LABORING UNDER DIFFICULTIES.
THE labors of Mr. Charles Wesley had been very extended and arduous during the early part of the year 1743, and, by the divine blessing, eminently successful. From the west of England he proceeded to the colliers of Staffordshire, who had before been visited, and found that the society of Wednesbury had increased to more than three hundred, of whose religious state he speaks, in his journal, with strong feelings of joy. At Walsall he preached on the market-house steps. “The street was full of fierce Ephesian beasts (the principal man setting them on), who roared and shouted, and threw stones incessantly. At the conclusion a stream of ruffians was suffered to beat me down from the steps. I rose, and, having given the blessing, was beat down again; and so a third time. When we had returned thanks to the God of our salvation, I then from the steps bade them depart in peace, and walked through the thickest of the rioters. They reviled us, but had no commission to touch a hair of our head.” He then proceeded to Birmingham, Nottingham, and then to Sheffield. Here the infant society was as “flock among wolves; the minister having so stirred up the people that they were ready to tear the Methodists in pieces. At six o’clock I went to the society house, next door to our Brother Bennet’s. Hell from beneath was moved to oppose us. As soon as I was in the desk, with David Taylor, the floods began to lift up their voice. An officer in the army contradicted and blasphemed. I took no notice of him but sang on. The stones flew thick, striking the desk and the people. To save them, and the house from being pulled down, I gave out that I should preach in the street, and look them in the face. The whole army of the aliens followed me. The captain laid hold on me, and began rioting; I gave him, for answer, ‘A Word in Season, or Advice to a Soldier.’ I then prayed, particularly for his majesty King George, and ‘preached the gospel with much contention.’ The stones often struck me in the face. I prayed for sinners, as servants of their master, the devil, upon which the captain ran at me with great fury, threatening revenge for abusing, as he called it, ‘the king, his master.’ He forced his way through the brethren, drew his sword, and presented it to my breast. I immediately opened my breast, and fixed my eyes on his, and, smiling in his face, calmly said, ‘I fear God, and honor the king.’ His countenance fell in a moment; he fetched a deep sigh, and, putting up his sword, quietly left the place. He had said to one of the company, who afterward informed me, ‘You shall see if I do but hold my sword to his breast, he will faint away.’ So, perhaps, I should had I only his principles to trust to; but if at that time I was not afraid, no thanks to my natural courage. We returned to our Brother Bennet’s, and gave ourselves up to prayer. The rioters followed, and exceeded in outrage all I have seen before. Those at Moorfields, Cardiff, and Walsall were lambs to these. As there is no ‘king in Israel,’ I mean no magistrate in Sheffield, every man doeth as seemeth good in his own eyes.” The mob now formed the design of pulling down the society house, and set upon their work, while Mr. Charles Wesley and the people were praying and praising God within. “It was a glorious time,” says he, “with us; every word of exhortation sunk deep, every prayer was sealed, and many found the Spirit of glory resting upon them.” The next day the house was completely pulled down, not one stone being left upon another. He then preached again in the street, somewhat more quietly than before; but the rioters became very noisy in the evening, and threatened to pull down the house where he lodged. He went out to them and made a suitable exhortation, and they soon afterward separated, and peace was restored. At five the next morning he took leave of the society in these words, “Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”—Life of Wesley.