PART THE TWENTIETH

 

Sep 1784

 

SEPT. 1, Wed.-Being now clear in my own mind, I took a step which I had long weighed in my mind, and appointed Mr. Whatcoat and Mr. Vasey to go and serve the desolate sheep in America.

 

Thur. 2.-[I added to them three more; which, I verily believe, will be much to the glory of   God.[1]]

 

SEPT. 1, Wednesday

 

4 Prayed, ordained R[ichar]d Whatcoat and T[homas] Vasey, letters;8 tea, conversed; 9 letters, 

 

writ narrative; 2 dinner, conversed, prayer, visited some; 5 tea, conversed, prayer, visited; 

 

6.30 prayer, Rom. ii. 28! 8 at sister Jo[hnson’s], supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Thursday 2

 

4 Prayed, ordained Dr. Coke [‘as a superintendent, by the imposition of my hands, and prayer (being assisted by other ordained ministers).’ See facsimile facing next page, also Wesley’s letter below, Sept.10, and Dr. Simon’s art, in W.H.S. vol. ix. p. 145], Mag.; 8 tea, read Mag.; 12 visited, at Mr. Green’s, dinner, conversed, prayer, chaise, visited; 4 Keinsham [Keynsham], within, read; 5 tea, conversed, prayed; 7 Ecc. ix. 10, prayer,          supper, conversed; 9.30.

 

Fri. 3.- I preached at Guinea Street,[2] and the word of God was with power; in Consequence of which there was a large congregation at five in the morning, although they had not been accustomed before to any service at that hour.

 

Sat. 4.- In the evening I preached at Bath.

 

Sun.5.- I read prayers, preached, and administered the sacrament to a large congregation; but it was larger in the afternoon, and largest of all in the evening, when I opened and applied ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.’ And many were laid in the balance and found wanting, even of those who had often appealed to this very rule.[3]

 

Friday 3

 

4 Prayed, writ narrative; 6 Matt. viii. 13! at Miss Bishop’s, prayer; 8 chaise, at Mr. Ire[and’s], tea, conversed, prayer, chaise; to at home, letters;11 prayers; 12 the females; 1 prayer, at Mr. Ca[stleman’s], dinner, conversed; 3 on business, prayed; 6.30 Matt. Viii. 25, 31! supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Saturday 4

 

4 Prayed; 5 Gu[ine]a Street, I Pet. i. 12, read, tea, conversed; 7 on business; 8 visited; 9 letters; 12 walk; 

 

1 at sister Roach, dinner, con­versed, prayer; 2.45 chaise; 4.45 Bath, tea, conversed, prayer; 6 on         business; 6.30 Lu. xii. 7! supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Sunday 5

 

4 Prayer, Mag.; 7.15 tea, conversed; 8 class; 9.30 Mag.; 10.30 read prayers; i Kings xix. 13! Communion; 1.15 dinner, conversed, sleep; 2.30 Lu, x, 23! class, tea, conversed, prayed; 6 Lu. X. 27, society, supper, prayer; 9.30 

 

Wed; 8.- I preached at Kendalshire,[4] where I do not remem­ber to have been for near forty years. On the two following days I preached at Clutton and Coleford. After preaching to an earnest congregation at Coleford, I met the society. They contained themselves pretty well during the exhortation; but when I began to pray the flame broke out. Many cried aloud, many sunk to the ground, many trembled exceedingly; but all seemed to be quite athirst for God, and penetrated by the presence of His power.[5]

 

Monday 6

 

4 Prayed, Heb. iv. 1-6, class; 7.15 visited; 8 tea, conversed, prayer; 9 writ to Mr. Pitt; 1 dinner, conversed, prayer; 2 letter; 3.30 read, prayed; 5 tea, conversed, walk, prayed; 6.30 Lu. x. 27! the bands! supper, conversed, prayer;. 9.30.

 

Tuesday 7

 

4 Prayed, Heb. vi. I, the leaders, Mag.; 8 tea, conversed, walk; 9.30 Mag.; 10.45 chaise; 12 Keinsham, Mark ix. 23, dinner, chaise; 3.30 at home, writ narrative, tea, prayed; 6.30 I Pet. i. 12, the leaders, supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Wednesday 8

 

4 Prayed, letters; 8 tea, conversed, letters, [cipher] *; 1.15 [-]; 2.15 dinner, conversed, on business; 4 chaise; 5.15 Kendalshire, tea, Jo. v. 8, chaise, the school, supper; 9 prayer; 9.30. 

 

Sun. 12.- Dr. Coke read prayers, and I preached, in the new room. Afterward I hastened to Kingswood, and preached under the shade of that double row of trees which I planted about forty years ago.[6] How little did anyone then think that they would answer such an intention!  The sun shone as hot as it used to do even in Georgia; but his rays could not pierce our canopy and our Lord, meantime, shone upon many souls, and refreshed them that were weary.

 

Thursday 9

 

4 Prayed, the children, chaise; 7 at home, tea, letters; 10 chaise; 12 Clutton, dinner, Isa. lxvi. 7, chaise; 5          Colef[ord], prayed; 6 Matt. viii. I3! society! supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Friday 10.

 

4 Prayer, communion, visited, chaise; 7.45 Norton, tea, conversed, prayer; 9 chaise; 12 at home, on           business; 1 prayer; 2 at brother Stock’s, dinner, conversed, prayer, on business; 4.30 chaise; 5.30 at the school, tea, prayed, writ narrative; supper, conversed, prayer 9.30

 

Saturday 11[7]

 

4 Prayed, writ narrative, the children, letter; 7 tea, conversed; 8 chaise; 9 letters; 12.30 walk; 1 at  brother Emblem’s, dinner, conversed, prayer, visited; 2.45 prayed, letter, prayer; 5 at sister Corsley, tea, conversed, prayer; 6 Isa. i. 3! Pen[ry]; 8 at brother Ca[stleman’s], supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Sunday 12

 

4 Prayed, letters; 8 tea, on business; 9.30 prayers, Gal. V.22, communion, chaise; 1 at the school, dinner; 2 Psa. cxlvi. 4! chaise, tea, prayed; 5 Matt. xiii. 3, etc., society, singers; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Monday 13

 

4 Prayed, I Pet. i. 3-6, letters; 8 tea, conversed, letters, visited; 12 select society; 1 at brother Hunt’s, dinner, conversed; 2.30 writ narrative; 3 prayed; 4 visited; 5 tea, conversed, prayer; 6 letter; 6.45  I Pet. i. 7, at Mr. Ca[stleman’s], supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Mon. 13.- I visited one[8] that was confined to her bed, and in much pain, yet unspeakably happy, rejoicing evermore, praying without ceasing, and in everything giving thanks; yea, and testifying that she had enjoyed the same happiness, with­out any intermission, for two-and-twenty years.

 

Tues. 14. - I preached at Bath and Bradford; Wednesday the 15th, at Trowbridge[9] and Frome.

 

Thur 16. - I went to Ditcheat, a village near Castle Cary, where I found a friendly, hospitable family.[10] I preached in the evening to a numerous and earnest congregation.

 

Fri. 17. - The house would not contain half the people. Hence we passed through a delightful country to the Nunnery, a mere elegant trifle, near King Alfred’s Tower[11]; a lofty, tri angular building, standing in the height of the country, on the very spot (as is supposed) where he drew up his army against the Danes. About eleven I preached at Castle Cary, to a quiet and attentive multitude. In the evening I preached at Shepton Mallet, where the people at length know the day of their visitation.

 

Tuesday 14

 

4 Prayed, sermon; 8 tea, on business; 9.30 chaise; 12 Ba[th], dinner; 1 Rom. xii. 2! 2.55 chaise; 4.15  Bradf[ord], tea, conversed, prayed; 6 Matt. iv. 10, society! on business ; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Wednesday 15

 

4 Prayed, Rom. xiii. ii, etc. 1 sermon, chaise ; 8 Trowbr[idge], tea, within; 9 Matt. viii. 2! chaise; 11.30 Frome, at Mr. Blunt’s, sermon; 1.30 dinner, within; 2.30 sermon, prayed, tea, conversed; 6 2  John 8! society, supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Thursday 16

 

4 Prayed, Heb. ii. 3 I sermon, tea; 7 chaise; 10 garden; 11 chaise, the Tower, chaise; 2.30 Ditche[a]t, dinner, conversed; 4 prayed, tea; 5 2 Cor. viii. 9! Society! 7 sermon, prayed; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Friday 17

 

4 Prayed, Acts xxii. 16! Sermon; 7.30 tea, conversed, sermon; 10 chaise, sermon; 11 Isa. Iv. 6, 7! Sermon; 1.15 dinner, conversed, prayer; 3 chaise, Shepton, within, tea; 5 conversed, prayed; 6 Matt. viii. 13, society, sermon, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Sat. 18. - I preached in the neat, cheerful church at Mid­somer Norton.

 

Monday the 20th, Tuesday and Wednesday, I met the classes; but found no increase in the society.[12] No wonder, for discipline had been quite neglected; and, without this, little good can be done among the Methodists.

 

Thur. 23.- I preached at Paulton about one; and at Pensford in the evening. The gentlemen at Chew Magna having sent me word I was welcome to preach in the church, I went thither the next morning; but they now sent me word they had changed their minds; so I preached in our own preaching-house on ‘If we let Him alone, all men will believe on Him.’

 

Saturday 18

 

4 Prayed, I Cor. x. 13, sermon, tea, conversed; 8.30 chaise; 10.15 Norton, sermon; prayers, Matt. xix. 20! Sermon; 1 dinner, conversed; 2 chaise; 4.30 on business, tea; 6 Isa. i. 3, Pen[ry], at Mr. Ca[stle­man’s], supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Sunday 19

 

4 Prayed, letters; 6.15 chaise; 7 class, tea, class; 9 John iv. 24! Com­munion, class; 12.30 dinner; 1.30 sleep; 1.45 Gal. vi. 14, society, chaise, prayed, tea; 5 Phil. iv. 7, society, the singers, supper, con­versed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Monday 20

 

4 Prayed, I Pet. i. 16, letter; 7 class, tea, class; 1 dinner; 2 class; 5 tea, within, prayed; 6.45 I Pet. i. 16! at Mr. Ca[stleman’s], supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30. I Pet. i. 16,

 

Tuesday 21

 

4 Prayed, letters; 6 class, tea, letters, class; 1 dinner, conversed; 2 class, letters, prayer; 5 tea, conversed; 6.15 prayed, read the letters, the leaders; 8.30 at Mr. Ca[stleman’s], within, prayer ; 9.45.

 

Wednesday 22

 

4 Prayed, letter; 6 class, writ society; 8 at brother Copel’s, tea, writ society; 10 class; dinner, conversed; 2 class ; 4 tea, conversed; 5 Rom. xiii. 10, class; 7 walk, at Mr. Bow[-]’s, writ society, prayed, Supper, prayers; 9.30.

 

Thursday 23

 

4 Prayed, writ society, tea, conversed, prayer, walk; 8.15 on business, chaise, at Mr. Punter’s, coffee, prayer; 10.30 chaise; 12 Paulton, dinner, conversed; 1 I Sam. xx. 3! writ society, prayer; 4 chaise, Pensf[ord], tea, conversed, Acts xvi. 31, chaise, at brother Wa., supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Friday 24

 

4 Prayed, society; 8 tea, society, letters; 11 chaise; 11.45 Chew [Magna], John xi. 48, dinner; 2 chaise; 2.30 [Chew] Stoke, read narrative, prayed, tea, Psa. cxliv. 16 [sic], read, supper, within, prayer; 9.30.

 

Saturday 25

 

4 Prayed, Gal. v. 5, on business, tea; 7 chaise; 8.30 at home, writ class; 2 at Mr. J., dinner, conversed, prayer; 4 chaise, visited some, tea, conversed; 6 Isa. i. 31 Pen[ry]; 8 at Mr. Ca[stleman’s], supper, conversed, prayer; 9.45.

 

Sunday 26[13]

 

4 Prayed, letters, tea, on business; 9.30 read prayers, Deut. xxix. 10! communion; 1 dinner, conversed, letter, prayers, Eph. iii. 14, etc., tea, prayed; 5 Heb. viii. 10, etc., society, the singers; 8 supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Monday 27

 

4 Prayed, I Pet. i. 17-20, writ class, tea; 8 chaise; 10 at Dr. Camplin’s, tea, conversed, chaise; 12 Jo. iv. 24! dinner, conversed, chaise; 4.30 visited, tea, conversed, prayed; 6.45 I Pet. i. 24! at Mr. C[astleman’s], supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Tuesday 28

 

4 Prayed, letter, writ class; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, writ class; 1 at brother Flor., dinner, writ; 2.30 letters, prayed; 5 prayer, tea, conversed, prayed; 6.30 2 Cor. xi. 14! the leaders; 8.30 at Mr. C[astleman’s], supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Wednesday 29

 

4 Prayed, letter; 6 writ the bands; 1 dinner, conversed, visited many; 5.15 tea, conversed, visited; 6.30 Heb. vii. 25, society, at Mr. Thomas’s, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Thur. 30.- I had a long conversation with John McGeary[14], one of our American preachers, just come to England. He gave a pleasing account of the work of God there continually increasing, and vehemently importuned me to pay one more visit to America before I die. Nay, I shall pay no more visits to new worlds, till I go to the world of spirits[15].

 

Thursday 30

 

4 Prayed, Zech. iv. 7, writ sermon; 7.30 tea, Jo[hn] McGeary, sermon; 9.30 sermon; 11 Newgate, prayers, Psa. cxlvi. 4, walk; 2 Hann[am]; 3 dinner, conversed; 3.30 walk, at the School, walk; 5.15 tea, prayed, I Pet. ii. 1, the bands, supper, prayer; 9.30.

---

 

[1] A comparison of early editions of the Journal shows that, either by accident or of purpose, the paragraph relating to Thursday, Sept. 2, was entirely omitted edition of 1789. For a discussion of this error in the text see an interesting article by Rev. T. E. Brigden, her W.H.S. vol. vii. P.8. Now that we have access to Wesley’s Diary, this is no longer a matter of importance. We follow Diary day by day. It may be re­marked, however, that in 1854 Dr. Elijah Hoole had access to this Diary, and wrote on the last fly-leaf, at the end of the of the accounts, but upside down, a list of the ordinations with their dates as they appear in the Diary. The house in which this service was held was ascertained with ‘approximate certainty’ by the late H. J. Foster as No. 6 

 

Dighton Street. See above, vol. vi. p. 121. See a long article discussing the question in WH.S. vol. ii. pp. 99-109. The correspondence preliminary to these ordi­nations and the statements of John and Charles Wesley, Dr. Coke, Pawson, Dr. Whitehead, Henry Moore, and others are too voluminous for insertion in these notes. The student, however, who wishes to have a clear and reliable statement of this, the most serious transaction in Wesley’s life, may read with advantage the authorities referred to in this note. Tyerman’s contribution to the elucidation of a complicated subject is in the highest degree valuable, because of the original documents-some of them, when he wrote, still in manuscript (Life of Wesley, vol. iii. pp. 426-48). Henry Moore had special sources of information, and was on terms of intimate friendship with John Wesley. Referring to Wes­ley’s famous sermon on the ministerial office (Heb. v. 4), he says, ‘I was with Mr. Wesley in London when he published that sermon,’ and he proceeds to narrate the story of an interview with him in which he frankly discussed part of the argument in the sermon. (Life of Wesley, vol. ii. pp. 316-347.) See also Briggs’s Life of Asbury, pp. 150-7; A New History of Methodism, 1909, vol. i. pp. 230-32, 372; and for the situation created by the Revolution, with the American view of the ordinations and the organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church, ibid. vol. ii. Pp. 80-92. A History of Methodism, by J. Robinson Gregory, vol. i. pp. 121, 150-54, is helpful also, and especially Dr. Smith’s History of Methodism, vol. i. book ii. chap. v., and Stevens’s Compendious History of American Methodism, abridged from the Author’s History of the Methodist Episcopal Church, chap. xiii.

 

The following statement respecting this grave transaction was written, some time before his death, for this standard edition of Wesley’s Journal by the Rev. Thomas McCullagh. It gives the facts succinctly and correctly:

 

‘This record, for Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, needs explanation. General readers might infer that it was simply an account of the embarkation of Dr. Coke and two lay assistants for America. No mention is made of James Creighton, and yet he was present as a presbyter of the Church of England to assist Wesley in the appointment of Dr. Coke as “Superintendent” of the Methodist Church then about to be constituted in the United States of America; and also to assist Wesley and Coke in the ordination of Whatcoat and Vasey to the office and work of the Christian ministry. Until now the American Methodists had been deprived of the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. As this act of ordination was the occasion of surprise and offence some of Wesley’s own friends, and most all to his brother Charles, Wesley at next Conference (1785) made a statement in explanation of his conduct and in vindication of his motives (see Octavo Minutes vol. i. pp.179,180). It was also addressed as “a letter to Dr. Coke, Mr. Asbury and our Brethren in North America, (Works, vol. xiii. 251, and new Wesley Letters). The letter briefly ref to the “very uncommon train of providences” which have led to the erection of States in America, independent of English Government and of all ecclesiastical authority. It explains Wesley’s right as a presbyter to ordain, which hitherto he had refrained from exercising in England. It asserts the essential difference between England and America, where, “for hundreds of miles together there is none either to baptize or to administer the Lord’s Supper.” He has “accordingly appointed Dr. Coke and Mr. Francis Asbury to be joint Superin­tendents over our brethren in North America: as also Richard Whatcoat and Thomas Vasey to act as Elders among them, by baptizing and administering the Lord’s Supper. And I have prepared a Liturgy.” He further explains why he objects to an appeal to “the English Bishops to ordain part of our preachers for America.” The strongest of his rea­sons is the last: “As our American brethren are now totally disentangled, both from the State and from the English Hierarchy, we dare not entangle them again, either with the one or the other. They are now at full liberty simply to follow the scriptures and the primitive church. And we judge it best that they should stand fast in that liberty wherewith God has so strangely made them free.”’

 

If the deed of declaration created the English Conference, this remarkable document declared the ecclesiastical freedom and independent authority of the Methodist Church in the United States of America.

   

[2] The Guinea Street Chapel has given place to Redcliff Church parish room.

 

[3] On Sept. 6 he wrote from Bath to the Prime Minister, William Pitt, on behalf of an old friend, Lieut. Webb: ‘On my mentioning formally some of his services to Lord North, his Lordship was pleased to order him a hundred a year; but, as it has since been reduced, it is hardly a maintenance for himself and his family. If you would be so good as to remember him in this, or any other way, I should esteem it a particular favour.’ Incident­ally he refers to some kindness shown by Pitt to his nephew John Ellison, who was an officer in the customs and a son of Wesley's sister Susanna. But the letter is chiefly remarkable for a, discussion of national finance and certain high problems of political economy. See W.M. Mag. 1850, p. 161.

 

[4] See above, vol. ii. p. 332.

 

[5] On Sept. 9 he wrote the Preface to the Sunday Service of the Methodists in the United States of America, with other Occasional Services. There are four principal alterations from the Liturgy of the English Church. 

 

(1) The Holy Days are omitted; (2) the Service of the Lord's Day is shortened; (3) sentences in the Offices of Baptism, and for the Burial of the Dead, are omitted; and (4) many psalms and parts of others, ‘as being highly improper for the mouths of a Christian congregation,’ are left out. With a ‘Superintendent,’ Elders, and a Book of Common Prayer and Offices, Wesley equipped the new-born Methodist Episcopal Church of America. (Works, vol. xiv. p; 304.) A copy of the first edition of this revised Book of Common Prayer, with Wesley’s signature, is in the Allan Library at Westminster. On the same day he wrote to Mrs. Dorothea Johnson, of Dublin, congratulating her on her marriage to his ‘good old friend John Johnson’ (new ed. Wesley Letters). 

 

[6] They were elm-trees. See above vol. vi. p. 129. 

 

[7] He wrote from Bristol (apparently to William Thompson, then Assistant in the Manchester Circuit) respecting bro. Eels’- a disciplinary letter (new ed. Wesley Letters). For William Eels, see Atmore’s Memorial, p, II 6,

 

[8] Probably Ann Noble. See below, P.58.

 

[9]After a few years’ trial in Lower Oliphant’s Row, the preachers abandoned Trowbridge. On this, or some later occasion, but before Sept. 12, 1788, ‘having put on his canonicals in Mr. Knapp’s parlour, Wesley preached near the bridge to a large assembly’ (J. Dyer). In 1790 John Valton opened a new chapel near the bridge. 

 

(W.H. S. vol. vi. p.115; and vol. viii. pp. 117,118.) 

 

[10] See W.H.S. vol. v. p. 17

 

[11] The text and Diary differ as to the visit to the Tower. The Itinerary makes the Diary correct. The gardens are those of Stourhead House, on which Wesley wrote with restrained enthusiasm on Sept. 12, 1776. On the estate is the Nunnery, now called the Convent. Erected about 1772, probably as a resting-house, its name appears to be due to its internal adornments. The Tower, erected about 1766 on the summit (850 feet) of King settle Hill, is 155 feet high. See WH.S. Vol. vii. p. 136.

   

[12] At Bristol. The original manuscript roll is in the possession of Mrs. Alfred Hall of Bristol. See above, vol. vi. p. 447.

   

[13] He wrote from Bristol to John Johnson, who, with his useful wife, had removed to, Lisburn: on the same day he wrote to Mrs. Johnson, telling her of the providential arrival in Dublin of Sister Rogers, who would step into her place (new ed. Wesley Letters; see also Memoirs of Mrs. Dorothea Johnson).

 

[14] The index of Jackson's ed. of Wesley's Works confuses Thomas McGeary, Head Master of Kingswood School from 1790 to 1793, with John, the Newfoundland missionary, for whose ex­periences cf. Wesley's letter, Tyerman's Life of Wesley, vol. iii. p. 493.

 

[15] On Oct.1 he wrote the Preface to A Pocket Hymn-Book for the use of Christians of all Denominations. See Green's Wesley Bibliog. No. 385. The Diary shows that during several days of this month he was engaged on ‘Hymns.’