Wesley Corpus

The country, from hence to Lisburn, is wonderfully pleasant and fruitful. At six I preached in the Presbyterian meeting, a large and commo dious building; and I was now with the most lively society that I have seen for many days; owing chiefly to the good provi dence of God bringing sister Johnson hither. She came indeed in an acceptable time; for J W and his wife, who for many years had been pillars, had left the society. They had one child, a son, about nineteen years old, of whom they were fond enough ; by a fall from his horse he was killed in a mo ment, leaving his parents inconsolable; just then she came to Lisburn, and visited them. God opened her mouth, both in exhortation and prayer. They saw and acknowledged his hand. She was enabled to give up her child to God; he cried out, “Surely God has sent an angel from heaven to comfort us!” Both of them joined the society; and are more in earnest for salvation than they have been for many years. Sun. 12.--We had a solemn opportunity in the morning. In the afternoon, as no building could contain the people, I stood abroad and proclaimed, “There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons who need no repentance.” The hearers (allowing five persons to a square yard) were seven or eight thousand. At eleven I preached in the church-yard at Lurgan. The sun shone extremely hot; but we were sheltered from it, partly by the church, and partly by the spreading trees. In the after noon I went on to Tanderagee, one of the pleasantest towns in Ireland, surrounded by woods and fruitful hills, with a clear river running between them. At six I stood in the Grove, where the tall elms shaded both me and the numerous congregation. Several gentlemen and several Clergymen were among them, and all behaved with serious attention. I lodged at the Rev. Dr. L ’s, where my time seemed exceeding short. Wednesday, 15. The scene changed from a palace to a cottage at Derry-Anvil, a small village surrounded by a bog; but inhabited by lively Christians. About eleven I preached in a shady orchard, to an exceeding large congrega tion; and in the evening to a still larger at the Grange, a small June, 1785.] JOURNAL.