Wesley Corpus

I crossed over to Leek, where for many years we seemed to be ploughing upon the sand; but, at length, the fruit appears. Their new House would very hardly contain the congregation, although it blew a storm, so that many of the women could hardly bear up against the wind. In the evening I preached at Congleton. Part of the congregation were the Minister and the Mayor, with several Aldermen: But they seemed astonished while I opened and strongly applied, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Fri. 4.--We had another violent storm in going to Maccles field. But there all is calm ; their little feuds are removed, and the work of God steadily goes on. Sunday, 6. The new church was half filled in the morning, but throughly in the afternoon; and great was our rejoicing in the Lord, both then and at six in the evening. I took a solemn leave of them at five in the morning, Monday, 7, and with a deal of difficulty got to New-Mills; the roads over the mountains being scarce passable; but the earnestness of the congregation made amends for the difficulty of the journey. They are all athirst for God. Wednesday, 9. At noon I preached in the chapel at Bullocksmithy; one of the most famous villages in the county for all manner of wickedness. But there is a change for the better already, and a fair prospect of a much greater. In the evening, as well as on the next, the House at Stockport was throughly filled with people ready prepared for the Lord, and adorning the doctrine of God our Saviour. Thur. 10.--About noon I preached at Ashton, to a loving and lively people, and thence went on to Oldham. But what could be done here? I suppose the children alone would have filled the preaching-house from end to end. We kept the door locked till a little before the appointed time. Then I went in, and to as many as the House would hold, explained “the rest” that “remaineth for the people of God;” and indeed they had April, 1788.] JOURNAL. 413 ears to hear. Afterward, leaving one to preach again, after an hour's respite I went on to Manchester. Fri. 11.--The House was well filled in the evening. I explained and enforced the words of St.