preach them up without either bigotry or party zeal. For I love all that love the Lord Jesus. Sunday, April 22. Being much concerned about Mr K.'s conduct, this morning I wrote him the following letter. Dearest Mr K. Oxon, April 22, 1739. Just now have I received the blessed sacrament, and have been praying for you. Let me exhort you, by the mercies of God in Christ Jesus, not to resign your parsonage till you have consulted your friends at London. It is undoubtedly true, that all is not right when we are afraid to be open to our dear brethren. Satan has desired to sift you as wheat: he is dealing with you as he did with me some years ago, when he kept me in my closet near six weeks, because I could not do any thing with a single intention; so he would have you not preach till you have received the Holy Ghost in the full assurance of it, and that is the way never to have it at all: for God will be found in the use of means, and our Lord sent out his disciples to preach before they had received the Holy Ghost in that most plentiful manner at the day of Pentecost. Besides, consider, my dear brother, what confusion your separating from the church will occasion. The prison doors are already shut, one society stopped, and most afraid almost to converse with us. I can assure you, that my being a minister of the church of England, and preaching its articles, is a means, under God, of drawing so many after me. As for objecting about the habits, &c. good God! I thought we long since knew that the kingdom of God did not consist in any externals, but in righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Oh! my dear brother, I travel in pain for you. Never was I more shocked at any thing than at your proceedings. I doubt not but you will pray to God that you may be kept from delusion at the reading of this: for I am not ignorant of Satan's devices, and I know he never more successfully tempts us than when he turns himself into an angel of light, Oh! my dearest Mr K. do nothing rashly. Consult your friends, and do not break the heart of Your most affectionate, though unworthy brother in Christ, Visited the two societies, at the first of which many gownsmen did me the honour of coming to hear. Before I began, I desired them to behave like gentlemen and christians. I also prayed particularly for them, and applied myself in meekness and love to them at the end of my discourse. I bless God, an awe was impressed upon their minds, and they behaved quietly; but afterwards they followed me to my inn, and came uninvited up into my room. However, I took that opportunity of giving them a second exhortation. I found great freedom and sweetness in my spirit; and though some, no doubt, mocked, yet I believe some will remember what was said. Oh, how is the faithful city become a harlot! Oh, that my head were water, and mine eyes fountains of tears, that I might weep day and night for the members of this university! Lord, send forth thy light, and thy truth, and make them scribes ready instructed to thy heavenly kingdom. Blessed be God for sending me hither. I find now it was his divine will: for our dear brother K. falling into such an error has given such a shock, that unless I had come, in all probability the brethren would have been scattered abroad like sheep having no shepherd. But God, I hope, will always have a remnant here left, which may take root downward, and bear fruit upward. Let all that love the Lord Jesus say amen. Tuesday, April 24. Perceived myself much strengthened yesterday and this morning, and told my friends how these words were impressed upon me, " And more than meet the gathering storm." About nine o'clock, after I had exhorted the brethren, and pretty well established them in the faith, the vice-chancellor came in person to the house where we were assembled, having threatened to do so some time ago, if they continued to build up one another in that manner. He ,, sent for me down stairs, being informed that I was in the house. When I first saw him, I perceived he was in a passion, which he soon expressed in such language as this: "Have you, sir," says he, "a name in any book here?" "Yes, sir," said I; "but I intend to take it out soon." "Yes, and you had best take yourself out too," replied he, " or otherwise I will lay you by the heels. What do you mean," continued he, "by going about, and alienating the people's affections from their proper pastors? Your works are full of vanity and nonsense; you pretend to inspiration. If you ever come again in this manner among these people, I will lay you first by the heels, and these shall follow." Upon this, he turned his back and went away. I desired the brethren to join in prayer for him. Took my leave, being just going to set out as the vicechancellor came in. I soon found by the comforts God gave me, how glorious it was to suffer any thing for the sake of Jesus Christ. However, I must not forget mentioning, that I exhorted all the brethren not to forsake the assembling themselves together, though no pastor should be permitted to come amongst them; for so long as they continued steadfast in the communion of the established church, I told them no power on earth could justify hindering them from continuing in fellowship, as the primitive christians did, in order to build up each other in the knowledge and fear of God. Oh, what advantage has Satan gained over us, by our brother K.'s putting off his gown! However, though he is permitted to bruise our heel, yet we shall, in the end, bruise his head. The gates of hell shall never prevail against the church of Jesus Christ, either visible or invisible. About eight at night, I and my friends reached Uxbridge, where we were greatly refreshed by the coming of several brethren, and the receipt of some letters from Savannah. Blessed be God all is well; and I shall now think the time long till I embark for Georgia. Lord, let that people be precious in thy sight. LONDON. Wednesday, April 25. Reached London with my dear friends about ten in the morning; was received most tenderly by my dear brethren. Received a letter from Gibraltar, giving an account of the success of my labours in that garrison. Expounded to a society of holy women, and afterwards spent about two hours in close conference at Fetter-lane society. Thanks be to God, we talked with great sweetness and christian love, and unanimously declared against the principles of our three brethren, who lately made such confusion in Oxford. There must be heresies amongst you, that they which are approved may be made manifest. Thursday, April 26. Assisted in administering the blessed sacrament at Islington; where the vicar, in conformity to the rubric, takes care to observe the octaves of Easter. After this I expounded to a large · room full of people, and with such power and demonstration of the Spirit, as I never saw before. Surely the hearers' hearts were quite melted down by the preaching of the free grace of God in Christ Jesus to poor sinners. Floods of loving tears flowed from their eyes. In the evening I expounded to a society at St Mary-hill, and then retired to bed, wishing that all felt the comforts God was then pleased to communicate to my soul. Indeed I can say that the Lord is gracious. Friday, April 27. Went this morning to Islington to preach, according to the appointment of my dear brother in Christ, the reverend Mr Stonehouse; but in the midst of the prayers, the church-warden came, demanding me to produce my license, or otherwise he forbade my preaching in that pulpit. I believe I might have insisted upon my right to preach, being in priest's orders, and having the presentation of the living at Savannah, which is in the Bishop of London's diocese, a stronger license than that implicit one by which hundreds of the inferior clergy are by his lordship permitted to preach: however, for peace sake, I declined preaching in the church; but after the communion service was over, I preached in the churchyard, being assured my Master now called me out here, as well as in Bristol. The second lesson was Acts the xxiv. which contained the plausible speech Tertullus made against Paul, a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, which God applied closely to my heart. And he was pleased so to assist me in preaching, and so wonderfully to affect the hearers, that I believe we could have went singing of hymns to prison. Let not the adversaries say I have thrust myself out of their synagogues; no, they have thrust me out. And since the selfrighteous men of this generation count themselves unworthy, I go out into the highways and hedges, and compel harlots, publicans, and sinners to come in, that my Master's house may be filled. They who are sincere will follow after me to hear the word of God. Expounded at night to a very large society in Wapping with great power, and perceived that the London people were much improved since I left them; indeed their hearts seem to be quite broken, and I believe they would pluck out their eyes if it were possible to serve me. Lord, sanctify my coming to them, and grant that they may receive a second benefit. Saturday, April 28. Preached this morning again in Islington churchyard; and, blessed be God, the congregation was near as large again as yesterday, and the word was attended with extraordinary power. The second lesson was very applicable, being Acts xxv. I can say with St Paul, "Neither against the temple, nor against Cæsar have I done any thing," and yet I am put out of their synagogues, and reviled as an evil doer; but the scriptures must be fulfilled, "If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you." About six I expounded to a thronged society of wo. men at Fetter-lane, and at eight on St Mary-hill. The portion of scripture that Providence directed me to, was the nineteenth of Genesis, which was very applicable to what happened. For some wicked men, men of Belial, came, and pressed, and broke down the door; but God was pleased to give me such power at the last, |