DAY 19

MORNING

PSALMS 95–97

Psalm 97:10 “He guards the lives of his faithful ones.”

Like Lambs Among Wolves

John Wesley often faced persecution. In 1743, the vicar of Eggington, the curate at Darlaston and the vicar of Walsall spread word among the people that cockfighting, bullbaiting and prize-fights were in danger because of the preaching of the Methodists. As a result Methodists had windows broken and houses, shops and workshops ransacked.125 When Wesley returned to this area and was staying in Wednesbury in Birmingham in October 1743, a mob surrounded the house where he was staying. Wesley could hear the cry, “Bring out the minister. We’ll have the minister.”136 Wesley managed to slip out the back door, but while this mob had calmed down, another mob roared out of Walsall. The determined mob was led by honest Munchin, the prize-fighter, and Wesley found himself cornered in front of a door at the edge of the town.

Wesley stood at the door and asked, Are you willing to hear me speak? Many cried out “No, no knock his brains out; down with him, kill him at once.” Wesley’s strength and his voice returned. He raised his voice and prayed to the Lord, and then the prize-fighter turned to him. “Sir I will spend my life for you; follow me and not one soul shall touch a hair of your head.”137 Some other members of the mob did likewise, following their leader, but although the mob went away, it returned later crying out yet again, that it wanted to kill him. There was one man who had been escorting Wesley whose arm was broken.

The curate of Darlaston sent a message of apology the very next day, when he heard of the courage of Wesley when faced with the mob. When Charles met John in Nottingham shortly afterwards, he wrote ‘“My brother came ... delivered out of the mouth of the lion. He looked like a soldier of Christ. His clothes were torn to tatters.”

Charles Wesley went immediately to Wednesbury (as they had planned) and the young man with the broken arm and the prize-fighter were received into the Methodist society as probationary members ... honest Munchin became a pillar of the Methodists of Wednesbury and Walsall, until his death 46 years later aged 86.138

Prayer

We pray for the raising up of an army of soldiers of Christ, willing to face opposition
for your sake, Lord, and to preach the Gospel regardless of the cost. You send us out 
like lambs among wolves, but you are the Good Shepherd who leads us in paths of righteousness. Give us that peace that the world cannot give, that boldness and courage to share and live out our faith, meekly and humbly even in the face of arrogant hostility. Help us to live more Christlike lives, Lord, and give us a deeper trust in you that you truly do guard the lives of your faithful ones.

135 Pollock, J. Wesley: The Preacher, Kingsway, 176

136 Wesley, J. Journal, October 20, 1743, Vol 2,436.

137Wesley, J. Journal, October 20, 1743, Vol 2,436.

138 Pollock, J. Wesley: The Preacher, 181.

DAY 19

EVENING

PSALMS 98–101

Psalm 100:1 “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.”

Newcastle upon Tyne

The coal-miners of Newcastle upon Tyne, in the far north-east of England, were illiterate, rough and godless. On 27 May 1742 Wesley arrived in Newcastle and was surprised at “so much drunkenness, cursing and swearing (even from the mouths of little children)”.139 Wesley wrote: About seven o’clock I walked down to Sandgate, the poorest and most contemptible part of the town, and standing at the end of the street
with John Taylor, began to sing Psalm 100. Three or four people came out to see what was the matter, who soon increased to four or five hundred ... I applied those words ... He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed ... Observing the people when I had done, to stand gaping and staring upon me, with the most profound astonishment, I told them, “If you desire to know who I am, my name is John Wesley. At five in the evening, with God’s help, I design to preach here again.” At five the hill on which I designed to preach was covered, from the top to the bottom. I never saw so large a number of people together, either at Moorfields, or at Kennington Common. I knew it was not possible for the one half to hear, although my voice was then strong and clear; and I stood so as to have all in view, as they were ranged on the side of a hill ... After preaching, the poor people were ready to tread me underfoot, out of pure love and kindness. It was some time before I could possibly get out of the press. I then went back another way than I came; but several were got to our inn before me; by whom I was vehemently opportuned to stay with them, at least a few days or however, one day more. But I could not consent having given my word to be at Birstall, with God’s leave, on Tuesday night.140

Prayer

Lord, we pray that just as the Good News was preached to the poor in Newcastle in 1742 and the poor were ready to tread Wesley underfoot out of pure love and kindness, we pray for a hunger and thirst for the Good News in our land once again. There is deep need, there are deep unmet longings in the poor and impoverished in our land today. Let the thirsty come and drink, let them come and drink from the waters of life, let them come and be satisfied we pray.

139 Wesley, J. Journal, May 27, 1742,Vol 1,373.


140 Wesley, J. Journal, May 30, 1742,Vol 1,373–374.