from whom I would desire it, lest it should hurt themselves without profiting me. But I desire it of you; and do not doubt but it will profit me, as it has done in time past.

I know not, if, in all my life, I have had so critical a work on my hands, as that wherein I am now engaged. I am endeavouring to gather up those who were once gathered together, and afterward scattered, by James Wheatley. I have reunited about seventy of them, and hope this evening to make up a hundred. But many of them have wonderful spirits; having been always accustomed to teach their teachers; so that how they will bear any kind of discipline, I cannot well tell.

At Colchester the case is far otherwise. About a hundred and sixty simple, upright people are there united together, who are as little children, minding nothing but the salvation of their souls; only they are greatly distressed for a larger house. What we could have done last Sunday, I know not, but that, the day being mild, I took the field, and preached on St. John's Green. I see but one way,—to build a commodious house; and I desired them to look out for a piece of ground. It is true, they are poor enough; but if it be God's work, he will provide the means.

Wishing an increase in all grace, both to Mrs. Blackwell, Mrs. Dewal, and you, I remain, dear sir,

Your very affectionate servant.

CXXXIII.-To the Same.

MANCHESTER, March 17, 1760.

SIR,-The humanity which you showed, during the short time I had the pleasure of conversing with you at Lewisham, emboldens me to trouble you with a line, in behalf of a worthy man.

I apprehend, the collector at Northwich, in Cheshire, has informed the honourable board, that " Mr. James Vine is a preacher at Northwich, and makes disturbances in the town." That he attends the preaching of the Methodists, is true; but it is not true that he is a preacher. It is likewise true, that the rabble of Northwich have sometimes disturbed our congregations; but herein Mr. Vine was only concerned as a sufferer, not an actor. I know him to be a careful, diligent officer, and a zealous lover of King George.

Wishing you all temporal and spiritual blessings, I remain sir, Your obedient servant.

DEAR SIR,-I hope your lameness is now at an end, but not the benefit you have reaped from it. May we not, in every trial, great and small, observe the hand of God? And does he send any sooner than we want it, or longer than we want it? I found the inflammation which I had in my eyes last month came just in the right time. The danger is, that any thing of this kind should pass over before the design of it is answered.

Whether Miss Freeman should make use of Lough Neagh, or Lough Leighs, (forty miles nearer Dublin,) I suppose she is not yet able to determine, till I can send her some farther information, and

that I cannot do to my own satisfaction till I am upon the spot. For though Lough Neagh is scarce fifteen miles from hence, yet I can hardly find any one here who knows any more of the circumstances of it than if it lay in the East Indies.

Hitherto I have had an extremely prosperous journey; and all the fields are white to the harvest. But that the labourers are few, is not the only hinderance to the gathering it in effectually. Of those few, some are careless, some heavy and dull; scarce one of the spirit of Thomas Walsh. The nearest to it is Mr. Morgan: but his body too sinks under him, and probably will not last long.

In a few days I expect to be at Carrickfergus, and to hear, from those on whose word I can depend, a full account of that celebrated campaign. I believe it will be of use to the whole kingdom. Probably the government will at last awake, and be a little better prepared against the next encounter.

When you have half an hour to spare, I hope you will give it me under your own hand, that Mrs. Blackwell and you are not only in good health, but labouring more than ever after a healthful mind, and trampling the world and the devil under your feet. I am, dear sir, Your ever affectionate servant.

The week after next I shall spend mostly at Sligo.

CXXXV.-To the Same.

BRADFORD, July 16, 1761.

DEAR SIR, Methinks it is a long time since I saw or heard any thing of you. I hope, however, that Mrs. Blackwell and you are not only alive, but more alive than ever; seeking and enjoying something more than King George is likely to find either at his wedding or his coronation. And can you likewise give me a comfortable account of Miss Freeman, both as to her health and her spirit? I often think of her, and sometimes have a mind to send her another letter; though she is one in my debt already.

Mr. Venn was so kind as to come over hither yesterday, and spend the evening with us. I am a little embarrassed on his account, and hardly know how to act. Several years before he came to Huddersfield, some of our preachers went thither, carrying their lives in their hands, and with great difficulty established a little, earnest society. These eagerly desire them to preach there still; not in opposition to Mr. Venn, (whom they love, esteem, and constantly attend,) but to supply what they do not find in his preaching. It is a tender point. Where there is a Gospel ministry already, we do not desire to preach; but whether we can leave off preaching because such a one comes after, is another question; especially when those who were awakened and convinced by us beg and require the continuance of our assistance. I love peace, and follow it; but whether I am at liberty to purchase it at such price, I really cannot tell.

I hear poor Mr. Walker is near death. It seems strange that when there is so great a want of faithful labourers, such as him should be removed but the will of God is always best; and what he does, wo shall know hereafter! I have been for some days with Mr. Grimshaw, an Israelite indeed. A few such as him would make a nation tremble. VOL. VI.

45

He carries fire wherever he goes. Mr. Venn informs me, that Mr. Whitefield continues very weak. I was in hope, when he wrote to me lately, that he was swiftly recovering strength. Perhaps, sir, you can send me better news concerning him. What need have we, while we do live, to live in earnest! I am, dear sir,

Your affectionate servant. If you have not a mind for me to write again, you must not write yourself. For about a fortnight I shall be at or near Leeds.

CXXXVI. To the Same.

NORWICH, August 15, 1761.

DEAR SIR, AS you are encompassed with a thousand temptations, and some of them of the most dangerous kind, it is an unspeakable blessing that you still continue with your face heavenward. And if you have resolution to break through a thousand hinderances, and allow some time every day for private prayer, I doubt not but you will receive every Gospel blessing in this world and in the world to come.

Mr. Venn and I have had some hours' conversation together, and have explained upon every article. I believe there is no bone of contention remaining; no matter of offence, great or small. Indeed, fresh matter will arise, if it be sought; but it shall not be sought by me. We have amicably compromised the affair of preaching. He is well pleased that the preachers should come once a month.

That story was one of those which we cleared up. But Mr. Oddie (the person of whom it was told) will be in town next week, and can himself give you full satisfaction concerning it. On this day se'nnight I hope to be in town, and to-morrow se'nnight at West-street chapel. With sincere love to Mrs. Blackwell and Mrs. Dewal,

I am, dear sir,

Your very

affectionate servant.

I thank you for sending me the letters.

CXXXVII. To the Same.

LIVERPOOL, July 14, 1764. DEAR SIR,-My brother informs me that you have been so extremely ill, that your life was hardly expected. I really am under apprehensions lest that chariot should cost you your life. If, after having been accustomed to ride on horseback for many years, you should now exchange a horse for a carriage, it cannot be that you should have good health. It is a vain thing to expect it. I judge of your case by my own. I must be on horseback for life, if I would be healthy. Now and then, indeed, if I could afford it, I should rest myself for fifty miles in a chaise; but without riding near as much as I do now, I must never look for health.

In the meantime, I trust both Mrs. Blackwell and you are looking for health of a nobler kind. You look to be filled with the spirit of love, and of a healthful mind. What avails every thing else? every thing that passes away as an arrow through the air?

The arrow is flown! The moment is gone!

The millennial year

Rushes on to the view, and eternity's here!

You want nothing more of this world. You have enough, and, by the peculiar blessing of God, know you have. But you want a thousand times more faith. You want love; you want holiness. The Lord God supply all your wants from the riches of his mercy in Christ Jesus! I am, dear sir, Your very affectionate servant.

Next week I shall set my face toward Bristol.

CXXXVIII.—To the Same.

SUNDERLAND, May 6, 1766. DEAR SIR,-William Matthews writes me word, that he has quitted the school at the Foundery, and begs me to speak to you in his behalf. I should be glad to serve him in any thing that was in my power, either for his late brother's sake or his own. I judge him to be a right honest man; one that may be trusted in every respect; and one that would perform, with all diligence, whatever he undertook, not so much for gain as for conscience' sake.

I am not yet quite free from the effects of the fall which I had at Christmas, and perhaps never shall in this world. Sometimes my ankle, sometimes my knee, and frequently my shoulder, complains. But, blessed be God, I have strength sufficient for the work to which I am called. When I cannot walk any farther, I can take a horse, and now and then a chaise; so that hitherto I have not been hindered from visiting any place which I purposed to see before I left London.

The fields in every part of England are indeed white for the harvest. There is every where an amazing willingness in the people to receive either instruction or exhortation. We find this temper now even in many of the higher rank, several of whom cared for none of these things. But surely the time is coming for these also; for the Scripture must be fulfilled: " They shall all know me, from the least even to the greatest."

We who have lived more years have need of more earnestness and vigour in running the race which is set before us, or some of those that come after us will get before us in the way. Many of those who have lately set out run well. Gray heads stand upon green shoulders.

"They make their morning bear the heat of day." Let us mend our pace! What is there here that is worth lingering for? A little while, and this world of shadows will vanish; and all will be boundless, bottomless eternity!

My wife, who has been very ill, but is much better, joins with me in wishing Mrs. Blackwell and you every blessing which is purchased for you with the blood of the covenant. I am, dear sir,

Your ever affectionate servant.

CXXXIX.-To Certain Proprietors of East India Stock. To all who have had East India Stock lately transferred to them, in order to qualify them for voting at the Election for Directors or Wednesday next. [Without date.] GENTLEMEN AND LADIES,-Do you know what the oath is which you are to take before you will be admitted to vote? It is as follows:

I, A. B., do swear that the sum of five hundred pounds, or more, of the capital stock of the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies doth at this time belong to me in my own right, and not in trust for any other person or persons whatsoever. So help me God."

Do not you hereby call upon God, either to help you, or to send down his curse upon you, as your oath is true or false?

If you consider this, can you take a false oath? can you call God to witness to a lie?

Are you not doing this, if the stock standing in your name is not your real and true property?

Have you not given a note of your hand for it, which is to be returned upon your re-transferring the stock?

Are you either benefited or hurt by the rise or fall of the stock? If not, can you say you are a proprietor at all?

Does it alter the case, though a third person lend you the money to pay for that stock which you are so to re-transfer? Still you neither gain nor lose by the rise or fall of the stock: a plain proof that you have no property therein.

Weigh this in time, and do not, to oblige a friend, bring the guilt of perjury on your own soul.

CXL.-To Mr. John Downes.

LONDON, November 7, 1751. MY DEAR BROTHER,-Your first hinderance is easily removed. Most of the preachers have now all they want. So might you have had if you had spoken to the stewards, or, in case of their neglect, to me. As to your second, bodily weakness is a good reason for a temporary retirement.

Your third observation, that the people in general do not practise what they hear, is a melancholy truth. But what then? Is this a sufficient cause why either you or I should leave them? why we should give them up to their own hearts' lusts, and let them follow their own imaginations? In no wise. Especially while there are some among them whose conversation is worthy of the Gospel of Christ.

I grant, also, some of the preachers themselves do not adorn the Gospel. Therefore we have been constrained to lay some of them aside, and some others are departed of themselves. Let us that remain be doubly in earnest.

You should make an excursion (as to Alnwick) now and then. Is not John Fenwick a proper person to relieve James Tucker at Whitehaven? If you think he is, pray send him thither forthwith. to your father and mother.

My love

I entreat you, tell me without reserve, what you think of C. Skelton? Is his heart with us, or is it not? Peace be with

you. Adieu!

CXLI.-To the Same.

LONDON, November 28, 1751.

MY DEAR BROTHER,-I think you write to me, as if you did not care to write. I am glad you went to Alnwick. The method you took of