Wesley Corpus

The Curate preached a very harmless sermon against the Methodists. Between one and two I preached at Westwood-side, om, “Behold, now is the day of salvation l’’ And it seemed as if all had ears to hear. About four I began in the market-place at Epworth, on, “He beheld the city, and wept over it.” And such a call I think the inhabitants of this town have scarce ever had before. Mon. 28.--I preached at Thorne. Although a great part of the congregation had never heard one preach under a tree May, 1766.] JOURNAL, 249 before, yet they behaved extremely well. Before we came to York, I was thoroughly tired; but my strength quickly returned; so that, after preaching to a large congregation, and meeting the society, I was fresher than when I began. Tues. 29.--I preached at noon in the new House at Thirsk, almost equal to that at Yarm: And why not quite, seeing they had the model before their eyes, and had nothing to do but to copy after it? Is it not an amazing weakness, that when they have the most beautiful pattern before them, all builders will affect to mend something? So the je ne sgai quoi is lost, and the second building scarce ever equals the first. I preached at Yarm in the evening, and the next at New castle. I know not to what it is owing, that I have felt more weariness this spring, than I had done before for many years; unless to my fall at Christmas, which perhaps weakened the springs of my whole machine more than I was sensible of. Thur. MAY 1.--I enjoyed a little rest. I do not find the least change in this respect. I love quietness and silence as well as ever; but if I am called into noise and tumult, all is well. Sun. 4.--The rain constrained me to preach in the Room, both in the morning and evening. But it was fair at two while I preached abroad at the Fell, where the Room could not contain one half of the congregation. Tues. 6.--I rode to Sunderland. On Wednesday and Thursday evening, I preached in Monkwearmouth church. Saturday, 10. I spent an agreeable hour at a Quaker's, a man of large substance. His spirit put me in mind of Thomas Keene. May thy last end be like his ! Sun.