Wesley Corpus

So poor a writer have I seldom read, either as to sentiments or temper. In sentiment, he is a thorough fatalist; maintaining roundly, and without reserve, that God has absolutely decreed from all eternity whatever is done in time; and that no creature can do more good, or less evil, than God has peremptorily decreed. And his temper is just suitable to his sentiments. He is haughty, self-conceited, sour, impatient of contradiction, and holds his opponent in utter contempt; though, in truth, he is but a child in his hands. Wed. 24.--I reached Sligo. My old friend, Andrew Maben, did not own me. However, a few did ; to whom, with a tole rable congregation, I preached at six in the barracks. The next evening I preached in the market-house, to a far larger congregation. We seem, by all the late bustle and confusion, to have lost nothing. Here is a little company as much alive to God, and more united together than ever. Fri. 26.--I preached at Manorhamilton, and the next even ing near the bridge at Swadlingbar. Knowing a large part of the congregation to have “tasted of the powers of the world to come,” I spoke on the glory that shall be revealed; and all seemed deeply affected, except a few Gentry, so called, who seemed to understand nothing of the matter. 46 REv. J. wesley’s June, 1775. Sun. 28.-I preached at ten to a far larger congregation, on, “God now commandeth all men everywhere to repent;” and after church, to a still greater multitude, on, “It is appointed unto men once to die.” Mon. 29.-Being desired to give them a sermon at Bel turbet, about eight I preached in the Town-Hall. It was not in vain. God opened, as it were, the windows of heaven, and showered his blessing down. I called afterwards at Ballyhays, and spent an hour with that venerable old man, Colonel Newburgh. It does me good to converse with those who have just finished their course, and are quivering over the great gulf. Thence I went on to Clones, --that is its proper name; not Clownish, as it is vulgarly called. It is a pleasant town, finely situated on a rising ground, in the midst of fruitful hills; and has a larger market-place than any I have seen in England, not excepting Norwich or Yarmouth.