Wednesday 5, One called upon me, who had been cheated out of a large fortune, and was now perishing for want of bread. I had a desire to clothe him and send him back to his own Country; but was short of money. However, I appointed him to call again in an hour. He did so; but before he came, one from whom I expected nothing less, put twenty guineas into my hand. So I ordered him to be clothed from head to foot, and I sent him straight away to Dublin. Monday 10, and the four following days, I wrote a catalogue of the Society, now reduced from eight and twenty hundred to about two and twenty. Such is the fruit of George Bell's enthusiasm, and Thomas Maxfield's gratitude!

Monday 17, I preached at Sundon. And many looked as if they understood something of what was said. Tuesday 18, I went on to Bedford, and found James Glasbrook had just buried his wife, a woman of fine understanding and an excellent spirit, snatched away in the dawn of her usefulness. What thou dost, we know not now! We wonder and adore! The next day I rode over to Copley, where she died, and preached her funeral sermon. In the evening I preached at Bedford, and found God was there also.

And where thy presence is display'd, is heaven.' Thursday 20, I preached at Hertford, and in the evening at Layton-stone. Friday 21, I preached at Old Ford, near Bow. Part of the congregation were deeply serious; the other part wild and stupid enough. But the bridle was in their mouth, so that they made no noise; nay, and were, in a manner, attentive.

Sunday 23, In the evening I went to Lewisham, and finished the Notes on the book of Job. About this time, one of Henry Jackson's daughters gave me the following letter from her sister:

"Newcastle, February 23, 1766. "On Thursday, the 13th of this month, my honoured father looked so beautiful and comely, that we all wondered. At night, in his first sleep, he was taken very ill. On Friday morning I asked him, what he could take: he answer

ed, 'I am to eat no more.' His illness increased: but he was still calm and composed, and resigned to the will of God. Indeed I always beheld in him such faith, love, and divine resignation, as I never saw in any other. On Sunday he said,Now my soul is prepared, and made ready to meet the Lord.' From this time he was filled with longing desires, to depart and to be with Christ; crying out, I cannot stay: I must go to my beloved, to be with him for ever.' Monday 17, he said, I have fought a good fight: I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of glory, which the righteous Judge shall give me at that day.' Tuesday 18, after receiving the blessed Sacrament, he declared to the Minister, My anchor is cast within the veil, both sure and immovable.' And as long as he had his speech, he preached Christ to every one that came to see him. Indeed his whole life for many years was but one dedication of his body and soul to God, praying continually, and being lost in praise and thanksgiving to his adorable Saviour. In all the various dispensations of God's Providence towards him and his family, he was still magnifying and praising his holy name, always thankful, humble, loving, and obedient. Nothing was able to move him one moment, or put him out of temper; but he received every thing from the hand of God, with faith, patience, and resignation. Before his speech failed, he blessed all his children, grand-children, and great-grand-children; and on Thursday morning, February 20, yielded up his soul to God, being ninetynine years and five months old."

Saturday, March 1, I read Bishop Lowth's ingenious Lectures De Poesi Hebræa, far more satisfactory than any thing on that subject which I ever saw before. He shews clearly, that the noblest poetry may subsist, without being beholden either to rhyme or fixed measures.

Thursday 6, Our brethren met once more, on account of the public debt. And they did not part, till more than the whole, (which was six hundred and ten pounds) was subscribed.

Sunday 9, In the evening I went to Knights-bridge, and in the morning, took the Machine for Bristol, where I preached (as I had appointed) on Tuesday evening, and met the Society. Wednesday 12, I rode over to Kingswood, and having told my whole mind to the masters and servants, spoke to the children in a far stronger manner, than ever I did before. I will kill or cure: I will have one or the other, a Christian School, or none at all.

Sunday 16, I preached in Princes-street at eight, on Awake, thou that sleepest and at the Square in the evening, to a listening multitude, on Come, Lord Jesus! At Kingswood we had such a congregation at ten, as has not been there for several years. And I had the satisfaction to find four of our children again rejoicing in the love of God.

Monday 17, I rode to Stroud, the sun shining as in May. Seventeen such days in the beginning of March, I suppose few men have known. But on Tuesday the weather entirely changed; and the piercing north-east wind, this and the two following days, was scarcely supportable. At seven I preached in the Room at Painswick, and about ten came to Cheltenham. Here I was in a strait: the house would not hold half the people; and the wind was keen enough. However, I thought this the less evil of the two, and so preached abroad, where we were tolerably sheltered. And I did not observe, that any, rich or poor, went away till 1 concluded.

I reached Evesham about five in the evening, and preached about six with tolerable quiet. But as we returned, the mob, encouraged by the wretched Magistrate, were rude and noisy enough. Yet as they neither saluted us with stones, nor dirt, we were well contented.

Wednesday 19, We called at a little Inn, about sixteen miles from Evesham. But as Duncan Wright and I had our hoods on, the good woman was frighted, and did not care to take us in. So we rode a mile or two farther to another house, where we came in season. After a little talk, the woman of the house said, "I fear, it is not so well with me as it was once. Before I married, I used to

kneel down in the cow-house, to pray to God for all I wanted. But now I am encumbered with worldly cares; and yet God has not forgotten me. Last winter, when my husband had lost the use of all his limbs, I prayed to God for him, and he was well." This woman knew nothing about the Methodists; but God is nigh to all that call upon him. In the evening I preached at Birmingham. Towards the close, the mob gathered; but they were restrained till I had concluded. Thursday 20, it was as much as we could do, to bear the cold before sun-rise. However, we came well to Burton before eleven, where I preached to an exceedingly serious congregation. In the evening I preached at Nottingham, in the new house, thoroughly filled with serious hearers. Indeed there is never any disturbance here. And there could be none any where, if the Magistrates were lovers of peace, and exerted themselves in the defence of it.

Sunday 23, I had thoughts of preaching in the Marketplace. But the snow which fell in the night made it impracticable. In the morning the house contained the congregation: but in the evening many were constrained to go away. There seems to be now, (what never was before) a general call to the town.

Monday 24, We rode to Derby. I never saw this house full before, the people in general being profoundly careless. I endeavoured to shew them their picture, by enlarging on those words, Gallio cared for none of these things.

Tuesday 25, At ten, I preached in their new house at Creitch, about twelve miles from Derby, to a loving, simplehearted people, many of whom felt what I spoke of fellowship with the Father, and with the Son. Thence we rode on through several heavy showers of snow to Sheffield, where, at six, we had a numerous congregation. There has been much disturbance here this winter. But to night all was peace.

Thursday 27, I preached in the morning at a little village, near Eyam, in the High-Peak. The eagerness with which the poor people devoured the word, made me amends for the cold ride over the snowy mountains. The same earnestness

I observed in the congregation at Macclesfield: and yet hardly a third part of those I formerly examined, now retain the glorious liberty which they then enjoyed.

March 28, being Good-Friday, as soon as we came from Church, I began at Stockport, on We preach Christ cru-` cified, to the Jews a stumbling-block, and to the Greeks foolishness. At six in the evening I preached at Manchester, and on Saturday and Easter-day. In the evening I explained to the Society, the nature of the yearly subscription. On this one sent me the following letter:

March 31, 1766.

66 GOOD SIR, "I thought proper to send you a few lines, concerning what you spoke of last night. How good it was, that you put us all together as one family! That each might do his utmost to help all his brethren! Had you spoke of this sooner, and opened your mind freely as you did yesterday; where I have given one shilling, I would have giyen one pound. My heart was rejoiced at the good news, so as my tongue cannot express. I was ready to cry out with Zaccheus, Lo, the half of my goods I give to the poor. I have sent you two guineas, towards carrying on the work of the Lord. And may the blessing of the Lord go with it: for I give it freely: I would rather it had been two score.

"W. N."

Tuesday, April 1, On a close examination, out of more than fifty persons, who two or three years ago were filled with the love of God, I did not find above a third part who had not suffered loss. But almost all were deeply sensible of their loss, and earnestly groaning for what they once enjoyed.

Wednesday 2, We rode through heavy rain to Chester. Friday 4, I visited a poor woman, who has been ill eight years, and is not yet weary or faint in her mind. A heavyladen sinner desired to receive the Sacrament with her, and found rest to her soul; and from that hour increased every day in the knowledge and love of God.

Monday 7, I preached at Warrington about noon, to a large congregation, rich and poor, learned and unlearned.