226 REV. J. WESLEY'S Society, in the evening, to beware of levity, slackness in good works, and despising little things; which had caused many to fall again into bondage. Thur. 25. I was sent for to one in Bristol, who was taken ill the evening before. (This fact, too, I will simply relate, so far as I was an ear or eye-witness of it.) She lay on the ground, furiously gnashing her teeth, and after a while roared aloud. It was not easy for three or four persons to hold her, especially when the name of Jesus was named. We prayed; the violence of her symptoms ceased, though without a complete deliverance. In the evening, being sent for to her again, I was unwilling, indeed afraid to go; thinking it would not avail unless some who were strong in faith were to wrestle with God for her. I opened my I : was afraid, and went and hid thy Testament on those words talent in the earth." I stood reproved and went immediately. She began screaming before I came into the room; then broke out into a horrid laughter, mixed with blasphemy grievous to hear. "How dost thou dare to One who, from many circumstances, apprehended a preternatural he concerned in this, asking, Christian JOURNAL. 227 We begged of God to increase our faith. Meanwhile her pangs increased more and more; so that one would have imagined, by the violence of the throes, her body must have been shattered to pieces. One, who was clearly convinced this was no natural disorder, said, "I think Satan is let loose. I fear he will not stop here;" and added, "I command thee, in the name of the Lord Jesus, to tell if thou hast commission to torment any other soul?" It was immediately answered, "I have: Ly Cr and Sh Js;" (two who lived at some distance, and were then in perfect health.) We betook ourselves to prayer again, and ceased not till she began, about six o'clock, with a clear voice, and composed, cheerful look, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow!" Sun. 28. I preached once more at Bradford, at one in the afternoon. The violent rains did not hinder more, I believe, than ten thousand from earnestly attending to what I spoke on those solemn words : "I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men; for I have not shunned to declare unto you all 228 REV. J. WESLEY'S Wed. 31. I strongly enforced on those who imagine they believe, and do not, "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." The power of God was in an unusual manner present at the meeting of the bands in the evening. Six or seven were deeply convinced of their unfaithfulness to God, and two filled again with his love; but poor Mary Wremained as one without hope; her soul refused comfort; she could neither pray herself, nor bear to hear us: at last she cried out, "Give me the book and I will sing." She began giving out line by line, (but with such an accent as art could never reach.) "Why do these cares my soul divide, If thou indeed hast set me free? If God hath died to purchase me? Here we were obliged to interrupt her; we again betook ourand her hoort was eased, though not set at I must confess, Sir, that the discourse you made that day, wherein you pressed your hearers in the closest manner, and with the authority of a true Minister of the Gospel, not to stop at Faith only, but to add to it all virtues, and to show forth their faith, by every kind of good works, convinced me of the great wrong done you by a public report, common in people's mouth, that you preach Faith without Works; for that is the only ground of prejudice which any true Christian can have; and is the sense in which your adversaries would take your words, when they censure them for that we are justified by faith only, is the doctrine of Jesus Christ, the doctrine of his Apostles, and the doctrine of the Church of England. I am ashamed, that after having lived twenty-nine years, since my baptism into this faith,I should speak of it in the lame, unfaithful, I may say, false manner I have done, in the paper above-mentioned! What mere darkness is man, when truth hideth her face from him! Man is by nature a sinner, the child of the Devil, under God's wrath, in a state of damnation. The Son of God took pity on this our misery; He made himself man, He made himself sin for us; that is, He hath borne the punishment of our sin, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by his stripes we are 230 REV. J. WESLEY'S JOURNAL. soon be at an end. Nay, I think, those whose flocks resort so much to hear you, ought to do it, out of their pastoral duty to them; that if you preach good doctrine, they may edify them on the impressions so visibly made by your sermons, or if evil, they may reclaim them from error. I shall conclude this letter with putting you in mind, in all your sermons, writings, and practice, nakedly to follow the naked Jesus: I mean, to preach the pure doctrine of the Gospel, without respect of persons or things. Many Preachers, many Reformers, many Missionaries, have fallen by not observing this; by not hav ing continually in mind, "Whoever shall break the least of these commandments, and teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven." |