strengthened and comforted by opening his Bible on Isaiah liv. 7, 8. "For a small moment have I forsaken "thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; "but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on "thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.” Many persons now came to him for advice daily, who had been, either awakened or justified under his ministry. This greatly increased his labour, but it strengthened his hands for the work in which he was engaged. September 25th. He preached again at Bradford, to about two thousand hearers. "I described, (says he) their state by nature and grace. I did 66 not spare those who were whole, and had no need "of a physician. They bore it surprisingly. I re"ceived invitations to several neighbouring towns. 66 May I never run before God's call, nor stay one "moment after it.-We baited at a good Dissenter's near Bath, who seems to have the root of the mat“ter in him.”—The next day, two persons came to him, who had been clearly convinced of sin, and received peace and joy in believing; but they had never been baptized. On this occasion Mr. Wesley observes, "I now require no further proof, that one may be an inward Christian without baptism. They are both desirous of it; and who can forbid water? 66 "Sarah Pearce declares, that she first received "comfort on hearing me explain the fifth chapter of "the Romans. She had the witness of her own spirit, or conscience, that all the marks I mentioned were 66 66 upon her; and the spirit of God, with his testi mony, put it beyond the possibility of a doubt.` "Some of her words were; "I was extremely bigot❝ted against my brethren the Dissenters, but am now 66 "enlarged towards them and all mankind, in an in- "I spoke plainly to the women Bands, of their un"advisedness, their want of love, and bearing one "another's burdens. We found an immediate effect. "Some were convinced they had thought too highly of "themselves; and that their first love, like their first "joy, was only a foretaste of that temper which con"tinually rules in a new heart." Though there had been no riots, nor any open persecution of the Methodists in Bristol; yet many individuals, who became serious and changed the whole course of their lives, suffered considerably. This was partly occasioned by the inflammatory discourses of some of the Clergy, who represented them as Papists, Jesuits, friends of the Pretender, &c. On this subject, Mr. Wesley makes the following observations. "Christianity flourishes under the cross. None who "follow Christ are without that badge of disciple 1 ship, Wives and children are beaten and turned out "of doors; and the persecutors are the complainers. "It is always the Lamb that troubles the waters. "Every Sunday, damnation is denounced against all "who hear us: for we are Papists, Jesuits, Seducers, "and bringers-in of the Pretender. The Clergy mur"mur aloud at the number of communicants, and "threaten to repel them. Yet will not the world bear "that we should talk of persecution: no, for the "world now is christian! and the offence of the cross "has ceased. Alas! what would they do further? "Some lose their bread; some their habitations: One "suffers stripes, another confinement; yet we must not call this persecution. Doubtless they will find "some other name for it, when they shall think they "do God service by killing us." 66 October 8th, He preached at the Brick-yard. A - Mr. Williams, from Kidderminster, who had written to Mr. Wesley some time before to go down thither, was present, and much edified and strengthened by the sermon. "I know not, (says Mr. Wesley) of what "denomination he is, nor is it material; for he has "the mind which was in Christ." Mr. Wesley's sermon, when last at Bradford, had been misunderstood or misrepresented. It was reported that he was a high Calvinist, and great pajus had been taken to represent him as such. His brother Mr. John Wesley, coming to Bristol this evening, it was the opinion of both that he ought to preach again at Bradford, and declare his sentiments openly on this point, The next day, October the 9th,* they went to Bradford, where Mr. Charles Wesley preached to a congregation of about two thousand people. Mr. John Wesley *See the agreement between this account and Mr. John Wesley's printed Journal in his Works, vol. 27, page 142. Wesley prayed first, when Mr. Charles began abruptly, "If God be for us, who can be against us? He that "spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us "ALL, how shall he not with him also freely give us all "things." He spake with great boldness and freedom for an hour and an half, holding forth Christ a Saviour for all men, He flattered himself that he had done so much injury to satan's kingdom, by beating down sin, that he says, "I believe he will no more "slander me with being a Predestinarian, in the "modern notion of that word." October 11th, He preached for the first time in the open air by night, in a yard belonging to a widow Jones. He observes, "The yard contained about "four hundred persons; the house was likewise full. "Great power was in the midst of us, Satan blas"phemed without, but durst not venture his children too near the gospel, when I offered Christ Jesus to "them. The enemy hurried them away, and all we "could do, was to pray for them.” "October 15th, I waited, with my brother, on a "Minister about baptizing some of his parishioners. "He complained heavily of the multitudes of our "communicants, and produced the Canon against 66 strangers. He could not admit as a reason for their coming to his church, that they had no Sacrament at "their own. I offered my assistance to lessen his "trouble, but he declined it. He told us there were "hundreds of new communicants last Sunday. We "bless God for this cause of offence, and pray it may 66 never be removed.” "October 19th, I read part of Mr. Law on Re"generation to our Society. How promising the "beginning, and how lame the conclusion! Christi anity, he rightly tells us, is a recovery of the Divine image; and a christian is, a fallen spirit restored, "and re-instated in paradise; a living mirror of Father, "Son, and Holy Ghost. After this he supposes it possible for him to be insensible of such a change: 66 to be happy and holy, translated into Eden, renewed "in the likeness of God, and not to know it. Nay we are not to expect, nor bid others expect any such "consciousness, if we listen to him. What wretched "inconsistency!" 66 When Mr. Wesley baptized adults, professing faith in Christ, he chose to do it by trine immersion, if the persons would submit to it; judging this to be the Apostolic method of baptizing. October 26th, He says, "I baptized Mr. Wigginton in the river, by "Baptist-mills, and went on my way rejoicing to 66 66 French-Hay. October 27th, I took occasion to shew "the degeneracy of our modern Pharisees. Their "predecessors fasted twice a week; but they main"tain their character for holiness at a cheaper rate. "In reverence for the Church, some keep their public "day on Friday: none regard it, though enjoined as a Fast. Their neglect is equally notorious in regard to prayer and the Sacrament. and the Sacrament. And yet these men cry out, "THE CHURCH, THE CHURCH! when they themselves will not hear the Church; but de"spise her authority, trample upon her orders, teach contrary to her Articles and Homilies, and break her "Canons, even every man of those, who of late "tend to enforce their observance.” pre "October 13th, I wrote to the Bishop of Bristol, as follows: "My |