Wesley Corpus

Ives. No Methodist, I was told, had preached in this town : So I thought it high time to begin; and about one I preached to a very well-dressed and yet well-behaved congregation. Thence my new friend (how long will she be such P) carried me to Godmanchester, near Huntingdon. A large barn was ready, in which Mr. Berridge and Mr. Venn used to preach. And though the weather was still severe, it was well filled with deeply attentive people. Saturday, 26. I set out early, and in the evening reached London. Mon. 28.--I paid a visit to the amiable family at Shoreham, and found the work of God there still increasing. Wednes day, 30. I crossed over to Ryegate, and had a larger con gregation than ever before. 38 REv. T. wesley’s [Jan. 1775. Thur. DECEMBER 1.--I preached at Dorking, and was much pleased with the congregation, who seemed to “taste the good word.” Friday, 2. I returned to London. Mon. 5.-I preached at Canterbury; and Tuesday, 6, at Dover. As I was setting out thence on Wednesday morning, a wagon, jostling us, disabled our chaise. Our coachman went back to procure another, saying, he would soon overtake us. He did so after we had walked nine or ten miles, and brought us safe to Canterbury, where I spent a day or two with much satisfaction; and on Saturday, returned home. Mon. 12.-I opened the new House at Sevenoaks. Tuesday, 13. About noon I preached at Newbounds; and in the evening at Sevenoaks again, where our labour has not been in vain. Wed. 14.--I rode to Chatham, and found that James Wood, one of our Local Preachers, who, being in a deep consumption, had been advised to spend some time in France, had come back thither two or three days before me. The day after he came he slept in peace: And two days after, his body was interred, all our brethren singing him to the grave, and praising God on his behalf. I preached his funeral sermon to a crowded audience, on the text which he had chosen: “Let me die the death of the righteous; and let my last end be like his l’” Monday, 19, and the following days, I read with the Preachers what I judged most useful: And we endeavoured to “provoke one another to love and to good works.” Thur.