are the watchmen ?-asleep.-Where are the magistrates ?—dozing at home. This is a wicked, horribly wicked city; and if the people do not reform, I think they will be let loose upon one another, or else God will send the pestilence amongst them, and slay them by hundreds and thousands :-the spirit of prayer has departed, and the spiritual watchmen have ceased to cry aloud among all sects and denominations: for their unfaithfulness they will be smitten in anger: for sleepy silence in the house of God, which ought to resound with the voice of praise and frequent prayer, the Lord will visit their streets with the silence of desolation.

DELAWARE.-Monday 10. I left Philadelphia, dined at Chester, and preached at Wilmington in the evening. The next day I rode to Duck-Creek Cross-Roads, state of Delaware, to hold conference. We were full of business, and had life and liberty. I met the leaders and local brethren in the ministry, and we had a powerful time. I requested them to give an account of their past and present experience; the state of their respective families; and the classes they had the charge of, together with the prospects of religion where they lived: they understood me, and spoke much to the purpose. We parted with a good love-feast, from which the gay and the worldly, at least, were excluded, if we did not keep out sinners, Pharisees, and hypocrites.

Saturday 16. Rode to Camden. To Dr. Barrett, a true son of a worthy father, we are chiefly indebted for a neat, economical meeting-house. I had so many friends I knew not where to go. My attendance on conferences and quarterly meetings has lately been so constant, I found it expedient to make a sudden change and come home. In my way I stopped at a friend's house; the woman had been early a member; the man, not of us : I pressed family prayer upon her from divine authority: I saw her tears and heard her promises. Came home to T. White's. I resolved on the establishment of a prayer-meeting for the women before I go hence. I have felt my soul greatly quickened of late to bear and suffer all things, and to feel nothing but love: if we are tried by Christian people, it is chiefly for want of grace or knowledge in them, or us, or both-they are objects of pity, not of anger.

This day is spent in reading, writing, meditation, and prayer. To be retired and solitary is desirable after the presence of crowds, and the labours, various and unceasing, to which I am called: when our Lord was pursued by the people, he, as a man, would hide himself. I thought, if my brethren would not spare me, I must spare myself.

し

I have been reading Doctor Langdon on the Revelations, and find little new or very spiritual; he is like the Newtons and all the historical interpreters-one thing is wanting. And might not an interpreter show the present time foretold by these signs, which plainly point to the why and wherefore it is, that some are Christian bishops and Christian dissertators on prophecy? A bishoprick with one, or two, or three thousand sterling a year as an appendage, might determine the most hesitating in their choice: I see no reason why a heathen philosopher, who had enough of this world's wisdom to see the advantages of wealth and honours, should not say, "Give me a bishoprick and I will be a Christian." In the Eastern states also there are very good and sufficient reasons for the faith of the favoured ministry. Ease, honour, interest: what follows?-idolatry, superstition, death.

Tuesday 19. Continued at Judge W -'s, and spoke a few words to a few people.

Wednesday 20. We came to Millford, and had a solemn time on Genesis vi. 3. Here I held a conference with the local preachers, and was pleased at the accounts they gave of their prospects of religion in their neighbourhoods.

Thursday 21. We had a moving feast of charity, and a close, searching time in public-my subject, 2 Tim. iii. 20, 21.

We

Friday 22. I came to Broad Creek with a heavy heart. had a blessed time in the love-feast: many souls had longings for sanctification, and some boldly professed it. I felt as if it would be long before I should again visit this house. A poor man attempted to come near me; being encouraged by my speaking to him, he approached, and told me, with a full heart, that about that time five years past, the Lord spoke through me, to his conviction, at Moore's chapel.

Tuesday 26. Attended quarterly meeting at Myle's chapel, where I met with a few serious people: the second day we had a few Church-folks-something wild.

VIRGINIA. Thursday 28. Crossed Pocomoke to L- -'s: at Dowings's at night. Brother Everett was sick. I had a large congregation at Garrettson chapel; and was much blest on Rom. viii. 29, 30. I had a comfortable conference with the leaders, stewards, local preachers, and exhorters; and we had a living love-feast.

Sunday, October 1. We had a crowded congregation, and some melting amongst the people whilst I enlarged on "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." I endeavoured to point out the

t

genuine marks of a Christian:2. Remove the objection against these marks; and 3. Persuade by applying to the hopes and fears of my hearers.

Monday 2. I had a kind of chill and headach, and was very unwell; yet I rode about forty miles to Littleton Long's-I went quick to bed.

MARYLAND.-I attended the quarterly meeting in Dorset on the last day; we had few people. Thence to Henry Ennall's, where young sister Kane was struck with conviction at family prayer: she followed us to quarterly meeting, at Easton, under deep distress; and returning, found peace where she found conviction three days before. We had great plainness, and were much stirred up in the conference with our local brethren. The congregation was large the second day, and the people were more quiet than commonperhaps because we were so.

Thence we rode to Choptank, now Greensborough; and preached on Ephes. ii. 17.; and some power went through the house. I had a good conference with the local brethren; making close inquiries relative to themselves, their families, and the societies to which they respectively belong.

I stopped a day at Judge White's, and read in haste the most essential parts of "Jefferson's Notes." I have thought, it may be I am safer to be occasionally among the people of the world, than wholly confined to the indulgent people of God: he who sometimes suffers from a famine, will the better know how to relish a feast.

Saturday 14. We had many gracious souls at Boardley's barn. I was greatly weakened by preaching; but I hope souls were spiritually strengthened. We had a gracious season in conference with the local brethren, men who felt for the cause of God. Two professed to find the Lord; and it was said two were awakened the first evening of the quarterly meeting.

A

Sunday 15. We had a great love-feast, the women led the way. I preached on "Thou knowest not the time of thy visitation." larger or more attentive congregation has not, perhaps, been seen in these parts. I feel more than ever the necessity of preaching sanctification.

Monday 16. Rode to Chester-Town. Here I was warmly importuned to preach, and submitting to the desire of my friends, I enlarged on 1 John ii. 18. and was very pointed and alarming, at which some were offended.

Saturday 21. Rode to Back-Creek: being detained at the ferry, I did not get in until after night, which made me unwell.

Monday 23. Rode to Cokesbury-all is not well here.

Saturday 28. I came to Baltimore: here I only stopped to feed myself and horses, and then proceed on to T. C's, and had a little rest and peace.

Sunday 29. Contrary to my wish, I was constrained to ride to Annapolis, which I reached about eleven o'clock, and gave them a sermon on 1 Peter iii. 18. with some help and liberty.

Monday 30. We opened our district conference in great peaceand love; and so it ended.

Tuesday 31. Came to Baltimore in a storm of rain. Whilst we were sitting in the room at Mr. Rogers's, in came Dr. Coke, of whose arrival we had not heard, and whom we embraced with great love.

! I felt awful at the general conference, which began November 1, 1792. At my desire they appointed a moderator, and preparatory committee, to keep order and bring forward the business with regularity. We had heavy debates on the first, second, and third sections of our form of discipline. My power to station the preachers without an appeal, was much debated, but finally carried by a very large majority. Perhaps a new bishop, new conference, and new laws, would have better pleased some. I have been much grieved for others, and distressed with the burthen I bear, and must hereafter bear. O, my soul, enter into rest! Ah! who am I, that the burthen of the work should lie on my heart, hands, and head?

Thursday 8. Having taken cold, and had my rest broken, I went to bed to bring on a free perspiration; and from this I received relief, my soul breathed unto God; and I was exceedingly happy in his love. Some individuals among the preachers having their jealousies about my influence in the conference, I gave the matter wholly up to them, and to Dr. Coke, who presided: meantime I sent them the following letter.

My dear brethren,

Let my absence give you no pain-Dr. Coke presides. I am happily excused from assisting to make laws by which myself am to be governed: I have only to obey and execute. I am happy in the consideration that I never stationed a preacher through enmity, or as a punishment. I have acted for the glory of God, the good

of the people, and to promote the usefulness of the preachers. Are you sure, that if you please yourselves, that the people will be as fully satisfied? They often say, "let us have such a preacher;" and sometimes, "we will not have such a preacher-we will sooner pay him to stay at home." Perhaps I must say, "his appeal forced him upon you." I am one-ye are many. I am as willing to serve you as ever. I want not to sit in any man's way. I scorn to solicit votes: I am a very trembling, poor creature to hear praise or dispraise. Speak your minds freely; but remember, you are only making laws for the present time: it may be, that as in some other things, so in this, a future day may give you further light.

I am yours, &c.

FFANCIS ASBURY.

I am not fond of altercations we cannot please every bodyand sometimes, not ourselves: I am resigned.

Mr. O'Kelly being disappointed in not getting an appeal from any station made by me, withdrew from the connexion, and went eff. For himself, the conference well knew he could not complain of the regulation: he had been located to the south district of Virginia for about ten succeeding years; and upon his plan, might have located himself, and any preacher, or set of preachers, to the district, whether the people wished to have them or not.

The general conference went through the Discipline, Articles of Faith, Forms of Baptism, Matrimony, and the Burial of the Dead; as also the Offices of Ordination. The conference ended in peace, after voting another general conference to be held four years hence. By desire of my brethren, I preached once on 1 Peter iii. 8. My mind was kept in peace, and my soul enjoyed rest in the Strong Hold.

Thursday 15. I was comforted at the women's class-meeting: I appointed three prayer meetings for them, sister K, 0, and F, to be the leaders of them: if this is regularly attended to, I think good will follow.

Friday 16. I left Baltimore, and, contrary to my first intention, called on the widow H―, whose daughter was awakened the last time I was here, and still continues to be happy in the Lord. I met the sisters here, and urged prayer meeting: perhaps it was for this I unexpectedly came here.

VIRGINIA. Saturday 17. Brother Ira Ellis and myself came on to Georgetown; and thence to Alexandria, making a ride of forty

1