Wesley Corpus

in the evening ; but the Minister of Gratton (near Stanley) sending me word, I was welcome to the use of his church, I ordered notice to be given, that the service would begin there at six o'clock. Stanley chapel was thoroughly filled at two. It is eighteen years since I was there before ; so that many of those whom I saw here then, were now grey-headed ; andmany were gone to Abraham's bosom. May we follow them as they did Christ ! I was preparing to go to Gratton, when one brought me word from Mr. Roberts, that he had changed his mind ; so I preached March, 1779.1 in Mr. Stephen's orchard, to far more than his church would have contained. And it was no inconvenience either to me or them, as it was amild, still evening. Wed. 17.-1 preached at Tewkesbury about noon, and at Worcester in the evening. Thursday, 18. Upon inquiry I found there had been no morning preaching since the Confer- ence! So the people were of course weak and faint. At noon I preached in Bewdley, in an open space, at the head of the town, to avery numerous and quiet congregation. Here Mrs. C- informed me, " This day twelvemonth I found peace with God ; and the same day my son, till then utterly thoughtless, was con- vinced of sin. Some time after, he died, rejoicing in God, and praising him with his latest breath." Fri. 19. I preached in Bengeworth church about noon, and about six in Pebworth church. Saturday, 20. I went on to Birmingham. Sunday, 21. Just at the time of preaching, at Bromwich-Heath, began such a storm as that which ushered in the year. Yet as no house could contain the people, I was con- strained to stand in the court-yard. For amoment I was afraid of the tiles falling on the people ; but they regarded nothing but the word. As I concluded, we had a furious shower of hail : Hitherto could the prince of the power of the air go ; but no farther. After preaching at Wednesbury, Darlaston, Dudley, and Wolverhampton, on Wednesday, 24, I went on to Madeley. Inthe way I finished a celebrated "Essay on Taste." And is this the treatise that gained the premium? It is lively and