Wesley Corpus

small to contain the multitude ofpeople, I stood under a spread- ing tree ; and strongly exhorted them to "strengthen the things that remained," which were " ready to die." Thence I hastened back to Epworth ; but I could not reach it till the Church Ser- vice was begun. It was observed Mr. Gibson read the Prayers with unusual solemnity ; and I believe he was not displeased to see five times as many at church, and ten times as many at the Lord's table, as usual. As soon as the Afternoon Service ended, Ibegan in the market-place to press that awful question, " How shall we escape, ifwe neglect so great salvation ? " on such a congregation as was never seen at Epworth before. Fri. AUGUST 27.-I returnedto Bristol. In the evening, and at thewatch-night, the House was sufficiently filled. Finding the account of Mrs. Scudamore's life and death (an excellentwoman, though mistaken in this point) has revived in some the imagina- tion of the expiatory nature of sufferings, and hence their abso- lute necessityto salvation, I discussed the subject at large ; and showed that both these notions had their rise in Popery ; and that neither the one nor the other of them had any foundation in Scripture. Sun. 29. Mr. Baddiley being gone to the north, and Mr. Collins being engaged elsewhere, I had none to assist in the ser- vice, and could not read the Prayers myself; so I was obliged to shorten the service, which brought the Prayers, sermon, and Lord's Supper, within the compass of three hours. I preached in the afternoon near King's Square ; and the hearts of the peo- ple bowed down before the Lord. Mon. 30. About noon I preached at Castle-Carey. Since [Sept. 1790. Iwas here God has taken to himself that amiable woman, Mrs. Clark; who, to a fine person and a good understanding, joined a very uncommon degree ofdeep religion. This inclined me toapply earnestly Eccles. ix. 10; and all the peopleseemed to feel it. Afterwards, I called on her deeply-afflicted husband, who spent some hours with us the nextday. I hope hewill no longer sorrow as one without hope,but will trust to meet her in a better place. In the evening I preached in the new House at Ditcheat. Itwould not hold the congregation; but many could hear at