Sept. 1756, In London

Mon. 6.-I set out in the machine, and on Tuesday evening came to London.[ He went to London intending to print a new edition of his Notes (letter of Charles Wesley to Walker of Truro-see the latter's Life, p. 228).]

            Wednesday and Thursday [On Sept. 9 he wrote his first lettei to the Monthly Reviewers (Works, vol. x11i. p. 382).] I settled my temporal business. It is now about eighteen years since I began writing and printing books ; and how much in that time have I gained by printing? Why, on summing up my accounts, I found that on March I, 1756 (the day I left London last), I had gained by printing and preaching together, a debt of twelve hundred and thirty-six pounds.

Fri. 10.-I preached at a famous place, commonly called 'The Bull-and-Mouth Meeting,'[Bull-and-Mouth Street is a crossstreet leading from St. Martin's-le-Grand to Butcher Hall Lane. Here stood for many years a meeting-house built originally for the Quakers, who occupied it as early as the reign of Charles 11. They relinquished it in 1760, when the Sandemanians removed there, and Mr. Pike united with them. (Wilson's History and Antiquities of Dissenting Churches in London, vol. 11i. p. 364.) Wesley ceased preaching there Dec. 21, 1763. Neale's History of the Puritans mentions this famous place.] which had belonged, I suppose, near a hundred years, to the people called Quakers. As much of real religion as was ever preached there, I trust will be preached there still; and perhaps in a more rational scriptural, and intelligible manner.[ On Sept.   10 he wrote his second letter to Rev. Mr.   Clark  (Works,   vol. x11i. p. 212).    See above, p. 171.]

Sat. 11.-I read over Mr. Fry's Case of Marriage between Near Relations Considered.[ The title is 'John Fry: Marriage between near Kindred! London, 1756. Second ed. in 1773. See Gentleman's Magazine, 1788, pp. 882, 965 ; Monthly Review, vol. xv. p. 174.] It is the best tract I ever read upon the subject; I suppose the best that is extant. And two points, I think, he has fully proved: (I) that many marriages commonly supposed to be unlawful are neither contrary to the law of nature, nor the revealed law of God, nor the law of the land; (2) that Ecclesiastical Courts have no right to meddle with any case of this kind.[ On Sunday, Sept. 12, he preached at West   Street,   Snowsfields,   and   Moorfields ; and on Monday the I3th at Wapping.   Other preaching engagements not mentioned   in   the Journal during  this month are : Sunday the igth, Bull-andMouth, Foundery; and Friday, 24, Zoar.]

Thur. 16.-I walked over to Bishop Bonner's,[ On Sunday, Sept. 12, he preached at West   Street,   Snowsfields,   and   Moorfields ; and on Monday the I3th at Wapping.   Other preaching engagements not mentioned   in   the Journal during  this month are : Sunday the igth, Bull-andMouth, Foundery; and Friday, 24, Zoar.] and preached to a large and serious congregation. I found some faintness, the sun being extremely hot; but more in walking from thence to Westminster, where I preached at seven. In the night my old disorder returned, and gradually increased, in spite of all medicines. However, on Sunday and Monday it was so far suspended that I abated nothing of my usual employment.

Wed. 22.-I was considering I had not yet asked help of the Great Physician; and I resolved to delay no longer. In that hour I felt a change. I slept sound that night, and was well the next day.

OCT. 3, Sun.-My disorder returned as violent as ever; but I regarded it not while I was performing the service at Snowsfields in the morning, or afterward at Spitalfields; till I went to the Lord's Table in order to administer. A thought then came into my mind,' Why do I not apply to God in the beginning rather than the end of an illness?' I did so, and found immediate relief; so that I needed no further medicines.

Tues. 5.-I wrote a second letter to the authors of The Monthly Review[Works,   vol.   x11i.   p.   384    Foote ridicules this Review in his plays]-ingenious men, but no friends to the Godhead of Christ. Yet, upon further consideration, I judged it best to drop the controversy. It is enough that I have delivered my own soul; if they scorn, they alone shall bear it.

Sun. 10.-I preached to a huge multitude in Moorfields on 'Why will ye die, O house of Israel?' It is field-preaching which does the execution still; for usefulness there is none comparable to it.

Mon. 11.-I went to Leigh. Where we dined, a poor woman came to the door with two little children. They seemed to be half-starved, as well as their mother, who was also shivering with an ague. She was extremely thankful for a little food, and still more so for a few pills which seldom fail to cure that disorder.

In this little journey I read over a curiosity indeed-a French heroic poem, Voltaire's Henriade.[ Voltaire, Francois Mane Arouet de (1694-1778).    La Henriade:   first pub-

lished in French, London, 1728, 8vo. See Ruskin's Fors Clavigcra, letter 34, p. 7 (' most prosaic '); John Morley's Voltaire, p. 145] He is a very lively writer, of a fine imagination; and allowed, I suppose, by all competent judges, to be a perfect master of the French language ; and by him I was more than ever convinced that the French is the poorest, meanest language in Europe; that it is no more comparable to the German or Spanish than a bag-pipe is to an organ ; and that, with regard to poetry in particular, considering the incorrigible uncouthness of their measure, and their always writing in rhyme (to say nothing of their vile double rhymes, nay, and frequent false rhymes), it is as impossible to write a fine poem in French as to make fine music upon a jews'-harp.

Sat. 16.-I baptized Hannah C------, late a Quaker.    God,

as usual, bore witness to His ordinance. A solemn awe spread over the whole congregation, and many could not refrain from tears.[ On the 16th he began a long letter to James Hervey concerning his recently published  Theron and Asfasio (Works, vol. x p. 317-35).    See above, p. 103.]

Wed. 20.-I received the following letter :

REV. SIR,

The glory of God and the good of mankind are the motives that induce me to write the following.  As it is our duty to do all we can to make all around us happy, I think there is one thing that may be done to promote so blessed an end, which will at the same time be very advantageous to them that practise it; namely, to efface all the obscene words which are written on houses, doors, or walls by evil-minded men. This, which I recommend to others, I constantly practise myself; and if ever I omit doing it, I am severely checked, unless I can produce some good reason for that omission. I do it with a sponge, which for that purpose I carry in my pocket. The advantages I reap from hence are : (I) peace of conscience in doing my duty; (2) it helps me to conquer the fear of man, which is one of my greatest trials ; (3) it is matter of joy that I can do any the least service to any one : and as all persons, especially the young, are liable to temptations to impurity, I cannot do too much to remove such temptations, either from myself or others. Perhaps, too, when the unhappy writers pass by, and see their bad labors soon effaced, they may be discouraged from pursuing so shameful a work; yea, and brought to a better mind.

Perhaps in some places it might not be amiss, in the room of what is effaced, to write some serious sentence, or short text of Scripture; and, wherever we do this, would it not be well to lift up our heart to God, in behalf of those sinners, in this or the like manner : ' Lord, lay not this sin to their charge! Father, forgive them ; for they know not what they do!'?

Mon. 25.-I began reading that excellent book, The Gospel Glass,[ Stuckley [Stukely], Lewis, preacher in Exeter Cathedral; ejected for Nonconformity, 1662. A Gospel Class, representing the Miscarriages of English Professots, &c., London, 1667. See W.H.S. vol. iv. p. 109.] to the morning congregation : a method which I find more profitable for ' instruction in righteousness' than any other manner of preaching.

Tues. 26.-I began reading over, with the preachers that were in town, Mr. Pike's Philosophia Sacra.[ See Tyerman, vol. 11. p 260 . W.H.S. vol. iv. p. 108 : Works, vol. xu. p. 464. Why he should apparently waste time by reading with his London preachers an author in whose teaching he had no confidence can only be explained on the supposition that this and similar books were being read, and he judged it prudent to guide, and if necessary correct, the reading. Thomas Walsh, whose extraordinary knowledge of Hebrew he notes in his letter to Dean D., was a powerful intellectual force at this time, and was now with Wesley. The letter to Dean

D. (Works, vol. x11. p. 464) should be read. Incidentally, this is one of many proofs that Wesley bestowed all the time he could spare from other and still more pressing duties, and his best thought, on the training of his preachers. He made the itinerancy a peripatetic school of learning.] It contains the marrow of Mr. Hutchinson's philosophy clearly and modestly proposed ; but, upon a close examination, I found the proofs were grievously defective. I shall never receive Mr. Hutchinson's creed, unless ipse dixit pass for evidence.

Sat. 30.-I yielded to importunity, and spent an hour with poor Mr. V------, who was awakened and found peace in attending our preaching, and soon after turned Quaker. I did wonder at it once, but I do not now. One so full of himself might turn Papist or Mahometan.[ During October he preached at Clapham, and in November at West Street, The Bull-and-Mouth, and Snowsfields.]

Nov. 1, Monday, was a day of triumphant joy, as All-Saints' Day generally is.[ It was always observed by Wesley. See below, Nov. I, 1766, and 1767.] How superstitious are they who scruple giving God solemn thanks for the lives and deaths of His saints!

Tues. 9.-Having procured an apparatus on purpose, I ordered several persons to be electrified, who were ill of various disorders ; some of whom found an immediate, some a gradual, cure. From this time I appointed, first some hours in every week, and afterward an hour in every day, wherein any that desired it might try the virtue of this surprising medicine. Two or three years after, our patients were so numerous that we were obliged to divide them; so part were electrified in Southwark, part at the Foundery, others near St. Paul's, and the rest near the Seven Dials. The same method we have taken

ever since ; and to this day, while hundreds, perhaps thousands, have received unspeakable good, I have not known one man, woman, or child, who has received any hurt thereby. So that, when I hear any talk of the danger of being electrified (especially if they are medical men who talk so), I cannot but impute it to great want either of sense or honesty.

Fri. 12.-I read over Leusden's Dissertation in Defence of the Hebrew Points [Jan Leusden, Dutch Orientalist, (1624-99) 5 Dissertation in Defence of the Hebrew Points (W.H.S. vol. iv. p. 109).] and was fully convinced there is at least as much to be said on this as on the other side of the question ; but how is it that men are so positive on both sides while demonstration is to be had on neither? Certainly to be peremptory and dogmatical can never be so inexcusable as in a point so doubtful as this.

Mon. 22.-I read with the preachers this week the Glasgow Abridgement of Mr. Hutchinson's Works [W.H.S. vol. iv. p. 109 ; below, p. 280.] wherein the abridgers have expressed, with surprising exactness, not only his sense, but his very spirit. But, in truth, I cannot admire either; nay, I admire his hypothesis less and less, as I see the whole is unsupported by Scripture. Very ingenious, but quite precarious.[ Nov. 30, at Lewisham: Preface to The Doctrine of Original Sin ( Works, vol. ix. p. 192). In December he wrote a letter to ' a friend ' (Whitehead's Life, vol. 11. p. 286).]

Dec. 1, Wed.-One or two remarkable letters were put into my hands. Part of the first ran thus :

Blessed be God, who desireth not the death of a sinner! It pleased Him not to cut off my son in his sins. He gave him time to repent; and not only so, but a heart to repent. He showed him his lost estate by nature, and that, unless he was reconciled to God by His Son, and washed in His blood from all his sins, he could never be saved. After he was condemned at York for a robbery on the highway I attended him in the condemned room; and, blessed be God, He enabled me to preach the everlasting gospel to him. It was on Saturday he was condemned. It was on the Saturday following the Lord touched his heart. He then began to wrestle with God in prayer, and left not off till Sunday in the afternoon, when God, who is rich in mercy, applied the blood of His Son, and convinced him He had forgiven him all his sins. He felt his soul at peace with God, and longed to depart and to be with Christ. The following week his peace increased daily, till on Saturday, the day he was to die, he came out of the condemned room clothed in his shroud, and went into the cart.1 As he went on, the cheerfulness and composure of his countenance were amazing to all the spectators. At the place of execution, after he had spent some time in prayer, he rose up, took a cheerful leave of his friends, and said, ' Glory be to God for free grace!' His last words were, ' Lord Jesus, receive my soul.'

            Part of the other letter, wrote by himself to his wife, was as follows :

MY DEAR,

Righteous is the Lord, and just are His judgments! His hand of justice cuts my life short, but His hand of mercy saves my soul. You, for one, are a witness of the course of life I led. Were it in my power, I would gladly make amends to you and every one else that I have wronged. But, seeing it is not, I hope that God and you, and every one else, will accept of my willing mind. In a few hours I shall be delivered out of this miserable world. But, glory be to God, He has given repentance and remission of sins to me, the worst of sinners; He has taken away the sting of death, and I am prepared to meet my God. Let my example encourage every sinner to forsake sin and come unto God through Jesus Christ. As a dying man I give you this advice: give yourself wholly up to God. Pray to Him, and never rest till you have secured an interest in the blood of Christ. Live in His fear, and you (as well as I) shall die in His favor. So no more from

Your dying husband,

RICHARD VARLEY. YORK CASTLE, Aug. 20.

Mon. 6.-I began reading to our preachers the late Bishop of Cork's excellent Treatise on Human Understanding [Nov. 30, at Lewisham: Preface to The Doctrine of Original Sin ( Works, vol. ix. p. 192). In December he wrote a letter to ' a friend ' (Whitehead's Life, vol. 11. p. 286).] in most points far clearer and more judicious than Mr. Locke's, as well as designed to advance a better cause.

            Fri. 10.-A person who was dying of a cancer in her breast, and deeply convinced of sin, sent a post-chaise, in which I went to her at Epsom. I left her on Saturday morning in strong hope she should not go hence till her eyes had seen His salvation.

In my fragments of time, in the following week, I read Mr. Hanway's accurate History of Shah Nadir, commonly called Kouli Khan,[ See     W.H.S.    vol.    iv.    p.    109. Apparently he did not read the trading section of the work, but only the history of Nadir Kouli.] A scourge of God indeed! A prodigy of valor and conduct, but an unparalleled monster of rapine and cruelty. Alexander the Great, yea, Nero or Domitian, was an innocent in comparison of him.

Sun. 26.[ On the 22nd he wrote to Miss Furly (Works, vol. x11. p. 196).]-I buried the remains of Joseph Yarner, an Israelite indeed. The peace which filled his heart during his last hours gave such a bloom to his very countenance as remained after death, to the surprise of all who remembered the cloud that used to hang upon it.

1757. JAN. 3, Mon.-I visited a poor dying backslider, full of good resolutions; but who can tell when these imply a real change of heart? And when they do not, when they spring from fear only, what will they avail before God?[ The   Sermon    Register   gives,   for Mon. Jan. 3, texts used at the Foundery,West Street Chapel, and Bull-and-Mouth.]

Mon. 10.-I walked to Bishop Bonner's with Mr. D------,

lately entered at Cambridge, full of good resolutions. May God continue him humble and simple of heart! Then his sense and learning will do him good; but how great are the odds against him![ The date at end of one of the sections in Part 11. of Wesley's Doctrine of Original Sin (see below, p. 327) is Jan. 18, 1757, and Part 11. itself is signed ' Lewisham,' Jan. 25.]

Sat. 22.-I called upon one who did run well for several years, but for a considerable time he had cast off the very form of religion. Yet his heart was not utterly hardened. He determined to set out once more, and since that time he has been more confirmed in walking suitably to the gospel.[ In January Wesley also preached at Lewisham, Leigh, and Lambeth.]

Fri. 28.-Mr. Meier, chaplain to one of the Hanoverian regiments, called and spent an hour with me. I am surprised at the seriousness of all the German ministers with whom I

have had occasion to converse ; entirely different from that pertness and affectation of wit which is too common in our own country.[ Cf. another statement to the same effect, Jan. I, 1778.]

The following letter (which I received two or three months after) was dated on this day [His correspondence with the Rev. Samuel Davies, of Virginia, interested him, as did everything relating to the country in which he so painfully, yet for the sake of his real life-work so providentially, failed. Cf. above, pp. 125, 149.]:

Though you and I may differ in some little things, I have long loved you and your brother, and wished and prayed for your success, as zealous revivers of experimental Christianity. If I differ from you in temper and design, or in the essentials of religion, I am sure the error must lie on my side. Blessed be God for hearts to love one another!

As I knew your correspondence must be very extensive, and your labors various and incessant, I intended to have kept my peculiar love for you a secret till we arrived where seas shall no more roll between us. But your late pious charity [He refers to the books Wesley had sent.] constrains me to give you the trouble of a letter. I am confident God will attend it with His blessing, and render you useful at the distance of near four thousand miles.

How great is the honor God has conferred upon you in making you a restorer of declining religion! And after struggling through so much opposition, and standing almost single, with what pleasure must you behold so many raised up, zealous in the same cause, though perhaps not ranked under the same name, nor openly connected with you!

I am endeavoring, in my poor manner, to promote the same cause in this part of our guilty globe. My success is not equal to my wishes, but it vastly surpasses both my deserts and my expectation. I have baptized near one hundred and fifty adult negroes, of whom about sixty [The 1st ed. says ' fifty.'] are communicants. Unpolished as they are, I find some of them have the art to dissemble. But, blessed be God, the generality of them, as far as I can learn, are real Christians, and I have no doubt but sundry of them are genuine children of Abraham. Among them in the first place, and then among the poor white people, I have distributed the books you sent me.

I desire you to communicate this to your brother, as equally intended for him. And let me and my congregation, particularly my poor negro converts, be favored with your prayers.    In return for which I hope neither you nor your cause will be forgotten by, Reverend sir,

Your affectionate fellow laborer                               '

And obliged servant,

SAMUEL DAVIES. HANOVER (in VIRGINIA), Jan. 28, 1757.

Sun. 30.-Knowing God was able to strengthen me for His own work, I officiated at Snowsfields as usual before I went to West Street, where the service took me up between four and five hours. I preached in the evening, and met the society, and my strength was as my day. I felt no more weariness at night than at eight in the morning.

FEB. 6, Sun.-The number of communicants at Spitalfields made this Lord's Day a little more laborious than the former. But God added proportionally to my strength, so I felt no difference,

Thur. 10.-At the request of the author, I took some pains in correcting an ingenious book, shortly to be published. But the more I consider them, the more I doubt of all systems of astronomy. I doubt whether we can certainly know either the distance or magnitude of any star in the firmament. Else why do astronomers so immensely differ, even with regard to the distance of the sun from the earth?-some affirming it to be only three,[ The 1st ed. has ' twelve.'] others ninety, millions of miles!

About this time the following note was given into my hand at Wapping:

John White, master-at-arms aboard his Majesty's ship Tartar, now at Plymouth, desires to return Almighty God thanks for himself and all the ship's company for their preservation in four different engagements they have had with four privateers which they have taken, particularly the last, wherein the enemy first boarded them. They cleared the deck, boarded in their turn, and took the ship, thirty of the enemy being killed, and fifty more wounded. Only two of our crew were wounded, who, it is hoped, will recover.

Wed. 16.-Calling on a friend, I found him just seized with all the symptoms of a pleurisy.[ Cf. above, p. 156.    He lost no opportunity of practising his ' primitive physic,' in  the value   of  which   he   firmly believed, both for himself and his people.] I advised him to apply a brimstone plaster, and in a few hours he was perfectly well. Now to what end should this patient have taken a heap of drugs and lost twenty ounces of blood? To what end Why, to oblige the doctor and apothecary. Enough! Reason good![ On Feb. 18 he preached at the Bulland-Mouth.]

Tues. 22.-I preached at Deptford. Even this wilderness does at length ' blossom and bud as the rose.' Never was there such life in this little flock before, nor such an increase in the number of hearers.[ See E.M.P. vol. iv. p. 139.]

The following letter was wrote on Saturday the 28^th [For    the     remarkable     family    of Kitchens-father   and   four    sons-see Green's Bibliography, Nos. 89 and 102 ; Works,   vol.   x11i.   p.  341,  where this letter is given in shorter form, and the

writer is described as ' one of our preachers'; also above, vol. 11i. p. 263.]:

REVEREND AND DEAR SIR,

When I was at Freshford,  on January  30, in the morning I scrupled singing those words,

Ye now afflicted are,

And hated for His name,

And in your bodies bear

The tokens of the Lamb.

I thought I was not afflicted or hated for the name of Christ. But this scruple was soon removed, for at Bradford,[ In Wiltshire. Thomas Mitchell says: ' I went into Wiltshire, where Mr. Pearce, of Bradford, was a father to me.' So he was to Thomas Olivers in the horrors of small-pox and in a terror of debt. E.M-P. vol. I. p. 252 ; vol. 11. pp. 65, 72 ; also above, July 1751 ; and W.H.S. vol. vi. p. 116.] in the evening, I was pressed for a soldier, and carried to an inn where the gentlemen were. Mr. Pearce, hearing of it, came and offered bail for my appearance the next day. They said they would take his word for ten thousand pounds, but not for me ; I must go to the Round-house [Still standing. See W.H.S. vol. vi. p. 115.] (the little stone room on the side of the bridge); so thither I was conveyed by five soldiers. There I found nothing to sit on but a stone, and nothing to lie on but a little straw. But soon after a friend sent me a chair, on which I sat all night. I had a double guard, twelve soldiers in all-two without, one in the door, and the rest within. I passed the night without sleep, but not without rest; for, blessed be God, my peace was not broken a moment. My body was in prison, but I was Christ's freeman ; my soul was at liberty. And even there I found some work to do for God: I had fair opportunity of speaking to them who durst not leave me. And I hope it was not in vain.

In the morning I had leave to go to a private house with only one soldier to guard me. About three in the afternoon I was carried before the Commissioners, and part of the Act read, which empowered them to take such able-bodied men as followed no business and had no lawful or sufficient maintenance. Then I said, ' If these are the men you are to take, I am not a proper person, for I do follow a lawful calling in partnership with my brother, and have also an estate.' The Justice said, ' If you will make oath of that, I think we must let you go.' But the Commissioners said no man could swear for himself. 1 said, ' Gentlemen, give me time, and you shall have full proof.' After a long debate they took a fifty-pound bond for my appearance on that day three weeks. All the time I could bless God that He counted me worthy to suffer for His name's sake.

The next day I set out for Cornwall. I tarried at home four days, and then, setting out with my brother James, came to Bradford last Saturday. On Monday, in the afternoon, I appeared before the Commissioners with the writings of my estate. When the Justice had perused them, and my brother had taken his oath, I was set at liberty. So the fierceness of man turns to God's praise, and all this is for the furtherance of the gospel. I hope you will return God thanks for my deliverance out of the hands of unreasonable and

wicked men.

                        William Hitchens.[ He was an itinerant preacher from 1745 to 1758.]

Sun. 27.-After the service at Snowsfields I found myself much weaker than usual, and feared I should not be able to go through the work of the day, which is equal to preaching eight times. I therefore prayed that God would send me help, and as soon as I had done preaching at West Street, a clergyman who was come to town for a few days came and offered me his service. So when I asked for strength, God gave me strength; when for help, He gave this also.

I had been long desired to see the little flock at Norwich, but this I could not decently do till I was able to rebuild part of the Foundery there, to which I was engaged by my lease. A sum sufficient for that end was now unexpectedly given me by one of whom I had no personal knowledge. So I set out on Monday the 28th, and preached in Norwich on Tuesday evening, MARCH I. Mr. Walsh had been there twelve or fourteen days, and not without a blessing. After preaching I entered into contract with a builder, and gave him part of the money in hand. On Wednesday and Thursday I settled all our spiritual and temporal business, and on Friday and Saturday returned with Mr. Walsh to London.

Sun. 6.-I had no help, and I wanted none, for God renewed my strength. But on Sunday the I3th, finding myself weak at Snowsfields, I prayed (if He saw good) that God would send me help at the chapel, and I had it. A clergyman whom I never saw before came and offered me his assistance, and as soon as I had done preaching, Mr. Fletcher[Rev. John Fletcher. John William de la Flechere, born at Nyon, Switzerland, in 1729. A military officer, in 1752 he came to England and obtained a tutorship in the family of Thomas Hill, M.P., Tern Hall, Shropshire. In the parliamentary season he accompanied the family to London, heard the Methodists, and joined the society (probably at West Street). After consulting Wesley, he took orders in the Church of England. He was ordained at Whitehall and hastened to West Street to help Wesley. From this time onward he became Wesley's close ally in personal friendship, work, and controversy-his confidential adviser. For Fletcher's correspondence with Wesley in 1756 with respect to his acceptance of a title to ordination, and, a month later, with reference to ' the sacrament in your chapels,' see Collection of Letters on

Sacred Subjects, Dublin, 1784, p. 17; Meth. Mag. 1798, p. 92 (quoted in Tyerman's Life of Wesley, vol. 11. p. 263). See also, and especially, Wesley's ' Short Account of the Life and Death of Rev. John Fletcher' (Works, vol. xi. PP273-36S) and Tyerman's Wesley's Designated Successor. In Wesley's Sermon Register ' C,' the Chapel, is always West Street. Dr. George Smith (Hist, of Methodism, vol. I. p. 276) says that Fletcher came to the Foundery; Tyerman says that he came to Snowsfields ; but both are wrong. 11 the absence of proof to the contrary, Wesley's statement in the text holds field. Moreover, it was physically im-l probable, if not impossible, that Fletchi could have reached either the Foundei or Snowsfields in time for the com' munion service so quickly after his ordt nation at Whitehall.] came, who had just then been ordained priest, and hastened to the chapel on purpose to assist, as he supposed me to be alone.

Mon. 14.-I went with T[homas] Walsh to Canterbury, where I preached in the evening with great enlargement of spirit, but with greater in the morning, being much refreshed at the sight of so large a number of soldiers. And is not God able to kindle the same fire in the fleet which He has already begun to kindle in the army?

Wed. 16.-I had the satisfaction to find an old stout-hearted sinner, who had been defying God for near fourscore years, now become as a little child, and complaining'-of his own ignorance and ingratitude to God.

Fri. 18.-I returned to London.[ And preached at Snowsfields.]

Sun. 20.-Mr. Fletcher helped me again. How wonderful are the ways of God! When my bodily strength failed, and none in England were able and willing to assist me, He sent me help from the mountains of Switzerland, and an helpmeet for me in every respect. Where could I have found such another?[ On   March   24,  from   London, he wrote to Thomas  Olivers  (Meth.  Sec. Sept. 23, 1881, p. 717).]

Fri. 25.-After I had read to a serious clergyman the conclusion of The Doctrine of Original Sin, [March 23 is the date at the end of Part   IV.     See   Green's   Bibliography, No. 182; Works, vol. ix. pp. 196-464; W.H.S. vol. v11i. p. 53.] he moved that we might spend some time in prayer. And I found great liberty of spirit in praying for Dr. Taylor, and a strong hope that God would show him ' the truth as it is in Jesus.'

About this time many of the children of God rested from their labors.

On Sunday the 13th I buried Elizabeth Langdon, who, after severe inward trials, was for several days in great pain, but in great peace. On Sunday the 2oth I buried Hannah Lee, a pattern of industry, meekness, and patience. And on Sunday the 27th I buried Mary Naylor,[ March 23 is the date at the end of Part   IV.     See   Green's   Bibliography, No. 182; Works, vol. ix. pp. 196-464; W.H.S. vol. v11i. p. 53.] who for several years was a most eminent pattern of truly Christian courage, plainness of speech, and plainness of apparel. A week before I had an opportunity of telling her all that was in my heart concerning her change (not for the better) in all these particulars. In the beginning of her illness she was in great darkness and distress of soul, but while prayer was made for her her bodily pain ceased and her soul received comfort; and on Monday the 21^st, just at midnight, she fell asleep.

April 1757

In Liverpool

In the afternoon I rode to Dudley, where the work of God increases greatly, notwithstanding the immense scandal which has been given by those who once rejoiced in the love of God. One of these has lately killed his own child by a blow upon the head. After preaching I talked with M. B., who has been long ' a mother in Israel.'

I was under strong convictions [said she] when twelve or thirteen years old, and soon after found peace with God. But I lost it by degrees, and then contented myself with living a quiet, harmless life till Mr. Charles Wesley came to Wednesbury in the year 1742. Soon after this my convictions returned, though not with terror, as before, but with strong hope, and in a little time I recovered peace and joy in believing. This I never lost since, but for forty-eight hours (by speaking angrily to my child). Not long after Mr. Jones talked particularly with me about the wickedness of my heart. I went home in great trouble, which did not cease, till one day, sitting in my house, I heard a voice say, in my inmost soul, ' Be ye holy; for I am holy.' From that hour for a year and a quarter (though I never lost my peace) I did nothing but long and weep and pray for inward holiness. I was then sitting one day, Aug. 23, 1744, about eight in the morning, musing and praying as usual, when I seemed to hear a loud voice, saying at once to my heart and to my outward ears, ' This day shall salvation come to this house.' I ran upstairs, and presently the power of God came upon me, so that I shook all over like a leaf. Then a voice said, ' This day is salvation come to this house.' At the instant I felt an entire change. I was full of love and full of God. I had the witness in myself that He had made an end of sin and taken my whole heart for ever. And from that moment I have never lost the witness nor felt anything in my heart but pure love.

Sun. 17.-The rain constrained me to preach within at eight, though the house would ill contain the congregation; but we prayed that God, if He saw good, would 'stay the bottles of heaven' for the sake of those at Wednesbury. And before we came thither the rain stayed, so that I proclaimed Christ crucified in the open air to such a congregation as no house could have contained. At five I preached to a still larger congregation on ' He that believeth shall be saved.'

As soon as I had done the rain returned, and continued great part of the night.

Mon. 18.-In the evening I preached at Bilbrook to an earnest congregation, and joined twenty of them in a society, one of whom had Christ clearly revealed in him thirty years ago; but he could find none who understood what he said till the Methodists (so called) came. He clave to them immediately, rejoicing with them, and over them, who were partakers of like precious faith.[ He preached at Alpraham probably on the i8th (Sermon Register); also, in April, at Dewsbury.]

Tues. 19.-Between Nantwich and Poole a thick, black cloud came across us, out of which issued such a violent wind as was ready to bear us off our horses; but in five minutes' time the wind fell, and the cloud bore clear away.

Wed. 20.-The congregation at Chester in the evening was as quiet and serious as that at the Foundery, and the society was near a third part larger than when I was here in autumn.

Thur. 21.-I rode to Liverpool,[ See Tyerman, vol. ii. p. 274; W.H.S. vol. ii. p. 67; Myles's Chron. Hist. p. 448.  'James Schofield' appears in the account-book of the Manchester Round. Wesley preached in and around Liverpool from the 2ist to the 3Oth.] where I found about half of those I left in the society. James S[cholefie]ld had swept away the rest, in order to which he had told lies innumerable. But none who make lies their refuge will prosper. A little while and his building will moulder away.

Sun. 24.-We had two very useful sermons at St. Thomas's church[' Our parish church,' Wesley calls it; see May 6, 1759, April 5, 1761, March 22, 1778. It stood about midway between the Custom House and Pitt Street Chapel. It was consecrated in 1750. the year of the erection of the first Pitt Street, and demolished in 1906. This was not the 'Old Church,' which was named St. Nicholas.]: the one on counting the cost before we begin to build, the other on ' Be ye angry, and sin not.' And both of them were exactly suitable to the present case of many in the congregation.

The upper part of the high spire of the church was blown down in the late storm. The stones, being bound together by strong iron cramps, hung waving in the air for some time. Then they broke through roof, gallery, pews, and pavement, and made a deep dint in the ground.

Mon. 25.-I walked to the Infirmary, standing on a hill, at the north end of the town. The Seamen's Hospital is joined to it on each side by semicircular piazzas. All is extremely clean and neat, at least equal to anything in London. The old seamen have smaller or larger allowance, according to their families; so that nothing is wanting to make their lives easy and comfortable-but the love of God.

I afterwards spent an hour with Mr. Peter Whitefield,[ See W.HS. vol. iv. pp. no, 151.] a man of strong understanding and various learning. His Dissertation in Defence of the Hebrew Points (which he sent me the next morning) is far more satisfactory than anything which I ever heard or read upon the subject.

Thur. 28.-I talked with one who, by the advice of his pastor, had, very calmly and deliberately, beat his wife with a large stick till she was black and blue almost from head to foot. And he insisted it was his duty so to do, because she was surly and ill-natured; and that he was full of faith all the time he was doing it, and had been so ever since.

Sat. 30.-I took a view of the Free School, a truly noble benefaction. Here seventy boys and thirty girls are entirely provided for. The building forms three sides of a square, and is rather elegant than magnificent. The children are taught to work, in their several ways, as well as to read and write. The school, the dining-rooms, and the lodgings are all plain and clean. The whole was the gift of one man, Mr. Blundell, a merchant of Liverpool.

MAY 2, Mon.-\ preached at Warrington about noon to a wild, staring people (very few excepted), who seemed just ripe for mischief. But the bridle was in their jaws. In the evening I preached at Manchester.[ Early in May he preached at Bolton.]

Wed. 4.-I rode over to Hayfield, and preached at one in the church to a congregation gathered from all parts.

Thur. 5.-I inquired of John Johnson concerning Miss Beresford.[ ' Miss Judith Beresford-a sweet, but short-lived flower.' See above, p. 110]

 The sum of his account was this:

She was always an innocent, sober young woman, having the form of godliness, till she was convinced of sin, and soon after justified. She was a pattern both of piety and industry. Notwithstanding her fortune and her sickliness, she was never unemployed; when she had no other work, working for the poor. And the whole tenor of her conversation was such that it is still a common saying,' If Miss Beresford is not gone to heaven, nobody ever will.'

She had a vehement love to the word of God, and spared no pains in order to hear it. Frequently she would not go to bed all night lest she should miss the morning preaching. She lost no opportunity of meeting with her brethren, to whom her heart was closely united : nor was she afraid or ashamed to own the poorest of them, wherever she met them, and whatever company she was in. The very sight of them occasioned a joy in her soul which she neither could nor desired to hide.

When her weakness confined her to her room she rejoiced with joy unspeakable; more especially when she was delivered from all her doubts concerning Christian perfection. Never was any one more athirst for this, for the whole mind that was in Christ. And she earnestly exhorted all her brethren vehemently to press after it.

The more her bodily strength decayed, the more she was strengthened in spirit. She called upon all that were with her, ' Help me to rejoice; help me to praise God'; having no fear, but a jealousy over herself lest she should exceed in her desire to be with Christ.

As soon as I came to Ashbourne she sent for me, and broke out, ' I am just at my journey's end. What a mercy that I, who have done so little for God, should be so soon taken up to Him! Oh, I am full of the love of God! I dare not exercise my faith fully upon God. The glory of the Lord is so great that I cannot bear it; I am overwhelmed; my natural life is almost gone with the brightness of His presence. Sometimes I am even forced to cry out, Lord, stay Thy hand till I come into glory? I asked, 'Have you lately felt any remains of sin in you?' She said, ' I felt pride some weeks ago.' And it seems this was the last time. She added,' I have now no will; the will of God is mine. I can bring my dearest friends before the Lord; and, while I am praying for them, the glory of the Lord so overpowers me that I am lost, and adore in silence the God of heaven.' She cried out, ' Tell all from me that perfection is attainable; and exhort all to press after it. What a blessing is it that I have no weary hours; though I am confined to my bed night and day, and can take scarce anything but water to refresh me, yet I am like a giant refreshed with wine.'

Afterward she broke out, ' If I had lived in what the world calls pleasure, what a miserable creature should I have been now! What should I be if I had no God on my side? When the fire has made me bright, then I shall go to my God.' She prayed largely for all states of mankind; but particularly for the prosperity of the Church, and for the society at Ashbourne, that God would continue and increase His work among them.

When she altered for death, she called for her mother and brothers, to each of whom she gave an earnest exhortation. Then she said, ' Now I have no more to do here; I am ready to die. Send to Mr. Wesley, and tell him I am sorry I did not sooner believe the doctrine of perfect holiness. Blessed be God, I now know it to be the truth!' .After greatly rejoicing in God for two days more, she said one morning,' I dreamed last night I heard a voice, Christ will come to-day for His bride. It is for me. He will come for me to-day.' And a few hours after, without one struggle, or sigh, or groan, she sweetly fell asleep.

One who was intimately acquainted with her writes thus:

Glory be to God for the blessed privilege I enjoyed of being with her, night and day, for a month before she died! When I went to her first, she had kept her bed some days, and was extremely weak. And yet she spoke considerably plainer than ever I heard her in my life. She called as soon as I entered the room, 'My dear friend, give me your hand. Let us rejoice that my time is so near approaching. Do not mourn; you know it is what we expected.' I was soon brought to wish her safe on the happy shore. She said,' This is true friendship. But how is it-that I do not feel greater transports of love, now I am so near the time of seeing my Lord face to face? Indeed I am ashamed to approach Him before whom the angels veil their faces!' She often said,' I take it as a fresh token of His love that He sent you to me at this time.' Her pains were great; but she bore all with invincible patience and resignation, and often said, ' I find it good for me to be afflicted; in His time I shall come out thoroughly purified.' Afterward she said, ' I experience more upon this bed of my own nothingness, and the free grace of God in Christ, than ever I did in all my life. The best of my performances would be damnable without Christ.'

Several days before her death her love was so great that she cried, ' I am overcome, I am overcome, I am overcome!' And when she had scarce strength to speak she praised God in a wonderful manner. Even when she was light-headed her talk was wholly concerning the things of God. She called to Mr. Wesley, as if he had been by her, and said, ' O sir, how hard it is for the rich to enter into the kingdom of heaven! I am saved; but I am but just saved.' When her fever abated she told me she had dreamed that she was with him. And sometimes I could scarce persuade her but he had been there.

She after asked if I saw no more appearance of death in her face yet. When I told her there was, she begged I would indulge her with a looking-glass; and, looking earnestly into it, she said with transport, ' I never saw myself with so much pleasure in my life.'

On Saturday morning at six she said, ' My Savior will come today and fetch His bride.' Yet about eight she said, ' If you had felt what I have done this morning, it would have killed you. I had lost sight of God.' (Perhaps in the last conflict ' with principalities and powers.') From this time she was filled with joy, but spoke little. Her eyes were still lifted up to heaven, till her soul was released, with so much ease that I did not know when she drew her last breath.

So died Judith Beresford, as it were a hundred years old, at the age of twenty four. A little more of her life and of her spirit may be learned from one or two of her letters.

How can you love me, since there is still such a mixture of evil in all I say and do? But why should I ask this question? The Lord Himself loves me; and in the late dispensation of His providence He has mercifully discovered to me some sins of a refined nature, which before I was almost ignorant of, and now wait and pray to be delivered from. And I can joyfully add, the Lord is nigh to all that call upon Him. He will fulfill my desire, though not as I desired; His way and His will are best. But how long shall I acknowledge this without implicitly submitting to it? My own will I am apt to think good in such cases, and to grieve when it is crossed. So that I easily discern how needful it is for me to be tried, and made to sacrifice to the Lord of that which costs me something. I need not say-for the above, alas! will tell you-that I cannot answer all your questions in the affirmative; for did I continually find God present with me, and always walk in the light of His countenance, most surely there could be no part dark in me. Yet this I can say, that I see His hand stretched out to save and to deliver; and my trust is that before I go hence I shall behold all His salvation; and if it can serve any good purpose, He will open my lips to declare His praise, and let a poor creature glorify Him in her death. For this I pray, and rejoice in hope, knowing the God whom I serve is able to fulfill in me all the good pleasure of His will, and the work of faith with power.

As to the shadows of this world, I think I may truly say they are as nothing to me. The evil (for certainly it must be some) that at times interposes between God and my soul is, I believe, of a more spiritual nature. The stirrings of pride I sometimes feel, and, I trust, shall bewail as long as one spark remains.

My dear friend, adieu! I trust we shall have a happy meeting at last.  In the meantime, I am persuaded a few lines from you would add greatly to my peace and comfort. I am your very loving, and (I hope) obedient child,

J. B., September 7, 1756

In answer to a letter wherein I desired some account of her experience she wrote as follows:

How does it add to the glory of the Almighty Saviour that, from my very infancy, this rebel heart has felt the drawings of His love! Therefore since you desire to know how I was first convinced that I was a poor guilty sinner, I must begin with saying that goodness and mercy have followed me all my days. But I know not how to proceed; the workings of sin and grace that I have felt are beyond description. Yet out of the mouth of babes and sucklings the Lord can perfect praise.

My childhood was spent in much simplicity and peace. The Lord drew me to Himself with the cords of love, and I found great joy in pouring out my soul before Him. Original sin I was quite ignorant of; but actual sins I felt and bewailed; and after some time spent in weeping for them, I felt peace, and renewed my resolutions. But they could not last long; for pride, envy, and all manner of evil now sprung up in my heart. Yet at times I had strong convictions, and often resolved to be very serious when I was older.

So I went on from eight or ten years old till seventeen; then I was indeed as bad as bad could be, desired nothing but to be admired, and was filled with all that foolish vanity which poor young women are most prone to. Christmas 1750, I was advised to partake of the Lord's Supper. I knew it was right, but was conscious of my ignorance and unfitness for it. However, I endeavored to prepare myself, and was pretty well satisfied, after I had made a formal confession of my sins, and shed some tears for them.

About this time there was a great talk of Methodism, and a cousin of mine was brought to seek the Lord. I went to visit her in January 1751, and told her, before I came away, I knew I was not what I ought to be, and should be glad to be instructed. From this time we carried on a correspondence, and by degrees light broke in upon my heart. But, alas! Though I well knew that in me was no good thing, and seemed to disclaim my own righteousness, yet the idol lurked within, and I really trusted in my own prayers and other duties. In this manner I went on that whole year, toward the end of which my corruptions were more violent. Sin took occasion by the commandment, and I was often ready to be carried away by the torrent.

February 1752, it pleased God to take my dear friend. This appeared to me a heavy judgment; yet I afterwards saw how it was tempered with mercy, as it taught me to trust in none but the everlasting arm. Her death happily proved the occasion of her elder sister's conversion. The blessing of a Christian friend was restored to me, and we received each other as from the Lord.

In 1753 and 1754 I had great outward afflictions, and at times strong inward conflicts; though, blessed be God, I generally found comfort in pouring out my complaints before Him. But towards the end of 1754 I began to feel my hope decline; and for several nights in secret prayer I was in strong agony of spirit. The Lord then, while I was upon my knees, stripped off all my fig-leaves. At the same time He showed me the all-sufficiency of Jesus Christ to save sinners, to save me, the chief; and I was enabled to cry out, ' My Lord and my God! I have redemption in Thy blood.' From this happy time I went on my way rejoicing, though I was at times grievously assaulted, both by the stirrings of my old corruptions, and temptations from the devil, blasphemous thoughts in particular. I always experienced something of this before the sacrament; but the Lord made a way for me to escape.

In the beginning of the year 1755 we had preaching near Ashbourne. This I had wished for long; and now I was honored with suffering a little for the name of Christ. At first I was rather ashamed, but the Lord strengthened me; and so great a blessing did I find by conversing with these dear people that I feared none of those things which I did or might suffer. My acquaintances were now less fond of my company, and they that looked upon me shaked their heads. This proved an unspeakable blessing; for often had I cause to fear the love of men.

From the time of my becoming serious, or rather beginning to aim at it, my health visibly declined. This at first occasioned me some trouble, because all cried out it was being too religious; but afterwards I saw great mercy in this chastisement, and the consequences of it; one of which was that I had a just excuse, even in the judgment of others, for refraining from many things which in my circumstances could not otherwise have been avoided without great opposition from those who were near and dear unto me. Not that I ever fasted : God knows I have been deficient in this as well as every other duty; but I had a happy liberty of using some little self-denial, for which the Lord be praised!

Oh how has He led me and carried me in His bosom! Is it not wonderful? And yet I have not told you a tenth part; but the time fails, and my strength fails. Praise God with me, and let us magnify His name together.

I believe this was one of the last letters she wrote. Shortly after she was called hence.

So unaffected, so composed a mind,

So firm yet soft, so strong yet so refined,

Heaven, as its purest gold, with torture tried;

The saint sustained it-but the woman died.[ From Pope's epitaph on Mrs. Corbet.]

An account of a widely different nature I received about] this time from Ireland:

Thomas B., about three miles from Tyrrell's Pass, was at the point of death by a violent rupture. While they were praying for him in the society he was at once restored to perfect health. He continued in health for several years, and in the knowledge and love of God; but no sooner did he return to folly than his disorder returned, and in some months it put an end to his life. He died as stupid as an ox.

May 1757

In Yorkshire

Mon. 9.-I rode over the mountains to Huddersfield. A wilder people I never saw in England. The men, women, and children filled the street as we rode along, and appeared just ready to devour us. They were, however, tolerably quiet while I preached; only a few pieces of dirt were thrown, and the bellman came in the middle of the sermon, but was stopped by a gentleman of the town. I had almost done when they began to ring the bells; so that it did us small disservice. How intolerable a thing is the gospel of Christ to them who are resolved to serve the devil!

Wed. 11.-I preached, about one, at Wakefield, in a small meadow[The meadow is mentioned again on] near the town. When I began the sun shone exceeding hot, but in a few minutes it was covered with clouds. The congregation was more quiet and serious than ever I saw there before. Almost as soon as I had done speaking the sun broke out again.

Thur. 12.-I finished Dr. Roger's Essay on the Learning of the Ancients? I think he has clearly proved that they had microscopes and telescopes, and knew all that is valuable in the modern astronomy; but, indeed, he has fully shown the whole frame of this to be quite uncertain, if not self-contradictory.

The latter end of the week I spent at Bradford.[ See Stamp's Methodism in Bradford, pp. 36-8.]

 Sun. 15.-At five the house[An old cock-pit near the junction of Bond Street with Aldermanbury, taken by the Society in 1756. See Dickons's Kirkgatt Chapel, pp. 30-32, with illustration of the building.] contained the congregation, but at eight they covered the plain adjoining to it. The sun was hot till the clouds interposed; it was a solemn and comfortable season. As soon as the service of the church was ended I began at the end of the house again, and exhorted a willing multitude to ' follow after charity.' A shower of rain and hail fell as I drew to a conclusion, but it did not disturb the congregation.

Soon after I took horse for Birstall. The congregation here was treble to that at Bradford, but, as they stood one above another on the circular slope of the hill, my voice commanded them all. Though I spoke longer than I usually do, I found no weariness or weakness. Shall not ' they that trust in the Lord renew their strength'? Yea, as long as the sun and

moon endures.

On Monday and Tuesday I preached in the neighboring

towns.[ During May he preached at Cleckheaton, Leeds, Redhill, Wigton, Wycombe, Warton, and Wednesbury. From ' Bristol' (see Works, vol. xii. p. 196- this should probably read ' Birstall') he wrote to Miss Furly (May 18).]

Wed. 18.-I rode in the afternoon, from Halifax, over the huge, but extremely pleasant and fruitful, mountains to Heptonstall. A large congregation was waiting for us, not only on the ground, but on the side and tops of the neighbouring houses. But no scoffer or trifler was seen among them. It rained in the adjoining valley all or most of the time that I was preaching, but it was fair with us on the top of the mountain. What an emblem of God's taking up His people into a place of safety while the storm falls on all below!

Here I was informed of the earthquake the day before. On Tuesday, May 17, many persons in several parts, within five or six miles, heard a strange noise under the ground, which some compared to thunder, others to the rumbling of carts. Quickly after they felt the earth rock under them and wave to and fro. Many who were within doors heard their pewter and glass clatter; many in the fields felt the ground shake under their feet; and all agreed as to the time, though they knew nothing of each other's account.

Thur. 19.-I preached at Ewood about seven, not intending to preach again till the evening; but Mr. Grimshaw begged I would give them one sermon at Gaulksholme, after which we climbed up the enormous mountain, I think equal to any I saw in Germany, on the brow of which we were saluted by a severe shower, which a high wind drove full in our faces almost till we came to Haslingden.[ Near Todmorden, where, in 1744, William Darney had preached and formed a society, as soon after he did at Heap Barn and Miller Barn (B. Moore, Burnley Methodism) One of the earliest converts was Mrs Sarah Fielden, mother of Rev. Joshua Fielden, who wrote her memoir (Meth Mag 1815, p. 443) T. E. Bngden {W.HS. vol. in. p 199) quotes details from John Stott's Notices of Methodism in Haslingden.For Gaulksholme see also below, p 332] Here I learned that the earthquake observed near Heptonstall had been sensibly felt by very many persons from Bingley, three miles eastward of Keighley, to the neighborhood of Preston. It was everywhere preceded by a hoarse rumbling about thiee o'clock, so that in a few minutes it had run from east to west, between fifty and sixty miles.

Fri. 20-I preached near Padiham at eight to a large, wild congregation [One of his ' wild' hearers was Robert Worsick, whose grandmother ran after Wesley brandishing an axe and threatening to kill him A year later a chapel was built, the trustees of which were William Grimshaw and two weavers, James Hunter and James Moor See Tyerman's Life of Wesley, vol 11. p. 275; B Moore's Burnley Methodism, p. 20; and Meth Kec. Feb. 14, 1907]; about noon at Roughlee, where those who stood firm in the storm had melted away in the calm. At Keighley I had neither voice nor strength left, but while I was preaching my strength returned.

Sat. 21.-I had a little conference with our preachers. In the afternoon I preached at Bingley. I have not lately seen so genteel a congregation, yet the word of God fell heavy upon them.

Sun. 22.-After preaching at five, I took horse for Haworth. A December storm met us upon the mountain, but this did not hinder such a congregation as the church could not contain. I suppose we had near a thousand communicants, and scarce a trifler among them. In the afternoon, the church not containing

1 THE PARISH CHURCH  HAWORTH  IN GRIMSHAW S TIME

2 THE OLD PARSONAGE  HAWORTH

3 WILLIAM GRIMSHAW

4 THE PULPIT NEAR THE WINDOW OF HAWORTH CHURCH

more than a third of the people, I was constrained to be in the churchyard. The rain began as soon as I began to speak, but they regarded it not, for God sent into their hearts-

The former and the latter rain;

The love of God, and love of Mon.[ From Charles Wesley's Version of Ps. cxxxiii.]

May 1757

In Cumberland

Mon. 23.-I took horse at four. It rained till noon without any intermission, and we had heavy showers in the afternoon; however, we reached Ambleside in the evening.

Tues. 24.-We rode by Keswick[He breakfasted at Keswick ( Works, vol. xii. p. 185).] to Whitehaven. Within a few miles of the town I was so tired that I could scarce either ride or walk, but all weariness was gone before I had preached a quarter of an hour.

Wed. 25.-I was surprised to see not only hedges and shrubs without a green leaf upon them, but abundance of trees likewise naked as in the depth of winter. Upon inquiring, I found that, some time before, a violent wind had gone through all these parts, which not only threw down chimneys, walls, and barns, and tore up trees by the roots, but scorched every green thing it touched as with fire, so that all the leaves immediately fell off, and not only bushes and fruit-trees, but elms, oaks, and firs withered away to the very roots.

Fri. 27.-I preached at Branthwaite about noon. Many of the congregation came from far. The rain was suspended from ten till evening, so that they had opportunity both of coming and returning. This also was an answer to prayer; and is any such too little to be remembered?[ On May 28, from Whitehaven, he wrote a letter to Blackwell-one of his most comforting letters (Works, vol. xii. p. 185).]

Sun. 29 (being Whit Sunday).-After preaching at eight and at two, I hastened to Cockermouth. I began without delay, and cried to a listening multitude,' If any man thirst, let htm come unto Me and drink.' The word had free course. Even the gentry seemed desirous to drink of the ' living water.'

Mon. 30.-I rode to Wigton,[ See article in Meth. Rec. Nov. 12, 1903, for Methodism in Wigton.] a neat, well-built town on the edge of Cumberland. I preached in the market-place at twelve.

The congregation was large and heavily attentive. Between four and five we crossed Solway Frith, and before seven reached an ill-looking house called the Brow, which we came to by mistake, having passed the house we were directed to. I believe God directed us better than Mon. Two young women, we found, kept the house, who had lost both their parents, their mother very lately. I had great liberty in praying with them and for them. Who knows but God will fasten something upon them which they will not easily shake off?

Tues. 31.-I breakfasted at Dumfries, and spent an hour with a poor backslider of London, who had been for some years settled there. We then rode through an uncommonly pleasant country (so widely distant is common report from truth) to Thornhill, two or three miles from the Duke of Queensberry's seat-an ancient and noble pile of building, delightfully situated on the side of a pleasant and fruitful hill. But it gives no pleasure to its owner, for he does not even behold it with his eyes. Surely this is a sore evil under the sun: a man has all things and enjoys nothing.

We rode afterward partly over and partly between some of the finest mountains, I believe, in Europe-higher than most, if not than any, in England, and clothed with grass to the very top. Soon after four we came to Leadhills, a little town at the foot of the mountains, wholly inhabited by miners.

June 1, Wed.-We rode on to Glasgow, a mile short of which we met Mr. Gillies1 riding out to meet us.

In the evening the tent (so they called a covered pulpit) was placed in the yard of the poorhouse, a very large and commodious place. Fronting the pulpit was the infirmary, with most of the patients at or near the windows. Adjoining to this was the hospital for lunatics; several of them gave deep attention. And cannot God give them also the spirit of a sound mind? After sermon they brought four children to baptize. I was at the kirk in the morning while the minister baptized several immediately after sermon, so I was not at a loss as to their manner of baptizing. I believe this removed much prejudice.

Fri. 3.-At seven the congregation was increased, and earnest attention sat on every face. In the afternoon we walked to the College and saw the new library, with the collection of pictures. Many of them are by Raphael, Rubens, Van Dyck, and other eminent hands; but they have not room to place them to advantage, their whole building being very small.

Sat. 4.-I walked through all parts of the old cathedral, a very large and once beautiful structure-I think more lofty than that at Canterbury, and nearly the same length and breadth. We then went up the main steeple, which gave us a fine prospect both of the city and the adjacent country. A more fruitful and better cultivated plain is scarce to be seen in England. Indeed, nothing is wanting but more trade (which would naturally bring more people) to make a great part of Scotland no way inferior to the best counties in England.

I was much pleased with the seriousness of the people in the evening, but still I prefer the English congregation. I cannot be reconciled to men sitting at prayer or covering their heads while they are singing praise to God.

Sun. 5.-At seven the congregation was just as large as my voice could reach, and I did not spare them at all. So, if any will deceive himself, I am clear of his blood. In the afternoon it was judged two thousand at least went away not being able to hear, but several thousands heard very distinctly, the evening being calm and still. After preaching I met as many as desired it of the members of the praying societies. I earnestly advised them to meet Mr. Gillies every week, and at their other meetings not to talk loosely and in general (as their manner had been) on some head of religion, but to examine each other's hearts and lives.

Mon. 6.-We took horse early, and in three hours reached the Kirk o' Shots, where the landlord seemed to be unusually affected by a few minutes' conversation, as did also the woman of the house where we dined. We came to Musselburgh at five. I went to an inn, and sent for Mr. Bailiff Lindsey, whom I had seen several years ago. He came immediately, and desired me to make his house my home. At seven I preached in the Poorhouse to a large and deeply attentive congregation; but, the number of people making the room extremely hot, I preached in the morning before the door. Speaking afterwards to the

members of the society, I was agreeably surprised to find more than two-thirds knew in whom they had believed. And the tree was known by its fruits. The national shyness and stubbornness were gone, and they were as open and teachable as little children. At seven five or six and forty of the fifty Dragoons, and multitudes of the town's-people, attended. Is the time come that even these wise Scots shall become fools for Christ's sake?

Wed. 8.-I rode to Dunbar.[ See Rankin's autobiography in E.M.P. (vol. v.) for account of early Methodism in Dunbar, especially pp. 140-2, 156-9. Andrew Affleck {Meth. Mag. 1813, p. 73) had been awakened before the Methodist preachers visited Dunbar by attending the prayer-meetings of some pious English Dragoons.] Here also I found a little society, most of them rejoicing in God their Savior. At eleven I went out into the main street, and began speaking to a congregation of two men and two women. These were soon joined by above twenty little children, and not long after by a large number of young and old. On a sudden the sun broke out and shone full in my face, but in a few moments I felt it not. In the afternoon I rode to Berwick-upon-Tweed. They did not expect me till the next day. However, a congregation quickly assembled, and one as large, if not larger, at five in the morning.

Thur. 9.-To-day Douglas[The play was written by the Rev.John Home, a minister of the Kirk. It was first performed Dec. 14, 1755. The author and certain ministers who attended the performance were cited by the Kirk. Home resigned June 7, 1757. About the objectionable lines pamphlets were written. See W.H.S. vol. iv. pp. 240, 241; also Dublin Univ. Mag. 1868, P659, quoted in W.H.S. above.] the play which has made so much noise, was put into my hands. I was astonished to find it is one of the finest tragedies I ever read. What pity that a few lines were not left out, and that it was ever acted at Edinburgh!

Fri. 10.-I found myself much out of order, till the flux stopped at once without any medicine; but being still weak, and the sun shining extremely hot, I was afraid I should not be able to go round by Kelso. Vain fear! God took care for this also. The wind, which had been full east for several days, turned this morning full west, and blew just in our face; and about ten the clouds rose, and kept us cool till we came to Kelso.

At six William Coward and I went to the market-house.[ Tyerman, Life of Wesley, vol. ii. p. 276.]

 We stayed some time, and neither man, woman, nor child came near us. At length I began singing a Scotch psalm, and fifteen or twenty people came within hearing, but with great circumspection, keeping their distance as though they knew not what might follow. But while I prayed their number increased, so that in a few minutes there was a pretty large congregation. I suppose the chief men of the town were there, and I spared neither rich nor poor. I almost wondered at myself, it not being usual with me to use so keen and cutting expressions, and I believe many felt that, for all their form, they were but heathens still.

Sat. 11.-Near as many were present at five, to whom I spoke full as plain as before. Many looked as if they would look us through; but the shyness peculiar to this nation prevented their saying anything to me, good or bad, while I walked through them to our inn.

June 1757

In Northumberland

            About noon I preached at Wooler, a pretty large town eighteen miles from Kelso. I stood on one side of the main street, near the middle of the town. And I might stand, for no creature came near me till I had sung part of a psalm. Then a row of children stood before me, and in some time about a hundred men and women. I spoke full as plain as I did at Kelso; and Pharisees themselves are not out of God's reach.

In the afternoon we came to Alnwick, and at six I preached in the court-house to a congregation of another spirit.[ During this journey he preached at Berwick.]

Sun. 12.-At seven they were gathered from all parts, and I was greatly refreshed among them. At five, the court-house being too small, I was obliged to go out into the market-place. Oh what a difference is there between these living stones and the dead, unfeeling multitudes in Scotland!

Mon. 13.-I proclaimed the love of Christ to sinners in the market-place at Morpeth. Thence we rode to Plessey. The society of colliers here may be a pattern to all the societies in England. No person ever misses his band or class, they have no jar of any kind among them, but with one heart and one

            Mind "provoke one another to love and to good works." After preaching I met the society in a room as warm as any in Georgia. This, with the scorching heat of the sun when we rode on, quite exhausted my strength; but after we came to Newcastle I soon recovered, and preached with as much ease as in the morning.[ On June 14, from Newcastle, he wrote to Miss Furly (vol. xii. p. 197). and to Mrs. Crosby (vol. xii. P353). On the 18th he again wrote to Miss Furly (vol. xii.p . 198)]

Thur. 16.-In the evening I preached at Sunderland. I then met the society, and told them plain none could stay with us unless he would part with all sin-particularly, robbing the King, selling or buying run goods, which I could no more suffer than robbing on the highway. This I enforced on every member the next day. A few would not promise to refrain, so these I was forced to cut off. About two hundred and fifty were of a better mind.

Sat. 18.-The desk was placed in the evening just opposite the sun, which, when I began, was covered with a cloud; but it broke out in a few minutes, and shone full in my face for three-quarters of an hour. But it was no inconvenience at all, nor were my eyes any more dazzled than if it had been under the earth.

July 1757

Tyneside

Sun. 19.-I preached at eight to the usual congregation, and hastened to Shields,[ See above, vol. iii. p. 170.] lest I should be too late for the church. Between twelve and one I preached in a kind of square. But here we had a new kind of inconvenience-every four or five minutes a strong wind covered us over with a shower of dust, so that it was not easy to look up or to keep one's eyes open. But not long after the rain began, which constrained me to preach within, at Newcastle. I took the opportunity of making a collection for the poor, many of whom can very hardly support life in the present scarcity.

Wed. 22.-In the evening and the following morning I preached at Chester-le-Street. Observing some very fine but not very modest pictures in the parlor where we supped, I desired my companion, when the company was gone, to put them where they could do no hurt. He piled them on a heap in a corner of the room, and they have not appeared since.

Thur. 23.-I preached at South Biddick about noon on ' I will heal thy backsliding.' God was with us at Sunderland in the evening in an uncommon manner, and the next day I left the people there more in earnest than they have been for some years.

Sat. 25.-We walked to Swalwell about noon. The sun was scorching hot, and there was no wind or cloud; but it did us no hurt. The congregation was such as I never saw there before, and I believe God blessed His word to them that were nigh, and them that had been far from Him.

Sun. 26.-I preached at Gateshead at eight, at Sheephill about noon, and at five in the evening at Newcastle, near Pandon Gate. The rain only threatened till I had done, but soon after poured down. How well does God time great and small events for the furtherance of His kingdom!

Mon. 27.-I preached at Horsley, and found some life even there. Thence we rode across the Tyne to Prudhoe, a little town on the top of a high hill. I preached at the side of Mr. H.'s house, and I suppose all the town who could get out. were present, and most of them at five in the morning. At both times it pleased God to make bare His arm, not only to wound but to heal.

Tues, 28.-I returned to Newcastle hoarse and weak; but who can be spent in a better cause?

Thur. 30.-I read Mr. Baxter's account of his own Life and Times. It seems to be the most impartial account of those times which has yet ever appeared. And none that I have seen so accurately points out the real springs of those public calamities.[ July i (or, more probably, July n), from York, letter to Miss Furly (Works, vol. xii. p. 199).]

July 3, Sun.-The high wind obliged me to stand on the western side of Gateshead. By this means the sun was just in my face. But it was not long before the clouds covered it. As I began speaking in the afternoon, near Pandon Gate, the rain began, scattered the careless hearers, and ceased. An earnest, attentive multitude remained, to whom I explained part of the Second Lesson for the day, concerning the 'joy' which is 'in heaven over one sinner that repents.'

July 1757

North-East Yorkshire

Mon. 4.-I took my leave of Newcastle, and about noon preached at Durham in a pleasant meadow, near the river's side. The congregation was large, and wild enough, yet in a short time they were deeply attentive. Only three or four gentlemen put me in mind of the honest man at London, who was so gay and unconcerned while Dr. Sherlock was preaching concerning the Day of Judgment. One asked, ' Do you not hear what the doctor says?' He answered, ' Yes; but I am not of this parish!' Toward the close I was constrained to mention the gross ignorance I had observed in the rich and genteel people throughout the nation. On this they drew near, and showed as serious an attention as if they had been poor colliers.

We took horse at two. The clouds and wind in our face kept us cool till we came to Hartlepool. Mr. Romaine [Rev. William Romaine, who was a native of Hartlepool, and whose father died here in this year (1757).] has been an instrument of awakening several here; but for want of help they soon slept again. I preached in the main street to near all the town, and they behaved with seriousness.

Tues. 5.-At seven in the evening I preached in the main street at Stockton. None but two or three gentlemen seemed unconcerned. I went thence to meet the society; but many others begged to stay with them, and so earnestly that I could not refuse. And indeed it was a day of God's power; I scarce know when we have found the like.

Wed. 6.-At eleven I preached near the market-place in Yarm. Many gentry were there, and all serious. I find in all these parts a solid, serious people, quite simple of heart, strangers to various opinions, and seeking only the faith that works by love; and most of the believers are waiting and longing for the fullness of the promises.

One young woman, late a Papist, I talked with at large, who last night took leave of her priest. Instead of staying to be sent for, she sent for him, and, after asking him several questions, frankly told him she had now found the true religion, and by the grace of God, would continue therein. She has been concerned for her soul from thirteen years of age. About two years ago she began to hear our preachers: soon after she found the peace of God, and has never lost it since.

About seven I preached at Osmotherley.[ Society Book : ' Laid out for Mr. John Wesley, Wm. Fugill, and Mich. Phenick [Fenwick] 2/6.' (Tyerman, vol. ii. p. 277.)]

Thur. 7.-I rode through one of the pleasantest parts of England to Hawnby.[ The circumstances mentioned make it clear that it was Hawnby Wesley visited, not Hornhy, the feet being familiar to the Hawnby villagers to this day. The scattered Methodist members about Snailesworth met in class at Hawnby, where a society was early formed.] Here the zealous landlord turned all the Methodists out of their houses. This proved a singular kindness, for they built some little houses at the end of the town, in which forty or fifty of them live together. Hence, with much ado, I found my way to Robin Hood's Bay, and preached on the quay to the greatest part of the town. All (except one or two, who were very wise in their own eyes) seemed to receive the truth in love.

This day, between Helmsley and Kirby Moorside, we rode over a little river, which suddenly disappears, and, after running a mile underground, rises again and pursues its course.[ See note on ' The Sinking River ' in W.H.S. vol. v. p. 129.]

Sun. 10.-I preached at seven on ' Repent and believe the gospel.' At the church, which stands on the hill, a mile from the town, we had a sound, useful sermon. Afterwards I preached at a little village called Normanby, and about five on the quay. In the evening, talking with the society, I saw more than ever the care of God over them that fear Him. What was it which stopped their growing in grace? Why, they had a well-meaning preacher among them, who was inflaming them more and more against the clergy. Nor could he advise them to attend the public ordinances, for he never went either to church or sacrament himself. This I knew not; but God did, and by His wise providence prevented the consequences which would naturally have ensued. William Manuel was pressed for a soldier,[ In the hands of a local solicitor is the following official document: 18th Dec. 1756.I acknowledge to have received from the hands of the Commissioners of the Land Tax for the Liberty of Whitby Strand in the North Riding of Yorkshire, who are likewise Commissioners for putting in execution an Act instituted for the speedy and effectual recruiting of His Majesty's Land Forces and Marines, John Gilbert, William Petts, and James Plane alias Daniel, who were pressed by the Constables according to the directions of the said Act, I say received by me the day and year above.-ISA. ANTROBUS, Lieut, in Major-General Holland's nth Reg. of Foot.

24/A Dec. 1756.I acknowledge to have received this day from the hands of the above Commissioners the persons hereinafter mentioned, that is to say, William Thompson and William Manuel, pursuant to the directions of the abovementioned Act. Witness my hand the day and year above.-ISA. ANTROBUS.See W.H.S. vol. vii. p. 70. Cf. Atmore's Memorial on William Thompson, who was the first President of the Conference subsequent to Wesley's death.] so the people go to church and sacrament as before.

Mon. 11.-We set out early. This and the three next days were the hottest I ever knew in England. A gentleman who formerly traded to Guinea assured me that the spirits in his thermometer (the same he had when abroad) rose as high as they did within a few degrees of the Line. About nine we should have been glad to bait; but, there being no inn to be found, we laj down for a quarter of an hour under some trees, and then rode on to Slingsby. The minister, an old acquaintance of my" father's, having desired to see me, I called at his house before I preached; and I could gladly have stayed longer with him, but I knew the congregation waited. One poor drunkard made a little disturbance, but after he was silenced all were still and steadily attentive.

It continued intensely hot; but, having the wind in our faces (as we generally had, all along from Newcastle, and that which way soever we rode), we received no hurt till we came to York. But the difficulty was how to preach there in a room which in winter used to be as hot as an oven. I cut the knot by preaching in Blake's Square, where (the mob not being aware of us) I began and ended my discourse to a numerous congregation without the least disturbance.

Tues. 12.- I set a subscription on foot for building a more commodious room.[ The chapel in Peaseholme Green (still standing as cottages, &c.) Land for this was not secured until 1759, when also the chapel was opened.  Lyth (Early Methodism in York) gives an engraving and lists of first trustees.] In the evening I preached at Acomb, to a calm, solid congregation. The next evening I preached at Poppleton, where the poor gladly received the gospel. The rich heard it,[ See Lyth's Methodism in York, p. 293.  Two of Wesley's 'rich' hearers became trustees of Peaseholme Green.] and even seemed to approve. God give them to understand and practice it!

SPECIMEN PAGE OF SERMON REGISTER, PARTLY IN JOHN WESLEY'S HANDWRITING.

IV]

July 1757

In Lincolnshire

Thur. 14.-I resolved to preach in the Square once more, knowing God has the hearts of all men in His hands. One egg was thrown, and some bits of dirt; but this did not hinder a large congregation from taking earnest heed to what was spoken, of Christ,' the power of God, and the wisdom of God.'

Fri. 15.-At three in the morning there were all the probable signs of a violent hot day; but about four God sent a cooling rain. It ceased about seven; but the clouds continued, and shaded us to Pocklington. Yet it was too hot to bear the house; so I stood in the main street and cried, ' If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink.' A large mob soon gathered on the other side; and, for fear they should not make noise enough, the good churchwardens hired men to ring the bells. But it was lost labor, for still the bulk of the congregation heard, till I quietly finished my discourse.

Before seven I reached Epworth, and preached in the market-place to a listening multitude.

            Sat. 16.-I rode on to Laceby, about thirty measured miles.[ Measured miles, i.e. versus computed. Previous to 1675, when the great roads were measured by Ogilby, distances were computed, and though always (sometimes as much as 30 per cent.) less than measured miles, postmasters were for more than a century afterwards paid by the computed distance.See above, vol. iii. p. 161, and Itincrarium Angliae, or a Book of Roads, 1675.]

 After so many long journeys which I hardly felt, this short one quite exhausted my strength. However, I quickly recovered, so as to preach at three in a meadow to a large congregation. They all kneeled when I prayed, and showed such a genuine simplicity as greatly revived my spirit. At seven I preached in the new room [In the yard of William Blow, erected largely through the exertions of Mr. Thomas Capiter (see below, July 22, 1772). (Meth. Rec. Dec. 8, 1898.)] which they have just finished at Grimsby.

Sun. 17.-At seven in the morning the house just contained the people. I designed to preach abroad in the afternoon, but the rain drove us into the house again. As many as could crowded in. The rest stood without, though many, I fear, were wet to the skin.[ He preached also on the 18th at Grimsby.]

Tues. 19.-Before I left Newcastle I heard a strange relation, which I knew not what to think of. I then desired Thomas Lee, who was going to the place, to inquire particularly concerning it.

He did so, and in consequence of that inquiry wrote me the following account:

R------J------lived about twelve miles from Newcastle. His son, some time since, married without his consent. At this he was so enraged that he wished his right arm might ,burn off if ever he gave or left him sixpence.

However, in March last, being taken ill, he made his will, and left him all his estate. The same evening he died. On Thursday the loth his widow, laying her hand on his back, found it warm. In the evening those who were with him went into the next room to take a little refreshment. As they were eating they observed a disagreeable smell, but could find nothing in the room to cause it. Returning into the room where the corpse lay, they found it full of smoke. Removing the sheet which covered the corpse, they saw (to their no small amazement) the body so burnt that the entrails were bare, and might be seen through the ribs. His right arm was nearly burnt off, his head so burnt that the brains appeared, and a smoke came out of the crown of his head, like the steam of boiling water. When they cast water upon his body it hissed just as if cast on red-hot iron. Yet the sheet which was upon him was not singed; but that under him, with the pillow-bier[i.e. pillow-case]

 and pillow, and the plank on which he lay, were all burned, and looked as black as charcoal.

They hastened to put what was left of him into the coffin, leaving some to watch by it; but, after it was nailed up, a noise of burning and crackling was heard therein. None was permitted to look into it till it was carried to Abchester churchyard. It was buried near the steeple. As soon as it was brought to the grave the steeple was observed to shake. The people hastened away; and it was well they did, for presently part of the steeple fell. So that, had they stayed two minutes longer, they must have been crushed in pieces. All these circumstances were related to me and my wife by those who were . eye and ear witnesses.[ See Charles Dickens's Preface to Bleak House.]

I preached in a ground adjoining to the house.[ In Grimsby.] Toward the conclusion of my sermon the person with whom I lodged was much offended at one who sunk down and cried aloud for mercy. Herself dropped down next, and cried as loud as her; | so did several others quickly after. When prayer was made for them, one was presently filled with peace and joy in believing.

In the morning I left the rest refusing to be comforted till Christ should be revealed in their hearts.

Wed. 20.-I preached at Ferry in my way, and in Epworth market-place about seven. The rain began just as I began speaking; but God heard the prayer, and it was stayed.

Sat. 23.-I preached at Westwoodside, where the breach of fifteen years[Harrison and R. Ridley's Moravian Quietism (see above, vol. iii. p. 19). He preached on the 21st at Epworth, and on the 23rd at Haxey.] is now healed, all the wanderers being returned to the fold, with him who led them astray.

Sun, 24.-As we rode over Haxey Car towards Misterton one was relating a surprising thing that happened lately:

A woman of Stockwith told her sister who lived with her, ' I do not think to go to market to-day, for I dreamed that I was drowned in riding across one of the drains on Haxey Car.' But she was soon laughed out of it, and went. She rode over the Car with many other market-folks, and, in crossing one of the drains, where the water was scarce a yard deep, slipped off her horse. Several looked on, but none once thought of pulling her out till she was past recovery.

At one I preached to the largest congregation I have seen since I left Newcastle. All behaved with deep seriousness but one man, whom I afterward learned to be a Baptist preacher. Just as I was taking horse he came again, and labored hard to begin a dispute; but, having neither time nor strength to spare, I gave him the ground and rode away.

The congregation at Epworth was full as large, if not larger, than that at Misterton. Among them was a poor greyheaded sinner, a mocker at all religion. But his mocking is past. He was in tears most of the time, and is now ' feeling

after God.'

Mon. 25.-I left Epworth with great satisfaction, and about one preached at Clayworth. I think none was unmoved but Michael Fenwick, who fell fast asleep under an adjoining hayrick.[ The vanity of Michael Fenwick was troubled because hitherto he had not

been named in the Journal. On this occasion Wesley gratified his desire. See also Atmore's Memorial, pp. 123-5; and, for Fenwick in his old age, with £\2& year to live on, most of which he ga-ve to the poor, W.H.S. vol. v. pp. 185-6.] From thence we rode to Rotherham. When I came in I had no strength and no voice left. However, in an hour I was able to preach to the largest congregation that I suppose was ever seen there.

Tues. 26.-I was not able to sit up above two or three hours together. However, I preached in the morning and evening, and spoke severally to the members of the society.

Wed. 27.-I preached about noon at Barley Hall, and in the evening at Sheffield. After spending a short time with the society, I lay down as soon as possible. But I could not sleep before twelve o'clock; and not long together after. Yet I felt no faintness in the morning, but rose lively and well, and had my voice more clear and strong in preaching than it had been for several days.

Thur. 28.-I received a strange account from Edward Bennett's[Everett's Methodism in Sheffield, pp. 34, 43.] eldest daughter:

'On Tuesday, the izth of this month, I told my husband in the morning, " I desire you will not go into the water to-day; at least, not into the deep water, on the far side of the town; for I dreamed I saw you there out of your depth, and only your head came up just above the water." He promised me he would not, and went to work.' Soon after four in the afternoon, being at John Hanson's, his partner's house, she was on a sudden extremely sick, so that for some minutes she seemed just ready to expire. Then she was well in a moment. Just at that time John Hanson, who was an excellent swimmer, persuaded her husband to go into the water on the far side of the town. He objected, the water was deep, and he could not swim; and, being much importuned to go in, stood some time after he was undressed, and then, kneeling down, prayed with an earnest and loud voice. When he rose from his knees, John, who was swimming, called him again, and, treading the water, said, ' See, it is only breast-high.' He stepped in, and sunk. A man who was near, cutting fern, and had observed him for some time, ran to the bank, and saw his head come up just above the water. The second or third time he rose, he clasped his hands, and cried aloud, ' Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' Immediately he sunk, and rose no more.

One might naturally inquire, what became of John Hanson? As soon as he saw his partner sink he swam from him to the other side, put on his clothes, and went straight home.

In Leicestershire

August 1757

About noon I preached at Woodseats; in the evening at Sheffield.[ In a house in Mulberry Street, which in 1757 was converted into a chapel W.M. Mag. 1835, p. 606).] I do indeed live by preaching!

How quiet is this country now, since the chief persecutors are no more seen! How many of them have been snatched away in an hour when they looked not for it! Some time since a woman of Thorpe often swore she would wash her hands in the heart's blood of the next preacher that came; but before the next preacher came she was carried to her long home. A little before John Johnson settled at Wentworth a stout, healthy man who lived there told his neighbours, 'After May Day we shall have nothing but praying and preaching; but I will make noise enough to stop it.' But before May Day he was silent in his grave. A servant of Lord R[ockingham] was as bitter as him, and told many lies purposely to make mischief; but before this was done, his mouth was stopped. He was drowned in one of the fishponds.[ For other chief opponents see Everett's Methodism in Sheffield, p. 109.]

Fri. 29.-I preached at Nottingham.[ In Matthew Bagshaw's house in Crosland Yard, Narrow Marsh. Harwood's Methodism in Nottingham, p. 32.]

 We want nothing here

but a large house.

Sat. 30.-I preached in the evening at Leicester to a large

congregation.

Sun. 31.-I rode over to Markfield. The church contained us tolerably well in the morning; but in the afternoon, though many stayed without, it was much crowded and sultry hot. I was quite faint and weary while I read prayers; but in preaching my strength was restored. At six I preached once more at Leicester, and delivered my own soul.

AUG.1, Mon.-I had much conversation with Mr. [Simpson]; whom, against a thousand appearances, I will believe to be an honest though irresolute Mon. ' While I was very uneasy,' said he, 'in the year 1741, my brother brought me to Mr. Spangenberg, and then to others of the German Brethren, to whom I was more and more attached till, in the year 1743, I went over to Marienborn. There I saw many things which I could not approve; and was more and more uneasy till I returned to England. I was afterward much employed by the Brethren.

A Western Journey

September 1757

I was ordained Deacon. But still I had a sore and burdened conscience, and gained no ground in my spiritual warfare: rather, having laid aside prayer and searching the Scripture, I was more and more dead to God. But in 1750 I awoke again, and was under great agonies of mind. And from this time I wrote to the Count again and again, and to most of the Laborers; but to no purpose. Andrew Frey's account is true. The spirit of levity and frolicsomeness, which he justly describes, broke in about 1746, and is not purged out yet. In May last I wrote and delivered a declaration to the Brethren met in Conference at Lindsey House,[ In Chelsea. Leased to Zinzendorf hi 1750 for a Moravian settlement. Formerly the property of the Duke of Ancaster. See Memoirs of Hutton, pp. 256,257; W.M. Mag. 1912, p. 689.]

 that I did not dare to remain in their connection any longer. The same declaration I made to them here a few days ago. What further I am to do, I know not; but I trust God will direct me.' [See C. of Huntingdon's Lift, vol. i. pp. 47, 48.]

Tues. 2.-On his expressing a desire to be present at our Conference, I invited him to it; and on Wednesday the 3rd, in the evening, he came to the Foundery. Our Conference [Aug. 4. The fourteenth Conference. See vol. i. of reprinted Minutes. No minutes have been preserved. We know from letters published by Tyerman, in his Life of Wesley, vol. ii. pp. 279-83, that the Church question was discussed.] began the next morning, and continued till the Thursday following. From the first hour to the last there was no jarring string, but all was harmony and love.[ On Sunday the 7th he preached at West Street, I7th, probably at Westminster, and 18th, Zoar.]

Mon. 8.-I took a walk in the Charterhouse. I wondered that all the squares and buildings, and especially the schoolboys, looked so little. But this is easily accounted for. I was little myself when I was at school, and measured all about me by myself. Accordingly, the upper boys, being then bigger than myself, seemed to me very big and tall; quite contrary to what they appear now, when I am taller and bigger than them. I question if this is not the real ground of the common imagination that our forefathers, and in general men in past ages, were much larger than now-an imagination current in the world eighteen hundred years ago. So Virgil supposes his warrior to throw a stone that could scarce be wielded by twelve men :

Qualia nunc hominum producit corpora tellus.[ ' Men that, in size of body, are like those whom the earth now produces.' See W.H.S. vol. v. p. 31.]

So Homer, long before :

Oioi nun brotoi eisi[' Such as are the men of these our days' (ibid.).]

Whereas, in reality, men have been, at least ever since the Deluge, very nearly the same as we find them now, both for stature and understanding.[ On the 14th he preached at Spitalfields. Between the 8th and the 22nd he finished his treatise on Original Sin.]

Mon. 22.-I set out in the machine, and the next evening

reached Bristol.

Fri. 26.-I preached at nine to a small congregation of earnest people at Glutton; and in the evening at Middlezoy. On Saturday the 27th we rode on to Tiverton.

Sun. 28.-I preached in the market-house to as large a congregation as ever I saw here; and all were quiet. So can God make, when it is best, all our enemies to be at peace

with us.

Mon. 29.-We rode through vehement wind and many hard showers to Launceston. This gave me a violent fit of the toothache, which, however, did not hinder my preaching. Such a night I never remember to have passed before; but all is good which lies in the way to glory.

Tues. 30.-We rode to Camelford, where my toothache was cured by rubbing treacle upon my cheek. At six I preached in the market-place. How are the lions in this town also become

lambs!

Wed. 31.-I preached about noon at Trewalder, and in the evening at Port Isaac. This was long a barren soil; but is at length likely to bring forth much fruit.

Sept. 2, Fri.-I rode to St. Agnes. We found the great man, Mr. Donnithorne,[ Eldest son of Nicholas Donnithorne, Sheriff of Cornwall in 1731. See W.H.S, vol. iv. p. 190.] was dead. His mother and sister sent to invite me to their house. After preaching I went there, and was received into a comfortable lodging with the most free and cordial affection. So in this place the knowledge of God has already travelled ' from the least unto the greatest.'

In Cornwall

September 1757

Sat. 3.-Some who live here gave me an account of the earthquake on July 15. There was first a rumbling noise under the ground, hoarser and deeper than common thunder. Then followed a trembling of the, earth, which afterward waved once or twice to and fro so violently that one said he was obliged to take a back-step, or he should have fallen down; and another that the wall against which he was leaning seemed to be shrinking from him.

This morning I talked at large with old Mrs. Donnithorne, who has her understanding entire, reads without spectacles, walks without a staff, and has scarce a wrinkle, at ninety years of age. But what is more than all this, she is teachable as a child, and groaning for salvation. In the afternoon I spent an hour with Mr. Vowler,[ See W.H.S. vol. iv. pp. 52, 190. Vowler was a friend of Samuel Walker, rector of Truro. He died July 30, 1758.  ] curate of the parish, who rejoices in the love of God, and both preaches and lives the gospel.

Sun. 4.-I------T------preached at five. I could scarce have

believed, if I had not heard it, that few men of learning write so correctly as an unlearned tinner speaks extempore.[ Cf. W. Kitchens and his brothers, sons of a tinner, above, vol. iii. p. 263.] Mr. Vowler preached two such thundering sermons at church as I have scarce heard these twenty years. Oh how gracious is God to the poor sinners of St. Agnes! In the church and out of the church they ' hear the same great truths of the wrath of God against sin, and His love to those that are in Christ Jesus!

Mon. 5.-I rode on to Illogan, but not to the house where I used to preach; indeed, his wife promised Mr. P. before he died that she would always receive the preachers, but she soon changed her mind. God has just taken her only son, suddenly killed by a pit falling upon him; and on Tuesday last a young, strong man, riding to his burial, dropped off his horse stone dead. The concurrence of these awful providences added considerably to our congregation.

Tues. 6.[ He wrote a letter from Tremeneare to Miss Furly ( Works, vol. xii. p. 199)

on this date.]-I went on to Camborne, and rejoiced to hear that the gentleman who ' pressed ' Mr. Maxfield[June 19, 1745. See above, vol. iii. p. 182.] no longer persecutes the Methodists, nor will suffer any one else to do it; and in the late dearth he relieved great numbers of the poor and saved many families from perishing. I preached at six on ' I will heal their backsliding,' and God applied His word. Several who had left the society for some years came after sermon and desired to be readmitted. Oh how should our bowels yearn over all that did once run well! This is the very thing we want, or how many