A HISTORY OF METHODISM IN THE TOWN AND NEIGHBOURHOOD OF GREAT YARMOUTH, INCLUDING Biographical Sketches OF SOME OF THE LEADING CHARACTERS WHO HAVE BEEN AMONG BY A. WATMOUGH. 70 The works of God-which he commanded our fathers that they PSALM lxxviii. 5. LONDON: PRINTED FOR JOHN KERSHAW, 14, CITY ROAD, PREFACE. Without WHEN I first came into the Yarmouth Circuit, and began to inquire into the origin of Methodism, I soon found, that through the want of written documents and other circumstances, there was not a person then living in the circuit among us who could give a correct account of it. attaching blame to any individual, I could not help thinking, that such a want of acquaintance with the history of any religious Society must be regarded as an unhappy circumstance among the members of that Society, who ought to know the works of God in their own age, as well as his works of old; and I determined accordingly to do my part towards rolling away this reproach from the Wesleyan Society in this town. How to obtain the necessary information, was the chief difficulty, I made all the inquiry I could in the circuit: On the more modern events I was soon satisfied but respecting the origin and the early struggles of the good cause, I could obtain either no information at all, or none upon which I could depend. I then had recourse to the Journals of Mr. Wesley, and to our old Magazines; and in them met with materials which constitute the basis of the work, as will be seen in the course of it. I then wrote to certain individuals, who as itinerant ministers had long ago travelled in these parts. Dr. Adam Clarke very kindly answered my letter, and gave me all the information in his possession, which the reader will find recorded in its proper place I tender the Doctor my warmest thanks, for the very prompt and affectionate manner in which he was pleased to comply with my request. Some others did not reply to my letters, and seemed disinclined to render me any assistance. From another respectable source I received a communication of an interesting description, with full liberty to publish the fact, which I have accordingly inserted. Having in this man ner collected a considerable fund of materials, I commenced the work, but soon found it necessary, in order to keep both the size and the price of the book within narrow limits, to suppress many things, and to relate others as concisely as possible. In consequence of this, the reflections and observations necessary to a work of this description, are chiefly left to be supplied by the reader's own mind, which will afford him, what is very agreeable to most readers, an opportunity of making such reflections as are most congenial to his own principles and views of things. YARMOUTH, August 26th, 1825. |