Wesley Corpus

I went on to Yarmouth; on Wednesday to Lowestoft; on Friday to Loddon. Saturday, 30. I came to Norwich again. Mon. November 1.--I crossed over to Lynn, and settled the little affairs there ; on Wednesday, 3, went on to Colchester; and on Friday, to London. Saturday, 6. I began examining the society, which usually employs me eleven or twelve days. Sat. 13.--I had the pleasure of an hour's conversation with Mr. G., one of the members of the first Congress in America. He unfolded a strange tale indeed! How has poor K. G. been betrayed on every side! But this is our comfort: There is One higher than they. And He will command all things to work together for good. The following week I examined the rest of our society; but Nov. 1779.] JOURNAL. 17] did not find such an increase as I expected. Nay, there was a considerable decrease, plainly owing to a senseless jealousy that had crept in between our Preachers; which had grieved the Holy Spirit of God, and greatly hindered his work. Mon. 22.--My brother and I set out for Bath, on a very extraordinary occasion. Some time since Mr. Smyth, a Clergyman, whose labours God had greatly blessed in the north of Ireland, brought his wife over to Bath, who had been for some time in a declining state of health. I desired him to preach every Sunday evening in our chapel, while he remained there. But as soon as I was gone, Mr. M'Nab, one of our Preachers, vehemently opposed that; affirming it was the common cause of all the Lay Preachers; that they were appointed by the Conference, not by me, and would not suffer the Clergy to ride over their heads; Mr. Smyth in particular, of whom he said all manner of evil. Others warmly defended him. Hence the society was torn in pieces, and thrown into the utmost confusion. Tues. 23.--I read to the society a paper which I wrote near twenty years ago on a like occasion. Herein I observed, that “the rules of our Preachers were fixed by me, before any Con ference existed,” particularly the twelfth : “Above all, you are to preach when and where I appoint.” By obstimately opposing which rule, Mr. M'Nab has made all this uproar. In the morn ing, at a meeting of the Preachers, I informed Mr.