JUNE 1, Wed.-I took my leave of my coeval, Mr. M’Geough, whom I scarce expect to see again in this world. About ten I preached in Blackwatertown, in Mr. Roe’s yard, to a large and elegant congregation; and in the evening to a larger still, at the side of the Fort at Charlemont. Mrs. T. was an unspeakable blessing to this town while Mr. T. was stationed there; and the revival of religion which began then has been increasing ever since.

 

JUNE 1, Wednesday

 

4 Prayed, letters; 7 Acts xvi. 31; 8 at Dr. Grubb, tea, conversed, visited; 9.30 chaise, Blackwater; 11 1 Pet. i. 24, letter, writ narrative; 2 dinner, writ; 3 writ Conf[erence]; 4 prayed, tea, chaise; 6 Mal. iii. I, society, chaise, supper, prayer; 10.15.

 

In the road to and from Charlemont, I had a good deal of conversation with that amiable woman, Mrs. R.[1] God has indeed dealt very mercifully with her, and her soul is at present much alive. I have great hopes that she, and all her lovely family, will be patterns to all that are round about them.

 

Thur. 2.[2] -I went to Mr. Caulfield’s,[3] the Rector of Killyman, three miles from Charlemont. His house is agreeably situated at the head of a beautiful avenue, in which I preached to a very numerous congregation, most of whom seemed to be deeply affected. I sent my horses on to Cookstown, ten Irish miles; Mr. Caulfield sending me thither, Friday the 3rd, with a pair of his. At ten I preached there, and then hastened forward; but I could not reach Londonderry before seven. We then found (notwithstanding they had but short notice) a congregation gathered from all parts. The society here has not been so well established for many years as it is now. What is principally wanting is zeal for God and entire self-devotion to Him.

 

Thursday 2

 

4.15 Prayed, writ Conf[erence]; 8.15 tea, conversed, on business, chaise; 10 Charl[emon]t, Acts ix. 31; 11 communion; 1 chaise, Killeman, within, dinner, conversed; 3.30 letter, prayed, tea, conversed; 6 Heb. ix. 27, prayed, garden, conversed; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Friday 3

 

4 Prayed; 4.30 chaise; 7 Cookstown, tea, Jer. viii. 22! society; 9 chaise;     12.30 Gorton; 1.30 chaise; 3.45 Strabane; 4.15 chaise; 6.45 Derry;7 tea, conversed, Col. i. 10, supper, within; 10.15.

 

Sun. 5.-At eight I strongly applied the latter part of the thirteenth chapter to the Romans. We had a very decent con­gregation at church, but not so many communicants as I expected. At six our room was thoroughly filled with as serious hearers as ever I saw.

 

Mon. 6.-We had a numerous congregation, in the morning, of rich as well as poor; but who is able effectually to warn these to flee from the wrath to come? At eleven I preached in an open place at Newtown[limavady],[4] sixteen miles from Londonderry. In the evening we had, at Coleraine,[5] a larger congregation than at Clones itself; and they seemed a more intelligent people than most I have met with. Indeed, the whole town is different from all that I have seen. There is no hurry or noise, but all quiet and still, both by day and by night; so that no wonder so many here receive the gospel of peace, and ‘bring forth fruit unto perfection.’

 

Tues. 7.-I accepted the offer of the Presbyterian meeting; and preached there at noon, and at six in the evening.

 

Saturday 4

 

4 Prayed, letters; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, letters; 12 I Jo. v. 19, walk; 2.30 dinner, conversed; 4.45 prayed; 5.30 tea, conversed; 6.30 Mic. ii. 10, society, supper, together, prayer, on business; 10.15.

 

Sunday 5

 

4 Prayed, sleep, letters, tea; 8 Rom. xiii. 11, etc., letters, read narrative; 11.30 prayers, communion; 2.30 dinner, conversed, letters, prayed; 5.15 tea, conversed; 6 Lu.xiv.17, society, within; 8 supper, conversed prayer; 9.45.

 

Monday 6

 

4 Prayed, Journal; 6 Isai. lvii. I, 2, tea, conversed, prayer, boat; 8.15 chaise; 10.45 Newtown, 2 Cor. vi. I; 12 chaise; 2.15 Coleraine; 2.45 Journal; 3 dinner, conversed; 4 prayed, walk; 5 tea, conversed, prayed; 6.30 I Kings xviii. 21, supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Tuesday 7

 

4 Prayed, read Horneck; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, letters; 12 Mark iv. 3, etc.; 1.15 Journal; 2 at Mr. Davenpo[rt], dinner, conversed; 4 prayed, tea, conversed; 6 I Cor. xiii. 13; 7 lovefeast, supper, 

 

        con­versed, prayer; 9.30. 

 

Wed. 8.[6] - After preaching in the morning, I left many of the loving people in tears, and went on to Ballymoney; where I preached in the court-house to a very civil and a very dull congregation. From hence we went to Ballymena. In the afternoon I walked over to Gracehill,[7] the Moravian settlement. Beside many little houses for them that are married, they have three large buildings (on the same plan with that at Fulneck); having the chapel in the middle, the house for the single men on the left hand, that for the single women on the right. We spent one or two agreeable hours in seeing the several rooms. Nothing can exceed the neatness of the rooms, or the courtesy of the inhabitants. But if they have most courtesy, we have more love. We do not suffer a stranger, especially a Christian brother, to visit us without asking him either ‘to bite or sup.’ ‘But it is their way.’ I am sorry to say, so it is. When I called on Bishop Antone, in Holland, an old acquaintance, whom I had not seen for six-and-forty years, till both he and I were grown grey-headed, he did not ask me so much as to wet my lips.[8] Is not this a shameful way?-a way contrary not only to Christianity but to common humanity? Is it not a way that a Jew, a Mahometan, yea, an honest heathen, would be ashamed of?

 

Having now finished an ingenious book, Le Vayer’s[9] Animad versions on the Ancient Historians, I thought a few passages worth transcribing, as containing some uncommon remarks. He says more for the veracity of Herodotus than ever I saw before, and convinces me that his authority is more to be relied on than that of Polybius, who, ‘contrary to the truth of history,’ makes Scipio an example of continence in giving up the fair captive to

 

Wednesday 8

 

4 Prayed, letter; 6 Rev. xiv. I, etc., tea; 6.30 chaise; 8.30 Ballymunny; 9 Rom. iii. 27, chaise; 11 tea, conversed; 12 chaise, Ballimena; 2 within; 2.30 dinner; 3.15 walk; 5 read, chaise, tea; 6 Heb. iv. 14, lovefeast, supper, conversed; 10.

 

the Spanish prince; whereas, in fact, he never would, nor did, restore her to her husband.

 

There is not a more incredible relation in all the Roman history than that Cloelia, and all the Roman virgins who were hostages to the Etrurians, swam over the river Tiber to Rome. Surely they would scarce have dared to look upon so rapid a river, much less to plunge into it; especially when there was no necessity, for the peace was then almost concluded.[10]

 

Some writers affirm, and it is earnestly believed, that Belisarius was reduced to beggary. But it is a mere fable. On the contrary, the Emperor Justinian heaped titles and honours upon him to the last; although he recalled him out of Italy after he had been defeated there by the French. Procopius, who wrote largely concerning him, says not one word of his being reduced to poverty.

 

Thur. 9.-Between nine and ten I preached in the court-house at Antrim to a large, staring congregation. Thence we went on to Belfast, through miserable roads. Oh, where is common sense! At six I preached in the linen-hall to a large congregation, admirably well-behaved. I often wonder that, among so civil a people, we can do but little good.

 

Fri.10.-We came to Downpatrick, where, the preaching house being too small, we repaired, as usual, to the Grove; a most lovely plain, very near the venerable ruins of the cathedral. The congregation was as large as that at Belfast, but abundantly more awakened. The people in general were remarkably affec­tionate. They filled the large preaching-house at five in the morning; and we seemed to be as closely united with them as with one of our old societies in England.

 

Thursday 9

 

 4 Prayed, Isa. xxx. 18, tea; 6.30 chaise; 9 Antrim, tea, Rev. xx. 12; 11 chaise; 2 Belfast, on business; 3 dinner, within, on business, prayed, tea; 6 Job xxii. 21; 7 lovefeast, within, supper, prayer; 9.45.

 

Friday 10

 

4 Prayed, letters; 6 Lu. xx. 34, tea, conversed, prayer; 7.45 chaise, Send [-] [Saintfield], tea; 11 chaise, Downpatrick, letters; 3 dinner, conversed; 4 prayed, walk, tea, prayed; 61 Cor. i. 30, communion; 8.15 supper, within; 9.30.

 

­About eleven on Saturday I preached in the linen-hall at Ballynahinch to a numerous congregation. The country from hence to Lisburn[11] is wonderfully pleasant and fruitful. At six I preached in the Presbyterian meeting, a large and commodious building; and I was now with the most lively society that I have seen for many days; owing chiefly to the good providence of God bringing sister Johnson hither. She came indeed in an acceptable time; for J[ohn] W[ilson] and his wife, who for many years had been pillars, had left the society. They had one child, a son, about nineteen years old, of whom they were fond enough; by a fall from his horse he was killed in a moment, leaving his parents inconsolable; just then she came to Lisburn, and visited them. God opened her mouth, both in exhortation and prayer. They saw and acknowledged His hand. She was enabled to give up her child to God; he cried out, ‘Surely God has sent an angel from heaven to comfort us! Both of them joined the society, and are more in earnest for salvation than they have been for many years.

 

Sun. 12.-We had a solemn opportunity in the morning. In the afternoon, as no building could contain the people, I stood abroad and proclaimed. ‘There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons who need no repentance.’ The hearers (allowing five persons to a square yard) were seven or eight thousand.

 

At eleven I preached in the churchyard at Lurgan. The sun shone extremely hot; but we were sheltered from it, partly by the church and partly by the spreading trees. In the afternoon

 

Saturday 11

 

4 Prayed, Journal; 6 I Jo. ii. 12, Journal, tea, conversed, prayer; 8.30 chaise; 10.30 Ballynahinch; 11 Matt. vii. 24, Journal, dinner; 1.30 chaise; 3.30 Lisburn, within, letters, tea; 6 Psa. Ixii. 1, society, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Sunday 12

 

4 Prayed, Thought upon Marriage, tea, conversed; 8 Eph. iii. 14, Thoughts; 11 prayers; 1.30 at John Johnson, dinner, conversed, prayer, sleep; 4.15 tea, conversed; 5 Lu. xv. 7, communion; 7.45 prayed; 8 supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

I went on to Tanderagee, one of the pleasantest towns in Ireland, surrounded by woods and fruitful hills, with a clear river running between them. At six I stood in the Grove, where the tall elms shaded both me and the numerous congregation. Several gentle­men and several clergymen were among them, and all behaved with serious attention.

 

I lodged at the Rev. Dr. L[eslie]’s,[12] where my time seemed exceeding short.

 

Wed. 15. - The scene changed from a palace to a cottage at Derryanvil,[13] a small village surrounded by a bog, but inhabited by lively Christians. About eleven I preached in a shady orchard to an exceeding large congregation; and in the evening to a still larger at The Grange, a small village on the top of a hill. Many showers went to the right and left while I was preaching, but only a few drops fell upon us.

 

Thur. I6.[14] - About eight I preached at Richhill, where there were many backsliders, on, ‘How shall I give thee up, Ephraim?’ In the afternoon I came to Newry, where I never before had 

 

Monday 13

 

4 Prayed, Journal; 6 I Sam. xxx. 3, within to many, tea, prayer: 8.15 chaise; 10.30 Lurgan, on business; 11 Rom. i. 16, visited; 1.15 dinner, conversed; 2 chaise; 3.45 Tander[a]g[ee], within, tea, prayed; 6 Eze. xviii. 31, society, supper; 10.15.

 

Tuesday 14

 

4.15 Prayed, read, Lu. xii. 7, writ narrative, tea, writ narrative, Dr. Leslie; I visited; 2 at Dr. Lesl[ie]’s, dinner, conversed; 4 within to many, tea; 5 conversed; 6 Prov. iii. 17, walk, to Dr. L[eslie’s], supper, conversed; 9.45.

 

Wednesday 15

 

4 Prayed, writ narrative; 6 I Pet. iv. 7, in talk to many, tea, prayer; 8 chaise; 9.45 D[erry] Anvil; 10 writ narrative; 10.45 Acts ii. 4, communion; 1 dinner, conversed; 2 chaise; 3.30 The Grange; 4 writ Journal, prayed, tea; 6 Matt. v. 47, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Thursday 16

 

4, Prayed, Journal; 6 Matt. xii. 43, chaise; 8 Richhill, Hos. viii. 11; 9.45 chaise; 12.45 Newry, on business; 1.30 dinner, conversed, visited; 5 tea, conversed prayed I Kings xviii. 21, lovefeast, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30

 

any tolerable place to preach in; but the Presbyterians now offered me the use of their large and handsome meeting-house[15]; perhaps it never was filled before. I believe the occasion required me to speak very plain, which I did from Elijah’s question, ‘How long halt ye between two opinions? And I applied it to the conscience of each person, rich and poor, with all possible plainness.

 

Fri. 17.-Many of our friends from Dublin gave us the meeting at Drogheda, a large, handsome town, which seemed to me to be little inferior to Waterford. After much opposi­tion, a small society is formed here. I preached in the sessions house, a large, commodious room, which was quickly filled with rich and poor. The mayor himself and several of the aldermen took care that none should make any disturbance. God gave us an exceeding solemn season. After sermon I gave a short account of the rise of Methodism. I believe all were so satisfied that there will scarce be any more persecution of the Methodists at Drogheda.

 

Sat. 18.-Having visited all the places I proposed, I came back to Dublin just as well as I set out, my strength having been as my day.

 

Sun. 19.[16]-I exhorted a crowded audience to ‘bring forth       

 

Friday 17

 

4 Letter, prayed, Rev. xxi. 6, letter, tea; 7.30 chaise; 10.30 Dundalk; 11 tea; 11.45 chaise; 2 Drogheda, letters; 3 dinner, within, prayed, in talk; 4 letter; 5 tea, conversed upon Isai. Iv. 6, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Saturday 18

 

4 Prayed, Mark i. 15, tea; 6.30 chaise; 8.45 Man-of-War (see above vol. vi. p. 70), tea, within; 9.30 chaise; 10.30 Swords, in talk; 11 coach, sister Keen[e], etc., conversed, visited some; 2 at brother Keen[e]’s, dinner, letters, prayed, tea; 6 Acts ix. 31, letters, supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Sunday 19

 

4 Prayed, letters, tea; 8 I Pet. iv. 18. Mag.; 11 prayers, communion; 2 at Mr. Smi[th’s], dinner, conversed, prayer; 3.30 prayed, sleep, letter; 4.30 tea; conversed; 5.30 Lu. iii. 8, society, visited; 8.30 at brother Keen[e]’s, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

fruits meet for repentance,’ and afterwards pressed the exhorta­tion on our own society.

 

Mon. 20. - I visited one ill of a violent fever, and calmly triumphing over sickness, and pain, and death. In the evening I received a letter from a physician, whom, the next morning, I carried to see her. He thoroughly understood her case; and from the day she followed his prescription she began to recover. I feared very many of the society would be lost before my return; but I found only three. So that seven hundred and thirty-seven of them remained.

 

Wed. 22.[17]- I went with twelve or fourteen of our friends on the canal to Prosperous.[18] It is a most elegant way of travelling, little inferior to that of the track-suits in Holland. We had fifty or sixty persons in the boat, many of whom desired me to give them a sermon. I did so; and they were all attention. In the evening I preached at Prosperous to a numerous con­gregation on the general judgement. After preaching at five in the morning, Thursday the 23rd,[19] I took boat with a larger

 

Monday 20

 

4 Prayed, I Jo. i. I, class; 8 tea, conversed, prayer; 9 class; 1 visited; 2 at Mr. Boswell; 2 dinner, conversed, prayer; 3 class, letters; 5 tea, conversed, prayer, prayed; 6.30 I John i. 1, 2, within to some; 8 [-] supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Tuesday 21

 

4 Prayed, I Jo. i. 1-3, class; 7.30 letter; 8 tea, conversed, prayer; 9 letters; 10 class; 12.30 letters, visited; 2 dinner, conversed, prayer, letter; 4 class; 5 tea, conversed, prayer, prayed; 6.15 read the letters; 8.30 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.45.

 

Wednesday 22

 

4 Prayed, I J o. i. 2, 4, class, letters; 8 tea, conversed; 10 class, letters, visited, coach; 1.45 Sand[y]mount; 2 dinner, conversed; 3 letters; 4.30 tea, conversed, walk, coach; 6.30 Lu. xxii. 19, the leaders, coach, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.45.

 

Thursday 23

 

4 Prayed, I Jo. i. 5, 7, class; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, letter, writ Con­ference; 10 class; 12 class; I visited; 2. 15 dinner, conversed, prayer, visited some; 5 tea, conversed, prayer, visited; 6.30 I Jo. 8-10; 7.30 select society, coach, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.45.

 

company than before, who, about eleven, desired me to preach; for which they appeared to be exceeding thankful.

 

Tues. 28.-By the good providence of God, I finished the eighty-second year of my age. Is anything too hard for God? It is now eleven years since I have felt any such thing as weariness. Many times I speak till my voice fails, and I can speak no longer; frequently I walk till my strength fails, and I can walk no farther; yet even then I feel no sensation of

 

Friday 24

 

4 Prayed, letters; 6 class, letters; 10 class; 12 visited, at Dr. Fish[er]’s; 2.15 dinner, prayer; 4.30 tea, conversed, prayer; 5.30 prayed; 6.30 Matt. xxi. 21, the singers, coach; 8.30 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.45.

 

Saturday 25

 

4 Prayed, letters; 8.30 tea, conversed, Hospital, Ranelagh! 12 visited, letter; 2 at Mr. Smi[th’s], dinner, conversed, prayer; 4 prayed; 5 tea, conversed, prayer; 6 Acts xi. 26, garden; 8 supper, conversed, prayer, on business; 9.45.

 

Sunday 26[20]

 

4 Prayed, letters; 7 tea, conversed, prayer; 8 Psa. cvi. 24, letter, visited; 11 prayers, communion; 2.30 dinner, conversed, prayer; 4 prayed; 4.30 tea, conversed, prayer; 5.30 Lu. ix. 62! Society! 8 supper, conversed; 9 prayer; 9.30.

 

Monday 27

 

4 Prayed, I Jo. ii. 1-10, letters; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, letter; 10 Trustees, letter; 1 visited, on business; 2 dinner, conversed, prayer; 4 at brother Ashton’s, tea, conversed; 5 at S.                ; 5 tea, conversed, prayer; 6.30 I Jo. ii. 11, 12, within, supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Tuesday 28

 

4 Prayed, Psa. cxvi; 12 writ society; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, society; 2 at A. Keen’s, dinner, conversed; 3.30 society, prayed; 5.15 at sister Blashf[ord], tea, conversed, prayer; 6.30 I Cor. vi. 20; 7.30 the bands, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.45.

 

Wednesday 29

 

4 Prayed, letters; 6 walk; 7 the boat, conversed; 9 tea, within; 10.30 Provo iii. 17; 11 walk; 12 boat, chaise; 2.15 Prosp[erous], read; 3 dinner; 4 writ society; 5 prayed, tea, conversed; 6 Rev. xx. 12, society, supper, prayer; 9.30

 

weariness, but am perfectly easy from head to foot. I dare not impute this to natural causes; it is the will of God.

 

Thursday 30

 

4 Prayed, letter, Ecc. ix. 10, tea; 6.30 chaise; 8 the boat, writ society; 9.30 tea, read, I Cor. xiii. 1-3; 3 at Mr. Do[ -‘s], dinner; 4.15 prayed; 5 at Miss Moor[e]’s; 6 conversed, prayer, prayed, I Jo. ii. 15, etc., visited, within, prayer; 9.30.

---

 

[1]Probably Mrs. Roe.

 

[2] On June 2 he wrote from Killyman, near Armagh, to his brother Charles, referring to the death of Vincent Perronet and to some secret which the old man’s son Vincent charged him not to reveal

 

till he came to die. He urges him to talk with, as well as inquire concerning, an unnamed clergyman, adding, ‘Many times you see farther into men than I do.’ With this might be usefully compared episodes in Georgia and elsewhere, in which the two brothers were concerned. He declares that the Patriots in Ireland [the reference probably is to the United Volunteer movement) ‘are nobody. They are quite scattered . . . only the work of God flourishes, spreading and deepen­ing on every side.’ (Works, vol. xii. p.152.)

 

[3] The Rev. Charles Caulfield, rector of Killyman, of the family of the Earl of Charlemont, Wesley’s host on several occasions, ‘a true Christian and a faith­ful friend of Methodism.’ See Crook­shank’s Hist. of Meth. in Ireland, vol. i. pp. 402, 461; also below, p. 511.

 

[4]Now Limavady.

 

[5] In the barrack yard, as on June 6, 1787.

 

[6] He wrote from Coleraine to Alexander Knox, who suffered from fits and thought

 

he must therefore imprison himself. Wesley argues the case, appealing to common sense (new ed. Wesley Letters).

 

[7] Still in use by the Moravians.

 

[8] See above, vol. vi. p. 428.

 

[9] Incorrectly spelt ‘Vrayer’ in former editions, and in W.H.S. vol. iv. p. 235.

 

[10] For Cloelia and Etrurians see The Student’s Rome, p. 55.

 

[11] At Lisburn, on June 11, he finished and signed a curious tract entitled A Thought upon Marriage, in which he utilized for spiritual purposes reminis­cences of his own early life (Arm. Mag. 1785, P. 533).

 

[12] Rector of Tanderagee. See above, vol. vi. pp. 68, 201.

 

[13] Near Portadown, where a year earlier a chapel had been built. For most of these details see Crookshank’s Meth. in Ireland, vol. i. p. 403.

 

[14] He wrote from Dublin to Freeborn Garrettson (Works, vol. xiii. p. 69).

 

[15] During this year a chapel was built in William Street on ground given by Mr. Boyd, who had joined the society.

 

[16] He wrote from Dublin to his brother Charles, rejoicing in the prosperity of the work and in ‘a set of excellent young preachers’ (Works, vol. xii. p. 153).

 

[17]             He wrote to Zechariah Yewdall (Works, vol. xiii. p. 15).

 

[18]             Where Captain Brooke had established cotton-mills. See above, p. 68.

 

[19] He wrote from Athlone to his brother Charles (Works, vol. xii. p. 153).

 

        [20]On June 26 he wrote from Dublin to Miss Ritchie: ‘The scandal of the cross is ceased; and all the Kingdom, rich and poor, Papists and Protestants, behave with courtesy, nay, and seeming good-will’ (Works, vol. xiii. p. 65).