Wesley Corpus

as I could. Saturday, 19. I spent an hour in Chesterfield- Street, with my widowed sister and her children. They all seemed inclined to make the right use of the late providential dispensation. Sun. 20. Both in the morning and evening I preached at the new chapel, crowded sufficiently, on Heb. v. 12 : " Ye have need that one teach you again which be the first prin- ciples of the oracles of God." Monday, 21. I retired to Highbury-Place, and spent the residue of the week in answering letters, revising papers, and preparing for the Conference. Sun. 27. In the morning I preached at West-Street ; and in the afternoon in Bethnal-Green church, on part oftheGospel for the day ; our Lord's lamentation over Jerusalem. I believe the word did not fall to the ground. I preached at the new chapel every evening during the Conference, which continued nine days, beginning on Tuesday, JULY 29, and ending on Wednesday, AUGUST 6 : And we found the time little enough; being obliged to pass over many things very briefly, which deserved a fuller consideration. Sun. 3.-I preached at the new chapel, so filled as it scarce ever was before, both morning and evening. Monday, 4. At five we had a good evening congregation ; and I believe many felt the power of the word; or, rather, ofGod, speaking therein. One of the most important points considered at this Confer- ence, was that of leaving the Church. The sum of along conver- sation was, 1. That, in a course of fifty years, we hadneither pre- meditately nor willingly varied from it in one article either of doctrine or discipline. 2. That we were not yet conscious of varying from it in any point ofdoctrine. 3. Thatwe have in a Aug. 1788.] course of years, out of necessity, not choice, slowly and warily varied insome points of discipline, by preaching in the fields, by extemporary prayer, by employing Lay Preachers, by form- ing and regulating societies, and by holding yearly Conferences. But we did none of these things till wewere convinced we could no longer omit them, but at the peril of our souls. Wed. 6. Our Conference ended, as it began, ingreat peace. Wekept this day as a fast, meeting at five, nine, and one, for prayer; and concluding the day with a solemn watch-night.