AN

EXTRACT

OF THE

REV. JOHN WESLEY'S

JOURNAL,

No. VII.

FROM NOVEMBER 25, 1746, TO JULY 20, 1749.

TUESDAY, Nov. 25, 1746, I laboured much to convince one, who had known me for several years, that she had left her first love, and was in the utmost danger of losing the things which she had wrought. But she was proof against argument as well as persuasion, and very civilly renounced all fellowship with me, "Because (she said) I was disaffected to the Government!" O! what will not those either believe or assert, who are resolved to defend a desperate cause!

Sunday 30, John Jones (late a zealous Calvinist) preached, for the first time, at the Foundery. I trust he will never rest, till He who died for all, hath cleansed him from all unrighteousness.

Thursday, December 4, I mentioned to the society my design of giving physic to the poor. About thirty came the next day and in three weeks, about three hundred. This we continued for several years, till the number of patients still increasing, the expence was greater than we could bear. Mean time, through the blessing of God, many who had

been ill for months or years, were restored to perfect health.

Monday 15: Most of this week I spent at Lewisham, in writing Lessons for Children: consisting of the most practical Scriptures, with a very few, short, explanatory Notes. Saturday 20, I had a visit from Mr. Bland, an accurate master of the Hebrew Tongue: but how exceeding far from the judgment of Mr. Hutchinson! He avers, (and thinks he has demonstrated, in a tract on that head, lately published, that both the vowel and accent points are absolutely essential to the Hebrew Language; and that they are far elder than Ezra, yea co-eval with the giving of the law on Mount Sinai.

Monday 29, I resumed my vegetable diet, (which I had now discontinued for several years,) and found it of use both to my soul and body. But after two years, a violent flux which seized me in Ireland, obliged me to return to the use of animal food.

Wednesday 31, I heard an amazing instance of the providence of God. About six years ago, Mr. Jebner (as he related it himself) and all his family, being eight persons, were in bed, between ten and eleven at night. On a sudden he heard a great crack, and the house instantly fell, all at once, from the top to the bottom. They were all buried in the ruins. Abundance of people gathered together, and in two or three hours dug them out. The beds in which they had lain, were mashed in pieces, as well as all the furniture of the house. But neither man, woman, nor child, was killed or hurt. Only he had a little scratch on his hand. Saturday, January 3, 1747, I called upon poor Mr. C., who once largely tasted of the good word and of the powers of the world to come. I found him very loving,-and very drunk, as he commonly is, day and night. But I could fix nothing upon him. "He may fall foully; but not finally!”

Sunday 11, In the evening I rode to Brentford; the next day to Newbury; and Tuesday 13, to the Devizes. The town was in an uproar from end to end, as if the French were just entering: and abundance of swelling words we heard, oaths, curses, and threatenings. The most active

man in stirring up the people, we were informed, was Mr. J., the C.; he had been indefatigable in the work, going all the day from house to house. He had also been at the pains of setting up an advertisement in the most public places of the town, "Of an Obnubilative, Pantomime Entertainment, to be exhibited at Mr. Clarks," (where I was to preach.) The latter part of it contained a kind of double entendre, which a modest person cannot well repeat. I began preaching at seven, on The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Many of the mob came in, listened a little, and stood still. No one opened his mouth, but attention sat on the face of every hearer.

Wednesday 14, I rode on to Bristol, and spent a week in great peace.

Thursday 22, About half an hour after twelve I took horse for Wick, where I had appointed to preach at three. I was riding by the wall through St. Nicholas' gate, (my horse having been brought to the house where I dined, ) just as a cart turned short from St. Nicholas' street, and came swiftly down the hill. There was just room to pass between the wheel of it and the wall; but that space was taken up by the car-man. I called to him to go back, or I must ride over him. But the man, as if deaf, walked straight forward. This obliged me to hold back my horse. In the meantime, the shaft of the cart came full against his shoulder, with such a shock as beat him to the ground. He shot me forward over his head, as an arrow out of a bow, where I lay, with my arms and legs, I know not how, stretched out in a line, close to the wall. The wheel ran by, close to my side, but only dirtied my clothes. I found no flutter of spirit, but the same composure as if I had been sitting in my study. When the cart was gone, I rose. Abundance of people gathered round, till a gentleman desired me to step into his shop. After cleaning myself a little, I took horse again, and was at Wick by the time appointed.

I returned to Bristol (where the report of my being killed. had spread far and wide) time enough to praise God in the great congregation, and to preach, on Thou, Lord, shalt save

both man and beast. My shoulders, hands, side, and both my legs, were a little bruised; my knees something more, my right thigh the most, which made it a little difficult to me to walk. But some warm treacle took away all the pain in an hour, and the lameness in a day or two.

After visiting the little societies in Somersetshire and Wiltshire, on Thursday 29, I preached at Bearfield in my way, and thence rode on to the Devizes; I found much pains had been taken again, to raise a mòb: but it was lost labour, All that could be mustered were a few straggling soldiers, and forty or fifty boys. Notwithstanding these, I preached, in great peace, on All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. In the morning, January 30, I explained and applied, He healeth them that are broken in heart, We then took horse, in the midst of a quiet, civil multitude, and the next afternoon came to London.

Monday, February 2, I began examining the classes. Having desired the Leaders, such as had leisure, to give me a short account in writing of those under their care, among many others, I received the following note:

"DEAR SIR,

"I hope my class are bending one way. But it seems to me, we all want advice that is plain and cutting, and awakening and shaking, and hastening us, like that of the angel, Escape for thy life. Look not behind thee, neither tarry thou in all the plain. I find the Lord often waking me as with thunder. Yet I find a spirit of stillness and lukewarmness to cleave to me like the skin to my flesh. The Lord shews me, at times, how insensibly it steals upon me, and makes me tremble, because I have not been fearing always. May he give us to feel the true state of our souls! Which, I hope, will ever be the prayer of

"Your unworthy Son in the Gospel, "JOHN HAGUE." Ye who loved and profited by this man of God, when he was alive, hear what being dead he yet speaketh.

Tuesday 10, My brother returned from the north, and I prepared to supply his place there. Sunday 15, I was very

weak and faint. But on Monday 16, I rose soon after three, lively and strong, and found all my complaints were fled away like a dream.

I was wondering the day before at the mildness of the weather, such as seldom attends me in my journies. But my wonder now ceased: the wind was turned full north, and blew so exceedingly hard and keen, that when we came to Hatfield, neither my companions nor I had much use of our hands or feet. After resting an hour, we bore up again, through the wind and snow, which drove full in our faces. But this was only a squall. In Baldock Field the storm be gan in earnest. The large hail drove so vehemently in our faces, that we could not see, nor hardly breathe. However, before two o'clock we reached Baldock, where one met and conducted us safe to Potten.

About six I preached to a serious congregation. Tuesday 17, we set out as soon as it was well light. But it was really hard work to get forward. For the frost would not well bear or break. And the untracked snow covering all the roads, we had much ado to keep our horses on their feet. Mean time the wind rose higher and higher, till it was ready to overturn both man and beast. However, after a short bait at Bugden we pushed on, and were met in the middle of an open field, with so violent a storm of rain and hail, as we had not had before. It drove through our coats, great and small, boots, and every thing, and yet froze as it fell, even upon our eyebrows so that we had scarce either strength or motion left, when we came into our inn at Stilton.

We now gave up our hopes of reaching Grantham, the snow falling faster and faster. However, we took the advantage of a fair blast to set out, and made the best of our way to Stamford Heath. But here a new difficulty arose, from the snow lying in large drifts. Sometimes horse and man were well nigh swallowed up. Yet in less than an hour we were brought safe to Stamford. Being willing to get as far as we could, we made but a short stop here; and about sun-set came, cold and weary, yet well, to a little town called Brig-casterton.