Wesley Corpus

To 1776

AuthorJohn Wesley
Typejournal
YearNone
Passage IDjw-journal-1773-to-1776-150
Words372
Catholic Spirit Universal Redemption Reign of God
3.--About noon I preached at Cathanger, about eight miles from Taunton. It was an exceeding large house, built (as the inscription over the gate testifies) in the year 1555, by Sergeant Walsh, who had then eight thousand pounds a year; perhaps more than equal to twenty thousand now. But the once famous family is now forgotten; the estate is mouldered almost into nothing; and three quarters of the magnificent buildings lie level with the dust. I preached in the great hall, like that of Lincoln College, to a very serious congregation. In the evening I preached at South-Petherton, once a place of renown, and the capital of a Saxon kingdom; as is vouched by a palace of King Ina still remaining, and a very large and 136 REv. J. WESLEY’s [Sept. 1778. ancient church. I suppose the last blow given to it was by Judge Jefferies, who, after Monmouth’s rebellion, hanged so many of the inhabitants, and drove so many away, that it is mever likely to lift up its head again. Fri. 4.--I spent some time in the evening, and an hour in the morning, with the lovely children at Publow. Such another company of them I never saw, since Miss Bosanquet removed from Leytonstone. Sat. 5.--I returned to Bristol. Sunday, 6. At eight I preached near the Drawbridge; at two near Kingswood school, under the tree which I planted for the use of the next generation; and at five, near King's square, to a very numerous and exceeding serious congregation. Mon. 7.-In my way to Bath I read a pamphlet which sur prised me exceedingly. For many years I had heard the King severely blamed for giving all places of trust and profit to Scotch men: And this was so positively and continually affirmed, that I had no doubt of it. To put the matter beyond all possible dispute, the writer appeals to the Court Kalendar of the present year, which contains the names of all those that hold places under the King. And hereby it appears, that of four hundred and fifty odd places, just eight are possessed by Scotchmen; and of the hundred and fifty-one places in the Royal Household, four are possessed by Scots, and no more.