An entry from John Wesley’s journal 20 October 1743
Wesley was in Leeds and wrote ‘To attempt to speak was vain; for the noise on every side was like the roaring of the sea. So they dragged me along till we came to the town, where, seeing the door of a large house open, I managed to go in but a man catching me by the hair, pulled me back into the middle of the mob. They made no more stop till they had carried me through the main street from one end of town to the other. I continued speaking all the time to those within hearing, feeling no pain or weariness. Many cried ‘Knock his brains out, down with him; kill him at once.’
Others said, ‘Nay, but we will hear him first.’ I began asking, ‘What evil have I done ?’ And continued speaking for above a quarter of an hour, till my voice suddenly failed.’
Although there is much reported persecution of Christians around the world, thankfully there is no sign of it in this country. From the above report of John Wesley, the situation was quite different in the 18th century and his report was typical of the experience of many ‘Methodist’ preachers at the time.
Comparison of our experience today with Wesley’s of yesteryear begs a question.
Which is better for the Christian believer to face – outright violent hostility or disinterested apathy ?