Journal of a Voyage from Gibraltar to Georgia, Journal 3 · Part 5 – Part 6
LONDON.
Friday, Febr. 2. Slept about two Hours, roſe and went and preached at Iſlington, and collected twenty-two Pounds for my Orphan-houſe.
Had a great Number of Communicants, and was told my preaching was attended with uncommon Power. This is the firſt Time I have preached without Notes, (for when I preached at Deptford and Graveſend, I only repeated a written Sermon) but I find myſelf now, as it were, conſtrained to do it.
Expounded in the Evening, and collected three Pounds for the Orphan-houſe, at Mr. Abbot's; preached extempore with great Freedom at Wapping-Chappel, then expounded to another Society, and returned Home without Fatigue or Wearineſs. How does GOD deal with me! He gives me a Heaven upon Earth, and makes my Heart leap for Joy almoſt continually. — Oh that all who now oppoſe it, were partakers of this Joy!
Saturday, February 3. Staid at Home this Day on purpoſe to ſettle my private Affairs; and, bleſſed be GOD, did it greatly to my Satisfaction. — Was very much compoſed in Spirit, began a new Society at the Houſe of Mr. M—n; and was much aſſiſted in expounding twice at Beech-lane to two Companies, making in all near a thouſand People. — Viſited a ſick Brother, came home full of Peace, and Love, and Joy in the Holy Ghoſt.
Near nine Times has GOD enabled me to preach this Week, and to expound 12 or 14 Times; near forty Pounds, I believe, have been collected for the Orphan-houſe. — I find I gain greater Light and Knowledge, by preaching extempore. — So that I fear I ſhould quench the Spirit, did I not go on to ſpeak as he gives me Utterance.
Sunday, February 4. Had a comfortable Night's Rest▪ was warmed much by ta…king to an almoſt Chriſtian, that came to ask me certain Queſtions. — Preached in the Morning at St. George's in the Eaſt, collected eighteen Pounds for the Orphan-houſe, and had, I believe, 600 Communicants, which highly offended the officiating Curate. Poor Man, I pitied and prayed for him ſincerely.
Preached again at Chriſt-Church, Spittlefields, gave Thanks, and ſung Pſalms at a private Houſe: Went thenc… to St. Margaret's, Weſtminſter; but ſomething breaking belonging to the Coach, could not get thither 'till the middle of Prayers. — Went through the People to the Miniſter's Pew, but finding it locked, I returned to the Veſtry till the Sexton could be found. Being there informed that another Miniſter intended to preach, I deſired ſeveral Times that I might go Home: My Friends would by no Means conſent, telling me I was appointed by the Truſtees to preach, and that if I did not, the People would go out of the Church; at my Requeſt, ſome went to the Truſtees, Church-wardens, and Miniſter; and whilſt I was waiting for an Anſwer, and the laſt Pſalm ſinging, a Man came with a Wand in his Hand, whom I took for the proper Church-Officer, and told me I was to preach; I not doubting but the Miniſter was ſatisfied, followed him to the Pulpit: And GOD enabled me to preach with greater Power than I had done all the Day before.
After this, prayed with, and gave a Word or two of Exhortation to a Company that waited for me, then took a little bodily Refreſhment, and then went to a Love-Feaſt in Fetter-lane, where I ſpent the whole Night in watching unto Prayer, and diſcuſſing ſeveral important Points with many truely Chriſtian Friends. About Four in the Morning we went all together and broke Bread at a poor ſick Siſter's Room, and ſo we parted, I hope, in a Spirit not unlike that of the primitive Chriſtians.
This has been a Sabbath indeed! How has GOD owned me before near Twelve thouſand People this Day. — How has he ſtrengthened my Body! How has he filled and ſatisfied my Soul. Now know I, that I did receive the Holy Ghoſt at Impoſition of Hands. — For, I feel it as much as Eliſha did, when Elijah dropped his Mantle. Nay, others ſee it alſo; and my Oppoſers, would they but ſpeak, cannot but confeſs that GOD is with me of a Truth. Wherefore then do they fight againſt GOD?
Monday, February 5. Went about gathering for my poor Flock, had a little Time to write my Journal, was ſomewhat weak part of the Day, but grew ſtrong by expounding to four Companies at Night. I always get Strength by working. What great Things has GOD d…ne for my Soul! Oh that I could praiſe him with my whole Heart!.
Tueſday, February 6. Was refreſhed much this Morning, and found that the Sleep of a labouring Man was ſweet. — Waited on the Biſhop of Glouceſter with Brother John Weſley, and received his Lordſhip's liberal Benefaction for Georgia.
Went to St. Helen's, where Satan withſtood me grea…y. For on a ſudden I was deſ…rted▪ and my Strength went from me. — But I thought it was the Devil's doing, and therefore was reſolved to r…ſiſt him ſtedfaſt in the Fait… ▪ Accordingly, though I was exceeding ſick in reading the Prayers, and almoſt unable to ſpeak when I entered the Pulpit, yet GOD gave me Courage to begin, and before I had done I waxed warm and ſtrong in Spirit, and offered JESUS CHRIST freely to all that would lay hold on him by Faith. Many, I believe, were touched to the Quick: For they ſeemed to feel what was ſpoken, and ſaid hearty and loud Amens to my Sentences. The Church was greatly thronged, and after I had done, Prayers were put up on all ſides for my ſafe Journey and return. — Surely theſe are not curious Hearers! If they are, why do they follow more and mo…e for ſuch a Continuance? No, many Converſions have bee… wrought in their Hearts. GOD has ſet his Seal to my Miniſt…y, and I truſt they will be my Joy and Crown of Rejoycing in the Day of the Lord JESUS.— Oh the Riches of GOD's free Grace in CHRIST, to the Chief of Sinners! Oh that I fully felt the Senſe of theſe Words!
After this the People waited in great Companies to ſee and follow me; but I got from them by going out at a back Door. Perhaps hereafter I may be let out in the ſame Manner to eſcape the Fury of mine Enemies. As my good GOD pleaſes.
In coming along I perceived myſelf more and more ſtrengthened, and was much comforted in reading a Letter ſent me by an excellent Saint, who loves me in the Bowels of JESUS CHRIST. About Nine at Night I expounded with great Enlargement at Dowgate-hill to a moſt crouded Audience. Tongue cannot expreſs what Power GOD …ave me, or how the Hearts of the poor P…le were affected. They ſighed and mourned, and wept ſorely, when I mentioned my Departure from t…em, though but for a Seaſon. I exhorted …em particularly not to forſake the aſſembling themſelves toget… notwithſtanding the People of the Houſe had been threatned with a Proſecution. — But ſo far as our Oppoſers are permitted to go, ſhall they go, but no farther. I never was more oppoſed, never met with ſo great Succeſs, never was filled with ſuch a Portion of GOD's holy Spirit. — My dear Chriſtian …riends waited, at my coming Home, to ſalu… …e.— GOD filled me with Love and Joy, and I waxed ſtronger and ſtronger in Spirit, to their and my own unſpeakable Comfort in CHRIST JESUS our LORD. All Love, all Glory be to the ever bleſſed Trinity, now and for evermore. Amen.
Wedneſday, February 7. Spent the Morning in providing Things for my Journey, and taking leave of my dear Chriſtian Friends, whom I love as my own Soul. — Had ſeveral Preſents made me by ſuch as GOD had worked upon by my Miniſtry; and after having prayed and ſung Pſalms in ſeveral Chriſtian Houſes, about Two I ſet out for Windſor, deſiring to be thankful for thoſe marvellous great Kindneſſes GOD had ſhewn me in this City. I perceived my Heart ſo nearly knit to my dear Friends, that was it the Divine Will, I ſhould gladly continue here. But I muſt go into every Place and City where I have been already, for therefore am I ſent. LORD, ſend thy Angel before me to prepare my Way. But wherefore ſhould I doubt, ſince ſo many thouſands are continually praying for me? The good Lord pour down upon them the choiceſt of his Bleſſings!
WINDSOR.
Got hither about Six in the Evening, and was joyfully received by ſeveral Chriſtian Friends, who were waiting for me. — About Seven I was taken very ill indeed, but GOD ſtrengthened me to go out, and I expounded with great Freedom and Power in the School-houſe to a great Num… of People, who were appriſed of my comi… and, I believe, felt what I ſpoke; for ſome wept, and many expreſſed their Thankfulneſs for my Expoſition. Not unto me, O LORD, not unto me, but unto thy Name be …all the Glory.
Being much refreſhed by talking for GOD, I ſpent the Remainder of the Evening in writing to ſome dear Chriſtian Friends, and in ſinging, praying, and converſing with others, as likewiſe with the People of the Inn where we lodged.
Thurſday, Feb. 8. Breakfaſted, prayed, and ſung a Hymn at the Houſe of Mr. D—'s, who kindly invited both me and my Friends.— Some other Perſons ſent for me to their Houſes, and I believe, much Good might be done here. But I muſt not ſtay by the Way. LORD, …o I come: Only I beſeech thee open an effectual Door for preaching thy Gospel, whither ſoever thou ſhalt ſend me. Even ſo Lord JESUS, Amen.
I find much Service might be done to Religion on Journeys, if we have but Courage to ſhew ourſelves Chriſtians in all Places: Others ſing Songs in Publick-Houſes; why ſhould not we ſing Pſalms? And when we give the Servants Money, why may we not with that give them a little Book, and ſome good Advice? I know by Experience it is very beneficial. — GOD grant this may be always my Practice?