The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 12 (of 32)Wesley, John
Religion
The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 12 (of 32)
Wesley, John
Methodist Church; Theology -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- 18th century
In the evening I catechised in my usual method. Towards the close of
my discourse, a surprising power seemed to attend the word. One man
considerably in years, who had been a remarkable drunkard, a conjurer
and murderer, that was awakened some months before, was now brought
to great extremity, so that he trembled for hours together, and
apprehended himself just dropping into hell, without any power to
rescue or relieve himself.――Divers others appeared under great concern
as well as he, and solicitous to obtain a saving change.
[Monday, February 10. He set out on a journey to the Forks of Delaware,
to visit the Indians there. He performed the journey under great
weakness, and sometimes was exercised with much pain. He arrived at
his own house at the Forks, on Friday.]
I baptized three persons, two adults, and one child. There was a
considerable melting in the assembly, while I was administering the
ordinance.
God has been pleased to own and bless the administration of _this_, as
well as of his other _ordinances_, among the Indians. There are some
here that have been powerfully awakened at seeing others baptized: And
some have obtained relief and comfort, just when this ordinance has
been administered.
Toward night I catechised, God made this a powerful season. There were
many affected.――――Former convictions were powerfully revived. There
was likewise one, who had been a vile drunkard, remarkably awakened.
He appeared to be in great anguish of soul, wept and trembled, and
continued so to do till near midnight.――――There was also a poor _heavy
laden_ soul, who had been long under distress, that was now brought
to a comfortable _calm_, and told me, “She now saw and felt it was
right God should do with her as he pleased.” And added, that the _heavy
burden_ she had lain under, was now removed: that she felt she never
could do any thing to save herself, but must perish for ever if Christ
did not _do all_ for her. But Christ could save her, though she could
_do nothing_ to save herself.
Lord’s-day, February 16. Knowing that divers of the Indians in those
parts were obstinately set against Christianity, I thought it proper to
have some of my people from Crosweeksung with me, in order to converse
with them; hoping it might convince them of the truth, to hear some of
their own nation discoursing of divine things and manifesting earnest
desires that others might be brought out of Heathenish darkness, as
themselves were.
And having taken _half a dozen_ of the most knowing persons, I this day
met with them and the Indians of this place, (sundry of whom could not
have been prevailed upon to attend the meeting, had it not been for
these Indians) and preached to them.――Some of them who had, in times
past, been extremely averse to Christianity, now behaved soberly; the
word of God fell with such weight, that several seemed to be stunned,
and expressed a willingness to “hear me again of these matters.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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