In about six hours the wind turned foul. So I suppose he came back the next morning. In the afternoon we rode to Mr. Blencowe's, about fifteen miles from Whitehaven. We took a walk in the evening to a little town, called Drig, about a mile from his house, where I preached to a small company of plain, serious people. But I fear they understood very little of what they heard. Friday 5, I went on with Mr. Milner, to Ulverstone. Here a very convenient place for preaching was offered. But few people had any desire to hear. So I went quietly back to my Inn. Saturday 6, We reached Chipping, and were immediately informed, that several there were consulting together, how to hinder me from preaching. Mr. Milner, hearing they were met at the next house, went thither, and brought them all with him, who were the Church-wardens, and three or four persons more. I spent about a quarter of an hour with them, in calm and friendly debate, and they went away much cooler than they came. Sunday 7, Understanding some designed to go out of Church, when I went into the pulpit, I thought it would be better for them to go out sooner, and to read prayers as well as preach. Such a congregation was present, as I believe was never seen there before. And a solemn awe seemed to rest on the whole congregation, from the beginning of the service to the end. I preached in the afternoon on the conclusion of the second Lesson, God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself. The people were all attention. Surely there is no counsel, or strength against the Lord. Monday 8, We rode to Rough-lee, and found a large, serious, and quiet congregation. There have been no tumults, since Mr. W- was removed. He was for some years a Popish Priest. Then he called himself a Protestant, had the living of Coln. It was his manner first to hire, and then head the mob, when they and he were tolerably drunk. But he drank himself, first into a jail, and then into his grave. In the evening I preached at Heptonstall. An Attorney, who happened to be in the town, endeavoured to interrupt, retailing some low, threadbare stories, with a very audible voice. But some of the people cut him short in the midst, by carrying him quietly away. Tuesday 9, I preached at six to abundance of people near Ewood, and with an uncommon blessing. Hence we rode to Todmorden, the Minister was slowly recovering from a violent fit of a palsy, with which he was struck immediately after he had been preaching a virulent sermon against the Methodists. I preached on the side of a mountain to a large and earnest congregation, and then went on to Mellar-barn: I preached at six in the town, and I suppose all the inhabitants, young and old, were present. Nor have I often seen so large a congregation, so universally and deeply affected. My lodging was not such as I could have chosen : but what Providence chooses, is always good. My bed was considerably under ground, the room serving both for a bedchamber and a cellar. The closeness was more troublesome at first than the coolness. But I let in a little fresh air, by breaking a pane of paper (which was by way of glass) in the window, and then slept sound till the morning. Friday 12, I rode to Bolton. So hot a day as this, I do not remember to have felt in England. The congregation seemed to forget the heat, though the room was like an oven. For it was a comfortable hour: God refreshing many souls with the multitude of peace. Saturday 13, The house was fuller this evening, than the last, while I enforced that gracious invitation, Come unto me, all ye that are weary, and heavy laden. Sunday 14, After preaching in the evening, I took occasion to tell the whole congregation, that there had been a mistake, concerning the house, which J. B. imagined, I had contrived to make my own property: but Mr. Grimshaw had now cleared it up, having assured Mr. B., 1, That I knew nothing of the deed relating to the house, till after it was made. 2, That I had no property in it still only a clause was inserted, whereby Mr. G., my brother, and I, were impowered, to appoint the Preachers therein. Monday 15, I had many little trials in this journey, of a kind I had not known before. I had borrowed a young, strong mare, when I set out from Manchester. But she fell lame before I got to Grimsby. I procured another, but was dismounted again, between Newcastle and Berwick. At my return to Manchester, I took my own. But she had lamed herself in the pasture. I thought, nevertheless, to ride her four or five miles to-day. But she was gone out of the ground, and we could hear nothing of her. However, I comforted myself, that I had another at Manchester, which I had lately bought. But when I came thither, I found, one had borrowed her too, and rode her away to Chester. : About noon, I preached near Shackerly, at an old man's house, who was groaning for redemption. We walked together a little way, after preaching and almost as soon as we parted, the power of God fell upon him, so that he hardly knew, whether he was on earth or in heaven. From that hour he has been continually filled with peace and joy in believing. At my return to Bolton, I wrote down a particular account of one, that lately adorned the Gospel. It was as follows, "In April, 1746, Katherine Whitaker went to Hallifax, to hear John Nelson. She was before convinced of the truth by reading, and from that time grew more and more serious. The next year John H called at our house. As he was going, he turned back, took her by the hand, and said, 'You must believe, whether you can, or no.' As soon as he was gone, she began crying to God, and ceased not, till she knew she did believe in Christ. She never afterwards lost the sense of his love: nor could she rest, if she found the least cloud, till it was wholly removed, and the clear light shone again upon her soul. "In May 1750, she removed to Bolton, and soon after appeared to be consumptive. But she did not spare herself on that account, still rising at five, four, or three in the morning, and continuing to teach her scholars, as usual, till about Christmas, 1751. From that time her bodily strength failed, though she did not keep her room till March. She was then afraid, lest she should live to be a burden unto her relations but that fear soon vanished away, and she said, 'Now I can leave it all to God. Let me die sooner or later, it is all one.' But she had still some struggle concerning her husband, before she was thoroughly willing to give him up. "The next Friday but one before she died, one of her sisters sitting by her began singing, O happy, happy day, That calls the exiles home.' She immediately joined with her, and sung on, to the end of the hymn. The Thursday after, she looked round upon us, and said, 'O how I love you all. I am all love. I love every soul God has made.' Her husband asked, Are you happy?? She said, 'O yes, I cannot fear, I cannot doubt, I feel the sprinkled blood: Sing on, sing on, Let every soul with me cry out, Thou art my Lord, my God.' "At breakfast she desired a little cold water: on receiving which she looked up and said, 'In a little while, I shall drink new wine in the kingdom of my Father.' About ten o'clock she broke out, My God is reconcil'd, His pard'ning voice I hear, He owns me for his child, I can no longer fear.' "One asking her, 'How she did?' She said, 'I long to be with him, whom my soul loveth.' On Friday and Saturday, being extremely weak, she spake very little, On Sunday morning she said, "So the Lord hath brought us to another Sabbath. Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin.' She then partly sung, and partly repeated that hymn, • O when shall I sweetly remove, O when shall I enter my rest? The mother of spirits distrest!'. She then said, 'Who is in the house? O I do not love the staying at home on a Sunday. Desire them all to go to Church. When I was most diligent in going to Church, I always found the greatest blessings.' At night she said, 'Swelled legs, for a little time there will be no swelled legs in heaven.' About five on Monday morning, March 23, her husband asked, 'Do you know me?' She said, 'Yes, I do ;' and putting her arm round his neck, quickly began to slumber. Waking soon after, she said, 'I must make haste, and dress myself for the Bridegroom.' She then dozed afresh; but waking in a few minutes, said, 'I am going to Christ;' and fell asleep." Saturday 20, I rode to Chester, and preached at six in the accustomed place, a little without the gates, near St. John's Church. One single man, a poor alehouse-keeper, seemed disgusted, spoke a harmless word, and ran away with all speed. All the rest behaved with the utmost seriousness, while I declared, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Sunday 21, I preached at seven in a much larger house, which was just taken, near St. Martin's Church: as eminent a part of the town, as Drury-lane is in London, or as the horse-fair was in Bristol. At Church, Mr. L preached a strong, plain, useful sermon, upon the faith of Abraham. At one, I began preaching again, on We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord. But the house not containing half of the congregation, I was obliged to stand at the door, on one side of a kind of square, large enough to contain ten or twelve thousand people. I had a few hours before spoken to the Captain of a vessel, with whom I proposed sailing for Dublin; and the wind being fair, I knew not whether I should stay to preach another sermon in Chester, I find it useful to be in such a state of VOL. III. K |