Wesley Corpus

before ; and they all seemed to hear as for life. Itwas a com- fortable night. Sun. 5.-I preached in the new Room at seven. At eleven Iwent to the cathedral. I desired those of our society who did not go to their parish churches, wouldgo with me to St. Patrick's. Many of them did so. It was said, the number of communi- cants was about five hundred ; more than went there in the whole year before the Methodists were known in Ireland. Mon. 6.-To-day, and for some days following, I was so overborne with letters, that I had hardly time to do anything but to read and answer them. Wednesday, 8. I visited and administered the sacrament to our poor widows ; four-and-twenty of whom are tolerably provided for in our Widows' House. The frowardness and stubbornness of some of these was, for a 450 REV. J. WESLEY'S [April, 1789. time, a grievous trial to the rest ; but this is past : They are all now of a better spirit, and adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour. Thur. 9. In the evening I met, for the second time, the bands. I admired them much: They are more open than those either in London or Bristol ; and I think here is agreater number of those that are now clearly perfected in love, than I now find even in London itself. APRIL 10.-(Being Good-Friday.) I accepted of the pressing invitation of Mr. Smyth, and preached at Bethesda both morn- ing and evening; in the morning on the New Covenant, as it is now given to the Israel of God; and in the evening on Heb. ix. 13, 14, " If the blood ofbulls," &c. At both times we had abrilliant congregation, amongwhomwereHonourable andRight Honourable persons: But I felt they were all given into my hands; for Godwas in the midst. What a mercy it is, what a marvellous condescension in God, to provide such places as Bethesda, and Lady Huntingdon's chapels, for these delicate hearers, who could not bear sound doctrine if it were not set off with these pretty trifles ! APRIL 12.-(Being Easter-Day.) We hada solemn assembly indeed ; many hundred communicants in the morning ; and in the afternoon far more hearers than our Room would contain ; though it is now considerably enlarged. Afterwards I met the