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The Journal Of John Wesley by John Wesley

Beau Nash Argues with Wesley

Tuesday, June 5. -- 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.

As I returned, the street was full of people, hurrying to and from and speaking great words. But when any of them asked, |Which is he?| and I replied, |I am he,| they were immediately silent. Several ladies following me into Mr. Merchant's house, the servant told me there were some wanted to speak to me. I went to them and said, |I believe, ladies, the maid mistook: you wanted only to look at me.| I added, |I do not expect that the rich and great should want either to speak with me or to hear me; for I speak the plain truth -- a thing you hear little of and do not desire to hear.| A few more words passed between us, and I retired.

Monday, 1. -- I received a pressing letter from London (as I had several others before), to come thither as soon as possible, our brethren in Fetter Lane being in great confusion for want of my presence and advice. I therefore preached in the afternoon on these words: |I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God| [Acts 20: 26, 27]. After sermon I commended them to the grace of God, in whom they had believed. Surely God hath yea a work to do in this place. I have not found such love, no, not in England; nor so childlike, artless, teachable, a temper as He hath given to this people.

Yet during this whole time I had many thoughts concerning the unusual manner of my ministering among them. But after frequently laying it before the Lord and calmly weighing whatever objections I heard against it, I could not but adhere to what I had some time since written to a friend, who had freely spoken his sentiments concerning it. An extract of that letter I here subjoin that the matter may be placed in a clear light.

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