JOURNAL, FROM SEPTEMBER 13, 1773, TO JANUARY 2, 1776. MONDAY, September 13. My cold remaining, I was ill able to speak. In the evening I was much worse, my palate and throat being greatly inflamed; however, I preached as I could. But I could then go no farther. I could swallow neither liquids nor solids, and the windpipe seemed nearly closed. I lay down at my usual time, but the defluxion of rheum was so uninterrupted that I slept not a minute, till near three in the morning. On the following nine days I grew better. Fri. 17. I went to Kingswood, and found several of the children still alive to God. Sat. 18. I gave them a short exhortation, which tired, but did not hurt me. Sun. 19. I thought myself able to speak to the congregation, which I did for half an hour; but afterwards I found a pain in my left side and in my shoulder by turns, exactly as I did at Canterbury twenty years before. In the morning I could scarce lift my hand to my head ; but after being electrified I was much better, so that I preached with tolerable ease in the evening; and the next evening read the letters, though my voice was weak. From this time I slowly recovered my voice and my strength, and on Sunday preached without any trouble. Wed. 29. After preaching at Pensford, I went to Publow, and in the morning spent a little time with the lovely children. Those of them who were lately affected did not appear to have lost any thing of what they had received; and some of them were clearly gaining ground, and advancing in the faith which works by love. Sun. Oct. 3. I took a solemn leave of the Society at Bristol, now consisting of eight hundred members. Mon. 4. I went, by Shepton-Mallet, to Shaftesbury, and on Tuesday to Salisbury. Wed. 7. Taking chaise at two in the morning, in the evening I came well to London. The rest of the week I made what inquiry I could into the state of my accounts. Some confusion had arisen from the sudden death of my book-keeper, but it was less than might have been expected. Monday, 11, and the following days, I took a little tour through Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire. Between Northampton and Towcester we met with a great natural curiosity, the largest elm I ever saw it was twenty-eight feet in circumference; six feet more than that which was some years ago in Magdalen College walks at Oxford. Mon. 18. I began my little journey through Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. In the way I read over Sir Richard Blackmore's "Prince Arthur." It is not a contemptible poem, although by no means equal to his Poem on the Creation, in which are many admirably fine strokes. Mon. 25. I went to Shoreham, and spent two days both agreeably and profitably. The work of God, which broke out here two or three years ago, is still continually increasing. I preached near Bromley on Thursday; and on Friday, 29th, had the satisfaction of dining with an old friend. I hope she meant all the kindness she professed; if she did not, it was her own loss. Mon. Nov. 1. I set out for Norfolk, and came to Lynn while the congregation was waiting for me. Here was once a prospect of doing much good, but it was almost vanished away: Calvinism breaking in upon them, had torn the infant Society in pieces. I did all I could to heal the breach, both in public and private; and having recovered a few, I left them all in peace, and went on to Norwich on Wednesday. Fri. 5. I preached, at noon, to the warm congregation at Loddon, and in the evening to the cold one at Yarmouth. I know there is nothing too hard for God, else I should go thither no more. Mon. S. I found the Society at Lakenheath was entirely vanished away; I joined them together once more, and they seriously promised to keep together. If they do, I shall endeavour to see them again: if not, I have better work. Tues. 9. I preached at Bury, and on Wednesday at Colchester; where I spent a day or two with much satisfaction, among a poor, loving, simple-hearted people. I returned to London on Friday, and was fully employed in visiting the Classes from that time to Saturday, the 20th. In my late journey I read over Dr. Lee's "Sophron : " he is both a learned and a sensible man. Yet I judge his book will hardly come to a second impression, for these very obvious reasons:-1. His language is generally rough and unpleasing; frequently so obscure, that one cannot pick out the meaning of a sentence, without reading it twice or thrice over. 2. His periods are intolerably long, beyond all sense and reason; one period often containing ten or twenty, and sometimes thirty lines. 3. When he makes a pertinent remark, he knows not when to have done with it, but spins it out without any pity to the reader. 4. Many of his remarks, like those of his master, Mr. Hutchinson, are utterly strained and unnatural, such as give pain to those who believe the Bible, and diversion to those who do not. Mon. 22. I set out for Sussex, and found abundance of people willing to hear the good word, at Rye in particular. And they do many things gladly. But they will not part with the accursed thing smuggling. So I fear, with regard to these, our labour will be in vain. Mon. 29. I went to Gravesend, on Tuesday to Chatham, and on Wednesday to Sheerness, over that whimsical ferry, where footmen and horses pay nothing, but every carriage four shillings! I was pleasing myself that I had seen one fair day at Sheerness! But that pleasure was soon over; we had rain enough in the evening. However, the house was crowded sufficiently. I spoke exceeding plain to the bigots on both sides. May God write it on their hearts! Mon. Dec. 6. I went to Canterbury in the stage-coach, and by the way read Lord Herbert's Life, written by himself; the author of the first system of Deism that ever was published in England. Was there ever so wild a knight-errant as this? Compared to him Don Quixote was a sober man. Who can wonder, that a man of such complexion should be an infidel? I returned to London Friday, 10th, with Captain Hinderson, of Chatham, who informed us,—" Being off the Kentish coast, on Wednesday morning last, I found my ship had been so damaged by the storm, which still continued, that she could not long keep above water. So we got into the boat, twelve in all, though with little hope of making the shore. A ship passing by, we made all the signals we could, but they took no notice. A second passed near. We made signals and called, but they would not stay for us. A third put out their boat, took us up, and set us safe on shore." Fri. 17. Meeting with a celebrated book, a volume of Captain |
