Wesley Corpus

Mon. 28.--I preached again at Horsley, and spoke severally with those of the society. The world now begins to take alarm, and to cast out their name as evil. After a very good woman (so called) had used abundance of arguments to hinder her neighbour from going near these people, she told her at length, ‘* Why, none but the wickedest people upon earth go there:” “ Nay, then,” replied she, ‘I will go immediately; for | am sure none upon earth is wickeder than me.” Such be the event of all worldly wisdom! Tues. March 1.--I preached at two in Pelton, five miles south oi Newcastle. A multitude of people were gathered together from all the neighbouring towns, and (which I rejoiced at much more) from all the neighbouring pits. In riding home, I observed a little village called Chowden, which they told me consisted of colliers only. I resolved to preach there as soon as possible; for these are sinners, and need repentance. Sun. 6.--I read over in the society, the Rules which all our members are to observe, and desired every one seriously te consider Pan March, 1743. | REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. 281 whether he was willing to conform thereto or no. That this would shake many of them I knew well; and therefore, on Monday, 7, I began visiting the classes again, lest “that which is lame should be turned out of the way.” Tues. 8.---In the afternoon I preached on a smooth part of the Fell (or Common) near Chowden. I found we were got into the very Kingswood of the north. Twenty or thirty wild children ran round us, as soon as we came, staring as in amaze. They could not properly be said to be either clothed or naked. One of the largest (a girl, about fifteen) had a piece of a ragged, dirty blanket, some way hung about her, and a kind of cap on her head, of the same cloth and colour. My heart was exceedingly enlarged toward them ; and they looked as if they would have swallowed me up; especially while I was applying these words, “ Be it known unto you, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you forgiveness of sins.”