vast work, designed to consist of twelve very large quarto volumes, eight of which are published. The primitive world analysed and compared with the modern. He is a man of a strong understanding, boundless imagination, and amazing industry. I think his first volume is a beautiful castle in the air. I admire it, but I do not believe one word of it, because it is wholly built on the authority of Sanchoniatho, whom no one could ever yet prove to have had a being: and I fear he was a deist: 1, Because he no where lays the least stress upon the Bible: 2, Because he supposes the original confusion of tongues to have been a merely natural event.

Sunday 24, God was eminently present with us at the morning service as well as at Temple church in the afternoon, which I never saw so filled before, which is not at all strange, considering the spirit of the vicar, and the indefatigable pains which he takes with rich and poor. At five I took the opportunity of a fair evening to preach once more near King's-square: and once more I declared to a large multitude the whole counsel of God.

Monday 25, We took coach in the afternoon, and on Tuesday morning reached London. I now applied myself in earnest to the writing of Mr. Fletcher's life, having procured the best materials I could. To this I dedicated all the time I could spare, till November, from five in the morning till eight at night. These are my studying hours: I cannot write longer in a day without hurting my eyes.

Saturday 31, I went to bed at my usual time, half an hour past nine, and to my own feeling, in perfect health: but just at twelve I was waked by an impetuous flux, which did not suffer me to rest many minutes together. Finding it rather increased than decreased, though (what I never knew before) without its old companion the cramp, I sent for Dr. Whitehead. He came about four, and by the blessing of God in three hours I was as well as ever. Nor did I find the least weakness or faintness, but preached morning and afternoon, and met the society in the evening, without any weariness. Of such a one I would boldly say with the son of Sirach, Honour the physician, for God hath appointed him.

Monday, October 2, I went to Chatham, and had much comfort with the loving, serious congregation in the evening, as well as at five in the morning, Tuesday 3. We then ran down with a fair, pleasant wind to Sheerness. The preaching-house here is now finished, but by means never heard of. The building was undertaken a few months since, by a little handful of men, without any probable means of finishing it. But God so moved the hearts of the people in the dock, that even those who did not pretend to any religion, carpenters, shipwrights, labourers, ran up, at all their vacant hours, and worked with all their might, without any pay! By these means a large square house was soon elegantly finished, both within and without. And it is the neatest building, next to the New Chapel in London, of any in the south of England.

I preached in the evening on Stand ye in the old paths, to a lovely congregation, and then shewed the society of how great importance it was, that their light should shine before men. And indeed it does shine. They are of one heart and of one mind, striving for the hope of the gospel. I preached at Chatham on Thursday evening, and the next day, Friday 6, returned to London.

Tuesday 10, Having promised to preach in their new house at Lynn, I thought it best to go while the good weather continued. I had ordered two places to be taken in the coach, which would have reached Lynn on Tuesday noon; but my messenger mending my orders, took them in the diligence, which came in between nine and ten at night. By this mean I lost one of three evenings which I proposed to spend there.

I spent Wednesday and Thursday with much satisfaction, with a very loving and lively people, increasing in grace as well as in number, and adorning the doctrine of God our Saviour. I had appointed to preach Mrs. Shewell's funeral sermon at Barnet, on Friday evening. And as we had only two light persons in the diligence, and no baggage, I hoped we should have come in time: but they were vain hopes. We did not reach Hodsdon till after sun-set. I then took a

+

post-chaise, for the diligence went the other road. But as we had a rough by-road across the country, without either moon or stars, we could not reach the chapel till half an hour after seven. About half the congregation were gone away, an officious man having informed them I would not come. With the other half, which pretty well filled the house, we had a solemn opportunity. So I have lived to see the large family at Hadley, two brothers and three sisters, all removed. So does "the earth drop its inhabitants as the tree its leaves."

Monday 16, I went to Hinxworth and preached in the evening to a more numerous congregation than I ever had seen there before. At length Miss Harvey sees some fruit of all the pains she has taken. Tuesday 17, I met her poor children in the morning, twenty of whom she keeps at school in the village, as she is unwearied in doing good. In the evening I preached in Mr. Hicks's church at Wastlingworth. I have not seen such a congregation there for many years. Neither have I found so much of the power of God. Surely all our labour here will not be in vain.

Thursday 19, I returned to London. In this journey I had a full sight of Lord Salisbury's seat at Hatfield. The park is delightful. Both the fronts of the house, are very handsome, though antique. The hall, the assembly-room, and the gallery, are grand and beautiful. The chapel is extremely pretty. But the furniture in general, (excepting the pictures, many of which are originals) is just such as I should expect in a gentleman's house of five hundred a year.

Sunday 22, I preached at West-street, morning and afternoon, and at Allhallow's church in the evening. It was much crowded: and God gave us so remarkable a blessing as I scarcely ever found at that church. Tuesday 24, I met the classes at Deptford, and was vehemently importuned to order the Sunday service in our room at the same time with that of the church. It is easy to see that this would be a formal separation from the church. We fixed both our morning and evening service all over England, at such hours as not to interfere with the church: with this very design,

that those of the church, if they choose it, might attend both the one and the other. But to fix it at the same hour, is obliging them to separate, either from the church or us. And this I judge to be not only inexpedient, but totally unlawful for me to do.

Wednesday 25, I went to Brentford, but had little comfort there. The society is almost dwindled to nothing. What have we gained by separating from the church here? Is not this a good lesson for others?

Thursday 26, Mr. Holbrook carried us to HamptonCourt, far the finest palace which the King of England has. The buildings are a little town, and nothing can be pleasanter than the park. But above all, the three fronts of the house, the stair-case, and the furniture, and the pictures in the apartments, are worthy of a king, and not equalled by any in the kingdom in some respects, not by Blenheim itself, which exceeds it only in its front, in tapestry, and in shockingly immodest pictures.

In the evening I preached to a large and serious congregation at Wandsworth. I think it was about two in the morning, that a dog began howling under our window in a most uncommon manner. We could not stop him by any means. Just then William Br died..

Friday 27, I preached once more at Barnet, probably for the last time. Sunday 29, after preaching at West-street, I went directly to St. Giles's, where I preached before. I went abroad two or three and fifty years ago. And are they not past as a watch in the night? My subject was, the Joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth. And truly God confirmed his word. Many seemed to be partakers of that joy. And a solemn awe sat on the whole congregation.

Monday 31, and the ensuing days, I visited the classes. I was careful to take an exact account of the poor of the society. I was surprised to find only a hundred and fifty nine. I thought they had been double the number. I hope, by the assistance of God, within four months, to see that none of these want either food or raiment.

1

Friday, November 3, Taking the advantage of a moon

light evening, I went down to the chapel in Rotherhithe. I never saw it so well filled before, nor with such serious and attentive hearers. Is any thing too hard for God? Shall this wilderness blossom and bud as the rose ?

Sunday 5, I buried the remains of John Cowmeadow, another martyr to loud and long preaching. To save his life, if possible, when he was half dead, I took him to travel with me: but it was too late. He revived a little, but soon relapsed, and after a few months, died in peace. He had the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, and was of an exemplary behaviour.

Tuesday 7, I visited the classes, and found them much increased both in grace and number. The house was, as usual, well filled in the evening, and many were refreshed and comforted.

Thursday 9, In the evening I preached at Stratford. And understanding I had many good sort of people to deal with, I endeavoured to stir them up, by strongly shewing what it is to build upon a rock after shewing them the various ways whereby the generality of good men (so called) usually build upon the sand.

. Sunday 12, I preached morning and afternoon for the use of our little charity-school, where forty boys and twenty girls are trained up both for this world and the world to come.

Monday 13, I retired for a few days to Highbury Place, that I might go on in my work without interruption. I returned to town on Thursday 16, and after preaching on 1 Tim. vi. 20, had a comfortable meeting with the bands. Their shyness is vanished away and we have only one inconvenience: we have not time to hear all those that are willing to speak.

Sunday 26, After officiating at West-street morning and afternoon, I took coach at seven in the evening. We had a clear, pleasant night, and reached Norwich about eleven on Monday the 27th. I found all things in peace, through the zeal and prudence of Jasper Robinson and his fellow-labourers. The congregation in the evening was nearly as large as it usually is on a Sunday. And more than twice as