Wesley Corpus

About six I began in the street at Bolton. The wind was then high, and cold enough; but I soon forgot it, and so did most of the people, being almost as thirsty as those at Brimsley. When I began on Sunday, in the afternoon, the wind was exceeding sharp; but it fell in a few moments, and we had a mild, agreeable summer evening. Mon. 14.--I preached at Middleton, six miles from Man chester. A sharp shower of hail began in the middle of the sermon; but scarce any went away. Tuesday, 15. We rode to Chapel-en-le-Frith. We had a rough salutation in riding through the town; at the end of which a multitude of people being gathered together in a convenient meadow, I preached on, “By grace are ye saved through faith.” God spoke in his word. It was an acceptable time, and few went empty away. In riding over the dreary mountains of the High-Peak we met with several storms: But we were no worse when we came to Rotherham, where I preached in the evening. The spirit of the congregation was able to enliven the dullest Preacher. Indeed it was good to be here. Wednesday, 16. About two in the afternoon, I had another kind of congregation at Doncaster, wild and stupid enough. Yet all were tolerably civil, many attentive, and some affected. Thence we hasted to Epworth. Here I took knowledge of the same spirit as at Rotherham. What a blessing is it, to be with those who are alive to God! But how few duly value this blessing ! Fri. 18.--I set out for the eastern part of Lincolnshire, and after preaching at Awkborough and Barrow in the way, came the next day to our old friends at Grimsby. It put me in mind of Purrysburg, in Georgia. It was one of the largest towns in the county: It is no bigger than a middling village, containing a small number of half-starved inhabitants, without any trade, either foreign or domestic. But this they have; they love the Gospel, hardly six families excepted. And a large proportion of them have found “it is the power of God unto salvation.” Mon. 21.--Between nine and ten I began preaching in an open place at Louth. The mob here used to be exceeding boisterous; but none now opened his mouth.