Wesley Corpus

Fri. 13.--I spent an hour with the children at Kingswood, many of whom are truly desirous to save their souls. Mon. 16.-I took a cheerful leave of our friends at Bristol, and set out once more for Ireland. After visiting Stroud, Gloucester, and Tewkesbury, on Wednesday, 18, I went over to Bewdley, and preached about moon at the upper end of the town, to most of the inhabitants of it. Thur. 19.--I preached to a large congregation, in the church at Bengeworth, and spent a little time very agreeably with the Rector, a pious, candid, sensible man. In the evening I preached at Pebworth church; but I seemed out of my element. A long anthem was sung ; but I suppose none beside the singers could understand one word of it. Is not that “praying in an unknown tongue?” I could no more bear it in any church of mine, than Latin prayers. April, 1778.] JOURNAL. 117 Fri. 20.--I preached at Birmingham. Saturday, 21. Call ing at Wolverhampton, I was informed that, some time since, a largc, old house was taken, three or four miles from the town, which receives all the children that come, sometimes above four hundred at once. They are taught, gratis, reading, writing, and Popery; and, when at age, bound out apprentices. In the evening I preached in the shell of the new House, at Newcastle-under-Lyne; and thence hastened forward, through Burslem, Congleton, Macclesfield, and Stockport, to Manches ter. I found it needful here also, to guard honest Englishmen against the vast terror which had spread far and wide. I had designed going from hence to Chester, in order to embark at Parkgate; but a letter from Mr. Wagner informing me that a packet was ready to sail from Liverpool, I sent my horses forward, and followed them in the morning. But before I came thither, the wind turned west: So I was content. Sun. 22.--I was much refreshed by two plain, useful ser mons, at St. Thomas’s church; as well as by the serious and decent behaviour of the whole congregation. In the evening I exhorted all of our society who had been bred up in the Church, to continue therein. Tues.