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those who sent them, but ministers of Christ they cannot be.

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May we, my dear friend, though absent in body, be present in spirit in him who is omnipresent. May we unitedly go on in the cause of our common Lord and Master, to promote his honour in winning souls to him! May we bear a faithful and undaunted testimony to him before all men in the midst of a perverse generation. May we not flinch, but declare the truth as it is in Jesus, not daubing nor daring to make the way to the kingdom of God wider than it is. And may we finally be received up into the mansions of glory, there to live with all the righteous generations, with those that have washed their garments white in the blood of the lamb, and with those that have laid down their lives for the testimony of Jesus, and to sing with them, Hallelujahs, glory and praise, for ever and ever. May the ancient of days, the alpha and omega, keep thee in his arms, direct thee by his Spirit, support, comfort, and watch over thee, is the fervent prayer of, my dear friend, thine in great sincerity, J. PORTSMOUTH."

My friend, Mr William Seward, received also a letter from his brother, in which were the following paragraphs :-

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"I had a letter per last post from Mr wherein he speaks of one Mr of Corpus Christi College, whom his uncle, a clergyman, hath entirely discarded, and wrote to the college to expel him for his methodistical notions.

"The old clerk at Breferton, whom I before spoke of, having heard Mr Whitefield at Badsey, was so affected, that he told me, he could have no rest in his spirit; but after searching the church-homilies, articles, &c. and finding the doctrine every way agreeable to them, he met with the landlord of Contercup, who, discoursing about Mr Whitefield, told him, he had some old books, that set forth the very same doctrine. Soon after this he went to work, being a tailor by trade, and asking for one of these books, the others being lent out, he said, he had not read above a page or two, before the

truth broke in upon his soul like lightning. He said he could not go on with his work with any satisfaction, but his fingers itched to be at his book again, which the man lent him home with him; a few days after, he got the other, which so strengthened and confirmed him, that he could lay his life down in defence of the truth as it is in Jesus. He says, the gospel appears to him, as though he had never read a line in it before; and it is a greater miracle to him, that he, an old sinner, with one foot in the grave, should be called at these years, than if he had seen the dead raised. He always, by what I can learn, bore a fair character, and was esteemed by his neighbours, but now threatened with the loss of his bread, for coming to Badsey society, and declaring his testimony to the truth of Mr Whitefield's doctrine, or rather, I should say, the doctrine of the gospel. The books he met with are very old, and, he says, were thrown by as waste paper out of a clergyman's library, that was sold after his death, whereby the Contercup man met with them, and they seemed very providentially reserved for his use."

Persons wonder at me, because I talk of persecution, now the world is become christian; but, alas! was Jesus Christ to come down from heaven at this time, he would be treated as formerly. And whoever goes forth to preach the gospel in his spirit, must expect the same treatment as his first apostles met with. Lord, prepare us for all events!

Preached this evening at Hackney-marsh to about two thousand people. I prayed and discoursed for above two hours, and with greater demonstration of the Spirit than ever. Floods of tears were shed by the hearers, and the doctrine seemed to make its own way into their hearts. Every day have I more and more reason to rejoice in what God has done for my own, and others' souls. Thousands at the great day will have reason to bless God for field-preaching. Then our pharisees will believe. But, Lord, grant the veil may be taken from their hearts, and the scales from their

yes, before that dreadful day! for then convictions will come too late.

Tuesday, July 24. Despatched my private affairs, and preached in the evening at Kennington-common to about fifteen thousand. The doctrine, I believe, distilled like the dew. May the Lord Jesus water their thirsty souls!

Wednesday, July 25. Preached this evening at Edmonton, at the desire of many. The congregation was large and attentive, and I rejoiced in having an opportunity of offering salvation freely to the rich. Oh, that all in high stations were rich towards God!

Thursday, July 26. Preached to upwards of ten thousand at Hackney-marsh, where I appointed purposely to preach, because there was to be a horse-race in the same field. Blessed be God, I had the pleasure of bearing my testimony against such unchristian entertainments. Very few left the sermon to see the race, and some of those returned back again quickly, to whom I took occasion of speaking with something of the love and simplicity of Christ. To him be all the glory. I think this is a manifest proof of the success of our doctrine. By the help of God, I will still go on to attack the devil in his strongest holds. The common people go to these diversions for want of knowing better. If we can once draw them from these, their minds will be better prepared to receive the gospel. Prosper, O Lord, this work of my hands upon me!

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Friday, July 27. Preached at Kennington-common to my usual number of hearers, went to Lewisham, was kindly entertained by Mrs and lay at the both which received me and my friends with joy. Blessed be God for all his mercies. Saturday, July 28. Spent a comfortable hour with my friends in the morning, went to pay a visit to the family of justice De la Motte at Blendon, where we exhorted and built up each other in the knowledge and fear of God. Preached at Blackheath in the evening, and came home rejoicing that I saw great fruits of my ministry. The bills which are sent to me, plainly

prove, that God has worked on numbers of souls.

Α' the judgment day you shall see, O pharisees, what good has been done by this foolishness of preaching. Many, I believe, come to the fields to worship the Father in spirit and in truth. God seeketh such to worship him.

Sunday, July 29. Preached this morning in Moorfields to a much larger congregation than we had last Sunday, and collected twenty-four pounds nine shillings for the school at Kingswood. Received the sacrament at St Paul's, and preached at Kennington-common in the evening, where twenty pounds was collected. God sent us a little rain, but that only washed away the curious hearers. Near thirty thousand stood their ground, and God, I believe, watered them with the dew of his heavenly blessing. A more visible alteration for the better is made in the people daily, a good work is wrought in the hearts of numbers. It would be endless to recount how many come to me under strong convictions of their lost estate. God has begun, God will carry on the good work in their souls; even so, Lord Jesus!

Monday, July 30. Was busied all the morning in directing those to believe in Jesus Christ, who came asking me, what they should do to be saved? Preached at Plaistow, about six miles from London, and an uncommon power was in the congregation. My own heart was much enlarged, and I returned home much rejoiced within myself that the Lord Jesus was pleased still to manifest himself more and more amongst us.

Tuesday, July 31. Preached at Newington near Hackney, to about twenty thousand people, many of whose hearts, as well as my own, were warmed under the word. I preached upon Genesis iii. 15, and I hope the seed of the woman is now bruising the serpent's head to some purpose. Amen, Lord Jesus, Amen!

Wednesday, August 1. Preached this evening at Marylebone-fields at the other end of the town to near thirty thousand, and went afterwards to take my leave of Fetter-lane society. We parted in love, and

I hope the next time we meet, we shall be in or, at least, nearer heaven. Oh, that we may comfort one another with the prospect of this thing.

Thursday, August 2. Preached at Newington to upwards of twenty thousand people, and came home much rejoicing to see what a great work God has done in this city. Thousands, and I believe tens of thousands, come constantly to hear. Scoffers seem afraid to show their heads, being frequently overpowered by God's word. I hope the time is coming which the prophet speaks of, Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish; for I will work a work in your days, which you shall in-nowise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

Friday, August 3. Spent the day in completing my affairs, taking my leave of my dear friends, and preached in the evening to near twenty thousand at Kennington-common. I chose to discourse on St Paul's parting speech to the elders at Ephesus, Acts xx. at which the people were exceedingly affected, and almost prevented my making any application. Many tears were shed, when I talked of leaving them. I concluded all with a suitable hymn, but could scarce get to the coach, for the people's thronging me, to take me by the hand, and give me a parting blessing. And here I cannot but shut up this part of my Journal with a word or two of exhortation to my dear brethren, whosoever they are, whom God shall stir up to go forth into the highways and hedges, into the lanes and streets, to compel poor sinners to come in. You see, my dear brethren, what great things God has already done. It is unknown how many have come to me under strong convictions of their fallen estate, and what numbers of bills I have received from persons seeking Christ, desiring to be awakened to a sense of sin, and giving thanks for the benefits God has imparted to them by my ministry. Letters of invitation have been sent me from different parts of the kingdom. O, my dear brethren, have compassion on our dear Lord's church, which he has purchased with his own blood. Suffer none of them to be as sheep, having no shepherd, or

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