AN EXTRACT OF THE REV. MR. JOHN WESLEY'S JOURNAL. FROM FEBRUARY 16, 1755, TO JUNE 16, 1758. JOURNAL.-No. X. FEBRUARY 16, 1755.-Having heard a confused account from a place near Camelford, in Cornwall, I wrote to a friend near it, and received the following answer : "According to your desire, I have inquired into the particulars of the late affair at Ďelabole Quarry. The rock is about thirty yards thick; but the most valuable part of the stone lies undermost. "There were nine partners who shared the advantage of this part of the quarry. Being greedy of gain, they brought out as much of the under part as possible; and the rather, because the time for which they had hired it was within a month of expiring. "On Monday, Dec. 2, William Lane, John Lane, William Kellow, and five more of the partners, met in the morning, and sent one of their number for Theophilus Kellow to come to work. He came, but was so uneasy he could not stay, but quickly returned home. William Kellow was sent for in haste, and went to look after his mare, which had cast her foal. The other seven continued labouring till twelve. All the workmen usually dine together; but these wrought on, when the rest withdrew, till in a moment they were covered with rocks of all sizes, falling about ten yards, some of which were thought to be three tons weight. William Lane had, some years since, known the love of God. He was sitting, cleaving stones, when the rock caved in upon him, with a con cave surface, which just made room for his body: only one edge of it light upon him, and broke one of his thigh bones. When they dug away the stones, he was earnestly praying to God, and confessing his unfaithfulness. As soon as he looked up, he began exhorting all around instantly to make their peace with God. His bone being set, he soon recovered both his bodily strength, and the peace and love which he had lost. Another, who sat close by his side, was covered over, and killed at once. Close to him, John Lane (son of William) was standing: he was thrown upon his face, he knew not how, and a sharp-edged stone pitched between his thighs; on which a huge rock fell, and was suspended by it, so as to shadow him all over. The other five were entirely dashed in pieces." Doth not God save those that trust in him? Tues. April 1.-I rode from Bristol to a village named Kingswood, near Wotton-under-Edge. The church was exceeding full, and the congregation was serious and well-behaved: and I had since the satis faction of being informed, that many of them were much changed, at least in their outward behaviour. Wed. 2.-With some difficulty we reached Stanley: there has been lately a great awakening in this country. I never saw such a congregation here before, notwithstanding the wind and rain; and all present seemed to receive the word with gladness and readiness of mind. There is a solid, serious people in these parts, who stand their ground against all opposition. The warmest opposers are the Jacobites, who do not love us, because we love King George. But they profit nothing; for more and more people "fear God and honour the king." We rode on Thursday in the afternoon through heavy rain, and almost impassable roads, to Evesham; and on Friday, 4, to Birmingham, a barren, dry, uncomfortable place. Most of the seed which has been sown for so many years, the "wild boars" have "rooted up ;" the fierce, unclean, brutish, blasphemous Antinomians have utterly destroyed it. mystic foxes have taken true pains to spoil what remained, with their new Gospel. Yet it seems God has a blessing for this place still; so many still attend the preaching; and he is eminently present with the small number that is left in the society. Sat. 5.-I preached at Wednesbury, and at eight on Sunday morning. But the great congregation assembled in the afternoon, as soon as the service of the church was over, with which we take care never to interfere. A solemn awe seemed to run all through the company in the evening, when I met the society. We have indeed preached the Gospel here "with much contention:" but the success overpays the labour. Mon. 7.—I was advised to take the Derbyshire road to Manchester. We baited at a house six miles beyond Lichfield. Observing a woman sitting in the kitchen, I asked, "Are you not well?" And found she had just been taken ill, (being on her journey,) with all the symptoms of an approaching pleurisy. She was glad to hear of an easy, cheap, and (almost) infallible remedy,—a handful of nettles, boiled a few minutes, and applied warm to the side. While I was speaking to her, an elderly man, pretty well dressed, came in. Upon inquiry, he told us he was travelling, as he could, toward his home near Hounslow, in hopes of agreeing with his creditors, to whom he had surrendered his all. But how to get on he knew not, as he had no money, and had caught a tertian ague. I hope a wise providence directed this wanderer also, that he might have a remedy for both his maladies. Soon after we took horse we overtook a poor man creeping forward on two crutches. I asked, whither he was going. He said, toward Nottingham, where his wife lived: but both his legs had been broke while he was on shipboard, and he had now spent all his money. This man likewise appeared exceeding thankful, and ready to acknowledge the hand of God. In the afternoon we came to Barton Forge; where a gentleman of Birmingham has set up a large iron work, and fixed five or six families, with a serious man over them, who lost near all he had in the great riot at Wednesbury. Most of them are seeking to save their souls. I preached in the evening, not to them only, but to many gathered from all parts, and exhorted them to love and help one another. Tues. S.-I had designed to go straight on to Hayfield; but one from Ashbourn pressed me much to call there; which accordingly I did at seven in the morning, and preached to a deeply serious congregation. Seventeen or eighteen then desired to join in a society, to whom I spoke severally, and was well pleased to find that near half of them knew the pardoning love of God. One of the first I spoke to was Miss Beresford, a sweet, but short-lived flower! Through much hail, rain, and wind, we got to Mr. B's, at Hayfield, about five in the afternoon. His favourite daughter died some hours before we came; such a child as is scarce heard of in a century. All the family informed me of many remarkable circumstances, which else would have seemed incredible. She spake exceeding plain, yet very seldom; and then only a few words. She was scarce ever seen to laugh, or heard to utter a light or trifling word: she could not bear any that did, nor any one who behaved in a light or unserious manner. If any such offered to kiss or touch her, she would turn away and say, "I don't like you." If her brother or sisters spoke angrily to each other, or behaved triflingly, she either sharply reproved (when that seemed needful) or tenderly entreated them to give over. If she had spoke too sharply to any, she would humble herself to them, and not rest till they had forgiven her. After her health declined, she was particularly pleased with hearing that hymn sung, "Abba, Father;" and would be frequently singing that line herself, Abba, Father, hear my cry! On Monday, April 7, without any struggle, she fell asleep, having lived two years and six months. Wed. 9.-In the evening I preached at Manchester. The mob was tolerably quiet, as long as I was speaking, but immediately after, raged horribly. This, I find, has been their manner for some time. No wonder; since the good justices encourage them. Thur. 10.-1 rode to Hayfield again, to bury Mr. B's child. Abundance of people were gathered together, and I found uncommon liberty in preaching. Who would have looked for such a congregation as this in the Peak of Derbyshire? I returned to Manchester the next day, and had a quiet congregation both that evening and the following. Sun. 13.-I met the society at five, and showed them wherein I feared they had grieved the Spirit of God, and provoked him to deliver them to be thus outraged by "the beasts of the people." I then rode to Hayfield once more, where Mr. Bread prayers, and preached a solemn and affecting sermon, relative to the late providence. In the afternoon I again found great liberty of spirit in applying those awful words, "What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mon. 14.-I rode by Manchester (where I preached about twelve) to Warrington. At six in the morning, Tuesday, 15, I preached to a large and serious congregation; and then went on to Liverpool, one of the neatest, best built towns I have seen in England: I think it is full twice as large as Chester; most of the streets are quite straight. Two thirds of the town, we were informed, have been added within these forty years. If it continue to increase in the same proportion, in forty years more it will nearly equal Bristol. The people in general are the most mild and courteous I ever saw in a sea-port town; as indeed appears by their friendly behaviour, not only to the Jews and Papists who live among them, but even to the Methodists (so called). The preaching house is a little larger than that at Newcastle. It was thoroughly filled at seven in the evening; and the hearts of the whole congregation seemed to be moved before the Lord, and before the presence of his power. Every morning, as well as evening, abundance of people gladly attended the preaching. Many of them, I learned, were dear lovers of controversy: but I had better work. I pressed upon them all "repentance toward God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ." Sun. 20.-I explained, after the evening preaching, the rules of the society, and strongly exhorted the members to adorn their profession by all holiness of conversation. Mon. 21.-I rode to Bolton. Being now among those who were no "strangers to the covenant of promise," I had no need to lay the foundation again, but exhorted them to "rejoice evermore." Their number is a little reduced since I was here before: and no wonder; while the sons of strife are on every side, some for Mr. Bennet, some for Mr. Wh- The little dock, notwithstanding, hold on their way, looking straight to the prize of their high calling. Thur. 24.—We rode in less than four hours the eight miles (so called) to Newell Hay. Just as I began to preach, the sun broke out, and shone exceeding hot on the side of my head. I found, if it continued, I should not be able to speak long, and lifted up my heart to God. In a minute or two it was covered with clouds, which continued till the service was over. Let any who please, call this chance: I call it an answer to prayer. Fri. 25.-About ten I preached near Todmorden. The people stood, row above 'ow, on the side of the mountain. They were rough enough in outward appearance; but their hearts were as melting wax. One can hardly conceive any thing more delightful than the vale through which we rode from hence. The river ran through the green meadows on the right. The fruitful hills and woods rose on either hand: yet here and there a rock hung over, the little holes of which put me in mind of those beautiful lines,—— Te, Domine, intonsi montes, e saxa loquentur Summa Deum, dum montis omat juga pendulus hircus, [Thee, Lord, shall the unshorn mounains, Thee shall the lofty rocks, as long as the pendulous goat delights in the mountain peaks, and the coney burrows in the dark holes of the rocks,-proclaim Go>!] At three in the afternoon I preached at Heptonstall, on the brow of the mountain. The rain began almost as soon as I began to speak. I prayed that, if God saw best, it might be stayed, till I had delivered his word. It was so, and then began again. But we had only a short stage to Ewood. Sat. 26. I preached, at seven, to a large and serious congregation, and again at four in the afternoon. When I began, in a meadow near the house, the wind was so high, I could hardly speak. But the winds too are in God's hand : in a few minutes that inconvenience ceased, and we found the Spirit of God breathing in the midst of us, so that great was our rejoicing in the Lord. Sun. 27.-A little before I took horse, I looked into a room as I walked by, and saw a good old man, bleeding almost to death. I desired VOL. III. 37 him immediately to snuff vinegar up his nose, and apply it to his neck, face, and temples. It was done; and the blood entirely stopped in less than two minutes. The rain began about five, and did not intermit till we came to Haworth; notwithstanding which, a multitude of people were gathered together at ten. In the afternoon I was obliged to go out of the church, abundance of people not being able to get in. The rain ceased from the moment I came out, till I had finished my discourse.-How many proofs must we have that there is no petition too little, any more than too great, for God to grant? Mon. 28.-I preached at Keighley; on Tuesday at Bradford, which is now as quiet as Birstal. Such a change has God wrought in the hearts of the people since John Nelson was in the dungeon here. My brother met me at Birstal in the afternoon. Wed. 30.-We began reading together, "A Gentleman's Reasons for his Dissent from the Church of England." It is an elaborate and lively tract, and contains the strength of the cause; but it did not yield us one proof that it is lawful for us (much less our duty) to separate from it. Thur. May 1.-I finished the "Gentleman's Reasons" (who is a Dissenting minister at Exeter.) In how different a spirit does this man write from honest Richard Baxter! The one dipping, as it were, his pen in tears, the other in vinegar and gall. Surely one page of that loving, serious Christian, weighs more than volumes of this bitter, sarcastic jester. Sun. 4.-I preached at ore, and again at five, to some thousands at the foot of the hill. I believe this hollow would contain sixty thousand people, standing one above another; and a clear, strong voice might command them all although, if they stood upon a plain, I doubt whether any human voice could be distinctly heard by half the number. Tues. 6.-Our conference began at Leeds. The point on which we desired all the preachers to speak their minds at large was, "Whether we ought to separate from the Church?" Whatever was advanced on one side or the other was seriously and calmly considered; and on the third day we were all fully agreed in that general conclusion,-that (whether it was lawful or not) it was no ways expedient. Mon. 12.-We rode (my wife and I) to Northallerton. Tues. 13.I rode on to Newcastle. I did not find things here in the order I expected. Many were on the point of leaving the Church, which some had done already; and, as they supposed, on my authority! O how much discord is caused by one jarring string! How much trouble by one man who does not walk by the same rule, and agree in the same judgment with his brethren! May 18. (Being Whit-Sunday.) I preached about eight at Gateshead Fell, and returned before the service at St. Andrew's began. At the sacrament many found an uncommon blessing, and felt God has not yet left the Church. In the following week I spake to the members of the society severally, and found far fewer than I expected prejudiced against the Church: I think not above forty in all. And I trust the plague is now stayed. Wed. 21.-I preached at Nafferton, near Horsley, about thirteen miles from Newcastle. We rode chiefly on the new western road, which lies on the old Roman wall. Some part of this is still to be |