_Of some particulars previous to his conversion._
AFTER having made use of every means, which either men or books could
suggest, but without the desired effect, (being now in the nineteenth
year of his age) as he returned to his lodging one evening in the city
of _Limerick_, March 17, 1749, he saw an uncommonly large concourse
of people assembled in a place called the _Parade_ adjoining to the
main street. He turned aside to see what it meant; and perceiving a
man preaching to the people in the open air (a thing then quite new
in _Ireland_,) he eagerly stopped to know what he said. And hearing
him (Mr. R. S.) from _Matthew xi. 28._ affectionately, and earnestly
entreat all persons to _come to_ Jesus Christ, _that they might
find rest to their souls_: and withal exhorting them to search the
scriptures, and see for themselves if what he said was not true; it
filled him with wonder, and with desire to know more of this matter.
He had of a long time sorely felt the want of rest, that is, happiness
in his soul. And notwithstanding all his endeavours to obtain it, like
the poor woman in the gospel,¹ who _had spent all that she had upon
physicians and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse_, his case
became every day more insupportable. A pressing invitation therefore
to partake of, and an assurance of finding the very thing he so wanted,
could not fail of being acceptable to him.
¹ Mark v. 25.
So impenetrable is the abyss of God’s judgments! _Great things doth he,
which who can comprehend!_ He had prepared the soul of his servant to
receive with inexpressible joy, the gospel of peace, and sent it him in
a way which he least of all expected, and which the wisdom of man would
never have made choice of, Thus,
While yet he toil’d, a sudden cry
Proclaim’d th’ approaching multitude,
Who told of Jesus passing by,
Of free redemption in his blood:
Upstarted light, the beggar blind,
He sprang the healing touch to meet,
Cast all his filthy rags behind,
And groan’d for faith at Jesu’s feet.
“But here (says he) it may be needful, in order the better to
understand some particulars which will be hereafter related, to premise
♦a few things relative to this preacher, and the people to whom he
belonged, 1st, he was one of the people called _Methodists_, and a
member of the church of _England_. 2dly, This people began to preach
Christ, and justification thro’ his blood, about the year 1738, having
had their beginning at _Oxford_, in the Rev. Mr. _John_ and _Charles
Wesley_; the former a fellow of _Lincoln College_, and the latter,
student of _Christ Church_. These two brothers having obtained mercy
themselves, were called of God to publish his love to others likewise,
by preaching the gospel of the kingdom, to every creature that would
hear the _joyful sound_. Accordingly, out they go into the lanes
and highways, crying in the _voice of wisdom_ to the _sons of men_,
beseeching and compelling sinners to turn to God, to come to that
_feast of marrow and fat things_, which he hath prepared for all who
will but accept of life and salvation.”¹
♦ duplicate word “a” removed
¹ See Luke xiv. 16‒24. Proverbs viii. 1‒5. and compare with
Proverbs i. 24.
“After these servants of God had been thus employed for some time, it
pleased their divine Master, to send forth other labourers also into
his harvest, to assist in the same blessed work: not indeed such as
human wisdom would have appointed, the great or wise men of this world;
but quite the contrary: the poor (for the most part) and as St. _Paul_
says, the _base_ and _weak_, that thus, leaving no room for boasting or
glorying in man, _whoso glorieth might glory in the Lord_.”¹
¹ 1 Corinthians i. 25‒31.
“Some of these, after preaching the gospel in the streets and highways,
to their own countrymen, brought the _glad tidings_ to _Ireland_ also;
where, going about from place to place, thro’ cities and villages, they
freely declared, what they had so freely received, to every one that
would hear. And glory be to God, their labour of love was not in vain.
He that sent them, gave their word his blessing, so that many received
it gladly; and having felt its power, to this day bring forth fruit
with patience; the fruit of righteousness, to the glory of God.”
It was some weeks before he had opportunity of hearing them again,
being obliged to take care of his school in the country. On his next
return to _Limerick_ he heard another of them (Mr. _T. W._) and liked
their preaching still better. But his fondness for, and attachment
to the word of God, would not admit of his taking things of so high a
nature upon trust. He therefore compared their doctrine with the word
of God, and with the _articles_ and _homilies_ (which were now likewise
his secondary, standards of truth) of the church of _England_; and
“I found it, (says he) to be consonant with both. I became daily more
and more attached to them, and their manner of living encreased my
affection for them. They appeared to me to be true followers of Christ,
and his apostles, adorning the doctrine of God in all things.”
“When they had preached the gospel at _Limerick_ for some time, they
came over to _New-Market_, a village where I then resided, about eight
miles from thence. In a little time there was a society formed, (so
they called those who met weekly together, in order to sing the praises
of God, to pray to him, and to help each other on to heaven.) To these
I joined myself a member, _September 29, 1749_, in order to be more
fully instructed in the way of salvation.”