Wesley Corpus

However, for the sake of the people, I accepted the offer, though I might just as well have preached in the open air. I suppose four times as many people were present, as would have been at the Room: And about an hundred in the morning. So I did not repent of my journey through the snow. 452 REv. J. weslEY’s [Feb. 1772. Fri. 17.--The usual road being blocked up with snow, we were obliged to take a by-road to Hertford. I found the poor children whom Mr. A. kept at school, were increased to about thirty boys, and thirty girls. I went in immediately to the girls. As soon as I began to speak, some of them burst into tears, and their emotion rose higher and higher; but it was kept within bounds till I began to pray. A cry then arose, which spread from one to another, till almost all cried aloud for mercy, and would not be comforted. But how was the scene changed, when I went to the boys! They seemed as dead as stones, and scarce appeared to mind any thing that was said: Nay, some of them could hardly refrain from laughter. However, I spoke on, and set before them the terrors of the Lord. Presently one was cut to the heart; soon after, another and another: And in ten minutes, the far greater part of them were little less affected than the girls had been. Except at Kingswood, I have seen no such work of God upon children for above thirty years. I spoke exceeding plain in the evening, on the narrow way that leadeth to life. But the men were widely different from the children: They were affected just as much as so many horses. Sat. FEBRUARY 1.--I found an increase of the work of God even in Southwark. Those who so furiously opposed us some years ago, as though they would have swallowed us up quick, are now crumbled into nothing. Only the old chapel subsists, as a dull, useless, dissenting meeting-house. Fri. 7.--I called on a friend at Hampton-Court, who went with me through the house. It struck me more than any thing of the kind I have seen in England; more than Blenheim House itself.