with you.  I could see you very plainly, just as if it had not been dark, and you were talking about Jesus and His love to sinners.  I liked your words very much, and was so taken up with them that I do not know when it became light; for now I could see the rough common, and a path, and we were walking in it.  Going along this path, we came to a wall, and I could not go any further; but you walked on as if there were no wall.  Presently you stopped, and, turning to me, said, ’Why don’t you come on?’

“I answered, ‘I cannot.’”

“Why not?”

“Because there is a wall here.”

“No,” you said, “there is no wall—­it is an open door.”

“I was surprised at you saying that, for I feel the wall and see it.”

“What would you do if there was no wall?  Do that.  It is not a wall, but a door,” you said; “walk forward!”

“When I ventured forward I found your were true.  It was, indeed, an open way, leading into a beautiful garden.  I was very happy, and said, ’Whose garden is this?’

“You answered, ’It is the Lord’s, and you are to dress it and work in it.”

“Then I saw the Lord Himself.  He came forward, and bidding me welcome, said that you should teach me for three years.  Then I awoke.”

From this extraordinary narration I gathered three things for myself.

First, that God intended me to come to this place.  Secondly, that I was to labour here for three years.  Thirdly, that I was to teach the people not to wait for feelings, but to act upon the Word of God.

This last intimation was so clearly signified by William’s dream, that it came upon me with striking force.  I had been speaking on this very subject more than once, and had ventured so far as to say that I thought this delusion about waiting for feelings was from the devil, to hinder the work of God in the soul.  It certainly did hinder us, very much; and, moreover, it was most distressing to see people, who were manifestly impressed under the power of a present God, waiting for Him; because they did not feel some token, which they had set their minds upon.  Day by day souls were being given in the Church, and also in the cottage meetings; so that I could not help seeing that the Lord had begun to use me again.  Some came to the meetings who had been awakened under the ordinary preaching of the Gospel; some because others brought them; and some out of curiosity.  One of the latter cases I will mention.

A married woman, N. R—­, heard people talking of the work which was going on.  It seemed to her to be such a strange thing in connection with a Church minister, that she came to a cottage meeting to judge for herself, without the remotest idea of being converted.  God’s ways are not as ours; while she was listening, the word reached her with power, so that she was convicted and converted, and came out of that cottage a rejoicing believer, lost in wonder, love and praise.  She was indeed strikingly and manifestly changed, and did not hide it.  It was such a joy and surprise to her that she could not help telling every one.  Out of the abundance of her heart her lips spoke to tell of the loving kindness of the Lord.