Chapter V

He goes to England and labours there.

THE enlargement of soul, with which it pleased God to bless him, left no bounds to his desires, of spreading the favour of the knowledge of Jesus, in every place: and his providential connexions, afforded him a large sphere of action. The people with whom he was more immediately united, and who were, according to the divine disposals, the instruments of his salvation, had now, through the blessing of heaven, spread the joyful sound, well nigh all over England, and Ireland. And hence arose a necessity for many labourers.

It was therefore judged expedient that, (having been successfully employed between two and three years in his native country) he should go to England likewise: to which only the conviction of its being the will of God, could have ♦reconciled him; feeling what was natural on the occasion, “A struggle within himself on leaving his friends and country.”

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.

“You have the prayers of your children. I don’t forget you. A son honoureth his father, and a father loveth his son. Let it be so till death, and the devil can get little advantage. Your preaching has been often, and exceedingly blest to my soul. My heart’s desire, and prayer to God is, that the Lord would make me partaker of his holiness.

“Dear Sir, I trust your soul will, in time, and in eternity, partake of that great salvation, you have preached in the name of the Lord. O may it please God, that we may meet full of holy and happy love! I feel my soul this moment strongly drawn after God; but there is yet something that keeps me out of perfect rest and liberty. Jesus, take my whole heart! Confound, overpower me with thy grace. Requesting your prayers and counsel, I remain,

“Your very affectionate son,

Thomas Walsh.”

London, April 30.

His advancement in divine knowledge, and in the divine life, while he remained here, became more and more visible. The fruit of his public ministry was likewise still more discernible; and the general tenor of his conduct was acceptable to the people. They had abundant evidence of his devotedness to God, and of his truly serving as a son in the gospel. He was generally blest to all kinds of hearers. His discourses were always of an awakening nature, entering into the very heart; and singularly calculated to assist, such as were ardently seeking after perfect love, (1 John iv. 17, 18.) and hereby, through the divine blessing, he became instrumental to such a revival of the work of God, as had not been known, as to its depth, from the first union of that society. Nor are there a few in London, who bless God that ever they heard his voice.

Thus did he spend the time of his abode in England, spreading the favour of his good ointment all around him, and by his example, as well as preaching, pressing every one to make sure work for eternity. He perceived clearly, it was the good providence of God which prepared his way, and directed him hither. He came from Ireland to London, three several times; the last of which the longest time of his continuing there, (about two years,) and the most profitable both to himself and to others. And here especially it was, that through his great and incessant labours; his unwearied application to private study and public ministrations, he laid the foundation of that disorder, which at length, removed him to another world.