Wesley Corpus

o'clock in the evening. Thus far, at least, we acknowledge Godmay direct our paths. Sun. MARCH 1.-I preached at Brentford in the evening ; Monday, 2, at Newbury ; and the next evening at Bath. Wed- nesday, 4, I went onto Bristol. I found the panic had spread hither also, as ifthe nation were on the brink ofruin. Strange that those who love God should be so frightened at shadows ! I can compare this only to the alarm which spread through the nation in King William's time, that on that very night the Irish Papists were to cut the throats ofall the Protestants in England. Mon. 9. On this and the followingdays I visited the society, and found a good increase. This year I myself (which I have seldom done) chose the Preachers for Bristol , and these were plain men; and likely to do more good than has beendone in one year, for these twenty years. Fri. 13.-I spent an hour with the children at Kingswood, many ofwhom are truly desirous to save their souls. Mon. 16. I took a cheerful leave of our friends at Bristol, and set out once more for Ireland. After visiting Stroud, Gloucester, and Tewkesbury, on Wednesday, 18, I went over to Bewdley, and preached about noon at the upper end of the -town, to most of the inhabitants of it . Thur. 19. I preached to a large congregation, in the church at Bengeworth, and spent a little time very agreeably with the Rector, a pious, candid, sensible man. In the evening I preached at Pebworth church ; but I seemed out ofmy element. Along anthem was sung ; but I suppose none beside the singers could understand one word of it. Is not that " praying in an unknown tongue ? " I could no more bear it in any church of mine, than Latin prayers. Fri. 20.-I preached at Birmingham. Saturday, 21. Call- April, 1778.1 117 ing at Wolverhampton, I was informed that, some time since, a large, old house was taken, three or four miles from the town, which receives all the children that come, sometimes above four hundred at once. They are taught, gratis, reading, writing, and Popery; and, when at age, bound out apprentices. In the evening I preached in the shell of the new House, at Newcastle-under-Lyne ; and thence hastened forward, through