Wesley Corpus

16.--I rode to Newmarket, which was another German settlement. But the poor settlers, with all their diligence and frugality, could not procure even the coarsest food to eat, and the meanest raiment to put on, under their merciful landlords: So that most of these, as well as those at Ballygarane, have been forced to seek bread in other places; some of them in distant parts of Ireland, but the greater part in America. Thur. 17.--I met the classes at Limerick, and found a considerable decrease. And how can it be otherwise, wher. vice flows as a torrent, unless the children of God are all life, zeal, activity? In hopes of quickening them, I preached at seven in the old camp, to more than twice the usual congre gation; which the two next evenings was more numerous still, and equally attentive. I was well pleased to see a little army of soldiers there, and not a few of their Officers. Nor did they behave as unconcerned hearers, but like men that really desired to save their souls. Sun. 20.--I took my leave of that comfortable place, where some thousands of people were assembled. I have seen no such sight since I came to the kingdom. They not only filled all the lower ground, but completely covered the banks that surround it, though they stood as close as possible. I exhorted them to “ask for the old paths, and walk therein,” that they might “find rest to ” their “souls.” We had after wards a solemn meeting of the society, in confidence that God would revive his work. July, 1760.] JOURNAL. 11 Mon. 21.--I left Limerick, and about noon preached at Shronill, near a great house which a gentleman built many years ago: But he cannot yet afford to finish it, having only thirty thousand a year, and some hundred thousands in ready money ! The beggars but a common lot deplore: The rich-poor man’s emphatically poor. At six I preached at the camp near Caire, to a large and serious congregation of soldiers. Thence we rode on to Clonmell, where I preached, near the barracks, at eight in the morning, to a wild, staring people; but quiet perforce; for the soldiers kept them in awe. We rode in the afternoon to Waterford, where our friends had procured a commodious place, inclosed on all sides.