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be four-score yards square, and to contain five persons in a square yard, there must be above two and thirty thousand people; the largest assembly I ever preached to: yet, I found, upon enquiry, all could hear, even to the skirts of the congregation! Perhaps the first time that a man of seventy had been heard by thirty thousand persons at once! Hence I went by St. Cuthberts, Port Isaac, Camelford, and Launceston, to Tiverton. Saturday 28, I returned to Bristol.

Friday, September 3, I went over to Kingswood, and enquired into the ground of many heavy charges, which had been confidently advanced against the management there. One article was true, and no more: and this fault is now amended.

I waited a few days before I set down what has lately occured among the children here. From the time God visited them last, several of them retained a measure of the fear of God but they grew colder and colder, till Ralph Mather met them in the latter end of August. Several then resolved to meet in class again, and appeared to have good desires. On Saturday 4, he talked with three of them, about four in the afternoon. These freely confessed their besetting sins, and appeared to be greatly humbled. At five all the children met in the school. During an exhortation then given, first one, then two or three were much affected. Afterwards two more were taken apart, who were soon deeply distressed; and one of them, in less than half an hour, found a clear sense of the love of God. Near seven, they came down to the boys in the school; and Mr. Mather asked, "Which of you will serve God?" They all seemed to be thunderstruck, and ten or twelve fell down upon their knees. Mr. Mather prayed, and then James Whitestone. Immediately one and another cried out, which brought in the other boys, who seemed struck more and more, till about thirty were kneeling and praying at once. Before half an hour past nine, ten of them knew that they were accepted in the Beloved. Several more were brought to the birth; and

all the children, but three or four, were affected more or less.

Sunday 5, I examined sixteen of them, who desired to partake of the Lord's-Supper. Nine or ten had a clear sense of the pardoning love of God. The others were fully determined never to rest till they could witness the same confession.

Eighteen of the children from that time met in three bands, besides twelve who met in trial band. These were remarkable for their love to each other, as well as for steady seriousness. They met every day: beside which, all the children met in class.

Monday 6, After Mr. Mather had preached at Pensford, he met the children there. Presently the spirit of contrition fell upon them, and then the spirit of grace and of supplication, till the greater part of them were crying together for mercy, with a loud and bitter cry. And all Miss Owen's children but one, (two and twenty in number) were exceedingly comforted.

Friday 10, I went over to Kingswood, and enquired into the present state of the children. I found part of them had walked closely with God; part had not, and were in heaviness. Hearing in the evening, that they were got to prayer by themselves in the school, I went down; but not being willing to disturb them, stood at the window. Two or three had gone in first; then more and more, till above thirty were gathered together. Such a sight I never saw, before nor since: three or four stood and stared, as if affrighted. The rest were all on their knees, pouring out their souls before God, in a manner not easy to be described. Sometimes one, sometimes more, prayed aloud: sometimes a cry went up from them all; till five or six of them who were in doubts before, saw the clear light of God's countenance.

Sunday 12, Four of Miss Owen's children desired leave to partake of the Lord's-Supper. I talked with them severally, and found they were all still rejoicing in the love of God. And they confirmed the account, that "there was

only one of their whole number, who was unaffected on Monday but all the rest could then say with confidence, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee." I suppose, such a visitation of children, has not been known in England these hundred years! In so marvellous a manner, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings God has perfected praise!

AN

EXTRACT

OF THE

REV. JOHN WESLEY'S.

JOURNAL,

No. XVII.

FROM SEPTEMBER 13, 1773, TO JANUARY 2,

1776.

MON

ONDAY, Sept. 13, 1773, my cold remaining, I was ill able to speak. In the evening I was much worse, my palate and throat being greatly inflamed: however, I preached as I could. But I could then go no farther. I could swallow neither liquids nor solids, and the windpipe seemed nearly closed. I lay down at my usual time; but the defluxion of rheum was so uninterrupted, that I slept not a minute till nearly three in the morning. On the following nine days I grew better. Friday 17, I went to Kingswood, and found several of the children still alive to God. Saturday 18, I gave them a short exhortation, which tired, but did not hurt me.

Sunday 19, I thought myself able to speak to the congregation, which I did for half an hour: but afterwards I found a pain in my left side and in my shoulder by turns, exactly as I did at Canterbury twenty years before. In the morning I could scarcely lift my hand to my head: but, after being electrified, I was much better; so that I preached with tolerable ease in the evening: and the next evening read the letters, though my voice was weak. From this time

I slowly recovered my voice and my strength, and on Sunday preached without any trouble.

Wednesday 29, After preaching at Pensford, I went to Publow, and in the morning spent a little time with the lovely children. Those of them who were lately affected, did not appear to have lost any thing of what they had received: and some of them were clearly gaining ground, and advancing in the faith which works by love. Sunday, October 3, I took a solemn leave of the society at Bristol, now consisting of eight hundred members.

Monday 4, I went by Shepton Mallet to Shaftsbury, and on Tuesday to Salisbury. Wednesday 6, taking chaise at two in the morning, in the evening I came well to London. The rest of the week I made what enquiry I could into the state of my accounts: some confusion had arisen from the sudden death of my book-keeper; but it was less than might have been expected.

Monday 11, and the following days, I took a little tour through Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire. Between Northampton and Towcester, we met with a great natural curiosity, the largest elm I ever saw it was twenty-eight feet in circumference: six feet more than that which was, some years ago, in Magdalen college walks at Oxford.

Monday 18, I began my little journey through Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. In the way I read over Sir Richard Blackmore's "Prince Arthur." It is not a contemptible poem; although by no means equal to his "Poem on the Creation," in which are many admirably fine strokes.

Monday 25, I went to Shoreham, and spent two days both agreeably and profitably. The work of God, which broke out here two or three years ago, is still continually increasing. I preached near Bromley on Thursday, and on Friday 29 had the satisfaction of dining with an old friend.. I hope she meant all the kindness she professed: if she did not, it was her own loss.

Monday, November 1, I set out for Norfolk, and came to Lynn while the congregation was waiting for me. Here

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