who behaved very kindly to me, and told me he hoped I fhould be very useful if I kept humble. He then fent me before him to York and Leeds, where I preached and gave notice of his coming. From Leeds I went to Birstal. It happened to be their preaching night. John Nelfon was fick in bed, so the people defired me to preach or give them a word of exhortation. Accordingly I preached in the best manner I could, and the people feemed well fatisfied. The next day I went to High-Town and preached to a large congregation in the evening. I had much liberty in fpeaking, and found a great bleffing to my own foul; and I have reafon to believe that the people were well fatisfied. 13. From Birstal I went to Heptanfol. Here I met with a lively people who received me very kindly. I gave feveral exhortations among them, and the word went with power to many hearts. I continued fome time in these parts, and went to feveral places in Lancashire. Here alfo I found many were awakened, and several found peace with God, while I was among them. I endeavoured to form a regular Circuit in these parts, and in a little time gained my point. 14. I continued in these parts fome time, and have reafon to hope that I was useful among them. In one place I met with a mob of women, who put me into a pond of water, which took me nearly over my head. But by the bleffing of God, I got out fafe, and walked about three miles in my wet cloaths, but I catched no cold. I continued fome time in thefe parts, encouraged by the example and advice of good Mr. Grimshaw. 15. One time, Paul Greenwood and I called at his houfe together, and he gave us a very warm exhortation, which I fhall not foon forget. He faid, "If you are fent of God to preach the gofpel, all hell will be up in arms against you. Prepare for the battle, and ftand faft in the good ways of God. Indeed you must not expect to gain much of this world's goods by preaching the gofpel. What you get must come through the the devil's teeth; and he will hold it as fast as he can. I count every covetous man, to be one of the devil's teeth. And he will let nothing go, for God and his caufe, but what is forced from him." 16. In the year 1751, I was ftationed in Lincolnshire. I found a ferious people and an open door; but there were many adverfaries. This was far the most trying year which I had ever known. But in every temptation God made a way to efcape, that I might be able to bear it. On Sunday, Auguft the 7th, I came to Rangdale, very early in the morning. I preached, as ufual, at five. About fix, two Constables came, at the head of a large mob. They violently broke in upon the people, feized upon me, pulled me down, and took me to a public-house, where they kept me till four in the afternoon. Then one of the Constables feemed to relent, and faid, "I will go to the Minifter, and enquire of him, Whether we may not now let the poor man go? When he came back, he said, "They were not to let me go yet." So he took me out to the mob, who prefently hurried me away, and threw me into a pool of standing water. It took me up to the neck. Several times I ftrove to get out, but they pitched me in again. They told me I must go through it feven times. I did fo, and then they let me come out. When I had got upon dry ground, a man flood ready with a pot full of white paint. He painted me all over from head to foot; and then they carried me into the public-house again. Here I was kept, till they had put five more of our friends into the water. Then they came and took me out again, and carried me to a great pond, which was railed in on every fide, being ten or twelve feet deep. Here, four men took me by my legs and arms, and fwung me backward and forward. For a moment I felt the flefh fhrink; but it was quickly gone. I gave myfelf up to the Lord, and was content his will fhould be done. They fwung me two or three times, and then threw me as far as they could into the water. The fall fall and the water foon took away my fenfes, fo that I felt nothing more. But fome of them were not willing to have me drowned. So they watched till I came above water, and then catching hold of my cloaths with a long pole, made shift to drag me out. When I came to my felf, 17. I lay fenfelefs for fome time. I faw only two men ftanding by me. me up, and desired me to go with him. little houfe, where they quickly put me to bed. But I had not lain long, before the mob came again, pulled me out of bed, carried me into the ftreet, and fwore they would take away one of my limbs, if I would not promife, to come there no more. I told them, "I could promife no fuch thing.' But the man that had hold of me, promised for me, and took me back into the house, and put me to bed again. the Minister again, to know He told them, He told them, "You must they came, and took me out Some of the mob then went to what they must do with me? take him out of the parish." So of bed a fecond time. But I had no cloaths to put on; my own being wet, and also covered with paint.. But they put an old coat about me, took me about a mile, and fet me upon a little hill. They then fhouted three times, "God fave the King, and the Devil take the Preacher," and left me. 18. Here they left me pennylefs and friendlefs: for no one durft come near me. And my ftrength was nearly gone; fo that I had much ado to walk, or even to ftand. But from the beginning to the end, my mind was in perfect peace. I found no anger or refentment, but could heartily pray for my perfecutors. But I knew not what to do, or where to go. Indeed one of our friends lived three or four miles off. But I was fo weak and ill, that it did not seem poffible for me to get fo far. However, I trufted in God, and set out: and at length I got to the house. The family did every thing for me that was in their power: they got me cloaths, and whatever elfe was needful. I refted four day's with them, in which time VOL. III. Rr my my ftrength was tolerably restored. Then I went into the Circuit, and (bleffed be God!) faw much fruit of my labour. In the midst of perfecution, many were brought to the faving knowledge of God. And as the fufferings of Chrift abounded, fo our confolations by Chrift abounded alfo. As to the lions at Rengdale, an Appeal to the Court of King's-Bench, made both them and the Minifter quite as lambs. 19. Coming in December into Lancashire, I found trials of quite another kind. The poor people were in the utmost confufion, like a flock of frightened fheep. John Bennet, who before loved and reverenced Mr. Wefley for his work's fake, fince he got into his new Opinions, hated him cordially, and laboured to fet all the people against him. He told them in the open congregation, that Mr. Wefley was a Pope, and that he preached nothing but popery. December the 30th, I met him at Bolton. I defired him to preach; but he would not. So I got up and fpoke as well as I could, though with a heavy heart. After I had done, he met the Society, and faid many bitter things of Mr. Wesley. He then spread out his hands, and cried, "Popery, Popery! I will not be in connection with him any more." I could not help telling him, "The spirit in which you now speak, is not of God. Neither are you fit for the pulpit, while you are of fuch a spirit.” While I was speaking, a woman that flood by me fruck me in the face with all her might. Immediately all the congregation was in an uproar. So I thought it beft to retire. After, I believed it was my duty to expoftulate with him. But it did not avail: it seemed to me that all love was departed from him. His mind was wholly fet against Mr. Wefley, and against the whole Methodist Doctrine and Discipline. And he had infused his own fpirit into the people in many places: so that I had hard work among them. But the Lord kept my foul in peace and love. Glory be unto his holy name! 20. In May 1752, I came to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where, after all the storms I had gone through, I was greatly refreshed among among a loving, peaceable people, with whom I laboured with much fatisfaction. And it pleased the Lord to prosper my labour in Berwick-upon-Tweed, Gateshead-Fell, and many other places, where many finners were both convinced and converted to God. Let us 21. On May 8, 1753, I came with Mr. Wesley from Newcastle to York. On the 12th, he preached to a large congregation; and the next morning, from come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may find mercy, and grace to help in time of need. I never faw a congregation fo affected. Most of the people were in tears, fome for joy, and fome from a sense of their fins. He had defigned to go on to Lincolnshire. But through the importunity of the people, he confented to ftay a little at York, and defired me to go in his place. 22. From the following Conference, (at which fourteen Preachers were prefent, befide Mr. Wefley and his Brother,) I went into Wiltshire, where Mr. Pearce, of Bradford, was as a father to me. Here I formed a firm refolution of cleaving more clofely to God than ever I had done before. I longed to be wholly freed from the enemies which I carried in my own bofom. I faw no other could poffibly hurt me, if I could but conquer myfelf. I read the Bible much, and prayed much, and found many bleffings from the Lord. And I found in particular an entire difengagement from all earthly things. My foul was even as a weaned child. I was willing to be any thing or nothing. I had no defire for any thing in this world, but to live unto the glory of God. Oh how eafy does it make every thing, when we can give up all for Chrift! 23. After I had spent fome time in Devonshire and Cornwall, I was fent for up to London. Here I had a fever for fome time. When I was pretty well recovered Mr. Wesley defired me to go down to Norwich. I was not well upon the road, but was abundantly worse when I came thither. But following the advice of a skilful man, I was, in awhile reftored to health and ftrength. Here I found much comfort among a poor, but a very loving people. I was here (putting the first Rr 2 and 1 |