upon-Tyne. I read, with great expectation, yesterday and to-day Xenophon's "Memorable things of Socrates." I was utterly amazed at his want of judgment. How many of these things would Plato never have mentioned! But it may be well that we see the shades too of the brightest picture in all Heathen antiquity. We came to Newcastle about six; and, after a short refreshment, walked into the town. I was surprised so much drunkenness, cursing, and swearing, (even from the mouths of little children,) do I never remember to have seen and neard before, in so small a compass of time. Surely this place is ripe for Him who "came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.' Sat. 19.-I was informed that one Mr. Hall had been there, about a year before, and had preached several times; but I could not learn that there was the least fruit of his labour; nor could I find any that desired to hear him again, nor any that appeared to care for such matters.

Sun. 30.-At seven I walked down to Sandgate, the poorest and most contemptible part of the town; and, standing at the end of the street with John Taylor, began to sing the hundredth Psalm. Three or four people came out to see what was the matter; who soon increased to four or five hundred. I suppose there might be twelve or fifteen hundred, before I had done preaching; to whom I applied those solemn words, "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and by his stripes we are healed." Observing the people, when I had done, to stand gaping and staring upon me, with the most profound astonishment, I told them, "If you desire to know who I am, my name is John Wesley. At five in the evening, with God's help, I design to preach here again."

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At five, the hill on which I designed to preach was covered, from the top to the bottom. I never saw so large a number of people together, either in Moorfields, or at Kennington Common. I knew it was not possible for the one half to hear, although my voice was then strong and clear; and I stood so as to have them all in view, as they were ranged on the side of the hill. The word of God which I set before them was, "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely." After preaching, the poor people were ready to tread me under foot, out pure love and kindness. It was some time before I could possibly get out of the press. I then went back another way than I came; but several were got to our inn before me; by whom I was vehemently importuned to stay with them, at least, a few days; or, however, one day more. But I could not consent; having given my word to be at Birstal, with God's leave, on Tuesday night. Some of these told me, they were members of a religious society, which had subsisted for many years, and had always gone on in a prudent, regular manner, and been well spoken of by all men. They likewise informed me what a fine library they had; and that the steward read a sermon every Sunday. And yet how many of the publicans and harlots will go into the kingdom of heaven before these!

Mon. 31.-About three I left Newcastle. I read over to-day the famous Dr. Pitcairn's Works; but I was utterly disappointed by that dry, sour, controversial book. We came in the evening to BoroTM bridge, where, to my great surprise, the mistress of the house, t

much of a gentlewoman, desired she and her family might join with us in prayer. They did so likewise between four and five in the morning. Perhaps even this seed may bring forth fruit.

Tues. June 1.-As we were riding through Knaresborough, not intending to stop there, a young man stopped me in the street, and earnestly desired me to go to his house. I did so. He told me, our talking with a man as we went through the town before, had set many in a flame; and that the sermon we gave him, had travelled from one end of the town to the other. While I was with him, a woman came and desired to speak with me. I went to her house, whither five or six of her friends came; one of whom had been long under deep conviction. We spent an hour in prayer, and all our spirits were refreshed.

About one we came to Mr. More's, at Beeston, near Leeds. His son rode with me after dinner, to Birstal; where (a multitude of people being gathered from all parts) I explained to them the spirit of bondage and adoption. I began about seven, but could not conclude till half an hour past nine.

Wed. 2.-I was invited to Mrs. Holmes's near Halifax; where I preached at noon, on, "Ask, and ye shall receive." Thence I rode to Dr. L's, the vicar of Halifax; a candid inquirer after truth. I called again upon Mrs. Holmes, in my return; when her sister a little surprised me, by asking, "Ought not a minister of Christ to do three things: First, To preach his Law, in order to convince of sin: Then, To offer free pardon, through faith in his blood, to all convinced sinners : And, in the Third place, To preach his Law again, as a rule for those that believe? I think, if any one does otherwise, he is no true minister of Christ. He divides what God has joined, and cannot be said to preach the whole Gospel."

I preached at eight near Dewsbury Moor; and at eight the next morning, Thursday, 3, at Mirfield, where I found Mr. Ingham had been an hour before. Great part of the day I spent in speaking with those who have tasted the powers of the world to come; by whose concurrent testimony I find, that Mr. Ingham's method to this day is, 1. To endeavour to persuade them, that they are in a delusion, and have indeed no faith at all: if this cannot be done, then, 2. To make them keep it to themselves; and, 3. To prevent their going to the church or sacrament; at least to guard them from having any reverence, or expecting to find any blessing in those ordinances of God. In the evening I preached at Adwalton, a mile from Birstal, in a broad part of the highway, the people being too numerous to be contained in any house in the town. After preaching, and the next day, I spoke with more, who had, or sought for, redemption through Christ; all of whom I perceived had been advised also, to put their light under a bushel; or to forsake the ordinances of God, in order to find Christ.

All the hearers cheerfully com

Fri. 4.—At noon I preached at Birstal once more. were deeply attentive; whom I now confidently and mitted to "the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls." Hence I rode to Beeston. Here I met once more with the works of a celebrated author, of whom many great men cannot speak without rapture, and the strongest expressions of admiration,--I mean Jacob Behmen. The book I now opened was his "Mysterium Magnum," or Exposition of Genesis.

Being conscious of my ignorance, I earnestly besought God to enlighten my understanding. I seriously considered what I read, and endeavoured to weigh it in the balance of the sanctuary. And what can I say concerning the part I read? I can and must say thus much, (and that with as full evidence as I can say, that two and two make four,) it is most sublime nonsense; inimitable bombast; fustian not to be paralleled! All of a piece with his inspired interpretation of the word Tetragrammaton; on which (mistaking it for the unutterable name itself, whereas it means only a word consisting of four letters) he comments with such exquisite gravity and solemnity, telling you the meaning of every syllable of it.

Sat. 5.--I rode for Epworth. Before we came thither, I made an end of Madam Guyon's " Short Method of Prayer," and "Les Torrents Spirituelles." Ah, my brethren! I can answer your riddle, now I have ploughed with your heifer. The very words I have so often heard some of you use, are not your own, no more than they are God's. They are only retailed from this poor Quietist; and that with the utmost faithfulness. O that ye knew how much God is wiser than man! Then would you drop Quietists and Mystics together, and at all hazards keep to the plain, practical, written word of God. It being many years since I had been in Epworth before, I went to an inn, in the middle of the town, not knowing whether there were any left in it now who would not be ashamed of my acquaintance. But an old servant of my father's, with two or three poor women, presently found me out. I asked her, "Do you know any in Epworth who are in earnest to be saved?" She answered, "I am, by the grace of God; and I know I am saved through faith." I asked, "Have you then the peace of God? Do you know that he has forgiven your sins?" She replied, "I thank God, I know it well. And many here can say the same thing."

Sun. 6.-A little before the service began, I went to Mr. Romley, the curate, and offered to assist him either by preaching or reading prayers. But he did not care to accept of my assistance. The church was exceeding full in the afternoon, a rumour being spread that I was to preach. But the sermon on "Quench not the Spirit," was not suitable to the expectation of many of the hearers. Mr. Romley told them, one of the most dangerous ways of quenching the Spirit was by enthusiasm; and enlarged on the character of an enthusiast, in a very florid and oratorical manner. After sermon John Taylor stood in the churchyard, and gave notice, as the people were coming out, "Mr. Wesley, not being permitted to preach in the church, designs to preach here at six o'clock." Accordingly at six I came, and found such a congrega tion as I believe Epworth never saw before. I stood near the east end of the church, upon my father's tombstone, and cried, "The kingdom of heaven is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost."

At eight I went to Edward Smith's, where were many not only of Epworth, but of Burnham, Haxey, Ouston, Belton, and other villages round about, who greatly desired that I would come over to them and help them. I was now in a strait between two; desiring to hasten forward in my journey, and yet not knowing how to leave those bruised reeds in the confusion wherein I found them. John 1

it seems, and Richard Ridley, had told them in express terms, "All the ordinances are man's inventions; and if you go to church or sacrament, you will be damned." Many hereupon wholly forsook the church, and others knew not what to do. At last I determined to spend some days here, that I might have time both to preach in each town, and to speak severally with those, in every place, who had found or waited for salvation.

Mon. 7.-I preached at Burnham, a mile from Epworth, on, "The Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins.” At eight in the evening I stood again on my father's tomb, (as I did every evening this week,) and cried aloud to the earnestly attentive congregation, “ By grace are ye saved through faith." Tues. 8.-I walked to Hibbaldstow (about twelve miles from Epworth) to see my brother and sister. The minister of Ouston (two miles from Epworth) having sent me word, I was welcome to preach in his church, I called there in my return; but his mind being changed, I went to another place in the town, and there explained, "Thou shalt call his name Jesus; for he shall save his people from their sins." At eight I largely enforced at Epworth the great truth, (so little understood in what is called a Christian country,) "Unto him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted to him for righteousness." I went thence to the place where the little society met, which was sufficiently thronged both within and without. Here I found some from Hainton, (a town twenty miles off,) who informed us, that God had begun a work there also, and constrained several to cry out in the bitterness of their soul, "What must I do to be saved?"

Wed. 9.-I rode over to a neighbouring town, to wait upon a justice of peace, a man of candour and understanding; before whom (I was informed) their angry neighbours had carried a whole wagon load of these new heretics. But when he asked what they had done, there was a deep silence; for that was a point their conductors had forgot. At length one said, "Why, they pretended to be better than other people : and besides they prayed from morning to night." Mr. S. asked, "But have they done nothing besides?" "Yes, sir," said an old man : "An't please your worship, they have convarted my wife. Till she went among them, she had such a tongue! And now she is as quiet as a lamb." Carry them back, carry them back,” replied the justice, "and let them convert all the scolds in the town." I went from hence to Belton, to H—— F—————r's, a young man who did once run well; but now said, he saw the devil in every corner of the church, and in the face of every one who had been there. But he was easily brought to a better mind. I preached under a shady oak, on, "The Son of Man hath power upon earth to forgive sins." At Epworth, in the evening I explained the story of the Pharisee and the Publican. And I believe many began in that hour to cry out, “God be merciful to me a sinner!"

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Thur. 10.-I spoke severally with all who desired it. In the evening I explained, "Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again unto fear, but the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." I had afterward an hour's calm conversation with Samuel Meggot and James Herbury. What good did God do by these for a time! O let not their latter end be worse than the first! Fri. 11.-I visited the sick, and

those who desired, but were not able to come to me. At six I preached at Overthorp, near Haxey, (a little village about two miles from Epworth,) on that comfortable scripture, "When they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both." I preached at Epworth about eight, on Ezekiel's vision of the resurrection of the dry bones. And great indeed was the shaking among them; lamentation and great mourning were heard; God bowing their hearts, so that on every side, as with one accord, they lift up their voice and wept aloud. Surely He who sent his Spirit to breathe upon them, will hear their cry and will help them. Sat. 12.-I preached on the righteousness of the law and the righteousness of faith. While I was speaking, several dropped down as dead; and among the rest, such a cry was heard, of sinners groaning for the righteousness of faith, as almost drowned my voice. But many of these soon lifted up their heads with joy, and broke out into thanksgiving; being assured they now had the desire of their soul, the forgiveness of their sins. I observed a gentleman there, who was remarkable for not pretending to be of any religion at all. I was informed he had not been at public worship of any kind for upward of thirty years. Seeing him stand as motionless as a statue, I asked him abruptly, "Sir, are you a sinner?" He replied, with a deep and broken voice, "Sinner enough;" and continued staring upward till his wife and a servant or two, who were all in tears, put him into his chaise and carried him home.

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Sun. 13.-At seven I preached at Haxey, on, "What must I do to be saved?" Thence I went to Wroote, of which, (as well as Epworth,) my father was rector for several years. Mr. Whitelamb offering me the church, I preached in the morning, on, “ Ask, and it shall be given you." In the afternoon, on the difference between the righteousness of the law and the righteousness of faith. But the church could not contain the people, many of whom came from far; and, I trust, not in vain.

At six I preached for the last time in Epworth church-yard, (being to leave the town the next morning,) to a vast multitude gathered together from all parts, on the beginning of our Lord's sermon on the mount. I continued among them for near three hours; and yet we scarce knew how to part. O let none think his labour of love is lost because the fruit does not immediately appear! Near forty years did my father labour here; but he saw little fruit of all his labour. I took some pains among this people too; and my strength also seemed spent in vain : but now the fruit appeared. There were scarce any in the town on whom either my father or I had taken any pains formerly; but the seed, sown so long since, now sprung up, bringing forth repentance and remission of sins.

Mon. 14.-Having a great desire to see David Taylor, whom God had made an instrument of good to many souls, I rode to Sheffield; but not finding him there, I was minded to go forward immediately: however, the importunity of the people constrained me to stay, and preach both in the evening and in the morning. Tuesday, 15.-He came. I found he had occasionally exhorted multitudes of people in various parts; but, after that, he had taken no thought about them; so that the greater part were fallen asleep again.

In the evening I preached on the inward kingdom of God: in the VOL. III.

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