behaviour; they are easy and thoughtless, having now no holy fear, no earnest care to work out their own salvation."

Wednesday 5, I came wet and weary to Sheffield, and on Friday to Donnington Park, which I left before eight the next morning, in order to go to Wednesbury, in Staffordshire. I was immediately met by a vehement shower of rain, driven full in my face by a strong wind. But in an hour the day was clear and calm. About four in

the afternoon I came to Wednesbury. At seven I preached in the town-hall. It was filled from end to end; and all appeared to be deeply attentive, while I explained, This is the covenant which I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord.

Sunday 9, The hall was filled again at five, and I proclaimed The name of the Lord, the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. At eight we met in the place where my brother preached, made, as it were, for the great congregation. It is a large hollow, scarcely a mile from the town, capable of containing four or five thousand people. They stood in a half circle one above another, and seemed all to receive with joy, that great truth, The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

In the afternoon, Mr. Egginton preached a plain, useful sermon. Almost the whole congregation then went down to the place, where abundance of people were already waiting for us: so that the hollow could not contain them, but was edged round with those who came from all parts. My subject was, By grace ye are saved, through faith. Ó that all who heard might experience this salvation!

Monday 10, I preached at five, at eight, and at three. In the intervals of preaching I spoke to all who desired it. Last night twenty-nine of them were joined together. Tuesday 11, about a hundred. Ŏ that none of these may draw back to perdition! Let these believe unto the saving of the soul!

Wednesday 12, I took my leave of them in the morning, by shewing the difference between the righteousness of the law and that of faith; and in the evening, explained to a large congregation at Evesham, So is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Thursday 13, I rode to Stratford-upon-Avon. I had scarce sat down before I was informed, that Mrs. K-, a middle-aged woman, of Shattery, half a mile from Stratford, had been for many weeks last past, in a way which nobody could understand: that she' had sent for a minister, but almost as soon as he came, began roaring in so strange a manner, (her tongue at the same time hanging out of her mouth, and her face distorted into the most terrible form), that he cried out, "It is the devil doubtless! it is the devil!" And immedi ately went away.

I suppose this was some unphilosophical minister; else he would have said, "Stark mad! send her to Bedlam."

I asked, "What good do you think I can do?" One answered, "We cannot tell: but Mrs. K (I just relate what was spoken to me, without passing any judgment upon it) earnestly desired you might come, if you were any where near; saying, she had seen you

in a dream, and should know you immediately. But the devil said (those were her own expressions), 'I will tear thy throat out before he comes.' But afterwards (she said) his words were, 'If he do come, I will let thee be quiet; and thou shalt be as if nothing ailed thee till he is gone away."

A very odd kind of madness this! I walked over about noon; but when we came to the house, I desired all those who came with me to stay below. One shewing me the way, I went up straight to her room. As soon as I came to the bed-side, she fixed her eyes and said, "You are Mr. Wesley. I am very well now, I thank God. Nothing ails me; only I am weak." I called them up, and we began to sing,

Jesu, thou hast bid us pray,

Pray always and not faint:
With the word a power convey
To utter our complaint."

After singing a verse or two we kneeled down to prayer. I had but just begun, (my eyes being shut) when I felt as if I had been plunged into cold water. And immediately there was such a roar, that my voice was quite drowned, though I spoke as loud as I usually do to three or four thousand people. However, I prayed on. She was then reared up in the bed, her whole body moving at once, without bending one joint or limb, just as if it were one piece of stone. Immediately after, it was writhed into all kinds of postures, the same horrid yell continuing still. But we left her not, till all the symptoms ceased, and she was (for the present at least) rejoicing and praising God.

Between one and two I preached at Stratford, on The Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins. Most of the hearers stood like posts. But some mocked, others blasphemed, and a few believed.

I preached at Evesham, in the evening, rode to Painswick the next day, and on Saturday 15, to Bristol; where, the following week, I spoke to each member of the society, and rejoiced over them, finding they had not been barren or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Monday 24, I preached at Bath. Some of the rich and great were present: to whom, as to the rest I declared with all plainness of speech, 1, That, by nature, they were all children of wrath; 2, That all their natural tempers were corrupt and abominable; and 3, All their words and works, which could never be any better but by faith; and that, 4, A natural man has no more faith than a devil, if so much. One of them my Lord stayed very patiently till I came to the midst of the fourth head. Then starting up, he said, "Tis hot! 'tis very hot!" and got down stairs as fast as he could.

Several of the gentry desired to stay at the meeting of the society: to whom I explained the nature of inward religion, words flowing upon me faster than I could speak. One of them (a noted infidel) hung over the next seat in an attitude not to be described. And when he went, left half-a-guinea with Mary Naylor, for the use of the poor.

On the following days I spoke with each member of the society in Kingswood. I cannot understand how any minister can hope ever to give up his account with joy, unless (as Ignatius advises) he "know all his flock by name; not overlooking the men servants and maid servants."

I left Bristol on Friday 28, came to Reading on Saturday, and to Windsor on Sunday morning. Thence I walked over to Egham, where Mr. preached one of the most miserable sermons I ever heard; stuffed so full of dull, senseless, improbable lies, of those he complimented with the title of False Prophets.

I preached at one, and endeavoured to rescue the poor text (Matt. vii. 16,) out of so bad hands. About four I left Egham, and at eight in the evening met a joyful congregation at the Foundery.

Monday 31, One writing to desire, that I would preach on Isaiah lviii, I willingly complied with his request in the evening. A day or two after I received a letter from a girl of sixteen or seventeen, whom I had often observed, as being in an eminent degree, of a meek and lowly spirit. Some of her words were, "I do not think there were above six or seven words of the true Gospel in your whole sermon. I think nothing ought to concern you, but the errand which the Lord gave you. But how far are you from this! You preach more the law than the Gospel!" Ah, my poor still sister! thou art an apt scholar indeed! I did not expect this quite so soon.

Wednesday, February 2, My brother and I began visiting the society together, which employed us from six in the morning every day, till near six in the evening. Sunday 6, I preached in the morning, on While we have opportunity, let us do good unto all men and in the afternoon, on By manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. So rough charity sermon was scarce ever heard. But God gave it his blessing; insomuch, that fifty pounds were contributed toward finishing the house at Newcastle.

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Friday 11, I called on poor Joseph Hodges, who after so long withstanding all the wiles of the enemy, has been at last induced, by his fatal regard for Mr. Hall, to renounce my brother and me in form. But he had perfectly learned the exercise of his arms. He was so happy, so poor a sinner, that to produce either scripture or reason against him, was mere beating the air.

Monday 14, I left London, and (riding early and late) the next evening came to Newark. Here I met with a few who had tasted the good word: one of whom received me gladly, and desired me whenever I came to Newark, to make his house my home.

Wednesday 16, I reached Epworth. I was to preach at six; but the house not being able to contain half the congregation, I went out and declared, We love Him because He first loved us. In the morning, Thursday 17, I largely explained, The Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. And it was high time; for I soon found the spirit of delusion was gone abroad here also; and some began to boast, that Christ had made them free, who were still the servants of sin. In the evening I preached on that bold assertion of St. John,

(indeed of all who have the true Spirit of adoption,) We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

Friday 18, I rode forward for Newcastle. We inquired at Poplington, a little town three miles beyond York, and hearing there was no other town near, thought it best to call there. A bible lying

in the window, my fellow-traveller asked the woman of the house, "If she had read that book?" She said, Sir, I cannot read, the worse is my luck. But that great girl is a rare scholar, and yet she cares not if she never look in a book; she minds nout but play." I began soon after to speak to our landlord, while the old woman drew closer and closer to me. The girl spun on; but all on a sudden she stopped her wheel, burst out into tears, and, with all that were in the house, so devoured our words, that we scarce knew how to go away.

In the evening we came to Boroughbridge, and Saturday 19, to Newcastle.

Sunday 20, I went on in expounding the Acts of the Apostles, and St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans. In the following week I diligently inquired, who they were that did not walk according to the Gospel? In consequence of which I was obliged to put away above fifty persons. There remained about eight hundred in the society.

Saturday 26, I visited those that were sick. One of these had kept her room for many months, so that she had never heard the voice, or seen the face of any preacher of this way. But God had taught her in the school of affliction. She gave a plain and distinct account of the manner wherein she had received a sense of her acceptance with God more than a year before; and of a fuller manifestation of his love, of which she never after doubted for a moment.

Monday 28, I preached again at Horseley, and spoke severally with those of the society. The world now begins to take the alarm, and to cast out their names as evil. After a very good woman (so called) had used abundance of arguments, to hinder her neighbour from going near these people, she told her at length, "Why, none but the wickedest people upon earth go there." "Nay, then,” replied she, "I will go immediately; for I am sure none upon earth is wickeder than I.” Such be the event of all wordly wisdom!

Tuesday, March 1, I preached at two in Pelton, five miles south of Newcastle. A multitude of people were gathered together from all the neighbouring towns, and (which I rejoiced at much more) from all the neighbouring pits. In riding home, I observed a little village, called Chowden, which they told me consisted of colliers only. I resolved to preach there as soon as possible; for these are sinners, and need repentance.

Sunday 6, I read over in the society the rules which all our members are to observe, and desired every one seriously to consider, whether he was willing to conform thereto or not? That this would shake many of them I knew well; and therefore, on Monday 7, I began visiting the classes again, lest that which is lame should be turned out of the way.

Tuesday 8, In the afternoon I preached on a smooth part of the fell, or common, near Chowden. I found we were got into the very

Kingswood of the north. Twenty or thirty wild children ran round us, as soon as we came, staring as in amaze. They could not properly be said to be either clothed or naked. One of the largest, a girl about fifteen, had a piece of a ragged, dirty blanket, some way hung about her, and a kind of cap on her head, of the same cloth and colour. My heart was exceedingly enlarged towards them; and they looked as if they would have swallowed me up, especially while I was applying those words, Be it known unto you, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins.

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Saturday 12, I concluded my second course of visiting, in which I inquired particularly into two things: 1, The case of those who had almost every night the last week cried out aloud during the preaching: 2, The number of those who were separated from us, and the reason and occasion of it.

As to the former, I found,

1. That all of them, I think not one excepted, were persons in perfect health, and had not been subject to fits of any kind, till they were thus affected:

2, That this had come upon every one of them in a moment, without any previous notice, while they were either hearing the word of God, or thinking on what they had heard.

3, That in a moment they dropped down, lost all their strength, and were seized with violent pain.

This they expressed in different manners. Some said, they felt just as if a sword were running through them; others, that they thought a great weight lay upon them, as if it would squeeze them into the earth. Some said, they were quite choked, so that they could not breathe; others, that their hearts swelled ready to burst; and others, that it was as if their heart, as if all their inside, as if their whole body were tearing all to pieces.

These symptoms I can no more impute to any natural cause than to the Spirit of God. I can make no doubt but it was Satan tearing them, as they were coming to Christ. And hence proceeded those grievous cries, whereby he might design both to discredit the work of God, and to affright fearful people from hearing that word, whereby their souls might be saved.

I found, 4, That their minds had been as variously affected as their bodies. Of this some could give scarce any account at all, which also I impute to that wise spirit, purposely stunning and confounding as many as he could, that they might not be able to betray his devices. Others gave a very clear and particular account from the beginning to the end. The word of God pierced, their souls, and convinced them of inward as well as outward sin. They saw and felt the wrath of God abiding on them, and were afraid of his judgments. And here the accuser came with great power, telling them, "there was no hope, they were lost for ever." The pains of body then seized them in a moment, and extorted those loud and bitter cries.

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As to the latter, I observed the number of those who had left the Society, since Dec. 30, was seventy-six:"