Wesley Corpus

against which nothing can prevail ; unless the ball of contention be thrown in among the plain people, by one or two that have lately embraced new opinions. In the evening I preached at York, on the fashionable religion, vulgarly calledmorality ; and showed at large, from the accounts given of it by its ablest patrons, that it is neither better nor worse than Atheism. Thur. 4.-I met the select society, and was a little surprised to find, that, instead of growing in grace, scarce two of them retained the grace they had two years ago. All of them seemed to be sincere ; and yet afaintness of spirit ran through them all. In the evening I showed, to a still more crowded audience, the nature and necessity of Christian love :-Aγαπη, vilely ren- dered charity, to confound poor English readers. The word was sharper than a two-edged sword, as many of the hearers felt. God grant the wound may not be healed, till he himself binds it up ! Fri. 5.-About eleven I preached at Foggathorp, a lone house, a few miles from Howden. Abundance of people were gathered together, notwithstanding heavy rain; and they received the truth in the love thereof. I came to Howden a little before three ; when a large congregationwas soon gathered. All were serious ; the more so, because of a few claps of thunder that rolled over our heads. I preached at Swinfleet in the evening. These are the most sensible and gentlemanlike farmers that I have seen anywhere ; July, 1776.1 JOURNAL. 81 and many of them are " rooted and grounded in love," and have adorned the Gospel many years . Sat. 6.-I went on to Epworth, and found my old friend, Mr. Hutton, in the deepest melancholy. I judged it to be partly natural, partly diabolical ; but I doubt not he will be saved, though as by fire. Tues. 9.-I preached atBrigg in the morning. All behaved well, but afew gentlemen, (so called,) who seemed to understand no more of the matter, than if I had been talking Greek. I went thence to Horncastle and to Spilsby, with Mr. Br . While he was at Cambridge, he was convinced of sin, though not by any outward means, and soon after justified. Coming to Hull, he met with one of our Preachers. By long and close