now I carried her the joyful news, This thy son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'"

He arrived in Bristol, August 28th; and his brother having set out for London, on the 31st he entered on his ministry at Weaver's Hall. "I began," says he, "by expounding Isaiah with great freedom. They were melted into tears all around; and again when the bands met to keep the Church-fast. We were all of one heart and of one mind. I forgot the contradiction wherewith they grieved my soul in London, and could not forbear saying, 'It is good for me to be here.""

The places where Mr. Wesley had now to preach in Bristol, Kingswood, and the neighborhood, were numerous; and he seldom passed a day without preaching or expounding, two or three times. The congregations were large, and his word was with power; so that many testified daily, that the gospel is the power of God to salvation to all who believe. September the 4th, he preached in Kingswood to some thousands, colliers chiefly, and held out the promises from Isaiah xxxv; "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.' He adds, "I triumphed in the mercy of God to these poor outcasts, (for he hath called them a people who were not a people) and in the accomplishment of that scripture, Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped; then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.' How gladly do the poor receive the gospel! We hardly knew how to part."

وو

September 5th. "I was much discouraged by a discovery of the disorderly walking of some, who have given the adversary occasion to blaspheme. I am a poor creature upon such occasions, being soon cast down. Yet I went and talked to them, and God filled me with such love to their souls as I have not known before. They could not stand before it. I joined with Oakley and Cennick in prayer for them. M. trembled exceedingly: the others gave us great cause to hope for their recovery."

"September the 7th, at Weaver's Hall, I expounded the third chapter of Isaiah, where the prophet alike condemns notorious profligates, worldly-minded men, and well-dressed ladies." By well-dressed ladies, Mr. Wesley certainly meant much more than the phrase imports. He doubtless had in view, a fanciful, useless, expensive conformity to the changeable modes of dress; which is unbecoming, if not criminal, in a person professing godliness. The prophet is there speaking of ladies of the first rank in the kingdom; he mentions paint, a variety of useless ornaments, and a mode of dress hardly consistent with modesty.* What added to their guilt was, that, while they were adorning themselves in every fanciful and wanton method they could invent, the poor of the land were oppressed beyond measure; and God denounces heavy judgments against them for their oppression and wantonness. It has often been said, by persons too fond of dress, that religion does not

* See Bishop Lowth, on the third chapter of Isaiah.

consist in the peculiar shape or cut of our clothes. This undoubtedly is true. But when the mode of dress is voluntary, and regulated purely by choice, it is a picture, which gives a visible representation of the temper and disposition of the mind. The choice of our dress, like the choice of our amusements or companions, discovers what kind of objects are most pleasing and gratifying to us. The case is very different where the mode of dress is characteristic of a profession, or where a woman is under the control of her husband.

September 11th. He rode with two friends to Bradford, near Bath, and preached to about a thousand persons, who seemed deeply affected On the 15th he says, "Having been provoked to speak unadvisedly with my lips, I preached on the Bowling-green in great weakness, on Lazarus come forth!' I was surprised that any good should be done. But God quickens others by those who are dead themselves. A man came to me and declared he had now received the spirit of life; and so did a woman at the same time, which she openly declared at Weaver's Hall. We had great power among us while I displayed the believer's privileges from the eighth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans. On the 16th, I met between thirty and forty colliers, with their wives, at Mr. Willis's, and administered the sacrament to them; but found no comfort myself, in that or any other ordinance. I always find strength for the work of the ministry; but when my work is over, my bodily and spiritual strength both leave me. I can pray for others, not for myself. God, by me, strengthens the weak hands, and confirms the feeble knees; yet am I as a man in whom is no strength. I am weary and faint in my mind, continually longing to be discharged." Soon after, however, he found power to pray for him- ' self, and confessed it was good for him to be in desertion. He was greatly strengthened and comforted by opening his Bible on Isaiah liv. 7, 8. "For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer."

Many persons now came to him for advice daily, who had been either awakened or justified under his ministry. This greatly increased his labor, but it strengthened his hands for the work in which he was engaged. September 25th. He preached again at Bradford, to about two thousand hearers. "I described," says he, "their state by nature and grace. I did not spare those who were whole, and had no need of a physician. They bore it surprisingly. I received invitations to several neighboring towns. May I never run before God's call, nor stay one moment after it. We baited at a good Dissenter's near Bath, who seems to have the root of the matter in him." The next day, two persons came to him who had been clearly convinced of sin, and received peace and joy in believing; but they had never been baptized. On this occasion Mr. Wesley observes, "I now require no further proof, that one may be an inward Christian without baptism. They are both desirous of it; and who can forbid water?"

"Sarah Pearce declares, that she first received comfort on hear

ing me explain the fifth chapter of the Romans. She had the witness of her own spirit, or conscience, that all the marks I mentioned were upon her; and the Spirit of God, with his testimony, put it beyond the possibility of a doubt. Some of her words were; I was extremely bigoted against my brethren the Dissenters, but am now enlarged towards them and all mankind, in an inexpressible manner. I do not depend upon a start of comfort; but find it increase ever since it began. I perceive a great change in myself; and expect a greater. I feel a divine attraction in my soul to heavenly things. I was once so afraid of death that I durst not sleep, but now I do not fear it at all. I desire nothing on earth; I fear nothing, but sin. God suffers me to be strongly tempted; but I know, where he gives faith he will try it.' See here the true assurance of faith! How consistent! An humble, not doubting faith; a filial, not servile fear of offending. I desire not such an assurance as blots out these scriptures, Be not high-minded, but fear: ' 'work out your salvation with fear and trembling,' &c. God keep me in constant fear, lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a cast-away."

"I spoke plainly to the women bands, of their unadvisedness, their want of love, and not bearing one another's burdens. We found an immediate effect. Some were convinced they had thought too highly of themselves; and that their first love, like their first joy, was only a foretaste of that temper which continually rules in a new heart."

Though there had been no riots, nor any open persecution of the Methodists in Bristol; yet many individuals, who became serious and changed the whole course of their lives, suffered considerably. This was partly occasioned by the inflammatory discourses of some of the clergy, who represented them as Papists, Jesuits, friends of the Pretender, &c. On this subject; Mr. Wesley makes the following observations. Christianity flourishes under the cross. None who follow Christ are without that badge of discipleship. Wives and children are beaten and turned out of doors; and the persecutors are the complainers. It is always the lamb that troubles the waters. Every Sunday, damnation is denounced against all who hear us: for we are 'Papists, Jesuits, seducers, and bringers-in of the Pretender.' The clergy murmur aloud at the number of communicants, and threaten to repel them. Yet will not the world bear that we should talk of persecution: no, for 'the world now is christian! and the offence of the cross has ceased.' what would they do further? Some lose their bread; some their habitations: One suffers stripes, another confinement; yet we must not call this persecution. Doubtless they will find some other name for it, when they shall think they do God service by killing us."

Alas!

October 8th. He preached at the brick-yard. A Mr. Williams, from Kidderminster, who had written to Mr. Wesley some time before to go down thither, was present, and much edified and strengthened by the sermon. "I know not," says Mr. Wesley, "of what denomination he is, nor is it material; for he has the mind which was in Christ."

Mr. Wesley's sermon, when last at Bradford, had been misunderstood or misrepresented. It was reported that he was a high Calvinist, and great pains had been taken to represent him as such. His brother Mr. John Wesley, coming to Bristol this evening, it was the opinion of both that he ought to preach again at Bradford, and declare his sentiments openly on this point. The next day, October the 9th,* they went to Bradford, where Mr. Charles Wesley preached to a congregation of about two thousand people. Mr. John Wesley prayed first, when Mr. Charles began abruptly, "If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for US ALL, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things." He spake with great boldness and freedom for an hour and a half, holding forth Christ a Saviour for all men. He flattered himself that he had done so much injury to satan's kingdom, by beating down sin, that he says, "I believe he will no more slander me with being a Predestinarian" in the modern notion of that word.

October 11th. He preached for the first time in the open air by night, in a yard belonging to a widow Jones. He observes "The yard contained about four hundred persons; the house was likewise full. Great power was in the midst of us. Satan blasphemed without, but durst not venture his children too near the gospel, when I offered Christ Jesus to them. The enemy hurried them away, and all we could do, was to pray for them."

"October 15th. I waited, with my brother, on a minister about baptizing some of his parishioners. He complained heavily of the multitudes of our communicants, and produced the canon against strangers. He could not admit as a reason for their coming to his church, that they had no sacrament of their own. I offered my assistance to lessen his trouble, but he declined it. He told us there were hundreds of new communicants last Sunday. We bless God for this cause of offence, and pray it may never be removed." "October 19th. I read part of Mr. Law on regeneration to our society. How promising the beginning, and how lame the conclusion! Christianity, he rightly tells, is a recovery of the Divine image; and a Christian is, a fallen spirit restored, and re-instated in paradise; a living mirror of Father, Son and Holy Ghost. After this he supposes it possible for him to be insensible of such a change: to be happy and holy, translated into Eden, renewed in the likeness of God, and not to know it. Nay we are not to expect nor bid others expect any such consciousness, if we listen to him What wretched inconsistency!"

When Mr. Wesley baptized adults, professing faith in Christ, he chose to do it by trine immersion, if the persons would submit to it; judging this to be the apostolic method of baptizing. October 26th, he says, "I baptized Mr. Wagginton in the river, by Baptist-mills, and went on my way rejoicing to French-Hay. October 27th, I took occasion to show the degeneracy of our modern Pharisees. Their predecessors fasted twice a week; but they maintain

* See the agreement between this account and Mr. John Wesley's printed Journal in his Works, vol. xxvii. page 142.

their character for holiness at a cheaper rate. In reverence for the Church, some keep their public day on Friday: none regard it, though enjoined as a fast. Their neglect is equally notorious in regard to prayer and the sacrament. And yet these men cry out, THE CHURCH, THE CHURCH!' when they themselves will not hear the Church; but despise her authority, trample upon her orders, teach contrary to her articles and homilies, and break her canons, even every man of those, who of late pretend to enforce their observance."

"October 18th, I wrote to the Bishop of Bristol, as follows:

"MY LORD,

"Several persons have applied to me for baptism.* It has pleased God to make me instrumental in their conversion. This has given them such a prejudice for me, that they desire to be received into the Church by my ministry. They choose likewise to be baptized by immersion, and have engaged me to give your lordship notice, as the Church requires."

"November 2. I received a summons from Oxford, to respond in divinity disputations; which, together with other concurrent providences, is a plain call to that place.

On the 6th, Mr. Wesley's Journal breaks off, and does not commence again till March 14th, 1740. Mr. John Wesley informs us, that he and his brother left Oxford on the 15th of November, and taking Bristol in their way, they arrived at Tiverton on the 21st, a few days after the funeral of their brother Samuel. Having preached at Exeter during their short stay in these parts, they returned to Bristol on the 28th of the same month.

vear.

March 14th, 1740, Mr. Wesley came to Gloucester, in company with Thomas Maxfield, who travelled with him most part of this The next day he went to Bengeworth, in hopes of seeing his old friend, Mr. Benjamin Seward. But here he met with a disappointment, which he did not expect. Mr. Seward had been ill of a fever. His relations taking advantage of his situation, had intercepted all his letters: they called his fever madness; and now, when he was recovering, placed his servants over him as spies, to prevent any Methodist from coming to him. His brother, Mr. Henry, came to Mr. Wesley and gave him plenty of abuse, calling him scoundrel, rascal, pick-pocket, &c. Mr. Wesley made little reply, but ordered notice to be given that he would preach next day, March 16th, at the usual place, which was near Mr. Seward's house. Mr. Henry came to him to dissuade him from attempting it, telling him that four constables were ordered to apprehend him if he came near his brother's wall. Mr. Wesley however was not to be deterred from his purpose by such threatenings, and when the time of preaching drew near, walked forward towards the place. In his way thither, a mayor's officer met him, and desired he would go with him to the mayor. Mr. Wesley answered, that he would first wait on his LORD, and then on the mayor, whom he reverenced for the sake of his office. Mr. Henry

* He mentioned the names of seven persons.