to aid me in procuring change of air. How kind is the Lord in
thus providing me with the means of leaving Bristol! September 2. Went
with my family to Portishead. September 3 to 5. I read the lives of the
English martyrs at the time of the reformation. My spirit has been greatly
refreshed. May the Lord help me to follow these holy men as far as they
followed Christ! Of all reading, besides that of the Holy Scriptures,
which should be always THE book, THE CHIEF book to us, not merely in
theory, but also in practice, such like books seem to me the most useful
for the growth of the inner man. Yet one has to be cautious in the choice,
and to guard against reading too much. At such a time as the present, when
my mind and body are too weak for much exertion, as the study of the Word,
conversation, writing letters, or walking, &c., I find it most refreshing
to read a few pages of this kind, though these last six years I have not
read the fifth part, perhaps not the tenth part as much of other books as
of the Holy Scriptures.

September 14. We are still at Portishead. I am but little better. I am
greatly bowed down today on account of my inward corruptions and carnality
of heart. When will God deliver me from this state?! How I long to be more
like Him! My present way of living is also a great trial to me. The caring
so much about the body; the having for my chief employment eating and
drinking, walking, bathing, and taking horse exercise; all this to which I
have not been at all accustomed these six years, I find to be very trying.
I would much rather be again in the midst of the work in Bristol, if my
Lord will condescend to use His most unworthy servant.

September 15. As I clearly understood that the person, who lets me his
horse, has no license, I saw, that being bound as a believer to act
according to the laws of the country, I could use it no longer: and as
horse exercise seems most important, humanly speaking, for my restoration,
and as this is the only horse, which is to be had in the place, we came to
the conclusion to leave Portishead tomorrow. Immediately after, I received
a kind letter from a brother and two sisters in the Lord, who lived in the
Isle of Wight, which contained a fourth invitation, more pressing than
ever, to come and stay with them for some time. In addition to this, they
wrote that they had repeatedly prayed about the matter, and were persuaded
that I ought to come. This matter has been today a subj