Wesley Corpus

God’s word was as atwo-edged sword. I rode thence to Portarlington, a town inhabited chiefly by French. A clergyman there received me gladly. Some time before, a gentleman of Mount Mellick had desired him to preach against the Methodists. He said, he could not, till he knew what they were; in order to which, he came soon after and heard Mr. Larwood. And from that time instead of preaching against them, he spoke for them, wherever he came. As soon as we came out of church, I went straight to the market house, and the whole congregation followed me. I had not seen in all Ireland so glittering a company before, unless at St. Mary’s church in Dublin; and yet all of them, high and low, behaved in such a manner as became His presence before whom they stood. Thence I rode two miles further, to Mr. L.’s house, at Closeland, near Ballybrittas. It rained the whole time that I was preaching: but the congregation regarded it no more than I did; though I was throughly wet before I had done, the shower driving full in my face. Mon. 26.--We had a blessed opportunity at Mount Mellick in the evening, while I was explaining the covenant God hath made with us. The same spirit continued with us at the meeting of the society; so that my voice could not be heard for the voice of those who cried for mercy, or praised the God of their salvation. Tues. 2'7.--I talked two hours with J. Str--n, a Quaker. He spoke in the very spirit and language wherein poor Mr. Hall used to speak, before he made shipwreck of the grace of God. I found it good for me to be with him: it enlivened and strengthened my soul. I rode in the afternoon to Closeland, and preached in the evening and morning to a people earnestly desirous of pleasing God. Thur. 29.--1 rode to Portarlington again, and preached to a larger congregation than before. They all seemed to hear, not only with strong desire, but with understanding also. I afterward explained to them the nature of a society; and desired any who were willing so to unite together, to speak to me severally. Above threescore did so the same day.