gifts, if we would press toward the mark for the prize of our high calling. In the evening, all the bands being present, both of Bristol and Kingswood, I simply related what God had done by me, for them of Kingswood in particular : and what return many of them had made for several months last past, by their continual disputes, divisions, and offences, causing me to go heavily all the day long.

Wednesday 7, I found another believer, patiently waiting for the salvation of God, desiring neither health, nor ease, nor life, nor death, but only that his will should be done.

Thursday 8, I expounded the twenty-third Psalm, and many were led forth by the waters of comfort: two especially, who never knew until then, that their iniquities were forgiven and their sin covered.

Sunday 11, I met with a surprising instance of the power of the devil. While we were at the room, Mrs. J's, sitting at home, took the bible to read; but on a sudden threw it away, saying, "I am good enough. I will never read or pray more." She was in the same mind when I came; often repeating, "I used to think I was full of sin, and that I sinned in every thing I did. But now I know better. I am a good Christian. I never did any harm in my life. I do not desire to be any better than I am." She spoke many things to the same effect, plainly shewing, that the spirit of pride, and of lies, had the full dominion over her. Monday 12, I asked, "Do you desire to be healed?" She said, "I am whole." But do you desire to be saved? She replied, "I am saved. I ail nothing. I am happy." Yet it was easy to discern she was in the most violent agony, both of body and mind: sweating exceedingly, notwithstanding the severe frost, and not continuing in the same posture a moment. Upon our beginning to pray, she raged beyond measure, but soon sunk down as dead. In a few minutes she revived, and joined in prayer. We left her, for the present, in peace.

Monday 12, In the evening our souls were so filled with the spirit of prayer and thanksgiving, that I could scarce

tell how to expound, till I found where it is written, My song shall be always of the loving-kindness of the Lord. With my mouth will I ever be shewing thy truth, from one generation to another.

All this day Mrs. J– -s was in a violent agony, till starting up in the evening, she said, "Now they have done. They have just done. Cprayed, and Humphreys preached." And, indeed, so they did. "And they are coming hither as fast as they can." Quickly after they came in. She immediately cried out, "Why, what do you come for? You cannot pray. You know you cannot." And they could not open their mouths; so that after a short time, they were constrained to leave her as she was.

Many came to see her on Tuesday; to every one of whom she spoke, concerning either their actual or their heart sins, and that so closely, that several of them went away in more haste than they came. In the afternoon, Mr. J sent to Kingswood for me. She told him, "Mr. Wesley will not come to night. He will come in the morning. But God has begun, and he will end the work by himself. Before six in the morning I shall be well." And about a quarter before six next morning, after lying quiet awhile, she broke out, "Peace be unto thee (her husband). Peace be unto this house. The peace of God is come to my soul. I know that my Redeemer liveth." And for several days her mouth was filled with his praise, and her talk was wholly of his wondrous works.

Thursday 15, I went to one of our brothers, who being as was supposed, struck with death, was rejoicing with joy unspeakable. His mouth overflowed with praise, and his eyes with tears, in hope of going soon to him he loved.

Monday 18, I found, from several accounts, it was absolutely necessary for me to be at London. I therefore desired the Society to meet in the evening, and having settled things in the best manner I could, on Tuesday set out, and on Wednesday evening met our brethren at the Foundery.

Thursday 22, I began expounding where my brother had left off, viz. at the 4th chapter of the first epistle of St.

John. He had not preached the morning before; nor intended to do it any more. The Philistines are upon thee, Sampson. But the Lord is not departed from thee. He shall strengthen thee yet again, and thou shalt be avenged of them, for the loss of thy eyes.

Sunday 25, I enforced that great command, As we have opportunity let us do good unto all men: and in the evening those solemn words, Take heed, brethren, that there be not in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.

Wednesday 28, Our old friends, Mr. Gambold and Mr. Hall, came to see my brother and me. The conversation turned wholly on silent prayer and quiet waiting for God, which they said was the only possible way to attain living, saving faith.

Sirenum Cantus, & Circes pocula nosti? Was there ever so pleasing a scheme? But where is it written? Not in any of those books which I account the Oracles of God. I allow, if there is a better way to God than the Scriptural way, this is it. But the prejudice of education so hangs upon me, that I cannot think there is. I must therefore still wait in the bible-way, from which this differs as darkness from light.

Sunday, February 1, A private letter, wrote to me by Mr. Whitefield, having been printed without either his leave or mine, great numbers of copies were given to our people, both at the door and in the Foundery itself. Having procured one of them, I related, after preaching, the naked fact to the congregation, and told them, "I will do just what I believe Mr. Whitefield would, were he here himself." Upon which I tore it in pieces before them all. Every one who had received it, did the same. So that, in two minutes, there was not a whole copy left. Ah, poor Ahithophel! Ibi omnis effusus labor!

Wednesday 4, Being the general fast day, I preached in the morning on those words, Shall I not visit for these things, saith the Lord? Shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? Coming from the service at St.

Luke's, I found our house so crowded, that the people were ready to tread one upon another. I had not designed to preach; but seeing such a congregation, I could not think it right to send them empty away: and therefore expounded the parable of the barren fig-tree. O that it may at length bear fruit!

From hence I went to Deptford, where many poor wretches were got together, utterly void both of common sense and common decency. They cried aloud, as if just come from among the tombs. But they could not prevail against the Holy One of God. Many of them were altogether confounded, and I trust will come again with a better mind.

Tuesday 10, (Being Shrove Tuesday), before I began to preach, many men of the baser sort, having mixed themselves with the women, behaved so indecently, as occasioned much disturbance. A constable commanded them "to keep the peace." In answer to which they knocked him down. Some who were near, seized on two of them, and by shutting the doors, prevented any farther contest. Those two were afterwards carried before a magistrate, and, on their promise of better behaviour, discharged.

Thursday 12, My brother returned from Oxford, and preached, on the true way of waiting for God; thereby dispelling at once the fears of some, and the vain hopes of others; who had confidently affirmed, "That Mr. Charles Wesley was still already, and would come to London no

more.'

Monday 16, While I was preaching in Long-lane, the host of the aliens gathered together. And one large stone (many of which they threw) went just over my shoulder. But no one was hurt in any degree. For thy kingdom ruleth over all.

All things now being settled according to my wish, on Tuesday 17, I left London. In the afternoon I reached Oxford, and leaving my horse there,, set out on foot for Stanton-Harcourt. The night overtook me in about an hour, accompanied with heavy rain. Being wet and weary, and

and not well knowing my way, I could not help saying in my heart, (though ashamed of my want of resignation to God's will), O that thou wouldst stay the bottles of heaven! Or at least give me light, or an honest guide, or some help in the manner thou knowest! Presently the rain ceased: the moon broke out, and a friendly man overtook me, who set me upon his own horse, and walked by my side, till we came to Mr. Gambold's door.

Wednesday 18, I walked on to Burford, on Thursday, to Malmsbury, and the next day to Bristol. Saturday 21, I enquired, as fully as I could, concerning the divisions and offences, which, notwithstanding the earnest cautions I had given, began afresh to break out in Kingswood. In the afternoon I met a few of the bands there; but it was a cold, uncomfortable meeting. Sunday 22, I endeavoured to shew them the ground of many of their mistakes, from those words, Ye need not that any man teach you, but as that same anointing teacheth you: a text which had been frequently brought in support of the rankest enthusiasm. Mr. Cennick, and fifteen or twenty others, came up to me after sermon. I told them, "they had not done right in speaking against me behind my back." Mr. Cennick, A

Aand T-Bissick, as the mouth of the rest, replied, "They had said no more of me behind my back, than they would say to my face; which was, that I did preach up man's faithfulness, and not the faithfulness of God."

In the evening was our love-feast in Bristol: in the conclusion of which, there being mention made, that many of our brethren at Kingswood had formed themselves into a separate society; I related to them at large the effects of the separations which had been made from time to time in London. And likewise the occasion of this, viz. Mr. C's preaching other doctrine than that they had before received. The natural consequence was, that when my brother and I preached the same which we had done from