Wesley Corpus

So that we have now rather too little, than too much, reproach ; the scandal of the cross being, for the present, ceased. The natives are a plain, artless, simple people ; unpolished, that is, unpolluted ; few of them are rich or genteel ; the far greater part, moderately poor ; and most of the strangers that settle among them are men that have seen affliction. The Local Preachers are men of faith and love, knit together in one mind and one judgment. They speak either Manx or English, and follow a regular plan, which the Assistant gives them monthly. The isle is supposed to have thirty thousand inhabitants. Allowing half of them to be adults, and our societies to contain one or two and twenty hundred members, what a fair proportion is this ! What has been seen like this, in any part either of Great Britain or Ireland ? Sat. 9. We would willingly have set sail ; but the strong north-east wind prevented us. Monday, 11. It being moderate, we put to sea: But it soon died away into a calm ; so I had time to read over and consider Dr. Johnson's " Tour through Scotland." I had heard that he was severe upon the whole nation ; but I could find nothing ofit. He simply mentions (but without any bitterness) what he approved or disapproved ; and many of the reflections are extremely judicious ; some of them very affecting. Tues. 14. The calm continuing, I read over Mr. Pennant's " Tour through Scotland." How amazingly different from Dr. Johnson's ! He is doubtless a man both of sense and learning. Why has he then bad English in almost every page ? No man should be above writing correctly. Having several passengers on board, I offered to give them a sermon ; which they willingly accepted. And all behaved with [June, 1781. the utmost decency, while I showed, " His commandments are not grievous." Soon after, a little breeze sprung up, which, early in the morning, brought us to Whitehaven. Tues. 14. I had a design to preach at noon in the Town- Hall at Cockermouth; but Mr. Lothian offeringme his meeting- house, which was far more convenient, I willingly accepted his offer. By this means I had a much more numerous audience ; most of whom behaved well.