Wesley Corpus

Fri. 19.--IJ rode once more to Pensford, at the earnest request of several serious people. The place where they desired me to preach, was a little green spot, near the town. But I had no sooner begun, than a great company of rabble, hired (as we afterward found) for that purpose, came furiously upon as, bringing a bull which they had been baiting, and now strove to drive in among the people. But the beast was wiser than nis drivers; and continually ran either on one side of us, or the other, while we quietly sang praise to God, and prayed for about an hour. ‘The poor wretches finding themselves disappointed, at length seized upon the bull, now weak and tired, after having been so long torn and beaten, both by dogs and men; and, by main strength. partly dragged, and partly thrust him in among the people. When they ‘had forced their way to the little table on which I stood, they strove several times to throw it down, by thrusting the helpless beast against it; who, of himself, stirred no more than a log of wood. I once or twice put aside his head with my hand, that the blood might not drop upon my clothes ; intending to go on as soon as the hurry should be a little over. But the table falling down, some of our friends caught me in their arms, and carried me right away on their shoulders ; while the rabble wreaked their vengeance on the table, which they tere bit from bit. We went a little way off, where I finished my discourse, without any noise or interruption. Sun. 21.--In the evening I rode to Marshfield; and on Tuesday, in the afternoon, came to London. Wednesday, 24.-~-I preached for the last time, in the French chapel at Wapping, on, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.” Thur. 25.--I appointed several earnest and sensible men to meet me, to whom I showed the great difficulty I had long found of knowing the people who desired te ‘ ie ae ae April, 1742 | REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. 247