Journal of a Voyage from Gibraltar to Georgia, Journal 3 · Part 35 – Part 36
LONDON.
Wedneſday, April 25. Reached London with my dear Friends about Ten in the Morning; was received moſt tenderly by my dear Brethren. Received a Letter from Gibral…r, giving an Account of the Succeſs of my Labours in that Garriſon. — Expounded to a Society of holy Women, and afterwards ſpent about two Hours in cloſe Conference at Fetter-lane Society. Thanks be to GOD, we talked with great Sweetneſs and Chriſtian Love, and unanimouſly declared againſt the Principles of our three Brethren, who lately made ſuch Confuſion in Oxford. There muſt be Hereſies amongſt you, that they which are approved may be made manifeſt.
Thurſday, April 26. Aſſiſted in adminiſtring the bleſſed Sacrament at Iſlington: where the Vicar, in Conformity to the Rubrick, takes Care to obſerve the Octaves of Eaſter.—After this, I expounded to a large Room full of People, and with ſuch Power and Demonſtration of the Spirit, as I never ſaw before. Surely the Hearers Hearts were quite melted down by the preaching of the free Grace of GOD in CHRIST JESUS to poor Sinners. Floods of loving Tears flowed from their Eyes. — In the Evening I expounded to a Society at St. Mary's Hill, and then retired to Bed, wiſhing that all felt the Comforts GOD was then pleaſed to communicate to my Soul. Indeed I can ſay, that the LORD is gracious.
Friday, April 27. Went this Morning to Iſlington to preach, according to the Appointment of my dear Brother in CHRIST, the Rev. Mr. Stonehouſe; — but in the midſt of the Prayers, the Church-Warden came, demanding me to produce my Licence, or otherwiſe he forbad my preaching in that Pulpit. I believe I might have inſiſted upon my Right to preach, being in Prieſt's Orders, and having the Preſentation of the Living at Savannah, which is in the Biſhop of London's Dioceſe, a ſtronger Licence than that implicite one, by which Hundreds of the inferior Clergy are by his Lordſhip permitted to preach: However, for Peace Sake, I declined preaching in the Church; but after the Communion Service was over, I preached in the Churchyard; being aſſured my Maſter now called me out here, as well as in Briſtol.— The ſecond Leſſon was Acts the xxiv. which contained the plauſible Speech Tertullus made againſt Paul, a Ringleader of the Sect of the Nazarenes, which GOD applied cloſely to my Heart. And he was pleaſed ſo to aſſiſt me in preaching, and ſo wonderfully to affect the Hearers, that I believe we could have went ſinging of Hymns to Priſon. Let not the Adverſaries ſay, I have thruſt myſelf out of their Synagogues: No; they have thruſt me out. And ſince the Self-righteous Men of this Generation count themſelves unworthy, I go out into the Highways and Hedges, and compel Harlots, Publicans and Sinners to come in, that my Maſter's Houſe may be filled. They who are ſincere, will follow after me to bear the Word of GOD.
Expounded at Night to a very large Society in Wapping, with great Power, and perceived that the London People were much improved ſince I left them; indeed their Hearts ſeem to be quite broken, and I believe they would pluck out their Eyes if it were poſſible to ſerve me. LORD▪ ſanctify my coming to them, and grant that they may receive a ſecond Benefit.
Saturday, April 28. Preached this Morning again in Iſlington Churchyard, and, bleſſed be GOD, the Congregation was near as large again as Yeſterday, and the Word was attended with extraordinary Power. The ſecond Leſſon was very applicable, being Acts xxv. I can ſay with St. Paul, Neither againſt the Temple, nor againſt Caeſar have I done any Thing, and yet I am put out of their Synagogues, and reviled as an evil Doer; but the Scriptures muſt be fulfilled, If they have perſecuted me, they will alſo perſecute you.
About ſix I expounded to a thronged Society of Women at Fetter-lane, and at eight on St. Mary's Hill. The Portion of Scripture that Providence directed me to, was the Nineteenth of Geneſis, which was very applicable to what happened: For ſome wicked Men, Men of Belial, came and preſſed, and broke down the Door; but GOD was pleaſed to give me ſuch Power at the laſt, that they were forced into an awful Silence, and, I believe they really felt the Weight of GOD's Word. The Fierceneſs of Men ſhall turn to thy Praiſe, and the Fierceneſs of them ſhalt thou reſtrain.
Sunday, April 29. Preached in the Morning at Moorfields, to an exceeding great Multitude.— At Ten, went to Chriſt-Church, and heard Dr. Trapp preach moſt virulently againſt me and my Friends, upon theſe Words, Be not righteous …ver-much, why ſhouldſt thou deſtroy thy ſelf? GOD gave me great Serenity of Mind; but alas! the Preacher was not ſo calm as I wiſhed him. His Sermon was ſounded upon wrong Suppoſitions, (the neceſſary Conſequence of his hearing with other Men's Ears) not to ſay there were many direct Untruths in it. — And he argued ſo ſtrenuouſly againſt all inward Feelings, that he plainly proved, that with all his Learning, he knew nothing yet as he ought to know. I pray GOD rebuke his Spirit, and grant that that Sermon may never riſe up in Judgment againſt him.
Being weakened by my Morning's preaching, in the Afternoon I refreſhed myſelf by a little Sleep, and at five went and preached at Kennington Common, about two Miles from London, where no leſs than thirty Thouſand People were ſuppoſed to be preſent; the Wind being for me, it carried the Voice to the extremeſt Part of the Audience.
All ſtood attentive, and joined in the Pſalm and Lord's Prayer moſt regularly, — and I ſcarce ever preached more quietly in any Church.— The Word came with Power. — The People were much affected▪ and expreſſed their Love to me many Ways. — All agreed it was never ſeen on this wiſe before. Oh what need have all GOD's People to rejoyce and give Thanks! I hope a good Inroad has been made into the Devil's Kingdom this Day. LORD, not unto me, but to thy Name be all the Glory.
Monday, April 30. Declined preaching to Day, that I might have Leiſure to write to ſome of my Correſpondents, and make Preparations for my poor Orphans at Georgia. — Received Letters this Evening from thence, telling me of the Affairs of that Colony. — At preſent they have but a melancholly Aſpect; but our Extremity is GOD's Opportunity. — LORD, thou calledſt me; lo! I come to do thy Will. — Heard alſo that Mr. K—n had got over his Scruples, and of the wonderful Succeſs of my honoured Friend Mr. John Weſley's Miniſtry in Briſtol, and of much Oppoſition at Oxon. Certainly GOD is about to bring mighty Things to paſs.
Tueſday, May 1. Preached after publick Service in Iſlington Churchyard, to a greater Congregation than ever. And in the Evening went to expound on Dowgate Hill, the Houſe of Mr. C—… but when I came to the Door, no leſs than two or three Thouſand People were gathered round it; ſo that to avoid a Noiſe, I was obliged to ſtand up in the Fore-ſtreet Window, and preach to them in the Street.— And I think they behaved well; and they would have behaved much better, had they not been disturbed. Now know I more and more, that the LORD calls me into the Fields: For no Houſe or Street is able to contain half the People that come to hear the Word. — This is a Time for doing; yet a little while, and a ſuffering Time will come. I cannot follow him now; but I ſhall follow him afterwards.
Wedneſday, May 2. Preached this Evening again to above ten Thouſand at Kennington Common, and ſpent the Remainder of the Evening in Conference with our Brethren in Fetter-lane Society.—I hope we do build up one another in our moſt holy Faith. — Our Brethren that have fallen into Errors, have left us voluntarily. And now the old Leaven is purged out, we walk in the Comforts of the Holy Ghoſt, and are edified.
Thurſday, May 3. Was fully employed all Day in making Preparations for my Voyage, and preached at ſix in the Evening (a Time I chooſe that People may not be drawn away from their Buſineſs) at Kennington, and great Power was amongſt us▪ — The Audience was more numerous and ſilent than yeſterday, the Evening calm, and many went affected away. Glory be to GOD, I begin to find an Alteration i… the People's Behaviour …eady. GOD grant it may increaſe more and more.
Saturday, May 5. Preached Yeſterday and to Day, as uſual, at Kennington Common, to about twenty Thouſand Hearers, who were very much affected. —The Remainder of my Time I ſpent in preparing Things for Georgia. — I am not uſually ſo much engaged in Seculars; but I as readily do this as preach, when it is the Will of GOD. — It is a great Miſtake that ſome run into, to ſuppoſe Religion conſiſts only in ſaying our Prayers▪ but I think a Man is no further holy, than he is relatively holy. And he only will adorn the Goſpel of our Lord JESUS CHRIST in all Things, who is careful to perform all the civil Offices of Life, whether Servant, Maſter, or Miſtreſs, with a ſingle Eye to GOD's Glory, and from a Principle of a lively Faith in JESUS CHRIST our Saviour. — This is the Morality which I preach, and which ſhall ſtand as long as the Rock on which it is founded; while all Morality ſet up in Oppoſition to this, ſhall ſink, with its Profeſſors, into Hell.
Sunday, May 6. Preached this Morning in Moorfields, to about twenty Thouſand People, who were very quiet and attentive, and much affected.— Went to publick Worſhip Morning and Evening; and at ſix preached at Kennington —But ſuch a Sight never were my Eyes bleſſed with before.— I believe there were no leſs than fifty Thouſand People, near fourſcore Coaches, beſides great Numbers of Horſes, and what is moſt remarkable, there was ſuch an awful Silence amongſt them, and the Word of GOD came with ſuch Power, that all, I believe, were pleaſingly ſurprized. GOD gave me great Enlargement of Heart. I continued my Diſcourſe for an Hour and a Half; and when I returned home, I was filled with ſuch Love, Peace and Joy, that I cannot expreſs it. — I believe this was partly owing to ſome Oppoſition I met with Yeſterday. It is hard for Men to kick againſt the Pricks. — The more they oppoſe, the more ſhall JESUS CHRIST be exalted. Our Adverſaries ſeem to be come to an Extremity, while for want of Arguments to convince, they are obliged to call out to the civil Magiſtrate to compel me to be ſilent; but I believe it will be difficult to prove our Aſſemblies in the Fields to be either diſorderly or illegal. But they that are born after the Fleſh, muſt perſecute thoſe that are born after the Spirit.— Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.
Monday, May 7. Had full Employment again to Day in preparing for my Voyage; did not preach, only expounded in a private Houſe, where ten Pounds were collected for the Orpha… Though I kept it as ſecret as poſſible, yet Numbers of People crouded round the Door; ſo that I find myſelf more and more under a Neceſſity of going out into the Fields.
Received ſeveral Letters of the Fruits of my Miniſtry in ſeveral Places, and had divers come to me awakened, under GOD, by my preaching in the Fields.
Tueſday, May 8. Preached in the Evening, as uſual, on Kennington Common.— Some conſiderable Time before I ſe… out from Town, it rained very hard, ſo that once I thought of not going; but ſeveral pious Friends joined in hearty Prayer that GOD would be pleaſed to withhold the Rain, which was done immediately. — To my great Suprize, when I came to the Common, I ſaw above twenty Thouſand People. — All the while, except for a few Moments, the Sun ſhone out upon us; and, I truſt, the Sun of Righteouſneſs aroſe on ſome with healing in his Wings. For the People were melted down very much at the preaching of the Word, and put up hearty Prayers for my temporal and eternal Welfare. Oh that they may enter into the Ears of the Lord of Sabbaoth!
Wedneſday, May 9. Waited at Noon upon the honourable Truſtees for Georgia. — They received me with the utmoſt Civility, agreed to every Thing I aſked, and gave me a Grant of Five Hundred Acres of Land, to me and my Succeſſors for ever, for the Uſe of the Orphan-Houſe. — My Friend H— alſo writes me Word to Day from Georgia, that the General and Officers are very kind to him upon my Account; ſo that, bleſſed be GOD, there is a comfortable Proſpect of all Things going on as I could wiſh.
About Four in the Afternoon I was taken ill and deſerted, which I always look upon as a certain Preparative for ſome approaching Mercy. —And ſo this was; for after GOD had enabled me to preach to about Twenty Thouſand for above an Hour at Kennington, he inclined the Hearers Hearts to contribute moſt cheerfully and liberally towards the Orphan-Houſe. — I was one of the Collectors,—and it would have delighted any one to have ſeen with what Eagerneſs and Cheerfulneſs the People came up both Sides the Eminence on which I ſtood, and afterwards to the Coach Doors to throw in their Mites. — Surely GOD muſt have touched their Hearts: —For when we came home, we found we had collected above Forty Seven Pounds, amongſt which were Sixteen Pounds in Halfpence; for which we endeavoured to give hearty thanks. — GOD was pleaſed to pour into my Soul a great Spirit of Supplication, and a Senſe of his free diſtinguiſhing Mercies ſo filled me with Love, Humility, and Joy, and holy Confuſion, that I could at laſt only pour out my Heart before him in an awful Silence.—It was ſo full, that I could not well ſpeak. Oh the Happineſs of a Communion with GOD!
Thurſday, May 10. Preached at Kennington; but it rained moſt Part of the Day. There were not above Ten Thouſand People, and Thirty Coaches.—However, GOD was pleaſed ſo viſibly to interpoſe in cauſing the Weather to clear up, and the Sun to ſhine out juſt as I began, that I could not avoid taking Notice of it to the People in my Diſcourſe. Our minute Philoſophers, nay, and our Chriſtians, falſly ſo called, laugh at the Notion of a particular Providence. But to ſuppoſe a general, without holding a particular Providence, is as abſurd, as to imagine there can be a Chain without being compoſed of Links.— Search the Scriptures, and we ſhall find, That not a Sparrow can fall to the Ground without our heavenly Father, and that the very Hairs of our Head are numbred.
Friday, May 11. Preached at Kennington to a larger Audience than the laſt Night, and collected Twenty Six Pounds Fifteen Shillings and Sixpence, for the Orphan-Houſe.—The Readineſs wherewith the People gave is inexpreſſible. —Indeed I can ſay they offered willingly. — They could not have taken more Pains, or expreſſed more Earneſtneſs, had they all been to have received an Alms from me. A Sign this, that the Word of God has taken hold of their Hearts. I found great Sweetneſs of Soul in myſelf; and being upon the Publican and Phariſee, I was very earneſt in endeavouring to convince the Self-righteous Phariſees of this Generation, and offering JESUS CHRIST freely to all, who, with the hum…le Publican, feelingly and experimentally could cry out, GOD be merciful to me a Sinner.
Saturday, May 12. Agreed to Day for myſelf, and E…even more, to go on Board the Elizabeth, Captain Allan, to Pennſylvania; where I deſign, GOD willing, to preach the Goſpel in my Way to Georgia, and buy Proviſions for my Orphan-Houſe. LORD ſend thy Angel before me to prepare my Way.
Had many come to me this Morning, acquainting me what GOD had done for their Souls by my preaching in the Fields.— And in the Evening preached to about Twenty Thouſand People at Kennington as uſual, the Weather continuing remarkably fair whilſt I was delivering my Maſter's Meſſage.— Though I was full of Matter, yet I found a Reſtraint upon my Spirits, which prevented my ſpeaking with my wonted Freedom: However, I offered JESUS CHRIST to all that would apply him to their Hearts by Faith. Oh that all would embrace him! The LORD make them willing in the Day of his Power.
Sunday, May 13. Preached this Morning to a prodigious Number of People in Moorfields, and collected for the Orphans Fifty Two Pounds Nineteen Shillings and Sixpence, above Twenty Pounds of which was in Halfpence. — Indeed they almoſt wearied me in receiving their Mites; and they were more than one Man could carry home.—Thus will GOD make his Power to be known.—Went to publick Worſhip twice, and preached in the Evening to near Sixty Thouſand People.—Many went away becauſe they could not hear; but GOD enabled me to ſpeak, ſo that the beſt Part of them could underſtand me well; and it is very remarkable what a deep Silence is preſerved whilſt I am ſpeaking.—After Sermon, I made another Collection of Twenty Nine Pounds Seventeen Shillings and Eightpence, and came home deeply humbled with a Senſe of what God had done for my Soul. — I doubt not but many ſelf-righteous Bigots, when they ſee me ſpreading out my Hands to offer JESUS CHRIST freely to all, are ready to cry out, How glorious did the Reverend Mr. Whitefield look to Day, when, neglecting the Dignity of a Clergyman, he ſtood venting his Enthuſiaſtick Ravings in a Gown and Caſſock upon a Common, and collecting Mites from the poor People? But if this be to be vile, LORD grant that I may be more vile. — I know this Fooliſhneſs of preaching is made inſtrumental to the Converſion and Edification of Numbers. Ye Phariſees mock on, I rejoyce, yea, and will rejoyce.
Monday, May 14. Spent moſt of this Day in viſiting ſome Friends, and ſettling my Georgia Affairs. Spent the Evening very agreeably with ſeveral Quakers at the Houſe of Mr. Hy—m. How much Comfort do thoſe loſe who converſe with none but ſuch as are of their own Communion!
Tueſday, May 15. Preached this Evening at Kennington, and GOD was pleaſed to ſend us a …ittle Rain. — But it rejoiced me greatly: — For the People, notwithſtanding, ſtood very attentive; and aſſoon as the Rain came, I received uncommon Strength from above. The good LORD water us all with the Dew of his heavenly Bleſſing.
Wedneſday, May 16. Sent a Quaker, whom GOD was pleaſed to convince, to be baptized by my dear Brother Mr. Stonehouſe. Waited upon the honourable Truſtees, who ſtill treated me with the utmoſt Civility.—Dined with ſome more ſerious Quakers, and preached at Kennington, and have Reaſon to bleſs GOD more and more for the Order and Devotion of thoſe that come to hear the Word. — Indeed they behave as though they believed GOD was ſtanding at their Right-Hand.
Thurſday, May 17. Preached, after ſeveral Invitations thither, at Hampſtead-heath, about five Miles from London.— The Audience was of the politer Sort, and I preached very near the Horſe-courſe, which gave me Occaſion to ſpeak home to their Souls concerning our ſpiritual Race — Moſt were attentive, but ſome mocked. Thus the Word of GOD is either a Savour of Life unto Life, or of Death unto Death. GOD's Spirit bloweth when, and where it liſteth.
Friday, May 18. Dined with ſeveral of the Moravian Church, and could not avoid admiring their great Simplicity, and deep Experience in the inward Life.— At ſix, I preached in a very large open Place in Shadwell, being much preſſed by many to go thither.— I believe there were upwards of twenty Thouſand People.— At firſt, through the Greatneſs of the Throng, there was a little Hurry; but afterwards, all was huſh'd and ſilent.— I perceived a d…vine Power come upon me from above. — The Word, I believe, made its Way into their Hearts, and very near twenty Pounds were collected for the Orphan-house.— Bleſſed be GOD, we now begin to ſurround this great City. As the Walls of Jericho once fell down at the Sound of a few Rams Horns; ſo I hope even this Fooliſhneſs of Preaching, under GOD, will be a Means of pulling down the Devil's ſtrong Holds, which are in and about the City of London.
Received ſeveral excellent Letters, amongſt which was one from Mr. Ralph Erſkine, a Field-Preacher of the Scots Church, a noble Soldier of the Lord JESUS CHRIST. Oh that all that were truly zealous knew one another! It muſt greatly ſtrengthen each … Hands.
Saturday, May 19. Had the Pleaſure of being an Inſt…ument, under GOD, with Mr. Seward, of bringing a young Man out of Bethlehem, who was lately put into that Place for being, as they term it, Methodically Mad. — The Way I came to be acquainted with him, was by his ſending me the following Letter.
To the Rev. Mr… Whitefield, theſe, Dear Sir,
I have read your Sermon upon the New-…th, and hope I … always have a due Senſe of my dear Redeemer's Goodneſs to me, that has ſo infinitely extended his Mercy to me, which Senſe be pleaſed to confirm in me by your Prayers; and may Almighty GOD bleſs and preſerve you, and proſper your miniſterial Function. I wiſh, Sir, I could have ſome explanatory Notes upon the New Teſtament, to enlighten the Darkneſs of my Underſtanding, to make me capable of becoming a good Soldier of JESUS CHRIST; but, above all, ſhould be glad to ſee you. I am,
Dear Sir, Yours affectionately with my whole Heart, Joſeph Periam. Bethlehem Hoſpital, No. 50.
According to his Requeſt I paid him a Viſit, and found him in perfect Health both in Body and Mind. A Day or two after, I and Mr. Seward went and talked with his Siſter, who gave me the three following Sy…tons of his being mad. Firſt, That he faſted for near a Fortnight. Secondly, That he prayed ſo as to be heard four Story high. Thirdly, That he had ſold his Clo…hs, and given them to the Poor.— This the young Man himſelf explained to me before; and ingeniouſly confeſſed, that under his firſt Awakenings, he was one Day reading the Story of the young Man whom our LORD commanded to ſell all, and give to the Poor, and thinking it muſt be taken in the literal Senſe, out of Love to JESUS CHRIST he ſold his Cloaths, and gave the Money to the Poor. — This is nothing but what is common to Perſons at their firſt ſetting out in the ſpiritual Life. Satan will, if poſſible, drive them to Extremes. — And if ſuch young Converts were left to GOD, or had ſome experienced Perſon to conſult with, they would ſoon come into the Liberties of the Goſpel, But how ſhould thoſe who have not been tempted like unto their Brethren, be able to ſuccour thoſe that are tempted?
May the 5th I received a ſecond Letter from him.
Query 1. If Repentance does not include a Ceſſation from Sin, and turning to Virtue; and though notwithſtanding I want that deep Contrition mentioned by ſome Divines, yet as I live not wilfully in any known Sin, and firmly believe the Goſpel of our Lord JESUS CHRIST, may I not thereby be intitled to the Benefits of CHRIST's Death and Reſurrection, in the Perſeverance of Knowledge, and Practice of my Duty?
Query 2. If I am in Priſon, whether I may not, without Offence to GOD, make uſe of Endeavours to be diſcharged, by which I may be enabled to get into a pious Chriſtian Family, and conſequently be grounded and firmly ſettled in the Love of GOD, it being my Deſire; for I am ſurrounded with nothing but Prophaneneſs and Wickedneſs?
Query 3. If my Objections to being impriſoned are inconſiſtent or wicked, which are, that I am obliged to ſubmit to the Rules of the Houſe, in going to my Cell at ſeven or eight of the Clock at Night, and not let out till ſix or ſeven in the Morning, by which I am debarred the Uſe of Candle, and conſequently Books; ſo that all that Time, except what is ſpent in Prayer and Meditation, is loſt. Which Exerciſes, though good, are, by ſo conſtant Repetition, and for want of Change, deaden'd?
Query 4. If I ſhould, by the Goodneſs of GOD, be diſcharged, whether I may, without Offence to the Goſpel of JESUS CHRIST, follow the Buſineſs of an Attorney at Law, to which I was put as a Clerk; and by a conſcientious Diſcharge of that Duty, be thereby intitled to a heavenly Inheritance; my Fear in this Point ariſing from our Lord's Advice about going to Law, Matthew v.40.
Query 5. If I cannot be diſcharged by proper Application, (which Application pray be pleaſed to let me have) how can I beſt ſpend my Time to the Glory of GOD, myſelf and Brethren's Welfare? And pleaſe to give me Rules for the ſame.
Worthy Sir,
Theſe Queſtions, whether momentary or not, I leave to your Judgment. If you think they deſerve an Anſwer, ſhould be glad to have them ſolved; for as I am ſenſible of the Power of my Adverſary the Devil, ſurely I cannot but act with the utmoſt Circumſpection, which gives me Occaſion to trouble you herewith; and I hope, Sir, the Circumſtance of the Place I am in, may excuſe the Manner in which I have wrote to you, and count it not an Affront; for GOD is Witneſs how I love and eſteem the Miniſters of JESUS CHRIST; for whoſe dear Sake, may the GOD of infinite Love and Goodneſs, ſtabliſh and confirm you in the daily Succeſs of your miniſterial Labours, which are the daily Prayers of
Your moſt unworthy, but faithful humble Servant, Joſeph Periam. Bethlehem, No. 50. May 5. 1739.
P S. I am afraid, Sir, I miſbehaved myſelf when you ſo kindly came to ſee me; but if I did in any Meaſure, your Chriſtian Love and Charity will excuſe it; for not being warned of your coming, the Surprize, though pleaſant, ſo fluttered my Spirits, that I was overburdened with Joy.
O how pleaſed ſhould I be to ſee you!
To this I ſent the following Anſwer.
Dear Sir, May 7. 1739.
The Way to Salvation is by JESUS CHRIST, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.— The Way to CHRIST is by Faith. Whoſoever liveth and believeth in me, ſays our LORD, though he were dead, yet ſhall be live. But this Faith, if it is a ſaving Faith, will work by Love Come then to JESUS CHRIST as a poor Sinner, and he will make you a rich Saint. This, I think, ſerves as an Anſwer to your firſt Query.
It is, no doubt, your Duty, whilſt you are in the Houſe, to ſubmit to the Rules of it; but then you may uſe all lawful Means to get yourſelf out. I have juſt now been with your Siſter, and will ſee what can be done farther, Watch and pray.
As for the Buſineſs of an Attorney, I think it unlawful for a Chriſtian, at leaſt exceeding dangerous. Avoid it therefore, and glorify GOD in ſome other Station. I am,
Dear Sir, Your affectionate Friend and Servant. G. W.
A Day or two after I received a third Letter, which is as follows.
Worthy Sir,
I received your Letter, which was a full Anſwer to my Queries, and give you my hearty Thanks for the Trouble you have taken upon you (the only Gratitude I can at preſent pay) but he, whom I have perfectly at Heart, will ſupply the Deficiency to you, and will not ſuffer a meritorious Act to go unrewarded. O how do I daily experience the Love of CHRIST towards me, who am ſo vile, baſe and unworthy! I pray GOD I may always be thankful, and both ready to do and ſuffer his moſt gracious Will, which I truſt, through your Prayers and GOD's Grace, I ſhall at all Times ſubmit to.
My Father was with me laſt Night, when I ſhewed him your Letter. I told him, I utterly renounced the Buſineſs of an Attorney. He then asked what Profeſſion I choſe, which I ſubmitted to him, on Condition it might prove agreeable to the Will of GOD. He was pleaſed to ſay, he thought me not mad, but very well in my Senſes, and would take me out, on Condition Doctor Monro and the Committee were of his Opinion. Then he varied again, and thought it convenient for me to ſtay the Summer, and ſo to take Phyſick twice a Week, fearing a Relapſe. I told him, as a Father, he ſhould be wholly obeyed; but when at parting he …entioned my leaving Religion (or Words to that Purpoſe, at which I was ſomewhat ſtirred in Spirit) I told him, nothing ſhould prevail upon me to leave JESUS CHRIST; upon which he left me. This is the Subſtance of what paſſed between us, which▪ I hope, is not amiſs to let you know of, as you have been ſo kind as to plead for my Liberty.
Upon the whole of the Matter, Sir, GOD gives me perfect Reſignation, and I truſt when he ſhall ſee fit, will diſcharge me; and as I find his Love daily more and more ſhed abroad in my Heart, all Things will work together for my good. Pray, Sir, be thankful for me, and if Opportunity will let you, I ſhould be ſincerely glad to ſee you before you ſet out for America. And may Almighty GOD, in his infinite Goodneſs, proſper, guide and protect you, through this tranſitory Life, and hereafter receive you triumphantly into the heavenly Jeruſalem, there to converſe with, and ſee the ever bleſſed JESUS, that dear Lamb of GOD; to which that you may attain, are the hearty and fervent Wiſhes of
Your loving and ſincere Friend, Joſeph Periam▪ Wedneſday, May, 9. 1739,
I am aſhamed to trouble you thus, but my Heart is full of you.
Upon reading this, I was ſenſibly touched with a Fellow-feeling of his Miſery; and, at my Requeſt, Mr. Seward, and two more Friends, waited upon the Committee. But alas! they eſteemed my Friends as much mad as the young Man, and frankly told them, both I and my Followers, in their Opinion, were really beſides themſelves. My Friend Seward urged the Example of the young Perſons, who called the Prophet that was ſent to anoint Jehu King, a mad Fellow; — of our LORD, whom his own Relations, and the Scribes and Phariſees, took to be mad, and beſides himſelf; — and Feſtus's Opinion of St. Paul. — He further urged, that when young People were under their firſt Awakenings, they were uſually tempted by the Devil to run into ſome Extremes. But all ſuch Language confirmed the Gentlemen more and more, that Mr. Seward was mad alſo. And to prove that the young Man was certainly mad, they called one of the Attendants, who ſaid, when Mr. Periam firſt came into the Place, he ſtripped himſelf to his Shirt, and prayed. — The Reaſon of this, as Mr. Periam ſaid afterwards, was, that he might i…ure himſelf to Hardſhip at once: For being brought from Bethnall Green, where he was taken great Care of, into a cold Place without Windows, and a damp Cellar under him, he thought it beſt to ſeaſon himſelf at firſt, that he might learn to endure Hardneſs as a good Soldier of JESUS CHRIST. In the midſt of the Conference, ſome Way or other, they mentioned his going to Georgia, and ſaid, if I would take him with me, they would engage that his Father ſhould give Leave to have him releaſed. — A Day or two after, Mr. Seward waited upon his Father, who gave his Son an excellent Character, and conſented to his going abroad. — After this, he waited upon the Doctor, who pronounced him well.— And to Day he waited again upon the Committee, who behaved very civilly, and gave the young Man a Diſcharge.
He is now with me, and I hope will be an Inſtrument of doing good.— The Hardſhips he has indured at Bethlehem, will, I hope, prepare him for what he muſt undergo abroad. — And being now not ignorant of Satan's Devices, he will be better qualified to prevent his getting an Advantage over others. Before I leave my Account of him, I cannot help telling what Uſage he met with at his firſt coming into Bethlehem.— Being ſenſible within himſelf, that he wanted no bodily Phyſick, he was unwilling at firſt to take it; upon which, four or five took hold of him, curſed him moſt heartily, put a Key into his Mouth, threw him upon the Bed, and ſaid (though I had then never ſeen or heard of him) you are one of Whitefield's Gang, and ſo drenched him. — I hear alſo, that there was an Order given, that neither I, or any of my Friends, ſhould be permitted to come unto him. Good GOD! how ſhortly will that Day come when theſe unhappy Men ſhall be heard to cry out, We Fools counted their Lives Madneſs, and their Ends to be without Honour! How are they numbred among the Children of GOD! How is their Lot among the Saints!
Dined at Clapham with Mr. B—n, a Quaker. Preached in the Evening at Kennington Common to about 15000 People, who were very attentive and affected. Afterwards I ſpent two Hours in at Fetter-lane Society, where we had a moſt uſeful Conference concerning the Neceſſity every Chriſtian lay under to have ſome particular Calling, whereby he may be a uſeful Member of the Society to which he belongs. — We all agreed to this unanimouſly; as for my own Part, I think, if a Man will not labour, neither ought he to eat. To be ſo intent on purſuing the one Thing needful, as to neglect providing for thoſe of our own Houſholds, in my Opinion, is to be Righteous overmuch.
Sunday, May 20. Went with our Brethren of Fetter-lane Society to St. Pauls, and received the holy Sacrament, as a Teſtimony that we adhered to the Church of England.
Preached at Moorfields and Kennington Common, and at both Places collected very near fifty Pounds for the Orphan-houſe. A viſible Alteration is made in the People's Behaviour:— For though there were near fifteen Thouſand in the Morning, and double the Number in the Afternoon, yet they were as quiet during my Sermon▪ as though there had not been above fifty Perſon… preſent. — I did not meet with a Moment's Interruption. I could ſay of the Aſſembly, a… Jacob did on another Occaſion, Surely GOD … this Place.
HERTFORD.
Monday, May 21. Was fully engaged all th… Morning in ſettling my Georgi… Affairs. Left London about Three, — called and prayed at a Houſe or two in the Way, and reached Hertford between eight and nine at Night.— I never ſaw a Town ſo much alarmed. — The Streets were every where crouded; and by the Behaviour of ſome, I thought we ſhould have had many Scoffers. — But, bleſſed be GOD, I never preached to a more quiet Congregation. — The Hearers were in Number about Four or Five Thouſand, and the Place I preached in was a Common near the Town. Afterwards a certain Gentlewom…n, Lydia like, conſtrained both me and my Friends▪ if we judged her worthy, to come and abide in her Houſe that Night, which we did to our great Comfort. The LORD reward her a Thouſand-fold.