Wesley Corpus

4.--I found near Swadlinbar, as artless, as earnest, and as loving a people as even at Tonny-Lommon. About six I preached at the town's end, the very Papists appearing as attentive as the Protestants; and I doubt not thousands of these would soon be zealous Christians, were it not for their wretched Priests, who will not enter into the kingdom o God themselves, and diligently hinder those that would. Fri. 5.--I rode over the Black Mountains to Manorhamil ton; so called from a poor wretch who settled here in the last century, and was famous for nothing else but hanging up ll the Irish who fell into his hands. There was a general love to the Gospel here, till simple R. W. preached against the Clergy. It is strange every one does not see, 1. The sinfulness of railing at the Clergy; if they are blind leaders of the blind, then (says our Lord) “Let them alone:” 2. The foolishness of it. It never can do good; and has frequently done much harm. 362 REv. J. WESLEY’s [May, 1769. At six I preached to a large congregation in the Sessions House. All behaved well, but one young gentlewoman, who laughed almost incessantly. She knew there was nothing to laugh at; but she thought she laughed prettily. Sat. 6.--In the evening I preached near the market-house in Sligo, to a large and tolerably quiet congregation; but I soon found I was shooting over their heads, in talking of Salvation by Faith: So, at eight in the morning, Sunday, 7, I suited myself to their capacity, by preaching on, “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” The effect was, that the evening congregation was such as I had not seen here for many years. Mon. 8.--I rode to Castlebar, and at seven preached in the Court-House. Tuesday, 9. I dined at Sir C. B.'s, who asked me if it would be convenient for me to give them a sermon in his hall. We sent to the Court-House, and the people who were waiting there came up without delay. The family were in the parlour, the bulk of the congregation in the hall and the long passage. Wednesday, 10. I preached in the Court House, on, “Put on the whole armour of God;” and taking horse early in the morning, Thursday, 11, rode to Galway.