Wesley Corpus

But when we had rode three or four miles, I recollected that I had heard speak of a ford, which would save us some miles’ riding. We inquired of an old man, who soon mounted his horse, showed us the way, and rode through the river before us. Soon after my mare dropped a shoe, which occasioned so much loss of time, that we could not ride the sands, but were obliged to go round, through a miserable road, to Llanellos. To mend the matter, our guide lost his way, both before we came to Llanellos and after; so that it was as much as we could do, to reach Bocher-Ferry, a little after sunset. Knowing it was impossible then to reach Penreese, as we designed, we went on straight to Swansea. Sat. 27.--I preached at seven to one or two hundred people, many of whom seemed full of good desires. But as there is no society, I expect no deep or lasting work. Mr. Evans now gave me an account from his own knowledge, of what has made a great noise in Wales:--“It is common in the congregations, attended by Mr. W. W., and one or two other Clergymen, after the preaching is over, for any one that has a mind, to give out a verse of an hymn. This they sing over and over with all their might, perhaps above thirty, yea, forty times. Meanwhile the bodies of two or three, sometimes ten or Aug. 1763.] JOURNAL. 145 twelve are violently agitated; and they leap up and down, in all manner of postures, frequently for hours together.” I think, there needs no great penetration to understand this. They are honest, upright men, who really feel the love of God in their hearts. But they have little experience, either of the ways of God, or the devices of Satan. So he serves himself of their simplicity, in order to wear them out, and to bring a discredit on the work of God. About two I preached at Cowbridge, in the Assembly room, and then went on to Llandaff. The congregation was waiting; so I began without delay, explaining to them the righteousness of faith.