Wesley Corpus

to Epworth. The congregation there was large last Sunday; but itwas nearly doubled now : And never hadwe, from the beginning, a more solemn and affectionate parting. Mon. 25. I went on to Sheffield, and on Tuesday met the select society. But it was reduced from sixty to twenty ; and but half of these retained all that they once received ! What a grievous error, to think those that are saved from sin cannot lose what they have gained ! It is a miracle if they do not ; seeing all earth and hell are so enraged against them : While, meantime, so very few, even of the children of God, skilfully endeavour to strengthen their hands. Wed. 27.-About one we reached Leek, in Staffordshire. I could not imagine who the Quaker should be that had sent me word he expected me to dinner ; and was agreeably surprised to find that it was my oldfriend, Joshua Strongman, of Mount- Mellick, in Ireland, whom I had not seen for many years. I found he was the same man still ; of the same open, friendly, amiable temper : And every thing about him was (not costly or fine, but) surprisingly neat and elegant. Itbegan to rain soon after we came in ; but the rain stayed while I was preaching ; and it seemed the whole town, rich and poor, were gathered together, and listened while I explained, " God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." I preached at Burslem in the evening ; and on Thursday, 28, in the afternoon, came to Shrewsbury. Sat. 30.-I went on to Madeley ; and in the evening preached under a sycamore-tree, in Madeley-Wood, to a large congrega- tion, goodpart of them colliers, who drank in every word. Surely never were places more alike, than Madeley-Wood, Gateshead- Fell, and Kingswood. Sun. 31. The church could not contain the congregation, either morning or afternoon ; but in the evening I preached to a still larger congregation at Broseley ; and equally attentive. I now learned the particulars of a remarkable story, which I had heard imperfectly before:-Some time since, one of the colliers here, coming home at night, dropped into a coal-pit, twenty-four yards deep. He called aloud for help, but none heard all that night, and all the following day. The second