Wesley Corpus

Thence we went to Raithby ; an earthly paradise ! How gladly would I rest here a few days : But it is not my place ! I am to be a wanderer upon earth. Only let me find rest in a better world ! At six I. preached in the church to such a congregation as I never saw here before ; but I do not wonder if all the country should flock in hither, to a palace in the midst of a paradise. Fri. 4-. I set out early from Raithby, and at eight preached in Horncastle. My design was, to have preached seriously ; for which purpose I chose that text, " The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved ; " but I was turned, I knew not how, quite the other way, and could preach scarce anything but consolation. I believe this was the very thing which the people wanted ; although I knew it not. We reached Lincoln about twelve. A verynumerous congre- gation of rich and poor were quickly assembled. I preached REV. J. WESLEY'S [July, 1788. below hill, in Mrs. Fisher's yard ; a large andcommodious place. From the quietness of the people one might have imagined that we were in London or Bristol. Indeed the dread of the Lord was on every side ; and surely his power was present to heal. In the evening I preached in our new House at Gainsborough, which was crowded sufficiently. I spoke strong words, on, " Now is the accepted time; " which seemed to sink deep into the hearts of the hearers. Saturday, 5. In the evening I preached at Owstone, to such a congregation, both for number and seriousness, as I hardly ever saw here before. Afterwards I took a view of what was lately the glory of the town,-the great mansion-house built by the late Mr. Pinder's father, when I was a little child. His grandsonhas left it desolate and without inhabitant, has taken away all the pictures and furni- ture, blocked up the windows, and cut down the fine rows of trees which formed the avenue ! So fleets the comedy of life away. Sun. 6. At eight we had such another congregation as that in the evening ; to which I expounded that comfortable scripture,