"This morning, while brother Story was at prayer, God gave him a witness in himself, that he had purified his heart. When he was risen from his knees, he could not help declaring it. He now ran to his wife, not to kill her, but to catch her in his arms, that they might praise God, and weep over one another with tears of joy and love."

Monday 13, Even in Epworth a few faithful servants of Satan were left, who would not leave any stone unturned, to support his tottering kingdom. A kind of gentleman got a little party together, and took great pains to disturb the congregation. He hired a company of boys to shout, and made a poor man exceedingly drunk, who bawled out much ribaldry and nonsense, while he himself played the French-horn. But he had little fruit of his labour. I spoke a few words to their champion, and he disappeared. The congregation was not at all disturbed, but quietly attended to the end.

Wednesday 15, I rode to Doncaster, and at ten, standing in an open place, exhorted a wild, yet civil multitude, to seek the Lord, while he might be found. Thence I went on to Leeds, and declared to a large congregation, Now is the day of salvation. Thursday 16, at five in the evening, I preached at Dewsbury, and on Friday 17, reached Manchester. Here I received a particular account of a remarkable incident. An eminent drunkard of Congleton, used to divert himself, whenever there was preaching there, by standing over against the house, cursing and swearing at the Preacher. One evening he had a fancy to step in, and "hear what the man had to say." He did so; but it made him so uneasy, that he could not sleep all night. In the morning he was more uneasy still: he walked in the fields, but all in vain, till it came into his mind, to go to one of his merry companions, who was always ready to abuse the Methodists. He told him how he was, and asked, what he should do: "Do? said Samuel: Go and join the Society." "I will; for I was never so uneasy in my life." They did so without delay. But presently David cried out, "I am sorry I joined: for I shall get drunk again, and they will turn me out." However, he stood firm for four days: on the fifth, he was persuaded by his old companions, to "take one pint," and then another and another, till one of them said, "See, here is a Methodist drunk!" David started up, and knocked him over chair and all. He then drove the rest out of the house, caught up the landlady, carried her out, threw her in the kennel; went back to the house, broke down the door, threw it into the street, and then ran into the fields, tore his hair, and rolled up and down on the ground. In a day or two was a Love-feast, he stole in, getting behind, that none might see him. While Mr. Furz was at prayer, he was seized with a dreadful agony both of body and mind: this caused many to wrestle with God for him. In a while he sprung up on his feet, stretched out his hands, and cried aloud, "All my sins are forgiven!" At the same instant, one on the other side of the room cried out, "Jesus is mine! and he has taken away all my sins." This was Samuel H. David burst through the people, caught him in his arms, and said, "Come, let us sing the Virgin Mary's song: I never could sing it before." My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit doth rejoice in

God my Saviour. And their following behaviour plainly shewed the reality of their profession.

Sunday 18, I found the work of God was still greatly increasing here: although many stumbling-blocks had been thrown in the way, and some by those who was once strong in grace: but this is no wonder: I rather wonder, that there are not abundantly more. And so there would be, but that Satan is not able to go beyond his chain.

Monday 20, I preached at Macclesfield about noon. As I had not been well, and was not quite recovered, our brethren insisted on sending me in a chaise to Burslem. Between four and five I quitted the chaise, and took my horse. Presently after, hearing a cry, I looked back, and saw the chaise upside-down (the wheel having violently struck against a stone) and well nigh dashed it to pieces. About seven I preached to a large to congregation at Burslem: These poor potters four years ago, were as wild and ignorant as any of the Colliers in Kingswood. Lord, thou hast power over thine own clay!

Tuesday 21, I rode to Birmingham, and on Thursday to Towcester. I would willingly have rested there: but our brethren desiring me to go a little farther I walked on, about three miles) to Whittlebury. Here I found a truly loving and simple people. I preached at the side of the new Preaching-house: I suppose most of the town were present. Friday 24, I took horse early, and in the afternoon came once more safe to London.

About this time I received the following letter:

"God is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever! He was, is, and will be all in all! Being a minute part of the whole, let me consider myself alone. Where was I before my parents were born? In the mind of him who is all in all. It was God alone that gave me a being, amongst the human race. He appointed the country in which I should begin my existence. My parents were also his choice. Their situation in mind, body and estate, was fully known to him. My parents are answerable for my education in infancy. My capacity was from above. That I improved so little was mostly owing to my connexions; but partly to my own inattention or idleness. In most things, whilst an infant, whether good or evil, I was certainly passive, i. e. I was instructed or led by others, and so acted right or wrong. In all the incidents of life, whether sickness, health, escapes, crosses, spiritual or temporal advantages, or disadvantages, I can trace nothing of myself during my childhood. And till I became a subject to my own will perhaps I was innocent in the eyes of infinite justice for the blood of Jesus Christ certainly cleanseth from all original sin, and presents all spotless, who die free from the guilt of actual transgression.

"At what time I became a subject to my own will, I cannot ascertain; but from that time in many things I offended. First, against my parents; next, against God! And that I was preserved from outward evils, was not owing to the purity of my own will; but to the grace of Christ over-ruling and preventing me.

"My natural will ever cleaved to evil: and if I had ever any good in me, it came from above. What is called good nature is a

divine gift, and not from the corrupt root. My will could not produce good, and in various instances it was in a manner annihilated, before grace could fix any good in me. In other words, my will acts from the motions of the Old Adam where I transgress; but what is good in me is from the grace of Christ working, whilst my own will is made passive or unresisting. Thus my life has been so far holy, as I gave up my own will and lived in God, who is all in all. "From the time I could sin, I trace the divine goodness, in preserving me from innumerable evils, into which my own will would have led me. The unknown temptations and evils, perhaps, are infinitely more numerous than the known. If my will were only not resisting, when I received or did any good, how little was it concerned in my conviction, my conversion, my peace, and the sphere of life I engaged in, after receiving such divine blessings! My concern about my soul's welfare, the time of my conversion, the ministers raised up to be the instruments of it, the place of my first hearing the Gospel, and various other circumstances, that instrumentally brought about those great and blessed events in my life, were no more from any thing in myself, than my birth and education. Rather, my will was overpowered and grace triumphed over it.

"From these reflections I conclude, that whatever blessings I have enjoyed as to parents, country, education, employments, conversion, connexions in life, or any exterior or interior circumstances, all came from God, who is all in all! And whatever in my past life is matter of repentance and lamentation, has arisen chiefly from my corrupt will, though partly from a defective judgment, ever prone to err ! So that upon the whole, I have great cause to be thankful that God has been so much the all in all of my life; at the same time, I must bewail that I ever followed my own corrupt will in any thing.

"My present state of life, I believe, is from God. In a bad state of health, out of employment, and retired from all engagements in the world, I use the means for my recovery, and it is not from any evil principle that I am a cypher: but I cannot yet obtain health, business, or a sphere of usefulness. Nor can I ascertain how far I am culpable as to being what I am. My present duty is, submission to the Divine Will. I study for improvement, and pray for such blessings as I want. Is not God all in all as to my present state? I have no desire so strong as this, Let thy blessed will be done in and upon me. And the prayer which governs my soul continually is, O may my will die day by day; and may God in Christ Jesus, be all in all to me, and in me, and mine, during our life, in our last moments, and to all eternity! Amen.'

Finding it was not expedient to leave London, during the ferment which still continued by reason of Mr. M.'s separation from us, I determined not to remove from it before the Conference. This began on Tuesday, July 19, and ended on Saturday 23. And it was

a great blessing, that we had peace among ourselves, while so many were making themselves ready for battle.

Monday, Aug. 1, I began visiting the classes again, and found less loss than might reasonably have been expected; as most of those VOL. 3.-0

who had left us, spake all manner of evil, without either fear or shame! Poor creatures! Yet he that betrayed them into this, hath the greater sin.

Monday 15, I went in the one-day Machine to Bath, where one of our friends from Bristol met me, (as I had desired) in the afternoon, and took me thither in a post-chaise. Wednesday 17, being informed that the boat at the Old Passage would go over at six o'clock, I took horse at four, and came to the Passage a few minutes after six. But they told us they would not pass till twelve, and I had appointed to preach in Chepstow at eleven. So we thought it best to try the New Passage. We came thither at seven, and might probably have stayed till noon, had not an herd of oxen come just in time to the other side. In the boat which brought them over, we crossed the water, and got to Chepstow between ten and eleven. As it had rained almost all the day, the house contained the congregation. Hence we rode to Coleford. The wind being high, I consented to preach in their new room. But large as it was, it would not contain the people, who appeared to be not a little affected: of which they gave a sufficient proof, by filling the Room at five in the morning.

Thursday 18, We breakfasted at a friend's a mile or two from Monmouth, and rode to Crick-howell, where I intended to dine; but I found other work to do. Notice had been given, that I would preach, and some were come many miles to hear. So I began without delay, and I did not observe one light or inattentive person in the congregation. When we came to Brecknock, we found it was the assize week, so that I could not have the Town-hall, as before; the Court being to sit there, at the very time when I had appointed to preach. So i preached at Mr. James's door: and all the people behaved as in the presence of God.

Friday 19, I preached near the Market-place, and afterwards rode over to Trevecka. Howell Harris's house is one of the most elegant places which I have seen in Wales. The little chapel and all things round about it, are finished in an uncommon taste: and the gardens, orchards, fish-ponds, and mount adjoining, make the place a little paradise. He thanks God for these things, and looks through them. About six-score persons are now in the family; all diligent, all constantly employed, all fearing God and working righteousness. I preached at ten to a crowded audience, and in the evening at Brecknock again but to the poor only: the rich (a very few excepted) were otherwise employed.

Saturday 20, We took horse at four, and rode through one of the pleasantest countries in the world. When we came to Trecastle we had rode fifty miles in Monmouthshire and Brecknockshire. And I will be bold to say, all England does not afford such a line of fifty miles length, for fields, meadows, woods, brooks, and gently-rising mountains, fruitful to the very top. Caermarthenshire, into which we came soon after, has at least as fruitful a soil. But it is not so pleasant, because it has fewer mountains, though abundance of brooks About five I preached on the Green, at Caermarthen, to a large number of deeply attentive people. Here two gentleman

from Pembroke met me; with whom we rode to St. Clare, intending to lodge there; but the inn was quite fut. So we concluded to try for Larn, though we knew not the way, and it was now quite dark. Just then came up an honest man who was riding thither: and we willingly bore him company.

Sunday 21, It rained almost all the morning. However we reached Tenby about eleven. The rain then ceased, and I preached at the Cross, to a congregation gathered from many miles round. The sun broke out several times and shone hot in my face; but never for two minutes together. About five I preached to a far larger congregation at Pembroke. A few gay people behaved ill at the beginning. But in a short time they lost their gaiety, and were as serious as their neighbours.

Wednesday 24, I rode over to Haverford-west. Finding it was the assize week, I was afraid the bulk of the people would be too busy to think about hearing sermons. But I was mistaken: I have not seen so numerous a congregation since I set out of London. they were, one and all, deeply attentive. Surely some will bring forth fruit.

And

Thursday 25, I was more convinced than ever, that the preaching like an apostle, without joining together those that are awakened, and training them up in the ways of God, is only begetting children for the murderer. How much preaching has there been for these twenty years all over Pembrokeshire! But no regular Societies, no discipline, no order or connexion. And the consequence is, that nine in ten of the once awakened, are now faster asleep than ever.

Friday 26, We designed to take horse at four: but the rain poured down, so that one could scarcely look out. About six, however, we set out, and rode through heavy rain to St. Clare. Having then little hopes of crossing the Sands, we determined to go round by Caermarthen. But the hostler told us, we might save several miles, by going to Llansteffan's-ferry. We came thither about noon, where a good woman informed us, the boat was aground, and would not pass till the evening. So we judged it best to go by Caermarthen still. But when we had rode three or four miles, I recollected that I had heard speak of a ford, which would save us some miles riding. We inquired of an old man, who soon mounted his horse, shewed us the way, and rode through the river before us.

Soon after, my mare dropped a shoe, which occasioned so much loss of time, that we could not ride the Sands, but were obliged to go round, through a miserable road, to Llanellos. To mend the matter, our guide lost his way, both before we came to Llanellos and after; so that it was as much as we could do to reach Bocher Ferry a little after sun-set. Knowing it was impossible then, to reach Penreese, as we designed, we went on straight to Swansey.

Saturday 27, I preached at seven to one or two hundred people, many of whom seemed full of good desires. But as there is no Society, I expect no deep or lasting work.

Mr. Evans now gave me an account, from his own knowledge, of what has made a great noise in Wales. "It is common in the congre