Wesley Corpus

Wednesday, 3. At ten I preached to a small congregation, a mile from Belfast, and in the market-place there at twelve. I never saw so large a congregation there before, nor one so remarkably stupid and ill-mannered: Yet a few should be excepted, even gentlemen, who seemed to know sense from nonsense. I have found as sensible men at Dublin as at Belfast; but men so self-sufficient I have not found. I preached at Carrickfergus in the evening; and Thursday, 4, went on to Lurn, and preached at nine in the main street, to a very attentive congregation. Thence I rode to Glenarm. The preaching began here in an uncommon manner:--Some months since, John Smith, now with God, was pressed in spirit July, 1771.] JOURNAL. 439 to go and preach there, though he knew no one in the town. Near it he overtook a young lady riding behind a servant; and on her saying it was a very wicked place, he asked, “Are there no good men there?” She said, “Yes; there is one, William Hunter.” He rode into the town, and inquired for William Hunter's house. When he came to the door, a young woman was sweeping the house. He asked her name, and, being answered “Betty Hunter,” alighted, and said, “Betty, take my horse to an inn, and tell every one you meet, “A gentleman at our house has good news to tell you, at seven o'clock.’” At seven the house was well filled. John preached to them twice a day for nine days; but when he took his leave, he had only three pence: However, he asked the landlady, “What is to pay for my horse?” “Nothing, Sir,” said the woman: “A gentleman has paid all; and will do, if you stay a month.” I preached near the market-house about noon, to a large number of decent hearers; but to a much larger, in the market house at Ballymena, in the evening. Friday, 5. I rode to Ballinderry, and found an earnest, simple-hearted people. A great multitude here “received the word with all readiness of mind.” A specimen of the society, consisting of about fifty members, I had in the house where I dined; wherein a father and mother, with a son and five daughters, were all walking in the light of God’s countenance.