Wesley Corpus

The place seemed to be filled with his glory. After visiting Newcastle and Congleton, on Saturday, APRIL 1, I came to Macclesfield. Here again I had the satisfaction to find a people much alive to God. Sunday, 2. We had a large and serious congregation at the new church, both morning and afternoon. The organ is one of the finest-toned I ever heard; and the congregation singing with it make a sweet harmony. Monday, 3. About eleven I preached to a crowded congregation in the new House near Chapel-en-le-Frith. Many of these lively people came from among the mountains, and strongly reminded me of those fine verses wherein Dr. Burton paraphrases those plain words, “The hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and so are the stony rocks for the conies:”-- Te, domine, intonsi montes, te sawa loquentur Summa Deum, dum amat juga pendulus hircus, Sarorumque colit latebrosa cuniculus antra. It is chiefly among these enormous mountains that so many have been awakened, justified, and soon after perfected in love; but even while they are full of love, Satan strives to push many of them to extravagance. This appears in several instances:--1. Frequently three or four, yea, ten or twelve, pray aloud all together. 2. Some of them, perhaps many, scream all together as loud as they possibly can. 3. Some of them use improper, yea, indecent, expressions in prayer. 4. Several drop down as dead; and are as stiff as a corpse; but in a while they start up, and cry, “Glory ! glory !” perhaps twenty times together. Just so do the French Prophets, and very lately the Jumpers in Wales, bring the real work into contempt. Yet whenever we reprove them, it should be in the most mild and gentle manner possible. Tues. 4.--In the evening I preached to a lovely congregation at Stockport. Friday, 7. I went on, as swiftly as I could, through Manchester, Wigan, and Bolton. APRIL 16. (Being Easter-Day.) I crossed over to Warrington; where, having read Prayers, preached, and administered the Lord's Supper, I hastened back to Bolton. The House was crowded the more, because of five hundred and fifty children, who are taught in our Sunday-Schools: Such an army of them got about me when I came out of the chapel, that I could scarce disengage myself from them. 330 REv. J. wesley's [May, 1786. Mon.