Page images
PDF
EPUB
[merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

confession. Our sister Blamires declared, with great struggling, that she then found power to believe, and blessed the day that ever she saw my face. Others spake in the same manner; and last, Thomas Barnes told me he recovered his pardon while I was repeating, 'There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety-and-nine just men that need no repentance.' The number of witnesses this night was nine.

"March 2d. At Mrs. Gilmore's, a serious Dissenter, I met three others of the same communion, who had been lately justified under the word.

"March 5th. I showed the poor felons in Newgate what they must do to be saved. One man I have often observed much affected by the word, and extremely officious to wait upon me. This was the executioner, who is half-converted by the woman, and shows the most profound reverence for her. I gave him several of our books, which he has read over and over. By profession he is a Papist.

"March 6th. I do not remember when we have had a greater blessing, than we had this evening in the society. Near twenty declared the manifestation of the Spirit then vouchsafed to them.

"March 7th. I spoke with eleven of them who had received a clear sense of pardon. Another went to his house justified when I discoursed on wrestling Jacob.

"March 8th. My brother landed, and met the society, God confirming the word of his messenger. March 9th. I passed a comfortable hour in conference with some others who have lately stepped into the pool. One was begotten again this evening by the word of His power. March 10th. Three more received their cure.

"March 11th. My text in the morning was, 'The Spirit and the bride say, Come.' After great strugglings, one was constrained to cry out,' He is come! He is come! I have Him now in my heart!' A stranger, who stood with his hat on upon the stairs, with all the marks of carelessness, cried out, in great astonishment, Lord bless me! What is this?' and ran away, as if the avenger was at his heels. Another testified her having lately found favour, who was some days since a grievous sinner, a common harlot. But she is washed! God grant she may hold out!

[ocr errors]

"March 13th. In our garden I once more invited them to the great supper. Many tears were shed at parting; yet was it a blessed mourning, because we expect to meet again at the great white throne.

"March 14th. The wind turning full against us, gave me an opportunity of preaching again in Ship-street. I heard that our sister Preston was yesterday delivered of her burden of sin in singing. This evening Mrs. Gilmore received the love of God shed abroad in her heart. A month ago she was a warm opposer; but venturing out of curiosity to hear me, the Lord applied his word, and stripped her all at once of her self-righteousness, faith of adherence, and good works. She mourned after Him till now, that Jesus has received her among his witnesses."

+

These selections from Mr. Charles Wesley's private journal will serve to show the very faithful, self-denying, and energetic manner in which he discharged the duties of his ministry during this his first visit to Ireland; and the honour which the Lord put upon his servant in the success of his labours. A revival of true religion had indeed begun in Dublin, by the ministrations of other men, before his appearance there; but it was greatly extended by his faithful labours. In the rooms which were fitted up for divine worship, he regularly preached at five o'clock in the morning; and he was most exemplary in meeting the infant society for exhortation and prayer, watching over their spiritual progressive reas with true pastoral faithfulness and affection. Regardless of the winter's cold, and of the bitter scorn and violence of bad Źr men, he often stood up in the open air, calling the outcasts to repentance, and urging them to behold the Lord Jesus as their God and Saviour. In extending the knowledge of Christ, his life was often in peril; but of this he made little account. Wicked Protestants and Papists, formalists, and sinners of every class, not excepting even felons, convicts, and common harlots,-all had a share in his compassionate sympathy; and their conversion inspired him with a joy which, in its fervour and intensity, was second only to that which is expressed by the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

On March 20th he embarked for England, accompanied by John Haughton, and the next day landed at Holyhead.

[ocr errors]

boon 1708!
413
9 516

CHAPTER XV.

THE spring of 1748, when Mr. Charles Wesley returned from Ireland, formed a sort of crisis in his personal history. It was then that, for the first time in his life, he began seriously to entertain the thought of entering into the marriage relation. When he landed at Holyhead he was in a state of extreme suffering; and this was greatly increased by the severity of the weather, and the want of accommodations on his journey to South Wales, where he intended to rest a little while. On his arrival at Garth he was received by the Gwynne family in the most kind and hospitable manner. Here he remained nearly a fortnight, enjoying comparative rest, and receiving the most affectionate attention. On his departure for London, he was accompanied for the first hour of his 5th journey by Mr. Gwynne, and his daughter Sarah, whose gentle spirit and amiable manners had made a deep ímpression upon the heart of their grateful guest. As yet, however, he had made no disclosure of his feelings, either to her, or to any other member of the family.

Soon after his return to London he made the following entry in his journal, in reference to the same subject:-" I had communicated my embryo-intentions to my brother, while in Ireland, which he neither opposed nor much encouraged. It was then a distant first thought, not likely ever to come to a proposal; as I had not given the least hint either to Miss Gwynne, or the family. To-day I rode over to Shoreham, and told Mr. Perronet all my heart. I have always had a fear, but no thought, of marrying, for many years past; even from my first preaching the Gospel. But within this twelvemonth that thought has forced itself in: 'How know I whether it be best for me to marry, or no? Certainly better now than later: and if not now, what security that I shall not then? It should be now, or not at all.' Mr. Perronet encouraged me to pray, and wait for a providential opening. I expressed the various searchings of my heart in many hymns on the important occasion."

[ocr errors]

Seventeen hymns, which he wrote at this time, on the subject of his marriage, have been preserved in his neat handwriting. They express deep submission to the will of God, with earnest prayer for providential guidance. It is not improbable that others were published in a somewhat altered form, so as to give them a more general application.

At this period one of his friends, Mrs. Sparrow, of Lewisham, died in the Lord, and bequeathed to him a legacy, the exact amount of which is not specified. He received fifty pounds as a part of it a few months afterwards. He fulfilled her request by preaching a sermon on the occasion of her death. In discharging this duty he gave a striking proof of that integrity by which his whole life was characterized. "I spake as freely of her faults," says he, "as of her virtues : her love of the world, and final victory over it. The hearers appeared deeply affected."

Mr. Charles Wesley went to Bristol early in June; and was there joined by Mr. Gwynne and his daughter. After visiting the more pious members of the society in the city, and in Kingswood, and witnessing the godly order of the people, they accompanied him to London, and took up their residence in the dwelling-house which was connected with the Foundery. He introduced these welcome visitants to the family of Mr. Perronet, of Shoreham; to the family of Mr. Blackwell, of Lewisham, who were related to the late Mrs. Sparrow; and to several other friends. In London they had pleasing demonstrations of the reality and greatness of the work of God, in raising up a spiritual people, of which the two devoted brothers had been the chief instruments. They saw large congregations assemble for divine worship, not only on the Sabbath, and the week-day evenings, but almost every morning besides, at the early hour of five o'clock; and heard them, with every appearance of true devotion, lift up their voices, like the sound of many waters, in the service of their Maker. On the morning of their departure they witnessed a signal interposition of divine Providence, in preventing the destruction of the Foundery, the loss of which, at that time especially, would have been a very serious calamity. Under the date of July 19th, Mr. Charles Wesley says, "I rose at three, and called our friends. The Lord sent us a great deliverance as a token for good. Mary Naylor had shut the

[ocr errors]

door of their bed-chamber, and left the key in the inside.
Sally wanted something out, which Mary Naylor would have
put her by; but Sally still demanding it, she called the man
to break open the door. He said, he would go see his horses,
and come.
She insisted on his doing it just then; which he
did: and they found the sheet on fire, through Molly's drop-
ping the snuff of a candle. Had the man stayed, the whole
Foundery might have been in a flame.”

At four o'clock in the morning Charles left London for Bristol, accompanied by his two friends from Wales. They travelled on horseback; and having arrived at Windsor, he says, "My horse threw me with violence over his head. My companion fell upon me. The guardian angels bore us in their hands, so that neither was hurt. We saw the castle and palace with insensibility. No sight, we trust, will satisfy us, but that of Moses from Mount Pisgah." At Oxford he accompanied his friends in their visits to the different Colleges; but the object that most interested him was the unexpected sight of "a poor Servitor of St. John's, James Rouquet, who was not ashamed to confess Christ before men;" and who afterwards became a Clergyman of eminence. While preaching in a yard at Cirencester, he says, "I was pierced through with desires of complete redemption, which broke out in tears and words that affected them in like manner. I could gladly have dropped the body in that hour."

This special influence from above still rested upon him; so that, on the following Sunday, at Kingswood, he says, "I began the sacrament with fervent prayer, and many tears, which almost hindered my reading the service. I broke out into prayer again and again. Our hearts were all as melting wax. I administered to sisters Robertson and Rutter, sorely bruised by an overturn into a pit; yet they would not lose the sacrament. I received letters from Cork, loudly calling me thither. My heart was at once made willing, and I had my commission. We joined in earnest prayer for success. I preached a third and a fourth time in our house with supernatural strength.

"July 26th. I dined at the Fishponds with faithful Felix Farley. At night I preached in the orchard to many serious souls. There was a coach with Mrs. Knight, Miss

« PreviousContinue »