Wesley Corpus

The people of the town have never been uncivil. Surely they will not always be unfruitful. Mon. 27.--I preached at eight in the market-place at Wigton. The congregation, when I began, consisted of one woman, two boys, and three or four little girls; but in a quarter of an hour we had most of the town. I was a good deal moved at the exquisite self-sufficiency which was visible in the countenance, air, and whole deportment of a con siderable part of them. This constrained me to use a very uncommon plainness of speech. They bore it well. Who knows but some may profit? Before noon we came to Solway-Frith. The guide told us it was not passable; but I resolved to try, and got over well. Having lost ourselves but twice or thrice, in one of the most difficult roads I ever saw, we came to Moffat in the evening. Tuesday, 28. We rode partly over the mountains, partly with mountains on either hand, between which was a clear, winding river, and about four in the afternoon reached Edinburgh. Here I met Mr. Hopper, who had promised to preach in the evening, in a large Room, lately an episcopal meeting-house: Wednesday, 29. It being extremely cold, I preached in the 52 REv. J. wesLEY’s [May, 1761. same Room at seven. Some of the reputable hearers cried out in amaze, “Why, this is sound doctrine ! Is this he of whom Mr. Wh used to talk so?” Talk as he will, I shall not retaliate. I preached again in the evening, and the next day rode round by the Queen’s Ferry to Dundee; but, the wind being high, the boatmen could not, at least would not, pass. Nor could we pass the next day till between nine and ten. We then rode on through Montrose to Stonehaven. Here Mr. Memis met us; and on Saturday morning brought us to his house at Aberdeen. In the afternoon I sent to the Principal and Regent, to desire leave to preach in the College-Close. This was readily granted; but as it began to rain, I was desired to go into the Hall. I suppose this is full an hundred feet long, and seated all around. The congregation was large, notwithstanding the rain, and full as large at five in the morning. Sun.