very familiar to me.

However, I aimed at doing good, and when any of the Preachers were fick, or had any where elfe to go, I readily fupplied their place; and I have reason to believe my labour was not in vain.

The fummer being arrived, and Mr. Wesley coming into the country, I met him at Birftal. He received me with that affability and condefcenfion which he is fo remarkable for. I heard him preach in feveral places; but I cannot say that I could cordially receive the doctrine of perfection. As the Conference was drawing near, he advised me to attend it at London. I intimated a defire of spending a year in that place, that I might be fully instructed both in the doctrines and difcipline of the Methodists. Accordingly I difpofed of fome finall effects which I had, and fet out on foot. When I came, I expected to have undergone a close examination, with regard to my principles, experience and ability; and therefore as I did not in every thing agree with Mr. Wefley, it was a doubt with me whether I fhould not be rejected. But to my furprize, I was not asked one queftion relative to any of these things; but was appointed for Wales, and was the only travelling Preacher of our connexion in those parts. This I have fometimes thought, was not prudently done, as I was but just come into the connexion. However I fet out for Bristol, and fo into Wales and truly a rough region it was. A Preacher at Briftol faid to me "You feem pretty well dreffed, and will hold out pretty well for a year; but you must expect nothing to buy any more clothes, when thofe are wore out." However, I did not regard that; for I was determined to spend and be fpent in doing all the good I could. I therefore began preaching out of doors in the first town I came to, which was Chepflow, and determined to do fo in every town I came to. Thus I went on till after Chrifimas, and endured a good deal of hardship from hunger and cold: efpecially in paffing over thofe dreadful mountains from Neath to Brecon; on which I travelled a long way, and faw neither house nor field, hedge,

nor tree: nor yet any living creature, excepting here and there a poor fheep or two, nor fcarcely any visible track to know my way by. This was not pleafing to flesh and blood; but ftill I determined to go on.

In February, there seemed a prospect of much good in a large tract of land called Gower, in Glamorganfhire: the inhabitants of it were nearly heathens. I went down into this miserable country, in very cold, rainy weather: the people flocked to hear; but we were ill provided with convenient. places to preach in.Mean time the rain was exceffive, and the cold intense, while we had but little fire. So that I frequently put on my wet clothes feveral days fucceffively, yet without any inconvenience afterwards. Here God bleffed my word: I collected feveral Societies, and many were at this time. brought to experience the knowledge of falvation by the

remiffion of fins.

Towards fummer, a circumftance feemed to open my way fixty or seventy miles farther down to Pembrokeshire. I went thither, and preached at Carmarthen in my way. Afterwards I preached at Pembroke, and had multitudes to hear, who behaved in a respectful manner, and generously cleared all my expences; for at this time there was no provifion made for Miffionaries. I preached in feveral places round Milfordhaven, and had many to hear. Indeed the prospect was fo promifing, and the people fo loving, that I was almost tempted to embrace their preffing invitations to stay with them. But I thought that would be betraying my truft; fo I returned to my old Circuit, promifing that I would return again after the Conference was over. When I did return, I was feized with a flow fever. I believe it was in fome measure occafioned by fatigues. But providence was kind to me; for as I was in a poor place, where little affiftance was to be had, by the bleffing of God, I did without it. Mr. Mather then came from Staffordshire, to help me to put things into fome order, and

went

went with me through the rambling Circuit; which indeed. has been of ufe to me in fome, refpects ever fince.

I attended the Conference at Leeds, in Aug. 1762, and was fent back into Pembrokeshire. But though I had three hundred miles to ride, and a new work to begin, I had nothing allowed me either to take me thither, or fupport me when I got there. But of this I took no care; and through a kind providence, I wanted nothing. Another Preacher being fent into the old Circuit, I had my full scope in the new one. Things turned out beyond my expectations. The Lord bleffed the word. I feveral times vifited the Societies in Gower, which I had joined the year before; for the other Preacher had not time. I endured a good deal of hardship and danger in paffing and repaffing from Gower to Pembrokefnire in winter; there being feveral dangerous waters to crofs. Sometimes a ftranger is furrounded by the tides, whilft he is croffing the fands, and knows nothing of the matter, till he finds himself hemmed in on every fide. This I once narrowly escaped. I had once a pretty long day's journey, when coming to one of the ferry's, which is a mile over, I found the boat was broke. I had nine miles to ride up to Carmarthen where the bridge was, and nine miles on the other fide back again; this added eighteen miles to my jour ney. I just got over the last ferry in the evening; but which was my road I knew not, and the people could not or would not speak English. But they pointed me up a dark lane, which at length brought me to a wild mountain. It being quite dark, I knew not which way to go; for there was no road. At length my mare funk down in a bog and fuck faft. Here I was at a loss what to do; for if I left her, it was ten to one if I fhould find her again. As I knew not which way to go for help, I fhouted and hollowed till I was weary; but to no purpose. I pitied the poor creature, that after fo long and fatiguing a journey, had fuch a flable at night. After fome time I took hold of the bridle, and pulled her head; being

frong,

frong, fhe made a vigorous ftruggle, and got her fore-parts above ground, and after taking breath made another stout fpring, and got entirely free. At this, I was not a little glad; but not knowing the ground, I judged it safest to lead her after me. I was weary, cold, and hungry, and where or when my journey fhould end I knew not. At length I discovered fomething like a houfe; I was not a little glad, but my joy was foon over; for making up to it, I found it an old ruin uninhabited: fo my poor, weary companion and I set out again. At laft, I faw a man, and prevailed upon him for fixpence to fhew me the way from the common, which was not a quarter of a mile; for it happened I had come the direct road. But when I came to the place I aimed at, there was nothing to eat, for either man or horfe. I got the poor beast to a farm-house at some distance. My lodging was but indifferent, but yet very agreeable, and I know not that either I or my beast ailed any thing after we got into good quarters. [To be concluded in our next.]

[From the Rev. Mr. Maxfield, to the Rev. Mr. J. Wesley.] March 10, 1760.

Dear and Rev. Sir,

ROTHER Biggs, Latlets, Calvert, and Dixon, go on, I

believe, fafter than ever. We have not miffed the Friday's Meeting above once, and that was when we had fervice elsewhere. Your brother has been with us many times: and the Lord has been wonderfully among us. We continue at other times and places much as when you was with us. And God blesses us much more abundantly than ever. We VOL. III.

3 A

are

are obliged to fay, the laft is better than all we had known before. We have a little war, but it does not hurt us at all; we let it pafs as though it was not. I think we can safely say, we are bleffed every where. Bleffed be God for it. We always remember you, as though present with us. As to the affair of leaving the Church, it has hurt the minds of many on both fides. I hope it will be fully fettled at the Conference. I endeavour (as far as I can safely) to be on neither fide, and exhort all to look, and live to him that lived, and died for them. As to my own ftate, I think I can fafely fay, I grow in grace daily. My whole delight is in God; my whole foul goes out after him and I long with vehement, refigned, expectation for all the mind that was in Chrift Jefus. I hope the time is at hand, when all my heart, and foul, and mind, and ftrength, will bear the image of the heavenly as perfectly, as ever it did that of the earthy. It is fomething ungrateful to say any thing about myself, (only, as you ask me) for I feem to know little, very little of myself. And I think I know lefs and lefs, as I know more and more of God. I mean, I forget myself more and more. And yet I find if a word, or a thought, or a turn of the eye, is departing from him; I both fee it, and feel it, and have power not to fuffer either the word to be spoken, the thought to be formed, or the eye to be turned. But oh! how foolish, and helpless, and weak am I! I go unto him always as empty, as though I had never received any thing from him. And what I can fay is this, that I know he loves me, and I love him a little; but oh! how little it is. I long to love him with all my heart, and foul and ftrength. May he haften the time for his mercy's fake. I blefs God that he is carrying on his work in my Wife's heart alfo. We both join in duty to you, and love to all friends, hoping you will not forget us in your prayers.

I am, your very humble Servant,

THOMAS MAXFIELD.

LETTER