1785. JAN. 1, Sat.-Whether this be the last or no, may it be the best year of my life!

 

Sun. 2.-A larger number of people were present this evening at the renewal of our covenant with God than was ever seen before on the occasion.          

 

Tues. 4.-At this season we usually distribute coals and bread among the poor of the society. But I now considered they wanted clothes as well as food. So on this and the four following days I walked through the town and begged two hundred ­ pounds, in order to clothe them that needed[1]  it most.

 

1785, JAN. 1, Saturday

 

6.45 Prayed; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, writ narrative; 10 prayers, 2 Cor. v. 17, communion, writ narrative; 1 at brother Ball’s, dinner, conversed, prayer, visited; 3.30 prayed, chaise, tea, conversed, prayer; 6 prayers, 2 Cor. vi. 17, communion, supper, Pen[ry], on business; 9.30.

 

Sunday 2

 

4 Prayed, letters; 8 the preachers; 9.30 prayers, Joshua xiv. I5! communion, at brother Bumst[ed’s]; 2 visited, sleep; 3 the leaders, tea, prayed; 5 the Covenant; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Monday 3

 

4 Prayed, Psa. lxxvi. II, select society, writ narrative; 7 tea, walk; 8 tea, on business, went begging, [-], the poor; 1 at T[homas] O[livers], dinner, conversed; 3 went! visited, christened Josiah Dornf[ord], prayer; 7 on business, supper, Mr. Collins, prayer; 9.30.

 

Tuesday 4

 

4 Prayed, letters, tea, prayer; 8 went begging, visited; dinner, con­versed; 4 begging, tea, conversed prayer; 6 prayers, Rom. iv. 9! communion; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Thursday 6

 

4 Prayed, letters, tea, prayer; 8 went, visited [the word ‘went’ in all these entries seems to imply begging] 1 at brother Marsden’s, dinner, prayer; 2.30 went; 4 prayed, tea, conversed, prayer; 5.30 prayed, letters; 7.30 the bands, supper, conversed, prayer, ill; 9.30.

 

­

 

But it was hard work, as most of the streets were filled with melting snow, which often lay ankle deep; so that my feet were steeped in snow-water nearly from morning till evening. I held it out pretty well till Saturday evening; but I was laid up with a violent flux, which increased every hour, till, at six in the morn­ing, Dr. Whitehead[2] called upon me. His first draught made me quite easy; and three or four more perfected the cure. If he lives some years, I expect he will be one of the most eminent physicians in Europe.[3] I supposed my journeys this winter had been over; but I could not decline one more.

 

Friday 7

 

4.30 Prayed, letters, sleep; 8 tea, letters; 10 went; 1 writ narrative; 2 at brother Dew’s, dinner, conversed; 3 chaise; 5 Hadl[ey], tea, con­versed; 6 Lu. xx. 34! communion, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30 ill.

 

Saturday 8

 

4.30 Prayed, Mag., tea; 6 chaise; 8 at home, on business; 8.30 went; 1 at brother Thornt[on’s], dinner, conversed, prayer; 2.30 went; 3.30 prayed; 4. 1 5 tea, conversed, prayer; 6 prayers, Rom. vi. 23! 7 communion, coach; 8 ill, supper, on business; 9.30.

 

Sunday 9

 

4 Very ill; 8 revived, prayed, tea, read Mag., Dr. Whitehead, Mag.; 1 dinner, conversed, Mag.; 4 tea, Mag., prayed, letter; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Mon. 17.-I set out for poor Colchester, to encourage the little flock. They had exceeding little of this world’s goods, but most of them had a better portion.

 

Monday 10

 

5 Prayed; 6 letters, writ narrative; 8 tea, conversed prayer, writ narrative; 12 chaise, went; 1 at sister Well’s, dinner, conversed, prayer, prayer, coach; 3 Mag.; 5 tea, prayer, Mag.; 8 supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Tuesday 11

 

4 Prayed, Mag.; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, went; 1 at brother G[-]thi[-]’s, dinner, conversed, prayer; 2 went; 4.30 at home, tea, conversed, prayer; 5.30 prayed; 6.30 prayers, Rom. ix. 16, the leaders! 8.30 supper, within, prayer; 9.30.

 

Wednesday 12

 

4 Prayed, letters, tea, conversed; 9 went; 10.15 letters; 1 at brother Lov.’s, dinner, within, prayer, went, visited; 4 tea, conversed, prayer; 6 prayers. Rom. x. 4! communion, supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Thursday 13

 

4 Prayed, letters; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, went; 10.30 letters, writ nar­rative; 1.15 at Mr. Awbr[ey’s]; 2.30 dinner, conversed, prayer; 4 prayed, tea, conversed, prayer, prayed; 615 prayers, Rom. xi. 32, the bands; 8.15 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Friday 14

 

4 Prayed, letters; 11.30 the females; 12 chaise, went; 2.30 at Mr. Judd’s, 1 dinner, conversed, prayer; 4 prayed, tea, conversed; 6.15 the Committee; 7.30 Mag.; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Saturday 15

 

4 Prayed, letters; 7.30 tea, conversed, prayer, letters; 10 went begging; 1.15 at brother D[-’s]; 2 dinner, read narrative, prayer, visited; 5 at Ka[-] Hard[-]’s, tea, conversed, prayed; 6 prayers, Rom. xiii. 10, communion, supper, Pen[ry] on business; 9.30. 

 

Sunday 16

 

4 Prayed, letters; 8 Sp[italfields]; 9.30 prayers, Matt. xiv. 31! communion; 1 dinner, conversed, prayer; 2 sleep, prayed, the leaders; 4 tea, conversed, prayed; 5 prayers, Rom. xiv. 17! society, the married persons; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Monday 17

 

4 Tea; 5 chaise, Mag., Rumford, tea, chaise, Mag., Ingat[e]ston; 11 chaise; 4.45 Colch[este]r, dinner, conversed, tea; 6 prayed, Matt. vii. 16! 8 supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Tues. 18.-I went on to Mistley Thorn, a vi11age near Manningtree. Some time since, one of the shipwrights of Dept­ford Yard, being sent hither[4] to superintend the building of some men-of-war, began to read sermons on a Sunday evening in his own house. Afterwards he exhorted them a little, and then formed a little society. Some time after, he begged one of our preachers to come over and help them. I now found a lively society, and one of the most elegant congregations I had seen for many years. Yet they seemed as willing to be instructed as if they had lived in Kingswood. Wednesday the 19th I returned to Colchester; and on Thursday the 20th preached to a lovely congregation at Purfleet, and the next morning returned to London.

 

Tuesday 18

 

4 Prayed, Mag.; 6 Rev. ii. 5! the leaders; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, visited some; 10 writ narrative; 10.30 chaise; 12 Mistl[ey]thorn, at Mrs. Parm[-]’s, Mag.; 2 dinner, conversed; 3.30 prayed, read the Shipwreck; 5 tea, conversed, prayer; 6 Isai. Iv. 6! 7.30 at home, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.45.

 

Wednesday 19

 

4 Prayed, read Walsh; 6 Mark i. ship[reck]; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, ship[reck], prayer; 10 chaise; 11.30 Colchester; 1 at sister Wood­c[ock]’s, dinner, within, prayer; 2 visited some, ship[reck];  4 prayed, tea, conversed; 6 John iv. 24! communion, [-]; 8.30 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.45.

 

Thursday 20

 

4 Tea, prayer; 5 chaise, Witham, tea, chaise, Ingat[e]stone, chaise; 2 Mag.; 3.30 Rainham, dinner, conversed, prayed, tea, chaise; 6 Purfleet, Heb. vii. 25! chaise, Rainh[am], supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Friday 21

 

4 Prayed, tea, prayer; 6 chaise; 9.15 at home, letters; 12 the females [In the bands and classes the members were grouped-Male and Female, Married and Single; so also in the preaching-houses]; 12.45 coach, Mr. Best! 2 at Mr. Goslin’s, conversed, dinner, prayer; 4 coach, at home, letters, prayed, tea; 6 the Committee; 7 letters, prayed; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Saturday 22

 

4 Prayed, letters; 8 tea, prayer, letters; 1 at Mr. Bic[-’s], dinner, conversed, prayer; 3.30 visited, tea, conversed, prayer; 6 read prayers, I Cor. iv. 5, communion; 8.30 supper; 9 on business, [cipher] *; 9.30.

 

Sun. 23.-I preached morning and afternoon at West Street, and in the evening in the chapel at Knightsbridge. I think it will be the last time; for I know not that I have ever seen a worse-behaved congregation.

 

Tues. 25.-I spent two or three hours in the House of Lords. I had frequently heard that this was the most venerable assembly in England. But how was I disappointed! What is a lord but a sinner, born to die!

 

Sunday 23

 

4 Prayed, letters, [cipher] *, Chapel; 9.30 prayers, Matt. xx. I5! communion; 1 dinner; 2 sleep, prayed, the leaders; 3.30 prayers, Mr. [-]; 5 Matt. xxi. 21! society, Kni[ghts]brid[ge], tea; 6 prayers, Jo. iv. 24! chaise, supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Monday 24

 

4 Prayed, I Pet. i. 12, etc., select society, tea, letters; 12 select society, writ narrative; 2 at Mr. Griffi[th’s], dinner, conversed, prayer; 3.30 prayed, tea; 6.30 prayers, I Cor. vi. 20! supper, the bands; 9.30.

 

Tuesday 25

 

4 Prayed, I Pet. i. 12, etc., within, letter; 7.30 tea, conversed, letters;, 12 dinner, on business; 1 House of Lords, walk, communion; 4.30 tea, conversed, prayed; 6.30 read the letters, the leaders; 8.30 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Wednesday 26[5]

 

4 Prayed, 1 Pet. i. 16! letters, tea, letters; 12 visited; 12.45 at sister Cheesem[en]t’s; 1 dinner, prayer; 2.30 chaise; 4.45 Brentford, tea prayed; 6.30 Matt. xxi. 21! society, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

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Thursday 27    

 

4 Prayed, Rom. xiii. II, etc., Mag., tea; 7 chaise, visited; 10 writ narrative; 1 at brother Blunt’s, dinner, within, Mag., prayer; 4.45 tea, conversed, prayer, prayed; 6.30 prayers, I Cor. viii. 2, the bands,

 

         supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Friday 28

 

4 prayed, letters; 9 prayer, letters;1 prayer, communion; 3 dinner; conversed, prayer; 4 tea, visited; 5.30 sleep, prayed, writ narrative, supper; 8.30 prayer, Heb. xii. 1, 2; 10. 

 

Saturday 29

 

4.15 prayed, letters; 7 class, tea, class; 1 dinner; 2 class; 4.30 visited some; 5.15 tea, conversed, prayer;6 prayers, I Cor. X 12! Class; 8 supper, Pen[ry], on business; 9.45.

 

Sun. 30.-From those words, ‘Righteous art Thou, 0 Lord, and true are Thy judgements,’ I endeavoured to point out those sins which were the chief cause of that awful transaction we commemorate this day.[6] I believe the chief sin which brought the King to the block was his persecuting the real Christians. Hereby he drove them into the hands of designing men, which issued in his own destruction.[7]

 

Sunday 30

 

4. Prayed, letters, the preachers; 9.30 prayers, Psa. cxix. 137, communion, dinner, letters; 2 sleep, the leaders, tea, prayed; 5 prayers, Heb. xii. 7! St. Anthol[in’s],[8] prayers, 1 Cor. xiii. I, etc., supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Monday 31

 

4 I Pet. i. ad fin., select society, class, tea, class; 1 dinner, class, tea, read prayers, I Cor. xiii. 8, etc., class, 

 

        supper, conversed, prayer; 9.15. 

 

       Psa. lxviii.; I Cor. ix. 2, 10, 12; Heb. xii. 7; 2 Cor. i. 22.

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[1] 1st ed. ‘wanted.’ 

 

[2] He, with Dr. Coke and Henry Moore, received all Wesley’s MSS. which were devised to them by will, ‘to be burnt, or published, as they should  see good.’ Dr. Whitehead resided in London, acting at the time of Wesley’s death as a local preacher.

 

He had been for some years an itinerant preacher. He then married and settled in business at Bristol. From thence he removed to Wandsworth, and opened a school. He there became acquainted with the late Dr. Lettsom, two of whose sons were his pupils. Under the doctor’s direction he studied physic, and by his recommendation he ob­tained from the late Mr. Barclay, an eminent Quaker, the appointment of guardian to his son, who was pursuing his studies at Leyden, in Holland. At the same time he com­pleted his own studies in that University, and returned to England with the diploma of Doctor of Medicine. He had, some time before, joined the Society of Quakers; and by their influence chiefly he obtained the situation of Physician to the London Dis­pensary. After a few years, he again joined the Methodist Society, and was received by Mr. Wesley with his usual kindness. (Moore’s Life of Wesley, vol. i. Preface, p. 5.)

 

[3] On Jan. 5 he wrote to Mrs. Rebecca Gains (Works, vol. xii. p. 510), and on Jan. 11 he wrote some remarks on an article (No. 10) in ‘Mr. Maty’s new review’ for Dec. 1784, The Rev. Mr. Badcock in this article made certain statements respecting Samuel Wesley of Epworth, his eldest son, and. Mrs. Wesley which needed correction. John Wesley seizes the opportunity to state several interesting facts respecting his family and their political opinions, (Works, vol. xiii. p. 408.)

 

[4]  From Ipswich in 1780.

 

[5] On Jan. 26 he wrote from London to John Johnson and his wife, Mrs.

 

Johnson. See Memoirs of Mrs. Dorothea Johnson.

 

[6] The execution of Charles  I. The special service for that day was still in use in the Church of England.

 

[7] On Feb. 1 he wrote from London to Mrs. Freeman (new ed. Wesley Letters).

 

[8] See above, vol. vi. p. 217, and vol. ii. pp. 73 and 82. It was rebuilt by Wren after the Fire. The pulpit was curiously fumier’d and carved,’ being adorned with cherubim and fruit, &c.