ for my all in all. O what light and comfort did I enjoy in my own soul, and what a taste of the pardoning love of God!" All this time he was an entire stranger to the people called Methodists, whom afterwards he thought it his duty to coun tenance, and to labour with them in his neighbourhood. He was an entire stranger also to all their writings; till he came to Haworth, May 26, of the same year. And the good effects of his preaching soon became visible. Many of his flock were brought into deep concern for salvation, and were, in a little time after, filled with peace and joy through believing. And, as in ancient times, the whole congregation have been often seen in tears, on account of their provocations against God, and under a sense of his goodness in yet sparing them. His lively manner of representing the truths of God could not fail of being much talked of, and bringing many hundreds out of curiosity to Haworth Church: who received so much benefit by what they heard, that when the novelty was long over, the Church continued to be full of people, many of whom came from far, and this for twenty years together. Mr. Grimshaw was now too happy himself in the knowledge of Christ, to rest satisfied, without taking every method, he thought likely to spread the knowledge of his God and Saviour. And as the very indigent constantly make their want of better clothes to appear in, an excuse for not coming to Church in the day time, he contrived, for them chiefly, a lecture on Sunday evenings, though he had preached twice in the day before. God was pleased to give great success to these attempts, which animated him still more to spend and be spent for Christ. So the next year he began a method, which was continued by him for ever after; of preaching in each of the four hamlets he had under his care, three times every month. By this means the old and infirm, who could not attend the Church, had the truth of God brought to their houses; and many, who were so profane as to make the distance from the house of God a rea son for scarcely ever coming to it, were allured to hear. By this time, the great labour with which he instructed his own people; the holiness of his conversation, and the benefit, which very many from the neighbouring parishes had obtained by attending his ministry, concurred to bring upon him many earnest intreaties to come to their houses, who |