Journal of a Voyage from Gibraltar to Georgia, Journal 3 · Part 37 – Part 39
HERTFORD and OULNEY in Buckingham…re.
Tueſday, May 22. Preached about ſeven in the Morning from the ſame Place, and to near as large a Congregation as I did laſt Night.— GOD gave me uncommon Power, and all, I hope, went away convinced that my Doctrine was of GOD. Breakfaſted with Mr. S—ds, a Diſſenting Miniſter, who kindly invited and received me and my Friends. Dined at Hitchen. Promiſed, at the Requeſt of many, to preach to them, GOD willing, on Friday Morning, and reached Oulney about Ten at Night, where I long ſince promiſed to come. Here alſo GOD had prepared a Table for us; and here I was not a little comforted with meeting with the Rev. Mr. Rogers of Bedford, who, like me, has lately been thruſt out of the Synagogues, for ſpeaking of Juſtification by Faith, and the New Birth, and has commenced a Field-Preacher. Once he was ſhut in Priſon for a ſhort Time, but Thouſands flock to hear him, and GOD bleſſes him more and more. I believe we are the firſt profeſſed Miniſters of the Church of England, that were ſo …, and without Cauſe, excluded every Pulpit. Whether … Brethren can juſtify ſuch a Conduct, the Laſt Day will determine.
Wedneſday, May 23. Being denied the Pulpit, I preached this Morning in a Field near the Town, to about two Thouſand People, with much Freedom and Power. They were very attentive, and I could have continued my Diſcourſe much longer; but the Bells ringing for Prayers, I adjourned my Hearers to publick Worſhip, where many of them went, and GOD was pleaſed to ſpeak to us much in the ſecond Leſſon.— How powerfully does the Word of GOD come to our Hearts, when we experience it … Otherwiſe, it is a dead Letter.
NORTHAMPTON.
Reached Northampton about Five in th… Evening, and was moſt courteouſly received by Dr. Dodridge, Maſter of the Academy there.
At ſeven, according to Appointment, I preached to about three Thouſand Hearers on a Common near the Town, from the Starting-poſt.—Great Power, I believe was amongſt us, and I preached with wonderful Pleaſure; becauſe I thought I had then actual Poſſeſſion of one of the Devil's ſtrong Holds. Oh that we may all run ſo as to obtain the Crown of Life, which GOD the righteous Judge, will give, at the laſt Day, to all that love our LORD JESUS in Sincerity.
Thurſday, May 24. Preached again at the ſame Place at about Eight in the Morning, but to a much larger Audience. Breakfaſted with ſome pious Friends. Was greatly comforted by ſeveral choice Children of GOD, who came to me from different Parts, and left Northampton about eleven, rejoycing with my Friends at the mighty Things GOD had already done, and was yet about to do for us. Many righteous Souls live in and about Northampton; and nothing confirms me more in my Opinion, that GOD intends to work a great Work upon the Earth, than to find how his Children of all Denominations every where wreſtle in Prayer for me.
OULNEY.
Being much ſollicited thereto, after Sermon yeſterday, I haſtned, in Company with near a dozen Friends, to Oulney, eight long Miles from Northampton, and got thither about Ten of the Clock. Great Numbers were aſſembled together; but on account of its being a rainy Day it was judged inconvenient to preach in the Fields. I therefore ſtood upon … Eminence in the Street, and preached from thence with ſuch Power as I have not for ſome Time experienced. Though it … all the Time, yet the People ſtood very attentive and patient. All, I really believe, felt, as well as heard the Word, and one was ſo p…icked to the Heart, and convinced of Sin, that I ſcarce ever ſaw the like Inſtance. The Word of GOD is quick and powerful, and ſharper than a two-edged Sword.
Haſted away as faſt as poſſible from Oulney to Bedford, where I had promiſed, GOD willing, to preach to Night. About ſeven we got thither, and found the Town fully alarmed. — About eight, I preached from the Stairs of a Wind-Mill (the Pulpit of my dear Brother and Fellow Labourer Mr. Rogers) to about three Thouſand People; and GOD was pleaſed to give me ſuch extraordinary Aſſiſtance, that I believe few, if any, were able to reſiſt the Power wherewith GOD enabled me to ſpeak. My Heart was full of GOD, and I ſpake as one having Authority. GOD cauſed me to renew my Strength, and gave me ſuch inward Support, that my Journey did not affect me. As my Day is, ſo ſhalt my Strength be.
Friday, May 25. Preached at Seven in the Morning with great Power, and rather a larger Congregation than before.—Took an affectionate Leave of many gracious Souls, and reached Hitchin, ten Miles from Bedford, about one of the Clock at Noon.— The Town, I perceived, was much alarmed, and many devout Souls came from far to hear me.— About two, I got upon a Table in the Market-place, near the Church; but ſome were pleaſed to ring the Bells in order to diſturb us. Upon this, not having begun, we removed into a moſt commodious Place in the Fields; but being a little fatigued with my Ride, and the Sun beating moſt intenſely upon my Head, I was obliged, in a ſho… Time, to break off, being exceeding ſick and weak. — A kind Gentlewoman offered me her Houſe, where I went, and lay down for about two Hours, and then came and preached near the ſame Place, and GOD was with us.— It was ſurprizing to ſee how the Hearts of the People were knit to me.— I could have continued longer with them; but being under an Engagement to go to St. Albans, I haſtned thither, but could not preach on account of my coming in ſo late. Great Numbers had been there expecting me; and it grieved me to think how little I could do for CHRIST. For he is a gracious Maſter, and had I a Thouſand Lives, they ſhould be ſpent in his Service.