There was a great stir among the people in this place; for the fear of the Lord had fallen on them, so that they were solemnized exceedingly, and many were converted.

The vicar being somewhat timid, began to be afraid of what was going on; and wrote to ask counsel of a clerical neighbour at C—­, who answered his letter by inviting him to come over, and bring me with him.  He said that he wanted me to preach in his church on the following Friday evening, adding, “I have already given notice, and also read parts of your letter in church.  I am sure the people will come and hear this man; I expect a large congregation.  Be sure and bring him over; do not disappoint me on any account!”

Accordingly, on the Friday we appeared there, and in the evening I preached to a large and attentive assembly.  Many were awakened, and some remained behind to be spoken with; others, who were too shy to do so, went home; and we heard the next morning that several had had no sleep or rest all night.  Three men, whom we saw in the morning, had found peace.  After this, we drove slowly back to G—­, but a messenger had arrived before us, and said that I must come back again with him, for the bills were already out that I would preach on Sunday and following days at C——.  The vicar was most reluctant to let me go, but under these circumstances, he at last consented; so I went back in the carriage the messenger had brought for that purpose.

At the Sunday morning service, the manner and tone of the people, and their eager attention, implied that something was going to happen.  There was a deeply solemn feeling in the church, both morning and evening, which made it very easy to preach.  In the course of my sermon, I know not why, I was led to Speak about the endless misery of hell; and some who were present said I asserted, “That there was a great clock in hell, with a large dial, but no hands to mark the progress of time:  it had a pendulum which swung sullenly and slowly from side to side, continually saying, ‘Ever! never!’ ‘Ever! never!’” *

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* Both Bridaine and Krummacher have expressed somewhat the same idea.
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This seemed to make a profound sensation among the people:  many stayed to the after-meeting-they would not go away until they had been spoken with.  Among others, the churchwarden came to me in a very excited state, and said, “What ever made you say, ’Now or never!—­now or never!’?” He was like one beside himself with emotion when he thought of the pendulum which I had described.  “Now or never!—­now or never!” he kept on repeating to himself, till at last he went away.  He was far too excited to talk of anything else, or to listen either.