otherwise have remained closed . Some of the clergy were roused from their moral stupor and became zealous preachers in their own parishes . Churches that had been petrified by formalism were quickened into life .
In Wesley ' s time , as in all ages of the church ' s history , men of different gifts performed their appointed work . They did not harmonize upon every point of doctrine , but all were moved by the Spirit of God , and united in the absorbing aim to win souls to Christ . The differences between Whitefield and the Wesleys threatened at one time to create alienation ; but as they learned meekness in the school of Christ , mutual forbearance and charity reconciled them . They had no time to dispute , while error and iniquity were teeming everywhere , and sinners were going down to ruin .
The servants of God trod a rugged path . Men of influence and learning employed their powers against them . After a time many of the clergy manifested determined hostility , and the doors of the churches were closed against a pure faith and those who proclaimed it . The course of the clergy in denouncing them from the pulpit aroused the elements of darkness , ignorance , and iniquity . Again and again did John Wesley escape death by a miracle of God ' s mercy . When the rage of the mob was excited against him , and there seemed no way of escape , an angel in human form came to his side , the mob fell back , and the servant of Christ passed in safety from the place of danger .
Of his deliverance from the enraged mob on one of these occasions , Wesley said : " Many endeavoured to throw me down while we were going downhill on a slippery path to the town ; as well judging that if I was once on the ground , I should hardly rise any more . But I made no stumble at all , nor the least slip , till I was entirely out of their hands . . . . Although many strove to lay hold on my collar or clothes , to pull me down , they could not fasten at all : only one got fast hold of the flap of my waistcoat , which was soon left in his hand ; the other flap , in the pocket of which was a bank note , was torn but half off . . . . A lusty man just behind , struck at me several times , with a large oaken stick ; with which if he had struck me once on the back part of my head , it would have saved him all further trouble . But every time , the blow was turned aside , I know not how ; for I could not move to the right hand or left . . . . Another came rushing through the press , and raising his arm to strike , on a sudden let it drop , and only stroked my head , saying , ' What soft hair he has !' . . . The very first men whose hearts were turned were the heroes of the town , the captains of the rabble on all occasions , one of them having been a prize fighter at the bear gardens . . . .
" By how gentle degrees does God prepare us for His will ! Two years ago , a piece of brick grazed my shoulders . It was a year after that the stone struck me between the eyes . Last month I received one blow , and this evening two , one before we came into the town , and one after we were gone out ; but both were as nothing : for though one man struck me on the breast with all his might , and the other on the mouth with such force that the blood gushed out immediately , I felt no more
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