Wesley Corpus

For this service he demanded ten shillings. I gave him half-a-crown. When I informed the Court of this, he was sharply reproved: Let all beware of these land-sharks on our sea-coasts !--My scraps of time this week I employed in reading the account of Commodore Byron. I never before read of any who endured such hardships, and survived them. Sure no Novel in the world can be more affecting, or more surprising, than this history. Mon. APRIL 3.--I took horse at four; and notwith standing the north-east wind, came to Newry before five in the evening. It was so extremely cold, that the congregation in the market-house was but small. The next evening it was considerably increased. Wednesday, 5. I rode to Terry hugan, where the poor people had raised a tent (so called) to screen me from the north wind. I urged them, with much enlargement of heart, not to receive the grace of God in vain. Thence we rode to Lisburn. The wind was still piercing cold; yet it did not hinder a multitude of people from attending at the Linen-hall; an open Square so termed, as are all the Linen-halls in Ireland. Thur. 6.--I designed to preach at noon in the market-house at Belfast; but it was pre-engaged by a dancing-master: So I stood in the street, which doubled the congregation; to whom I strongly declared, “All have sinned, and are come short of the glory of God.” But this many of them had no ears to hear, being faithful followers of Dr. Taylor. Coming to Carrickfergus, I found it was the time of the Quarter Sessions. This greatly increased the congregation; and most of them seemed to be deeply affected, rich as well as poor. Friday, 7. I preached at eleven, and, I believe, all 358 REv. J. WESLEY’s [April, 1769. the gentlemen in the town were present. So were all at Newtown in the evening, while I enforced those solemn words, “God now commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent.” Sat. 8.--I returned to Lisburn, where I was agreeably surprised by a visit from Mr. Higginson, Rector of Ballinderry. He said, “I was prejudiced in favour of the Moravians, settled in my parish, till the late affair. One of my parishioners, Mr.