came back to Francis Ward's, I found many of our brethren waiting upon God. Many also whom I never had seen before, came to rejoice with us. And the next morning, as I rode through the town in my way to Nottingham, every one I met expressed such a cordial affection, that I could scarce believe what I saw and heard. I cannot close this head without inserting as great a curiosity in its kind as, I believe, was ever yet seen in England; which had its birth within a very few days of this remarkable occurrence at Walsal. "Staffordshire. "To all high constables, petty constables, and other of his majesty's peace officers, within the said county, and particularly to the constable of Tipton:" (near Walsal :) "Whereas, we, his majesty's justices of the peace for the said county of Stafford, have received information that several disorderly persons, styling themselves Methodist preachers, go about raising routs and riots, to the great damage of his majesty's liege people, and against the peace of our sovereign lord the king: "These are, in his majesty's name, to command you and every one of you, within your respective districts, to make diligent search after the said Methodist preachers, and to bring him or them before some of us, his said majesty's justices of the peace, to be examined concerning their unlawful doings. "Given under our hands and seals, this day of "J. LANE. "W. PERSEHOUSE." (N. B. The very justices to whose houses I was carried, and who severally refused to see me!) Sat. 22.-I rode from Nottingham to Epworth, and on Monday set out for Grimsby; but at Ferry we were at a full stop, the boatmen telling us we could not pass the Trent: it was as much as our lives were worth to put from shore before the storm abated. We waited an hour; but, being afraid it would do much hurt, if I should disappoint the congregation at Grimsby, I asked the men if they did not think it possible to get to the other shore: they said, they could not tell ; but if we would venture our lives, they would venture theirs. So we put off, having six men, two women, and three horses, in the boat. Many stood looking after us on the river side, in the middle of which we were, when, in an instant, the side of the boat was under water, and the horses and men rolling one over another. We expected the boat to sink every moment; but I did not doubt of being able to swim ashore. The boatmen were amazed as well as the rest; but they quickly recovered and rowed for life. And soon after, our horses leaping overboard, lightened the boat, and we all came unhurt to land. They wondered what was the matter I did not rise, (for I lay along in the bottom of the boat,) and I wondered too, till, upon examination, I found that a large iron crow, which the boatmen sometimes used, was (none knew how) run through the string of my boot, which pinned me down that I could not stir; so that if the boat had sunk, I should have been safe enough from swimming any further. The same day, and, as near as we could judge, the same hour, the boat in which my brother was crossing the Severn, at the New Passage, was carried away by the wind, and in the utmost danger of splitting upon the rocks. But the same God, when all human hope was past, delivered them as well as us. In the evening, the house at Grimsby not being able to contain one fourth of the congregation, I stood in the street, and exhorted every prodigal to "arise and go to" his "Father." One or two endeavoured to interrupt; but they were soon stilled by their own companions. The next day, Tuesday, 25, one in the town promised us the use of a large room; but he was prevailed upon to retract his promise before the hour of preaching came. I then designed going to the Cross, but the rain prevented; so that we were a little at a loss, till we were offered a very convenient place, by a "woman which was a sinner." I there declared "Him" (about one o'clock) whom "God hath exalted, to give repentance and remission of sins." And God so confirmed the word of his grace, that I marvelled any one could withstand him. However, the prodigal held out till the evening, when I enlarged upon her sins and faith, who "washed our Lord's feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head." She was then utterly broken in pieces, (as, indeed, was well nigh the whole congregation,) and came after me to my lodging, crying out, "O sir! What must I do to be saved?" Being now informed of her case, I said, "Escape for your life. Return instantly to your husband." She said, "But how can it be? Which way can I go? He is above a hundred miles off. I have just received a letter from him; and he is at Newcastle-upon-Tyne." I told her, "I am going for Newcastle in the morning: you may go with me. William Blow shall take you behind him." And so he did. Glory be to the Friend of sinners! He hath plucked one more brand out of the fire. Thou poor sinner, thou hast "received a prophet in the name of a prophet:" and thou art found of Him that sent him. Wed. 26. I enlarged upon those deep words, "Repent, and believe the Gospel." When I had done, a man stood forth in the midst, one who had exceedingly troubled his brethren, vehemently maintaining (for the plague had spread hither also) that they ought not to pray, to sing, to communicate, to search the Scriptures, or to trouble themselves about works, but only to believe and be still; and said with a loud voice, "Mr. Wesley! let me speak a few words. Is it not said, • A certain man had two sons: and he said unto the younger, Go work to-day in my vineyard: and he answered, I will not; but afterward he repented and went?' I am he. I said yesterday, 'I will not go to hear him; I will have nothing to do with him.' But I repent. Here is my hand. By the grace of God, I will not leave you as long as I live." William Blow, Mrs. S., and I set out at six. During our whole journey to Newcastle, I scarce observed her to laugh or even smile Nor did she ever complain of any thing, or appear moved in the least with those trying circumstances which many times occurred in our way. A steady seriousness, or sadness, rather, appeared in her whole behaviour and conversation, as became one that felt the burden of sin and was groaning after salvation. In the same spirit, by all I could observe or learn, she continued during her stay at Newcastle. Not long after, her husband removed from thence, and wrote to her to follow him. She set out in a ship bound for Hull. A storm met them by the way; the ship sprung a leak; but though it was near the shore, once. on which many people flocked together, yet the sea ran so exceeding high, that it was impossible to make any help. Mrs. S. was seen standing on the deck, as the ship gradually sunk; and afterward hanging by her hands on the ropes, till the masts likewise disappeared. Even then, for some moments, they could observe her floating upon the waves, till her clothes, which buoyed her up, being throughly wet, she sunk,-I trust, into the ocean of God's mercy. AN EXTRACT OF THE REV. MR. JOHN WESLEY'S JOURNAL. FROM OCTOBER 27, 1743, TO NOVEMBER 17, 1746. JOURNAL.-No. VI. 66 an FRIDAY, October 28, 1743.-We rode with William Holmes, Israelite indeed," from Epworth to Sykehouse. Here I preached at ten, and hastened on to Leeds; from whence, setting out early in the morning, I had hopes of reaching Wensley Dale before it was dark; but it could not be; so in the dusk of the evening, understanding we had five or six miles still to ride, I thought it best to procure a guide. In less than an hour, it being extremely dark, I perceived we were got out of all road. We were in a large meadow, near a river, and (it seemed to me) almost surrounded with water. I asked our guide, "Do you know where you are?" and he honestly answered, "No." So we rode on as we could, till about eight we came to a little house, whence we were directed into a lane which led to Wensley. Sun. 30.-Mr. Clayton read prayers, and I preached, on, "What must I do to be saved?" I showed, in the plainest words I could devise, that mere outside religion would not bring us to heaven; that none could go thither, without inward holiness, which was only to be attained by faith. As I went back through the church yard, many of the parish were in high debate what religion this preacher was of. Some said, "He must be a Quaker;" others, "an Anabaptist :" but, at length, one deeper learned than the rest, brought them all clearly over to his opinion, that he was a Presbyterian Papist. Mon. 31.-We set out early in the morning, and in the evening came to Newcastle. Wed. November 2.-The following advertisement was published: For the benefit of Mr. Este. By the Edinburgh Company of Comedians, on Friday, November 4, will be acted, a Comedy, called THE CONSCIOUS LOVERS; To which will be added, a Farce, called TRICK UPON TRICK, OR METHODISM DISPLAYED. On Friday a vast multitude of spectators were assembled in the Moot Hall to see this. It was believed there could not be less than fifteen hundred people, some hundreds of whom sat on rows of seats built upon the stage. Soon after the comedians had begun the first act of the play, on a sudden all those seats fell down at once, the supporters of them breaking like a rotten stick. The people were thrown one upon another, about five foot forward, but not one of them hurt. After a short time, the rest of the spectators were quiet, and the actors went on. In the middle of the second act, all the shilling seats gave a crack, and sunk several inches down. A great noise and shrieking followed; and as many as could readily get to the door, went out and returned no more. Notwithstanding this, when the noise was over, the actors went on with the play. In the beginning of the third act the entire stage suddenly sunk about six inches: the players retired with great precipitation; yet in a while they began again. At the latter end of the third act, all the sixpenny seats, without any kind of notice, fell to the ground. There was now a cry on every side; it being supposed that many were crushed in pieces: but, upon inquiry, not a single person (such was the mercy of God!) was either killed or dangerously hurt. Two or three hundred remaining still in the Hall, Mr. Este (who was to act the Methodist) came upon the stage and told them, for all this, he was resolved the farce should be acted. While he was speaking, the stage sunk six inches more; on which he ran back in the utmost confusion, and the people as fast as they could out of the door, none staying to look behind him. Which is most surprising,-that those players acted this farce the next week,—or that some hundreds of people came again to see it? At five Sun. 6.—We had a useful practical sermon at St. Nicholas's church in the morning, and another at St. Andrew's in the afternoon. I preached to a willing multitude, on the prodigal son. How many of these were lost, and now are found? In the following week I endeavoured to speak severally to each member of the society. The numbers I found neither to rise nor fall; but many had increased in the knowledge and love of God. Sunday, 13, and the following days, I preached and regulated the societies at Painsher, Tanfield, and Horsley. Thur. 17.-I preached at the Spen, on, Christ Jesus our "wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption." I have seldom seen an audience so greatly moved, since the time of my first preaching at Bristol. Men, women, and children wept and groaned, and trembled exceedingly many could not contain themselves in these bounds; but cried with a loud and bitter cry. It was the same at the meeting of the society; and likewise in the morning, while I was showing the happiness of those "whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered." I afterward spake with twelve or fourteen of them severally; and found good ground to believe, that God had given them to "taste of the good word, and of the powers of the world to come." Sun. 20.-After preaching at Newcastle morning and evening, I earnestly exhorted the society to beware of speaking evil of each other, and of censuring those who followed not with us. Monday, 21.—I besought them in my farewell sermon to "forget the things which are behind, and press on to the prize of their high calling." Tues. 22. I preached at Norton, five miles from Ferry-bridge, and in the evening at Sykehouse. Here I received a full account of poor David Taylor, once a workman that needed not to be ashamed. Three years since, he knew all we preached to be true: then Mr. I. brought him over to German stillness. When I talked with him at Sheffield, he was thoroughly sensible of his mistake: but Mr. Simpson soon drew him into it again. A third time he was deeply convinced by my bro |