Wesley Corpus

united in affection, and watch over each other in love. In the evening, before the time of preaching came, the preaching-house was more than filled. Finding it could not contain one half ofthe people, I ordered atable to be placed in the yard ; where they stood very patiently, though the wind was very high and very cold. Afterwards I spent acomfortable hour with the society, who completely filled the House. Wed. 2. This morning I finished Mr. Weston's ingenious " Dissertations on the Wonders of Antiquity ; " particularly the Darkness at our Lord's death, and the Pool of Bethesda. And I quite agree with him, that the chief reason why these and many other miracles were not even mentioned by the heathen Historians is, their utter contempt of the Chris- tians, and their being so accustomed to the "lying wonders " which were so common in the heathen world ; whence they [April, 1788. naturally supposed all the Christian miracles to be of the same sort. In the evening I preached to a crowdedcongregation atNew- castle ; and Godwas in the midst of them. Thursday, 3. I crossed over to Leek, where for manyyears we seemed to be ploughing upon the sand ; but at length, the fruit appears. Their new House would very hardly contain the congregation, although it blew a storm, so that many of the women could hardly bear up against the wind. In the evening I preached at Congleton. Part of the congregation were the Minister and the Mayor, with several Aldermen : But they seemed astonished while I opened and strongly applied, " Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Fri. 4.-We had another violent storm in going to Maccles- field. But there all is calm ; their little feuds are removed, and the work ofGod steadily goes on. Sunday, 6. The new church was half filled in the morning, but throughly in the afternoon ; and great was our rejoicing in the Lord, both then and at six in the evening. I took a solemn leave ofthem at five in the morning, Monday, 7, and with adeal of difficulty got to New-Mills ; the roads over the mountains being scarce passable ; but the earnestness of the congregation made amends for the difficulty of the journey. They all are athirst for God. Wednesday, 9. At noon I