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upon me directly, for "denying the righteousness of Christ." On this we discoursed about an hour. The issue was, one of them was quite convinced and the other (to my no small satisfaction) desired me to put a new leader in his place.

Wednesday 15, About seven I preached at Ewood, and about noon at Halifax. New opinions had done harm here also but at this time all was quiet. I rode over to Bradford in the afternoon, where I found an Anabaptist teacher had perplexed and unsettled the minds of several: but they are now less ignorant of Satan's devices. Friday 17, I rode to Birstal, and was much comforted, to find many of our first children in this county, who are not yet weary of the good old way. May they continue therein unto the day of the Lord Jesus!

Saturday 18, At one I preached at South-Royd. The good people had placed the stand, so that the sun, which was very hot, shone upon my head, and the wind, which was very cold, blew in my neck: but it was all one: I was on my Master's business and great was our rejoicing* in him.

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Sunday 19, I preached in Birstal room at eight. At one we had thousands, the greatest part of whom were persons fearing God and working righteousness. I rode thence to Leeds, in order to preach a funeral sermon for Mary Shent, who, after many severe conflicts, died in great peace. It was one of the largest congregations, which has been seen at Leeds, to whom I spoke very plainly from part of the Gospel for the day, Give an account of thy stewardship, for thou mayest be no longer steward. I hastened back to the Lovefeast at Birstal. It was the first of the kind which had been there. Many were surprised when I told them, "The very design of a Love-feast is a free and familiar conversation, in which every man, yea, and woman, has liberty to speak whatever may be to the glory of God." Several then did speak; and not in vain: The flame ran from heart to heart. Especially while one was declaring with all simplicity, the manner wherein God, during the morning

sermon, (on those words, I will be thou clean) had set her soul at full liberty. Two men also spoke to the same effect and two others, who had found peace with God. We then joyfully poured out our souls before God, and praised him for his marvellous works.

Monday 20, I came to a full explanation, with that good man, Mr. V—. Lord, if I must dispute, let it be with the children of the devil. Let me be at peace with thy children!

On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, I preached at the neighbouring towns. Friday 24, in speaking from those words, In many things we offend all, I observed, 1, As long as we live, our soul is connected with the body. 2, As long as it is thus connected, it cannot think but by the help of bodily organs. 3, As long as these organs are imperfect, we are liable to mistakes, both speculative and practical. 4, Yea, and a mistake may occasion my loving a good man less than I ought; which is a defective, that is, a wrong temper. 5, For all these we need the atoning blood, as indeed for every defect or omission. Therefore, 6, All men have need to say daily, Forgive us our trespasses.

About one, I preached at Bramley, where Jonas Rushford, about fourteen years old, gave me the following relation :

"About this time last year I was desired by two of our neighbours, to go with them to Mr. Crowther's, at Skipton, who would not speak to them, about a man that had been missing twenty weeks, but bid them bring a boy twelve or thirteen years old. When we came in, he stood reading a book. He put me into a bed, with a looking-glass in my hand, and covered me all over. Then he asked me, whom I had a mind to see; and I said, my mother.' presently saw her with a lock of wool in her hand, standing just in the place, and the clothes she was in, as she told me afterwards. Then he bid me look again, for the man that was missing, who was one of our neighbours and I looked and saw him riding towards Idle; but he was very drunk: and he stopped at the alehouse, and drank two pints more;

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and they went on before And when he came up,

and he pulled out a guinea to change. Two men stood by, a big man and a little man him, and got two hedge-stakes. on Windhill-common, at the top of the hill, they pulled him off his horse, and killed him, and threw him into a coal-pit. And I saw it all as plainly, as if I were close to them: and if I saw the men, I should know them again. We went back to Bradford that night, and the next day I went with our neighbours, and shewed them the spot where he was killed, and the pit into which he was thrown. And a man went down, and brought him up; and it was as I had told them his handkerchief was tied about his mouth, and fastened behind his neck."

Is it improbable only, or flatly impossible, when all the circumstances are considered, that this should all be pure fiction? They that can believe this, may believe a man's getting into a bottle.

From Bramley I rode to Kippax. Mr. Venn came a little after we were gone into the Church. Mr. Romaine read prayers. I preached on Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness. O why should they who agree in this great point, fall out about smaller things!

Saturday 25, About one, I preached at Seacroft, and found several who believed God had saved them from sin. In the evening I talked with twelve or fourteen of these particularly: but i found not one, who presumed to say, that he did not need the atoning blood. Nor could I hear of any more than two persons, that ever spoke in this manner; and these were soon after, for that reason, expelled out of Otley Society. Sunday 26, I preached at seven, on Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And, oh! what a flame did God kindle! Many were "on fire, to be dissolved in love."

About one I preached to the usual congregation at Birstal. What a work is God working here also! Six in one Class have, within this week, found peace with God: two, this

morning, in meeting the Class. While I was praying on Sunday evening, that God would give us a token for good, James Eastwood was set at full liberty: as were William Wilson, and Elizabeth his wife before, and Martha his daughter, with Agnes Gooddel on the Wednesday after. To these were added Joseph Newsham, and Richard Hallewell, sixteen years of age. So that the oldest of our believers now cry out, We never saw it before on this fashion.

Monday 27, I preached at Staincross about eleven; about five, at Barley-hall; the next morning at Sheffield. In the afternoon I rode on to Matlock-bath. The valley which reaches from the town to the bath, is pleasant beyond expression. In the bottom of this runs a little river; close to which a mountain rises, almost perpendicular, to an enormous height, part covered with green, part with ragged and naked rocks. On the other side the mountain rises gradually, with tufts of trees here and there. The brow on both sides is fringed with trees, which seem to answer each other. Many of our friends were come from various parts. At six I preached standing under the hollow of a rock, on. one side of a small plain, on the other side of which was a tall mountain. There were many well-dressed hearers, this being the high season; and all of them behaved well: but as I walked back, a gentleman-like man asked me, "Why do you talk thus of faith, stuff, nonsense?" Upon enquiry, I found he was an eminent deist. What, has the plague crept into the Peak of Derbyshire?

Wednesday 29, I preached at five, near the Bath, in Woodseats at two, and in the evening, at the end of the house in Sheffield, to thrice as many people as it would have contained. Thursday and Friday I preached at Rotherham, in the shell of the new house, which is an octagon. The congregation was larger than ever: the Society well united, and much alive to God.

Saturday, August 1, I rode to Clayworth, and after preaching, laboured all I could to reconcile two brothers, who had long been quarrelling about their inheritance! but it was labour lost. Indeed the reason of the thing was clear:

but passion is ever too hard for reason. Hence I went on to Misterton, and both in the evening and morning, spoke to a lifeless, money-getting people, in a sharper manner than ever I did before: and (I heard afterward) with good effect.

Sunday 2, I had the satisfaction of hearing Mr. Madan preach an excellent sermon at Haxey. At two I preached at Westwood-side, to the largest congregation I ever saw, in the Isle of Axholme: and to nearly the same at Epworth Cross, as soon as the Church-service was ended. After spending two days here, on Wednesday 5, I preached about nine at Ferry, and then rode on to Gainsborough. I preached in the old hall to a mixed multitude, part civil, part rude as bears. We rode home through heavy rain, joined with much thunder and lightning, part of which was just over our heads. But the Lord sitteth above the water floods. So we came safe, only very wet, to Epworth.

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Thursday 6, I preached about nine, at Hatfield-woodhouse, and about one, at Syke-house, to far the largest congregation that has been seen there for many years. Boast who will, that "Methodism (the revival of true religion ) is just coming to nothing,"—we know better things, and are thankful to God for its continual increase.

Saturday 8, I preached at Winterton, to such a congregation, as I suppose, never met there before. From thence we rode on to Barrow, where the mob was in readiness to receive us. But their hearts failed: so they only gave two or three huzzas, and let us pass by unmolested.

As soon as I came out to preach, we had another huzza. But as more and more of the angry ones came within hearing, they lost all their fierceness, and sunk into calmness and attention. So I concluded my discourse with quietness and satisfaction. In the evening I preached at Grimsby, where I spent Sunday and Monday. Tuesday 11, I preached at two in Lorborough, in the evening, at Elkington. The next morning we rode to Horncastle, where Satan's children had threatened terrible things. But they could go no farther, than to give one feeble shout, as we entered the town.

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