Wesley Corpus

Fri. 28.--I preached at Stow-in-the-Wold about ten, to a very dull, quiet congregation; and in the evening to almost such another, at Gloucester. Saturday, 29. We rode to Brecknock. Sunday, 30. One of Trevecka gave us a strange account:--A young woman, who served as dairy-maid there, was beloved by all the family. She was loving to every one, never angry, never out of humour. That morning she was much happier, and had a fuller manifestation of the love of God than ever. As she was coming through the entry, a lad met her with a gun in his hand, which he did not know was charged. He presented it, and said, “Nanny, I will shoot you.” The gun went off, and shot her through the heart. She fell on her face, and, without any struggle or groan, immediately expired. I preached at eight to a large and serious congregation, and on the Bulwarks at five. A multitude of people attended; and even the Gentry seemed, for the present, almost persuaded to be Christians. Mon. 31.--I rode to Carmarthen, and, a little before six, went down to the Green. The congregation was near as large as that at Brecknock, but nothing so gay; being almost all poor or middling people. To these, therefore, I directly preached the Gospel. They heard it with greediness; and though I was faint and weary when I began, I was soon as a giant refreshed with wine. Tues. SEPTEMBER 1.--I rode on to Pembroke, and, this and the next evening, preached in the main street, to far more than the House could have contained. In the mornings we were within. Wednesday, 2. Upon inquiry, I found the work of God in Pembrokeshire had been exceedingly hindered, chiefly by Mr. Davies's Preachers, who had continually inveighed against ours, and thereby frightened abundance of people from hearing, or coming near them. This had some times provoked them to retort, which always made a bad matter worse. The advice, therefore, which I gave them was, 1. Let all the people sacredly abstain from backbiting, tale-bearing, evil-speaking: 2. Let all our Preachers abstain from returning railing for railing, either in public or in private; as well as from disputing: 3. Let them never preach controversy, but plain, practical, and experimental religion. Thur. 3.-About noon I preached at Lamphy, a village Sept. 1767.] JOURNAL, 297 two miles from Pembroke.