swered, "Ay, ay:" Which was followed by fresh cursing and blaspheming. My brother coming in, she cried out, "Preacher! fieldpreacher! I don't love field-preaching." This was repeated two hours together, with spitting and all the expressions of strong aversion. We left her at twelve, but called again about noon, on Friday 26. And now it was that God shewed he heareth prayer. All her pangs ceased in a moment. She was filled with peace, and knew that the son of wickedness was departed from her. Saturday 27, I was sent for to Kinswood again, to one of those who had been so ill before. A violent rain began just as I set out, so that I was thoroughly wet in a few minutes. Just at that time, the woman (then three miles off) cried out, "Yonder comes Wesley, galloping as fast as he can." When I was come, I was quite cold and dead, and fitter for sleep than prayer. She burst out into a horrid laughter, and said, "No power, no power; no faith, no faith. She is mine. Her soul is mine. Her soul is mine. I have her, and will not let her go." We begg'd of God to increase our faith. Mean while her pangs increased more and more: so that one would have imagined, by the violence of the throes, her body must have been shattered to pieces. One who was clearly convinced this was no natural disorder, said, "I think, Satan is let loose. I fear, he will not stop here ;" and added, "I command thee, in the name of the Lord Jesus, to tell if thou hast commission to torment any other soul?" It was immediately answered, "I have: L—y C—r' and Sh Js." (Two who lived at some distance, and were then in perfect health.) 1 We betook ourselves to prayer again, and ceased not till she began about six o'clock, with a clear voice, and composed, cheerful look, "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow!" Sunday 28, I preached once more at Bradford at one in the afternoon. Notwithstanding the violent rains, more I believe than 10,000 earnestly attended to what I spoke on those solemn words, I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Returning in the evening, I called at Mrs. J—'s in Kingswood. S—y J -s and L—y C—I were there. It was scarce a quarter of an hour, before L—y C—r fell into a strange agony, and presently after, S-y J—s. The violent convulsions all over their bodies, were such as words cannot describe. Their cries and groans were too horrid to be borne; till one of them in a tone not to be expressed, said, "Where is your faith now? Come, go to prayers. I will pray with you. Our Father which art in heaven." We took the advice, from whomsoever it came, and poured our souls before God, till L—y C-r's agonies so increased, that it seemed she was in the pangs of death. But in a moment God spoke; she knew his voice, and both her body and soul were healed. We continued in prayer till near one, when S— J. voice was also changed, and she began strongly to call upon God. This she did for the greatest part of the night. In the morning we renewed our prayers, while she was crying continually, "I burn, I burn; O what shall I do? I have a fire within me. I cannot bear it. Lord Jesus! Help!" Amen, Lord Jesus! When thy time is come. Wednesday 31, I strongly inforced on those who imagine they believe and do not; As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. The power of God was in an unusual manner present at the meeting of the bands in the evening. Six or seven were deeply convinced of their unfaithfulness to God, and two filled again with his love. But poor M- W - remained as one without hope. Her soul refused comfort. She could neither pray herself nor bear to hear us. At last she cried out, "Give me the book and I will sing." She began giving out line by line, but with such an accent as art could never reach. "Why do these cares my soul divide, If thou indeed hast set me free? Here we were obliged to interrupt her: We again betook ourselves to prayer, and her heart was eased, though not set at liberty. Thursday Nov. 1. I set out and the next evening came to Reading, where a little company of us met in the evening, at which the zealous mob was so enraged, they were ready to tear the house down. Therefore I hope God has a work to do in this place. In thy time let it be fulfilled! About this time, I received a letter from the author of those reflections which I mentioned July 31. An extract of which I have subjoined: "REVEREND SIR, "As I wrote the Rules and Considerations [in No. 25, of Country Common-sense^ with an eye to Mr. Whitefield, yourself, and your opposers, from a sincere desire to do some service to Christianity, according to the imperfect notions I had at that time of the real merits of the cause; I at the same time resolved to take any opportunity that should offer for my better information. 66 'On this principle it was that I made one of your audience, Oct. 23, at Bradford. And because I thought I could form the best judgment of you and your doctrines from your sermon, I resolved to hear that first: which was the reason that, although by accident, I was at the same house, and walked two miles with you, to the place you preached at, I spoke little or nothing to you. I must confess, Sir, that the discourse you made that day, wherein you pressed your hearers, in the closest manner, and with the authority of a true minister of the Gospel, not to stop at faith only, but to add to it all virtues, and to shew forth their faith by every kind of good works, convinced me of the great wrong done you by a public report, common in people's mouths, that you preach faith without works. For that is the only ground of prejudice which any true Christian can have; and is the sense in which your adversaries would take your words, when they censure them. For that we are justified by faith only is the doctrine of Jesus Christ, the doctrine of his apostles, and the doctrine of the Church of England. I am ashamed that, after having lived twenty-nine years since my baptism into this faith, I should speak of it in the lame, unfaithful, I may false manner I have done in the paper above-mentioned! What meer dark. ness is man, when truth hideth her face from him! "Man is by nature a sinner, the child of the devil, under God's wrath, in a state of damnation. The Son of God took pity on this our misery: he made himself man, he made himself sin for us: that is, he hath borne the punishment 6f our sin, the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed. To receive this boundless mercy, this inestimable benefit, we must have faith in our benefactor, and through him in God.—But then, true faith is not a lifeless principle, as your adversaries seem to understand it. They and you mean quite another thing by faith. They mean, a bare believing, that Jesus is the Christ. You mean a living, growing, purifying principle, which is the root both of inward and outward holiness; both of purity and good works; without which no man can have faith, at least no other than a dead faith. "This, Sir, you explained in your sermon at Bradford, Sunday, Oct. 28, to near ten thousand people, who all stood to hear you with awful silence and great attention. I have since reflected how much good the clergy might do, if, instead of shunning, they would come to hear and converse with you; and in their churches and parishes, would farther inforce those Catholic doctrines which you preach; and which I am glad to see have such a surprising good effect, on great numbers of souls. "I think indeed, too many clergymen are culpable, in that they do not inform themselves better of Mr. Whitefield, yourself, and your doctrines, from your own mouths: I am persuaded, if they did this with a Christian spirit, the differences between you would soon be at an end. Nay, I think, those whose flocks resort so much to hear you, ought to do it out of their pastoral duty to them: that if you preach good doctrine, they may edify them, on the impressions so visibly made by your sermons, or if evil, they may reclaim them from error. "I shall conclude this letter with putting you in mind, in all your sermons, writings, and practices, nakedly to follow the naked Jesus: I mean, to preach the pure doctrine of the Gospel without respect of persons or things. Many preachers, many reformers, many missionaries, have fallen by not observing this; by not having continually in mind, Whoever shall break the least of these commandments, and teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven." END OF VOL. FIRST. CONFERENCE-OFFICE, 14, CITY-ROAD; JOHN JONES, AGENT. a JL |