I stand or fall; at his dreadful tribunal I will meet you, and then you shall see what is in the heart of, "Honoured Sir, "Your very humble servant, "Basingstoke, July 20, 1739." About 8 o'clock I went into a field, lent me by Mr H-n; and though one said, I should not go alive out of Basingstoke if I preached there, and another said, the drum should beat just by me, yet I had little or no interruption, and God gave me such great power in speaking against revelling, and those few scoffers that were there, that they were not able to gainsay or resist it. As I came from the field, passing through the church-yard, the boys, headed by some of the baser sort, saluted me as before, called me strange names, which, I trust, was received in the spirit of our dear Master. After this I prayed and sung psalms at the inn with some few disciples and then took my leave.-As I passed by on horseback, I saw a stage built for the cudgellers and wrestlers; and as I rode farther, I met divers coming to the revel, which affected me so much, that I had no rest in my spirit. And therefore having asked counsel of God, and perceiving an unusual power and warmth enter into my soul, though I was gone above a mile from the town, I could not bear to see so many dear souls, for whom Christ died, ready to perish, and no minister or magistrate interpose. Upon this I told my dear fellow-travellers that I was resolved to follow the example of Howel Harris in Wales, and to bear my testimony against such lying vanities, let the consequences, as to my own private person, be what they would. They immediately consenting, I rode back to the town, got upon the stage erected for the wrestlers, and began to show them the error of their ways.— Many seemed ready to hear what I had to say, but one more zealous for his master than the rest, and fearing conviction every time I so much as attempted to speak, set the boys upon repeating their huzzas--my soul, I perceived, was in a sweet frame, willing to be offered up, so that I might save some of those to whom I was about to speak; but all in vain. While I was on the stage, one struck me with his cudgel, which I received with the utmost love; till at last finding the devil would not permit them to give me audience, I got off, and after much thronging and pushing me, I mounted my horse with unspeakable satisfaction within myself, that I had now begun to attack the devil in his strongest holds, and had borne my testimony against the detestable diversions of this generation. Ye masters of Israel, what are you doing? Ye magistrates, that are called gods in Scripture, why sleep you? Why do you bear the sword in vain? Why count you me a troubler of Israel, and why say you I teach people to be idle, when you can connive at, if not subscribe to such hellish meetings as these, which not only draw people from their bodily work, but directly tend to destroy their precious and immortal souls; surely I shall appear against you at the judgment seat of Christ; for these diversions keep people from true christianity as much as paganism itself. And I doubt not, but it will require as much courage and power, to divert people from these things, as the apostles were obliged to exert in converting the heathen from their dumb idols. However, in the strength of my Master, I will now enter the lists, and begin an offensive war with Satan and all his host. If I perish, I perish. I shall have the testimony of a good conscience, I shall be free from the blood of all men. From Basingstoke I intended to go to Windsor, but having not sent to any in that place, and longing for a little retirement, I lay at Stains, and spent some hours in sweet fellowship with my dear fellow-travellers. O, what a blessed thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! LONDON. Saturday, July 21. Set out a little after four in the morning, and reached London by breakfast time.-Set tled my affairs, rejoiced with my dear friends, and preached in the evening to upwards of ten thousand at Kennington-common. The poor souls vere ready to leap for joy at my return amongst them; the word sunk deep into their hearts; great numbers melted into tears, and my own heart overflowed with love towards them. Blessed be God for what has been done here, since I left London, by my honoured friend and fellowlabourer, Mr Charles Wesley. Surely, we can see the fruits of our labours.-All love, all glory be to God, for giving so great an increase! Sunday, July 22. Ever since I was abused at Basingstoke, I have had great communications from God. When men cast us out, then does Jesus Christ chiefly take us up. Who would not be a christian? There is nothing I desire on earth in comparison of that. Received a letter from Mr Ralph Erskine of Scotland. Some may be offended at my corresponding with him, but I dare not but confess my Lord's disciples. Had a pressing invitation to come into Lincolnshire. Blessed be God, the word runs very swiftly. In vain do our adversaries stand against the Most High. Preached at seven in the morning to about twenty thousand at Moorfields. A greater power than ever was amongst us-scoffers and curious persons daily drop off-most that come now, I hope, do not come out of curiosity--never were souls more melted down by the power of God's words-never did people offer their mites more willingly.-I collected twenty-four pounds seventeen shillings for the school-house that is erecting at Kingswood, and all seemed solicitous how to express their affection. Ye scoffers, ye blind pharisees, come and see, and then call these tumultuous, seditious assemblies if you can. Would to God they behaved so decently in any church in London. Went to St Paul's and received the blessed sacrament, and preached in the evening at Kennington-common to about thirty thousand hearers, and collected fifteen pounds fifteen shillings and sixpence for the colliers. God gave me great power, and I never opened my mouth so freely against the letter-learned clergymen of the church of England. Every day do I see the necessity of speaking out more and more. The most learned of our modern rabbies, I find now, by their writings, and by their conferences with me and my friends, either make our sanctification a cause of, whereas it is the effect of, our justification before God; or they entirely interpret away the meaning of all the doctrines of the Spirit, so as to make regeneration consist only in a desire and good disposition to do the will of God, or, in other words, in an outward decency of life, and a morality falsely so called. This is the sum and substance of the generality of our modern doctrine. And therefore, were I to die immediately for speaking, yet I should not die in peace, unless I bore my testimony against them. God knows my heart, I do not speak out of resentment. I heartily wish all the Lord's servants were prophets. I wish the church of England was the joy of the whole earth. But J cannot see her sinking into papistical ignorance, and deism refined, and not open my mouth against those who, by their sensual, lukewarm lives, and unscriptural, superficial doctrines, thus cause her to err. O Lord, send out, we beseech thee, send out thy light and thy truth. Even so come, Lord Jesus, come quickly! Monday, July 23. This day I received the following letter from the quaker at Basingstoke, at whose house I lodged. "My dear friend, "Basingstoke, July 21, 1739. "When I yesterday went up to thy inn, and found thee just gone, I was sorry that I missed an opportunity, both of taking my leave of thee, and expressing the sense I had of the power and presence of God that was with thee, more especially in the latter part of thy sermon, and in thy prayer after it; however, I am truly glad, that thou wert preserved out of the hands of cruel and unreasonable men. Thou heardst of the threatenings of many; but the malice and blind zeal of some went further. For hadst thou went to my friend H-to bed, or elsewhere towards that part of the town, which I believe was expected, there were ten or twelve men lying in wait to do thee a private mischief, which I know by the testimony of one of those very men, who boasted to me, we would have given him a secret blow, and prevented his making disturbances. This conversation came out to me in the warmth of his zeal, as thinking, perhaps, that I could hate, at least, if not destroy (like him) all that were not of my own party. "O thy nobie testimony against the profanen ess and vanity of the age! It rejoiced me not a little. But when thou camest to the necessity, the nature and the rewards of the new birth, the true seed, thou wert carried beyond thyself, the fountain of life was opened, and flowed around amongst the living. I am, for one, a monument of free grace and mercy. O God, how boundless is thy love! He hath not hid his mercies from me. I have often drank of the spiritual rock, and been a witness of the joys of God's salvation. Ay, those joys, that sweet presence of Christ, that carries men above the fear of the world, and enables them to overcome the world; that baptizeth into the spirit and nature of the Son of God, and maketh disciples indeed. It is a sense of God ever-near the influences of his quickening Spirit, that is only able to deter from evil, crucify the old nature, create again to God, and perform his good and acceptable will. This will make a thorough reformation, beginning at the heart, sanctifying that, guarding of it, and making it a holy temple for the Holy Spirit to dwell in, then producing holy thoughts, longings after divine enjoyments, love, joy, solidity, watchfulness, &c. "But, why this to thee? Thou hast drunk deep of divine love; only I know that the good experiences of God's children are often causes of mutual comfort. I have often been sensible of it myself, and therefore not only thus privately, but publicly have I been strengthened to tell to others, that God is good, and that he has done great things for my soul. Ministers not thus qualified, and thus sent, may indeed be ministers of |