A Close Call

A Close Call

God used some surprising people to save John Wesley’s life.

IN 1742 and 1743 John Wesley experienced great success preaching to the coal miners of Wednesbury, Darlaston, and Walsall, England. From his two trips to the area the Methodist Society grew to nearly four hundred, and Wesley established good relations with the Anglicans as well.

However, in early 1743 another itinerant Methodist preacher came through and thoroughly offended the Anglican vicar, turning his support for the growing Methodist work to opposition. The clergy of Wednesbury, Walsall, and Darlaston joined forces to attempt to destroy the local Methodist Society by spreading the rumor that cockfighting, bullbaiting, and prizefighting would cease if the Methodists were allowed to exist. As a result, windows were broken in Methodist homes, shops were looted, and several Methodist leaders were beaten.

When John Wesley returned to Wednesbury on October 20, 1743, he preached at noon without disturbance, but that afternoon a mob from Darlaston accosted the five-foot-three Wesley and the Methodist leaders with him, threatening their safety. Wesley was able to talk to the ringleaders of the mob privately and actually win them over so that they promised to defend him. One woman even told the crowd, “This gentleman is an honest gentleman, and we will spill our blood in his defense.” Soon after, the crowd dispersed.

Then several hours later the mob returned and forced Wesley and his Methodist supporters to go with them to the home of the justice of the peace in Walsall to bring charges against Wesley. However, by the time they got there, the justice of the peace was already in bed and the Darlaston mob had turned friendly. They dispatched fifty of their number to escort Wesley home, and the rest turned back to return to Darlaston.

Wesley and his escorts had hardly gone one hundred yards when they were met by a mob from Walsall. Wesley was suddenly in the middle of two traditional rivals, his Darlaston escorts and the mob from Walsall. The woman who had sworn to defend him charged the Walsall mob and knocked down several men. But she was soon overpowered and might have been killed if a champion prizefighter from Walsall, known as Honest Munchin, had not come to her aid.

The mob pulled Wesley and the Methodists down the steep streets to Walsall. Once there, as the crowd yelled threats, Wesley shouted, “Will you hear me?”

“No! No! Knock his brains out! Kill him!” the angry crowd shouted.

Wesley responded, “Which of you have I wronged?” Then he spoke of the love of God, and for a while they seemed to be listening. But after about fifteen minutes, Wesley’s voice gave out, and as his words faded away, the crowd, led by Honest Munchin, yelled out, “Bring him away! Strip him!”

Wesley’s voice miraculously returned, and he shouted, “You needn’t do that: I will give you my clothes.” Then he began to pray aloud, oblivious to all but the Lord Jesus.

His prayers were answered in a most unexpected way. Honest Munchin, the prizefighter, suddenly locked eyes with Wesley and stammered, “Sir, I will spend my life for you; follow me, and not one soul shall touch a hair of your head.” Several others made their way to the front, said the same, and then formed themselves into a human shield around Wesley and the Methodists. The crowd was stunned by their leader’s about-face and was momentarily quiet. But as they approached a bridge over a small stream, the shouts resumed, “Throw him in!” and a scuffle ensued. Honest Munchin broke the arm of one of the protesters and was able to muscle Wesley and his supporters through to safety.

John Wesley left Wednesbury the next day, but the results of his work continued. Honest Munchin and the young man whose arm was broken both joined the Methodist Society, with Munchin serving as a leader of the Wednesbury and Walsall Methodists until his death forty-six years later.

Reflection

Have you experienced God’s protection in a frightening situation? Wesley entrusted himself to God’s care, and God sent a surprising protector, the prizefighter leading the mob. We don’t always know how God will protect us, but we know he has given us immortality until the day he has appointed for us to die.

I will be with you, and I will protect you wherever you go.

Genesis 28:15