7. But he was quickly called from hence again to supply the cure of _Dummer_ in _Hampshire_. Here he read prayers twice a day, early in the morning, and in the evening, after the people came from work. He also daily catechized the children, and visited from house to house. He now divided the day into three parts, alloting eight hours for sleep and meals, eight for study and retirement, and eight for reading prayers, catechizing, and visiting the people.――Is there a more excellent way for a servant of Christ and his church? If not, Who will _go and do likewise_?
8. Yet his mind still ran on going abroad. And being now fully convinced he was called of God thereto, he set all things in order, and in _January_ 1737, went down to take leave of his friends in _Glocester_. It was in this journey that God began to bless his ministry in an uncommon manner. Wherever he preached, amazing multitudes of hearers flocked together, in _Glocester_, in _Stonehouse_, in _Bath_, in _Bristol_: so that the heat of the churches was scarce supportable. And the impressions made on the minds of many, were no less extraordinary. After his return to _London_, while he was detained by General _Oglethorpe_, from week to week, and from month to month, it pleased God to bless his word still more. And he was indefatigable in his labour: generally on _Sunday_ he preached four times, to exceeding large auditories; beside reading prayers twice or thrice, and walking to and fro, often ten or twelve miles.
9. On _December_ 28, he left _London_. It was on the 29th that he first preached without notes. _December_ 30, he went on board; but it was above a month before they cleared the land. One happy effect of their very slow passage, he mentions in _April_ following: “Blessed be God, we now live very comfortably in the great cabbin. We talk of little else but God and Christ: and scarce a word is heard among us when together, but what has reference to our fall in the first, and our new birth in the second _Adam_.” It seems likewise to have been a peculiar providence, that he should spend a little time at _Gibraltar_; where both citizens and soldiers, high and low, young and old, acknowledged the day of their visitation.
10. From _Sunday_, _May_ 7, 1738, till the latter end of _August_ following, he _made full proof of his ministry_ in _Georgia_, particularly at _Savannah_: he read prayers and expounded twice a day and visited the sick daily. On _Sunday_ he expounded at five in the morning; at ten read prayers and preached, and at three in the afternoon: and at seven in the evening expounded the church-catechism. How much easier is it for our brethren in the ministry, either in _England_, _Scotland_, or _Ireland_, to find fault with such a labourer in our Lord’s vineyard, than to tread in his steps?
11. It was now that he observed the deplorable condition of many children here; and that God put into his heart the first thought of founding an _Orphan-house_: for which he determined to raise contributions in _England_, if God should give him a safe return thither. In _December_ following he did return to _London_: and on _Sunday_, _January_ the 14th, 1739, he was ordained priest at _Christ-Church_, _Oxford_. The next day he came to _London_ again: and on _Sunday_ the 21st preached twice. But though the churches were large, and crouded exceedingly, yet many hundreds stood in the churchyard, and hundreds more returned home. This put him upon the first thought of preaching in the open air. But when he mentioned it to some of his friends, they judged it to be mere madness. So he did not carry it into execution, till after he had left _London_. It was on _Wednesday_, _February_ 21, that finding all the church-doors to be shut in _Bristol_, (beside that no church was able to contain one half of the congregation) at three in the afternoon he went to _Kingswood_, and preached abroad, to near two thousand people. On _Friday_ he preached there to four or five thousand; and on _Sunday_ to (it was supposed) ten thousand. The number continually increased all the time he stayed at _Bristol_. And a flame of holy love was kindled, which will not easily be put out. The same was afterwards kindled in various parts of _Wales_, of _Glocestershire_, and _Worcestershire_. Indeed ♦wherever he went, God abundantly confirmed the word of his messenger.
♦ ‘whereever’ replaced with ‘wherever’