AN EXTRACT

OF THE

REV. MR. JOHN WESLEY'S JOURNAL

FROM NOVEMBER 2, 1751, TO OCTOBER 28, 1754

JOURNAL.-No. IX.

SATURDAY, November 2, 1751.-Mr. Arvin, according to my desire, informed Mr. M—, that I was willing to give him twenty pounds a year, for assisting me once a week. He refused it with the utmost indignation, and from that time spoke all manner of evil.

Mon. 11.-I rode to Rochester, and the next day to Canterbury, where I preached morning and evening, in what was lately the French church. We had not any disturbance from first to last, the court of king's bench having broke the spirits of the rioters.

Sat. 16.-I set out early in a clear, calm morning, and in the afternoon came to London. Tues. 19.-I began writing a letter to the Comparer of the Papists and Methodists. Heavy work, such as I should never choose; but sometimes it must be done. Well might the ancient say, "God made practical divinity necessary, the devil controversial." But it is necessary: we must "resist the devil," or he will not "flee from us."

་

So

Sat. December 22.-Being informed that Mr. K- -, for some years zealously attached to the Brethren, had now burst his chain, I had a desire to hear, from his own mouth, how he was delivered. a day or two after, I talked with him at large, and wrote down the substance of his account, that I might make no mistake. After a few days I called upon him; I read over to him what I had written, and desired him to tell me if I had misunderstood him in any thing. And this account alone may be abundantly sufficient to pull off the mask from those cruel and deceitful men. I do not speak this of all; but of them with whom he had to do.

"1. I was," said he, "one of the first members of the society at the Foundery; and continued there till William Oxlee, about the latter end of the year 1740, persuaded me to join the Brethren. It was not long before I was admitted to most of their conferences; and my love for them increased more and more, till, in the year 1741, I went over to Herndyke.

"2. Here I saw several things I did not approve, particularly the arbitrary power with which the heads of the Church governed, and the vast

respect they showed to the rich, while the poor were little regarded; but I forgot all this when I returned to England, and gave myself up to their disposal.

3. I was soon after employed to collect money for repairing the chapel in Fetter-lane. The manner of the Brethren was, to write to each of those who were accustomed to hear the preaching, and desire them, if they found their hearts free, to send five or ten guineas. As many of these were not at all awakened, I thought this was quite wrong. So I told Mr. M; but he answered me short, That does not concern you.' "I saw several other things which I could not approve; and I spoke of them, but without effect. Some months after, Mr. Sp- told me, My Brother, we are going to settle an economy of children at Lamb's Inn; and it is the Saviour's will, that you should go there, and be the physician of the house.' I thought it strange, for I did not understand physic: however, I did not dare to reason; so I went.

5. The management here gave me a great shock. Without any regard to the rules laid down, R— U— and his wife, the directors of the economy, behaved in the most haughty and tyrannical manner. Those who were set over the children had no gifts for the work, and some of them little care for their own souls. Several of the children were whipped without cause, and sometimes out of measure; by which ill management, one of mine was utterly ruined, and has had no fear of God ever since. As for me, I might give advice if I would; but none regarded it: and when I rose one night and covered the children, who had thrown the clothes off in their sleep, Mr. U sharply reproved me before the whole family; telling me I had done what I had no business to do; adding, that I was the most useless person in the whole house. I desired, that if so, I might return to London. With much difficulty they consented; and I made all haste back to my own house.

"6. But I grew more and more uneasy at their management; which the Brethren perceiving, sent me to Yorkshire. When I had been there a few days, one of them told me, I was to go to Great Horton in the morning; it being made out to the Brethren, that I was to preach there. I was amazed, having never had one thought of preaching. Yet I did not dare to refuse; and from that time they employed me to preach, and to visit all the souls through that circuit.

"7. At Holbeck we had an economy of young men. When I visited them, and examined them strictly, they declared to me so much of their Onanism, wh-ms, and other abominations, that I was utterly astonished. I was constrained to rebuke them sharply; for which, in a few days I received a severe letter from Mr. Sp-, telling me I was destroying God's dear children, instead of building them up; and that therefore I was neither to preach nor labour any more in Yorkshire.

"8. In a little while I was sent for to London, to accompany Mrs. St into Germany; but the letter being delayed, although I rode post, she was gone before I came. Some time after, I was appointed a member of the Committee of Six, to whom an account was to be transmitted by all the labourers, of all the steps which they took, either at home or abroad.

"One of our fundamental rules was, not to run in debt above thirty pounds; therefore, when Mr. Sp― brought in a bill of more than three hundred, I was exceedingly startled, and moved that the particulars of it might be given in, and that all our accounts might be clearly and fairly stated. Wencel Neuser being present, (though not one of our members,) took me up for this very severely, telling me, they were servants of the Saviour, and would give no account to men.

"9. I was more and more uneasy at their way of proceeding, till one day, Mr. Sl- came to me, and asked me, if I was willing to go to Bedford, for six or eight days. I told him I was; and in a day or two set

out. But Mr. Br- told me, 'Brother K, you must not expect to do much good here; for there is the hidden curse among the souls, which I believe arises chiefly from the practice of procuring ab, which is so common among the women.' Nevertheless I did find a great blessing during the two or three months that I laboured there; but I could not stay, having a strong impression on my mind that I was to labour in Jamaica.

“10. Upon my mentioning this to the Brethren, they said I should go thither as soon as possible; but it would be proper for me to go to Pennsylvania first, and spend a little time at Bethlehem. I believed they knew best; so in the year 1744, I quitted my shop, left all my affairs unsettled, and sailed to Pennsylvania.

"11. I had full employ at Bethlehem, being appointed general preacher, and expected to bear a part in all the conferences. But it was not long before I was troubled more than ever, seeing so much craft and subtlety, and withal so much pride, stateliness, and tyranny, in those that gov erned the Church. One instance out of very many, was this:-W. Harding, who came over some time before me, and was a stated preacher, had spoken to them freely and warmly, of several things which he thought reprovable. Upon this he was put out of all his offices, and all the Brethren were forbid to speak to him. Being forsaken of all, he was more uneasy still; on which the brethren said he was mad. As such he was confined, and food was brought to him once or twice a day, by two or three young men, who likewise many times beat him very severely. At length he watched his opportunity, and made his escape; but they followed after, and took him, and a wooden house was built for him, not a quarter of a mile from the town, about ten foot square, and very dark. I was walking alone near the place when they were bringing him thither. His cries and entreaties might have pierced a heart of stone. He begged that he might clean shoes, fetch them water, cleave wood, or whatever they pleased in the open air. But it availed not: he was shut up. About six weeks after, as they opened the door one day, in order to give him some meat, he rushed out, got by them, and made toward Philadelphia, with all the speed he could. Being close pursued, he ran to the river, (being an excellent swimmer,) leaped in, sunk, and rose no more.

"12. I was then at New-York, whence I returned to Bethlehem, in January, 1746. But I had no rest in my spirit, till, after three weeks, I removed to Philadelphia. Here two of the Brethren and a widow woman lived in the Brethren's house. I hired a room in it, and desired the widow, as I had not convenience myself, to boil me a little water in the morning for my tea. Meantime all the Brethren in Philadelphia were charged not to converse with me. And not long after, the two Brethren wrote Mr. Spword, that I lived in adultery with the widow. When I was informed of this, I went straight to Bethlehem, and told Mr. Sp― the whole affair; who immediately wrote back to them in Philadelphia that I had confessed the charge.

"14. Being now thoroughly weary of mankind, I procured a little house, in a wood, at some miles distant from any town, and resolved to spend the remainder of my days by myself. Here I stayed about four years; till one afternoon Mr. Sp- and the Count's son-in-law called upon me. We talked together till two in the morning. They acknowledged many things that had been wrong, promised they should be amended without delay, and persuaded me to join with them once more. But nothing was amended; so that after a few months, I was constrained to leave them again. I followed my business in Philadelphia till I had earned money for my passage, and a year ago returned to London."

Was there ever so melancholy an account? O what is human nature!

How low are they fallen, who were once burning and shining lights, spreading blessings wherever they came! But what infatuation is it which makes this very man attend their preaching still, and his wife, (though she believes most of what her husband says,) to remain in close connection with them!

Sun. March 15, 1752.-While I was preaching at West-street in the afternoon, there was one of the most violent storms I ever remember. In the midst of the sermon great part of a house opposite to the chapel was blown down. We heard a huge noise, but knew not the cause; so much the more did God speak to our hearts: and great was the rejoicing of many in confidence of his protection. Between four and five I took horse with my wife and daughter. The tiles were rattling from the houses on both sides; but they hurt not us. We reached Hayes about seven in the evening, and Oxford the next day.

Tues. 17.-The rain continued without intermission, till we came to Enstone. Soon after we set out from thence, it was succeeded by so vehement a wind, as on Broadway hill often drove us clear out of the path, and was ready to carry away both horse and rider. But our strength was as our day; and before six in the evening we came unhurt to Evesham.

I preached in the evening at the Town Hall, where several of the clergy and gentry were present. Wednesday, 18.-I rode over with Mr. to his house, which I had not seen for upward of twenty years. The place I found, but not the inhabitants: most of them were gone to their long home. I saw not one whom I knew but Mr.'s aunt; who could not long forbear telling me how sorry she was that I should leave all my friends, to lead this vagabond life. Why, indeed it is not pleasing to flesh and blood; and I would not do it, if I did not believe there was another world. Our dispute did not continue long, and ended in much love. Mr. rode back with me to Evesham, attended the preaching both at seven, and at five in the morning, and walked with me from the room after sermon; but it was some time before he could speak. He then broke out, "I am to take care of two thousand souls, and I never yet knew how to take care of my own!" I left him full of conviction and good resolutions. How many days will they continue? ·

Thur. 19.-I rode to Birmingham, and, from the behaviour of the people, both this and the following evening, found reason to hope that some of the seed which has been sown here will bear lasting fruit. Saturday, 21.-I rode to Wednesbury, where Mr. vicar of

had appointed to meet me. I rejoiced to find so great a change. Since he has known the pardoning love of God, he has been swiftly going on from faith to faith, and growing not in knowledge only, but in love.

Sun. 22. After preaching at five, I returned to Birmingham. Many were much afraid of my preaching in the street, expecting I know not what mischief to be done. Vain fear! I saw not one person behave amiss, while I declared, "There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth." At one I preached at Tipton Green, to a large congregation, though the wind was ready to cut us in two; and about five, to a inuch larger, at Wednesbury; where, in spite of all the wiles of Satan

and the cunning craftiness of men, the plain, genuine Gospel runs and is glorified.

Wed. 23.-I spent an agreeable hour with Mr.

curate of W.;

an honest, upright man, I verily believe, and willing to know the whole counsel of God. In the evening I preached to a small, serious congregation, at Billbrook. The storm of wind, snow, and hail, was ready for us in the morning, almost as soon as we set out, and continued most part of the day. When we had heaths or commons to cross, it was not easy to sit a horse, especially as the wind was full in our teeth. However, we reached Poole (two miles from Nantwich) in the evening, and found a congregation gathered from many miles round; several of whom sat up all night, for fear of losing the morning sermon.

Wed. 25.-After preaching at five and at nine, I rode on to Alpraham, where a large congregation of serious, sensible people attended, both at one and at seven in the evening. Thursday, 26.-We rode on, through wind and snow, and reached Manchester. At night I was grieved to hear in all places, from my coming into Cheshire till now, that John Bennet was still speaking all manner of evil; averring, wherever he came, that Mr. W. preached nothing but Popery, denying justification by faith, and making nothing of Christ. Lord, lay not this sin to his charge!

March 27.-(Being Good Friday.) I went to the old church, where Mr. Clayton read prayers; I think the most distinctly, solemnly, and gracefully, of any man I have ever heard; and the behaviour of the whole congregation was serious and solemn in every part of the service. But I was surprised to see such a change in the greater part of them, as soon as ever the sacrament was over. They were then bowing, courtesying, and talking to each other, just as if they were going from a play. On Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, I spoke severally to each member of the society; and found reason, after the strictest search, to believe that there was not one disorderly walker therein.

Tues. 31.-T. M- gave me a full account of J. B―'s renouncing all connection with me; adding, "On the 30th of December last, after he had said many bitter things of you to the congregation at Bolton, he spread out his arms and cried, Popery! Popery! Popery! I have not been in connection with him these three years, neither will I be any more.' And the same thing he said to all the stewards, at the quarterly meeting on New Year's Day."

Fri. April 3.-I rode to Bank House, near Rochdale, where T. Mitchell gave me the following account:

"On Sunday, August 7, last, I preached at Wrangle, at five in the morning, as usual. About six two constables came, and carried me to a public house, where I was kept till near four in the afternoon. Then one of them said, he would go and ask the minister, whether they might not let me go. Upon his return, they brought me out to a large mob, who carried me, and threw me into a standing water; and as often as I tried to come out, they pitched me in again. At last some of them said, I should come out, and kept the others off, till I got up the bank. I found myself very happy all the time; for I knew I was in the Lord's hand. I got back to the house where I lodged, and went to bed. But in less than an hour the mob came again, broke open the doors of the house and the chamber, and dragged me away with them. They carried me to a great