Wesley Corpus

Wesley's [July, 1786. and many more on Sunday, 9, when we had the largest number of communicants that ever were seen at this chapel, or perhaps at any church in Nottingham. I took a solemn leave of this affectionate congregation, at five in the morning, Monday, 10, not expecting to meet another such (unless at Birmingham) till I came to London. About nine I preached at Mount-Sorrel; and though it was the fair-day, I saw not one drunken person in the congregation. It rained most of the way to Leicester, and some were afraid there would be no congregation. Vain fear ! The House was extremely crowded with deeply attentive hearers, while I applied our Lord’s words to the Centurion, in effect spoken to us also, “As thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee.” In the afternoon we went on to Hinckley. It rained all the evening: Yet we had more hearers than the House could contain; and hardly a trifler among them. A more serious, well-behaved people, I have seldom seen. This evening (I believe before I had done preaching) a remarkable instance of divine justice appeared. A man in the street was grievously cursing another, and praying God “ to blast his eyes.” At that instant he was struck blind: So (I suppose) he continues ever since. Tues. 11.--The poor, little flock at Coventry have at length procured a meat, convenient Room: Only it is far too smail. As many of the people as could get in were all attention. How is the scene changed here also ! I know not but now the Cor poration, if it had been proposed, would have given the use of the Town-Hall to me rather than to the dancing-master In the evening I went on to Birmingham, and found the usual spirit in the congregation. They are much alive to God, and consequently increasing in number as well as in grace. Wed. 12.--At noon I preached in the new chapel at Deritend. To build one here, was an act of mercy indeed; as the church would not contain a fifth, perhaps not a tenth, of the inhabitants. At six I preached in our chapel at Birmingham, and immediately after took coach to London. Thur. 13.--We reached the town at two, and settled all our business on this and the two following days. Sunday, 16.