" and stones at us. After the burial we joined in the following hymn,

"Come let us, who in Christ believe,

"With Saints and Angels join, &c.

May 1st, "I visited a sister dying in the Lord. "Then two others, one mourning after, the other rejoicing in, God her Saviour. I was now informed "that another of our sisters, E. Smith, is gone home "in triumph. She witnessed a good confession of the "universal Saviour, and gave up her spirit with these "words, "I go to my heavenly Father," &c. May 4th, I rejoiced over our sister Hooper. The out"ward man decayeth, but the inner man is renewed. "For one whole night she had wrestled with all the powers of darkness: but having done all, she stood un"shaken. From henceforth she was kept in perfect

66

peace, and that wicked one touched her not.—I saw "her again in great bodily weakness, but strong in the "Lord, and in the power of his might. I spoke with "her Physician, who said he had little hope of her

recovery only, added he, she has no dread upon "her spirits, which is generally the worst symptom. "Most people die for fear of dying; but I never met "with such people as yours. They are none of them "afraid of death; but calm, and patient, and resigned to the last. He had said to her, “Madam be She answered, smiling, Sir, I

26 not cast down."

"shall never be cast down."

May 6th, "Found our sister Hooper just at the "haven. She expressed, while able to speak, her "fulness of confidence and love; and her desire to be "with Christ. At my next visit, I saw her in the last "conflict. The angel of death was come, and there 66 were but a few moments between her and a blessed

"eternity.

"eternity. We poured out our souls to God, for her, "her children, ourselves, the Church and Ministers, "and for all mankind. My soul was tenderly affected “for her sufferings, but the joy swallowed up the How much then did her consolations

66

sorrow.

" abound!

The servants of Christ, comparatively speaking, suffer nothing. I asked her, whether she was not in great pain?" Yes, she answered, but "in greater joy. I would not be without either." But "do you not prefer, life or death? She replied, "All is alike to me; let Christ choose, I have no will "of my own." Her spirit ascended to God, and we "kneeled down and gave God thanks from the ground "of our heart. Then we had recourse to the book of "comfort, and found it written, "Let us therefore "labour to enter into that rest: even so come Lord "Jesus, and give us an inheritance among all them "that are sanctified."

May 8th," We solemnized the funeral* of our "sister Hooper, and rejoiced over her with singing. "A great multitude attended her to the grave. There "we sang another hymn of triumph. I found myself pressed in spirit to speak to those who contradicted "and blasphemed. While I reasoned on death and judgment to come, many trembled; one woman cried out in horrible agony. We returned to the room, "and continued our solemn rejoicings, all desiring to "be dissolved and to be with Christ."

66

66

May 14th, He now visited Mrs. Lellington, drawing uear the end of her journey through life. She had "received peace and joy in believing, and all far of "hell, death, and sin, were fled away." He adds, "I saw two more of our sick sisters; then two of the "brethren

*This was a very early interment; probably the state of the body made it necessary.

"brethren in Kingswood, who were all rejoicing in "hope of a speedy dissolution. Preached at Kendal"shire, and visited one of the Bands there, who "walked through the valley of the shadow of death, " and feared no evil. I prayed by a seventh in Bristol, "who triumphed over the king of terrors. If God be "not with us, who hath begotten us these?

May 20th, "I was called to a dying woman, who "confessed she had often railed at me in her health, "but was now constrained to send for me, and ask my pardon, or she could not die in peace. We prayed our Lord to speak peace and pardon to her soul. "Several such instances we have had of scoffers, "when their feet stumble on the dark mountains.—

May 22d I preached a funeral sermon for our sister "Lellington, and attended the corpse to the grave, "where we rejoiced in hope of quickly following her. "I gave an exhortation to repentance, though Satan greatly withstood me; thereby teaching me, never "to let go unwarned, the poor sinners that come on "such occasions.-Passed the night with my brother at

Kingswood, in watching unto prayer. . I wish this primitive custom were revived among all our brethren. "The word of God encourages us, to be in watchings "often. By two o'clock I returned to Bristol, and

at five found strength to expound in the new room. -May 30th, He observes, "I passed an hour with a spiritual Quaker, and rejoiced to find, we were both "of the same religion."--We apprehend that all men, who have true christian experience, are of the same religion; however they may differ in opinion or modes of worship. They are the one fold, under the one true Shepherd. If all true christians would consider this point as they ought, there would soon be an

end

end of disputation among them, and brotherly love

would take place.

May 31st, "Throughout this day, I found my "strength increase with my labour. I read in the "Society, my account of Hannah Richardson.* She

being dead, yet spake so powerfully to our hearts, "that my voice was lost in the sorrowful sighing of "such as be in captivity. To several God shewed "himself the God of consolation; particularly to two

young Welchmen, whom his providence sent hither "from Caermarthen. They had heard most dreadful "stories of us, Arminians, Freewillers, Perfectionists, Papists; which all vanished like smoke, when they 66 came to hear with their own ears. God applied to "their hearts the word of his power. I took them to

66

my lodgings, and stocked them with books; then "sent them away, recommended to the grace of God, "which bringeth salvation to all men."

June 16th, I preached in Kingswood, on the "dreadful word, "SELL ALL." How has the Devil "baffled those teachers, who for fear of setting men

upon works, forbear urging this first universal duty! "If enforcing Christ's words be to preach works, I hope I shall preach works as long as I live."It is certain however, that Mr. Wesley did not understand our Lord's words literally, but as teaching us to put away every thing we know to be sinful, how advantageous soever it may be to our temporal interest, or agreeable to our inclination; and that we should omit no opportunity of doing all the good in our power.

July 11th, Mr. Wesley preached five times this day: at Bristol, twice at Kingswood, at a place called Sawford, and at Bath. He observes, "Satan took it ill to "be

L

This account was printed. See Mr. John Wesley's Works, vol,

ziii. page 213.

"be attacked in his head quarters, that Sodom of our

land, Bath. He raged horribly in his children. They "went out, and came back again, and mocked, and at "last roared, as if each man's name had been Legion. "The sincere, were melted into tears, and strong "desires of salvation."—It is pleasing to reflect on the change which has taken place in Bath, since the time of which Mr. Wesley is here speaking. God has raised up many faithful witnesses of his truth, both among the Methodists, and among Lady Huntingdon's people, who have been ornaments to the christian profession: and at present the gospel is preached there, without molestation.

for me,

July 13th, He set out for Cardiff, and on the 15th, rode on with Mr. Wells, Mr. Hodges, and others to Fonmon-Castle. Mr. Wesley adds, "Mr. Jones, who "had sent received me very courteous66 ly. He civilly apologized for the first question, "which he asked me as a Magistrate : "Whether "I was a Papist? of whether I was a member of "the Established Church of England?"

He was

fully satisfied with my answers; and I found we were cotemporaries at the same College. After "dinner he sent to Porthkerry, where, at his desire, "Mr. Richards the Minister lent me his pulpit. I "preached, on, "God so loved the world," &c. Never "hath he given me more convincing words. The "flock, and their shepherd, were deeply affected, "After sermon, Mr. Richards begged my pardon for "having believed the strange reports circulated con"cerning me. God had now spoken the contrary to "his heart, and to the hearts of his people. I yielded "to Mr. Jones's importunity, and agreed to delay my

return to Bristol, that I might preach here once 66 more, and spend a night at the castle."

July