abfolutely neceffary, at all times for all communities! Surely Voltaire would hardly have said fo much! And even Mr. Sandiman could not have faid more!

April 16. Being Good-Friday, near four hundred of the Society met, to follow the example of their brethren in England, and renew their covenant with God. It was a folemn hour. Many mourned before God, and many were com forted.

In the following week all our Preachers met. I never before found fuch unanimity among them. They appeared not only to be of one heart, but likewife of one mind and judgment.

Sunday 25. One of the Germans ftumbled in, while I was expounding, Is Chrift the minifer of fin? For a time the feemed greatly diverted. But the application fpoiled her minth. She foon hung down her head, and felt the difference between the chaff and the wheat.

Monday 26. I fet out for Corke, purpofing to fee as many Societies as I could in the way. In the afternoon I came to Edinderry, where the little Society have built a commodious preaching-house. I had defigned to preach abroad; but the keen North wind drove us into the house. The congregation (though they had no previous notice) filled it from end to end. But fome of them found it too hot, and hurried out, while I applied, Ye must be born again.

About this time I received the following

letter:

Reverend Sir,

I once through the influence of thofe about me, was ready to join the common cry against you, not knowing what I did. But fince, by hearing your difcourfes with fome of Mr. Walsh's; and by reading your Sermons and Appeals, I have learned a better leffon, I have learned, that true christianity confifts,

confifts, not in a fet of opinions, or of forms and ceremonies, but in holiness of heart and life, in a thorough imitation of our divine Mafter. And this I take to be the doctrine of the church of England, nor do I apprehend you differ from her at all in doctrine. And I am grieved to know, you have too much caufe to differ from many of her prefent Clergy. Why then fhould I cavil with you for feeding thofe fheep, that are starved by their own fhepherds? For endeavouring to recover them from their stupid lethargy and open wickedness, which involve the generality of mankind? This is your happiness: would to God it could be mine! I have often had a ftrong defire for it; and would now gladly dedicate my life to it, if my poor abilities and mean education, together with the twenty-third article of our church, did not crufh the thought. However, as I do not fee, you vary from the doctrine of the church, I fhould not fcruple to join with you. My chief motives (befide that ftrong defire) are, first, I reflect, there is fcarce a station in life, at leaft in the trading world, without its attendant frauds or vices, which are now fcarce feparable from it. Secondly, I am at prefent of no ufe in Society fo that on account of any advantage which now accrues from me to the public, I need not fcruple giving myself to my darling employment. Thirdly, I am convinced, a man may instruct and reform himfelf, by inftructing and reforming others. But may I attempt this, otherwise than by the ordinary method of admitting. labourers into the Lord's vineyard? Your thoughts on this fubje&t would be received as a fingular favour: for which I fhall impatiently wait, who am, Reverend Sir,

Your affectionate and ready fervant.

E 3

Wednesday

Wednesday 28. I rode to Tullamore: where one of the Society, Edward Wallis, gave me a very furprizing account of himself. He faid, "When I was about twenty years old, I went to Waterford for business. After a few weeks I refolved to leave it, and packed up my things, in order to fet out the next morning. This was Sunday; but my landlord preft me much not to go till the next day. In the afternoon we walked out together, and went into the river. After awhile, leaving him near the fhore, I ftruck out into the deep. I foon heard a cry, and turning saw him rifing and finking in the channel of the river. I fwam back with all speed, and feeing him fink again, dived down after him. When I was near the bottom, he clafped his arm round my neck, and held me fo faft that I could not rife. Seeing death before me, all my fins came into my mind, and I faintly called for mercy. In awhile my fenfes went away, and I thought I was in a place full of light and glory, with abundance of people. While I was thus, he who held me died, and I floated up to the top of the water, I then immediately came to myself, and fwam to the fhore, where several stood who had feen us fink, and faid, "They never knew fuch a deliverance before: for I had been under the water full twenty minutes. It made me

more ferious for two or three months. returned to all my fins."

Then I

"But in the midft of all, I had a voice following me every where, "When an able minifter of the gofpel comes, it will be well with thee ?" Some years after I entered into the army: our troop lay at Phillips-Town, when Mr. W. came. I was much

affected by his preaching, but not fo as to leave my fins. The voice followed me ftill: and when Mr. 7. W. came, before I faw him I had an unspeakble conviction, that he was the man I looked for. And foon after I found peace with God, and it was well with me indeed."

Thursday

Thursday 29. I preached on one fide the Marketplace, to a numerous congregation. I was afterwards invited by fome of the officers, to spend an hour with them at the Barracks. It at least freed them from prejudice against the prefent work of God, if it answered no farther end.

Friday 30. I was preft to turn afide to Athlone, a gentlewoman of Barbadoes, who was obliged to return thither shortly, having a great defire to fee me. So I went to Athlone, and spent one or two hours in close conversation with her and with her husband. We had a comfortable meeting in the evening; and most of the gentry in the town were prefent: but who can warn them to flee from the wrath to come? They are increafed in goods and need nothing!

Saturday, May 1. I rode to Birr, through rain, hail, and fnow, fuch as is ufual on the first of January. I had defigned to preach abroad; but the wind was too fharp to be borne either by me or the people.

Sunday 2. We rode to Mountmelick. About five I preached in the Market-place. I was on the point of concluding when a violent ftorm came. Till then the bottles of heaven were stayed.

Thursday 4. We rode to Portarlington: where on Wednesday 5, at the defire of feveral which could not attend the early preaching, I preached in the affembly room at ten, on Ye must be born again. Many of the best in the town (o called) were prefent, and feemed not a little amazed. Many more came in the evening, among whom I found an unusual liberty of fpirit. For the prefent most of them feemed much affected. But how foon will the thorns grow up ?

out.

Thursday 6. I rode to Kilkenny. One of the dragoons, who were quartered here, foon found us A few both of the army and of the town, are joined and conftantly meet together. I preached in the Barracks, in one of the officer's rooms. Still, in Ireland, the firft call is to the foldiery.

Friday 7. We rode to Waterford, where after preaching, I earnestly exhorted the Society, To love as brethren. On the fame fubject I preached in the morning, and spent great part of the day, in kriving to remove misunderstandings and offences. It was not loft labour. Six and twenty were left in the morning: before night seven and fifty were joined together.

T. Walsh preached at 5: but the room being too fmall they were obliged to go into the yard. In the evening we had high and low, rich and poor, both in the yard and adjoining gardens. There feemed now to be a general call to this city. So I thought it beft the next morning, Monday 10, to leave Mr. Walfh there, while I went forward to Clonmell, the pleasantest town beyond all comparifon, which I have feen in Ireland. It has four broad, ftrait ftreets of well-built houfes, which Clofe crofs each other in the center of the town. to the walls, on the South fide, runs a broad, clear river. Beyond this rifes a green and fruitful The vale mountain, and hangs over the town, runs many miles both Eaft and Weft, and it is well cultivated throughout.

I preached at five in a large loft, capable of containing five or fix hundred people. But it was not full: many being afraid of its falling, as another did fome years before: by which feveral of the hearers were so much hurt, and one fo bruised, that she died in a few days.

Tuesday 11. I was at a lofs, where to preach, the perfon who owned the loft refufing to let me And preach there, or even in the yard below. the commanding officer being afked for the ufe of the Barrack yard, answered, "It was not a proper place. Not, faid he, that I have any objection to Mr. Wefley. I will hear him if he preach under the gallows." It remained, to preach in the ftreet: and by this means the congregation was more than doubled. Both the officers and foldiers gave great attention, till a poor man, fpecial drunk,

came