Yet I waited, if the Lord should please to let us into the same union we had before. So the Lord hath given it. And in the same I write, desiring it may continue until death. "I wrote before to thee and John Harrison, 'Be not afraid to be found sinners,' hoping you would not separate the law from the spirit, until the flesh was found dead. For I think our hearts are discovered by the law, yea, every tittle, and condemned by the same. Then we are quickened in the spirit. Justice cannot be separated from mercy; neither can they be one greater than the other. Keep the commandments and I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter. Mark that! Thy sins be forgiven thee. Arise, take up thy bed and walk. Here is work before mercy, and mercy before work. So then, through the law by faith our heart is pure. Beware therefore of them, who, while they promise you liberty, are themselves the servants of corruption. O dead faith, that cannot always live pure! Treacherous Judas, that thus betrayest thy master! "Let the law arraign you, till Jesus Christ bring forth judgment in your hearts unto victory. Yea, let your hearts be open wide, receiving both, that the one may confirm the other. So thou livest so much in the Son's righteousness, that the law saith, I have nought against thee. This is faith, that thus conquers the old man, in putting him off, and putting on Christ. Purify your hearts by faith: so shall the temple of God be holy and the altar therein, that spiritual sacrifices may be offered, acceptable to the Lord. Now if any man be otherwise minded let him be ashamed. For if there live any of our self in us, that one branch of nature, that one member, shall cause the whole man to burn everlastingly. Let as many as know not this perfection, which is by Jesus Christ, press forward by faith till they come to the experimental knowledge of it. "But how many souls have I seen washed, and turned again to the wallowing in their sins. O that Lamb! How is he put to an open shame again, who had once reconciled them to the Father! "Now I would write a little of the travail of my own soul. I thought myself right long since; but when the light of life came, I saw myself ready to die in my sins. I had faith; but I had it by knowledge and not in power. Yet by this faith I had great liberty.Nevertheless this faith kept my heart corrupt, and the whole man of sin alive. My way of proceeding was thus. Sometimes I was overtaken in a fault, and so was put to a stand a little; but as soon as I could, I would wipe myself by knowledge, saying, Christ died for sinners.' I was right so far and no farther. He died for sinners; but not to save him that continues in his sins. For whomsoever he cleanses, they are clean indeed: first sinners, then saints, and so they remain. By and by I was overtaken again: and the oftener I was overtaken the stronger I thought myself in the Lord. Yea, for my 'corruptions' sake I was forced to get more knowledge, or else I should have been condemned. So I arrived at such a pitch of knowledge, (i. e. of notional faith) that I could crucify Christ with one hand, and take pardon with the other; so that I was always happy... Here was the mystery of iniquity, conceived in my heart. For it led me to this; if I were to take of any man's goods, I would say or think, "I am a sinner of myself; but Christ died for me: so his righteousness is mine.' And farther, I could not see, but if I were to kill a man, yet I should be pure. So great a friend to sin and the devil was I, that I would have made sin and the devil to become the righteousness of God in Christ: yea, that I began to love him whom the Lord hath reserved for everlasting fire. "So I held Christ without, and the devil within. This is a mystery, that I should feel myself safe and pure, and yet the devil to be in me. Judge who gave me this purity, and taught me to be thus perfect in Christ! But ere long that began to break forth in action, which I had conceived in my heart. But it was the Lord's will I should not go far, before I was again brought under the law. Then ←→ did I stand stripped and naked of that Knowledge. I wish all who are so deceived as I was, were brought under the law, that they might learn what it it is to come to Jesus Christ. And I wish them not to pass from under the law, until they clearly see the end of the law come into their hearts. "The law, being mixed with faith, makes it quick and powerful. For as the law will not leave one hair of our heads uncondemned, so faith will not leave one unreconciled. And blessed is he who lives 4 in the same reconciliation, and turns not as a dog to his vomit. Then shall he be called the child of God, which cannot sin, because his seed remaineth in him. “Thou writest, 'Jesus makes it manifest to thee, that thou art a great sinner.' That is well; and if more, it would be better for thee. Again thou sayest, 'Since thou first receivedest a full and free pardon for all thy sins, thou hadst received so many fresh pardons, that they are quite out of count.' And this thou sayest, is spoken to thy own shame and thy Saviour's praise.' Come, my brother, let us both be more ashamed. Let us see where we are, and what we are doing to the Lamb. We are not glorifying him: (let us not mistake ourselves thus) we are crucifying him afresh. We are putting him to an open shame, and bringing swift damnation on our own heads. "Again thou sayest, Though thy sins be great and many, yet thy Saviour's grace is greater,' Thou sayest right: or else, how should we have been cleansed? But his great cleansing power does not design that we should become foul again; lest he call us away in our uncleanness, and we perish for ever. For it will not profit us, that we were once cleansed, if we be found in uncleanness. "Take heed to thyself, that the knowledge that is in thee deceive thee not. For thou writest so to my experience, that I can tell thee as plain how thou art, or plainer, than thou canst thyself. Thou sayest, After thou hast done something amiss, thou needest not to be unhappy one moment, if thou wilt but go to thy Saviour. Is not this the very state I have mentioned? O that that knowledge were cast out! So shouldest thou always do the things that please the Father. O my dear brother, how art thou bewitched by the deceiver of thy soul! Thou art a stranger to the Saviour, who is gone to heaven, to give repentance to his people and remission of sins. I am afraid, the devil is thy saviour: more of him is manifest in thee, than of Christ. He tells thee, Thou art pure and washed: but he cozens thee. Yea, his deceitfulness cries out for vengeance. Yet he would be a Christ or a God. "Thou sayest, thou hast need of remission of sins every day.' Yes, so thou hast: and more. Thou hast need every moment; so shouldest thou be clean; for this every moment should be eternity to thy soul. Thou thankest God that He hath provided such an highpriest for thee.' Let him be thine; so shalt thou be ruled by him every moment. What? Is he such a Saviour as can cleanse us from sin, and not keep us in the same? Judge where thou art. Thou and I, and many more, were once made pure. And we were pure while we believed the same, and were kept by the Father for his own name's sake. But how long did we thus believe? Let every man judge himself? "Now, my brother, answer for thyself. Dost thou believe, that thou must always have this thy heart which is corrupted through and through with sin? I say, dost thou believe thy heart must be thus impure? If thou dost, the same doctrine must be preached to thee which was at first, Ye must receive the Holy Ghost:' that is, thou must be brought to the first remission, and there thou wilt see Jesus laid slain in thy heart. This thy first purity I will acknowledge, and none else. I believe the foundation of life was once in thee. But many, together with thee, have fallen away. Thou hearest how I acknowledge' thee, and where, and no where else. And herein I have communion with thee in my spirit, and hope it will continue to the end." And is poor Samuel Meggot himself, now fallen into the very same snare, against which he so earnestly warned his friend? Lord, what is man! Sunday 9, I preached in Charles'-Square, to the largest congrega tion I have ever seen there. Many of the baser people would fain have interrupted. But they found after a time, it was lost labour. One who was more serious, was (as she afterwards confessed) exceeding angry at them. But she was quickly rebuked, by a stone which lit upon her head, and struck her down to the ground. In that moment her anger was at an end, and love only filled her heart. Wednesday 12, I waited on the Archbishop of Canterbury with Mr. Whitefield, and again on Friday: as also on the Bishop of London. I trust if we should be called to appear before princes, we should not be ashamed. Monday 17, I had designed this morning to set out for Bristol; but was unexpectedly prevented. In the afternoon I received a letter from Leicestershire, pressing me to come without delay, and pay the last office of friendship to one whose soul was on the wing for eternity. On Thursday, 20, I set out. The next afternoon, I stopped a little at Newport-Pagnell, and then rode on until I overtook a serious man, with whom I immediately fell into conversation. He presently gave me to know, what his opinions were; therefore I said nothing to contradict him. But that did not content him. He was quite uneasy to know, "Whether I held the doctrine of the de- Improvisum aspris veluti qui sentibus anguem he would gladly have run away outright. But being the better Miss Cowper was just alive. But as soon as we came in, her spirit greatly revived. For three days we rejoiced in the grace of God, whereby she was filled with a hope full of immortality; with meekness, gentleness, patience, and humble love, knowing in whom she had believed. Tuesday 25, I set out early in the morning with John Taylor (since settled in London) and Wednesday 26, at eight or nine o'clock, reached Birstal, six miles beyond Wakefield. John Nelson had written to me some time before: but at that time I had little thought of seeing him. Hearing he was at home, I sent for him to our inn: whence he immediately carried me to his house; and gave me an account of the strange manner wherein he had been led on, from the time of our parting at London. He had full business there and large wages; but from the time of his finding peace with God, it was continually upon his mind, That he must return (though he knew not why) to his native place. He did so, about Christmas, in the year 1740. His relations and acquaintance soon began to inquire, "What he thought of this new faith?" And whether he believed, There was any such thing as a man's knowing that his sins were forgiven? John told them point blank, That, "This new faith as they called it, was the old faith of the Gos- 4pel, and that he himself was as sure his sins were forgiven, as he could be of the shining of the sun." This was soon noised abroad: more and more came to inquire, concerning these strange things. Some put him upon the proof of the great truths, which such inquiries naturally led him to mention. And thus he was brought unawares to quote, explain, compare, and enforce several parts of Scripture. This he did at first, sitting in his house, until the company increased, so that the house could not contain them. Then he stood at the door, which he was commonly obliged to do, in the evening, as soon as he came from work. God immediately set his seal to what was spoken: and several believed, and therefore declared, That God was merciful also to their unrighteousness, and had forgiven all their sins. Mr. Ingham hearing of this, came to Birstal, inquired into the facts, talked with John himself, and examined him in the closest manner, both touching his knowledge and spiritual experience. After which he encouraged him to proceed, and pressed him as often as he had opportunity, to come to any of the places where himself had been, and speak to the people as God should enable him. But he soon gave offence, both by his plainness of speeeh, and advising people to go to church and sacrament. Mr. Ingham reproved him; but finding him incorrigible, forbade any that were in his societies to hear him. But being persuaded, this is the will of God concerning him, he continues to this hour working in the day, that he may be burthensome to no man, and in the evening testifying the truth as it is in Jesus.. : I preached at noon, on the top of Birstal-hill, to several hundreds of plain people and spent the afternoon, in talking severally with those, who had tasted of the grace of God. All of these, I found had been vehemently pressed, "Not to run about to church and sacrament,' and to "keep their religion to themselves; to be still; not to talk about what they had experienced." At eight I preached on the side of Dewsbury-moor, about two miles from Birstal, and earnestly exhorted all who believed, To wait upon God in his own ways, and to let their light shine before men. Thursday 27, We left Birstal, and on Friday 28, came to Newcastle upon-Tyne. I read with great expectation, yesterday and to-day, Xenophon's Memorable Things of Socrates. I was uttterly amazed at his want of judgment. How many of these things would Plato never have mentioned! but it may be well, that we see the shades too of the brightest picture in all heathen antiquity. We came to Newcastle about six, and after a short refreshment, walked into the town. I was surprised: so much drunkenness, cursing, and swearing (even from the mouths of little children) do I never remember to have seen and heard before, in so small a compass of time. Surely this place is ripe for him, who came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. Saturday 29, I was informed, that "One Mr. Hall had been there about a year before, and had preached several times;" but I could not learn, that there was the least fruit of his labour. Nor could I find any that desired to hear him again, nor any that appeared to care for such matters. Sunday 30, At seven I walked down to Sandgate, the poorest and most contemptible part of the town, and standing at the end of the street with John Taylor, began to sing the hundredth psalm. Three or four people came out to see what was the matter, who soon encreased to four or five hundred. I suppose, there might be twelve or fifteen hundred before I had done preaching: to whom I applied those solemn words, He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our inquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed. Observing the people when I had done, to stand gaping and staring upon me, with the most profound astonishment, I told them, "If |