Wesley Corpus

I examined the society. In five years I found five members had been gained! Ninety-nine being increased to a hundred and four. What then have our Preachers been doing all this time ? 1. They have preached four evenings in the week, and on Sun- day morning; the other mornings they have fairly given up. 2. They have taken great care not to speak too plain, lest they should give offence. 3. When Mr. Brackenbury preached the old Methodist doctrine, one of them said, " You must not preach such doctrine here. The doctrine of Perfection is not calculated [June, 1779. for the meridian of Edinburgh." Waving, then, all other hin- derances, is it any wonder, that the work of God has not pros- peredhere? On Friday and Saturday, I preached with all possible plain- ness ; and some appeared to be much stirred up. On Sunday, 20, I preached at eight, and at half an hour past twelve ; and God gave us a parting blessing. Iwas inhopes ofpreaching abroad at Dunbarinthe evening, but the rainwould not permit. Monday, 21. I preached in the Court-House at Alnwick ; and finding the people were greatly alarmed, with the news of the French and Spanish fleets, I opened and applied, " Say ye to the righteous, it shall be well with him." I believemany laid hold of the promise, and were not a little comforted. Tues. 22. Finding the panic had spread to Newcastle, I strongly enforced those words, " The Lord sitteth above the water-floods ; the Lord reigneth a King for ever." Wednesday, 23. I rested here. Lovely place, and lovely company ! But I believe there is another world : Therefore, I must " arise and gohence !" Thur. 24. I preached at Stockton-upon-Tees at noon, and at Yarm in the evening. Friday, 25. At two in the afternoon I preached to a lovely congregation, at Potto, and to such another at Hutton-Rudby. Iwas afterwards agreeably surprised in examining the select society. Many ofthem havebeenmem- bers thereof for near twenty years. And not one of them has lost the pure love of God ever since they first received it. Sat. 26. After preaching at Stokesley and Guisborough, I went on to our loving, earnest brethren at Whitby ; just of the same spirit with those at Darlington, in the opposite point of the Circuit.