Wesley Corpus

Sat. 30.-As our friends at Leek, thirteen miles from Macclesfield, would take no denial, I went over, and preached about noon to a lovely congregation. God bore witness to his word in an uncommon manner, so that I could not think much of my labour. MARCH 31.--(Being Easter-Day.) I preached in the church, morning and evening, where we had about eight hundred com municants. In the evening, we had a love-feast; and such an one as I had not seen for many years. Sixteen or eighteen persons gave a clear, scriptural testimony of being renewed in love. And many others told what God had done for their souls, with inimitable simplicity. Mon. APRIL 1.--We set out in the morning for Chapel-en le-Firth. But such a journey I have seldom had, unless in the middle of January. Wind, snow, and rain we had in abun dance, and roads almost impassable. However, at last we got to the town, and had a good walk from thence to the chapel, through the driving snow, about half a mile. But I soon forgot my labour, finding a large congregation that were all athirst for God. 224 Rev. J. WEslEY’s [April, 1782. Tues. 2.-About ten I preached at New-Mills, to as simple a people as those at Chapel. Perceiving they had suffered much by not having the doctrine of Perfection clearly explained, and strongly pressed upon them, I preached expressly on the head; and spoke to the same effect in meeting the society. The spirits of many greatly revived; and they are now “going on unto perfection.” I found it needful to press the same thing at Stockport in the evening. Thursday, 4. I preached at noon in the new preaching-house at Ashton, to as many as the House would hold. The inscription over the door is, “Can any good come out of Nazareth? Come and see.” In the evening I preached at Manchester. Fri. 5.--About one I preached at Oldham; and was surprised to see all the street lined with little children; and such children as I never saw till now. Before preaching they only ran round me and before me; but after it, a whole troop, boys and girls, closed me in, and would not be content till I shook each of them by the hand.