observations I find, I can command thrice the number in the open air, than I can under a roof. And who can say, the time for field-preaching is over, while, 1, Greater numbers than ever attend: 2, The converting, as well as convincing power of God, is eminently present with them?

Monday 24, I preached about eight at Brentford, and in the evening at Basingstoke, to a people slow of heart, and dull of understanding. Tuesday 25, I preached in the new house at Whitchurch, and at Salisbury in the evening. The new room there is, I think, the most complete in England. It strikes every one of any taste that sees it: not with any single part, but an inexpressible something in the whole. The militia from Hampshire being in town, a large number of them were at the preaching: but it was as music to a horse such brutish behaviour have I seldom seen. The next evening, they behaved, if possible, worse than before. However, many of them, I believe, were struck. For they came again in the morning, and then appeared to be of quite another spirit, earnestly attending to what was spoken. Thursday 27, I had appointed to preach at seven in the evening at Bradford: but when I came, I found Mr. Hart was to preach at six. So I delayed, till the Church-service was ended; that there might not appear, (at least on my part) even the shadow of opposition between us.

Friday 28, I reached Bristol. Sunday 30, the weather being fair and calm, I preached in the new square, for the sake of many people, who do not choose to come to the Room. My text was, Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out. I believe, many found desires of coming to him. O that they may be brought to good effect!

Monday, October 1, All my leisure time, during my stay at Bristol, I employed in finishing the fourth volume of Discourses; probably the last which I shall publish. Monday 15, I walked up to Knowle, a mile from Bristol, to see the French prisoners. Above eleven hundred of them, we were informed, were confined in that little place: without any thing to lie on, but a little dirty straw, or any thing to cover them, but a few foul thin rags, either by day or

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night, so that they died, like rotten sheep. I was much affected, and preached in the evening on Exod. xxiii. 9, Thou shalt not oppress a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. Eighteen pounds were contributed immediately, which were made up four and twenty the next day. With this we bought linen and woollen cloth, which were made up into shirts, waistcoats, and breeches. Some dozen of stockings were added; all which were carefully distributed, where there was the greatest want. Presently after, the Corporation of Bristol sent a large quantity of mattresses and blankets; and it was not long before contributions were set on foot, at London, and in various parts of the kingdom: so that I believe, from this time, they were pretty well provided with all the necessaries of life.

Monday 22, I left Bristol, and having preached at Shepton, Coleford, Frome, and Salisbury in my way, on Thursday 25, I determined to try, if I could do any good at Andover. The congregation at ten in the morning was small; in the evening their number was increased, and I think some of them went away, crying out, God, be mèrciful to me a sinner!

Friday 26, I rode to Basingstoke. I was extremely tired when I came in, but much less so after preaching. I then sent to enquire, if there were a vacant place in any of the coaches which were going to London the next day. But they were all full: and I had promised to send back my mare to Bristol. The only way that remained was, to take Joseph Jones's horse, and let him ride behind one of the coaches. So I ordered the horse to be brought soon after four in the morning, and was waiting for the coach, when a post-chaise drove by. I rode close after it, though it was so dark, I could not see my horse's head; but I could hear, which was enough. About day-break, it drove away; but then I could see the road. It rained without intermission, from the time I took horse, until I came to the Foundery: so that I was wet through a great part of the day but it did me no hurt at all.

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Sunday 28, I found the ancient spirit in the congregation, both at Spital-fields and the Foundery. Tuesday 30, I preached at Deptford, and rejoiced to find an increasing work there also. Wednesday and Thursday I spent in revising and perfecting a Treatise on Electricity. Friday, November 2, I spent an hour with that miracle of mercy, Miss —: a clear proof, that God can, even without external means, preserve a bush in the midst of the fire.

Sunday 4, As I was applying those words, They neither marry, nor are given in marriage: for neither can they die any more: for they are equal to angels:—the power of God fell upon the congregation, in a very uncommon manner. How seasonable! O, how does God sweeten whatever cross we bear for his sake!

Monday 12, I talked with JD, a gentleman's coachman, an uncommon monument of mercy. Last year he was a violent persecutor of the truth, and of his wife for the sake of it; but, the second or third time he heard for himself, he was thoroughly convinced. Soon after, he entered into the Society, and in six weeks found peace with God. Yet his natural tempers quickly revived, which made him restless after a thorough change. In Spring this restlessness so increased, that he was crying to God day and night, till on Sunday, May 27, he was utterly broken in pieces, and ready to cast away the hope of it. But just as he received the bread in the Lord's-Supper, the love of God filled his heart; and from that moment he had no doubt, but continued always rejoicing, always praying and praising God.

Saturday 17, I spent an hour agreeably and profitably with Lady G H—, and Sir CH———. It is well a few of the rich and noble are called. O, that God would increase their number! But I should rejoice (were it the will of God) if it were done by the ministry of others. If I might choose, I should still (as I have done hitherto) preach the Gospel to the poor.

Monday 19, I spent an hour with Mr. B-, who has escaped from Guadaloupe, as with the skin of his teeth.

He informed me that all the water they had in the voyage, stunk intolerably; that the biscuit was full of maggots, and the beef mere carrion, so that none could bear to stand near a cask when it was opened. What wonder that the poor men died in troops! Who shall answer for their blood ?

Tuesday 22, I took horse between six and seven, in one of the coldest mornings I ever remember. We reached St. Alban's without much difficulty; but then the roads were all covered with snow. However, there was a beaten path, though slippery enough, till we turned into the byeroad to Sundon. What we could have done there, I cannot tell, for the snow lay deeper and deeper, had not a waggon gone a while before us, and marked the way for six miles, to Mr. Cole's gate.

Friday 23, The roads were so extremely slippery, it was with much difficulty we reached Bedford. We had a pretty large congregation; but the stench from the swine under the room was scarcely supportable. Was ever a preaching-place over a hog-stye before? Surely they love the Gospel, who come to hear it in such a place! Saturday 24, we rode to Everton; Mr. Berridge being gone to preach before the University at Cambridge. Many people came to his house in the evening, and it was a season of great refreshment.

Saturday 25, I was a little afraid my strength would not suffice for reading prayers, and preaching, and administring the Lord's-Supper alone, to a large number of communicants: but all was well. Mr. Hicks began his own service early, and came before I had ended my sermon. So we finished the whole before two, and I had time to breathe before the evening service. In the afternoon God was eminently present with us, though rather to comfort than convince. But I observed a remarkable difference since I was here before, as to the manner of the work. None now were in trances, none cried out, none fell down or were convulsed; only some trembled exceedingly: a low murmur was heard; and many were refreshed with the multitude of peace.

The danger was to regard extraordinary circumstances too much, such as outcries, convulsions, visions, trances, as if these were essential to the inward work, so that it could not go on without them; perhaps the danger is, to regard them too little, to condemn them altogether, to imagine, they had nothing of God in them, and were an hindrance to his work. Whereas, the truth is, 1, God suddenly and strongly convinced many that they were lost sinners; the natural consequence whereof were sudden outcries and strong bodily convulsions: 2, To strengthen and encourage them that believed, and to make his work more apparent, he favoured several of them with divine dreams, others with trances and visions: 3, In some of these instances, after a time, nature mixed with grace: 4, Satan likewise mimicked this work of God, in order to discredit the whole work; and yet, it is not wise to give up this part, any more than to give up the whole. At first it was doubtless wholly from God: it is partly so at this day: and he will enable us to discern, how far, in every case, the work is pure, and where it mixes, or degenerates.

Let us even suppose, that in some few cases, there was a mixture of dissimulation: that persons pretended to see or feel what they did not, and imitated the cries or convulsive motions of those who were really overpowered by the Spirit of God: yet, even this should not make us either deny or undervalue the real work of the Spirit. The shadow is no disparagement of the substance, nor the counterfeit of the real diamond.

We may further suppose, that Satan will make these visions an occasion of pride. But what can be inferred from hence? Nothing, but that we should guard against it: that we should diligently exhort all to be little in their own eyes, knowing that nothing avails with God but humble love. But still, to slight or censure visions in general, would be both irrational and unchristian.

Monday 26, In the evening I preached in Mr. Hicks' Church, at Wrestlingworth, and at ten the next morning. The people were deeply attentive; but none were so af