Wesley Corpus

Fri. 12.--Before nine we came to Nenagh. I had no design to preach ; but one of the dragoons quartered there, would take no denial : so I ordered a chair to be carried out, and went to the market place. Presently such a congregation was gathered round me as I had not seen since I left Athlone. To these I spake, as I was able, the whole counsel of God; and then rode cheerfully on to Limerick. Between six and seven I preached at Mardyke, (an open place without the walls,) to about two thousand people ; not one of whom I observed either to laugh, or to look about, or to mind any thing but the sermon. Some years since an old abbey here was rebuilt, with a design to have public service therein. But that design failing, only the shell of it was finished. Of this (lying useless) the society has taken a lease. Here I preached in the morning, Saturday, 13, to six or seven hundred people. We then went to prayers at the cathedral, an ancient and venerable pile. In the afternoon I walked round the walls of the town, scarce so large as Newcastle-upon-Tyne. And the fortifications are much in the same repair ; very sufficient to keep out the wild Irish. May 14.--(Being Whit Sunday.) Our church was more than full in the morning, many being obliged to stand without. I hardly knew how the time went, but continued speaking till near seven o’clock. I went at eleven to the cathedral. I had been informed it was a custom here, for the gentry especially, to laugh and talk all the time of Divine service; but I saw nothing of it. The whole congregation, rich and poor, behaved suitably to the occasion. In the evening I preached toa numerous congregation, on, “ If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.” We afterward met the society. Six or seven prisoners oi hope were set at liberty this day. Mon. 15.--A company of revellers and dancers had in the afternoou taken possession of the place where I used to preach. Some advisea May, 1749. ] REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. 451