Continuation of Journal During the Time Detained in England by the Embargo, Journal entry 23 – Journal entry 24
BRISTOL.
Friday, July 6. Lay at the House of Mr. Wa—n, a Clothier, 2 Miles from C…ord. Rose at Six; after Family Duty, and tak… … little Breakfast, we set forwards towards Bristol. At Petty France some Friends met us, afterwards more joined us, and before we came within 2 Miles of Bristol, our Company encreased very considerably. The People were much rejoiced at the News of my coming. Their Hearts seemed to leap for Joy, and many Thanksgivings were rendered to GOD in my Behalf. The Bells rang unknown to me. I was received as an Angel of GOD. At 7 in the Evening I preached at Baptist-Mills, to about 6 or … People, who were much melted by the Power of GOD's Word. I hope they will receive a second Benefit.
Saturday, July 7. Breakfasted with Mr. …—y. Settled some Affairs concerning our Brethren, and had a useful Conference about many Things with my Honoured Friend Mr. John Wesley. Din'd at my Sister's; gave the Sacrament to a sick Sister, paid another Visit upon a Matter of Importance. Preached at Baptist-Mills, to near the same Number of People as last Night, and found that Bristol had great Reason to bless GOD for the Ministry of Mr. John Wesley. The Congregation I observed to be much more serious and affected than when I left them: And their loud and repeated Amens, which they put up to every Petition, as well as the Exemplariness of their Conversation in common Life, plainly shew that they have not received the Grace of GOD in vain. Ye Hypocrites, ye can discern the Face of the Sky … but how is it that you cannot discern the Sign of these Times? That Good, great Good is done, is evident: Either this is done by an Evil or good Spirit. If you say by an Evil Spirit, I answer in our LORD's own Words. … Satan be divided against Satan, how can … Kingdom stand? If by a good Spirit, why do not the Clergy, and the rest of the Pharisees believe our Report? What is it, but little less than Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, to impute the great Work that has been in so short a Time wrought in this Kingdom, to Delusion and the Power of the Devil?
Sunday, July 8. Preached at the Bowling-Green to about 10000 People, greatly affected indeed.—About Eleven, I preached again at Hannam-Mount, to near as many Hearers, and at 7 in the Evening to about 20000 at Rose-Green. My Power I find much increased since I was here last. And such a visible Alteration in the Congregation for the better, therein convinces me more and more that GOD is with us of a Truth. As our Opposition encreases, I doubt not but the Manifestations of GOD's Presence amongst us, will encrease also.
Monday, July 9. On Thursday I received a Letter from the Bishop of Gloucester, in which his Lordship affectionately admonished me, to excercise my Authority I received in the Manner it was given me. His Lordship being of Opinion, that I ought to preach the Gospel only in the Congregation wherein I was lawfully appointed thereunto.
To-day I sent his Lordship the following Answer.
The ANSWER.
My LORD
I Thank your Lordship, for your Lordship's … kind Letter.—My frequent Removes from Place to Place prevented my answering it sooner.—I am greatly obliged to your Lordship, in that you are pleased to watch over my Soul, and to caution me against acting contrary to the Commission given me at Ordination.—But if the Commission we then receive, obliges us to preach no where but in that Parish which is committed to our Care, then all Persons act contrary to their Commission when they preach occasionally in any strange Place. And consequently your Lordship equally offends when you preach out of your own Diocese. As for inveighing against the Clergy (without a Cause) I deny the Charge. What I say I am ready to make good when ever your Lordship pleases. Let those that bring Reports to your Lordship about my Preaching, be brought Face to Face, I am ready to give them an Answer. St. Paul exhorts Timothy, not to receive an Accusation against an Elder under two or three Witnesses. And even Nicodemus could say, the Law suffered no Man to be condemned unheard. I shall only add, that I hope your Lordship will inspect into the Lives of your other Clergy, and censure them for being Over-remiss, as much as you censure me for being Over-righteous: It is their falling from their Articles, and not preaching the Truth as it is in JESUS, that has excited the present Zeal of (whom they in …ision call) the Methodist Preachers. … …bing's Sermon (for which I thank your Lordship) confirms me more and more in my Opinion, that I ought to be instant in Season, and out of Season. For to me, he seems to know no more of the true Nature of Regeneration, than Nicodemus did, when he came to JESUS by Night.—Your Lordship may observe, that he does not speak a Word of Original Sin, or the dreadful Consequences of our Fall in Adam, upon which the Doctrine of the New-Birth is entirely founded. No; like other polite Preachers, he seems to think, in the very Beginning of his Discourse, that St. …aul's Description of the Wickedness of the Heathen is only to be referred to them of past Ages: whereas I affirm, we are all included as much under the Guilt and Consequences of Sin as they were, and if any Man preach any other Doctrine, she shall bear his Punishment whosoever he be. Again, my Lord, the Doctor entirely mistakes us when we talk of the sensible Operations of the Holy Ghost. He understands as just as those carnal Jews understood JESUS CHRIST, who, when our LORD talked of giving them that Bread which came down from Heaven, said, How can this Man give us his Fl…sh to eat? Indeed I know not that we do use the Word sensible, when we are talking of the Operations of the Spirit of GOD: But if we do, we do not mean, that GOD's Spirit does manifest itself to our Senses, but … it may be perceived by the Soul, as rea… … is any sensible Impression made upon the Body. But to disprove this, the Doctor brings our LORD's Allusion to the Wind in the third of St. John, which is one of the best Texts he could urge to prove it. For if the Analogy of our LORD's Discourse be carried on, we shall find it amounts to thus much; That altho' the Operations of the Spirit of GOD can no more be accounted for, than how the Wind cometh and whither it goeth; yet may they be as easily felt by the Soul as the Wind may be felt by the Body.—My Lord, indeed we speak what we know. But, says the Doctor, "These Men have no Proof to offer for their inward Manifestations." What Proof, my Lord, does the Doctor require; would he have us raise dead Bodies? Have we not done greater Things than these? I speak with all Humility, has not GOD by our Ministry raised many dead Souls to a spiritual Life. Verily, if Men will not believe the Evidence GOD has given that he sent us, neither would they believe tho' one rose from the Dead. Besides, my Lord, the Doctor Charges us with Things we are entire Strangers to, such as the denying Men the Use of GOD's Creatures; Encouraging Abstinence, Prayer, &c. to the Neglect of the Duties of our Stations. Lord lay not this Sin to his Charge. Again, he says, I suppose Mr. Benjamin Seward to be a Person believing in CHRIST, and blameless in his Conversation, before what I call his Conversion. But this is a direct Untruth. For it was thro' the Want of a living Faith in JESUS CHRIST, which he now has, that he was not a Christian before, but a a meer Moralist. Your Lordship knows that our Article says, Works done without the Spirit of GOD, and true Faith in JESUS CHRIST have the Nature of Sin. And such were all the Works done by Mr. Benjamin Seward before the Time mentioned in my Journal. Again, my Lord, the Doctor represents That as my Opinion concerning Quakers▪ in general, which I only meant of those I conversed with in particular. But the Doctor, and the rest of my Reverend Brethren, are welcome to judge me as they please. Yet a little while, and we shall all appear before the great Shepherd of our Souls. There, there, my Lord, shall it be determined, who are true Ministers, and who are Wolves in Sheep's Cloathing. Our LORD, I believe, will not be ashamed to confess us publickly in that Day. I pray GOD we all may approve ourselves such faithful Ministers of the New Testament, that we may be able to lift up our Heads with Boldness. As for declining the Work in which I am engaged, my Blood runs chill▪ at the very Thoughts of it. I am as much convinced it is my Duty to act as I do, as that the Sun shines at Noon-Day. I can foresee the Consequences very well. They have already in one Sense thrust us out of the Synagogues. By and by they will think it is doing GOD Service to kill us. But, my Lord, if you and the rest of the Bishops cast us out, our … and common Master will take us up. Tho' all Men should deny us, yet will not he. And however you may censure us as evil Doers, and Disturbers of the Peace, yet if we do suffer for our present Way of acting, your Lordship at the Great Day will find, that we suffer only for Righteousness Sake. In Patience therefore do I possess my Soul. I willingly tarry the LORD's Leisure. In the mean while I shall continually bear your Lordship's Favours upon my Heart, and endeavour to behave, so as to subscribe myself,
My LORD, Your Lordship's obedient Son, And obliged Servant, GEORGE WHITEFIELD.
Tuesday, July 10. Preached Yesterday Evening at the Brick-Yard to about 8000 People. Dined to-day with my honoured Fellow-Labourer, Mr. Wesley, and many other Friends, at Two-Mill-Hill in Kingswood, and preached afterwards to several Thousand People, and Colliers, in the School-House, which has been carried on so successfully, that the Roof is ready to be put up. The Design I think is good. Old as well as young are to be instructed. A great and a visible Alteration is made in the Behaviour of the Colliers. Instead of Cursing and Swearing, they are heard to sing Hymns about the Woods; and the rising Generation, I hope, will be a Generation of Christians. They seem much affected by the Word. They melt into Tears, and are observed to attend the Churches and Societies when Mr. Wesley is absent from them. The Prospect of their future Welfare filled me with Joy unspeakable. They took a most affectionate Leave of me. LORD put thou their Tears into thy Bottle!
Went immediately after Sermon was ended with Mr. Wesley, and several other Friends, to Bath, and preached there to about 3000 People at 7 in the Evening. It rained a little all the while, but the People were very patient and attentive, and …ever had such Power given me to speak to the polite Scoffers before. Oh! that the Scales were removed from the Eyes of their Minds!
Heard to Day the Town Clerk of Bristol did my Brother Wesley and me the Honour, to desire the Grand-Jury, at their Quarter-Sessions, to present our Meetings, and to have the Riot-Act read, but they did not regard him. Nay one, that was called to serve on the Petty-Jury, offered to submit to any Fine, rather than do any thing against us; who, he said, were true Servants of JESUS CHRIST. May he meet with that Reward which our LORD has promised to all th…se that shall confess him before Men! The Hour of Persecution is not yet come. These are som… distant Proofs of it, I really wonder it comes on no faster. Satan, why sleepest thou?
Bath and Bristol.
Wednesday, July 11. Preached at 11 in the Morning, to a larger Audience than last Night, and almost with equal Power. Hastened to Bristol, and preached in the Evening at Baptist-Mills to a large Congregation. It rained much: But, blessed be GOD, the People's Hearts are so far influenced by the Gospel of CHRIST, that they care but little whether it rains or shines.
After this, my Brother Wesley and I went to the Women and Men's Societies, settled some Affairs, and united the two leading Societies together. A great Harmony and Sweetness of Soul was amongst us all. My Heart was full of Love for them, and they wept most sorely at my Farewel-Exhortation and Prayer. How can I be thankful enough to GOD, for sending me hither to see, that the Seed has been sown on good Ground; and that by the Ministry of Mr. Wesley it has received great Increase. May it still increase with all the Increase of GOD.
Thursday, July 12. Was busied most of the Day in sitting a Sermon for the Press On the Indwelling of the Spirit, which I would recommend to all. Preached in the Evening to … or 9000 People in the Bowling-Green, with great Freedom and Power, and afterwards spent an Hour most delightfully with some Christian Friends. Blessed be GOD for the Communion of Saints! Oh! when shall I be translated to the Communion of the Spirits of just Men made perfect! As the Hart …a…teth after the Water Brooks, so doth my Soul long after that perfect Fellowship with the Sons of GOD.
Friday, July 13. Preached my Farewel Sermon at 7 in the Morning to a weeping and deeply affected Audience. My Heart was full, and I continued near two Hours in Prayer and Preaching. The poor People shed many Tears, and sent up Thousands of Prayers in my Behalf, and would scarce let me go away. Their Mites they most chearfully contributed to the School-House at Kingswood, and proved, I think, to a Demonstration, that they had not received the Word of GOD in vain. Blessed be GOD for seeing this Increase of his Mercy. Blessed be GOD for my coming hither to behold some Fruits of my Labours. Many Souls have been strengthened and comforted, many convinced of Sin, and myself also more established and strong in the LORD. As Oppositions abound, so do my Consolations much more abound! Who is so good a Master as JESUS CHRIST.
Retired after Sermon to vent my Heart, which was ready to burst with a Sense of GOD's especial, distinguishing, repeated Mercies. Dined with and took a most affectionate Leave of a whole Roomful of weeping Friends. Set out about 4 o'Clock, and reached Thornbury about 8 in the Evening. It raining exceeding hard most part of the Day, there were but few Country People.—However, I preached to about 600 from a Table in the Street. I hope GOD gave it his Blessing.