Wesley Corpus

and gaining little ground ; and I was so ill, throughout the day, as to be fit for nothing ; but I slept well in the night, and about eight in the morning, Sunday, 29, came safe to Dublin quay. I went straight up to the new Room. We had a numerous congregation, and as serious as if we had been at West-Street . I preached on the sickness and recovery of King Hezekiah and King George; and great was our rejoicing. I really took knowledge of the change which God haswrought in this congre April, 1789.1 JOURNAL . 440 gationwithin a few years. Agreat part of them were light and airy ; now almost all appear as serious as death. Monday, 30. I began preaching at five in the morning ; and the congregation, both then and the following mornings, was far larger in propor- tion than those at London. Meantime, I had letter upon letter concerning the Sunday service ; but Icould not give any answer till I had made a full inquiry both into the occasion and the effects of it. The occasion was this :-About two years ago it was complained, that few of our society attended the church on Sunday ; most of them either sitting at home, or going on Sunday morning to some Dissenting meeting. Hereby many of them were hurt, and inclined to separate from the Church. To prevent this, it was proposed to have service at the Room ; which I consented to, on condition that they would attend St. Patrick's every first Sunday in the month. The effect was, 1. That they went no more to the meetings. 2. That three times more went to St. Patrick's (perhaps six times) in six or twelve months, than had done for ten or twenty years before. Observe ! This is done not to prepare for, but to prevent, a separation from the Church. On the mornings of this and the following week I expounded the thirteenth chapter of the First Epistle to the Corinthians : Such a compendium of true religion as none but the author of it can give. The evening congregations were exceeding large, as well as deeply attentive. Friday, APRIL 3. I preached at Bethesda ; and with much liberty of spirit. Saturday, 4. I preached in Gravel-Walk House, so filled as I never saw it.