and on Wednesday morning we parted in the same love in which we met. I had much satisfaction in this Conference; in which conversing with between forty and fifty travelling preachers, I found such a body of men as I hardly believed could have been found together in Ireland: men of so sound experience, so deep piety, and so strong understanding; I am convinced they are no way inferior to the English Conference, except it be in number. Friday 10, we observed as a day of fasting and prayer, chiefly for the increase of the work of God. This was concluded with a very solemn watch-night, wherein the hearts of many were greatly comforted. Sunday 12, At seven I preached in Marlborough-street, where (though it rained all the morning) we had a full congregation of serious people. We met at the new room at half past nine; and truly God was with us: we had never so many communicants before; but as my day so was my strength. About two we left Dublin, and hastened down to the ship, the Princess Royal of Parkgate, the neatest and most elegant Packet I ever saw: but the wind failing, we did not get out of the bay till about twelve. We had exceedingly agreeable company: and I slept as well as if I had been in my own bed. Monday 13, the sea being smooth, I shut myself up in my chaise, and read over the life of the famous Mr. George F-, one of the most extraordinary men (if we may call him a man) that has lived for many centuries. I never read before of so cool, deliberate, relentless a murderer! And yet from the breaking of the rope at his executiou, which gave him two hours of vehement prayer, there is room to hope he found mercy at last. In the evening we sang a hymn upon deck, which soon drew all the company about us. I then, without any delay, began preaching on, It is appointed to men once to die. I believe all were a little affected for the present. We were then constrained to slacken sail, and to lie by for some hours, not having water to pass the Bar. However, we 1 landed between four and five in the morning, Tuesday 14: and after resting an hour I went to Chester. I lodged at T. Brisco's, a lovely family indeed, just such another as Miss B.'s at Keynsham. The children indeed are not quite so genteel, but fully as much awakened: and I think the most loving I ever saw. The house was thoroughly filled in the evening (it being the fair-time) as well as the following. Thursday 16, when I took my leave of the family, they came all in tears. It is long since I saw the like. About noon I preached to a large and much affected congregation at Northwich. A flame is lately broken out here, such as never was seen here before. In the evening I preached at Manchester. Sunday 18, I consulted Dr. Easton, finding my thirst and fever much increased. His medicine immediately took place; and I was so much better in the morning, Sunday 19, that I preached, and with Dr. Coke's assistance, administered the sacrament to eleven or twelve hundred communicants. I preached again in the evening; but it was too much for me, and brought back my fever. Monday 20, I went on to Halifax, where in the evening I preached to a noble congregation, and afterwards spent nearly another hour in exhorting the society. Tuesday 21, I hid myself at Otley, and prepared for the Conference. Friday 24, I preached to a lovely congregation, on Eph. iv. 14. Saturday 25, I preached in Dewsbury in the evening, on -Rev. xiv. 1-4. It rained all the time: I and several more were wet to the skin. I lodged in Joseph Taylor's house at Gommersal, who labours for peace, and would fain reconcile Christ and Belial. In this journey I employed some part of my leisure time in reading Mr. Foster's voyage round the world. In many parts of this one would think he was almost persuaded to be a Christian. But how is it then that he says, vol. I. p. 136, "We listened to our boat's crew, who recited a number of dull stories, intermixed with hearty curses, oaths, and indecent expressions, &c. (obscenity) but seldom without real humour." Now, what need of mentioning these hearty curses and oaths, with such profound indifference, if it were not to screen himself from the imputation of believing the Bible? Sunday 26, I preached at noon in Birstal house to as lively a congregation as ever was seen there, and at five preached on the education of children. Monday 27, being not well able to preach in the morning, through the heat and dryness of my mouth, in the evening I preached on 1 Tim. vi. 20. Tuesday 28, The Conference began: about a hundred preachers were present, and never was our Master more eminently present with us. The case of separation from the church was largely considered, and we were all unanimous against it. Saturday, August 1, we considered the case of Dewsbury-house, which the self-elected trustees have robbed us of. The point they contended for was this, that they should have a right of rejecting any preachers they disapproved of: but this, we saw, would destroy itinerancy. So they chose J. A. for a preacher, who adopted W. E. for his curate. Nothing remained but to build another preaching-house, toward which we subscribed two hundred and six pounds on the spot. Sunday 2, Knowing the church would not contain half of our congregation added to its own, we began at our room, at half an hour past nine. After preaching, with the assistance of three other clergymen, I administered the sacrament to fifteen or sixteen hundred persons, I hope, all desirous to be inward Christians. Tuesday 4, having before preached to the people at large, I now spoke directly to the preachers, on If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God: and I am persuaded God applied his word to many of their hearts. Wednesday 5, About noon we left Leeds: and that evening went to Newark, about seventy miles. Thursday 6, we set out early, and between four and five reached Hinxworth. I was now pretty well inclined to rest; but a congregation soon getting together, I would not disappoint them, but preached on We love him because he first loved us. And after preaching, and traveling fourscore miles, I was no more tired than when I set out in the morning. Friday 7, we reached London between one and two, and found great reason to praise the gracious power which had preserved us by sea and by land, in all known and unknown dangers, unto the present hour. Saturday 8, I settled all my temporal business, and, in particular, chose a new person to prepare the Arminian Magazine, being obliged, however unwillingly, to drop Mr. O, for only these two reasons, 1, The errata are insufferable: I have borne them for these twelve years, but can bear them no longer: secondly, several pieces are inserted without my knowledge, both in prose and verse: I must try whether these things cannot be amended for the short residue of my life. : Sunday 9, The New-Chapel was sufficiently crowded, both in the morning and at four in the afternoon. At seven we set out, and about noon on Monday 9, reached Bristol. Finding all things here in a flourishing state, I set out for the West, early on Tuesday morning, and had an exceedingly pleasant journey to Taunton, where we had a full and serious congregation in the evening. Wednesday 10, I had no thought of preaching at Collumpton, though we were to pass through it but I yielded to importunity, and preached at one to a numerous audience. Thence we went on to Exeter, where the people were in high expectation of seeing the King, who appointed to be there the next day: however, a pretty large congregation assembled; to which I preached at six o'clock. We set out at three, on Thursday 13, and reached Plymouth between one and two in the afternoon. I preached to a large audience in the evening: and although the day was extremely hot, yet I found myself better yesterday and to day than I have been for some months. Friday 14, In the afternoon I went on to the Dock, having previously determined, not to say or hear any thing of their late senseless quarrel, wherein 1 could not but blame both sides, and knew not which to blame most: so I spent this and the next day in peace, and answered all my letters. Sunday 16, In the morning, I believe, we had not less than six hundred communicants: but they were all admirably well behaved as if they indeed discerned the Lord's body. But when I preached in the afternoon, the house would not hold half the congregation. I chose the space adjoining the south side of the house, capable of containing some thousands of people: besides, some hundreds sat on the ridge of the rock which ran along at my left hand. I preached on part of the gospel for the day, He beheld the city and wept over it: and it seemed as if every one felt "His heart is made of tenderness; : His bowels melt with love." Monday 17, Setting out at three, we easily reached our friends at St. Austle by dinner time; but I knew not where to preach, the street being so dirty, and the preaching-house so small at length we determined to squeeze as many as we could into the preaching-house, and truly God was there. Tuesday 18, we went on to Truro, where I had appointed to preach at twelve o'clock: but here an unforeseen hindrance occurred; I could not get through the main-street to our preaching-house. It was quite blocked up with soldiers to the east, and numberless tinners to the west, a huge multitude of whom being nearly starved, were come to beg, or demand an increase of their wages, without which they could not live. So we were obliged to retire to the other end of the town, where I preached under the Coinage-hall to twice as many people, rich and poor, as the preaching-house would have contained: and many of them would not have come thither at all. How wise are all the ways of God! In the afternoon, as we could not pass by the common road, we procured leave to drive round by some fields, and got to Falmouth in good time. The last time I was here, above forty years ago, I was taken prisoner by an immense mob, gaping and roaring like lions: but how is the tide turned, high and low now lined the street from one end of the town to the other, out of stark love and kindness, gaping and staring as if the King were going by. In the VOL. VI. P |