Wesley Corpus

At six I preached for the last time in Epworth church-yard, (being to leave the town the next morning,) to a vast multitude gathered together from all parts, on the beginning of our Lord’s sermon on the mount. I continued among them for near three hours ; and yet we scarce knew how to part. O let none think his labour of love is lost because the fruit does not immediately appear! Near forty years did my father labour here ; but he saw little fruit of all his labour. I took some pains among this people too; and my strength also seemed spent in vain: but now the fruit appeared. There were scarce any in the town on whom either my father or I had taken any pains formerly ; but the seed, sown so long since, now sprung up, bringing forth repentance and remission of sins. Mon. 14.--Having a great desire to see David Taylor, whom God had made an instrument of good to many souls, I rode to Sheffield ; but not finding him there, I was minded to go forward immediately . however, the importunity of the people constrained me to stay, and preach both in the evening and in the morning. Twesday, 15.--He came. I found he had occasionally exhorted multitudes of people in various parts; but, after that, he had taken no thought about them ; so that the greater part were fallen asleep again. In the evening I preached on the inward kingdom of God: in the 258 REY. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. [ June, 1742