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EARLY METHODIST PREACHERS
But if I was bound, the word of God was not bound, for if any blasphemed, I reproved them, whether rich or poor, and God gave me words, such as they could not resist. On Sunday I, with two or three more, went out into the fields. In a few minutes we had near a hundred to keep us company. People flocked to us, and God gave me to speak plainly to their hearts. As we came back, one of our company said, "I wonder the devil cannot perceive that this striving to suppress the Gospel is like striving to quench the fire by casting oil upon it." I had some every day to dispute with me, and every night to converse with me. On Saturday several desired me to preach on Sunday morning. I told them I should take a walk out to the moor at half an hour after seven. I preached to about three hundred well-behaved people. On Monday I heard that some clergymen were with the officers ; and at night one of the officers sent for me, and said, ' 1 "\Vhat, you cannot leave off preaching yet, but we must be blamed about you! But if ever you preach publicly again, you shall be whipped.'' With many threats, he bade me go, but I made no promise to obey him. I had promised to go to Acomb. The next evening, accordingly, I went and preached to