July 16th, Being returned to Bristol, he observes, "While I was meeting the Bands, my mouth was "opened to reprove, rebuke, and exhort, in words 66 not my own. All trembled before the presence of "God. I was forced to cut off a rotten member; but "felt such love and pity at the time, as humbled me into the dust. It was, as if one criminal was "executing another. We betook ourselves to fervent prayer for him, and the Society. The spirit of prayer was poured out upon us, and we returned to "the Lord, with weeping and mourning."-See here, the true Apostolical Spirit of Church Discipline.

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Many of the Colliers, who had been abandoned to every kind of wickedness, even to a proverb, were now become pious and zealous for the things of God. A great number of these, at this time, came to the churches in Bristol on a Lord's-day, for the benefit of the Sacrament. But most of the Bristol Ministers repelled them from the table, because they did not belong to their parishes. Setting religion aside, common humanity would have taught them to rejoice in so remarkable a reformation among these wretched people. But these watchmen of Israel did not choose to have any increase of trouble. Can we wonder, that the Methodists had such great success in preaching the gospel to the middling and lower orders of the people, when sush lazy drones as these, had the care of most of the parishes in England? The case we believe, is now greatly altered. At present, there is more religious knowledge, more candour, and greater attention to propriety of conduct, both among the clergy and people, than there was at that time; and the Methodists have been the principal means of producing the change.

July 25th, He began to speak to every member of the Society in particular. A woman came to him, crying out, that she was born of God; that she had a new

heart

heart, &c. But on examination, she could give no account of her faith; no satisfactory proof of her pretensions. Mr. Wesley observes on this occasion, "How

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exceedingly cautious ought we to be, in receiving "people's testimony of themselves." Another came to him, who seems to have been puffed up with her religious comforts and enjoyments. "I plainly see, "(says he) why many lose their first comfort; it is expedient for them that it should go away." In this case, as he observes, nature will feed on the gift, instead of the Giver. We see some, who look at their joy, and compare their state with others, till they become high-minded, lose sight of Christ, and then sink into great darkness and distress, without perceiving the reason of it. One part of these, generally recover their former experience, after much suffering : another part, content themselves with the externals of religion, and much religious talk, while their passions have the same dominion over them, they formerly had: and a third, look upon all experience as mere imagination, ridicule it in the terms they had been accustomed to use, and cast off religion altogether. These cases therefore, require the most serious and early attention of every experienced minister of the gospel.

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July 27th. "I heard a miserable sermon, (says Mr. Wesley) at Temple church, recommending religion "as the most likely way to raise a fortune. After sermon, proclamation was made, that all should depart who were not of the parish. While the "shepherd was driving away the lambs, I staid, 66 suspecting nothing till the clerk came to me and "said, "Mr. Beacher bids you go away, for he will "not give you the sacrament.” I went to the vestry "door, and mildly desired Mr. Beacher to admit me. "He asked, "Are you of this parish?" I answered,

A

"Sir, you see that I am a clergyman. Then dropping

his first pretence, he charged me with rebellion in "expounding the scripture without authority; and "said in express words, "I repel you from the sacra"ment." I replied, I cite you to answer this, before "JESUS CHRIST at the day of judgment. This enraged him above measure: he called out, "Here, take away "this man." The Constables were ordered to attend, "I suppose, lest the furious Colliers should take the f sacrament by force; but I saved them the trouble of taking away, "This man," and quietly retired."These things are but poor evidences, that the Bristol Ministers were the true successors of the Apostles!

In August Mr. Wesley had a very dangerous fever, It was reported, and published in the papers, that he was dead. Upon his recovery, he observes, I found "myself after this gracious visitation, more desirous " and able to pray; more afraid of sin; more ❝ earnestly longing for deliverance, and the fulness of christian salvation."-Soon afterwards two or three of the Society died, in the triumph of faith, and full assurance of hope; which strengthened the hands and comforted the hearts of those who were left behind.

September 22, Mr. Wesley was informed that the Colliers were risen ; and riding out from Bristol, he met about a thousand of them at Lawrence-hill. The occasion of their rising was, the dearness of corn. He went up to an eminence, and began to talk to them, Many seemed inclined to go back with him to the School, which some of the most desperate perceiving,. they rushed violently upon the others, beating, tearing, and driving them every way from Mr. Wesley. He adds, “I rode up to a ruffian, who was striking one of (6 our Colliers,* and prayed him rather to strike me. " Hẹ

*He means a Collier, who was in the Methodist's Society.

"He answered, no, not for all the world, and was quite overcome. I turned upon another, who struck my horse, and he also sunk into a lamb. Where"ever I turned, Satan's cause lost ground, so that they "were obliged to make one general assault, and the "violent Colliers forced the quiet ones into the town. "I seized one of the tallest, and earnestly besought "him to follow me: yes, he said, that he would, all "the world over. I pressed about six into Christ's "service. We met several parties, and stopped and "exhorted them to follow us; and gleaning some from

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every company, we increased as we marched on "singing, to the School. From one till three o'clock, "we spent in prayer, that evil might be prevented, "and the lion chained. Then news was brought us, "that the Colliers were returned in peace. They had "walked quietly into the city, without sticks or the "least violence. A few of the better sort of them, "went to the Mayor, and told their grievance: then

they all returned as they came, without noise or dis“turbance. Ali who saw it were amazed. Nothing "could more clearly have shewn the change wrought among them, than this conduct on such an occasion." "I found afterwards, that all our Colliers to a man, "had been forced away. Having learned of Christ

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not to resist evil, they went a mile with those who "compelled them, rather than free themselves by "violence. One man the rioters dragged out of his "sick bed, and threw him into a fish pond. Near "twenty of Mr. Willis's men they had prevailed on, by threatening to fill up their pits, and bury them "alive, if they did not come up and bear them com"pany."-It was a happy circumstance that they forced so many of the Methodist Colliers to go with them; as these, by their advice and example would

restrain

restrain the savage fury of the others. This undoubtedly was the true cause, why they all returned home without making any disturbance.

November 6th, He set out for Wales. Here, vain disputings and janglings about predestination, had done much harm in several Societies: even H. Harris, embracing this doctrine, had been greatly estranged from his friend. Any doctrine comes poorly recommended to us, when it almost uniformly diminishes christian love and friendship, in the minds of those who embrace it. This is an effect so contrary to the general end, and manifest tendency of the gospel, that the doctrine which produces it, should be viewed with suspicion and approached with caution. That the diminution of christian love was on the part of H. Harris, is evident from the following letter, which Mr. Wesley sent him from Cardiff, on the 10th of November:

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"My dearest Friend and Brother,

"In the name of Jesus Christ, I beseech you, if you "have his glory and the good of souls at heart, to 66 come immediately to meet me here. I trust we shall never be two, in time or eternity. O! my brother, "I am grieved that Satan should get a moment's advantage over us; and am ready to lay my neck "under your feet for Christ's sake. If your heart be as my heart, hasten, in the name of our dear Lord, to your second self."--This letter shews a mind susceptible of the strongest attachments of friendship, and does Mr. Wesley great honour. Howel Harris however, did not come to him till the 18th, when he was at Lantrissant, and preparing to leave Wales. Mr. Wesley adds, " All misunderstanding vanished at the "sight of each other, and our hearts were knit together "as at the beginning. Before the Society met, several (6 persons