Wesley Corpus

twelve and one I preached in a kind of square. But here we had a new kind of inconvenience : every four or five minutes a strong wind covered us over with a shower of dust; so that it was not easy to look up, or to keep one’s eyes open. But not long after the rain began, which constrained me to preach within, at Newcastle. I took the opportunity of making a collection for the poor; many of whom can very hardly support life in the present scarcity. Wed. 22.--In the evening and the following morning I preached at Chester-on-the-Strate. Observing some very fine but not very modest pictures, in the parlour where we supped, I desired my companion, when the company was gone, to put them where they could do no hurt. He piled them on a heap in a corner of the room, and they have not appeared since. Thur. 23.--I preached at South Biddick about noon on, “I will heal thy backsliding.” God was with us at Sunderland ir. the evening, in an uncommon manner: and the next day I left the people there more in earnest than they have been for some years. Sat. 25.--We walked to Swalwell about noon. The sun was scorching hot, and there was no wind or cloud: but it did us no hurt. The ccngregation was such as I never saw there before: and I believe God blessed his word to them that were nigh, and them that had been far from him. Sun. 26.--I preached at Gateshead at eight ; at Sheep Hill about noon; and at five in the evening at Newcastle, near Pandon Gate. The rain only threatened till I had done, but soon after poured down. How well does God time great and small events, for the furtherance of his kingdom! Mon. 27.--I preached at Horsley, and found some life even there. Thence we rode across the Tyne to Prudhoe, a little town on the top of a high hill. I preached at the side of Mr. H.’s house ; and [ suppose all the town, who could get out, were present, and most of them at five in the morning. At both times it pleased God to make bare his arm, not only to wound, but to heal.