Wesley Corpus

anykind amoonng them ; they provoke one another only to love and to good works. Fri. 22. It is just seven years since I was here before ; and I find little change inmany,only that they are more dead to the world, and, consequently, more alive to God; and for a few that have left them, God has given them double, that are either alive to God, or athirst for him. Sun. 24. In the afternoon I preached at the east end ofthe market-house. I scarce ever saw so numerous a congregation at Athlone ; and all were attentive : Not aword washeard, and scarce any motion was to be seen . I trust the seed now sown will not wither away, but grow up into everlasting life ! Mon. 25.-Being desired to preach at Ballinasloe, inmyway to Aghrim, I stood, about eleven, in the shade of a large house, and preached to a numerous congregation of Papists and Pro- testants, equally attentive, on, " The kingdom of God is at hand." As I entered Aghrim, the Rector, who was waiting at his gate, welcomed me into the country ; and desired me to use his church, both now, and whenever I pleased : I preachedthere at six. It was thoroughly filled with well-behaved hearers. But the society here, as well as that at Tyrrel's Pass, is well nigh shrunk into nothing ! Such is the baleful influence of riches ! The same effect we find in every place. The more men increase in goods, (very few excepted,) the more they decrease in grace. Tues. 26.-I went on to Eyre-Court. Here, also, the Minis- ter gave me the use of his church ; but the people seemed to understand little of the matter. As I had not this privilege at Birr, I went to the Square, where the owner of a large house invited me to preach before it. The congregationwas exceeding large; butmany of them wild as colts untamed. However, the far greater part of them were seriously attentive. I am in hopes the work of God will revive here also ; the rather, because he has fully restored one of the most eminent backsliders in the kingdom. When I came to Tullamore, the Minister was willing that I should preach in the church; where both the soldiers and all