to Ireland let us know, that he would be at our house in Charleville, in a few days: on this the family was bufied to prepare for his reception, and the enfuing marriage; when one night, my fifter Molly and I being afleep in our bed, I was awakened by the fudden opening of the fide-curtain, and starting up faw Mr. Mercier, ftanding by the bed fide. He was wrapt up in a loose fheet, and had a napkin folded like a night-cap on his head. He looked at me very earnestly, and lifting up the napkin which much fhaded his face, fhewed me the left fide of his head, all bloody and covered with his brains. The room mean time was quite light. My terror was exceffive, which was fill increased by his stooping over the bed, and embracing me in his arms. My cries alarmed the whole family, who came crowding into the room. Upon their entrance, he gently withdrew his arms, and afcended as it were through the cieling. I continued for fome time in ftrong fits. When I could fpeak, I told them what I had feen. One of them a day or two after, going to the Poft-master for letters, found him reading the news-papers, in which was an account, that cornet Mercier, going into Chrift-church belfry, in Dublin, juft after the bells had been ringing, and ftanding under the bells, one of them which was turned bottom upwards, fuddenly turning again, ftruck one fide of his head, and killed him on the fpot. On further enquiry, we found he was struck, on (t the left fide of his head."

Sunday 6. I gave my laft exhortation to the Society in Corke, and setting out early on Monday 7, in the evening came to Limerick.

Saturday 3. The account which one of our fifters gave of Ann Beauchamp was as follows:

Auguft 8, 1753. I went to fee S. Beauchamp, who had been ill for about a week. I asked her, in what flate the found her foul? She anfwered, I am quite happy. I know that my Redeemer liveth, and has taken away all my fins.

And

And my heart is comforted with the prefence of God: I long to die, that I may be with him. I afked, But are you refigned, either to live or die, as he fhall fee fit? She answered, I cannot fay, I am willing to live; it would go hard with me to live now. Pray that the Lord may perfect his work of fanctification in my foul.

Being afked, if he could freely part with all her friends? She faid, Yes: and as to my children, I have caft them upon the Lord. I know he will take care of them, and I give them freely up to him, without one anxious thought. She then prayed for her friends and acquaintance, one by one, and afterward fervently with tears, for each perfon in her Band: then for Mr. John Wesley, defiring the might be found at his feet in the day of the Lord.

"Soon after the called her mother, defired forgiveness for any thing wherein fhe had ignorantly offended her, and exhorted her, not to grieve; adding God will comfort you, and give you ftrength to bear your trial. It is your lofs; but it is my everlasting gain; and I am going a little before you. She then prayed over her, and kiffing her, took her leave. In the fame manner fhe took leave of all about her, exhorting, praying for, and kiffing them, one by one. Afterward the called for, and took her leave of her fervants.

and you

Seeing one of her neighbours in the room, fhe called her and faid, O Mary, you are old in years, and old in fin. The Lord has borne long with you, know not the day or the hour when he will call you. I am young, and he is calling me away and what should I do without an interest in Chrift? Was my work now to do, it would never be done: but bleffed be God, it is not. I know the Lord hath washed me from my fins in his own blood, and is preparing me for himself. O fly from the wrath to come, and never reft, till you reft in the wounds of Jefus! I am almost

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spent :

Spent: but had I ftrength, I could exhort you all till morning.

To another fhe faid, Martha, Martha ! Thou art careful and troubled about many things. But one thing is needful. And this one thing you have neglected: O feek God, and he will fupply all your wants. It is time for you to begin: your glafs is almoft run, and what will all your toil profit, when you come to be as I am now? Find time for this, whatever goes undone. My neighbours used to wonder, how I could find time, and think me foolish for fpending it fo. But now I know it was not foolishness. Soon I fhall receive an exceeding great reward.

1 ex

Perhaps fome of you will fay, you was never called. Then remember, I call you now. hort every one of you, to feek the Lord, while he may be found. Think not to make excuses in that day: God will have his witneffes. And I fhall appear as a witnefs against you. If you repent not, these my dying words will rife up in judgment against you.

To her

fhe faid, I forgive you all that you have done against me. And I have prayed the Lord to forgive you. Return to him now, and he will receive you: for he defires not the death of a finner. I am a witness of this: for he has forgiven all my fins. Ol I want ftrength to fing his praife! But I am going where I fhall fing his praife: for ever.

Then calling for her husband, fhe faid, My dear, God has given you many calls even in dreams. And when we will not hear his call, it is often his way to make us feel his rod by removing our darling from us. I was your darling. And feeing you refufed the many calls of God, he is now taking me away from you, if by any means he may bring you to himfelf. She then prayed for, and took her leave, of him..

The

The next day when I came in, and afked, How do you find yourself now? She answered, Bleffed be God, very well. I know that my Redeemer lives. He is dear to me, and I am dear to him. I know he is preparing me for himself, and I fhall foon be with him.

She then prayed earnestly for entire fanctification; till a friend coming in, the faid, The Lord has brought you and all my dear friends to my remembrance: I have not forgotten you in my prayers. You must come and pray my laît prayer. When you see me near my deliverance, go all to prayer, and continue therein, till my fpirit is gone. Let there be no crying over me, but all of you fing praises and rejoice over me.

She never once complained of her pain; but behaved from the beginning with that patience, fweetness and love to all, that befpoke a foul which knew herself just entering into the joy of her Lord. This the did the next morning, Auguft the 20th, after crying out as in an extacy.

"Behold I approach the eternal throne,

And claim the crown through Chrift my own."

Wednesday 16. I rode over to New-Market and preached to an earnest congregation of poor people. In the morning, at the request of fome of the neighbouring gentry, I deferred preaching till ten o'clock. Many of them were then present and feemed not a little aftonished: perhaps they may remember it-a week.

In the afternoon I rode to Ballygarrane, a town of Palatines, which came over in Queen Anne's time. They retain much of the temper and manner of their own country, having a refemblance of thofe among whom they live. I found much life among this plain, artlefs, ferious people. The whole town came together in the evening, and praised God for the confolation. Many of those

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who

who are not outwardly joined with us, walk in the light of God's countenance: yea, and have divided themfelves into Claffes, in imitation of our brethren, with whom they live in perfect harmony.

Friday 18. In examining the Society, I was obliged to paufe feveral times. The words of the plain, honeft people, came with fo much weight, as frequently to ftop me for awhile, and raife a general cry among the hearers. I rode back thro Adare, once a ftrong and flourishing town, wellwalled and full of people: now without walls and almoft without inhabitants: only a few poor hutsremain. At a fmall diftance from thefe are the ample ruins of three or four convents, delightfully fituated by the river, which runs through a most fruitful vale..

Monday 21. I talked with one who was in deep. diftrefs. She had been reprefented to me, as in defpair. But I foon found her diforder (natural. or preternatural) had nothing to do with religion.. She was greatly troubled, but knew not why: not for her fins, they foarce came into her mind.. I know not that prayer will avail for her, till fhe is troubled in quite another manner: till the cries out from her inmost foul, "God be merciful to me a finner !"

Tuesday 22. I called on Mrs. F. whom I faw fome years fince in defpair of quite another kind. Between nine and ten years ago, her daughter married without her confent. This was followed by other diftreffing circumftances, in the midft of which the cried out, "God has forfaken me." She was immediately feized with violent pain.. She could not fee the fun, or the light, only a dim twilight. She could not tafte her meat or drink, any more than the white of an egg. She had as conftant impulfe to kill herself, which the believed fhe must do, and attempted feveral times. After having continued thus three years and an half, the refolved to endure it no longer. Accordingly