Continuation of Journal During the Time Detained in England by the Embargo, Title page 1 – Journal entry 6
A CONTINUATION Of the Reverend Mr. Whitefield's JOURNAL During the Time he was detained in England, by the Embargo.
VOL. II.
PHILADELPHIA: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin, in Market-street, 1740
To the Reverend Mr. GEORGE WHITEFIELD.
I.
SERVANT of GOD, the Summons hear,
Thy Master calls, arise, obey!
The Tokens of his Will appear,
His Providence points out thy Way.
II.
Lo! we commend thee to his Grace!
In Confidence go forth! be strong!
Thy Meat his Will, thy Boast his Praise,
His Righteousness be all thy Song.
III.
Strong in the LORD's Almighty Power,
And arm'd in Panople Divine,
Firm may'st thou stand in Danger's Hour,
And prove the Strength of JESUS thine.
IV.
Thy Breast-Plat… be his …
His sacred Truth [thy …
Shod be thy beauteous Feet …
Spring forth, and spread the Gospel …
V.
Fight the good Fight, and stand secure
In Faith's impenetrable Shield;
Hell's Prince shall tremble at its Power;
With all his fiery Darts repel'd.
VI.
Prevent thy Foes, nor wait their Charge,
But call their ling'ring Battle on.
But strongly grasp thy Sevenfold Targe,
And bear the World, and Satan down.
VII.
The Helmet of Salvation take,
The Lord's, the Spirit's conqu'ring Sword,
Speak from the Word,—In Lightning speak,
Cry out, and thunder—from the Word.
VIII.
Champion of GOD, thy LORD proclaim,
JESUS alone resolve to know;
Tread down thy Foes in JESU's Name:
Go—Conqu'ring, and to conquer go.
IX.
… … and Fires pursue thy Way,
Be mind… of a dying GOD;
Finish thy Course, and win the Day:
Look up,—And seal the Truth with Blood
CHARLES WESLEY
A CONTINUATION OF Mr. Whitefield's JOURNAL, &c.
BLACKHEATH in KENT.
Monday, June 4. WENT a second Time to pay my Respects to the Archbishop of Canterbury, but his Grace was gone out as before.—Waited upon the Bishop of London, who used me very civilly.—Finished all my Affairs according to my Mind.—… Leave of my weeping Friends, and went in Company with many of them to Blackheath, where was near as large a Congregation, as there was at Kennington the last Lord's-Day. I think I never was so much enlarged since I have preached in the Fields.—My Discourse was near two Hours long, and the People were so melted down, and wept so loud, that they almost drowned my Voice. I could not but cry out, Come, …e Pharisees, come and s…e the Lord JESUS getting himself the Victory. Afterwards went to an Inn upon the Heath, where many came drowned in Tears to take a last Farewel. The Remainder of the Evening I spent most comfortably with several of my Brethren, and went to Bed about 12 o'Clock.—I hope, in some Measure, thankful for the great Things we had seen and heard.
Blendon.
Tuesday, June 5. Went in the Morning to Blendon, five Miles from Blackheath, and enjoy'd a sweet Retreat at the House of Mr. Delamot.—Preached with unusual Power at Bexley Common, at 11 in the Morning, to about 300 People, and in the Evening, near Woolwich, to several Thousands—My Word, I believe, came with the Demonstration of the Spirit. I return'd to Blendon rejoicing, and spent the Evening most delightfully with many dear Christian Friends, who came from London to see me. Oh! how does their sweet Company cause me to long for Communion amongst the Spirits of just Men made perfect! Accomplish, O LORD, I beseech thee, the Number of thine Elect, and hasten thy Kingdom.
Bexley and Gravesend.
Wednesday, June 6. Breakfasted with many Friends, and gave a Word of Exhortation to many more that came from London to bid me adieu.—Their Hearts were ready to break with Sorrow.—But GOD, I hope, will supply my Absence, by raising up more Ministers to go in and out before them. About 10 in the Morning, read Prayers and preached at Bexley Church, Mr. Peers, the Vicar, my Brother and Fellow-Labourer in CHRIST, having given me a pressing Invitation.—The Congregation was large, and my Soul was so filled with GOD, that the Word came with very great Power to all that heard me. Blessed be GOD. After Sermon we dined with Mr. Peers, and having taken a Farewel, we left our Friends in Tears, and hasted to Gravesend, where I read Prayers, and preached in a Church near the Town to about …. I have no Objection against, but highly approve of the excellent Liturgy of our Church, would Ministers lend me their Churches to use it in.—If not, let them blame themselves, that I pray and preach in the Fields.
Gravesend, Bexley, and Blendon.
Thursday, June 7. Received two Letters from Persons confessing, that they came to hear me out of a bad Motive, but were apprehended by the free Grace of JESUS CHRIST.—Answered them, and some others.—Read Prayers, and preached in the same Church as I did last Night.—Took some Refreshment, and returned in the Evening, and preached at Bexley Church, being much excited so to do, by the kind Sollicitations of Mr. Peers.—The Congregation was much larger than we could expect, and most, I believe, were much affected.—Here some of Mr. Delamot's Family gave us the Meeting.—After Sermon I return'd to their House at Blendon, praising and blessing GOD, that we had once more an Opportunity of building up each other in our … Faith.—Oh! how sweet is this Retirement to … Soul! GOD is pleased to meet me in it, and vouchsafe me great Measures of his Divine Presence.—I must expect some fresh Trials. Dearest LORD, sweeten all thy Dispensations with a Sense of thy Love, and then deal with me as it …eth good in thy Sight!
Friday, June 8, Preached at Bexley in the Morning, and at Charleton in the Afternoon, whither I was invited by the Earl and Countess of Egmont. Both before and after Sermon they entertained me with the utmost Civility.—My Heart was much comforted by GOD, and at Night I returned with my Friends to my sweet Retreat at Blendon, Oh! the Comforts of having all of one Mind in a House! It begins our Heaven upon Earth.—Was I left to my own Choice, here would be my Rest.—For I have Delight herein.—But a Necessity is laid upon me, and … unto me if I preach not the Gospel.
Saturday, June 9. Was much pleased and edified in reading Bishop Hall's Christ M…s…i…al, and E…skin's Sermons, both whose Wor…, with Boehm's Sermons, I would earnestly recommend to every one.—Preached in the Evening at Du…wich, …o not a very large Congregation, and went afterwards to Blackheath, and spent a most agreeable Evening with many Christian Friends, who came thither on Purpose to give me the Meeting. Blessed be GOD, all behaved, as tho' their Conversation was in Heaven.
Blendon, Bexley, and Blackheath.
Sunday, June 10. Hasten'd back to Blendon, where more of our Brethren came last Night to see me.—Preached with more Power than ever and assisted in administring the Sacrament to about 200 Communicants in Bexley Church.—Din'd, gave Thanks, and sung Hymns at Mr. Delamot's.—Preached with great Power in the Evening on Blackheath, to above 20000 People, and collected sixteen Pounds seven Seven Shillings for the Orphans. After Sermon I went to the Green Man, near the Place where I preached, and continued till Midnight instant in Prayer, Praise and Thanksgiving, and Christian Conversation.—I believe there were near 50 or 60 of us in all.—Great Decency and much Devotion was to be seen.—Numbers stood by as Spectators. GOD e…rged my Heart much in Prayer and Exhortation. And in short, every Thing was so well regulated, that all unprejudiced Persons that came in must say, Surely GOD is in this Place.
Many of them watched unto Prayer and Praise all Night. I think it every Christian's Duty to be particularly careful to honour and glorify GOD in Places where he is most dishonour'd. Some can sing the Songs of the Drunkard in Publick Houses; Others can spend whole Nights in Chambering and Wantonness, why should Christian be ashamed to sing the Songs of the Lamb, and spend Nights, as their LORD did before them, in Exercises of Devotion?
Silent have we been too long,
Aw'd by Earth's rebellious Throng,
Thee if we should still deny,
LORD, the very Stones would cry,
Hallelujah.
Blackheath, Bexley, Dulwich, & Blendon.
Monday, June 11. Pray'd, sung with, and gave a warm Exhortation to those that continued at Blackheath all Night.—Read Prayers at Bexley Church. Din'd with Mrs. S—at Le…isham, a Gentlewoman, who gladly received both me and my Friends into her House▪—Preached in the Evening to a much larger Audience than before at Dulwich, and then hastened back to Blendon, in Company with some who Love our LORD JESUS in Sincerity. Oh how swiftly and delightfully do those Hours pass away, which are spent in Christian Conversation!