Wesley Corpus

sion thenmade upon rich and poor will not soonwear off. Mon. 3.-I went on to Bristol, and having two or three quiet days, finished my sermon upon Conscience. On Tuesday I 408 REV. J. WESLEY'S [March,1788. gave notice ofmy design to preach on Thursday evening, upon (what is now the general topic) Slavery. In consequence of this, on Thursday, the House from end to end was filled with high and low, rich and poor. I preached on that ancient pro- phecy, " God shall enlarge Japhet. And he shall dwell in the tents of Shem ; and Canaan shall be his servant." About the middle of the discourse, while there was on every side attention still as night, a vehement noise arose, none could tell why, and shot like lightning through the whole congregation. The terror and confusion were inexpressible. You might have imagined it was acity taken by storm. The people rushed upon each other with the utmost violence ; the benches were broke in pieces ; and nine-tenths of the congregation appeared to be struck with the same panic. In about six minutes the storm ceased, almost as suddenly as it rose ; and, all being calm, I went on without the least interruption. It was the strangest incident of the kind I ever remember ; and I believe none can account for it, without supposing some preternatural influence. Satan fought, lest his kingdom should be delivered up. We set Friday apart as aday of fasting and prayer, that God would remember those poor outcasts of men; and (what seems impossible with men, considering the wealth and power of their oppressors) make away for them to escape, and break their chains in sunder. Fri. 7-. I went over to Kingswood School, and found every- thing there in excellent order. Sunday, 9. I preached at the Room, morning and afternoon, (Mr. Collins reading Prayers,) and about two at the School ; though the House would very ill containthe congregation. Monday, 10, and the three following days, I visited the classes; which contained (after many added, and many lost or removed) a little more than nine hundred members. I wonder that, with such Preachers, there is so little increase. Dublin has outrun Bristol already : So will Manches. ter, Sheffield, and even Birmingham soon, unless they stir them- selves up before the Lord.