Wesley Corpus

Now, suppose five to stand in a yard square, they would amount to twenty thousand people. I began preaching at Leeds, between five and six, to just such another congregation. This was the hardest day’s work I have had since I left London; being obliged to speak, at each place, from the beginning to the end, to the utmost extent of my voice. But my strength was as my day. Tues. 12.--Our Conference began, and ended on Friday evening. An happier Conference we never had, nor a more profitable one. It was both begun and ended in love, and with a solemn sense of the presence of God. Sun. 17.--After preaching in Leeds at seven, I rode to Birstal, and heard a sound useful sermon, on, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden.” At one I preached to an immense multitude, on, “Come, Lord Jesus!” I then set out for Rotherham; but the next day I turned off from the road I had designed to take, and, going on to Leicester that night, on Wednesday, reached London. It was at the earnest request of , whose heart God has 262 REv. J. wesLEY’s [Aug. 1766. turned again, without any expectation of mine, that I came hither so suddenly: And if no other good result from it but our firm union with Mr. Whitefield, it is an abundant recompence for my labour. My brother and I conferred with him every day; and, let the honourable men do what they please, we resolved, by the grace of God, to go on, hand in hand, through honour and dishonour. Sun. 24.--The chapel was sufficiently crowded, both morning and afternoon, and God was eminently present. In the evening I went to Brentford, and saw a remarkable monument of mercy, --a man who, in the full career of sin, was so hurt by a fall, that there was no hope of his life. But, after deep repentance, God broke in upon his soul, and gave him a better hope; so that he is now little concerned about life or death, but praises God all the day long. Monday, 25. We set out early from Brentford, and reached Bath on Tuesday, in the afternoon. Many were not a little surprised in the evening, at seeing me in the Countess of H.’s chapel.