Wesley Corpus

Tues. 13.--I met the preachers and stewards at Cooly-lough. The congregation at noon was the largest I ever saw there. In the afternoon the perplexed case of I. C. and I. A. was referred to Mr. S. and Mr. H.; who, after a long hearing, judged, (as did all present,) * That I. C. had acted wrong, in seizing and selling I. A.’s goods for rent, when no rent was due.” After preaching in the evening, I talked with Katharine Shea, of Athlone, concerning a strange account which I had heard: there are many now living who attest, on their personal knowledge, most of the particulars of it. She said, “ When I was ten years old, the preaching began at Athlone. I liked and often heard it, though my parents were zealous Papists, till they removed into the country. I then grew as zealous as them, and was diligent in reading thé Popish prayers, till I was about thirteen; when, taking the Mass Book one day, to read my prayers, I could not see one word. I continued blind, just able to discern light from darkness, but not to read or do any work ; ‘till after three months, casting my eye ona New Testament, I could read clearly. I said to myself, ‘ I won’t read this Pro- f June, 1758." REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. 65¥ ; : testant book; 1 will read my own book.’ Accordingly I opened the Mass Book, but could not see one word; it appeared all dark and black. I made the trial thrice over, holding the Mass Book in one hand, and the Testament in the other: I could not see any thing in the Mass Book, but could read the Testament as well as ever. On this I threw away the Mass Book, fully resolved to meddle with it no more. “ Afterward my parents returned to Athlone. Then I heard the preaching at all opportunities. For this they beat me many times, and at last turned me out of doors. Yet after this, my father brought me to the priest, who disputed with me very warmly. At length my father said, *T think the girl is in the right.’ And he opposed me no more to the day of his death.”