Journal of a Voyage from Gibraltar to Georgia, Journal 3 · Part 33
EVESHAM in Worceſterſhire, twelve Miles from Cheltenham.
Continued at Cheltenham, for the Sake of a little Retirement, and ſome private Buſineſs, till after Dinner, and got ſafe to Eveſham, (where Mr. Seward's Relations live) about ſeven at Night. — I found there had been much Talk about my coming, GOD wiſely ordering it to engage and excite the People's Attention. — Several Perſons came to ſee me, amongſt whom was Mr. Benjamin Seward, whom GOD has been pleaſed to call by his free Grace very lately. —Both his Circumſtances before, and in Converſion, much reſemble thoſe of St. Paul. For he was bred up at the Feet of Gamaliel, being at Cambridge for ſome Years. As touching the Law, ſo far as outward Morality went, he was blameleſs; concerning Zeal, oppoſing the Church. My Proceedings he could not like, and he had once a Mind, he ſaid, to write againſt Mr. Law's Enthuſiaſtic Notions in his Chriſtian Perfection. — But lately it has pleaſed GOD to reveal his dear Son in him, and to caſt him down to the Earth, as he did Saul, by eight Days Sickneſs; in which Time he ſcarce ever eat, or drank, or ſlept, and underwent great inward Agonies and Tortures. — After this, the Scales fell more and more from the Eyes of his Mind. — GOD ſent a poor travelling Woman, that came to …ell Straw Toys, to inſtruct him in the Nature of our ſecond Birth, and now he is reſolved to prepare for Holy Orders, and to preach CHRIST and thoſe Truths ſtraightway in every Synagogue, which once he endeavoured to deſtroy. — He is a Gentleman of a very large Fortune, which he has now devoted to GOD. And I write this, to ſhew how far a Man may go, and yet know nothing of JESUS CHRIST. — Behold, here was one who conſtantly attended on the Means of Grace, exact in his Morals, humane and courteous in his Converſation, who gave much in Alms, was frequent in private Duties; and yet, till about ſix Weeks ago, as deſtitute of any ſaving experimental Knowledge of JESUS CHRIST, as thoſe on whom his Name was never called, and who ſtill ſit in Darkneſs, and the Shadow of Death. Bleſſed be GOD, that although not many rich, not many mighty, not many noble are called, yet ſome are. — Who would but be accounted a Fool for CHRIST's ſake? How often has my Companion and honoured Friend Mr. William Seward been deemed a Madman even by this very Brother, for going to Georgia? But lo! GOD now has made him an Inſtrument of converting his Brother. This more and more convinces me, that we muſt be deſpiſed, e'er we can be Veſſels fit for GOD's Uſe. As for my own Part, I find, by happy Experience, the more I am contemned, the more GOD delights to honour me, in bringing home Souls to CHRIST. —And I write this for the Encouragement of my fellow Labourers, who have all Manner of Evil ſpoken againſt them falſly for CHRIST's Sake. Let them not be afraid, but rejoice and be exceeding glad: For the Spirit of God, and of Glory, ſhall reſt upon their Souls.
Thurſday, April 19. Went to Badſey, about two Miles from Eveſham, where Mr. Seward's eldeſt Brother lives. — We were moſt kindly received, and, I hope, a true Chriſtian Church will be in their Houſe. — About four in the Evening, the Churches both at Eveſham, Bengeworth, and Badſey, being denied, I preached from the Croſs, in the Middle of Eveſham-ſtreet. to a great Congregation, and went to Badſey, and preached in Mr. Seward's Brother's Yard to a great Number of People, many of which came from Eveſham to hear me again. — GOD grant it may ſtrike home to their Hearts.
Friday, April 20. Preached about nine in the Morning at the Croſs, went to public Worſhip, and received the Sacrament. — Preached at Badſey at five in the Evening, and returned and expounded in the Town-Hall; which, though very large, was quite thronged.— The Recorder himſelf procured the Keys for us, and great Numbers of People were truly affected. The ſtanding in the Judge's Place, and ſpeaking from thence, gave me awful Thoughts of GOD; and the Conſideration that I was ſpeaking in the Name of our great High Prieſt and Judge, animated me very much. Oh that I had a thouſand Tongues, they ſhould all be employed in his Service.