Wesley Corpus

From church I went to the Castle; where were gathered together (as some imagined) half the grown persons in the city. It was an awful sight. So vast a congregation in that solemn amphitheatre! And all silent and still, while I explained at large, and enforced, that glorious truth, “ Happy are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.” I went thence to poor Mr. V: , the clergyman, lying under sentence of death. He had for some time acted the lunatic ; but I soon put him out of his play; and he appeared to have wit enough in his anger. I designed to close in with him immediately ; but two cruelly impertinent gentlemen would needs come into the room; so that I could say no more, but was obliged to leave him in their hands. The lad who was to die the next day was quite of another spirit: he appeared deeply affected while we were speaking, and yet more during our prayer; and no sooner were we gone than he broke out into a bitter cry.--Who knows but he might be heard by Him that made him ? Mon. 29.--We rode forward. About sunset we were in the middle of the first great pathless moor beyond Launceston. About eight we were got quite out of the way; but we had not gone far before we heard Bodmin bell. Directed by this we turned to the left, and came to the town before nine. Tues. 30.--In the evening we reached St. Ives. At seven I invited all guilty, helpless sinners, who were conscious they “had nothing to pay,” to accept of free forgiveness. The room was crowded both within and without ; but all were quiet and attentive. Wed. 31.--I spoke severally with those of the society, who were about one hundred and twenty. Near a hundred of these had found peace with God: such is the blessing of being persecuted for nghteousness’ sake! As we were going to church at eleven, a large company at the market place welcomed us with a loud huzza: wit as harmless Sept. 1743.] REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. 291 as the ditty sung under my window, (composed, one assured me, by a gentlewoman of their own town,) Charles Wesley is come to town,