Wesley Corpus

liest place in the Circuit. Many here have been lately convinced of sin, andmany converted to God. Some have been made par- takers of the greatsalvation,and their love and zeal have stirred up others. So that the flame now spreads wider andwider. 0 let none be able to quench it ! In the evening I preached at Worcester. Here also the flame is gradually increasing. While I was here, there was a very extraordinary trial at the assizes. A boy being beaten by his master, ran away ; and wandering about till he was half starved, was then allowed to lie in the hay-loft ofan inn. In the night he stole into the room wheretwo gentlemen lay ; (probably not very sober ; ) and, without waking them, picked the money out ofboth their pockets ; though their breeches lay under their head. In themorning, having confessed the fact, he was committed to gaol. Hemade no defence : So one of the Counsellors rose up, and said, " My Lord, as there is none to plead for this poor boy, I will do it myself," He did so, and then added, “ My Lord, it may be this bad boymay make a good man. And I humbly April, 1775.1 41 conceive, it might bebest to send him back to his master. I will give him a guinea towards his expenses." "And I will give him another," said the Judge. Which he did, with a mild and serious reproof. Sohewas sent back full ofgood resolutions. Fri. 17. In the evening, though it was cold, I was obliged to preach abroad at Newcastle. One buffoon laboured much to interrupt. But as he was bawling, with his mouth wide open, some arch boys gave him such a mouthful of dirt as quite satis- fied him. On Saturday and Sunday I preached at Congleton andMac- clesfield ; Monday, 20, at Stockport and Manchester. Tuesday, 21. I preached at Knutsford ; but the house would by nomeans contain the congregation. The street too was filled ; and even those which could not hear were silent. This is uncommon ; especially in a town little accustomed to this strange way of preaching : Those who cannot hear themselves usually taking care to hinder others from hearing. In the evening I opened the new House at Northwich, which