AUG. 1, Mon. - Having, with a few select friends, weighed the matter thoroughly, I yielded to their judgement, and set apart three of our well-tried preachers, John Pawson, Thomas Hanby, and Joseph Taylor, to minister in Scotland;[1] and I trust God will bless their ministrations, and show that He has sent them.

 

AUG. 1, Monday

 

4 Prayed, ordained three; 6 Conf[erence]; 8 tea, writ Conf[erence]; 9 Conf[erence], letters; 1 dinner; 2 Conf[erence]; 4 letters; 5 tea, prayed; 6.30 Mr. Collins, within, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Tuesday 2

 

4 Prayed, ordained; 6 Conf[erence]; 8 tea, Conf[erence]; 12 writ narra­tive; 1 dinner, conversed; 2 Conf[erence], within; 5 tea, con­versed, prayed; 6.30 Eph. iii. 14, etc., the leaders, supper, conversed, prayer: 9.30.

 

Wed. 3. - Our peaceful Conference ended, the God of power having presided over all our consultations.

 

Sun. 7.[2] - After preaching in the morning at West Street, and in the afternoon at the new chapel, I took a solemn leave of the society, and on Monday the 8th went in the diligence to Portsmouth Common. Here I found a lively, and consequently an increasing, society.

 

Tues. 9. - I crossed over to the Isle of Wight. Here also the work of God prospers. We had a comfortable time at Newport, where is a very teachable though uncommonly elegant congregation.

 

Wednesday 3

 

4 Prayed, conversed; 6 Conf [erence]; 8 tea, conversed; 9 communion; letters; 12 Hi[gh]b[ury] Place; 2 dinner, within; 3 Mag. ; 5 prayed,  tea, Mag.; 8 walk; 8.30 supper, conversed, prayer; 10.

 

Thursday 4

 

4.30 Prayed, Mag.; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, accounts; 10 walk; 10.45 at home, on business; 12.30 coach; 2 Bal[h]am, garden; 3 dinner, conversed; 4 Mag., prayed; 6 tea, conversed, Mag., garden, conversed; 8.15 supper, conversed, prayer; 10.

 

Friday 5

 

4 Prayed, Mag.; 8 prayer, tea, conversed, Mag.; 10 Charles; 11.30 writ narrative; 1 prayer, dinner, conversed; 3 visited, letter, prayed; 5 tea, prayer, prayed; 6 Committee; 8 supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Saturday 6

 

4 Prayed, Mag.; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, corrected Mag., letters; 1.15 dinner, conversed, prayer; 2.30 on business, prayed, coach; 5 at Mr. Col[lins], tea, conversed, prayed; 6 prayers, Heb. ix. 14! communion; 8 supper, conversed, Pen[ry], on business; 9.30.

 

Sunday 7

 

4 Prayed, Mag., letter, coach, Chapel; 9.30 prayers, Lu. xviii. 10! communion; 1 dinner, conversed, prayer; 2.30 sleep, letter; 5 prayers, Heb. x. 19! society, on business, supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Monday 8

 

4  Prayed, tea; 5 walk; 5.30 Dil [igence], Kingston, tea, Dil [igence], read, together; 1.45 Liphook, dinner; 2.30 Dil [igence], read [-] together; 6.15 The Common; 6.30 tea, I Pet. i 24, Supper, conversed   prayer; 9.30.

 

Tuesday 9

 

4  Prayed, Rom. xiii. 11, prayers; writ narrative; 7 tea, conversed; 8 boat 10.30 Wootton-bridge, chaise; 11.30 within; 12 read Walsh; 2 dinner, conversed; 2.30 read; 4 Fisher, prayed, tea, conversed 6.30 Matt. viii. 13! society, Supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Wed. 10. -We took a walk to the poor remains of Caris­brooke Castle. It seems to have been once exceeding strong, standing on a steep ascent. But even what little of it is left is now swiftly running to ruin. The window, indeed, through which King Charles attempted to make his escape is still in being; and brought to my mind that whole train of occurrences, wherein the hand of God was so eminently seen.

 

Thur. 11. -About noon I preached in a little court in the town of Portsmouth. The people were all attention; so there was a much larger congregation in the evening, in St. George’s Square. Surely, after all the stumbling-blocks which have been thrown in the way, God will have many souls in this place.

 

Fri. 12. -I preached at Winchester; and on Saturday the 13th went on to Salisbury. As Captain Webb had just been there, I endeavoured to avail myself of the fire which he seldom fails to kindle. The congregation in the evening was very large, and seemed to be deeply affected. So they did again

 

Wednesday 10

 

4 Prayed, 1 Cor. x. 12! walk, the Castle [Carisbrooke]; 8 tea, conversed, prayer; 9 sermon [cipher] *; 12 garden; 1 dinner, conversed, prayer; 2.30 within, coach, garden; 5 read narrative, prayed; 5.15 tea, conversed, prayed; 6.15 Matt. ix. 5, society, supper, converted, prayer; 9.30.

 

Thursday 11

 

4 Prayed, Lu. xx. 34, on business, tea, prayer; 7.15 chaise; 9 boat; 11 at home, on business; 12 2 Cor. vi. 2! at brother Webb’s, garden, dinner, conversed, prayer; 3.30 read, prayed; 5 tea, prayed; 6.30 Rev. xx. I2! society, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Friday 12

 

4 Prayed, Isai. Lvii.1, 2, letter, tea; 7 chaise; 9 Wickam [Wykeham, the birthplace of the founder of Winchester College], tea; 9.15 chaise; 12 Winton, writ narrative; 1.15 dinner, conversed; 2.15 letter, read Jo. Wal[sh], prayed; 4 walk, visited, tea; 6.30 Matt. xxii. 27; 9 supper, prayer; 9.45.

 

Saturday 13

 

4 Prayed, Matt. xxii. 35, letter, tea, prayer; 6.45 chaise, tea, chaise; 12.30 Sarum; 1 writ narrative; 2 dinner, letter, prayed, tea, within, prayed, Walsh; 7 Jo. v. 8, supper, prayer, on business; 10.

 

at eight on Sunday morning; but I believe the greatest blessing was in the evening; particularly during the prayer, wherein God was pleased to move many in an uncommon manner.[3]

 

Mon. 15. -I preached in Shaftesbury at nine, to such a congregation as I had not seen there before. I was glad to see among them the gentleman who, thirty years ago,[4] sent his officer to discharge me from preaching in his borough. About two I preached at Castle Cary to as many as could well hear; and I believe there were very few who did not feel that God was with us. In the evening I preached at Shepton Mallet, but the house would not near contain the congregation. For many years this society was remarkably dead, but it is now one of the liveliest in England.

 

Sunday 14

 

4 Prayed, letters, tea; 8 Heb. ii. 3! Walsh; 10.30 prayers, communion; 1 dinner, Walsh; 4 Walsh, prayed, tea; 5.30 Rev. xx. I, etc., society, Walsh; 8.30 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Monday 15

 

4 Prayed, tea; 4.45 chaise, with Mr. Green; 8 Shaston [a local name for Shaftesbury], tea, within; 8.45 Mic. ii. 10! 10 chaise; 12.45 Castle Carr, writ narrative; I Psa. cxlvii. 3, dinner, conversed; 2.45 chaise, Shepton, visited, tea, prayed, Lu. xii. 7! supper, prayer; 9.15.

 

Tues. 16. -We went on to Taunton, where I expected little good. But I was agreeably disappointed; the house was thoroughly filled. A solemn awe sat upon the whole congrega­tion, and God spoke to their hearts. The house was nearly filled at five in the morning-a sight never seen here before.

 

Wed. 17. -Cullompton house[5] was more than filled, many being constrained to go away; and I found uncommon liberty of speech here, as well as at Exeter in the evening.

 

Thur. 18.-I had a pleasant journey to Plymouth Dock, the rain having but just laid the dust. The late separation here seems to have done little hurt.[6] A few turbulent men have left us, but men of a more quiet spirit are continually added in their stead; so that, on the whole, we are gainers by our loss. Such is the wisdom of God!

 

Fri. 19.[7] - In the evening I preached in the new house at Plymouth. This also was well filled.

 

Tuesday 16

 

4 Prayed, Psa. cvi. 34! Tea; 7 chaise; 10.30 tea; 11.30 chaise; 1.30 Taunton, dinner, conversed, texts; 4 prayed, tea, Walsh; 6.15 Heb. vii. 25! 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Wednesday 17

 

4 Prayed, Eph. iv. 1-5, Walsh, tea, prayer; 7 chaise; 11 Collum[pto]n Walsh; 12 Col. i. 10! dinner; 2 chaise; 4 Exon, prayed, tea; 6.30 I Cor. xiii. I, etc., at Mr. Moxy, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Thursday 18

 

4 Prayed, tea; .4.30 chaise, Ashburton, tea, conversed, prayer, chaise; 12 Ivy bridge, within, dinner; 1.30 chaise; 4 The Dock, letter, prayed, tea; 6.30 Isai. lix.1, 2! within, supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Friday 19

 

4 Prayed, Isa. Ivii. 1, 2, letters; 10 Journal; 12 prayers, Journal; 1.30 dinner, conversed; 2 prayer, letters, prayed; 4 walk, Plym[outh], tea, read, prayed; 6.30 Eph. v. I4! 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Sun. 21.-I preached at the Dock at seven, and the house contained us pretty well; but in the evening it was thought as many went away as got in. After preaching, I gave them a plain account of the beginning and progress of that great work of God, vulgarly called Methodism.

 

Mon. 22. -I took a cheerful leave of our brethren at the Dock, leaving them well united together; and on the following days preached at Liskeard, St. Austell, Sticker (a new place near it), Helston, Marazion, and Penzance.

 

Thur. 25. -About nine I preached at Mousehole, where there is now one of the liveliest societies in Cornwall. Hence

 

Saturday 20

 

4 Prayed, Eph. iii. 14! Walsh; 7 tea, conversed, prayer, visited, walk; 10.30 Dock, Walsh; 1.15 dinner, conversed, prayer; 3 Walsh; 5 tea, conversed, prayed; 6.30 I Cor. xiii. 8, writ narrative, supper, con­versed, prayer, on business; 10.

 

Sunday 21

 

4 Prayed, letter; 72 Cor. iii. 18! tea, conversed, chaise, Plym[outh], Walsh; 10.30 prayers; 1 dinner, 1.30 Gal. iii. 22! Visited; 4 sleep, prayed; 5 tea, conversed, Lu. x. 34; 7.30 society, within, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Monday 22

 

On business, prayed, tea; 4.15 chaise; 9 Liscard, tea, Acts xvi. 31, chaise; 2 St. Austel[l], dinner, conversed, Walsh, letter, prayed; 6 Gal. vi. 15; 7 society, within, supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Tuesday 23

 

4 Prayed, Mag., tea, prayer, chaise; 9 Stick[er], Mark i. 15! Chaise; 12 Truro, I Pet. iv. 18! dinner, within; 2.30 chaise; 4.30 Penryn; 5 tea, conversed, prayed; 6 Job xxii. 21, society, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30

 

Wednesday 24

 

4 Prayed, Job vii. 18! letter; 8 tea, conversed, prayer; 8.45 chaise; 10.45 Helston, within; 12 2 Tim. iii. 5! dinner, conversed, prayer; 2.30 chaise; 4 Maraz[ion], Job xxviii. 28; 5 chaise, Penza[nce]; 6 Dan. ix. 24! society, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Thursday 25

 

4 Prayed, 2 Jo. 8, letter, tea, chaise; 8.30 Mousehole, tea, Heb. vi. I! 10.30 chaise, Land’s End! 2.15 St. Just, dinner, letter, within, tea; 5 [-], prayed; 6 John v. 8, society, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

we went to the Land’s End, in order to which we clambered down the rocks, to the very edge of the water; and I cannot think but the sea has gained some hundred yards since I was here forty years ago.[8] In the evening I preached at St. Just, where are still many of our eldest brethren, although many are gone to Abraham’s bosom.

 

Fri. 26. -In the evening I preached in the market-place at St. Ives,[9] to almost the whole town. This was the first place in Cornwall where we preached, and where Satan fought fiercely for his kingdom; but now all is peace. I found old John Nance had rested from his labours. Some months since, sitting behind the preacher, in the pulpit, he sunk down, was carried out, and fell asleep![10] 

 

Friday 26

 

4 Prayed, Mal. iii. 1, tea, prayer; 6.45 chaise, visited; 8.30 tea, conversed, prayer; 9.15 chaise; 10.30 St. Ives, Walsh; 11 prayers; 12 Walsh; 1 dinner, conversed, prayer; 2 visited; 3 Walsh; 4 prayed, tea; 6 Isa. lxvi. 8, society, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Sat. 27.[11]-About nine I preached at the copper-works,[12] near the Hayle, in the new preaching-house. I suppose such another is not in England, nor in Europe, nor in the world. It is round, and all the walls are brass that is, brazen slags. It seems nothing can destroy this, till heaven and earth pass away.

 

At two the stewards of all the societies met at Redruth.[13] There is nothing but peace and love among them, and among the societies from whence they came; and yet no great increase! At our love feast in the evening several of our friends declared how God had saved them from inbred sin, with such exactness, both of sentiment and language, as clearly showed they were taught of God.

 

Sun. 28. -At half-past eight I preached at St. Agnes to the largest congregation I ever saw there. Between one and two I preached in the street at Redruth to thousands upon thousands; and my strength was as my need. Yet I was afraid lest I should not be able to make all those hear that assembled in the evening.

 

Saturday 27

 

4 Prayed, Eph. iv. 1-7, walk, chaise; 7 Cop[per Works], tea, I John v. 19, chaise; 12 Redru[th], letters; 1 dinner, the Stewards; 4 in talk; 4.30 prayed, tea; 6 I Pet. iv. 7! lovefeast, supper, conversed, prayer; 10.

 

Sunday 28

 

4 Prayed, sleep, letters, tea, chaise; 8 St. Agnes, tea; 8.30 Matt. viii. 13! chaise; 10.30 letters; 12.30 dinner; 1.30 Matt. xxii. 21! letters, prayed, tea; 4.15 chaise; 5 Jo. iv. 24! society, visited; 8 supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

But, though it was supposed there were two or three thousand more than ever were there before, yet they heard (I was afterwards informed) to the very skirts of the congregation, while I applied those solemn words, ‘One thing is needful.’[14]

 

Wed. 31. -I preached at Launceston, SEPTEMBER 1, in the market-place at Tiverton; and on Friday the 2nd opened the little preaching-house at Wellington. At noon I preached in an ancient, venerable building, once belonging to a Lord Chief Justice. It is oddly called Cathanger.[15] Having a stupid

 

Monday 29

 

4 Prayed, chaise; 5 Kerl[e]y, tea, 2 Cor. v. I, etc., chaise; 9 Indian Queen, I Cor. i. 30, chaise; 2 Port Isaac, dinner, letters, prayed; 6 Heb. ii. 3, society, supper, on business, prayer; 9.15.

 

Tuesday 30

 

 Prayed, Lu. xx. 34, letters; 7.30, tea, conversed, letter, Mag.; 11chaise; 1 visited, dinner, communion! 2.45 chaise; 4 Camelf[ord], writ narrative, tea; 5 prayed; 6 I Cor. xiii. 1-3, society, supper, 

 

        con­versed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Wednesday 31

 

4 Prayed, letter; 8 tea, conversed, accounts; 11 Matt. xii. 43! dinner, prayer; 1.15 chaise; 4 Launc[ eston], prayed, tea; 6 I Kings xix. 9! within to many, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

---

 

[1] See Stamp’s orphan House, p. 93, also facsimiles of Wesley’s ordinations. For further information respecting the ordinations see Dr. Simon’s article, W.H.S. vol. ix. p.145; Jackson’s life of C. Wesley, vol. ii. P. 382; E.M.P vol. i. P. 221; Telford’s Life of John Wesley, pp. 297, 307, 383; also below, pp. 307, 421.

 

[2] He wrote from London to Mr. John Ogilvie (Works, vol. xii. p. 527).     

 

[3] On August 14 Fletcher died at Madeley. In Perronet Wesley lost his oldest friend; but Fletcher was by far the more valuable counsellor and helper. Tyerman’s testimony (Life of Wesley, vol. iii. p. 463) is strictly and literally true:

 

 No man had rendered to Methodism and its founder the service that the vicar of Madeley had. Compared with the vicar of Shoreham he was young, but his life was fraught with incalculable blessings to the Church of Christ. Four years before his death he had married Miss Bosanquet . . . he was present at Wesley’s last Conference in Leeds; and it was chiefly by his almost angelic interposition and services that the results of that Conference were not much more disastrous than they were.

 

   It is difficult to conceive the intense regard Fletcher had for his brethren the preachers. His wife’s testimony was that, when disputes arose among them, his soul groaned under the burden; ‘by two or three in the morning I was sure to hear him breathing out prayer for the peace and prosperity of Zion.’ A week before his death, on Aug. 7, he read prayers, preached, and administered the Lord’s Supper in his parish church. Wesley at the time was in the West of England, and was unable to see his friend or attend his funeral. He preached, however, and published a sermon in memory of him, taking as his text the words on which his brother Charles had preached at the death of Perronet: ‘Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace.’ For Mrs. Fletcher’s account of her husband’s death see Tyerman’s Wesley’s Designated Successor, p. 564. 

 

[4] Then mayor. See above, vol. iii. p. 494.

 

[5] i.e. the chapel.

 

[6] See above, p, 53.

 

[7] He wrote from Plymouth Dock to his brother, explaining his relation to the Church of England (Works. vol. xiii. p. 253; the letter also appears; in the Arm. Mag. 1786, p. 50). In it occurs the memorable sentence:

 

I firmly believe that I am a scriptural Eпוֹσкопоς as much as any man in England or in Europe; for the uninterrupted Succes­sion I know to be a fable, which no man ever did or can prove. 

 

For Charles Wesley’s answer to this letter, see Jackson’s Life of Charles Wesley, vol. ii. P. 396.

 

[8] See above, vol. iii. pp. 90-91. It was not remarkable that he should climb down in 1743, but in his old age, at eighty-two, it was a somewhat venture­some exploit. It is doubtful whether the sea really has encroached on this rock­bound coast. Tradition has long held that Charles Wesley wrote the hymn. ‘Lo, on a narrow neck of land,’ with this point of rock in his mind. There is, however, no evidence that such was the case. The hymn written at the Land’s End was ‘Come, Divine Em­manuel, come.’ (Poetical Works of J. and C. Wesley, vol. v. p. 133; and Telford’s Methodist Hymn-Book Illustrated, p. 428.)

 

[9]On an undated journey from Redruth to St. Ives, via Hayle, occurred Peter Mar­tin’s dramatic    incident of driving Wesley through the tide that he might keep his appointment at St. Ives. Samuel Dunn, who may be regarded as a credible witness, published this remarkable story in the Wesley Banner, vol. i. p. 49. At the crisis of peril, with the tumultuous waters around the carriage, Wesley quite calmly hailed the driver, asking his name, who answered, ‘Peter.’ ‘Peter,’ said Wesley, ‘fear not; thou shalt not sink.’ With vigorous spurring and whipping Peter again urged on the flagging horses, and at last got safely over-by miracle, as he always said. Both Wesley and his driver were drenched. When they reached St. Ives Wesley’s first care was to see Peter comfortably lodged at the tavern:  ‘He procured me warm clothes, a good fire, and excellent refreshments. Neither were the horses forgotten by him. Totally unmindful of himself, he proceeded, wet as he was, to the chapel, and preached according to his appointment.’ As was so frequently the case in the tragedies and heroisms of his life, Wesley made no mention of this incident either in his published Journal or in his private Diary. We owe this information to the fact that Samuel Dunn met Peter Martin in his vigorous old age.

 

[10] See above, vol. iii. p. 127, and frequently in Charles Wesley’s Journal.

 

[11] He wrote from Redruth to Chris­topher Hopper, declining to run his head against all the Conference by reversing what they had determined. He refers to a case of discipline in which a preacher had been silenced. (Works, vol. xii. P.319.)

 

[12] From early times there have been two chapels in Hayle, the Foundery and Copper-house. The latter in 1817 took the place of the preaching-house which Wesley here describes, and which was in use for thirty or thirty-two years. Circular in form, with a conical root it was entered by a single doorway that faced the road. The brazen slags which excited Wesley’s wonder were formed from the molten dross remaining after the extrac­tion of copper from its ores. This dross, or scoria, was conveyed into moulds, generally of rectangular shape, not less than a cubic foot in size, and formed  ‘bricks’ which were largely used in building houses and boundary walls. Tens of thousands may be seen in Hayle to-day. See W.H.S. vol. iv. p. 195.

 

[13] For an instructive account of the Quarterly Meeting at Redruth, gleaned chiefly from the old circuit book, see Rev. George Lester’s note, W.H.S. vol. ii. p. 125.

 

[14] On Aug. 30 he wrote at Camelford ‘Of Separation from the Church.’ See Minutes, 1786, and Works, vol. xiii. 

 

p. 255.

 

[15] In the porch of the venerable Manor Rouse, now a farm-house, a stone is inscribed ‘John Walshe, A.D, 1559, Serjant at Lawe.’ He was Justice in Common Pleas, 1563-72. See also above, vol. vi. p. 209. The meaning of the name Cathanger is the wood of the wild cat. Place-names were often taken from wild animals. For particulars of this old mansion see Collinson’s Somerset, vol. i. p.42 (1791), and Highways and Byways of Somerset.