After his mother’s death John Wesley again began his travels between London and Bristol, and in the autumn went for the second time to Newcastle, where Charles had been preaching for some weeks. “Here,” John says, “I met the wild, staring, loving society,” for by this time those who had been awakened through the Methodist preaching in Newcastle had been formed into what Wesley called a “society.” This plan he and Charles, and, indeed, the Methodists in general, seemed to think always needful. John and Charles wrote a set of rules for the various societies in different towns. All these societies formed together what Wesley called “The United Society.” He describes a society as “a company of men, having the form and seeking the power of godliness, united in order to pray together, to receive the word of exhortation, and to watch over one another in love, that they may help each other to work out their own salvation.” Each society was to be divided into classes, and each class was to have a leader, who was to meet them all once a week.
It seems very strange in looking through these rules to find that not a word is said in them about the belief of those who were thus formed into societies. “The only condition” was that they should have “a desire to flee from the wrath to come, and be saved from their sins.” This at least would be a proof that they believed there is a wrath to come, and a way to be saved; but further than this nothing is said about their belief, though they were required to obey the strictest rules as to practice. We know from Scripture that a right practice can only grow out of a right belief. But John Wesley was very slow in getting rid of his old habit of making plans and rules, and of his old thoughts of sticking the fruit upon the tree, instead of looking for the fruit to grow out of it.
The rules for practice in the societies were such as no unsaved sinner, such as these professedly were, could observe for ten minutes together. For example, they were to “avoid doing anything which they knew was not for the glory of God.” If it were found that they failed to obey the rules, they were, after reproof, to be put out of the society.
The societies were, therefore, to be formed not of persons believing certain truths, but of persons who had undertaken to obey certain rules in their practice. You may say that, as a tree is known by its fruits, this would be the best way of finding out and gathering together those who were really believers. But we are apt to forget that to confess with our mouths the Lord Jesus—that is, confess our belief in Him—is the first fruit God looks for. And as regards the plan of forming “societies,” men are apt to forget that God has already formed His believing people into one great society, which is made up of all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. He does not need that men should form even believing Christians into societies, and make rules for them, because He has joined all His people into One Body, and Himself made the rules they are to obey. We may be sure He has made all the rules which He knew to be needful. These rules we find in the Bible, especially in the New Testament. This great society, formed by God, is called the Church of the living God. Christ is the Head, and all believers are members of that One Body. God has thus joined together His people by the Holy Ghost, as we read in 1 Corinthians 12:1313For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13), “By one Spirit are we all baptized into one body.”
The first question, therefore, is, “What do we believe?” It is needful this should come first, because it is no use to talk of practice to those who have not yet believed in Jesus and received the new life from which the practice comes. We might as well talk about practice to the dead people in the churchyards. What a blessed thing would it be, if all the Lord’s believing people in any place did indeed own and feel that they are members of the One Body of Christ, and, therefore, without having to be directed by rules made by men, they were to see that God desires them to encourage one another; to “edify” one another; “to warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak: be patient toward all.” Be sure, if we are indeed Christians, we do not stand alone, and are bound to observe the rules of the great society in which God has placed us, and to act as “members one of another,” without having any further orders to do so than those which we find in God’s blessed word.
Having made arrangements for building a room in Newcastle for the “society” to meet in, Wesley returned into Yorkshire in December, and about the end of December again went towards Lincolnshire, reaching Epworth on the first day of the year 1743. During the past December he had constantly preached in the open air, in wind, rain, and snow, yet the people stood to listen, and as yet in the North of England he had met with but little opposition. At Epworth he fared the worst, for on this, his second visit, Mr. Romley not only refused to let him preach in the church, but even to let him come to the Lord’s Supper, saying “he was not fit.” Wesley says this was at least a “fit” place for him to be thus treated as an outcast, for it was here he had so long in former days “lived a Pharisee:” that is, during the two years when he was his father’s curate. For some months he went over the northern counties; again to Newcastle and Epworth; and in the spring south again to Bristol, and for six days into Wales; then, in June, north to Newcastle again, and in July back to London.
The gospel had now been preached in most towns and villages of the North, not only by John and Charles, but by John Nelson, and for a short time back by a good man, of whom you have not yet heard, Mr. Grimshaw, who, in the year 1742, became the clergyman of Haworth, a wild, desolate place on the Yorkshire Moors. Mr. Grimshaw had himself found forgiveness and peace but a little while before. He now heard of the Methodist preachers, and was glad to ask the help of John Nelson, and of others, in making the gospel known round Haworth.
John Nelson seems to have become by this time a great preacher, and he lost no opportunity of speaking to any he met in his travels about the country. He had a plain, simple way of speaking, which often seems to have been blessed by God to the salvation of sinners; but on the whole he had to suffer a good deal from the rough treatment of the North country mobs, who pelted him with eggs, potatoes, and stones on various occasions, which he seems not to have minded, except that he got his clothes spoiled more often than he liked, and it was not always very easy to get new ones. So it happened that when, in the summer of 1743, he got a message from John Wesley, who was then in London, asking him to come south, Martha Nelson declared that her John was not fit to be seen anywhere, and his going was out of the question in such clothes as he had. “Martha,” said John, “I have worn them out in the Lord’s work, and He will not let me want long.” And true it was, that only two days after a tradesman in the town came, bringing a present for John of a piece of blue cloth for a coat, and a piece of black cloth for a waistcoat and trousers. This man was not a Methodist, and did not know of John’s desire to go to Mr. Wesley.
In a few days the new clothes were ready, and John arrived in London in August, where he found Mr. Wesley on the point of starting on quite a new expedition. He was now going for the first time to preach in Cornwall, and wanted to have John Nelson’s company. It was not, however, the first time Methodist preaching had been heard in Cornwall, for Charles Wesley had gone there in May, and stayed some time. On the way John Wesley, and John Nelson, too, preached in various places, and stayed a few days at Bristol.
From Bristol a party of four started for Cornwall—John Wesley, Mr. Shepherd, Mr. Downs, and John Nelson. Mr. Downs and Nelson had but one horse between them, so they walked by turns, and had to set out every morning earlier than their companions, who had a horse a-piece. As they proceeded further into the wild Cornish country various difficulties arose, chiefly that of getting food, and it was a long way from one inn to another, so that one day, having journeyed twenty miles, they found they were still twelve miles from the nearest inn. “We must look to the Lord,” said John, “and He will send us something. Let us go to that house with the stone porch, and ask if we can buy some food there.” The woman of the stone porch said she had bread, butter and milk, and hay for the horse, for which she did not want any payment, but John insisted on giving a shilling. Beds, too, were as scarce as food; for several weeks John Wesley and Nelson slept on the floor. Mr. Wesley had Nelson’s great-coat for his pillow, and Nelson had a somewhat hard one—a great book, called “Burkitt’s Notes on the New Testament.” “Brother Nelson,” said Mr. Wesley when he woke one morning, “let us be of good cheer: I have one whole side yet, for the skin is off but on one side.”
John Wesley found it a happier thing to sleep on the floor for Christ’s sake than when in his old Savannah days he had done it, hoping thereby to gain salvation. It was hungry work to preach over the Cornish moors without eating. “One evening,” says Nelson, “Mr. Wesley stopped his horse to pick the blackberries, saying, Brother Nelson, we ought to be thankful that blackberries are plentiful, for this is the best country I ever saw for getting an appetite, but the worst that ever I saw for getting food.’“ Nelson, however, had fared better that day, for a kind woman at St. Just had given him a feast of barley bread and honey. But it was worthwhile to undergo these little hardships, for the Cornish men and women came by hundreds and thousands to hear the blessed tidings, and many believed and were saved. Towards the end of September, three of the preachers returned to Bristol, John Nelson following a fortnight later; and from thence Nelson went home to Yorkshire, preaching as he went. As he no doubt walked most of the way, he had many opportunities on so long a journey, not only of preaching, but of speaking to those he met with on the road. He continued to travel about the northern countries after paying a short visit to his home, and had many adventures and some risks of his life, but much to encourage him in the conversion even of those who began by ill-treating him. He tells us, amongst other conversations, he met a gentleman on the road one day, who said “I know you, for I have heard you preach, but I do not like you, you lay a wrong foundation for salvation. Do you think that the blood of another man will save me?” To this John replied, “Other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus. But if you say that is the wrong one, on what terms do you expect to be saved?” “By good works,” said the gentleman. John answered, “You will be the first that got to heaven that way. But what will you do when you get there?”
This it would seem the gentleman had not considered, for he only said, “Why, what do others do there?” John answered, “They sing ‘Glory to God that sitteth on the throne, and to the Lamb forever and ever that was slain, and hath redeemed us by His blood.’ But your song will be, ‘Glory be to myself, for I have qualified myself for heaven!’ Oh, sir, your song will make discord in heaven!” The gentleman turned pale, and said nothing for a time, till he thought of a text to quote. It was this: “What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” “Do you expect to stand or fall by that scripture?” inquired John. “I do,” said the gentleman. “Then,” said John, “you are lost forever. I appeal to your conscience, if you have not come short in every one of these duties. Have you dealt with every man as you would have him do to you in all circumstances? Suppose you have, have you dealt justly with God, and only employed, therefore, everything you have solely for His glory? Have you not robbed God?” And so John continued to describe what perfect devotedness to God would be, till the gentleman put in a word, “But, then, there is repentance.” “But not for you,” said John, “for you are to be saved for doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God. If you fail in this you must be damned.” “Lord have mercy upon me!” said the poor man; “what you say is enough to drive anyone to despair.” “Yes,” replied John, “it is well for a man to despair of saving himself that he may be driven to Jesus to be saved by Him.” The gentleman had no more to say, but he now listened patiently, and at last took a kind leave of John. We will hope they may meet again at the glorious day when the Lord will gather His saints to Himself.