'Beasts are turned into men and the wilderness into a fruitful field'

I rode to Hexham, and preached at noon in an open place near the church. Some expected there would be much disturbance, but there was none at all. We rode thence over the mountains to Allendale, where I had not been for several years.

Tuesday, May 8, 1764

We rode over wild moors to Wolsingham. It proved to be a fair day. So I had hearers from all parts. In the evening I preached to the simple, loving, earnest people at Barnard Castle. If all to whom we preach were of this spirit, what a harvest would ensue!

Wednesday, July 2, 1766

About noon I preached in Teesdale, and in Weardale at six in the evening. Here a poor woman was brought to us, who had been disordered several years and was now raving mad. She cursed and blasphemed in a terrible manner, and could not stand or sit for a moment. However, her husband constrained her to come to the place where I was going to preach, and he held her there by main strength, although she shrieked in the most dreadful manner, but in a quarter of an hour she left off shrieking and sat motionless and silent till she began crying to God, which she continued to do, almost without intermission, till we left her.

Monday, June 1, 1772

I began a little tour through the Dales. About nine I preached at Kiphill, at one at Wolsingham. Here we began to trace the revival work of God, and here began the horrid mountains we had to climb over. However, before six, we reached Barnard Castle. I preached at the end of the preaching-house to a large congregation of established Christians. At five in the morning, the house was near full of persons ripe for the height and depth of the Gospel.

Tuesday, June 2, 1772

We rode to New-Orygan (Newbiggin) in Teesdale. The people were deeply attentive, but I think not deeply affected. From the top of the next enormous mountain, we had a view of Weardale. It is a lovely prospect. The green, gently rising meadows and fields on both sides of the river, clear as crystal, were sprinkled over with innumerable little houses, three in four of which (if not nine in ten) are sprung up since the Methodists came hither. Since that time, the beasts are turned into men, and the wilderness into a fruitful field.

Thursday, June 10, 1784

After preaching at five, I took horse for the Dales, and about eight preached at Cutherston. Here I had the pleasure of seeing some of our brethren, who had long been at variance, reconciled. Here we rode through rain and wind to Newbiggen in Teesdale. After resting for a while, I preached without any weariness. Having then procured an easier horse, I rode over the great mountain into Weardale. Leaders and many of the people are much alive to God, as we found in the evening when we had such a shower of grace as I have seldom known