On Tuesday 25, I spoke clearly and fully at Blendon to Mr. Delamotte’s family of the nature and fruits of faith.  Mr. Broughton and my brother were there.  Mr. Broughton’s great objection was, he could never think that I had not faith, who had done and suffered such things.  My brother was very angry, and told me I did not know what mischief I had done by talking thus.  And, indeed, it did please God to kindle a fire which I trust shall never be extinguished.

On May 1 our little society began, which afterwards met in Fetter Lane.  May 3.  My brother had a long and particular conversation with Peter Boehler.  And it now pleased God to open his eyes; so that he also saw clearly what was the nature of that one true living faith, thereby alone, “through grace we are saved.”

Sunday 7.  I preached at St. Lawrence’s in the morning; and afterwards at St. Catherine Cree’s.  I was enabled to speak strong words at both; and was therefore the less surprised at being informed I was not to preach any more in either of those churches.  I was likewise after preaching the next Sunday at St. Ann’s, Aldersgate, and the following Sunday at St. John’s, Wapping and at St. Bennett’s, Paul’s Wharf, that at these churches I must preach no more.

1739.  March 28.  A letter from Mr. Whitefield, and another from Mr. Seward, pressed me to come to Bristol.  I reached Bristol March 31 and met Mr. Whitefield there.  I could scarcely at first reconcile myself to the strange way of preaching in the fields, of which he set me the example, for all my life I should have thought the saving of souls almost a sin, if it had not been done in a church; but I now proclaimed in the highways the glad tidings of salvation speaking in the open air to about three thousand people.

May 9.  We took possession of a piece of ground in the Horse Fair, Bristol, where it was designed to build a room large enough to contain both the societies of Nicholas and Baldwin Street; and on May 12 the first stone was laid with thanksgiving.  The responsibility of payment I took entirely on myself.  Money I had not, it is true, nor any human prospect of procuring it; but I knew “the earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof.”

Beau Nash Argues with Wesley

June 5.  There was great expectation at Bath of what a noted man was to do to me there.  Many appeared surprised and were sinking apace into seriousness when their champion came up to me and asked by what authority I did these things.  I replied, “By the authority of Jesus Christ, conveyed to me by the Archbishop of Canterbury, when he laid his hands on me.”  He said, “This is contrary to the Act of Parliament; this is a conventicle.  Besides, your preaching frightens people out of their wits.”

“Give me leave, Sir, to ask, is not your name Nash?” “My name is Nash.”  An old woman said to 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.