Wesley Corpus

The rain was heavy; yet many of the poor people made their way through it; so that the church (they said) has scarce ever been so filled before. After the Service many stayed in the church, because of the rain: So I spent some time with Oct. 1789. JOURNAL, 473 them in singing and prayer; and our hearts were much com forted together. Thur. October 1.-I went over to Bath, and preached once more to a very large congregation, on 1 Pet. i. 14. Fri day, 2. We had a solemn watch-night at Kingswood, and most of the people stayed to the end. Sunday, 4. I pur posed preaching abroad once more in the afternoon; but just before five the rain began; so I could only enforce in the Room those solemn words, in the first Lesson for the day, "Turn ye, turn ye, from your evil ways," c. We set out at four, and, hiring post-horses, reached Mr. Whitchurch's, at Sarum, before dinner. In the evening the House was crowded extremely, and the voice of God was heard among them ; especially in the meeting of the society, to whom I delivered my own soul once for all. Tues day, 6. About nine I spoke full as plain at Winchester, I think, to the largest congregation I have seen there ; and it seemed the most serious; on that awful subject, Mark ix. 44. The audience at Portsmouth-Common, in the evening, were of another kind; to whom, therefore, I spake in quite another manner, from Eph. iii. 14, c. Wednesday, 7. About one I preached to another very serious congregation in the town; whom, therefore, I exhorted to leave the first principles, and go on to perfection. Thursday,8. I set out early, and in the afternoon we were brought to London. I am now as well, by the good providence of God, as I am likely to be while I live. My sight is so decayed that I can not well read by candle-light; but I can write as well as ever: And my strength is much lessened, so that I cannot easily preach above twice a day. But, I bless God, my memory is not much decayed; and my understanding is as clear as it has been these fifty years. Sun.