Wesley Corpus

They contained much truth, but were no more likely to awaken one soul than an Italian Opera. In the evening a multitude of people assem bled on the Green, to whom I earnestly applied these words, “Though I have all knowledge, though I have all faith, though I give all my goods to feed the poor,” &c., “aad have not love, I am nothing.” Mon. 16.-In the afternoon, as also at seven in the morn ing, I preached in the kirk at Port-Glasgow. My subjects were Death and Judgment, and I spoke as home as I possibly could. The evening congregation at Greenock was exceeding large. I opened and enforced these awful words, “Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, that leadeth unto life.” I know not that ever I spoke more strongly. And some fruit of it quickly appeared; for the House, twice as large as that at Glasgow, was throughly filled at five in the morning. In 14 REv. J. WESLEY’s [May, 1774. the evening, Tuesday, 17, I preached on the Green at Glas gow once more, although the north wind was piercing cold. At five in the morning I commended our friends to God. How is it that there is no increase in this society? It is exceeding easy to answer. One Preacher stays here two or three months at a time, preaching on Sunday mornings, and three or four evenings in a week. Can a Methodist Preacher preserve either bodily health, or spiritual life, with this exer cise? And if he is but half alive, what will the people be? Just so it is at Greenock too. Wed. 18.--I went to Edinburgh, and on Thursday to Perth. Here likewise the morning preaching had been given up: Consequently the people were few, dead, and cold. These things must be remedied, or we must quit the ground. In the way to Perth, I read that ingenious tract, Dr. Gre gory’s “Advice to his Daughters.” Although I cannot agree with him in all things; (particularly as to dancing, decent pride, and both a reserve and a delicacy which I think are quite unnatural;) yet I allow there are many fine strokes therein, and abundance of common sense: And if a young woman followed this plan in little things, in such things as daily occur, and in great things copied after Miranda, she would form an accomplished character.