castle, in the evening, and behaved with decency. I was well pleased to lodge at a gentleman's, an old school-fellow, half a mile from the town. What a dream are the fifty or sixty years that have slipped away, since we were at the Charter-house!

Thursday 2, I preached at noon at a farmer's house, near Brough in Westmoreland. The sun was hot enough : but some shady trees covered both me and most of the congregation. A little bird perched on one of them, and sung without intermission, from the beginning of the service unto the end. Many of the people came from far; but I believe none of them regretted their labour.

The evening congregation in Swaledale was far larger, and equally attentive: and the Society was one of the most lively which I have met with in England. Many of them do rejoice in the pure love of God, and many more are earnestly seeking it.

Friday 3, I rode to Richmond, intending to preach near the house of one of our friends: but some of the chief of the town sent to desire me to preach in the Market-place. The Yorkshire militia were all there, just returned from their exercise: and a more rude rabble-rout I never saw; without sense, decency, or good manners.

In running down one of the mountains yesterday, I had got a sprain in my thigh: it was rather worse to-day; but, as I rode to Barnard-castle, the sun shone so hot upon it, that, before I came to the town, it was quite well. In the evening the commanding-officer gave orders there should be no exercise, that all the Durham militia, (what a contrast!) might be at liberty to attend the preaching. Accordingly we had a little army of officers as well as soldiers; and all behaved well. A large number of them were present at five in the morning. I have not found so deep and lively a work in any other part of the kingdom, as runs through the whole circuit; particularly in the vales that wind between these horrid mountains. I returned to Newcastle in the evening.

Sunday 5, I preached in the morning at Placey, to some

of the most lively colliers in England: and about two at Hartley, to a still larger congregation: but to the largest of all, in the Castlegarth, at Newcastle.

Tuesday 7, I went down by water to South-Shields, and preached at noon to far more than could hear. We went after dinner to Tinmouth-castle, a magnificent heap of ruins. Within the walls are the remains of a very large Church, which seems to have been of exquisite workmanship. And the stones are joined by so strong a cement, that but for Cromwell's cannon they might have stood a thousand years.

Monday 13, I left Newcastle, and in the residue of the month visited most of the Societies in Yorkshire. Thurs day, July 14, I crossed over into Lincolnshire, and after spending about ten days there, returned by Doncaster, Rotherham, and Sheffield, and thence crossed over to Madeley. On Tuesday 19, I wrote the following letter:

"Swinfleet, July 19, 1768.

"Reverend and dear Sir,

"One of Wintringham informed me yesterday, that you said, 'No sensible and well-meaning man could hear, and much less join the Methodists, because they all acted under a lie, professing themselves members of the Church of Eng land, while they licensed themselves as Dissenters.' You are a little misinformed. The greater part of the Methodist Preachers are not licensed at all. And several that are, are not licensed as Dissenters: I instance particularly in Tho. Adams and Tho. Brisco. When Thomas Adams desired a license, one of the Justices said, 'Mr. Adams, are not you of the Church of England? Why then do you desire a li cense?' He answered, Sir, I am of the Church of England. Yet I desire a license, that I may legally defend myself from the illegal violence of oppressive men.' Thomas Brisco being asked the same question in London, and the Justice adding, We will not grant you a license; his Lawyer replied, Gentlemen, you cannot refuse it. The act is a mandatory act. You have no choice.' One asked the Chairman, "Is this true?' He shook his head, and said, 'He is in the

right.' The objection, therefore, does not lie at all against the greater part of the Methodist Preachers, because they are either licensed in this form, or not licensed at all.

"When others applied for a license, the Clerk or Justice said, 'I will not license you, but as Protestant Dissenters.' They replied, We are of the Church. We are not Dissenters. But if you will call us so, we cannot help it.' They did call them so in their certificates. But this did not make them so. They still call themselves members of the Church of England: and they believe themselves so to be. Therefore, neither do they act under a lie. They speak no more than they verily believe. Surely, then, unless there are stronger objections than this, both well-meaning and sensible men, may, in perfect consistence with their sense and sincerity, not only hear, but join the Methodists.

.

"We are in truth so far from being enemies to the Church, that we are rather bigots to it. I dare not, like Mr. Venn, leave the Parish Church where I am, to go to an Independent Meeting. I dare not advise others to go thither, rather than go to Church. I advise all, over whom I have any influence, steadily to keep to the Church: mean, time, I advise them, to see that the kingdom of God is within them: that their hearts be full of love to God and man: and to look upon all, of whatever opinion, who are like-minded, as their brother, and sister, and mother. O Sir, what art of men or devils is this, which makes you so studiously stand aloof from those who are thus minded? I cannot but say to you, as I did to Mr. Walker, (and I say it the more freely, because, quid mea refert? I am neither better nor worse, whether you hear or forbear) The Methodists do not want you; but you want them.' You want the life, the spirit, the power, which they have; not of themselves, but by the free grace of God. Else how could it be, (let me speak without reserve) that so good a man and so good a preacher, should have so little fruit of his labour, his unwearied labour, for so many years? Have your pa▾ rishioners the life of religion in their souls? Have they so much as the form of it? Are the people of Wintringham in

general any better than those of Winterton or Horton? Alas! Sir, what is it which hinders your reaping the fruit of so much pains and so many prayers?

"Is it not possible this may be the very thing, your setting yourself against those whom God owns, by the continual conviction and conversion of sinners?

"I fear, as long as you in any wise oppose these, your rod will not blossom, neither will you see the desire of your soul, in the prosperity of the souls committed to your charge.

"I pray God to give you a right judgment in all things, and am,

"Dear Sir, your affectionate Brother,

"JOHN WESLEY." Sunday 31, I preached for Mr. Fletcher in the morning, and in the evening at Shrewsbury.

Monday, August 1, I lodged at the Abbey, in Cardiganshire; and on Wednesday morning reached HaverfordWest. Here abundance of people flocked together, and willingly suffered the word of exhortation. Indeed a more quiet, humane, courteous people I have scarcely ever seen. But, I fear, they were surfeited with preaching before we set foot in the town.

Saturday 6, I went to Pembroke. We were here several times before we had any place in Haverford-West. But we have reason to fear, lest the first become last. Sunday 7, I took a good deal of pains to compose the little misunderstandings which have much obstructed the work of God. At ten, I read prayers, preached, and administered the sacrament to a serious congregation at Daniel's, and the next morning left the people full of good desires, and in tolerable good humour with each other.

Monday 8, I rode to Lanelly, and preached to a small, earnest company, on Ye are saved through faith: thence we found a kind of a way to Oxwych, where I pressed the one thing needful, on a plain, simple people, right willing to hear, with great enlargement of heart.

Tuesday 9, I took a full view of the Castle, situate on the

top of a steep hill, and commanding a various and extensive prospect, both by sea and land. The building itself is far the loftiest which I have seen in Wales. What a taste had they, who removed from hence, to bury themselves in the hole at Margum!

When we came to Neath, I was a little surprised, to hear I was to preach in the Church; of which the Churchwardens had the disposal, the Minister being just dead. I began reading prayers at six, but was greatly disgusted at the manner of singing: 1, twelve or fourteen persons kept it to themselves, and quite shut out the congregation: 2, these repeated the same words, contrary to all sense and reason, six, eight, or ten times over: 3, according to the shocking custom of modern music, different persons sung different words at one and the same moment: an intolerable insult on common sense, and utterly incompatible with any de

votion.

Wednesday 10, At five I had the pleasure of hearing the whole congregation at the Room, sing with the spirit and with the understanding also: and again, at one in the afternoon at Cowbridge, where I found uncommon liberty of speech, while I was explaining to many of the rich and gay, as well as to the poor, the kingdom of God is within you. I did not reach Cardiff till after seven; where, finding the congregation waiting, I began immediately in the Townhall, strongly exhorting them, not to receive the grace of God in vain.

Friday 12, I preached at that lovely place, Llanbraddock: Saturday 13, about noon at Chepstow. Thence I basted to the passage, though every one told me I had time enough, and to spare. I had so; for I waited six hours, the boat being just gone when we came. About nine we got over, and reached Bristol between eleven and twelve. Sunday 14, hearing my wife was dangerously ill, I took chaise immediately, and reached the Foundery before one in the morning. Finding the fever was turned, and the danger over, about two I set out again, and in the afternoon came (not at all tired) to Bristol.