IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) ,^ i i/. 1.0 I.I 11.25 ■^1^ lEI 1^ 12.2 us Ui u ■ 4 2.0 ii JA 1 1.6 Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 '^ '^ \ :\ ^q> V \ o^ ■p^^ :# t'A^ M^.. i/.l CIHM Microfiche Series (IVIonograplis) ICIVIH Collection de microfiches (monographies) Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Notes / Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. n Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur I I Covers damaged/ D Couverture endommagee Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restauree et/ou pelliculee □ Cover title missi Lc titre de couv( ng/ couverture manque n n n n n Coloured maps/ Cattes g6ographiques en coulour Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustration5 en couleur Bound with other material/ Relie avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La reliure serree peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distorsion le long de la marge interieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajouties lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela etait possible, ces pages n'ont pas ete filmees. Additional comments:/ Commentaires supplementaires: This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est filme au taux de reduction mdique ci-dessous. L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a eti possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-§tre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite. ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la methode normale de f ilmage sont indiques ci-dessous. □ Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur The toti I y1 Pages damaged/ Pages endommagees □ Pages restored and/or laminated/ Pages restaurees et/ou pellicultes Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ Pages decolorees, tachetees ou piquees □ Pages detached/ Par«s detachees I /| Showthrough/ I I Transparence Quality of print varies/ Qualite inegale de I'impressi The pos) of tl film Oris beg the sior oth( first slon oril pression Continuous pagination/ Pagination continue Includes index(es)/ Comprend un (des) index Title on header taken from:/ Le titre de I'en-tete provient: □ Title page of issue/ Page □ Page de titre de la livraison Caption of issue/ Titre de depart de la livraison Masthead/ Generique (periodiques) de la livraison The shal TIN whi Mar diffi enti beg righ reqi met IQX 1" 1 14V 18X Z2X 26 X 30X J 1 ' 12X 16X 20X 24 X 28X 32 X I'll et ie vue ion The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: Izask Walton Killam Memorial Library Dalhousie University The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. L'exemplaire film6 fut reproduit grflce A la g6n6rosit6 de: Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Library Dalhousie University Les images suivantes ont 6x6 reproduites avec ie plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et de la nettete de l'exemplaire filme, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverturo en papier est imprimie sont fiimds en commen^ant par Ie premier plat et en terminant soit par la dernidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par Ie second plat, selon Ie cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont filmds en commenpant par la premidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol •^^ (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Un des symboles suivants apparattra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon Ie cas: Ie symbole — »>signifie "A SUIVRE", Ie symbole V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre filmds 6 des taux de reduction diff6rents. Lorsque Ie document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul ciichd, ii est film6 d partir de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche 6 droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant Ie nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammed suivants illustrent la mdthode. n 32 X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 1 *i^- f^ h' 11 1' tl * $ H O %\'t. H I g O R y JW flr P E O P L Sr'l»lled M E T H D I S V By the Reverend JOHN WESLEY, A.M. Late Fellow of Lincoln Collbqe, Oxfords -«— # " Come and hear, all ye that fear C«/, and X wiU declare what he hathd*!^ for my Soul." P.alm Ixvi. ,«. ' *♦ Not unto us, O Lord, not unto u», but unto thy Nama, glre Glory," «rj ♦ PlAtM cxv. ^« r— ^ /■' =«=^ LONDON: «f finted by f . P A R A M O R E, at the Foandcry, M<»orfi«|«^^' H A L 1 F A jfe/ i^c-prbttd by J. HOWE, at JhU PfinWij.OiBcf, J«.kiill«.$|rrtf: DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY L1 B R A R Y ^^ ^ ■«- } 1 SPECIAL COLLECTIONS '. ;-^- '^ ^ \ ^ a H I SHORT TORY Q F THE PEOPLE cailed METHO D I S T S, H. leave b.M„die. for th1'i„fo',r,'>tf " 7j"'J men. as clear an account of it as 1 Tan Tf •i,"' defiil to" h ve i'^fi^l^^roun*; ST/".'""'' *''' tteir leifure read all my Jou,n,u' ^■*'*= ""^ ">»/ « .0 irlings V^Jc'lf rit''" ' "'"'^ ""«- -"^Wf Sd- a^ --.'5^- ''"'^" i729> at which tim;ic«mern... week roae her On SnnH • °^^*'"' cvcmijgs in ^ II A SHORT HISTORY OF THE In the following fummer,. we were defired to vtfit thA prifoners in the Caftlc. And we were fo well fatisfied ■with our converfation there,, that we agreed to vifit them once or twice a week. Soon after, we were defired to call upon a poor woman in the town that was ficlc. And' in this employnnent too,, we believed it would be worth while to fpend an hour or two in every week. Being now joined by a young gentleman of Merton College,^ who willingly took part in' the fame e.i^crcife^, we all agreed to communicate as often as we could, (which, was then- once a week at Chrift-Church) and to do what fcrvice we could to onr acquaintance, the prifoners, and two or three poor families in the town. HI. In April 1732, Mr. Clayton, of Braztmiofe Col-- lege, began ro meet with us. It was by his advice that we began to obferve the Falls of the ancient Church* ' every Wcdnelllav and Friday. Two or three of his pu- pils, one of my Brother''s, two- or three of mine, and Mr. Broughton of Exeter College, defired likewife to fpend fix evenings in a week with us, from fix to nine o'clock : partly, in reading and confidering a chapter bf the Greek Tefta^.nent, and partly in clofe converfation. To thefe were added the next year, Mr. Ingham, with two or three other gentlemen of Qvieen's College : thea Mr. Hervey, and in the year 1735* ^r.. George White- field. I think, at this time we were fcnirteen or fifteen, in nirmbcr, all of one heart and of one mind. IV. Having noyi obtained what 1 had long defired, a. company of friends that were as my own foul, I fet up my reft, being fully determined to live and die in this fweer retirement. But in fpring 1735, I was fuddenly called to attend my dying Father, who a little before his death, defired me to prefent a book he had jult finifhed, to Queen Caroline. Almoft as foon as 1 return- i «d to Oxford, I was obliged on this account to go to London, where 1 was firongly folic ited to go over to ■ r:m.^-nr\-, \n ^rAmr: ^/> r>r»»nrN to thr Indians. This» at firfl, I pcremjjtorily refufed ; but m^ny provi- 1 dential incidents followed, which at length confirained me to alter my refolution : fo that on 1 06lober 14, 17 35» Mr. J V' \^■> I ■^7^ 'i J i' PEOPLE CALLED METHODISTS. Mr. Ingham, Mr. Delamottc, my Brother and I em' barked for America. We were above three men hs Ta board during which time our common way of ?.in^. was th.s. Prom four in the morning till five, ea h o1 u ufed private prayer.^ From five roYeven, we read the Bil^le together. At feven we breakfalted At ci - r was the public fervice. From nine to twelve, I I ? n,' German; Mr Delamotte, Greek: my B.o her wrote Sermons, and Mr. Ingham inftrufted the children Ar twelve we met together. About one we dined The t^me from dinner to four, we fpcnt in reading to thofc of tT rr'v" 1?^"' ^'^ 5^*^^" ^^^^Se, or in tpeaking "I venni ' ^'''."''^/^^"'^^^- At four were the e> IhJ^^?^"-"' r^''"" '''^'' '^^ ^'^^^^ ^'f^on was ex- P ained, (as it always was in the morning) or the chiK tirT''^^^'^' andinaruaed befofi the congrt gation From five to fix, we again ufed private prayer From fix to feven I read in our cabin, to two or three ea h o^mrr^,' ^"' ^''Y'^'^ ^"g'i^^ «" board) and each of my brethren to a few more in theirs. At Lcn 1 joined with the Germans (of whom we had twen ty-fix on board) m their public fervice, while Mr. Ingham was reading between the decks to as many as defirfd^ each n/ ^'^^T ""'' '="'"' '« '"^'"^ and exhorc each other, and between nine and ten went to bed vec'nv ^""^"^^ March 7, 1736, finding there was n . y^cta^iy opportunity ofgoingtothe Indians, I entered tweTye"'Vn''H "'^^ at Savannah, t officiating 'at nine, at twelvre, and Ml the afternoon. On the week-days 1 read prayer and expounded the fecond leflbn, beginning at Sunr^" .T"/"/ '1^ ^'"^" '" '^^ e^^ninl. Every Sunday and Ho .day, I adminiilered the Lord's fupper^ Freder .. ^^^^^^^.^^^ ^^"^e rule, whether he was ai for F ir ^f ^'■\"^^- Sunday, April 4, I embarked fo Frederica, hearing my Brother was ill, and brought Tn2 .""V^l""'.""^^' on Tuefday the 20th. ^ form th.^^r^} ■ '^'^X"^^ F-^f"- 01 tnc congregation t» torm themfelves ,nto a fort of little fociety, and to meet »nd reprove o«e another. And out of thcfc I fdefted i J Page «5, and fquel ^^^ ^ A SHORT HISTORY OF THE fmallcr number, for a more intimate union with each o* I her J in order to which 1 met them together at my houfr to embark for England. I Saturday, January 26, 1737, Mr. Ingham fet out for England., By liim I wrote to Dr. Bray's Affociates, wh«i had fent a parochial Library to Savannah. It is expeft- ed of the Minifters who receive thefe^ to fend an account to their bcnefaiflors. of the method they ufe in rarechi- fing the children, and infl-rufting the youth of their ref- pedlivc parifhes. Fart of my letter was,, *^ Our general, method, is this, A yoitng Gentleman, who came with m«, teaches between thirty and forty children to. read,^ write, arid caft: accounts. Twice a, day he catechifcs the loweft clafs. In the evening he inllrufts the larger children.. On Saturday I catechifc them all} a« alfo on Sunday before the evening fcrvice,. And in the church,, immediately after the fecond leflbn^ a, feled number of them having repeated the Catechifm,, and been examined in fome part of it, I endeavour to ex- plain at large,, and to enforce that part both on them and the congregation. "After the evening fervice, as many af my parifiiion-. ers as defire it, meet: at my houfe, (as they do alfo on Wednefday evening) and fpend about an hour in pray- er, fingingj^ and, mutual CTihorration. A fmall number (moftly thofc whodefign to communicate the next day) ineethere oiv Saturday evening. And a few of thefc come to me on the other evenings, and,pal> half an hour in the famjc employment."' I cannot; but abfE0PLE CALLED METHODISTS. %:rvicc laftcd from five to half paft fix. The Italian Jw.th. few Vaudoii) began at nine.- The fecond fer^ Vice for the Englifh (mcluding the Sermon and the Ho- ly Communion) continued fronfi half an hour paft tcn» till about half an hour pall twelve.. The French lervice began at one. At two I catechifed the children. About three began the Englilh fcrvice. After this was ended, 1 jointd with as many is my largeft room would hold th reading, prayer, and finging praife. And about Cix the fervice of the Germans began : at which 1 was gUd to be prcfcnt, not as a teacher, but as a learner. « ^L-r ^'\^''''^^y' December 2, finding there Was ftd pombihty of preaching to the Indians, I left Savannah. And going through Carolina, on Saturday a+th, faiie^ over Lharleflown -bar. After a pleafant voyage, on Fe- bruary I, I7j8, early in the morning landed at DeaU And on Friday 3d, I came once more to London, after an abicnce of two years and near four months. t Wichin three weeks following, (while I regained ia town at the requeft of the Truftees for the Colony of v»eorgia) 1 preached in many churches, though I did roL yet kt the nature of faving faith. But as Son as I lavv this clearly, namely «n Monday, March 6, I dccla- red It without delay. And God then began to work hv tmy miniftry, as he never had done before. IX. On Monday, May i, our little fociety beean I'a London. But it may be obferved, the firft rife of Af^^ iMt/m (fo called) was in ^^'>vember 1729, when four ot us met together at Oxfo. i : the fecond was at Savan- nah, in Aprii 1736, Mhen twenty or thirty perfons met « my houfc : the laft, was at London, on this day, i»hcn torty or fifty of us agreed to meet together every Wed- ndfday evening, in ordef to a free converfation, beguft and eided with finging and prayer. In all our fteps wc were gready affiftcd by the advice and exhortations of I'eter Boehler, an excellent voung man, bcloncInR to the fociety commonly called Meraviatis. X. In rummer I took a journey into Germany, and ipent fome time at Hernuth, a little town where feveral XVloraruo ftmUies were fcttlpd. I dpubt, fuch another .t ?««« ?ff, «nd feq««l, A SHOUT HISTORY OF THE It 1 J I Af (own is not to be found upon the earth. I believe thcrft was no one therein, young or old, who did not fear God and work righteoufnefs. 1 was exceedingly comforted ind ftrcngthened by the ccnverfation of this lovely peo- ple, and returned to England more fully determined to fpend my life, in teftifying the Gofpel of theCrace ofGod. XI. It was ftill my de(ire to preach in a churchy rather than any other place. But many obllruaions were now kid in the way. Some clergymen objedted to this new dotlrine " Salvation by faith :" but the far more com- mon (ind indeed more plaufible) objcdlion was, " The people crowd fa, that they block up the chur'ch, and leave no room for the befl: of the parilh." Being thus excluded from the churches, and not daring to be filent. It remained only, to preach in the open air : which I did at fiifl, not out of choice, but neccffity. But I have fiiicefcen abundant re^fon to adore the wife providence ot God herein, making a way for myriads of people, who never troubled any church, nor were likely lb to do, to hear that word Which they foon foui^d to be the power of God unto falvation. XII. In January 1739, «^"r fociety confided of abnut fixty p^rfons. It continued gradually increafihg all the year. * In April 1 went down to Briftol. Alid foon after, afewperlons agreed to meet weekly. With the famft ihtention as chofo in London. Thefc were fwiftly in- treafed, by the oCcafion of feveral little focieties, whic'i were till then accuftomed to meet in divers parrs of thd city, but how agreed to unite together in one. And tfbout the fame time, feveral of the colliers Of Kiiigswood, beginning to awake out of deep, joined togethef, and refolved to walk by the fame rule. And thefe likewifc fwiftly increafed. A few alfo at Bath began to help each other, in i-unningthe race fet before them. XIII. In the remaining part of the fummer, my Bro- ther and I, and two young men who were willing to lj:)cnd and be fpcnt for God, continued to call finner- 1 repentance, in' London, Briftol, Bath, andafewotl her places. ? ut it was not without violent oppofition, both I from hiih and low, learned and unlearned. Not only It was not without violent oppofuion, both V«I.xxvj;. R. ij, Ui \\\ vi i*EOPLE CALLED KiETHOnKTS. M manner of evil was fpbkcofus, both in priVatc and fubl.c, but the bealts of the people were flirred up al- moa ,n all places, - to knock thefc mad dogs on tho Jead at once." And when complaint wa« made of their lavage, brutal violence, no magiftrate would do us iuf- H'^A l^}"^ ^^'^ S'*^'' °^ ^^ ^<^ ^<^"t on» determi- hed toteilify a. ong a« wc could, the Gofpel of God our Sar.our and not counting our lives dear unto our- V I V •'I ""^^^ ^"'^ °"'' '^^"•'^^ ^'th joy. .^n^f w I ^^^^^^'^ "P°" a prcfTing invitation, I Tea cut for Wales, and preached in feveTal parts of Gla' morganftirc and MonmoXithfhirc, chiefly in the opca *ir : as 1 was not permitted to preach in the churches, and no private houfc would contain the congregations And the word of God did not fall to the groJnd^ Mai ny r.^r./.^ W hiievfd th. Go/p,L And fomc joined together to ftrengthen each others hands in God, and to provoke one another to love and to good works ro^nT' /" ?^°I*"?''J'" ^ + '^°''= ^*^ ^ ^'•'^^"^ » fl^ort ac- fol W "" '"^ Kingswood. It was at kin r "^'i Pf ^''"' ^r*' ''"^^ ^°"g >" ^^^ Weft of Ena. hnd. whj have not heard of the colliers of Kingswood, a poople famous for neithef fearing God, nor reLrcW ^an : fo ignorant of the things oftSod, \haTthef ^tm? ed but one remove from the beafts that perifh ; and therefore utrerly withcnt defirc of inftrudlion, ai well »8 Without the means of it. . . cirl^'n^ ^'^ '^'l^'''' "^*^ f° ^*y o^ Mr. Whitefield -If he w.U convert heathens, why does he not go to the colhers of Kmgswood?' In fpring he did fo. And as there were thoufands whorefortcd%ono place of wor- fti.p, he went after them to their own wildernefs t» M andfuvc that ^hicb -^as hft. When he was called away, others went into the highways and hedges to com. ^/ them to come ,n. And by the grace of God. thn rt- .. wa.noc.n r,:n. lac iceiie is already changed Hariri fr/r "''^' ^'^^y^rago, refound wth ^arn g and blafphemy. It « no more filled with drun^ k-chncls and uncieannefs, and the idle di^crfions that 4o A SlciOHf HIStORt OF Tlig naturally lead thereto. It is no longer full of wars Arid fightings, ofclanhourand bitttrncfsi bf ^rath and cnvjr- Jng6. Peace and Jove ate there. Great numbers 6f ihepeo* pic arc mild, gende^and tafy tabc intfeat^d. They do n»t cry, neither ftrive, and hardly is their hoke htard in the ftreets ; or indeed in their own wood f unlcfs when tl^ey kre at their ufual diverSiotii fingrng pfaife onto God tlieir Saviour." XVI. * April iy ij^o, the rioters irf Bfrftol,- who ha^ long diftirrbed us, being Crtibblden^ed by inipurtity, were fO increafcd, as to fill, not only the courf,^ biit a con- fidcfable part of ihc ftreet.-^ The Mayor fent them art order to difperfe; But they fet him at defiance. At >ehgth he fent fever«l of hris Officers,; who took the ring- leaders into cuftod/. The next day they Wefc brought into coui^t,- it being the tiiWe of the quarter- feflion*. There they received if feve^e reprimand ;• and wc were molefted no more. XVII. t Sunday^ Sept. 15, J74J, Mi. Deleinot, a French Clergyman in i^ondon, defiring me to officiate' at his chapc>/ in Hermitage-ftreet, Wapping, I admi- ftered the Lord's fupper th'ci'e to aboijit t^^o hundred per- fons of o«r fociefj' (as marty as tbe place could well con- tain) which thenr cortfrfted of abooc a: tbaufaftd mem- bers. The famff number attended the next Lord's-day, and fo every Sunday following. By this means all the fociety attended in five weeks. Only thofe who had the facrament aC th©ir pa*ilh^chui'chcs> I» advifed to attencf there. XVIJI. f It Was Otr the laft day of this yeaiV that Sif John Gdnfon called upon m'e, and informed' me, " Sir,- you have nonecd to fuffcr thefe riotous mobs to moleft you, as they have done long. I and all the other Mid- dlcfex magiftratcs have orders from abOve, to do you' jiiftice, whenever you apply to us." Two or three weeks after, we did apjaly. Jufticc was done, thoughr not with rigour. And iforn ih»i tifiic we hud peace in' - London. XIX. Feb. London. XIX. Feb. 15,' 1742,11 many met together at BriftoV to confult concerning a proper method of paying the' public ir VPaiesci, M. f Vol. Xkis. ^.-4. t P« sC. | p, $2, and fetuelf PEOPLE CALLED f^ublic debt, contra^led by building. And it was a- grecd, I. That every member of the fociety that v;as able fhould contribute a penny a week : 2. That the whole fociety (hould be divided into little companies or ^laflTes, about twelve in evpnly and gradually carried on. It continually rofe (Ipp by ftep. Not fo rnuch fcemed to be done n at Briftql or h frequently f VfV ixviii. pi|» iV bu« 1 1 II t% A SHORT HISTORY OF THR but fomcthing at every time. It was, the fame with ptr^ ticular fouls. 1 faw few in that ey.tatic joy which hac| been common at other places. But many went on c^hn an4 fteady, mcrc^afyig more *nd mo.ce in the kAOwlcdge of God. ^ XXII, In thi^year many focieties were formed in So- merfetlhirc, Wihfliire, Gioucefterlhire^ Uiccfterfhirc, Warwicklhire, and Nuttingha.mfliire,^ as well as the fouthern parts of Yorklhire.. A.ad thoii in London, Briltol^and Kingswood, were much inpreafed, XXIII. Ill the beginning* ofjanviary^ 1743, after my. Brother had fpent a few days among them, I went to the poor colliers, in and about Wedncllpucy in Sraffordfhire. J^nd preached both in the Town hall moaning and even- ing,, and m the opea aic. Many appeared to be exceed-' mg deeply ^^ffeaed, and a,bout a, hundred defired to join, together. In twaor three mpnths thefe were encreafed to between three and four hundred, ^ut; in the fummer fodawing there was. an. entire change. The minifter oC Wcdnefbury, IV^r. Eggin.gton, with fcveral ndghbour- ^^,i ,r?.* Mr.Laneof Bcntlcy-hall, Mr. Perfehoufe o Walfal in particular, ftirring yp t;hc baftd of the pco-j pic, fiich outrages followed, as were a fcanojal to the t-hrirtian name. Riotous mobs were fummoned toge- ther by found of horn J men, women^ and children abu. led in the mod: fh.ocking manner; being bpaten, ftoned, corned with mud i fome, even pregnant women, treat- ed m a manner that cannot be mentioned. Meantime their houles were broke open, b.y any that pleafcd, and their goods fpoilcd or earned away, at Wednefbury,Dar- laftoa, Weft-Brom.wich, &c. fome of the owners ftand- ing by, but not daring togainfay, ;^s it would have been at thr; peril of their lives. ' XXIV, Ncverthclefs, I beiievcd it my duty to calh ®"c^morc on this poor, haraft, perfecuted people. So on Oaaber 2Q,t 1 rode oyer from Birmingham to Wed- nefbury, and preached at noon in a eround near ihr mid- dle of the town, to a far larger congregation than wa;| cxpedled. ©n j€/us Chrtjl, the fame yejterdny, and to-day, »ndj9r ev:r. And no creature offered to molcft w, ei- , „ , ... 1 thcf- • Vol. XXYllj. p. 145, »c. t p, 175, fct^ I y\ u^^ y\ PEOMJ :alLED METHODISTS. »j tllr!^,^k "? ""r "'"'"S- But in the afternoon the ir ob Mi fter " l!i r^S' "^ "'""" "'»• " Bnng oucTh« houfc after .f!"' °f "''Tg "'<'ir captain into the ;.r in the mo.fntr-Moi':fthe:'cS:''.PT";?t' «IW" r r,"""' ~ ^^^''y-h'H, two m(le5 from Wed- ncibury^ a fervant came out and faid, " Mr I ane i, i™ . Wal2l""' Xlll'^f,- " Y.r 'o J"«i« Perf/hou 2 »c vvaiiaj. All agreed, and about fevcn we cime t^ he'wt "bed" Th- ^f'\"'' 'ikewifrLTVorrth ° eo home R^r They then thought it would be belt to ■ fhe mob if Wair, ''^^ "0= g°"<= » h 'J-'dred yards, whe« we mob of Walfal came pourmg in like a flood. In . ftort time many of the Darlafton mob being knocked ^own, the reft ran away and left me in their hfnds They e„ToTrl'"°''°"S'\"'"8'"l" ■">!" ftreet, from on^ town fee'inT,"/" 't\f'"' ^' "" "^l '"d^f ^ town, feeing a door half open, I would have gone in But a gentleman m the (hop would not fuffer me How' ever 1 ftood at the door, and after fpeaking a few wordT b oke out mto prayer. Prefently the man Sho hid hTad! . ha'^^r ofvo.?r head^>' t'' "" T '"°"] l^"' *»" '""^^ ? nair or your head. Two or three of his fellow? con. P oTle CM'h'".^ ^"^ ?'•"■' '" ™ ^-'dlitery Th^ people then feH back to the r eht and left «rk;i- .u r three or four men carried me "Cgt th '^, t^^J' it Y°'' ""• ^"^ ''""■ght me fafe to /r,„c Ward'^ eL? f r'': ^r'"'^ '°^ <">■)■ 0"' flop of my warn.* vv'tr'^i '"'' *'" '^^'"" "^ »f '"y hands. ^ " AJtv. There was bo more place for anv M„u„A;n, ^.-cacner m theie parts. The mob were lords DarVmrnrn;.' And they foon began to know theirownSfh and r^ r4 A SHORT HISTORY OF THg • 1 )'! the Methodifts. This opened their eyes. And not lonif fSur, a grave man ri4ing through Wednefbury, the mobi Iwore hiC was a Preacher, pulled him oW his horfe, dragr ged him to a coal-pic, and were hardly re(lrAincd fronr^ ihrowing him in. But the Quaker, (fuch he was) not |>eing fo tamp s^s » Methodlft^'indidted the chief of then(> •t the anHzes. The caufe W4s trjcd at Stafford and gi-r fen againftthem. And from th^t time rhp tumyltsceafed. XXVJ. On May ^^ I74at ^^ing Trinity Sunday, I |>egan officiating at the chapel in Weft-ftrcet near the ^yen piajls, London, (built about fixty years ago bf the f rench Protectants) whipl). by a ftrangc chain ofpro- f idencesi fel} into, my hands, ^fter reading prayers and preaching, 1 ^dminidered |he Lard's fupper to feme |iundredis of communipants. I was a little afraid at firfjk fhat my ftrength would nqc fuffice for the bufinefs of th(& day. when a^ fcrvcicc of five hours, (for i^ lafted from ten to three) wa,s added to my ^ wfual employme^it. But God looked to that, So I mud think, and they that frill call it enthufufm, may. } preached at the Great Gardens in WhitCTchapel, to a,n immenfe congregation. Then the leaders met, and after them the the bands. At |en at night I was Icfs weary than at fist in the morning. The next Sunday the feryice ^t the chapel Uiled till nes^r four in the afternoon. So that I found it needful for the time to come, to divide the communicants into threis. parts, that I might t\Qt have above fi)c hundred at once* XXVll. On Auguft 26, 1743, (my Brother and one pr two of our Preachers having been there before) 1 {tt put for Cornwall ^ but made no coudderahle (lop, till I came to St. lyes, on Tucfday jptb. Some time fince^ -Captain Turner of Briftol put in hecc, and was agrcea-r ^)ly furpffifed to find a. little fociety formed upon Dr, ^^oodw^rd's plan, who cojnftantly met togethe r. They frcrc nnu^ih refrcfhcd aad (Ircngtlicned by him, as he was |>y them. This was the accafion^of our firft intercoufe •9itK them. I now fnake feveralli? with thofe of the {qt ^ietyi, who were about a hundred and twenty, near s^ hundred of whom had found peace with God. But thtjy ^^;c pughly handled both by th« R.t^or, the Curate^ 1 i / «fl i ca 1 *^ 1 tf 1 Dc \ 1 P'^ V? I i« vr i^fioi^LE CALLED MfeTHODljfs. i^ f?l'^%^S"7' ''\° ^" *^' •^<*'' "Pon them on all oc^ caOons.* I fpcnt three weeks in preaching here aS m Zennof, Morvar St^M, Senn^, Sr/Ky' '(^nl 6fthc inesofSc.lly) Gwenap, *nd on femai of the Downs th^oughotft the Weft !^" ^'".'^•"'^ '^.''\'^^^ ^^° ''^^ be<^n-emment for hufliiTgy fighting,- drinkftiffy and all m^nnfcr of wic-^ ftcdnefs, continued eminent for fobi-tety/ piety, and' all manner of goodnefV. tn all part^ more and more of the ^ons became ambs, contirrtiaUy pfaifing God, and' dialling theifold companions in fin, to come md m:..^* niry the Lord together. Abmit tlic fame time jiifiW Welfon and Thomas Beard were prcft and fent foi- foN diers for no othei'cHm^ either comniitted or pretend*, td, than that«f calling finners to repentartcc. The caf* .•r«x«i«c. tp««»i» of I IH vi .A SHORT HISTORY OF Tflfe John Nelfon is well known. Thomas Beard alfd tr«| nothing terrified byhis advcrfarics. Yet the body after awhile funk under its burden. He was then lodgtd ik the hofpitai at NewGafllci where he ftill praifed God continually. His fever inCreafing, he was lee bloodi His arm feflered, mortified, and was cut off: twool- three davs after which, God figned his difchargej and called him up to h«s eternal home. , XXIX. All this year the alarms were uninteruptcd> from the French on the one hand, .and the Rebels on the other : and a general panic ran through the nationi from the Ead to the Weft, frorn the North to the South. I judged it the more needful to vifit as many places ai pofliblej and avail myfelf of the pirecious opportunityi My Brother and our other Preachers were ot the fame mind : they ^'poke and fparcd not; They rulhed tht-ougii every open doori And cried, Slrinci^s, behold the Lanih ! And their word did not fall to the ground : they law a- bundant fruit of their labour. 1 went through man/ parts of Wales : through moft of the midland counties ; and then through Lincolnlhirt and Yorkfhirc, to Newi caftlc upon Tyne. In every place the generality of thd people feemed to have cars to hear; And multitudes %«ho were utterly careiefs before, did now prepare to nftt their God. ,• XXX. * Monday June 7.5, arid the five following days, we fpcni in Conference with our Preachers, fcri^ touflr confidering, by what means we might the moft ef- fcdually fave our own fouls and them that heard us; And the refult of our confultations we fct down, to be the rule of our future pracftice. fFriday, Augull 24, St. Bartholomeiv's-day^ I preach- ed for the laft time before the Univerfity of Oxford. I am now clear of the blood of rhefe men. I have fully --.f.ivered my own ioi:l. And I 2i\\\ well pleafed tiiat it fhouH be the very day, on which, in the laft century/ near twothoufand burning and fliining lights, were put- eut at One ftroke^ Yet what a Vide difference is fher'<'»- of jrN^a-nce^.We to meet the fociety. but the mob immediately threaten. to break .t open. And in other place, ii.worfc 1 of" Z?lH'°r "l T"f''»y. >"d with n T„ or a mile ot the place where I wis tn r^rm^r-u r ^ *^^"^ rne, and begged me no. to go Tp ' IZl '• I?'^^„T* therewillfurely be murder? fS. • ^' '"y'"'^o» -any -.ekZkVdr„?be?<^^^V«met'r'? ' ^"I *;'h«rf:" wrh^di'"" 1° •"^ """'■^ """" hid iff? n^anyof the people-ca-mein 'irr/blUdr Buuh^ mal" '?o''rr;„:""'"' "'?« prLcher ?• ;™:s fh,; "r ''"r?'' ""• """" "tne ITeacher f" whom ftall7eVatisfie"!- " *"" ''"""' ''"" "" "« ""-l' "t i.im rn-Sundty^arc^mb^pI:!?'.' t"'."" -«>»" ""h all's turn to b^ there Wh'll I"' " "" '^'■- ^^H- Mr Harri,'V J^, 1 '• •" *■« prf»chine at Mr h" , ^' J "If '^*'"« '"• »"ittitVia}>, br virtur of which he was to be commtl*' tcJ to tht houAr of corredion at Bodmin as a vagrant. $o thrjr took him as far as Cambourn that night, and the nrxt d Jy to Bodmin. ♦* 1 drfire your continual prayer for mc, your weak ^fervant in Chrift, Henry Millard." - Henry MilUril did not long continue in thefe trou- i>)es A fhort rime after this he toi)k the fmall pox, and iii a few davs joy fully reflgned his fpiric up to Go 1. ; The joftice* who met ar the next quarter fefTions fM Bodmin, knowing a little more than Dr. Borlafe, de- -olarcd TAr. Weftai'« commitnrvcnt to be contrary to all law, and immediately fet him at liberty. . XXX11. AH this year God was carrying on the fame %ork in the 'EnuHfh army abroad : fomc account of ivhich it gl'^n by one of their Preachers in the foUow*- an^ Icier. • Kev. Sir, Ghent, »V«v. 12, ^744. ** We make bold to trouble you with this, to ac* Ifuaint you with fome of the L^ord's dealings with as hcrr. Wr.have hired two rooms: one fm all, wherein ^ ffw of xA meet rvery dav ; ind another large one, H^hrrein we meet for public fcrvice twice a day, at nine and at four. And the hand of the omnipotent God is %ifh us, to the pulling down of the ftrong-holds of Saran. ** The .7th inftanr, when we were met together in the evening, as I was in prayrr, one that wai kneeling by jne, cried out, like a woman in travail, * My Redeemer! my Kedecmerl' Which continued about ten minuresw When hewasafked. What was the matter? He faid, I e had 'found that which he had often heard of, an }-' ven upon earth. And feveral others had much adtt to forbear crying out in the fame manner. ** Dear Sir, I am a flranger to you in the flefh. I lEnow not, if I have feen you above once, when 1 faw «iMi tyrfrtfh'tnn rtrt If *»nn'Jncrtr»n mmmon A nrl I rh^n hated you as much as, by the Grace of G<'d I love you *H>V" '1 he Lf»rd purfued me with con /iftions from my lAfaacy; aod 1 made (many good rcloluUOlU. fiutfind« • fMi^Hfi* »»« ling by I lPiEOt»LI CALLED METHODISE ^ ui^tr ^"""S'^"- The balls then camr vrry t nek about me. and my comrades fell on every (Idr I er I was prcfcrved unhurt. A few day, after/th. Lord wi pleaded to v,fit me. The pams of hell gaThdd uIJI jnc: ihefnares of death encompam-r.4r! I d„rrn2 longer romm.c any outward fin. and I p^.ytd a d "a oIH ^M •°°'' ^""J ^^ "*'* ^""^^ ^^"« day I found a« Wit roh; J^".*'^^'*'^«^^^*'nter.quarters. where I met With John Ha.me. Buc l was foJn fick of his comua. ny. for he robbed me of my treafur., telling .eani K^fto'm ^""f "?'" "^r^^^- Thu'^^asftr.nge flo^rme to me, and as i was of a ftubborn temprr hi ■lltl n . *^*" ""'"<^d.arely to dcclirt- it to others, thoufh Lwiirm'n'*^"''"''''*'''"^^^'^- ButOAoberaj. with tears n?.n" \V' ^?"^- ^^^ ^^^^ overflowed hm J. ?' "^^'r^ '"''*"'*^^^ "^y fimUith love to h,m. whom I now faw to be my complete Redeemer. O rhc tender care of Almighty God, in brin^inff «ph,s children! ^ar Sir. I bcgU w.ll pravS? mvVar>"°' r"*^^ '° **^ * dooT-krcper tS the leall^f myMaftersfervants. jo„, Evans." him^h. 1 /°"T°''- ^"'^ ^^ '^'* compantofls fatr II ^r w/'''''':;'^^'' praifingGod, and exhortmg an that were r*und about him j which he did. till hi« ^i^inr returned to ijod. XXXIII. * Many perfons f^ill reprefentin? the Mc Se re^l a\ "Tr f '^^' ^'^^^^^ ^ "^ ''^ - ^ fr- 'i Wc real ftatc of the cafe, m as plain a manner as I c<.uld. • fV^* March t» A SHORT Mt^tORT OF TH« March ii, 174^; 1. ABOUrfeven years fin ce, we began preaching mvjardi preftnt falvation, as attainable by faith alone. ' 2. For preaching this doSirint^ wc were forbidden to J>reach in moft- churches. 3. \Vethen preached \nfrivate boufes, and when the houfcs could not contain the people, in t\\K ipen air, 4. For this many of the cleruy preached or printed »^. gainft us, as both heretics and fchifmatics. 5. Perf jns who were convinced of fin, begged us to •dvife them more particularly, how to flee fromthe wrath Cocoine ? We defired ihem (being many) to come ac Onetinie, and wewoul 1 fndeavour ir. 6. For this we were reprefented, both from the pulpit and the prefs, as introducing Popery and raifing fedition. Tea, ail manner of evil was faid both of us, and of thofe that ufed to nlfemble with us. 7. Finding that fome of thefe didwzXk diforderly, wo deiired them net to come to us any more. 8. And fome of the others were defired to overlook the reft, that we might know whether they walked woN thy of the Gofpel. 9. Several of the clergy now flirred up the people, to treat us as outlaws or mad dogs. 10. The people did fo, both in StaffordOiire. Corn* wall, and many other places. 11. And they do fo Itdl, wherever they arc not to* Itrained by fear of the magiftrates. Now what can we do, or what cznyou our brethrca do, towards healing this breach ? Defirc of us any thing which we can do with a faf« confcienc*-, and we will do it immediately. Will yea jneet us here ? Will you do what we dcfirc of you, fo far as you can with a fafe confcicncc ? Do you defire us, 1. To preach another, or to defift ,11 P'^'^aching this doftrine ? Wc cannot do this with a fafe confcicncc. Do you defirc us, 1. To defift from preaching in prU njaie houjes, or in the tpfu air f As things are now circumftanccd, this would be the «mc as dcliring us oot to preach at all. Ihj PEOPLE CALLED METHODISTS. i^ Do you dcfirc us, 3. Not to advifc thofc who meet to- gether for ihat purpofe ? To diffolve our focieties ? We cannot do this with a fafc confciencc j for wc ap* prehcnd many fouls would be loft thereby. Do you dcfire us, n. To advile them one by one ? 1 his IS impoflible, becaufc of theirnumber. Doyoudefire, 5. To fufFer thofe that walk difordcr- ly, Itill to mix with the reft? Neither can we do this with a fafc confciencea fog •vil communications corrupt good manners. Do you dcilre us, 6. To difcharge thofc Leaders fas Wc term them) w fio overlook the reil ? This is, in eftcd, to fuffcr the difordcrly walkers ftill to remain with the reft ? Doyou defirc us, laftly, to behave with tenderncfsbotk to the charafters and perfons of our brethren, the clergy? By the grace of God, we can and will do this : iis in- dec d we have done to this day. If you alk, whar we defire of j.7« to do ? We anfwer. I. Wc do not defire any of you, to let us preach in lour church, either if you believe us to preach falfe doftrinc. or If yon have the leaft fcruple. But we dcfire any wh* believes us to preach true doftrine, and has nofcrupkia the matter, not to be either publicly or privaiely difcou- raged from inviting us to preach in his church. 2. Wc do not dcfire, that any who thinks it his dutr to preach or print againft us, ftiould refrain therefrom. But we dedre, that none will do this, till he has calmly confidercd both fides of the queftion ; and that he would not condemn us unheard, but firfl read what wc fay ia our own defence* ^ 3. .Wc do not dcfire any favour, if either Popery, bedition, or Immorality be proved againft us. But we defire you would not credit without proof, any of thofc fenfelefs talcs that pafs current with the vulgar: that If you do not credit them yourfelves. you will not icurc thein to others : yea, that you will difcountenancc thole who ftill retail them abroad. ^ Now thefe things you rcrtainly can do, and that with a fafc confciencc. hrZt'- ''\ '^'\'^'^^^' be done, if there be any wcach, « IS chargcabk on you only. ' 'Mi •^ J^ II K r 1 |i 1 i 1 *-j (T i il 1 mi A snORT HISTORY OF THE XXXIV. ♦ In June I paid another vifit to Cornwall ^hcre our Preachers were in -langer of being difconra! Bed, bcini,' continually pcrfecutcrf, only not unto dea. h, l>oth by the great vulgar and the fmalJ. They fhf wed » lirtlc more courtefy $^ me, till Thurfday, July 4, when I went to fee a gentlewoman in Falmouth who had been 4ong indifpofed. I had fcarce fat down, when the houf« Was befct with an innumerable multitude of people. A* louder Of more confufed noife, could hardly be at the taking of a city by ftorm. The rabble roared, '* Brine out the Canorum ! Where is the Canorum ?'• (a Corni(h nickname for a Methodift.) Thev duicklv forced open the outer door and filled the paffage, there being now ©nly a wainfcot-partition between us. Among ihem were the crews of fome privateers, who being ancrv at the nownefs of the reft, thruft them away, and {euing their (boulders to the inner door, cried out, '^ Avafh lads, avaft r Away went all the hinges at once, and the door fell back into the room. J ftepped forward in- to the midft of them and faid, «« Here 1 am. Which of you has any thing to fay r- me ?•' 1 continued fpeakini? till I came into the middle of the ftreet, though I could be heard by few only. But all that could hear were ftill, tilione or two of their captains turned and fwore, " Not aman (hould touch him :" a clergyman then cime up and afked « Arc you not afhamed to ufc a ftrangcr thus ? He was feconded by fome gentlemen of the town, who walked with me to Mrs. Maddern's. 1 hey then fent my horfe before me to Penrvn, and fent mc thither by water : the fea running clofc t>y the back- door of the houfr in which wc were. 1 never faw before, no uor ev«rn at Wal^^V \ tnd of God fo clearly fhewn as here. There 1 re... ;td biowi. was covered with dirt, and loll part of my cloaths. «ere, although the hands of hundreds of people were iced up to ftrikc or throw, yet they were one and all .V ^::?>Td m the midway ; fo that not a man touched mc w.. ii fin^3,.is : neither was any thing thrown from firft t^Uu, L. uiat 1 har" not a fjjfck of dirt upon mv cioarhs. v/s:o in deny, liat God heareth the prayer '? O that nc nath all power in heaven and earth ^ • Page 384. • XXXV; Cornwall, difcotirii. itodcuih, y fhfwcd ' 4> when had been he houif iple. A' )e at I he •* Bring I Cornifti ced open ing now ig (hem ingry at I (eu'ing ' Avalt, ce, and xrard in- /hichof peaking 1 could :reftiil, , " Not ime up trangcr 1 of the Ihcy rnt me back- V ^nd biowt, loaths. e were nd all tfd me >iTi firft oarhs, >r that PEOPLE CALLED METHODISTS. ^y XXXV. •0<5loberj, I preached iip«n Newcaftic town-moor at a fina I d.flan . from the fenglifh c.mp! where were fever a I ihoufands both of EngliHi and Q^l mans, till they marched for Scotland None aitemoretl U> make the lead diUurbance, from the beg?nnTngZS^ SuVJr ' ^^^"'^'^25 '•"fh their hearts. The word. •f a fcholar did not afTeft them, like thofc of a dragooil November I, a little after nine, juft as I be^an to rr.ichonal.tile eminence before the camp, the rain (which had continued all the morning) ftaved and ^\A rot beg.n till I had finilhed. A licuteiant aKleavour^ fo make fome difturbance. However, when 1 had done ? L r", ??*''*' ^'*'"*^ amends, by (landing up and tcl- ling the fcldiers, all I had faid was very good Novenrjber a, alfo, the rain which fell before and af. trr, was flayed while I preached. And 1 began to per- ceive fome fruit of my labour : not only in the number •f hearers, but in the power of God, which was more and more among them, both to wound and to heal Sunday 30th, I preached about half hour after eiffht Mom •/ God IS at band: nptnt ye and believe the zofpd. And were it only for the fake of this hour 1 fhoufd no have thought, much of flaying atNcwcaftlc longer than i^nr'ro ?K "''^''" °"^ *"^ '^° '" ^^^ aftemoon I went to the camp once more. Abundance of people now flocked together horfe and foot, rich and poor, to whom Ideclared, r^.../.^,^^,,,,,,,, forallbavifil ned, and come fiort of the glory of God, 1 obferved ma- »v Oermans ftanding difconfolatc in the flcirts of the congregation. To thefe 1 was conftraincd (though I had difcontinued it fo long) to fpeak a few words in Their •wn language. Immediately they gathered up clofe to- gether, and drank in every word. trs^^f^l' '" ^^^ beginning of December, I received Wliich was as follows : fKcv. Sir, ." J fhall acquaint you with the Lord's dc. gs with «4 /A SHORT HISTORY OF THE us, finer April laflr. Wt marched from Ghent to Alloft eo the 14th, where i met with two or three of our bre- thren in the fields. And we Tung and prayed to>ether, and were comforted. On the 1 5:h, I n et a fnali com- pany about a mile from the town i and the Lord filled our hearts with love and peace. On the 1 7th, we march- ed ro the camp near BrufTels. On the i8th, J mer a fmall congregation on the fide of a hill, and opened on thofe words, Let us go forth thsre fore to him without the tamp, hearing hi^ reproach. On the 28th, I fjjoke fi-am thofe words oflfaiah, Tku.t faith the Lord concerning the hsu/e offacohy Jacob (hall nqt now bs afhamed, neither pall his face now wax pale. On the 9.0th, wc marched clofe toithe enemy, and when i faw them in their camp, my bowels moved towards them, in love and pity for their f()uls. We lay on our arms all ni^ht. In the morn- ing, April 30th, the cannon began to play at half an hour pad four. And the I ord took away all fear from me, fo rhat 1 went into the field with jov. The balls J!ew on either hand, and men ft-Jl in abundance : but nothing touched me till about two o'clock. Then I received a ball through my left arm, and rejoiced fo much the more. Soon after I received another in my fight, which obliged me to quit the field But 1 fcarcc Vnt^ whether 1 was on earrh or in heaven. It was one of the fweetelt clays 1 ever enjoyed. William Clements." Another le'rer Cfrom Leare, near Anrwerp) adds : «' On April joch, the Lord was pleafed to trv our lit- tle flock, and to fhew them hi^ mighty power. Some days before, one of them lUndinj* at his rent door, broke out into raptures of j<^y, knowing his departure was at Band, and was f) filled with the love of God, that he danced befo'e his comrades. In the battle^ before he died, he openly declared, * f am goina to reft from my labours in the bofj in of Jefus.* 1 believe nothing like ♦hic unc <•»/»»• N*>irrl f\V \r\^ti\rp \n fU^ ,s.!., ...... ..... ,,..,,,! .^, .^.. ,v..|r, ill tut ours. Some wei army rvingout in their woUnds, « I am going to my Beloved ;' others, * Come, Lord Jefuft I Come quickly X Aid many tlwt were not wound- ed " ■*'W^itt»fl to Allott our brc- ogether, all com- »rd filled : march«* 1 mer a >enfd on thout the )ke fram 'ning the , neither Tiarchcd ir camp, pity for If morn- half aa "ar from he balls ce : but Then I oiced fa T in my 1 fcarcc was one lENTS." idds : our 1 it- Some ', broke ■ was at that he "fore he "om mjr ng like wicked I'ounds, I Lord wound- ed f PEOPLE CALLED METHODISTS. i^ tt^were crying to the Lord, to take them to himfelf }, \^[^, "^^^ fuch boldncfs in the battle among this little ilcfpifed flock, that it made the officers as well Jcom- mon foldiers amaied. A, to my own part, I ftood the hrc of the enemy for albove feveh hours. Then mv horfe was (hot under me, and I Was expofed both to the enemy and our own horfc, But that did not difcoura^e J^eat.l : fori knew that the God of Jacob la' ;hh «!f: A / f' *°a"S way to go, the balls flying on every Jcle. And thoufands lay bleeding, grotning, dyine and ^cad on each hand. Surely I was^s in the fierySacct but It never fmgcd one hair of my head. The hotter joy and love, as much as 1 could bear. Going on. I met one of our brethren^ with a little dilh In hi, hand (Wk! ing water He fmiled ;ind faid, He had got afore wound ,n his leg I afked, 'Have you got Chrfft InVou" ?if i "S ""iT^^^* ^ ''*^*^' »"«* ^ have had him all h.5 day. Blefled be God. that I ever fawyourfTce' Lord, what am I> that I fhould be counted worthy to fet e; ttmii"-' ^'°"^^' ^•"''' t^i:,::^ XXXVIL All this year the work of God graduallv increaled ,n the Southern counties, as well as the North ft bngland. Many ^rere awakened in a very remarka- ble manner i many were converted to God. Man*- Were enabled to teftify, that the blood cf fefys Chr^ ^Uanjeth from nil fin. Mean time we ierfln moft places tolerably quiet, as to popular tumults. Where .ny th.ngof the kind appeared, 'the magiftr tc. u7u a ly intcrpofcd, as indeed it was their duty to do 3 Sg f^bfi^:^^ ^"^^-*-' '^ ^•^-- ^->-> - ^'- -a CaftJe^mL^ X * '" ^'o "''/ '747> I fct out for New- thrnr.^ 'Ju^"^"'^ Brother being juft returned froTn thence. The wind was full Nnrrh_ »n^ m.„. /t- _ °'7* ing hard and keen, that when we came to nltfield "ef ther my companions nor 1 had muchufeofou han'il ^cntlv i„^^^"r^^\'^^ the large hail drove fJ v! nitntl/ ,^ our faces that we could not f«*, nor hardly \ % -m t$ 1 } 1 1 1 , i|i m A SHORt HISTORY OF THE breathe. However we made (hifc wh to get on to Potten t cHcc we fet out m the morning, as foon as it Was tvcil Jight. But it was hard work to get forward : for the ice would not well bear or break. And thcuntrack- td fnow covering all the road, we had much ado to keep our hones on thei*- feet. Mean time the wind rofc hicrK- crand higher, tillit was ready to overturn both man and beaft. However, after a fhort bait at Bugdcn, we pufhed on, and we c met in the middle of an open field with fo violent a ftorm of rain and hail, as we had not ^ad before. It drove through our coats, great and fmall, boots and every thing, and yet froze as it fell, even upon our eyc-lalhes: fo that we had fcarce either flreneth or motion left, when wc came into the inn at Stilton. However we took the advantage of a fair blafl, and made the befl of our way to Stamford. But on the heath the fnow lay in fuch large drifts, that fometimcs horfes dnd men were nigh fwallowcd up. Yet we pufhed through all, and by the help of God, on Thurfday evening came fafe ro Epworth. XXXIX. The Monday following I fct out for the Jiaflcrn parts of Lincolnfhire. On Tuefday I examined the little fociety at Tctney. I have not feen fuch ano- thcr in England, no, not to this day. In the clafs-pa- pcrs, (which gives an account of the contributions to the poor) I oblerved one gave eightpence, often ten- pence a week ; another, thirteen, fifteen or eighteen pence : another fometimes one, fometimes two fhiHings. 1 allced Micah Ekmoor, the leader, (an I fraclite indeed, who now refls from his labour,) " How is this ? are you the richeft fociety in England ? He anfwered, " I iuppw.c not. But as wc are all fingle perfons, we have agreed together, to give ourfelves. and all we have to God. And we do it gladly, whereby wc arc able to en- tertain all the (Grangers that from time to tifnc come to Titney, who often have no food to cat, or any friend to give them a lodging." XL. in the following fpring and fummer, wc were invited into many parts of Yorkfhire, Lancafhire, Der- byihirc, and Chclhire, where wc hid n©t been before, J* y me. PEOPLE CALLED METHODISTS. ^r In June my Brother fpent fomctime at Plymouth and Plymouth-Dock, and was received by the generality of the people with the utmoft cordiality. But before I came, June 26th, there was afurprifing change. With- in two miles of Plymouth, one overtook and informed iJ$,'that all the Dock was in an uproar. Another met us, and begged we would go the back-way, for there were thoufands of people at Mr. Hide's door. We rode up ftrait into the midft of them. They faluted us with three huzzas, after which I alighted, took fevcral of them by the hand, and begged to talk with them, 1 would gladly have talked with them for an hour, and believe if I had, there had been an end of the riot. But it being^ part nine o'clock I was perfuadcd to go in. The mob then recovered their fpirits, and fought valiantly witK the doors and windows. But about ten they were weary and went away, • About fix in the evening I went to the head of the town. While we were finging, tbe liiuUnant, a famous man, came with a large retinue of foidicrs, drummers and mob. They grew fiercer and fiercer as their num- I bers increafed. After awhile, 1 walked down into the thickeft of them, and took the eaptain of the mob by •> the hand. He immediately faid, " Sir, 1 will fee you | fafe home. Sir, no man fhall touch you. Gentlemen, | ftand off. Give back. I will knock the firft man down |i that touches him." We walked in great peace till we came to Mr. Hide's door, and then parted in much love. I Hayed in the ftreet after he was gone near half an hour, talking with the people, who had now quite forgot their anger, and went away in high good humour. XLl. Hitherto God had afllllcd us (my Brother and me, and a handful of young men) ro labour as we were able, (though frequently at the peril of our lives) in molt parts of England. But our line was now ftretched a little farther. On Tuefday, Auguft 4th, 1 let out from iirifloi U)r Ireland. I reached Holyhead on f Saturday 8th, and finding a veflTel ready, went on board, and on Sunday morning landed at St. George's-Kcy in Dublin. About three 1 wrote a line to the curate of Si. Mary's, D 2 whot » ra|e 41. t page ji^ il ri • > »» A SHORT HISTORY OF THB «o as gay and f"nftlef , . ^'"''"^'" «adingpraj„.) W™da/,o"h. at fivl i^ ""gregat.oa as ev?r 1 fawf fome wfcks) anrl nr*, i. J '"'*'^5» who had been there our room w^uld coS 1"/'!' " "^"^ """^^ "^'-^ «d for a Lutheran churcfo-.j"'' *"•" "'e'"^")- '<<-«8"^ drcd people. "fiuVab": d'an" Z^Tv'ft"' ?"•' *■"?- yard. ManyoftheriCiwr^T *!''''"'* '"'''« every denomination! If "y BrothT; ""'', ""'"'/i"' °f Hiorereafonfohnn- ti, ^^"«-onraini and had more and »ll that came But^j"rSo,,r^'''?"^""'' '"^'o''' '» I believe ninety-n ne L =, t /"? V'"' ^""""S 'hem. ""in dill iLthereu'iin „f ^ •"? °C"f """« ''i* ■•«- •fftants. wl"e,herinn,lr '''.^'■'■?'''"'- The Pro, planted from Englan?*^'" "' '"^"''"^ »t« »" '"nf- Jvh^!;Vfi„te1?he''„i\da;^"irZ'"'"V'''K''<''-"^« hundred and fonrfr^,. '^'i "contained about t» a ■' found peace with God Th "''"'; "^'"y "<' "'"'"' '"'d j more teachabrrnStrL J ^T^' '" S^eral are of , '«n that vefy acZ^' J ':;rV/'"'",^"8'^"''- «"' te:„f' ^-^^s'"^'rt^;i:;;:^;^o:r^^^^^ the hiul-e yard, and Wrfh ^'y', S°' "g'"'" '» ivoice could reach ,"i'H f""'^"'"'y more than my y\r>e Aehv^rJJSJ'ty.' '^''^ipfo, «"ni"g light, -l/worCa^t;c^;^",4„^--y"^^ ihamcd) ■■'^fa^wsss'-.w^aa PEOPLE CALLED METHODISTS. 29 n^amcd) to water the feed which had bceh fown. Satur- day 2j)th, 1 met my Brother at Garth in Brecknock/hire. chiefly ,n Dublin, Athlane, Corke, and Bandon, and had great rearo.> to blef. God, that in every place he L^ the fruit of hiJ. labours, *^ Swfndelf; JlJr^'^t' J^f'^ ^» ^748. Mr. Meriton, Si T r ''"^^^'"J^^d at Holyhead, and reached i^ Co/l' V'^' '^"''r "• ^^ ^^"^ ^•r'^^^lV to our houfc m Cork-ftreet (vulgarly called Dolphin'.s-barn-lanc V Ci«v'" T»!^'''''' ^hi'^ m brother was meeting .he/o! the buHnTr.'r'^'M '"^c^^'^' ^^ ''•" ^'^'^J^ ^ difpatched ali morn.nl ^ '''"'•'^' ^""^^^ ^^tb, he preached botij niormng and even.ng. expeding to fail at night j but tfc?^'rii\^ T"^ turned Eail. and fo continued al ine week Monday 14th. I began preaching at five in themornmg, and unheard of thing in L^ela^nd 1 I ex" purpTd 'gV^'-I!^' '^" ''r^' ^' the Aas! which I S I 1 t^lr ''"^V'° S° '.^'°"Sh in order. Sunday ?oth 1 preached at eight on Oxman-town-green. where boutlt 7"S^^grr T ^'^ ^^ ^'^^^ ^^ London!^ a! pout three 1 preached at Marlborough-flrect and in rh^ evening at our own houfe in CorkJ^eet W^^^^^^^^^^ S ta m.n ' • u'^^'l ""^'^^ '''^°* ^ ^'S^^ i*-' Ship- dav 'finfl. f ^ "''' \^^ ^^""''^^ ^'^''^''' The next day I fin.fhed meeting the clalTes, and was elad to finH n eX" "Tti^'f ' '''' ^h- hundred S 'n!:;etKour lT::rLV^r^' ^"^^'^^ ^-^«c.w.hrec\un. fhi^e^l o'';:2rfe'o.!r/^ ^o PhUipVtown the ^lied with thofe that flaked Zm evlrv fi/e "Xn"l ^"^ at five in ,he morning I had /jaTge cTngregabn^ T^^ ^^^t::^ ' ^Pokc.feverally to fhofe of th'e foe ^vf of jvhom forty were troopers. At noon I nre.rh.H 'Vo - : Jfl the following days 1 preached at Tullamore. Tyr. #1 '1I S8 A SHORT HISTORY OF THE '^. Hi' iiiiti i ■^' ^k fclfpafs, Claro, Temple- Macquekcr, Moat, and oir Sa- turday April ad, came to Athlonc. My Brother was here feme time before : altho' it was with the imminent hazard of his life. For within about a mile of the towa he was way-laid by a very numerous popifll mob, who difcharged a fhower of Hones, which he very narrowly efcapcd, by fetting fpurs to his horfc. This had an ex- ceeding happy elfedl, prejudicing all the Proteftants in our favour. And this fcemed to increafc every day. The morning I went away, mod of the congregation were in tears. Indeed almoft all the town fecmed to be moved, full of good will and defircs of falvation. But the waters were too wide to be deep. I found not one under ftrong conviftion, much lefa had any one attained the knowledge of falvation, in hearing above thirty fer- mons. After re-vifiting the towns I had fcen before, on TuefJay i6th, I returned to Dublin. Having fpent a. few days there, I made another little cxcurfion through the country fbcieties. Saturday, May 14th, I returned to Dublin, and had the fatisfadion to find, that the work of God, not only fpread wider and wider, but was alfo much deepened in many fouls. Wednefday 18th, we took ihip, and the next morning landed at Holyhead. XLV. Saturday, April 15, 1749, * I embarked again at Holyhead for Ireland, and after fpending a few days in Dublin, vifitcd all our focietics in Lcinfter. 1 then went to Limerick, in the province of Munftcr. Mr.Swin- dells had prepared the way, and « fociety was formed already. So that I found no oppofition, but every one feemed to fay, " Blefled is he that cometh in the name of the Lord f" But the more I converfed with this friendly people, the more I was amazed. That God had wrought a great work among them was manifcft. And yet the rnain of the believers and unbelievers, were not able ta give a rational account of the plaineft principles of reli- gion. *Ti5 clear, God begii>s his work at the heart t then the infpiration of the Hrghefl giveth underftanding. On Tucfday 29th, I fct out for Cork i but the next day Mr. Skclton met me, juft come from thence, and in-i formed f fee xf|, mi re<[t!ct 1 ^: PEOPLE CALLED METHODISTS. ^f formed mc, it was impoffiblc for me co preach there while the riotous mob filled the ftrect. They had for fdme time done wkat they lifted ; broke into the houfes of all that were called Methodifts, or (as their clec/anc term was, Swadlers) and beat or abufcd them juft as they pleafed : the worthy mayor ! Daniel Crone, efq . encouraged them fo to do, and told them, " You may do any thing but kill them, becaufe that is contrary to Jaw. So I rode through Cork to Bandon, and having Ipcnt a few days there, returned to Dublin nearly the lame way I came: only touching at Portarlington, and a few other places which I had not feen before. XLVI In all this journey 1 had the fatisfadlionto find, that ever fince 1 was in Ireland firft, my fcllow-labour * crs had been fully employed in the watering the feed that had been fown. And it had pleafed God, exceedincly to blefs their labours in Munfter, as well as in Leinfter In various parts of both thefc provinces, confidcrable numbers were brought, not from one opinion or mode of worfhip to another, but from darknefs to light, from fcrymg the devil, to fervc the living God. This is the point, the only point for which both 1 and they think it wprth our while to labour, defiring no recompence be- fide the reftimony of our confcience, and what wc look lor in the refurreftion of the juft. I have purpofcly placed together in one view what was tranfadted in Ireland for three years, and ftiall now *" vV^?T*r ^^'"S« done in England during that period. XLVII. During all this time, the work of God (it is no cant word : it means the convcrfion of finncrs from lin to holincfs) was both widening and deepening, not only in London and Briftol, but in moft parts of Eng- land : there being fcarce any county, and not many large towns wherein there were not more or fewer witneflcs of jr. Mean time the greateft numbers were brought to the gr«t Shepherd of their fouls (next to London and Briuon in Ct»rnw.ill tK*. W^n- ..u:.,™ ^r v^-i.n-r_- ■ Newcaftle upon Tyne. But ftill wc were obliged in " many places, to carry our lives in our hands. Several inftances of this have bcca rcUtcd alrcaidy, I will men- Hon one snort* - Ffidajri 34 A SM01?:T HISTORY OF THE . . * ^"'"^^y* February la, 1748, after preaching at Oak* hill, (a village in Somerfftrhirc,) I rode on to Shrptoni but found all the people under a ftrange conftcrnation A mob, they faid, was hired and made fufficienily drunk! to do all manner of mifchief. Neverthelefs I preached in peace : the mob being aflembied at another place •where I ufed to alight. And they did not find theif wiftake, till I had done preaching. They then attend- ed us to William Stone's houfc, throwing dirt, ftones jnd clods in abundance { but they could not hurt us! Mr. Swindells had only a little dirt on his coat, and I t few fpedks on my hat. After we were gone into the houfe, they began throwing large ftones, in order to break the door : but finding this would require fome time, theyfirft poured in a Ihower of ftones at the win- dows. One of their captains, in his great zeal, had thrult into the houfc, and was now (hut in with us. He would fain have got ou'tj but it Was not pofTible. So Ije^ kept as clofe to me as he could, thinking hlmfelf fafcft when he was near me. But ftaying a little behind when 1 went up two pair of ftairs, a large ftonc ftruck mm on the forehead, and the blood fpouted out like a Jvl*"'' ^.""r^^ °"S" ^ S'""' ^""^ ^«^ to die to-night? What muft I do r I raid. <» Pray to God." He took my jdvice, and began praying as he had fcafcc evcf done before. Mr. Swindells and I then went to prayer i after which I told him, " We muft not ftay here." He faid " Sif we cannot ftir; you fee how the ftones fly about" I walked ftraight through the room, and down the ftairs, and not a ftone came in till we wrre at the bottom The mob had juft broke open the door when we came into the lower room : and while they burft in at one dcJor we walked out at the other. Nor did one man take any notice of us, though we were within fire yards of '^ach other. They filled the houfe at once, and propofcdVct- - , _, . ... _. houfc adjoining would not conicnt. his Rut /\nm r\f t'Um _. - ^ bearing one of them cry our. They arc gone over the grounds," 1 thought the hint was good. So we went over the grounds to the far en i { Vel. xx»x, pag« 781 of " hi tBe town» where ortc waitci and guided us fafc cq Oakhill. XLVIII * Fridayi Juiie i4th. beihg the day We haj appointed for opening the fchool at Kihgs-NVodd, I breached there on, Train up a thild in ihe way that bt( l^ofildgo, and when ht is oid he will not depart from it. rely Brother and I then adminiftered the Lord's fupper lo many who came from far; We then agreed on the general rules of the fchooli which we publilhed foon after* ^ AL.IX. t On July tSth, 1 began my jourrtey North, yard from Newcaftle; Having appointed to preach in JVlorpeth at n6on, I dccbrdingly went to the crofs. But 1 had fcarce begun, when a young man apiJeared at the head pf his troop, and told me very plainly and roueh- iy " You Ihall not preach Here." I went bn, upon which he gave the fignal to his companions. But they duicU ly fell oiit among themfelvesi So 1 went on without any confiderible interruptioni the multitude fofiening more and morei till towai-ds the clofe, the far greate? part, appeared exceeding ferious and Attentive. In the afterribori we rode to Widdrington, The pec, pie flocked from all partsi and every man hung upon the word. Norte ftirred his head or hdhdi or looked to the right hand or the left, while I declared in (Ironff terms, fhe grace of our Lord Jefus 'Chriji, , Tuefday t^th,^ 1 preached at Alembuth, i fniall fea^ pprt towiji^nd then rode to Alnwicki one of thelargeft inland towns in Northumberland* At feven 1 preached %t the cfols to i multitude of people, much refemblin* t/iofc at Athlone; All wei'e moved a little ; but noc ^"■^ Tif '^^^'^•^ ^'i^*"^^^ ^'"^^ « ^"f »^t deep; On Wedncfday I went to Berwick upon Tweed, and preached both thit and the next evening, as well as the ^ilowing n:iprniiigjn a Urgt, green fpace, near the Go- Vernor.s houfe. A little fociety had been formed there Pcforei which was now confidtrablv incrriiferi .. onA r-, Ycral iTjembers of it (moft of whom are now in Abri- nam '^ tJofom) Walked worthy of the vocation whferewitfe tht-y were ealled. After preathing at feveral other placet r "^^^J[* on Saturday 23d, I returned to Newcaftle. *!> *^ . X-. Duriri; ■ 11 11 ill,- «4 ^ '^HORT HISTORY OF THE L. During the fummer, thtre «rj» a larat incffaft at the work of God both in NorthumbetlanX KL/ trfachcr< /., r^ '"^":' ;■ '''•'"■§'' ''"^ '" P^"i="'«r, the h4„ „f ,l7 ''^ thrir ),v„ in their hand,. A fpeci. h en of the treatment they met with there, may be feci 111 the brief arcount foilowirt.r. ' _^ "On Aliguft 26ch, while l°was .'peaking to Cme oui- deputy conlhble, and I mud go with him. 1 had fcarce ^one ten yard, when a man of his company ftr ,ck me .n the face *,.h all his might. Anothef threw hrPck « my head i all the reft wer( like a. many rampin ^nd roar,ng Imhs. They bfoiight me, with Mr. Grimin'w themmifterofHaworth, Mr. Colbeck of Kighley ard Mr Macford, of Newcaftle. (who never recovered .he *b«fe he then received) into a public-houfe at Barrow! ^:tXtXT' "'"'''• "'""'" '""'f-" *'« Soon after Mr. Margrave, the high c. "" "' '*"*' '■'« ^'^^ '"" 'he river! trl" -d 'i'if'fP' °"'' *« •fd b^ilid, were hardly iecomn.^„f 7 ''"'"*, '^"" '" 'g''"- Such wa, th« *. ^ , tJ'* Anrii c), reOPLI CALLED METHODISTS. iJ LT. April 7, 1750, I embarked in the morning at Holyhead, and in the evening landed in Dublin. Here I received a full account of the fhocking outrages whicli had been committed in Cork, for feveral months toge- ther, which the good magiftratcs rather encouraged than opppfed, till ar the Lent aflizes, fcvcral depofition* were laid before the grand jury. Yet they did not find any of thefe bills I But they found a bill againft Daniel Sullivan, a baker, who when the mob were difcharging • (how,.'r of (loncs upon him, difcharged apillol (with- out ball) over their heads, which put thtrm into fuch bodily fear, that ihey all ran away, without looking bcnmd them. Being delirous of giving the poor, dcifolate fuffcrers, all the afliftance 1 could, 1 made a fwift journey througli the inland focieties, and on Saturday, May the igrh, came to Cork, The next day, underftanding the houfti was fmall, about *ight 1 went; to Hammond's Marlh, It was then a iar^e open fpa^e j but is now built over. The congregation was Urge and deeply attentive. I hav^ fcldom ften a more orderly aflcmbly ac any qhqrch in England or Ireland. In the afternoon, Mr, SkeUoi\ aqd Jones waited on the m^vor, and alked, \f n\y preaching on the MarOv woulii be difagreeabl? to him? He anfwered, "Sir, l will have no more mobs and riots," Mr. Skelton repli- ed, " Sir, Mr, WeOey has made none," He anfwered plain, " Sir, 1 will have no more preaching. And if Mr. Wefley attempts it 1 am prepared for him.'* 1 would not therefore attempt to preach on the Marfli, but began in our own houfc about five. The good mayor mean tim? was walking in the Chancre, and gi- ving orders to hisfcrjeants and the town drummers, who, immediately came '« ,me in the tirr ,1 i?i, ' '""king every man be, left ^iuui::j^;^:^jt^z^^^" "' "^'^' r^ 'alien p„ir.ffi.>n „f this "but whfn". . "^'^ P,'"'' '"'' wifelhrunlt hack ;„!i i .r . """= "P '''cy ike. Jenkins' hou^ Jjutl oT'K^ '■V"8'' ">"" " Mr. of the mob, faimin'^ I iZr,,r '"'."""^ '". till one iollow me. , . ' '" t^at (lOt on? attempted to, *..J, a„i fS^'tth life S by'" :;::,r'r H^"^ V^«,l,rop.Tine.Jew ' ""^'^^'f ^'^ '''"ted aldernua^ -ikina or':i;f,5|&P,o'd "'"^ ''"^^ivi^J, ,aje a,J if ^'ny MetW.inL:];''' 'VT " "" P"'» »f l'!^ •i'-e. But the fucceedbL^n, "'^^^/""'ty of Mr. Crone., " There ft" b. I^mor;" k"'""'' ""J S"°'' """» ' he did «,tal y rupprelV .if ' ' 'c" '';'"' i" '='"''•" And', forward, eveVr^MetiT^' *? '"'« ^'°^ >!'« time rjb ther.pH^^^/aieX''frub"ir ''' '*"" "^""^^ Cork. ^L a Watertc? triT"--'"^' ^T'^ "^ Wountmelick Athl„„. r /-"f'"ick, as we I as in^ ^ad an opportuni'v rf !m,- "7 [""'^" fr""' Cork, I, fatisfaai<^^f Ob fervfn ' '^' ' '^f'r- ^'"' ' ''^d the .... my fellow- 1,.;„°„„'"S: ^o" S^eatly God h^ bleffed i[ from the e;;n;;f^;h;i;:;;r S oJ^rT*^ i'"^ '»4 PEOPLE ^JAU-EjD KIETHODISTS. ^| Catholics. And I fi ppofc the numbe^ of thcfc would have been far greater, had not the good Proteilants, ap Veil as the Fopi J^ Pfidts, tal^cn true pains to Kinder •^hern. l-jll, It was pn April 24, 1751, that Mr, Hopper $nd I fet out for Scotland. 1 was invited thither by capf tain (afterwards colonel) Galatin, who was then qpar,7 tered ^ MuflTclborough. I Iiad no intention to prcacl| in Scotland i nnc imagining there were any that dcfircd | jfbould. Put 1 was riiUlaken. Curiofity (if nothing elfc) brouijhi abundance of people together in the evening. yVnd whereas in the kirk (Mrs. Galatin informed, me) there ufcd ^o be laughing and talking, and all the markj pf the grolfell inaitcntipn; it was far otherwjfc here* Thty remained as ftatucs, from the beginning pf t\\^ fcnjion to the end. 1 preached again, at fix the nexc ev«rning, on Seek ^e the Lord^ while he may be found. \ Vfed great plainnefs of fpeech towards high and low ^ ^"*r! ,^Hy all received it in love -. fo that the prejudice vhich the devil had been fcvcral years planting, wa« torn up by the roots ip one hour, After preaching, pne of the Bailiffs of the town, with one of the elders of the kirk, came to me, and begged I would ftay wiilj jhcm awhile, nay, if it were but two or three days, and they would fit up a larger place than the fchpol, and prc^ pare feats for vhe congregations, Had not my tima peen fixed, 1 Ihoyld gladly have complied. AH that I t:ould now d© was to give them a promife, that Mr.Hop'- per would come back the next week, and fpend a few pays with them, He did accordingly come, and fpent \ fortnight, prt^ching every day, And it was not with^ out a fair profpeft. The congregations were very nu^ pierous. Many were tut to the heart : feveral joined to-.- gether in a little fociety. Someof thcfcarenow removed to Abraham's bofom, and fome rei;nain tp this day. ^.H^- 'February 28, ^753, 1 woked oyer My, Prince'. T-i.xiiwan s-iinuiy. vv :ii;t an atua?;ing uiUvi^enrc i;s ihcr? in the manner wherein God has carried on his wo>k it| England and America ! There, above a hundred of thf pftablifhcci clergymen of age and cxjperi^nce, and of thaw. ycZ' ",Tf'iT:"^ '}■■ ""db"' « ''"'''■"'of fns. or emCt fe„ff.^'l'" "' "'"""t name. le,r„. •nonths „ a time A„d h "''.T ''°"""'^'' ^''»" «■« *irf general deeav bffol ,? " '^"°*"' » '"""mabls time that which r^^L*^ '" "'" '""^1 "f '"■ Mean «rume„::. t:to'^°t"^? ircreaOoffit "^'"''''^ ^"" whatever time thaVdec.t"!'""' '°S"h"- And a Indeed- AUfbl!!; brtGlar"""" 'f'V"' ""' J was invited by Mr OH i',. ,V^ "^ "r- '° *'"'^'' P'^<-e k 'k. 1 came thX'r Thl • ' ""•"''*" "*■ ''"= '""'"ge fc-houfe. Ma" 'jh^atV^ert """ '°^81<*« • quarter of a mile fron,,v ""="«". I preached about «n„„oo„.toa?a hr°";'^ """'. »"<"« 'our in the «" P«»ch at the fa m?",:";!;'^^"!""- ' had deOgned «» it rained. Mr GfllieiSr /'"''''' """-"ing- But church. A fou in h?,ft '■'' ""="', f"^'' '" •"• congregation than^h, .1, 1"°"" .""= ''»'' » <■»•• '«gw At fev/n Mr. Gi «ei o ' Zi" '.""''' '"'' """'"^'' m >n. Has t^oV God ft.n /'' ' ^T"' ^^'=&"">«c fer. Jong emine„??;r nli ' pn' ^ TT ^^i* ci.y ? It wa. •hat it now decayed «!h', i"^, }" " '^'' ^° "P"'' ■ On Saturda,. S ;*"! ''"''''•"*' "" "»ft'Pl«cs. preached to nume7o„Ve„„ "'°'"'"8 '"'' "''"'"g. 1 •l.o«fand people ftared± V^^^^^^ (' %/»<"<•) of, Pla-ned and apul ed Vl " v"""'"=""^' "'''"' ^ "" ti>f OhIi true dn^ ^-^ »:^ /• "-y- •'•"'"'> /« i^«ca; f^jg. I ^.. iTJ.}""^^ ""i J'M Chrift ^Icm th,u baji J! » afterwards at th^ n^p.^ .. »,:„l ; -■-: «wwuc nine o'clock All rk- r » — ^..l^,^^ Tvn.^hi t^'s, btrhaved with rl J ' I i^^ ^'''°"^' ^^ vvdl as debt- i'ww unnrrs, will oceafion j6^ in kca'^en. t^EOPLE CALLED METHODISTS. ^ ^ The behaviour of the people at churcli, both morn- ing and afternoon, was beyond a.jy thing t ever f«w but in our congregations ; none bowed or curtified to each other, either before or after fervice i from the be- ginning to the end of which none talked, of looked at Any but the minifter. Surely nluch of the po'sver of re- ligion vfas here, where fo much of the form fiill remains. The meadow where 1 flood in the afternoon, was full from fide to fide. 1 fpokc as clofely as ever I did in my life. Many of the ftudcnts, and many of the foldicri Were there. And they could indeed bear found doannc* Having now delivered my own foul, ] rode on Mon- day to Traneat, and the next day to Berwick. LVI. • Sunday, June 13d, that blelTcd min Mr. Walfh, preached atShort*. gardens, in Irifli. Abuiid- *n.ce of his countrymen flocked to hear, and fomc were tut to the heart. Sunday, July t(V, he preached in Mfh ih Moorfields. The congregation was exceeding large. And all behaved ferioufly : though probably rriany of them came purely to hear what manner of language it Was. Forthe fakeofthefe he preached afterwards in Enghfll, if by any means he might gain fome. And Wherever he preached, whether in Englifli or Irifli, the Word was fliarper than a two-edged fword. So that I do not remember ever to have known any preacher, who, in fo few years as he remained Upon earth, was an in- ftrumeht of converting fo many fihncrs from the error of their Ways. LVH. Tucfday, July loth, after One of our preach- ers had been there for fomc time, I croflcd over from Portfmouth into the Iflc of Wight. From Cowes we fode ftraight to Newport, the chief towrt in the ifle, and found a little fociety in tolerable order. Several of them had found peace with God, and walked in the light of his countenance. Ai half hour after fix, 1 preached ia tJie market-place to a numerous congregation. But ma- ,•■ " "" ■"•^•.■!j m-xi..iisx.vz\i, i JlC cnii- dren made much noife t and many grown pcrfoni were talking aloud, almoft all the time I wa« preaching. There WW a large congregation again 4c five in ih« morn- frig : ^and every perfon therein, feemed to know that Sli J^s the word whereby God would jucfge hi^rn in rhl Jal fou; JnH r' '"'"^",g;^^ congreoation was rnorenume. ro^s, and far more Cehidus than t^r night before. Only ond drunken rnah made A little difturbance. But "hd niayor ordered him to be taken away., In October J ^ Cted them again andf^pent thtec or four days witii rnuch comfort ,, finding thofe who had before profeld to find peac., had wafS'ed fuitably to their profefllbn. LVJII. * Auguft 6, ,755, I mentioned to our cbn^ Ireafat.on m London, a means of increafino ferious rS- fe ^' ' ''^ been fiyiuently praaifV^ by r^: 2 lathers, thejommg in a CoveMani to fcrve God; with all Ot/r heart and witlj all our fouh 1 explained this^r t Veral mormngsfolcwing, and dn Friday, n.anVof ui kept a faft unto the Lord, befeeching K^n, to Iw, ul ^ord our Cod dnd keep it. On Monday at fix in the e. ' Jn'"sniTfi T ^V^'' r'r ^' '' th/prench ChurcH injp.talfields; ^fter I had recited the tenor of thd Ridhafd Allen, all the people ftoodup, in token of af- Ln 'rf^w / """'^"' ?^^^^"' '^'^''^'^^" '^""^'■ed. Such t'lt^l y''!'^/y'^^^^^ Surely the fruit oT ,.it Ihall remain for ever, , ^' temporal calam.ties.. Others, that it woild he iinuAi' .ally ^uitful of fpiritiial blefflngs. Indeed, the "enmJ expeftation of thofe c.lvvhk,, fp^ead a general feri' OMrnersova- the nation, Thi» was a meanf of abtmd. .Te t" A""^'"?'' .Wc endeavoured in evetv part of the kingdom, to avail ourfelves of the appreherfiona which we fr,.quenjly found it was iatpoinWe^'^^oret^vd! cnat Wdr of tfje Lord. TnUirU t, *1a. !._.•..• ^ .;.. And^ac this feafon wr^te, *' An Ad irefs to theCltM Fimwi^'J' l^r^^^^'i"^' ^h/fituati.dn of public affairs, iJJrnc at this time thar^^at any otber. 1 x. • V»l. Kxx. paj, 5^. ^ Yei, ^^, P3J5 ^^ *^^ i»tOPLE CALLEb METH0DI3TS. 41 LX. * March 30th, I vifitcd Ireland again, and after Seeing the focieties in Leihfter and Munftcr, in the lac- ier end of June, went with Mr. Wallh into the province of Connaught. We went thi-ough the counties of Clare and Galway, to Caftlebar, the chief town of the county of Mayo. , The RedVor having left word that 1 (hould Tiavc the ufe of the church, I preached mornihg and c- vening to a very large congregation. Mr. Wallh after- wards preached in the Court-houfe, to another nume- rous and ferious congregation. On tuefdav I rode over to Newport, eleven miles from Caftlebar, on the very extreniicy of the land, the Redor had before given me an invitation. Between feven and eight I preached to (I ruppofe) niore than all the Proteftants ia the town. Deep attention fat on ftvery face ; and fure- ly God touched forrie of their hearts. On Wednefday I returned to Caftleban .there was jlift fuch a work rcre, as that at Athlonc fome years ago, and afterwards at Limerick. All were '-pleafed, biit very few ctmvihced. The ftream was very wide, but very fhallow. LXI. July 12th, after preaching at many of the in- termediate places, 1 went on to Longford. I began at five in the Old-Barrack., A huge crowd fodn flocked in ; but moftof the Papifts {l:ood at the gate^ or iuO: ^ithdut the wall. They were all as ftill as night: nor did I he^r in uncivil word, while 1 walked from one end of the towh "to the other. But hoW is it, that almoft in every place, ctcn where there is no lafting- fruit, there is fo great ah imprcllioa made at firft upon a confiderable number of people ? The fad is .'this: Every where the work of God rifes higher and higher, till it comes to a point. Here ic fcenris for a fliort time to be at a ftay j and then it gra- dually fihks agaih. All this may eafily be accounted for. At firft, curio- fity brings miny hcftrers j at the fame time God draw* many by his preventing grace to hear his word, and comforts them in hearing. One then tells another. By this means, on the one hand, curiofity fpreads and in- creAfcs i and on th* other, the drawings of God's fpirit touc'i * V«I. »xx, p. 54. Tafc 67, and fciiiieJ, 4i A SHO^T HISTORY OF THfi touch more hearts, and many of them more powerfuliv tUn before. He now ofTers grace to all that hear, molt of whom arc in fome mcafurc affefted, and more or Icfs moved w.th approbation of what they hear, have a dc- fire toplfeait Gbdi with good-will to his meflenger. ^"? tnefe prihciples variotifly combined and increafrn^. raife fhe gentral work to its higheft point. But it ca?- m>t ftarid here ih the nature of things. Curiofity muft fdon decline. Agairt, the dravvings of God are not fol^ Ibwfcd. dhd ihtrehj the Holy Spirit is grieved • He ftnves with m arid th^tt itiah nci more, and fo his draw- ings end. 1htf5.^hcCduies of the general impreflloh dechningy molt ol the hearers will be lefs and lefs af- fc«5led Add to this^ that in i^rbcefs of time, // mji be thatoffcntis ^tll mw. ^ome of the htarers, if not teachers aJfpi Will aft cbh'trary to their proftmon. Ei- ther their follits o^ faiilfs wiH be told from One xb ano- ther, and 161^ nojhing in the telljhg. Men once curi- T' J?« f^*"/" ^''''' 7^' '^^'•c V ^^<^n once drawn,- hav- ing ftifled thc?|- good defires, will difapproHrc what theV approve of befofei and feel diflikc inftead 6f cbod-will to the preacher. Oihers who w^rc more or lefs con- ymcedi ^\\\ bt dfi-aid or afhamtd to acknowledet that conv.dlibn; And all tjiefc will catch at ill (lories, tru^ *)i falfe, ,n ordei- to juftif y tfieir charge; When by that iiieans, all ^hb do not fivlngly btllevfc hSVe qufcnrhed xhc Spirit of Gbd^ the little flock tha.c Remain go o« W faith.to faith ; tht reft Heep and tak^ th^ir reft- And thus the niimbtr of hearers in every place fnav be cxpedcd, firft to increaiV, and then to decreafe ^f nm ^' ^p""^'/ ^^'}' \ ^'^ ^" ^«^^ '" ^^« Fovincc «f Uinmbly. The vio- lin* Vr?re juft tuning. But ihev ceafcd till 1 had done ; 4* A SHORT HISTORY OF THE rnUrn-.?T"^' Having vifited mod of il.c focietiet in Ulfter I returned to DubJm, Auguft rth. On Tucf! m 71V ""JT^"'! T ^arewell^Jon: Bur it wa m a doubc, (though I had belpoken the cabin of o th/^^n^ T'''".'''' ^''^"^^'•^'■^ft having lent ^vord euftom r£'""' '^'' ^'' ^""^^ g° °^" ^ ^"^ «^ b^in^ his ftiD o h^.mTlV"'' R '^"^ ^° ^'^^P 'he whol<^ not go :fo about noon Mr. Walih, Houghton Mor- ff'helrboT"' x?°"'' and fell down tfthe^n!^:^. of the harbour. The next evening wc Janded at Holy-. LXV. * Thurfday ;6th, about fifty of the Preacher* bemg met at Br.ftol, the Rules of the Society were read not finH "'f ""^ conftdered one by on, . But we did •tain .nH^? that could.be fpared. So we agreed to re- tain and inforce them ail. ^ ^J^^ 7f "^J^ '^^ ^^^" ^^ ^'^^ ^3ands were read over, Jertri '''^ r ^^ T' ^'-''^^ '^''' ^'^' verbal al!' terat,ons, we all agreed to obferve and infonc. ovS" fnll" ''r'^ *^/^" of Kings wood School were read an^reafbn ' ^ ^^ ""'''" *" '^'"^^'^ ^°^^ to. fcriptur • My Brother and I clofed the Conference by a folem* Chtch'^V'^nP^^Pt ""'''' '° derate from The therein °"' ^'""'^'"^ chearfully concurred ^ror^ml'.P/n'*'''^ ^^' '757, one of our Preacher? wrote me the following letter : Rev. and dear Sir» fnr l^^i?''^^°'J^* °".'^' ^^^'^ of January laft, I was preft tere m/ p"^ 7'''J 'V^' ''^" ^^"*^ ^h^ gentlemen Text dav Th'^'^f^'u^ ^"'^ ^°^ "^^ appearance the next day. They laid, thev would raki. Ki^ „,«r^ f„. . .nouland pounds: but not for ^...Tmuft go'^to^th^ Widge. §0 thichcr 1 was conveyed by five ipldicrs, .1 found • Paje ui, f Page X3#| PEOPLE CALLED METHODISTS. 4; found nothing to fit on but a ftone, and nothing to Tie on but a little ftraw. But foon after, a friend fent me a chair, on which I fat all night.. 1 had a double guard, tv/"'{",'' '^^"^^ "^-'i '-. -from ^oS before bf,h"e''°f''''r°''',''='"' "^^^ '^"= t . tu ocrqr^ by the Tmoke, then eot umn ri,<- rneans the fire y„ quickly flue.-Shed. havinJ n„?:l'T y.,.Kg p»rt of the partition, with fome c)o?hca7,;,;i';" 4 te damaged the roof, and the floor beneath t ia aJM-ng thatfo jitde hurt wa« done. For the fire (whLlJ I PEOPLE CALLED METHODISTS. 47 began in the middle of the roum, none knew how) was fa violent that it broke every pane of glafs but two, iri the window, both at the Eafl and Weft end : what was more amazing ftill was^ that it did not hurt cither the beds, (which fecmed all tovtircd with flame) or the deal partitions on the dther fide of the room, though it beat againft them for a confiderable time. What can we fay to thcfc things, but that God Had fixt the bdunds which It could not pjtfs ! LXX. Having bcfoi-b Vifited * ftiofl othfci- part^ of Ireland, on May 27, 1758, I entered the courity of Sli- go, bordering on the Weftcrn Ocedn, J think the bcft peopled that 1 have feen in thi' kingdom. 1 believe the town is above half as large as Limierick. Sunday aSthj at nine, 1 preached in the Market- houfe to a numerou* Congregation. But they Were doubled at five in the af^ tcrnoon, and God made his wofd quick and powerful^ and Jharper than H two-edged /word. And frbm that time, there have never been wanting a few ih SHgo^ who worfliip God in fpirit and truth. In many other parts of the country likc^ifc, nnlany fiftncrs have becrt truly converted to God. ^ LXXI. t Jiine i7fh, I met THdmas tiTalfh drtce more in Limerick, alive and but juft alive. Three of the bcft phyficians in thcfe parts had attended him, and all a- greed that it was a loft cafe : that by a violent ftraining bf his voices he had coritrafled a true, pulmanary con- fumption, which ^as then in the laft ftage, and beyond the 1-cach of arty htlmart help. O what a man, to be fnatched away iri the ftrcngth of his years ! Surely thy Judgments are a ^reai deep ! LXXII. 1 rode over to Cdurtmattrcfs, a colony of Gefmansj whofe parents Came out of the Palatinate, \xi Queeri Anne's reign. Treaty fimilies of them fettled here: twenty more at Killihaen,' a mile ofF; fifty at jj?liigarane, two miles caftWard, and twenty at Pallas, four milci farther. £aich family had a few acres of ground, on which they jpuilt as many little houfes. Xhti are fince confidcrably ihcrcafed, not indeed in .familiesi Put ixi number of fouls. Having no miniftcr, they ytcte ... . htctrti ? raja 216. f Fafc S7,2v I! I 48 A SHORT HISTORY OF THft Wome eminent for drunkcnncfs,rurfinc.. fwearlnff ani .nutter contempt of religion. But tl^ey arrihtngcl fnc they eard, and willingly received' the tmh'at It IS in Jcfus. An oath is nov/ rarely heard amondt tnem. or a drunkard feeA :n their bonders. ThevTav^ Col'r"?'''i'P^"^*'^''^S-''°"^^' ^" thenliddl of Courtmattrels But it would not to'ntain one half of the congregation So I flood in a large y^rd. Many ^mes afterwards I preached at Balligar^anJ .nd Paulas! Lr ^'^ ^fr'^'^T'P ^"^ withlafting effeft. si did God at laft provide for theft poor ftrangers who for fifty years., had none tht^t cared for their fS » 1 he plain, old BiWe religion had now made its wir into every dounty in Inrland, fave Kerry. And mTnJ m each county, and in molt lar^e towhs. we^e hTpSJ xvitnefTes of it. But I doubt not,There woillhavc ffi double the nuriiber, had not true pains been taken bj Proteftants(fo called) a.^^'.ll as P.pifls, either to pre?^ TYvm^*''^.'^'V''^^"'*^^^^^heir fouls. ^ ^ ^M ?.K ?'^^ ?* '"7^9. 1 rode to Colchefler, and found that out of the hundred and twenty-fix I had left here laft year we had loft only twelve : in the place of ^hom we had gained forty. Such Is the fi-uic 6f vifit- ing from houfe to houfe { t Having at length fubrtiitred t6 the Importunity of h.Lr.l" t\r.^ confented t6 hire James Wheatly's Ta- bernacle at Noi^wich, I went on thither on Tuefdav an J enquiring the next day, found that neither any focie^^ nor any fublcnbers were left. So that every thing wL* to be wrought out of the ore, or rather oUt'of Ihe cli^! t?:- ''^^*^;:^"'"g ^ ^efired thofe who were willing to join, would fpeak to me tne next day. About tV^eh- ?• u ?iu^"' '^''^ S""^^^^ P^^^ °^ ^^^"^ appeared like ft^ighted Iheep. On Saturday and Sunday about forty lS?rH, nfTK'* '?'^ '^'T^ °: ^^7^ °" ^°"^^y- Two. tJiirds ot them fecmed to have known n^^'„ .l—j--: . , love Doth he not fend by whom he'^}}) ft'nd ."in'f t^ thofc of Che old fociety, all together amounted to four ^ ->>l t^EOPLE CALLED METHODISTS. ^ hundred and twrnty, and by April ift, to aboye five hundred and fcventy. A hundred and five of thefc were in nO fociccy before; although many of them had found peace with God i 1 believe they would havfe in- .creafed to a thoufand^ if \ could iuvc ftayed a Fortnighc longer. Byt which of thcfe will hold faft their profcf- fion ? The fowls of the air will devour fomc : The fun Will fcorch more^ ind others will be choaked by tho thorns fpringing up* 1 wjonder we ftiould ever expcft that half of thofe that at firft htar 'the word 'wUh joy^ Will bfing for)h frHii unto perfea'ton. ,^ LXXIV. * In May; the work of C*od exceedingly incrcafed, at and near EVenon, in Huntingdonfhirc. t rannot give i. clearer view pf this^ tlian in tranfcribin^ the journal of an cye-Witqcfs. " Sunday, May lothj feVeral fainted arid cried out* While Mr. Beriidge wis preaching* Afterwards, ac churchj ma y cried out, eipccially childi-cn, whofe a- gonies were amazing; One df the eldfeft, a girl of twelve years oldj was in violent contorfipns of body, and^^cpc aloud. I think inceffantly durihg the whole fervice; And fcvcral. much younger children were agonizing a^ this did. . The church was crowded within and wit&out, f<^ that Mn Berridge was almoft ftified by the breath of the people. 1 believe there were three limes more men than women, a great part of whonri came frbrij far. The "text was, Hdvvig the hrm bf godlinefs, but denying ibc power of it. When the power of religion came to be fpoken of, the prcfence 6f God filled the place. And while poor finncrs felt the fehtehce of death in thcirfoulsi what founds of diftrefs did I htar ? The gfeateft number bf them that cried oUt were men j biic fome womeri^ and fcveral children, felt the power of the fame almighty Spiritj ahd.feemed jutt finki.ng into he|l. This bcca- fioned a mixture of various founds^ fome fhriekingi fomc roaring aloud< Thcihoft general was, a lou(J breathihff. like that of oerfons half ftrs who i-oared iibovc his fellows, and feemed to ftrugglc with thei ftrength df a grown man* His face was rtd as fcarjer, and alrtnbft all drt whoiH tjod laid his hand, turned ei- ther very red ot very black. When I returned to Mr. Uerridgc's houfe, after a little walk, 1 found it full of people; He was fatiglled, yet faid he would give them a word of cxhoriatibn. 1 ftayed in the next roomi and law a git-1 lying as dead. Ih a few hhinUtes, a wohnari was filled witli peace and joy* She Had cbmc thirteert iTiilcsj and had dreamed, Mh Berridgb would come tO her villa»i"j brt that very day whereon he did comei though without cither knowihjg the place Or the way to it. Sht was convihcfed at that time* Juft as we heafd bf her deliverance, the glM ort the fjobl* began td ftin She was thth let in a chair> and after fighing awhile^ fuddcnly rofe Up, rejoicing in Gdd* She fhquently fell t)n her knets, blit was gtncrally i-uhning to ihd frd< fpeaking thefe and thlc like words^ " O what tanjefusdo for loft finners I He has fdr given me all my finis." Meart time 1 fiw a thin, pale girli weeping with joy for het companion, and with forroW for heuelf. Quickly tht fmiles of heaven came likeWife on her face^ arid her i-raifes joined With thofe of the otheK LXXV. " Two ot three well dreft yoUng women whb feemed cafelcfs before, ridw cried oUt with a Idud and bitter ci-y* Wc cohtihUed praifing God Ivith all oiiir might : artj his Wbrk weht ort* 1 had for fomc umit bblervcd a. young wonlirt all ih teahs » but now he? tpuntenancc chan|td i het face was as quick as light- bing, filled with Imilcsj dnd became of a crimfon cd* ll»ur. Immediately afcer^ a ftranger who Hood facing m ! i PEOPLE CALLED METHODISTS. 59 mr, fell backward to the wall : th and for a time all were calm. But the f^ofm, foon rofe again. Mr. Hicks tiien prayed, and after-. ^i^ards Mr. Bcrridge. But ftill, thougii fame leceivec^' ponfolation, others rcmj^ined in deep forrpw of heart. " Upon the whole, 1 remark, that few anticnt peopl© experience any thing of this work of God : and fcarce iny of the rich. Thefe generally Ihew either ap utter contempt of it, or an enmity to it. Indeed fo did Mr. Hiokes himfeif fomc time fince, event denying the facrament to thofe who went to hear Mr. Berridge. As neither of thefe gentlemen have much eloquence j the JLord more clearly (hews hereby that it is his own work. It extends intoCambridgefliire, to within a mile of the Uniyerfity ; and about ai far iiito Huntingdon^irc '. but flourilhes moft of all in the eaftern and northern parts ot Bedfordfhire. The violent ftruggling of many in the above-mentioned churches, h^s broke, feveral pews and benches. Yet it is comiVion for people to remain unaf- fected there, and afterwards drop down in, rheir way home. Some have been found lying as dead in the road :. others in Mr. Berridge's garden ; not being able to walli from the church to his hpufe, thoggh \t was not- twa hundred yards." * ■ LXXVIII.* Saturday, November S4th, 1 rode to Everton (having been there feme months before,) Oa Sunday afternoon, God was eminently prefcnt with us, though rather to comfort tiian convince. But lobferyed a remarkable difference fince i was here, as %q the man,- fier of the work. None now were in trance* j none cri^ ed out ; none fell down, or were convulfed. Only fome trembled exceedingly j a low murmur w^ heard j and many were refrefbed with the multitud,c of peace. The danger ivijs to regard extraordinary circumilances too much, fuch as outcries, convulfions, vifions, trances, as if thefe were ejfential to the inward work, fathat it could not go on without them. Perhaps the danger is, to re, card them toa Hftle ? tr» rf>nr4/»mn t-h*r» „u.,.,.^>t,^> . .„ jnnaginc they had nothing of God in thera : yea, were a limderance to the work s whereas the truth is, i. God Cutidcnly and ftro»gly co^ivjnced many, that they wcce » VPdonc. M M PEX)PLE CALLED METHODISTS. 53 undone, loft finners ; the natural r.onC<:qucncc& whereof were fudden outcries, and ftrong bocjily convulfions;. a. T© ftrengthen and encourage ihpm that believed, and to make his work more apparent, he favoured Several of them with divine dreams, others with trances or vifions} ;5. In fome of thefe jnftances, after a time, nature mixed with grace :' 4, S^tan likewife mimicked this p.art of tU tvork of God, in order to difcredit the wholevjQrk. And yer ic is not wife to give up this part, any more than to give up the 'whole. At firft, it was daubtlefs, wholly from God. It is partly fo at this day : and he will enaC Ijle us to difcern, how f^r in every c^fe, the work is turti, and how far m'txty ■ LXXIX. * On Thurfday apih, the day appointed for a General Thankfgiving, 1 preached at VVeft-ftrect, Sc, ven- Dials, London, both morning and afternoon. 1 be- lieve the oldeft man in England has not feen a thankfgi, Ving day foobXerved before. It had the folemnity of tha General Faft, All the (hops were ftut up. The people ;n theftreets appeared, one and all, with an air of fe, rioufnefs. The prayers, Jeffons, and whole public fer- vice, were admirably fuited to the occafion. The pray^ cr for our enemies, in particular, was extremely ftrikine » perhaps it is the firft inftapce qf the kind in Europe There was no noife, hurry, bonfires, fire-works, in tho evening, and no public diverfions 1 this is indeed a Cbri/^ fian hnly-dayy a rejoicing unto the Lord. The next daw came the news, that admiral HawUe had difperfed the French fleet. * LXXX. t In the beginning oi* th« year 1^60, thero was a great revival of the work <>rGod in York fti ire ^* On January 13th, (fays a correfpondent) about thirty perfons were met together at Otley, (4 town ten mileg North-eaft of Leeds) in the evening, in order (as ufual) to pray, fing hymns., and to provoke one another to lovo and to good work*, When tUey camo to fpeak of th« icveral i'tates of their k)uis, fome with deep fighs, and groans, complained of the h^avy burden thcv felt, froji^ the remains of inbred fin 5 feeing in a clearer light than ever before, the nccciniy Qf a deliverance from it. Wfac^ Ni li k^ ^1 "IB 1 i II K m-^ '■ l! m 54 A SHORT HISTORY OF THR '■'■;! 1 1 they h^d fpcnt the nfual time together, a few went t« their own houfcs; but the reft remained upon theirknccs, groaning for thp great an4 precious promijes . When one' of thpm was dpfired to pray, he no fooner lifted up his voice to Qod, than the Holy Ghqft made interceffi. oq in all ?hat were prefent, with groanings that could not h tittered. And in awhile they exprefled the trayail of ihe'iT fpuls, by loud and bitter cries, Thev had no doubt ©f the favour of God ; but they could not' reft while they had any thing in them contrary to his nature, One cri- ed put in an agopy, f Lord, deliver me from my finfu^ pattirc !' Then a fecond, a third, a fourth, And while he that prayed firft was uttering thofe word«, < Thou God of Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, hear us for the fake of thy fon Jefus/ one broke out, « BleHcd b? the Lord for «yer, for he has purified my heart ?' Another, • Praif^ the Lord with me \ for he has cleanfed my heart from fin :' another cried, * I ab hanging over the pit of hell \ Another ft^ricked out^ U am in hcU j O fave me, fave fnc P While another faid with a far diflftrent voice, * Blcfled he the l,ord, for he hath pardoned all my fms!' Thus they continued for the fpace of t\vo hours, feme praifing and magnifying Qod i fome crying to him for pardon or purity of heart, with the greateft agony J'/P^'"Jt. Before they parted, three believed God had fulfilled his word, ^nd cleanfed them from all Mnrighteou/ne/s. The ^ext evening they met again, »nd the Lord was ag^in prefent to heal the bro- ken m heart. One received ren^ifllon of fins, anci three more belieyed Qod haci (leanfed them from all fin. And It IS ohfervable, thefe are all poor, illiterate crea- tures, incapable of counterfeiting, and unlikely to at- tempt it. But -whfn his w^ord gQeth, firth, it give th light $nd underfianJiug to thejmple/ LXXXI. Here began that glorious work of Sandifi- <:ation, which had been nearly at a ftand -or twenty various parts of YarkOiire, afterwards in London j then through moft parts of England : nej^t through Dublin, ym^f^cH* aad all the South and Wc(l; of Ireland. And ill to PEOPLE CALLED METHODISTS. jr wherever the wbrk of SanAification increafed, the who!e worlr of God incrcaied in all its branches. Many were convvnecd of fin ; many juftificd j many backflidcr* healed. So it was in the London focicty in particular^ In February 17611 it contained upwards of three anj twenty hundred members : in 176J1 above eight an4 twenty hundred. LXXXII; t^ebruary 27, 1761, 1 met abotjt thirty per- fons who had experienced a deep woi-kof God. And whether thtry tx^ Javed frmftny or no, they arc cei-tain- ly full of faith and love. Wednefday March 4thi * I was fcarce come ihto the room where a few believers were met together, when ond began to iVdmblfc exceedingly; . She foon funk to th^ floor. After a violent ftrugglcj Ihe biirft out into prayer^ which Was quickly changed into pfaife. And flic then declared, " Tl, Lamb of God has taken away all my fins." t ^ lefday iSth. By talkirig with fcVeral iii Wedntft v,^ i found God Was carrying on his work here as at Lohdon; We had ground td hope, one pri- foner was fet at liberty, under the fermon on Saturday- morning ; another, on Satui-day evening. One or mord received remiflion of fins cJn Sunday. On Monday mom* ing another, and on Wednefday yet another believed ihe hltiod of Chriji had tleanjed them fi-om all fin. In thorks. We thought it was to dome gradually. We never expcdled it to come in a mi Ticnt by fimple Faitbt in the very fame mannef as we received Juftification." What wonder is it then, that VoU have been fighting ill thefe years, as one that beatetb the ait ? MondAy, June aidj I fpoke one by One to the focicty at Hutton-Rudbyj near Yarm. Of about eighty members, near feventy were Believers, and 1 chink, fixteen renewed by lovci Hel-e were two bands of children, one of boys and one of girls, moft of whpm were walking In the light; Four of thofe who feemcd to be faved from fiiij were of one family, and all of them walked holy and unblamable. And many inftaneci of the fame kind 1 found in every part of the county* LX}tXV. f Auguft 22d, i returned to Lortdon, and found the work of God fwifdy increafrng* The con- gregations in every place were larger than they had been fdr feveral yeafs* Many iVcrc from day to day convin- ted of fm. Many found peace with God. Many back- fliders were healed and filled with love; And many be- lievers entered into fuch a reft, as it had not before en- tered their hearts to conceive. Meantime the enemy Was not wanting to f«w tares among the good feed. I faw this clearly, but durft not ufe violence, left in plucking up the trfres., I fhottld root ud the wheat alfo. On Monday, September 2 j ft, I came to BriftoL Andl, here likewife, I found a great increafc of the work of God, the congregatidns were exceeding large, andthd peoj^lo J Page 163. t P>«e US TmPm. CALLED MEtttODlSTS. 57 people longing and thiffting after rightcoufnefs. And ^ everyday afforded us frelh inftaneei of perfons convin. eed of fift or converted to God. So that Itfeems he Was ttr^° ?"'! °"i,^'^§T ^his year on every par both df England and Ireland, In a manner we nevcf had Fccn before j at lead not for twenty years. O what Jrt then livmg at rottenham-Court Road ShS " S y«^ lince. I found much pain in my brcafts. and afcr ward, hard lumps. Fouf months ago my left br«ft broke, and kent running continuallyf Growing worfe and worfe. after fome time, I was recommended t7st t'y°^Yf"'\ ' *"'« Wood many times and ?ook hem ock thrice a day , but 1 was no better. The dS™ »nd lumps were the fame.and both my bread, were aui« hard, and black as foot. Yefterdiy fe-nn eht ll^ne to Mr. Owen',, where there was a mUngZ pnyT^ ed f I faid « Yes." Me then prayed forme, and in a moment all my pam was gone. But the next day I fdt . little pam again. 1 clapped my hand, on my breaft, and cried out, -Lord, if thou wflt thou canftmaker^^ whole." It was gone j and from that hour 1 had no oab no foreneft, no lump, or fwelling, but both mv brS; were perfeftly well, and have been fo ever fi„« " wen"*, st^K P'"'" ^f'- "• ^^' """ "'• *'• She ,> well. J. She became fo in a moment. Which of thsfr can with modefty be denied ? ""'cnoithele y.}:^^^^",- ■'^" J»""»'T. i7«4. Cod continued to work mightily, not only in and about London but 1^ mod parts of England and Ireland.f rXua"; „h 1 niet at noon, as ufual, thofe who believed they We« fa It tl:^:-:f]^.'""'"' 'i- of ■i.een.hu'nrfm'thn g.odm;;;|ho7h;™^r„;rnr;^^^^^^^^^ vjlau>,s, inferred, that they Ihould not d" ThLfyl gtt.tocc.fion of triumph to thofe that fought occaS! 58 A SttOkt HISTORY OF THE >vho rejoiced as though they had found great fpoil. This year, from the beginning to the end, was a year ncrer to he forgotten. Such a feafon I never faw before ! Such a multitude of finncrs were converted from the error of their ways, in alJ parts both of England and Ireland : And fo manv were filled with pure love ! IJCXXV'llI, In * April, 1 croflcd over to Ireland, and in every part of the kingdom, North, Weft, and South, found caufc to blefs God, for the abundant in- creafc of his woi k. f On July 24ih, 1 returned to Dub* ]iii, and found the flame dill incrcafmvere.jufl:ificd, and as many, if not more, renewed in Jove. The people are all on fire. Such a day as laft , Sunday 1 never faw before. While I was at prayer in the fociety, tiic power of the Lord overfliadowed us, and fome rrifd out, *' Lord I can believe I The cry foon became general, with ftrong prayers. Twice I at- tempted to fing ^ but my voice could not be heard. I then d'-fired them to reftrain themfelves, and inftillnefs • »nd compofure to wait far the bletnng ; on which, all but two or three who could not refraui, came into a fo- icmn filcnce, I prayed again, and the fofccning power * Vjip 156. f Paje 176, «r TCOPLE CALLED METHODISTS. 5-^ •f gracp was felt in many hcim. Cur congregation* incrcafed much, and I have no doubt, but we fhall fee greater things than thcfc." Four days after, he writes, " The work of God incretv fcs every day. There is hardly a day but fome are jufti- ficd, or fanflified, or both. On Thurfday, three came und told me, The blood of Chrift had cUanJed them f rent *iiftn. One of them told me, fhc had been juftificd fe- ;Vcn years, and had been five years convinced of the ne- ccflity of San^ification. But this eafy con viaion^ avail- •d not. A fortnight fince (he was f^rized with fo keen a conriftion, asgavc her no reft till God had fanaified flcr, and witncffcd it to her heart. ". ^^? ^""c catches all that come near. An old foldi- *T,m his return from Germany to the North oflrcland-^ fell in, onenighr, with thcfewrcftling Jacobs, to hit great aftonjilimcnt. As he was going to Germany it% the beginning of the war, the Lord healed him in Dr.b- Im : and in fpite of all thf diftrcffcs of a fcverc campaicn. he walked in the iight continually, Onhis return through London, he was convinced of thcneccffity of full Sandfi- ficatibn. And loon after he came hither, his heart was broken in piccci, while he was with a little company, who rncet daily for prayer. One evening, as they were going away, he ftopped them, and begged thcv would not go till G6d had blclfed him. They knceL-d down again, and did not ccafc wreftling with God till he had a witncfs that he wai favcd from all fin." XC. In his laft letter he fays," I had much f or incapaol^ cf temptation ; in ibortf no whimfical or erithufiaflic perfons. All were calm and fobcr-minded. I ,ki)bw, fcveral of thefe were in procefs Qttimtmovedfxom thejr. fiidfajinejs. I aiiri nothing furprifed at this : it was noi more th?n was to be cxpefted : V rather wonder that more were not moved. Nor does this in any degree alter. riiy judgment, concerning the great work which God then wrought : the greateft I believe, that ha$ ^f^}"^, wrought in Europe, fince the Reformation, ' XCII. The fame work was now carrying on in Lime-* rick, of which 1 had feveral accounts. The laft ran thus ; " Blcflcd be God, fince you was here, hi$ word runs fwifiiy. Mft night hts power was prcfent indeed, and another was afliired, that God had (leanjed him from all tinrigbteoitfnefs, T' ere are now ten women and thirteen tnen, who witnefs uie fame confeflTion. And their lives agree PEOPLE CALLED METHODISTS. 6^ A agree thereto. Eight have lately received the remifllon of their fins. And many arc on the full ftretch for God, and juft ready to ftep into the pool." Hence it appears, that in proportion to the time, which was only three or four weeks, and the number of hearers, (not one half, ijf a third part) the work of God was greater in Limcrick> jhan even in Dublin itfclf. XCIIL * Sunday Auguft id, 1 landed at Parkgatf> and rode on to Chefter. Never was the fociety in fucl> a ftatc before. There \yas nothing but peace and love among them. About twelve believed thq^ were fave^ from fin. Mofl: of the reft were ftrongly athirfb for God, and looking for him continually. Wednefday 4th, I rode to Liverpool, where alfo was fuch a vork of God as had never been known there before. Th*-^'"e was a furprlfing congregation' in the evejiing, and had been for fome months. A little before 1 went, nine werejufti- ftcd in one hour. The next morniqg I fpokc feverally with thofc who believed they were fanftified. they were fifty-one in all ; twenty-one men, twejity-onc widows or married women, and nine young women or childrc|i. In pnc of thefe the change was wrought three weeks af- ter ,il)e was juftified : in |hrcc, fcven days after it ; in one, five. days j and in Samuel Liitwich, aged fourteen, two days only. I afited Hannah Blakeley, aged eleven, *' What do you want now ?" She faid, with amazing energy, the tears running down her cheeks, <' Nothing in this world j nothing but more of my Jefus !" , XCIV. One wrote thus from Bolton in Lancalhire: ** Glory be to God, he is doing wonders among us. Since Mr Furz left us, there have been fcven (if not more) juftified, and fix fanftified at one meeting. Two of thefc were,^ I think, juftified and fandified in Icfs than three days. O what a meeting was our lafl: clafs-mcetr ing ! In three minutes or lefs, God quite unexpededlf convinced an old oppofer of the truth, and wounded ma- ny more, i never teJt the abiding prcfencc of Goc' fo e^ceediii^ ppwerful before." Enquiring how the revival began at Maccles^id, I received the following account : *' la MKch laft, after • p«ic »»r« along; i i 'I P;. ^t A SHORT HISTORY OF THE 1 Sli f i'ii : ! «iiii a long feafon of dryncfs and bvrcnncfs, one Mondav night John Oldham preached. When he had done, and was going away, a man dropped down, and cried aloud for mercy. In a ihorc time, fo did feveral others. He came back, and wrcftled with God in prayer for them. About twelve he retired, leaving fomc of the brethren in prayer for them, who refolvcd to wreftle on, till they had an anfwer of peace. They continued in prayer till fix in the morning, and nin'* prifoners were fet at litcrty. They met again the next night, and fix or feven more were filled with peace and joy in believing. So were one or two more every night till the monday lollowing.when there was another general ihower of grace. And many believed, that tbf blood of Chriji badcieanfed them from ^e4!*' ^ O^okcto thcfe, (forty in all) one by one. Some of them faid, they received thatblclfrng, ten days, fome ftycn, fome four, fomc three days, after they found peace Mxh God. What marvel ! fmcc one day h vf'ub God^ as 11 thottfand years ! XCV. The cafe of Ann Hooly was peculiar. She Jitd often declared, "The Merhodift God /hall not be my God. 1 will fooner go to hell, than I will go .o hea- ven m their way." She was (landrng.in the ftreetWifh. two young men, when John Oldham pafTing by, fpoke fa one and the otherj and went on. She burft into tears and faid, " What, am I fuch a finner that he \v\\\ not geak tome ?'* About twelve he was fent for in haftc. He found her in deep diftrefs, but continued in prayer' trll all her trouble was gone, ajid her fpirit rejoiced in. God her Saviour. Yet three nights after, fheSwas in much diftrefs again, crying, " I havea wicked heart liir God lakes it away." He did fo in a few hours. She was ever after a partem to all the young people m the town. She was thirteen years old. lii about a year her fp« It returned to God. On Saturday J fpoke tothofe at Mancheftef, if/ho be- " hearts ey lixtv- three in number : to about fix rv of whom I cuold nof find there was any reafonablc objeftion. XCVi. Many yt-ars ago mv Brother frtquently faid-, ,our t« (r ' PEOPLE CALLED MET) ** Your day of Pcntccoft is not fully come. But I doubt not it will. And you will then hear of pcrfonsfandtifi- ed, as frequently as you do now of perfons juftified." Atfiy unprejudiced pcrfon might obferve, that it wasnovr fully came. And accordingly we did hcarof perforvrt fandlificd, in London, and molt other parts of England and in Dublin, as well as moic other parts of Ireland, as frequently as of peribns juftified : although inftances of the latter were far more frequent than tjicy had been for twenty years before. That many of thefc did not retain the gifc of God, is no proof that it was not given them. That many do retain ic to this dav, is matter of praife ^nd thankfgiving. And many of them are gone to him whom they loved, praifing him with their latcft breath : ju(t in the fpirit of Ann Steed, the firft witnefs in Briftol, of the great falvation j who being worn out with fick- nefs and racking pdin, after Ihc had commended to God all that were round her, lifted up her eyes, cried aloud. " Glory I Hallelujah !" and died. XCVIL * Monday, December ^th, I heard George - Bell pray at the Foundery. I believe part of what h« faid was from God i part from a heated imagination. But as he did not fpeak any thing dangeroufly wrong, I did not yet ftc caufc to hinder him. Many of our brc«. thrcn were now taking much pains to propagate that : principle, *< That none can teach thofc who arc renewed in love, unlcfs he be in that ftate himfelf." I faw the tendency of this : but I durft take, no violent ftep. I mentioned this to Ibmc of my friends, and told theni what would be the coniequcnce. But they could noc believe it. So I let ic rclt : only icBring them to rt- m ember I had told them bf fore, Sunday 26th. That I might do nothing htftily, I, permitted George Bcli to be once more at Weft-ftreet • Chapel, and once more (on Wedncfday evening) at the Foufldcry : but it was worlc and worfe. He now fpokc as from God, what I knew God had not fpokcn. 1 there- lore delired he would pray there no more. 1 well honed this would reprcls the impetuofity of a few good, out wiftaken men ; efp^cially, confidcfing the caj of Ben- III ^ i1] A SMOftr HISTORY OF THE jamin Harris, the moft impetuous of them all. A Week or two before, as he was working in his garden, he wiH ftruck raving nnad. He continued fo till Tuefday, De- cember a I ft, when he hy ftill and fcnfible, but could not fpeak, till on Wedncfday morning his fpirit return- cd to God. I now ftood and looked back to the paft year; a year of uncommon trials and uncommon blef- fihgs. AbirndanLc have been convinced of fin. Very many have found peace with God. And in London on- ly, 1 believe full two hundred have been brought mo glorious liberty. And yet 1 have had more care and trouble in fix months, than in fcveral years preceding. XCVIII. Friday, January 7, 1763, I defired George Bell to meet me, and took much pains to C( wince him of his miftakes, particularly that which he had lately adopted. That the end of the world was to be on Fe- bruary the 28th. But I could make no imprefllon upon him. He was as unmoved as a rock. Sunday a3d, in order to check a growing evil, I Breached on. Judge not, that ye be mt judged. But ic nad c|uite the contrary effed on many, who conftrued it all into a faltire on George Bell. One of whofe friend* faid, "If the devil himfelf had been in the pulpit, he would not h?vc preached /«f^ a/erfnon I" All this time 1 had information from all quarters, that there would foon be a divifion in the fociety. But I was ftill in hopes that by bearing all things, I (bould overcome evil with gnod ; till on Tuefday evening the 15th, Mrs. Coven- try came in, and threw down her ticket, with thole of her hiifband, daughters, and fervants, fiiying, " They would brar fnch dodtrines no longer ; Mr. — , pleach- ed Perfeaion ; but Mr. Wefley pulled it ddwn." So I did ; the PertVaion of George Bell, and all that abet- ted him. So the breach is made, the water is let out. Let thnfe v;ho can, gather it up. More and nlore per- fdn? threw up their ikkdts every day. And all thefc were zealous to gain converts to their party, chiefly by fptaking ail manner of evil, whereby rnany that did not join theniyUh tis : fo in a few months, above two hun- fired members" left the fociety. XCIX, A> 1*lStOB^Lt CAttteb METllODtStS. 65 ^CCIX. Monday, February iid, obferring the terror ^cafioned by that Wonderful prophefy, to fprcad far artd Wide, 1 endeavoured to draw Ibme Rood therefrom, br jnforcmg thofc words at Wapping, Stekye the Lord whiU he may be found: Call upon him while h.- is near : but declaring at the fame time;, (as I had frequently done before) " It ««;? be falfe, if the Bible i, ?rueV The next three days 1 fpent in tranfcribing the names of the fociicty. I found about thirty of thofc who were Uvtii from fin, had left us; But above four hundred of thofc that witnefled the fame confc.C:..., v .re more united thaii ever. Monday the 28ch, fre.chinp in the evening ac Spitalfields, on Prepare id m •ei hy Go., I largely fticw, ed the utter abfurdity of thcluo^afir-.n, That the world was to end that night; But nc.vvithftandingalll could fay. many were afraid to go to bed , arid fome wander^ cd about in the fields, bring perfuaded, that if the World did not end, at lead, Londori would be fwallowed uo by an earthquake; 1 went to bed at my ufual time* and Was fart allccp at ten o'clock, * * The grcateft part of this fpHrig 1 was fully employed in y.fiting the (^ociem irid f.ttl.ng the minds of thof* Who had been confufcd and dirtreif by a thoufand mif! reprefentatiDris; Indeed a flood df calumny and e7i I fpeaking (a^ was eafily forefcen) had been poured out on every fide; My point was ft.H, To go ftrai^hc for- ward m the woHt whereto I am called* ^ C • I did not leave London till the t6th of Mar^' After rpendmg a few d^ys in Scotland,! returned throu Jit fn7'^',; ^^ Barnardcaaic, in the county of Durham* and preached there to an exceeding numerous and deep- ly fcnous congregation. 1 intended aftei- preaching, to meet the fociety, but the I ulk of the people were ff ea^ ger to hear more, that I could not for beai- letting, in near as many as the room would contain. Thdrfday, Tune 6th, cl^en at five in the morning, I was obliged to Drearj! «u.«au, oy cne numbers that flocked to heir. There ia Wthang remarkable in the manner wherein God revi- sed his work in this place. A few months ago, the Jc. |»eral,.jr of the people in this Circuit were wceedr^ II (i ill "I 1 1' » III lift. m ) I 111 I' C6^ . A SHORT HISTORY OF THE " lifclcfs. Samuel Meggot (now with God) perceivihg this, advifed the fociety in Barnardcaftle, to obfcrvc eve-^ r^v Friday as a day of Fading and Prayer. The very firft ' Friday they met together, God broke in upon them in a marvellous manner. And his work has been increa^ fing among them ever fince. The neighbouring focie- ties heard of this, agreed to follow the fame rule, and foon experienced the fame bleffing. Is not the neglect of this plain duty (I mean fading ranked by our Lord with thankfgiving and prayer) one generil occafion of deadnels among Chridians ? Can any one willinelv nce- Ica it and be guiltlefs ? 6/5 CI. I had defired Samuel Meggot to give me fome ^rther account of the work of God at Barnardcadlc. Part of his anfwerwas as follows : Wjthm ten weeks at lead, twenty perfons have found peace with God, and twenty-eight the great fal- vation. This morning before you left us one found peace, and one the fecond blefling : and after you wai gone two more received it. One of thefc had belonged to the fociety before ; but after he turned back, had bitterly perfecuted his wife, particularly after (he pro* feflTed the being faved from fin. On the a9th of May, he came in a furious rage, to drag her out of the focie- ty. One cried out, * Let us go to prayer for him.' Pre- fently he ran away, and his wife went'home. Not long after, he came in like a madman, and fwore he would be the death of her. One faid, * Are you not afraid, left :God Ihould fmite you ?' He anfwcred, * No ; let God .^o his word. 1 will m'kc an end of her and the brats, and myfclf too, and we will go to hell together.' His wife and children fc.l down and broke out into prayer, liis countenance changed, and he was quiet as a lamb, ^ut it was not long before a horrible dread overwhclm- icd him : he was fore didrelTed. The hand of God was ^pon him, and gave him no red day or night. OnTucf- 4iay.in the afternoon he went to her who prayed for him, when he came to drag his wife our, begging her, with a ihow^r of tears, to pray for his deliverance. On Thurf- PEOPLE CALLED METHODISTS. 67 day he wreftlcd with God, till he was as wet all over Avith fwcat, as if hehad been dipped in water. But that evening God wiped away his tears, and filled him witlir joy unfpeakable.' This morning while he was at prayer, Ijod gave him a witnefs in himfelf, that he had purified his heart. When he rofc from his knees, he could not help declaring it. He now ran to his wife, not 10 kill her, but to catch her in his arms, that they might wcea. over one another with tears of joy and love. CIL * Wcdnefday, Oaober 12th, 1 went to Norwich, rctolved cither to mend or end the fociety. On Friday i read the Rules of our fociety to the congregation, ad- jJing, « Thofe who will keep thefc Rules, and thefe on^ iy, may continue with us. For many years I have had more trouble with this fociety, than with halt the focie- tics in England put together. With God's help, 1 will try you one year longer, and if you bring any better fruit, I (hall rejoice." The Sunday following I met the iociecy for the firft time immediately after morning preaching. Afterwards 1 went to church with a confi- derable number of the people, fcvcral of whom I fup-. pole had not been within thofe walls for many years In the evening God made bare his arm, and his word' was fharp as any two -edged fword. And from this time 1 had more and more proof that our labour at Norwiciv had not been in vain. ' ClII. Friday, November i8th, I finilhcd the vifita- tion of the piaffes in London. fHere I flood and look- ed back on the late occurrences. Before Mr. Walfli left England, God began that great work which haa continued ever fince, without any confiderable intermif- fion. During the whole time, many have been convin-. ced of fin, many juftified, and many backfiiders healed. Bur the peculiar work of this feafon has been what St* Paul calls, tbeperfemng of tbe/aints. Many pcrlbns in London, Brillol, York, and m various parts both of ^ •-£,.. t.ivi nilU 4JVi«.i'Lrj «i.o s; V '-A^CTl JCJJLCU lO CTCep ajlU U- niverfal a change, as it had not before entered inr. to their hearts to conceive. After a deep conviftion of inbred fin, they have been in an inaant filled with faith % ■'1: ::[-., lit I f« A SHORT HISTORY OF THE »nd love: fin vanlfhfd, and they fouad from that time, po pride, anger, defire, or unbelief. They cpuid rel jeice evermore, pra^ without ceafing, and in every tbijfz pve thanks. Now whether we call this the dejtrtmion 9/ Jin or npt, if was a gloripus woik of God : fuch a work as, ponfidering both the depth and extent of it, wc ne. ver faiw m thefe kingdoms before, 'Tis poflibie, fome ^ho fpoHe of this were mia^ken, and 'tis certain fome Jiavc loft wh^t they then received. A few (very fcvf corppared to the who|e number) firft ggve way to cnthu* fiafin, then tq pride i next to prejudice and offence i »nd at laft feperated from their brethren, ^ut although this laid a, hpige (^umbling-bloc|i in the way, yet the worl; of God w?ni on, ^^or has it ceafed to this day in any \It \ ^^^^^^'^^ V G^d m\ convinces, juftif^es, fandifies, Wt loft only the drofs, the enthufiafm, the prejudice and |)ffenc<;. The pure gold rerpaiflcd,/tf«/-& -workinzb love^ Jea, and increafed daily, ' £ ^}^\^^'^^^y* ^^^"^^^ 30. llHy I met thofe in Shef. fields who tipljcved God had redeemed them from all their- Ms. They Y^pre about fixty in number. 1 could not Jearn^ t|mt any among them >yalked unworthy of thei;; profeflipn, ^I^ny watched over them for evil : but thc)p overcanne evil wjch good, 1 found nothing of lelf-con, 5:pt^ ftubbornnefs^ impatience of contradidiort, or en- thufiafm, anpong them. They had learned better of hirr^ that was meek and lowly of h^art, and adorned the dn* $rtn.e cfGod our Saviour. CV, * Friday, June 8th, having vifitfd the Southerly parts of Scotland, I fet ouc for Invcrnefs ; bu? \ cpulc^ not reach it till eight on Sunday morning ; it raine4 much, fo that I could not preach qt^road ^ and I knevr no one in the t...vn, and could hear of no convenient room i I Knew no^ which way to turn. At ten I went (0 the High- kirfc. After fervicc, Mr. frafer, one of the tninificrsi, invited mc to dinner, and then to drmk tea. As we wer PEOPLE CALLED METHODISTS. 6^ iwrijifter came afterwards to our inn, and fhewed the molt cordial affedion 1 preached in the morning once morej and I think, the kirk was fuller thm before And I could but obftrve the rcma-kabk behaviour of «hc whole congregation after fcrvice. Neither man, woman, nor chiJd, fpoke one word ail the way dowa the mam ftrect » About eleven we took horfc. While w« were dining at Nairn, the inn-keepcr faid, «'Sir, the gentlemen of the town, have read the lirrlc book yo« gave mc on Saturday, and would he gUd if you would pieaie to give them a fermon," On confenting, the bell was imiiTcdiately rung, and a large congregation affem* St V T, '^ * difference is there between South and J^orth Britain! Every one here at leaft, loves to bear the word of God, And none takes it into his head, to ji^eak one uncinl word to any, for endeavouring to fave ftii iQul Not long aft.r, a little fociety was formed a8 invLTnefs, which continues to this day, CVl. AH this, as well as the preceding year, there was a remarkable increafe iq ipoft of our focieties, both in ^ngland and in Ireland, 1 crofTed over from Scot* ^and to the North of Ireland in the beginning of Mari #nd hiving traverfed Ullter and Connaughr, 'on Wed* ncfuay Jane 19th, * reached Cork. On the Monday fina 1 uefday followiq|, I fpokp, one by one, to tht mem* * « hr '''''^'^' ^^^^y '^'^^^ ^^° hundred and nine^ ?y-tive, hfty or fixty npre than they had been for feveral years. This was owing partly to the preaching abroad^ and partly to the meetings for prayer in feveral parts of the city, rhcfe had been a means of awakening many grols hnners, of recovering many backflidersjand^'bringi ing many that never thought of it before, to attend the preaching at the New Room. A^tcr vifiting th« inteN medute f..c.eties, on Thurfdav, July ,8th, I reached Vubiin, and havmg fpent a little time very comfortably ^^^Vn? '^l:^'^*g'""»"SP^Auguft returned toEnglaftd. Js foon as I came to Redruth. I fent for the perfbn her* \cn Grace Paddy, a fenfible young woman. I can fpcate m n?C liow mhQXit reftraint, as flic isfafc in Abraham'* ^11 ■'.Ife^.-f-il? *^, -t^ A SHORT HISTORY OF THE !' M \> -' bofom : fhe faid, «' I was harmlefs, as I thought, but quite carclefs about religion, till about Chriftmas, when my brother was faying, « God has given me all I want :' 1 am as happy as I can live.' This was about ten in the morning. TJic words (truck me to the heart. I 1 went into my chamber and thought, why am not I fo ? O, 1 cannot be, bccaufc 1 am not convinced of fin. I cried out vehemently, * Lord, lay as much conviaion upon, me as my body can bear.' Immediately I faw my- felf in fuch a light, that I roared for the difquietnefs of my heart. The maid running up, I faid, * Call my bro- ther.' He came, and I'ejoiced over me, and faid, * Chrifl isjuft ready to receive you, only believe >* and then went to prayer. In a fliort time all my trouble was gone, and I did believe. All my fins were blotted out. But an the morning 1 was thoroughly convinced of the want of adeeper change. I felt the remains of fin in my heart, which 1 longedi ^^ have taken away. 1 longed to be fa- vcd from all fin, to be cleanfed from all unrighteoufntfs. And all the time Mr. Rankin was preaching, this defirc increafcd exceedingly. Afterwards he met the fociety. iJurmg his Jaft prayer, I was quite overwhelmed with the power of God. I felt an inexpreOible ch .i ^^e, in the very depth of my heart. And from that tim; '^ have felt no anger, no pride, no wrong temper of any kind ; no- thmg contrary to the pure love of God, which I feel con- tinually. 1 defire nothing but Chrift : and I haveChrift always reigning in my heart. 1 want nothing. He is my lufficient portion, in time and in eternity." Such an inftance I never knew before : fudi an in- ftancc I never read ! A perfon convinced of fin, convert- td to God, and renewed in love, within twelve hours \ Yet it is by no means incredible : feeing one day is with God as a thoufand years. Cyill. * Sunday, Nov. 24, I prcachtd in London, on thofe words in the Icflbn for the day, "Th- .'-dour figbtimjnefs, 1 f^id not one thing which 1 hav^ - ' id »t leaft, fifty times within this twelvemonth, l .., it ap- peared to many entirely new, who much in,portuned mc fo print my fcrmon, fuppofmg it ^yQuW flop tite mouth* PEOPLE CALLED METKODI^tS. 71 •f all gainfaycr.s. Alas for their fimplicity 1 In fpitc of all 1 can print, fay, or do, will not thofe yihojeek occa- fion, find occafion ? CIX. * I went into Ireland again, in the latter end of March 1762. It was my dc fire, to know the real ftatc of the work of God throughout that kingdom. And the fum of my obfervations was (after vifiting every part of it,) There is a confiderable increafe of the work of God, throughout the province of Ulfter. There i» fome increafe in Connaught, particularly in Sligo, Caf- tlebarr, and Gal way. In fome parts of Leinfter there is an increafe : but in Munfter, a land flowing with milk and honey, how amazing a change is there for the worfe, within a year or two. At fome places the god of this "world h2s>holly prevailed, and thofe who were changed, are returned as a dog to his vomit : in others, there is but a fpark of the firll love left. And in Limerick it- felf, I found only the remembrance of the fire which was kindled two years ago ! ex. In Cork fociety, I left two years before, above three hundred members. I now found one hundred and eightyfevtn. Whatoccafionedfo confiderable a decreafc? I believe the leal caufe was this: between two and three years ago T. Taylor and W. Penington went to Cork, who were zealous men and found preachers. They f«t up meetings for prayer, in feveral places, and preach- ed abroad at both ends of the city. Hearers fwiftly in- creafed. The fociety increafed : fo did the number both of the convinced aijd the converted. I went when the flame was at the height, and preached abroad at both ends of the city. More and more were ftirred up, and there was a greater awakening here than in any partoC the kingdom. But mifunderltandings crept in betweert the leaders, and between fome of the preachers. A flame of anger fuccceded the flame of love, and 1 > my were deftroyed by it. Then fome of our brethren learnt a new opinion-, and oafliQ"' * - - - i. He Spirit of God was grieved ; his blelTing was v -th-held, and of courfe the flock was fcattered. When they are convinced of their fin, and humbled "before him, then he yill return ♦ Pne i#4V CXI, ■t iiii 7« A SHORl HISTORt OF ttJtt ^l' ^^ '" *^^, ^"^"^ ^'"'^ of April, 176S, there wdi it remarkable A^ork among the children at Kin^iwodd School. One of the maftcrs fcnt mc a fhort ^cdouvx a«' toilows : Rev. and dear Sir. April -7 $75^ «' On Wedneflay the 20th, God broke in upon ouj* boys in a furprifing mjuinen A fcrious concern h^s been Obfcrvablc in 1o;t>c of tlsem for hm- timepaH.. But that night, whilethey were ii- their pnvac apartments th(j |)ower of God came upon them, even as n mip' ty rulh- mg wind, which made them cryr aloud for mercy I .,(1 night, I hope,-wiIi never be forgotten, when V>out tw^a- ty were in the utmoft diarefs. But God quickly P^okd peace tc vvajy^th^^^ f, Glalcot and T. M— . A grea. ter diiplay 01 h;n love i aevcr faw i they indeed rejoice with jov unf ;>c 'kabie. We have no need to e '^hort them topraveri foj £iie fpint of prayer runs thfo.igh the whole Ichool. While 1 am writing, the cries of the boys frorei their kveral apartments are founding in my e^ts, Therd are many ftili lying at the pool, who wait every moment to DC put m. They arc come to this, * Lord, I v ill not. I cannot reft without thy love.' Since I began to write, eight more are fct at liberty, and rejoice in God their Saviour j viz. John Coward, John Lion, John Maddern, John Boddily, John Thurgar, Charles Brown, William Higham, and Robert Hindmarfli, Their aa^ IS from eight to fourteen. There are but few that witL ftind the work, nor is it likely they (hould do it loriff* For the prayers of rhofe that believe, fcem to carry all before them. Among the colliers likewife the wofk of God now increafes greatly. The number added to thfi fociety fince the Conference, is a hundred and thirty. " I had fealed my letter, but have opened it to inforni you, that two more of our childre>i have found peaces Several others are under deep conviaion. Some of ou^ Briftol friends are here, who are thunder-ftruck Thip is the day we have wifhcd for fo long, the day > iave hdii in view, whirh has made you go through mucU oppofition, for tt . .yood of thcfe poor chiiJio- James Hi* i^ksH. # P»|« »7# QXih . gave me Iheir names, « being refoiyed, they; faidv to ferve God." On Tuef- ^l^"'^"'! ^"* ' '"*^ of prayer in the evenin^v, they were affeaedjuaas i Tuefday before.. The two other maids f^'ere then preftnt, and vers both cut to the hrarr CXyiX. Wcdiiefday 26th, " 1 rode, fays Mr. Rankin, K - ta • Joarnal, xvi. page4^. h f ts a short history of the to Kingswqpd, and going up ftairs, heard one of the. children praying m th- -xt rpom. When he rcafcd i. went in, and four ..^^ with him : juft then three, more came in. a .a .,. . j praytrr. The poyver of God Icemed to reft upon theni, and pierced their hearts with, deep, coQvjd^on. The next morning I fpcni fome time with all the children, and then deiired thofc that were rclolved to lave their fouls, to con.^ (lairs. Nine of. ^hem did fo. \yhilc I prayc.., .ae power of. God came jown, lothat my vQice was drowned by their cries.' y^hpn I concluded, one of them broke out into prayer, ia «m^;)ner that quite aftoniHied me. And diuing the who.: day, a peculiar fpirit of ferioufnefs relied on iTll. th^caildrcn, ; ^ . -.h^.^nu. ; v.A.ili. */pn Friday aSth, fays Mr. Hindmarfh, Wl^er I came out into the ground, ten of the children' qvici^Jy gathered round about me, carneftly aiVmg,What tliey mult dp to be faved ? Nor could I difengagc my- felf trom them tijl the bdl rung far dinner. All thi " t^ne w'c obferyed,tb;jt the. children who were moft alFecU Cd, iparned; fader and better than auy of; the reft. In tiC evening J explained r^ t^m the nature ofthe Lord's l"PP?r, 1 thcnmt tweivcof tihem aparti and fpoke to' l^^\^^[%'ft'^^' ^'^^" ^ ^^^^ °"« «f them. (Simon- X^y^hy What uo you vyam, tp make you haapy ?' af.' ter a lutl? paufe, he. anfwered, God. We wcntto prayer, 1 r^iiMUJy a,^ry srofc (iqm ooc id another, till it went t}}mgh 41, vehc -jitlj, ^ailing upon God, and rcfuf.na. to be.qomfort^d without the knowledge and Jove of God;' Mm ha.f^n.hour r.^^r eight, 1 bade them -ooa mghr, anu fent them ,.p to bed. But Uyd, Brown, and Ho* bert H.nclm.arfii flipt afidc^ bbing reroWcd not to lieeo 41.11 God revqaledhitnfeJf to them Some of the nit heard thenti pray, and one ai -nothcr ftole down, fome Jjalf di:eft, Ijjpie almoft nakcc t y continued , raying by turn, near three, quarter .fa.. ,our, in which tim^ iouroi^ them found peace with God. After I had ..aved yith them, and.piaifed God, till half an hour paAnine. J defired them to go to bed. The reft did ; but thof« iiiii ■ *^^^' ^"^ ^^^ ^^^^ Richard Picrcy, vho^ Will- ^^j t. jII ,k« v PEOPLE GALLED METHODISTS. 771 ^as in deep agony of foul, and would bv no means be pcrfuadcd to r.le from his knees. The children hearing: them pray, m a few minutes ran down acain. The? continued wreftHng, with Aill increaflng ponies anj tears, till.three more found peace with God About a quarter palt ten, 1 went to them again, and inf.ftcd up- on the.r going to brd, which all of them did. But qu.ckly one and another rtoie out of bed, till in a quar^ i«r of an hour they were all at prayer again And the concern among rhem was deeper Jhan f ver afw 1 a. mo e general , there being only four or fiv, and twenty! that were not cut to the heart/ However, fearing they m.ght hurt chemfelves 1 fent ,e of ot,r maid sti per- ftude them to go up. But Jacky Brown, catching hold of ,,er faid, * O Betty, feek the falvation of vour foul » ^^l rhic ^^^^l^'*°"g/^'". The two other maids hear- L! T, u "i"* ''''''* ^^""'^ prcfently feized as violent as cJ WdiV. n''''^" then began praying for Betty, and ^Lr rl ^'^^'' ""' ^^'^^ quarters of an hour. Bv" t th mnri i^^? continued till pait eleven. We then, with much r flkuIty,perfuadedthemtogotobed. The maids com ed below in much diftrefs.^ut in a quar^ terof an hour, Berty broke out into thankfgiving. ^Thc lt''A7c'TT^ °" '^''' ^"^"' praying as in\n ago^ nft il defired them to go into their own room. Yet thcy^ould not go toibed, bur continued in prayer ' fiv^hltL '??/^"''***^ I was awaked between fourand five by the children, vehemently crying to God. Th- maids wcnr. t . them at five. " And firft ?nc of the boys. Mn,?.°K -'^'^'\°"/ and another ofthp maids, pour- W?.^"" ^«"^^*;'^^Prc God, They continued weep- bol?..?;''^';;^•^'""tf '^^"'^^^^^^ notthinkin. a. !^n lT"?'u^^'"*^l ^'l> ^'^hard Piercy took n6 food 11'n^n r'17* a'l ''^"'f '"^1 '" words and groans calling 2Tr. A ^^T ?'""' ^'^'^^ w«^"t '"fo her own room! and piayed, partly alone, and partly with Betty. Abouq^ twn, (asPftty was.prapng) fbc funk down as dead. U » 78 A SHORT HISTORY OF THE But after fome minutes, while Betty was praying on,, (he ftarted up, praifing God with all her might. CXX. *♦ Mary hcarirh^ her, broke off her work, and ran in to her in hafte. They all remained, praying by turns till twelve, when flic lay like one at the point to die. But there was not any anfwer to prayer, nor any deliverance. About one, all the maids and thre« of the boys went up (lairs, and began praying again. And between two and three, Mary likcwife rejoiced with joy unfpeakable. They all continued till after four,, praifing the God of their falvation. Indeed they feem- td to have forgotten all things elfc, and thought of no- thing but God and heaven. ~ '• In the evening all the maids, and many of the boys, were fo hoarfe they were fcarcc able to fpeak. But they were ftrong in the Spirit, full of love, and of ioy>. and peace in believing. "Sunday joth. eight: of the children, and three maids, received the Lord's fuppcr, for the firft time. And hitherto they arc all rejoicing in God, and walk- ing worthy of the Gofpel.'* CXXI. Thurfday, Jan. i6, 1772, I fet out for Luton- Here I was offered the ufe of the ChWch. The froft was exceeding fiiarp, and the glafs was taken out of the windows. However, for the lake of the people, 1 ac- cepted the offer, though I might as well have preached in the open air. There wcr^ four or 6ve times as many people as ufed to cumc to the room. So 1 did not re- pent of m> labour. It, was with great difficulty thatrwo got through the deep fnow to Hertford the next day, and I found the poor children whom Mf. A—- kepii at Ichool, were increafed to about thirty boys> and shirty girls ; I went in immediately to the gids. Aliiioft aip loon as! began to fpeak, fome of themibwft into tearsy and their emotion rofe -higher and higher.. But ttwas Kept within bound* till i laegan to pray. A cry then arofe, which fpread from one to another, till almoft all crieu aigud for mercy, and would nor be comforted. But how was the fri'nc changed,when I went tothe boys! incy Ictmed as dead as iioneSi and fca -e appeared ta . mind no OI>k >tl« PEOPLE CALLED METHODISTS. 7, tnind any ihingthat was faid : nay, fome of them could ill refrain from Uughing. However, 1 fpolce on, and fct be- fore them the terrors of the Lord. Prefently one was cut to the heart : foon after, another and another ; and in ten minutes, the far greater part of them were little lefa af- fcftcd than the girls. Except at Kingswood, I have fecn no fuch work of God upon children for above thirtv years. ^ CXXIL ♦ Wednefday, June 3d, I defired to fpcak wich«thofe in Wardalc, (a valley in the county of Dur- haiiO who believed God had faved them from inward fin. They were twenty in all j ten men, eight women and two children. Of one man, and two women, I ftood in doubt. The experience of the reft was clear ; par- ticularly that of the children, Margaret Sp. aged four- teen, and Sally Bl. a year younger. Lord, let neither of thcfc live to dilhonour thee ! Rather take them un- fpotted to thyfclf ! In this part of Wardalc, the people in general are employed in the lead-mines. In the year 1740. Mr Hopper and John Brown, came and preached amons them. None oppafed, and none alked them to eat or ckink. Ncverthelefs, Mr. Hopper made them feveral more vifits. In Autumn four found peace with God and agreed to nieet together. At Chriftmas two youns men of Allendale determined to vifit Wardale. Before they entered it, they kneeled down on the fnow, and befought the Lord, that he would incline fome one to receive them into his houfe. At the firft houfc where thev- called, they were bid welcome; and they flayed there tour days. Many were convinced, and fome converted to God : one of the young men was Jacob Rowell. 1 hey made them feveral more vifits during the winter In fummer, twenty lively prople. were joined together* l^rom that time they increased rradually to thirty-five' and fo continued for ten years. They increaled by means or Samnc^l n/ffcrcrM •■« ..'^u... . l... / ^ fince funk to fifty, three. From that time they increaf. • ^"^"t'lr'^^T "^^'^ in Auguft a hundred and twenty. V^AX,11L In 5WC rcfpcftsi this Society has.»]ways been .Pa^«, peculiarly li i- ht'i i i «» A SHORT MisrORV t>F THE peculiarly remarkable : the one, they have been liber a! in providing every thing needful for the preachers : the other, they have been careful to marry with each othtrl ct and that not for the fake of money, but virtue iJr^'^f "''^ ""'^V '" ^""g'"S "P ^^'^'^^ children : and God has eminently blefled them therein. For irt njoft of then- families^ the greateft part bf their children above ten years old, are converted to God. It was ob- served too, that thb Ifeaders were upright m^cn and truly alive to God. And even when they had no preachel^ CYxTv ^';'y 7''""^ "Jsht for fmging and prayer, ' J M : ^^^ Jummer the work of God revived and gradually increafed till the end of November. Then Qod made bare his arm; Thofe who were ftrarigers td God felt as it were, a /word in their bones. Tbofe >vho knew God, were filled with joy unrpeakable. The convi^lions that fcited the unawakened, where generally •exceeding deep : fo that their cries drowned every other voice, and no other means could beufed, than the fpealc- ing to the d.ftreft, one by onei and encouraging them td ay hold on Chrvft. And this was not in vain! Many that were either oh their knees, or proftrate on the ground,fudden y ftarted up. and their very cbuntenancft ihewed, that the Comforter was come; Immediately tftele began to go about from one to another of thoft inat were ft.llin diftrefs, praying to God, and exhort- )ng them without delay to come to fo gracious a Savi. pur. Many who then appeared quire unconcerned, werS^' y^^'^ and a half old, but as fcrious as a woman of fifty. Sarah Morns, fourteen years of age, is as a mother among them" a ways ferious, al;^ays watching over the reft, and building them up in love. JlafdonZTr ""? w^^ ^"?; young men, who .were h^rinf of rh. "'^ Wed^efday in Drt^ftiber. Thef*. cunoluy. That evening fix were wounded and fell to the ground, crying aloud for mercy. One of t Jer^ was the .matter. He was no fooner qot to the placr than he dropped down himfelf, and cried as laud as anT" The other three rulh.ng on. one after another, were Aruck juft in .he fame manner. And indeed all of thr • were in fuch agonies, that manv feared they were ^ '^2: with death. But all the ten were ft.lly ddive 'ed ^^^ the meeting concluded, i^hich indeed was i.o' " \!?^''^ in the morning." " x tjll.fowr CXXyiU Iwaited a few days, befo what had lately occurred among the cK (^ ^ ^^^^ ^°^"^' wood. From the time God vifited f' .nVinen at Kings- them retained a meafure of the fe aemila(V> fevcral of grew colder and colder, till Ral- ^r of God, But they f_ J^"^^ end of Auguft. Se ^h Mcthcr* met them 'u\ ^-i,*ii#.ni fpfft\ucd. to meet in clals again, and anncare Saturday, Sept. 4th, h" four in the afterno ict- -/vrat-s.1 at© have, good rdefireir . ^on. ^iljedwith three of them, abom Jetting fins, and ap^ ^^j-^ freely confeffcd their be i r '7*' 1^ If r ' kM ■■■■7 I |: 1 :5 ive all the childrc tation then give *5cdlcd. A'" geared to be greatly jmbled. Ac a met in the fchool. During ancxhor-. firft one, then two or three were much|, j*| U A SHORT HISTORY OF THE Sf[* ^« °" "^"P^y diftreflcd ; and one of them (James Whiteftone,) in lefs than half an hour, found a clear fenfcof the lovcof God. Near feven, they came down !?«r.. ^°^^ ^" ^^*^ ^^^'^<>U and Mr. Mather afktd, «• VVhich of you will ferve God ?" They all feemed to pc thunderaruck, and ten or twelve fell down upon their knees. Mr. Mather prayed, and then James White- Jone. Immediately one and another erred out, which brought in the other boys, who feemedftruck more and more, till about thirty ^ere kneeling and praying at once. Before half paft nine, ten of them knew that they ^vere accepted in the beloved. Several more were Jrought to the birth i and all the children, but three or Jour were affc^ed more or lefs. Sunday 5th, I examined fixtecn of them who defired to partake of the Lord's fupper. Nine or ten had a clear fchff of the pardoning love of God. The othert were ful)y determined never to reft, till they could wit- pels che lame conftflion. Eighteen of the children from this time met in three bands, btfidei twelve who met in trial bands. Thefe wcre^iemarkable for their love to ciich other, as well as for fteady ferioufnefs. They met every day : bcfide which, all the children met in clafs. Thofe who found peace were, JamcsWhiteftone, Alex- ander Mather, Matthew Lowes, William Snowdon, John KnI. Charles Farr, John HamiUon, Benjamin Harris, and Edward Keil, . ^ Monday 6th, After Mr. Mather had preached ae msford, he met the children there. Prefently the fpi- nt of conviaion fell upon them, and then the fpirit of grace and fupplic^tion, till the greater part of them tvere crying together for mercy, with aloud and bitur cry. And all Mi'.s Owen's children but one, (two and twenty in number) v,cre exceedingly comforted. CXXIX, Friday jcnh, i went over to Kingswood, and enquired into the prcfent ftate of the children. I T5 haa wuikcd clofeiv with God ; pare - -1 hcavinels. Hearing in the even- got m praytr by thcmfelves in the had nor, and were ing, that they were fchoolj I went down ' . , ft . ' ^^^ "*^^ ^'^>"B v/illing todifturb miTii I itood at ihs ^mdow. Tvfo or three had gone ' PEOPLE CALLED METHODISTS. tj in firft ; then more and more, till above thirty were ga- thcred together. Such a fight, i never law before, or fiijcc : three or four Hood and' ftared as if affrighted. I he relt were all on thdr knees, pouring out their foul* before God, in a manner not eafy to be dcfcribed J?o nctimes one, fometunes more, prayed aloud : fomei^ times a cry wen: up fro;n them all: till five or fix of thein who were in doubts before, faw the clear light of \joas countenance. Saturday 1 2th, four of Mlf^ Owen's children, defired Jeave to partake of the Lord's fupper. I talked with- them ievcraUy, and found they were all ftill rejoicing in the love of God. And they confiritied the account, that ' '^^^^^"^ f^ ^'^^y ('^^ ot their whole number, who was uoaffeaed on Monday : but all the reft could then fay with confidence. Lord thou knowea that I love thee " 1 luppol.e luch a vlfitation of children, has not been known .n England thefe hundred yeirs ! In fj marvel-- lous a manner, Oiii of the mouths of babes andfuckim?s,. G<^ has perfe5ied praife. ' -^ 6 » CXXX. rucfday, June 13, 1775. I wa'-, not very well in the morning, but fuppolcd it would Iban -o oF. Jn the afternoon, the weather being e^jtremely ho?, I hy down on the grafs in Mr. Lark's orchard, at Cockhili. ims i had been accuftomed to do for forty years, uikI never remember to have been hurt by it. Onlv I never Detoreiay on my f^ce, in which pofture I fell afleep. 1 waked, a little and but a liuic out of order, and preach- ed with eafe to a multitude of people. A.-^crwards i was a good deal worfe. However the next day I went on a few nn.les to the Grange, The table was placed ftere in fuch a manner, that all the time I was preachini i_ .1 • ^ - . tr> hot, only now and then burning for a few minutes I went eariv to bed, drank a draught of treacle and wa-' lev, and applied treacle to the folcs of my feet. I lay till fcven m Thurfdav th«i 15th, and then felt confiderablv ixfttcr, ,Bat 1 fguad acarly chc fame abHruaion hi mf ,# tik; ^i ill m t<5 A SHORT HISTORY OF THE brcaft : I had a low, weak pulfc j I burned and ihWetcd ty turns, and if I veni^fed to cough, it jarred my head exceedingly. In going to Derrjr-AnviJl, I won- dered what was the matter, that I could not attend to what I was reading j no, not for three minutes together, but my thoughts were perpetually Ihifting. Yet all the time 1 was preaching in the evening, (although I ftood m the open air, with the wind^whiftling round my headV my mind was as compofed as ever. Friday i6th, in eo- mg to Lurgan, 1 was again furprifed, that I could not fix my attention on what 1 read : 'yet while I was preach, ing in the evening on the Parade, 1 found my mind per> fedly compofed; although it rained a great part of rhc timr, which did not well agree with my head. Satur- t7 ' ^J ^m7? »?"J^.^'^*^'^ *° ^'^"^ ^«^ E>r. Laws, a fen. high Fever and advifed me to lay hy." But I told him, T^iat could not be done ; as I had appointed to preach « fcveral places, and mud preach as Jong as I could 2 ri' ?! then prcfcribcd a cooiingDraughtTwith agraia ^ twoofCamphife.as my nerves wereuniverfally agitated This I took wirh nne to Tandragee : but when I came there, I was not able to preach, my underftanding being quite confuied, and my ftrength entirely gone. Yet! breathed freely, and had not the leaft thirft, nor any pam from head to foot. ^ I was now at a full ftand, whether to aim to t.ifbiu n or^o pu^^rward for Dublin. Bui my frie^It^b?? y Mg Whether i could bear lb long afournev, I went ^ #r.ght to De^rr-Aghy, a Gcntlemli'sVeat ^Jl'th/fid: .^a 111, three miles beyond Lin>«rn. Here nature funk! fai 1 tocc my bed : but I could no more turn myfdf »eifl, tnzna new-born child. My memory failed as wf as my ftrength, and well nigh 'my undeVftandrng aSJ worJs ran m my mind, when I faw M^V Gaj^^none C:dc of the bed, looking at her mother on *• She fit IJt* Pat'sncs sr. i »#.-.= 6ini>«g at Grief. • ■4t«*^S7t^ wt Ail] 1 ha^ ^ th pain from heaij m foot irlt no difEcalty ©f breathing. BV can gifc no accouat of what faUowed for two three d2>s,fe bring more dead than oy ^live. Only f re- ■% fwembcr it was difflculi 'ftgcxceedihsdrv Bi.Tl on WcdorfdaV'/it^,?,_ Wack a?a coal A'"^'°"eu?^»^■_ ">" was .h„e an J p^ ^ f,"« ^cat perl feme 1°"' ■?""■" barmno?""'^'.;'' ?'"'■-= ^ife °f the fy'mp'to^ 'abated T."" "■^' '>°"^ "^'eZmU? ''furs, and walkerl fl., • P" ""' day I fet no fr„" T "» Wday ;r„p'^'™- ti.es aLrr,^^^^ Thurfday Joth i "'"8- *" ' ^(Wrt,) miiJ, f;o"',i''"t to tht Man of JVar f„„ fronds) coming to meet us" ^^^°"; ^*i* '""'="' other ^ ^ ■ ^ *"*• <*n^^A 'WO years ^^^^^^^^^^Hr OP ^^^^^^^^^^^^HFt>ie to do as w«s ^^^^H^V'^lTVTTare continually employed in the ^^^^^■PPP^e alJ aim at one point. Tas we dw) V P kingdoms; tha ,n,)v ra.Tn„» p'r ^? 'trough the t(,r« glory of God i and on thf mLT 7 '/ " *" "> '"<= VVclcave every man m,.„; ,.,t- '"'*« our point. of God and™ NeL^bn'hVrK '"f •""''' '''"■ '*" '-""^ heart, and Ae^ hfcff f„ l''fii''r"''"^ '''''■'^'^* '" '"» of Jurtice, Mercy and T rh 4 *; '" '"'l'-^'-'" ('"^^'O the right' band^f fclovniip CO ^'r^'r^'X W give fandswhoi/itdthfrdntnT- ''";*" '"'""' '^■^'- v.\, . . , ^* "^*^y *^3r God, Co thrv honmir fU- fu^ma thcm/ches to ev.ry ordinance of man, for ihe Tor/ 'tmt%'^^^T:f:l:r:::^'!'': - ^] QNPON, November i6, i;8j A