Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

before I was again brought under the law. Then did I stand stripped and naked of that knowledge. I wish all who are so deceived as I was, were brought under the law, that they might learn what it is to come to Jesus Christ. And I wish them not to pass from under the law, until they clearly see the end of the law come into their hearts.

"The law, being mixed with faith, makes it quick and powerful. For as the law will not leave one hair of our heads uncondemned, so faith will not leave one unreconciled. And blessed is he who lives in the same reconciliation, and turns not as a dog to his vomit. Then shall he be called the child of God, which cannot sin, because his seed remaineth in him.

"Thou writest, 'Jesus makes it manifest to thee, that thou art a great sinner.' That is well; and if more, it would be better for thee. Again thou sayest, 'Since thou first receivedest a full and free pardon for all thy sins, thou hast received so many fresh pardons, that they are quite out of count.' And this thou sayest, is spoken to thy own shame and thy Saviour's praise.' Come, my brother, let us both be more ashamed. Let us see where we are, and what we are doing to the Lamb. We are not glorifying him : (let us not mistake ourselves thus) we are crucifying him afresh. We are putting him to an open shame, and bringing swift damnation on our own heads.

"Again thou sayest, Though thy sins be great and many, yet thy Saviour's grace is greater.' Thou sayest right: or else, how should we have been cleansed? But his great cleansing power does not design that we should become foul again; lest he call us away in our uncleanness, and we perish for ever. For it will not profit us, that we were once cleansed, if we be found in uncleanness.

"Take heed to thyself, that the knowledge that is in thee deceive thee not. For thou writest so to my experience, that I can tell thee as plain how thou art, or plainer, than thou canst thyself. Thou sayest, After thou hast done something amiss, thou needest not to be unhappy one moment, if thou wilt but go to thy Saviour. Is not this the

very state I have mentioned? O that that knowledge were cast out! So shouldest thou always do the things that please the Father. O my dear brother, how art thou bewitched by the deceiver of thy soul! Thou art a stranger to the Saviour, who is gone to heaven, to give repentance to his people and remission of sins. I am afraid, the devil is thy saviour: more of him is manifest in thee, than of Christ. He tells thee, Thou art pure and washed: but he couzens thee. Yea, his deceitfulness cries out for vengeance. Yet he would be a Christ or a God.

"Thou sayest, thou hast need of remission of sins every day.' Yes, so thou hast: and more. Thou hast need every moment; so shouldest thou be clean; for this every moment should be eternity to thy soul. Thou thankest God that He hath provided such an high-priest for thee.' Let him be thine; so shalt thou be ruled by him every moment. What? Is he such a Saviour as can cleanse us from sin, and not keep us in the same? Judge where thou art. Thou and I, and many more, were once made pure. And we were pure while we believed the same, and were kept by the Father for his own name's sake. But how long did we thus believe? Let every man judge himself?

"Now, my brother, answer for thyself. Dost thou believe, that thou must always have this thy heart which is corrupted through and through with sin? I say, dost thou believe thy heart must be thus impure? If thou dost, the same doctrine must be preached to thee which was at first, Ye must receive the Holy Ghost:' that is, thou must be brought to the first remission, and there thou wilt see Jesus laid slain in thy heart. This thy first purity I will acknowledge, and none else. I believe the foundation of life was once in thee. But many, together with thee, have fallen away. Thou hearest how I acknowledge thee, and where, and no where else. And herein I have communion with thee in my spirit, and hope it will continue to the end."

And is poor Samuel Meggot himself, now fallen into the very same snare, against which he so earnestly warned his friend? Lord, what is man!

[ocr errors]

Sunday 9, I preached in Charles'-Square, to the largest congregation I have ever seen there. Many of the baser people would fain have interrupted. But they found after a time, it was lost labour. One who was more serious, was (as she afterwards confessed) exceeding angry at them. But she was quickly rebuked, by a stone which lit upon her head, and struck her down to the ground. In that moment her anger was at an end, and love only filled her heart.

Wednesday 12, I waited on the Archbishop of Canterbury with Mr. Whitefield, and again on Friday: as also on the Bishop of London. I trust if we should be called to appear before princes, we should not be ashamed.

Monday 17, I had designed this morning to set out for Bristol; but was unexpectedly prevented. In the afternoon I received a letter from Leicestershire, pressing me to come without delay, and pay the last office of friendship to one whose soul was on the wing for eternity. On Thursday 20, I set out. The next afternoon, I stopped a little at Newport-Pagnell, and then rode on until I overtook a serious man, with whom I immediately fell into conversation. He presently gave me to know, what his opinions were; therefore I said nothing to contradict him. But that did not content him. He was quite uneasy to know, " Whether I held the doctrine of the decrees as he did?" But I told him over and over, "We had better keep to practical things, lest we should be angry at one another." And so we did for two miles, until he caught me unawares, and dragged me into the dispute before I knew where I was. He then grew warmer and warmer: told me, "I was rotten at heart, and supposed I was one of John Wesley's followers." I told him "No; I am John Wesley himself." Upon which Improvisum aspris veluti qui sentibus anguem Pressil;

he would gladly have run away outright. But being the better mounted of the two, I kept close to his side, and endeavoured to shew him his heart, until we came into the street of Northampton. Saturday 22, about five in the afternoon, I reached Donnington-Park.

Miss Cowper was just alive.

But as soon as we came in,

her spirit greatly revived. For three days we rejoiced in the grace of God, whereby she was filled with a hope full of immortality; with meekness, gentleness,, patience, and humble love, knowing in whom she had believed.

Tuesday 25, I set out early in the morning with John Taylor (since settled in London) and Wednesday 26, at eight or nine o'clock, reached Birstal, six miles beyond Wakefield.

John Nelson had written to me some time before: but at that time I had little thought of seeing him, Hearing he was at home, I sent for him to our inn: whence he immediately carried me to his house; and gave me an account of the strange manner wherein he had been led on, from the time of our parting at London.

He had full business there and large wages; but from the time of his finding peace with God, it was continually upon his mind, That he must return (though he knew not why) to his native place. He did so, about Christmas, in the year 1740. His relations and acquaintance soon began And to enquire, "What he thought of this new faith?" whether he believed, There was any such thing as a man's knowing that his sins were forgiven? John told them point blank, That "this new faith, as they called it, was the old faith of the Gospel; and that he himself was as sure his sins were forgiven, as he could be of the shining of the sun." This was soon noised abroad : more and more came to enquire, concerning these strange things. Some put him upon the proof of the great truths, which such enquiries naturally led him to mention. And thus he was brought unawares to quote, explain, compare, and enforce several parts of Scripture. This he did at first, sitting in his house, until the company increased, so that the house could not contain them. Then he stood at the door, which he was commonly obliged to do, in the evening, as soon as he came from work. God immediately set his seal to what was That spoken: and several believed, and therefore declared, God was merciful also to their unrighteousness, and had forgiven all their sins,

[ocr errors]

Mr. Ingham hearing of this, came to Birstal, enquired into the facts, talked with John himself, and examined him in the closest manner, both touching his knowledge and spiritual experience. After which he encouraged him to proceed, and pressed him as often as he had opportunity, to come to any of the places where himself had been, and speak to the people, as God should enable him.

But he soon gave offence, both by his plainness of speech, and advising people to go to church and sacrament. Mr. Ingham reproved him; but finding him incorrigible, forbade any that were in his societies to hear him. But being persuaded, this is the will of God concerning him, he continues to this hour working in the day, that he may be burthensome to no man, and in the evening testifying the truth as it is in Jesus.

I preached at noon, on the top of Birstal-hill, to several hundreds of plain people: and spent the afternoon, in talking severally with those, who had tasted of the grace of God. All of these, I found had been vehemently pressed, “Not to run about to church and sacrament," and to "keep their religion to themselves; to be still; not to talk about what they had experienced." At eight I preached on the side of Dewsbury-moor, about two miles from Birstal, and earnestly exhorted all who believed, To wait upon God in his own. ways, and to let their light shine before men.

Thursday 27, We left Birstal, and on Friday 28, came

to Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

I read with great expectation, yesterday and to-day, Xenophon's Memorable Things of Socrates. I was utterly amazed at his want of judgment. How many of these things would Plato never have mentioned! but it may be well, that we see the shades too of the brightest picture in all heathen antiquity.

[ocr errors]

We came to Newcastle about six, and after a short refreshment, walked into the town. I was surprised: much drunkenness, cursing, and swearing (even from the mouths of little children) do I never remember to have seen and heard before, in so small a compass of time. Surely

« AnteriorContinuar »