best manner I could, about the neighbourhood where my sister lived.

December 15th, I rode fifteen miles to Brattlebo rough. About this time, on my way, I took a severe cold on my lungs, and almost lost my voice. The next day my friends advised me not to go to my other ap pointments, as they thought it presumption; but I feeling impressed in my mind, could not feel content to disappoint the people. Accordingly, in the name of God, I set out in the hard snow storm, and over the mountains, about ten miles, and a solemn time we had. The storm still continuing to increase, the snow had now fallen about knee high, so that the mountains were almost impassable by reason of snow, steepness, mud and logs; the people here thought my life would be endangered by the falling of trees, or the extreme cold in the woods, as there was no house for several miles, and the wind blew exceeding hard: however, out I set, relying upon the strong for strength. The snow being driven in banks more than belly deep, I frequently was obliged to alight and stamp a path for my horse; and though I was much wearied and chilled, yet by the goodness of God, I arrived to my appointment, fourteen miles. We had a good time, and I did not begrudge my labour. I believe, these trials will be for my good, to qualify me for future usefulness to others: and a secret conviction I feel, that if I prove faithful, God will carry me through, and support me to see the cause that should ensue.

After my arrival at my sister's I had thoughts of spending my time principally in study; but feeling it my duty to call sinners to repentance, I could not enjoy my mind contented without travelling in the neighbouring towns, there being no methodists in this part of the world.

I went to Enfield several times during my stay, (being first invited by a universalian) by which there seemed to be some good done. Here I received an invitation to fix my residence amongst them, as their stated preacher. This was somewhat pleasing to nature, as by which I could have ease and acquire wealth; an elegant new meeting house being also ready; but something within would not suffer me to comply. I still feeling

it my duty to travel, I went into Canaan, Lyme, Dorchester, Orford, Hebron, New-Lebanon, Strafford, Tanbridge, Chelsea, Hartford, with many other adjacent towns; and the feather edge of prejudice removed, and some few were awakened and hopefully converted to God.

1797, June 4th. Vershire in Vermont, I met with N. Snethen, who informed me that he had seen J. Lee, and that I must come down to the quarterly meeting; and, said he," J. Lee disapproves of your travelling into so many new places, and what will you do provided that he forbids your preaching?" I told him it did not belong to J. L. or any other man to say whether I should preach or not, for that was to be determined between - God and my own soul; only it belonged to the metho dists to say whether I should preach in their connexion; but as long as I feel so impressed, I shall travel and preach, God being my helper; and as soon as I feel my mind released, I intend to stop, let people say what they will. But said he," what will you call yourself; the methodists will not own you; and if you take that name, you'll be advertised in the public papers as an impostor." Said I, "I shall call myself a friend to mankind." Oh! said he, for the Lord's sake don't; for you are not capable of it—and not one of a thousand is; and if you do you'll repent it. I sunk into a degree of gloominess and dejection-I told him I was in the hand of God, and felt submissive; so I bade him farewell and rode ten miles on my way. The next day I rode fifty miles to Charlestown, where I overtook J. Lec to my sorrow and joy ********* He men tioned some things, that if ever I travelled I must get ⚫a new recommendation from my native circuit, or else not offer myself to conference again

We then rode to Orange quarterly meeting; but J. Lee forbade P. W. to employ me any more, and then set off.* I ran after him and said, if you can get no text to preach upon between now and conference, I give you Genesis xl. 14. and then turned and ran, and saw him no more for some years, when we met at Petersburg in Virginia.

This was the fourth time I had been sent home!

I then returned home to my parents, after an absence of eight months; having travelled more than four thousand miles, through heat in the vallies, the scorching sun beating down, and through cold upon the mountains, and frequently whilst sleeping with a blanket on the floor, where I could look up and see the stars through the bark roofs, the frost nipping me so that I lost the skin from my nose, hands and feet; and from my ears it peeled three times-travelling through storms of rain and snow; this frequently drifted into banks so that I had no path for miles together, and was obliged at times to alight and stamp a way for my horse for some rods: at other times, being engaged for the welfare of souls, after preaching in the dark evening, would travel the chief part or the whole of the night, journies from twenty to forty miles, to get on to my next day's appointment; preaching from ten to fifteen times a week, and often times no stranger to hunger and thirst in these new countries; and though my trials were great, the Lord was still precious to my soul, and supported me through.

The preacher of Tolland circuit, (Evan Rogers, who since hath turned churchman) after some close and solemn conversation, advised me to preach in my native town, and provided that I could obtain a letter of recommendation concerning my preaching gifts as well as my conduct, he saw no hindrance why, I should not be received at conference. The thought was trying, the cross was great, to think of preaching before my old acquaintance and relations; besides, my parents were opposed to it, fearing how I should make out: however, there being no other way, and necessitated thereto, the people flocked out from every quarter, and · after my feeble manner, I attempted to perform, and I obtained a credential by the voice of the whole society; which was approved of by the preachers at the quarterly meeting; after which it was thought proper to send me to Granville circuit.

During my stay at and about home, though I went into several other places, not in vain to some souls, yet my trials were very great, so that many almost whole nights' sleep departed from me; I walked the floor

and woods, weeping until I could weep no more, and wringing my hands until they felt sore. When I was in the north country, being under strong temptations to end my life, I went down to a river to do it, but a thought of futurity darted into my mind; the value of my soul! oh! Eternity. I promised and resolved if God would grant me strength to resist the temptation, and see my native land in peace, that I would discharge my duty to my friends; which he did, and now my promise began to stare me in the face.

I felt it my duty to visit from house to house; but the cross was so heavy, I strove to run round it; but the thorns beside the way scratched me: and to take up one end of the cross it dragged hard; here the old temptation returned so powerful, that I durst not go from one appointment to another alone, nor without one to go with me, and sometimes to sleep in the same room, lest I should end myself at night; and for the ease and enjoyment of my mind, I was necessitated and did visit about sixty different families, and then set off to Granville circuit, under the care of Sylvester Hutchinson, with Smith Weeks and Joseph Mitchell. Weeks was at first unwilling I should come on the circuit, fearing how I would make out, but seeing I was under trials, consented: accordingly I went round until I came to Suffield. Upon my entering the neighbourhood, falling into conversation with an old man, he invited me to hold a meeting at his house: accordingly I appointed to preach to the youth in the evening; and went to my other appointment not far off. The man of this house shut his door and would entertain no more meetings. This was a trial to me, not knowing what the society would do for a place to meet in.

When I began to meditate what I should say to the youth, I could think of no subject, and felt distressed, and was sorry I had made the appointment.

I withdrew to a field to seek help from the Lord; but I felt as if all the powers of darkness were combined and compassed me about.

When I saw the people began to collect, I thought I would have given the whole world if I possesed it, that the meeting had not been appointed, but as it was now

given out, and circumstances being as they were, I durst do no other than go to the house, I went with this burthen to the house, and by an impression spoke ironically from the words of Solomon, which mightily pleased the youth at first. My burthen was soon gone; the power of God seemed to overshadow the people, as I turned the discourse upon the judgment which the youth must be brought into: and one of the ringleaders was cut to the heart, and brought to seek God. Here a good work broke out, and where about thirty or forty used to * attend, now the congregation was increased to hundreds, and this wilderness seemed to bud and blossom as the rose.

In Northampton, a society was collected likewise, though methodists had not preached there before.

August 6th, after preaching in Conway, I went to Buckland; and when the people saw my youth, and were disappointed of the preacher they expected, they despised me in their hearts. However, God made bare his arm, and I have reason to believe that about thirty persons were stirred up to seek God from this day.

The year past was remarkable for very many persons complaining of uncommon trials of mind from the enemy of souls, and scarcely any revival to be heard of either in Connecticut, Massachusetts, or the upper part of New-York.

The flame kindled and ran into several neighbouring towns, and some hundreds of souls professed to experience the forgiveness of their sins.

A great deal of opposition, both from preachers and people, baptists and presbyterians, were in this quarter; professing to be friends to God and truth, whilst to us they were secret enemies; seeking to get people converted to their way of thinking, and proselyted to their denomination.

I dreamed, one night, that I saw a field without end, and a man and boy striving to gather in the corn, whilst thousands of birds were destroying of it. I thought there was such a necessity for the corn to be gathered, that let the labourers work ever so hard, the labour would not wear out their strength until the harvest was nast.