every unclean thought quite banished my heart. My office, you know, is weighty, and great is the charge committed to my trust, nor gold or silver, or any other corruptible thing, but precious souls, which my master purchased with his precious blood, and for which I must be accountable to him at the great day. Pray then for me, that I may be found faithful, and not a betrayer of souls. My heart often aches, for fear I should be an unjust steward, and when I conthey are in the cause and service of Christ, and what little I do, in comparison with them, my spirits sink and fail, to think what a loiterer I am in the vineyard. If you love my soul, deal freely with me, and spur me on by your repeated letters; dont be sparing of your advice, for I think it no way unworthy the character of a clergyman of the Established Church to be taught and admonished by an experienced dissenter.-I am, &c.

From a Letter to the Rev. MR DT of Wn, Somersetshire, from the Rev. MR JN of C-r, Gloucestershire, Dec. 1755.

R. D. S., Monday se'night we had a meeting of seven clergymen at Bath, and agreed upon our future meetings there, which are to be monthly. 1 trust in God it will be blessed to us and our people. I am thirty-three miles wide of the place, but that I submit. I believe our number will increase to ten. We were very hearty and open, though two or three of us had never before seen each other, which calls to my mind the blessed association at Pentecost. O, may much of that spirit and fire of love rest upon us all! As we have a chapel to meet in, we propose to communicate always together, which will give a greater solemnity to the thing, and prove, we trust, a bond of union. Hereby also, it will be less liable to degenerate into a neighbourly visit.

myself, and the more I see, the more I dislike my self, and the more I wonder at God's goodness to me. I am amazed at my heart; not an action but it has its dangers; not a duty performed but a temptation follows it. Where then shall I go to be safe? Ah, blessed Jesus! I hear those gracious words of his, it is finished. I see the thorns upon his head, the spear in his side, and the nails in his hands and feet, and for his sake, I humbly trust, it is given me of God to lie low at the foot of his cross, there hum-sider the labour of God's servants, how indefatigable bly expecting, and to my great comfort sometimes sweetly experiencing, what he by suffering has purchased for me, viz. remission of sins here, and comfortable hope of glory hereafter. I perceive, then, that my safety is under the wings of Christ; there I shall be free from danger, and thither may the Lord of his infinite mercy guide and direct me. Sometimes methinks I am there; then I can view the sneers of an ill-natured world with a composed resignation, joying and rejoicing that Christ counts me worthy to suffer reproach for his sake. But at other times, Oh this proud heart! It bubbles up apace, and was I then left to myself, the deadly scum would soon boil over, to the extinguishing the Holy Spirit, and to the utmost hazard of my poor soul. Ó Sir! I know not what to wonder at most, whether at God's goodness, or at my backwardness. Sometimes I am all joy and love; then again I cool and grow hard; my prayers are flat, my desires faint, (and O that I had not occasion to lament it!) my dear and once dying Lord is, as it were, forgotten by me. This grieves me, and cuts me to the soul, for by God's grace I would be diligent, that I may be found of my dear Jesus, at his coming, in peace, without spot and blameless. Oh, amazing! God seems to have spoken to me by some of my people. He has inclined my backward heart to set apart every Thursday night to receive the colliers, who are willing to come to my house, at which time I converse with them freely, sing a psalm, and then to prayer. On Friday night I meet a few friends, one night at one neighbour's house, and the other night at another's house, where I observe the same method as with the colliers at my own house. And on Saturday nights I have public worship at my chapel. And is not this amazing, that God should thus honour so worthless a wretch as I am? I want words to express my gratitude. O, I want a heart to receive my Christ more freely and fully! He is a good master; there are none like him, and he pays the best of wages, as I almost every night experience when in his sweet service, whether among my colliers, with a few neighbours, or in my chapel. I love such service, and am glad to see many, heretofore luiterers, entering into it. Colliers, as well as others, are seeking to it, and after a serious manner too, at least I hope so from their behaviour on Thursday nights, which I have sometimes thought had SUCCESS OF THE GOSPEL AT TRURO IN CORNsome little resemblance to Mr Davies's black congregation, though not by far so numerous, not having above thirty or forty, one night with another. May the Lord go, and be with that good man, and all others like him, who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity and in truth! My heart is open to all such, and so is my house, having (now) no partition-wall be. tween them and me. Christ crucified is my theme, and the strength of his precious blood the stay and comfort of my soul. Pray for me, that my corruptions may be subdued, my lusts all mortified, and

From MR WHITEFIELD's Preface to the new Edition of his
Journals, 4th June 1756.

Since it hath pleased our heavenly father to protect my worthless life, I desire to thank him from my inmost soul, that he hath given me to see the gospel seed that was sown upwards of twenty years ago, now grown into a great tree. How far it is yet to spread can be known only to him with whom to God, the prospect is promising. the residue of the Spirit is. At present, thanks be A new set of instruments seem to be rising up, by whom, I trust, those that were first sent forth will not only be succeeded, but eclipsed. May they go on and prosper in the strength of their common Lord.

WALL.

From a letter to the Publisher from the Rev. MR Fawcett at Kidderminster, dated 8th Feb. 1755,

You have given me the first information in several particulars. I never imagined the late revivals in Scotland and America had been so extensive. Nor was I ever told of such a remarkable concert for prayer. Blessed be God for such apparent dawnings of the glory of the latter day.

Methinks the renewal of that concert in 1746 for seven subsequent years, has been owned and answered by a new and glorious revival in the county of Cornwall. There the Lord is stirring up the spirits of several clergymen to preach Jesus Christ in their own parish churches, and has already given them to see hundreds of souls under the most serious impres sions. By the accounts I have had, it appears to me as remarkable in its kind as that at Cambuslang, or Kilsyth, or any places in America.

The Rev. Mr Walker at Truro in Cornwall, is the instrument whom the Lord has principally been honouring with his presence, power, and blessing. Dr Joseph Hall, Bishop of Norwich, and author of The Contemplations, &c. was, by the mother's side, Mr Walker's great-grandfather. The instrument of Mr Walker's conversion was one of his parishioners, of whom he speaks with the highest esteem and veneration. Though this delightful work, from first to last, has had no connection with any sort of dissenters, yet the accounts of it from Mr Walker and his friends have been immediately communicated to such dissenters with whom he has freely engaged in an epistolary correspondence. Such are the following

extracts:

Rev. Mr WALKER to Dr GUISE, Truro, Nov. 1754.

Accounts of the work of grace draw out my soul in love and praise to the great Redeemer, quicken my diligence, and direct me more wisely to correspond with the will of the Spirit in my ministrations. With the same views I sit down to make you particularly acquainted with what God has done for us here.

fruit of this, by the mighty working of the Spirit,
quickly appeared. It was a new way to them, I am
assured; they had heard nothing of it for fifty years.
They were surprised, and grew angry, not without
an evident fear resting upon them, and an interesting
curiosity to hear me again of this matter. I have
reason to judge that almost all of them have been,
one time or other, awakened, more or less, though I
fear the most of them have rejected the counsel of
God against themselves. But in the mean time,
some more sensibly pricked in their hearts, came to
me, inquiring what they must do?
And I suppose
seven or eight hundred have been with me, first or
last, upon this errand.

It was in the beginning of the year 1748, that a young man, who had been a soldier in the regiment raised by Lord Falmouth, and during that time had given himself up to the too common vices of that kind of people, was awakened and brought under great terrors in the hearing of one of my sermons. This was my first, and as such my dearest child. I watched and rejoiced over him. Suffer me to indulge the fondness of a father. With thankful consolation I reflect how God wrought in him, and by him.

town.

His conduct drew the attention of the whole God left him about a year and a half with me; during which time, with an unshaken firmness of faith and constancy in conduct, amidst perpetual oppositions and the strife of tongues, he lived, I trust, a Christian. About the end of that year, some other young men, convinced perhaps by his example, applied to me. And before his death, which was in June 1750, their number was considerably enlarged ; and both men and women, for the most part young persons, had some great concern about salvation. But I think the principal work began immediately upon his death, which begat a visibly anxious distress upon the whole town. I judged a sermon re

Spirit were remarkably with the providence and word; for quickly after, the numbers which applied to me daily were so large, that I was obliged to rent, for more convenience, two rooms at a distance from my lodging, being a boarder, wherein to see them. For this year past, having a house of my own, I see them at home.

In the year 1746 1 undertook the charge of this populous and large town, in many respects the principal town in this country. God knows upon what unworthy views I did it; and my heart and head-quisite upon such an occasion. The blessings of the how utterly disqualified for any ministeral trust! I had been then some years vicar of a neighbouring parish. But, dear sir, how must I have suffered the poor souls there to starve and perish, while I was only possessed of historical notions of all the vitals of Christianity, the corruptions of man's nature; his misery and helplessness; the satisfaction and sufficiency of Christ; the necessity of a renewed mind; the need and the work of the spirit;-these I knew notionally, but neither felt nor taught practically. You must own I ought to go sorrowing to the grave, upon the review of six years so past. Nevertheless, I was thought well off, and indeed esteemed beyond most of my brethren for my regularity and decency, endeavours to keep up external attendances, and somewhat or other in my public addresses. It was at least a year after the kind providence of God brought me hither, e'er I fell under considerable suspicions or uneasiness about myself and manner of preaching, when, by the frequent conversation of a Christian friend, I became sensible all was wrong within and without. My uneasiness was rather abiding than violent, possibly because my life had been free from gross sins. The change wrought upon me was slow, till, by a variety of means, I was brought (I trust in some measure) to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus Christ. As the work was going forward in myself, the people were made partakers of the effects of it. By and by I began to deal with them as lost sinners, and beat down formality and self righteousness, and to preach Christ. The

The far greater part have been brought to the acknowledgment of the truth in a very gentle way. Very few have been struck into terrors, though some have. The most have been impressed with a sort of mournful uneasiness, and have been brought to Christ in a sorrowing kind of way. I have reason to be- | lieve their convictions have been deep, for though many have drawn back, yet I cannot find above one or two who have been able to this day to shake them quite off. Those whose convictions are most lively and lasting, have importunate desires after inward holiness, striving against indwelling sin. May not the gentleness of this procedure, and its tendency, be in a correspondence of the Spirit with the manner of preaching ? which has been a mixing the law and the gospel, holding forth the promises of the one with the threatenings of the other; and then the corruption of nature; and the necessity of a new heart as the great fruit and evidence of faith in Jesus Christ, have been in the fullest manner explained and insisted upon.

Our lately erected society, which meets on Tuesday evenings at the society room, appears to have been very instrumental to the establishment of the

most of those who are members of it in saving knowledge and practice. It is my endeavour that none be admitted into it, but such as have given some good proofs of a good faith by an orderly and selfdenying conversation; and my hope is, there are not many of it, concerning whose sincerity I have reasonable question.

Public catechising is greatly blessed. The young people are in three classes. The eldest class, consisting of persons from fifteen to twenty years of age, meet me, and all who are willing to be with us, in the church, on Sunday evening, after evening prayers. I explain, pro re nata, one point only at once, and that in a large and practical manner, for the benefit of all present. The congregation is for the most part much impressed, and the number of those who I attend, are 400 or 500. (His friend says more, and that it begins at six on the Lord's day evening, and continues till eight.) The good effects of this work are manifest both upon the old and the young. I heartily wish this were practised in every congregation in England. I know not how we of the Establishment can evade the express injunctions for that

purpose.

Our club consists of six clergymen. We meet monthly, except in the depth of winter. I have reason to hope something from a clergyman or two who are not our club.

Rev. Mr WALKER to Truro, Dec. 14, 1754.

Never was there such a day of grace with us as of late, and it grows brighter continually. It would rejoice your heart, my dear friend, were you with us one of our Monday evenings. (His friend says, he then gives an awakening lecture in the society room, to all that will attend.) Truly publicans and sinners, some of the most vile and profligate, are amongst us. You know what I feel at such seasons, Some are melted, some confounded, while I persuade them by the terrors of the Lord, and beseech them to be reconciled to God, pouring out all my soul, and more than all my strength, to them, and for them.

It

opposition, of the grossest ignorance, and vice in reputation; in despite of our own inwardly backsliding hearts, we still increase, and many are added to us daily of such, I trust, as shall be saved.

Where there hath been a long famine of the word, it cannot be wondered if people at a distance come to us for the bread of life. I will relate to you one circumstance of this kind, which is somewhat remarkable. It was near a year ago, that a young man, about 26, who lives in a parish twelve miles off, came to the shop of one of my people (for so they are called), thinking of nothing so little as his soul. As his custom is, the man who keeps the shop gave him some serious advice with the goods he had purchased. The poor creature having never beard much of the matter before, seemed to be attentive, which encouraged the other to be more particular with him, and to ask if he were willing to spend half an hour with me. He consented. They came to me together; he was ignorant of everything, and satisfied that all was well with him. I both talked with him and sent home some books with him. As business hath brought him hither, I have seen him from time to time, and always to my great comfort. He told me last Saturday, that there are now many in the village where he lives, whose eyes seem to be opening. They are meeting together for prayer, reading, and religious conversation, and are actually forsaking their gross sins; and that many more in the parish are evidently struck, nor can find themselves easy to live as they were wont.

And now, dear sir, what shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Shall we not hope that the little stone will become a mountain? Many things correspond to so comfortable a hope; my heart rejoices greatly in the confident expectation of it. If I am not misinformed, the gospel is getting into several other pulpits in this country. O help our praise and prayers!

MB WALKER'S Friend writes as follows:

Before God raised him (i. e. Mr Walker) up, almost all this country was involved in gross darkness; the cry of salvation was scarce heard amongst us; almost every one ignorant of the first principles of Christianity; a lifeless ministry, and a debauched or a formal people. My love to him, as my spiritual father, draws me to speak thus of him.

Satan may well he said to be attacked here in his head-quarters, you will not wonder, therefore, if he fumes. We are daily getting advantage of him, but O how profitable and full of comfort was the adthe many, as no wonder, are still against us. With-vice he gave me, when I first made known to him in these two months perhaps, near two hundred of the lower people, and those the most profligate, have fallen under convictions and impressions. You know what a stir this must cause amongst us. O that God would take away the vail from our hearts! grieves my very soul to see and hear what I do. O that it would please the Lord to give me this people of every rank and degree! Yet I may not marvel that these things are so. Rather, most admirable is the display made of the power of Christ amongst us. Alas, my good friend, I have not an beart to thank God as I ought for that salvation of his, which I have stood and seen. No sooner was Christ heard of with us, but all Jerusalem was troubled; no sooner was he seen in a poor member or two, but the cry was, away with him. Yet from the beginning we have been supported, yea emboldened, yea enlarged. In despite of an universal discountenance, of a powerful

the impressions I had received under his ministry! I cannot well express my love to him. The first book he put into my hands was Dr Doddridge's Rise and Progress, with these words, "You must not, my dear friend, be prejudiced at this book, when I tell you it was wrote by a Dissenter, for believe me it is the best book, next to the Bible, in prin." I read it, God assisted the perusal, and blessed it to my soul, as he has since to the souls of many of my acquaintance. We have, I believe, bought near a thousand of them, and we are often having more. The several ministers of the club recommend them to all their people, which causes them to spread vastly. May the blessing of God go along with them in every place.

From a Letter to the Publisher from the Rev. Mr FAWCETT, Baxter in the last century, can raise new Walkers 29th September, 1755.