DEC. 1, Wed.-I preached at St. Neots to the largest con­gregation I ever saw here, and I know not that ever I knew them so affected; it seemed as if God touched all their hearts.

 

Thur. 2.-I preached about noon at Buckden, and in the evening to a crowded congregation at Huntingdon.

 

DEC. 1, Wednesday

 

4 Prayed, Journal; 6 I Cor. xv. 58! Journal; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, conversed, prayed; 9.15 chaise; 12.15 St. Neots, within, Mag.; 1.30 dinner; 2.30 writ society; 4 prayed, tea, conversed, prayer, prayed; 6 Prov. i. 3-17! Journal; 9 supper, conversed, prayer; 10.30.

 

Thursday 2

 

4.30 Prayed, sermon; 6 Rom. xiii. 11! writ narrative; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, sermon; 10 chaise, Bugd[en] [Buckden]; 11.30 2 Cor. vi. 2! chaise; 1 Godmanc[hester], sermon; 3 dinner, conversed, prayer, prayed; 5 tea; 6 Hunt[ingdon], 1 Cor. xiii. I, etc., writ narrative; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

I wondered that I saw nothing here of a young clergyman[1] who last year professed much love and esteem, but I soon heard that his eyes were opened to see the decrees. So he knows me no more.

 

Fri. 3.-Partly riding and partly walking, through wind and rain, and water and dirt, we got at last to Luton, where I found a large congregation, and we greatly rejoiced in God our Saviour.

 

Sat. 4.-I went on to London.

 

 Mon. 6.-I went to Tunbridge Wells, but not without difficulty, part of the road being made scarce passable, through the abundance of rain. I preached in the large Presbyterian meeting-house, but the violent rain thinned the congregation. Yet on Tuesday the 7th we set out in a lovely morning, but in about an hour, just as a pack of hounds came on in full cry, a furious storm of hail met them in the teeth, and utterly silenced them. It soon turned to snow, which so covered the road that we could scarce get on, though we walked good part of the way,

 

Friday 3

 

4 Prayed, chaise; 7.30 St. Ne[ots], tea, conversed, chaise; 2 walk; 3 Luto[n], dinner, Mag., prayed; 5    

 

 tea, conversed; 6 Matt. viii. 13! Mag., supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Saturday 4

 

4 Prayed, tea; 4.30 chaise; 9 Barnet, tea, in talk; 9.30 chaise; 11.30 at home, letters; 1 dinner, prayer,  

 

  letters; 4.30 coach, at John Hali[- ], tea, within; 6 prayers, Heb. x. 36, communion, supper, 

 

  Pen[ry], on business; 9.30.

 

Sunday 5

 

4 Prayed, letters, the preachers; 9.30 prayers, Psa. xxiv. 34, communion; 1 dinner, visited; 3 the leaders, tea, prayed; 5 Heb. xi. 1! society, letter, on business, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Monday 6

 

4 Prayed, tea; 4.30 chaise, tea, chaise; 2 M[ount] Ephraim, dinner, writ sermon, tea, conversed; 6 prayed; 6.30 Heb. iv. 14, writ narrative; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

So that we could not get to Robertsbridge till after the time appointed. The snow likewise so retarded us in our journey to Rye that we were above an hour in the night. However, the house was well filled with serious hearers, so that I did not repent of my labour.

 

Wed. 8.-With great difficulty, with two pair of good horses, we got on fifteen miles in five hours, but we could not reach Sevenoaks till the congregation had been long waiting.

 

Thur. 9.-Going on to Shoreham, we found that venerable man, Mr. Perronet[2], ninety-one years of age, calmly waiting for the conclusion of a good warfare. His bodily strength is gone, but his understanding is little impaired, and he appears to have more love than ever. After preaching to an earnest congregation in the evening, and to great part of them in the morning, I returned to London.

 

        Tuesday 7

 

4 Prayed, sermon; 6 Heb. x. 19, tea, prayer; 7.45 chaise; 1 Robertsb[ridge], dinner, conversed, prayer; 2 chaise; 5 Rye, tea, within; 6 Lu. xv. 7! Society! 7.30 at sister Barnes, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Wednesday 8

 

4 Prayed, tea, prayer; 5.30 chaise; 10 Robertsbrid[ge], tea, conversed, prayer; 11 chaise; 4 Woodsgate, dinner, chaise; 6.30 Sevenoa[ks]; 7 I Pet. i. 18, Mag.; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.45.

 

Thursday 9

 

4.30 Prayed, Mag.; 6 Matt. viii. 13! Mag.; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, Mag.; 10.30 prayer, chaise; 12.30 Shoreham, conversed! 1 dinner, Mag.; 4 tea; 5 conversed, prayed; 6 Lu. xii. 7! Mag., supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Friday 10

 

4 Prayed, Mag.; 7 Matt. viii. 13, tea, prayer; 8 chaise; 3 at sister     Cheese[ment’s], dinner, conversed, prayer, walk; 4.30 at home, tea, prayer, letters, prayed; 8 supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Saturday 11

 

4.15 Prayed, letters; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, letters; 1 dinner, conversed, prayer, read narrative, letters; 3 accounts; 4 prayed, walk; 5 tea, conversed; 6 prayers, James iv. 4, communion, supper, Pen[ry]; 9 on business; 9.30.

 

                                James iv. 4; I Pet. i. 18.

 

Sunday 12

 

4 Prayed, letters, Chapel; 9.30 prayers, Rev. ii. 5! communion, dinner, conversed; 2.30 sleep, prayed, the leaders; 3.30 prayers, Lev. xix. 17, society, chaise, society, prayed; 7.30 writ narrative, supper, prayer; 9.30. 

 

Monday the 13th, and the two days following, I preached at Canterbury, Dover, and Sittingbourne.

 

Thur. 16.-I went to Sheerness, where Mr. Fox read prayers, and I preached on those words in the Second Lesson, ‘If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?’ I hardly ever spoke stronger words. May God make the application! I never before found this society in such a state as they were now, being all, in general, athirst for God and increasing in number as well as in grace.

 

Fri. 17.-I preached at Chatham, where likewise I found only peace and love; and on Saturday the 18th cheerfully returned to London.

 

Monday 13

 

4 Prayed, tea; 6 Diligence; 11.30 Chath[am], tea, prayer; 12 Diligence; 4.30 Cant[erbury], at brother Hagel’s, dinner, conversed, tea; 6.30     Acts xi. 26! 7 society, supper, conversed, prayer; 10.

 

Tuesday 14

 

4 Prayed, writ society! 6 Rom. xiii. 11, society; 8 tea, conversed, prayer; 9 chaise; 12 Dover, society; 1.30 dinner, society; 4 visited, tea, con­versed, prayed; 6 Matt. xxii. 37! society, supper together, prayer; 9.30.

 

Wednesday 15

 

4 Prayed, writ narrative; 7 Matt. xxii. 39; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, chaise; 1 at brother Collier’s, dinner, conversed, prayer, writ narrative, prayed; 4.30 tea, conversed, prayer; 6. 15 Jo. iv. 24! communion; 8 supper, prayer; 9.45.

 

Thursday 16

 

4 Prayed, writ society, I Pet. v. 10! at brother Saddleton’s ; 7 tea, conversed, prayer; 7.30 chaise; 9.45 Sittingbourne, tea, I Cor. xv. 58; 11 chaise, walk; 2 Sheern[ess], dinner, writ narrative, tea! prayers,

 

         I Pet. iv. 18! society, supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Friday 17

 

4 Prayed; 5.15 Psa. Ixiv. 1, communion, tea, on business, prayer; 9.30 in the boat; 2.30 Chatham, dinner, within, prayed, tea, prayer; 6, Rev. ii. 5! communion, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

                                   Saturday 18    

 

4 Prayed, I Pet. i. 18! Chaise; 12 at home, writ letters: 1.30 dinner, prayer; 2 writ letters, writ Mag., prayed, coach; 5 tea, conversed, prayer; 6 prayers, 2 Pet. i. 5, etc., communion, supper, Pen[ry],     A. Mo.! [Cipher], *; 10.       

 

Mon. 20.-I went to Hinxworth, where I had the satisfaction of meeting Mr. Simeon[3], Fellow of King’s College, in Cam­bridge. He has spent some time with Mr. Fletcher at Madeley, two kindred souls much resembling each other both in fervour of spirit and in the earnestness of their address. He gave me the pleasing information that there are three parish churches in Cambridge wherein true scriptural religion is preached, and several young gentlemen who are happy partakers of it. I preached in the evening on Gal. vi. 14.

 

Sunday 19

 

4 Prayed, letters, the preachers; 9.30 prayers, Acts xix. 2! communion; 1 dinner; 2.30 sleep, prayed, tea; 5 prayers, 2 Pet. iv. 9, society, Mag., supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Monday 20

 

4 Prayed, Lev. xix. 17, select society, tea; 7 chaise; 10.30 Hatfield, M[iss] Harv[ey], chaise; 2.30 Hinxworth; 3 dinner, Mr. Simeon! writ society, tea, conversed; 6.30 Gal. vi. 14! 8.30 supper, con­versed, prayer: 9.45.

 

Tues. 21.-I spent a little time with the children at Miss Harvey’s school, whom she likewise carefully instructs herself. After dinner we set out for Wrestlingworth, and having, a skilful guide, who rode before the chaise, and picked out the best way, we drove four miles in only three hours.

 

Wed. 22.-I returned to London, and concluded my journeys for the present year

 

Sat. 25. - We met, as usual, in the new chapel at four. At ten, and in the afternoon, I preached in West Street, and after­wards spent a comfortable hour in meeting the society.

 

Sun. 26.-I preached the condemned criminals’ sermon in

 

Tuesday 21

 

4 Prayed, society; 7.30 Matt. xiii. 3, etc., society; 9 tea, conversed, society; 2.30 chaise; 5.30 Wrestl[ing]w[orth), tea, conversed, Rev. xx. 12, supper, prayer; 9.15 at Mr. Sales; 9.45.

 

Wednesday 22

 

4 Prayed, on business, tea; 5.45 chaise with Miss H[arvey]; 12 Hatfield, dinner; 12.30 chaise; 4 at home, writ narrative, tea, prayed, writ society; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Thursday 23

 

4 Prayed, society; 8 at T[homas] Ra[nkin’s], tea, conversed, prayer, society; 12.30 visited; 1 dinner, Dr. Whiteh[ead], within; 2 society; 4 tea, within; 5.30 at home, I Jo. iii. I, etc., the bands, supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Friday 24[4]

 

4 Prayed, letters; 12 the females; 1 prayer; 2 dinner, prayer; 3 writ letters; 5 tea, prayer; 6 letters, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

XMAS DAY, Saturday 25

 

3.30 Prayed; 4 prayer, Matt. i. 21, writ letters, tea, chaise; 9 Chapel; 9.30 prayers, Luke ii. 14, communion; 1 dinner, conversed, Charles; 2.30; sleep, prayed; 3 prayers, Isa. xi. 10, society, tea, conversed, writ letters, supper, prayer, on business; 9.30.        

 

Newgate. Forty-seven were under sentence of death. While they were coming in there was something very awful in the clink of their chains. But no sound was heard, either from them or the crowded audience, after the text was named: ‘There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons that need not repentance.’ The power of the Lord was eminently present, and most of the prisoners were in tears. A few days after twenty of them died

 

at once, five of whom died in peace. I could not but greatly approve of the spirit and behaviour of Mr. Villette, the Ordinary[5]; and I rejoiced to hear that it was the same on all similar ­occasions.

 

Sunday 26

 

4 Prayed, Mag., tea, letters; 10.15 Newgate, prayers; 11 Lu. xv. 7! 1 at sister Box’s, dinner, conversed, prayer; 2.15 sleep, prayed; 3 the leaders; 4 tea, prayed; 5 Acts vii. 55, society, supper, conversed; 9.30.

 

Monday 27

 

4 Prayed, I Pet. i. 5, etc., select society, letters; 8 tea, conversed, writ narrative, Chapel; 9.30 prayers, 1 John iii. I, etc., communion, at sister Key[sall’s], dinner, conversed, prayer, Chapel; 3 writ narrative, tea, conversed; 6.30 prayers, Rev. xx. 20! supper, the bands! 9.30.

 

Tuesday 28

 

4 Prayed, I. Pet. iv. II! communion, writ narrative; 7 tea, conversed, prayer; 8.30 at home, letters; 10 prayers; 11 Rev. xiv. I, etc., com­munion, writ narrative; 1 at Dr. Whiteh[ead’s], dinner, within, prayer; 3 writ narrative; 4.30 tea, conversed, prayer, prayed, prayers, I Jo. v.3! the leaders, supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Wednesday 29

 

4 Prayed, I Pet. iv. II, communion, writ narrative; 7.30 prayer, tea, writ society; 1.30 visited; 3 at brother Wri[ght’s], dinner, conversed; 5 at Mr. Ruth[er]f[ord’s, whom he married, see above, vol. vi. p. 463], tea, conversed, prayer; 6 prayers, 2 John 8, communion; 8 supper, con­versed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Thursday 30

 

4 Prayed, writ Journal; 8 prayer, tea, conversed, Journal; 1 at sister Shakesp[ear’s], dinner, conversed, prayer; 2.30 letters; 4.30 tea, conversed, prayer, prayed; 6,30 prayers, Psa. cxlvii. 3, the bands! 8 supper, conversed, prayer, on business; 9.30.

 

Fri. 31.-We had a solemn watch-night, and ushered in the New Year with the voice of praise and thanksgiving.

 

Friday 31

 

4 Prayed, letters; 12 the females, sorted letters; 2 dinner, conversed, prayer; 3.30 sleep, prayed; 4.30 tea, conversed, prayer; 5.30 prayed, writ narrative, Com[mitte]e, supper, I Pet. iv. 7! prayer; 12.30.

 

 Isa. xi. 10; L- xix. 17; I Pet. iv. II.

---

 

[1] The incident referred to is probably that of Dec. 3. 1782.

 

[2] Vincent Perronet, Vicar of Shoreham, lived five months after Wesley’s final Interview. See below, p. 75.

 

[3] Charles Simeon was born at Reading in 1759, was educated at Eton, and at the age of nineteen succeeded to a scholar­ship at King’s College, Cambridge. On arriving there he was informed that in about three weeks he must take the Lord’s Supper in the college chapel; he began, therefore, seriously to make preparation. The religious book about which he heard most was the Whole Duty of Man. He procured a copy, read it, and was distressed with the weight of his sins. The book which brought him light and instruction was Bishop Wilson On the Lord’s Supper, by showing how Christ died for sinners. At that college communion service, al­though carelessly administered, he prayed earnestly for salvation, and through faith found the peace which passeth understanding. He knew no religious friend with whom he could converse. He read the writings of Hervey, and was perplexed with his definitions of imputed righteousness, preferring the simplicity of Holy Scripture. In 1782 he was ordained. When Wesley met him Simeon was quite a young man of two and a half years’ standing in the ministry. Tyer­man, in the closing pages of his Life of Fletcher (Wesley's Designated Successor) has a suggestive account of Charles Simeon’s friendship with Fletcher, the dying saint of Madeley. Simeon, destined to be in some sense Fletcher’s successor, was twenty-five, full of faith and zeal, and popular among the Methodist clergy of the day-Berridge, Henry Venn, Riland at Birmingham, Cadogan at Reading, Pentycross at Wallingford, Robinson at Leicester, and now, toward the end of 1784, Fletcher at Madeley. As soon as he entered the vicarage Fletcher took him by the hand and brought him into the parlour, where the two engaged in prayer. Fletcher invited Simeon to preach, and himself, bell in hand, went through the village telling the people that a young clergyman from Cambridge had come to preach to them. Simeon heard Fletcher in the iron-works talking with the men and turning everything he saw to spiritual profit. Fletcher was closing his last year on earth; Simeon lived and laboured in the spirit and power of Fletcher for more than half a century afterwards. See below, pp. 197, 337, and W.M. Mag. May 1914, p. 323; also Simeon’s Memoirs, by W. Carus, M.A.

 

[4] On Dec. 24 he wrote from London to Robert -, a fine example of the sympathetic hopefulness with which he restored the fallen, crowning his good deed with the gift of a guinea (new ed. Wesley letters), On the same day he finished the new hymn- book, wrot to Thomas Taylor about mothers and crying children, and in high praise of John Valton- ‘a better Assistant than either you or me’ (new ed. Wesley Letters). 

 

[5] On June 23, 1784, Dr. Johnson told Boswell that the Rev. Mr. Villette had been Ordinary of 

 

Newgate eighteen years, and had during that time attended many hundreds of wretched criminals. 

 

‘His earnest and humane exhortations have been very effectual. His extra­ordinary diligence is highly praiseworthy, and merits a distinguished reward.’