Wesley Corpus

Monday, JUNE 11. I took a cheerful leave of that loving people; about noon preached at Durham; and in the evening, before Mr. Watson’s door, to a numerous congregation at Stockton. 400 REv. J. weslEY’s [June, 1770, Tuesday, 12. At five I preached in the new House, strangely raised, when the case appeared quite desperate, by God’s touching the heart of a man of substance, who bought the ground and built it without delay. I preached at Norton at noon, and afterwards met those who can “rejoice ever more,” and “pray without ceasing.” We had another com fortable opportunity at Yarm in the evening, where I found a greater number of those who believe God has enabled them to love him with all their heart and soul. Wed. 13.--I preached at Halsey, ten miles from Yarm, and in the evening at Thirsk. Thursday, 14. About two, at Potto; and in the evening at Hutton. Here, as well as else where, those who believe they are saved from sin undergo many trials from their brethren. But so much the more will “the God of all grace, after” they “have suffered a while, stablish, strengthen, and settle” them. Fri. 15.--I was agreeably surprised to find the whole road from Thirsk to Stokesley, which used to be extremely bad, better than most turnpikes. The gentlemen had exerted themselves, and raised money enough to mend it effectually. So they have done for several hundred miles in Scotland, and throughout all Connaught in Ireland; and so they undoubtedly might do throughout all England, without saddling the poor people with the vile imposition of turnpikes for ever. In the afternoon we came to Whitby. Having preached thrice a day for five days, I was willing to preach in the House; but notice had been given of my preaching in the market-place; so I began at six, to a large congregation, most of them deeply attentive. Sat. 16.--I found our Preacher, James Brownfield, had just set up for himself. The reasons he gave for leaving the Methodists were, 1. That they went to church. 2. That they held Perfection. I earnestly desired our society to leave him to God, and say nothing about him, good or bad. In the afternoon I looked over Dr. Priestley’s “English Grammar.” I wonder he would publish it after Bishop Lowth's. Sun. 17.--I met the select society, consisting of sixty-five members.