396 REV. J. WESLEY'S very Kingswood of the North. Twenty or thirty wild children ran round us, as soon as we came, staring as in amaze. They could not properly be said to be either clothed or naked. One of the largest, (a girl about fifteen,) had a piece of a ragged, dirty blanket, some way hung about her, and a kind of cap on her head, of the same cloth and colour. My heart was exceedingly enlarged towards them; and they looked as if they would have swallowed me up; especially while I was applying these words: "Be it known unto you, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you forgiveness of sins." Sat. 12. I concluded my second course of visiting, in which I inquired particularly into two things:-1. The case of those who had, almost every night the last week, cried out aloud during the preaching. 2. The number of those who were separated from us and the reason and occasion of it. As to the former I found, 1. That all of them (I think not one excepted) were persons perfect health, and had not been subject to fits of any kind, till they were thus affected. while they were either hearing the 2. That this had come upon every one of them in a moment count from the beginning to the end. The word of God pierced their souls, and convinced them of inward as well as outward sin. They saw and felt the wrath of God abiding on them, and were afraid of his judgments. And here the accuser came with great power, telling them, "There was no hope; they were lost for ever." The pains of body then seized them in a moment, and extorted those loud and bitter cries. As to the latter, I observed the number of those who had left the Society, since December 30, was seventy-six : Fourteen of these (chiefly dissenters) said, They left it because otherwise their Ministers would not give them the Sacra ment. Nine more, Because their husbands or wives were not willing they should stay in it. Twelve, Because their parents were not willing. Five, Because their master and mistress would not let them come. Seven, Because their acquaintance persuaded them to leave it. Three, Because they would not lose the poor's allowance. 398** REV. J. WESLEY'S Sun. 13. I went in the morning in order to speak severally with the Members of the Society at Tanfield. From the terrible instances I met with here, (and indeed in all parts of England,) I am more and more convinced that the Devil himself desires nothing more than this, that the people of any place should be half awakened, and then left to themselves to fall asleep again: therefore, I determine, by the grace of God, not to strike one stroke in any place where I cannot follow the blow. Mon. 14. I preached again near Chowden; and this I continued to do weekly, as well as at all the other places round Newcastle, (except Swalwell,) where I had preached once. Thur. 17. As I was preaching at Pelton, one of the old colliers, not much accustomed to things of this kind, in the middle of the sermon began shouting amain for mere satisfaction and joy of heart but their usual token of approbation (which somewhat surprised me at first) was clapping me on the back. : Fri. 18. As I was meeting the Leaders, a company of young men, having prepared themselves by strong drink, broke open the door, and came rushing in with the utmost fury. I began praying for them immediately. Not one opened his mouth, or lifted up a we all went away toge JOURNAL. 399 of faith; at least, not if interpreted by private judgment; because private judgment has no place in matters of religion!" Why, at this moment you are appealing to my private judgment; and yout cannot possibly avoid it. The foundation of your, as well as my religion, must necessarily rest here. First, you (as well as I) must judge for yourself, whether you are implicitly to follow the Church or no; and also which is the true Church: Else it is not possible to move one step forward. This evening I preached in the shell of the new house, on the Rich Man and Lazarus. A great multitude were gathered together here, most of whom stayed with us, and watched unto the Lord. Sat. 26. I preached at Burtley, a village four miles south of Newcastle, surrounded by colliers on every side. The greater art of the congregation earnestly attended to those solemn words: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; because he hath anointed ne to preach the Gospel to the poor.” "Mon. 28. I was astonished to find it was real fact, (what I would not believe before,) that three of the dissenting Ministers Mr. Ars, Mr. Ans, and Mr. B) had agreed togeher 66 to exclude all those from the Holy Communion who would ot refrain from hearing us." Mr. Ans publicly affirmed, We were all Papists, and our doctrine was mere Popery." And Mr. B——, in the conclusion of a course of sermons, which he 400 REV. J. WESLEY'S being unusually high, drove the sleet in our face, which froze as it fell, and cased us over presently. When we came to Placey we could very hardly stand. As soon as we were a little recovered, I went into the Square, and declared Him who " was bruised for our sins, and wounded for our iniquities." The poor sinners were quickly gathered together, and gave earnest heed to the things which were spoken. And so they did in the afternoon again, in spite of the wind and snow, when I besought them to receive Him for their King; to "repent and believe the Gospel." On Easter Monday and Tuesday, I preached there again, the congregation continually increasing; and as most of these had never in their lives pretended to any religion of any kind, they were the more ready to cry to God, as mere sinners, for the free redemption which is in Jesus. Thur. 7. Having settled all things according to my desire, cheerfully took leave of my friends at Newcastle, and rode that day to Sandbutton. At our inn I found a good-natured man sitting and drinking in the chimney corner, with whom I began a discourse, suspecting nothing less than that he was the Minister of the parish. Before we parted I spoke exceeding plain; and he relove bercing he might see me when I came that way |