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In the afternoon, about four of the clock, I preached again to the people without any scoffing or disturbance. And at six in the evening, I talked for above an hour and a half, and prayed with the religious society, whose room was quite thronged. Indeed God was with us of a truth. I think I never spoke with greater freedom and power, and never saw a congregation more melted down. The love of Jesus Christ touched them to the quick; most of them were dissolved into tears, and seemed to have their hearts perfectly knit towards me. Afterwards, they came to me weeping, bidding me farewell, and wishing I was to continue with them longer. Indeed their love and undissembled simplicity affected me much. My bowels yearned towards them; I wrestled with God in prayer for them, and blessed his holy name for sending me into Wales. I hope these are the first fruits of a greater harvest, if ever it should please God to bring me back from Georgia. Father, thy will be done.

hear me.

NEWPORT IN WALES. Friday, March 9. Left Cardiff about six in the morning, and reached Newport about ten, where many came from Pontypool, and other parts, on purpose to The minister being asked, and readily granting us the pulpit, I preached with great power to about a thousand people; and then, with my brother Howel Harris, Seward, &c. we went rejoicing, and blessing God for opening an effectual door by the way. I think Wales is excellently well prepared for the gospel of Christ. They have many burning and shining lights both among the dissenting and church ministers, amongst whom Mr Griffith Jones shines in particular. No less than fifty charity schools have been erected by his means, without any settled visible fund, and fresh ones are setting up every day. People make nothing of coming twenty miles to hear a sermon, and great numbers there are who have not only been hearers, but doers also of the word; so that there is a most comfortable prospect of the spreading of the gospel in Wales. I really believe there are some now living,

which shall not taste of death till they see the kingdom of God come with power.

BRISTOL.

Saturday, March 10. Got safe to Bristol with my dear fellow travellers about eleven at night. Preached in the morning at Newgate, and in the afternoon on the poor-house steps. The hearers were much affected, and melted into tears.

Sunday, March 11. Had a whole room full of people come to hear me at six in the morning, with whom I prayed and sung psalms for near an hour. Then I read prayers, and preached at Newgate. Afterwards went to Hannam mount, where was near a third part as many again as last Sunday; and at four in the after noon, preached as usual, on the mount at Rose-green. The congregation was not quite so large as before, on account of the coldness of the weather; but God was pleased to withhold the rain and hail whilst I was speaking, and we collected ten pounds for the orphanhouse. Blessed be God, my strength increases. Satan has been very quiet this week past, and God has poured much comfort into my soul; so that I must prepare for fresh trials. O my dear Redeemer, grant that I may put on the whole armour of God, that I may withstand all the fiery darts of the devil.

BATH.

Monday, March 12. Went, in company with seven more dear friends, to Bath, and had the comfort of meeting with some true followers of Jesus Christ, whom I knew not before. Received news of the wonderful progress of the gospel in Yorkshire, under the ministry of my dear brother Ingham. Had the pleasure of hearing that the mayor and the sheriffs of Bristol had absolutely forbid the keeper of Newgate letting me preach there any longer, because I insisted upon the necessity of our new birth. The keeper was much concerned, and told them, I preached agreeable to scripture; but they were offended at him. "They answered and said unto him, thou art altogether burn in sin, and dost thou teach us?" John ix. 34.

Finding many in Bath were desirous to hear me, having given a short notice, about five in the evening I preached out on the town common, to a much larger audience than could reasonably be expected. It snowed good part of the time; but the people staid very contentedly. Indeed some said, as I heard afterwards, that I spoke blasphemy; but the people of God were much rejoiced; and some, I hope, effectually wrought upon. Praised be God for opening such an effectual door here. Many adversaries must be expected in so polite a place as Bath. But God is with me, and I fear neither men nor devils.

After sermon, I returned to our inn, and spent the remainder of the evening in sweet conversation with a great number of experienced christians. My heart was much enlarged in prayer; and I can say, the love of God was shed abroad abundantly therein. ever adored be the riches of his free mercy.

For

Tuesday, March 13. Preached again at the Fishponds with great power, and observed all to behave exceeding orderly.

Had extraordinary power given me at the society in Nicholas-street, and exhorted them with all possible earnestness, not to let bigotry, or party zeal, be so much as mentioned among them. For I despair of seeing Christ's kingdom come, till we are all thus minded.

Wednesday, March 14. Being forbid preaching in the prison, and, withal, being resolved not to give place to my adversaries, no not for an hour, I preached at Baptist Mills, a place very near the city, to three or four thousand people, from these words, "What think you of Christ?" Blessed be God, all things happen for the furtherance of the gospel. I now preach to ten times more people than I should, if I had been confined to the churches. Surely the devil is blind, and so are his emissaries, or otherwise they would not thus confound themselves. Every day I am invited to fresh places. I will, by the divine assistance, go to as many as I can; the rest I must leave unvisited, till shall please God to b-ing me back from Georgia.

Thursday, March 15. It snowing all day, I could not go to Sison to preach, as I proposed, but spent the day in religious discourse, writing letters, and expounding; in which God was pleased to give me unspeakable comfort. Received a strong invitation to come to Cardiff once more, and to preach at Landaff; but business will not permit. Blessed be God, that people are ready to hear his word. Surely the Lord will fulfil the desires of them that fear him.

Friday, March 16. Being much entreated by the people, and horses being sent for me, I went and preached at Elberton, a village about nine miles off Bristol. The clergyman denied me the pulpit; so I preached on a little ascent on which the maypole was fixed. The weather being cold, and the adjacent villages having but little notice, I had not above two hundred hearers. But after dinner, I hasted to ThornDury, where I was invited also, and preached with uncommon power to a great part of my morning congregation, and many hundreds besides. Mr Willis, the incumbent, lent me the church, and used me with great civility, as did two other clergymen who were there -present. The people were very desirous to have me stay; but I had promised to lie at Wintenburn, at a -quaker's house, where three more of their friends met us, and with whom we had agreeable conversation. But I cannot say their arguments for omitting the outward signs of baptism, and the Lord's supper, and for having no outward call to the ministry, were at all convincing however, they wished me good luck in the name of the Lord, and we parted from each other very lovingly. God grant I may be always of a catholic spirit.

BRISTOL.

Saturday, March 17. Returned to Bristol about -eight in the morning, and had the pleasure of hearing that Mr Mayor, &c. had engaged a clergyman to preach to the poor prisoners at Newgate, rather than to agree "Some to a petition they had presented to have me. preach Christ out of contention, supposing to add

VOL. VI.

affliction to my bonds, and others of good will: however, Christ is preached, and I therein rejoice, yea, and will rejoice."

Had the honour of seeing another letter, intended against me, put in print; and God rewarded me for it, by giving me such extraordinary power at the poorhouse this afternoon, that great numbers were quite melted, and dissolved into tears. The enemies of God's church undesignedly do God's work. I never am so much assisted, as when persons endeavour to blacken me; and I find the number of my hearers so increase by opposition, as well as my own inward peace, and love, and joy, that I only fear a calmı. But the enmity that is in the heart of every natural man against God, will not suffer them to be quiet long. I only say, I would send my adversaries to school to Gamaliel. "If this work be not of God," says he, "it will come to naught; but if it be, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found to fight against God."

Sunday, March 18. Had the pleasure of seeing my morning audience so much increased, that above a hundred were obliged to stand without in the street. Was taken ill for about two hours; but notwithstanding, was enabled to go and preach at Hannam to many more than were there last Sunday. And in the afternoon, I really believe no less than twenty thousand were present at Rose-green. Blessed are the eyes which see the things which we see. Surely God is with us of a truth. To behold such crowds stand about us in such an awful silence, and to hear the echo of their singing run from one end of them to the other, is very solemn and surprising. My discourse continued for near an hour and a half; and at both places, above fourteen pounds were collected for the orphan-house; and it pleased me to see with what cheerfulness the colliers and poor people threw in their mites. Contrary to my expectation, having a cold upon me, God enabled me afterwards to expound for above an hour to a crowded society, with great freedom and plainness of speech; and I came home full of peace and joy in

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