Nov. 1,[1] Sat. (being All Saints Day). - I preached at Snows­ fields on Rev. xiv. I, a comfortable subject; and I always find this a comfortable day.

 

Mon. 3. -I began visiting the classes, a work which usually takes up about a fortnight.

 

Nov. 1, Saturday

 

4 Prayed, letters; 7 class, tea, Journal, class; 1 at brother Collin[son’s], dinner; 2 class; 4.15 Journal, tea, conversed, prayed; 6 prayers, Rev. xiv. I; 7 society; 8, supper, on business; 9.30.

 

Sunday 2

 

 4 Prayed, letters; 8 the preachers, meditation; 9.30 prayers Col. i. 10, communion, dinner; 3 sleep; 3.30 

 

        the leaders, tea, prayed; 5 prayers, Col. i. 17, society, lovefeast; 8 supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Monday 3

 

4 Prayed, Matt. vii. I, select society; 7 class, tea, class, Journal; 1 dinner; 2 class, at R. Graham, tea, 

 

        within, class; 6 prayers, Co!. ii. 6! 7 society, class; 8.30 supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

­Sun. 9. -I preached at West Street, and found uncommon liberty in enforcing that caution, ‘Quench not the Spirit.’ On Wednesday the 12th, and the following days, I visited the country societies, some of which, that of Mitcham in particular, are swiftly increasing in the grace of God.

 

Tuesday 4

 

4 Prayed, letters; 6 class, tea, class; 1 dinner, class; 4 on business within, tea, prayed; 5 on business; 6 prayed, Col. iii. 4! the leaders supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Wednesday 5[2]

 

4 Prayed, letters; 6 class, tea, class; 1 at brother [-], dinner, conversed, 2 class; 5 tea, conversed, prayed; 6.30 letters; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Thursday 6

 

4 Prayed, letters; 6 class, tea, class; 1 at sister Westr., dinner, together; 2 class; 4.30 tea, within, [-], prayed; 6.30 Psa. xxxiii. I, the bands; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Friday 7

 

4 Prayed, letters; 6 class, tea, class; 1 at brother Woolle[y], dinner; 2 class; 4.15 tea, conversed, prayer; 5 at sister Hurrel’s, tea, conversed, prayer; 6.30 prayed; 7 Journal; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Saturday 8

 

4 Prayed, letters; 8 tea, letters, writ narrative; 2 dinner, letters; 5 tea,     conversed; 6 prayers, Prov. xviii. 12, communion, supper, Pen[ry], on business; 9.30.

 

Sunday 9

 

4 Prayed, sermon, Chapel; 9.30 prayers, Isa. I. 4, etc., communion, dinner, sleep, prayed; 3 the leaders; 3.30 prayers, I Thes. v. 19! society, sermon, supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Monday 10

 

4 Prayed, Prov. xviii. 12, select society, class, society; 1 dinner; 2 class; 5 tea, conversed, prayed; 6.30 prayers, 2 Thes. i. 1-7, supper, the bands; 9.30.

 

Mon. 17. - I set out for Hertfordshire. In the evening I preached at Hinxworth to a deeply serious congregation; the next evening in the church at Wrestlingworth, to the largest congregation I have seen there these twenty years.

 

Tuesday 11

 

4 Prayed, Pro. xviii. 12, class, tea, class; 1 dinner, conversed, prayer; 2 class, prayed; 4.30 at sister S[-], tea, conversed, prayer, class; 6.30 I Pet. i. 27, class; 8 supper, within, prayer; 9.30.

 

Wednesday 12

 

4 Prayed, read narrative; 6 class, tea, class; 1 dinner, conversed; 2 class, conversed; 2.30 chaise, Brentford, tea, 2 Cor. V. 7! class; 8 at brother Jeffries, supper, conversed; 9 prayer; 9.30.

 

Thursday 13

 

4 Prayed, read narrative; 6 Hos. xiv. 4! tea; 7.45 chaise; 9 Lambeth, letters; 1 dinner; 2 letters; 4.30 prayed; 5 tea, conversed, prayed; 6.30 Col. iii. 4, class, coach, Bal[h]am, supper, conversed, prayer; 10.

 

Friday 14

 

4 Prayed, sermon; 8.15 prayer, tea, conversed; 9 sermon; 12 tea, con­versed, sermon, dinner, conversed; 2 sermon; 5 prayed, tea, con­versed, Prov. iii. 17, sermon; 8.30 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Saturday 15

 

4 Prayed, sermon; 8 prayer, tea, conversed; 9 sermon; 12 walk, Journal; 1 dinner; 2 coach; 3 on business; 4 on business, prayed; 5 tea, letters; 8 supper, Pen[ry], on business; 9.15.

 

Sunday 16[3]

 

4 Prayed, letters; 8 Sp[italfields]; 9.30 prayers, Isa. Iv. I, communion; 1dinner, conversed; 2 on business, sleep; 3 the leaders, tea, prayed, 5 [Isa.] Iv. 6! [-], prayers, I Sam. xxi. 8, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Monday 17

 

4 Sermon, tea; 5.45 chaise with Jos[eph Bradford]; 8 the [-], tea, chaise, Hatfield, tea, chaise; 1.30 Hinxw[orth], within; 2 dinner; 3.30 writ narrative, prayed, Mag., tea, conversed; 5.30 prayed, 6 [-] xl. I, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Tuesday 18

 

4 Prayed, Journal, the children, letter; 8 tea, conversed, prayer; 11 visited; 12.30 dinner, within; 2.30 chaise; 4 Wrestlingworth, tea, conversed; 5.30 prayers, Jo. iv. 24! 7 supper, conversed, prayers; 9.15.

 

Wed. 19. -I crossed over to Bedford, but where to lodge I did not know. But one met me in the street, and said Mr. [Livius][4] desired I would go straight to his house. I did so, and found myself in a palace, the best house by far in the town, where I was entertained not only with the utmost courtesy, but I believe, with sincere affection. Our room was much crowded in the evening, and pretty well filled in the morning; and, as all disputes are at an end,[5] there is great reason to hope that the work of God will increase here also.

 

Thur. 20. -We had a lovely congregation at St. Neots, who seemed ripe for the promises, so I preached on our Lord’s words to the leper: ‘I will; be thou clean.’

 

Fri. 21. -About noon I preached at Huntingdon, and in the evening at Godmanchester. Still it is the day of small things here, but a few are still fighting the good fight of faith.

 

Wednesday 19

 

4 Prayed, letters; 8 tea, conversed, prayer; 9 chaise, Potton, within, chaise; 12 Bedf[ord], at Mr. Livius’s, letter; 3 conversed, dinner; 4.30 [-]; 5 tea, conversed; 6 Mark iii. 35! society, supper, con­versed, prayer; 9.15. 

 

Thursday 20

 

4 Prayed, Mag.; 6 2 Cor. v. I9! 7 Mag.; 8 tea, conversed, prayer; 10 chaise; 12.30 St. Neots, Mag.; 2 dinner, conversed; 3 Journal, prayers; 4.30 tea, conversed, prayer, prayed; 6.30 Matt. viii. 2, society; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Col. i. 17.

 

Friday 21

 

4 Prayed, Journal; 6 Gen. xvii. I, Journal; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, writ letter; 10.30 chaise; 1 Huntingdon, Matt. xi. 28! walk; 2.15 God­m[an]ch[este]r; 3 dinner, Journal, supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Saturday 22

 

3 On business, prayer, tea; 4 chaise; 7.15 Royston, the Bull, tea; 8.15 chaise; 2 London, dinner, conversed, prayer, letters; 4.30 tea, conversed, prayer, prayed, letters; 8 supper, Pen[ry] on business; 9.30.

 

Mon. 24. -I went to Canterbury. As all the preachers[6] are in earnest, God has blessed them through the whole circuit. This evening we had a large and deeply serious congregation, and not a few of them in the morning.

 

Tues. 25. -Though it blew a storm, and was piercing cold, we were sufficiently crowded at Dover, where the work of God is very lively, and continually increasing.

 

Wed. 26. -Our- room at Sandwich[7] being small, both the Dissenting ministers sent to offer me the use of their chapels.[8] I willingly accepted one of them, which was far larger than ours, and very commodious. I believe God spoke to many hearts. 

 

Sunday 23

 

4 Prayed, sleep, letters; 8 [-]; 9.30 prayers, Jo. xv. 1, communion, dinner, within, prayer, sleep, the leaders; 3.30 prayers, Tit. iii. II, tea, society, bands, love feast, coach, society, supper, conversed, prayer; 9.30.

 

Monday 24

 

4 Prayed, tea; 5 Diligence, with T[homas] R[ankin], Rochester, tea; 12 Diligence; 4.30 Cant[erbury], dinner, conversed, tea, conversed, prayer; 6.30 Matt. xx. I6! society; 8! 5 supper, prayer; 9.30 prayer; 9.45.

 

Tuesday 25

 

4.15 Prayed, letters; 6 Gen. xix. 20, christened, letters; 8 tea, conversed, prayer, on business; 9.30 chaise; 12.15 Dover, letters; 1.30 dinner, letters, tea, prayed; 6 Isai. Iv. I, communion; 8 supper, conversed, prayer; 9.15.

 

Wednesday 26

 

4 Prayed, sermon; 7 Gen. xvii. I, tea, within, sermon; 9.30 chaise; 12 Sandwich, Jo. xvii. 3, dinner, conversed, chaise; 4 Margate, prayed; 5 tea, within; 6 Gal. vi. I4, communion; 8 supper, con­versed, prayer; 9.45.

 

In the evening we had another storm, with much snow and sleet; however, our house at Margate was well filled, and I was much comforted by the earnestness of the congregation.

 

[Thur. 27.] A little preaching-house being just built at St. Peters (two miles from Margate), notice had been given, without my knowledge, of my preaching there in the morning. It was utterly inconvenient on many accounts; the wind was piercing cold, and the ground covered with snow. However, I would not disappoint the congregation, so I preached at nine, and hastened to Canterbury, where the house was, as usual, well filled; and God gave us His blessing.

 

Thursday 27

 

  4 Prayed, sermon; 7.30 tea, conversed, coach; 9 St. Peters, Isa. Iv. 6, chaise; 1.30 at brother Callard, dinner, 

 

          conversed, prayer, on busi­ness; 5 at sister N[-], tea, conversed, prayer; 6 I Cor. i. 24, communion; 8 at    

 

          brother Blakeny, supper, prayer, within; 9.30 prayer.

 

Friday 28

 

4 Prayed, tea, conversed; 5 chaise; 9 Chatham, tea, conversed, prayer; 10 chaise; 2.45 at home, dinner, within, letters; 5.30 tea, prayer, prayed, letters; 8 supper, prayer; 9.30.

 

Saturday 29

 

5 Prayed, [-]; 8 tea, prayer, letters; 1.15 dinner; 2.30 letters; 4 visited, tea, within, prayer; 6.30 prayed, sermon; Pen[ry], on busi­ness; 9.30.

 

Sunday 30

 

4 Prayed, sermon; 8 the preachers; 9.30 prayers, Rom. xiii. 8, communion, dinner, prayer, sleep; 3 the leaders, tea, prayed; 5 prayers, Mat. vi. I, society, supper, prayer; 9.30.

---

 

[1] On Oct. 31 he wrote from London to William Stephens and to John Valton (new ed. Wesley Letters). On Nov. [3 or 4] he wrote to Peter Mills, and at about the same time to his step-son-in­ law William Smith, of Newcastle, insisting that he shall break off all relations with E. Coates, or otherwise, ‘renounce all connexion with your brother, John Wesley.’ The story of the dispute (on the North Shields Chapel Case), in which a Mr. Edward Coates took a prominent part, with the correspondence involved therein, was published in the W.H.S vol. iv. pp. 223-30.

 

[2] On Nov. 5 he wrote from London to Adam Clarke, in Jersey, now married. He advises him on circuit work, and suggests for sister Clarke ‘the office of a deaconess’ (Dunn’s Life of Clarke). On the 6th he wrote from London to Benjamin Rhodes, who was then stationed at Redruth, commending him for standing in his place and changing both General and Particular stewards (new ed. Wesley Letters); on the 7th he wrote to Robert Carr Brackenbury, whom he advises to ‘aim at the cheerfulness of faith.’ On the 8th he wrote to Jasper Winscom ‘at the preaching-house near Sarum (new ed. Wesley Letters).

 

[3] On Nov. 16 he wrote to Joseph Taylor (Tyerman’s Life of Wesley, vol. iii. p. 549).

 

[4] Mr. George Livius – ‘Squire’ Livius -whose mansion stood at the angle of Goldington Road and the Grove, was connected with the Moravians, and with the family of Cowper. He had been head of the Commissariat in India. One of his daughters was married to the poet’s biographer, and another to one of his characters, ‘Johnny of Norfolk’ (W.H.S. vol. iii. p. 135, and [with view of the house] vol. v. p. 129).

 

[5] Joseph Pescod wrote in an old book: 

 

I earnestly pray that whoever comes into this circuit next year may have more comfort than I have had; four places [Alkenbury, Aston, Marston, Raunds] have shut their doors against us, but we have had no new ones opened for us (J. A. Sharp, Bedford M.M. Mag. June, 1894).

 

[6] John Pritchard, William Butterfield, Charles Kyte, and James M. Byron.

 

[7] The Methodist room was in Lucks­boat Street, now the upper part of King Street. In June 1776, as shown by a memorandum attached to old deeds:

 

         Francis Stubbers by will leaves the premises to Richard Pinfold and Henry Horse, executors to his will, in trust for the use of the Methodists at 

 

        Sandwich. These executors have since consigned it to nine Trustees for the purposes therein mentioned. (From the Wes. Ch. Record for Deal,   

 

        &c., June 1893,)

 

Methodism was not introduced into Deal until about 1803-5. But tradition says that Wesley on one occasion preached there. See manuscript account drawn up in 1893 and preserved in the circuit; also Meth. Rec. March 4, 1909.

 

[8] Probably the Congregational chapel (called in Boys’ History of Sandwich the ‘Presbyterian chapel’), and Baptist church (Wes. Ch. Record as above. See also. W.H.S. vol. viii. p. 69).