Wesley Corpus

Sun. 25.--I heard at church, by way of sermon, part of “ Papists and Methodists Compared.” But it did not lessen the congregation at one: on whom I enforced, (what they were somewhat more concerned in,) “ What shall it profit a man” to “ gain the whole world, and lose his own soul??? I then rode over to Tiverton, and preached in the Sept. 1751.] REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. 521 market house, filled with attentive hearers. So it was on Monday lixewise. Tues. 27.--We rode to Uffculm, about eight miles from ‘Tiverton, and preached in the market place to a larger congregation than one would think the town could have afforded. Wednesday, 28. ---It being the time of their yearly meeting at the school, abundance of gentlemen came to town. Yet I preached in the market house undisturbed , and afterward met the society in peace. Thur. 29.--There was a sermon preached at the old church, before the trustees of the school. At half an hour past twelve the morning service began: but such insufferable noise. and confusion I never saw before in a place of worship: no, not even in a Jewish synagogue The clergy set the example; laughing and talking during great part both of the prayers and sermon. A young gentlewoman, who was with us where we dined, hastened away to prepare for the ball. But before she was half dressed, she was struck, and came down in a flood of tears. Nevertheless, she broke through, and in a few hours danced away all her convictions. Toward the close of the sermon in the evening, a rabble of gentlemen’s servants gathered together, and endeavoured to make a disturbance: but it was mere lost labour.