was fallen on many who lately rejoiced in God; but he did not long hide his face from them. On Wednesday the spirit of many revived on Thursday evening many more found Him in whom they had believed, to be "a present help in time of trouble." And never do I remember the power of God to have been more eminently present than this, morning, when a cloud of witnesses declared his "breaking the gates of brass, and smiting the bars of iron in sunder."

Yet I could not but be under some concern, with regard to one or two persons who were tormented in an unaccountable manner, and seemed to be indeed lunatic, as well as sore vexed; but while I was musing what would be the issue of these things, the answer I received from the word of God was, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will towards men."

Soon after I was sent for to one of those, who was so strangely torn by the Devil, that I almost wondered her relations did not say, "Much religion hath made thee mad." We prayed God to bruise Satan under her feet. Immediately we had the petition we asked of him she cried out vehemently, "He is gone, he is gone!" and was filled with the spirit of love and of a sound mind. I have seen her many times since, strong in the Lord. When I asked abruptly, "What do you desire now?" she answered, "Heaven." I asked, "What is in your heart?" she replied, "God." I asked.

222

REV. J. WESLEY'S

sic." In the evening, we called upon God for medicine, to heal those that were broken in heart; and five, who had long been in the shadow of death, "knew they were passed from death unto life.” The sharp frost in the morning, Sunday, 14, did not prevent about 1500 from being at Hannam, to whom I called, in the words of our gracious Master, "Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." In the evening we claimed and received the promise for several who were and heavy-laden."

66

weary

Mon. 15. Upon a pressing invitation, some time since received, I set out for Wales. About four in the afternoon, I preached on a little green, at the foot of the Devauden, (a high hill, two or three miles beyond Chepstow,) to three or four hundred plain people, on "Christ our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption." After sermon, one who I trust is an old disciple of Christ, willingly fully the way to received us into his house: whither many following, I showed them their need of a Saviour, from these words: "Blessed are the poor in spirit." In the morning I described more on: Believe in the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved;"

amo to

223

as well as two or three who were at the Devauden, are gone quite distracted; that is, they mourn, and refuse to be comforted, till they "have redemption through his blood."

When I came to Ponty-Pool, in the afternoon, being unable to procure any more convenient place, I stood in the street, and cried aloud to five or six hundred attentive hearers, to "believe in the Lord Jesus, that they might be saved." In the evening I showed his willingness to save all who desire to come unto God through Him. Many were melted into tears. It may be that some will "bring forth fruit with patience."

Thur. 18. I endeavoured to cut them off from all false supports and vain dependencies, by explaining and applying that fundamental truth, "To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted to him for righteousness."

When we were at the Devauden on Monday, a poor woman, who lived six miles off, came thither in great heaviness. deeply convinced of sin, and weary of it; but found no way to She was escape from it. She walked from thence to Abergavenny on Tuesday, and on Wednesday from Abergavenny to Usk. Thence, in the afternoon, she came to Ponty-Pool, where, between twelve

224

REV. J. WESLEY'S

many gentry I found were present. Such freedom of speech I have seldom had as was given me in explaining those words: ، The kingdom of God is not meat and drink ; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." At six almost the whole town (I was informed) came together, to whom I explained the six last beatitudes; but my heart was so enlarged I knew not how to give over, so that we continued three hours. O may the seed they have received have its fruits unto holiness, and in the end everlasting life!

Sat. 20. I returned to Bristol. I have seen no part of England so pleasant for sixty or seventy miles together, as those parts of Wales I have been in. And most of the inhabitants are indeed ripe for the Gospel: I mean, (if the expression appear strange,) they are earnestly desirous of being instructed in it; and as utterly igno rant of it they are as any Creek or Cherikee Indians. I do not mean they are ignorant of the name of Christ. Many of them can say both the Lord's Prayer and the Belief; nay, and some, all the Catechism: but take them out of the road of what they have learned by rote, and they know no more (nine in ten of those with 1 solvation or of that faith

JOURNAL.

225 leave every man to his own judgment of it.) I went. She was nineteen or twenty years old, but (it seems) could not write or read. I found her on the bed, two or three persons holding her. It was a terrible sight. Anguish, horror, and despair, above all description, appeared in her pale face. The thousand distortions of her whole body showed how the dogs of hell were gnawing her heart. The shrieks intermixed were scarce to be endured her stony eyes could not weep. She screamed out, as soon as ; but words could find their way, "I am damned, damned; lost for ever. Six days ago you might have helped me; but it is past. I am the Devil's now; I have given myself to him. His I am; him I must serve; with him I must go to hell. I will be his'; I will serve him; I will go with him to hell; I cannot be saved; I will not be saved; I must, I will, I will be damned." She then began praying to the Devil. We began,

"Arm of the Lord, awake, awake!"

She immediately sunk down as asleep; but, as soon as we left off, broke out again with inexpressible vehemence: "Stony hearts, break! I am a warning to you. Break, break, poor stony hearts! Will you not break? What can be done more for stony hearts ?