Wesley Corpus

tude of people flocked together, many of whom were of the better sort ; and most of them appeared to be, for the present, almost persuaded to be Christians. Wednesday, 23. About eleven I preached at Tewkesbury, and in the evening at Wor- cester. Thursday, 24. I breakfasted at Mrs. Price's, a Quaker, who keeps a Boarding-School. I was much pleased with her children, so elegantly plain in their behaviour, as well as apparel. Iwas led, I know not how, to speak to them largely ; then to pray; and we were all much comforted. The society is ingreat peace, and striving together forthe hope of the Gospel. I have not seen greater earnestness and simplicity inany society, since we left London. Iwas now considering how strangely the grain of mustard- seed, planted about fifty years ago, has grown up. Ithasspread through all Great Britain and Ireland ; the Isle of Wight, and the Isle of Man; then to America, from the Leeward Islands, through the whole continent, into Canada and Newfoundland. And the societies, in all these parts, walk by one rule, knowing March, 1785.] 299 religion is holy tempers ; and striving to worship God, not in form only, but likewise " in spirit and in truth." MARCH 25.-(Being Good-Friday.) I hastened to reach Birmingham before the Church Service began. Asharper frost I never knew : But indeed our House was hot enough in the evening ; and I have not seen a more earnest people. Such an advantage it is to be fully employed. In every place we find labouringmen most susceptible of religion. Such a blessing results from that curse, " In the sweat of thy brow shalt thou eatbread." Sat. 26.-I had designed to rest ; but notice had been given ofmy preaching at Quinton at noon. As the House would not hold the people, I was constrained, cold as it was, to preach abroad; and they all seemed to feel that solemn question, " How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation ? " In the evening myheart was enlarged in such amanner as I have seldom known ; so that I detained the congregation consi- derably longer than I am accustomed to ; and all the people seemed determined to " glorify God with their body and their spirit." MARCH 27.-(Being Easter-day.) I preached at seven, on,