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our Land: And fuch a Work (if we furvey in one View the Extent of it, the Swiftnefs with which it has spread, the Depth of that Religion which was fo fwiftly diffufed, and its Purity from all corrupt Mixtures,) as it must be acknowledged, cannot eafily be parallel'd, in all these concurrent Circumftances, by any thing that is found in the English Annals fince Christianity was first planted in this Island.

I. 1. And yet thofe who can difcern the Face of the Sky, cannot difcern the Signs of the Times. Yet those who are esteemed wife Men do not know, that GoD is now reviving his Work upon Earth. Indeed concerning fome of thefe the Reason is plain; they know not, because they think not of it. Their Thoughts are otherwife employ'd; their Minds are taken up with things of quite a different Nature. Or perhaps, they may think of it a little now and then, when they have nothing elfe to do; but not feriously or deeply; not with any Clofenefs or Attention of Thought. They are too much in Hafte to weigh the Facts whereof we speak, and to draw the just Inferences therefrom: Nor is the Conviction which they may fometimes feel fuffered to fink into their Hearts; but things that have a larger Share in their Affections foon deftroy the very Traces of it.

2. True it is, that there are fome who think more deeply, who are accustomed to confider things from the Foundation, and to lay Circumftances together, that they may judge of nothing before they have full Evidence: And yet even fome of thefe appear to be in doubt, concerning the prefent Work.. Now, fuppofing it to be a Work of GOD, how can this be accounted for? That they who fo diligently inquire concerning it, do not know the Time of their Vifitation? Perhaps becaufe of the deeply rooted Prejudice which they brought with them to the Enquiry; and which still hanging on their Minds, makes it fcarce poffible for them to form an impartial Judgment. Perhaps even a flight Prepoffeffion might occafion their tumbling on fome of thofe Rocks of Offence, which

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by the wife Permiffion of GoD, always did and always will attend any Revival of his Work. Nay, it may be, their very Caution was carried to Excefs. They would not judge, before they had fuch Evidence as the Nature of the thing would not admit, or at least GOD did not fee fit to give.

3. All this is very easy to conceive. But it may at first appear furprizing, to find Men of Renow, Men fuppofed to be endow'd with Knowledge, and with Abilities of every Kind, flatly, openly; peremptorily denying, that there has been any unusual Work of God at all! Yea, a late eminent Writer goes farther yet, accounts it an Inftance of downright Enthusiasm, to imagine, that there is any extraordinary Work now wrought upon the Earth

It avails not to fay, No, he does not deny this, "but he denies it to be the Work of GoD". This is palpably trifling: For the Work under Confideration is of fuch a Nature (namely, the Converfion of Men from all Manner of Sin, to Holinels of Heart and Life) that if it be at any Time wrought at all, it must be the Work of GoD Seeing it is GoD alone, and not any Child of Man, who is able to destroy the Works of the Devil.

Yet neither is this difficult to be accounted for, if we confider things more clofely: For the fame Prejudice which keeps fome in doubt, may eafily be con ceived fo to influence others, as to make them wholly deny the Work of God. And this it may do in feveral Ways: It may either bring them to question the Facts related, and hinder their endeavouring to be more fully informed; or prevent their drawing fuch Inferences from thofe Facts, as they would otherwise fee to be plain and undeniable. Yea, and it will give ten-fold Weight to the Offences which must come, fo as to over-ballance all Evidence whatfo

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4. This alfo may account for the Behaviour of thofe, who not content to fufpend their Judgment, or to deny the Work of God, go farther ftill, even to the * Obfervations, Part. III.

Length of contradicting and blafpheming. Nay, fome of thefe have expreffed a deeper Abhorrence, and fhewn a ftronger Enmity against this, than they were ever known to do against Popery, Infidelity, or any Herely whatsoever. Some have perfecuted the Inftruments whom it pleafed GOD to use herein, only not to the Death: And others have treated in the fame Manner, all those whom they termed their Fol-lowers. A few Inftances of this it may be proper to mention, out of very many which might be recited.

5. On the 20th of June 1743, a great Multitude of People gathered together, chiefly from Walfal, Darlefton and Bilton, in Wednesbury Church-yárd, Staffordshire. They went from thence (after by founding a Horn they had gathered their whole Company together) to Mr. Eaton's Houfe, in the Middle of the Town, who was at that Time Conftable. He went to the Door with his Conftable's Staff, and began reading the Act of Parliament against Riots; but the Stones flew fo thick about his Head, that he was forced to leave off reading and retire. They broke all his Windows, the Door of his Houfe, and a large Clock in Pieces. They went then to above four fcore other Houfes, in many of which there were not three Panes of Glafs left.

6. About Whitfuntide, 1743. a Mob arose at Darleston, (near Wensbury) and broke all the Windows, (befide Spoiling many of their Goods) of Joshua Constable, John Cotterell, Thomas Butler, Thomas Wilkinson, Aaron Lungmore, William Powell, Ann Evans, Walter Carter, Samuel Carter, and Thomas Wilks.

Edward Martin, Ann Low, Joan Fletcher, Edward Horton, Mumford Wilks, Jof. Yardly and Robert Deacon had all their Windows broke twice.

James Fofter, Widow Hires, and Jonathan Jones had their Windows broke, and Money extorted to fave their Houses.

John Fofter and Joice Wood had their Windows broke, and their Goods broken and fpoil'd.

Jof. Spittle had his Windows broke, his House broke open, fome Goods spoil'd, and fome taken away.

William

William Woods had his Windows broke twice, and was himself compelled to go along with the Rabble.

Elizabeth Lingham, a Widow with five Children, had her Goods poiled, her Spinning-Wheel (the Support of her Family) broke: And her Parish Allowance reduced from 2 s. and 6 d. to 1 s. and 6 d. a Week.

Valentine Amberley had his Windows broke twice; his Wife, big with Child, beaten with Clubs.

George Wynn had his Windows and Goods broke, and to fave his House, was forced to give them drink.

Thomas Day had his Windows and Goods broke, and was forced to remove from the Town.

Jofeph Stubs had his Windows broke twice, and his Wife fo frighted that she mifcarried.

7 On June 20. 1743. John Baker, at the Head of a large Mob, came to the Houfe of Jonas Turner, at Weft-Bramwick, near Wensbury, and asked him, "Whether he wou'd keep from thefe Men that went preaching about, and go to the Church?" He answered, I do go to the Church. But I never fee any of you there. Prefently one Daniel Oniens with a great Club, broke great Part of the Window at one Blow. Others laid hold of him and dragg'd him about Sixty Yards, before he cou'd get loufe from them. Afterwards they broke all his Windows, and threw into the House abundance of Stones, to break his Goods.

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About in the Afternoon, they came to the House of Widow Turner, of Weft Bramwick. They threw in Stones and Bricks fo faft, that fhe was forced to open the Door and run cut among them. One of her Daughters cried out, My Mother will be killed !" On which they fell to throwing Stones at her. She ran into a Neighbour's Houfe; but before the cou'd fhut the Door, they broke the Bottom off with a Brick End. They followed her other Daugher with Stones, and one with a great Stake. She ran into another House, much frighted, expecting to be murder'd. The Widow asked, "How can you come and abuse us thus ?" On which one came with a large Club, and fwore," If the fpoke another Word, he wou'd knock her on the Head, and bury her in the Ditch." Then he went and broke

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all the Glafs that was left. The fame they did to many of the neighbouring Houses.

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8. On the 19th of June, James Yeoman of Walfal, faw Mary Bird in her Father's Houfe at Wensbury, and swore, By G➡ you are there now: But we will kill you To-morrow.” Accordingly he came with a Mob the next Day; and after they had broke all the Windows, he took up a Stone and faid, Now, by G-I will kill you." He threw it, and truck her on the Side of the Head. The Blood gushed out and the dropt down immediately.

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The fame Day, they came to John Turner's Houfe, And after they had broke all the Windows, Cafements and Cieling, one of them cried out, "I fuppofe now 66 you will go to your dear Jefus's Wounds, and fee them opened for you."

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Another of them took Mr. Hands of Wensbury by the Throat, fwore he wou'd be the Death of him, gave him a great Swing round, and threw him upon the Ground. As foon as he arofe, one Equal Baker, gave him a Blow on the Eye and knock'd him down again. In about half an Hour, the Mob came to his Houfe, and broke all the Windows, except about twenty Panes. The Kitchen Windows they clear'd, Lead, Bars and all, broke the Window-Pofts and threw them into the Houfe. The Shop was fhut up (he being an Apothecary) But they quickly broke it open, broke all the Pots and Bottles in Pieces, and deftroy'd all his Medicines. They broke alfo the Shelves and Drawers in the Shop to Pieces, and many of his Houfhold Goods.

In the latter End of June, John Griffiths of Wenf bury, and Francis Ward went to Mr. D. Juftice of the Peace. They told him the Condition they and their Neighbours were in, their Houfes broken, and their Goods fpoiled. He replied, "I fuppose you fol"low thefe Parfons that come about. I will nei"ther meddle nor make."

9. On January 13, 1743-4, the Mob rose again at Darleston, broke all the Windows of all who followed this Way (except two or three who bought themselves off) broke open feveral Houses, and took

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