larger audience than the last night, and collected twenty-six pounds fifteen shillings and sixpence for the orphan-house. The readiness wherewith the people gave is inexpressible. Indeed I can say they offered willingly. They could not have taken more pains, or expressed more earnestness, had they all been to have received an alms from me A sign this, that the word of God has taken hold of their hearts. I found great sweetness of soul in myself; and being upon the publican and Pharisee, I was very earnest in endeavouring to convince the self-righteous Pharisees of this generation, and offering Jesus Christ freely to all, who, with the humble publican, feelingly and experimentally could cry out, God be merciful to me a sinner.

Saturday, May 12. Agreed to-day for myself, and eleven more, to go on board the Elizabeth, captain Allen, to Pensylvania; where I design, God willing, to preach the gospel in my way to Georgia, and buy provisions for my orphan-house. Lord, send thy angel before me to prepare my way.

Had many come to me this morning, acquainting me what God had done for their souls by my preaching in the fields; and in the evening preached to about twenty thousand people at Kennington as usual, the weather continuing remarkably fair whilst I was delivering my Master's message.-Though I was full of matter, yet I found a restraint upon my spirits, which prevented my speaking with my wonted freedom: however, I offered Jesus Christ to all that could apply him to their hearts by faith. Oh, that all would embrace him! The Lord make them willing in the day of his power.

Sunday, May 13. Preached this morning to a prodigious number of people in Moorfields, and collected for the orphans fifty-two pounds nineteen shillings and Sixpence, above twenty pounds of which was in halfpence. Indeed they almost wearied me in receiving their mites; and they were more than one man could carry home. Thus will God make his power to be known. Went to public worship twice, and preached

in the evening to near sixty thousand people. Many went away because they could not hear; but God enabled me to speak, so that the best part of them could understand me well; and it is very remarkable what a deep silence is preserved whilst I am speaking. After sermon, I made another collection of twenty-nine pounds seventeen shillings and eightpence, and came home deeply humbled with a sense of what God has done for my soul. I doubt not but many self-righteous bigots, when they see me spreading out my hands to offer Jesus Christ freely to all, are ready to cry out, "How glorious did the reverend Mr Whitefield look to-day, when, neglecting the dignity of a clergyman, he stood venting his enthusiastic ravings in a gown and cassock upon a common, and collecting mites from the poor people?" But if this is to be vile, Lord grant that I may be more vile. I know this foolishness of preaching is made instrumental to the conversion and edification of numbers. Ye Pharisees, mock on, I rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

Monday, May 14. Spent most of this day in visiting some friends, and settling my Georgia affairs. Spent the evening very agreeably with several quakers at the house of Mr Hy— -m. How much comfort do those

lose who converse with none but such as are of their own communion!

Tuesday, May 15. Preached this evening at Kennington, and God was pleased to send us a little rain. -But it rejoiced me greatly, for the people, notwithstanding, stood very attentive; and as soon as the rain came, I received uncommon strength from above. The good Lord water us all with the dew of his heavenly blessing.

Wednesday, May 16. Sent a quaker, whom God was pleased to convince, to be baptized by my dear brother Mr Stonehouse. Waited upon the honourable trustees, who still treated me with the utmost civility. -Dined with some more serious quakers, and preached at Kennington, and have reason to bless God more and more for the order and devotion of those that come to

hear the word. Indeed they behave as though they believed God was standing at their right hand.

Thursday, May 17. Preached, after several invitations thither, at Hampstead-heath, about five miles from London. The audience was of the politer sort, and I preached very near the horse-course, which gave me occasion to speak home to their souls concerning our spiritual race. Most were attentive, but some mocked. Thus the word of God is either a savour of life unto life, or of death unto death. God's spirit bloweth when, and where it listeth.

Friday, May 18. Dined with several of the Moravian church, and could not avoid admiring their great simplicity, and deep experience in the inward life. At six, I preached in a very large open place in Shadwell, being much pressed by many to go thither. I believe there were upwards of twenty thousand people. At first, through the greatness of the throng, there was a little hurry; but afterwards, all was hushed and silent. I perceived a divine power come upon me from above. The word, I believe, made its way into their hearts, and very near twenty pounds were collected for the orphan-house. Blessed be God, we now begin to surround this great city. As the walls of Jericho once fell down at the sound of a few rams' horns; so I hope even this foolishness of preaching, under God, will be a means of pulling down the devil's strong holds, which are in and about the city of London.

Received several excellent letters, amongst which, was one from Mr Ralph Erskine, a field preacher of the Scotch church, a noble soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, that all that were truly zealous knew one another! It must greatly strengthen each other's hands.

Saturday, May 19. Had the pleasure of being an instrument, under God, with Mr Seward, of bringing a young man out of Bethlehem, who was lately put into that place for being, as they term it, methodically mad. The way I came to be acquainted with him, was by his sending me the following letter.

"To the reverend Mr Whitefield these, "Dear Sir,

"I have read your sermon upon the new birth, and hope I shall always have a due sense of my dear Redeemer's goodness to me, that has so infinitely extended his mercy to me, which sense be pleased to confirm in me by your prayers; and may Almighty God bless and preserve you, and prosper your ministerial function. wish, sir, I could have some explanatory notes upon the New Testament, to enlighten the darkness of my understanding, to make me capable of becoming a good soldier of Jesus Christ; but, above all, should be glad to see you. I am,

"Dear Sir,

"Yours affectionately, with my whole heart, "Bethlehem Hospital, No. 50." "Joseph Periam.' According to his request I paid him a visit, and found him in perfect_health_both in body and mind. A day or two after, I and Mr Seward went and talked with his sister, who gave me the three following symptoms of his being mad. First, that he fasted for near a fortnight. Secondly, that he prayed so as to be heard four story high. Thirdly, that he had sold his clothes, and given them to the poor. This the young man himself explained to me before; and ingenuously confessed, that under his first awakenings, he was one day reading the story of the young man whom our Lord commanded to sell all, and to give to the poor, and thinking it must be taken in the literal sense, out of love to Jesus Christ he sold his clothes, and gave the money to the poor. This is nothing but what is common to persons at their first setting out in the spiritual life. Satan will, if possible, drive them to extremes. And if such young converts were left to God, or had some experienced person to consult with, they would soon come into the liberties of the gospel. But how should those who have not been tempted like unto their brethren, be able to succour those that are lempted?

May the 5th I received a second letter from him.

"Query 1. If repentance does not include a cessation from sin, and turning to virtue, and though notwithstanding I want that deep contrition mentioned by some divines, yet as I live not wilfully in any known sin, and firmly believe the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, may I not thereby be entitled to the benefits of Christ's death and resurrection, in the perseverance of knowledge, and practice of my duty?

66

Query 2. If I am in prison, whether I may not, without offence to God, make use of endeavours to be discharged, by which I may be enabled to get into a pious christian family, and consequently be grounded and firmly settled in the love of God, it being my desire, for I am surrounded with nothing but profaneness and wickedness?

"Query 3. If my objections to being imprisoned are inconsistent or wicked, which are, that I am obliged to submit to the rules of the house, in going to my cell at seven or eight of the clock at night, and not let out till six or seven in the morning, by which I am debarred the use of candle, and consequently books; so that all that time, except what is spent in prayer and meditation, is lost. Which exercises, though good, are, by so constant repetition, and for want of change, deadened?

66 Query 4. If I should, by the goodness of God, be discharged, whether I may, without offence to the gospel of Jesus Christ, follow the business of an attorneyat-law, to which I was put as a clerk; and by a conscientious discharge of that duty, be thereby entitled to a heavenly inheritance, my fear in this point arising from our Lord's advice about going to law, Matthew

v. 40.

"Query 5. If I cannot be discharged by proper application, (which application pray be pleased to let me have,) how can I best spend my time to the glory of God, myself and brethren's welfare; And please to give me rules for the same.

66

Worthy Sir,

"These questions, whether momentary or not, I