DAY18

MORNING

PSALMS 90–92

Psalm 92:4 “For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord.”

White Furrows Down Tear-stained Faces

Charles Wesley was a songwriter,
but he was also a powerful preacher of the gospel. He preached energetically and the gospel burned like a fire in his heart as both he and his brother enthusiastically proclaimed the Good News in open-air services throughout the land.131 Of all 
the places where the power of the Gospel transformed lives, the most striking effect was demonstrated at the colliery in Kingswood.
In Bristol, as thousands of miners listened
to the message of Christ’s redeeming love preached by John Wesley, tears of penitence and gratitude made white furrows down their coal-stained faces.

John Wesley described the change which took place in their lives. “Kingswood does not now, as a year ago, resound with cursing and blasphemy. It is no more filled with drunkenness and uncleanness, and the idle diversions that naturally lead thereto. It is no longer full of wars and fightings, of clamour and bitterness, of wrath and envyings.
Peace and love are there. Great numbers of
 the people are mild, gentle, and easy to be entreated. They ‘do not cry, neither strive,’ and hardly is their ‘voice heard in the streets,’ or, indeed, in their own wood; unless when they are at their usual evening diversion, singing praise unto God their saviour.”132 One hymn that was written by Charles Wesley especially for these Kingswood colliers clearly illustrates this transforming experience which was theirs in Christ:

“Thou only, Lord, the work hast done, And bated Thine arm in all our sight; hast made the reprobates Thine own, And claimed the outcasts as Thy right.”133

Prayer

You have made us glad by all you have done powerfully on our behalf, Lord, rescuing us out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. Just as you stirred those Kingswood colliers over 250 years ago, stir us again. As white furrows streamed down coal-stained faces let tears of penitence and gratitude flow again. Transform our streets from places of drunkenness and uncleanness into places of praise and thankfulness to you, ONCE AGAIN. Open up the wells of salvation we pray, O Lord.

131http://churchsociety.org/issues_new/history/wesleychas/iss_history_wesleychas_Colquhoun-evangelist.asp

132Wesley, J. Journal, November 27, 1739 , Vol 1, 251.


133 The Hymn Book of the Modern Church, 194.

DAY 18

EVENING

PSALMS 93–94

Psalm 94:16 “Who will take a stand for me?”

”Is Not Your Name Nash?”

Well-known rich gentleman, Mr Nash, who lived in the city of bath was strongly opposed to John wesley. In June 1739 the two of them met and had a short conversation, which Wesley relates in his Journal:134

Tuesday 5 June 1739

There was great expectation at Bath of what 
a noted man was to do to me there; and I was much entreated not to preach because no one knew what might happen. By this report I also gained a much larger audience, among whom were many of the rich and great. I told them plainly the Scripture had concluded them all under sin — high and low, rich and poor, one with another. Many of them seemed to be a little surprised and were sinking apace into seriousness, when their champion appeared and, coming close to me, asked by what authority I did these things. I replied, “By the authority of Jesus Christ, conveyed to me by the (now) Archbishop of Canterbury, when he laid hands upon me and said, ‘Take thou authority
to preach the gospel.’” He said, “This is contrary to Act of Parliament: this is a conventicle.” I answered, “Sir, the conventicles mentioned in that Act (as the preamble shows) are seditious meetings; but this is not such; here is no shadow of sedition; therefore it is not contrary to that Act.” He replied, “I say it is: and beside, your preaching frightens people out of their wits.” “Sir, did you ever hear me preach?” “No.” “How, then, can you judge of what you never heard?” “Sir, by common report.” “Common report is not enough. Give me leave, Sir, to ask, is not your name Nash?” “My name is Nash.” “Sir, I dare not judge of you by common report: I think it not enough to judge by.” Here he paused awhile and, having recovered himself, said, “I desire to know what this people comes here for”: on which one replied, “Sir, leave him to me: let an old woman answer him. You, Mr. Nash, take care of your body; we take care of our souls; and for the food of our souls we come here.” He replied not a word, but walked away.

Prayer

Our food is to do your will and to finish your work. Help us, Lord, to put shoulder to the plough and not to look back, to cleave to and yield to your purposes. Show us how and when to take a stand against opposition to the preaching of your Gospel and give us the grace to preach your word in and out of season and to put it into practice in our lives, diligently and devotedly.

134 Wesley, J. Journal, June 5, 1739 ,Vol 1,198.