May 10. 1753. He embarked at Dublin with some other friends, and the next day arrived at Park-gate. Concerning this voyage, and his arrival in England, he writes as follows. “There were on board several gentry, and officers, with a large number of cabbin passengers. They cursed, swore, and blasphemed as though they were in hell. I reproved them again and again; but they still persisted, and said I was mad. O God, if there never was any other damnation in the world to come, than the company of such wretches, who would not flee from it.”
London was the place where he was appointed chiefly to labour. He arrived there the 31st of May 1753, and preached his first sermon from 1 John ii. 1.
And now did he, more vigourously than ever, apply himself, both in public and in private, to the labour of his calling; resolving, in a place of such dangers, to make the best use of both. He found himself in the midst of a numerous and well instructed people, many of whom were deeply experienced in the things of God. This was to him matter of great joy, though at the same time of much carefulness, knowing, that in order to be truly profitable to them, a superficial acquaintance with things would but ill suffice. He therefore laboured to be a scribe well instructed; to be deeply and judiciously informed, in things pertaining to the kingdom of God. It was his daily and nightly study, how he might best contribute his part towards the feeding them with the sincere milk of the word, and the building them up in their most holy faith.
But neither did he here intermit his endeavours, for the salvation of his poor ignorant countrymen, (of whom great numbers, of the lower sort are constantly employed in London) still detained in that darkness, from which he had so happily escaped himself. He therefore appointed times for explaining to as many of them as would hear, the first principles of the doctrine of Christ; and preached several times in Irish, in Moor-fields, and elsewhere; endeavouring likewise, to have as many private interviews with them as he possibly could.
It was here he first formed to himself a more exact plan for the improvement of his time, with respect to his public and private capacity, as a preacher, and a christian, assigning determinate portions of it to certain employments, which unless when necessity required otherwise, he punctually observed. He preached constantly twice a day, and visited many people in their families; besides frequent attendance on the sick, and dying; from some of whom, he was rarely a day absent.
The abilities with which God had endowed him, and his faithful improvement of them, considerably encreased his work; for it seemed good to those, whom the divine wisdom had honoured, with the over sight, of a multitude of persons here, in their absence, to intrust him with that branch of their work. His exactness and submissive faithfulness therein, appeared in many and various particulars, of which a part only may be gathered from the following letter to the Rev. Mr. John Wesley.
“Honoured Sir,
“I Thank you for your letter. I longed exceedingly to hear from you.——Your account of the good woman in your Journal was refreshing to my soul. What I have to say is as follows,”
1. “Mr. Wesley is gone to Bristol. He met us on Monday mornings, and upon the whole, all was well. We parted much in love. 2. Mr. F—— goes on well. I converse with him when I can. 3. The Lord is powerfully carrying on his work. Sinners are alarmed, and saints edified. This day in visiting the sick, my soul was greatly comforted, by hearing of God’s dealings with their souls.
“On Monday I begin to change the tickets. God give me integrity, wisdom, meekness, and love. I think, considering these particulars, I cannot leave London yet. It seems providence keeps me here still.