| March 1753
Wed. 14. — I preached at Frome, a dry, barren, uncomfortable place.
The congregation at Shaftesbury in the evening were of a more excellent
spirit.
September 1753
Mon. 10. — I preached to the condemned malefactors in Newgate; but
I could make little impression upon them. I then took horse for Paulton,
where I called on Stephen Plummer, once of our society, but now a
zealous Quaker. He was much pleased with my calling, and came to hear me
preach. Being straitened for time, I concluded sooner than usual; but as
soon as I had done, Stephen began. After I had listened half an hour,
finding he was no nearer the end, I rose up to go away. His sister then
begged him to leave off; on which he flew into a violent rage, and
roared louder and louder, till an honest man took him in his arms, and
gently carried him away. What a wise providence was it, that this poor
young man turned Quaker, some years before he ran mad! So the honor of
turning his brain now rests upon them, which otherwise must have fallen
upon the Methodists.
I preached at six in the evening at Buckland, about two miles from
Frome, in a meadow of Mr. Emblen’s, a wonderful monument of the grace
of God; who, from the day he received peace, (being then acquainted with
no Methodist,) has continually walked in the light of God’s
countenance. The Curate had provided a mob, with horns, and other things
convenient, to prevent the congregation’s hearing me. But the better
half of the mob soon left their fellows, and listened with great
attention. The rest did no harm: So that we had a comfortable
opportunity; and another at five in the morning.
November 1759
Mon. 22. — I left Bristol, and having preached at Shepton,
Coleford, Frome, and Salisbury in my way,
September 1763
Thur. 8. — At nine I preached in the same place, to a far more
serious audience. Between eleven and twelve I preached at Westcomb, and
in the evening at Frome. How zealous to hear are these people; and yet
how little do they profit by hearing! I think this will not always be
the case. By and by we shall rejoice over them.
October 1766
Sun. 28. — I preached in Princes-Street at eight, in Kingswood at
two, and at five near the new Square. The last especially was an
acceptable time; particularly while I was explaining, “Neither can
they die any more; but are the children of God, being children of the
resurrection.” In the following days I preached at Pensford, Paulton,
Coleford, Buckland, Frome, Beckington, Freshford, and Bradford.
September 1767
Wed. 23. — About noon I preached at Buckland, and in the evening at
Frome: But the House was too small, so that many were constrained to go
away. So the next evening I preached in a meadow, where a multitude, of
all denominations, attended. It seems that God is at length giving a
more general call to this town also; the people whereof seemed before,
in every sense, to be “rich and increased in goods, and having need of
nothing.”
September 1768
Thur. 29. — I rode to Frome. The people here seem more alive than
most I have seen in the circuit; and this is the more strange, because
in this town only there is such a mixture of men of all opinions, —
Anabaptists, Quakers, Presbyterians, Arians, Antinomians, Moravians, and
what not. If any hold to the truth, in the midst of all these, surely
the power must be of God. Friday, 30, we observed as a day of fasting
and prayer; and it was a good day for many, who no sooner called, than
God answered them in the joy of their heart.
September 1770
Tues. 11. — In the evening I preached at Frome; but not abroad, as
I designed, because of the rain. The next evening I preached in the
adjoining meadow, to as quiet a congregation as that in the House.
October 1771
Tues. 10. — I preached at Bath; Wednesday, 11, at Frome; Thursday,
12, at Keynsham.
September 1772
Sun. 6. — I preached on the quay, at Kingswood, and near King’s
Square. To this day field-preaching is a cross to me. But I know my
commission, and see no other way of “preaching the Gospel to every
creature.” In the following week I preached at Bath, Frome, Corsley,
Bradford, and Keynsham;
October 1774
Fri. 16. — We had a solemn watch-night at Kingswood. It seemed,
every one felt that God was there; so that hardly any went away till the
whole service was concluded. In the following week I visited many of the
country societies. At Frome I learned the remarkable case of sister
Whitaker. Last Sunday she met her class as usual; and after saying, “I
know that my Redeemer liveth,” dropped down, and in a few minutes,
without any struggle or pain, expired.
October 1775
On Tuesday I went on to Bristol. On Thursday and Friday, I preached
at Keynsham, Bradford, and Bath; on Tuesday, 19, at Frome; and on
Wednesday, at Pensford.
September 1776
Wed. 11. — I preached about one at Bath; and about six, in a
meadow, near the preaching-house, in Frome, besought a listening
multitude “not to receive the grace of God in vain.”
September 1778
Tues. 8. — In the evening I stood on one side of the market-place
at Frome, and declared to a very numerous congregation, “His
commandments are not grievous.” They stood as quiet as those at
Bristol, a very few excepted; most of whom were, by the courtesy of
England, called Gentlemen. How much inferior to the keelmen and
colliers!
September 1779
Mon. 13. — I preached at Bath and Bradford; on Tuesday, at the end
of the new House, in Frome.
October 1779
Fri. 24. — James Gerrish, jun., of Roade, near Frome, was for
several years zealous for God: But he too grew rich, and grew lukewarm,
till he was seized with a consumption. At the approach of death he was
“horribly afraid;” he was “in the lowest darkness, and in the
deep.” But “he cried unto God in his trouble,” and was “delivered
out of his distress.” He was filled with peace and joy unspeakable and
so continued till he went to God. His father desired I would preach his
funeral sermon; which I accordingly did this day, at Roade. I concluded
the busy day with a comfortable watch-night at Kingswood.
September 1781
Mon. 10. — I preached at Paulton and Shepton-Mallet to a lively,
increasing people in each place. Tuesday, 11. I found the same cause of
rejoicing at Coleford; and the next evening at Frome.
September 1782
Mon. 9. — About nine I preached at Paulton, where the flame is
abated, but not quenched. The same is the case at Shepton-Mallet, where
I preached in the evening. Tuesday, 10. I went on to the simple-hearted
colliers, at Coleford, abundance of whom met at six in the evening, in a
green meadow, which was delightfully gilded by the rays of the setting
sun. Wednesday, 11. I preached to a large and serious congregation at
the end of the preaching-house at Frome.
September 1784
Tues. 14. — I preached at Bath and Bradford; Wednesday, 15, at
Trowbridge and Frome.
September 1785
Tues. 6. — I preached at Paulton and Coleford; Wednesday, 7, in an
open place near the road, at Mells. Just as I began, a wasp, though
unprovoked, stung me upon the lip. I was afraid it would swell, so as to
hinder my speaking; but it did not. I spoke distinctly, near two hours
in all; and was no worse for it. In the evening I preached with much
satisfaction at Frome, to a mixed multitude of rich and poor; and
afterwards strongly exhorted them that had believed to walk in love,
after the example of our Great Master.
September 1788
Thursday, 11 We had a lovely congregation at Frome, both in the
evening and at five in the morning. At length this wilderness, too, as
it has long appeared to be, begins to blossom and bud as the rose.
September 1789
Thursday, 17. I preached at Frome, to a much larger audience, and
with much of the presence of God.
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