Wesley Corpus

God.” A little before noon we set out for Shorhill,.a village six miles south from Newport. I never saw a more fruitful, or a more pleasant country, than the inland part of this island. About one I preached at Shorhill, to (I suppose) all the poor and middling people of the town. I believe some of the rich also designed to come; but something of ore importance--a dinner--came between. At five I preached again Uct. 1753.] REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. 563 at Newport, to most of the town, and many who came from the neighbouring villages. Surely, if there was any here to preach the word of God with power, a multitude would soon be obedient to the faith. Fri. 5.--After preaching at six, I left this humanc, loving people, rode to Cowes, and crossed over to Portsmouth. Here I found another kind of people, who had disputed themselves out of the power, and well nigh the form of religion. However, I laboured (and not altogether in vain) to soften and compose their jarring spirits, both this evening and the next day. On Sunday noon I preached in the street at Fareham. Many gave great attention, but seemed neither to feel nor understand any thing. At five I began on Portsmouth Common. I admired not so much the immense number of people, as the uncommon decency of behaviour, which ran through the whole congregation. After sermon I explained to them, at large, the nature and design of our societies ; and desired that if any of them were willing to join therein, they would call on me, either that evening or in the morning. I made no account of that shadow of a society which was before, without classes, without order, or rules; having never seen, read, or heard the printed rules ; which ought to have been given them at their very first meeting. Mon. 8.--I rode to Godalming, and the next day to London. After resting there five days, on Monday, 15, I rode to Bedford. The melancholy account which I received here was as follows :--