should do, and how they ought to behave, is as if you should send a lame man upon an errand." (Ibid. p. 70.) "The beginning is not to be made with doing what our Saviour has commanded. For whosoever will begin with doing, when he is dead, he can do nothing at all; but whatever he doeth in his own activity, is but a cobweb; that is, good for nothing." (Ibid. p. 72, 81.) "As soon as we remain passive before him as the wood which a table is to be made from, then something comes of us." (Seven Discourses, p. 22.)

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O my brethren, let me conjure you yet again, in the name of our common Lord, "if there be any consolation of love, if any bowels and mercies," remove "the fly" out of "the pot of ointment;" separate "the precious from the vile!" Review, I beseech you, your whole work, and see if Satan hath gained no advantage over you. Very excellent things" have been "spoken of thee, O thou city of God." But may not" He which hath the sharp sword with two edges" say, Yet "I have a few things against thee?" O that ye would repent of these, that ye might be "a glorious Church; not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing."

Three things, above all, permit me, even me, to press upon you, with all the earnestness of love. First, With regard to your doctrine, that ye purge out from among you, the leaven of Antinomianism, wherewith you are so deeply infected, and no longer "make void the Law through faith." Secondly, With regard to your discipline, that ye "call no man Rabbi, Master," Lord of your faith, "upon earth." Subordination, I know, is needful; and I can show you such a subordination, as in fact answers all Christian purposes, and is yet as widely distant from that among you, as the heavens are from the earth. Thirdly, With regard to your practice, that ye renounce all craft, cunning, subtlety, dissimulation; wisdom, falsely so called; that ye put away all disguise, all guile out of your mouth; that in all "simplicity and godly sincerity" ye "have your conversation in this world;" that ye use "great plainness of speech" to all, whatever ye suffer thereby; seeking only, "by manifestation of the truth," to "commend" yourselves "to every man's conscience in the sight of God."

June 24, 1744.

AN EXTRACT

OF THE

REV. MR. JOHN WESLEY'S JOURNAL.

FROM SEPTEMBER 3, 1741, TO OCTOBER 27, 1743.

JOURNAL.-No. V.

SUNDAY, September 6, 1741.-Observing some who were beginning to use their liberty as a cloak for licentiousness, I enforced, in the morning, those words of St. Paul, (worthy to be written in the heart of every believer,) "All things are lawful for me; but all things are not expedient ;" and, in the evening, that necessary advice of our Lord, "That men ought always to pray, and not to faint." Mon. 7.—I visited a young man in St. Thomas's Hospital, who, in strong pain, was praising God continually. At the desire of many of the patients, I spent a short time with them in exhortation and prayer. O what a harvest might there be, if any lover of souls, who has time upon his hands, would constantly attend these places of distress, and, with tenderness and meekness of wisdom, instruct and exhort those on whom God has laid his hands, to know and improve the day of their visitation!

Wed. 9.-I expounded in Greyhound-lane, Whitechapel, part of the one hundred and seventh psalm. And they did rejoice whom "the Lord had redeemed, and delivered from the hand of the enemy."

Sat. 12.-I was greatly comforted by one whom God had lifted up from the gates of death, and who was continually telling, with tears of joy, what God had done for his soul. Sun. 13.-I met about two hundred persons, with whom severally I had talked the week before, at the French chapel, in Hermitage-street, Wapping, where they gladly joined in the service of the Church, and particularly in the Lord's Supper, at which Mr. Hall assisted. It was more than two years after this, that he began so vehemently to declaim against my brother and me, as "bigots to the Church, and those carnal ordinances," as he loved to term them. Fri. 18.-I buried the only child of a tender parent, who, having soon finished her course, after a short sickness, went to Him her soul loved, in the fifteenth year of her age.

Sun. 20.-I preached in Charles' Square, Hoxton, on these solemn words, "This is life eternal, to know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." I trust God blessed his word. The scoffers stood abashed, and opened not their mouth. Mon. 21.-I set out, and the next evening met my brother at Bristol, with Mr. Jones, of Fonmon Castle, in Wales; now convinced of the truth as it is in

Jesus, and labouring with his might to redeem the time he had lost, to make his calling sure, and to lay hold on eternal life.

Thur. 24.-In the evening we went to Kingswood. The house was filled from end to end. And we continued in ministering the word of God, and in prayer and praise, till the morning.

Sun. 27.-I expounded at Kingswood, (morning and afternoon,) at Bristol, and at Baptist Mills, the message of God to the Church of Ephesus, particularly that way of recovering our first love, which God hath prescribed, and not man: "Remember from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works." Tues. 29.-I was pressed to visit Nicholas Palmer, one who had separated from us, and behaved with great bitterness, till God laid his hand upon him. He had sent for me several times, saying, he could not die in peace till he had seen me. I found him in great weakness of body and heaviness of spirit. We wrestled with God on his behalf; and our labour was not in vain : his soul was comforted; and a few hours after, he quietly fell asleep.

Thur. Oct. 1.-We set out for Wales; but missing our passage over the Severn in the morning, it was sunset before we could get to Newport. We inquired there if we could hire a guide to Cardiff; but there was none to be had. A lad coming in quickly after, who was going (he said) to Lanissan, a little village two miles to the right of Cardiff, we resolved to go thither. At seven we set out; it rained pretty fast, and there being neither moon nor stars, we could neither see any road, nor one another, nor our own horses' heads; but the promise of God did not fail; he gave his angels charge over us; and soon after ten we came safe to Mr. Williams's house at Lanissan.

Fri. 2.-We rode to Fonmon Castle. We found Mr. Jones's daughter ill of the small pox: but he could cheerfully leave her and all the rest in the hands of Him in whom he now believed. In the evening I preached at Cardiff, in the Shire Hall, a large and convenient place, on, "God hath given unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." There having been a feast in the town that day, I believed it needful to add a few words upon intemperance: and while I was saying, “ As for you, drunkards, you have no part in this life; you abide in death; you choose death and hell;" a man cried out vehemently, "I am one; and thither I am going." But I trust God at that hour began to show him and others "a more excellent way."

66.

Sat. 3.-About noon we came to Pont-y-Pool, A clergyman stopped me in the first street; a few more found me out soon after, whose love I did not find to be cooled at all by the bitter adversaries who had been among them. True pains had been taken to set them against my brother and me, by men who "know not what manner of spirit" they are of." But instead of disputing, we betook ourselves to prayer; and all our hearts were knit together as at the first. In the afternoon we came to Abergavenny. Those who are bitter of spirit have been here also; yet Mrs. James (now Mrs. Whitefield) received us gladly, as she had done aforetime. But we could not procure even two or three to join with us in the evening beside those of her own household.

Sun. 4.-I had an unexpected opportunity of receiving the holy communion. In the afternoon we had a plain, useful sermon, on the Pharisee and the Publican praying in the temple; which I explained at large

in the evening, to the best dressed congregation I have ever yet seen in Wales. Two persons came to me afterward, who were, it seemed, convinced of sin, and groaning for deliverance. Mon. 5.-I preached in the morning at Pont-y-Pool, to a small but deeply attentive congregation. Mr. Price conducted us from thence to his house at Watford. After resting here an hour, we hastened on, and came to Fonmon, where I explained and enforced those words, "What must I do to be saved?" Many seemed quite amazed, while I showed them the nature of salvation, and the Gospel way of attaining it.

Tues. 6.—I read prayers and preached in Porth Kerry church. My text was, "By grace are ye saved through faith." In the evening, at Cardiff, I expounded Zechariah iv, 7: "Who art thou, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain." The next morning we set out, and in the evening praised God with our brethren in Bristol. Thur. 8.-I dined with CT greatly praising God for having done his own wise and holy will, in taking away "the desire of his eyes." In the evening I preached on, "Looking unto Jesus ;" and many were filled with consolation. Fri. 9.-The same spirit helped our infirmities at the hour of intercession; and again, at Kingswood, in the evening. I was just laid down, when one came and told me, Howel Harris desired to speak with me at Bristol, being just come from London, and having appointed to set out for Wales at three in the morning. I went, and found him with Mr. Humphreys and Mr. SThey immediately fell upon their favourite subject; on which when we had disputed two hours, and were just where we were at first, I begged we might exchange controversy for prayer. We did so, and then parted in much love, about two in the morning.

Sat. 10. His journey being deferred till Monday, H. Harris came to me at the new room. He said, as to the decree of reprobation, he renounced and utterly abhorred it. And as to the not falling from grace, 1. He believed that it ought not to be mentioned to the unjustified, or to any that were slack and careless, much less that lived in sin; but only to the earnest and disconsolate mourners. 2. He did himself believe it was possible for one to fall away who had been "enlightened" with some knowledge of God, who had "tasted of the heavenly gift, and been made partaker of the Holy Ghost;" and wished we could all agree to keep close, in the controverted points, to the very words of Holy Writ. 3. That he accounted no man so justified as not to fall, till he had a thorough, abiding hatred to all sin, and a continual hunger and thirst after all righteousness. Blessed be thou of the Lord, thou man of peace! Still follow after peace and holiness.

Thur. 15.—I was preparing for another journey to Wales, which I had designed to begin on Friday; when I received a message from H. Harris, desiring me to set out immediately, and meet him near the New Passage. I accordingly set out at noon; but, being obliged to wait at the water side, did not reach Will Creek (the place he had appointed for our meeting) till an hour or two after night. But this was soon enough; for he had not been there; nor could we hear any thing of him so we went back to Mather, and thence in the morning to Lanmarton, a village two miles off, where we heard Mr. Daniel Rowlands was to be, and whom accordingly we found there. Evil sur

of

misings presently vanished away, and our hearts were knit together in love. We rode together to Machan, (five miles beyond Newport,) which we reached about twelve o'clock. In an hour after H. Harris came, and many of his friends from distant parts. We had no dispute any kind; but the spirit of peace and love was in the midst of us. At three we went to church. There was a vast congregation, though at only a few hours' warning. After prayers, I preached on those words in the Second lesson, "The life which I now live I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Mr. Rowlands then preached in Welsh, on Matthew xxviii, 5: "Fear not ye; for seek Jesus, which was crucified."

ye

We rode afterward to St. Bride's in the Moors; where Mr. Rowlands preached again. Here we were met by Mr. Humphreys and Thomas Bissicks, of Kingswood. About eleven a few of us retired, in order to provoke one another to love, and to good works. But T. Bissicks immediately introduced the dispute, and others seconded him. This H. Harris and Mr. Rowlands strongly withstood; but finding it profited nothing, Mr. Rowlands soon withdrew. H. Harris kept them at bay till about one o'clock in the morning: I then left them and Capt. T. together. About three they left off just where they began.

Sat. 17. Going to a neighbouring house, I found Mr. H. and T. Bissicks tearing open the sore with all their might. On my coming in, all was hushed; but Mrs. James, of Abergavenny, (a woman of candour and humanity,) insisted that those things should be said to my face. There followed a lame piece of work: but although the accusations brought were easily answered, yet I found they left a soreness on many spirits. When H. Harris heard of what had passed, he hasted to stand in the gap once more; and with tears besought them all, “to follow after the things that make for peace ;" and God blessed the healing words which he spoke; so that we parted in much love, being all determined to let controversy alone, and to preach "Jesus Christ, and him crucified." I preached at Cardiff at three, and about five set out thence for Fonmon Castle. Notwithstanding the great darkness of the night, and our being unacquainted with the road, before eight we came safe to the congregation, which had been some time waiting for us.

Sun, 18.-I rode to Wenvo. The church was thoroughly filled with attentive hearers, while I preached on those words, "Whom ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you." In the afternoon I read prayers and preached at Porth Kerry: in the evening there was a great concourse of people at the Castle, to whom I strongly declared "the hope of righteousness which is through faith." Mon. 19.-I preached once more at Porth Kerry, and, in the afternoon, returned to Cardiff, and explained to a large congregation, "When they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both." Tues. 20.-At eleven I preached at the prison, on, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." "" In the afternoon I was desired to meet one of the honourable women, whom I found a mere sinner, groaning under the mighty hand of God. About six, at Mr. W.'s desire, I preached once more on those words, "Whom ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you."

Wed. 21.-I set out soon after preaching, and about nine, came to Newport. A clergyman soon after I was set down, came into the next