وو Friday morning the Captain sent us word, "He must wait for General Montague." So in the afternoon I rode over to the Skirries, where the packet lay. But before I came thither, the wind, which was fair before, shifted to the east, and blew a storm. I saw the hand of God, and after resting a while, rode cheerfully back to Dublin. It being the watch-night, I came just in time to spend a comfortable hour with the congregation. O how good it is to have no choice of our own, but to leave all things to the will of God! Sat. 23. The Captain of the Chester ship sent word, "The General would not go, and he would sail the next morning." So we have one day more to spend in Ireland. Let us "live this day as if it were our last! Sun. 24. At seven I took leave of my friends, and about noon embarked in the Nonpareil for Chester. We had forty or fifty passengers on board, half of whom were cabin passengers. I was afraid we should have an uneasy time, in the midst of such a crowd of gentry. We sailed out with a fair wind, but at four in the afternoon it failed, and left us in a dead calm. I then made the gentlemen an offer of preaching, which they thankfully accepted. While I was preaching the wind sprung up fair; but the next day we were becalmed again. In the afternoon they desired me to give them another sermon, and again the wind sprung up while I was speaking, and continued till, about noon, on Tuesday, we landed at Parkgate. Being in haste, I would not stay for my own horse, which I found could not land till low water. So I bought one, and having hired another, set forward without delay. We reached Whitchurch that evening. Wed. 27. We breakfasted at Newport, where, finding our horses begin to fail, we thought it best to take the Birmingham road, that, if they should fail us altogether, we might stay among our friends. But they would go no farther than Wolverhampton; so we hired fresh horses there, and immediately set out for Worcester. But one of them soon after fell, and gave me such a shock, (though I did not quit my seat,) that I was seized with a violent bleeding at the nose, which nothing we could apply would stop. So we were obliged to go a foot pace for two miles, and then stay at Broadwater. Thur. 28. Soon after we set out the other horse fell lame. An honest man, at Worcester, found this was owing to a bad shoe. A smith cured this by a new shoe; but at the same time, by paring the hoof too close, he effectually lamed the other foot, so that we had hard work to reach Gloucestershire. After resting here awhile, we pushed on to Newport; where I took a chaise, and reached Bristol before eleven. I spent the two following days with the Preachers, who had been waiting for me all the week; and their love and unanimity was such as soon made me forget all my labour. Monday, September 1. I set out for Cornwall, preaching at Shepton, Middlesey, and Tiverton, in the way. Wed. 3. I reached Launceston, and found the small remains of a dead, scattered Society; and no wonder, as they have had scarce any discipline, and only one sermon in a fortnight. On Friday, the 5th, I found just such another Society at Camelford; but their deadness here was owing to bitterness against each other. In the morning I heard the contending parties face to face; and they resolved and promised on all sides, to let past things be forgotten. how few have learned to forgive one another, as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven us?" 66 O Sat. 6. We had an exceeding lively congregation in the evening at Trewalder. Indeed all the Society stands well, and adorns the doctrine of God our Saviour. 66 Sun. 7. At eight I preached again, and was much comforted. I then rode to Port-Isaac church, and had the satisfaction of hearing an excellent sermon. After service I preached at a small distance from the church, to a numerous congregation; and to a far more numerous one in the town, at five in the afternoon. In examining this Society, I found much reason to bless God on their behalf. They diligently observe all the Rules of the Society, with or without a Preacher. They constantly attend the church and Sacrament, and meet together at the times appointed. The consequence is, that thirty out of thirty-five, their whole number, continue to walk in the light of God's countenance. Mon. 8. A gentleman followed me to my inn, at St. Colomb's, and carried me to his house, where were three or four more as friendly as himself. One of them rode with me seven or eight miles, and gave me a pleasing account of two young Clergymen, Mr. C- and Mr. Phelps, who had the care of three adjoining parishes. Surely God has a favour for the people of these parts! He gives them so serious, zealous, lively Ministers. By these and the Methodists together, the line is now laid, with no inconsiderable interruption, all along the north sea, from the eastern point of Cornwall to the Land's End. In a while, I trust, there will be no more cause on these coasts to accuse Britannos hospitibus feros. The congregation at St. Agnes, in the evening, was, I suppose, double to that at Port-Isaac. We had near as many on Tuesday, the 9th, at five in the morning, as the preaching-house could contain. Afterward I examined the Society, and was surprised and grieved to find, that out of ninety-eight persons, all but three or four had forsaken the Lord's Table. I told them my thoughts very plain; they seemed convinced, and promised no more to give place to the Devil. Wed. 10. I had much conversation with Mr. Phelps, a man of a humble, loving, tender spirit. Between him on the one hand, and the Methodists on the other, most in the parish are now awakened. Let but our brethren have zeal according to knowledge, and few will escape both. When I came to St. Ives, I was determined to preach abroad, but the wind was so high, I could not stand where I had intended; but we found a little inclosure near it, one end of which was native rock, rising ten or twelve feet perpendicular, from which the ground fell with an easy descent. A jetting out of the rock, about four feet from the ground, gave me a very convenient pulpit. Here well nigh the whole town, high and low, rich and poor, assembled together; nor was there a word to be heard, or a smile seen, from one end of the congregation to the other. It was just the same the three following evenings. Indeed I was afraid on Saturday, that the roaring of the sea, raised by the north wind, would have prevented their hearing; but God gave me so clear and strong a voice, that I believe scarce one word was lost. Sun. 14. At eight I chose a large ground, the sloping side of a meadow, where the congregation stood, row above row, so that all might see as well as hear. It was a beautiful sight. Every one seemed to take to himself what was spoken. I believe every backslider in the town was there; and surely God was there to heal their backslidings. I began at Zennor, as soon as the church service ended; I suppose scarce six persons went away. Seeing many there who did once run well, I addressed myself to them in particular. The spirit of mourning was soon poured out, and some of them wept bitterly. O that the Lord may yet return unto them, and leave a blessing behind him!" At five I went once more into the ground at St. Ives, and found such a congregation as, I think, was never seen in any place before (Gwenap excepted) in this county. Some of the chief of the town were now not in the skirts, but in the thickest of the people. The clear sky, the setting sun, the smooth still water, all agreed with the state of the audience. Is any thing too hard for God? May we not well say, in every sense,— "Thou dost the raging sea controul, And smooth the prospect of the deep; Mon. 15. I inquired concerning the uncommon storm which was here on March the 9th, the last year. It began near the Land's-End, between nine and ten at night, and went eastward, not above a mile broad, over St. Just, Morva, Zennor, St. Ives, and Gwinnear, whence it turned northward over the sea. It uncovered all the houses in its way, and was accompanied with impetuous rain. About a mile south-east from St. Ives, it tore up a rock, twelve or fourteen tons' weight, from the top of a rising ground, and whirled it down upon another, which it split through, and at the same time dashed itself in pieces. It broke down the pinnacles of Gwinnear church, which forced their way through the roof; and it was remarkable, the rain which attended it, was as salt as any sea-water. At one I preached in Maddern parish, and then rode to St. Just. I have not seen such a congregation here for twice seven years. Abundance of backsliders being present, I chiefly applied to them. Some of them smiled at first, but it was not long before their mirth was turned into mourning; and I believe few, if any, went away without a witness from God, that He willeth not the death of a sinner." Tues. 16. At five the room was near full; power of God was in the midst of them. and the great It was now accompanied with one unusual effect; the mouth of those whom it most affected, was literally stopped. Several of them came to me and could not speak one word: very few could utter three sentences. I re-joined to the Society ten or eleven backsliders, and added some new members. Here (as at Port-Isaac, St. Agnes, and St. Ives) we are called to thankfulness, and at most other places to patience. All the day it blew a storm; and in the evening, though the rain ceased, the furious wind continued. I ordered all the windows of the preaching-house to be set open, so that most could hear without as well as within. I 66 preached, on, He will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoaking flax." And again God applied his word, both to wound, and to heal them that were already wounded. About this time I wrote the following letter: To the Editor of the London Chronicle. SIR, Sept. 17, 1760. As you sometimes insert things of a religious nature in your paper, I shall count it a favour, if you will insert this. Some years ago I published "A Letter to Mr. Law," and about the same time, "An Address to the Clergy." Of the former Mr. Law gives the following account, in his Collection of Letters," lately published: 66 "To answer Mr. Wesley's letter seems to be quite needless, because there is nothing substantial or properly argumentative in it. I was once a kind of oracle to Mr. W. I judged him to be much under the power of his own spirit. To this was owing the false censure which he published against the Mystics, as enemies to good works, p. 128, 130. His letter is such a juvenile composition of emptiness and pertness, as is below the character of any man, who had been serious in religion for half a month. It was not ability, but necessity, that put his pen into his hand. He had preached much against my books, and forbid his people the use of them; and for a cover for all this, he promised, from time to time, to write against them; therefore an answer was to be made at all adventures. He and the Pope conceive the same reasons for condemning the mystery revealed by Jacob Behme. p. 190." "The Pamphlet Of the latter he gives this account: -- |