Wesley Corpus

I received a farther account of Mrs. B., from two that had lived with her a year and a quarter; and was throughly convinced, that she is a woman of strong sense, and a lively imagination; but that she is given up to a strong delusion, (whether natural or diabolical I know not,) to believe a lie. One proof may suffice: Some time since, she told the community, as from God, that the day of judgment would begin that evening. But how could she come off when the event did not answer? Easily enough. “Moses,” said she, “could not see the face of God, till he had fasted forty days and forty nights. We must all do the same.” So for three weeks they took no sustenance, but three gills of water per day; and three weeks more, they took each three gills of water-gruel per day. What a mercy that half of them did not die in making the experiment About noon I preached abroad to a large congregation, and in the afternoon went on to Stockton. The congregation was at least double to that at Hartlepool, all of whom seemed to feel that God was there. Wednesday, 16. I preached in the main street at Yarm, to a dull, attentive people. Thursday, 17. June, 1790.] JOURNAL, 489 About noon I preached at Potto, to a deeply serious congrega tion; and to another such in the evening at Hutton-Rudby. Twenty years this society was a pattern to all the country for seriousness and deep devotion. I think seventeen of them were perfected in love; but only three of them remain, and most of the rest are either removed, or grown cold and dead. Fri. 18.--I preached at Stokesley in the morning; and then went on to Whitby. It was very providential, that part of the adjoining mountain fell down, and demolished our old preaching-house, with many houses besides; by which means we have one of the most beautiful chapels in Great Britain, finely situated on the steep side of the mountain. At six it was pretty well filled with such a congregation of plain, earnest people, as is not often seen. I conversed with many of them the next day, who were much alive to God. Sunday, 20. The House contained us at seven tolerably well. The church likewise was well filled.