Wesley Corpus

Fri. April 1.--I preached at Clara, to a vast number of well-behaved people ; although some of them came in their coaches, and were (I was informed) of the best quality in the country. How few of these would have returned empty, if they had heard the word of God, not out of curiosity merely, but from a real desire to know and do his will! In the evening I preached at Temple Macqueteer, and again at five in the morning. About one (Saturday, 2) we came to Moat,--the pleasantest town I have yet seen in Ireland. Here I preached to a handful of serious people, and then hastened on to Athlone. At six I preached from the window of an unfinished house, opposite to the market house, (which would not have contained one half of the congregation,) on, “ Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.” I scarce ever saw a better behaved, or more attentive congregation. Indeed, so civil a people as the Irish in general, I never saw, either in Europe or America. Sun. 3.--I preached at five to, at least, three hundred hearers. I walked from thence to see a poor woman that was sick, about a mile from the town. About a hundred and fifty people ran after me. After I had prayed with the sick person, being unwilling so many people should go empty away, I chose a smooth, grassy piace, near the road, where we all kneeled down to prayer; after which we sung a psalm, and I gave them a short exhortation. At eleven we went to church and heard a plain, useful sermon. At twolI preached on the Connaught side of the bridge, where there are only (they informed me) five or six fainilies of Protestants. Such a company of people (many said) had never before been seen at Athlone; many coming from all the country round, and (for the present) receiving the word with joy. I preached again, at six, in the same place, and to nearly the same (only a little larger) congregation; the greater part whereof (notwithstanding the prohibition of their priests) I afterward found were Papists. April, 1748. ] REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. 421