Wesley Corpus

We rode in the afternoon to Waterford, where our friends had procured a commodious place, inclosed on all sides. I preached thcare three evenings, with great hope of doing good. Our large Room was full every morning. O why should we despair of any souls whom God hath made? Thur. 24.--I looked over that well-wrote book, Mr. Smith’s “State of the County and City of Waterford.” He plainly shows, that twelve hundred years ago Ireland was a flourishing kingdom. It seems to have been declining almost ever since; especially after it was torn into several independent kingdoms. Thenceforward it grew more and more wild and barbarous, for several hundred years. In Queen Elizabeth’s time it began to revive; and it increased greatly both in trade and inhabitants, till the deadly blow which commenced on October 23, 1641. Three hundred thousand Protestants, by a moderate computation, were then destroyed in less than a year; and more than twice as many Papists, within a few years following: Most of these were adults; and this was a loss which the nation has not recovered yet. Nay, it will probably require another century, to restore the number of inhabitants it had before. Fri. 25.--I preached once more near the barracks in Clonmell, and the next morning took horse at four. About eleven the sun was scorching hot, till a little cloud rose and covered us till we were near Rathcormuck. Here we rested two hours, and then rode on (mostly shaded by flying clouds) to Cork. Sun. 27.--The House was well filled; but I expect small increase of the work of God till we preach abroad. Thursday, 31. I rode to Bandon; but my good old friend, Mrs. Jones, 12 REv. J. weslEY’s [Aug. 1760. did not stay for my coming. She was released out of life some weeks ago, in the seventy-second year of her age. I preached, as usual, in the main street, to a large and attentive congregation. And they were nearly doubled the next evening; yet all behaved with the utmost decency. The market obliged me to preach in the House on Saturday in the afternoon; a very neat and lightsome building. Having spent the time proposed here, with much satisfaction, in the evening I returned to Cork.