Wesley Corpus

letters from the Preachers, Stewards, and Leaders at Plymouth- Dock, informing me, that William Moore had renounced the Methodists, hired a place to preach in, and drawn away about forty of our members, to form a society for himself. They therefore begged I would come down as soon as possible, to quench the kindling fire. I saw no time was to be lost, and therefore immediately took places in the Exeter diligence. Sun. 27-. I preached in Stepney church, one of the largest March, 1785.] 297 parish churches in England. Monday, 28. The diligence reached Sarum about eight in the evening. About nine we left it. So keen a frost, I hardly ever felt before : And our car- riage let in the air on all sides, so that we hardly could preserve life. However, soon after five on Tuesday evening, we got to Exeter. Wednesday, MARCH 2. We went on to Plymouth- Dock ; and found all that we had heard, confirmed. But I verily believe, we are better without William Moore, than with him; as his heart is not right with God. To quiet the minds of many well-meaning persons, I preached on those comfortable words, " Even the hairs of your head are all numbered ; " and in the morning, on, " Despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him." Thursday, 3. In the evening I read to the whole con- gregation, a plain state of the case, with regard to the Deed of Declaration, which William Moore had so wonderfully misrepre- sented : And I believe they were all fully satisfied. Fri. 4.-I took a walk through the Royal Hospital for sick and wounded sailors. I never saw any thing of the kind so complete : Every part is so convenient, and so admirably neat. But there is nothing superfluous, and nothing purely ornamen- tal, either within or without. There seems to be nothing want- ing, but aman full of faith and zeal, to watch over the souls of the poor patients, and teach them to improve their affliction. In the evening I preached to a large congregation at Ply- mouth ; and it pleased God to give me uncommon liberty in describing the power of faith. What a blessed proof of this has there been here, since I was in the town before !