Wesley Corpus

W. a 28.--The house was full of serious hearers at five. In the evening some gay young men made a little disturbance, and a large mob was gathered about the door; but in a short time, they dispersed of themselves. However, we thought it best to acquaint the mayor with what had passed ; on which he ordered the city crier to go down the next evening, and proclaim, that all riots should be severely punished ; and promised, if need were, to come down himself, and read the act of parliament. But it needed not: after his mind was known, none was Apnil, 1753.] REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. 549 so hardy as to make a disturbance. I did not expect the mob at Nantwich (whither I was now much pressed to go) would be so quiet as that at Chester. We were saluted with curses and hard names, as soon as we entered the town. But from the time I alighted from my horse, | I heard no one give us an ill word; and I had as quiet and attentive an audience as we used to have at Bristol, while I exhorted the * wicked to forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts.” Sat. 31.--I preached at Boothbank, where I met Mr. C . late gardener to the Earl of W. Surely it cannot be! Is it possible the Earl should turn off an honest, diligent, well tried servant, who had been in the family above fifty years, for no other fault than hearing the Methodists? In the evening I preached at Manchester, and on Monday, April 2, at Davy Hulme. Here I found (what I had never heard of in England) a whole clan of infidel peasants. A neighbouring ale~ house keeper drinks, and laughs, and argues into Deism, all the ploughmen and dairymen he can light on. But no mob rises against him ; and reason good: Satan is not divided against himself.