Wesley Corpus

The Gothic temple, at the head of a fine piece of water, which is encompassed with stately trees, is delightful indeed. But the most elegant of all the buildings is not finished: The shell of it is surprisingly beautiful, and the rooms well contrived both for use and ornament. But what is all this unless God is here? Unless he is known, loved, and enjoyed? Not only vanity, unable to give happiness, but vexation of spirit. Sun. 19.--In the evening I went on board the Prince of Orange; but, the wind failing, we soon struck upon a sand bank. We got clear of it about five in the morning, and set sail. All the day before there had been a strong north-east wind; this had raised the sea to an uncommon degree, which affected me full as much as a storm. However, lying down at four in the afternoon, I fell asleep, and slept most of the time till four in the morning. About six we landed on Liverpool quay, and all my sickness was over. Tues. 21.--We had, as usual, a very numerous and very serious congregation. Wednesday, 22. I went on to Bolton. The new House here is the most beautiful in the country. It was well filled in the evening; and I believe many of the audience tasted largely of the powers of the world to come, while I enlarged upon our Lord's words, “Neither can they die any more; for they are equal to angels, and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.” Fri. 24.--I preached at Bury and Rochdale, and the next evening at Halifax. Sunday, 26. The House was tolerably well filled at eight. Understanding there was great need of it, I preached on, “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God’s.” I spoke with all plainness, and yet did not hear that any one was offended. At one I preached on those words in the Gospel for the day, Aug. 1778.] JOURNAL. 133 “Reckon ye yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Such a time I have not known for some years: The House was extremely crowded; but I believe there was not only no inattentive but no unaffected hearer.