Wesley Corpus

Mon. 10.--I preached at the Wells: and I did not wonder that God gave an uncommon blessing to those who then assembled in his name, considering the difficulties they had broke through. The frost was very severe, accompanied with such a fog, as perhaps the oldest man there never saw before. The lamps could not be seen across the street, and hardly the ground, by those who had lights in their hands. Many lost their way, when they were just at their own doors. And it was almost as hard to breathe as to see. How easy it is for God to punish a sinful nation, even without employing an arm of flesh! Mon. 17.--As we were walking toward Wapping, the rain poured down with such violence, that we were obliged to take shelter till it abated. We then held on to Gravel-lane ; in many parts of which the wzters were like a river. However, we got on pretty well, till the rain put out the candle in our lantern. We then were obliged to wade through all, till we came to the chapel yard. Just as we entered it, a little streak of lightning appeared in the south-west. There was likewise a s:nall clap of thunder, and a vehement burst of rain, which rushed so plentifully through our shattered tiles, that the vestry was all in a float. Soon after I began reading prayers, the lightning flamed all round it, ard the thunder rolled just over our heads. When it grew louder and louder, perceiving many of the strangers to be much aftrighted, I broke off the prayers, after the collect, “ Lighten our darkness we beseech thee, O Lord;” and began applying, ** The Lord sitteth above the water flood ; the Lord remaineth a king for ever.” Presently the lightning, thunder, and rain ceased, and we had a remarkably calm evening. It was observed, that exactly at this hour, they were acting “* Macbeth,” in Drury-lane ; and just as the mock thunder began, the Lord began to thunder out of heaven. For a while it put them to a stand: but they soon took courage, and went on. Otherwise it might have been suspected that the fear of God had crept into the very theatre !