Wesley Corpus

Journal Vol4 7

AuthorJohn Wesley
Typejournal
YearNone
Passage IDjw-journal-vol4-7-502
Words391
Trinity Prevenient Grace Reign of God
Plymouth, on the words in the First Lesson, " How long halt ye between two opinions ?" It was an awful season. Afterwards I spent a comfortable evening with a few of our serious brethren. The jars both here and at the Dock seem now to be over, and the contending parties arewilling to live inpeace. Mon. 31. We set out at three, in a lovely morning, and reached Exeter between twelve and one. Here the scene was much changed: Many of the people were scattered, and the rest faint and dead enough. The preaching-house was swiftly running to ruin, the rain running through the roof into it amain ; and five or six tenants living in the house were noisy enough, having none to control them. We called earnestly upon God to arise, and maintain his own cause : He did so in the evening congregation, (which was much larger than usual,) while I strongly enforced the parable of the Sower ; and the dread of God seemed to rest on the whole congregation. Tues. SEPTEMBER 1.-We went through a delightful coun- try to Tiverton. In the evening, the Independent Minister offer- ing the use of his meeting-house, far larger than ours, I willingly accepted his offer. The congregationwas far the largest I have seen in Tiverton for manyyears. I preached on Mark iii. 25 ; and it seemed all had ears to hear. Sept. 1789.1 471 Wed. 2.-I preached at Halberton.' I spoke here before in the open air ; but the rain prevented it now. So as many as could, conveniently, got into the House. When we set out, one of my horses was quite lame; so that it was with great diffi- culty I could get to Taunton. In the evening, we had such a congregation, as, I suppose, was never in that House before. Surely the ancient work will some time revive, and the prayers ofthat blessed man,Joseph Alleine, be answered. Thur. 3.-Being obliged to take post-horses at Taunton, we went on to Castle-Carey. Here we found a little company of lively Christians. We found such another, Friday, 4, at Dit- cheat; but the rain drove us into the House, where as many as could squeeze in seemed to be much affected. In the evening I preached at Shepton, where the flame, kindled some time since,