Gather to me my consecrated ones Psalm 50:5

• DAY 10 MORNING PSALM 50-52

• DAY 10 EVENING PSALM 53-55

In December 1738 John Wesley heard that George Whitfield had returned from America. These two friends who had both been part of the Holy Club in Oxford were reunited on December 12. A spiritual revival had already begun in England through Whitfield, but he was Wesley’s junior and Whitfield remained a little in awe of the Oxford don. The two men rejoiced that in London there seemed (as Whitfield said) ‘to be a great pouring out of the Spirit, and many who were awakened by my preaching a year ago are now grown strong men in Christ, by the ministrations of my dear friends and fellow-labourers John and Charles Wesley.’ George Whitfield and John Wesley ‘spent many hours together, praying and singing and discussing in an upper room at the home of Mrs West and her husband Joseph, a weaver of Spitalfields, or in Whitfield’s lodgings.’ On the last day of the year, Sunday December 31st Wesley spoke to a large congregation at Whitechapel and George Whitfield despite a heavy cold preached at Spitalfields.

Wesley describes what happened when both he and Charles Wesley and George Whitfield gathered together on Monday 1 January 1739. “Mr Hall, Kinchin, Ingham, Whitfield Hutchins, and my brother Charles were present at our love-feast in Fetter-Lane with about 60 of our brethren. About three in the morning, as we were continuing instant in prayer, the power of God came mightily upon us, insomuch that many cried out for exceeding joy and many fell to the ground. As soon as we were recovered a little from that awe and amazement at the presence of his Majesty we broke out with one voice, “We praise thee; O God; we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.”

If 24 May 1738 was the day at Aldersgate when Wesley was born again by the spirit of God, then 1 January 1739 certainly seemed to be something very similar to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. This seems to have been a time of separation unto the Lord for those God was just about to use in the Methodist awakening that was about to break out across England and North America. John Wesley and George Whitfield had still not ventured to preach outdoors. The Lord was gathering his consecrated ones and he poured out his spirit on them in power. As the brethren dwelt in unity the Lord commanded a powerful blessing.

• Lord, gather together your consecrated ones, for another outpouring of your spirit. We long to see this country turn back to you. Pour out your spirit again as you did at Fetter Lane. We pray for the servants you are preparing. Send your fire down on those altars, Lord. Ignite them with a fresh baptism in your Holy Spirit. Fan the flames of your Gospel. By your grace let that candle never go out, let it burn brightly up and down our land ONCE AGAIN !

REFERENCES

Skevington-Wood, A. The burning heart John Wesley: Evangelist,Cliff College Publishing,

Pollock, J. The preacher, Kingsway, 108-109

Wesley, J. Journal , Vol 1, 170.