AUG. 1, Friday

 

4 Prayed, writ narrative; 6 Conf[erence]; 8 writ letters; 9 Conf[erence]; 12 the females; 1 dinner, conversed; 2 Conf[erence]; 4.30 sleep, letter, prayed; 6.30 Ezek. xxxiii. 7, within, supper; 9 prayer; 9.30.

 

Saturday 2

 

4 Prayed, writ narrative; 6 Conf[erence]; 8 tea, letter; 9 Conf[erence]; 12 letters; 1 dinner, conversed, prayer; 3.30 letters; 5 tea, con­versed, prayed, on business; 6 writ letters, on business; 8 supper, conversed, on business, prayer; 9.30.

 

Sunday 3

 

4 Prayed, ordained six,[1] [-] letter; 8 the preachers, prayed; 9.30 prayers, 2 Kings v. 10! 11.30 communion; 15 dinner, conversed; 2.30 sleep; 3 the leaders, tea, prayed; 5 prayers, Heb. vi. I; 6.30 society, within, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Mon. 4-At five we had a good evening congregation; and I believe many felt the power of the word; or rather, of God speaking therein.

 

One of the most important points considered at this Con­ference, was that of leaving the Church. The sum of a long conversation was, (1) That, in a course of fifty years, we had neither premeditately nor willingly varied from it in one article either of doctrine or discipline; (2) That we were not yet Con­scious of varying from it in any point of doctrine; (3) That we have in a course of years, out of necessity, not choice, slowly and warily varied in some points of discipline, by preaching in the fields, by extemporary prayer, by employing lay preachers, by forming and regulating societies, and by holding yearly Con­ferences. But we did none of these things till we were convinced we could no longer omit them but at the peril of our souls.

 

Monday 4

 

4 Prayed, 2 Cor. x. 4! Conf[erence]; 8 tea, conversed, letter; 9 Con­f[erence]; 12 letters; 1 dinner, conversed; 2 Conf[erence]; 4 letters, prayed; 6.30 2 Cor. x. 4! in talk, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Tuesday 5[2]

 

4 Prayed, ordained six Presb[yters][3]; 6 Conf[erence]; 8 tea, conversed, letter; 9 Conf[erence]; 12 on business, letter; 1 dinner, conversed; 2.30 letters; 4 letters; 5 tea, prayed; 6.30 supper, the leaders; 9 prayer; 9.30.

 

Wed. 6.[4] -Our Conference ended, as it began, in great peace. We kept this day as a fast, meeting at five, nine, and one, for prayer; and concluding the day with a solemn watch-night.

 

The three following days I retired, revised my papers, and finished all the work I had to do in London.

 

Sun. 10. -I was engaged in a very unpleasing work, the discharge of an old servant. She had been my housekeeper at West Street for many years, and was one of the best house­keepers I had had there; but her husband was so notorious a drunkard that I could not keep them in the house any longer. She received her dismission in an excellent spirit, praying God to bless us all.

 

Wednesday 6

 

4 Prayed, ordained A[lexander] M[athe]r, letter; 6 Conf[erence]; 8 letters; 9 prayer, letter; 11 Conf[erence]; 1 letters; 2.30 dinner, conversed, prayer; 4.15 communion; 5 tea, prayed, letters, supper; 8.30 2 Cor. vi. 2! 9-45.

 

Thursday 7

 

4.30 Prayed, ordained A[lexander] M[ather]! letters; 8 tea, within, Nor[th] G[reen], letters; 1.30 dinner, conversed, prayer; 3 on business, prayed; 5 at T. O[livers] tea, within; 6.30 prayed, read narrative; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9 N[orth] G[reen], conversed, prayer; 9.45.

 

Friday 8

 

4 Prayed, letters, Codicil; 12 the females, letters; 2 dinner, conversed, Mag., prayed; 5 tea, conversed, visited; 7 within, prayed; 8 supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Saturday 9

 

4 Prayed, letter, Mag.; 8 tea, conversed, prayer; 9 Mag.; 2 at Mr. Ellis[on’s], dinner, conversed; 4.45 prayed, tea, conversed, prayed, prayer; 6 conversed; 8 supper, conversed, prayer, on business; 9.30.

 

Sunday 10

 

4 Prayed, Mag., coach, Chapel; 9.30 prayers, Psa. li. 10, etc., communion ; 1 dinner, conversed; 2.30 sleep, the leaders, letters; 4 Heb. xiii. 20, 21, tea, prayer; 6 mail coach, together; 9.30 sleep; 12.

 

I preached in the morning at West Street to a large congre­gation; but to a far larger at the new chapel in the evening. It seems the people in general do not expect that I shall remain among them a great while after my brother; and that, therefore they are willing to hear while they can. In the evening we set out in the mail-coach, and early in the morning got to Portsmouth.

 

They have lately built a neat preaching-house in the town something larger than that at Deptford. It is well situated near the midst of the town, and has three well-constructed galleries. I preached at noon to a large and well behaved audience, and to a much larger in the evening. I believe the word took place in many souls. All went away still as night.

 

Tues. 12. -Joseph Bradford preached at five in the morning. I preached in the new house about six in the evening, and guarded them against that deadly Antinomianism which has so often choked the good seed here. In the evening I preached at our house on the common. Afterwards, meeting the society, I took a solemn leave of them, which I hope they will remember if they see me no more.

 

Wed. 13. -We crossed over to Sarum, where I preached in the evening, with much enlargement of heart.

 

Thur. 14. -Setting out about three, we came to Gloucester­ early in the afternoon. I spoke very plain, both in the evening and the morning.

 

Monday 11

 

4 Together; 6 Portsmo[uth], tea, conversed, sleep, sermon, 2 Cor. viii. 9; 1 dinner, sermon; 5 tea, conversed, prayed; 6 Matt. xi. 28, society; 8 within, supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Tuesday 12

 

4 Prayed, sermon; 8 tea, conversed, prayer; 9 sermon; 12 Heb. xii. 14, walk, at brother Wells; 1.45 dinner, conversed, prayer; 3 walk; 4.30 at brother C[-], the children; 5 tea, conversed, prayed; 6.15 Jo. iv. 24; 7 society; 8 supper, within, prayer; 9.15.

 

Wednesday 13

 

3 Tea, conversed; 4 mail coach; 7.45 Southampton, tea; 8.15 coach; 11.30 Sarum; 12 writ narrative; 1.30 dinner, conversed; 2.15 letter, prayed; 4 visited, tea, conversed, prayer, walk; 6.30 Prov. iii. 17! 7.30 prayed; 8 supper, conversed, prayer, 9.30.

 

Thursday 14

 

3.15 Chaise; 6.30 Devizes, chaise; 9 Chipp[enha]m, tea, chaise, Malm[e]s­bur[y]; 10.30 chaise; 12.30 Fo[r]ster, dinner, chaise; 2.30 Glou[ce]ster, on business; 4 writ narrative; 5 tea, conversed; 6 Mark iv. 3! within; 8 supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Fri. 15. -We went on to Monmouth; but Mr. G--[5] has done with us; so I lodged with my old friend Mr. Johnson; and instead of that lovely young woman, S[ally] B[aker],[6] who is removed to Cowbridge, met with her younger sister, who more than supplies her place. She is a jewel indeed; full of faith and love, and zealous of good works.

 

I preached both in the evening and the next morning with the demonstration of the Spirit; and all the congregation, rich and poor, appeared to be sensible of it.

 

Sat. 16. - We had an easy journey to Brecon, where I preached in the evening.

 

Sun. 17. -I preached in the room at eight, on the fruit of the Spirit. In the evening I preached in the spacious town-hall, so filled as it had never been before. I think there is a little company here that are truly alive to God.

 

Mon. 18. -I went on to Carmarthen,[7] and preached at six, on 2 Cor. v. 19; and again at five in the morning, Tuesday the 19^th when the room was well filled.

 

                        Friday 15

 

4 Prayed, Rom. xiii. 11! within, tea, prayer; 7.30 chaise; 9-45 Mi[tcheldean], tea, chaise; 1.30 Mon[mouth], at brother John[son]’s, dinner, letters; 3 visited some; 5 tea, conversed; 6 Heb. xii. 14, within; 8.30 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Saturday 16

 

4 Prayed, Rom. xii. I, letter, tea; 7 chaise; 10 Abergavenny; 11 chaise; 2.30 Brecon, at Mr. Chu[rchey’s], dinner, letters, prayed; 5 tea, con­versed; 6 Matt. xx. 16; 9 supper, conversed, prayer, on business; 9.30.

 

Sunday 17

 

4 Prayed, Journal; 7 tea, conversed; 8 Gal. iii. 22! Journal; 11 prayers, Journal; 1 dinner, conversed; 2 sleep, Journal; 4 prayed, tea; 5.30 Town Hall, Job xxii. 21! Journal; 7.30 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.15.

 

Monday 18

 

4 Prayed, chaise, Penpon[t], tea, conversed, prayer; 6 chaise, Llandavt [? Llanddeusant], conversed; 9.45 chaise, Llandilo, dinner; 1 chaise; 4 Carm[ar]th[en], at Mr. Foyl-; 4 Journal; 5 tea, Journal!; 6 2 Cor­. v. I9! prayed, supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

A servant of Mr. Bowen’s came early in the morning to show us the way to Llwynygwair: and it was well he did, for I do not know that we could otherwise have found our way thither. We met (as I expected) with a hearty welcome. At five I preached in Newport church, to a large congregation, and with a greater prospect of doing good than ever I had before. We passed an agreeable evening at Llwynygwair.

 

Wed. 20. -I went to Trecwn, one of the most venerable seats in Great Britain. The good old house is buried in woods and mountains, having no resemblance to any place I have seen. It is just suited to the good old Admiral, with his four maiden sisters,[8] the youngest of whom, I suppose, has lived more than seventy years. I preached at twelve, and in the afternoon went on to Haverfordwest. The room was filled sufficiently, and I could not but believe God will build up the waste places.

 

Thur. 21.-The room was well filled at five. Finding there had been no discipline here for some time, I determined to begin at the foundation, and settle everything. So I first visited and regulated the classes, then restored the bands, which had been totally neglected, and then gave directions for meeting the leaders of both bands and classes.

 

Tuesday 19

 

4 Prayed, Mark xii. 34. tea, within; 6.45 chaise; 9 the Sh[-]; 10.45 chaise; 2 Llyngwair, dinner, conversed; 3.30 prayed, tea, chaise; 5 prayers, Heb. ix. 27! 7.30 Llyngwair, Isa. lvii. I, 2! supper, within; 10.

 

Wednesday 20

 

4.30 Prayed, Journal; 6 Rev. xiv. [-], tea, conversed, prayer; 7.30 chaise; 10.30 Tracoon, tea, conversed, Journal; 1.30 dinner, con­versed, prayer; 3 chaise; 5.30 Ha[verfordwest]; 6 tea, conversed, Lu. xx. 34! the leaders, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30

 

Thursday 21

 

4 Prayed, 2 Cor. iv. 7! class; 8 tea, conversed, class; 10.30 Journal; 1.30 dinner; 2.30 Journal; 4 prayed, tea; 6 Mark iii. 35, society, supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

After preaching in the evening, I met the society, and gave them a warm exhortation to set out anew. I trust they will; and all the present preachers, I am persuaded, will neglect nothing.[9]

 

Fri. 22. -I went to Pembroke. Here, likewise, not one thing, but everything, had been neglected. No stewards, no bands, half of the preaching-places dropped; all the people cold, heartless, dead! I spoke earnestly in the evening; and the word was as fire. Surely some fruit will follow! [10]

 

Sun. 24. -We had a lovely congregation at St. Daniel’s, and a remarkable blessing. In the afternoon I returned to Haver­fordwest, and preached in a large open space near the great church,[11] to such a congregation as I have not seen in Wales for many years. I explained and applied the parable of the Sower, and God clothed His word with power. I know not whether I have had such an opportunity before since I left London.[12]

 

Friday 22

 

4 Prayed, Psa. i. 23, within, Journal; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, letters, visited; 12.30 dinner, conversed; 2 chaise; 4.45 Pembr[oke], Journal, prayed, tea, conversed; 6.15 Matt. xx. 16! Journal; 7.30 writ narrative, supper, conversed, prayer; 10.

 

Saturday 23

 

4.30 Prayed, Rom. xii. I! Journal; 8 tea, conversed, Journal; 12 walk, Journal; 1.30 dinner; 2.30 Journal, letters; 5 tea, conversed, prayer; 6.15 Deut. v. 7, society, supper, prayer; 9 on business; 9.30.

 

Sunday 24

 

4 Prayed, letters, Journal; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, on business, walk; 9.45 St. Daniel’s, read prayers, Acts xxii. 16! communion, dinner, chaise; 4.30 Hav[erfor]d[west], tea; 5 Mark iv. 3; 7 society, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Mon. 25. -I spent another night at Carmarthen very agreeably.

 

Tues. 26. -I preached in Kidwelly at nine, between twelve and one at Llanelly,[13] to all the gentry in the town, and in the evening to a multitude of people at Swansea.

 

Wed. 27. -Far more than the room would contain attended at five in the morning. About eight I preached in our new preaching-house at Neath, and in the afternoon reached Font-e-gary, and found Mrs. Jones,[14] with several of her children about her, on the margin of the grave, worn out with that dreadful disease -a cancer. She uttered no complaint, but was all patience and resignation, showing the dignity of a Christian in weakness, and pain, and death. I preached on ‘It is appointed unto men once to die’; and I believe all present felt the awful truth. I had intended to go on to Cowbridge the next day; but, being much importuned to give one day more to a dying friend, I yielded, and desired another preacher to go and supply my place.

 

Monday 25

 

4 Prayed, Lu. viii. 18! tea, conversed, prayer; 7 chaise; 10 Tavernspite, tea, conversed; 11 chaise; 2 Carmarthen, dinner, writ Journal, tea, prayed; 6 Eph. iv. 30, society! 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Tuesday 26

 

4 Prayed, letter, Journal; 7 tea, conversed, prayer; 7.30 chaise; 9 Kid­welly, Acts xvi. 31! 10.45 chaise; 12.30 Llanelly, Matt. xxii. 4! dinner; 2 chaise; 5 Swansea, tea, prayed; 6.30 Cor. v. 19! supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Wednesday 27

 

4 Prayed, I Pet. ii. 2! chaise, Neath, tea; 8 Jer. vi. 16! 9 chaise; 11 dinner; 12.15 chaise; 4 Fontegarry [Font-e-gary], dinner, Mrs. Jones, prayer; 5 tea, conversed, prayed, Journal; 6.30 Heb. ix. 27; supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

In the evening I preached on Ps. cxlvi. 3, 4. The scene before us greatly confirmed the word. .

 

Fri. 29. - That they might not be offended, I went to Cow­bridge. In half an hour’s notice we had a large congregation in the town-hall, to whom I showed the nature and pleasantness of religion, from Prov. iii. 17. I returned to Font-e-gary, took my last leave of the dying saint, and then went on to Cardiff. In the evening I preached (probably for the last time) to a very genteel congregation in the town-hall.

 

Sat. 30. -I returned to Bristol.

 

Sun. 31.[15]-Mr. Collins came very opportunely, to assist me at the morning service. Otherwise I should have been dis­tressed; for such a number of communicants 1 never saw here before. I would fain have preached abroad, but the ground was too wet. So I preached within, on ‘Ye cannot serve God and mammon.’

 

Thursday 28

 

4 Prayed, Journal; 8 tea, together, prayer, Journal, within to some; 2 prayer, dinner, on business, conversed; 4 Journal; 6.30 Psa. cxlvi. 3, 4, Journal; 8 supper, together, prayer; 9.30.

 

Friday 29

 

4 Prayed, Journal, tea; 6 chaise; 7.30 Cowbridge, tea, conversed; 8.30 Prov. iii. 17! 9.30 chaise; 11 Fontegar[y], Journal, with D. Jones; 12 within, prayer; 1 dinner, conversed; 2 chaise; 5 Cardiff, tea, within, prayed; 6 Matt. xx. 16, at sister Lewis, Journal; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Saturday 30

 

3 Tea, conversed; 3.30 chaise; 6 Newport, tea, within, prayer; 7 chaise; 9.30 at the [-]; 10.30 in the boat; 12 dinner, T. Roberts, etc.; 1 chaise; 3 at Brother Bulgin’s, within; 4 on business, read letters, the leaders, prayed; 7.30 Pen[ry]; 8 at [--], supper, conversed, prayer, on business; 9.30.

 

Sunday 31

 

4 Prayed, letters; 8 tea, on business, prayed; 9.30 prayers, Gal. vi. 17, communion; 1 dinner, conversed; 2.30 sleep; 3 prayed; 4 tea, conversed; 5 Matt. vi. 24! society, the singers; 8 supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Prov. xxiii. 23.

---

 

[1] Two of the six preachers ordained by Wesley during this Conference were Robert Gamble and Thomas Owens; their certificates have survived. It is also certain that on Aug. 6 Wesley ordained Alexander Mather deacon, and, on the day following, presbyter. The six ordained as deacons on Aug. 3, and as presbyters on Aug. 5, were, in two cases certainly and in the rest probably, intended for service abroad. Alexander Mather was in an entirely different category. He was the first minister ordained by Wesley for service in an English circuit. See an article in W.H.S. in which Dr. John S. Simon deals fully with the whole series of Wesley Ordina­tions (vol. ix. p. 145). For facsimiles of the Gamble and Owens certificates see Meth. Rec. Oct. 27 and Dec. 8, 1898.

 

[2] On Aug. 5 he wrote from London to Francis Godfrey (Works, vol. xiii. p. 42); on the 7th he wrote to Mrs. Charles Wesley, whose proposed removal to a smaller ‘lodging’ he approved, and advised Harrogate for Sally, if Dr. Whitehead consented- ‘and I should not think much of giving her ten or twenty pounds to make a trial’; on the 8th to Arthur Keene (?), Esq., near Dublin. He hopes to come in ‘the spring. . . see that your preaching-house be enlarged without delay’ (new ed. Wesley Letters); also to Lady Maxwell and Walter Churchey (Works, vol. xii. p. 352; xiii. p. 167).

 

[3] Who had been ordained deacons on Aug. 3

 

[4] Valton observes in his manuscript Journal:

 

 Aug. 6. -This day our Conference ended. I thought we moved very slowly in our work, but what made full amends for this was the love and gentleness which seemed to prevail through the whole. We observed the day as a day of fasting and prayer, and Mr. Wesley and three more clergymen administered the sacrament to us. The whole was concluded with a good watch-night.

 

Valton’s Journal at this period shows that he was in frequent contact with Wesley. See W.H.S. vol. viii. pp. 101, 102.

 

[5] Probably a misprint for ‘C’; cf. above p.9, and vol. vi. P.316.

 

[6] Her removal is referred to a month later (Sept. 16), in Wesley’s letter to Miss Elizabeth Baker, of Monmouth 

 

[7] It must have been during this visit that Wesley, on his way to Carmarthen, breakfasted at Bailie Maescar, between Brecon and Dwynnock. Mrs. Walter Williams, the Methodist Squire’s daughter- in- law brought her first born soon to the breakfast room that the venerable evangelist might bless him. The child became a successful and devoted chaplain at Bombay, under the east India Company. See Meth. Rec. winter No., 1896,p.85

 

[8] See above, vol. vi. p. 164.

 

[9] The newly appointed preachers to the Pembroke circuit were William Palmer, C. Bond, and Francis Truscott.

 

[10] On Aug. 23 he wrote from Pembroke to John Atlay, who had renounced his

 

connexion with Wesley. George Whit­field succeeded him at the Book Room

 

(Works, vol. xiii. p.280).

 

[11] St. Mary’s at the end of High Street, a venerable, cathedral-like building with a heavy tower, formerly the pedestal of a lofty spire-said to be one of the finest churches in Wales.

 

[12] On Aug. 26 he wrote to Miss Elizabeth Baker, of Monmouth (Works, vol. xiii. p. 121).

 

[13] At Wesley’s last visit to Llanelly Mr. Henry Child told him of his desire to build a Methodist chapel at his own cost. Wesley looked at him, smiled, gave him a guinea and his blessing. The chapel was built in 1792. See Meth. Times, April 29, 1909.

 

[14] She was the widow of the Squire of Fonmon Castle, and, with her husband, had welcomed him there since 1741. See above, vol. ii. p. 504; vol. vi. p. 166

 

Upon the succession of her son to the estate, the widow made her home at Font-e-gary, near the shore at Rhoose. See W.H.S. vol. iii. pp. 82-4. In the memoir of Mr. W. Stevens (one of Wesley’s preachers) it is said of Mrs. Jones: ‘She was favoured with a triumphant death. She had been a burning and a shining light for several years, and a mother in our Israel.’

 

[15] On Aug. 31 he wrote from Bristol to John Atlay, who had tried to ‘fright George Whitfield’ from serving him (Works, vol. xiii. p. 281).