Wesley Corpus

I read over Dr. Johnson’s “Tour to the Western Isles.” It is a very curious book, wrote with admirable sense, and, I think, great fidelity; although, in some respects, he is thought to bear hard on the nation, which I am satisfied he never intended. Sunday, 19. I attended the Morning Service at the kirk, full as formal as any in England; and no way calculated either to awaken sinners, or to stir up the gift of God in believers. In May, 1776.] JOURNAL. 75 the afternoon I heard a useful sermon in the English chapel; and was again delighted with the exquisite decency both of the Minister and the whole congregation. The Methodist congre gations come the nearest to this; but even these do not come up to it. Our House was sufficiently crowded in the evening; but some of the hearers did not behave like those at the chapel. Mon. 20.--I preached about eleven at Old Meldrum, but could not reach Banff till near seven in the evening. I went directly to the Parade, and proclaimed, to a listening multi tude, “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.” All behaved well but a few Gentry, whom I rebuked openly; and they stood corrected. After preaching, Mrs. Gordon, the Admiral's widow, invited me to supper. There I found five or six as agreeable women as I have seen in the kingdom; and I know not when I have spent two or three hours with greater satisfaction. In the morning I was going to preach in the assembly-room, when the Episcopal Minister sent and offered me the use of his chapel. It was quickly filled. After reading prayers, I preached on those words in the Second Lesson, “What lack I yet?” and strongly applied them to those in particular who supposed themselves to be “rich and increased in goods, and lacked nothing.” I then set out for Keith. Banff is one of the neatest and most elegant towns that I have seen in Scotland. It is pleasantly situated on the side of a hill, sloping from the sea, though close to it; so that it is sufficiently sheltered from the sharpest winds. The streets are straight and broad. I believe it may be esteemed the fifth, if not the fourth, town in the kingdom.