from Lowth to meet me, his headstrong horse crushed his leg against a gate, with such force, that both the bones were broken, and came through his boot. The horse stood by him till some countrymen came, put him into a cart, and brought him home. It is doubtful whether he will recover; but death is no terror to him. I preached in Lowth at six in the preaching-house; but perhaps I had better have been in the market-place: at five in the morning the room was filled; and I spoke, as doubting whether I should see them any more. At eleven I preached at that lovely spot, Langham-Row: although Mr. Robinson has made the chapel twice as large as it was, yet it would hardly contain the congregation: and most of these are in earnest to save their souls; as well as himself and his wife, and his sixteen children. Thursday 3, I was going to preach at Tuxford, near the end of the town; but the gentry sent and desired me to preach in the market-place, which I accordingly did, to a large and attentive congregation, on It is appointed unto men once to die. Thence we went to Raithby, an earthly paradise! How gladly would I rest here a few days; but it is not my place: I am to be a wanderer upon earth: only let me find rest in a better world. At six I preached in the church to such a congregation as I never saw here before: but I do not wonder if all the country should flock in hither to a palace in the midst of a paradise. Friday 4, I set out early from Raithby, and at eight preached in Horncastle. My design was to have preached seriously, for which purpose I chose that text, The harvest is ended, the summer is past, and we are not saved; but I was turned, I knew not how, quite the other way, and could preach scarcely any thing but consolation. I believe this was the very thing which the people wanted, although I knew it not. We reached Lincoln about twelve. A very numerous congregation, of rich and poor, were quickly assembled. I preached below the hill in Mrs. Fisher's yard, a large and commodious place. From the quietness of the people, one might have imagined that we were in London or Bristol. Indeed the dread of the Lord was on every side, and surely his power was present to heal. In the evening I preached in our new house at Gainsborough, which was crowded sufficiently. I spoke strong words on Now is the accepted time, which seemed to sink deep into the hearts of the hearers. Saturday 5, in the evening I preached at Ouston, to such a congregation both for number and seriousness, as I hardly ever saw there before. Afterwards I took a view of what was lately the glory of the town, the great mansion-house, built by the late Mr. Pindar's father, when I was a little child: his grandson has left it desolate and without inhabitant, has taken away all the pictures and furniture, blocked up the windows, and cut down the fine rows of trees, which formed the avenue! "So fleets the comedy of life away. Sunday 6, At eight we had such another congregation as that in the evening; to which I expounded that comfortable scripture, the former part of the fourteenth of the Revelation. I came to Epworth before the church service began, and was glad to observe the seriousness with which Mr. Gibson read prayers, and preached a plain, useful sermon; but was sorry to see scarcely twenty communicants, half of whom came on my account. I was informed likewise that scarcely fifty persons used to attend the Sunday service. What can be done to remedy this sore evil? I fain would prevent the members here from leaving the church but I cannot do it. As Mr. G. is not a pious man, but rather an enemy to piety, wlio frequently preaches against the truth, and those that hold and love it, I cannot with all my influence persuade them either to hear him, or to attend the sacrament administered by him. If I cannot carry this point even while I live, who then can do it when I die? And the case of Epworth is the case of every church where the minister neither loves nor preaches the gospel. The Methodists will not attend his ministrations. What then is to be done? At four I preached in the market-place on Rom. vi. 23, and vehemently exhorted the listening multitude to choose the better part. Monday 7, having taken leave of this af fectionate people, probably for the last time, I went over to Finningly, and preached at eleven on that verse in the second lesson, Luke xix. 42. After dinner we walked over Mr. H.'s domain, the like to which I never saw in so small a compass. It contains a rabbit warren, deer, swans, pheasants in abundance, besides a fish-pond and an elegant garden. Variety indeed! But is there not danger that such a multitude of things should divert the mind from the one thing needful? In the evening I preached at Doncaster. I never before saw this house so filled, much less crowded: and it was, in a manner I never knew before, filled with the presence of God, while I earnestly enforced that advice, Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace. One fruit of this was, that the congregation at five in the morning was larger than it ever was before in the evening. And God made bare his arm, and uttered his voice, yea, and that a mighty voice. Surely those who now heard will be without excuse, if they do not know the day of their visitation! We were much distressed at Rotherham for want of room, the rain driving us into the house. However, we stowed in it as many as we possibly could; and God bore witness to his word. Wednesday 9, after dining with that lovely old man, Mr. Sparrow, I went on to Sheffield. The house was much crowded, though one of the largest in England; but all could hear distinctly. In the morning, Thursday 10, at five we had an evening congregation, and the people seemed to devour the word. Here and at Hull are the two largest morning congregations which I have seen in the kingdom. Friday 11, We set out early for Derby. About nine, within about a mile of the Peacock, suddenly the axletree of my chaise snapt asunder, and the carriage overturned. The horses stood still till Jenny Smith and I crept out at the fore windows. The broken glass cut one of my gloves a little, but did us no other damage. I soon procured another 1 chaise, and went on to Derby, where I preached in the evening and at five in the morning on Saturday the 12th, and then went on to Nottingham. : Sunday 13, I began the service at ten: but knew not how I should get to the end, being almost exhausted when I had finished my sermon. But Mr. Dodwell came, who, though very weak through the ague, assisted me in administering the Lord's-supper to a very large number of communicants. After preaching in the evening, I made a collection for Kingswood School. To-day I had just as much work as I could do. Monday 14, the mail coach being full, I crossed over to Newark, and had the satisfaction of seeing in the evening, not only a numerous, but likewise a serious and deeply attentive congregation. Wednesday 16, We reached London. I consulted with a few friends concerning the state of things, which was better than I expected. The society is increased, and the ordinary hearers in all parts of the town not diminished. Meantime there is reason to hope the work of God goes on, though by slow degrees. On the following days I looked over my books and papers and set them in order as far as I could. Saturday 19, I spent an hour in Chesterfield-street, with my widowed sister and her children: they all seemed inclined to make the right use of the late providential dispensation. Sunday 20, Both in the morning and evening I preached at the New-Chapel, crowded sufficiently, on Heb. v. 12, Ye have need that a man should teach you again, which be the first principles of the oracles of God. Monday 21, I retired to Highbury-Place, and spent the residue of the week in answering letters, revising papers, and preparing for the Conference. Sunday 27, In the morning I preached at West-street, and in the afternoon in Bethnal-Green church, on (part of the gospel for the day) our Lord's lamentation over Jerusalem. I believe the word did not fall to the ground. I preached at the New-Chapel every evening during the Conference, which continued nine days, beginning on Tuesday, July 29, and ending on Wednesday, August 6. And we found the time little enough, being obliged to pass over many things very briefly, which deserved a fuller consideration. Sunday 3, I preached at the New-Chapel, so filled as it scarcely ever was before, both morning and evening. Monday 4, at five we had a good evening congregation: and I believe many felt the power of the word, or rather, of God speaking therein. One of the most important points considered at this conference was, that of leaving the church. The sum of a long conversation was, that in a course of fifty years, we had neither premeditately nor willingly varied from it in one article, either of doctrine or discipline: 2, That we were not yet conscious of varying from it, in any point of doctrine: 3, That we have in a course of years, out of necessity, not choice, slowly and warily varied in some points of discipline, by preaching in the fields, by extemporary prayer, by employing lay preachers, by forming and regulating societies, and by holding yearly Conferences: but we did none of these things till we were covinced we could no longer omit them but at the peril of our souls. Wednesday 6, Our Conference ended as it began, in great peace. We kept this day as a fast, meeting at five, nine, and concluding the day with a solemn and one, The three following days I retired, revised my papers, and finished all the work I had to do in London. Sunday 10, I was engaged in a very unpleasing work, the discharge of an old servant: she had been my house-keeper at West-street for many years, and was one of the best housekeepers I had had there: but her husband was so notorious a drunkard, that I could not keep them in the house any longer. She received her dismission in an excellent spirit, praying God to bless us all. I preached in the morning at West-street to a large congregation, but to a far larger at the New-Chapel in the evening. It seems the people in general do not expect that I shall remain among them a great while after my brother, |