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The Room Was Like and Oven

Sunday, 8.--We were at the minster1 in the morning and at our parish church in the afternoon.  The same gentleman preached at both; but though I saw him at the church, I did not know I had ever seen him before.  In the morning he was all life and motion; in the afternoon he was as quiet as a post.  At five in the evening, the rain constrained me to preach in the oven again.  The patience of the congregation surprised me.  They seemed not to feel the extreme heat or to be offended at the close application of those words, "thou art not far from the kingdom of God" [Mark 12:34].

Monday, 16.--I preached in the evening at Nottingham and on Thursday afternoon reached London.  From a deep sense of the amazing work which God has of late years wrought in England, I preached in the evening on those words (Psalm 147:20), "He hath not dealt so with any nation"; no, not even with Scotland or New England.  In both these God has indeed made bare His arm; yet not in so astonishing a manner as among us.  This must appear to all who impartially consider 1) the numbers of persons on whom God has wrought; 2) the swiftness of His work in many, both convinced and truly converted in a few days; 3) the depth of it in most of these, changing the heart as well as the whole conversation; 4) the clearness of it, enabling them boldly to say, "Thou hast loved me; Thou hast given Thyself for me"; 5) the continuance of it.

Tuesday, 24 (London).--Observing in that valuable book, Mr. Gillies' Historical Collections, the custom of Christian congregations in all ages to set apart seasons of solemn thanksgivings, I was amazed and ashamed that we had never done this, after all the blessings we had received; and many to whom I mentioned it gladly agreed to set apart a day for that purpose.

 

"This Is No Mazed Man"

Sunday, August 31.--At five I preached in Gwennap to several thousands, but not one of them light or inattentive.  After I had done, the storm arose and the rain poured down till about four in the morning; then the sky cleared, and many of them that feared God gladly assembled before Him.

Monday, September 1.--I preached at Penryn, to abundantly more than the house could contain.

Tuesday, 2.--We went to Falmouth.  The town is not now what it was ten years since; all is quiet from one end to the other.  I had thoughts of preaching on the hill near the church; but the violent wind made it impracticable, so I was obliged to stay in our own room.  The people could hear in the yard likewise and the adjoining houses; and all were deeply attentive.

Wednesday, September 3.--After preaching again to a congregation who now appeared ready to devour every word, I walked up to Pendennis castle, finely situated on the high point of land which runs out between the bay and the harbor and commanding both.  It might easily be made exceedingly strong; but our wooden castles are sufficient.

In the afternoon we rode to Helstone, once turbulent enough, but now quiet as Penryn.  I preached at six, on a rising ground about a musket-shot from the town.  Two drunken men strove to interrupt, but one soon walked away, and the other leaned on his horse's neck and fell fast asleep.

About noon, Friday, 5, I called on W. Row, in Breage, in my way to Newlyn.  "Twelve years ago," he said, "I was going over Gulval Downs and I saw many people together.  I asked what was the matter, and they told me a man was going to preach.  I said, 'Nay, this is no mazed man.'  You preached on God's raising the dry bones, and from that time I could never rest till God was pleased to breathe on me and raise my dead soul."


1 Correct to the text.

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CCEL
This document is from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library
at Calvin College. Last updated on March 22, 2000.
Contacting the CCEL.
Calvin College