Wesley Corpus

29.--I rode with James Kershaw through a fruitful country to Kilmarnock, and thence to Ayr. After a short bait May, 1765.] JOURNAL, 209 at Maybole in the afternoon, we went on to Girvan, a little town on the sea-shore. Tuesday, 30. We rode over high and steep mountains, between Ballantrae and Stanrawer; where we met with as good entertainment of every kind as if we had been in the heart of England. We reached Port-Patrick about three o’clock, and were immediately surrounded with men, offering to carry us over the water. But the wind was full in our teeth. I determined to wait till morning, and then go forward or backward, as God should please. Wed. MAY 1.--The wind was quite fair; so, as soon as the tide served, I went on board. It seemed strange to cross the sea in an open boat, especially when the waves ran high. I was a little sick, till I fell asleep. In five hours and an half we reached Donaghadee; but my mare could not land till five hours after, so that I did not reach Newtown till past eight. I spent the next day here, endeavouring to lift up the hands of a poor, scattered, dejected people. In the evening I preached on the Green: Though it was exceeding cold, none of the congregation seemed to regard it. And a few of them do “remember from whence” they “are fallen, and” resolve to “do the first works.” Fri. 3.--I rode on to Lisburn, and in the evening preached in the market-house. The wind was as keen as in December; yet a large congregation attended. I then met what was left of the society; and the spirit of many that were faint revived. Saturday, 4. I preached in the Room at five, which had been discontinued for three years. And this alone would account for the scattering of the people, and the deadness of them that remained. In the evening I preached in the Linen-Hall, so called, a large Square, with piazzas on three sides of it. And so deep an attention I never saw in the people of Lisburn before. Sun. 5.--For the sake of the country people, I delayed the morning preaching till half an hour past mine.