Wesley Corpus

Sun. 6.--We had a useful practical sermon at St. Nicholas’s church i the morning, and another at St. Andrew’s in the afternoon. At five I preached to a willing multitude, on the prodigal son. How many of these were lost, and now are found? In the following week I endeavoured to speak severally to each member of the society.. The numbers I found neither to rise nor fall; but many had increased in the knowledge and love of God. Sunday, 13, and the following days, I preached and regulated the societies at Painsher, Tanfield, and Horsley. Thur. 17.--I preached at the Spen, on, Christ Jesus our “ wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.” I have seldom seen an audience so greatly moved, since the time of my first preaching at Bristol. Men, women, and children wept and groaned, and trembled exceedingly : many could not contain themselves in these bounds; but cried with a loud and bitter cry. It was the same at the meeting of the society ; and likewise in the morning, while I was showing the happiness of those “whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.” {afterward spake with twelve or fourteen of them severally; and found good ground to believe, that God had given them to “taste of the good word, and of the powers of the world to come.” Sun. 20.--After preaching at Newcastle morning and evening, I earnestly exhorted the society to beware of speaking evil of each other, and of censuring those who followed not with us. Monday, 21.--I besought them in my farewell sermon to “forget the things which are behind, and press on to the prize of their high calling.” Tues. 22.--I preached at Norton, five miles from Ferry-bridge, and in the evening at Sykehouse. Here I received a full account of poor David Taylor, once a workman that needed not to be ashamed. Three years since, he knew all we preached to be true: then Mr. I. brought him over to German stillness. When I talked with him at Sheffield, he was thoroughly sensible of his mistake: but Mr. Simpson soon drew him into it again. A third time he was deeply convinced by my bro- 4% o--' aire | v 304 REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. [Jan. 1744