was so filled with love and praise, that her body was quite overpowered. On Sunday morning she said, "I am struck with death." Her pains were violent all the day; but they interrupted not her prayer and praise, and exhortation to those about her; till, about three in the morning, having finished her work, she was set at liberty.

Sunday, 29, was a useful day to my soul. I found more than once trouble and heaviness; but I called upon the name of the Lord; and he gave me a clear, full approbation of his way, and a calm, thankful acquiescence in his will. I cannot but stand amazed at the goodness of God. Others are most assaulted on the weak side of their soul; but with me it is quite otherwise: if I have any strength at all, (and I have none but what I have received,) it is in forgiving injuries: and on this very side am I assaulted, more frequently than on any other. Yet leave me not here one hour to myself, or I shall betray myself and Thee! Mon. 30.-I rode to Salisbury, and in the two following days examined severally the members of the society; and on Thursday left them determined to stand in the good old way, in all the ordinances and commandments of God. In the evening I endeavoured to reunite the little scattered flock at Winterburn.

Fri. November 3.—I rode to Reading; and on Saturday, to London. Mon. 6.-A remarkable note was given me in the evening: it ran in these words :

"James Thompson, sailor on board the George and Mary, a Sunderland collier, bound for Middleburgh, in September last, met with a gale of wind, which wrecked her on the Baynard Sands, off the coast of Zealand. Here every soul perished, save himself, who was for three days and three nights floating on a piece of the wreck, with another man dead by his side, in which time the poor sufferer had lost his senses. At length he was taken up by the Dolphin Packet, and escaped safe to land. He is now willing to return hearty thanks to God, and to proclaim his deliverance to the world, that all who hear it may 'praise the Lord for his goodness, and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men.'"

In the remaining part of this, and in the following month, I prepared the rest of the books for the "Christian Library;" a work by which I have lost above two hundred pounds. Perhaps the next generation may know the value of it.

Mon. January 1, 1753.-A large congregation met at four, and praised Him with joyful hearts and lips, who had given us to see another year. Tues. 2.-I breakfasted at Ephraim Bedder's. How strangely diversified is the scene of his life! How often had he been, both outwardly and inwardly, in the deep! But at length God has lifted up his head. Thur. 4.-I visited one on the borders of eternity, who did not know his interest in Christ. O how melancholy is it to leave all below; unless we have an earnest of a better inheritance! How can any reasonable man bear the thoughts of death, till he has a prospect beyond the grave?

Sun. 7.-I breakfasted with M

Y- 9 an uncommon monument of mercy. For a long time he was "turned back as a dog to his vomit," and wallowed in all manner of wickedness. Yet his wife could never give him up, nor could he ever escape from the hell within, till she said to him one day, "Go up stairs, and ask of God; and you know not but he may yet bless you." He went, but with a dull, heavy heart, VOL. III.

35

R.

and stayed about two hours. When he came down, she stared upon him, and said, "What is the matter now? What is come to you? You do not look as you did." He answered, "No; for I have found the Lord." And from that hour he has endeavoured to walk worthy of God, who has again called him "to his kingdom and glory." Mon. 15. -We had our first watch-night at Snowsfields. Scarce any went away till between twelve and one. How is it, that never any one, in England or Ireland, has been hurt for all these years in going to all parts at the dead of night? Are not the hairs of our head all numbered?

Sat. 20. I advised one who had been troubled many years with a stubborn paralytic disorder, to try a new remedy. Accordingly, she was electrified, and found immediate help. By the same means I have known two persons cured of an inveterate pain in the stomach; and another of a pain in his side, which he had had ever since he was a child. Nevertheless, who can wonder that many gentlemen of the faculty, as well as their good friends, the apothecaries, decry a medicine so shockingly cheap and easy, as much as they do quicksilver and tar water?

Sun. 28.-A solemn awe spread over the whole congregation, while I was explaining at West-street the parable of the ten virgins: more especially those who knew they had not "oil in their lamps."

Sat. February 3.-I visited one in the Marshalsea prison; a nursery of all manner of wickedness. O shame to man, that there should be such a place, such a picture of hell upon earth! And shame to those FOR who bear the name of Christ, that there should need any prison at all in Christendom! Thur. 8.-A proposal was made for devolving all temporal business, books and all, entirely on the stewards; so that I might have no care upon me (in London, at least) but that of the souls committed to my charge. O when shall it once be! From this day?

REFORMIN

me mora non erit ulla. [There shall be no delay on my part.]

In the afternoon I visited many of the sick; but such scenes, who could see unmoved? There are none such to be found in a Pagan country. If any of the Indians in Georgia were sick, (which indeed exceedingly rarely happened, till they learned gluttony and drunkenness from the Christians,) those that were near him gave him whatever he wanted. O who will convert the English into honest Heathens!

On Friday and Saturday, I visited as many more as I could. I found some in their cells under ground; others in their garrets, half starved both with cold and hunger, added to weakness and pain. But I found not one of them unemployed, who was able to crawl about the room. So wickedly, devilishly false is that common objection, "They are poor, only because they are idle." If you saw these things with your own eyes, could you lay out money in ornaments or super/fluities? fluities?

Sun. 11.-I preached at Hayes. Here we have a fair instance of overcoming evil with good. All but the gentry of the parish patiently hear the truth. Many approve of, and some experience it. Thur. 15. -I visited Mr. S, slowly recovering from a severe illness. He expressed much love, and did not doubt, he said, inasmuch as I meant well, but that God would convince me of my great sin in writing books; seeing men ought to read no book but the Bible. I judged it quite needless to enter into a dispute with a sea captain, seventy-five years

old. This day Mr. Stewart was released. For two or three years he had been "instant in season, out of season, doing the work of an evan gelist, and making full proof of his ministry." Three or four weeks ago he fell ill of a fever, and was for a while in heaviness of soul. Last week all his doubts and fears vanished; and as he grew weaker in body, he grew stronger in faith. This morning he expressed a hope full of immortality, and in the afternoon went to God.

Sat. 17.—From Dr. Franklin's Letter I learned, 1. That electrical fire (or ether) is a species of fire, infinitely finer than any other yet known. 2. That it is diffused, and in nearly equal proportions, through almost all substances. 3. That as long as it is thus diffused, it has no discernible effect. 4. That if any quantity of it be collected together, whether by art or nature, it then becomes visible in the form of fire, and inexpressibly powerful. 5. That it is essentially different from the light of the sun; for it pervades a thousand bodies which light cannot penetrate, and yet cannot penetrate glass, which light pervades so freely. 6. That lightning is no other than electrical fire, collected by one or more clouds. 7. That all the effects of lightning may be performed by the artificial electric fire. 8. That any thing pointed, as a spire or tree, attracts the lightning, just as a needle does the electrical fire. 9. That the electrical fire, discharged on a rat or a fowl, will kill it instantly but discharged on one dipped in water, will slide off and do it no hurt at all. In like manner the lightning which will kill a man in a moment, will not hurt him if he be throughly wet. What an amazing scene is here opened for after ages to improve upon ! Wed. 21.-I visited more of the poor sick. The industry of many of them surprised me. Several who were ill able to walk, were nevertheless at work; some without any fire, (bitterly cold as it was,) and some, I doubt, without any food; yet not without that "meat which endureth to everlasting life." Mon. 26.-I set out in the machine for Bristol; and on Tuesday evening preached at Bath.

Wed. 28.-We rode to Bristol. I now looked over Mr. Prince's "Christian History." What an amazing difference is there in the manner wherein God has carried on his work in England and in America! There, above a hundred of the established clergy, men of age and experience, and of the greatest note for sense and learning in those parts, are zealously engaged in the work. Here, almost the whole .body of the aged, experienced, learned clergy, are zealously engaged against it; and few, but a handful of raw young men engaged in it, without name, learning, or eminent sense. And yet by that large number of honourable men, the work seldom flourished above six months at a time, and then followed a lamentable and general decay, before the next revival of it; whereas that which God hath wrought by these despised instruments, has continually increased for fifteen years together; and at whatever time it has declined in any one place, has more eminently flourished in others.

Mon. March 5.-I called on Mr. Farley, and saw a plain confutation of that vulgar error, that consumptions are not catching: he caught the consumption from his son, whereby he soon followed him to the grave. Wed. 14.-I preached at Frome, a dry, barren, uncomfortable place. The congregation at Shaftesbury in the evening were of a more

excellent spirit. Thur. 15.-I met the stewards of the neighbouring societies at Bearfield, and was much refreshed among them.

Fri. 16.-I returned to Bristol; and on Monday, 19th, set out with my wife for the north. I preached in the evening at Wallbridge, near Stroud. The house being too small, many stood without; but neither before nor after preaching, (much less while I was speaking,) did I hear the sound of any voice; no, nor of any foot; in so deep a silence did they both come, hear, and go away. Tues. 20.-I preached in the Town Hall at Evesham. At the upper end of the room a large body of people were still and attentive. Meantime, at the lower end, many were walking to and fro, laughing and talking, as if they had been in Westminster Abbey.

Wed. 21.-After dinner, abundance of rabble gathered near the Town Hall, having procured an engine, which they exercised on all that came in their way. So I gave them the ground, and preached at our own room in great quietness. Thur. 22.-I rode to Birmingham. A few poor wretches, I found, had occasioned fresh disturbance here. The chief was Sarah B, with whom I talked at large.

Sat. 24. She said, "I am in heaven in the spirit; but I can speak in the flesh. I am not that which appears, but that which disappears. I always pray, and yet I never pray for what can I pray for? I have all." I asked, "Do not you pray for sinners?" She said, " No; I know no sinners but one. I know but two in the world: God is one. and the devil is the other." I asked, "Did not Adam sin of old; and do not adulterers and murderers sin now?" She replied, "No; Adam never sinned; and no man sins now: it is only the devil." "And will no man ever be damned?" "No man ever will." "Nor the devil?" "I am not sure; but I believe not.” "Do you receive the sacrament?" "No; I do not want it." "Is the word of God your rule?" 66 Yes; the Word made flesh; but not the letter. I am in

the Spirit."

Sun. 25.-Upon inquiry, I found these wild enthusiasts were six in all,-four men and two women. They had first run into the height of Antinomianism, and then were given up to the spirit of pride and blasphemy. We reached Bilbrook in the evening, and a little before six. on Monday, 26, Poole, near Nantwich. I was pretty much tired, but soon recovered my strength, and explained to a serious people, “I determined not to know any thing but Jesus Christ, and him crucified." Tues. 27.-We rode to Chester, where we found the scene quite changed since I was here before. There is no talk of pulling down houses. The present mayor, being a man of courage as well as honesty, will suffer no riot of any kind, so that there is peace through all the city.

Wed. 28.-The house was full of serious hearers at five. In the evening some gay young men made a little disturbance, and a large mob was gathered about the door; but in a short time, they dispersed of themselves. However, we thought it best to acquaint the mayor with what had passed; on which he ordered the city crier to go down the next evening, and proclaim, that all riots should be severely punished; and promised, if need were, to come down himself, and read the act of parliament. But it needed not: after his mind was known, none was

so hardy as to make a disturbance. I did not expect the mob at Nantwich (whither I was now much pressed to go) would be so quiet as that at Chester. We were saluted with curses and hard names, as soon as we entered the town. But from the time I alighted from my horse, I heard no one give us an ill word; and I had as quiet and attentive an audience as we used to have at Bristol, while I exhorted the "wicked to forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts."

Sat. 31.-I preached at Boothbank, where I met Mr. C―, late gardener to the Earl of W- - Surely it cannot be! Is it possible the Earl should turn off an honest, diligent, well tried servant, who had been in the family above fifty years, for no other fault than hearing the Methodists? In the evening I preached at Manchester, and on Monday, April 2, at Davy Hulme. Here I found (what I had never heard of in England) a whole clan of infidel peasants. A neighbouring alehouse keeper drinks, and laughs, and argues into Deism, all the ploughmen and dairymen he can light on. But no mob rises against him; and reason good: Satan is not divided against himself.

Wed. 4.-I made an end of examining the society at Manchester; among whom were seventeen of the dragoons. It is remarkable, that these were in the same regiment with John Haime, in Flanders; but they utterly despised both him and his Master, till they removed to Manchester: here it was that one and another dropped in, he scarce knew why, to hear the preaching. And they now are a pattern of seriousness, zeal, and all holy conversation. Thur. 5.-I rode to Bolton, and found the society just double to what it was when I was here last; and they are increased in grace no less than in number, walking closely with God, lovingly, and circumspectly with one another. and wisely toward those that are without.

Sat. 7.-1 rode to Chipping. Sunday, 8.—As soon as we came into the aisle of the church from the vestry, a man (since dead) thrust himself between Mr. Milner and me, and said, "You shall not go into the pulpit." I told him, "I am only going into the desk." He said, "But you shall not go there neither;" and pushed me back by main strength. Eight or ten noisy men joined with him quickly, and set themselves in battle array. Fearing some might take fire on the other side, I desired Mr. Milner to begin the service. After prayers (for he had no sermon with him) great part of the congregation followed us to the vicarage. They came thither again after the evening service; and God made them large amends for their little disappointment in the morning.

Mon. 9.-Mr. Milner rode with us to Kendal. I preached there in a large, convenient room, (the weather not allowing me to preach abroad,) where Mr. Ingham's society used to meet. I was a little disgusted at their manner of coming in and sitting down, without any pretence to any previous prayer or ejaculation; as well as at their sitting during the hymn, which indeed not one (though they knew the tune) sung with me. But it was far otherwise after sermon: for God spake in his word. At the second hymn every person stood up, and most of them sung very audibly and the greatest part of the society followed us to our inn; nor did they leave us till we went to rest.

Tues. 10.-We breakfasted at Ambleside, where our landlord appeared quite open to conviction. We spoke plainly to him, prayed with,