Wesley Corpus

About five, Saturday, 25, we took horse and made to Pocklington. I was sorry, when I found it was the fair-day, that notice had been given of my preaching; especially when I heard there was no society, and scarce any one awakened in the town. The unusual bitterness of several who met us in the street, made the prospect still more unpromising. However, I went to see the room provided for preaching, but found it vas not ab-ve five yards square. I then looked at a yard which was Ut é 5 ‘i 7 532 REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. [ April, 1752. proposed ; but one circumstance of this I did not like. It was plentifully furnished with stones: artillery ready at hand for the devil’s drunken companions. Just then it began to rain; upon which a gentleman offered a large commodious barn. Thither I went without delay, and began preaching to a few, who increased continually. I have known no such time since we left London. Their tears fell as the rain. None opposed or mocked: so that these made full amends for the behaviour of those at Hull. ; The man and his wife at whose house we dined, had been bitterly -persecuted both by his and her mother. These were some of the first whose hearts were touched. Immediately after preaching they came up into the room where we were, and confessed, with many tears, how eagerly they had opposed the truth of God, and troubled their children for adhering to it. How wise are all the ways of Ged! Had it not been fair-day, these had not been here. Yet some of our company had dreadful forebodings of what was to be at York. A worthy justice of the peace (doubtless to quiet the mob there) had just caused to be cried about the streets, stuck up in public places, and even thrown into many houses, part of the “ Comparison between the Papists and Methodists.” Perhaps this might be the occasion of some bitter curses which were given us almost as soon as we entered the gates. But the vain words of those Rabshakehs returned into their own bosoms. I began preaching at six. The chapel was filled with hearers, and with the presence of God. The opposers opened not their mouths. The mourners blessed God for the consolation.