To shew the condition of most of the poor of the Common at this time, as to their habitations, clothing, &c., I must state that, such was their extreme filthiness, that the parties who were employed to ascertain their spiritual wants, could never venture to sit down there on any account, or stay with them a moment longer than was absolutely necessary.] Warminster Common of course, had a very large share of this scarcity of the word of God, amongst them; and the said committee began as possible to supply this enormous lack. The first and most difficult question which arose was, that, as they (the poor there) had never expressed a desire to obtain the scriptures, whether, in their ignorant and depraved state, so long and so deeply fixed, they would or would not, under any circumstances, receive them at all. This doubt was met in the following way it was agreed that the first essay should be made in a way of entire charity; I mean that the scriptures should be given to those who would accept them. No sooner was the experiment tried, but it succeeded to the full: many of the most numerous and most necessitous families were thus supplied; but the stock was soon exhausted, and we found, to our unspeakable joy, that the copies distributed instantly gave a laudable desire for more. All the sunday schools also, at this time received a new impulse, and religious education advanced. Before the next anniversary of the Bible Society was held, very many applications were made for the scriptures, which it appeared impossible to supply from the then funds of the said society: it was therefore resolved, that in future a charge of two shillings and sixpence should be made for a large bible. soon as this was announced, in a few weeks all the bibles in hand were sold. By the next anniversary we were almost overwhelmed by the applications for more, we then raised the price to five shillings each, and strange to tell, at this advanced price, the new supply was also rapidly disposed of, and more wanted; - As indeed, the committee almost despaired of ever fully supplying their urgent wants. The consequence was, they now advanced the price to eight shillings, and at that price, more were actually sold than all the previous copies put together: this high price was obtained in the following way,-one day, a poor woman in the street, addressed one of the committee thus, "Why do you not take a penny a week of the poor, we can easily find that sum, and then in the course of time we should get a bible." This wise suggestion, so seasonably offered, soon gave rise to a Bible Association. FIRST CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE MEETING, DIARY, 1815.-"Resolved, that I would more than ever obey his blessed call, whereinsoever I could more advance his glory. It was impressed on my mind that more good might be done at the Common; that there were persons who attended the preaching there, greatly concerned for the salvation of their souls, who wanted further advice and encouragement: that the best mode of communicating that help was, the one which had always so much profited myself, namely, religious conversations, or christian experience meetings. After weighing these impressions on my mind much, and carrying them before the Lord repeatedly, to know his will herein, I solemnly promised that if he would be my helper, and stand by me at all times, and not suffer any one successfully to oppose me; and that he would, moreover, soon give me a sign of his approbation, and make it appear that I had not done this thing of my own mind, but in strict obedience to his blessed call;-I would forthwith begin." 66 1815. August 13.-On Sunday afternoon I made my first essay, in the following manner. I requested the members of the society who were present, as well as any serious members of the congregation, to remain back for a little time after the others were dismissed: I then began to relate my christian experience, and the unspeakable advantages attending true christian communion. I stated how perfectly consistent it was with the word of God, for those who feared the Lord to "speak often one to another." I then requested any of the friends present to do as I had done, and advance any thing on the subject, which they thought might be for the glory of God. Immediately my call was gladly responded to, and nine or ten of them, with great freedom of speech and humble boldness, declared what great things God had done for their souls. I shall never forget my joy in the Lord on this occasion, and I trust that I shall ever love those friends who then so promptly came forward. They had their reward: in attempting to water others, they were watered themselves.' [The principal ones were James Gunning, Elizabeth Brown, Esther Grist, and Elizabeth Gaisford. These were always my unwavering friends, faithful in all tribulation, and joint promoters of all the good achieved. Their names, I trust, are in the Lamb's book of life, never to be blotted out. Elizabeth Gaisford died in 1847, in the Lord: the others are still living (1850). As they have long steadily fed the flock of God which is among them, I trust, that in due time," when the chief Shepherd shall appear," they, with all others since alike engaged in the same blessed work, will receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.] "Many of the strangers present were much affected, they shed many tears, and could not express the gratitude they felt for the opportunity. Seeing the prosperity of our new undertaking, we were resolved to try it again. The Sunday following equal success attended us; several persons were encouraged by hearing our experience, and at once resolved to seek the salvation of their souls. Finding at every subsequent meeting, that more or less good was done, the friends were determined to go forward, whatever objections or opposition might be raised. We had abundant reason to be thankful, that we had not the least opposition from what is called "the world" on this occasion. The drunkards made no songs about us; neither did any of satan's open, avowed, servants, in any way molest us. But did we not find opposition from any other quarter? Did none of the professors wait for our halting? Did none of them suggest a division, a division-a party, a party-the work of the devil to make discord-begun in opposition to the chapel in the town-done in a bad spirit-contrary to rule-irregular proceedings, &c.!" O ye poor, despised, and helpless followers of the Lord at Warminster Common, I mournfully ask, did no preacher on this occasion molest you? did a travelling Wesleyan preacher ever do it? When you were evidently "casting out devils in HIS NAME!" did he say, go forward, we bless you in the name of the Lord do all you can to gather souls for Christ? Did the said preacher then thankfully receive into the society, those precious souls, whom you by the most disinterested love and exertion, had rescued from the ruins of mankind? When the devil and luke-warm professors suggested, can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" did he come and see? Did he visit the poor of God's people at the Common once, for a whole year, though the chapel was distant but little more than half a mile from his habitation, and a congregation of at least one hundred and fifty people always attended it? Surely, one would think it impossible that any holy unction could ever attend his preaching! 'O," said he, said he, "the chapel is cold and damp, and the people are poor, they pay nothing for the preaching !" It was this Jeroboam that, on hearing the prophet cry out against him, (chiefly for so doing), put forth his hand saying, "Lay hold of him :" immediately his hand withered, and he could not pull it in again, (April 1816.) It remained in this state till he left the circuit. Moreover, there is 66 66 a sad record in the Magazine, of what followed him afterwards;-"Death of three children in a month, a few years after of a fourth-sudden and fatal illness of his wife-paralysis himself, which totally incapacitated him for all labour, and remained incurable for nine years; then, the entire loss of speech for several years, and finally, death at fifty-five.' FIRST TEA MEETING. EXTRACT from a Diary.-" 1815, December 13th. I invited those poor persons at Warminster Common who had attended, and those also who had assisted me, at the aforesaid christian experience meeting, to drink tea together. We met at a cottage situate in the street leading from the Bell Inn hill towards the workhouse, (now called Chapel-street, only a few yards from the spot on which the chapel has since been erected): we had some fears of opposition at the time, but there was none. At this friendly meeting we had our blessed Lord present; He was known by us, by our hearts burning within us, in fervent additional love to him and to one another. There were twenty-eight of us: we related what God had done for each of our souls, with great simplicity and with much liberty; and so united were we in affection, that I believe we could all adopt the language of the hymn made on primitive christianity, and sing 66 Happy the souls that first believed, Joined by the unction from above, In mystic fellowship of love. Meek, simple, followers of the Lamb, They lived and thought and spake the same; They joyfully conspired to raise Their ceaseless sacrifice of praise." |