I preached at Newgate after dinner to a crowded congregation. Between five and six we went to Rose Green: it rained hard at Bristol, but not a drop fell upon us, while I declared to about five thousand, "Christ, our wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." I concluded the day by showing at the society in Baldwinstreet, that "his blood cleanseth us from all sin."

Tues. 17.—At five in the afternoon I was at a little society in the Back-lane. The room in which we were was propped beneath, but the weight of people made the floor give way; so that in the beginning of the expounding the post which propped it fell down with a great noise. But the floor sunk no further; so that after a little surprise at first, they quietly attended to the things that were spoken.

Thence I went to Baldwin-street, and expounded, as it came in course, the fourth chapter of the Acts. We then called upon God to confirm his word. Immediately one that stood by (to our no small surprise) cried out aloud, with the utmost vehemence, even as in the agonies of death. But we continued in prayer, till "a new song was put in her mouth, a thanksgiving unto our God." Soon after, two other persons (well known in this place, as labouring to live in all good conscience toward all men) were seized with strong pain, and constrained to "roar for the disquietness of their heart." But it was not long before they likewise burst forth into praise to God their Saviour. The last who called upon God as out of the belly of hell, was IE, a stranger in Bristol. And in a short space he also was overwhelmed with joy and love, knowing that God had healed his backslidings. So many living witnesses hath God given that his hand is still "stretched out to heal," and that "signs and wonders are even now wrought by his holy child Jesus."

Wed. 18.-In the evening L- -a S- (late a Quaker, but baptized the day before,) Ra M and a few others, were admitted into the society. But R- --a Mwas scarcely able, either to speak or look up. "The sorrows of death compassed" her "about, the pains of hell got hold upon" her. We poured out our complaints before God, and showed him of her trouble. And he soon showed, he is a God" that heareth prayer." She felt in herself, that " being justified freely, she had peace with God, through Jesus Christ." She "rejoiced in hope of the glory of God," and "the love of God was shed abroad in her heart." Fri. 20.-Being Good Friday, E- -th Rn, T-1 W- -s, and one or two others, first knew they had redemption in the blood of Christ, the remission of their sins.

Sat. 21.-At Weaver's Hall a young man was suddenly seized with a violent trembling all over, and in a few minutes, the sorrows of his heart being enlarged, sunk down to the ground. But we ceased not calling upon God, till he raised him up full of "peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." On Easter Day, it being a thorough rain, I could only preach at Newgate at eight in the morning, and two in the afternoon; in a house near Hannam Mount at eleven; and in one near Rose Green at five. At the society in the evening, many were cut to the heart, and many comforted. Mon. 23.—On a repeated invitation, I went to Pensford, about five miles from Bristol. I sent to the minister to ask leave to preach in

the church; but having waited some time and received no answer, I called on many of the people who were gathered together in an open place, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink." At four in the afternoon there were above three thousand, in a convenient place near Bristol; to whom I declared, "The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live." I preached at Bath to about a thousand on Tuesday morning, and at four in the afternoon to the poor colliers, at a place about the middle of Kingswood, called Two-Mile-Hill. In the evening at Baldwin-street, a young man, after a sharp (though short) agony, both of body and mind, found his soul filled with peace, knowing in whom he had believed.

Wed. 24.-To above two thousand at Baptist Mills, I explained that glorious scripture, (describing the state of every true believer in Christ, -every one who by faith is born of God,) "Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again unto fear, but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." Thur. 25.-While I was preaching at Newgate, on these words, "He that believeth hath everlasting life," I was insensibly led, without any previous design, to declare strongly and explicitly, that God willeth "all men to be" thus "saved;" and to pray, that, "if this were not the truth of God, he would not suffer the blind to go out of the way; but, if it were, he would bear witness to his word." Immediately one, and another, and another, sunk to the earth: they dropped on every side as thunderstruck. One of them cried aloud. We besought God in her behalf, and he turned her heaviness into joy. A second being in the same agony, we called upon God for her also; and he spoke peace unto her soul. In the evening I was again pressed in spirit to declare, that "Christ gave himself a ransom for all." And almost before we called upon him to set to his seal, he answered. One was so wounded by the sword of the Spirit, that you would have imagined she could not live a moment. But immediately his abundant kindness was showed, and she loudly sung of his righteousness. Fri. 26.-All Newgate rang with the cries of those whom the word of God cut to the heart. Two of whom were in a moment filled with joy, to the astonishment of those that beheld them.

Sun. 28.-I declared the free grace of God to about four thousand people, from those words, "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" At that hour it was, that one who had long continued in sin, from a despair of finding mercy, received a full, clear sense of his pardoning love, and power to sin no more. I then went to Clifton, a mile from Bristol, at the minister's desire, who was dangerously ill, and thence returned to a little plain, near Hannam Mount, where about three thousand were present. After dinner I went to Clifton again. The church was quite full at the prayers and sermon, as was the churchyard at the burial which followed. From Clifton we went to Rose Green, where were, by computation, near seven thousand, and thence to Gloucester-lane society. After which was our first love-feast in Baldwin-street. O how has God renewed my strength! who used ten years ago to be so faint and weary, with preaching twice in

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Mon. 29.-We understood that many were offended at the cries of those on whom the power of God came: among whom was a physician, who was much afraid, there might be fraud or imposture in the case. To-day one whom he had known many years, was the first (while I was preaching in Newgate) who broke out "into strong cries and tears." He could hardly believe his own eyes and ears. He went and stood close to her, and observed every symptom, till great drops of sweat ran down her face, and all her bones shook. He then knew not what to think, being clearly convinced, it was not fraud, nor yet any natural disorder. But when both her soul and body were healed in a moment, he acknowledged the finger of God.

Tues. May 1.-Many were offended again, and, indeed, much more than before. For at Baldwin-street my voice could scarce be heard amidst the groanings of some, and the cries of others calling aloud to Him that is "mighty to save." I desired all that were sincere of heart, to beseech with me the Prince exalted for us, that he would "proclaim deliverance to the captives." And he soon showed that he heard our voice. Many of those who had been long in darkness, saw the dawn of a great light; and ten persons, I afterward found, then began to say in faith, "My Lord and my God." A Quaker who stood by, was not a little displeased at the dissimulation of those creatures, and was biting his lips and knitting his brows, when he dropped down as thunderstruck. The agony he was in was even terrible to behold. We besought God not to lay folly to his charge. And he soon lifted up his head and cried aloud, "Now I know thou art a prophet of the Lord." Wed. 2.-At Newgate another mourner was comforted. I was desired to step thence to a neighbouring house, to see a letter wrote against me, as a "deceiver of the people," by teaching that God "willeth all men to be saved." One who long had asserted the contrary was there, when a young woman came in (who could say before, "I know that my Redeemer liveth") all in tears, and in deep anguish of spirit. She said, she had been reasoning with herself, how these things could be, till she was perplexed more and more; and she now found the Spirit of God was departed from her. We began to pray, and she cried out, "He is come! He is come! I again rejoice in God my Saviour." Just as we rose from giving thanks, another person reeled four or five steps, and then dropped down. We prayed with her, and left her strongly convinced of sin, and earnestly groaning for deliverance.

I did not mention one J-n H- -n, a weaver, who was at Baldwinstreet the night before. He was (I understood) a man of a regular life and conversation, one that constantly attended the public prayers and sacrament, and was zealous for the Church, and against dissenters of every denomination. Being informed that people fell into strange fits at the societies, he came to see and judge for himself. But he was less satisfied than before; insomuch that he went about to his acquaintance, one after another, till one in the morning, and laboured above measure to convince them it was a delusion of the devil. were going home, when one met us in the street and informed us, that Jn H— was fallen raving mad. It seems he had sat down to dinner, but had a mind first to end a sermon he had borrowed on "Salvation by Faith." In reading the last page, he changed colour, fell off

We

his chair, and began screaming terribly, and beating himself against the ground. The neighbours were alarmed, and flocked together to the house. Between one and two I came in, and found him on the floor, the room being full of people, whom his wife would have kept without; but he cried aloud, "No; let them all come, let all the world see the just judgment of God." Two or three men were holding him as well as they could. He immediately fixed his eyes upon me, and, stretching out his hand, cried, " Ay, this is he, who I said was a deceiver of the people. But God has overtaken me. I said, it was all a delusion, but this is no delusion." He then roared out, "O thou devil! Thou cursed devil! Yea, thou legion of devils! Thou canst not stay. Christ will cast thee out. I know his work is begun. Tear me to pieces, if thou wilt; but thou canst not hurt me." He then beat himself against the ground again; his breast heaving at the same time, as in the pangs of death, and great drops of sweat trickling down his face. We all betook ourselves to prayer. His pangs ceased, and both his body and soul were set at liberty.

Thence I went to Baptist Mills, and declared Him whom God "hath exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance unto Israel and remission of sins." Returning to J- -n H- we found his

voice was lost, and his body weak as that of an infant. But his soul was in peace, full of love, and "rejoicing in hope of the glory of God." The women of our society met at seven. During our prayer, one of them fell into a violent agony; but soon after began to cry out, with confidence, "My Lord and my God!" Saturday 5, I preached at the desire of an unknown correspondent, on those excellent words, (if well understood as recommending faith, resignation, patience, meekness,) "Be still, and know that I am God."

Sun. 6.-I preached in the morning to five or six thousand people, on, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven." (The same words on which I preached the next day; and, on Wednesday, at Baptist Mills.) On Hannam Mount I preached to about three thousand, on, "The Scripture hath concluded all under sin;” at two, at Clifton church, on Christ our "wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption ;" and, about five, at Rose Green, on the "promise by faith of Jesus Christ," which is "given to them that believe." Mon. 7.-I was preparing to set out for Pensford, having now had leave to preach in the church, when I received the following note :

"SIR,-Our minister, having been informed you are beside yourself, does not care you should preach in any of his churches."-I went, however; and on Priest Down, about half a mile from Pensford, preached Christ our "wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption."

Tues. 8.-I went to Bath, but was not suffered to be in the meadow where I was before; which occasioned the offer of a much more convenient place; where I preached Christ to about a thousand souls. Wed. 9.-We took possession of a piece of ground, near St. James's church-yard, in the Horse Fair, where it was designed to build a room, large enough to contain both the societies of Nicholas and Baldwinstreet, and such of their acquaintance as might desire to be present with them, at such times as the Scripture was expounded. And on

Saturday, 12, the first stone was laid, with the voice, of praise and thanksgiving.

I had not at first the least apprehension or design of being personally engaged, either in the expense of this work, or in the direction of it : having appointed eleven feoffees, on whom I supposed these burdens would fall of course. But I quickly found my mistake; first with regard to the expense: for the whole undertaking must have stood still, had not I immediately taken upon myself the payment of all the workmen; so that before I knew where I was, I had contracted a debt of more than a hundred and fifty pounds. And this I was to discharge how I could; the subscriptions of both societies not amounting to one quarter of the sum. And as to the direction of the work, I presently received letters from my friends in London, Mr. Whitefield in particular, backed with a message by one just come from thence, that neither he nor they would have any thing to do with the building, neither contribute any thing toward it, unless I would instantly discharge all feoffees, and do every thing in my own name. Many reasons they gave for this; but one was enough, viz. “that such feoffees always would have it in their power to control me; and if I preached not as they liked, to turn me out of the room I had built." I accordingly yielded to their advice, and calling all the feoffees together, cancelled (no man opposing) the instrument made before, and took the whole management into my own hands. Money, it is true, I had not, nor any human prospect or probability of procuring it: but I knew "the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof;" and in his name set out, nothing doubting. In the evening, while I was declaring that Jesus Christ had “given himself a ransom for all," three persons, almost at once, sunk down as dead, having all their sins set in array before them. But in a short time they were raised up, and knew that "the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world,” had taken away their sins.

Sun. 13.-I began expounding in the morning the thirteenth chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians. At Hannam, I further explained the promise given by faith; as I did also at Rose Green. At Clifton it pleased God to assist me greatly in speaking on those words, “He that drinketh of this water shall thirst again; but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst: but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water, springing up into everlasting_life.” My ordinary employment, in public, was now as follows:-Every morning I read prayers and preached at Newgate. Every evening I expounded a portion of Scripture at one or more of the societies. On Monday, in the afternoon, I preached abroad, near Bristol; on Tuesday, at Bath and Two-Mile-Hill alternately; on Wednesday, at Baptist Mills; every other Thursday, near Pensford; every other Friday, in another part of Kingswood; on Saturday, in the afternoon, and Sunday morning, in the Bowling-green; (which lies near the middle of the city;) on Sunday, at eleven, near Hannam Mount; at two, at Clifton; and at five on Rose Green: and hitherto, as my days, so my strength hath been.

Tues. 15.-As I was expounding in the Back-lane, on the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, many who had before been righteous heir own eyes, abhorred themselves as in dust and ashes. But two,