Wesley Corpus

A few soon gathered together, and their number increased all the time I was preaching. Only one young man behaved amiss, striving to divert them that were near him; but they would not be diverted: So that after a while he grew serious too. In the evening we came once more to Newcastle. On Saturday I rode to Sunderland; and at eight the next morning preached at the east end of the town, to a huge multitude, the greater part of whom had little thought of God or devil. Thence we returned to Gateshead-Fell, where was a multitude of another kind, ripe for the whole Gospel. Here, therefore, as well as at the Garth-Heads about five, I enlarged on those solemn words, “To-day, if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” Mon. 7.--I rode to Durham, and preached about noon on our Lord’s lamentation over Jerusalem. In the evening, the rain hindering me from preaching in the street, at Hartlepool, I 256 REv. J. wesDEY’s [July, 1766. had a large congregation in the assembly-room. Many of them were present again in the morning, and seemed “almost persuaded to be Christians.” Tues. 8.--While I was preaching at Stockton, a drunken man made some disturbance. I turned and spoke strongly to him. He stood reproved, and listened with much attention. Wednesday, 9. We had our Quarterly Meeting at Yarm. The societies in this Circuit increase; that is, among the poor; for the rich, generally speaking, “care for none of these things.” Thur. 10.--About two in the afternoon, I preached at Potto, and in the evening at Hutton-Rudby. Here is the largest society in these parts, and the most alive to God. After spending some time with them all, I met those apart who believe they are saved from sin. I was agreeably surprised. I think not above two, out of sixteen or seventeen whom I examined, have lost the direct witness of that salvation ever since they experienced it. Fri. 11.--I preached at five, on the spies who “brought up an evil report” on the good land. I breakfasted at ’s, and met with a very remarkable family. He himself, his wife, and three of his daughters, are a pattern to all round about them. About nine I preached in the new House at Stokesley; but it would by no means contain the congregation.