"I, John Wesley, by the consent and approbation of the society in Kingswood, do declare the persons above-mentioned to be no longer members thereof. Neither will they be so accounted until they shall openly confess their fault, and thereby do what in them lies to remove the scandal they have given."

At this they seemed a little shocked at first; but Mr. C T———— B——, and A--, soon recovered, and said, "They had heard both my Brother and me, many times, preach popery. However, they would join with us if we would. But that they would not own they had done any thing amiss."

I desired them to consider of it yet again, and give us their answer the next evening.

The next evening, March 1, they gave the same answer as before. However, I could not tell how to part: but exhorted them to wait yet a little longer, and wrestle with God, that they might know his will concerning them.

Friday 6, Being still fearful of doing any thing rashly, or contrary to the great law of love, I consulted again with many of our brethren, concerning the farther steps I should take. In consequence of which, on Saturday 7, all who could of the society being met together, I told them, "Open dealing was best; and I would therefore tell them plainly, what I thought (setting all opinions aside) had been wrong in many of them, viz.

1. "Their despising the ministers of God and slighting his ordinances: 2. Their not speaking or praying when met together, till they were sensibly moved thereto: and, 3. Their dividing themselves from their brethren, and forming a separate society:

"That we could not approve of delaying this matter, because the confusion that was already, increased daily :

"That, upon the whole, we believed the only way to put a stop to these growing evils, was for every one now to take his choice, and quit one society or the other."

T- B replied, "It is our holding election is the true cause of your separating from us." I answered, “You know in your own concience it is not. There are several predestinarians in our societies both at London and Bristol: nor did I ever yet put any one out of either, because he held that opinion."

He said, "Well, we will break up our society, on condition you will receive and employ Mr. C as you did before."

I replied, "My brother has wronged me much. But he does not say, 'I repent.' "I

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Mr. C said, "Unless in not speaking in your defence, I do not know that I have wronged you at all."

I rejoined, "It seems then nothing remains, but for each to choose which society he pleases."

Then, after a short time spent in prayer, Mr. C went out, and about half of those who were present, with him.

Sunday 8, After preaching at Bristol, on the Abuse and the right Use of the Lord's Supper, I earnestly besought them at Kingswood, to beware of offending in tongue, either against justice, mercy, or

truth. After sermon, the remains of our society met, and found we had great reason to bless God, for that after fifty-two were withdrawn, we had still upwards of ninety left. O may these, at least, hold the unity of the spirit in the bonds of peace!

I will shut up this melancholy subject with part of a letter wrote by my brother about this time.

"If you think proper, you may shew brother C what follows." (N. B. I did not think it proper then.)

66 My dearest brother John C- in much love and tenderness I speak. You came to Kingswood, upon my brother's sending for you. You served under him in the Gospel as a son. I need not say how well he loved you. You used the authority he gave you to overthrow his doctrine. You every where contradicted it. (Whether true or false is not the question.) But you ought first to have fairly told him, I preach contrary to you. Are you willing, notwithstanding that I should continue in your house, gain-saying you? If you are not, I have no place in these regions. You have a right to this open dealing. I now give you fair warning. Shall I stay here opposing you, or shall I depart?"

"My brother, have you dealt thus honestly and openly with him? No. But you have stolen away the people's hearts from him. And when some of them basely treated their best friend, God only excepted, how patiently did you take it? When did you ever vindicate us, as we have you? Why did you not plainly tell them, 'You are eternally indebted to these men. Think not that I will stay among you, to head a party against my dearest friend,

and brother, as

he suffers me to call him, having humbled himself for my sake, and given me (no bishop, priest or deacon) the right hand of fellowship. If I hear that one word more is spoken against him, I will leave you that moment, and never see your face more.'

"This had been just and honest, and not more than we have deserved at your hands. I say we, for God is my witness, how condescendingly loving I have been toward you. Yet did you so forget yourself, as both openly and privately to contradict my doctrine, while, in the mean time, I was as a deaf man that heard not, neither answered a word, either in private or public.

"Ah, my brother! I am distressed for you. I would but you will not receive my saying. Therefore I can only commit you to Him who hath commanded us to forgive one another, even as God, for Christ's sake hath forgiven us."

Sunday 15, I preached twice at Kingswood, and twice at Bristol, on those words of a troubled soul, O that I had wings like a dove, for then would I flee away and be at rest.

One of the notes I received to-day was as follows: "A person whom God has visited with a fever, and has wonderfully preserved seven days in a hay-mow, without any sustenance but now and then a little water out of a ditch, desires to return God thanks. The person is present and ready to declare, what God has done both for his body and soul. For the three first days of his illness he felt nothing but the terrors of the Lord, greatly fearing lest he should drop into

hell; till after long and earnest prayer, he felt himself given up to the will of God, and equally content to live or die. Then he fell into a refreshing slumber, and awaked full of peace and the love of God." Tuesday 17, From these words, Shall not the judge of all the earth do right, I preached a sermon, (which I have not done before in Kingswood school since it was built) directly on predestination. On Wednesday (and so every Wednesday and Thursday) I saw the sick in Bristol: many of whom I found were blessing God for his seasonable visitation. In the evening I put those of the women who were grown slack, into distinet bands by themselves: and sharply reproved many, for their unfaithfulness to the grace of God: who bore witness to his word by pouring upon us all the spirit of mourning and supplication.

Thursday 19, I visited many of the sick, and among the rest, J— W, who was in grievous pain both of body and mind. After a short time spent in prayer, we left her. But her pain was gone; her soul being in full peace, and her body also so strengthened, that she immediately rose, and the next day went abroad.

Saturday 21, I explained in the evening the 33d chapter of Ezekiel: in applying which I was suddenly seized with such a pain in my side that I could not speak. I knew my remedy, and immediately kneeled down. In a moment the pain was gone: and the voice of the Lord cried aloud to the sinners, Why will ye die, O house of Israel!

Monday 23, I visited the sick in Kingswood: one of whom surprised me much. Her husband died of the fever some days before. She was seized immediately after his death; then her eldest daughter; then another and another of her children, six of whom were now sick round about her, without either physic, money, food, or any visible means of procuring it. Who but a Christian can at such a time say from the heart, Blessed be the name of the Lord?

Finding all things now, both at Kingswood and Bristol, far more settled than I expected, I complied with my brother's request, and setting out on Wednesday 25, the next day came to London.

Saturday 28, Having heard much of Mr. Whitefield's unkind behaviour since his return from Georgia, I went to him to hear him speak for himself, that I might know how to judge. I much approved of his plainness of speech. He told me, "He and I preached two different Gospels, and therefore he not only would not join with, or give me the right-hand of fellowship, but was resolved publicly to preach against me and my brother, wheresoever he preached at all." Mr. Hall (who went with me) put him in mind of the promise he had made but a few days before, that "whatever his private opinion was, he would never publicly preach against us." He said, "That promise was only an effect of human weakness, and I am now of another mind."

Monday 30, I fixed an hour every day for speaking with each of the bands, that no disorderly walker might remain among them, nor any of a careless or contentious spirit. And the hours from ten to two, on every day but Saturday, I set apart for speaking with any who desired it.

Wednesday, April 1, At his earnest and repeated request, I went to see one under sentence of death in the New Prison. But the keeper told me, "Mr. Wilson (the curate of the parish) had given charge I should not speak with him." I am clear from the blood of this man.

Let Mr. Wilson answer for it to God.

Saturday 4, I believe both love and justice required that I should speak my sentiments freely to Mr. Wh, concerning the letter he had published, said to be in answer to my sermon on Free-Grace. The sum of what I observed to him was this, 1. That it was quite imprudent to publish it at all, as being only the putting of weapons into their hands, who loved neither the one nor the other. 2. That if he was constrained to bear his testimony (as he termed it) against the error I was in, he might have done it by publishing a treatise on this head without ever calling my name in question: 3. That what he had published was a mere burlesque upon an answer, leaving four of my eight arguments untouched, and handling the other four in so gentle a manner, as if he were afraid they would burn his fingers: however, that, 4. He had said enough, of what was wholly foreign to the question, to make an open (and probably irreparable) breach, between him and me: seeing "for a treacherous wound, and for the betraying of secrets, every friend will depart."

Monday 6, I had a long conversation with Peter Bohler. I mar- ←→ vel how I refrain from joining these men. I scarce ever see any of them but my heart burns within me. I long to be with them. And yet I am kept from them.

Tuesday 7, I dined with one who had been a professed Atheist for upwards of twenty years. But coming some months since to make sport with the word of God, it cut him to the heart. And he could have no rest day or night, till the God whom he had denied spoke peace to his soul.

In the evening, having desired all the bands to meet, I read over the names of the United Society; and marked those who were of a doubtful character, that full inquiry might be made concerning them. On Thursday, at the meeting of that society I read over the names of these, and desired to speak with each of them the next day, as soon as they had opportunity. Many of them afterwards gave sufficient proof, that they were seeking Christ in sincerity. The rest I determined to keep on trial, till the doubts concerning them were removed.

Tuesday 14, I was much concerned for one of our sisters, who hav ing been but a few times with the Still Brethren, was on a sudden so much wiser than her teachers, that I could neither understand her, nor she me. Nor could I help being a little surprised at the profound <indifference she shewed, who a few days before would have plucked out her eyes, had it been possible, and given them to me.

Wednesday 15, I explained at Greyhound-lane the latter part of the 4th chapter to the Ephesians. I was so weak in body, that I could hardly stand; but my spirit was much strengthened,

I found myself growing sensibly weaker all Thursday. So that on Friday 17; I could scarce get out of bed, and almost as soon as I

was up, was constrained to lie down again. Nevertheless I made shift to drag myself on, in the evening, to Short's-Gardens. Having not without difficulty got up the stairs, I read those words, (though scarce intelligibly, for my voice too was almost gone), Whom he did foreknow, he did also predestinate. In a moment both my voice and strength returned. And from that time, for some weeks, I found such bodily strength, as I had never done before, since my landing in America.

Monday 20, Being greatly concerned for those who were tost about with divers winds of doctrine, many of whom were again entangled in sin, and carried away captive by Satan at his will; I besought God to shew me where this would end, and opened my Bible on these words, And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil nor any thing that they had taken to them. David recovered all.

Tuesday 21. I wrote to my brother, then at Bristol, in the following words:

"As yet I dare in no wise join with the Moravians: 1. Because their general scheme is mystical, not scriptural, refined in every point above what is written, immeasurably beyond the plain Gospel. 2. Because there is darkness and closeness in all their behaviour, and guile in almost all their words; 3. Because they not only do not practise, but utterly despise and decry self-denial and the daily cross: 4. Because they conform to the world, in wearing gold, and gay or costly apparel. 5. Because they are by no means zealous of good works, or at least only to their own people: for these reasons (chiefly) I will rather, God being my helper, stand quite alone than join with them: I mean, til have full assurance, that they are better acquainted with the truth as it is in Jesus.”

Friday, May 1, I was with one who told me, "She had been hitherto taught of man; but now she was taught of God only." She added, "That God had told her not to partake of the Lord's supper any more; since she fed upon Christ continually." O who is secure from Satan transforming himself into an angel of light!

In the evening I went to a little love-feast which Peter Bohler made for those ten, who joined together on this day three years, to confess our faults one to another. Seven of us were present; one being sick and two unwilling to come. Surely the time will return, when there shall be again,

"Union of mind, as in us all one soul !"

Saturday 2, I had a conversation of several hours with P. Bohler and Mr. Spangenberg. Our subject was, a New Creature; Mr. Spangenberg's account of which was this;

"The moment we are justified, a New Creature is put into us. This is otherwise termed, the New Man.

"But notwithstanding, the old creature or the old man, remains in us till the day of our death.

"And in this old man there remains an old heart, corrupt and abominable. For inward corruption remains in the soul, as long as the soul remains in the body."