REVIVAL: REV JOHN WESLEY PREACHING AT ROBIN HOOD'S BAY UK, SOME STRANGE PHENOMENA, AND VIEWS ON REVIVAL
REV JOHN WESLEY REPORT ON PREACHING AT ROBIN HOOD’S BAY, UK: A TYPICAL OCCASION
Tuesday 8th May, 1753
“I rode to Robin Hood’s Bay, near Whitby…. I stood on a little rising near the quay, in
a warm, still evening, and exhorted a multitude of people, from all parts, to
‘seek the Lord, while he may be found.’ They were all attention; and most of
them met me again at half an hour after four in the morning. I could gladly have spent some days here;
but my stages were fixed: So, on Wednesday, 9th, I rode on to York.”
[A typical entry in “Rev. John Wesley’s Journal”,
which was widely published and read.]
SOME STRANGE PHENOMENA
For those of us who are still concerned about the
"Toronto Blessing", and reports of similar events, there is much
wisdom to be found in the two hundred and seventy year old Journals of John
Wesley.
I looked at the period from 1747-1760.
Similar to some earlier experiences at Bristol, when his work was beginning –
there were the following events in Everton, Bedfordshire (close to Cambridge
University). Wesley had preached there alongside two Anglican
clergymen - Berridge and Hickes, who had recently changed from being his
opponents.
The report from Bedfordshire told Wesley of huge
crowds listening to the preaching of the Gospel in the churches and in the open
air. Among the unusual manifestations were: ardent crying for
salvation, loud praise to God for his goodness, people falling to the ground -
some lying unconscious in a trance, others beating the floor with their feet
(damaging the furniture), roaring as if close to death, convulsions, faces
turning crimson and then black in colour, great joy and laughter, visions
leading to repentance and faith, the poor and the wicked turning to
God. Wesley's correspondent had found his voice weakening, whilst
preaching, and loud uncontrolled laughter developing around him; this he
interpreted as the work of Satan. He had prayed until his voice
returned and the laughing ceased.
Wesley read the details of events in Everton to the
meeting in York, and was delighted when he had to stop - because the same
manifestations were starting to take place: "I began reading to the
society an account of the late work of God at Everton; but I could not get
through. At first there were only silent tears on every side; but
it was not long before several were unable to refrain from weeping aloud: and
quickly a stout young man dropped down and roared as in the agonies of
death. I did not attempt to read any farther, but began wrestling
with God in prayer. We continued therein till near nine o'clock
(their day often began at five in the morning). What a day of
Jubilee was this!" Clearly Wesley was keen to have the same
evidences accompanying his preaching; and was not disappointed.
Examples of Wesley's firmness include: not allowing
people to be members - of his societies, if they dealt with smuggled goods
(Sunderland), assessing a man as backslidden because he had forsaken fasting
and general self denial - God took a man’s life, but his soul would be
saved. Wesley’s insights into why the revivals in Scotland and New
England (on the East Coast of America) had soon been extinguished, and why in
England it had lasted at least eighteen years, are incisive.
On later reflection he felt that the manifestations
were not always present in revival; discounting the events as not being
of God was as dangerous as giving them too much importance; discernment was
vital as, Satan, and the human spirit, would counterfeit the dramatic; and pride
would also lurk in the background.
[Sources at the end of the article]
VIEWS ON REVIVAL
John Wesley compares three areas that have seen revival:
Scotland, New England (America, Rev Jonathan Edwards), and Britain (George
Whitefield, the Wesley Brothers, Rhys Howells, and others). Dr Martyn Lloyd Jones saw Revival as being
within the Church, Awakening as bringing in the Lost, and Prayer as vital to
both; often all happening together.
The Journal, June 1755
Mon.16.—I
preached in the evening at Nottingham, and on Thursday afternoon reached
London. From a deep sense of the amazing work which God has of late years
wrought in England, I preached in the evening on those
words, (Psalm 147:20) "He hath not dealt so with any nation;" no, not
even with Scotland or New England. In both these God has indeed made bare his
arm; yet not in so astonishing a manner as among us. This must appear to all
who impartially consider, 1. The numbers of persons on whom God has wrought: 2.
The swiftness of his work in many [cf 2 Chronicles 29:36 - Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced at what God had brought about for his people, because it was done so quickly.], both convinced and truly converted in a few
days: 3. The depth of it in most of these, changing the heart, as well as the
whole conversation: 4. The clearness of it, enabling them boldly to say,
"Thou hast loved me; thou hast given thyself for me:"
5. The continuance
of it. God has wrought in Scotland and New England, at several times, for some
weeks or months together: but among us, he has wrought for near eighteen years
together, without any observable intermission. Above all, let it be remarked,
that a considerable number of the regular Clergy were engaged in that great
work in Scotland; and in New England, above an hundred, perhaps as eminent
as any in the whole province, not only for piety, but also for abilities, both
natural and acquired; whereas in England there were only two or three
inconsiderable Clergymen, with a few young, raw, unlettered men; and these
opposed by well nigh all the Clergy, as well as laity, in the nation. He that
remarks this must needs own, both that this is a work of God, and that he hath
not wrought so in any other nation.
Mon. 23. —I was considering what could be the reasons why the hand of the
Lord (who does nothing without a cause) is almost entirely stayed in Scotland,
and in great measure in New England. It does not become us to judge
peremptorily; but perhaps some of them may be these: — 1. Many of them became
"wise in their own eyes;" they seemed to think they were the men, and
there were none like them. And hence they refused God the liberty of sending by
whom he would send; and required him to work by men of learning, or not at all.
3. Many of them were bigots, immoderately attached either to their own opinions
or mode of worship. Mr. Edwards himself was not clear of this. But the Scotch
bigots were beyond all others; placing Arminianism (so called) on a level with
Deism, and the Church of England with that of Rome. Hence they not only
suffered in themselves and their brethren a bitter zeal, but applauded
themselves therein; in showing the same spirit against all who differed from them,
as the Papists did against our forefathers. 4. With pride, bitterness, and
bigotry, self-indulgence was joined; self-denial was little taught and
practised. It is well if some of them did not despise, or even condemn, all
self-denial in things indifferent, as in apparel or food, as nearly allied to
Popery. No marvel then that the Spirit of God was grieved. Let us profit by
their example.
To make eighteenth
century points in a 21st century way
- Limiting the revival to those leaders with theological degrees, mixed with arrogance: sounded the death-knell to God’s work.
- Overlooking the oneness of all believers nailed down the lid of the coffin.
- To allow the Holy Spirit to anoint, appoint, use whom He would is probably a key to lasting revival.
- Antagonism all round was suffered – both inside and beyond the Church.
ENDNOTES
Public Reference Libraries, the Internet, as well as
local Methodist ministers, may well have copies of Wesley's Journals for this
period.
References for the key passages on phenomena:
Monday 6th November 1758,
Wednesday 30th May 1759 ff,
Sunday 15th July 1759,
Sunday 29th July 1759 ff,
Thursday 16th July 1757,
Sunday 27th July 1755,
Monday 23rd June 1755,
Tuesday 28th August 1759,
Sunday 25th November 1759ff,
Robin Hoods Bay, Yorkshire, UK, c 1997. Some of these buildings may have been there at the time of John Wesley
These notes are based on, or taken from: “The Works
of John Wesley, volume II, Journal from December, 2, 1745, to May 5, 1760”;
Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA, circa 1950.
“This edition of the complete and unabridged THE
WORKS OF JOHN WESLEY is reproduced by the photo offset process from the
authorised edition published by the Wesleyan Conference Office in London,
England in 1872.”
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