church, and ten times as many at the Lord's table, as usual. As soon as the afternoon service ended, I began in the market-place to press that awful question, How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation? on such a congregation as was never seen at Epworth before.

[Here again there is a chasm in the narrative, through a part of the manuscript having been lost.]

Friday, Aug. 27, I returned to Bristol. In the evening, and at the watch-night, the house was well filled. Finding the account of Mrs. Scudamore's life and death (an excellent woman, though mistaken in this point) has revived in some, the imagination of the expiatory nature of sufferings, and thence the absolute necessity of them in order to salvation, I discussed the subject at large, and shewed that both these notions had their rise in popery, and that neither the one nor the other of them had any foundation in Scripture.

Sunday 29, Mr. Baddiley being gone to the North, and Mr. Collins being engaged elsewhere, I had none to assist me in the service, and I could not read all the prayers myself: so I was obliged to shorten the service, which brought the prayers, sermon, and the Lord's-Supper, within the compass of three hours. I preached in the afternoon near King's-square; and the hearts of the people bowed down before the Lord.

Monday 30, About noon I preached at Castlecary. Since I was here God has taken to himself that amiable woman, Mrs. Clarke, who, to a fine person, and a good understanding, joined a very uncommon degree of deep religion. This inclined me to apply earnestly, Eccles. ix. 10, and all the people seemed to feel it. Afterwards I called on her deeplyafflicted husband, who spent some hours with us the next day. I hope he will no longer sorrow as one without hope; but will trust to meet her in a better place. In the evening I preached in the new house at Ditchet. It would not hold the congregation, but many could hear at the windows, which they seemed right willing to do. A flame appears to be kindled here already. God grant it may continue and increase! Tuesday 31, William Kingston, the man born without arms, came to see me of his own accord. Some

time since he received a clear sense of the favour of God: but, after some months, he was persuaded by some of his old companions to join in a favourite diversion, whereby he lost sight of God, and gave up all he had gained: but now God touched his heart again, and he is once more in earnest to save his soul. He is of a middling height and size, has a pleasing look and voice, and an easy, agreeable behaviour. At breakfast he shook off his shoes, which are made on purpose, took the tea-cup between his toes, and the toast with his other foot. He likewise writes a fair hand, and does most things with his feet which we do with our hands. About noon I preached to a lovely congregation at SheptonMallet, and in the evening at Pensford. The house was crowded with earnest hearers, and, I trust, the word did not fall to the ground.

Wednesday, September 1, I returned to Bristol: and it being the first day of the fair, I spoke strongly from the words of Solomon, Buy the truth, and sell it not. In the two following days I corrected and abridged the account of that excellent woman, Mrs. Scuddamore: a burning and shining light, till the mystics persuaded her to put her light under a bushel; so that, for above two years, she renounced all conversation with even her pious friends! How does this agree with Scripture? "All my delight is in the saints that are on the earth, and with them that excel in virtue!" How far was the experience of Jane Cooper, or Elizabeth Harper, preferable to that of such a solitary!

Saturday 4, I went on to Bath, and preached in the evening to a serious but small congregation, for want of notice. Sunday 5, at ten we had a numerous congregation, and more communicants than ever I saw here before. This day 1 cut off that vile custom, I know not when or how it began, of preaching three times by the same preacher to the same congregation: enough to weary out both the body. and mind of the speaker, as well as his hearers. Surely God is returning to this society! They are now in earnest to make their calling and election sure.

Monday 6, This evening the congregation was almost as VOL. VI.

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large as it was the night before: and the power of God was mightily present: and so it was on Tuesday and Wednesday evening at Bristol. Thursday 9, I read over the experience of Joseph Humphreys, the first lay preacher that assisted me in England, in the year 1738. From his own mouth I learn that he was perfected in love, and so continued for at least a twelve-month. Afterwards he turned Calvinist, joined Mr. Whitefield, and published an invective against my brother and me in the newspaper. In a while he renounced Mr. Whitefield, and was ordained a Presbyterian minister: at last he received episcopal ordination. He then scoffed at inward religion, and when reminded of his own experience, replied, "That was one of the foolish things which I wrote in the time of my madness!"

Friday 10, I preached to a large congregation at ChewStoke, nine miles from Bristol, on those words in the second lesson, Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden: and in the evening at Mrs. Griffith's house.

Sunday 12, I intended to preach abroad; but the weather would not permit. Monday 13, and the three following days, I met the classes of the society, which contains nine hundred and forty-four members.

Thursday 16, I was desired to see a monster, properly speaking. He was as large as the largest lion in the tower, but covered with rough hair of a brown colour, has the head of a swine, and feet like a mole. It is plain to me, it was begotten between a bear and a wild boar. He lives on fruit and bread, chiefly the latter. The keeper handles him as he pleases, putting his hand in his mouth, and taking hold of his tongue: but he has a horrible roar, between that of a lion and of a bull.

At the same time I saw a pelican. Is it not strange that we have no true account or picture of this bird! It is one of the most beautiful in nature, being indeed a large swan, almost twice as big as a tame one; snow white and elegantly shaped only its neck is three quarters of a yard long, and capable of being so distended as to contain two gallons of liquid or solid: she builds her nest in some wood, not far

from a river, from which she daily brings a quantity of fish to her young these she carries in her neck, (the only pound which she has) and then divides them among her young and hence is fabricated the idle tale of her feeding them with her blood.

Friday 17, I went over to Thornbury, and preached at noon to a very large and deeply serious congregation. In the evening we had a solemn watch-night at Kingswood. Saturday 18, I called upon Mr. Easterbrook, ill of a disorder which no physician understands, and which, it seems, God alone can cure. He is a pattern to all Bristol, and indeed to all England, having (beside his other incessant labours, which never were intermitted) preached in every house in his parish! It was while he was preaching in his own church, that he was suddenly struck with a violent pain in his breast. This confounds all the physicians, and none of their medicines can alter it.

Sunday 19, Mr. Collins assisted me in the morning, so I had an easy day's work. Monday 20, and the next day, I read over the King of Sweden's Tract upon the balance of power in Europe. If it be really his, he is certainly one of the most sensible, as well as one of the bravest princes in Europe. And if his account be true, what a woman is the Czarina! But still God is over all!

Wednesday 22, I preached once more in Temple church, on All things are possible to him that believeth. Saturday 25, Mr. Hey, the Presbyterian Minister of Castle-green meeting, came to desire me to let him have the use of our preaching-house on Sundays, at those hours when we did not use it ourselves, (near ten in the morning and two in the afternoon) while his house was re-building. To this I willingly consented, and he preached an excellent sermon there the next day at two. I preached at five in the evening to more than the house would well contain.

Monday 27, I left Bristol; about eleven I preached in the Devizes, and in the evening at Sarum. I do not know that ever I saw the house so crowded before, with high and low, rich and poor: so that I hope we shall again see fruit here also.

Wednesday 29, About noon I preached at Winton: the congregation was larger than usual; and what was stranger still, seemed not a little affected! How long have we cast our bread upon the waters here! And shall we find it again after many days? In the evening I preached to a crowded and deeply attentive congregation at Portsmouth-Common.

Thursday 30, It being a lovely morning, we went in a wherry, through Cowe's harbour, to Newport, one of the pleasantest, neatest, and most elegant towns in the king's dominions. Both the nights I preached here, the preachinghouse would by no means contain the congregation. I was likewise well pleased with the poor, plain, artless society. Here at least, we have not lost our labour.

Friday, October 1, We purposed returning to Portsmouth (about twenty miles, it being a calm, sunshiny morning) in the wherry we came in; but a friend offering us a kind of hoy, we willingly accepted his offer. It was well he did; for, as soon as we were out of the harbour, the wind rose, and the sea raged horribly. The wherry would soon have been swallowed up: the waves washed over us on both sides. Having no decks, we were well soaked from head to foot; but, before noon, we got safe to Portsmouth.

Saturday 2, Setting out as usual, at two, we came to Cobham, between ten and eleven, and found a party of our friends from London ready to receive us. We walked an hour in the gardens; but the inn-keeper informed us, "Strangers were not admitted unless on Tuesday and Friday." However, hearing Mr. Hopkins was at home, I sent in my name, and desired that favour, which was immediately granted. We spent an hour very agreeably in those lovely walks; but still the eye was not satisfied with seeing. The soul of an immortal spirit can be satisfied with nothing but seeing God. In the afternoon we went on to London.

Sunday 3, Was indeed a comfortable day. I preached at the New Chapel, morning and evening, with great enlargement of spirit. At the love-feast which followed, great