Wesley Corpus

It could not have been more season able. I had much liberty of spirit the first time I preached to-day; but greater at half-hour past two, and the greatest of all in the evening; when I vehemently enforced those awful words, “Why will ye die, O house of Israel?” Mon. 15.-I returned to Bristol, and on the four following days was sufficiently employed in meeting the classes. At each end of the town, the society increases greatly. It does not decrease in any part. Glory be to God! Fri. 19.--Being pressed to preach to the poor people in George-Street, and knowing the House would not contain half the congregation in the evening, I began at five; by which means we had room for all that could attend at so early an hour. O what an advantage have the poor over the rich ! These are not wise in their own eyes, but all receive with meekness the ingrafted word which is able to save their souls. Sat. 20.--I met the Trustees for the new Room ; who were all willing to add a codicil to the Deed of Trust, in order to ascertain to the Conference (after me) the sole right of appointing the Preachers in it. Sun. 21.--I preached morning and afternoon at the Room; and at three in Temple church; so filled as I never saw it before. In the evening I spent an hour in fixing the places of the several classes, at the society; a thing necessary to be done, although it is certain some will be not a little displeased. Tues. 23.--An end was put to the long contest between Dr. Coke and Mr. Durbin, by the Doctor's acknowledging that the words he had wrote were too keen; and that he was sorry he had given Mr. D. so much uneasiness. Wed. 24.--I took a walk in Miss Goldney’s garden at Clifton. 4.38 REv. J. WESLEY’s [Oct. 1788. Nothing can be more pleasant. But what is most remarkable is, the long terrace-walk, commanding a most beautiful prospect, and the grotto, the largest and most beautiful in its kind that I ever saw. It is admirably well laid out, and decorated with a surprising variety of shells and glittering fossils; the procuring and placing of which (we were informed) took the late Mr. Goldney above twenty years. And he has left it all ! Fri.