Exclusion of Some

Sun 31 Jan & Mon Feb 1 1742: I found, after the exclusion of some who did not walk according to the gospel, about eleven hundred (who are, I trust, of a more excellent spirit) remained in the society.

Meeting the classes

Saturday 30 Jan 1790: I began meeting the classes, which took up this day and all the next week.

Our expense still exceeded our income.

Fri 29 Jan: We had our general Quarterly Meeting, whereby it appeared, that the society received and expended about three thousand pounds a year; but our expense still exceeded our income.

E.T.

Thur 28 1773: I buried the remains of poor E. T., of whom, ever since she died, her husband speaks as a most excellent woman, and a most affectionate wife! I have known many such instances: Many couples, who while they lived together spoke of each other as mere sinners; but as soon as either was dead, the survivor spake of the deceased as the best creature in the world.

God can teach by whom he will teach

Wed 27 Jan 1762: I had a striking proof that God can teach by whom he will teach. A man full of words, but not of understanding, convinced me of what I could never see before, that anima est ex traduce; that all the souls of his posterity, as well as their bodies, were in our first parent.

Turned away by Brother-in-law

Tue 26 Jan 1748: Mr. Hall [Rev Westley Hall, Wesley's brother in law], having heard I was coming, had given strict orders that no one should be let in. The inner door he had locked himself, and (I suppose) taken away the key. Yet when I knocked at the outer gate, which was locked also, William Sims opened the wicket. I walked straight in. A girl stood in the gateway, but turned as soon as she saw me. I followed close at her heels and went in after her, at a back door. I asked the maid, ‘Where is Mr. H.?’ She said, ‘In the parlour,’ and went in to him. I followed her and found him sitting with my sister. But he presently rose and went upstairs. He then sent William Sims down and bid him, ‘Tell my brother he has no business in my house.’ After a few minutes, I went to a house in the town, and my sister came to me. In about an hour she returned home. But he sent word to the gate she might go to the place whence she came.

Not Afraid of a Little Smoke

Tue 26 Jan 1742: I explained at Chelsea the faith which worketh by love. I was very weak when I went into the room. But the more ‘the beasts of the people’ increased in madness and rage, the more was I strengthened, both in body and soul; so that I believe few in the house, which was exceeding full, lost one sentence of what I spoke. Indeed they could not see me nor one another at a few yards’ distance by reason of the exceeding thick smoke, which was occasioned by the wild-fire and things of that kind, continually thrown into the room. But they who could praise God in the midst of the fires were not to be affrighted by a little smoke.

Overcome by the Power of God

Mon 25 Jan 1742: While I was explaining at Long Lane, ‘He that committeth sin is of the devil,’ his servants were above measure enraged: they not only made all possible noise (although, as I had desired before, no man stirred from his place or answered them a word), but violently thrust many persons to and fro, struck others, and brake down part of the house. At length they began throwing large stones upon the house, which, forcing their way wherever they came, fell down together with the tiles among the people, so that they were in danger of their lives. I then told them, ‘You must not go on thus. I am ordered by the magistrate, who is in this respect to us the minister of God, to inform him of those who break the laws of God and the king. And I must do it, if you persist herein, otherwise I am a partaker of your sin.’ When I ceased speaking they were more outrageous than before. Upon this I said, ‘Let three or four calm men take hold of the foremost and charge a constable with him, that the law may take its course.’ They did so, and brought him into the house, cursing and blaspheming in a dreadful manner. I desired five or six to go with him to Justice Copeland, to whom they nakedly related the fact. The Justice immediately bound him over to the next Sessions at Guildford.
I observed, when the man was brought into the house, that many of his companions were loudly crying out, ‘Richard Smith! Richard Smith!’ Who, as it afterward appeared, was one of their stoutest champions. But Richard Smith answered not; he was fallen into the hands of One higher than they. God had struck him to the heart, as also a woman, who was speaking words not fit to be repeated and throwing whatever came to hand, whom he overtook in the very act. She came into the house with Richard Smith, fell upon her knees before us all, and strongly exhorted him never to turn back, never to forget the mercy which God had now shown to his soul. From this time we had never any considerable interruption or disturbance at Long Lane, although we withdrew our prosecution, upon the offender’s submission and promise of better behaviour

Dr Wilson

Sun 24 Jan 1779: I visited a young woman in such terrible fits as I scarce ever saw before. And she was hardly out of one when she fell into another, so that it seemed she must soon lose her reason, if not her life. But Dr. Wilson in one or two days’ time restored her to perfect health

I shall live for evermore

Sat 23 Jan 1742: I called on another, who was believed to be near death, and greatly triumphing over it. ‘I know’, said she, ‘that my redeemer liveth, and will stand at the latter day upon the earth. I fear not death. It hath no sting for me. I shall live for evermore.’

No fear either of pain or death

Thur 21 1742: I again visited many that were sick, but I found no fear either of pain or death among them. One (Mary Whittle) said, ‘I shall go to my Lord tomorrow. But before I go, he will finish his work.’ The next day she lay quiet for about two hours, and then opening her eyes, cried out, ‘It is done, it is done! Christ liveth in me! He lives in me!’ And died in a moment.

"They all nearly resemble each other,"

Tues 19 Jan 1773: In my scraps of time this week, I read over "An Account of the European Settlements in America." But some part of it I cannot receive; I mean, touching the manners of the native Americans: If it be true, that "they all nearly resemble each other," then, from the knowledge I have of not a few American nations, I must judge a great part of that account to be pure, absolute, romance; and I suspect it to have been transcribed from some papers which I myself read before I embarked for America

Blasphemies were turned to praise

Mon 18 Jan 1742: We greatly rejoiced in the Lord at Long Lane, even in the midst of those that contradicted and blasphemed. Nor was it long before many of them also were touched, and blasphemies were turned to praise.

Lending to the Poor

Sun 17 Jan 1748: I made a public collection towards a lending-stock for the poor. Our rule is to lend only twenty shillings at once, which is repayed weekly within three months. I began this about a year and a half ago. Thirty pounds sixteen shillings were then collected. And out of this no less than two hundred and fifty-five persons have been relieved in eighteen months. Dr. W. hearing of this design, sent a guinea toward it, as did an eminent deist the next morning.

Reviewing the Healing Ministry

Sat 16 Jan 1748: Upon reviewing the account of the sick we found great reason to praise God. Within the year about three hundred persons had received medicines occasionally. About one hundred had regularly taken them and submitted to a proper regimen. More than ninety of these were entirely cured of diseases they had long laboured under. And the expense of medicines for the entire year amounted to some shillings above forty pounds.

Assurance of Salvation

15 Jan 1740: At Siston I preached on “the blood which cleanseth from all sin.” After preaching I visited a young man dangerously ill, who a day or two after cried out aloud, “Lord Jesus, thou knowest that I love thee! And I have thee and will never let thee go,” and died immediately.

Morning Prayers

14 Jan1740: I began expounding the Scriptures in order at the New Room at six in the morning; by which means many more attend the college prayers (which immediately follow) than ever before.

Rest

Wed 13 Jan 1762: We rested from our labour. How can they who never labour taste the sweetness of rest?

Travelling to Norwich

Tue 12 Dec 1762: Just as we set out, the storm, which had been very high all night, brought on impetuous rain. It was a good providence, 1. That we had now firm, sandy road, not clay and miry fields, as yesterday; 2. That the wind was behind us; otherwise I believe it would have been impossible to go on. It was often ready to bear away man and beast: However, in the afternoon we came safe to Norwich.

A sacrifice to the justice of a long-offended God

Mon 11 Jan 1742: I went twice to Newgate, at the request of poor Robert Ramsey, who lay there under sentence of death, but was refused admittance. Receiving a few lines from him on the day he was to die, I desired Mr. Richards to try if he could be admitted then. But he came back with a fresh refusal.
It was above two years before that, being destitute and in distress, he applied to me at Bristol for relief. I took him in and employed him for the present in writing and keeping accounts for me. Not long after I placed him in the little school which was kept by the United Society. There were many suspicions of him during that time, as well as of his companion Gwillim Snowde. But no proof appeared, so that, after three or four months, they quietly returned to London. But they did not deceive God nor escape his hand. Gwillim Snowde was soon apprehended for a robbery, and when condemned sent for me and said nothing lay heavier upon him than his having thus returned evil for good. I believe it was now the desire of poor Ramsey, too, to tell me all that he had done. But the hour was past! I could not now be permitted to see or speak with him. So that he who before would not receive the word of God from my mouth, now desired what he could not obtain. And on Wednesday he fell a sacrifice to the justice of a long-offended God. O consider this, ye that now forget God, and know not the day of your visitation!
In the afternoon I buried the body of James St. Angel, who having long been tried in the fire, on Monday, in the full triumph of faith, gave up his spirit to God.
I heard of several today who began to run well but did not endure to the end. Men fond of their own opinions tore them from their brethren and could not keep them when they had done; but they soon fell back into the world, and are now swallowed up in its pleasures or cares. I fear those zealots who took these souls out of my hands will give but a poor account of them to God.

Miracle Cure

Sun 10 Jan 1742: I got a little time to see Mr. Dolman. Two years ago he seemed to be dying of an asthma, being hardly able to rise at eight o’clock in a morning, after struggling, as it were, for life. But from the time he came thither first, he rarely failed to be at the Foundery by five o’clock. Nor was he at all the worse, his distemper being suspended till within a very few days. I found him just on the wing, and full of love and peace and joy in believing. And in the same spirit (as I afterwards understood) he continued, till God took himself to himself.

A rude rout

Sat 9 Jan 1742: While I was preaching at Long Lane, a rude rout lift up their voice on high. I fell upon them without delay. Some pulled off their hats and opened their mouth no more. The rest stole out, one after another. All that remained were quiet and attentive.

A day of fasting and prayer

Fri 8 Jan 1773: We observed a day of fasting and prayer, on account of the general want of trade and scarcity of provisions. The next week I made an end of revising my letters; and from those I had both wrote and received, I could not but make one remark, that for above these forty years, of all the friends who were once the most closely united, and afterwards separated from me, every one had separated himself! He left me, not I him. And from both mine and their own letters, the steps whereby they did this are clear and undeniable.

Ignorant Doctors

Thur Jan 7 1773: I called where a child was dying of the small pox, and rescued her from death and the Doctors, who were giving her saffron to drive them out! Can any one be so ignorant still?

Eminent for an utter disregard of all religion

Wed 6 Jan 1748: I conversed an hour with Counsellor Glanville, many years eminent for an utter disregard of all religion. He had lately contracted an acquaintance with Mr. R., in consequence of which he soon set upon his wife. She told him, ‘Sir, here is a fuller answer to your objections than I am able to give,’ and desired him seriously to read the Earnest Appeal. He did so and was thoroughly convinced that there is reality in religion.
I believe he told me all that was in his heart. He stayed till the watch-night service was ended, and appeared much affected. Let but a little seed be sown, and God is able to give it an increase.

Saluted with a Huzza

Tues 5 Jan 1762: I preached in Harston at nine, and about eleven at Wiltstow, three miles farther, to a people just ripe for, "Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden." In the afternoon we set out for Stoke, on the edge of Suffolk. As we rode through Haverhill, we were saluted with one huzza, the mob of that town having no kindness for Methodists. But all was quiet at Stoke; for Sir H A will suffer no disturbance there. The congregation came from many miles round, and God was in the midst of them. Their hearty prayers went up on every side; and many felt the answer to them.

Electricity!!!!!

Mon 4 Jan 1768: At my leisure hours this week, I read Dr. Priestley’s ingenious book on electricity. He seems to have accurately collected and well digested all that is known on that curious subject. But how little is that all! Indeed, the use of it we know; at least, in some good degree. We know it is a thousand medicines in one: in particular that is the most efficacious medicine in nervous disorders of every kind which has ever yet been discovered. But if we aim at theory, we know nothing. We are soon lost and bewildered in the fruitless search.

Covenant Service

Sun 3 Jan 1790: I suppose near two thousand met at the new chapel to renew their covenant with God; a scriptural means of grace which is now almost everywhere forgotten except among the Methodists.

Charity

Sat Jan 2 1768: I called on a poor man in the Marshalsea whose case appears to be uncommon. He is by birth a Dutchman, a chemist by profession. Being but half employed at home, he was advised to come to London, where he doubted not of having full employment. He was recommended to a countryman of his to lodge, who after six weeks arrested him for much more than he owed and hurried him away to prison, having a wife near her time, without money, friend, or a word of English to speak. I wrote the case to Mr. T who immediately gave fifteen pounds, by means of which, with a little addition, he was set at liberty and put in a way of living. But I never saw him since. And reason good, for he could now live without me.