Now Mr W. gave Mr Cooper no leave to print his journal, nor to any person from whom Mr Cooper received it. He sent the journal to me to be communicated privately to his friends; but not to be made public without the advice and correction of certain persons particularly known to me, of whose judgment he has a better opinion than of his own. But neither have those friends of Mr W. approved the publishing of this journal by Mr Cooper, nor given him any copy prepared for the press.

This I think sufficiently justifies my calling his, surreptitious.

Mr Cooper likewise knows Mr W. has published (in advertisements with his name affixed) that, for the future, every thing wrote by him should be published by me only, and no other. Had, therefore, Mr Cooper paid a due regard to justice and his neighbour's property, he would have asked the person who offered the copy for sale this question, very often asked by honest tradesmen: How he came by it? What right he had to

dispose of it? A little inquiry would have satisfied him that the person, whoever he was, could give him no just warrant to print it.

By not making this inquiry, Mr Cooper has been guilty of a great oversight, to say no worse of it. And it is to be hoped, that no persons of honour or worth, whether Mr W.'s friends or others, will buy any of these surreptitious copies, and encourage practices so utterly inconsistent with fair trading.

Temple-bar,

August 18, 1738.

JAMES HUTTON.

MR WHITEFIELD'S JOURNAL.

PART I.

FROM LONDON TO GIBRALTAR.

My dear friends,

ACCORDI

ACCORDING to your request, I have herewith sent you an account of what God has done for my soul since I left England. The sole motive (if my heart doth not deceive me) which induced me to leave my native country was a full conviction that it was the Divine Will I should. What reasons I can urge for this persuasion, is needless to mention, because few in this case would judge impartially; and what seems a reason to me may not be deemed so by another. Let it suffice to inform you, that after earnest prayer for a year and a half, that if the design was not of God, it might come to naught, though strongly solicited to act in a contrary manner, I found myself as eagerly bent on going abroad as ever.

Accordingly, Wednesday, December 28, 1737, after having continued instant in prayer with my friends at Mr J. H.'s, and afterwards receiving the holy sacrament at St Dunstan's, being recommended to the grace of God by a great number of weeping Christian brethren at the rev Mr H.'s, I set out at night for Deptford in a coach, accompanied by four friends, and got there at ten. Here a widow wcman gladly received

C

us in her house; and many of my friends gave me the meeting, who came on foot from London, with intent to accompany me to the ship, and with them I took a little bodily refreshment; spent two or three hours in particular intercession for our friends and enemies, and all mankind; sung psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, and then betook ourselves to rest, and the Lord made us to dwell in safety. Oh! who can express the unspeakable joy of religious friends?

Thursday, December 29. Rose early in the morning, and continued instant in intercession, chanting and singing of psalms with my friends till nine, at which our hearts were much rejoiced. After this we went in quest of our ship, but finding she was fallen down to Purfleet, and was not to remove to Gravesend for some time, we returned to Deptford praising God, and praying for a blessing on our intended voyage. The Lord perform all our petitions!

Being returned to Deptford with my friends, we dined comfortably together, joined in a psalm, read the lessons for the day, and concluded with prayer. Some were then obliged to depart for London. After they were gone, I continued with the rest in particular intercession for near two hours, and then God was pleased to comfort my heart. If parting from a few earthly friends for a season be so grievous, how will the wicked bear to be parted from God and good men for all eternity?

It happened providentially that a lecture was to be preached that evening at Deptford, and several importuned me to preach it. At first I was fearful (O me of little faith) having no notes. But afterwards (having got the consent of the minister) I went up, depending on the promise, “Lo! I am with you always even unto the end of the world;" and was enabled to preach to a large congregation without the least hesitation. Did any one yet ever trust in the Lord and was forsaken? What gave me a great comfort, and made me more thankful was, that the opportunity, I believe, was granted in answer to prayer.

Friday, December 30. Went with our baggage and nine or ten friends in a Gravesend boat to Purfleet, where the Whitaker was fallen down. Spent the time we were on the water in singing psalms, and particular intercession; and came on board about ten in the morning.

I spoke some few things to my new charge, spent the remainder of the day on shore with my friends, in singing psalms, prayer, and exhorting one another to love and good works: returned at night to our ship, and lay with my friend H. upon the ground on a mattress, in the great cabin. And God was pleased to give me a proof that he was with me in the ship.

Saturday, December 31. Began this morning to have public prayers on open deck, at which the officer and soldiers attended with decency and reverence. After prayer I enlarged a little on those words of St. Paul, "I am determined to know nothing among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified," told them how my future conduct would be; made some professions of my hearty love and sincere affection for their souls, and then dismissed them, I believe somewhat moved. Oh, that I may have grace to act suitably to this profession!

To-day also I began to visit the sick, and took that opportunity of discoursing on the uncertainty of life, and the certainty of a future judgment, to those around me; and God was pleased not to let my words fall to the ground.

About twelve, I went and paid my friends a visit, who were on shore, and spent two or three delightful hours in praising and blessing God.

Soon came another friend with two honest men from Gravesend, desiring me in the name of the minister to come and preach to them on the following Lord's day At first I was unwilling to leave my own flock in the ship, but my friends' reasonings overbalanced mine, and I went on board, read public prayers, visited the sick, gave the soldiers an exhortation, (at which the soldiers were surprisingly affected;) and then took the boat