Wesley Corpus

But she was then quite a womanish girl, and of unblamable behaviour. Suppose that which appeared to her was really an angel; yet from the face, the voice, and the apparel, she might easily mis take him for a female; and this mistake is of little consequence. Much good has already resulted from this odd event; and is likely to ensue; provided those who believe, and those who disbelieve, her report, have but patience with each other. We had a love-feast in the evening, at which several spoke deep experience in a plain, artless manner; and many were greatly comforted, and stirred up more intensely to hunger and thirst after righteousness. Wed. 11.--About noon I preached at Stockton; but the House would not contain the congregation; nor indeed at Yarm, in the evening. Here I heard what was quite new to me, namely, that it is now the custom, in all good company, to give obscene healths, even though Clergymen be present; one of whom, lately refusing to drink such a health, was put out of the room; and one of the forwardest, in this worthy company, was a Bishop's steward.- Thur. 12.--Between one and two we had a larger congrega tion at Potto than I ever saw there before. At Hutton-Rudby, in the evening, I spoke strongly to the backsliders; and I think not in vain. At eight I preached to a lovely congregation, at Stokesley, with much liberty of spirit; and at eleven, in Guisborough, to one far larger, and equally attentive. In the evening I preached at Whitby, in the new House, throughly filled above and below; though it contains twice as many as the old one; and although the unfinished galleries, having as yet no fronts, were frightful to look upon. It is the most curious House we have in England. You go up to it by about forty steps; and have then before you a lofty front, I judge, near fifty feet high, and fifty-four feet broad. So much gainers have we been by the loss of the former House. Beside that it stood at one end of the town, and in the very sink of it, where people of any fashion were ashamed to be seen. Sat.