Wesley Corpus

Sun. 4.--I preached at one, and again at five, to some thousands at the foot of the hill. I believe this hollow would contain sixty thousand people, standing one above another; and a clear, strong voice might command them all: although, if they stood upon a plain, I doubt whether any human voice could be distinctly heard by half the number. Tues. 6.--Our conference began at Leeds. The point on which we desired all the preachers to speak their minds at large was, ‘* Whether we ought to separate from the Church?” Whatever was advanced on one side or the other was seriously and calmly considered ; and on the third day we were all fully agreed in that general conclusion,--that (whether it was lawful or not) it was no ways expedient. Mon. 12.--We rode (my wife and I) to Northallerton. Tues. 13.-- I rode on to Newcastle. I did not find things here in the order I expected. Many were on the point of leaving the Church, which some had done already; and, as they supposed, on my authority! O how much discord is caused by one jarring string! How much trouble by one man who does not walk by the same rule, and agree in the same judgment with his brethren ! May 18.--(Being Whit-Sunday.} I preached about eight at Gateshead Fell, and returned before the service at St. Andrew’s began. At the sacrament many found an uncommon blessing, and felt God has not yet left the Church. In the following week I spake to the members of the society severally, and found far fewer than I expected prejudiced against the Church: I think not above forty in all. And I trust-the plague is now stayed. Wed. 21.--I preached at Nafferton, near Horsley, about thirteen miles from Newcastle. We rode chiefly on the new western road, which lies on the v'd Roman wall. Some part of this is still to be June, 1755. | REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. 579