Wesley Corpus

It seems as if good might at length be done here also; as an entire new generation is now come up, in the room of the dry, stupid stocks that were there before. On Monday, 24, and the following days, I met the classes at Bristol, and was not a little surprised to find that the society is still decreasing. Certainly we have all need to stir up the gift of God that is in us, and with all possible care to “strengthen the things that remain.” Thur. 27.--I preached at Bath and Bradford; and on Friday, at Trowbridge. How long did we toil here and take nothing ! At length, it seems, the answer of many prayers is come. Friday, 28. About noon I preached at Keynsham; and not without hopes of doing good even here. Since Miss Owen has removed from Publow, Miss Bishop has set up a school here ; and it is worthy to be called a Christian school. It is what the school at Publow was Sat. 29.--I spent an hour with Mr. Henderson at Hannam, and particularly inquired into his whole method; and I am persuaded there is not such another house for lunatics in the three kingdoms. He has a peculiar art of governing his patients; not by fear, but by love. The consequence is, many of them speedily recover, and love him ever after. Thur. October 4.--I was importuned to preach the condemned sermon at Bristol. I did so, though with little hope of doing good; the criminals being eminently impenitent. Yet they were, for the present, melted into tears; and they were not out of God’s reach. 218 REv. J. WESLEY’s [Oct. 1781. Sun. 7.--I took my leave of the congregation in the new Square, in a calm, delightful evening. Monday, 8. I preached at the Devizes about eleven ; at Sarum in the evening. Tues. 9.--I preached at Winchester, where I went with great expectation to see that celebrated painting in the cathe dral, the raising of Lazarus. But I was disappointed. I observed, 1. There was such a huddle of figures, that, had I not been told, I should not ever have guessed what they meant. 2. The colours in general were far too glaring, such as neither Christ nor his followers ever wore. When will painters have common sense? Wed.