Eager to the highways he went,
And fill’d the land with Jesu’s praise!”
This was about the latter end of August 1750, when going from the place of his nativity to Limerick, he had daily opportunity of publishing those glad tidings, which he first heard in that city, and which became the power of God to his salvation. At first, he commonly expounded the scriptures every morning: and after a little while, both evening and morning, with much earnestness exhorted and besought multitudes, who attended his discourses, to seek the Lord while he may be found.
And it pleased God immediately to bear testimony to the word of his grace by him. Several persons who heard him, and who, till then, had been careless and utterly unconcerned about the matter, became seriously concerned for their salvation; while in the mean time others, who had been deeply distressed with the guilt of sin, felt his word, the power of God unto salvation.
He was about this time called to bear reproach for his work’s sake. The minds of some persons became evil affected towards him. The interests of the God of this world, had already suffered loss by his zeal, and unwearied diligence, and they were in danger of suffering yet more. Satan therefore by every means endeavoured to prevent the fruit of his labours.
His unpolished youth; his roughness both of address and dialect, owing partly to natural temper, partly to having been brought up much in the country, and partly to his having been formerly of the church of Rome[¹]; but more than all, his being a native of that neighbourhood, gave some persons occasion for being deeply offended at him, who expressed it by their unkind, and uncivil treatment towards him. This I had from some of the persons themselves, a considerable time after, who mentioned it to their own reproach, that he, whom then they so loved and honoured was nevertheless, once the object of their scorn.
[¹] There is in some parts of Ireland a very remarkable difference between the dialect of the Protestants, and Romanists, even of the same county or parish. What is called the brogue, in its excess is a sort of Shibboleth for the latter; and among the younger sort of Protestants especially, a term of reproach. I remember it was a very common objection to him, when he preached first in the town of my nativity.
But as he sought not his own things, neither strove to please man, having in view only the glory of God, and the good of souls, this did not in the least damp his fervour, or retard his progress. As he saw daily the fruit of his labours, so he was not to be hindered, or discouraged by any treatment of himself; rather he rejoiced in contempt for his master’s sake.
He had put his hand to the plough (Luke ix. 62.) and having counted the cost, settled it in his heart not to look back. He waxed still stronger, and grew every day more mighty in the scriptures, and in conformity to our Lord, as well as more instrumental in bringing others acquainted with the only true God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ.
There are many instances of the good effects of these his first labours. It plainly appeared that the word of God in his mouth was attended with the power of the Holy Ghost. It was not an uncommon case, for persons to be so penetrated by his fervent discourses, as to resolve not to leave the place, till they should find rest in their souls, and the instances were not a few, to whom the God of love condescended even in this particular by sending then the Spirit of adoption into their hearts, testifying Thy sins are forgiven; and enabling them to cry Abba Father.