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Monday, June 6, 2022

A unique solution

On 6 June 1742 John Wesley was banned from preaching at St. Andrew’s Church in Epworth where his father had been rector for nearly 40 years.

From John Wesley's Journal - Sunday, June 6, 1742

A little before the service began, I went to Mr. Romley, the curate, and offered to assist him either by preaching or reading prayers. But he did not care to accept of my assistance. The church was exceedingly full in the afternoon, a rumor being spread that I was to preach. But the sermon on "Quench not the Spirit" [I Thess. 5:19] was not suitable to the expectation of many of the hearers. Mr. Romley told them one of the most dangerous ways of quenching the Spirit was by enthusiasm; and enlarged on the character of an enthusiast in a very florid and oratorical manner. After sermon John Taylor stood in the churchyard and gave notice as the people were coming out, "Mr. Wesley, not being permitted to preach in the church, designs to preach here at six o'clock."
Accordingly at six I came and found such a congregation as I believe Epworth never saw before. I stood near the east end of the church, upon my father's tombstone, and cried, "The kingdom of heaven is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost" [Rom. 14:17].

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