Wesley Corpus

Tues. 17.--I crossed over to my old friends at Tyrrel's Pass. It was supposed the House would hold the congregation in the evening, but it would hardly contain a fourth part of them: So I preached in the yard, not only to Protestants, but (I was informed) most of the Papists in the town; and we found God was no respecter of persons. Wednesday, 18. The House was well filled in the morning, and we had a comfortable season; as also at Coolylough in the evening, where God spoke to many hearts. Thursday, 19. About noon I preached at Kenagh, to a numerous congregation: For many years we seemed to be beating the air here; but a few months since, God so blessed the preaching of poor John Bredin, just tottering over the grave, that we have now a lively society, swiftly increasing both in grace and number. We went hence to Longford, where a multitude of people soon assembled in the Town-Hall. I found much liberty of speech, and I have seldom seen a con gregation more affected. I observed one genteel woman, who kept her eyes fixed, from the beginning to the end; and was agreeably surprised, when she called upon me, to find one of my old flock at Castlebar. Once more she has set her hand to the plough : May she never look back Fri. 20.--I went to Athlone, and preached in the evening to April, 1787.] JOURNAL. 369 3. a congregation of deeper experience than any I had seen since I left Dublin. Yet the next day I thought it expedient to press upon them the advice of the Apostle, “Let him that assuredly standeth'' (so it should be rendered) “take heed lest he fall.” Sun. 22.-I opened and applied that glorious text, “The help that is done upon earth, he doeth it himself.” Is it not strange that this text, Psalm lxxiv. 12, is vanished out of the new translation of the Psalms? I found the work of God much increased here ; and it is a favourable circumstance, that of the three Ministers in the town two are our fast friends, and the third no enemy. The wind driving us into the House at six, we were crowded sufficiently. Afterwards I administered the sacrament to the society; and not without a remarkable blessing. Mon.