Wesley Corpus

We had a pleasant ride to Wolverhampton. This evening the rain began, and continued about twenty hours, after more than four-and-twenty weeks of fair weather; such a winter as I never saw before. A melancholy event fell out the day before --The mistress of the house adjoining boiling some varnish, it boiled over, and took fire, which seized on her, and burnt her so that her life is despaired of. The rain a little lessened our congregation, so that the House contained us tolerably well; and many, even of the genteel hearers, seemed almost persuaded not to halt between two opinions. Wed. 24.--We rode to Madeley through a pleasant rain, which did not hinder the church from being throughly filled; and, I believe, all who had spiritual discernment perceived that it was filled with the presence of God. Thursday, 25. At nine I preached to a select congregation, on the deep things of God; and in the evening, on, “He is able to save unto the uttermost all them that come unto God through him.” Friday, 26. I finished my sermon on the Wedding Garment; perhaps the last that I shall write. My eyes are now waxed dim; my natural force is abated. However, while I can, I would fain do a little for God before I drop into the dust. In the evening I preached to a crowded audience at Salop, on, “Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace.” But I was much ashamed for them. The moment I had done speaking, I suppose fifty of them were talking all at once; and no wonder they had neither sense nor good manners, for they were gentlefolks! Sat. 27.--L preached in the evening to a sensible and well 484 REv. J. Wesley’s [April, 1790. behaved congregationat Newcastle-under-Lyne. (Observe, that is the name of the river which runs above the town.) Sunday, 28. I preached soon after one in Mr. Myat’s yard, at Lane-End: The House would not have contained a quarter of the people. At Burslem also I was obliged to preach abroad, such were the multitudes of the people. Surely the people of this place were highly favoured. Mercy embraced them on every side. Mon. 29.--At nine I preached in the new chapel, at Tunstal; the most elegant I have seen since I left Bath.