Wesley Corpus

In examining this society, I found much reason to bless God on their behalf. They diligently observe all the Rules of the society, with or without a Preacher. They constantly attend the church and sacrament, and meet together at the times appointed. The consequence is, that thirty out of thirty-five, their whole number, continue to walk in the light of God’s countenance. Mon. 8.--A gentleman followed me to my inn at St. Columb, and carried me to his house, where were three or four more as friendly as himself. One of them rode with me seven or eight miles, and gave me a pleasing account of two young Clergymen, Mr. C and Mr. Phelps, who had the 16 REV. J. WESLEY’s [Sept. 1760. care of three adjoining parishes. Surely God has a favour for the people of these parts ! He gives them so serious, zealous, lively Ministers. By these and the Methodists together, the line is now laid, with no inconsiderable interruption, all along the north sea, from the eastern point of Cornwall to the Land’s End. In a while, I trust, there will be no more cause on these coasts to accuse Britannos hospitibus feros.” The congregation at St. Agnes in the evening was, I suppose, double to that at Port-Isaac. We had near as many, Tuesday, 9, at five in the morning, as the preaching house could contain. Afterward I examined the society, and was surprised and grieved to find that, out of ninety-eight persons, all but three or four had forsaken the Lord’s Table. I told them my thoughts very plain: They seemed convinced, and promised no more to give place to the devil. Wed. 10.--I had much conversation with Mr. Phelps; a man of an humble, loving, tender spirit. Between him on the one hand, and the Methodists on the other, most in the parish are now awakened. Let but our brethren have “zeal according to knowledge,” and few will escape them both. When I came to St. Ives, I was determined to preach abroad; but the wind was so high, I could not stand where I had intended. But we found a little inclosure near it, one end of which was native rock, rising ten or twelve feet perpen dicular, from which the ground fell with an easy descent.