Wesley Corpus

None had yet preached abroad in this furious town; but I was resolved, with God’s help, to make a trial, and ordered a table to be set in the inn-yard. Such a number of wild men I have seldom seen; 48 Rev. J. wesley’s [March, 1761. but they gave me no disturbance, either while I preached, or when I afterwards walked through the midst of them. About five I preached to a far larger congregation at Dudley, and all as quiet as at London. The scene is changed, since the dirt and stones of this town were flying about me on every side. Wed. 18.--By talking with several at Wednesbury, I found God is carrying on his work here as at London. We have ground to hope, one prisoner was set at full liberty under the sermon on Saturday morning; another under that on Saturday evening. One or more received remission of sins on Sunday; on Monday morning another, and on Wednesday yet another believed the blood of Jesus Christ had cleansed him from all sin. In the evening I could scarce think but more than one heard Him say, “I will; be thou clean l’” Indeed so wonderfully was He present till near midnight, as if He would have healed the whole congregation. Thur. 19.--After preaching at Bilbrook I rode on to Burslem, and preached at half-hour past five, in an open place on the top of the hill, to a large and attentive congregation; though it rained almost all the time, and the air was extremely cold. The next morning, (being Good-Friday,) I did not preach till eight. But even then, as well as in the evening, the cold considerably lessened the congregation. Such is human wisdom | So small are the things which divert mankind from what might be the means of their eternal salvation | Sat. 21.--About ten I preached at Biddulph, and about six at Congleton. Sunday, 22. About one I preached at Macclesfield, near the preaching-house. The congregation was large, though the wind was sharp. But it was more than doubled after the evening service, while I opened and enforced the solemn declaration, “Him hath God exalted with his own right hand, to be a Prince and a Saviour.” In the evening I rode on to Manchester. Mon.