Wesley Corpus

I preached in the new Room, which is just finished, at Upton; and thence rode on to Worcester, where I preached in a large, old, awkward place, to a crowded and much-affected audience. Afterwards I met the society of about an hundred members, all of one heart and one mind; so lovingly and closely united together, that I have scarce seen the like in the kingdom. Thur. 15.--I met the select society. How swiftly has God deepened his work in these ! I have seen very few, either in Bristol or London, who are more clear in their experience. The account all whom I had time to examine gave, was scriptural and rational: And, suppose they spoke true, they are witnesses of the Perfection which I preach. Yet, that they may fall therefrom I know; but that they must, I utterly deny. After preaching at Evesham about noon, we rode through a furious shower of snow, driven full in our faces, to Broad marston. The very uncommon severity of the weather somewhat lessened the congregation in the evening. All who were there seemed prepared for that awful subject, “I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God.” Sat.17.--We rode, in another bitter day, with the wind and snow just in our face, to Birmingham. In the evening the people were wedged in as close as possible; yet many were obliged to go away. We had just the same congregation in the morning. Sunday, 18. At half-hour after one I was to preach at Bromwich-Heath; but the House would scarce contain a fourth part of the congregation. So I made a virtue March, 1770.] JOURNAL, 389 of necessity, and preached in a ground where there was room for all that came : And I believe God kindled a fire in many frozen hearts. In the evening I preached in the House at Wednesbury a funeral sermon for Elizabeth Longmore; I think, the first witness of Christian Perfection whom God raised up in these Parts. I gave some account of her experience many years ago. From that time her whole life was answerable to her profession, every way holy and unblamable. Frequently she had not bread to eat; but that did not hinder her “rejoicing ever more.” She had close trials from her poor, apostate husband, in the midst of sharp pain, and pining sickness.