at the common hour. Saturday 26, we had a very uncommon congregation in the evening, with a very uncommon blessing. Sunday 27, I preached in St. Luke's, our parish church, in the afternoon, to a very numerous congregation, on The Spirit and the Bride say, Come. So are the tables turned, that I have now more invitations to preach in churches than I can accept of.

Monday 28, I retired to Peckham, and at leisure hours read part of a very pretty trifle, the Life of Mrs. Bellamy. Surely never did any since John Dryden study more,

"To make vice pleasing, and damnation shine,”

than this lively and elegant writer. She has a fine imagination, a strong understanding, an easy style, improved by much reading; a fine, benevolent temper, and every qualification that could consist with a total ignorance of God: but God was not in all her thoughts. Abundance of anecdotes she inserts, which may be true or false. One of them concerning Mr. Garrick, is curious: she says, "When he was taking ship for England, a lady presented him with a parcel, which she desired him not to open till he was at sea. When he did, he found Wesley's bymns, which he immediately threw over-board." I cannot believe it. I think Mr. G. had more sense. He knew my brother well. And he knew him to be not only far superior in learning, bụt in poetry, to Mr. Thomson, and all his theatrical writers put together: none of them can equal him, either in strong nervous sense, or purity and elegance of language. The musical compositions of his sons are not more excellent than the poetical ones of their father.

In the evening I preached to a crowded congregation, some of whom seemed a good deal affected. Thursday 31, I preached at the New Chapel, but, to avoid the cramp, went to bed at ten o'clock. I was well served. I know not that I ever before felt so much of it in one night.

Friday, January 1, 1790, I am now an old man, decayed from head to foot. My eyes are dim: my right hand shakes much: my mouth is hot and dry every morning. I have a

lingering fever almost every day. My motion is weak and slow: however, blessed be God, I do not slack my labour. I can preach and write still.

Sat. 2, I preached at Snowsfields, to the largest congrega. tion I have seen there for a year past, on I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. Sunday 3, I suppose nearly two thousand met at the New Chapel, to renew their covenant with God. A scriptural means of grace, which is now almost every where forgotten, except among the Methodists.

Tuesday 5, I paid a visit to my old friend Mark Davis, and in the evening I preached to a small audience at Laytonstone. Wednesday 6, I preached to a larger and more awakened congregation at Stratford. Tuesday 12, I retired to Highbury-place to answer my letters. Sunday 17, I buried Mrs. Dornford, (a good woman,) and preached her funeral sermon. In the afternoon I preached in Great St. Helen's, to a large congregation. It is, I believe, fifty years since I preached there before. What has God wrought since that time!

Thursday 21, I paid a visit to an eminent sister, of whom every one despaired. She resolved to set out once more. May God uphold her with his right-hand. Sunday 24, we had a love-feast for all the society, at which many spoke their experience with much simplicity. Monday 25, I went to Dorking, and laboured to awaken a harmless, honest, drowsy people, who, for many years, have seemed to stand stock still, neither increasing nor decreasing.

Friday 29, We had our general quarterly-meeting, whereby it appeared, that the society received and expended about £3,000. a year: but our expense still exceeded our income. Saturday 30, I began meeting the classes, which took up this day and all the next week.

Monday, February 1, I preached the funeral sermon of that saint of God, Robert Windsor, many years a burning and a shining light. He was born a few months after me; was a prudent, serious, diligent man, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. He seemed on the brink of death some months ago; but was

suddenly raised up again, praised God without ceasing a few days, and then laid down and died.

Wednesday 10, We found much of the presence of God in the chapel at Brentford, where the congregation was exceedingly large. So it was the next evening at Lambeth, though perhaps not so much alive. Saturday 13, the meeting of the penitents in the evening was exceedingly solemn; as, indeed, it generally is. Sunday 14, I preached a sermon to the children at West-street chapel. They flocked together from every quarter: and truly God was in the midst of them, applying those words, Come, ye little children, hearken unto me, and I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

Tuesday 16, I retired to Balam for a few days, in order to finish my sermons, and put all my little things in order. Thursday 18, I preached once more at poor Wandsworth. The house was more crowded than it has been for several years and I could not but hope that God will once more build up the waste places. Friday 19, I preached to a large audience at Chelsea, and examined the little society, who do not decrease but rather grow in grace, and strengthen each other's hands.

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Sunday 21, I preached to the children at the New Chapel, and believe, not in vain. Monday 22, we had a comfortable opportunity at West-street, and another on Tuesday evening at the New Chapel, where we had also a solemn meeting of the leaders. I submitted to importunity, and once more sat for my picture: I could scarcely believe my self! The picture of one in his eighty-seventh year!

Wednesday 24, I preached once more at Wapping to a crowded audience, and the next evening at the New Chapel thoroughly filled. Friday 26, I preached at Rotherhithe, where also there is lately a remarkable revival of the work of God. Saturday 27, I dined at Mr. Baker's, one of the sheriffs of London, a plain man, who still lives in an innyard! In the evening I had such a congregation at Snowsfields, as has not been seen there before for many years.

Afterwards I met the penitents for the last time: they quite filled the room, and God was in the midst of them.

Sunday 28, We have not had such a congregation at the New Chapel since the renewal of the covenant, nor such a blessing; the hearts of the people were like melting wax. Most of them were in tears: and I trust they will not soon forget the exhortation which was then given them. In the afternoon I preached at West-street chapel, on Eph. v. 1, 2. The chapel would not nearly contain the congregation: all that could squeeze in seemed much affected. And it was with difficulty I broke through and took chaise for Brentford, where I came before six o'clock. The congregation here also was by far the largest I ever saw here; so that it seems our labour, even here, will not be in vain.

Monday, March 1, I left Brentford early in the morning, and in the evening preached at Newbury. The congregation was large, and most of them attentive, but a few were wild as colts untamed. We had none such at Bath the following evening, but all were serious as death. Indeed the work of God seems to flourish here, deepening as well as widening. Wednesday 3, I took a view of the new buildings. There are as present none like them in England: they have not only added a second crescent, with two beautiful rows of houses near Ludstown, but a whole town on the other side of the city, which is swiftly increasing every day. And must all these fine buildings be burnt up!

Thursday 4, I went on to Bristol, where I found a people ready prepared for the Lord. The preachers are in earnest, the fruit of which plainly appears in the congregations. Friday 5, hearing Mr. W, of Bolton, was dying, I went over and spent an hour with him. His spirit was much comforted, and in a few days he was nearly as well as ever. Saturday 6, I preached in the evening at Temple church: Mr. Easterbrook has lately been very ill: but God has again lifted up his head to be a father to the poor a little longer.

Sunday 7, I preached at the room morning and evening, and about two in the afternoon at Kingswood. Just as I con

cluded my sermon in the room, a lady came in her carriage in all haste, and finding the sermon was over, earnestly desired to stay at the society. Afterwards she importuned me much to call on her at the hot wells, where her husband, Governor Johnstone, died two years ago. On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday she preaching, and seemed to be much affected.

came to the

On Friday evening I was at Kingswood, and preached to such a congregation as I have not seen there, on a week day, for forty years, unless it was at a watch-night. Saturday 13, I spent two hours with her at Granby-house, and answered all her questions. She appeared quite willing to know the truth, and to be altogether a Christian; and vehemently desired, if our lives were prolonged, that I would visit her in London: but, if we should live, would she then be willing to see me? If she is, it would be a miracle indeed.

This week I visited the classes in Bristol. I wonder we do not increase in number, although many are convinced, many justified, and a few perfected in love: I can impute the want of increase to nothing but want of self-denial: without this indeed, whatever other helps they have, no believer can go forward.

Sunday 14, Was a comfortable day. In the morning I met the Strangers' Society, instituted wholly for the relief, not of our society, but for poor, sick, friendless strangers. I do not know that I ever heard or read of such an institution till within a few years ago: so this also is one of the fruits of Methodism.

Monday 15, I set out early, and dined at Stroud: but in the evening we knew not what to do. The preaching-house was far too small to contain the congregation; so that several hundreds (it was supposed) were obliged to go away: but the power of God remained with us. And great was our rejoicing in him.

Tuesday 16, At noon I preached at Painswick to as many as the house would contain; in the evening at Gloucester we had a large multitude, but many of them would neither