Wesley Corpus

Matthias's Day. I then rode back to a large Room, which is taken in Redriff, above three miles from London Bridge. Although the people were strangely squeezed together, yet they appeared to be all attention. Not a cough was to be heard. I strongly exhorted them to “call upon the Lord while he is near.” And when I had concluded, no one offered to move, but every one stood still in his place, till I had passed through them. Fri. 26.--I translated from the French one of the most useful tracts I ever saw, for those who desire to be “fervent in spirit.” How little does God regard men’s opinions ! What a multitude of wrong opinions are embraced by all the members of the Church of Rome! Yet how highly favoured have many of them been I Mon. 29.--I dined at Mr. M ’s. His strangeness is now gone. He has drank of my cup. Reproach has at length found out him also. Afterwards I spent an hour at Mr. G ’s. I can trust myself about once a year in this warm sunshine; but not much oftener, or I should melt away. Sun. MARCH 6.--In the evening I went to Brentford, and on Tuesday, 8, I reached Bristol, where I did not find any decay in the work of God, though it did not go on so vigorously as at Kingswood. Here the meetings for prayer had been exceedingly blessed; some were convinced or converted almost daily; and near seventy new members had been added to the society in about three months’ time. The school likewise is in a flourishing condition. Several of the children continue serious; and all of them are in better order than they have been for some years. March, 1768.] JOURNAL, 313 Mon. 14.--I set out on my northern journey, and preached at Stroud in the evening. Tuesday, 15. About noon I preached at Painswick, and in the evening at Gloucester. The mob here was for a considerable time both noisy and mischievous. But an honest Magistrate, taking the matter in hand, quickly tamed the beasts of the people. So may any Magistrate, if he will; so that wherever a mob continues any time, all they do is to be imputed not so much to the rabble as to the Justices. Wed.