Wesley Corpus

Sun. 13.--I went in the morning in order to speak severally with the members of the society at Tanfield. From the terrible instances I met with here, (and indeed in all parts of England,) J am more and more convinced, that the devil himself desires nothing more than this,. that the people of any place should be half awakened, and then left to themselves to fall asleep again. Therefore I determine, by the grace of God, not to strike one stroke in any place where I cannot follow the blow. Mon. 14.--I preached again near Chowden; and this I continued to do weekly, as well as at all the other places round Newcastle, (except Swalwell,) where I had preached once. Thur. 17.--As I was preaching at Pelton, one of the old colliers, not much accustomed to things of this kind, in the middle of the sermon, began shouting amain, for mere satisfaction and joy of heart. But their usual token of approbation (which somewhat surprised me at first) was clapping me on the back. Fri. 18.--As I was meeting the leaders, a company of young men, having prepared themselves by strong drink, broke open the door, and came rushing in with the utmost fury. I began praying for them immediately ; not one opened his mouth, or lifted up a finger against us : and after half an hour, we all went away together, in great quietness and love. Tues. 22.--I went to South Biddick, a village of colliers,. seven miles south-east of Newcastle. The spot where I stood was just at the bottorn of a semicircular hill, on the rising sides.of which many hundreds stood ; but far more on the plain beneath. I cried to them, in the words of the prophet, “‘O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!” Deep attention sat on every face; so that here also I believed it would be well to preach weekly. Wed. 23.--I met a gentleman in the streets, cursing and swearing in so dreadful a manner, that I could not but stop him. He soon grew calmer; told me, he must treat me with a glass of wine; and that he would come and teal April, 1743. ] REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. 283 hear me, only he was afraid I should say something against fighting of cocks.