_To Mr. L――――._
_London, May 11, 1742._
WITH this, I send you a few out of the many notes I have received from
persons, who were convicted, converted, or comforted in _Moorfields_,
during the late holidays. For many weeks, I found my heart much
pressed to determine to venture to preach there at this season, when,
if ever, satan’s children keep up their annual rendezvous. I must
inform you, that _Moorfields_ is a large spacious place, given, as
I have been told, by one _Madam Moore_, on purpose for all sorts of
people to divert themselves in. For many years past, from one end
to the other, booths of all kinds have been erected, for mountebanks,
players, puppet shows, and such like. With a heart bleeding with
compassion for so many thousands led captive by the devil at his will,
on _Whit-Monday_, at six o’clock in the morning, attended by a large
congregation of praying people, I ventured to lift up a standard
amongst them in the name of JESUS of _Nazareth_. Perhaps there were
about ten thousand in waiting, not for me, but for satan’s instruments
to amuse them.――Glad was I to find, that I had for once as it were got
the start of the devil. I mounted my field pulpit, almost all flocked
immediately around it. I preached on these words, “As _Moses_ lifted
up the serpent in the wilderness, so shall the son of man be lifted
up, &c.” They gazed, they listened, they wept; and I believe that many
felt themselves stung with deep conviction for their past sins. All
was hushed and solemn. Being thus encouraged, I ventured out again
at noon; but what a scene! The fields, the whole fields seemed, in a
bad sense of the word, all white, ready not for the Redeemer’s, but
Beelzebub’s harvest. All his agents were in full motion, drummers,
trumpeters, merry andrews, masters of puppet shows, exhibiters of wild
beasts, players, &c. &c. all busy in entertaining their respective
auditories. I suppose there could not be less than twenty or thirty
thousand people. My pulpit was fixed on the opposite side, and
immediately, to their great mortification, they found the number of
their attendants sadly lessened. Judging that like saint _Paul_, I
should now be called as it were to fight with beasts at _Ephesus_, I
preached from these words: “Great is _Diana_ of the _Ephesians_.” You
may easily guess, that there was some noise among
the craftsmen, and that I was honoured with having a few stones, dirt,
rotten eggs, and pieces of dead cats thrown at me, whilst engaged
in calling them from their favourite but lying vanities. My soul was
indeed among lions; but far the greatest part of my congregation,
which was very large, seemed for a while to be turned into lambs. This
encouraged me to give notice, that I would preach again at six o’clock
in the evening. I came, I saw, but what――thousands and thousands more
than before if possible, still more deeply engaged in their unhappy
diversions; but some thousands amongst them waiting as earnestly
to hear the gospel. This satan could not brook. One of his choicest
servants was exhibiting, trumpeting on a large stage; but as soon as
the people saw me in my black robes and my pulpit, I think all to a
man left him and ran to me. For a while I was enabled to lift up my
voice like a trumpet, and many heard the joyful sound. GOD’s people
kept praying, and the enemy’s agents made a kind of a roaring at some
distance from our camp. At length they approached nearer, and the
merry andrew, (attended by others, who complained that they had taken
many pounds less that day on account of my preaching) got upon a man’s
shoulders, and
advancing near the pulpit attempted to slash me with a long heavy whip
several times, but always with the violence of his motion tumbled down.
Soon afterwards, they got a recruiting serjeant with his drum, &c. to
pass through the congregation. I gave the word of command, and ordered
that way might be made for the king’s officer. The ranks opened, while
all march’d quietly through, and then closed again. Finding those
efforts to fail, a large body quite on the opposite side assembled
together, and having got a large pole for their standard, advanced
towards us with steady and formidable steps, till they came very near
the skirts of our hearing, praying, and almost undaunted congregation.
I saw, gave warning, and prayed to the captain of our salvation for
present support and deliverance. He heard and answered; for just as
they approached us with looks full of resentment, I know not by what
accident, they quarrelled among themselves, threw down their staff
and went their way, leaving however many of their company behind, who
before we had done, I trust were brought over to join the besieged
party. I think I continued in praying preaching and singing, (for the
noise was too great at times to preach) about three hours. We then
retired to the tabernacle, with my pockets full of notes from persons
brought under concern, and read them amidst the praises and spiritual
acclamations of thousands, who joined with the holy angels in
rejoicing that so many sinners were snatched, in such an unexpected,
unlikely place and manner, out of the very jaws of the devil. This
was the beginning of the tabernacle society.――Three hundred and fifty
awakened souls were received in one day, and I believe the number of
notes exceeded a thousand; but I must have done, believing you want to
retire to join in mutual praise and thanksgiving to GOD and the Lamb,
with
Yours, &c.
_G. W._