Journal of a Voyage from Gibraltar to Georgia, Journal 3 · Part 20 – Part 21
BATH.
Monday, March 12. Went in Company with ſeven more dear Friend…, to Bath, and had the Comfort of meeting with ſome true Followers of JESUS CHRIST, whom I knew not before. Received News of the wonderful Progreſs of t…e Goſpel in Yorkſhire, under the Miniſtry of my dear Brother Ingham.— Had the Pleaſure of hearing that the Mayor and the Sheriffs of … had abſolutely forbid the Keeper of … me pr…ch there any longer, … I … upon the Neceſſity of our New Birth.—The Keeper was much concerned, and told them, I preached agreable to Scripture; but they were offended at him. They anſwered and ſaid unto him, Thou art altogether born in Sin, and doſt thou teach us? John ix.34.
Finding many in Bath were deſirous to hear me, having given a ſhort Notice, about five in the Evening I preached out on the Town-Common, to a much larger Audience than could reaſonably be expected.— It ſnowed good Part of the Time; but the …ople ſtaid very contentedly. Indeed … (as I heard afterwards) that I ſpoke Bla…my; but the People of GOD were much rejoyced; and ſome, I hope, effectually wrought upon. Praiſed be GOD for opening ſuch an effectual Door here. Many Adverſaries muſt be expected in ſo polite a Place as Bath. But GOD is with me, and I fear neither Men or Devils.
After Sermon, I returned to our Inn, and ſpent the Remainder of the Evening in ſweet Converſation with a great Number of experienced Chriſtians. My Heart was much enlarged in Prayer; and I can ſay, the Love of GOD was ſhed abroad abundantly therein. For ever adored be the Riches of his free Mercy.
Tueſday, March 13. Preached again at the Fiſh-ponds with great Power, and obſerved all to behave exceeding orderly.
Had extraordinary Power given me at the Society in Nicholas-ſtreet, and exhorted them with all poſſible Earneſtneſs, not to let …igotry, or Party Zeal, be ſo much as mentioned among them. For I deſpair of ſeeing CHRIST's Kingdom come, till we are all thus minded.
Wedneſday, March 14. Being forbid preaching in the Priſon, and, withal, being reſolved not to give place to my Adverſaries, no not for an Hour, I preached at Baptiſt-Mills, a Place very near the City, to three or four Thouſand People, from theſe Words, "What think you of Chriſt?" Bleſſed be GOD, all Things happen for the Furtherance of the Goſpel. I now preach to ten Times more People than I ſhou… if I had been confined to the Churches. … Devil is blind, and ſo are his Emiſſaries, …herwiſe they would not thus confound themſelves. Every Day I am invited to freſh Pla…s. I will, by the Divine Aſſiſtance, go to as many as I can; the reſt I muſt leave unviſited, till it ſhall pleaſe GOD to bring me back from Georgia.
Thurſday, March 15. It ſnowing all Day, I could not go to Siſon to preach, as I propoſed, but ſpent the Day in religious Diſcourſe, writing Letters, and expounding; in which GOD was pleaſed to give me unſpeakable Comfort, Received a ſtrong Invitation to come to Cardiff once more, and to preach at Landaff; but Buſineſs will not permit. Bleſſed be GOD, that People are ready to hear his Word. Surely the Lord will fulfil the Deſires of them that fear him.
Friday, March 16. Being much intreated by the People, and Horſes being ſent for me, I went and preached at Elberton, a Village about nine Miles off Briſtol. The Clergyman denied me the Pulpit; ſo I preached on a little Aſcent on which the May-pole was fixed. The Weather being cold, and the adjacent Villages having but little Notice, I had not above two Hundred Hearers. But after Dinner, I haſted to Thornbury, where I was invited alſo, and preached with uncommon Power to a great Part of my Morning Congregation, and many hundreds beſides. Mr. Willis, the Incumbent, lent me the Church, and uſed me with great Civility, as did two other Clergymen who were there preſent. The People were very deſirous to have me ſtay; but I had promiſed to lie at Wintenburn, at a Quaker's Houſe, where three more of their Friends met us, and with whom we had agreeable Converſation. But I cannot ſay their Arguments for omitting the outward Signs of Baptiſm, and the Lord's Supper, and for having no outward Call to the Miniſtry, were at all convincing: However, they wiſhed me good Luck in the Name of the LORD, and we parted from each other very lovingly. GOD grant I may be always of a Catholic Spirit.
BRISTOL.
Saturday, March 17. Returned to Briſtol about eight in the Morning, and had the Pleaſure of hearing that Mr. Mayor, &c. had engaged a Clergyman to preach to the poor Priſoners at Newgate, rather than to agree to a Petition they had preſented to have me. Some preach Chriſt out of Contention, ſuppoſing to add Affliction to my Bonds, and others of good Will: However, Chriſt is preached, and I therein rejoyce, yea, and will rejoyce.
Had the Honour of ſeeing another Letter, intended againſt me, put in Print; and GOD rewarded me for it, by giving me ſuch extraordinary Power at the Poor-houſe this Afternoon, that great Numbers were quite melted, and diſſolved into Tears. The Enemies of GOD's Church undeſignedly do GOD's Work. I never am ſo much aſſiſted, as when Perſons endeavour to blacken me; and I find the Number of my Hearers ſo encreaſe by Oppoſition, as well as my own inward Peace, and Love, and Joy, that I only fear a Calm. But the Enmity that is in the Heart of every natural Man againſt GOD, will not ſuffer them to be quiet long. I only ſay, I would ſend my Adverſaries to School to Gamaliel. If this Work be not of God, ſays he, it will come to nought; but if it be, ye cannot overthrow it; leſt haply ye be found to fight againſt God.
Sunday, March 18. Had the Pleaſure of ſeeing my Morning Audience ſo much increaſed, that above an Hundred were obliged to ſtand without in the Street.— Was taken ill for about two Hours; but, notwithſtanding, was enabled to go and preach at Hannam to many more than were there laſt Sunday. And in the Afternoon, I really believe no leſs than twenty Thouſand were preſent at Roſe-Green. Bleſſed are the Eyes which ſee the Things which we ſee. Surely GOD is with us of a Truth. To behold ſuch Crouds ſtand about us in ſuch an awful Silence, and to hear the Echo of their ſinging run from one End of them to the other, is very ſolemn and ſurprizing. — My Diſcourſe continued for near an Hour and a Half; and at both Places, above fourteen Pounds were collected for the Orphan-houſe; and it pleaſed me to ſee with what Chearfulneſs the Colliers and poor People threw in their Mites. — Contrary to my Expectation, having a Cold upon me, GOD enabled me afterwards to expound for above an Hour to a crouded Society, with great Freedom and Plainneſs of Speech. And I came home full of Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghoſt. What a Myſtery is the divine Life! Oh that all were Partakers of it!