Journal of a Voyage from Gibraltar to Georgia, Journal 3 · Part 3 – Part 4
LONDON.
Monday, January 15. Took a moſt affectionate Leave of my dear Oxon Brethren, ſet out at Seven, reached London by Five, ſpent the Evening in anſwering ſome Letters, eſpecially one from Howel Harris, an Inſtrument, under GOD, of doing much good in Wales. — Read a Pamphlet wrote againſt me by a Clergyman, I bleſs GOD, without any Emotion; prayed moſt heartily for the Author; opened the Corruptions of my Heart to my Brethren in Bands, and felt great Peace conſequent thereupon.
Tueſday, January 16. After much Oppoſition, read Prayers, and preached to a thronged and affected Audience at St. Helens. — After this, I expounded twice to two Companies, and prayed by Name for the Author of the Pamphlet; left my Auditors in Tears, and went home full of Love, and Joy, and Peace, which paſſeth all Underſtanding. — Oh that he felt what I do! Happy, unſpeakably happy, would he then be!
Wedneſday, January 17. Din'd with and convinced ſeveral that were prejudiced againſt extempore Prayer. — Waited on the Truſtees, and was moſt kindly received. — Afterwards much aſſiſted in expounding twice at Mr. C—'s. —The more I am oppoſed, the more GOD enlightens my Underſtanding. So it was formerly, ſo it is now. — Spent the Remainder of the Evening at Fetter-lane Society; and GOD enabled me to tell of ſome Experiences, which I hope comforted their Hearts.
Thurſday, January 18. Perceived myſelf much diſordered, ſo that I was obliged to lie down to ſleep. But afterwards GOD greatly enlarged my Heart, and enabled me to expound to two Societies. I made a Collection for two poor Houſekeepers, — I find Action is the beſt Way to take all Oppreſſion off the Spirits. God w…ll meet and bleſs us when doing his Work.
Friday, Jan. 19. Did ſome neceſſary Buſineſs for Georgia, and ſpent the Afternoon in viſiting ſome diſſenting Brethren, who are Chriſtians indeed. But, as ſuch, I acknowledge all who love our Lord JESUS in Sincerity and Truth.
Saturday, Jan. 20. Preached three Times this Week, and expounded to about ſixteen thronged Companies, wherein GOD gave me great Power and Succeſs. — Had many Contributions ſent me in for the Orphan-houſe.
Sunday, January 21. Went this Morning and received the Sacrament at the Hands of the Miniſter who wrote againſt me. Bleſſed be GOD, I do not feel the leaſt Reſentment againſt, but a Love for him; for I believe he has a Zeal for GOD, though, in my Opinion, not according to Knowledge. Oh that I could do him any Good!
Preached twice with great Power and Cleaneſs in my Voice to two thronged Congregations, eſpecially in the Afternoon, when I believe near a thouſand People were in the Churchyard, and hundreds more returned Home that could not come in. Thus GOD magnifies his Power, moſt when moſt oppoſed.
Expounded twice afterwards, where the People preſſed moſt vehemently to hear the Word. — GOD enabled me to ſpeak with the Demonſtration of the Spirit, and with Power, and the Remainder of the Evening, filled me with a humble Senſe of his infinite Mercies. I think I am never more humble than when exalted. — By the Grace of GOD I am what I am. Oh that I could be thankful!
Monday, January 22. Spent all the Day in neceſſary Buſineſs for my poor Flock, and in going about doing good. In the Evening I expounded to three ſeveral Societies, one of which was the moſt polite I ever yet ſaw; but GOD enabled me to ſpeak upon the Doctrine of the New Birth; and however ſome might mock, yet others, I believe, were affected, eſpecially three Quakers, who afterwards came and paid me a viſit, and glorified GOD on my Behalf.— Oh how thankful, how humble ought I to be! — GOD fills me with Love, Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghoſt.— Such is his Free Grace in CHRIST JESUS!
Tueſday, January 23. Staid at Home to Day as uſual, to receive People, and ſtill had the Comfort of hearing many coming to me, who have been awaken'd to a Senſe of the New-Birth. What Reaſon have I to bleſs GOD for ſending me to England! How does he daily ſet his Seal to my Miniſtry! Praiſe him all the Hoſt of his, let every Thing that hath Breath praiſe the LORD.
Received a Packet of Letters from my dear Friend H—m, by which I find the infinite Wiſdom of GOD more and more, in ſending me to England.— The poor People of Savannah love me ſtill moſt affectionately. But the Colony ſeems to be at a low Ebb. — Poor Georgia! When thou art univerſally d…ſpiſ…d, and quite deſpaireſt of human Help, then will God manifeſt his mighty Arm in thy Salvation.
Read Prayers and preached at St. Helens, with great Power to a crowded and attentive Audience. — Was enabled to expound to two Companies, and collected above Forty Shillings for the Orphan-houſe of Georgia. I could wiſh to have it built with Mites. — Oh how does the Holy Ghoſt cauſe me to joy in GOD! How does he bring me acquainted more and more with his faithful Servants! Not unto me, O LORD, not unto me, but to thy Name be the Glory!
Wedneſday, January 24. Preached a Charity Sermon, went to Newington to ſee Dr. Watts, and returned in the Evening and expounded with Power to two Companies. — Wrote ſeveral Letters to my Friends at Savannah, and was filled with the Holy Ghoſt; and Oh that all that deny the Promiſe of the Father, might thus receive it themſelves!
Thurſday, January 25. Received the Sacrament at Bow, where four of my Oppoſers adminiſtred; one of whom was the Perſon that wrote the ſelf-anſwering Pamphlet againſt me. At firſt a Thought darted into my Mind that they were of a perſecuting Spirit, but I ſoon checked it, and was filled with Love towards them. GOD grant they may be like minded towards me.
At two in the Afternoon read Prayers and preached at Chriſt Church, Spittlefields, for the Orphan-houſe.— The Congregation was not ſo large as might be expected, and that of the pooreſt Sort, ſo that I began to doubt. But wherefore did I fear? For GOD enabled … to preach with Power, and twenty-five Po…nds were collected, to our great Surpriſe, and to the Glory of our great and good …OD; for which we kneeled down and gave moſt hearty Thanks.
This done, I went and gave a Word or two of Exhortation, and prayed to a Comp…ny that waited for me. Then … expounded with uncommon Power to another Society in Leadenhall-ſtreet, and collected very near five Pounds for the Orphan-houſe. Bleſſed be God through Chriſt.
About Eight I went to another Society, after Nine to a third, at both which I ſpoke with the Demonſtration of the Spirit, and made Collections for the Orphan-houſe, and was filled with the Holy Ghoſt, which very much ſtrengthned my Body, and make my Feet like Hart's Feet. The Strength GOD gives me would ſurprize me, did I not know what a gracious Maſter I ſerve.
Received a Letter from Edinburgh, from a truly pious Gentlemen, who tells me his Heart was knit to me moſt ſtrongly, upon the reading of my Journal. How many are there, whom I know not, praying for me in ſecret! Surely GOD intends to bring mighty Things to paſs. — Is not his Strength made perfect in Weakneſs?
Friday, January 26. Waited upon an oppoſing Clergyman, and had a Conference with him of near two Hours. His grand Objection was againſt our private Societies, and uſing extempore Prayer, which he grounded on the Authority of the Canons, and the Act of Charles II. In Anſwer, I ſhewed that that Act was entirely levelled againſt ſeditious ſchiſmatical Meetings, contrary to the Church of England, which confines us to a Form in public Worſhip only. He replied, that ours was public Worſhip; but this I deny; for ours were Societies never intended to be ſet up in Oppoſition to the public Worſhip, by Law eſtabliſhed; but only in imitation of the primitive Chriſtians, who continued daily with one Accord in the Temple, and yet in Fello…ſhip building up one another, and exhorting one another from Houſe to Houſe.— Went with Mr. Seward to Bexly, about ten Miles off London, where I preached to a large Congregation, to their great Comfort, and afterwards ſpent the Evening moſt delightfully in religious Converſation, and in ſinging Pſalms and Hymns, and Spiritual Songs with Mr. Delamot's Family, who ſeem almoſt with one Accord, ready to receive JESUS CHRIST. A happier Houſhold have I ſeldom found, or one that more reſembles that of Martha, Mary, and their Brother Lazarus.
Saturday, January 27. Slept but little to Night, as well as the Night before, but was much ſtrengthened without it by the Holy Spirit. Roſe about Five, ſpent above an Hour moſt agreeably in Prayer, ſinging and reading the Scriptures with the Church in Mr. Delamot's Houſe; ſome of whom, after the Example of their Lord, paſſed the whole Night in the ſame delightful Employment.
Came to London about Nine in the Morning, and expounded twice in Beech-lane, where I believe near ſeven hundred People were preſent; collected five Pounds for the Orphan-houſe.
Had extraordinary Comforts this Week, heard much of what GOD has done abroad for me in other Places, where I am not known in the Fleſh, and deſired greatly to be humble and thankful▪
Received the Sacrament at Crooked-Lane, but was a little diſſipated; however I found I received CHRIST, and fed on him in my Heart, by Faith with Thankſgiving. Afterwards went and preached at Ironmongers Alms-houſes at St. Catherine's in the Afternoon; afterwards expounded to two large Companies in the Min…ri…s, with ſuch Demonſtration of the Spirit, as I never ſpoke with before. — I offered JESUS CHRIST freely to Sinners, and many, I believe, were truely pricked to the Heart. Now, my Friends, your Prayers are heard, GOD has given me a double Portion of his Spirit indeed. Oh free Grace in CHRIST JESUS. With what Love, Peace, and Joy does GOD fill this Soul of mine! LORD I am not worthy, but thy MercieMercy… in Chriſt Jeſus are infinite.
Monday▪ Jan. 29. Expounded twice, and ſat up till near One in the Morning, with my honoured Brother and Fellow-Labourer, Iohn Weſley, in Conference with two Clergymen of the Church of England, and ſome other ſtrong Oppoſers of the Doctrine of the New-Birth.— GOD enabled me with great Simplicity to declare what he had done for my Soul, which made them look upon me as a Madman. We ſpeak what we do know, and teſtify that we have ſeen, and they receive not our Witneſs. Now therefore I am fully convinced …here is a fundamental Difference between us and them. They believe only an outward CHRIST, we farther believe that he muſt be inwardly formed in our Hearts alſo. But the natural Man receiveth not the Things of the Spirit of GOD, for they are Fooliſhneſs unto him; neither can he know them, becauſe they are ſpiritually diſcerned.
Tueſday, Jan. 30. Preached at Duke's-Place and St. Helens, to crouded Audiences, and afterwards expounded twice on Dowgate-hill, where the People preſſed mightily to come in. The Miniſter of the Pariſh threatens the Maſter of the Houſe with a Proſecution, though it will be hard for him to prove ſuch Societies any ways contrary to the Laws either of GOD or Man.
GRAVESEND.
Wedneſday, January 31. Slept about two Hours, roſe at Three in the Morning, and went with ſome Chriſtian Friends in a Boat to Graveſend, where I have been long expected. — GOD inclined the Miniſters Hearts to let me have the Uſe of both the Pulpits, and I preached and read Prayers at Three in the Afternoon at the Church without the Town; and did the ſame at the Church in the Town, and the People, as elſewhere, hung upon me to hear the Word of GOD. — God is with me wherever I go.
Thurſday, Feb. 1. Read Prayers and expounded on the third of St. John; expounded at a private Houſe in the Afternoon, and read Prayers and expounded a third Time on the Converſion of St. Paul, in the Evening.— I had great Freedom of Speech, was filled with exceeding great Joy, at the Conſideration of what great Things GOD yet continues to do for my Soul; and yet I ſhall ſee greater Things than theſe.
I ſpent the Remainder of the Evening in ſinging Hymns, and religious Converſation; took Boat about Eleven, ſpoke warmly to the Paſſengers, and came to London rejoicing about Five in the Morning. The Lord preſerve my going out, and my coming in, from this Time forth for evermore.