Wesley Corpus

The very thing which Mr. Shinstra calls fanaticism, is no other than heart-religion; in other words, “righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” These must be felt, or they have no being. All, therefore, who condemn inward feelings in the gross, leave no place either for joy, peace, or love in religion; and consequently reduce it to a dry, dead Cal'CaSS. In the evening, I preached in the new, neat preaching-house, to many more than it would contain. The next evening I was constrained to preach abroad. Friday, 16. I returned to Brecknock; and, after spending two comfortable days there, on Monday, 19, rode to Carmarthen. The rain obliged me to preach within. Tuesday, 20. I rode to Haverfordwest; and, in the evening, preached in St. Martin’s church-yard, to a numerous and deeply-attentive congregation. The next evening I strongly applied the story of Dives and Lazarus; and many were almost persuaded to be Christians. I rode, on Thursday, 22, to Dala, a little village at the mouth of Milford-Haven. It seemed to me that our Preachers had bestowed here much pains to little purpose. The people, one and all, seemed as dead as stones,--perfectly quiet, and perfectly unconcerned. I told them just what I thought. It went as a sword to their hearts. They felt the truth, and wept bitterly. I know not where we have found more of the presence of God. Shall we at last have fruit here also ? Fri. 23.--I preached at noon, to a lovely congregation of plain, artless people, at Houghton; and in the Town-Hall at Pembroke, in the evening, to many rich and elegant hearers. Sunday, 25. At ten I began the Service at St. Daniel’s. The 442 Rev. J. wesLEY’s [Sept. 1771. church, as usual, would ill contain the congregation. In the afternoon I preached in Monk-Town church, (one of the three belonging to Pembroke,) a large, old, ruinous building. I suppose it has scarce had such a congregation in it during this century. Many of them were gay, genteel people: So I spake on the first elements of the Gospel. But I was still out of their depth. O how hard it is to be shallow enough for a polite audience | Mon. 26.--I rode to Llanelly, and at six read Prayers, and preached in another large church, almost as ruinous as that at Pembroke.