every fentence. Finding there was no probability of a quiet hearing, I left him the field, and withdrew to my lodging.

Thursday 5. We had a pleasant ride to Millhouse, where I preached at five to a deeply ferious congre gation. The next day at noon, I preached in a field near Camelford, it being the Fair-day, on, "Come and buy wine and milk, without money and without price." I preached within at Port Ifaac, because of the rain but many were conftrained to ftand without. It was a glorious opportunity; God fhowering down his bleffing on many fouls.

Saturday 7. I rode to St. Cuthbert, (that is the true fpelling,) and found Mr. Hofkins weak in body, but happy in God. He was juft able to ride to the Church-town, in the evening, where a ferious congregation foon affembled. Sunday 8, about eight I preached at St. Agnes: at one, in the main ftreet at Redruth. But a ftill larger congregation was at Gwenap, in the evening, equal to any I have feen in Moorfields. Yet, I think, they all heard, while I inforced, "Why will ye die, O houfe of Ifrael?"

After preaching I returned to Redruth: where hearing an exceeding ftrange ftory, I fent for the perfon herself, Grace Paddy, a well-bred, fenfible, young woman. I can fpeak of her now without re ftraint, as fhe is fafe in Abraham's bofom. She faid, "I was harmlefs, as I thought, but quite careless about religion," till about Chriftmas, when my brother was faying, "God has given to me all I want : I am as happy as I can live." This was about ten in the morning. The words went like an arrow to my heart. I went into my chamber and thought, 'Why am not I fo? O, I cannot be, because I am not convinced of fin.' I cried out vehemently, 'Lord, lay as much conviction upon me as my body can bear.' Immediately I faw myself in fuch a light, that I roared for the difquietness of my heart. The maid running up, I faid, 'Call my brother.' He came; rejoiced over me; faid, 'Chrift is juft ready

to

to receive you! Only believe!' and went to prayer. In a fhort time all my trouble was gone, and I did believe all my fins were blotted out. But in the evening, I was thoroughly convinced of the want of a deeper change. I felt the remains of fin in my heart, which I longed to have taken away. I longed to be faved from all fin, to be cleanfed from all unrighteoufnefs. And at the time Mr. Rankin was preaching, this defire increafed exceedingly. Afterwards he met the Society. During his laft prayer I was quite overwhelmed with the power of God. I felt an inexpreffible change, in the very depth of my heart. And from that hour I have felt no anger, no pride, no wrong temper of any kind: nothing contrary to the pure love of God, which I feel continually. I defire nothing but Chrift: and I have Chrift always reigning in my heart. I want nothing: he is my fufficient portion, in time and in eternity."

Such an inftance I never knew before: fuch an inftance I never read of: a perfon convinced of fin, converted to God, and renewed in love, within twelve hours! Yet it is by no means incredible; feeing one day is with God as a thousand years.

Monday 9. The room would by no means contain the congregation, at five in the morning. How is the town changed! Some years fince a Methodist Preacher could not fafely ride thro' it. Now high and low, few excepted, fay, "Bleffed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord!"

About one I preached at Portkellis: at fix, in Crowman. I admired the depth of grace in the generality of this people: fo fimple, fo humble, fo teachable, fo ferious, fo utterly dead to the world!

Tuefday 10. They filled the houfe at five. I preached in Breag, at twelve, under a lovely fhade of trees. About fix, I began at St. John's, near Helfton, once as furious a town as Redruth. Now almost all the gentry of the town were prefent, and heard with the deepest attention.

Wednesday 11. Perceiving my voice begin to fail, I refolved to preach, for awhile, but twice a day. In the evening I preached in a little ground at Newlin, to a numerous congregation. None behaved amifs but a young gentleman, who feemed to understand nothing of the matter.

Thurfday 12. Coming to St. Juft, I learned that John Bennets, had died fome hours before. He was a wife and a good man, who had been above twenty years a father to that Society. A little before his death, he examined each of his children, concerning their abiding in the faith. Being fatisfied of this, he told them, "Now I have no doubt but we fhall meet again, at the right hand of our Lord." He then cheerfully committed his foul to him, and fell asleep.

On the numerous congregation in the evening, I inforced thofe folemn words, "There is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest."

Friday 13. I rode to St. Ives, and in the evening preached on the fea-fhore. But tho' there was little wind, yet the noife of the waves prevented many from hearing. Saturday 14, about noon I preached at the Hale, a fmall arm of the fea, which runs up into the land, two or three miles from St. Ives, and makes a tolerable harbour. In the evening we procured a more convenient place at St. Ives, a meadow on the fide of the hill, where the people ftood before me, row above row, to a confiderable diftance. Sunday 15, we had nearly the fame congregation at feven in the morning: to whom I explained, "Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with the Son Jefus Chrift." At one I preached in Lelant, three miles from St. Ives: and at five in the fame meadow, to a larger congregation than before. Indeed the whole town feems moved: the truths we preach being fo confirmed by the lives of the people.

On

Monday 16. We had our Quarterly meeting at Redruth and it appeared, by the accounts from all parts, that the flame, which was kindled the last year,

tho'

tho' abated, is not extinguished. At fix, I began on the Market-houfe fteps, as ufual, to a very numerous congregation. But I had not finished the hymn, when Mr. C. came, and read the act against riots. I faid. "Mr. C. I did not expect this from you: I really thought you had more underftanding." He answered not, but flood like one aftonifhed, neither moving hand nor foot. However, I removed two or three hundred yards, and quietly finished my difcourfe.

Tuefday 17. I rode to Medras, near St. Awftle, where we had the Quarterly meeting, for the Eastern Circuit. Here, likewife, we had an agreeable account of a ftill increafing work of God. This Society has eighty-fix members, and all rejoicing in the love of God. Fifty-five or fifty-fix of thefe, believe he has faved them from all fin. And their life no way contradicts their profeffion. But how many will endure to the end?

Wednesday 18. I fet out for Plymouth-Dock. In the way we called on one of our friends near Liskard, and found his wife, once ftrong in faith, in the very depth of defpair. I could not but admire the Providence of God, which fent us fo feafonably thither. We cried ftrongly to God in her behalf, and left her not a little comforted.

The Society at the Dock, had been for fome time in a miferable condition. Difputes had run fo high, concerning a worthlefs man, that every one's fword, was fet, as it were, againft his brother. I fhewed them how, Satan had defired to have them, that he might fift them as wheat: and afterwards told them, there was but one way to take, to pass an abfolute act of oblivion: not to mention, on any pretence whatever, any thing that had been faid or done on either fide. They fully determined fo to do: if they keep that refolution, God will return to them.

Thursday 19. I rode to Tiverton, and preached to a deeply ferious congregation. preached at noon in Hillfarrance, where I had not been for fifteen years.

Friday 20, I near Taunton, Saturday 21. I preached

I preached about noon at Shepton-mallet, and then went on to Bristol.

Wednesday 25. About one I preached at Paulton, under a large, fhady tree. My own foul, and I truft many others were refreshed, while I was defcribing "Our fellowship with the Father and the Son."

After vifiting the other neighbouring places, on Saturday 28, at noon I preached at Bath. But I had only the poor to hear, there being service at the fame time, in Lady H's chapel. So I was juft in my element. I have scarce ever found fuch liberty at Bath before.

. Monday 30. And the two following days, I examined the Society at Briftol, and was furprised to find fifty members fewer, than I left in it laft October. One reafon is, chriftian perfection has been little infifted on. And wherever this is not done, be the Preachers ever fo eloquent, there is little increase, either in the number or grace of the hearers.

Saturday, October 5. I fpent fome time with the children at Kingfwood. They are all in health. They behave well. They learn well. But alas! two or three excepted, there is no life in them!

A

About this time the oldeft Preacher in our connexion, Alexander Coats, refted from his labours. little account of his death, one who was in the house fent me in thefe words.

Newcastle, October 7, 1765. "I had an opportunity the laft evening of feeing our dear aged brother Coats. A few days before, he was fore tempted by the enemy; but near the close, he had perfect peace. His faith was clear, and he found Chrift precious, his portion and his eternal all. I asked him a little before he died, if he had "followed cunningly-devifed fables?" He answered, "No, no, no." I then asked him. Whether he faw land? He faid, "Yes, I do." And after waiting a few moments at anchor, he put into the quiet harbour."

Wednesday