Wesley Corpus

or three miles from Newcastle-under-Lyne. It was still pierc- ingly cold ; but the preaching-house would not hold a fourth part of the people. So I preached in the open air; the moon giving us clear light, though not much heat. The House was filled at five in the morning ; and God again applied his word. Tues. 30.-I preached in the new preaching-house at Henley- Green; but this was far too small to hold the congregation. Indeed, this country is all on fire, and the flame is still spread- ing from village to village. The preaching-house at Newcastle justheld the congregation,many being kept away by the elec- tion ; especially the Gentry. But still the poor heard theGospel preached, and received it with all readiness ofmind. Tues. 31. I reached Burslem, wherewe had the first society in the country ; and it is still the largest, and the most in ear- nest. I was obliged to preach abroad. The House would but just contain the societies at the love-feast ; at which many, both men and women, simply declared the wonderful works of God. I did not find so lively a people at Congleton. Although the April, 1784. ] wounds made by prejudice were nearly healed, yet a faintness anddeadness remained. I found the same sad effects ofprejudice at Macclesfield : But there are so many here truly alive to God, that his work goes on still; only not in so rapid a manner as it might otherwise have done. Sun. APRIL 4.-I preached at the new church, morning and evening, to a London congregation. Monday, 5. About noon I preached at Alpraham, to an unusually large congregation. I was surprised, when I came to Chester, to find that there also morning preaching was quite left off, for this worthy reason: "Because the people will not come, or, at least, not in the win- ter." If so, the Methodists are a fallen people. Here is proof. They have " lost their first love;" and they never will or can recover it, till they "do the first works." As soon as I set foot in Georgia, I began preaching at five in the morning; and every communicant, that is, every serious person in the town, constantly attended throughout the year : I mean, came every morning, winter and summer, unless in the