Wesley Corpus

Henderson’s, at Hannam, and thence to Bristol. But my friends, more kind than wise, would scarce suffer it. It seemed so sad a thing to walk five or six miles ! I am ashamed, that a Methodist Preacher, in tolerable health, should make any difficulty of this. Sun. 7.-Having none to assist me, I found it hard work to read Prayers, preach, and administer the sacrament to such a number of people. The moment I had done, I hastened to Kingswood; having but just time to take a little dinner before I began preaching to a large congregation, before the preaching house. Returning to Bristol, I preached at five in Carolina Court, to an immense number of people, on Rom. viii. 33, 34. Tues. 9.--I saw the large church at Midsummer-Norton throughly filled with serious hearers. The Room at Shepton Mallet, though greatly enlarged, could in nowise contain the congregation. At five in the morning, Wednesday, 10, it was throughly filled. At Coleford, in the evening, I was obliged to preach. Thursday, 11. We had a lovely congregation at Frome, both in the evening and at five in the morning. At length this wilderness, too, as it has long appeared to be, begins to blossom and bud as the rose. About two o'clock, Friday, 12, I preached in the preaching house yard, at Trowbridge, where, notwithstanding the harvest, we had an unusually large congregation, who listened with deep attention; in the evening at Bradford, to as many as the Sept. 1788.] JOURNAL. 437 House would contain. But I did not find good Mrs. Ballard there. After long struggling with a deep nervous disorder, which for a time depressed the mind as well as the body, the cloud removed; her load fell off, and her spirit joyfully returned to God. Sat. 13.--I found the society at Bath in a more flourishing state than it had been for many years; and the congregation in the evening was unusually large, and, as usual, seriously attentive. Sun. 14.--We had twice as many communicants as I ever remember here. Just before service Mr. Shepherd came, and offered me his service. It could not have been more season able.