Wesley Corpus

Our service began at ten. The rain prevented the chapel being too much crowded. In the evening I preached at Plymouth, on the words in the First Lesson, "How long halt ye between two opinions?" It was an awful season. After wards I spent a comfortable evening with a few of our serious brethren. The jars both here and at the Dock seem now to be over, and the contending parties are willing to live in peace. We set out at three, in a lovely morning, and reached Exeter between twelve and one. Here the scene was much changed: Many of the people were scattered, and the rest faint and dead enough. The preaching-house was swiftly running to ruin, the rain running through the roof into it amain ; and five or six tenants living in the house were noisy enough, having none to control them. We called earnestly upon God to arise, and maintain his own cause: He did so in the evening congregation, (which was much larger than usual,) while I strongly enforced the parable of the Sower; and the dread of God seemed to rest on the whole congregation. Tues. SEPTEMBER 1. We went through a delightful coun try to Tiverton. In the evening, the Independent Minister offering the use of his meeting-house, far larger than ours, I willingly accepted his offer. The congregation was far the largest I have seen in Tiverton for many years. I preached on Mark iii. 25; and it seemed all had ears to hear. Sept. 1789. JOURNAL. 471 I preached at Halberton. I spoke here before in the open air; but the rain prevented it now. So as many as could, conveniently, got into the House. When we set out, one of my horses was quite lame; so that it was with great difficulty I could get to Taunton. In the evening, we had such a congregation, as, I suppose, was never in that House before. Surely the ancient work will some time revive, and the prayers of that blessed man, Joseph Alleine, be answered. Being obliged to take post-horses at Taunton, we went on to Castle-Carey. Here we found a little company of lively Christians. We found such another, Friday, 4, at Dit cheat; but the rain drove us into the House, where as many as could squeeze in seemed to be much affected.