FEB. 2, Fri.-I endeavoured to reconcile two of our brethren that were at variance, and one of them was very willing; but the other raged like a bear bereaved of her whelps.[1]

 

Sun. 4. - While I applied the parable of the Sower at the new chapel God was with us of a truth. The stout-hearted trembled; as they did, likewise, in the evening, while I applied ‘Many are called, but few are chosen.’

 

FEB. 1, Thursday

 

 4.45 Prayed; 6 class, tea, class; 1 dinner, prayer; 2 class, tea; 5 letters, prayed; 6 letters; 8 supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Friday 2

 

4 Prayed, writ society; 6 class; 8 writ society; 10 visited; 10.30 class; 1 dinner; 2 class, tea, conversed; 5 at home, prayed; 6 Ja. Ke[- ], T. We[-]; 8.30 supper, conversed; 9 prayer; 9.30.

 

Saturday 3

 

4 Prayed, letters; 8 tea, within, prayer; 9.30 Mag.; 1 dinner, conversed, prayer, visited many; 5 at brother Pr[a]tt’s, tea, conversed; 6 prayers, I Cor. xv. 55! communion, supper; 8.15 Pen[ry] on business; 9.30.

 

Sunday 4

 

4 Prayed, letters; 8 the preachers, prayed; 9.30 prayers, Mark iv. 3! communion; 1 dinner, conversed, prayer; 2 sleep, prayed, the leaders; 4 tea, prayed; 5 prayers, Matt. xx. 16! society, Mag.; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Wed. 7. -I preached at Brentford, and in the morning; Thursday evening at Lambeth. At both places I found many who promise not to be forgetful hearers, but doers of the word.

 

Being earnestly desired by our brethren at Newark, one hundred and twenty-four miles from London, to come and open their new house, I took the mail-coach,[2] Friday the 9th in the evening, and reached Newark the next day about four in the  afternoon.       

 

Monday 5

 

4 Prayed, 2 Pet. ii. 9, select society; 7 class, tea, class; 12 select society; 1 dinner; 2 class; 5 tea, conversed, prayed; 6.30 prayers, Matt. xx. 16! supper, the bands; 9.30.

 

Matt. xx. 16.

 

Tuesday 6

 

4 Prayed; 6 class, tea, class; 12 select society; 1 dinner; 2 class; 4.30 tea, class; 6.30 Mark iv. 3! class, coach, supper, conversed, on business, prayer; 9.30.

 

Wednesday 7

 

4 Prayed, writ narrative; 6 class, tea, class; 12.30 visited, communion; 1.30 dinner, conversed, visited; 3.30 chaise; 4.30 at brother Blake’s, tea, within, writ narrative, prayed; 6.30 Mark iv. 3, coach, class, prayer, at Mr. Holb[rook’s], supper, prayer; 10.

 

Thursday 8

 

4 Prayed, writ narrative; 6 2 Pet. ii. 9, tea, within, chaise; 9 Lambeth, letters; 10 [cipher]* letters; 1.30 dinner, conversed, letters; 5 prayed, tea; 6.30 Matt. xx. I6! 7.30 class, supper; 9.30.

 

Friday 9

 

4 Prayed, letters; 6 Phil. ii. I2! letters; 11.30 chaise, at home, on business; 1.30 visited; 2.15 dinner, read; 3 letters; 5 tea, within, prayed, leaders; 7 supper; 8 coach with Jo[hn] Horton, etc.; 10 sleep.

 

Saturday 10

 

6 Within; 4.30 Huntingdon, tea, prayer; 5 coach, Chinese Fragment; 11.30 Grantham; 12.30 coach; 2.15 Newark, dinner, conversed, letters; 5 tea; 6 prayed, writ narrative; 7 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

But having a great cold, and being so hoarse that I could not preach, I desired Mr. Mather to supply my place till I had recovered my voice.[3]

 

Sun. 11. -Having partly recovered my voice, I preached in the new house at nine[4] -a lightsome, cheerful building, and gave notice of preaching at five in the afternoon. But it was not long before I received a message from the mayor to desire me to begin preaching a little later, that himself and several of the aldermen might the more conveniently attend. They all came at half an hour past five, and as many people as could possibly squeeze in; and God opened, my mouth to speak strong words, and the hearts of many to receive them. Surely God will have a people in this place that will adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour.

 

Mon. 12. - There being no places to be had in the York coach, Mr. Broadbent and I went across the country to Hinckley. I now inquired concerning the poor wretch who, when I was here last, while he was praying to God to damn his eyes, was in the instant struck blind.[5] So, it seems, he continued for some time; but, as soon as he recovered his sight, he was just as profane as before. Although it rained, and the people had no notice till we came, yet the preaching-house was quickly filled; and many, I believe, were filled with peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.

 

Tues. 13.-Leaving the society here much alive in God, I went on to Coventry.

 

Sunday 11

 

4 Prayed, letters, chaise; 8 tea; 9.30 prayers, Gal. vi. 14, communion, writ narrative; 1 dinner, conversed; 2 sleep, tea; 9 Broadb[ent], Folgha[m]; 10 sleep.

 

Monday 12

 

4 Prayed, tea, prayer; 5.30 chaise; 8.30 Nott[in]gh[am], tea, chaise; 1.30 Leic[este]r, chaise; 4.15 Hin[c]kle[y], within, tea, prayed; 6.30. Mark iv. 3! 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 8.30.

 

Tuesday 13

 

4 Prayed, read narrative; 6 2 Pet. ii. 9, within; 8 tea, conversed, Mag.; 1 dinner, conversed; 2 chaise; 4.15 Coventry, tea, within, prayer; 5.30 mail coach, together; 9.30 sleep.

 

Here, finding places vacant in the Liver­pool mail-coach, we set out in the evening, and reached London the next morning, Wednesday the 14th.[6]

 

Thur. 15. -I preached at Deptford, and was agreeably surprised to find the threatening storm blown over, and all our brethren in peace and love with each other.[7] From hence, on Friday the 16th,[8] I went to Rotherhithe, which used to be one of the most uncomfortable places in England. But it was far otherwise now. Many of the people seemed much alive to God, and His presence was manifested in the congregation in a very uncommon manner.

 

Sat, 17.-I went on in reading that odd book, entitled A Chinese Fragment. As to the Chinese themselves, I believe they are almost as religious, but nothing near so honest, as the Turks; so that I account the contrasting them with the Christians to be a mere pious fraud. Du Halde’s[9] word I will not take for a straw; but there are many and just remarks in the treatise, to which few impartial men would have any objection in whatever form they were proposed.

 

Wednesday 14

 

5 Within; 8.30 at home, on business; 10 chaise; 11.30 at sister Philips’s, writ narrative, on business; 1.45 dinner, conversed, letters, class, tea, class; 6.30 Mark iii, 31! class; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Friday 16

 

4 Prayed, read narrative; 6 writ letters; 8 tea, conversed, prayer; 9 letters; 1 dinner; 3 chaise; 4 at Mr. Crookenden’s, within, tea, walk, con­versed; 6.30 Matt. xx. 16! class, chaise, supper, prayer; 10.

 

Saturday 17

 

4.45 Prayed, read Chinese [Fragment], letter; 8.30 tea, conversed, letter, chaise; 1 at brother Da.’s, within, dinner, conversed; 2 letters, prayed; 5 tea, conversed, prayer; 6 prayers, 2 Cor. xiii. 5, com­munion, Pen[ry], on business; 9.30.

 

Sun. 18. - The power of God was, as usual, eminently present during the service at Spitalfields. In the evening I met the single women of the society, and advised them to make full use of the advantages they enjoy. But I doubt not many had ears to hear­ –

 

For when had youth the leisure to be wise?[10]

 

Sunday 18

 

4 Prayed, letters; 8 Sp[italfields], prayed; 9.30  prayers, I Cor. xiii. 3! communion, visited, dinner, conversed; 2.30 sleep, on business, the leaders; 4 tea, prayed, I Cor. xiii. 8, society, single women, supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Monday 19

 

4 Prayed, 2 Pet. iii. 1-8, select society, letters; 8 tea, prayer, letters; 11.30 Chapel; 12 select society, chaise, at Mr. Atw[ood’s], dinner, conversed, prayer, visited; 5 tea, conversed, prayer, prayed; 6.30 prayers, 7 Gal. iii. 22 ! supper, the bands; 9.30

 

Psa. xc. 2, 3.

 

Tuesday 20[11]

 

4 Prayed, Psa. xc. 3, 4! Letters; 8 tea, conversed, prayer; 9 letters, 1 dinner, conversed, prayer, visited; 3.30 at home, on business, tea, A. Ja., [cipher]*; 6.15 read the letters, the leaders, supper, within, prayer; 9.30.

 

Wednesday 21

 

4 Prayed, letters; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, letters; 12 Mag.; 2 visited; 3 at brother Wri[ght’s], dinner, together; 4 visited, tea, conversed; 6 prayers, Gal. v. 6! Communion; 8.30 supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Thursday 22[12]

 

4 Prayed, writ Mag.; 8 No[rth] Green, tea, conversed, prayer; 9 Mag.; 1 garden; 1.30 dinner, within, prayer; 3 Mag.; 4.15 prayed, tea, conversed, prayer; prayed; 6.30 prayers, Gal. v. 22! the bands, Mr. Collins, conversed, supper, prayer; 9.30

 

Fri. 23. -I met our family,[13] and was pleased to find that we are a family of love. There is not at present one jarring string, but we all hold the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

 

Sun. 25. -After taking a solemn leave of our friends, both at West Street and the new chapel, I took the mail-coach, and the next evening reached Exeter a little after ten o’clock.

 

Tues. 27. -We went on to Plymouth Dock. The large new house, far the best in the west of England, was well filled, though on so short a warning; and they seemed cordially to receive the exhortation, ‘Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.’

 

Friday 23

 

4 Prayed, Journal; 12 females; 1 prayer, communion, 2.30 dinner, within, prayer, visited; 5 tea, conversed, prayer; 6 Yearly Meeting, supper, within to many; 8.30 2 Pet. ii. 7, etc.; 9.45 [-] prayer; 12.30

 

Saturday 24

 

7 Prayed; 8 walk; 9 at chaise, tea, within; 11 at home, letters; 1 at brother Coll[ins’s], dinner, conversed, letters; 5 tea, conversed, prayer; 6 prayers, Gal. iii. 22! communion, supper, within to many, Pen[ry], on business; 9.30.

 

Sunday 25

 

4 Prayed, letters, coach, Chapel, prayers, 2 Cor. vi. I! communion, conversed, dinner; 2.30 sleep, on business; 3 the leaders, tea, prayed; 4.30 prayers, Eph. ii. 8! society, supper; 7 mail coach; 9.45 sleep. 

 

Monday 26

 

7 Together, Sarum, tea, coach, Dorch[ester] dinner, coach; 10 Exon, at brother Kingdom's, within, supper, prayer; 12.

 

Tuesday 27

 

6.30 Prayed, on business, tea; 8 coach, with brother K[ing]do[m], conversed; 1.30 Ivy Bridge; 2 dinner; 2.30 coach; 5 the Dock, on business, tea; 6 prayed, on business; 7 Psa. xxxiii. I! supper, within, prayer; 9.30.

 

­

 

I had the satisfaction to find the society here in a more flourishing state than ever. Notwithstanding all the pains that have been taken, and all the art that had been used, to tear them asunder,[14] they cleave close together; and consequently increase in number as well as in strength.            .

 

Wed. 28. -We went over to Plymouth, and found the society doubled since I was here before; and they are both more loving than they were then, and more earnest to save their souls. It rained most of the afternoon. However, we had a crowded congregation in the evening; and all of them seemed to feel that God was in the midst of them; for His word was sharper than a two-edged sword. In consequence of this, a large number attended at five on Thursday morning, MARCH 1. Surely this is a time of love for poor Plymouth also. Oh that they may know the day of their visitation!

 

In the evening I preached again at the Dock; and again the power of God was present to heal. The people seemed to be all struck while I opened and strongly applied the parable of the Sower; especially while I was warning them to beware of ‘the cares of the world, and the desires of other things.’

 

Fri. 2.2-I was desired to go over to Torpoint, a village on

 

Wednesday 28

 

4 Prayed, writ texts; 8 at brother     , tea, conversed, prayer; 9.15 writ texts; 12 walk, prayed, the [-], conversed, prayer; 1 dinner, conversed, prayer; 2 texts; 3.30 prayed; 4.30 tea, chaise, Plymou[th], at Mr. Pe[-], tea, read; 6 2 Cor. iv. 18! society; 8 supper, con­versed, prayer; 9.30 Heb. iv. 12.

---

 

[1] On Feb. 3 he wrote a Preface to his Extract from Mr. Reynolds’s book, God's Revenge against Adultery and Murder (Works, vol. xiv. p. 293), which appeared in Arm. Mag. for 1787; and the next day a letter to Mrs. Thornton (Tyerman’s Life of Wesley, vol. iii. p. 491).

 

[2] This is the first time that Wesley appears to have travelled by the new mails. Their introduction was opposed by the Post Office officials. They feared murder if the guards were armed. But no mail-coach was ever robbed in England. The pace of the ‘mails’ was, at first, six miles an hour, gradually increased to as much as eleven miles. The mail that Wesley travelled by was the London, York, and Newcastle, then the only mail on the great North Road. For an interesting note on the difficulties of finding a seat at intermediate points on the return journey (Feb. 12, 13), and how Wesley met the difficulty, see W.H.S. vol. vii. pp. 52, 53.

 

[3] On Feb. 10 he wrote from Newark to Jonathan Edmondson, warning him to ‘hear nothing of the disputes’ (W.H.S. vol. ii. p, 216).

 

[4] Guildhall Street. About 1826 this was superseded by Barnby Gate Chapel, but continued in use for day-school purposes to a much later date (W.H.S vol. iv. P.239)

 

[5]   See above, July 10, 1786.

 

[6] He wrote from Hinckley to Joseph Taylor on the length of services and the ‘spinning out’ of sermons (new ed. Wesley Letters).

 

[7] See above, p. 232.

 

[8] He wrote from near London to J. King, not the American preacher of the same name to whom he wrote July 28, 1775, but one of the English preachers (Works, vol. xii. p. 332); and the next day to William Percival (Works, vol. xiii. p. 113).

 

[9] He was a Jesuit. His work, A Description of China and Chinese Tartary, was considered the best on the Empire up to that time. (W.H.S. vol. iv. p. 236; vol. ix. pp. 130-3; also Nichol’s Literary Anecdotes, vol. v. p. 45.)

 

[10] From the Poems of Samuel Wesley jun., Battle of the Sexes (W.H.S. vol. v. p. 156; and vol. vii. p. 37) based on Ecclus. xxxviii. 24.

 

[11] He wrote from London to Joshua Keighley of Elgin, who died a year later, and who meantime was in doubt ‘as to the new or the old plan’ for North Britain; also as to the fitness of a would be preacher (new ed. Wesley Letters). He also wrote to William Black (Tyerman’s Life of Wesley, vol. iii. p. 492).

 

[12] He wrote from City Road to the Rev. Brian Bury, Collins, who appears to have called upon him the

 

same evening (W.H.S. vol. ix. P.74).

 

[13] In the City Road house, which was a hostel for the preachers and their wives. See, for an interesting account of the house, Telford’s Wesley’s chapel and Wesley’s House. P. 122&c.; cf. James Roger’s Autobiography, p. 43.

 

[14] By William Moore and the Seceders (See above, march 2, 3, and Aug. 18 1785). The reference is to the opposition to the use of the Liturgy in the Chapels (approved by Wesley) as being likely to separate Methodism from the established Church.