Wesley Corpus

Ipreached again in the evening; but it was too much for me, and brought back my fever. Monday, 20. I wenton to Halifax, where, in the evening, I preached to a noble congregation ; and afterwards spent near another hour in exhorting the society. Ин 466 [Aug. 1789. Tuesday, 21. I hid myself at Otley, and prepared for the Con- ference. Friday, 24. I preached to a lovely congregation, on Ephes. iv. 14. Saturday, 25. I preached inDewsbury, in the evening, on Rev. xiv. 1-4. It rained all the time. I and several more people were wet to the skin. I lodged in Joseph Taylor's house, at Gomersal, who labours for peace, and would fain reconcile Christ and Belial. In this journey I employed some part of myleisure time in reading Mr. Forster's "Voyage round the World." In many parts of this, one would think he was almost persuaded to be a Christian. But how is it, then, thathe says, (vol. i. , p. 136,) "We listened to our boat's crew, who recited a number of dull stories, intermixed with hearty curses, oaths, and indecent expressions, &c. , (obscenity,) but seldom without real humour?" Now, what need ofmentioning these " hearty curses and oaths," with such profound indifference, if it were not to screen himself from the imputation ofbelieving the Bible ? Sun. 26.-1 preached at noon in Birstal House, to as lively acongregation as ever was seen there ; and at five preached on the education of children. Mon. 27.-Being not well able to preach in the morning, through the heat and dryness of my mouth, in the evening I preached on 1 Tim. vi. 20. Tuesday, 28. The Conference began: About a hundred Preachers were present, and never was our Master more eminently present with us. Thecase of separation from the Church was largely considered, and we were all unanimous against it. Saturday, AUGUST 1. We considered the case of Dewsbury House, which the self-elected Trustees have robbed us of. The point they contended for was this,- that they should have a right of rejecting any Preachers they disapproved of. But this, we saw, would destroy itinerancy. So they chose J. A. for a Preacher, who adopted W. E. for his Curate. Nothing remained but to build another preaching- house, toward which we subscribed two hundred and six pounds on the spot.