to be punctual. Journeying, preaching, and a train of business for the best of masters, has prevented my being so now. I have been at Gloucester, in other parts of Gloucestershire, and at Bristol, where I trust the sound of my Redeemer's feet was heard behind me. My brother I hope is coming on. I like him better than I have for some years. He greatly regards you, and intends answering your kind letters. I proposed his meeting you here. What do you think of it? He likes it well. I wrote for him to come up next week. I expect to know by Wednesday or Thursday. If you could be here on a Lord's day, or a Thursday, you might see our assembly at the other end of the town. I trust, abiding good will be done among some at least of the rich and great. I thank you a thousand times for your advice in respect to my health.—For near these two months past, my usual reachings have left me. I find that keeping from too much fatigue, under God, must be my cure. I will endeavour to keep within bounds every way. I have shewed the doctor's letter to Lady H, but she is of opinion, the journals as now corrected ought to be reprinted. In the multitude of councils there is safety; the language of my heart is,
Lord, teach me when I go astray,
And lead me in thy perfect way.
O that my zeal may increase with prudence. I have had too little of both. I am now thirty-four years of age, and alas! how little have I done and suffered for Him, who has done and suffered so much for me! Thanks be to his great name, for countenancing my poor administrations so much! I know not how it is, but perhaps it may be to display the riches of free grace, that notwithstanding the first zeal of most, I might add, all men of God, is generally mixed with much wildfire, yet their first times have been generally blest most, especially for awakening and converting souls. Blessed be our good God that Mr. H is coming out. May the Lord Jesus make him as spiritual father to thousands! I smiled when you said, he would avoid the name of Methodist, if he could. Alas, my dear man, he might as soon think to wash a blackmoor white. The Methodists are now as it were a skreen for others. Formerly, if a person was serious, or preached Christ, he was termed a Puritan, now he is a Methodist:
