the very boys ran away from him, when the poor Squire persuaded them to go down to the Cock-pit and cry fire. I called, in words then first heard in that place, Repent and be converted, that your sins may may be blotted out. God struck the hard rock, and the waters gushed out. Never have I seen a people more desirous of knowing the truth, at the first hearing. I passed the evening in conference with Mr. Wardrobe ; O that all our Dissenting Ministers were like-minded, then would all dissentions cease for ever!* November 28th,

at

It is uncertain, whether Mr. Wardrobe was at this time fettled as a Diffenting Minister at Hexham. He was afterwards, however, fixed at Bathgate, in Scotland, where he laboured as a faithful Minister of Christ, till his death. He was a man of great piety, and of more liberality of mind than was commonly found among the Scotch Minifters at that time. He cultivated an acquaintance with the Methodists, and on the 22d of May 1755, preached in their house at Newcastle, to the no fmall amazement and pifpleasure of fome of his zealous countrymen. He died on the 7th of May 1756, and Mr. Adams, Minister at Falkirk, gives the following account of his death, in a letter to Mr. Gillies, "On Friday night, about ten, I witnessed Mr. Wardrobe's entrance into the joy of his Lord. But ah! who can help mourning the loss of the Church of Chrift? His amiable character gave him a distinguished weight and influence; which his Lord had given him to value, only for its fubferviency to his honour and glory. He was fuddenly taken ill on the last Lord's-day, and from the first moment believed it was for death. I went to see him on Thursday evening, and heard fome of the liveliest expreffions of triumphant faith, zeal for the glory of Chrift and the falvation of fouls, mixed with the most amiable humility and modesty. "Yet a little while," faid he, " and this mortal fhall put on immortality. Mortality shall be swallowed up of life; this vile body fashioned like to his glorious body! O for victory! I fhall get the victory! I know in whom I have believed." Then with a remarkably audible voice, lifting up his hands he cried out, “O for a draught of the well of the zvater of life, that I may begin the fong before I go off to the Church *riumphant ! go forth in thy name, making mention of thy righteaufnefs, even of thine only. I die at the feet of mercy." Then

stretching

at six, we assembled again in our Chapel, the Cockpit. I imagined myself in the Pantheon, or some Heathen Temple, and almost scrupled preaching there at first; but we found the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. His presence consecrated the place. Never have I found a greater sense of God, than while we were repeating his own prayer. I set before their eyes, Christ crucified. The rocks were melted, and gracious tears flowed. We knew not how to part. I distributed some books among them, which they received with the utmost eagerness; begging me to come again, and to send our Preachers to them.”

December 6th, He says, "I visited one of our sick children, and received her blessings and prayers. December 18th, I waked between three and four, in a temper of mind I have rarely felt on my birth-day. My joy and thankfulness continued the whole day, to

to me,

my

ftretching out his arms, he put his hand upon his head, and with the moft ferene and fteady majeftic eye, I ever faw, looking upward, he faid, "Crowns of grace, Crowns of grace, and palms in their hands! O Lord God of truth, into thy hands I commend my spirit F He fays "You that are Minifters, bear a proper teflimony against the profeffors of this age, who have a form of godliness without the power.' Obferving fome of his people about his bed. he faid, "May I have some feals among you! O where will the ungodly and finners of Bathgate appear? Labour all to be in Chrift." Then he ftretched out his hand to feveral, and faid, Farewell, Farewell, Farewell! And now, O Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee !" Once or twice he faid, "Let me be laid across the bed to expire, where I have fometimes prayed, and fometimes meditated with pleasure." He expreffed his grateful sense of the affiduous care which Mr. Wardrobe of Cult, had taken of him and on his replying, "Too much could not be done for fo valuable a life," said, "O fpeak not fo, or you will provoke God. Glory be to God, that I have ever had any regard paid me for Christ's fake. I am greatly funk under the event. O help me by your prayers, to get the proper fubmiffion and improvement.??

(one

my own astonishment-19th, called on Mr. of the friendly Clergymen) at Wickham, whose countenance was changed. He had been with the Bishop, who forbid his conversing with me. I marvelled the prohibition did not come sooner."

Towards the end of the month, Mr. Wesley quitted these cold regions of the North, and began to move southward. January 6th, 1747, he came to Grimsby, where he was saluted by a shouting mob. In the even ing he attempted to preach at the Room, but the mob was so violent he could not proceed. At length one of the rioters aimed a severe blow at Mr. Wesley, which a friend who stood near him, received. Another of them cried out, "What, you dog, do you strike a Clergyman?" and fell upon his comrade. Immediately every man's hand was against his fellow: they began fighting and beating one another, till, in a few minutes the room was cleared of all disturbers; when Mr. Wesley preached for half an hour, without further molestation. On the 9th, at Hainton, he talked separately with the members of the little Society, who were as sheep encompassed with wolves. The Minister of the place had repelled them from the sacrament, and laboured to stir up the whole town against them. It is probable they would have been worried to death, but for the chief man of the place, a professed Romanist, who hindred these good Protestants from destroying their innocent brethren.

Mr. Wesley continued his labours for the good of the people, and the propagation of Christian knowledge, in Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire, and Staffordshire, till the 8th of February, and on the 10th, he arrived safe in London.* He continued here

till

.

* See the exact correspondence between this account and Mr. John 1

Wesley's printed Journal, in his Works, vol. xxix. page 9.

till the 23d, when he again commenced his peregrina tions, in which he had new troubles and difficulties to encounter, even greater than any he had before experienced. On the 24th, he reached the Devizes in his way to Bristol, in company with Mr. Minton. They soon perceived that the enemies of religion had taken the alarm, and were tnustering their forces for the battle. They began by ringing the bells backward, and running to and fro in the streets, as lions roaring for their prey. The Curate's mob went in quest of Mr. Wesley to several places, particularly to Mr, Philips's, where it was expected he would preach. They broke open, and ransacked the house; but not finding him there, they marched off to a Mr. Rogers's, where he and several others being met together, were praying and exhorting one another to continue stedfast in the faith, and through much tribulation to enter the kingdom. The zealous Curate, Mr. Innys, stood with them in the street dancying for joy. This (says Mr. Wesley) is he, who declared in the pulpit, as well as from house to house, That he himself heard me preach blasphemy before the University, and tell them, if you do not receive the Holy Ghost while I breathe upon you, ye are all damned.' He had been about the town several days, stirring up the people, and canvassing the Gentry for their vote and interest; but could not raise a mob while my brother was here : the hour of darkness was not then fully come." What a disgrace to the Governors of any Church, that such a man as this should be supported as a Minister in it. But we may observe, that it is a general rule, with all persecutors, to make those whom they persecute, appear to the people as absurd, or as wicked as possible. To accomplish their end, persecutors give full scope to invention and suspicion; and propagate with confi

dence,

dence, such things as they imagine will answer their purpose, without wishing to bring them to the test of reason and truth. In the present instance, Mr. Innys well knew that what he asserted of Mr. Wesley, was false.

Mr. Innys, by assiduity, and falsehood boldly asserted as truth, had engaged the gentlemen of the town in his party, and prevailed with them to encourage the mob. While they beset the house where Mr. Wesley, and the company with him, were assembled, he often heard his own name mentioned, with "Bring him out, bring him out." He observes, "The little flock were less afraid than I expected; only one of our sisters fainted away."-It being now dark, the besiegers blocked up the door with a waggon, and set up lights lest Mr. Wesley should escape. One of the company however, got out unobserved, and with much entreaty prevailed on the Mayor to come down. He came with two Constables, and threatened the rioters; but so gently that no one regarded him. Having tore down the shutters of the shop, and broken the windows, it is wonderful they did not enter the house; but a secret band seemed to restrain them. After a while they hurried away to the inn, where the horses were put up, broke open the stable door, and turned out the beasts. "In the mean time, (says Mr. Wesley) we were at a loss what to do; when God put it into the heart of our next door neighbour, a Baptist, to take us through a passage into his own house, offer us his bed, and engage for our security. We accepted his kindness, and slept in peace."

February 25th, "A day never to be forgotten. At seven o'clock, I walked quietly to Mrs. Philips's, and began preaching a little before the time appointed, For three quarters of an hour, I invited a few listening sinners to Christ. Soon after, Satan's whole army as

saulted