Wesley Corpus

together to sing and pray by themselves; sometimes thirty or forty ; and are so earnestly engaged, alternately singing, praying, and crying, that they know not how to part. You children that hear this, why should not you go and do likewise ? Is not God here as well as at Bolton ? Let God arise and maintain his own cause, even "out of the mouths of babes and sucklings ! " Mon. 21. I went on, through miserable roads, to Blackburn ; where, notwithstanding the continued rain,the new preaching- house was throughly filled with serious, well-behaved people. Tuesday, 22. Through equally good roads we got on to Padiham. I preached at eleven to as quiet a congregation, though not so lively, as that at Bolton. From hence we went in the afternoon, through still morewonderful roads, toHasling- den. They were sufficient to lame any horses, and shake any carriage in pieces. N.B. I will never attempt to travel these roads again, till they are effectually mended ! Agentleman, no way connected with us, has built us a neat preaching-house here, desiring only three per cent. for what he has laid out, (about eight hundred pounds,) provided the seats let for so much, of which there is little doubt. Itwaswell filled in the evening with serious people, lying in the midst of many societies. Wednesday, 23. We hobbled on to Bury, through roads equally deplorable ; but we met a lively congregation, May, 1788.1 whichmade us forget our labour. In the evening I preached to another lively congregation at Rochdale. Formerly we had much trouble here : But it is past ; and theynow hold the unity of the Spirit in the bond ofpeace. Thur. 24.-About tenwe began the Service in the church at Todmorden, crowded sufficiently. I found uncommon liberty among these poor mountaineers. We had a pleasant road from hence to Burnley, where a multitude of people were waiting; but wehad no house that could contain them. Just then the rain ceased : So we went into the inn-yard, which contained them well ; and itwas an acceptable season, as indeed it was both the times before when I preached at Bury. Fri. 25. In the evening I preached at Colne. This is the fifth rainy daywe have had. However, the House was pretty well filled ; and I strongly exhorted them that had left their first