affected her at all." Immediately that word came into my mind, Before they call, I will answer. I was going to say, "Come, let us call upon God, to shew her she has need of a Saviour;" but before the words were pronounced, the child turned away her face, and began crying as if she would break her heart. I could get no word from her, but My sins! my sins!" We then besought God to carry on his own work.

Monday 17, I took my leave of Newcastle, and set out with Mr. Downes and Mr. Shepherd. But when we came to Smeton, Mr. Downes was so ill that he could go no further. When Mr. Shepherd and I left Smeton, my horse was so exceeding lame, that I was afraid I must have lain by too. We could not discern what it was that was amiss; and yet he would scarce set his foot to the ground. By riding thus seven miles I was thoroughly tired, and my head ached more than it had done for some months. (What I here aver, is the naked fact; let every man account for it as he sees good.) I then thought, "Cannot God heal either man or beast by any means, or without any?" Immediately my weariness and head-ach ceased, and my horse's lameness in the same instant. Nor did he halt any more either that day or the next. A very odd accident this also!

Tuesday 18, I rode to Pontefract; on Wednesday to Epworth, and on Thursday, by Barley-Hall to Sheffield. I was glad of having an opportunity here of talking with a child I had heard of. She was convinced of sin some weeks before by the words of her elder brother (about eight years of age) dying at a hundred years old, in the full triumph of faith. I asked her abruptly, "Do you love God?" She said, "Yes, I do love Him with all my heart." I said, "Why do you love Him?" She answered, "Because He has saved me." I asked, "How has he saved you?" She replied, "He has taken away my sins." I said, "How do you know that?" She answered, "He told me himself on Saturday,Thy sins are forgiven thee.' And I believe Him. And I pray to him without a book. I was afraid

to die. But now I am not afraid to die. For if I die, I shall go to him."

Friday 21, I came to Nottingham. I had long doubted what it was which hindered the work of God here. But upon enquiry the case was plain. So many of the society were either triflers, or disorderly walkers, that the blessing of God could not rest upon them. So I made short work, cutting off all such at a stroke, and leaving only that little handful, who, as far as could be judged, were really in earnest to save their souls.

Saturday 22, I came to Wednesbury. The Antinomian teachers had laboured hard to destroy this poor people. Sunday 23, I talked an hour with the chief of them, Stephen Timmins. I was in doubt whether pride had not made him mad. An uncommon wildness and fierceness in his air, his words, and the whole manner of his behaviour, almost induced me to think God had, for a season, given him up into the hands of Satan.

In the evening I preached at Birmingham. Here another of their pillars, JW, came to me, and looking over his shoulder, said, "Do not think I want to be in your society; but if you are free to speak to me, you may." I will set down the conversation, dreadful as it was, in the very manner wherein it passed; that every serious person may see the true picture of Antinomianism full grown, and may know what these men mean by their favourite phrase, of being "perfect in Christ, not in themselves."

"Do you believe you have nothing to do with the law of God?" I have not. I am not under the law. I live by faith. "Have you, as living by faith, a right to every thing in the world?" I have. All is mine, since Christ is mine. 66 May you then take any thing you will any where? Suppose, out of a shop, without the consent or knowledge of the owner?" I may, if I want it. For it is mine. Only I will not give offence. "Have you also a right to all the women in the world?" Yes, if they con"And is not that a sin?" Yes, to him that thinks.

sent.

it is a sin. But not to those whose hearts are free. The same thing that wretch Roger Ball affirmed in Dublin. Surely these are the first-born children of Satan!

Tuesday 25, I preached at Evesham: Wednesday 26, about ten at Stanley; in the afternoon, at the Friars in Gloucester. I preached at Wall-Bridge, near Stroud, in the evening, and on Thursday 27, rode to Bristol.

Thursday, April 3, I spent an agreeable hour with our old fellow-labourer, Mr. Humphrey's. I found him open and friendly, but rigorously tenacious of the Unconditional Decrees. O that opinions should separate chief friends! This is bigotry all over.

Monday 7, I preached at Kingswood, on Isaiah Ix., the 17th and following verses, and laid the first stone of the new house there. In the evening I rode (with Mr. Shepherd) to Bath, and Tuesday the 8th, to Newbury. Here we met with several of the little society in Blewbury. some of whom were truly alive unto God. What a proof is this, that God sends by whom he will send! Who hath begotten us these? David Jefferies!

Wednesday 9, In the evening I preached at Brentford. Many were got together there who threatened great things. I went and took one or two of their chiefs by the hand, and desired them to come in. They did so, and were calm and silent. It was a season of great refreshment. The next morning we rode to London.

In the afternoon I buried the body of Ann Clowney, a poor woman, whom many could never think to be a believer, because she was a fool; (one of exceeding weak understanding, though not directly a natural,) but in the time of sickness and pain, none could deny the work of God. Neither did she die as a fool dieth.'

Tuesday 22, I rode with Mr. Piers to see one who called himself a prophet. We were with him about an hour: but I could not at all think that he was sent of God. 1, Because he appeared to be full of himself, vain, heady, and opinionated. 2, Because he spoke with extreme bitter

ness both of the King, and of all the Bishops, and all the Clergy. 3, Because he aimed at talking Latin, but could not; plainly shewing, he understood not his own calling.

Wednesday 23, At the earnest request of a friend, I visited Matthew Henderson, condemned for murdering his mistress. A real, deep work of God seemed to be already begun in his soul. Perhaps by driving him too fast, Satan has driven him to God; to that repentance, which shall never be repented of.

About this time I received a letter from John Nelson, (whom I had left at Birmingham.) part of which was as follows:

(6 BIRSTAL, APRIL 22, 1746.

"AFTER I left Wednesbury, I stayed two nights at Nottingham, and had large congregations: but while I was meeting the society the second night, there came a mob,' raging as if they would pull the house to the ground. As soon as we had done meeting, the Constable came and seized me, and said, I must go before the Mayor for making a riot. So he took me by the arm and led me through the streets, the mob accompanying us with curses and huzzas. God gave me as we went, to speak very plainly to the Constable, and to all that were near me; till one cried out, 'Don't carry him to the Mayor, for he is a friend to the Methodists; but to Alderman Upon this, he turned, and led me to the Alderman's. When we were brought in, he said, Sir, I have brought you another Methodist preacher.' He asked my name, and then said, 'I wonder you cannot stay at home: you see the mob will not suffer you to preach in this town.' I said, 'I did not know this town was governed by the mob. Most towns are governed by the Magistrates.' He said, 'What, do you expect us

your parts, when you take the people from their work?' I said, Sir, you are wrong informed. We preach at five in the morning, and seven at night. And these are the hours when most people are in their beds in the morning, and at night, either at play or at the alehouse.' Then he said, I believe you are the cause of all the evil that is

fallen upon the nation.' I said, 'What reason have you to believe so? Can you prove that one Methodist in England did assist the rebels, with either men, money, or arms?' He answered,No. But it has been observed, that there has been always such a people, before any great evil fell on the land.' I said, 'It hath been as you say. But that people was not the cause of the evil, no more than we are at this time. But these mobbers, and swearers, and drunkards, and whoremongers, and extortioners, and lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; these are the cause why God afflicteth both man and beast. Not we: we are sent to persuade them to break off their sins by repentance, that the heavy judgments of God may not consume such a people. And if there be not a general reformation, God will be avenged of such a nation as this.' Then he said, 'Do not preach here.' But God opened my mouth, and I did not cease to set life and death before him. The Constable began to be uneasy, and said, 'What must we do with him?' 'Well, he said, I understand he is for leaving the town to-morrow; I think you must take him to your house.' But he desired to be excused. Then the Justice said, 'You may go where you came from.' When I had gone a little way through the mob, he came to the door, and called, Mr. Nelson, stop a little.' Then he ordered the Constable to conduct me to the house he fetched me from, and take care that the mob did not hurt me.' This seemed to be a great mortification to him. But he was obliged to do it. So he brought me to our brethren again. And left us to give thanks to God for all his mercies."

Sunday, May 4, We left London in the evening, and on Tuesday came to Bristol.

66

Monday 12, I dined with a gentleman who is fully persuaded, that there is no such thing as either virtue or happiness upon earth: "Having found," he said, by repeated experiments, that notwithstanding a thousand fair appearances, every man living was at the bottom wholly selfish, and truly miserable." I should not wonder, if every