Brede - Thomas Collins (1831)
(There was a general revival across the circuit.)
"Sunday, September 16th. Preached at Wadhurst, In the morning service two young women whose hearts had been broken the Sunday before, and who had passed the week in deep affliction were comforted. In the afternoon I preached again. For the evening, went on to Ticehurst; preached there, and held a prayer-meeting. The work was hard, and the impression small. The people seemed untrained for such services. I had to dismiss them with little visible fruit. O God, come down upon this place." "Sunday, September 23rd. Preached at Tanhouse. Many wept under the word. I gave tickets after and then passed on so Northiam, where, in the afternoon, I preached and gave tickets again. The evening service was at Brede. In the prayer-meeting with which we closed the day there many wept aloud, and some entered into liberty." The Rev. James Harris informs me that he had but recently joined the Northiam Society when Mr Collins preached his first sermon there, the notice of which has just been given. The text was, "No man cared for my soul." The word laid on the hearer such a spell that quite against his wont he followed the preacher to Brede. Special power as the Journal has told descended there. The loud cries of the awakened, and of those who interceded for them, sounding strangely in the unaccustomed ears of the young Methodist, he, next morning, asked Mr. Collins, " Was there not much wildfire last night?" who answered, "Well, brother, even that might be better than no fire. Do not judge too early, or too harshly. Consider, God employs workmen upon different work. Naturally, and wisely, their gifts and methods vary. As I do not complain of quiet labourers who slowly and silently bring pillars of the temple to polished perfection, so neither should they murmur at me because blasting in the quarry makes a noise, and raising rough stones proves to be rough work."
From ?The Life of the Rev Thomas Collins? by Samuel Coley p62.
"June 28th, 1833. We opened the new chapel at Brede. Such a concourse was scarcely ever seen in Sussex. A great booth had been erected, and both booth and chapel were filled. The collections were large but, better still twenty souls were gathered in. We have begun a school, and already have a hundred scholars. The whole parish is in a ferment. All manner of things are invented concerning me.
About that time, a commercial traveller told won't Collins's father, "Sir, your son has become a man of fame. He is setting Kent on fire. I heard of him repeatedly and saw foolish rhymes about him in the barbers' shops. The devil hates, sinners fear, and true hearts love him."
From 'The Life of the Rev Thomas Collins' by Samuel Coley p65. http://www.archive.org/details/lifeofrevthoscol00coleiala
Additional Information
Probably in the Methodist Church