house, and at seven in the morning. On Sunday 26, Mr. P. designed to read prayers at ten: but we thought it not safe for him to go out. So I read prayers, and then applied, What doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God 2 Many who had constantly appealed to this text, found themselves short in every particular. I read prayers in the afternoon, having been informed, that it was not usual to preach. But observing a numerous congregation, quite unwilling to go away, I went into the pulpit, and shewed them the nature and the pleasantness of true religion. At five I preached in the Room: I trust our Lord has touched many hearts this day.

Thursday 30, I preached at Wandsworth. For many years, the people here were the most dead, but are now the most alive, of any about London. Friday, December 1, I preached at Barnet, which was last year what Wandsworth is now. Monday 4, I went to Chatham Mr. Whitefield's people (so called) refusing me the use of their Room, I preached in the barracks, to a listening multitude, and our hearts were sweetly enlarged and knit together. One of their Society, grieved at the bigotry of his brethren, invited me to preach in his house, in the morning; which I did, (the barracks not being open, to as many as it could well contain. Tuesday 5, I went to Sheerness, and preached in the Old Playhouse, filled from end to end. So it was the next night. Our own Room contained us in the mornings. I was much comforted among the poor people, which in the midst of disputers, keep straight on following after peace and holiness.

Thursday 7, I returned to Chatham, and the next day to London; leaving an earnest people at peace with each other, and with all the world.

Monday 11, Riding an uneasy horse, I was much tired before I reached Staplehurst. But the serious, earnest congregation soon made me forget my weariness, and I was not a little helped by the spirit of Mr. C. breathing nothing but faith and love. I was again heartily tired, when I came to

Mr. Holman's, near Rye. Judging most of the congregation here to be unawakened, I preached on the story of Dives and Lazarus. God gave me to speak strong words, so that I trust some were pricked to the heart. Wednesday 13, I preached at Ewhurst, (it being the Quarterly-meeting) both at noon and in the evening. Thursday 14, we rode through heavy rain to Newbounds, where Mr. I'Anson and his family gladly received us: and I never saw the house so filled before, as it was in the evening. Friday 15, I preached at Seven-Oaks, and on Saturday returned to London.

Being desirous to finish my winter journies before Christmas; on Monday 18, I set out for Canterbury. Friday 22, I preached at Sittenbourn and Chatham, and on Saturday came to London.

Monday, being Christmas-day, we had such a congregation at four, as I have not seen for many years. And from morning to evening we had abundant proof, that God is visiting and redeeming his people.

Tuesday 16, I read the Letters from our Preachers in America, informing us that God had begun a glorious work there; that both in New-York and Philadelphia multitudes flock to hear, and behave with the deepest seriousness, and that the Society in each place already contains above a hundred members.

Friday 29, We observed as a day of fasting and prayer, partly on account of the confused state of public affairs, partly as preparatory to the solemn engagement, which we were about to renew.

Monday, January 1, 1770, About eighteen hundred of us met together: it was a most solemn season. As we did openly avouch the Lord to be our God, so did he avouch us to be his people.

Wednesday 17, In a little journey which I took into Bedfordshire, I finished Dr. Burnet's Theory of the Earth. He is doubtless one of the first-rate writers, both as to sense and stile; his language is remarkably clear, unaffected, and elegant. And as to his Theory, none can deny that it is

ingenious, and consistent with itself. And it is highly probable, 1, That the earth arose out of the chaos in some such manner as he describes: 2, That the antediluvian earth was without high or abrupt mountains, and without sea, being one uniform crust, inclosing the great abyss: 3, That the flood was caused by the breaking of this crust, and its sinking into the abyss of waters; and, 4, That the present state of the earth, both internal and external, shews it to be the ruins of the former earth. This is the substance of his two former books, and thus far I can go with him.

I have no objection to the substance of his third book upon the general conflagration, but think it is one of the noblest tracts, which is extant in our language. And I do not much object to the fourth, concerning the new heavens, and the new earth. The substance of it is highly probable.

Tuesday 30, One informed me, that Mrs. Kitely at Lambeth, not expected to live many hours, had a great desire to see me before she died. I went as quick as possible, but when I came, she seemed senseless, as well as speechless. I regarded not this, but spoke to her immediately; and immediately both her understanding and her speech returned, to testify a hope full of immortality. Having had her desire, she fell asleep, two days before her husband:

"A perfect pattern of true woman-hood!" A good wife, a good parent, a good mistress, and her works shall praise her in the gates. How suitable was her death to her life! After many years spent in doing good, she redeemed a poor, friendless youth out of prison, took the jail distemper and died.

Saturday, February 3, and at my leisure moments on several of the following days, I read with much expectation, a celebrated book, Rousseau upon Education. But how was I disappointed! Sure a more consummate coxcomb never saw the sun! How amazingly full of himself! Whatever he speaks, he pronounces as an oracle. But many of his oracles are as palpably false, as that, "Young children never love old people." No! Do they never love grandfathers and grandmothers? Frequently more than they do

their own parents. Indeed they love all that love them, and that with more warmth and sincerity, than when they come to riper years.

But I object to his temper, more than to his judgment he is a mere misanthrope, a cynic all over. So indeed is his brother infidel, Voltaire: and well nigh as great a coxcomb. But he hides both his doggedness and vanity a little better: whereas here it stares us in the face continually.

As to his book, it is whimsical to the last degree, grounded neither upon reason, nor experience. To cite particular passages would be endless: but any one may observe concerning the whole, the advices which are good, are trite and common, only disguised under new expressions. And those which are new, which are really his own, are lighter than vanity itself. Such discoveries I always expect from those, who are too wise to believe their Bibles.

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Thursday 8, I went to Wandsworth. What a proof have we here, that God's thoughts are not as our thoughts! Every one thought no good could be done here: we had tried, for above twenty years. Very few would even give us the hearing; and the few that did, seemed little the better for it. But all on a sudden, crowds flocked to hear; many are cut to the heart: many are filled with peace and joy in believing: many long for the whole image of God. In the evening, though it was a sharp frost, the room was as hot as a stove. And they drank in the word with all greediness, as also at five in the morning, while I applied, Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean!"

Tuesday 13, I read with all the attention I was master of, Mr. Hutchinson's Life, and Mr. Spearman's Index to his works. And I was more convinced than ever, 1, That he had not the least conception, much less experience, of inward religion: 2, That an ingenious man may prove just what he pleases, by well-devised Scriptural etymologies : especially, if he be in the fashion, if he affect to read the Hebrew without vowels: and 3, That his whole hypothesis,

philosophical and theological, is unsupported by any solid proof.

Friday 23, I was desired to hear Mr. Leoni sing, at the Jewish Synagogue. I never before saw a Jewish congregation behave so decently. Indeed the place itself is so solemn, that it might strike an awe upon those who have any thought of God.

Wednesday 28, I sat down to read and seriously consider some of the writings of Baron Swedenborg. I began, with huge prejudice in his favour, knowing him to be a pious man, one of a strong understanding, of much learning, and one who thoroughly believed himself. But I could not hold out long. Any one of his visions puts his real character out of doubt. He is one of the most ingenious, lively, entertaining madmen, that ever set pen to paper. But his waking dreams are so wild, so far remote both from Scripture and common sense, that one might as easily swallow the stories of Tom Thumb, or Jack the Giant-killer.

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Monday, March 5, I came to Newbury, where I had been much importuned to preach. But where! The Dissenters would not permit me to preach in their Meetinghouse. Some were then desirous to hire the Old Playhouse but the good Mayor would not suffer it to be so profaned! So I made use of a work-shop, a large, commodious place. But it would by no means contain the congregation. All that could hear, behaved well and I was in hopes, God would have a people in this place also. The next evening I preached at Bristol, and spent the rest of the week there. Monday 12, I went to Stroud, where the house was well filled as usual. Tuesday 13, I went by Painswick and Gloucester to Tewkesbury. Wednesday 14, I preached in the New Room, which is just finished, at Upton, and thence rode on to Worcester, where I preached in a large, old, awkward place, to a crowded and much affected audience. Afterwards I met the Society of about a hundred members, all of one heart and one mind, so lovingly and closely united together, that I have scarcely seen the like in the kingdom.