Exod. xiv. And we found that God's arm is not shortened, and rejoiced before him with reverence. I was a little surprised, in going out of the room, at one who catched hold of me, and said abruptly, "I must speak with you, and will. I have sinned against light and against love. I have sinned beyond forgiveness. I have been cursing you in my heart, and blaspheming God ever since I came hither. I am damned. I know it. I feel it. I am in hell. I have hell in my heart." I desired two or three who had confidence in God to join in crying to him on her behalf. Immediately that horrible dread was taken away, and she began to see some dawnings of hope.

Friday 25, Another was with me, who, after having tasted the heavenly gift, was fallen into the depth of despair. But it was not long before God heard the prayer, and restored to her the light of his countenance.

One came to me in the evening to know, if a man could not be saved without the faith of assurance? I answered, "1. I cannot approve of your terms; because they are not scriptural. I find no such phrase as either, faith of assurance, or, faith of adherance, in the Bible. Besides, you speak as if there were two faiths in one Lord; whereas St. Paul tells us, there is but one faith in one Lord. 2. By, Ye are saved by faith, I understand, Ye are saved from your inward and outward sins. 3. I never yet knew one soul thus saved without, what you call, the faith of assurance; I mean, a sure confidence, that by the merits of Christ he was reconciled to the favour of God.

Saturday 26, I was strongly convinced, that if we asked of God, he would give light to all those that were in darkness. About noon we had a proof of it; one that was weary and heavy laden, upon prayer made for her, soon finding rest to her soul. In the afternoon we had a second -proof; another mourner being speedily comforted. M-y D―n was a third, who about five o'clock began again to rejoice in God her Saviour; as did M-y H-y about the same hour, after a long night of doubts and fears.

Thursday 31, I went to one in Kingswood who was dangerously ill. as was supposed, past recovery. But she was strong in the Lord, longing to be dissolved and to be with Christ. Some of her words were: "I was long striving to come to my Saviour, and I then thought he was afar off. But now I know he was nigh me all that time; I know his arms were round me; for his arms are like the rainbow, they go round heaven and earth."

I had now determined, if it should please God, to spend some time in Bristol. But, quite contrary to my expectation, I was called away in a manner I could not resist. A young man, who had no thoughts of religion, had come to Bristol a few months before. One of his acquaintance brought him to me. He approved of what he heard, and for a while behaved well. But soon after his seriousness wore off. He returned to London, and fell in with his old acquaintance. By some of these he was induced to commit a robbery on the highway; for which he was apprehended, tried, and condemned. He had now a strong desire to speak with me: and some of his words, in a letter to his friend, were, "I adjure him by the living God, that he come and see me before I go hence."

Friday, Feb. 1, I set out, and on Sunday 3, declared the grace of God at Newbury, from those words of the prophet, 1 will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely. And though the Church was full of (chiefly) genteel, well-dressed people, they behaved as if they knew God was there.

Monday 4, I came to Reading, and met with a few still hungering and thirsting after righteousness. A few more I found at Windsor in the evening. The next afternoon I reached London.

Wednesday 6, I went to the poor young man who lay under sentence of death. Of a truth God has begun a good work in his soul. O may it be brought to perfection.

I think it was the next time I was there, that the ordinary of Newgate came to me, and, with much vehemence, told me, he " I should turn dissenter from the Church

was sorry

of England." I told him, "If it was so, I did not know it:" At which he seemed a little surprised, and offered at something by way of proof, but which needed not a reply.

Our 19th article defines a true church, "A congregation of faithful men, wherein the pure word of God is preached and the sacraments duly administered." According to this account, the Church of England is, That body of faithful people, or holy believers, in England, among whom the pure word of God is preached, and the sacraments duly administered. Who then are the worst dissenters from this church? 1. Unholy men of all kinds, swearers, sabbathbreakers, drunkards, fighters, whoremongers, liars, revilers, evil-speakers; the passionate, the gay, the lovers of money, the lovers of dress, or of praise, the lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God: All these are dissenters of the highest sort, continually striking at the root of the Church; and themselves belonging in truth to no church, but to the synagogue of Satan. 2. Men unsound in the faith, those who deny the Scriptures of Truth; those who deny the Lord that bought them; those who deny justification by faith alone, or the present salvation which is by faith: These also are dissenters of a very high kind; for they likewise strike at the foundation, and were their principles universally to obtain, there could be no true church upon earth: Lastly, those who unduly administer the sacraments; who (to instance but in one point) administer the Lord's Supper to such as have neither the power nor the form of godliness. These too are gross dissenters from the Church of England, and should not cast the first stone at others.

Tuesday 12, The young man who was to die the next day, gave me a paper, part of which was as follows:

"As I am to answer to the God of justice and truth, before whom I am to appear naked to-morrow,

"I came to Bristol with a design to go abroad, either as a surgeon, or in any other capacity that was suiting. It was there that I unfortunately saw Mr. Ramsey. He told me, after one or two interviews, that he was in the service

of Mr. John Wesley; and that he would introduce me to him, which he did. I cannot but say, I was always fond of the doctrine that I heard from him. However, unhappily I consented with Mr. Ramsey; and I believe, between us, we might take more than thirty pounds out of the money collected for building the school in Kingswood.

"I acknowledge the justice of God in overtaking me for my sacrilege, in taking that money which was devoted to God. But He, I trust, has forgiven me this and all my sins, washing them away in the blood of the Lamb. GWILLAM SNOW DE."

Feb. 12, 1739-40.

I knew not, in the morning, whether to rejoice or grieve, when they informed me, he was reprieved for six weeks: and afterwards, that he was ordered for transportation. But known unto God are all his works!

Wednesday 20, I explained at Deptford the nature of Christian faith and salvation. Many seemed to receive the word with joy. Others complained, Thou bringest strange things to our ears: though some of them had not patience to hear what this new doctrine was.

Thursday 21, I had a long conference with those whom I esteem very highly in love. But I could not yet understand them on one point, "Christian openness and plainness of speech." They pleaded for such a reservedness and closeness of conversation, as I could in no wise reconcile with St. Paul's direction, By manifestation of the truth to commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. Yet I scarce knew what to think, considering they had the practice of the whole Moravian church on their side; until I opened my Testament on these words, What is that to thee? Follow thou me.

Tuesday 26, Complaint was made again, (as indeed had been done before, and that not once or twice only), That many of our brethren, not content with leaving off the ordinances of God themselves, were continually troubling those that did not, and disputing with them, whether they would or not. The same complaint was made the next

night also, at the meeting of the society. I then plainly set before them the things they had done, expostulated the case with them, and earnestly besought them, " not to trouble or perplex the minds of their brethren any more; but at least to excuse those, who still waited for God, in the ways of his own appointment."

Saturday, March 1, Many that were in heaviness being met together, we cried to God to comfort their souls. One of these soon found, that God heareth prayer. She had before been under the physician's hands; her relations taking it for granted she was beside herself. But the great Physician alone knew to heal her sickness.

Monday 3, I rode by Windsor to Reading, where I had left two or three, full of peace and love. But I now found some from London had been here, grievously troubling these souls also, labouring to persuade them, 1. That they had no faith at all, because they sometimes felt doubt or fear. And, 2. That they ought to be still; not to go to church, not to communicate, not to search the Scriptures: "Because (say they) you cannot do any of these things without trusting in them."

After confirming their souls, we left Reading, and on Wednesday 5, came to Bristol. It was easy to observe here, in how different a manner God works now, from what He did last spring. He then poured along, like a rapid flood, overwhelming all before Him. Whereas now, "He deigns his influence to infuse "Secret, refreshing as the silent dews."

Convictions sink deeper and deeper. Love and joy are more calm, even, and steady. And God, in many, is laying the axe to the root of the tree, who can have no rest in their spirits, till they are fully renewed in the image of God, in righteousness and true holiness.

Wednesday 12, I found a little time, having been much importuned, to spend with the soldier in Bridewell, who was under sentence of death. This I continued to do once a day; whereby there was also an opportunity of declaring