(had no other end been answered,) I should have thought all the labour of my journey well bestowed. Fri. 6.-I rode to Plymouth Dock, and preached in the room lately built. But though it was three or four times as large as the old, it would not contain the congregation. Is the time come, when even this barren soil shall bring forth "fruits of righteousness ?" Sat. 7.-I set out at three, reached Collumpton by six in the evening, and, after half an hour's rest, was enabled to preach in the little meadow, without any faintness or weariness.

Sun. 8.-In the evening I preached at Tiverton, in the garden which adjoins to the preaching house. It was a refreshing season. Mon. 9.— I preached at Charlton, a village six miles from Taunton, to a large congregation gathered from the towns and country for many miles round. All the farmers here had some time before entered into a joint engagement to turn all out of their service, and give no work to any, who went to hear a Methodist preacher. But there is no counsel against the Lord. One of the chief of them, Mr. G- was not long after convinced of the truth, and desired those very men to preach at his house. Many of the other confederates came to hear, whom their servants and labourers gladly followed. So the whole device of Satan fell to the ground; and the word of God grew and prevailed.

Tues. 10.-I rode to Dr. Robertson's, at Pitcomb; and after spending a few agreeable and useful hours in that delightful recess, went forward, about four miles, to Westcomb. I preached on a green place in the town about eight in the morning, to a deeply attentive congregation; and came in the afternoon to Bristol, at least as well as when I set out. Tues. 17.-I rode to Trowbridge, where one who found peace with God while he was a soldier in Flanders, and has been much prospered in business since his discharge, has built a preaching house at his own expense. He had a great desire that I should be the first who preached in it; but before I had finished the hymn, it was so crowded, and consequently so hot, that I was obliged to go out and stand at the door: there was a multitude of hearers, rich and poor. O that they may not all hear in vain!

Fri. 27.-I thought I had strength enough to keep a watch-night, which I had not done before for eleven months. But though I broke off at eleven, I almost lost my voice; and the next evening at Weaver's Hall it entirely failed, so that I had much difficulty to conclude my sermon. Mon. 30.-I preached at Coleford, our other Kingswood, where also the lions are become lambs. On Tuesday we went on to Salisbury. Wed. October 2.—I walked to Old Sarum, which, in spite of common sense without house or inhabitant, still sends two members to the parliament. It is a large, round hill, encompassed with a broad ditch, which, it seems, has been of a considerable depth. At the top of it is a corn field; in the midst of which is another round hill, about two hundred yards in diameter, encompassed with a wall, and a deep ditch. Probably before the invention of cannon, this city was impregnable. Troy was; but now it is vanished away, and nothing left but "the stones of emptiness."

Thur. 3.-I rode to Reading, and preached in the evening. Observing a warm man near the door, (who was once of the society,) I purposely bowed to him; but he made no return. During the first

prayer he stood, but sat while we sung. In the sermon his countenance changed, and in a little while he turned his face to the wall. He stood at the second hymn, and then kneeled down. As I came out he catched me by the hand, and dismissed me with a hearty blessing.

Fri. 4.-I came to London. On Monday, 7, I retired to a little place near Hackney, formerly a seat of Bishop Bonner's, (how are the times changed!) and still bearing his name. Here I was as in a college. Twice a day we joined in prayer. The rest of the day, (allowing about an hour for meals, and another for walking before dinner and supper,) I spent quietly in my study. Sat. 12.-I administered the sacrament to RA. Some years ago he found peace with God, and was freed at once, without any human means, from a distemper naturally incurable. But after three years, on his falling back into the world, it returned more violent than ever; and will probably now be cured no more but by the universal remedy,—death.

Sat. 26. Mr. Gilbert Tennent, of New England, called upon me, and informed me of his design, now ready to be executed, of founding an American college for Protestants of every denomination: an admirable design, if it will bring Protestants of every denomination to bear with one another. Mon. 28.-I delivered my own soul, by one more conversation with Sir -; the substance of which I wrote to

him the next day in the following letter :

"October 28, 1754. "SIR,-Whether I see you any more in this life or no, I rejoice that I have seen you this once; and that God enabled you to bear with patience, what I spoke in the simplicity of my heart.

"The substance of what I took the liberty to mention to you this morning was, You are on the borders of the grave, as well as I: shortly we must both appear before God. When it seemed to me, some months since, that my life was near an end, I was troubled that I had not dealt plainly with you. This you will permit me to do now, without any reserve, in the fear and in the presence of God.

66

I reverence you for your office as a magistrate; I believe you to be an honest, upright man; I love you for having protected an innocent people from their cruel and lawless oppressors. But so much the more am I obliged to say, (though I judge not; God is the judge,) I fear you are covetous; that you love the world: and if you do, as sure as the word of God is true, you are not in a state of salvation.

"The substance of your answer was, 'That many people exhort others to charity from self interest; that men of fortune must mind their fortune; that you cannot go about to look for poor people; that when you have seen them yourself, and relieved them, they were scarce ever satisfied; that many make an ill use of what you give them; that you cannot trust the account people give of themselves by letters; that, nevertheless, you do give to private persons, by the hands of Colonel Hudson and others; that you have also given to several hospitals a hundred pounds at a time; but that you must support your family; that the Lowther family has continued above four hundred years; that you are for great things,-for public charities, and for saving the nation from ruin; and that others may think as they please, but this is your way of thinking, and has been for many years.'

"To this I replied: 1. Sir, I have no self interest in this matter; I consult your interest, not my own; I want nothing from you; I desire nothing from you; I expect nothing from you: but I am concerned for your immortal spirit, which must so soon launch into eternity. 2. It is

true, men of fortune must mind their fortune; but they must not love the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 3. It is true, likewise, you cannot go about to look for poor people; but you may be sufficiently informed of them by those that can. 4. And if some of these are never satisfied, this is no reason for not relieving others. 5. Suppose, too, that some make an ill use of what you give, the loss falls on their own head; you will not lose your reward for their fault: what vou laid out, God will pay you again. 6. Yet certainly you do well to have all the assurance you can, that those to whom you give, are likely to make a good use of it; and therefore to expect a stronger recommendation of them than their own, whether by letter or otherwise. 7. I rejoice that you have given to many by so worthy a man as Colonel Hudson, whose word is certainly a sufficient recommendation. 8. I rejoice likewise that you have given some hundreds of pounds to the hospitals, and wish it had been ten thousand. 9. To the support of the family I did not object; but begged leave to ask, whether this could not be done, without giving ten thousand a year to one who had as much already? And whether you could answer this to God, in the day wherein he shall judge the world? 10. I likewise granted, that the family had continued above four hundred years; but observed, meantime, that God regarded it not a jot the more for this; and that four hundred or one thousand years are but a moment, compared to eternity. 11. I observed likewise that great things may be done, and little things not left undone. 12. And that if this, or any other way of thinking be according to Scripture, then it is sound and good; whereas, if it be contrary to Scripture, it is not good, and the longer we are in it, so much the worse.

66 Upon the whole, I must once more earnestly entreat you to consider yourself, and God, and eternity. As to yourself, you are not the proprietor of any thing; no, not of one shilling in the world. You are only a steward of what another entrusts you with, to be laid out not according to your will but his. And what would you think of your steward, if he laid out what is called your money, according to his own will and pleasure? 2. Is not God the sole proprietor of all things? And are not you to give an account to him for every part of his goods? And O how dreadful an account, if you have expended any part of them not according to his will, but your own? 3. Is not death at hand? And are not you and I just stepping into eternity? Are we not just going to appear in the presence of God; and that naked of all worldly goods? Will you then rejoice in the money you have left behind you? Or in that you have given to support a family, as it is called; that is, in truth, to support the pride, and vanity, and luxury, which you have yourself despised all your life long? O, sir, I beseech you, for the sake of God, for the sake of your own immortal soul, examine yourself, whether you do not love money? If so, you cannot love God. And if we die without the fear of God, what remains? Only to be banished from him for ever and ever! I am, with true respect, sir,

"Your servant, for Christ's sake.”

AN EXTRACT

OF THE

REV. MR. JOHN WESLEY'S JOURNAL.

FROM FEBRUARY 16, 1755, TO JUNE 16, 1758.

JOURNAL.-No. X.

FEBRUARY 16, 1755.-Having heard a confused account from a place near Camelford, in Cornwall, I wrote to a friend near it, and received the following answer :

"According to your desire, I have inquired into the particulars of the late affair at Delabole Quarry. The rock is about thirty yards thick; but the most valuable part of the stone lies undermost.

"There were nine partners who shared the advantage of this part of the quarry. Being greedy of gain, they brought out as much of the under part as possible; and the rather, because the time for which they had hired it was within a month of expiring.

"On Monday, Dec. 2, William Lane, John Lane, William Kellow, and five more of the partners, met in the morning, and sent one of their number for Theophilus Kellow to come to work. He came, but was so uneasy he could not stay, but quickly returned home. William Kellow was sent for in haste, and went to look after his mare, which had cast her foal. The other seven continued labouring till twelve. All the workmen usually dine together; but these wrought on, when the rest withdrew, till in a moment they were covered with rocks of all sizes, falling about ten yards, some of which were thought to be three tons weight. William Lane had, some years since, known the love of God. He was sitting, cleaving stones, when the rock caved in upon him, with a con cave surface, which just made room for his body: only one edge of it light upon him, and broke one of his thigh bones. When they dug away the stones, he was earnestly praying to God, and confessing his unfaithfulness. As soon as he looked up, he began exhorting all around instantly to make their peace with God. His bone being set, he soon recovered both his bodily strength, and the peace and love which he had lost. Another, who sat close by his side, was covered over, and killed at once. Close to him, John Lane (son of William) was standing: he was thrown upon his face, he knew not how, and a sharp-edged stone pitched between his thighs; on which a huge rock fell, and was suspended by it, so as to shadow him all over. The other five were entirely dashed in pieces." Doth not God save those that trust in him?

Tues. April 1.-I rode from Bristol to a village named Kingswood, near Wotton-under-Edge. The church was exceeding full, and the congregation was serious and well-behaved and I had since the satis

:

faction of being informed, that many of them were much changed, at least in their outward behaviour.

Wed. 2.-With some difficulty we reached Stanley: there has been lately a great awakening in this country. I never saw such a congregation here before, notwithstanding the wind and rain; and all present seemed to receive the word with gladness and readiness of mind. There is a solid, serious people in these parts, who stand their ground against all opposition. The warmest opposers are the Jacobites, who do not love us, because we love King George. But they profit nothing; for more and more people "fear God and honour the king." We rode on Thursday in the afternoon through heavy rain, and almost impassable roads, to Evesham; and on Friday, 4, to Birmingham, a barren, dry, uncomfortable place. Most of the seed which has been sown for so many years, the "wild boars" have "rooted up" the fierce, unclean, brutish, blasphemous Antinomians have utterly destroyed it. Ard the mystic foxes have taken true pains to spoil what remained, with their new Gospel. Yet it seems God has a blessing for this place still; so many still attend the preaching; and he is eminently present with the small number that is left in the society.

Sat. 5.-I preached at Wednesbury, and at eight on Sunday morning. But the great congregation assembled in the afternoon, as soon as the service of the church was over, with which we take care never to interfere. A solemn awe seemed to run all through the company in the evening, when I met the society. We have indeed preached the Gospel here "with much contention :" but the success overpays the

labour.

Mon. 7.-I was advised to take the Derbyshire road to Manchester. We baited at a house six miles beyond Lichfield. Observing a woman sitting in the kitchen, I asked, "Are you not well?" And found she had just been taken ill, (being on her journey,) with all the symptoms of an approaching pleurisy. She was glad to hear of an easy, cheap, and (almost) infallible remedy,-a handful of nettles, boiled a few minutes, and applied warm to the side. While I was speaking to her, an elderly man, pretty well dressed, came in. Upon inquiry, he told us he was travelling, as he could, toward his home near Hounslow, in hopes of agreeing with his creditors, to whom he had surrendered his all. But how to get on he knew not, as he had no money, and had caught a tertian ague. I hope a wise providence directed this wanderer also, that he might have a remedy for both his maladies.

Soon after we took horse we overtook a poor man creeping forward on two crutches. I asked, whither he was going. He said, toward Nottingham, where his wife lived: but both his legs had been broke while he was on shipboard, and he had now spent all his money. This man likewise appeared exceeding thankful, and ready to acknowledge the hand of God. In the afternoon we came to Barton Forge; where a gentleman of Birmingham has set up a large iron work, and fixed five or six families, with a serious man over them, who lost near all he had in the great riot at Wednesbury. Most of them are seeking to save their sou.s. I preached in the evening, not to them only, but to many gathered from all parts, and exhorted them to love and help one another.

Tues. S.-I had designed to go straight on to Hayfield; but one