CHARLES AND JOHN WESLEY SPOKE OF A
LAUGHTER SPIRIT WHICH REQUIRED DELIVERANCE
On Friday, May 9, 1740 Wesley expressed
surprise at some who were tormented by Satan in a very strange
way. Some people were being suddenly possessed with a Spirit of
Laughter which they could not stop at will. It was very painful
experience. Wesley could not believe this strange phenomenon
until one Sunday he and his brother Charles went to the field to
sing psalms. When they were about to begin singing, suddenly,
Charles burst out into a loud laughter. "I asked him",
says John Wesley, "if he was distracted; and he began to be
very angry, and presently after to laugh as loud as he could. Nor
could we possibly refrain, though we were ready to tear ourselves
to pieces, but we were forced to go home without singing another
line.(37) Wesley and his brother experienced together this
strange phenomenon.
Twelve days after this incident, John Wesley recorded in his
Journal similar occurences: "In the evening such a spirit of
laughter was among us, that many were offended. But the attention
of all was fixed on poor L-aS-, whom we all knew to be no
dissembler. One so violently and variously torn of the devil one
did I never see before. Sometimes she laughed till almost
strangled, then they broke out into cursing and blaspheming then
stamped and struggled with incredible strength, so that four or
five could scarcely hold her: Then cried out, "O eternity,
eternity! O that I had no soul! O that I had never been
born!" At last she faintly called on Christ to help her. And
the violence of her pangs ceased."(38) Most of the people
who saw this strange happening had no doubt that those involved
were not pretending. They simply could not help laughing. But
there are always the doubting Thomases. Two people E-th B- and
Anne H- were sure that any one can stop laughing at will. When
Wesley and the brethren met on a Thursday, these two persons
publicly told them that the incident was not genuine, and that
the people were just pretending. But something strange happened
to them. As Wesley put it: "Friday, 23, God suffered Satan
to teach them better. Both of them were suddenly seized in the
same manner as the rest, and laughed whether they would or not,
almost without ceasing. Thus they continued for two days, a
spectacle to all; and were then, upon prayer made for them,
delivered in a moment".(39)
It is important to note that prayer in the name of Jesus Christ
brought instant deliverance to those under the spirit of
laughter.
Article entitled "John Wesley the
Charismatic" by Robert Aboagye-Mensah, Adwinsa Publication
(GH) Ltd 1992, Pages 17 & 18.
References: 37.Wesley's Works, Vol. 11, p 271-2
38. Ibid., p272
39. Ibid., p272-3
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Last Updated: Wednesday, 06 March, 1996
