Wesley Corpus

Wed. 3.--I was able to preach again in the morning. One of our friends, who was master of a ship, purposing to set sail on Thursday, 4, for Dublin, I knew not but it would be well to go over with him, supposing the wind should turn fair. It did turn fair that very morning ; but being suddenly called on board, he sailed without us. In about six hours the wind turned foul. So I suppose he came back the next morning. In the afternoon we rode to Mr. Blencowe’s, about fifteen miles from Whitehaven. We took a walk in the evening to a little town called Drig, about a mile from his house, where I preached to a small company of plain, serious people. But I fear they understood very little of what they heard. Fri. 5.--I went on with Mr. Milner, to Ulverstone. Here a very convenient place for preaching was offered. But few people had any desire to hear. So I went quietly back to my inn. Sat. 6.--We reached Chipping, and were immediately informed, that several tnere were consulting together, how to hinder me from preaching. Mr. Milner, hearing they were met at the next house, went thither, and brought them all with him, who were the churchwardens and three or four persons more. I spent about a quarter of an hour with them, in calm and friendly debate ; and they went away much cooler than they came. Sun. '7.--Understanding some designed to go out of church when I vent into the pulpit, I thought it would be better for them to go out en Aa a 536 REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. [June, 1752 sooner; and to read prayers as well as preach. Such a congregation was present, as I believe was never seen there before ; and a solemn awe seemed to rest on the whole congregation, from the beginning of the service to the end. I preached in the afternoon on the conclusion of the Second lesson, “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself.” The people were all attention. Surely there is no counsel or strength against the Lord. :