Wesley Corpus

16.--I had observed to the society last week, that I had not seen one congregation ever in Ireland behave so ill at church as that at Athlone, laughing, talking, and staring about during the whole service. I had added, “This is your fault; for if you had attended the church, as you ought to have done, your presence and example would not have failed to influence the whole congregation.” And so it appeared: 1 saw not one to-day either laughing, talking, or staring about; but a remarkable seriousness was spread from the one cnd of the church to the other. Mon. 17.--I preached at Ahaskra to all the Protestants in 94 REv. J. wesLEY’s [May, 1762. or near the town. But their Priests would not suffer the Papists to come. What could a Magistrate do in this case? Doubtless he might tell the Priest, “Sir, as you enjoy liberty of conscience, you shall allow it to others. You are not persecuted yourself: You shall not persecute them.” Tues. 18.--I preached at Ballinasloe about ten in the morning, and in the evening at Aghrim. Thursday, 20. I rode on to Hollymount. The sun was extremely hot, so that I was much exhausted. But after a little rest, I preached in the church-yard without any weariness. Fri. 21.--I preached at Balcarrow church at ten to a deeply serious congregation, and in the Court-House at Castlebar in the evening. Sunday, 23. The chief family in the town made a part of our congregation. And whether they received any benefit thereby or no, their example may bring others who will receive it. Mon. 24.--I went with two friends, to see one of the greatest natural wonders in Ireland,--Mount-Eagle, vulgarly called Crow-Patrick. The foot of it is fourteen miles from Castlebar. There we left our horses, and procured a guide. It was just twelve when we alighted; the sun was burning hot, and we had not a breath of wind. Part of the ascent was a good deal steeper than an ordinary pair of stairs. About two we gained the top, which is an oval, grassy plain, about an hundred and fifty yards in length, and seventy or eighty in breadth. The upper part of the mountain much resembles the Peak of Teneriffe. I think it cannot rise much less than a mile perpendicular from the plain below.