Wesley Corpus

Surely man shall not long have the upper hand: God will get unto himself the victory. It rained all the day till seven in the evening, when I began preaching at Burslem. Even the poor potters here are a more civilized people than the better sort (so called) at Congleton. A few stood with their hats on, but none spoke a word, or offered to make the least disturbance. Sat. 21.--I rode to Bilbrook, near Wolverhampton, and preached between two and three. Thence we went on to Made ley, an exceeding pleasant village, encompassed with trees and July, 1764.] JOURNAL, 191 hills. It was a great comfort to me to converse once more with a Methodist of the old stamp, denying himself, taking up his cross, and resolved to be “altogether a Christian.” Sun. 22.--At ten Mr. Fletcher read Prayers, and I preached on those words in the Gospel, “I am the good Shepherd: The good Shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep.” The church would nothing near contain the congregation; but a window near the pulpit being taken down, those who could not come in stood in the church-yard, and I believe all could hear. The congregation, they said, used to be much smaller in the afternoon than in the morning; but I could not discern the least difference, either in number or seriousness. I found employment enough for the intermediate hours, in praying with various companies who hung about the house, insatiably hungering and thirsting after the good word. Mr. Grimshaw, at his first coming to Haworth, had not such a prospect as this. There are many adversaries indeed; but yet they cannot shut the open and effectual door. Mon. 23.--The church was pretty well filled even at five, and many stood in the churchyard. In the evening I preached at Shrewsbury, to a large congregation, among whom were several men of fortune. I trust, though hitherto we seem to have been ploughing on the sand, there will at last be some fruit. The next day I spent at Shrewsbury. Wed, 25.--I took horse a little after four, and, about two, preached in the market-house at Llanidloes, two or three and forty miles from Shrewsbury. At three we rode forward through the mountains to the Fountain-head. I was for lodging there; but Mr. B being quite unwilling, we mounted again about seven.