DAY 10

MORNING

PSALMS 50–52

Psalm 50:5 “Gather to me my consecrated ones.”

The Methodist Pentecost

In December 1738 the news that George Whitefield had returned from America reached Wesley. These friends who had both been part of the Holy Club in Oxford met together on 12 December. Whitefield had been the main instrument the Lord had begun to use in a spiritual revival in England. However, Whitefield was Wesley’s junior and he was still in awe of him.95 It was a wonderful reunion and they were overjoyed that in London there seemed (as Whitefield 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.”

In an upper room belonging to Mrs West they spent much time together praying and singing and discussing. On 31 December Wesley preached to a large congregation at Whitechapel and George Whitefield preached at Spitalfields. Wesley describes what happened when he and Charles Wesley and George Whitefield gathered together on Monday 1 January 1739. “Mr Hall, Kinchin, Ingham, Whitefield 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.’”96

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 to use in the Methodist awakening that was about to break out across England and North America. John Wesley 
and George Whitefield 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.

Prayer

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!

95 Pollock, J. The preacher, 108–109.

96 Wesley, J. Journal, Vol 1, 170.

DAY 10

EVENING

PSALMS 53–55

Psalm 53:2 “God looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.”

A Desperate Place

In 1738 in the time of the evangelical awakening, immorality and indecency
 was everywhere. One historian
 said that Britain was one large casino. Gambling dominated and violence filled the streets. Every sixth house was a pub. In a contemporary satire,97 George Crabbe, a poet,98 described the effects of drunkenness on every class of society. He refers to the “staggering peer”, the “humble pensioner”, the “slow- tongued bishop”, the “easy chaplain” and the “convivial vicar”.

One historian says, “a religious languor fell over England”.99 Vibrant Christianity was hardly seen. “Some of the population continued to perform what the philosopher, Immanuel Kant called the court-duties 
of religion, but comparatively few had experienced the glowing reality of personal communion with Christ.”100 Rationalism was strong and revelation was given no place; the clergy were ineffective as a result.101 Vital Christianity had been side-lined.

This was the context that John Wesley found himself in 1739 as he travelled around churches engaging in itinerant evangelism. Another historian says “Wesley did not waste his time deploring the evils of his day, he attacked them; and he attacked them by preaching repentance and conversion. He knew that the only hope of the corrupt heart was a new birth.”102

Prayer

Lord, we pray that as you look down from heaven you would have mercy on us in England today. We are in a desperate place. We pray that salvation would come to our nation again in our day. Give us the courage to preach repentance and conversion in our day. Open the eyes of those who do not know, those who do not understand. Give us the perseverance and tenacity to call out to you, to seek your face until your salvation comes. Listen to our prayer, O God, do not ignore our plea, hear us and answer us. Lord, have mercy on us, today.

97 Skevington-Wood, The burning heart,10.


98 Crabbe, G. The poetical works of George Crabbe ed A.J. and R.M. Carlyle(1908) Inebriety 3,4.

99 Lecky, W.E.H. A history of England in the eighteenth Century, Vol 1.,479, 481. 
100 Skevington-Wood,12.


101 Skevington-Wood,15.


102 Pyke, R. John Wesley Came This Way, 19