trouble of reading the answers to those warm, lively men? Why should a good-natured and a thinking man thus condemn whole bodies of men by the lump? In this, I can neither read the gentleman, the scholar, nor the Christian.

Since the writing of this, Lord Lyttleton is no more; he is mingled with common dust. But as his book survives, there still needs an answer to the unjust reflections contained therein.

Saturday, September 1. I took a walk to the top of that celebrated hill, Carn-Brae. Here are many monuments of remote antiquity, scarce to be found in any other part of Europe: Druid altars of enormous size, being only huge rocks, strangely suspended one upon the other; and rockbasons, hollowed on the surface of the rock, it is supposed, to contain the holy water. It is probable these are at least coeval with Pompey's Theatre, if not with the Pyramids of Egypt. And what are they the better for this? Of what consequence is it, either to the dead or the living, whether they have withstood the wastes of time for three thousand, or three hundred years?

AN EXTRACT

OF THE

REV. MR. JOHN WESLEY'S JOURNAL,

FROM SEPTEMBER 2, 1770, TO SEPTEMBER 12, 1773.

XVI.

SUNDAY, September 2. At five in the evening, I preached in the natural amphitheatre, at Gwenap.

The people

covered a circle of near fourscore yards' diameter, and could not be fewer than twenty thousand; yet, upon inquiry, I found they could all hear distinctly, it being a calm still evening.

Mon. 3. Between eight and nine, while I was preaching at Truro, we had only a few light showers, although a few miles off there was impetuous rain, with violent thunder and lightning. About noon I preached at Mevagissey, in a vacant space near the middle of the town, and strongly applied those words, "Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? " At six I stood at the head of the street, in St. Austle, and enforced on a large and quiet congregation," Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou

After visiting Medros, Plymouth, and Collumpton, I came, on Friday, the 7th, to Taunton. Presently after preaching I took horse. The rain obliged us to make haste; but in a while the saddle came over his neck, and then turned under his belly. I had then only to throw myself off, or I must have fallen under him. I was a little bruised, but soon mounted again, and rode to Lympsham, and the next day to Bristol.

Sun. 9. My voice was weak when I preached at Prince's

Street, in the morning. It was stronger at two in the afternoon, while I was preaching under the Sycamore-tree in Kingswood; and strongest of all at five in the evening, when we assembled near King's Square, in Bristol.

Tues. 11. In the evening I preached at Frome, but not abroad, as I designed, because of the rain. The next evening I preached in the adjoining meadow, to as quiet a congregation as that in the house.

Sun. 16. The appointed Preacher not coming in time, I preached myself at five. At eight, in Prince's Street; at two, in Kingswood; and near King's Square, at five in the evening, on Saturday, 15th.

It was the day before that I first observed a very uncommon concern in the children at Kingswood School, while I was explaining, and enforcing upon them, the first principles of Religion.

Tues. 18. Most of them went to see the body of Francis Evans, one of our neighbours, who died two or three days before. About seven, Mr. Hindmarsh met them all in the school, and gave an exhortation suited to the occasion. He then gave out that hymn,

"And am I born to die,

To lay this body down?

And must my trembling spirit fly

Into a world unknown?"`

This increased their concern, so that it was with great difficulty they contained themselves till he began to pray. Then Al-r M-r and R-d N-e cried aloud for mercy; and quickly another and another, till all but two or three were constrained to do the same: and as long as he continued to pray, they continued the same loud and bitter cry. One of the maids, Eliz Nutt, was as deeply convinced as any of them. After prayer, Mr. H. said, "Those of you who are resolved to serve God, may go and pray together." Fifteen of them did so, and continued wrestling with God, with strong cries and tears, till about nine o'clock.

Wed. 19. At the morning prayer many of them cried out again, though not so violently. From this time, their whole spirit and behaviour were changed; they were all serious and loving to each other. The same seriousness and mildness continued on Thursday, and they walked together, talking only of the things of God. On Friday evening their concern greatly increased, and caused them

to break out again into strong cries. On Saturday, the 22d, they seemed to lose none of their concern, and spent all their spare time in prayer.

Sun. 23. Fifteen of them gave me their names, “being resolved," they said, to serve God." In the afternoon I gave them a strong exhortation, and afterward Mr. Rankin. Their very countenances were entirely changed: they drank in every word.

Tues. 25. During the time of prayer, in the evening, they were affected just as the Tuesday before. The two other maids were then present, and were both cut to the heart.

Wed. 26. "I rode," says Mr. Rankin, " in the afternoon, to Kingswood, and went up stairs, in order to retire a little; but when I came up, I heard one of the boys at prayer, in an adjoining room. I listened awhile, and was exceedingly struck with many of his expressions. When he ceased, I went in, and found two others with him; just then three more came in. I went to prayer. The Lord seemed to rest upon them all, and pierced their hearts with deep conviction. The next morning I spent some time with all the children; and then desired those who were resolved to save their souls, to come up stairs with me. I went up, and nine of the children followed me, who said, they were determined to flee from the wrath to come.' I exhorted them, 'Never to rest, till they found peace with God;' and then sung and prayed. The power of God came down in so wonderful a manner, that my voice was drowned by their cries. When I con

cluded, one of them broke out into prayer, in a manner that quite astonished me: and during the whole day a peculiar spirit of seriousness rested on all the children.

66

After spending some time in the school on Friday, I desired those I had spoken to the day before, to follow me, which they did, and one more. I pressed each of them severally, not to rest till he had a clear sense of the pardoning love of God. I then prayed, and the Lord poured out his Spirit, as the day before; so that in a few minutes, my voice could not be heard amidst their cries and groans.

وو

66

"On Friday, the 28th," says Mr. Hindmarsh, when I came out into the ground, ten of the children quickly gathered round about me, earnestly asking, 'What they must do to be saved?' Nor could I disengage myself

from them, till the bell rang for dinner. All this time we observed the children who were most affected, learned faster and better than any of the rest.

"In the evening I explained to all the children, the nature of the Lord's Supper. I then met twelve of them apart, and spoke to each particularly. When I asked one of them, Simon Lloyd, 'What do you want to make you happy?' after a little pause, he answered, 'God.'

went to prayer. Presently a cry arose, from one and another, till it ran through all, vehemently calling upon God, and refusing to be comforted, without the knowledge and the love of God.

66

About half an hour after eight I bade them good night, and sent them up to bed; but Lloyd, Brown, and Robert Hindmarsh slipped aside, when the rest went up, being resolved they would not sleep, nor rest, till God revealed himself to them. When they began to pray, some of the others heard them, and one and another stole down, some half dressed, some almost naked. They continued praying by turns, near three quarters of an hour, in which time, first one, then a second, and before they concluded, two more found peace with God. I then went to them, and asked Bobby Hindmarsh, Why did you slip aside?' He said, 'Simon Lloyd, and Jacky Brown, and I, had agreed together, that we would not sleep till the Lord set us at liberty. After I had prayed with them, and praised God, till about half an hour past nine, I desired them to go to bed. They did so, all but those three, who slipped away, and stayed with Richard Piercy, who was in deep agony of soul, and would by no means be persuaded to rise from his knees. The children above, hearing them pray, in a few minutes ran down again. They continued wrestling, with still increasing cries and tears, till three more found peace with God. About a quarter past ten, I went to them again, and observing some of them quite hoarse, insisted upon their going to bed, which all of them then did; but quickly one, and then another, stole out of bed, till in a quarter of an hour, they were all at prayer again; and the concern among them was deeper than ever, as well as more general, there being but four of our five and twenty children, that did not appear to be cut to the heart however, fearing they might hurt themselves, I sent one of our maids to persuade them to go up; but