JOURNAL From Feb. 1, 1738, to Sept. 16, 1738. Wand a EDNESDAY, Feb. 1. After reading prayers and explaining a portion of Scripture, to a large company at the Inn, I left Deal, and came in the evening to Feverfham. I here read prayers and explained the Second Leffon, to a few of those who were called Chriftians, but were indeed more favage in their behaviour than the wildest Indians I have yet met with. Frid. 3. I came to Mr. Delamotte's at Blendon, where I expected a cold reception. But God had prepared the way before me: And I no fooner mentioned my name, than I was welcomed in fuch a manner, as conftrained me to fay, "Surely, God is in this place, and I knew it not! Bleffed be ye of the Lord! Ye have fhewn more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning." In the evening I came once more to London, whence I had been absent two years and near four months. Many reasons I have to blefs God, tho' the defign I went upon did not take effect, for my having been I carried into that ftrange land, contrary to all my preceeding refolutions. Hereby I truft he hath in fome measure "humbled me and proved me, and fhewn me what was in my heart." Hereby I have been taught, To beware of men. Hereby I am come to know affuredly, That if in all our ways we acknowledge God, he will where reafon fails, direct our paths, by lot or by the other means which he knoweth. Hereby I am delivered from the fear of the fea, which I had both dreaded and abhorred from my youth. Hereby God has given me to know many of his fervants, particularly thofe of the Church of Hernhuth. Hereby my paffage is opened to the writings of holy men in the Gerinan, Spanish and Italian tongues. I hope too fome good may come to others hereby. All in Georgia have heard the word of God. Some have believed, and began to run well. A few steps have been taken towards publishing the glad tidings both to the African African and American Heathens. Many children have learned How they ought to ferve God, and to be useful to their neighbour. And those whom it moft concerns have an opportunity of knowing the true ftate of their infant colony, and laying a firmer foundation of peace and happiness to many generations. Sat. 4. I told my friends fome of the reafons, which a little haftened my return to England. They all agreed, it would be proper to relate them to the Trustees of Georgia. Accordingly the next morning I waited on Mr. Oglethorpe, but had not time to speak on that head. In the afternoon I was defired to preach at St. John the Evangelift's. I did fo on those strong words, "If any man be in Chrift, he is a new creature." I was afterwards informed, Many of the beft in the parish were fo offended, that I was not to preach there any more. Mond. 6. I vifited many of my old friends, as well as most of my relations. I find the time is not yet come when I am to be hated of all men. prepared for that day! O may I be Tuesd. 7. (A day much to be remembered) at the houfe of Mr. Weinantz, a Dutch merchant, I met Peter Bohler, Schulius Richter, and Wenfel Neifer, juft then landed from Germany. Finding they had no acquaintance in England, I offered to procure them a lodging, and did fo near Mr. Hutton's, where I then was. And from this time I did not willingly lofe any opportunity of converfing with them, while I stayed in London. Wed. 8. I went to Mr. Oglethorpe again, but had no opportunity of fpeaking as I defigned. Afterwards I waited on the Board of Trustees, and gave them fhort but plain account of the ftate of the Colony: An account, I fear, not a little differing from thofe, which they had frequently received before: And for which I have reason to believe, fome of them have not forgiven me to this day.. Sund. 12. I preached at St. Andrew's, Holborn, on "Though I give all my goods to feed the poor, and "though I give my body to be burned, and have not "charity, it profiteth me nothing." O hard fayings! Who can hear them? Here too (it seems) I am to preach Wed. 15. I waited on the Truftees again, and gave them in writing the fubftance of what I had faid at the laft Board. Whatsoever farther queftions they afked concerning the state of the Province, I likewife anfwered to the beft of my knowledge. Frid. 17. L fet out for Oxford with Peter Bohler, where we were kindly received by Mr. Sarney, the only one now remaining here, of many who at our embarking for America, were ufed to take fweet counfel together, and rejoice in bearing the reproach of Chrift. Sat. 18. We went to Stanton Harcourt, to Mr. Gambold, and found my old friend recovered from his myftic delufion, and convinced that St. Paul was a better writer than either Tauler or Jacob Behmen.The next day I preached once more at the Castle (in Oxford) to a numerous and ferious congregation. All this time I converfed much with Peter Bohler, but I understood him not: And least of all when he faid "Mi frater, mi frater, excoquenda eft ifta tua Philofophia." (My brother, my brother, that Philofophy of your's must be purged away.) Mond. 20. I returned to London. On Tuesday I preached at Great St. Helen's, on, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his crofs daily and follow me." Wed. 22. I was with the Trustees again, to whom I then gave a fhort account (and afterwards delivered it to them in writing) of the reafons why I left Georgia. Sunday 26. I preached at fix at St. Lawrence's: at ten, in St. Katharine's-Creed church; and in the af. ternoon at St. John's, Wapping. I believe it pleafed God to bless the first fermon moft, because it gave moft offence; being indeed an open defiance of that mystery of iniquity which the world calls Prudence : Grounded on those words of St. Paul to the Galatians; "As many as defire to make a fair fhew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcifed, only left they fhould fuffer perfecution for the cross of Chrift." Mond. 27. I took coach for Salisbury, and had feveral opportunities of converfing feriously with my fellow-travellers. But endeavouring to mend the wiidom of God by the worldly wifdom of prefacing ferious with light converfation, and afterwards following that advice of the Myftics, Leave them to themselves, all I had faid was written on the fand. "Lord, lay not this fin to my charge!" Tuef Tuef. 28. I faw my mother once more. The next day I prepared for my journey to my brother at Tivertón, But on Thurfday morning, March 2, a meffage That my brother Charles was dying at Oxford, obliged me to fet out for that place immediately. Calling at an odd house in the afternoon, I found several perions there who seemed well-wishers to religion, to whom I fpake plainly; as I did in the evening both to the fervants and strangers at my Inn. With regard to my own behaviour, I now renewed and wrote down my former refolutions. 1. To ufe abfolute opennefs and unreferve, with all I fhould converfe with. 2. To labour after continual feriousness, not willingly indulging myself, in any the leaft levity of behaviour, or in laughter, no not for a moment. 3. To speak no word which does not tend to the glory of God, in particular, not a tittle of worldly things. Others may, nay mult. But what is that to thee? And 4. To take no pleasure which does not tend to the glory of God; thanking God every moment for all I do take, and therefore rejecting every fort and degree of it which I feel I cannot fo thank him in and for. Sat. 4. I found my brother at Oxford, recovering from his pleurify; and with him Peter Bohler: By whom (in the hand of the great God) I was on Sunday the 5th clearly convinced of unbelief, of the want of that faith whereby alone we are faved. "Leave off Immediately it ftruck into my mind "preaching. How can you preach to others, who "have not faith yourself? I afked Bohler, whe ther he thought I should leave it off, or not? He anfwered, "By no means." I asked, "But what can "I preach ?" He faid, "Preach faith, till you "have it, and then, because you have it, you will "preach faith." His Accordingly, Monday 6, I began preaching this new doctrine, though my foul ftarted back from the work. The first perfon to whom I offered Salvation by Faith alone, was a prifoner under fentence of death. name was Clifford. Peter Bohler had many times defired me to fpeak to him before. But I could not prevail on myself fo to do; being still (as I had been H 2 many many years) a zealous afferter of the impoffibility of a death-bed repentance. Frid. 10. Peter Bohler returned to London. Tuef. 15. I fet out for Manchefter, with Mr. Kinchin, Fellow of Corpus Chrifti, and Mr. Fox, late a prifoner in the city prifon. Between five and fix, we called at Chappel on the Heath, where lived a poor man, fometime prifoner in the caftle of Oxford. He was not at home; but his wife came to us, to whom Mr. Kinchin fpoke a few words, which fo melted her heart, that The burst out into tears, and we went on rejoicing and praifing God. About 8, it being rainy and very dark, we loft our way; but before 9, came to Shipfton, having rode over, I know not how, a narrow foot-bridge, which Jay across a deep ditch near the town. After fupper I read prayers to the people of the Inn, and explained the Second Leffon; I hope not in vain. The next day we dined at Birmingham, and foon after we left it, were reproved for our negligence there (in letting thofe who attended us go, without either exhortation or inftruction) by a fevere fhower of hail. At Hedgeford, about five, we endeavoured to be more faithful; and all who heard feemed ferious and af fected. In the evening we came to Stafford. The mistress of the houfe joined with us in family-prayer. The next morning one of the fervants appeared deeply affected, as did the oftler before we went. Soon after breakfast, stepping into the stable, I spake a few words to thofe who were there. A ftranger who heard me, faid, "Sir, I wish I was to travel with you." And when I went into the house followed me, and began abruptly, Sir, I believe you are a good man, and I come to tell you a little of my life." The tears flood in his eyes all the time he fpoke; and we hoped not a word which was faid to him was loft. At Newcastle, whither we came about ten, some to whom we spoke at our Inn, were very attentive; but a gay young woman waited on us, quite unconcerned: However we fpoke on. When we went away, the fixed her eyes, and neither moved nor faid one word, but appeared as much astonished as if the had leen one rifen from the dead, Coming |