Monday 10 and Tuesday 11. Employed in reading and writing. I wish to be alone-O how sweet is solitude!

Wednesday 12. I sought and obtained peace between two brethren who had, unhappily, been at variance.

NEW-JERSEY.-Thursday 13. Rode through great heat and dust to Burlington, New-Jersey. Here I had many of my old, and some new hearers: but some are much wiser than they were twenty years ago. We had a cold time of it, whilst I spoke on Hebr. iv. 7.

Friday 14. After preaching at -'s we rode on to brother H's. He is resolved, that after he and his wife are served, the remainder of his whole estate shall go to the church; his plantation to be rented, and the annual income to be applied as the conference held for Pennsylvania and the Jerseys shall please to direct.

NEW-YORK.-Sunday 16. Preached at our church on Staten Island. I was very close on the law and the Gospel-a few felt; but it was a dry time. Lord, help us!

Monday 17. We hasted to V's ferry; but found ourselves detained by the absence of both boats, so that we did not so soon as we expected reach New-York. I did not find that life and harmony here that there have been in times past. I have just now obtained and am reading Mr. Wesley's Life, the work of Dr. Coke and Mr. Moore, containing five hundred and forty-two pages. It is in general well compiled; but the history of American Methodism is inaccurate in some of its details, and in some which are interesting. For some days past I have been occupied in reading, and and in meeting the several women's classes, and found the Lord was amongst them.

As very probably all of my life which I shall be able to write will be found in my journal, it will not be improper to relate something of my earlier years, and to give a brief account of my first labours in the ministry.

I was born in Old England, near the foot of Hampstead Bridge, in the parish of Handsworth, about four miles from Birmingham, in Staffordshire, and, according to the best of my after-knowledge, on the 20th or 21st day of August, in the year of our Lord 1745.

My father's name was Joseph, and my mother's, Elizabeth Asbury they were people in common life; were remarkable for honesty and industry, and had all things needful to enjoy; had my father been as saving as laborious, he might have been wealthy. As it was, it was his province to be employed as a farmer and

gardener by the two richest families in the parish. My parents had but two children, a daughter called Sarah, and myself. My lovely sister died in infancy; she was a favourite, and my dear mother being very affectionate, sunk into deep distress at the loss of a darling child, from which she was not relieved for many years. It was under this dispensation that God was pleased to open the eyes of her mind, she living in a very dark, dark, dark day and place. She now began to read almost constantly when leisure presented the opportunity. When a child, I thought it strange my mother should stand by a large window poring over a book for hours together. From my childhood I may say, I have neither

The love of truth is not natural; but the habit of telling it I acquired very early, and so well was I taught, that my conscience would never permit me to swear profanely. I learned from my parents a certain form of words for prayer, and I well remember my mother strongly urged my father to family reading and prayer; the singing of psalms was much practised by them both. My foible was the ordinary foible of children-fondness for play; but I abhorred mischief and wickedness, although my mates were amongst the vilest of the vile for lying, swearing, fighting, and whatever else boys of their age and evil habits were likely to be guilty of; from such society I very often returned home uneasy and melancholy; and although driven away by my better principles, still I would return, hoping to find happiness where I never found it. Sometimes I much ridiculed, and called Methodist Parson, because my mother invited any people who had the appearance of religion to her house.

I was sent to school early, and began to read the Bible between six and seven years of age, and greatly delighted in the historical part of it. My school-master was a great churl, and used to beat me cruelly; this drove me to prayer, and it appeared to me, that God was very near to me. My father having but the one son, greatly desired to keep me at school, he cared not how long; but in this design he was disappointed; for my master, by his severity, had filled me with such horrible dread, that with me any thing was preferable to going to school. I lived some time in one of the wealthiest and most ungodly families we had in the parish here I became vain, but not openly wicked. Some months after this I returned home; and made my choice, when about thirteen years and a half old, to learn a branch of business, at which I wrought about

six years and a half: during this time I enjoyed great liberty, and in the family was treated more like a son or an equal than an apprentice.

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Soon after I entered on that business, God sent a pious man, not a Methodist, into our neighbourhood, and my mother invited him to our house; by his conversation and prayers, I was awakened before I was fourteen years of age. It was now easy and pleasing to leave my company, and I began to pray morning and evening, being drawn by the cords of love, as with the bands of a man. I soon left our blind priest, and went to West-Bromwick church here I heard Ryland, Stillingfleet, Talbot, Bagnall, Mansfield, Hawes, and Venn, great names, and esteemed Gospel-ministers. I became very serious; reading a great deal-Whitefield and Cennick's Sermons, and every good book I could meet with. It was not long before I began to inquire of my mother who, where, what were the Methodists; she gave me a favourable account, and directed me to a person that could take me to Wednesbury to hear them. I soon found this was not the church-but it was better. The people were so devout-men and women kneeling down--saying Amen.-Now, behold! they were singing hymns-sweet sound! Why, strange to tell! the preacher had no prayerbook, and yet he prayed wonderfully! What was yet more extraordinary, the man took his text, and had no sermon-book: thought I, this is wonderful indeed! It is certainly a strange way, but the best way. He talked about confidence, assurance, &c.—of which all my flights and hopes fell short. I had no deep convictions, nor had I committed any deep known sins. At one sermon, some time after, my companion was powerfully wrought on: I was exceedingly grieved that I could not weep like him; yet knew myself to be in a state of unbelief. On a certain time when we were praying in my father's barn, I believe the Lord pardoned my sins, and justified my soul; but my companions reasoned me out of this belief, saying, "Mr. Mather said a believer was as happy as if he was in heaven." I thought I was not as happy as I would be there, and gave up my confidence, and that for months; yet I was happy; free from guilt and fear, and had power over sin, and felt great inward joy. After this, we met for reading and prayer, and had large and good meetings, and were much persecuted, until the persons at whose houses we held them were afraid, and they were discontinued. I then held meetings frequently at my father's house, exhorting the people there, as also at Sutton-Cofields, and several souls professed to find peace through

my labours. I met class awhile at Bromwick-Heath, and met in band at Wednesbury. I had preached some months before I publicly appeared in the Methodist meeting-houses; when my labours became more public and extensive, some were amazed, not knowing how I had exercised elsewhere. Behold me now a local preacher; the humble and willing servant of any and of every preacher that called on me by night or by day, being ready, with hasty steps, to go far and wide to do good, visiting Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, and indeed almost every place within my reach for the sake of precious souls; preaching, generally, three, four, and five times a week, and at the same time pursuing my calling.-I think, when I was between twenty-one and twenty-two years of age I gave myself up to God and his work, after acting as a local preacher near the space of five years it is now the 19th of July 1792.-I have been labouring for God and souls about thirty years, or upwards.

Sometime after I had obtained a clear witness of my acceptance with God, the Lord showed me in the heat of youth and youthful blood, the evil of my heart: for a short time I enjoyed, as I thought, the pure and perfect love of God; but this happy frame did not long continue, although, at seasons, I was greatly blest. Whilst I was a travelling preacher in England, I was much tempted, finding myself exceedingly ignorant of almost every thing a minister of the Gospel ought to know. How I came to America, and the events which have happened since, my journal will show.

Yesterday I preached in New-York, on "Who is on the Lord's side?"I had some life in speaking, but there was little move in the congregation. O Lord, hasten a revival of thy work! This city has been agitated about the choice of Governor it would be better for them all to be on the Lord's side. The standard is set up-who declares for the Lord ?—The wicked; the carnal professors; carnal ministers, and apostates, are the Lord's enemies.

Sunday 23. Was a melting time with many hearts in the old church my subject, 1 Johu i. 6, 7. In the afternoon, although very unwell, I laboured hard in the new church, but the people were exceedingly insensible. There was a little shaking under brother Hull in the old church in the evening.

Monday 24. We set out for Lynn, and made our way through Bedford, riding fifty miles the first day I prayed in four houses, and felt much given up on the way.

CONNECTICUT.-Tuesday 25. Rain to-day after which, we came to Reading; and although it was late, and the evening damp, I was unwilling to omit the opportunity of speaking to the people. Brother Hull, my fellow-traveller, went to bed very ill. God has wrought in this town: the spirit of prayer is amongst the people; and several souls have been brought to God.

Wednesday 26. We came to Newtown and fed-thence to Waterbury brother H. is still very ill. Here we were entertained kindly, and at small charges; the people submitted and were attentive to prayer. Thence we continued on to Southerington: we dined at a public house, where we had cheap, good, plain usage our host told us, "It was the misfortune of the Methodists to fall in with some of the most ignorant, poor, and disreputable people in the state." My answer was, the poor have the Gospel preached to them-that it had been aforetime asked, "Have any of the rulers believed on him?"

Came to the city of Hartford, and thence went on to East-Hartford. I was alarming on Rev. xxi. 8.; brother H. is still very sick; and for my poor self, I am tempted to fretfulness; but by grace I was kept in peace, and blessed in speaking. The next day we came through the extreme heat to Stafford, and attended a quarterly meeting, where we had a crowd of people in a new, open house: I was very unwell, and much tempted, but I had good liberty in preaching; my subject was Colos. ii. 6.; on Sunday I was very pointed on Rom. i. 18.

There has been a work in Tolland circuit: I suppose one hundred and fifty souls have been converted, and twice the number under awakenings in the different societies around: I felt very solemn among them. Brothers Smith, and Raynor, have been owned of the Lord in these parts.

MASSACHUSETTS.-We came through Ashford, Pomfret, Menden, and Douglass we lodged at a tavern, where the people were very obliging, and attentive to prayer: thence we rode to Medfield's to dinner; thence through Dover, Newton, Cambridge, Malden, to Lynn; which we reached about midnight, having travelled sixtyfive miles-my soul, meanwhile, continually filled with the goodness of God.

Thursday, August 3. Our conference met, consisting of eight preachers, much united, beside myself. In Lynn, we have the outside of a house completed; and what is best of all, several souls profess to be converted to God. I preached on 1 John iv. 1-6. VOL. II.

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