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them, and discoursed in strong awakening words on the Jailor's question, What must I do to be saved? The Church-Wardens and others laboured in vain to interrupt me, by throwing dirt, and even money among the people. Having delivered my message, I rode to the Ferry, crossed it, and met as rough friends on the other side. The mob of North Shields waited to salute me, with the Minister at their head. He had got a man with a horn instead of a trumpet, and bid him blow, and his companions shout. Others were almost as violent in their approbation. We went through honour and dishonour; but neither of them hurt us, and by six o'clock with God's blessing we came safe to Newcastle."

June 19th. Mr. Wesley took leave of the Society at Newcastle, who parted from him with tears and many prayers. Wherever he came, he preached or exhorted as opportunity offered, and on the 22d, reached Epworth, his native place. "All who met me (says he) saluted me with hearty joy. At eight in the evening I preached in Edward Smith's yard. July 23d, waking, I found the Lord with me, even my strong helper, the God of whom cometh salvation. I preached and guarded some new converts against spiritual pride.” -The next day, June 24th, he arrived at Nottingham; and adds, "I found my brother in the market-place,* calling lost sinners to him who justifieth the ungodly. He gave notice of my preaching in the evening. At seven, many thousands attended in deep silence. Surely the Lord hath much people in this place. We began a society of nine members. June 25th, I came to Birmingham, and the next day, being Sunday, several of our persecuted brethren from Wednesbury,

See also Mr. John Wesley's Works, vol. xxviii. page 151.

came

came to me,

whom I endeavoured to comfort. I preached at eight and at one o'clock, no man forbidding me. I expounded in the evening to several thousands. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I began our Society. The number at present is thirteen."

June 27th. He set out for London, where he arrived on the evening of the 28th, having visited Oxford in his way thither. July 3d, he says, "Mr. Hall, poor moravianized Mr. Hall, met me at the chapel. Idid him honour before the people. I expounded the Gospel as usual, and strongly avowed my intolerable attachment to the Church of England. Mr. Meriton and Graves assisted at the sacrament.-July 6th, I shewed from Romans the 5th, the marks of Justification, and overturned the vain confidence of several. I strongly warned them against seducers, and found my heart knit to this people. July 8th, I. Bray came to persuade me, not to preach till the Bishops should bid me. They have not yet forbid me; but by the grace of God I shall preach the word, in season and out of season, though they and all men forbid me."-July 11th, he left London, and the day following arrived in Bristol. He stayed there only one night, and then set out for Cornwall, and on the 16th, came safe to St. Ives. July 17th, he says, "I rose and forgot that I had travelled from Newcastle. I spake with some of this loving simple people, who are as sheep in the midst of wolves. The priests stir up the people, and make their minds evil affected towards their brethren. Yet the sons of violence are much checked by the Mayor, an honest Presbyterian, whom the Lord hath aised up.

Mr. Wesley continued preaching the Gospel at St. Ives and the places adjacent, till the beginning of August. During

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During this time, he and the people passed through many difficulties and dangers, the rioters being numerous, and almost as desperate as those at Sheffield. The Mayor informed Mr. Wesley that the Ministers were the principal authors of all the mischief. In their sermons they continually represented Mr. Wesley and the preachers, as Popish Emissaries, and urged the enraged multitude to take all manner of means to stop them. While he was preaching at St. Ives on the 26th, he observes, "All was quiet, the Mayor having declared: his resolution to swear twenty more Constables, and suppress the rioters by force of arms. Their drum he had seized. All the time I was preaching he stood at a little distance to awe the rioters. He has set the whole town against him, by not giving us up to their fury. But he plainly told Mr. Hoblin, that fire and faggot Minister, that he would not be perjured to gratify any man's malice. He informed us, that he had often heard Mr. Hoblin say, they ought to drive us away by blows, not by arguments."

During the riots he one day observes, "I went to church, and heard that terrible chapter Jeremiah the 7th; enough, one would think, to make even this hardened people tremble. Never were words more applicable than those: Stand in the gate of the Lord's house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the Lord, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The TEMPLE OF THE LORD, The TEMPLE OF THE LORD, The TEMPLE OF THE LORD, are these-Behold ye trust in lying words that cannot profit. Will ye steal, murder, and

commit adultery, and swear falsely-and come and stand before me in this house? &c.

His brother having summoned him to London, to confer with the heads of the Moravians, and Calvinists, he set out on the 8th of August. "We had (says he) near three hundred miles to travel in five days. I was willing to undertake the labour for the sake of peace, though the journey was too great for us and our beasts, which we had used almost every day for three months. August 12th, hardly reached the Foundery by nine at night. Here I heard that the Moravians would not be present at the Conference. Spangenberg indeed said he would, but immediately left England. My brother was come from Newcastle; J. Nelson from Yorkshire; and I from the Land's End, for good purpose!"

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October 17th. He set out to meet his brother at Nottingham, who had escaped with his life, almost by miracle, out of the hands of the mob at Wednesbury. On the 21st, Mr. Charles Wesley observes, brother came, delivered out of the mouth of the Lions! His clothes were torn to tatters-He looked like a soldier of Christ. The mob of Wednesbury, Darlaston, and Walsal, were permitted to take and carry him about for several hours, with a full intent to murder him but his work is not yet finished, or he had been now with the souls under the Altar. October 24th, I had a blessed parting from the Society, and by night came wet and weary to Birmingham. On the 25th, was much encouraged by the patience of our brethren from Wednesbury. They pressed me to come and preach to them in the midst of the town. It was agreed between my brother and me, that if they asked me I should go. Accordingly we set out in the dark, and came to Francis Ward's, from whence my brother had

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been

been carried last Thursday night.* I found the brethren assembled, standing fast in one mind and spirit, in nothing terrified by their adversaries. The word given me for them, was, "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit yourselves like men, be strong.' Jesus was with us in the midst, and covered us with a covering of his spirit. Never was I before, in so primitive an assembly. We sang praises with courage, and could all set our seal to the truth of our Lord's saying, Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness sake. We laid us down and slept, and rose up again, for the Lord sustained us. As soon as it was light, I walked down the town and preached boldly. It was a most glorious time: our souls were satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and we longed for our Lord's coming to confess us before his Father, and before his holy angels. We now understood what it was to receive the word in much affliction, and yet with joy in the Holy Ghost.

"I took several new members into the Society; and among them, the young man whose arm had been broke, and Munchin, upon trial, the late captain of the mob. He has been constantly under the word, since he rescued my brother. I asked him what he thought of him? "Think of him, (said he) that he is a man of God, and God was on his side, when so many of us could not kill one man." We rode through the town unmolested on our way to Birmingham, where I preached. I rode on to Evesham, and found John Nelson preaching, and confirmed his word. October 27th, preached at five in the morning, then read prayers and preached twice at Quinton, and the fourth time at Evesham, with great liberty."

October

*See Mr. John Wesley's Works, vol. xxviii. page 175.

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