Wesley Corpus

or the crowded audience, after the text was named, " There is Jan. 1785. ] 295 joyin heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and ninejust persons, that need not repentance." The power of the Lord was eminently present, and most of the pri- soners were in tears. Afew days after, twenty of them died at once, five of whom died in peace. I could not but greatly approve of the spirit and behaviour of Mr. Villette, the Ordi- nary ; and I rejoiced to hear, that it was the same on all similar occasions. Fri. 31. We had asolemn watch-night, and ushered in the new year with the voice ofpraise and thanksgiving. Sat. JANUARY 1, 1785.-Whether this be the last or no, mayit be thebest year of mylife ! Sunday, 2. A larger num- ber of people were present this evening at the renewal of our covenant with God, than was ever seen before on the occasion . Tues. 4.-At this season we usually distribute coals and bread among the poor of the society. But I now considered, they wanted clothes, as well as food. So on this, and the four following days I walked through the town, and begged two hundred pounds, in order to clothe them that needed it most. But it was hard work, as most of the streets were filled with melting snow, which often lay ankle deep ; so that my feet were steeped in snow-waternearlyfrommorning till evening : I held it out pretty well till Saturday evening ; but Iwas laid up with a violent flux, which increased every hour, till, at six in the morning, Dr. Whitehead called upon me. His first draught made me quite easy ; and three or four more perfected the cure. If he lives some years, I expect he will be one of the most eminent Physicians in Europe. I supposed my journeys this winter had been over ; but I could not decline one more. Monday, 17. I set out for poor Colchester, to encourage the little flock. They had exceeding little of this world's goods, but most of them had a better por- tion. Tuesday, 18. I went on to Mistleythorn, a village near Manningtree. Some time since, one of the shipwrights of Deptford-yard, being sent hither to superintend the building of some men-of-war,began to read sermons on a Sunday evening